William and Kate: A Royal Love Story

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Kate was neither mad nor chasing William, but she had his mobile number.

She was close enough to the future King by the end of the first term to act as a valued confidante when he hit his lowest ebb at St Andrews. He was unsettled and making regular 900-mile round trips to Prince Charles’s Highgrove estate near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.

Over the Christmas holidays, he told his father that enough was enough and he wanted to quit the university.

This presented a potential PR disaster for the Royal Family and would draw unflattering comparisons with Prince Edward’s failure to stick with the Royal Marines 15 years earlier. After consulting with aides, Prince Charles took a tough line with his elder son. He sat him down and told him quitting was not an option.

‘ He didn’t think that watching his attractive new friend would prove to be much of a chore – and he was right.’

William returned in January, under no illusion that he must show his mettle. His spirits were given a massive boost in March of his second term when he heard that Kate was to model in a college fashion show. William bought a £200 VIP front-row seat to lend his support at the event, which was called ‘Don’t Walk’ and sponsored by Yves St Laurent.

He didn’t think that watching his attractive new friend would prove to be much of a chore - and he was right. Kate was the shining star of the show. She drew gasps of admiration as she sashayed along the catwalk wearing a sheer black lace dress over a strapless bra and black bikini bottoms. The daring outfit showed off Kate’s toned frame to perfection and William watched agog as he saw her in a completely new light. Just four years on from the Eton vs Marlborough hockey match, a total role reversal had taken place. It was now William who couldn’t take his eyes off Kate.

He respected her judgment, too. Following chats with Kate and his tutors, he decided to switch courses to geography after struggling to get to grips with history of art. With the academic cloud that had been hanging over his head lifting, a high-spirited William set about looking for a flat to rent for his second year. He would share with old Etonian pal Fergus Boyd and - of course - his very good friend Kate Middleton.