It’s hard to believe now but Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship wasn’t always rainbows and tiaras. Way before Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis came along, the royal couple had a dispute so bad that they went through a brief breakup! So, what exactly was the root of their argument? Holiday drama, which yet again proves just how relatable this beloved royal couple is. 

Popsugar recently revealed that William previously accepted an invite to spend New Year’s Eve with Kate’s family back in 2006, only to later decline the offer to keep the royal tradition of spending the holiday with Queen Elizabeth in Sandringham. Since Kate hadn’t married into the family yet, she was not allowed to join him for this occasion. With tensions high, the duo’s long-distant relationship came crumbling down. 

kate middleton and prince william getty images
Getty Images

But it wasn’t long before the couple (who’d already been together for five years at the time) put the dispute behind them and continued their fairytale romance. Later, in 2010, William and Kate opened up about the short split in their official engagement interview with ITV. “We were both very young,” William explained. “It was at university, we were sort of both finding ourselves as such and being different characters and stuff, it was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up.”

The separation was ultimately a good thing for the couple’s relationship. At the time, the newly engaged Prince continued to say, “It was just sort of a bit of space and a bit of things like that, and it worked out for the better.”

kate middleton prince william getty images
Getty Images

Echoing what William said, Kate added, “I think I… at the time wasn’t very happy about it but actually it made me a stronger person.” She continued to say, “You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn’t realized, or I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me as well although I didn’t think it at the time. Looking back on it.”

Today, the beloved couple has been happily married for seven years and they’re now parents to three adorable royal children — what a fairytale! 

Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Prince William, and all things royal!