Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight? Are you sorry we drifted apart? Does your? Hi, guys. Hi, everyone. Hey. Welcome back to Significant Lovers. We are your host. I'm Mel. I'm Kel and I'm Caitlin Kate. You need one syllable. Syllable nickname. I'm just kidding. No, but she's, she's Caitlin. Does that make you uncomfortable, Kate? No, it doesn't make me uncomfortable. I just never really had a nickname, you know? What? Are you talking about? I like that. I like that.
You go by Caitlin. Yeah, like teachers in school always ask me like, oh, is it Kate? Is it Katie? Is it what? And I'm like, no, it's just Caitlin. Well, but that is not true though, because you did go by Katie for many years. Did I win? As a kid. Well, I don't think it it wasn't official, like it wasn't at school. Yeah. No, it wasn't like self-imposed. Like I wasn't asking people to call me that. Well, we're talking about a Kate today. We are talking about a Kate. That's so true.
Today we are talking about Kate Middleton and Prince William, another royal couple. But first, before we get into the episode, I loved our little trivia last this week, so I have a couple questions for you guys about past episodes. Yay. All right, let's do it. Question One Name the actress who sparked engagement rumors when she attended a Dior fashion party with her boyfriend and donned a ring on that finger. Context clues. Dior Fashion Party. Is it FKA twig?
Close. Is it Sookie Waterhouse? Ding, Ding, Ding, one point. You're because Robert Pattinson was the face of the. Yes. Oh, I didn't catch that. I will say Kelly kind of gave you the push with the FK. No, I literally no. I was thinking Sookie Waterhouse, but I couldn't think of her name, so it took me a second. I was thinking of Sookie, I just couldn't think of her name.
OK, OK, OK. In honor of the election next week, name the celebrity who once blamed an election for an episode for an episode of infidelity. In Joplin and Jonlin and Jonlin. Yep. Fuck, we should have gotten that. First I thought Paul Simon, but then I was like, no, it's John Lennon. Yeah, Yep. He didn't like the results of the election and then he cheated on Yoko Ono. I saw something the other day that was like some Entertainment Weekly or something.
They're posting new reveal that John Lennon cheated on his wife on. I know I saw that too of. The election or something like new scoop or whatever. I'm like, this is old, new. Yeah, I'm like, this has been known. Like this is not new information. I even commented, 'cause you did, yeah, 'cause I don't. Well. If you listen to significant lovers, you would have known this. I don't know, it's like it's annoying when they post things as if it's like new information.
It's like people who are aware of these types of things obviously would know. It's not like if you're in the phantom, you would know. It's not new information, you know. Yeah, it's like as if the editor writing that just learned it. So it was new to them. Yeah. Like it was just uncovered. Yeah. OK. Final question. Kate's winning. OK, but this is double or nothing. OK, OK. You. Could. Tie it. You could tie it. No fair.
Name the actor who got drunk on too much tequila and impulsively showed up at his girlfriend's doorstep to confess his love to her for the first time. Ohh. This sounds so familiar. Yeah, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding what? Oh my God. Have my hands in the air. This is not fab. Cal, that came to you quickly. I demand a recount. Before we get into it, we want to thank some of our newest
patrons to the pod. So these are people who are supporting us on Patreon. If you guys want to listen to additional episodes, definitely feel free to check that out. So thank you, Mark, Hebrew, Emily, Anna, Diana, and that's it. Thank you. Thank you. I also wanted to say thank you to our listener Saki for sending us a gift recently. Super generous and just made our. Week, yes. Month, whatever. So thank you so much. Thank you so much.
That was so serendipitous. It was a particularly tough day and just the kindness of a stranger. That was super, super sweet. OK, so Kate and William. Mel, how would you describe this couple in three words? I would say charming, supportive, and I struggled with this last word, how to describe it, but I came to the word measured. Basically, they're the opposite of like impulsive, which a lot of couples we have covered have been. They really this couple takes
their time. That's so interesting. Yeah. And sometimes that can be good. So I guess you can see how that works out for them. Or maybe not. Yeah, I'm so excited. Or maybe not. Sorry, I mean once before I read a like fictionalized version of their love story. I think it was called like the Royal We or something. I don't remember who was bi. I didn't particularly care for the book, but I didn't think it was virtually that great. But I did think it was an interesting love stories.
But I am interested in hearing like the actual version of it rather than the fictionalized version, you know? So I'm very excited. Yeah, and a lot of the information that I'm going to talk about I got from the book The Making of a World of Romance by Katie Nicole, which came out from when they were getting married. I have never watched the season of the Crown that covers their relationship or I know there's a couple movies depicted about
them too. I've seen the movie The Prince in Me by that stars what Julia Styles isn't that. Way before I. Think. I think I was around when they were dating because it's like about a normal girl who goes to college and then falls in love with the Prince, which is kind of what this story is that we're going to talk about today. And oh, I should tell you guys, this is Part 1 because there's a lot to say about this couple. So we're just going to cover their courtship in this episode.
And then next episode we're going to talk about their marriage. But OK, so who is Prince William? He was born on June 21st, 1982 in London. We covered his father and his stepmother before. Check that out. That's I think episode. What does that call like episode six or something like that? Yeah, Charles and Camilla, one of our favorites, so. He was a guilty pleasure. Yes, yeah, obviously he was born to Charles and Diana. His full name is William Arthur Phillip Louis.
And of course, he was born with an immense amount of pressure and responsibility as the heir to the British throne. So even though he did always grow up with nannies who were a big part of his life, his mom Diana was more hands on than royal mothers typically are. So William actually got to be the first royal baby brought on a goodwill tour when he traveled with his parents to New Zealand and Australia at just nine
months old. And then when he was two, his brother Harry was born and the family all lived in a very beautiful estate called the Highgrove House. When they became adults, I think the impression is that William was the more reserved and mature brother, which I think is true now. But when they were little, it definitely was a reverse William was more rambunctious and Harry was actually a lot more quiet and reserved.
And William was, yeah, William was very like attention seeking, extroverted, mischievous, and the Queen, like, kind of be a little nervous about that, but he's like 4. Give him a break. All kids are going to be a little acting crazy, you know? Yeah, yeah. But of course, Williams home life was not easy. His parents had a very toxic relationship and they fought constantly and the boys would often have to witness their mother breaking down in tears sometimes every single day,
which is a lot for a kid. Definitely impacts, you know, how they view romantic relationships. As William got older, Diana would particularly confide in him, which was just an immense burden for a little boy to take on. And I think that is how we started to become a lot more reserved and quiet and sensitive compared to his brother I. Mean she was so young and I think not in a great emotional space.
So I can imagine him like being the oldest, almost feeling like he needs to take care of his mom or something even though he's a kid. I don't know, that's just what I kind of picked up from reading about the Royal. Family, I can also see it being really like isolating, especially for the family where they might not have like too many close friends that they can be around with all the time. So maybe the only person that Diana could confide in would be
her kids. And so that was kind of the only option. So it probably wasn't the best option, but it was the only option and it's not healthy for anybody. Yeah, I don't blame her at all. I mean, also, it's like she feels repressed by the establishment, the palace, whatever, but she knows that her boys are growing up in that environment, too. And so she's probably also nervous that they're going to one day, maybe even turn on her, too.
