The 'Ultimate Catch' Who Dated Princess Catherine Before Prince William: 6 Facts About Rupert Finch

A chance reunion at a royal wedding has put a familiar name back in the spotlight. But there is far more to Rupert Finch's story than his brief relationship with Princess Catherine.

On June 6, 2026, the former couple attended the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling, a low-key yet royal-packed ceremony that was attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Among the other guests was a man whose name most people outside royal circles would not immediately recognize — but one who was once, briefly, part of Catherine's story. His wife, as it turns out, has had quite a bit to say about the Princess of Wales.

Rupert Finch is not a royal, not a celebrity, and not someone who courts the spotlight. But every now and then, the spotlight finds him anyway.

He Met Catherine at St. Andrews

The story begins at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where the future royal first crossed paths with Rupert. The pair reportedly met as students in the university's halls of residence, where they both lived.

They were together for just under a year in 2001, making him a significant figure in her pre-royal life. At the time of her famous charity fashion show, he was her dedicated companion.

Rupert was in his fourth year and studying history. An aspiring lawyer at the time, he was reportedly Middleton's "casual boyfriend" and "considered the ultimate catch by Kate's friends."

Rupert and Catherine Attended Each Other's Weddings

One of the more surprising facts about Rupert is that there appears to have been no lasting awkwardness between the former couple. When Catherine and William married in 2011, Rupert was among the guests attending the royal wedding.

Then, two years later, Catherine returned the favor. Rupert eventually found lasting love with Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs, the daughter of the Marquess of Reading. The couple began dating several years after Rupert and Kate split up.

In 2013, they tied the knot at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Cirencester. Catherine and William, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended the wedding as guests.

He's Built an Impressive Legal Career

While his royal connection often attracts attention, Rupert has spent most of his adult life focused on law.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he studied History at the University of St. Andrews before earning a law degree from The College of Law Guildford.

His career began with a corporate paralegal role at Blake Dawson in Sydney, Australia. He later worked for Mills & Reeve and Gardline Geosciences before joining Johnson Matthey in 2010.

Over the next 11 years, Rupert held a series of senior legal positions at the global technology company, including Legal Counsel, Senior Legal Counsel, Senior Legal Advisor, and General Counsel for New Markets.

His work involved advising on commercial, intellectual property, corporate, regulatory, and product liability matters across Europe, the United States, China, India, and Australia.

Since September 2021, he has served as General Counsel at Fortescue Zero, a clean-energy and technology company based in Oxfordshire, England.

He and His Wife Have Three Children

Away from the legal world, Rupert is a family man. He and Lady Natasha share three daughters: Georgia, Cienna, and India Grace Albertine.

When Natasha welcomed their third child, she spoke about feeling that their family was complete.

In an interview with HELLO!, she said: "I'm one of three children myself, I definitely think three is enough, and Rupert would agree. But who knows? It's such a blessing to be able to have three."

His Wife Co-Founded a Fashion Brand Loved by Catherine

The connections between the families do not stop at weddings and guest lists. Natasha is the co-founder of Beulah London, an ethical fashion label that has become a favorite of the Princess of Wales over the years.

Catherine has worn Beulah designs on multiple public occasions, helping spotlight the British brand. Natasha was thrilled when the stylish princess chose a Beulah London dress for a tea party celebrating the NHS's 72nd birthday.

That connection created an unexpected overlap between Finch's past and present worlds.

What His Wife Said About Princess Catherine

Perhaps the most intriguing detail is what Natasha publicly said about Catherine after seeing her wear one of Beulah's designs. Rather than avoiding the subject, she praised the royal's support for British fashion.

Speaking to HELLO!, she said: "It's always lovely to see the Duchess in Beulah. She's a wonderful ambassador for British brands, and that is more important than ever at the moment."

The comment attracted attention because it highlighted the friendly links that still exist around a relationship that ended more than 20 years ago.

The recent reunion at Peter and Harriet's wedding reminded royal watchers of a little-known chapter in Princess Catherine's life.

Before Prince William

While Rupert has gone on to build a successful legal career, a family of five, and enduring connections within royal circles, he was only one of a handful of relationships that predated her romance with Prince William.

In fact, before meeting the future king, Catherine experienced several formative relationships that helped shape her early years. Here's a closer look at Princess Catherine's romantic history before her relationship with William changed the course of royal history.

Her First Known Boyfriend

Her first known boyfriend was blonde-haired Willem Marx, whom she met at Marlborough College in 2000. Their relationship, though brief, ended amicably.

Willem, now a London-based journalist and married, remains a part of her past. His wife is Johanna Botta, a television personality, whom he has been married to for nine years after dating for ten years.

Apart from having his own successful love story, Willem also had the honor of seeing his former beau, Catherine, walk down the aisle at Westminster Abbey over a decade ago.

