Before their romance blossomed at the University of St Andrews, Princess Kate devised a clever way to help Prince William out of uncomfortable encounters with other female admirers.
The pair first met during their first year while staying at St Salvator’s Halls of Residence and later shared a house with friends in their second year.
As a university student, William quickly became the focus of attention, often finding himself on the receiving end of unwanted advances from other girls.
However, his polite nature made it difficult for him to turn them away. Recognising this, Kate stepped in with a simple but effective solution.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl’s book, "Kate: The Future Queen", tells an account from their mutual friend, Laura Warshauer, who recalled one such moment.
"Will was getting really hit on by this girl at a party and it was getting quite uncomfortable because he couldn't shake her off," Laura explained.
"He was being really polite, but this girl just didn't get the hint. All of a sudden, Kate came up behind him and put her arms around him. He said, 'Oh, sorry, but I've got a girlfriend,' and he and Kate went off giggling."
According to Laura, William discreetly mouthed, "thanks so much" to Kate for her intervention.
Before they became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge—and later the Prince and Princess of Wales—their friendship at St Andrews provided a strong foundation for their relationship.
By their third and fourth years, the couple had moved into a private house off-campus, which belonged to one of William’s distant relatives.
Their relationship eventually led to an engagement in 2010, much to the delight of royal fans. William proposed during a romantic holiday in Kenya, presenting Kate with Princess Diana’s iconic engagement ring—a 12-carat oval sapphire encircled by 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.