So I could see wanting to, like, kind of shape their opinions early on in her to be sympathetic towards her. But he got us a nice escape from everything that was going on at home. When he was eight years old, he went off to boarding school at Ludgrove School, where he played soccer and swimming and basketball, clay pigeon shooting and cross country. He was a very active boy. And at this school he was very sheltered from photographers and newspapers, and it was a safe place for him.
And then when he was 10, his parents sadly separated and Diana moved into an apartment at Kensington Palace. And during those years, she definitely tried to give William and Harry as much as a normal childhood as possible. Obviously it's kind of impossible in their position, but you know, she would take them to McDonald's and amusement parks and the beach and stuff and it compared to other Royals, like they definitely lived a more grounded upbringing I
guess. Then at 13 he went off to a different boarding school called the EN College where he was a little bit less protected. He was frequently in the newspapers and was super embarrassed by all the media attention when he first arrived on campus. 2 documentaries came out the same week, 1 called the Making of a King and one called Inside EN which was just about him arriving at school and he was so embarrassed by it and he urged all of his friends to not
watch them. It's a good thing he kind of has a step up from his father because I think his dad didn't really have many friends at this point and. True, He. Was similarly embarrassed by being the Prince and all that, but he like he was a social pariah. So I think it's good at least that William had a step up in at least having some friends. So there's that. Yeah, I get the sense like William sometimes feels like an outsider and embarrassed, but he is pretty popular. That's good.
And then also at 13, Diana's famous Martin Beshear interview came out and Diana warned William that he had nothing to worry about at all. But when he watched his interview, he felt super betrayed and he was just shocked that she would even let TV cameras into their life in such a personal way. And he had heard things in the interview that he had never even known before, like Diana's affair. And sadly, he didn't really ever forgive her. According to this book by
Nicole, what's her name? Katie Nicole. And then, sadly, just two. Years how? Old was he? He was 13. All of his friends at school are watching this interview that that was super hard for him. And then just two years later, when he was 15, he was woken up by his father, Charles at Balmoral Castle in Scotland to receive the devastating news that his mom had died in a car accident. We all kind of know the story as the driver was fleeing
photographers. And to this day, both William and Harry still very much blame the press and the paparazzi for what happened to their mother. And obviously that will come into play in this story with William and, you know, the different people that he, well, mostly Kate and how Kate becomes subject to the same media attention. So tragic, so sad. I know I was like kind of going down a rabbit hole reading about Diana's death and it's awful.
For some reason every time I think about Diana's death I always think William is way younger than 15. Harry's really young, he's like 1213 years old when it happens. So sad. It must be very complicated, especially since he was already having these complicated feelings of having betrayal from Diana and having the feelings about his dad's infidelity and then his mom's infidelity and
depressed and all these. Yeah. It's sad because that was happening at such a formative time in his life, and it's natural when you're a teenager to be kind of annoyed with your parents. But he wasn't really given the opportunity to work that out with his mom or like get more closure from her perspective at the time. Like, it's just kind of that story ended, you know, was cut short and super.
Sad. Yeah, you probably think you have your whole life to work out these problems and issues with your parents with, but unfortunately for William, he wasn't able to work that out with his mother. Yeah, it's so sad. And that probably in turn had even more of an impact then. Yeah, he has said that the day like, well, the immediate, like, I guess, you know, after his mom died, it was just very dark days of grief. And now he has said that he doesn't really wallow in it as
much anymore. It seems like he's been able to find some some peace with it, but I think both him and Harry have some PTSD from it, especially when it comes to the press. I bet. But so OK, so before meeting Kate, William was quite the bachelor from my early age. I always think of. What is it this The Princess Diaries, too. And he's on the screen and they're like, I just like to look at him. Everybody loved Prince William, so when he was 16, he had his first girlfriend.
Her name was Jeka Craig. Remember that name? Jeka. OK, she'll come up. She'll come up later. But he met her while in Kenya doing a volunteer environment, her mental work. She was an environmental conservationalist and they worked together their their families had like kind of known each other. She. Older. No, she was also pretty young too. I don't know like how she got in the position to be honest, to be like doing that work. But they both felt. Very. Impressive. Yeah.
They both fell in love with Kenya and each other and they had a quite the summer romance. And was she English? I think so, yes. When he was 18, he had his next girlfriend, a childhood friend who he had another summer fling with. That's kind of his MO. This was just after finishing high school and they connected at the local, well, not the local. It's like a high end. It's not like the down polo glove, it's like the royal polo. Club. That's how. Charles, Mick, Camilla.
Wow. Apparently though, this was a really sweet and innocent love affair. Oh, I should mention her name was Rose Farquhar. Farquhar. Yeah, Farquhar. Wait, if I quad it doesn't like Shrek? There's no D, but it feels like there should be, you know? OK, so it's not like Shrek. No, no, but it's. Similar. I was just talking about Lord Farquhar because it's a joker too and sometimes he looks like
him anyway. Anyway, and lastly, he dated a girl named Arabella Musgraves, who is another childhood friend of Williams who he also had a summer fling with after his gap year. This is when he was 19, following his gap year after high school, so he didn't immediately go off to university. And this relationship apparently was more passionate and physical than the relationships in the past. How do people know that? I don't know.
He has been described as quite serious, cautious about the company that he keeps, distrustful of others, a little bit, as I said, measured, mature, but also very active. He loves sports. He's, you know, very into all of his activities and I would say he's a little indecisive too. Seems like his dad. I was kind of seems like the opposite of his dad. What? Yeah. Well, I guess does he like to read and is into, you know, history and stuff or? He's. Or is he more of like a athlete?
He actually was not the best student. OK 'cause he seems like the popular jock type and his dad was like very shy and like reserved true with the with the old ladies and. He's friends with the old lady. With his teddy. Yeah. I mean, obviously they're not like they're not clones, obviously, but I feel like he seems more, more serious, less fun in a way. I mean, I don't know, I think I think they can both. I think anyone's capable of
having fun but. I think it's probably just like, because he's royal, he's probably just more picky about who he lets into his close circle. And that's probably why, like all of his past relationships are like childhood friends, people he's known for like 10 plus years, you know? And that's why he's so measured and why he's probably like less, maybe standoffish a little bit. And even though he probably is Mr. Popular and outgoing, maybe he isn't as I don't know what I'm trying to say.
Carefree. He's not carefree. I feel like he's. Being less carefree. I I just think being the heir to the throne probably forces a responsibility on you that you can't escape. Yeah, but who is Kate? This Catherine Middleton. In the press, she was considered a normal middle class girl whose family has coal mining ancestry. And it was a very big deal that this is the first time a royal has married a commoner in 350
years. They kind of present Kate as just the average girl next door, but that's not exactly the case. Yes, when she was born, her family was. Middle class and yes there is some coal mining ancestry there through her mom and at this time when she was born her parents did have normal jobs. Her mom Carol was a flight attendant and her dad was a flight dispatcher and they lived in a pretty modest 2 bedroom house in Bradfield South End. However, she does have aristocratic and noble ties.
