How Prince William Hurt Kate Middleton at His 21st Birthday Party
Prince William and Kate Middleton were secretly dating when he turned 21. Will invited Kate to his birthday party but hurt her feelings by focusing on (and sitting next to) his rumored ex, Jecca Craig.
Prince William and Kate Middleton might be living their happily ever after now, but their fairytale story had plenty of ups and downs before they got there. One of the couple's early lows came during Will's 21st birthday party, when the prince did something that reportedly hurt Kate's feelings in a big way.
Their relationship was still a secret at the time, but Will invited Kate to his party. Before the party, Will gave an interview in which he insisted he was still single and went on about it at some length, saying:
That wasn't the thing that hurt Kate though. According to royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl, Kate was used to Will lying to the press to protect his privacy and she totally understood. In her her book Kate: The Future Queen, however, Nicholl describes a slight Will committed against Kate at his party.
Even though Will invited Kate to the party, he didn't spend much time with her. Instead, he was focused on Jecca Craig, his old friend and rumored ex who had flown in from Kenya for the party.
Worst of all? Will gave Jecca a seat of honor at the party and sat Kate far away from his table. Ouch.
"Kate didn't know whether they had been romantically involved or not, but she noted that Jecca had been seated at the head table next to William, whereas Kate had to raise her glass to toast the prince from afar," Nicholl wrote.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
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 Andrew's Business Advisor Accused of Being a "Spy" and Banned From the U.K.
"We found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Allegedly Rejected Idea to Seat Prince Andrew "Behind a Pillar" at Her Christmas Carol Concert
"Although very much a family affair... there was no space for Uncle Andy."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
32 Celebrities Who Got Their Start on Reality TV
Believe it or not.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Kate Middleton Allegedly Rejected Idea to Seat Prince Andrew "Behind a Pillar" at Her Christmas Carol Concert
"Although very much a family affair... there was no space for Uncle Andy."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William Reveals the One Embarrassing Christmas Tradition He's Totally Against
"Some people don't even own one."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why Kate Middleton and Prince William's Decision to "Take the Lead" Is a "Relief" For King Charles, Royal Expert Explains
"We have had a glimpse of the future..."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Buckingham Palace Responds After Royal Family Maid Is Arrested at "Out of Control" Christmas Party
"I've never seen one person get that crazy during a night out," a source claimed.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Kate "Is a Different Person" After Cancer Battle, Says Royal Insider
"She won’t be going back to work in the same way for a long time.”
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate are Experiencing "Calm Before the Storm" as They Prep for Throne
"They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives," a source says.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Every Time the Royal Family Broke Protocol in 2024, From Minor Rule Changes to Huge Mistakes
Meet the usual suspects: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla's Son Reveals He "Learned a Long Time Ago" to Stay Out of Prince William and Prince Harry's "World"
Tom Parker Bowles said "it was appalling what they went through."
By Kristin Contino Published