Prince William & Kate Middleton Celebrate 13 Years Of Marriage With Optimism

Apr 29, 2024

The world watched on April 29, 2011, when Prince William and Catherine Middleton wed in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London. The heavily publicized wedding prompted various celebrations, including street parties across England, William and Kate merchandise, and plenty of speculation about how the royal couple would navigate their roles as the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. After Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, William and Kate were given new titles — Prince and Princess of Wales.

The couple had been together for eight years when they married. They started dating while they were both students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where they completed their undergraduate degrees. 

A lot has happened since those days, including William and Kate’s official engagement announcement in 2010, followed by their wedding, which took place 11 years ago today in 2011. In 2021, the Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated one decade of marriage, which they honored by releasing unseen photos of themselves as a married couple. 

Since their special day, William and Kate have been busy building a family, which includes Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Sadly, the royal couple was struck with a piece of devastating news when Kate announced that she was diagnosed with cancer.

Since then, the couple has been getting back on their feet as the Princess of Wales continues her recovery in private. As they celebrate their 13th anniversary today, let us look back on how they managed to weather the storm of her current health condition and how their lasting love has powered them through all these years.  

According to Town & Country, Kate met William at the University of St. Andrew's, where the two enrolled in 2001. In one of the most famous stories from their university days, the prince famously watched a charity fashion show that featured none other than Kate herself. However, it wasn't until 2004 that their relationship was out in the open.

While the world was already moved by the pair announcing their engagement in 2010, people were even more touched by the tribute William paid to his late mother, Princess Diana. He proposed to Kate with a sapphire engagement ring that had once belonged to Diana.

By the time the big day came around, the public was incredibly curious about the dress that Kate would wear, as she had already become well-known for her sense of style. She didn't disappoint when she stepped out in a custom gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Since shoulders and arms have to be covered in the church according to royal protocol, Kate went with a long-sleeved lace dress.

It was a moment that the world has continued to remember, but it was especially wonderful for the Prince and Princess of Wales’ family members. Prince Harry served as William’s best man in the ceremony, whereas Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, was her maid of honor.

After the couple exchanged their vows, they headed off in a horse-drawn carriage to Buckingham Palace, according to Royal UK. The pair further cemented their union on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with a few joyous kisses.

It’s safe to say people were blown away by how incredible William and Kate’s wedding was. The pair have gone on to prove that their love is meant to last, as they have celebrated several years of marriage together.

On July 22, 2013, the couple became parents when they welcomed their first son, George. In May 2015, they welcomed another baby – this time, a daughter named Charlotte. And in April 2018, the couple welcomed their third child, Louis. According to TODAY, William and Kate have often been seen taking their kids to school and picking them up.

Just before their 10th wedding anniversary, the pair visited Westminster Abbey – the place where they exchanged vows. William and Kate shared a heartwarming video on Instagram on the day of their anniversary that showed them spending time with their precious family. They captioned the post:

“Thank you to everyone for the kind messages on our wedding anniversary. We are enormously grateful for the 10 years of support we have received in our lives as a family. W & C.”

Ever so gracefully, William and Kate seemed to put publicly celebrating their anniversary in 2022 to the side as it took place during a difficult period for Australia. According to PEOPLE, the country had experienced devastating floods especially around the couple’s 11th anniversary. William released a heartfelt statement about how residents and emergency responders were working diligently to restore the area.

However, the official royal family YouTube channel did upload a video of William and Kate in honor of their happy day.

William and Kate’s love story – especially their wedding – has been nothing short of fairytale perfection. 13 years since they tied the knot, photos and memories of the event are a testament to how impressive and graceful their special day was.

Sadly, in 2024, the British royal family was struck with tragedy when both King Charles and Kate were diagnosed with unspecified types of cancer. The two have since received the best care from medical professionals and are recovering, while Charles has returned to some of his royal duties. 

With Kate’s harrowing diagnosis, many wondered why she kept her condition from the public for so long. 

“As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok,” she said. 

The Princess of Wales said the family needs “some time, space and privacy” while she completes her treatment. 

“My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery,” the princess assured. “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”

A source told People Magazine that Kate’s announcement came from the heart: “She wrote the words herself, delivered it personally and wanted to decide when the time was right to hit the world with this news.” 

The source added that William was “extremely proud of his wife for the courage and strength she has shown not just this week, but since her surgery in January.” 

Meanwhile, William has since become more protective of his family. A People source revealed, "Now more than ever he’s focused on ensuring his wife has the privacy she needs to fully recover and that his children are shielded from the understandable interest in the news that has been shared.”

Ever since they tied the knot, William has been seen to take charge of protecting his family and caring for his wife. To celebrate their 12th anniversary in 2023, the royal couple posted an adorable photo of themselves together while biking.

"12 years ❤️," they simply captioned the post on Instagram. 

Many of their fans showered them with well-wishes and adoration.

“You two are the reason I love the Royal Family. Watching your amazing bond and the life w you’ve built together is very inspirational. You have vision and foresight, resilience and strength. Wishing you both many more happy years together,” a fan wrote. 

“You both look lovely, Prayers for you both! Much Love from the states!” another commented, while another said “You both look lovely, Prayers for you both! Much Love from the states!”

“Still one of my most fav pics of The Prince & Princess of Wales. A beautiful couple who have such tremendous responsibilities on their shoulders but carrying that weight w tremendous grace honor & dignity! #TeamWales #PrinceAndPrincessOfWales,” one shared. 

People magazine reported that photographer Matt Porteous took the photo in 2023 when the couple was riding bikes in the Norfolk countryside. It was reportedly part of a shared photoshoot during the UK’s Mother’s Day and Christmas Day in 2022. 

The royal couple’s relationship and chemistry have since touched the hearts of many of their fans. However, their combined humor has also hit the spot of many throughout the years. 

In 2015, Prince William teased Kate during an ICAP Charity Day after discovering that the then-Duchess of Cornwall had been flirting with people in exchange for donations. 

"Catherine, I think you can stop flirting with them now!" Prince William joked with his wife Kate, who was giggling, according to a report from Hello!. "Sorry, my wife is just embarrassing me!" he told the broker beside him. 

During their 2014 Australian trip, Kate poked fun at her husband’s bald spot when they saw some Alpacas. 

"The Prince was interested in the alpaca and as I showed it to them the Princess said he should put it on his head," a New South Wales farmer told reporters about the couple’s visit. "She said, 'You need it more than me,' and pointed to his head and he laughed." 

The public has been very fond of the couple. This is why when news of Kate’s diagnosis went public, people were moved and heartbroken. 

A local volunteer who met Prince William at a local kitchen offered a card to the princess. 

“Thank you, you are very kind,” William told the volunteer. Just as the she asked William to look after his wife, he placed his hand on her shoulder and promised: “I will.” 

According to an interview with the volunteer in The Mirror, she revealed that the night before, she wondered if she would have a chance to give the card directly to palace officials, not knowing that she would hand it personally to William.

Happy 13th Anniversary to Prince William and Kate Middleton! What can you say about their enduring love for each other? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends and other royal family fans out there!