Her great grandmother was a member of the Lupton family who are very wealthy, who are very wealthy and notable land owners and they were described landed Gentry. And we're well acquainted with the British royal family and
well known philanthropist. And actually, meanwhile, researchers in 2010 discovered that she's technically related to the royal family, royal family, although distantly, her 11th great paternal grandfather, Sir Thomas Leighton, was a 16th century governor and diplomat who was also the 12th great maternal grandfather to Prince William, OH. My gosh, that's so that's. So very. Distant. I know when people found this out they were like the kissing cousins but.
Why do we always talk about this? Take a drink. Covering some kissing cousins. Everybody, I mean, everybody's related. Technically, yeah. I mean, I saw something recently where if you go back far enough, like if everybody were to have completely unique ancestors, that would mean way more people that have ever lived ever on this planet, ever in the history of this world. So that would mean that like everybody has some form of incest in our ancestors. Oh, totally. Just yeah.
Not possible to not yeah. I heard I heard that in human history, 80% of marriages are between cousins. OK, that's a lot. I feel like that kind of probably ended. People have been around. People have. Been around for a long time. I know. But yeah, technically that this makes them 12th cousins once removed, so it's pretty distant. That's so. Far, yeah. Additionally, when she was five years old, her mother founded the company called Party Pieces, which is a mail order party
supply retailer. So it's basically like Party City, but catalog version of that. And this business really took off and at its peak, it was estimated to be valued at around $37 million. So kids, families got a little money. They are not really your average middle class family.
They are rich. And after that business took off, her family moved into a $1 million home in Chapel Row, and they also purchased a London flat in Chelsea for occasional use whenever they want it. So it's not like she's really the girl next door. Wait, so was this $1 million place before or after the two-bedroom house? That that was after this. So when Kate was around 5, like her family moved into a really big house. It is impressive. I mean, that's pretty self-made
millionaire. But yeah, she's not like just a lowly commoner. No, you know, no. She's pretty privileged and Kate and her younger siblings Pippa and Michael also attended very prestigious private schools. And she was big into athletics in school plays. And when she was 10 years old, she actually first encountered William in person because his school would come to compete against her school in rugby matches. And that was a big deal at her school.
Like the Prince is coming to play against our school. So all the kids at the school would like get excited and watch on the sidelines to see him. And she got a glimpse of him. Wow. When she was 13, she was lead in a drama called Murder in the Red. And in the play, her character meets with a fortune teller who tells her, soon you will meet a handsome man, a rich gentleman. And she responds, it's all I ever hope for. Will he fall in love with me? And then the fortune teller
says, indeed he will. And then she asks, will he marry me? To which the fortune teller says yes. And then, lo and behold, the rich man in this play was named William. What? Is that crazy? So was it. Real. Was that like all scripted but then it all just like came to fruition? Yeah, it was some weird foreshadowing in real life. That is kind of creepy. And there's actually like a very grainy video of it on YouTube if you want to see it. Whoa.
And then at 14, Keith began her first year of high school at Down High School, which is an all girls boarding school. But she really struggled to fit in because the school was very cliquey. The other girls apparently teased her for being too into studies and not otherworldly enough. And she was also just painfully shy and really not that confident. The next year she attended Marble Marlboro College, a Co Ed boarding school, and she was very shy and homesick there.
But she had a much easier time. Apparently people really liked her. They thought of her as really easygoing. And former classmates remember her as not partaking in drinking or partying, but her being very into sports, playing tennis, swimming and hockey. And at this time she wasn't really into guys. Apparently there were rumors that she allegedly had a poster William in her dorm room and that she would say to her friends. I bet he's really kind. You can just tell looking at him.
But Kate denies this. You know, Fast forward when they got engaged, she was actually asked about this in their engagement interview. And she said, and it was kind of cute. William jokes, she had 10 posters of me on the wall. And then then Kate laughed and says he wishes, no, I had the Levi's model on my wall. And then she turns to William and she goes, sorry, sorry. It's really cute that. Was up to right, Yeah, I thought. Someone just made that up.
I know it's a nice story, but maybe too good of a story. Yeah, wow, she sounds so like sweet and just simple and I don't know, I can picture some of my friends from high school being like her in a way. Yeah, I really like her. Researching her, she seems, she seems like very down to earth, actually. That said, there are reports that she did very unseriously date a classmate named Henry Preston in high school, and they were actually dubbed one of the
best couples in the yearbook. So she must have had a boyfriend. Henry Preston. I know that's such a like preppy name. So posh. Her second year at school, the boys on campus actually rated her as 2 out of 10 for her looks. So mean she's a. What? Oh my God. But then she had a glow up over the summer and with the help of her mom, she like went to her mom and she's like, I want to look better or something. And I don't know what they did.
But she returned to school and she was reportedly put on the fit list, which was a list of the the prettiest girls on campus. Oh my God none of those guys deserve her after rating her only a 2 out of 10. That's insane. First of all don't rape people but also that's just crazy. I don't think anybody is a 2 out of 10 and. No. I don't think anybody's below like A7, you know, especially no girls, nobody, no one. No girl is below a 7 I think. Oh yeah, I know. I saw.
I saw something recently that was like, I've never seen an ugly woman. And I think that's true. I think all women are beautiful in many different ways. I feel like there's no. Way she was a 2. I mean, I know that we all have our awkward years and such, but she's so beautiful and I just don't get how she could have ever been a two. It's so mean. I know, I think, I think people are just cruel at that age. Yeah, I know. After graduating high school,
she took a gap year. She traveled to Italy and Chile with friends, and then she began she began college. I know they said college is like high school there. But she began university at Saint Andrews in Scotland to study art history. Man, I would have loved to go to uni in Scotland, yeah. So cool. And she has been just described as shy, feminine, calm, unassuming, demure, sporty and very self assured.
Do you know what Sporty played? No, I said sporty, Sporty. 40 She. Said 4040 now though she played the same as William. She played like tennis and swimming. She played swimming. She was Benjamin Buttoning this entire time. You're still laughing. What the for? Yeah. OK, OK, so it is time for uni. It's 2001 and William breaks from 150 years of family tradition by attending Saint Andrews University in Scotland rather than going to Oxford or Cambridge because he wanted to
study art. And apparently they had a good program there. And he lived in Saint Salvador's hall. And his new friend group on campus was nicknamed the Sally Boys. And among the boys on Salvatore Hall, they would see this beautiful brunette Kate Middleton. And she apparently was dubbed the prettiest girl at Sally's after their freshman orientation week. So like all the guys on campus are in this hall like knew of Kate Middleton and. That's so.
Cute one day they. Couldn't have competed with the Prince of England, do you know? I know. If he had his sights on her, how could they compete? I know one day William had the courage to ask her to eat breakfast with him at the dining hall with him and his friends. And when they were eating breakfast together, they discovered that they had a lot in common. They both were one in the same major. They both enjoyed playing sports, including swimming and
skiing. They both had coincidentally taken a gap year the year before and spent some of that time in Chile and in Florence. So. They both. Did. Wow. Weird. And that freshman year, William and Kate became pretty close. They apparently would study together and because William was on the water polo team, they would wake up early and go swimming together. However, they were just friends at this point. They actually both were dating other people. Yep, I know.
