Princess Kate once gave Prince William an ultimatum that brought their relationship to the brink of collapse, according to a new royal biography.
The future King and Queen had been together for four years when their romance ended in 2007.
But their split did not last.
A new book reveals the late Queen Elizabeth II played a key role in encouraging William to reconsider the relationship after seeing how deeply he was affected.
The revelations appear in ‘William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story’ by The Mirror’s Royal Editor Russell Myers.
Mr Myers details the early years of the couple’s relationship and the period when they came close to going their separate ways.
Kate had reportedly become frustrated with the direction of their relationship and wanted William to commit to their future.
“Catherine delivered an ultimatum to William,” Myers writes.
“While she did not explicitly demand an engagement or even a promise of marriage, she did break free from the gentle and arguably submissive persona that had typified her relationship with the future king.”
The couple had met while studying at the University of St Andrews in 2001.
Their friendship eventually developed into a relationship, with their romance becoming public after they were photographed together on a skiing trip in Switzerland in 2004.
They later shared a flat while at university.
But by 2007, the relationship was under serious strain.
William and Kate eventually split that year.
The breakdown was reportedly particularly difficult for William, prompting his grandmother to intervene.
The Queen had seen the damage caused by the breakdown of the marriage between William’s father, King Charles III, and Princess Diana.
Mr Myers writes that she invited William to lunch after becoming concerned about his state of mind.
“Sensing William was struggling, the Queen invited him to Sunday lunch to judge his mood,” Myers writes.
“William was more than just crestfallen and worried about whether he was throwing away the one constant in his life. He was, according to one well-placed source, ‘completely broken’.”
The Queen then offered her grandson advice about the future of his relationship.
“In that moment, the Queen advised her grandson that the only certain path is the one supported by faith. It was all she had to say,” Myers said.
William and Kate reconciled during the summer of 2007, only months after their split.
Three years later, William proposed during a private holiday in Kenya.
The couple announced their engagement in 2010 before marrying at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
Kate later recalled feeling shy when she first met William.
“I actually think I went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off, feeling very shy about meeting you,” Kate recalled to William in their 2010 engagement interview, revealing that the Prince wasn’t there for Freshers’ Week.
“So, it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other, but we did become very close friends from quite early.”
The couple have now been married for 15 years.
Their relationship has also unfolded alongside the demands of royal life and periods of personal difficulty.
Kate underwent chemotherapy treatment in 2024 after announcing she had been diagnosed with cancer.
The couple have continued their public duties while raising their family and preparing for William’s eventual role as King.