Kate Middleton and Prince William’s five rules for an unbreakable marriage
It’s been 13 years since Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot in Westminster Abbey – and the couple are closer than they’ve ever been. According to a royal butler, it’s down to five key aspects

Princess Kate and Prince William’s marriage has gone from strength to strength ever since their fairytale royal wedding in April 2011.

Now, 13 years down the line, the couple share three children together and have formed a tight family unit.

But they have also faced challenging times, including the death of William’s grandparents, Prince Philip and the Queen, the ongoing fall-out with Prince Harry, and both the King and Kate’s cancer battles.

Despite that, the couple remain rock solid – and it’s all down to five golden rules, according to former royal butler Grant Harrold, who worked for King Charles between 2004 and 2011.

First up, Grant said that the couple have a shared sense of humour, noting that while William has a ‘serious side’, he is also very funny. “He’s like the Queen in that respect. His humour is quite unexpected,” he told OK!.

Similarly, Kate is very funny – and frequently gets the giggles when she is with William, which will set him off laughing, too.

Secondly, the pair both put family first. Both Princess Diana and King Charles were keen to give William and Harry as normal an upbringing as they could – and Kate is incredibly close to her family, something her husband loves.

Grant noted: “They’re very hands-on. The Queen adored her family but duty often came first. Whereas with William and Kate, their kids are always the number one priority and it’s something they both agree upon.”

Another key element of their marriage is the fact it is built on friendship. William and Kate were good friends at St. Andrews before falling in love which has set them up for a happy relationship. And they have a number of shared interests, including sports; the pair are famously competitive.

“Whether they’re holding hands or placing a hand on the other’s back to check in and reassure. I’ve seen how close and connected they are,” Grant added. “Just very tactile and sweet to one another. They always reminded me of the Queen and Prince Philip. They’re a great team because they’re great friends.”

With that in mind, William and Kate also understand the importance of making time for one another, and will carve out date nights away from their three children. It’s another way of checking in on each other and allows them to focus on being husband and wife and not just parents.

Finally, the future King is an old romantic! Grant recalled: “I remember him asking me to help with a candlelit dinner for Kate to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It was the Valentine’s after they got engaged and shortly before their wedding. I was so happy to be involved and I’m sure William picked Kate’s favourite dessert as a surprise.”

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