So that first semester, William began dating a creative creative writing major named Carly Massey Birch and she has been described as a country bumpkin who was very down to earth, tall and beautiful. I know and OK, I feel bad saying this, I feel bad. But she was known as having the best derriere on campus. That's what. Derriere like ass. Oh. She had a big butt. This is all from this place. The the best butt the. Best butt on campus?
Wow. And apparently Kate was also going out with an older senior guy named Rupert Finch, but I don't really know a lot about him. I don't. I tried to look into it. I'm so intrigued by this writer with a big butt who's a country bumpkist. Who dated the Prince of England for a brief period of time. Who's she? What's her story? I don't know, maybe we can cover
them in like a side episode. Despite having a solid group of friends and a girlfriend, William really wasn't happy that freshman year and he found his course load very challenging and would often and go home. And when he would go home, he would go clubbing with his friends back in London and spend time with his old summer fling Arabella.
You know the one he had that passionate relationship with, physical relationship and that ultimately LED Carly, you know, the country bumpkin, to break up with him. More. Carly, I was going to say freshman year is really hard. It is even even if you are technically having fun, it just you feel really unstable. I don't know, I just I can understand missing your old. Mates. Yeah. Especially first semester. First semester so rough.
Everyone was crying. And even if you grew up with like the best education or the best tutors going into probably, you know, like college or whatever, it could be a challenge for you. It's so cool. I feel like we, I feel like we've never covered a couple like in college. Yeah, before. Besides Albert. Einstein not like this in Oh
yeah, true to true. Usually not this in depth yet, Einstein. So if you're still in high school and you're about to go into college, just know that it can be a little challenging, but. Even for Prince. William, but not too challenging. I don't know, I'm trying to be. No, it gets better. I feel like with college, it takes a while to really find your footing and your friend
group. It just kind of settles in without you realizing it. But in the beginning, you're like, you're leaving your door open, you know, You're like really forcing these friendships and it's kind of awkward. I don't think anyone really opens their door anymore. Yeah, I want. I'm sure William didn't, but you know also for him, he has to have like security with him, the whole. Time so it doesn't help.
Wow, so after one semester he really wanted to transfer, but the palace was worried that that would be a PR nightmare and that it would alienate their relationship with the Scots. So that sucks. Like you have also have this whole like. Political reasons. You can't. Literally. Can't piss off a whole country. Apparently Prince Philip was like his grandfather was like, yeah, he needs to suck it up, he
just has to stay there. And they settled on a compromise that he could change his major to geography instead. Oh, cool. So then I, I do think that, oh, sorry, just for our maybe young listeners out there, I do think sometimes it is good to just suck it up and stick it out because I think a lot of people after one semester were like, I'm leaving. But no, like you said, it can get better. No for. Real definitely stick it out, it will get better 100%.
I love all the advice for giving some people. OK, so second semester there. Kate is volunteering to catwalk in a on campus charity fashion show. I've heard of this. And William paid 202 hundred to sit in the front row. And as Kate walked down the runway in a black underwear and a see through dress, William apparently turned to his friend Fergus and said Kate's hot wow.
He was a googly eyed for her. And after the fashion show at an after party, Kate and William were deep in conversation in the corner and they clinked their glasses together to toast. And then apparently, I don't know how we know this, but apparently William leaned in and kissed her, but Kate pulled away because keep in mind, she still has a boyfriend at this point and classic. But apparently she's did return
the feelings. I mean, you know, you know, when you kind of like someone, but you don't know if they like you and then is confirmed that they like you and then you really like them. You know, I think that's what happened here. Oh. Come on, Yes, you do. Anyways, so now it's sophomore year, and Kate and William are actually roommates in a shared flat with three other friends, Fergus, Olivia and Natasha. So the five of them are all yeah, they're all living.
They were roommates. They're living together, splitting chores, buying groceries, throwing dinner parties, and I don't think the roommates knew right away that there was something going on between Kate and William in the eyes of the press and the public. William at this point is single, but paparazzi is always trying to catch him with different girls and link him up with
someone. But in their own apartment behind closed doors, William and Kate are free to just be romantic with each other, which because I would say, like, if you're a sophomore in college, don't roam with someone that you're newly dating or that you have a crush on. I think that's bad news, but I can see where William wants privacy. That is kind of a smart idea that like you can at least have some privacy within your own
apartment. It's a way to be discreet, so it's not like you have your own apartment, but then the paparazzi can see Kate, like, coming and going. Yeah. Exactly this way, living together, if Kate's coming and going, they can just be like, Oh well, Kate lives there. Yeah, exactly. Wow. And in public, they would arrive at events separately and they had an agreement to never hold hands in public. So is anything happening at this point in time? Yeah, they're hooking up.
I don't know what happened to Kate's old boyfriend, but her and William are together and actually the their friends first found out at a little party at their flat when William's ex-girlfriend Carly, the country bumpkin, was there. And they're all playing. Never have I ever. And Carly said never have I ever dated two people in this room. And then William rolls his eyes and takes a drink.
And that's the first time that he acknowledged to all of his friends that he was dating Kate. This is such a good teen drama or something. I'm like, gosh. So then after the school year, Kate had a 1920s themed 21st birthday party. Me and Kelly had one fun and they apparently were very cozy with each other. And at the end of the school year, the press is beginning to hear rumors about Kate. People are starting to pick up who is this Kate Middleton person?
Reporters actually showed up at her parents house and confronted her father on his doorstep. And he said, we are very amused at the thought of being in laws with the royal family, but I don't think it is going to happen. But he might not even know that, like Kate and William are dating at this point. Because I don't know. At that age, you don't tell your parents everything. No, especially if it's something casual maybe. It's kind of under the radar, this relationship, I think.
Then a few weeks later, William had his 21st birthday and allegedly he was actually more preoccupied with the presence of his ex-girlfriend Jacka there. You know, Jack is the one from Kenya that he met. Yep. Flash from the past. And if you were there at this party, you would have actually thought that he was dating Jacka instead of Kate. While he people were singing Happy Birthday to him, Jacka was standing next to him. Wow this is such a early 20s college type of experience.
Like. I think, seriously, it feels so ordinary. It does. Why was Jacka you? I don't know. I don't she's, like, going to be there a lot. Like, he really keeps in touch with her. Wow. So then junior year, William and Kate are back at school and still together and are desperate for more privacy. And the couple moved to a very storybook looking private cottage 1/4 mile away from campus and, like, his security officers. Yeah. Like, yeah, it's like a little house. Wow.
Which it's pretty serious. Like I'm too. Young. For that house. In this book, the author writes, William joked that it was like a miniature high growth and with its crab apple trees, blooming rhododendrons and patches of wild poppies, it was an impressive substitute. When it was warm enough, they would pack a picnic hamper and spend a pleasant afternoon stretched out on a blanket, sharing a bottle of chilled white wine, an occasional pheasant, their only company.
They were blissful days, made all the more romantic by the fact virtual actually, no one knew about their romance. Wow, it sounds like so beautiful. I know the public would soon learn about their romance for real. It was leaked on April 1st, 2004. Kate had accompanied the royal family on a trip to Closters, a resort village in the Swiss Alps where they had vacationed for skiing every year, and paparazzi took photos of them on the slopes together.
