A complete timeline of Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship, from meeting at university to the photo-editing scandal

Caroline Praderio,Erin McDowellMar 18, 2024, 23:42 IST

Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Kate Middleton has been the subject of social-media conspiracy theories in recent weeks.
Prince William and Kate met at the University of St Andrews in 2001 and married in 2011.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's love story appears to be the stuff of fairy tales.

Their relationship began when they were students at the University of St Andrews, culminating in a lavish royal wedding in 2011. They went on to have three children, and often present a united front — even in the face of major royal scandal.

However, in recent weeks, the princess has become embroiled in social-media conspiracy theories amid a hiatus from public life following a planned abdominal surgery and a photo-editing controversy that has rocked Kensington Palace.

Here's a timeline of Kate and William's relationship through the years.

2001: Prince William and Kate Middleton met as students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Prince William and Kate Middleton in university.Middleton Family/Clarence House/Getty Images

2002: They reportedly went from friends to something more after Kate caught William's eye with a sheer outfit during a student fashion show.

The dress that caught William's eye.Ferdaus Shamim / Contributor / Getty Images

2005: The pair graduated in 2005. Kate got her degree in art history, and Prince William got his in geography.

Prince William greets fans on his graduation day in 2005.Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

2006: Kate made her first public appearances with the royal family, and she showed her support for her boyfriend.

Kate Middleton with her parents in 2006.Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/FilmMagic

2007: She was frequently accosted by paparazzi.

Kate Middleton on her 25th birthday in 2007.Getty/Gareth Cattermole

2007: Tabloid newspapers reported that the couple had split up.

William and his brother, Prince Harry, at a concert in 2007.Getty

2007: But by summer, the couple had gotten back together.

The happily reunited couple in 2008, when William got his Royal Air Force wings.AP/Michael Dunlea

October 2010: Prince William proposed to Kate while they vacationed in Kenya. "I just decided that it was the right time really," he later said.

A closeup of the stunning engagement ring.Getty/Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool

November 2010: The couple announced their engagement to the public.

Kate and Will pose for press photos after announcing their engagement.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

2011: They got married on April 29 in Westminster Abbey. That's also the day they got the official titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Pippa Middleton holds her sister Kate's dress before walking into Westminster Abbey.Getty

With a price tag of roughly $34 million and an estimated global audience of 3 billion, it was one of the most lavish weddings in history.

William and Kate's wedding day.Getty/Julian Finney

June 2011: A few months later, William and Kate embarked on their first international trip for the royal family.

Prince William and Kate Middleton in Canada.Getty/Chris Jackson

July 2012: Cameras caught the couple celebrating in the stands when London hosted the Summer Olympics.

The royals embrace after a British cyclist wins a gold medal.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

December 2012: The palace announced that Kate was pregnant.

Will and Kate emerge from the hospital after announcing the pregnancy.Fred Duval/Stringer/Getty Images

July 23, 2013: Prince George made his very first public appearance. He was one day old.

The first glimpse of Prince George.Reuters

2013: The growing royal family posed for a portrait with their spaniel, Lupo, just after the prince's birth.

William, Kate, and Prince George pose at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.Getty Images

2014: William and Kate brought Prince George along for a three-week royal tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Prince George prepares to depart Australia in April 2014.AP/Rob Griffith

2014: The same year, the royal family announced Kate's second pregnancy.

The couple during Kate's second pregnancy.Getty/Chris Jackson

May 2, 2015: Princess Charlotte was born.

Will and Kate leave the hospital with newborn Charlotte.Getty/John Stillwell/WPA Pool

2015: After Charlotte's birth, Prince William and Kate left London to settle in a remote country village.

William and Kate share an umbrella on Christmas 2015.Getty/Chris Jackson

March 2016: They took their first vacation as a family of four.

The young royal family enjoys their skiing vacation.John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images

September 2016: Later that year, they made their first royal tour as a family of four, spending eight days in Canada.

