A Marriage Forged By Trial: Catherine and William’s Deeper Connection After Nearly 15 Years
A Marriage Forged By Trial: Catherine and William’s Deeper Connection After Nearly 15 Years
Nearly 15 years into marriage and a year after Kate Middleton’s devastating cancer diagnosis, she and Prince William are “more connected than ever,” according to a new cover story from People.
The Prince and Princess of Wales appear more in love and more tactile than they ever have as they come out the other side of the future queen’s health scare last year.
They are also emerging into a bolder diplomatic role as their time on the throne looms closer.
Though 2024 was, in the words of Prince William, “brutal”—a year that saw both his wife Kate Middleton and his father King Charles diagnosed with cancer—2025 has mercifully eased up in its ferocity. As the Princess of Wales announced in January of this year that she is in remission, both she and William emerged changed from her diagnosis—and closer than ever.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have known one another for nearly 25 years, and been romantically involved almost as long. They have embraced PDA more and more as the years have gone on, and appear more in love than ever before.
What they have been through over the last few years has been so terrible,” royal historian Amanda Foreman told People. “That either drives couples apart or, in their case, it brings them together.”
It irons out the kinks and enables them to see each other clearly,” she added.
In addition to growing closer together as a couple, the pair have had a big year. On the personal front, they continue to raise kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—their No. 1 priority—and last month moved from the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage to the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, dubbed their “forever home,” as they seek a “fresh start.” In an example of the two doing royal life their own way, they plan to remain at Forest Lodge even after William becomes king someday, whenever that may be.
As their eldest son and heir to the throne, 12-year-old George, continually takes on more royal duties, William and Kate are stepping up diplomatically as well, playing key roles in the three state visits this year—the French state visit in July, the U.S. state visit in September, and the German state visit earlier this month.
“They are becoming the face of state visits,” Foreman told People. “They are taking on a leadership role.”
They are also pushing for reform to be done where it needs to happen in the royal family, and were reportedly vocal about removing the former Prince Andrew’s royal titles and privileges, which King Charles did in October. It was a decision that “was as much from William” as it was from the King, royal biographer Catherine Mayer said, “and William and Kate are not seen as separate in terms of their decision-making.”
The pair, married for over 14 years now, is fully stepping into their power, both as a couple and as the royal family’s future.
“William and Kate are showcased as being not just the future of the monarchy, but its absolute heart,” Mayer added.
