Exploring Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Notable Controversies Over the Years

Prince William and Wife Kate Middletons Biggest Controversies Through the Years

Prince William and wife Kate Middleton Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Earthshot

Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton have faced challenges in their relationship, including family drama and speculative rumors.

They first met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews. Although they briefly broke up six years later, they reconciled and got engaged in 2010. The couple tied the knot the following year and now have three children together: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

They quickly encountered several rumored challenges, including allegations of William having an extramarital affair.

In June 2019, a source revealed exclusively to We that Kate was deeply hurt by the rumors and dreaded the idea of her children stumbling upon them online. This situation prompted a reflection on their relationship by both Kate and William, leading them to realize the importance of regularly assessing and nurturing their bond.

The couple, despite denying the accusations, continued to face difficult times. In January 2024, Kate had planned abdominal surgery and recovered at home privately for two months without being seen by the public.

Kate's first public statement was an Instagram post on Mother's Day in the UK in March. However, her message received backlash and sparked conspiracy theories about her whereabouts, with concerns about Photoshop. Another source mentioned that Kate's intention was to express gratitude to the public for their support and dispel the baseless conspiracy rumors.

Keep scrolling for more of William and Kate’s most controversial moments through the years:

Harry Blames William and Kate for Controversial Costume Choice

In 2005, Prince Harry faced criticism for wearing a Nazi costume to a Halloween party. Years later, he claimed that it was actually his brother, William, and Kate who helped him choose the outfit.

"I couldn't find anything I liked while browsing through the racks. With time running out, I narrowed down my options to a British pilot's uniform or a sand-colored Nazi uniform complete with a swastika armband and a flat cap," Harry wrote in his January 2023 memoir, Spare. "I called Willy and Kate for their opinion. They suggested the Nazi uniform. I rented it along with a silly mustache and returned home to try it on. They both burst out laughing."

Neither William nor Kate addressed Harry’s claims at the time.

A Postgraduate Breakup

William and Kate dated during college but took their time before getting engaged. The press teased Kate, calling her "Waity Katie." They even had a brief split in 2007.

During an interview in November 2010, Kate reflected on the split, saying, "At the time I wasn't very happy about it, but it actually made me a stronger person." She mentioned how the experience helped her discover new things about herself. Kate also shared that she valued the time apart, even though she didn't realize it at the time.

The twosome ultimately reconciled one year later.

Meghan’s Wedding Day Tears Over Kate Drama

Leading up to Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle, there were rumors that Meghan and Kate were not getting along. Initially, it was reported that Meghan made Kate cry. However, Meghan later revealed that it was actually the other way around.

In his book Spare, Harry shared that he came home to find Meghan sobbing on the floor. He was shocked to see her so upset, but he didn’t think it was a major issue. The next day, Kate visited with flowers and a card to apologize for the incident.

While Harry didn’t think that Kate meant to make his wife upset, he did speculate that the princess felt “forced to compete” with Meghan.

Prince William and Wife Kate Middletons Biggest Controversies Through the Years

Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in September 2022. KIRSTY O'CONNOR/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Brotherly Rift

William and Harry, the two sons of King Charles III and late ex-wife Princess Diana, were close growing up and even launched a joint foundation together. Their bond started to weaken in February 2019 when they made the decision to formally separate their royal households.

Harry and Meghan decided to step down from their duties as senior royals one year later in 2020 and relocated to California. This move caused a rift with William and Kate, further straining their relationship.

Harry continued to write about the ongoing feud between the siblings in his book Spare. He mentioned that William had torn his necklace during a physical altercation.

During an interview with ITV in January 2023, Harry shared his perspective on the situation. He described a high level of frustration and talked about the anger he had experienced for many years, which he also saw in William. Harry mentioned that William had provoked him to fight back, but he made the choice not to engage in physical violence.

William did not publicly address the alleged altercation.

Facing Infidelity Rumors

In 2019, rumors surfaced about William allegedly having an affair with Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. Hanbury has been a longtime friend of William and Kate, attending important events like their wedding in 2011 and Prince Philip's funeral in 2021. Her son, Oliver, even had a role in Charles' coronation in May 2023.

Despite the speculation, William, Kate, and Hanbury, who is married to David Cholmondeley, have chosen not to publicly address the rumors.

Racism Accusations

"It's common to experience challenges in a marriage, particularly after being together for eight years, and Kate and William are no exception," a source revealed to Us in 2019. "Despite facing obstacles, their love remains strong. Their children are their top priority, and they deeply care for each other."

During their 2021 interview, Harry and Meghan made a shocking claim that two members of the royal family questioned the skin color of their son before he was born. They also have a daughter named Princess Lilibet.

Although Harry and Meghan did not reveal the names of the relatives involved, there were rumors suggesting that Kate might have been one of them. According to a Dutch version of royal expert Omid Scobie’s 2023 book Endgame, Kate was mentioned as one of the relatives in question.

Holiday Card Editing Drama

A source revealed in December 2023 that Kate was not involved in the discussion about it at all. She feels upset that her name was brought into this situation, as she had no part in it.

When William and Kate revealed their holiday card in December 2023, there were rumors going around that the photo had been altered. Some people thought that Louis' finger had been edited out and an extra leg had been added.

Later on, a source informed Us that William and Kate felt "embarrassed" by the reaction from the public.

Prince William and Wife Kate Middletons Biggest Controversies Through the Years

Prince of Wales/Kensington Palac / MEGA

Kate's Mysterious Disappearance

After undergoing abdominal surgery in January 2024, Kate Middleton's absence from the public eye raised questions among social media users. Speculations about her health and whereabouts grew as her last public appearance was noted a month prior. Despite the royal family's silence on the matter, conspiracy theories escalated in March 2024 following the circulation of a blurry photo from TMZ showing the princess alongside a doctored family portrait.

On Mother’s Day that March, news outlets received a “kill notice” to remove a picture from their websites as it was believed to have been altered by the source. The photo caption indicated that it had been taken by William earlier in the year.

Kate later admitted to manipulating the photo and issued an apology for the controversy. She explained that like many amateur photographers, she enjoys experimenting with editing software. In a statement, she expressed regret for any confusion caused by the family photo shared the day before and wished everyone a happy Mother’s Day celebration.

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