And The Sun published the photos with the headline Finally dot dot dot. William gets a girl, finally. Finally, he's had girl. Yeah, this is like his fifth girlfriend at this point. Compared to Diana or Meghan Markle, I would say that Kate had a more smooth transition into the royal family. She was really polite with photographers and she never spoke out. And I, I just think she had an easier time, like keeping her peace and not really letting things bother her too much.
I think she like got it what she was supposed to do and she really enjoyed spending time with Williams family too. She's very like professional, I guess you'd say. Keeps her cards close. She's good at that. Now it's senior year, and even though Kate and William seem to be having a lot of fun together, William began telling his friends that he's feeling claustrophobic in the
relationship and wants space. Allegedly, he claimed that he wanted to focus on his studies his senior year before graduating to Kate. Like he claimed he wants to focus on his studies more, but honestly, it kind of seems like he just didn't want to be tied down to one girl. Apparently he had taken up a close friendship with an American heiress named Anna Sloane, who he had met through a
mutual friend. And Anna had recently lost her father in a tragic shooting, and William and her bonded over their shared grief over losing a parent. And he was pursuing her so. I think this is such a common thing. You're in your early 20s too, like that. It sucks to hear that and we feel for Kate, but I mean they are young. It must be kind of intense to be already living in a house together. Yeah. Basically acting like you're married and you're still in
college. I know some people are ready for that when they're in college, but it sounds a bit intense to me and probably being. The heir to the throne. There's probably some pressure as well.
Oh totally. And especially with his parents marriage, he definitely probably wanted to play the field to be like, OK, like, I want to make sure I'm definitely picking the right partner for me. Yeah, I was going to say I was kind of glad to hear he had a couple of girlfriends because, yeah, he, you want him to explore a little bit and, yeah, take his time, not just jump right into it. But still, it's sad for Kate, I know.
Probably. But apparently this Anna girl actually only saw William as just a friend. Yeah, and apparently he also was thinking a lot about life after college, and he actually had his sights on reconnecting a parent. Allegedly. How do we know for sure? But he allegedly wanted to reconnect with Jacka in Kenya. Is Jacka like the one that got away? That seems like him and Kate go on a break.
And actually during that trial, separate separation, he also developed feelings for another person, an heiress named Isabella, who was the daughter of a wealthy banker. And according to Nicole, the author, she had CoverGirl looks compared to Kate's girl next door beauty, which is kind of mean, I think he is different kinds of beauty, I guess. But apparently Isabella also rejected William. Seems like it's actually. So like his dad?
Yeah, that is, he keeps trying to open doors, that's away from Kate, and they keep getting shut right into his face. I like the way you put it. I know I mean. Jack goes away in Kenya. Like, I know. So in the fall they return to school and Kate and William are back together. You know it. That's so normal, too. Like, you go away for the summer, you break up, but then you're back on campus. Let's just be together, you know?
And they agreed that he wouldn't try to contact Isabella anymore, the other girl he was pursuing, which, like, duh. You shouldn't be doing that, you know? Yeah, but Charles was a big fan of Kate and he would invite her to join the family on the annual ski trip, and he actually invited her to go skiing with them just before his wedding to Camilla. Nice. Wow, so Charles himself is reaching out.
Yes, inviting her. Well, maybe he's saying to William, like, invite Kate, you know, But Kate wasn't able to go to the wedding because of royal protocol. Oh, what's the protocol? I don't know. Basically, the firm is just like now she's not serious enough. Maybe they have to be engaged or something to go to the wedding. So then after college, there was some uncertainty about, you know, whether this is just a college relationship or if it's
for the long haul. And I think they both were not sure about it. William traveled to New Zealand to do some real engagements and then returned to Kenya. And he actually met up with Jacka, but this time around he brought Kate with him so. That's. That's a good sign. Then in January 2006, William began his military training and he and Kate would have to be
apart for a month. And beforehand, per Harry suggestion, the couple went off on a romantic ski holiday to the Swiss Alps, where they were photographed kissing by paparazzi. And at this time, the palace is already drawing up plans about a potential engagement, even though William has no plans to propose anytime soon. And apparently this obviously seems very premature, but it's not unusual in the royal family and they start planning things
super far in advance. Weddings, even funerals, they'll plan very far in advance, sometimes decades before a person has even passed away. May 2006 Kate attended the wedding of Williams step sister Laura Parker Bowles and her presence there solidified to the public that she was a part of this family. And around this time, Woolworths began making William and Kate branded wedding China to prepare an announcement. That's so premature. It's really fine advance. What do they do?
With all that China, that doesn't happen. This made William very anxious, especially remembering how much pressure his mom felt before getting married. Apparently Diana had cold feet right before marrying Charles, and her sister said bad luck. Dutch, your name is on the tea towels so you're too late to chicken out now. And you know William, Why did she say that? I know. Seriously. William is not. What you want to hear? Literally, yeah. It's never too late.
He's anxious, you know, he's not even sure if Kate is the one and the public is really projecting this onto. Them. Yeah, he feels like his fate is probably already written. Deep SO. I mean, maybe. I mean, he probably does really really like Kate, but it probably doesn't help your feelings to feel like you have no choice in the matter. Yeah, and it's stressful getting even like normal people, it's stressful to get a lot of pressure from your relatives or whatever, so. I empathize.
Yeah. And William was very cautious, too. Like, he doesn't want to rush into marriage unless this was a decision that they were both absolutely sure about. Like, he wants to make sure that Kate is sure about it, too. Yeah. Because it's a big deal to marry a Prince, so he wants to make sure that Kate knows what she's getting herself into. How old are they at this point in time? Young. They're like 2423.
Wow. So then William is in the Military Academy, and Kate lives in a London flat that her parents bought for her, and she's applying to work at art galleries. I kind of feel like she, yeah, I kind of feel like she probably identifies with, like, Charlotte York. Oh, yeah.
So then it's December 2006, and Kate sat front row at Williams graduation ceremony from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. And Kate's parents actually sat next to her, too, along with Williams grandmother, the Queen. Charles and Camilla were also present. And this was really at Kate's first official event as Williams girlfriend besides the wedding of his step sister. And according to lip readers, who knows if this is true, but Kate whispered to her mother during the ceremony.
I love the uniform, it's so sexy. Wow. And there's speculation about, as mentioned, an eventual engagement and which is only intensified by the press. And curiosity about Kate is just beginning to grow more and more. And William is very determined to make sure that Kate didn't really experience the same suffering that his mom did. So he set her up with a team of people, including royal protection officers and aides who helped to coach her on how to handle photographers.
