How Prince William and Kate Middleton's 10-year courtship was influenced by King Charles' tumultuous romances

Samantha Grindell,Anneta KonstantinidesNov 22, 2022, 18:16 IST

Prince William's approach to his relationship with Kate Middleton was seemingly influenced by King Charles' relationships.Fox Photos / Stringer / Chris Jackson / Hugo Burnand / Pool / Getty Images

Prince William spent nearly a decade dating Kate Middleton before he finally proposed.
In contrast, King Charles III only met Lady Diana Spencer 13 times before proposing.

Charles and Camilla first met when they were in their early 20s.

Charles and Camilla at a polo match in 1975.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images

While they began as friends, Charles and Camilla were instantly attracted to each other and a romance quickly developed.

King Charles III, Lady Sarah Keswick, and Camilla in 1979.Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images

But their relationship came to an end when Charles left England to serve in the Royal Navy and Camilla became engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles.

Charles and Camilla with Andrew Parker Bowles.REX/ Shutterstock

Charles would remain England's most eligible bachelor for nearly a decade.

Prince Charles and Lady Sarah Spencer attend a polo match in Windsor, England, on July 1, 1977.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Charles began dating Diana in 1980, while he was having an affair with Camilla.

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in Balmoral, Scotland, in 1981.Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images

By February 1981, Charles and Diana were engaged.

Charles and Diana pose together at Buckingham Palace following the announcement of their engagement on February 24, 1981.Ron Bell/AP

Charles and Diana wed just five months after announcing their engagement.

Princess Diana and Charles on their wedding day in July 1981.Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Within five years of their wedding day, Charles and Diana's marriage was in shambles and he rekindled his affair with Camilla.

Princess Diana wore her famous "revenge dress" in 1994 shortly after Prince Charles admitted to having an affair with Camilla during a televised interview.Jayne Fincher/Getty Images

Charles and Diana didn't officially divorce until 1996 — a year after Camilla and Andrew Parker Bowles finally split.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles were separated for years before officially filing for divorce.Princess Diana Archive / Stringer / Getty Images

But Charles and Camilla didn't go public with their romance for another two years following Princess Diana's death in 1997.

Camilla and Charles at The Ritz Hotel In London in 1999.Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images

Thirty-five years after they first met, Charles and Camilla finally wed.

Charles and Camilla got married on April 9, 2005.Hugo Burnand/Pool/Getty Images

Unlike his father, Prince William wasn't a bachelor for long. He met Kate Middleton during his freshman year of college in 2001.

The future Prince and Princess of Wales met in 2001.Middleton Family/Clarence House/Getty

Although their relationship wasn't a secret, William kept Kate out of the public eye in the early years of their relationship.

Prince William and Kate Middleton at a field game at Eton College in 2006.Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor / Getty Images

In fact, the pair even briefly broke up in April 2007, which allowed them to explore their own identities before being a royal unit.

Kate Middleton in London in 2007.Mark R. Milan / Contributor / Getty Images

They were back together by the summer of 2007.

Prince William and Kate Middleton at his 2008 RAF graduation.Pool/Tim Graham Royal Photos / Contributor / Getty Images

William proposed to Kate three years later, in October 2010.

Kate Middleton and Prince William announce their engagement.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

It was only after their engagement was official that Kate started appearing alongside William at royal events.

Prince William and Kate Middleton at the University of St Andrews for a fundraising campaign on February 25, 2011.Anwar Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton got married on April 29, 2011.

Kate Middleton and Prince William at their 2011 wedding.Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

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