Prince William Defied Archaic Royal Custom to Marry Kate Which Made Her Family 'Core Part' of Royal Life

Prince William and Kate Middleton have enjoyed a romance that has lasted for years. However, for their relationship to thrive, the Prince of Wales had to make a promise to Middleton before their wedding. Here are the details of the couple's love story.

It has been over a decade since Prince Harry and Kate Middleton walked down the aisle in an elegant ceremony reminiscent of a real-life fairy tale.

However, the Prince and Princess of Wales's love story dates back to years before their wedding. The couple first met in their first semester at St. Andrew's University in Scotland, where they studied art history.

William and Middleton also resided in St. Salvator's hall, where they frequently bumped into each other and eventually struck up a friendship.

They would frequently have breakfast together and bonded over their love for skiing. With time, the pair became very close, to the point that Middleton would share her notes with William whenever he missed lectures.

Undoubtedly, the Princess of Wales proved to be a dependable friend. There was something special about her, and William could tell. He would later reveal:

"When I first met Kate, I knew there was something very special about her. I knew there was possibly something that I wanted to explore there."

Despite how special William felt Middleton was, there was no immediate romance between them. But in their second semester, the pair's connection deepened as they spent more time together.

The following year, William and Middleton moved into an off-campus apartment with their friends. At that point, the pair remained platonic, but the Prince of Wales was eager for more.

He tried to impress Middleton in many ways, including cooking meals for her, but his efforts were failures. William would always burn or spill something, and Middleton would try to salvage the situation. However, William eventually won Middleton over, and the pair soon started dating.

They stayed together for several years, but in 2007, things went south between them. William and Middleton barely saw each other because the former had joined the Household Cavalry in Windsor.

Also, there were pictures of the Prince of Wales having fun at parties with other women. Consequently, the pair went their separate ways.

However, William and Middleton reunited; this time, they were stronger than ever. By October 2010, the Prince of Wales knew it was finally the right time to take their relationship to the next level. While on holiday with some friends in Kenya, William popped the big question.

He proposed with his mother's engagement ring, and Middleton said yes. Three weeks after the memorable occasion, the couple shared the news with the world. Preparations for the big day soon began, but before they tied the knot, William made a profound promise to Middleton.

William's Profound Promise to His Wife

Being a royal comes with its own set of archaic unwritten rules, one of which is that when one marries into the Royal Family, their family would be out of the picture.

However, it did happen, and there have been no regrets. William is very close to the Middleton family and loves spending time with them because they are closely knit.

However, William made sure that it was not the case for Middleton. According to Royal Expert Katie Nichols, the Prince of Wales promised his wife that she would not have to give up her family. In Nichols's words:

"Once you married into the Royal Family, you became a Windsor, and that was that. When William asked Kate to marry him, he made it very clear that she wouldn't have to leave her family behind her once she married into his family."

Thankfully, William upheld the profound promise. Middleton was able to spend quality time with her family years after she joined the Royal Family.

Overall, it has been amazing, especially for Middleton's father, who initially found it amusing that he and other family members would be in-laws to a Royal Family member.

"We are amused at the thought of being in-laws to Prince William, but I don't think that is going to happen," Middleton's father said at the early stages of his daughter's relationship with William.

However, it did happen, and there have been no regrets. William is very close to the Middleton family and loves spending time with them because they are closely knit.

The Prince of Wales has even joined his wife's family on various trips to France to explore their shared love for skiing.

According to William's friend, he adores the Middleton family and shows it in many ways, including calling his wife's father "Mike" or "Dad."

As in-laws to the Prince of Wales, Middleton's family is also in the spotlight and has gradually become an important part of royal life.

The Middleton Family — An Important Part of the Royal Life

As much as Middleton is a staple part of the Royal Family, her own family is not left behind. Over the years, they have been spotted at different Royal events.

Although it remains unknown how often the Middleton family has come in contact with Queen Elizabeth II, they were reportedly present at Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

Before then, Middleton's mother, Carole, was spotted at the Royal Ascot on June 20, 2017. Five years later, she attended the same event, clad in the Princess of Wales's pink dress.

On another occasion, the Middleton family made the headlines after they were spotted at the 2021 Royal Variety Performance, an event that supports the Royal Variety Charity, where Queen Elizabeth was a patron.

Middleton's mother, Carole, her father, Michael, her brother, James, and sister-in-law, Alizee Thevenet, were all present, looking stunning in suits and bow ties (for the men) and evening gowns (for the women).

Then most recently, Middleton's parents were seen paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth at the late monarch's state funeral at Westminster Abbey. Afterward, Carole and Michael proceeded to St. George's Chapel for the committal service.

Besides royal events, Middleton's parents have also been invited to family events, including the christening of their grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.