Prince William Was the Real Royal "Playboy" During His 20s, According One of Kate Middleton's Friends
"That’s something Kate has always known and accepted—it was part of the deal, if you like..."
- Back in the day, when Prince William and Prince Harry were both unmarried men playing the field, Harry had more of a reputation for being a ladies' man than Will.
- According to a friend of Kate Middleton's, however, Will was really the royal playboy in the family.
- In an old interview unearthed by Express, the royal source described Will's "roving eye" in his 20s as being "part of the deal" and something Kate "has always known and accepted."
If you could teleport back to 2007 and ask the average royal fan who was the bigger player, Prince William or Prince Harry, most probably would have said Harry, who was still in the midst of his scandal-filled, bad boy period.
Not so, apparently—at least according to an old friend of Kate Middleton's. In an old Daily Mail interview unearthed by Express, the royal source said that, back in 2007, Kate was pretty much ready for Will to propose (common knowledge), but that he "simply wasn’t ready to settle down" with her yet.
The source added that, in addition to playing the waiting game for Will to put a ring on it, Kate had to deal with another less-than-ideal habit of her real-life Prince Charming.
"He has always had a roving eye, far more so than Harry, who is meant to be the family playboy," the source said. "That’s something Kate has always known and accepted—it was part of the deal, if you like. I suppose in that respect, she would have made a perfect Princess of Wales."
Oof. That "roving eye" played a role in the couple's 2007 breakup, according to the Express report. Of course, once Will and Kate reunited after their split, they were stronger than ever and the breakup famously taught Will that Kate really was the one for him.
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.
-
Sabrina Carpenter's Micro Shorts Are a Slice of Fashion History
She was brave to trot it out at the height of winter.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Tom Parker Bowles Says Stepfather King Charles Could be "Fantastic" at Another Job if He Wasn't Monarch
Just imagine.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Cartier Celebrates 100 Years of Trinity With a Miami Pop-Up
A look inside the Art Basel event.
By Michaela Bushkin 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
-
Royal Expert Says King Charles Finds it "Tough" to "Play Second Fiddle" to Prince William These Days
"Time and again recently, William has grabbed the headlines."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Is Allegedly Still "Very, Very Angry" About Royal Rift, But Kate Middleton Is Pushing For "Reconciliation"
"Never give up hope, there's always a chance."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William Reveals His Surprisingly Low-Key Royal Christmas Plans
Count us in.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Declares He Has "Five Nostrils" in Hilarious Christmas Party Interaction
The Prince of Wales spread some holiday cheer to military families.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Kate Middleton's Family Played a "Pivotal" Role in the Royal Family's Most "Traumatic Year"
Princess Kate's parents have reportedly been "very welcomed into the royal fold."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William's Beard Has Inspired a New Cosmetic Surgery Trend Dubbed "the Prince William Effect"
"People are bringing in pictures of Prince William on their phones and saying, 'Make me look like that.'"
By Amy Mackelden Published