Prince William ‘Dumped’ Kate Middleton Over a 30-Minute Call — Before Reconciling at a Costume Party

LendingTree How To Borrow From Your Home Without Touching Your Mortgage

The college sweethearts were on “different pages” before their ultimate engagement, according to the new biography ‘Catherine, The Princess of Wales’

College sweethearts Kate Middleton and Prince William have been married for 13 years, but their royal relationship didn’t come without a few bumps in the road.

In Robert Jobson’s new biography Catherine, The Princess of Wales, the author looks back at the Prince and Princess of Wales’ romance after they graduated from the University of St. Andrews in 2005. Prince William, now 42, visited Kate, also 42, at her family’s home every Friday amid his military training at Sandhurst, and Kate was invited to her boyfriend’s military graduation in December 2006 — signs that their relationship was serious and might be heading toward an engagement.
Despite media attention on the topic and receiving the nickname “Waity Katie,” “Catherine knew William wasn’t in any hurry to propose, and the truth is she was prepared to wait until he was ready. After all, they were in love — weren’t they?” Jobson writes, according to an excerpt published by The Daily Mail on July 28.

However, Prince William canceled New Year’s plans in 2007, giving Kate the sense that “something was wrong.”

Related: Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Road from College Sweethearts to Royal Family of 5

Soon after, Prince William called his girlfriend to break up, saying they both needed “a bit of space” to “find our own way” and that he was not able to promise a proposal.

“In an emotionally charged 30-minute conversation, they both acknowledged they were on ‘different pages,’ ” according to Jobson’s book. “It was a devastating blow to Catherine, who felt doubly let down at being dumped over the phone.”

While Prince William marked the split with a night out at Mahiki nightclub in London, Kate — who “resolved to hide her pain from the outside world” despite being “distraught” — took a break from the media with a trip to Dublin with mother Carole Middleton before a vacation in Ibiza with a friend. When she returned to London, Kate and her sister Pippa were often spotted leaving clubs — and photos would make their way into the press for William, who was spending most of his time in barracks as an army officer, to see.

Prince William was said to be having “second thoughts,” and the pair reunited at a “Freakin Naughty”-themed costume party thrown by jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.

“She’d arrived dressed as a nurse, and William had made a beeline for her,” Jobson writes. “They then spent the first part of the evening deep in conversation before hitting the dance floor, where they ended up kissing.”

Their romance continued from there, eventually moving in together before their engagement in 2010 and wedding the following year.

During their engagement interview, the future Prince and Princess of Wales spoke briefly after their break.

Prince William said, “We both were very young, it was at university, we were sort of both finding ourselves as such and being different characters and stuff. It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up, and so it was just sort of a bit of space and a bit of things like that and it worked out for the better.”

Kate added, “And I think I, at the time, wasn’t very happy about it, but actually, it made me a stronger person. You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn’t realized, or I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger, and I really valued that time for me as well although I didn’t think it at the time. Looking back on it.”

Related: Prince William and King Charles Clashed Over Use of Helicopter for Kate Middleton and Their Children, New Book Claims

Prince William and Princess Kate are now parents to three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Elsewhere in Catherine, The Princess of Wales, Jobson says Kate has been a “calming influence” on the royal family.

Through her role as an “instinctive peace-maker,” she has “smoothed the way for William and his father to have a better relationship than they had in the past,” Jobson says in an excerpt published by The Daily Mail over the weekend.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.

Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty Images Prince William and Kate Middleton visit Tuvanipupu Island on September 17, 2012
Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty Images Prince William and Kate Middleton visit Tuvanipupu Island on September 17, 2012 © Provided by People
Tim Ockenden – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images Kate Middleton attends Prince William’s Sandhurst graduation on Dec. 15, 2006
Tim Ockenden – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images Kate Middleton attends Prince William’s Sandhurst graduation on Dec. 15, 2006 © Provided by People
Indigo/Getty Images Prince William and Kate Middleton share a kiss at Eton College on March 18, 2006
Indigo/Getty Images Prince William and Kate Middleton share a kiss at Eton College on March 18, 2006 © Provided by People
Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton and Prince William announce their engagement on November 16, 2010
Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton and Prince William announce their engagement on November 16, 2010 © Provided by People
Karwai Tang/WireImage From left: Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024
Karwai Tang/WireImage From left: Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 © Provided by People
Related video: Kate Middleton’s Cozy Coup: Princess of Wales Would ‘Fit Happily’ in Royal Lodge as Prince Andrew Digs in (Royal Observer (Video))

View on WatchView on Watch
Expand article logo Continue reading
How To Borrow From Your Home Without Touching Your MortgageHow To Borrow From Your Home Without Touching Your Mortgage
PeopleVisit People
Dollywood Visitors Trapped at Park After Severe Flash Flooding Slams Eastern Tennessee
The Olympic Cauldron Is Nearly 100 Feet Tall But Isn’t Actually on Fire — Here’s How the ‘Flames’ Are Produced
Courteney Cox Posts Hilarious Video of Her Dog Failing the Viral ‘Hands In’ Challenge
How To Borrow From Your Home Without Touching Your MortgageHow To Borrow From Your Home Without Touching Your Mortgage
Sponsored Content
How To Borrow From Your Home Without Touching Your MortgageHow To Borrow From Your Home Without Touching Your Mortgage
Pronamel Official SitePronamel Official Site more
受賞歴を誇るウィルス対策ソフト受賞歴を誇るウィルス対策ソフト more
More for You

A therapist says these 5 dark psychology tricks are used a lot in dating. Here’s how to spot them early on.
Love bombing and gaslighting are some of the dark psychology tricks that narcissists and manipulators use to control their romantic partners.
A therapist says these 5 dark psychology tricks are used a lot in dating. Here’s how to spot them early on. INSIDER

117

15
more
Princess Kate’s sweet nickname for King Charles has been revealed, and it’s lovelyPrincess Kate’s sweet nickname for King Charles has been revealed, and it’s lovely Marie Claire UK

95

17
more
I moved 5 miles away from my parents after we had kids. It was a smart decision, but we’ve had to work through some big trade-offs. – Provided by INSIDERI moved 5 miles away from my parents after we had kids. It was a smart decision, but we’ve had to work through some big trade-offs. INSIDER

364

112
more
An Afghan mother forced her daughter into marriage. Six weeks later the 21-year-old ended up deadAn Afghan mother forced her daughter into marriage. Six weeks later the 21-year-old ended up dead The Independent

71

32
more
Meghan Markle Wore a Chic Sleeveless Nude Suit for a Surprise Hamptons AppearanceMeghan Markle Wore a Chic Sleeveless Nude Suit for a Surprise Hamptons Appearance InStyle

132

64
more
ボリューム満点の宅食サービスボリューム満点の宅食サービス more
Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted.Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted. more
Little Women star Saoirse Ronan marries long-term partner in secret ceremonyLittle Women star Saoirse Ronan marries long-term partner in secret ceremony The Independent

22

more
I got married at 18 to my boyfriend of 6 months to help pay for college. It was the worst decision I ever made.I got married at 18 to my boyfriend of 6 months to help pay for college. It was the worst decision I ever made. Business Insider

204

202
more
King Charles Reportedly Made Prince William Sign a Waiver After Dispute Over Helicopter UseKing Charles Reportedly Made Prince William Sign a Waiver After Dispute Over Helicopter Use InStyle

84

22
more
Justin Bieber Cuddles Up to Hailey’s Baby Bump in a Cute SelfieJustin Bieber Cuddles Up to Hailey’s Baby Bump in a Cute Selfie Harper’s Bazaar

29

5
more