The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge might seem every inch the perfect royal couple, but their relationship has not been without its challenges.
Prince William and Kate Middleton met while studying at St Andrew’s University in Scotland and began dating not long after. They lived together during their second year of university, but privacy was not something they had very much of.
Carly Massy-Birch, who had dated Prince William before Kate Middleton came on the scene, lived just over the road from the couple and would wave at Prince William from the living room.
One evening, at a dinner party that Prince William, Duchess Kate, and Massy-Birch attended with several other friends, she decided to dig at her ex-boyfriend and his new partner.
While playing a game of “Never Have I Ever” — a popular drinking game where players take turns to say something they have never done, and if others in the room have, they must drink alcohol — Massy-Birch decided to say that she had never dated two people in the room that night.
According to Katie Nicholl, author of The Making of a Royal Romance, Prince William was not happy with her comment and could not quite believe she had said it in front of their other friends — who also left the party feeling shocked.
Since both Middleton and Massy-Birch were in the room, this had exposed William’s new relationship.
Nicholl revealed: “When it was Carly’s turn to play, she announced, ‘I’ve never dated two people in this room,’ knowing full well that William was the only one who had because Kate was sitting next to him. William is then said to have “shot a thunderous look” at his ex-girlfriend before saying: “I can’t believe you just said that.”
In 2007, William and Middleton broke up. Royal biographers have said this was due to William’s doubts about their future together and his struggle to commit to a long-term relationship.
Royal author Vicky Ward claimed William dumped Middleton because he wanted to “sow his wild oats” and added: “He talked to friends during this time and basically expressed his confusion. On the one hand, he loved Kate and wanted it to work. But he wanted to be sure he’d explored all his options. As he told a source, ‘I think it’s a good idea to ‘sow my wild oats.’ What he discovered was that the other women he was interested in were occupied or not interested in him.”
However, the couple later rekindled their romance and tied the knot in 2011. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge now have three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
