The Prince and Princess of Wales© PA
Prince William and Princess Kate have taken on senior roles in the royal family, but their beginnings as a married couple were very different.
The couple who will be the future King and Queen, underwent a significant shift exactly 15 years ago, solidifying Kate’s future role. In November 2010, Prince William and Kate publicly announced their engagement, setting the stage for Kate to become a future Queen. The romantic proposal took place during a vacation in Kenya, where William presented his soon-to-be bride with his late mother Princess Diana’s priceless sapphire engagement ring.
Since that time, the couple has tied the knot, welcomed three adorable children, assumed the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales, and navigated unexpected health issues, including Kate’s cancer diagnosis and familial discord. However, 15 years ago, they were a young, carefree couple eagerly looking towards the future.
Reflecting on this historic event, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! that the timing couldn’t have been better, reports the Mirror.
She explained, “I think there was something of a national sigh of relief when William finally announced his engagement to Catherine. The relationship had been going on for the best part of a decade: they had broken up for a short period, then they were back together but still, he didn’t put a ring on her finger. And then came the announcement that he had proposed in Africa. Phew!”
The Prince and Princess of Wales© PA
“When they finally sat down for their ‘engagement interview’ we all discovered that she was an extremely personable, already quite confident, young woman – and that they were an established couple who understood each other very well and were clearly very much in love. It was a sharp contrast to that awkward interview many years earlier when Charles and Diana got engaged.”
Inevitably, comparisons were drawn to William’s late mother, Princess Diana. When questioned about her during the engagement interview, Kate remarked, “Obviously I would have loved to have met her and she’s obviously an inspirational woman to look up to. Obviously on this day and going forward and things, you know it is a wonderful family, the members who I’ve met have achieved a lot and very inspirational.”
Reflecting on their loved up interview, Jennie explained, “I’m sure they both felt the weight of history on their shoulders when they decided to marry. Catherine was not just marrying the man she loved, she was entering into an agreement to be a future queen – with all the responsibility that carries.
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