Nice. So she's kind of like training for many years for this. Meanwhile, her career is kind of uncertain. She sets up a clothing business under her parents company, but she's traveling to Milan to buy all these materials for it and she quickly runs into debt. It's not really going so well. And then she accepts a part time job as an accessory buyer for a clothing store called Jigsaw, but she only does that for a year. And then she just does like project management for her
parents company. So it's kind of all over the place. January of 2007, it's Kate's 25th birthday and the press is speculating that again, maybe this is when they'll get engaged on her birthday. So she she wakes up on her birthday to hundreds of photographers waiting outside her house to snap a photo of her. But of course she's not engaged. She's only 25, and this is the first time that she really started to feel utterly overwhelmed and isolated in this
experience. And William actually issued a very rare statement to the press asking for privacy because he feels bad that Kate's birthday has been ruined by this. But at this time, a single image of Kate could sell upwards of €20,000, so it's very hard to get privacy. And all the while things are getting kind of rocky between them. William and Kate are spending less and less time together with him away doing military training for weeks at a time, and in the spring they do go on a ski trip
to go together. However, there are multiple reports that when William goes to London, he actually goes clubbing without Kate and is often photographed cozying up to other girls one time. He thought you're going to say Jeca. No, no, not Jeca. Just like kind of random girls. One time it's this blonde girl who he's seen flirting and dancing with, another time he's photographed with his arm around this 18 year old Brazilian
student. And honestly, I think it's innocent, but his hand is kind of close to her breast. But I think it's just like where his hand falls. But of course, in the press, it's like William grabbing this girl's boob. And then another time he's photographed dancing with another woman. So. And then another time it's with that big butt writer. Hillbilly or whatever.
But you know, all these instances are very embarrassing for Kate and she gives him an ultimatum that he has to either fully commit to her or it's over. And to that, William told her that they should take a break. That is not the response you want to hear. I know, I know. I'm not shots because I feel like that's what I expected because that's why I felt like he was feeling. But at the same time, I know
what happens in the future. So at the same time, I thought that that wouldn't happen, you know? I know. Wow, how does he turn it around? I know. Gosh. So after this, Prince William started enjoying his freedom and partying with friends, living his bachelor life. Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh, Phillip Williams grandfather allegedly actually even reached out to Kate and told her that William would offer her a ring in the future
when the time is great. I thought you were going to say the Duke of Edinburgh, like slid into Kate's DM was going to hit her. That'd be crazy though. What would you do if your boyfriend broke up with you, but then his grandfather asked you out instead? I feel like then it would be over, like there'd be no way to come. If you accept that, yeah. That's so meddlesome though. Why is he messaging or writing to Kate? I know it's not even adamant
Dad, it's his grandfather. It's like please stay out of this. Maybe they thought there was just like so much money to lose with this. I know. I think they really liked Kate. They're like, oh, OK, She's like you said, keeps her cards close to her trust. Like she's not going to cause any issues for us. Yeah. To distract from the heartbreak, Kate put all of her energy into training for a charity rowing event with her girlfriends.
However, apparently by the time the race came up, she and William were back together and she pulled out of the race. Oh my, if I was her girlfriend, she. Didn't do it. If I was her girlfriend so I got dragged into a rowing event because her and her ex broke up and then she pulled out of the race at the last minute, I'd be pissed. Because they got back together, but apparently. What you can still do and.
Apparently the reason she dropped out is because of the media attention and that she was worried that the practices were a magnet for paparazzi. But like, honestly, it's for charity. Don't you want the spotlight on it? You know, true to like. And it makes you look really athletic. And cool, I bet if they didn't get back together she still would have done it because then William would see the photos in the magazines and be like, whoa, Kate is, you know, in a rowing
charity event. Wow. So years later in their engagement interview, they're actually asked about this time when they broke up, and I want to show a clip first. You've been going out a bit and you split up famously all over the papers. What was all that about? I mean, people are bound to want to know. Well, I think to be honest, I wouldn't read over, I wouldn't believe everything you read in
the paper. But, you know, in that particular instance we did, we did split up for a bit, but that was just, you know, we were both very young. It was at university and we were, we were sort of both finding ourselves as such and being, you know, different characters and stuff. It was very much trying to find our own way and, and we were growing up. And so it was just sort of, you know, a bit of space and a bit of things like that. And it's been worked out for the
better. And I think at the time I 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're younger. And you know, I really, I really valued that time for me as well, although I didn't think it at the time. Looking back on it, I there's a. Chance to resent? Yourself. Definitely. Yeah, this is all bad. Wow they look so young in that.
How long ago was that video? I think that's like 2010, so 14 years ago. He still had hair. It was kind of crazy to see. I know appreciate her honesty. Yeah, I was really impressed that she said that. But she still was very professional and had like a positive spin on it. I we've talked about it like how many times is too many times to break up for a couple? But when you are young, sometimes you do have to have those breakups to reaffirm that you do want to be together.
It's tough, and especially if you are so young and you had spent so much time together, sometimes you do need those breakups to spend time by yourself to figure out who you are and then come back together. And she kind of mentioned that, like figure out who you are as a person. She needed that time. I mean, maybe she didn't need that. Like she said, she didn't really think that at the time, but looking back, maybe she did.
Well, your early 20s too, that is such a young age to potentially never be single ever again if you do get married to this person. So yeah, it is good to have that time to just, you know, be single for the last couple times or months of your life and make sure that that's what you want.
So now 2008 and it's March and the couple go on their annual ski trip, though Charles didn't attend in order to his reduce his carbon footprint, which I only included because that came up in our Charles and Camilla episode that he is very big into the environment. Wow, where did they? Used to go about him. Where did they used to go skiing? Just in the Swiss Alps.
So and then on April 11th Prince William finished his Air Force training and received his Air Force wings from his father Prince Charles at a ceremony and Kate attended it. But apparently William drew criticism when he flew and landed his Royal Air Force helicopter into Kate's parents garden, which prompted people to get upset over the misuse of military resources for the royal family's personal use,
especially during a time of war. And it just like reignited this whole debate about royal members and whether they should even be in the military. Well, I I thought. Did he ruin the garden as well? I don't know if it's like the garden is. The garden must be massive for him to land A helicopter, no? I think they mean like garden as in like lawn. That's what they say over there.
OK, yeah, but I imagined him landing like on the flowers and the propellers, like making all the dirt cascade everywhere. No. But my question is, is he just doing all this training for like nothing? Like what is this for, you know? Yeah, that's a good question. It's tradition. It's. Tradition, but. Yeah. So he does more military service in years than the traditional, than the a royal member traditionally would.
And actually he started being labeled as a reluctant royal or reluctant figurehead because of that. I think I'll. Some of it it's just like duty to country. Like he did really want to actually like fight combat. Obviously in his position that was like never going to happen. But I don't think like other than being a member of the royal family, he kind of has his own career and as a Prince and then eventual king that's been chosen
for him. So I do think like being in the military is kind of like a source of independence and autonomy for him in a sense, because he can like kind of build his career here, even though it's still pretty limited what he can do you. Know like what he does in the military? So it's mostly training that he does, but then later on he becomes a search and rescue pilot. Oh, interesting.
I'm curious. I'm curious why I I can't agree with the fact that he probably shouldn't be using military helicopters to visit his girlfriend, but I'm curious why people would think would come to the conclusion that the royal shouldn't be in the military. I don't, I don't get. That I know because you would think you would want them like you're like, OK, if I'm paying their tax dollars, they do something. Yeah, yeah.
I think. I think it kind of bothers people that like they are in the military, but they don't really do the same level of service as other people. So it's kind of like for show in a way. Yeah, yeah. But it could be, like, good for morale in a way, like, oh, the Prince is here. Like, I don't know. Yeah. And I think it brings attention to what's happening with soldiers and everything. Maybe, I don't know.
Also, they might not feel like, oh, nobody cares about us, you know, like our country doesn't even care that we're out here. Like, if someone from the royal family is involved, I think it could feel good. Yeah. I. I'd be curious to look more into it and hear what some British people have to say about it. We don't really have that in our country.
