Prince William Had a "Passionate Romance" With Arabella Musgrave Before Meeting Kate Middleton, According to a Royal Biographer
Before he met his future wife, Kate Middleton, Prince William dated Arabella Musgrave. The two had a passionate romance the summer before he started at the University of St. Andrews, according to royal biographer Katie Nicholl.

The fairytale romance that is Prince William and Kate Middleton's love story has not been without its share of bumps—even though (thankfully) those bumps all seemed to happen early in the relationship, way before they tied the knot in 2011.
Yeahhhh. Take a seat and pour some tea because this bit of Prince Will backstory is intense.
The revelation comes courtesy of royal biographer and expert Katie Nicholl, who wrote about the love affair in her 2010 book, William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls. According to Nicholl, just prior to meeting his future wife at the University St. Andrews, Will was all kinds of in love with a woman named Arabella Musgrave.
According to Nicholl (via quoted excerpts in The Sun), Arabella was part of the "Glosse Posse," the name given to Will and his younger brother Harry's inner circle. As a member of the Glosse Posse, Arabella was invited to parties that Will used to throw in the basement of Prince Charles' manor, Highgrove (teenage royals, really are just like us—throwing parties in their parents' basements and giving their friend groups ridiculous nicknames).
Will and Arabella (whose dad managed the Cirencester Park Polo Club) had known each other since they were kids, but, like the jock in a '90s teen movie, Will hadn't really noticed her like that until she "blossomed." Per Nicholl:
Mmkay. So then what?
Apparently, things were so serious that Will had talked to Charles about the relationship and gotten his dad's blessing. When he started at university that fall, Will missed Arabella terribly and even considered dropping out of school to go be with her. He even did that very college-kid-in-a-long-distance-relationship thing and drove home on Friday nights to see her.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
This is where Kate comes in. After the couple met during Will's freshman year, she "encouraged him to give St Andrews a second chance," according to The Sun.
Don't feel bad for Arabella though, because she is doing amazingly well herself post-Will. She married George Galliers-Pratt in 2014 (in a lavish wedding that was featured in Vogue, no less) and she has an amazing gig as Gucci's head of PR.
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Prince William Is "Putting Family First" in Kingship Approach
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are at the center of everything William does.
-
Prince George Finds a Royal Twin in an Unexpected Relative
"Those genes knew what they were doing."
-
Kate Middleton Is Teaching Her Children "Central Values"
The Princess of Wales is parenting on her own terms—not someone else's.
-
How Prince William Is "Putting Family First" in His "Quiet" Approach to Future Kingship Role
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are at the center of everything William does.
-
Prince George Finds a New Royal Twin in an Unexpected Relative, as Fans Celebrate the Family Resemblance
"Those genes knew what they were doing."
-
Kate Middleton Refuses to Compromise on the "Central Values" She's Teaching Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis
The Princess of Wales is parenting on her own terms—not someone else's.
-
Royal Fans Praise Prince George for Intervening to Alert Prince William During an Important Moment on VE Day
A viral video shows the young royal stepping up to help his dad.
-
How a "Prediction" Princess Diana Made About Prince William Decades Ago Is Finally Coming True
Diana had infinite faith in her son's abilities, says a royal expert.
-
Royal Expert Reveals Why King Charles Is Struggling With "Delayed" Prince William and Princess Kate Milestone
"They have to go through all sorts of stringent tests."
-
James Middleton Discusses "Complicated" Relationship With Sisters Princess Kate and Pippa Middleton
"You can't choose your siblings."
-
How Prince William Reacted to a Royal Fan Shouting Compliments at His "Beautiful" Wife Kate Middleton
"You don't have to say that."