Prince William reportedly had a panic button installed in Kate Middleton's apartment when they were dating

• Prince William reportedly had a panic button installed in Kate's apartment when they dated.
• According to Tina Brown's new book, Kate wasn't entitled to official protection until they married.

Prince William once had a panic button connected to the local police installed in Kate Middleton's apartment, according to a new book about the royal family.

In "The Palace Papers," released on Tuesday, author Tina Brown spoke to more than 120 sources who she said were close to senior members of the royal family.

In the book, she wrote about the early days of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's relationship. They met at the University of St Andrews in Scotland in 2001 and had an on-again, off-again relationship before getting married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

According to Brown, Middleton wasn't entitled to official protection from the palace when dealing with the press intrusion before she married William. But she would sometimes receive assistance from Prince Charles' former communications director, Paddy Harverson, who "would often run interference unofficially," Brown added.

"In keeping with her character, Kate's requests for his intervention were rare and always began with the words 'I don't want to make a fuss, but...'" Brown wrote.

"William reportedly arranged for a panic button to the local police station to be installed in her apartment to protect her from the constant threats of intrusion," she added.

Working senior members of the royal family and their spouses are entitled to publicly-funded police protection. Middleton wasn't entitled to police protection until she married William and became the Duchess of Cambridge.

The book added that Prince Harry wanted to marry Meghan Markle "as quickly as possible" because he wanted her to have police protection.

Kensington Palace declined to comment when contacted by Insider.