When Kate Middleton and Prince William Took a Break—The Phone Call That Changed Everything

Inside Kate Middleton & Prince William’s Breakup That Happened Over the Phone

After a night of heavy drinking, the young prince concluded his breakup with his college sweetheart. What the future Queen of England stated during their brief separation was later made public by an insider.

Since their college days, Kate Middleton and Prince William’s bond has enthralled the public. They have had difficulties over the years, such as a temporary breakup that sparked a media frenzy and is still a hot topic today, but their relationship has stayed strong.

Gradually, the friendship that began in September 2001 at the University of St Andrews grew into much more.

After growing closer in 2002, Middleton and Prince William—who both resided at St. Salvator’s Hall—were first spotted together in public in 2004 when she accompanied him on a family ski vacation in Klosters, Switzerland.

But years later, the attention-grabbing romance appeared to end abruptly and humiliatingly. Prince William’s activities following their 2007 breakup made headlines, so their time apart was anything but secret.

The young prince, who was regarded as the most eligible bachelor in the world at the time, decided it was too early to get married, despite Middleton’s patient waiting for him to commit.

He spent the evening celebrating the split with close friends at Mayfair’s Mahiki nightclub. He once exclaimed, “I’m free!” and then started dancing like a drunken robot. He encouraged his buddies to “drink the menu,” and he made the most of being single.

Soon after, Middleton learned of his actions, which further complicated an already traumatic breakup. In the meantime, there was conjecture that Prince William had changed his focus to the longtime friend of socialite Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe.

She allegedly rejected him when he tried to court her because she thought dating a Prince would hurt her acting career. Few anticipated that she would take him back to Middleton or that he would return.

Royal observers were caught off guard when they announced their separation after four years of dating. Tensions are thought to have started in 2006 when Prince William declined to spend New Year’s Eve with the Middletons. They decided to part ways after reevaluating their relationship as a result of this.

When Middleton received the phone call that ended their romance, she was in London at work. Later, a coworker remembered observing her go outside and pace the office parking lot while using her cell phone.

They observed, “It was clear it was William — and definitely a tiff,” noting that she appeared distressed but maintained her composure. She had purposefully avoided being overheard by walking away from people because she wanted privacy.

When the future Princess of Wales returned to the office, she appeared unconcerned, but she spent the remainder of the day in hiding. Unaware that it signaled a sea change in their relationship, those close to her at the time viewed it as a straightforward argument.

Robert Jobson, a royal analyst, claims that the split happened while Prince William was in the military, right before Middleton turned 25. The split was all the more surprising because the British press was expecting an engagement.

Jobson called it a “devastating blow” for Middleton, who was doubly let down by the phone call that ended their relationship. Prince William had already resigned, but this time it felt definitive.

When the Princess of Wales and her sister Pippa Middleton were separated from Prince William, they went to the book launch of Simon Sebag Montefiore’s “Young Stalin.”

In Middleton’s presence, TV host Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, a longstanding friend of William’s family, spoke candidly about the royal throughout the event.

Eventually, the topic of the breakup came up, but Middleton stayed calm. She only replied, “Fine,” when asked how she was feeling, despite the fact that her flush gave away otherwise. She remained resolute during the interrogation, responding, “Really, it’s fine,” indicating that she had no intention of going into further detail.

Jobson subsequently said that Prince William rapidly regretted his choice in light of his reporting. Both were in their mid-20s at the time, he continued, and although they were a good fit, the timing wasn’t ideal.

Middleton seemed to be moving on with her life at the time, going on dates and going out with her sister. Prince William, meanwhile, realized he had made a mistake and would soon attempt to correct it after being forced to live on a military base.

At a get-together with common friends, the future King of England seized the opportunity to reestablish contact with Middleton, eager to make amends. Royal writer Katie Nicholl recalled in “Kate: The Future Queen” that Prince William had to put in effort to win back Middleton’s trust even though he started the breakup. She hesitated, telling him that she needed time to recover from the loss.

He asked her to a costume party in an attempt to win her over. The image of Middleton arriving in a short dress and fishnet tights, dressed as a nurse, seemed to have captured Prince William’s heart.

He “followed her around like a lost puppy all night,” according to Nicholl, demonstrating his unwavering desire to regain her. Although their relationship was revived, they would not proceed with marriage for years.

Prince William proposed in October 2010 while traveling to Kenya. The following month, the couple, who were both 28 at the time, announced their engagement to the public.

In retrospect, he admitted that their separation had been a time of personal development, saying, “We were both very young… we were sort of both finding ourselves.” Although Middleton acknowledged that it had been challenging, she felt that in the end, it had made her “a stronger person.”

Middleton understood exactly what she was getting into when she joined the royal family. She had already gone through the highs and lows of dating a prince, as Jobson pointed out, but she was confident that their love would last.

Middleton’s faith in their relationship propelled her into the royal life, and on April 29, 2011, she and Prince William were married in a ceremony that was widely reported at Westminster Abbey. They are now 42 and 43 years old, and they have three children together: Princess Charlotte, Princes George and Louis.

Rumors about Prince William’s supposed affair with former model Rose Hanbury renewed as their 13th wedding anniversary drew near in early 2024. When news broke in 2019 that Middleton had cut ties with her once-close friend Hanbury, speculation began.

Hanbury, who was married to David Rocksavage, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, lived close to Anmer Hall and was a member of the affluent “Turnip Toffs” social circle in Norfolk.

The Princess reportedly decided to “phase out” Hanbury, but it was not apparent why. Journalist Richard Kay claimed that both women had thought of filing a lawsuit but decided against it because there was insufficient proof, while royal insiders denied any animosity.

When columnist Giles Coren said out, “Everyone knows about the affair, darling,” and then removed the post, the rumors intensified.

The tabloids apparently dropped the claim after the palace quickly stepped in and threatened legal action. The Waleses are still publicly linked to Hanbury and her husband, and there was never any evidence of an affair. According to reports, she rejected the rumors as “completely false.”

Middleton was addressing a private health issue out of the spotlight while rumors about her marriage made headlines.

Kensington Palace revealed that she had had “planned abdominal surgery” at the London Clinic on January 17, 2024. Middleton was expected to stay out of the spotlight until after Easter on March 31 because to the lengthy recuperation period required by the treatment.

The palace emphasized her want for solitude, particularly for the benefit of her children, while acknowledging the public’s curiosity. They said they will only provide any more updates in the event of “significant new information.”

On February 7, 2024, her husband spoke to the public at the London Air Ambulance Charity Gala as worries about Middleton’s health increased.

He thanked King Charles and his wife for their support, admitting that the last several weeks had taken a “medical” turn. He added a little comedy by joking that he went to the event to get away from the ongoing attention to health issues.

The public’s interest in Middleton’s recent appearances has only increased due to her health issues. In March 2025, she attended the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey with King Charles for the first time in two years.

Although both had been receiving cancer treatments, Middleton stole the show in her crimson Catherine Walker coat and matching Gina Foster hat. Headlines were dominated by her presence, and the following day, pictures of her on the front page.

Similar to the late Queen Elizabeth, who frequently wore striking hues to draw attention, Middleton seems to prefer sophisticated monochromatic ensembles that highlight her importance in the Royal Family.

From a college student negotiating youthful romance to a confident future queen, Kate Middleton’s life has been characterized by both private hardships and public scrutiny.

She still performs her royal duties with dignity in spite of rumors and difficulties, showing a steadfast dedication to her family and responsibilities.

Her recent appearance at the Commonwealth Day Service assured the audience of her continued presence while demonstrating resilience during her health battle.