How Kate Middleton reacted after brief split with Prince William in 2007
William and Kate reconciled later that year, tying the knot in 2011
A royal expert has revealed what it was like meeting Kate Middleton shortly after her brief split from Prince William in 2007, and his first impression may surprise you.
Veteran royal journalist Richard Eden, who has covered the family for more than 20 years, recalled crossing paths with Kate at a London book launch party during her short break from William.
Speaking on the Palace Confidential podcast, he explained: “At that time, Catherine was seen as a party-loving girlfriend of William. But my first encounter with her taught me she was a tough cookie who wasn’t going to be inveigled into saying something she didn’t want to say.”
Eden said Kate, then in her mid-20s, handled the attention gracefully.
When socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson asked how she was coping post-breakup, Kate politely brushed it off, insisting: “Really, it’s fine.” Eden noted her body language made it clear she didn’t want to dwell on the subject.
Reflecting on the moment, Eden praised the Middleton family as a “real boon” to the royals, adding that Kate already displayed the same polished small-talk skills as seasoned members of The Firm.
William and Kate reconciled later that year, tying the knot in 2011. Today, they’re parents to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
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