The real reason 'nobody expected' Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship to last

Although the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been together for around 20 years, there is a sad reason why 'nobody expected' Prince William and Kate's relationship to last. 

• Prince William and Kate Middleton met around September 2001 when they both joined St Andrews university.
• A royal expert has revealed why the couple's relationship was initially dismissed by members of the Royal Family. 
• In other royal news, Platinum Jubilee Pageant: Corgi-themed floral display unveiled ahead of festivities.

On Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding day in 2011, the couple looked incredibly happy and it was inconceivable that anyone had ever considered the pair anything other than a perfect match.

However, it has been revealed by a royal expert that the Duchess of Cambridge wasn't always considered to be the perfect choice for Prince William. 

Royal biographer Andrew Morton, the author of Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words and Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, has revealed that many members of the extended Royal  Family, simply believed that this relationship was a university fling. 

He told OK! magazine: "In the beginning, nobody expected for a second that the university romance with Catherine and William would continue for any time after they graduated, like most college romances which disintegrate under the intense scrutiny of jobs and geography."

"Immediately he left college, William doing all kinds of jobs, to get a sense of the Britain he will take over. Catherine was left to go her own way but she survived."

The expert then revealed that the Royal Family are now huge fans of the Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen herself loves Catherine and William's relationship. 

"The thing about Kate is the Queen was impressed she adored and loved William for himself, not for his title," said Andrew. "She spends a lot more time supporting and nurturing the relationship between William and Catherine than she did with Charles and Diana."

Despite the support for their relationship now, the royal couple did briefly break up and it was reported that a critical reason for their break up was because Prince William wouldn't marry Kate Middleton for years.

Although this breakup was hard on them both, some experts believe that it was this that secured the Duchess of Cambridge's place in the Royal Family.

"[The Royal Family] knew she was a good girl, they knew she wasn’t talking to the media, because in between those breakups, she was so stoic and kept her mouth shut and in all of the photographs of her during the breakup, she’s looking ahead," said royal expert Kinsey Schofield to Express.

The expert concluded, "She just handled herself so well throughout the rollercoaster that was her and Prince William’s dating history leading up to their inevitable marriage. It made Kate a no-brainer - she was the future Queen."