Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • NYFW
    • Life In Plastic
    • Cari Champion
    • New Books
    • Postpartum Psychosis
    1. Celebrity

    Prince William's First Words to Kate Middleton Were Hilariously Awkward

    Prince William and Kate Middleton met at the University of St Andrews in 2001—but William's initial introduction to Kate didn't exactly go smoothly.

    Emily Dixon's avatar
    By Emily Dixon
    Published 15 June 2020 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    london, england march 09 prince william, duke of cambridge and catherine, duchess of cambridge attend the commonwealth day service 2020 at westminster abbey on march 09, 2020 in london, england photo by karwai tangwireimage
    (Image credit: Karwai Tang)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship had an ever so slightly awkward start, according to a new documentary about the couple. The future Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met at the University of St Andrews in Scotland in 2001, where they lived in the same halls of residence and often shared classes together, as the Mirror reports. But William's introduction to Kate didn't go as smoothly as he might have hoped; in fact, it was kind of hilarious.

    According to royal memoirist Tom Quinn, who spoke in the British documentary William & Kate: Too Good To Be True?, the future Duke came close to hitting the ground as he approached Kate for the first time. "One of the funny stories is he was so desperate to meet her that as he walked towards her, he apparently tripped and said, 'Oh that's a terrible start, you're going to think I'm a complete clot,'" Quinn said. How quaint! 

    A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)

    A photo posted by on


    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Evidently, Kate was charmed by William all the same—and he went on to impress her with his student cooking, as People reports. Speaking to Mary Berry in their holiday special A Berry Royal Christmas, Kate said, "In our university days he used to cook all sorts of meals. I think that’s when he was trying to impress me." And his dishes of choice? "Things like bolognese sauce and things like that." 

    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.

    You may like
    • Prince William Princess Kate dating Royal Editor Reveals the “Sincere” Advice Given To Kate Middleton While Dating Prince William
    • Prince William Princess Kate summer rewind On One Issue, Prince William and Princess Kate Couldn’t See Eye to Eye
    • Princess Kate wears a green blazer a Breton striped top and Prince William has a bald head and wears a navy suit William and Kate's "True Feelings" Were on Full Display

    subscribe here

    RELATED STORIES

    luxembourg may 11 catherine, duchess of cambridge outside the city museum along the corniche to view the capital during a one day visit on may 11, 2017 in luxembourg the duchess will attend a series of engagements to celebrate the cultural and historic ties between the uk and luxembourg and the official commemoration of the 1867 treaty of london, which confirmed luxembourgs independence and neutrality photo by samir husseinwireimage

    (Image credit: Samir Hussein)


    Kate Mirrored Meghan in a Bright Blue Dress

    william kate

    (Image credit: The Royal Family)


    Kate Wore $8 Earrings for Her Latest Engagement

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Prince William
    Emily Dixon
    Emily Dixon
    Social Links Navigation
    Morning Editor

    Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.

    Read more
    Prince William Princess Kate dating
    Royals Royal Editor Reveals the “Sincere” Advice Given To Kate Middleton While Dating Prince William
    By Christine Ross
    Prince George in his Eton College uniform
    Royals How Prince George's First Day at Eton College Differed From Prince William's
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Prince George and Prince William smiling at each other
    Royals Prince George Laughs at Prince William's Embarrassing Dad Mishap at Eton
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Kate smiling and holding an umbrella with Prince George
    Royals Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince George Take the Same Fashion Risk
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend the launch of The Queen's Baton Relay for the XXI Commonwealth Games at Buckingham Palace on March 13, 2017
    Royals Queen Elizabeth Greeted Prince Philip "Wearing a False Beard"
    Nicole Kidman arrives on Day Thirteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Friday, September 11, 2026 in Flushing, NY
    Celebrity Style Nicole Kidman Styles a French Girl Staple at the US Open
     
     
    Jennifer Lawrence in New York City wearing the aqua color trend, transitional fall loafers, and carrying a rare Hermes Kelly bag
    Celebrity Style Jennifer Lawrence Pairs Her Hermès Bag With the Aqua Trend
    Crown Princess Leonor of Spain arrives at Carlos III University on September 07, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
    Royals One Princess Is "Setting the Blueprint" for Future Royals
     
     
    Latest in News
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend the launch of The Queen's Baton Relay for the XXI Commonwealth Games at Buckingham Palace on March 13, 2017
    Royals Queen Elizabeth Greeted Prince Philip "Wearing a False Beard"
    Nicole Kidman arrives on Day Thirteen of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Friday, September 11, 2026 in Flushing, NY
    Celebrity Style Nicole Kidman Styles a French Girl Staple at the US Open
     
     
    Jennifer Lawrence in New York City wearing the aqua color trend, transitional fall loafers, and carrying a rare Hermes Kelly bag
    Celebrity Style Jennifer Lawrence Pairs Her Hermès Bag With the Aqua Trend
    Crown Princess Leonor of Spain arrives at Carlos III University on September 07, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
    Royals One Princess Is "Setting the Blueprint" for Future Royals
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.