Kate Middleton and William: Expert on ten years of marriage
Kate and William are thought to lead an idyllic family life now with their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. They regularly undertake joint royal engagements and appear happy together in public. Their 10th wedding anniversary is approaching this year in April, but to many royal watchers it will seem longer as they have been dating since 2003.
Yet, a glance back at Kate’s past romances shows that she was actually hung up on someone else when she first met her future husband.
A former school friend from Marlborough told royal correspondent Emily Andrew that Kate was still “pining” for her first love, Harry Blakelock, when she was introduced to William.
The source told the Mail on Sunday Harry had “blown hot and cold with her when they were at school and she was always talking about how she could get him back”.
Royal commentator Katie Nicholl claimed that the couple had enjoyed a year-long relationship and promised to continue with their romance despite the demands of A-level exams.
Kate Middleton and Prince William (Image: Getty)
Kate and William with their three children in December (Image: Getty)
However, she added: “Harry decided he’d take a gap year and travel around the world and decided to break up with her.”
Kate had initially intended to go to the University of Edinburgh, but she also delayed her studies and decided to switch to the University of St Andrews the following year instead.
The former couple both spent their gap year in Florence but did not reunite — he instead wed one of Kate’s school friends.
Yet, other reports claim her first romance was with Willem Marx, whom she also dated when she was at Marlborough College in the year 2000.
Other friends said he was her “first love” instead.
Either way, she was single when she first started university in 2001 — but not for long.
This was the year when she met William.
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Harry Blakelock, supposedly Kate’s first love (Image: Getty)
Kate met William in 2001 when she was at University of St Andrews (Image: Getty)
They were both studying at the University of St Andrews, and became firm friends before there was a romantic spark.
It was a fourth year law student called Rupert Finch, who caught Kate’s eye instead, and she chose to keep her friendship with William platonic during this time.
But reports claim William was falling for her — and even tried to kiss her at a party after watching her take part in a charity modelling show.
Ms Nicholl claimed: “She was, I think, as shocked as she was flattered.
“And she pulled away, because, at the time, she was dating a fourth-year student called Rupert Finch.
“Well, that was the start of their relationship, and poor Rupert Finch.
“He didn’t stand a chance, did he?”
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Kate had several romances before she started dating William (Image: Getty)
Kate and William dated from 2003 and then broke up briefly in 2007 (Image: Getty)
Kate and Rupert broke it off after less than a year, and she was soon seriously dating William.
However, their relationship encountered two rocky patches, as well.
In 2004 they allegedly took a small break, before officially splitting up in 2007.
Kate even started dating an old friend of William’s during this phase, called Henry Ropner, who also went to Eton College along with the second-in-line to the throne.
But, this didn’t last long — William soon begged for her back and they have been together ever since.
Kate has been a pillar of support to William over the years, despite facing ongoing accusations that she only chose to go to the University of St Andrews because she wanted to follow the royal.
Kate with Harry’s ex girlfriend Chelsy Davy (Image: Getty)
Her friend also told the Mail that Kate “wanted a happy, domestic setting” where she would be “looking after everyone” rather than the glamour and struggles of being a royal.
The pal continued: “Becoming a member of the Royal Family, thrust into the limelight is the last thing she would have wanted.
“But she fell in love with William, who just happened to be heir to the throne.
“She married William despite his position, not because of it.”
