As newlyweds exactly 15 years ago, life couldn’t have been more different for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
After marrying in a fairytale ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, the pair set up their first home together in a cottage on rugged Anglesey, where William was working as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
There, Kate was able to shop in the local supermarket, and once William finished work, they had the freedom to enjoy long walks on the beach. But as the pair celebrate their crystal wedding anniversary, life nowadays for the couple is a world away from the first days of their marriage.
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Their royal roles have changed dramatically, especially upon becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales after the death of the late Queen, with both William and Kate carrying out ever-more important duties.
There have been personal highs, as two years after their wedding, the couple had their first child, Prince George, then Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018. As well as lows, such as William’s bitter feud with his brother Prince Harry that shows no signs of thawing.
Then two years ago, they endured a ‘brutal’ year, which saw Kate receive a shock cancer diagnosis and have to undergo chemotherapy treatment – at the same time, the King also received a cancer diagnosis.
It would have rocked the foundations of any marriage, but with the princess now in remission, she and William have appeared to turn a corner to start a new chapter in their lives.
Not only have they recently moved into their new family home of Forest Lodge, but the couple seem more and more at ease with showing their affection for each other in public while on royal duties.
And the Mirror’s Royal Editor Russell Myers, the author of ‘William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story’, said there’s no doubt the past few years have been tough-going for the couple.
He said: “In that moment, when William was faced with his father being diagnosed with cancer and then just days later his wife as well, his life completely stopped still. He was absolutely floored.
“Friends told me he felt as though he had been hit by a bus, it was completely disorienting for him. Suddenly, he was managing the children at home and contemplating that his life could change immeasurably if the situation shifted.
“But those closest to the couple have told me how Catherine was arguably the strongest despite everything going on with her health. She was the one who was able to take a stake back and realise the way we approach this – both as a couple and for their children – is what will make the biggest difference.
“Now that Catherine has been cancer-free for more than a year, the focus is very much on looking forward. That support behind the scenes has laid the foundation for them to go on and achieve their goals together. We’ve seen them support each other with increased PDAs and there’s lots of collaboration behind the scenes in how they are going to take on the main pillars of their work, whether that’s William and his homelessness project, or Earthshot, or Catherine’s early years work.
“There’s also a lot of excitement about Catherine being ready to support William on a royal tour together, which would be a huge milestone as they haven’t done that since 2022.”
And while there may not have been any overseas royal tours for the pair in four years, in recent months, there have been a number of joint engagements together as they meet people up and down the country in the likes of London’s Borough Market or representing the King at the installation of the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
Russell added: “Their partnership is one based on mutual respect and understanding. They support each other at home and at work. They are the sounding board for one another and that matters.
“William always knew Catherine would be a great support to him and thrive in a public role, but she has exceeded that. While we may not see William and Catherine doing a huge number of public engagements compared to the previous generation, their work behind the scenes is helping to shape the institution for the future.”
Meanwhile, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes it is William and Kate’s teamwork that has allowed them to successfully work – and live – together for so long.
She explained: “I always remember William’s mother, Diana, telling me that she and Charles ‘would have made such a great team’. Well, I think her son and his wife are doing just that. Neither tries to overshadow the other, they are relaxed and informal on public duties and always seem to find something to laugh about together.
“They give the impression of being the very best of friends; and, of course, friendship – dating back to those early years at university – is the foundation on which their marriage is built.”
Now, as William and Kate look to the future, much is being made about what type of King and Queen they will make when their time eventually comes.
William has already indicated that when he does take the throne, change will be on the agenda after telling Eugene Levy in his Reluctant Traveller show that he is not afraid to shake things up. And for biographer Russell, the signs on what these changes might be are already emerging.
He said: “William has spoken about wanting to make change and change for good.They both have a deep respect for the traditions of the last, but are not afraid to question why things are the way they are within the institution. Tradition is not enough; things have to work for the future. To future-proof the monarchy and make it relatable in the modern world.
“For many years now, they have discussed issues which matter to younger people, such as mental health awareness, which had never been discussed by previous generations. But their work in the arena has been revolutionary in the way we see our royals and what we expect of their public duty.”
And for Jennie, one of the biggest signs yet on how William and Kate will approach the top jobs when they come to them is down to their home life with their three children.
She said: “The fact that they have already decided that Forest Lodge will be their forever home, even when they are King and Queen, speaks volumes about how they intend to conduct their lives. They want stability, not only for their children, but for themselves.
“They are putting down roots, like a normal family, and I don’t think they want the shifting existence of moving from house to Palace or Castle every few weeks or months. Their children, I think, will always come first and, as William has said, he is willing to confront and instigate changes in the way things are done.”
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