It might be surprising to learn that Princess Catherine's life wasn't always a whirlwind of tiaras before she stepped into the royal spotlight. Before attending the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she met her future husband, Princess Catherine led a more ordinary life. Just like millions of others, she once had a regular job. Her love story with William is often described as a real-life fairy tale. After their chance meeting as teenagers, their romance blossomed into one of the most beloved royal love stories of all time.
This year, however, their relationship has faced unprecedented challenges, particularly with Princess Catherine's cancer diagnosis. She has admitted that while she's doing well, she's not completely out of the woods yet. Relying on her lifelong partner for support, as well as positive messages from the public, Catherine recently shared that these words of encouragement have made a world of difference for both her and William.
Royal fans have taken to social media to revisit some of the couple's most cherished moments, including their engagement announcement. One clip that has captured attention shows the couple at a service at St Paul's Cathedral during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Since their public feud, royal events with both brothers present have been rare. However, they managed to put their differences aside to honor their late grandmother. This was also Catherine and William’s first public appearance since stepping back from royal duties. Despite attending the event together, the brothers were seated far apart and were not seen interacting.
After the service, Catherine and William were seen chatting on the steps of the cathedral while waiting for their car to Guildhall for a luncheon reception. An insider revealed that during this exchange, William gave Catherine a clear instruction as they emerged onto the steps. Catherine commented on the service, saying it went "very well," to which William responded, "Yes, perfect." Later, William waved to the crowd and told Catherine to "wait for that to move when we can go."
In their engagement interview, the now mother of three was asked how she felt about becoming a working member of the royal family. As she answered, William gave her a reassuring pat on the thigh and a gentle squeeze of her knee, which fans quickly noticed and commented on.
At their historic wedding, some royal watchers were puzzled by the tradition of the groom not watching his bride walk down the aisle. While in the U.S. the groom faces the bride, in the UK, it's customary for the groom to face away and turn around only when she reaches the altar. Catherine’s procession took four minutes, accompanied by her father, Michael Middleton. William did not turn around until she reached the altar, though Prince Harry reportedly sneaked a glance and told his brother, "Wait until you see her."
Another non-traditional element of the Wales’s wedding was that Catherine chose her sister, Pippa Middleton, as a bridesmaid, which is unusual since children typically serve in this role at royal weddings. Prince William had Prince Harry as his best man, a role not commonly seen in British weddings.
The couple also broke with tradition by not leaving for their honeymoon immediately. Instead, they waited ten days before heading off to a luxury vacation in the Seychelles. They opted out of wedding gifts, requesting donations instead of a multitude of presents.
