Prince William's risk proposing to Kate that could've landed him in 'a lot of trouble'
Prince William's romantic Kenya proposal to Kate Middleton posed a risk that could've landed him in hot water with his relatives
Every proposal comes with a story, and even one element of Prince William's proposal to the Princess of Wales had the potential to go horribly wrong.
Ahead of their thirteenth wedding anniversary of 29th April, it’s time to look back on this fairytale romance and the future King's proposal to his wife Catherine.
It was back in November 2010 that Kate and William revealed their engagement, before the couple tied the knot in a stunning wedding at Westminster Abbey in April 2011. At the time, the newly engaged couple sat down with ITV’s Tom Bradby to discuss the details of their romantic proposal on holiday in Kenya.
As with all nervous partners who get down on one knee, Prince William was conscious that he wanted to propose at the right time on the trip, which meant he ended up carrying the £100,000 engagement ring, that once belonged to Princess Diana, in his rucksack for three weeks. Finally, he popped the question to Catherine and the rest is history. Yet, William admitted, "I knew if this thing disappeared, I’d be in a lot of trouble."
The Making of a Royal Romance by Katie Nicholl | £8.88 at Amazon
Published in 2011, this provides a fascinating insight into the lives of Prince William and Kate. It reflects back on her childhood, her close family and her romance with the future King. The book goes up to the preparations for the couple's fairytale wedding and also focuses on their life in Wales together.
According to OK!, the future King said he chose this vacation spot because of a sentimental reason.
He said, "It is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died. And when deciding where best to propose to Catherine, I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee."
William famously proposed with his late mother's engagement ring, a Ceylon sapphire which was surrounded by diamonds, which was resized by G. Collins and Sons.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Seven years later and it was his younger brother, Prince Harry, who also took inspiration from his mother’s jewellery to design a fitting engagement ring for his future wife, Meghan Markle.
Harry set a Botswana diamond in between two smaller stones from his late mother’s private collection, with a band that also featured delicate gems.
With every royal engagement, there’s a universal fascination with the announcement, as it kick-starts the preparation for a royal wedding.
Royal expert Robert Hardman explained, "When a royal couple tell us they're engaged, we're fascinated by everything from the dress design to who the bridesmaids and best man will be and where we're going to watch it. People love to make a day of it with street parties and things, so there's huge interest from the word go."
After a difficult few months for the royals, with Catherine revealing she’s receiving preventative chemotherapy following the King’s own cancer diagnosis, it’s hopeful the next few weeks will be brighter for them. Prince Louis marked his sixth birthday on Tuesday and Prince William made his return to royal duties last week, for the first time since Kate's cancer news.
Jess Bacon is a freelance journalist, blogger and former editor with over six years of writing experience. As a screenwriter and journalist, Jess is keen to tell her own and other people’s stories through words, photos and film. She’s passionate about discussing young people's mental health, grief and feminism in life and how it's portrayed in the media, film and literature. Alongside her by-lines at renowned publications, Jess regularly speaks at charity events and festival panels about loss, mental health and Marvel. Along with her love of writing, Jess is an avid reader, spin enthusiast and dog-lover.
-
Gorgeous wedding guest makeup looks for women over 40 to bookmark now and recreate later
We've handpicked some of the best wedding guest makeup looks for women over 40 for the next time you attend someone's nuptials
By Lucy Abbersteen Published
-
32 natural makeup tips for women over 40
Try these natural makeup tips for a glowy 'no makeup' makeup look
By Aleesha Badkar Published
-
The personal touch on Kate Middleton and Prince William's wedding tables that you'll want to take note of if you're planning a wedding
The Prince and Princess of Wales apparently made a special decision when it came to their wedding tables that fans might not know about
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William ignored this royal tradition, and it will 'strengthen their family unit'
The Prince and Princess of Wales made a choice for Prince George, Charlotte and Louis that strayed from an established royal tradition
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
The Buckingham Palace privilege Kate and Prince William received from Queen Elizabeth that no-one else has had since
The Prince and Princess of Wales are still the last royals to have received a rare Buckingham Palace privilege after plans were changed
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s ‘unusual’ decision for George, Charlotte and Louis as they ‘can’t undo destiny’
The Prince and Princess of Wales's parenting approach is reportedly quite 'unusual' and they're following in the Middletons' footsteps
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton shares new Prince George photo on his 11th birthday - and he looks so grown up
The Prince and Princess of Wales have released a new photograph of Prince George to mark his 11th birthday
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Kate Middleton’s ‘quick’ fashion formula for an elegant outfit works with a ‘busy lifestyle’ and we’re taking notes
The Princess of Wales has found a signature style approach that works for her and we love how easy it is to recreate ourselves
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton’s tradition with Princess Charlotte is so adorable and it shows how much their shared passion means to them
The Princess of Wales revealed that she and Princess Charlotte had taken up a sweet activity together during the Wimbledon championships
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton’s luxurious Lip Perfector is currently the cheapest it’s been for a very long time and we’re buying several shades
The Princess of Wales was pictured using her Clarins Lip Perfector at Wimbledon in 2019 and we've found it with 20% off right now
By Emma Shacklock Published