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Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince William and Kate's solemn holiday pact following short but rocky breakup
After reconnecting following a brief split, Prince William knew he couldn't let his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton go again, and the pair made their commitment clear with a heartfelt holiday vow Prince William and Princess Kate have now been married for 14 years, with thousands tuning into their fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey in the Spring of 2011. But their love story very nearly didn't have a happy ending. The former university sweethearts, who fell for each other as students at the prestigious St. Andrew's, briefly parted ways in April 2007, when life as young graduates took them in different directions. Fashionable Kate, now, of course, one of the most influential style icons of modern times, was working in London for clothing brand Jigsaw, while William was throwing himself into army life. With the pressures to get engaged reaching fever pitch, the future heir to the throne began having doubts and broke off the relationship in a heartbreaking 30-minute phone call. Devastated, Kate was allowed to take a week's worth of compassionate leave from work, while William hit the town with pals, reportedly declaring "I'm free!" during a boozy night out at Mayfair's Mahiki nightclub. This is according to Robert Jobson's book Catherine, The Princess of Wales: The Biography, which details how, having nursed her broken heart, the future queen responded by also making sure to have plenty of fun of her own, stepping out on the town accompanied by sister Pippa. By the time William was back in his army barracks, Kate was still out enjoying the single life, with her glam look catching the eye of other eligible bachelors, including shipping heir, Sir Henry Ropner. William, then just 24, reportedly began to realise he could have made a mistake by letting Kate go. In June 2007, they were spotted talking for hours at a party thrown by mutual friend Sam Waley-Cohen. Apparently not wanting to miss his chance again, William invited Kate to a party at his Dorset barracks in Dorset, where the cheeky theme was 'Freakin' Naughty'. The rest, as they say, is history. However, like many couples before and after them who've taken a break, the pair needed time to reconnect and renew their commitment to each other. And while holidaying together on the dreamy Seychelles island of Desroches in August 2007, they made a solemn pact. In her book The Making of a Royal Romance, Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl wrote: "With a population of just 50 and three miles long, the paradise island was the perfect escape." The then twentysomethings, who checked into the five star resort under the names Martin and Rosemary Middleton, spent their days kayaking and snorkelling, but there were also some serious conversations to be had before they could move forward. Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. According to author Katie: "For a young man who has an inherent fear of tomorrow, this was not easy for William, but the tranquil backdrop of the island was as good a place as any to discuss it." The writer went on to reveal that "William assured Kate she was the one", adding: "William, who had inherited something of his father's fear of commitment, knew he would lose Kate if he could not give her some form of guarantee. "They didn't agree to get married there and then; what they made was a pact,' a member of their inner circle explained. "William told Kate she was the one, but he was not ready to get married. He promised her his commitment and said he would not let her down, and in turn, she agreed to wait for him." Now, juggling parenthood with the duties of being Prince and Princess of Wales, it would seem that the royal couple have stayed true to the promise they made, all those years ago.
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Princess Anne's 'protective' signal to King Charles amid Prince Harry fallout
Princess Anne was there to 'quietly keep an eye' on her brother, King Charles III, during this year's VE celebrations, with a body language expert picking up on a touching and affectionate gesture Having grown up together in the goldfish bowl of Buckingham Palace, King Charles III and Princess Anne have always enjoyed a close-knit bond. Now, as her elder brother contends with health difficulties amid ongoing family tensions, the Princess Royal has shown her support with a protective gesture. As siblings, Charles and Anne differ in many ways. The sporty princess is widely regarded to take after their late father, Prince Philip, with her forthright approach to life, while Charles is perceived as more of a sensitive individual, who struggled with shyness as a boy. At 76, King Charles has had to settle into the role of monarch while facing treatment for cancer, as well as dealing with a strained relationship with his youngest son, Prince Harry, who recently shed light on their fractured bond. Throughout it all, Princess Anne has shown loyal support for Charles, making her affection for her brother clear during a recent show of solidarity on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Anne, 74, and Charles could be seen watching the VE Day commemorations unfold from the iconic balcony, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The family appeared unified as they marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, with Charles appearing to be in good spirits as he waved to the crowds below. And Anne was on hand to "quietly keep an eye on her brother", as per body language expert Judi James. Judi told the Mirror: "During one moment on the balcony Princess Anne, who had been chatting to her brother in a strong display of unity during the fly-past, seemed to notice that Charles was waving to go indoors before the anthem had been played. "Placing a hand out to pat him affectionately on the back, she seemed to warn him so he could turn and get into position. It was a gesture that suggested Anne is quietly keeping an eye on her brother." Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In a recent interview held after he lost his legal challenge over his UK security arrangements at the Court of Appeal, Harry, 40, expressed a wish to "reconcile" with King Charles, reflecting: "I don't know how much longer my father has." Speaking with BBC News, Prince Harry, who stepped down as a senior working member of the royal family five years ago, shared: "There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family. Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things, but... there's no point in continuing to fight anymore. "Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile." Following Harry's bombshell interview, Alisa Anderson, former press secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II, branded his comments about the King's health "unhelpful". She said: "That's going to cause real concern and more speculation in the media and the wider public about what his diagnosis is, which is incredibly unhelpful going forward. "What you don't want to do is have your private life played out in the media. So if you truly want reconciliation, you'll do it in private, not in a BBC News interview."
