Prince William and Kate Middleton Made a Secret Marriage Pact in 2007
Prince William and Kate Middleton made a secret marriage pact in 2007 after they got back together after their breakup. This was four years before they actually got married in 2011.

- Even though they didn't officially tie the knot until 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton made a secret marriage pact in 2007.
- The couple made each other promises about their future together during a vacation after their breakup in 2007.
- Royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl described the incident in her book Kate: The Future Queen.
Prince William and Kate Middleton officially tied the knot in 2011, but they knew that they were eventually heading down the aisle long before that—way back in 2007.
In her book Kate: The Future Queen, royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl explains that Will and Kate made a secret pact about their future nuptials when they got back together after briefly breaking up in 2007. Kate wanted some security about their future, but Will wasn't ready to get married just yet.
When Will and Kate got back together after their split, they took a romantic vacation to the luxury island of Desroches in the Seychelles to figure out what their future together was going to be. There, according to Nicholl, they made a promise about their long-term future together:
"There on the paradise island, William promised Kate that he was in the relationship for the long term. For the very first time, they talked seriously about marriage, and with the ocean before them and beneath the night sky, they made a pact to marry."
According to someone close to the couple, they compromised and decided to wait until Will felt ready.
"They didn't agree to get married there and then; what they made was a pact," the source told Nicholl. "William told Kate she was the one but he was not ready to get married. He promised her his commitment and said he would not let her down, and she in turn agreed to wait for him."
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
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.
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.
-
Residents "Shocked" After Prince Harry Rang "Wrong" Doorbell
"I don't think many people would just walk down a road knocking on doors."
-
Diana Regretted Mentioning Former Lover on 'Panorama'
"She had said, if you remember, that she was in love with him."
-
Royal Expert Says Princess Diana Would Be "Proud" of Prince Harry
"She liked to say exactly what she thought and then deal with the consequences afterwards."
-
Royal Expert Says Princess Diana Would Be "Proud" of Prince Harry's Candid BBC Interview
"She liked to say exactly what she thought and then deal with the consequences afterwards."
-
A Surprising Royal Is Attending Pope Leo XIV's Inauguration Later This Month
Buckingham Palace shared the unexpected news in a statement.
-
Prince William and Princess Kate’s Parenting Decisions With Louis and Charlotte are "Absolutely Critical" to the Crown
The Prince of Wales aims to make "the whole royal existence approachable and not scary for all his children."
-
Prince George Gets a Taste of His Future as King During Rare Solo Outing With Parents Prince William and Kate Middleton
The 11-year-old joined his family and the British prime minister at a tea party honoring WWII veterans.
-
How Queen Elizabeth Let Prince William "Rip Up" The Royal Rulebook for His Wedding to Kate Middleton
The late Queen broke protocol when her grandson was unhappy about one aspect of his big day.
-
Princess Diana "Insisted" Prince Harry and Prince William Buck One Tradition That Prince George Is Facing
The late princess took control when it came to this aspect of her sons' lives.
-
Royal Historian and Former Butler Claim King Charles Has This Stance on Abdicating The Throne to Prince William
A royal historian and former royal butler weigh in.
-
Royal Historian Predicts Prince William Will Plan His Coronation "In a Way People Won't Expect"
Royal experts weighed in on how the future King William might switch things up on his coronation day.