It's hard to believe it's been nearly a decade since the younger generation of royals began to write their own stories. It all began with Prince William and Kate Middleton. The couple had a love story that captivated royal watchers everywhere.
William and Kate met at St. Salvator's Hall of Residence in 2001. The two were assigned rooms near each other as they began their time at the University of St. Andrews. By their second year, the two had moved into a student house with two other friends. Their romance didn't begin to blossom until the end of 2003, when both found themselves single.
Kate was first introduced to the public in 2004 when she was spotted with William on a ski trip in Switzerland. The following year, they were photographed together at their graduation. The public eagerly anticipated nuptial news but was disappointed when the pair briefly split in 2007. Once they were back together, the pressure to wed amped up.
William finally popped the question in 2010. With that began a feverish interest in royal weddings and the couple who will one day take the throne. On April 29, 2011, we were all treated to a fairy-tale moment that brought up bittersweet memories of the past and began a beautiful future. On their ninth wedding anniversary, William and Kate's bond appears stronger than ever.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are celebrating their ninth wedding anniversary. Never a couple interested in splashy celebrations of such occasions, they are celebrating at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. They've been staying there with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis since shutdowns began.
The couple was celebrated on their social media accounts. Kensington Royal posted a photo of them from their majestic wedding day.
" Nine years ago today – thank you for all your lovely messages on The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding anniversary!" the photo was captioned.
For their first anniversary together, the couple spent the weekend in Suffolk. They were there for the wedding of friend Hannah Gillingham, which was the day before. To celebrate, Kate cooked her husband fish en papillote. The fish wrapped in parchment paper was to signify the traditional first-anniversary gift theme of paper.
The couple had a public engagement on their second anniversary. They visited Naomi House children's hospice in Hampshire. Kate got a chance to showcase her maternal side while six months pregnant with Prince George.
Their third anniversary was spent quietly at home with a 9-month-old Prince George. The family of three had just returned from their tour of Australia and New Zealand. It marked George's first official tour abroad.
For the couple's fourth anniversary, they were at home patiently awaiting the arrival of Princess Charlotte. Kate was past her due date. Charlotte wouldn't make her grand entrance into the world until May 2.
William and Kate spent their fifth, sixth, and seventh anniversaries at home. Their seventh anniversary came just days after they welcomed Prince Louis. It was a special time for their little family, and people were truly happy for them.
A lot was going on around William and Kate's eighth anniversary. The world was awaiting the birth of Harry and Meghan's first child. There were also rumors circulating that William had cheated on Kate.
If there was any doubt of her place in the royal family, the Queen shut it down by gifting Kate a title for her services to the crown. She was given a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO), which is the monarch's highest seal of approval.
Kate's time as a member of the royal family has always been a debated subject by royal fans. Most absolutely love Kate and her ability to go with the flow. Others see her as a bit blank and lacking in the ability to connect with the public.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes we're starting to see a new side of Kate now that's she's well settled into the royal family and has come into her own. "Since their marriage in 2011, Kate, who once seemed shy when speaking in public, has matured enchantingly," he told Express.
"She was always a fashion icon and whatever she wore sparked global interest."
"Her appearances, whether live or, more recently, virtual, have a new spontaneity," he continued.
"She has a strong sense of duty and is deeply committed to the charitable causes she espouses, especially those involving children and mental health charities. Also, she and William are doing remarkably well in communicating to some of those currently involved in the fight against this virus and their appearances have both humor and compassion."
Despite her commitment to duty, there are times when Kate has broken with royal protocol, with William supporting her decision. She's skipped appearances to prioritize time with her kids. She also regularly travels together with William and the kids, despite the fact that royal family members who are high up in the line of succession traditionally don't travel together.
While the public generally loves Kate, she will be under more scrutiny as time passes and the monarchy changes hands. "Kate Middleton was heavily criticized when she first joined the Royal Family and might end up facing that scrutiny again when Prince Charles is King," The Talko reports.
"In order to appeal to as many people as possible, members of the Royal Family try not to get political. The Queen is supposed to remain politically neutral but some people wonder if Prince Charles will change things."
"He’s been outspoken on certain topics like global warming and even Prince Harry believes it’s important to modernize the British monarchy," the outlet continued.
"If Prince Charles decided to push the boundaries of tradition, Prince William and Kate will have to get on board and help keep the family current and relatable."
Whatever stands ahead of William and Kate, they seem determined to face it together, for better or for worse.