The former ABC News correspondent reportedly was the only male friend from the princess's school days to have been invited to the royal wedding.

"Willem means a lot to Kate," Catherine's pal said at the time. Aside from the fact that his romance with the royal has captured some attention, Willem's appearance has also been a topic of discussion.

Social media users have raved about the former CNBC reporter's looks on X throughout the years. "Kate Middleton's very handsome former love journalist Willem Marx is getting plenty of face time on Bloomberg as the Euro conflict expert," penned one person once.

Another online user compared Willem with Catherine's lovers, writing, "Willem Marx is a hottie. Just saw another photo of him. All the guys Kate dated are now better looking than PW."

A Romance During Her Gap Year

Catherine's next relationship was with Harry Blakelock, whom she encountered during a gap year. Their relationship had its ups and downs, particularly during their overlapping stays in Florence in 2001.

The future princess had gone to Florence for three months at the time. A friend of hers revealed, "When Kate arrived in Florence, she was really hung up about Harry."

"She spoke about him all the time and he seemed to have messed her around quite a bit. He seemed to have blown hot and cold with her when they were at school, and she was always talking about how she could get him back," the pal added. However, nothing significant rekindled during this time.

While Middleton failed to find love in Florence, the opportunity arose again somewhere else. The last of her relationships before meeting Prince William was with Rupert.

The Boyfriend Who Remained in the Royal Orbit

According to Robert Jobson in his book, Rupert was a "good-looking law student" who captured Middleton's heart back then. Rupert has remained as discreet and loyal to her as she has to her royal partner.

"It's not something I'll ever talk about. It's between Kate and me and was a long time ago," Rupert stated, reflecting the private nature of their relationship.

Rupert, a sporty and popular figure at the university, was also part of the University Cricket Squad and shared many interests with Catherine, who is known for her love of sports and the outdoors.

Their backgrounds were similar as well, both coming from well-to-do upper-middle-class families. Rupert's time at St. Andrews overlapped with Catherine's early years there, but their relationship ended as Rupert graduated and went on to pursue a traineeship with the law firm Mills & Reeve.

This relationship, like her others, ended amicably, and Rupert remains a figure from her past who respects the privacy and significance of their time together.

The Relationship That Worked Out

Catherine first crossed paths with Prince William at St. Andrews University. Their friendship blossomed over a year before turning romantic. In a joint interview several years ago, the couple reflected on their love story.

The lovebirds spent more time together, making each other laugh and having fun. This made them realize they had a lot in common. William shared, "She's got a really nice sense of humor, which kind of helps me because I've got a very dense sense of humor."

Meanwhile, Catherine recalled how she felt after meeting the royal for the first time, saying: "I actually went bright red when I met you and scuttled off, feeling very shy."

Their relationship deepened as they shared numerous university experiences, living in the same dorm, and often cooking together. William tried to impress Catherine with his culinary skills, with her frequently assisting.

As their connection grew, introductions to their families followed. Catherine described her nervousness upon meeting William's father, who was welcoming, just as the late Queen Elizabeth II had been.

Family is important for both parties. William mentioned that Catherine is very close with her loved ones, and that he, too, gets along well with them. He admires their supportive nature.

The heir to the British throne also talked about his future in-laws, Michael and Carole Middleton. He said they welcomed him with open arms and made him feel part of the family.

Despite their strong connection, not all was smooth in their relationship. The pressures of public life led to a temporary breakup, capturing public attention. At the time, they both did some self-introspection.

"We were both finding ourselves and such," Prince William explained. This period of self-discovery was crucial, fortifying their relationship for future challenges. Catherine, although unhappy about it at the time, reflected on the growth she experienced during this time: "It made me a stronger person," she said.

She realized that one could be consumed by a relationship when young, and this is what she soon noticed about herself amid the split. This has made her value the break they had because it brought things into perspective.

Although they had a stumbling block, Catherine and William managed to carry on, and things became better from there on. Friendship laid the foundation for their eventual engagement. During the interview, the two were asked whether the marriage had always been on the cards.

William answered, "When I first met Kate, I knew there was something very special about her, and then I knew there was possibly something I wanted to explore there, but we ended up being friends for a while."

In 2010, during a holiday in Kenya, Prince William proposed with a sapphire and diamond ring that had belonged to his mother, Princess Diana. The proposal, a blend of personal significance and royal tradition, was a complete surprise to Catherine.

"It was a total shock when it came, and very exciting," she expressed. They married in April 2011, beginning their life together as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Catherine and William have been married for 15 years. They have welcomed three kids together: their eldest son is Prince George, followed by their only daughter Princess Charlotte, and their youngest son, Prince Louis.

Catherine and her husband, Prince William, continue to be prominent figures in public and royal life. Together, they embody stability and commitment that once seemed a distant dream during their early dating days.