If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s marriage has undergone major changes over the last year, and royal experts are taking notice.
One of the biggest shifts has been their new openness when it comes to public displays of affection; it’s a complete 180-degree difference from their early years as a married couple.
“I’ve been with them on many occasions, and when the cameras drop, you’ll often see them walk away and Kate will put an arm around his waist, or he’ll place his hand in the small of her back,” Katie Nicoll, author of Kate: The Future Queen, told the Mirror. “There’s a lovely closeness between them, and whereas at the start of their marriage they seemed shy about being affectionate in public, they’re so much more confident now.”
Related story
Prince William & Kate Middleton’s Royal Reset Marks the End of ‘Unhappy Memories’
Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images.
For locals who live near their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, they are accustomed to seeing the dynamic royal duo “sneak out for low-key date nights at nearby pubs.” Their renewed closeness after 14 years of marriage comes on the heels of a family feud, Prince Andrew’s Jeffrey Epstein controversy, and Kate and King Charles’ cancer battles.
Their deep bond is also why they are on the move later this year, taking their home base from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge. “Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind,” a palace insider told Hello! Magazine. “They are looking forward to creating many happy family memories in their new home.”
Prince William hasn’t been hiding how challenging his life has been, either. In the new trailer for Eugene Levy’s upcoming Apple TV+ show, The Reluctant Traveler, the Prince of Wales said, “I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had.” Yet, William and Kate came out of the fray stronger than ever.
It’s why when Kate released a video update about her health in September 2024, the couple packed on the PDA. There was handholding, smooching, and some noticeable chemistry between them that they had often kept away from the public in prior years. With her health journey entering a new phase, Kate and William were undergoing their own relationship renaissance.
“William and Kate seem like a different couple! They used to be more reserved,” an insider shared with Us Weekly in July 2024. “But now, they can’t help but look at each other and smile.”
It’s a fresh era for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Before you go, click here to see more photos of Prince William & Kate Middleton through the years.
