Prince William and Kate Middleton had two brief breakups before tying the knot in April 2011.In 2005, they split after graduating from university; in 2007, they split again for a few months.The latter breakup left William “completely broken” and was reportedly undone with the help of Queen Elizabeth II.<\/p>\n
Prince William<\/a> and Kate Middleton<\/a>‘s love story<\/a> is quite literally what fairytale dreams are made of, but the longtime couple<\/a> didn’t make it this far without a few bumps in the road. Most famously, the Prince and Princess of Wales briefly split twice: in 2005, shortly after graduating from St. Andrew’s University, and again in 2007. The latter breakup reportedly happened over the phone<\/a> and was later undone with the help of none other than Queen Elizabeth II<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n “[The late monarch] could see that [Kate] had all the qualities of a future Queen,” Russell Myers, author of William and Catherine, The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, told People<\/a>. In an exclusive interview, Myers told the publication that she proved a “catalyst for William changing course” and that, if he “had faith in the relationship…that would be enough to carry them through.”<\/p>\n King Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, and Kate Middleton during the monarch’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Last year, meanwhile, former royal butler Grant Harrold told InStyle that William was \u201cquiet,\u201d \u201cwithdrawn,\u201d and \u201cnot himself<\/a>\u201d during their brief split and that, ultimately, “Kate was always the one.” When they did reconcile, Harrold recalled, he was \u201cthrilled.”\n<\/p>\n So, what really happened between the Prince and Princess of Wales back in 2007, and why was Kate, at one point, “miserable”? Ahead, here’s everything you need to know about the brief breakup that very nearly changed the future of the British monarchy<\/a> forever.\n<\/p>\n The breakup began with an “ultimatum” issued by Kate Middleton. <\/p>\n Kate Middleton at Cheltenham Festival in 2007.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n As legend has it, Prince William pulled the plug on his then-girlfriend because she reportedly gave him an ultimatum<\/a>. The future princess was hounded by paparazzi on her 25th birthday in January 2007 and “called William in floods of tears.” The situation was \u201cincredibly distressing for both of them,\u201d royal expert Myers wrote<\/a>, with Kate eventually telling William, \u201cI can\u2019t do this anymore.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe situation was intolerable and William felt entirely helpless,\u201d Myers recalled, adding that Kate was “deeply unhappy and at a loss to describe how their relationship had faltered in such a short space of time.\u201d\n<\/p>\n According to a friend in whom she confided, meanwhile, the future princess was “miserable,” but she “certainly wasn\u2019t desperate.”\n<\/p>\n “She felt as though she had nothing to lose and for the first time, she probably relayed her true feelings to William,” the friend added, per Myers. “She wasn\u2019t demanding an engagement, but she wanted a commitment, and if he couldn\u2019t deliver that, well, then she left him in no doubt that it was best they go their separate ways.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Prince William ended things over the phone. <\/p>\n Following her so-called ultimatum, Prince William “did not react in the way Catherine expected,” wrote Myers, because he was “blinded by his own insecurities.” In a 30-minute phone call, the future king explained why he felt they were on \u201cdifferent pages<\/a>\u201d and \u201csaid he could not offer a guarantee of marriage.” Kate was subsequently “devastated.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe couple agreed to give each other the space they needed,\u201d Myers continued. \u201cSecretly, Catherine wondered whether she would ever see William again.\u201d William, for his part, confided to one senior courtier that, \u201cat least she is free.\u201d<\/p>\n The future king was “completely broken” in the aftermath of the split. <\/p>\n Prince William at Beaufort Polo Club in 2007.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n As we now know, the breakup did not go well for Prince William. Indeed, the future king was “completely broken<\/a>” afterwards, according to Myers, and “more than just crestfallen…[he was] worried about whether he was throwing away the one constant in his life.”\n<\/p>\n Middleton, meanwhile, showed her “inner steel<\/a>” during the brief split. Richard Eden later recalled a conversation between her and TV presenter Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, who was eager to know how she really felt about the breakup.\n<\/p>\n “[Kate] made clear with her body language that she didn\u2019t wish to discuss the subject, and the conversation moved swiftly on to happier and less fraught matters,”\u00a0Eden wrote in the Daily Mail<\/a>. “[That] first encounter with her taught me that she was a tough cookie who wasn\u2019t going to be inveigled into saying something she didn\u2019t want to say by anyone\u2014not even a close friend of the royals.”<\/p>\n Queen Elizabeth II reportedly encouraged the ex-couple’s reconciliation. <\/p>\n Queen Elizabeth II was famously a fan of Middleton, so it will perhaps come as no surprise that William turned to his grandmother for relationship advice. Per Myers, a private conversation between William and the late monarch proved to be a \u201ccatalyst for William changing course\u201d and realizing that \u201cif he had faith in the relationship and his love for her, then that could be enough to carry them through.\u201d\n<\/p>\n A source likewise told People<\/a>, \u201cIn 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n From there, William texted Kate, \u201cwondering if Catherine would even reply,\u201d Myers wrote. The \u201cinitial exchanges were tentative, if a little frosty,\u201d he continued. William said he missed her and wondered if they\u2019d both still be attending a party they\u2019d had in their respective calendars for some time.\n<\/p>\n They reconnected at a party a few months later. <\/p>\n Prince William and Kate Middleton on a royal visit to the Solomon Islands in 2012.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Following William’s proposal, Kate did agree to meet her ex at the party, if only to “clear the air.” When they saw one another, however, \u201cit was clear their love had not extinguished,\u201d Myers wrote<\/a>. \u201cThe couple peeled off from the rest of the party and spent hours locked in deep conversation.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cAfter speaking for what seemed like hours, William\u2019s charm, it seemed, had worked,\u201d he added. \u201cThe couple returned to the party. As the cocktails flowed and the dance floor filled, they only had eyes for each other.\u201d\n<\/p>\n