The family deplanes after arriving in Canada.Getty Images/Chris Jackson

2017: They made a major announcement that they would be officially moving the family back to London to live in Kensington Palace.

Kate and Will walk a London red carpet in early 2017.Getty/Gareth Cattermole

2017: They settled into life as busy city-dwelling parents.

Prince William and Kate Middleton use their air horns as they watch the London Marathon in April 2017.Getty/Chris Jackson

April 23, 2018: The couple welcomed their third child, Prince Louis.

Prince William and Kate Middleton pose for photos after the birth of Prince Louis outside the Lindo Wing.Chris Jackson/ Getty Images

May 2018: William and Kate attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince George leave Windsor Castle after the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle.Gareth Fuller/WPA Pool/Getty Images

March 2020: The royal couple took part in their last royal tour before the coronavirus pandemic.

Prince William and Kate Middleton on March 5, 2020, in Galway, Ireland.Julien Behal Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

2020: While the UK was on lockdown due to the coronavirus, the royal couple made regular appearances on video call engagements.

William and Kate speak with Casterton Primary Academy students via video chat on April 9, 2020.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

April 12, 2021: Three days after the death of Prince Philip, William shared a tribute on behalf of himself and Kate.

Prince Philip and Prince William in 2015.Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images

April 17: William and Kate attended Prince Philip's funeral.

Prince William and Kate Middleton pictured at Prince Philip's funeral.Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images

April 29, 2021: The couple celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.

Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 27, 2021.ANDY COMMINS/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

September 28, 2021: William and Kate dazzled at the "No Time to Die" premiere in London.

Prince William and Middleton attend the "No Time To Die" World Premiere at Royal Albert Hall on September 28, 2021 in London.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

December 10, 2021: The couple shared their 2021 Christmas card featuring their three children.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2021 Christmas card photo.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/Handout/Getty Images

March 2022: Prince William and Kate faced backlash on their first official overseas visit together since March 2020.

Prince William and Kate Middleton in Jamaica.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

April 17, 2022: William and Kate attended Easter services with their two very grown-up-looking oldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte attend the Easter Matins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2022.Jeff Gilbert-WPA Pool/Getty Images

April 29, 2022: William and Kate celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary.

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving commemorating Anzac Day on April 25, 2022.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty Images

August 2022: Prince William, Kate, and their three children moved from London to Windsor.

Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Prince William, and Princess Charlotte arrive at Lambrook school on September 7, 2022.Jonathan Brady/Pool/Getty Images

September 8, 2022: Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the ascension of King Charles III, Prince William became heir to the throne.

A crowd gathers at Buckingham Palace following Queen Elizabeth II's death.Yui Mok - PA Images / Contributor / Getty Images

September 9, 2022: King Charles III announced that Prince William and Kate would become the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Kate Middleton and Prince William.Max Mumby/Indigo/Pool/Getty Images

January 9, 2023: Kate celebrated her 41st birthday amid shocking claims from Prince Harry about his broken relationship with William.

Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2022.Julian Finney/Getty Images

December 25, 2023: Kate made her last public appearance, accompanying her husband and three children as they attended church at Sandringham on Christmas morning.

Kate, William, and their children attend the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

January 17, 2024: The palace issued a statement that Kate had undergone a "planned abdominal surgery."

Kate Middleton in September 2023.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

February 7, 2024: Prince William thanked well-wishers following Kate's abdominal surgery and the news of his father's cancer diagnosis.

Prince William talks with Air Ambulance pilots, doctors, and paramedics as he attends the London Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner.DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

March 6, 2024: After speculation over Kate's whereabouts and medical status began to grow, William issued a brief statement.

Prince William leaves the stage after delivering a speech during London's Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner on February 7.DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

March 10, 2024: The couple's official accounts share a Mother's Day photograph of Kate and her three children, sparking controversy.

A picture shows stories in Britain's national newspapers, about the altered Mother's Day photo released by Kensington Palace on March 10.PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

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