No, we don't. Know like the people who are like, like the president or something, maybe they had served previously, but they're not like actively serving. Yeah, we don't have anyone like born into these roles. No, yeah. But OK, so then in May there is a royal wedding, but it's William's oldest cousin Peter
who's getting married. And William is actually not able to attend the wedding because he has already accepted the invitation to attend his ex Jeka, her brother's wedding in Kenya. Oh my gosh. So he doesn't go to his cousin's wedding. Instead, Kate goes in his place. She stands in for him at the wedding. And he goes by himself to Jeka's brother's wedding. Yeah, I would not like that. No, that's crazy. I guess Jeka is just a good friend, but I don't know. Who's his cousin related to?
Like which side? Like Diana's or his dad? His dad's side, so she's standing in for him at the wedding, which showed how comfortable she felt in this family and how highly regarded she was by the Queen. But there are also reports at this time that the Queen is concerned with Kate not really having a career. And apparently she asked her advisors what is it exactly that Kate does, Which is kind of a fair question. The Queen I'm. Surprised she cares.
So much the Queen called Kate jobless and. Yes. Yeah, get a job. She's like. Yeah, literally, because to the public, it appears like Kate is just going on these long holidays. She's always photographed either skiing or in the Caribbean with her family or on vacations with William. And at this time, Britain is in a recession. So the Queen is concerned that such frivolous displays of wealth are really off putting.
This influencer. Yeah, literally she doesn't really work, but in her defense it would be hard to have a full time job with the constant media attention. And she, I'm guessing she would have to give it up eventually anyway. So why should she work so hard to like, climb up the corporate ladder or something And then? Exactly. Yeah, that's so true. That would be such a waste. And she also does have a lot of money, so. But she really took this personally. She did not like that they were
saying this about her. So Kate's inner circle, this is like one of the few times that Kate has like kind of responded to something. Her inner circle responded to the tabloids and claimed that she was working full time for her parents company, although I'm not really sure if that's true. And within days, her parents company posted a black and white image to their website, like about their team. But then it was removed. And the queen suggested that Kate should just affiliate
herself with charities. Like, OK, don't, don't try to like, pretend you're working for your parents company. Like just do some charity work. That's kind of embarrassing not Oh my God. Hey mom and dad, can you like post a headshot of me on your website to show that like for. You. Yeah. Then in June, William was knighted by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth in a royal ceremony in which he receives the Royal Night of the Garter title and Kate is in attendance.
And then afterwards he begins his Royal Navy training, continuing this long distance with Kate. And then once again in July, Kate stands in for William at a royal wedding, this time for his second cousin Lady Rose Windsor, as William is away doing his training in the Caribbean. And then in September, William returns home and is expected to
become a full time royal. However, however, he shocks the palace when, as I mentioned, he decides to stay in the Air Force and become a search and rescue pilot. And in doing this, he is seen as, like I said, a reluctant figurehead. And it kind of seems like he's trying to postpone his royal duties. You know he's not that close in line to the throne. That's the rush. Yeah, I guess the only thing is the Queen is getting older, so she can't do as much traveling
anymore. So Charles is already doing, you know, his share. But it's kind of like time for William to start doing some of that while the queen can kind of take a break. And his decision just as much shocks Kate because she didn't necessarily expect to be a military girlfriend. And this also means that they're going to have to wait a little bit longer for them to even begin planning their future together and planning having a family or getting married. What was she thinking when she
was at all these ceremonies? I know. Yeah. I guess you thought that he would just like, do the training and then be like, OK, now I'm gonna do just be a Prince. I guess so. I know it's upsetting everybody, but I'm glad. I'm kind of glad that he decided to do this. I'm I'm guessing he does. Upset me, I'm does happy to think for a little bit doing something. I'd rather he'd do more. Than less, yeah. What's the point of doing training and then just nothing
with the training, You know? I guess they can use him in case there's a war and they need people or. Something, yeah, we need all the extra bodies. We completely run out. We really need Prince William. That's how dire the situation. Planting all this, all this training and then you don't use. It I know. Seriously. So then it's 2009 and Kate Middleton. Poor Kate, she has this crazy uncle, Gary Goldsmith, who is, this is her mom, Carole brother. And I guess he's this mega millionaire.
He's an entrepreneur. Oh my God. But Rick, he's kind of crazy though. And in July 2009, to Katie's horror, he invited undercover reporters to his villa. And while they're there, he's just like snorting cocaine with €100 bill. And he just blabbed about William and Kate. I don't think he really said anything too salacious or crazy.
I don't actually think they had much to hide, but he does tell the reporters that Kate and William are planning to get married at the end of that year, which was not true. Yeah, So I don't know what he's thinking, but Kate was super embarrassed. And also just the fact that she has this crazy uncle who's like doing coke in front of reporters and stuff. And all that coke, Yeah. Just adding a little stuff like that can like flare up in the
press. But both William and Charles assured her that it will all blow over and it's no big deal. And it did. But still, the Middleton family abruptly took off to the Caribbean to escape and go on vacation to as a natural reaction when something like that happens, you go on vacation impromptly. To the Caribbean to hide the fact that the uncle does coke. Yeah, so. Are wedding bells coming up? Not yet. Wait, William, our it's 2009.
So Kate and William are still pretty far from getting engaged. He just signed up for 18 months of training in the Air Force, though he at this time, he's assuring her that they are serious and that it's not a question of if, but when. And during this time, they see each other on the weekends. But it's still tough and isolating for Kate because at this time, most of her friends have gotten married or engaged.
And so, you know, she's not really like living the the life that they lived in their early 20s. Like, I'm still able to like, go out and do her own thing. She's at this time is getting a little impatient or just curious, like, is this actually going to happen? And the press starts calling her weighty Katie. Then in the fall of that year, 2009, it's come out that the Queen does need Harry and William to do more royal engagements because she is getting old and she cannot
travel as much. So William, unfortunately, does have to take a step back from the military and he's just got to do what he's got to do. He sucks it up and does his Prince stuff. January of the next year, he goes on a publicity tour to New Zealand and Australia. And while in Australia, an elderly woman asked him if he plans to marry Kate. And he responded with a laugh and said, as I keep saying, just wait and see. I know, I feel bad. They're getting a lot of pressure. This is like us.
Normally normal people get this, but this is magnified. It's been so many years, what's with all the coy answers and stuff, you know? It's. Like, yeah. I know at this point just cut Kate loose, you know? But remember when Kristen Stewart went on Howard Stern's podcast and he said, like, you going to marry her about her girlfriend at the time and who's now her fiance? And she was like, yes, yes, if you're a public person and you're asked that, you're really
put on the spot. There's no good way to answer it because if you say yes, you're just kind of like maybe giving up the surprise too, or, you know, causing all this noise even further. Yikes. Like he's probably like, hold off on the China guy. Really, we don't need that. Yet I wonder what happened to all that China from before. I don't know they're. Still holding on to. It Yeah.
So at this time, Kate and William seem to be growing closer than ever, but there is just an intense amount of pressure also from their families as well. Kate's mother, Carol, apparently is getting increasingly concerned that her daughter is 28 without a ring on her finger. That's not that old. But. Mom's worst nightmare? Apparently, apparently Kate's mom is, like, kind of not a social climber, but she is very caught up in Kate's relationship with William at this time.
