How catwalk queen Kate wowed Wills
TWENTY years ago today a pretty girl student at St Andrews University glided down the catwalk for a charity show. In the audience was Prince William, then the world’s most eligible bachelor.
He knew the “model” parading in a revealing outfit. She was Kate Middleton, a fellow resident at St Salvator’s Hall university digs. They also shared art history lectures.
William already knew that she was kind, caring and a reliable friend. That night he saw her in a different light. Turning to one of his companions at their table, he said: “Kate’s hot!”
Three days later, while skiing in Swiss resort Klosters with his father and brother, the trio were told the sad news that the Queen Mother had died at the age of 101. Where one royal era was ending, another was about to begin.
William and Kate, who had both felt isolated from family and old friends in their first term at St Andrews, bonded to the extent that they agreed to share a second year flat with two other students in the town’s aptly named Hope Street.
They may have fallen in love over the frozen peas in Tesco or while sharing their household chores but at some point they became a couple.
Kate was on hand to console William when the Paul Burrell trial caused a sensation that November. Accused of stealing hundreds of Diana’s possessions, the ex-butler was cleared when the case against him collapsed.
Six years later, Kate’s support helped William through the sheer awfulness of having his mother’s most private details laid bare in the long-delayed inquest into her death.
After the disaster of his parents’ marriage, William had to be sure of getting his right. The romance had its bumps: there was a serious split in 2007.
But he missed her love and closeness, and also the warmth of her family, who treated him like one of their own.
Some of William’s more snooty companions made cutting remarks about the Middletons but those who sniggered at Kate’s lowly background are not laughing now. And those who labelled her “Waity Katy” realise her years of patience have enabled her to become a perfect princess.
Criticised for not taking a graduate job, Kate worked for fashion brand
Jigsaw and her parents’ Party Pieces firm. At one stage, she photographed children for its catalogue. A source told me she sent hand-written notes of thanks to the children.
William and Kate married in 2011. With her intelligence, good nature and impeccable manners, Kate has proved herself to be a valuable asset to the Royal Family.
As William promised, the Middleton family are very much involved with raising the couple’s three children, George, Charlotte and Louis. As seen last week
‘He missed Kate’s love and closeness’
on their Caribbean tour, William and Kate – or Catherine as he prefers to call her – are happy and united, working in harmony to represent the monarchy, Britain and the Commonwealth.
A source who met them after a Royal Variety show saw first-hand their easygoing relationship, joshing with each other, with Kate teasing William about his juvenile sense of humour.
While Charles grew jealous of glam Diana, William is proud of Kate, whose style, charm and elegance is as reliable as her enthusiasm for her public duties.
Artist Paul Emsley saw the inner strength behind her beauty, painting her in 2012 for the National Portrait Gallery. He captured the steel behind the smile – so like the Queen Mother whose royal life ended as Kate’s began.