Prince William and Kate Middleton have been rock solid since the early aughts, and they've weathered some seriously tough times together: The death of Queen Elizabeth II, a very public beef with Prince Harry, King Charles III's cancer and Princess Catherine's own battle with the disease.
Obviously, they've also had some seriously stellar times too, like their royal wedding, welcoming their three children and, you know, being crowned Prince and Princess of Wales and thereby becoming billionaires. (Must be nice!)
Get to know more about Prince William and Princess Catherine.
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June 21, 1982
Kate Middleton’s Birthday
Jan. 9, 1982
London
Kate Middleton’s Hometown
Bucklebury, Berkshire, England
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King Charles III
Kate Middleton’s Father
Michael Middleton, pilot, flight dispatcher and businessman
Diana, Princess of Wales
Kate Middleton’s Mother
Carole Middleton, former flight attendant and Party Pieces founder
Eton College (high school)University of St. Andrews, master of arts in geographyRoyal Military Academy SandhurstKate Middleton’s Education
Marlborough College (high school)British Institute at FlorenceUniversity of St. Andrews, master of arts in art history
While Prince William was literally born into his career as a British royal and heir to the throne, he's kept busy since college.
William was named a Counsellor of State when he turned 21 years old. In January 2006, he began his military career at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, eventually serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, largely in search and rescue operations.
Throughout this time, Prince William was also still considered, to some degree, a "working royal": Queen Elizabeth II established his and brother Prince Harry's first private joint office in 2009, and he began going on royal tours in January 2010.
In 2015, Prince William began working as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) in Cambridge, donating all of his salary to the EAAA charity. He stepped down from the role in 2017 to focus fulltime on royal duties, first as the Duke of Cambridge, then after Queen Elizabeth II's deathin September 2022, as the Prince of Wales.
Related: Where Do the Royals Live?
Kate Middleton’s Career
While a student at St. Andrew's, Middleton worked as a waitress parttime and was a member of the Lumsden Club, a community service organization.
In 2006, Middleton worked as an accessories buyer for Jigsaw, a clothing store chain in the U.K. She also worked in mom Carole's Party Pieces business as a project manager, focusing on the company's digital presence. After marrying Prince William in 2011, she focused fulltime on her duties as a working royal.
Related: From College Sweethearts to Royal Power Couple: What to Know About Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Relationship
Prince William & Kate Middleton Timeline
Prince William and Kate Middleton met as students at the University of St. Andrew's, but their relationship was purely platonic at first.
"I think you said I actually went bright red when I met you and [that I] sort of scuttled off," Kate recalled to William in their 2010 ITV engagement interview. "[I was] feeling very shy about meeting you."
The pair developed a friendship, and their mutual interests, as well as their mutual friends, strengthened their bond.
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2002: Prince William and Kate Middleton start dating.
Kate Middleton's fashion show dressPhoto by BEN STANSALL on Getty Images
In March 2002, Kate Middleton modeled for a charity fashion show at St. Andrew's, rocking a completely sheer mini dress (that the designer later said was originally meant to be a skirt!) over a bandeau and briefs. Prince William reportedly paid about $270 (close to $500 when adjusted for inflation!) for a front-row ticket to the event, which was titled "The Art of Seduction." The Mirror reported that after William saw Kate rock the runway, he told pals, "Wow, Kate's hot!"
The event is widely believed to be what took their relationship from platonic to romantic, with the pair getting serious that May and moving in together with friends that October.
Related: King Charles and Queen Camilla's Journey to Happily Ever After
2003: Kate Middleton and Prince William move in together solo.
As their romance blossomed further, Prince William and Kate Middleton moved in together privately instead of cohabiting with other friends and roommates. They each later recalled William's attempts to woo her with his skills in the kitchen.
"When I was trying to impress Kate, I was trying to cook these amazing fancy dinners," he told ITV. "And all that would happen was, I would burn something, something would overspill, something would catch on fire, and she'd be sitting in the background just trying to help and [then] taking control of the whole situation."
For her part, Kate is generous with her assessment of her husband's culinary work.
In A Very Berry Christmas in 2019, she told host Mary Berry that William still "sometimes" cooks for the family.
"He’s very good at breakfast. In our university days he used to cook all sorts of meals. I think that’s when he was trying to impress me, Mary," she added with a giggle. "Things like Bolognese sauce."
It's getting competitive in the kitchen...#ABerryRoyalChristmas pic.twitter.com/OrDuFMK23e
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 16, 2019April 2004-March 2007: Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship becomes public.
In April 2004, The Sunpublished photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton looking cozy together on a ski vacation, and Kate became a household name worldwide immediately. That doesn't mean that they were comfortable with the intrusion, however, and The Guardian reported that the palace banned the tabloid from covering official royal events after the snapshots were published.
Kate Middleton attends Prince William's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst graduation on Dec. 15, 2006.Photo by TIM OCKENDEN on Getty Images
Despite the rest of the globe being fascinated with their romance, William and Kate made it work for several years. Kate and her family supported William at his Royal Military Academy Sandhurst graduation in December 2006, which was her very first royal event (and which the Queen also attended!). Kate's attendance was basically a huge deal, because it confirmed that he'd introduced her to his family.
Another reason Kate's appearance made headlines? Her bright red coat and big black hat evoked an ensemble that the late Princess Diana wore for Christmas at Sandringham in 1991.
