Before they became the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton experienced a dramatic breakup in 2007 that ended with a phone call and a later reconciliation, according to royal author Christopher Andersen. In his bookKate!, Andersen details how William ended their five-year relationship abruptly, leaving Middleton devastated, before eventually returning to win her back.
Andersen told Fox News Digital that the breakup came as a complete shock to Middleton, who was working as a children's accessories buyer at the clothing store Jigsaw at the time. According to the book, Middleton was in a conference room at the store, clutching her cell phone, as William told her the relationship was over. Coworkers reportedly overheard her pleading with him, asking «Why?» and begging him to reconsider. William, then 25, argued that he was too young to commit and that the intense press scrutiny would make her life unbearable. He also expressed concern for her safety, noting that she was not entitled to royal protection when he was not with her. Middleton offered to hire private bodyguards, but William did not change his mind.
The book claims that William's father, then-Prince Charles, and Camilla, now Queen Consort, had urged him to either propose to Middleton or end the relationship to avoid keeping her waiting. Charles, who was reportedly fond of Middleton, believed it was unfair to leave her uncertain about the future. William chose to end the relationship, leading to the painful phone call. Andersen described Middleton as «crushed» and «devastated» by the sudden breakup, which occurred when many observers believed the couple was on the verge of announcing an engagement.
After the split, Middleton returned to her family home, where her mother, Carole Middleton, encouraged her to embrace independence and show William what he was missing. Carole advised her daughter to go out, have fun, and not let the hurt show. Middleton followed this advice, embarking on a new diet and exercise regimen, wearing stylish outfits, and returning to London's nightclub scene with her sister Pippa. She also joined an all-female rowing crew called Sisterhood and was photographed in the company of other young men, including Sir Henry Ropner, a wealthy heir. These reports reportedly stung William, who realized he had made a mistake.
Andersen noted that William went on a few «drunken sprees» after the breakup, at one point shouting «I’m free!» in a London nightclub. However, within six weeks, he returned to Middleton, described by Andersen as coming back «with his tail between his legs.» The author said the breakup served as a «wake-up call» for William, who realized that Middleton was the love of his life and someone he could build a future with. A party hosted by mutual friend Sam Waley-Cohen at a 17th-century manor in Oxfordshire, with a «Freakin' Naughty» theme, reportedly played a role in their reconciliation.
The couple eventually married in 2011 and now have three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Kensington Palace has not commented on the claims in Andersen's book, as a spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the palace does not comment on books. The story of their breakup and reunion has been a subject of public fascination, illustrating the challenges faced by the royal couple in their early relationship.