By Molly Claire Goddard
1:01pm PST, Jan 6, 2026
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According to
Katie Nicholl's book
The Making of a Royal Romance, Kate Middleton was left in "floods of tears" after
Prince William ditched their New Year's Eve plans in 2006. "William had promised Kate he would join her family but decided to stay with his family instead — and informed her on the phone on Boxing Day [December 26]," she
wrote. "William had been having second thoughts and sat down with his father [
King Charles III] and his grandmother [
Queen Elizabeth II] to have a frank discussion about his future with Kate. Both advised him not to hurry into anything."
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Despite Kate Middleton "fearing for the future of their relationship" and briefly splitting from
Prince William in 2007, they eventually reunited. "It wasn't long before their romance was confirmed to be back on and Kate moved into William's Clarence House flat, where he would return from military duties on Friday nights for cozy weekends together — and the rest, they say, is history," Katie Nicholl wrote.
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Kate Middleton and
Prince William got engaged in 2010. The couple wed in 2011 and welcomed three children,
Prince George,
Princess Charlotte and
Prince Louis.
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During a recent visit to the Youth Shedz organization,
Prince William made a telling comment about the state of his marriage to Kate Middleton. "Behind every average man there is an even better wife," he
reportedly told the group's founder,
Scott Jenkinson, and his spouse,
Sian Jenkinson.
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Royal correspondent
Jennie Bond applauded
Prince William and Kate Middleton's respect for each other. "I thought it was a sweet comment, which showed just how equal their partnership is, and how much William values Kate's support and advice in everything he does. We women also know that it is absolutely true!" she told
The Mirror. "Men are brilliant in so many ways, but it really is almost always the woman of the house who juggles a million balls to keep everyone on track, on time, properly kitted out and happy. I'm sure Kate is no exception. And good on William for acknowledging this universal truth!"