She really wants Kate to, like, secure the bag. She doesn't want her to be so close to potentially being a Princess and then having it fall through. So then in October, Yeah, Yeah. I mean, that'd be crazy. Then in October, Kate's mother would not need to wait for much longer because while on a trip to Kenya, William flew Kate up to the high slopes of Mount Kenya and standing on the shores of the mountain with a view of the glacial lakes at over 12,000
feet, he popped the question. And he proposed with his mother's engagement ring, which was a 12 cut sapphire ring surrounded by 14 diamonds and an 18 karat white gold. And this is October. And then a couple weeks later, the couple officially announced their engagement on November 16th, 2010. And here is a little interview clip of them talking about it. Kate, people are obviously incredibly curious about you. So let's start with the obvious. William, where did you propose? When, how?
And Kate, what did you say? It was about 3 weeks ago on a holiday in Kenya. We had a little private time away together with some friends and I just decided that it was the right time really. We've been talking about about marriage for a while, so it wasn't a massively big surprise, but I took her up somewhere nice in in Kenya and and proposed It's very. Romantic. There's a true romantic in that there is. So yes, of. Course, yes, Yeah.
Absolutely. And you knew you were going to do this from day one of the whole day or you you waited till the end. I've been planning it for a while, but as every guy out there will know, it's a, it takes a certain amount of motivation to get yourself going. So I was planning it and then it just felt really right out in, in Africa. It was beautiful at the time and I just, I had done a little bit of planning to obviously share my romantic side.
OK, you've been on holiday a while, so did you see this coming? Was he getting a bit nervous and jumpy? No, not at all. No, Because you know, we were out there with friends and things, so I really didn't expect it at all. I thought he might have sort of maybe thought about it, but no, it was a total shock when it came and very excited. And produced the rain. Yeah, there and then.
I did, yeah. I've been carrying it around with me in my rucksack for about 3 weeks before that, and I literally would not let it go ever. I went, I was keeping a hold of it because I knew this thing, if it disappeared, I've been in a lot of trouble. And yeah, because I planned it, sort of. It went fine. As you know, you'll hear a lot of horror stories about proposing and things get horribly wrong. It went really, really well. And yeah, I was really pleased that she said yes.
And it's a family ring. It is a family ring, yes, it's my mother's engagement ring. So I thought it was quite nice because obviously she's not been around to share any of the the fun and excitement at all. That's this is my way of keeping her sort of close to it all. Interesting. But I'm confused because I thought Kenya was like him and Janka's place or whatever. Janka, what's her? Janka Jacka. Jacka. No, I had the same thought. Why did he have to do it in his and Jacka's place? I know.
He's like fixed and I know he loves Kenya and maybe that's why he loved Jacka just cuz like he associates her with Kenya but. Maybe. Makes you worry, you know? Is it? Yeah. Is he still caught up on her? Oh. Now I'm intrigued. Well, I would be a little. Annoyed. They said in the clip that they were out with friends and I want to wonder if Jacka was one of the friends that they were out with.
Maybe. Could make sense because they were in Kenya unless they brought a whole crew with them to Kenya. Yeah, I don't know. I. Thought it was funny. He said something about like working up the courage and she turned and like looked at the journalist. She, I don't know, I just feel like she had the reaction to that, like, oh, really had to work up the courage. Like it was, it's been years. I don't know, maybe reading too.
Far into it and he was like, oh, it wasn't too big of a surprise because we've been talking about it, but seems like a little bit of a surprise, I'd say. Wow, it's official. It's official. I remember this. I because honestly, they weren't really on my radar until they got engaged. I actually don't remember them until like their wedding was upon us and like I just. You were pretty young. I mean, you were like 10 years old. I was really young.
But I remember, like, I remember when it was like, oh, the royal weddings, like coming up. And then I watched it like live on TV and then they had like, DVDs of it. But I don't really remember the whole proposal of it all. Me neither. I remember it was. Of course we're Americans. Yeah, but it was still a big
deal. Like we always got People magazine in my house and and then people started doing this thing where any story about the Royals, like there would be like a special title like the Royals and the royal coverage just at the time seemed to just pick up more and more. And I feel like it never really stopped their engagement, like really sparked, it seems, huge interest in them that I just
maybe wasn't aware of as a kid. I mean, I'm sure there was a huge interest in them, like with Diana and everything, but I feel like it just kind of made people excited internationally. I think it made people excited all over again because before it was like, yeah, it was the excitement of, oh, Diana and Charles got married, and then they have their babies and they have their kids. And it was exciting when, like,
Diana was alive. But then after she died, the only excitement was like, yeah, William and Harry are growing up, but like, that's not that exciting. But having like a wedding on the horizon, oh, you know, that's something. Yeah, and these big bro weddings, it's almost like a huge holiday and it's a huge money maker for them to like. They sell so many different memorabilias associated with it. People travel and it's huge
publicity, yeah. In the interview, Kate also revealed that William had asked her father for permission for her hand in marriage. And that is where we will stop for now. Oh my gosh, you're leaving us on a cliffhanger. Do they get married? Does Jacka read? I know. Does she? Or Carly the country. Bumpkin with the big ass? What about Finch, the older senior that Kate was dating her freshman year? Oh yeah? And what about Pippa? What's up with her? I know she really became a
celebrity around this. It's funny, she actually became known for her ass as well. Not to objectify but I remember like is she at the wedding? This is really for the next episode, but she was, you know, the maid of honor was helping Kate with her train and all the photos were are dressed of like her butt backside. Can't wait. People were like. Whoa. Pippa stole the show, but Pippa? Such a cute name. I know. Thanks, Mel. Oh my God, thank you. So impressed.
So impressed with all your research. I know I knew pretty much absolutely none of this, honestly. Well, thank you guys for listening. And yeah, we'll get back together next week with more Kate and William on the Patreon. I wonder if there's going to be like any coincidences that are going to happen. What do you mean? Coincidence. Like you know when you posted the Charles and Charles and. And Camilla. And then the Camilla. The Queen died.
Which sucked cause in the episode we were like the queen is never gonna die and then she. Could die. And then we just posted the Nina and Ian and Nina got engaged literally the day of so. Crazy. I know I think there's been other things too, so I wonder if there's. Gonna be anything. Things are really things are really In Sync with this show, I know. Yeah, like you, You seeing? Oh, why am with the Ronson? Yes, Samantha Ronson when you're researching Samantha Ronson like.
So. Weird works in mysterious ways but especially with the Royals. Like now I'm nervous like there could be nothing. Especially since doesn't King Charles like have cancer or something? Oh God, Gage. Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That's really morbid, but like, it's just so hopefully. Not hope. Hopefully nothing bad happens. No, Hopefully. Knock on wood. But maybe like Camilla will get pregnant or something. Camilla, my God, that would be
truly a miracle. Maybe Kate will get pregnant again, who knows? I don't know. Yeah. Anyways, guys, thank you so much for listening and yeah, more to come next week with this. Lovely couple, we'll get back together next week. Get back together next week. Shall I come back again? Tell me, Dee, how are you? Lonesome to.