LONDON: Prince William’s brief split from Kate Middleton in 2007 proved to be a defining moment in their relationship, with royal biographer Christopher Andersen claiming the future Princess of Wales, encouraged by her mother Carole Middleton, played a key role in winning him back.
According to Andersen, author of Kate!, William ended the relationship unexpectedly while the couple were in their mid-20s, despite widespread expectations that an engagement announcement was imminent.
The author claimed the future king cited his reluctance to make a lifelong commitment at the age of 25 and expressed concerns about the intense media scrutiny and security risks Kate faced as his girlfriend.
Andersen alleged that the breakup left Kate devastated, but said Carole Middleton advised her daughter not to dwell publicly on the split.
Instead, she encouraged Kate to remain socially active, spend time with friends, and continue living her life, a strategy the author believes eventually prompted William to reconsider the relationship.
The biographer also claimed that then-Prince Charles and Queen Camilla had urged William to either commit to marriage or end the relationship rather than leave Kate in uncertainty. Andersen said Charles held Kate in high regard and believed she possessed the qualities needed to become a future queen.
William and Kate first met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews and began dating after initially becoming friends.
The couple reconciled several weeks after the breakup, announced their engagement in 2010, and married in 2011. They are now the Prince and Princess of Wales and have three children.
More read, Buckingham palace shares video of Queen Camilla feeding Lemurs
The claims are based on Andersen’s account and have not been independently verified by the British royal family.
