It's been four years since Prince William and Catherine (née Middleton) became the Prince and Princess of Wales. The titles were bestowed upon them by King Charles following Queen Elizabeth's passing in 2022.
"With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given," the King said at the time.
His Majesty's elder son and beloved daughter-in-law are the future of the British monarchy, and are raising the next generation of royals: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
But, long before they were parents, the future King and Queen Consort were two students whose paths crossed at university. Their friendship went on to blossom into one of the most famous royal love stories, with the couple tying the knot in a ceremony watched by an estimated billion people.
In the years since their fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey, the hands-on mom and dad of three have created a "loving and stable home life" for their children and supported each other through life's highs and lows, while carrying out royal duties.
The Prince faced his "hardest year" in 2024 when his father was diagnosed with cancer and his wife underwent chemotherapy. Having William by her side during that time was "a great source of comfort and reassurance" for Catherine. William, meanwhile, has said their "family couldn't cope without her."
From their first meeting at school to life as a family of five, the Prince and Princess of Wales have shared more than two decades together. Continue reading for a look back at the royal couple's relationship over the years.
2001 – Prince William meets Kate Middleton at university
© GettyThe couple first met when they enrolled on the same Art History course at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Describing their first interaction, Catherine said to William in their engagement interview: "Well I actually think I went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off, feeling very shy about meeting you. Actually, William wasn't there for quite a bit of the time initially, he wasn't there for Freshers Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other but we did become very close friends from quite early on."
The pair were friends at first before their relationship turned romantic, with Catherine reportedly catching William's eye when she donned a semi-sheer dress at a charity fashion show in 2002. William later switched to a Geography degree in his second year.
2004 – The couple's romance becomes public
© GettyWilliam and Catherine were first pictured together during a holiday with the royals at the Swiss ski resort of Klosters.
2007 – William and Catherine break-up
After graduating from St Andrews in 2005, William began carrying out his first solo engagements before embarking on his military career.
Catherine moved to London, sharing a flat in Chelsea with her younger sister, Pippa Middleton. With William and Catherine spending more time apart due to his military training, the pair briefly broke up in early 2007.
Catherine later said in their engagement interview: "I think at the time I wasn't very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person, you find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realised, I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me as well although I didn't think it at the time."
2007 – Reconciliation
© GettyThe pair sparked rumours that they had got back together when Catherine attended the Concert for Diana in July 2007, sitting two rows behind her ex-boyfriend William. Their reconciliation was confirmed when they were spotted on a ski break in Klosters in March 2008.
2010 – Move to Anglesey
© Chris JacksonWith William stationed in Wales as a search and rescue pilot, the couple reside at a four-bedroom farmhouse, Bodorgan Hall, situated near the Irish Sea.
2010 – Engagement announcement
© GettyClarence House announced Prince William and Catherine Middleton's engagement on 16 November 2010, following the Prince's proposal to his long-term girlfriend during a holiday in Kenya. William popped the question with his late mother Diana's sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
He said of the ring: "I had been carrying it around with me in my rucksack for about three weeks before that and I literally would not let it go, everywhere I went I was keeping hold of it because I knew this thing, if it disappeared, I would be in a lot of trouble and because I'd planned it, it went fine. You hear a lot of horror stories about proposing and things going horribly wrong - it went really, really well and I was really pleased when she said yes."
Catherine wore a blue Issa London wrap dress for the couple's engagement photocall, which sold out within hours.
2011 – Royal wedding
© GettyWilliam and Catherine tied the knot on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey. The groom wore the red tunic of a colonel of the Irish Guards uniform while the bride wowed in a satin and lace wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, and the Cartier Halo tiara.
2012 – Catherine's first pregnancy announced
© GettyThe palace announced the then Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy earlier than expected as Catherine was admitted to hospital after suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) in the first few weeks.
2013 – First royal baby
© GettyWilliam and Catherine welcomed their first child, Prince George Alexander Louis, at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington on 22 July 2013. The little Prince made his debut to the world the day after his birth.
2015 – Move to Anmer Hall, Norfolk
© Max Mumby/IndigoJust weeks before the birth of their second baby, William and Catherine and baby George moved to their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk full-time. The Prince took up a position as a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance.
2015 – Second royal baby
© GettyWilliam and Catherine's second child, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, was born on 2 May 2015 at the Lindo Wing.
2017 – Return to London
© WPA PoolThe then Cambridges relocated to Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace after William stepped down from his pilot role in Norfolk to carry out full-time royal duties.
2018 – Third royal baby
© GettyThe couple's third child, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, was born on 23 April 2018 at the Lindo Wing.
2021 – Tenth wedding anniversary
William and Catherine celebrated their milestone anniversary with the release of some stunning new portraits and a rare family video, showing them playing on the beach in Norfolk with their children. Relive it below...
2022 – Move to Windsor
© ShutterstockAhead of their children starting at their new school, Lambrook, in Berkshire, William and Catherine move to Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate.
2022 – New royal titles
© GettyJust weeks after moving to Windsor, the royal family mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96 at Balmoral. Charles became the King, making William heir to the throne. It was confirmed that William and Catherine would be known as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
2024 – Catherine's cancer shock
© BBC StudiosThe Prince of Wales has been supporting his wife, following her abdominal surgery in January 2024 and subsequent cancer diagnosis, which was discovered in post-operative tests.
During Catherine's recovery, William continued carrying out public engagements, while the Princess of Wales recovered at home and underwent preventative chemotherapy. Catherine made limited appearances during her recovery, but thrilled royal fans when she attended Trooping the Colour, with her husband and children supporting her.
In a video confirming she had completed her course of chemotherapy, the Prince and Princess enjoyed several PDAs, one featured the couple laughing together while lying on a picnic blanket that ends with William sweetly kisses his wife on the cheek as she giggles.
In another scene, the couple hold hands as they watch their children play on hay bales and pose for a number of family snaps.
2025 – Catherine in remission
The Princess of Wales revealed in January 2025 that she was in remission. Days before sharing the news, Prince William praised his wife's strength in a tribute for her 43rd birthday. "To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you," he penned signing the post off with "W."
2025 – A new home
The Wales family moved into their "forever home" at Forest Lodge in November 2025. Ahead of their move, a source told HELLO! that "moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.
"They are looking forward to creating many happy family memories in their new home."
© Matt Porteous2026 – 15 years of marriage
The college sweethearts celebrated 15 years of marriage in April 2026. The couple marked their wedding anniversary with a beautiful family snapshot featuring their three kids and two dogs, Orla and Otto. The image showing the Wales laying together on the ground barefoot was taken by Matt Porteous during the family's holiday in Cornwall earlier that month. The Prince and Princess also stepped out on their anniversary to visit IntoUniversity, an education charity that benefited from the couple’s Royal Wedding Gift Fund in 2011. That day, William and Catherine also enjoyed lunch together at the hotel where the Princess spent the night before their wedding, the Goring Hotel.
© Getty2026 – One less child at home
On September 8, 2026, William and Catherine dropped their eldest child, Prince George, off at boarding school. Months before Eton was confirmed for the Prince, royal author Robert Jobson told HELLO! that George going to his father's alma matter would "be an emotional time for them."
"Both of them know what it was like; they both boarded, so they know how it works," Robert said. "William used to go to visit the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor while he was at Eton College, but that has to be organised. You can't just pop home when you want to.
"They are such a tight family unit; George will be missed. It will be like having an empty seat at the table."
