It’s been almost exactly 20 years since it emerged that Prince William was romantically involved with his university housemate Kate Middleton after pictures showed them on a cosy skiing holiday together – and now two decades on and after almost 13 years of marriage, here we look at their sweetest moments

Prince William and Kate Middleton together in 2022 (
Image: WireImage)

Looking loved-up on a ski slope, it’s been exactly 20 years since it emerged Prince William was enjoying a romance with his university housemate, Kate Middleton.

The pair’s blossoming relationship was confirmed in April 2004, when they were snapped together looking blissful on a Swiss skiing holiday. Fast forward two decades, the pair have now been married for almost 13 years, have three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and have the grand titles of Prince and Princess of Wales.

Usually when out on royal duties, the couple is usually always the picture of poise and professionalism when carrying out their royal duties. But on the odd occasion, they often give a rare glimpse into their relationship with a show of PDA, a loving comment or even just an adoring glance. And 20 years on from their romance going public, we look back at some of their most romantic moments….

Wedding day bliss

Like any other couple, William and Kate looked the picture of happiness on their wedding day. They exchanged loving glances and words – especially in the moment when William first saw Kate as she glided down the aisle of Westminster Abbey in her gorgeous Alexander McQueen wedding dress.

William and Kate on their wedding day in April 2011 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

As he set his eyes on his bride for the first time, William, wearing his distinctive red Colonel of the Irish Guards tunic, reportedly loving told her: “You look beautiful.” Later that day, fans who gathered outside Buckingham Palace were treated to another sweet moment when the pair appeared on the balcony at kissed, not once but twice for the cheering crowd.

Olympic love-in

As the UK got caught up in Olympic fever when the Games came to London in 2012 – the royals were not immune including Kate and William. The pair were spotted at the Velodrome and were there to witness Sir Chris Hoy clinch the fifth Olympic gold medal of his career in the men’s team sprint track cycling.

William and Kate celebrate gold for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
And getting swept up with the emotion of the crowd, the couple were pictured hugging in a huge embrace as they celebrated the achievement.

Love all at Wimbledon

In 2021, the royal couple attended the Wimbledon women’s singles final together, where they were pictured looking relaxed as they chatted and laughed in the royal box. And body language expert Judi James said their gestures showed the strength of their bond and “raises it to a whole new level”.

Prince William and Kate Middleton at the women’s singles final at Wimbledon on Saturday ( 
Image:
WireImage)
In one picture, William and Kate can be seen sharing a joke, with Kate tipping her head back in fits of giggles. And according to Judi, this showed Kate showing off some “industrial-strength flirt signals”. She told Fabulous: “Kate’s response to William’s joke is to throw her head right back to laugh. This exaggerated response of what looks like out of control laughter is a hugely flattering gesture to the person telling the joke.”

Heartwarming comment

Meanwhile in 2022, William and Kate delighted royal fans by conducting their first walkabout since the pandemic during a trip to Wales. The royal couple chatted to well-wishers who had gathered outside at a market in Abergavenny that Kate and William had paid a visit to.

Many of the fans had braved the cold weather to catch a glimpse of the pair and W illiam was caught on camera noting the chilly temperatures in Wales that day. After shaking hands with one fan, he pointed towards his wife and said: “She has the coldest hands ever.” And he followed up with: “But they say ‘cold hands, warm heart’.”

Supportive hand

Later that year, William and Kate embarked on a trip to Boston, where they took in a Boston Celtics basketball game. Pictures of the couple inside the area showed Kate at one point placing a hand on William’s knee before they were seen clutching each other.

The couple at a Boston Celtics match last year ( 
Image:
Ian Vogler)

William held Kate’s hand ( 
Image:
Ian Vogler)
Judi told the Mirror : “Kate and William’s show-stopping ‘touch and clutch’ gesture at the basketball might have defined them brand-wise as a close, romantic and rather sexy couple to people in the US. Kate has placed a hand on his thigh here and William has responded with a signal of endorsement by placing his hand over hers and clutching it in a way that hints at gratitude for the backup.”

Glam PDA

Meanwhile, one particualalry glam public display of affection involving the pair also came in 2022 during their tour of the Caribbean, when Kate stole the show in a hot pink gown.

Royal fans swooned over the couple’s PDA in Belize
The adorable moment came while the royal couple attended a reception hosted by the Governor-General of Belize at the Maya ruins at Cahal Pech, near San Ignacio. Kate teamed her a metallic pink full-length dress from British label The Vampire’s Wife with a traditional Maya embroidered handbag and sky high Jimmy Choo heels.

At one point the royal couple had to walk across some rocky terrain and down some steep steps – and footage shows William, ever the gentleman taking his wife by the hand and guiding her down the steps to ensure she didn’t topple over.

Loving praise

It’s not just William who has dished out loving compliments about his wife, Kate too has spoke adoringly about her husband.

It came during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend in June when William and Kate – still known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – visited Cardiff alongside their two older children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. In a clip shared by Twitter user @hellen3030, Kate can be seen meeting and greeting a crowd that turned out to see her as well as her family at Cardiff Castle.

As she shakes hands, one lady tells her that one day she will make a great Princess of Wales. And Kate replies saying: “That’s very kind of you. I’m in good hands” as she gestures towards William. The couple were given the titles Prince and Princess of Wales in September 2022 by King Charles, just a day after the late Queen’s death.

Sneaky moment

One more recent sweet moment came just last November as William and Kate welcomed the South Korean president on his state visit to the UK.

The couple joined King Charles and Queen Camilla to view artefacts from the Royal Collection alongside President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee at Buckingham Palace. Footage from the event showed the royals, who also included the Duchess of Edinburgh, admire Korean-related items, as they entertained their guests.

William places a hand on Kate’s back

The pair took a few steps arm in arm
And at the end of the tour, William and Kate could be seen being approached by an aide, who seemingly told them it’s time to go. And it prompted William to tenderly place a hand on his wife’s back with Kate reciprocating the gesture and the pair taking several steps arm in arm as they made their way out of the palace Picture Gallery.

The gesture did not go unnoticed by royal fans who were delighted to see the pair’s sweet moment. One wrote on X: “Aww how adorable! Those two love each other so much.” While another said: “I love them. So genuine. Nothing posed for cameras just a dedicated loving couple.”