Prince William Promised Kate Middleton She Wouldn't Have to Give Up on Her Family to Marry Him
Seems like the bare minimum, but it's a big deal in the Royal Family.


These days, when you get married, you don't expect to, like... never see your family of origin again. If you personally do and that's a choice, that's totally understandable, but for someone like Kate Middleton who comes from such a tight-knit family, it seems absurd to even suggest it.
But, like with everything else, being a royal comes with its own set of bizarre and archaic unwritten rules—one of which being that when you marry into the Royal Family, you can pretty much forget about your own. Thankfully, Prince William knew that that arrangement wouldn't work for his long-time love, and he promised her she could still be close with the Middletons after they got married.
"Once you married into the Royal Family, you became a Windsor and that was that," royal expert Katie Nicholl said on the documentary Kate Middleton: Working Class to Windsor (via the Mirror). "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.
"He promised her that they’d always stay a part of the family and they have done.
"Whether it’s joining the Queen at Ascot or being on an important barge within the Queen’s fleet at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, they’ve been there."
This seems like a pretty good thing, given how much of a life change becoming a royal already entails. If the duchess had had to also forego her family, I can only imagine how hard it would have been on her emotionally—not to mention how utterly unnecessary.
The Sussexes somewhat mirrored this arrangement as well: While they were working royals, Meghan Markle's mom Doria Ragland was often involved in Royal Family gatherings.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Is Purple the Shortcut to Looking Like Old Money?
Even if you didn't inherit a fortune, you can dress like you did.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Why One Former Queen Was Held "Prisoner" at Kensington Palace
She was forbidden "from reading popular books" or walking "downstairs without holding someone's hand."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Dua Lipa Pairs Her Snakeskin Trench With a Chanel Bag
The pop star's new rules scream loud luxury.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Refused to Abide by a 350-Year-Old Royal Tradition on Her Wedding Day
She insisted on doing this one very important thing her way, according to a royal expert.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
The New Weekend Hobby Prince George and Prince Louis Are Currently Obsessed With
"At weekends, we go from one competition to the next," Prince William revealed.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why Princess Kate and Prince William "May Need a Referee" Amid Major Differing Opinions
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis could get caught in the middle, according to one royal expert.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Kate Might Miss an Important Family Milestone Involving Sister Pippa Middleton
The Princess of Wales's schedule may have forced her to make a difficult decision.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William Says He's "Trying Not to Be Biased" When It Comes to His Kids and This "Passionate" Choice
He's fine with Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis making their own decisions.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Admits He Has a Secret Online Habit: "I Get Quite Into It"
"I can be on there for ages."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Could be Getting a New Title Very Soon Following Exciting News
The Prince of Wales would be taking on a very important role.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Has a Surprising Claim to Fame After Claiming He's "Broken the Record" for This Activity
The Prince of Wales brought major dad energy to a Football Association event.
By Kristin Contino Published