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What Kate said when the world wanted to know why she broke up with Prince William


Watch the full episode 11 of Yahoo UK’s show ‘The Royal Box,‘ here from Friday 9 November.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been married for seven years and have three children.

They are now regarded as a rock solid, stabilising force within the royal family, but that wasn’t always the case.

Kate and William had been together for four years when they announced they were splitting in 2007. The separation was said to be a mutual decision – the prince, then 24, had started his training as an armoured troop commander in Camp Bovington, Dorset and the pair were thought to be only seeing each other once a week.

The split surprised many royal watchers, who had thought a wedding was more likely than a break-up.

Though the world’s press were desperate to speak to her, Kate showed the discretion she has since become renowned for.

Camilla Tominey, a royal commentator who has covered the royals for more than 10 years, said Kate’s reaction demonstrated she is a “class act.”

“She said ‘Look, I’ve never spoken before and I don’t think this is the right time to start,” Tominey tells Yahoo UK‘s ‘The Royal Box‘.

“She was so polite, and together and collected.”

Kate and William on their day of their graduation in 2005 (Getty)
Kate and William on their day of their graduation in 2005 (Getty)

After their break-up, Kate reportedly went to Ireland with her mother Carole Middleton and was spotted out and about with her younger sister Pippa at London clubs.

Kate and William sparked rumours they were back together at the the Concert for Diana in June 2007. Although she was present at the event, she sat two rows behind the Prince, to avoid the attention being on them.

Shortly after, it was confirmed they were an item once again.

Kate sat two rows behind William at the Concert for Diana in June 2007 (Getty)
Kate sat two rows behind William at the Concert for Diana in June 2007 (Getty)

The pair announced their engagement in November 2010 and during their joint TV interview, they reflected on their break-up.

William explained: “It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up so it was just a bit of space, and it worked out for the better.”

Kate said:At the time I wasn’t very happy about it, but it actually made me a stronger person. You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn’t realised. I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger, and I really valued that time for me as well although I didn’t think it at the time.”

They were married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.


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