To think all of thisalmostdidn’t happen.
In 2007, the prince and then-commoner actually split up and stayed apart for some time.
Their breakup was complicated and messy.
This is how it all went down.
Obviously, their relationship wasn’t just a fling.
However, this didn’t mean it was all smooth sailing.
Naturally, this didn’t sit well with his girlfriend of many years.
Unfortunately, the couple ended up spending all of the holiday season apart.
The statement went on to explain how his time would be spent.
For the first year, he would be trained for his eventual position as troop leader and officer.
Free time was limited, as you’re free to imagine.
Of course, this meant William and Kate’s time apart wasn’t solely during the holiday season.
The timing really couldn’t have been worse for their relationship.
No doubt Kate Middleton can remember what that was like.
Although William and Middleton were hitting a rough patch in their relationship, outsiders suspected an imminent engagement.
This was obviously a tough time for both of them, but especially for Middleton.
Needless to say, that didn’t improve their already iffy relationship.
The couple still managed to spend some time together.
It was there that William presented his girlfriend with an antique Van Cleef & Arpels diamond-studded compact.
It was a thoughtful gift, but that doesn’t mean it made up for lost time.
Only this time, he didn’t invite his girlfriend.
William and Tess danced, and one thing allegedly led to another.
“It was an embrace, but not a French kiss.”
It seems there’s a difference of opinion on the definition of a kiss.
Nevertheless, the media pressed Shepherd, who didn’t seem very interested in the attention.
“It’s not even like I fancy him,” she told them.
“And I’m kind of seeing someone,” she added.
More drunken encounters come on, Will!
In March 2007, the strained couple attended the Cheltenham Races with the prince’s cousin, Zara Phillips.
Not long afterward, William set off on a ten-week military training course.
William got all kinds of drunk and began posing for pictures with some of the women in the club.
Middleton likely didn’t find the same humor in the situation.
According toKate: A Biography(viaParade), the couple was embarrassed by William’s behavior.
According to Kate’s biography, Prince Charles faced a similar crossroads when dating then-Lady Diana.
Prince Philip told him he needed to make a decision and so, Charles proposed.
William, on the other hand, decided to call it quits with Middleton.
Less than a week later, Middleton boarded a plane bound to Ireland with her mom.
By April 3, Prince William andKate Middleton’s once-great relationship of four years had officially ended.
“I’m free!”
Yet and still, she decided the best thing she could do was stay busy.
William mourned the loss of their relationship a bit differently.
According toKate, he leapt on top of a table and began shouting, “I’m free!”
and then proceeded to do the robot dance.
Oh, William, no!
Although being apart from William was difficult, Middleton’s friends and family had her back.
Gradually, the press backed off and stopped trailing her every move.
Unfortunately, though, this meant her relationship with William was truly over.
Her future, as she had always pictured it, was now no more than a fading dream.
After returning from her mother-daughter trip to Ireland, Middleton decided to continue to keep busy and avoid wallowing.
Not long after she joined the competition, rowing became a sort of therapy for her.
It became apparent that a reconciliation was around the corner.
The following month, Middleton attended the wedding of William’s cousin Peter Phillips.
Although Middleton and William had previously dated for four years, she had never met his grandmother.
It was there, at Peter’s wedding, that Middleton finally got to meet Her Majesty The Queen.
Thankfully for Middleton, it was fairly brief.
Lady Elizabeth Anson explained to Nicholl, “There wasn’t much time to speak.
No matter, though, since the two shared manyspecial moments togethersince then.
The rest is, as they say, history for these two lovebirds.