Princess Diana attends Christmas Day services at Sandringham in 1991.Photo by Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library on Getty Images
Despite charming the royals and most of the world, Kate Middleton felt the scrutiny she faced was overwhelming, leading her and Prince William to amicably split in April 2007.
Just two months later, however, they reconciled after reportedly sharing a "passionate kiss" at a party in his barracks that June.
"We did split up for a bit, but that was just — we were both very young, it was at university and we were both sort of defining ourselves as such and being different characters and stuff," Prince William later explained to ITV. "It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up."
The pair have gone strong ever since reuniting.
October 20, 2010: Prince William and Kate Middleton get engaged.
"Waity Katie" no more! Though they didn't announce their engagement until the following month, Prince William popped the question to Kate Middleton on Oct. 20, 2010, during a trip to Kenya with friends.
"I just decided that it was the right time, really," William told ITV. "We'd been talking about marriage for a while, so it wasn't a massively big surprise, but I took her up somewhere nice in Kenya, and I proposed ... It just felt really right to ask in Africa, beautiful time, and I had done a little bit of planning of sorts to share my romantic side."
The couple formally announced the good news on Nov. 16, 2010, with the official royal proclamation noting that William asked Kate's father for her hand ahead of proposing.
After their engagement became public, Kate began accompanying William to make official royal appearances ahead of their wedding.
April 29, 2011: Prince William and Kate Middleton get married and become Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at their royal wedding on April 29, 2011Photo by Chris Jackson on Getty Images
Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding made waves around the world. The couple got married at London's Westminster Abbey, with Kate rocking an Alexander McQueen gown with long lace sleeves.
Best man Prince Harry, Prince William, maid of honor Pippa Middleton and Kate Middleton at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding on April 29, 2011Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH on Getty Images
Prince Harry served as William's best man, while Kate's sisterPippa Middleton was her maid of honor.
The newly-minted Cambridges went on their honeymoon the following month, then moved into Kensington Palace that July.
Related: What Prince William Said to Eugene Levy That 'Caught Him Off Guard' (Exclusive)
July 22, 2013: Prince William and Kate Middleton welcome their first child, Prince George.
Kate Middleton and Prince William debut Prince George to the world hours after his birth on July 22, 2013, in London.Photo by Niki Nikolova on Getty Images
Prince George was born on July 22, 2013. Mere hours after her 14-hour delivery, a beaming Kate Middleton joined Prince William to debut the newest heir to the public.
Related: Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Best Quotes About Parenthood
May 2, 2015: Prince William and Kate Middleton welcome their daughter Princess Charlotte.
Prince William and Kate Middleton with newborn Princess Charlotte on May 2, 2015Photo by LEON NEAL on Getty Images
In September 2014, Kate Middleton and Prince William announced that they were expecting their second child. They welcomed their daughter Princess Charlotte on May 2, 2015. The little lady's full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, honors William's grandmother and mother.
Related: What Happens When King Charles III Dies? Operation Menai Bridge Death Plan Explained
Feb. 12, 2017: Prince William and Kate Middleton make their red carpet debut.
Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the BAFTAs on Feb. 12, 2017.
Photo by DANIEL LEAL on Getty Images
View the 5 images of this gallery on the original articleKate Middleton and Prince William attended the BAFTAs red carpet for the first time in 2017. See all of their glittering and gleaming BAFTAs red carpet moments.
Related: Why Prince William Was Crying on Video
April 23, 2018: Prince William and Kate Middleton welcome their third child, Prince Louis.
Prince William and Kate Middleton with newborn Prince Louis on April 23, 2018Photo by Samir Hussein on Getty Images
The couple's second baby boy was delivered at 11:01 a.m. on April 23, 2018. As always, Kate Middleton and Prince William showed the tot to the world just hours after they welcomed him into it.
Related: Fans 'Feel Sorry' for Prince Louis After Breaking Royal Protocol in Viral Video
Kate Middleton launched her annual Together at Christmas: Holiday Carols televised concert series in December 2021 as a means of raising spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic holiday season. She's continued the tradition every year since, even playing piano at several services and duetting with Princess Charlotte in 2025.
Sept. 9, 2022: Prince William and Kate Middleton become Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales.
Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, greet well-wishers on Sept. 10, 2022.Photo by CHRIS JACKSON on Getty Images
After the queen's death, the newly-crowned King Charles III officially declared Prince William and Kate Middleton as Prince and Princess of Wales. One of the first things the Prince and Princess reportedly did in their role was to organize a "walkabout" the next day with estranged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to put on a united front after the queen's death.
Related: Why Prince Harry and Prince William May Reconnect Sooner Rather Than Later: Source (Exclusive)
May 6, 2023: The Prince and Princess of Wales support King Charles III and Queen Camilla at their coronation.
Princess Catherine and Prince William of Wales on the balcony at King Charles III and Queen Camilla's coronation on May 6, 2023Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo on Getty Images
It was the first official royal balcony they all attended after the queen's funeral and since getting their new titles.
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After a slew of sometimes outright cruel speculation as to why Kate Middleton took a break from royal duties and hadn't been seen much in public lately, the world learned the harrowing reason why on March 22, 2024: She was undergoing treatment for cancer that doctors found after a planned abdominal surgery that January.
Sept. 9, 2024: Kate Middleton announces she completed her cancer treatment.
View this post on InstagramIn a September 2024 Instagram post, Kate Middleton revealed she was finished with chemotherapy and would gradually be making her way back into working royal life.
"The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family," she wrote in part. "This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved."
"Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes," she continued. "I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can. Despite all that has gone before I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life."
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