- Before they tied the knot in 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton dated for several years and even lived together for quite some time.
- Will took his time proposing to Kate, but he had a really sweet reason for doing so.
- According to royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl, Will wanted to give Kate time to "back out" if royal life wasn't what she really wanted.
Prince William and Kate Middleton dated for years before they eventually tied the knot in 2011. They dated for so long, in fact, that some people wondered if Will would ever get around to proposing to Kate.
As it turns out, Will actually had a really sweet reason for waiting so long to pop the question. According to royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl in her book Kate: The Future Queen, Will didn't want to go through a divorce like his parents and he wanted to give Kate plenty of time to be really, truly, 100 percent sure that royal life was for her before he put a ring on it.
Nicholls writes:
"Divorce had dogged the royal family for too long. From the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936 that had nearly ruined the monarchy to the more recent divorces of Diana and Charles, as well as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, unhappy marriages threatened to seriously unhinge an otherwise solid establishment. Before William asked Kate to marry him, he wanted to be sure it was what she really wanted. By living together, Kate could decide whether it was, and as William later recalled 'back out' if it wasn't."
According to Nicholl, the time that Will and Kate spent living together before they got engaged was crucial for the couple, who had the chance to give marriage a test run of sorts.
"William and Kate, however, knew each other's flaws and they worked well as a team," she writes. "Forever scarred by the pain of his parents' divorce, it was essential to William that when he married, it would be for life."
Clearly, Kate decided that she was ready for royal life and she's been a model royal ever since.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
-
Kaia Gerber Has Carried This Tote Bag for Six Months StraightIt's finally back in stock.
-
Patina Miller’s Sultry New Manicure Is Reviving This Dramatic Nail ShapeIt's also easier to DIY than you think.
-
How Queen Camilla Secretly Supported Survivor of Shocking Rape CaseThe Queen is a longtime advocate for domestic violence and sexual abuse victims.
-
Prince William Could be Getting a New Title Very Soon Following Exciting NewsThe Prince of Wales would be taking on a very important role.
-
How Kate Middleton Revealed Her "Inner Steel" and Proved She Was a "Tough Cookie" During Awkward Party MomentThe future Queen has always stood her ground.
-
Americans Have a Surprising Favorite Member of the Royal Family, Per Latest Poll—and It Isn't Princess KateThe rankings are wildly different than the same U.K. survey.
-
Prince William Has a Surprising Claim to Fame After Claiming He's "Broken the Record" for This ActivityThe Prince of Wales brought major dad energy to a Football Association event.
-
Princess Kate Isn't Traveling Overseas This Month—But She Is Making This Major Solo Appearance InsteadMark your calendars, royal fans.
-
Prince William Is Heading to This Country for the First Time—But Princess Kate Won't be Joining HimThe visit is "off the table" for the Princess of Wales.
-
Jewelry Expert Reveals Who Owns the Most Expensive Royal Engagement RingFrom pink sapphires to classic diamonds, these regal rings don't disappoint.
-
Kate Middleton Shares Her Surprising Favorite Thing About "Being a Princess" With Young FanA resurfaced video from 2019 shows a sweet interaction the royal had in Northern Ireland.
