As the Prince and Princess of Wales prepare to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary on 29 April 2026, royal experts have offered insights into how the couple might mark the occasion after what has been a particularly challenging period. Fifteen years of marriage is a significant milestone, and following Kate's cancer diagnosis in 2024 and other family upheavals, the couple's bond has only strengthened.
A Private Celebration
Royal author Katie Nicholl explains that William and Kate are not inclined towards grand gestures or extravagant spending. 'They're not an over-the-top couple and they don't make a big fuss with ostentatious gifts for occasions like anniversaries,' she says. 'But they're still very romantic together and they will certainly want to mark the moment in some way.'
Royal expert Richard Palmer agrees, noting that the couple values privacy above all. 'Whenever anyone who knows them is asked how they'll celebrate, the answer is always the same: privately. They would both much prefer some family holiday time or a private anniversary trip to any big public declarations. I can see them going somewhere that means a lot to them, possibly to Africa, or maybe to Mustique.'
Sentimental Gifts
When it comes to gift-giving, William has a mixed track record. He once famously gifted Kate a pair of binoculars early in their courtship, a present she has never let him forget. 'I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once – she's never let me forget that – that was early on in the courtship. I think that sealed the deal. It didn't go well,' he joked on the That Peter Crouch Podcast.
However, William has since made amends with more thoughtful jewellery choices. For their first Christmas as a married couple, he gave Kate a pair of green amethyst oval drop earrings by London jeweller Kiki McDonough. The engagement ring, a blue sapphire and diamond ring that belonged to Princess Diana, remains 'very, very special' to Kate.
For their 15th anniversary, the traditional gift is crystal, symbolising the fragility of a relationship and the care required to protect it. However, Palmer suggests that watches might be a more practical and sentimental choice. 'Couples often buy watches for each other at 15 years, instead of crystal, and I could imagine them seeing this as something sentimental but also useful, which would suit them,' he says.
Involving Family
The couple's celebration may also include their children and extended family. 'They have probably sat down with their work diaries and the school holiday dates and worked out when they can do something together, and with the children. That time will be much more important to them than anything else,' Palmer adds. 'We could see them involving other family members too, maybe Kate's parents, Carole and Michael, because they've been such a big part of their life together.'
A Decade of Love
To mark their 10th wedding anniversary in 2021, the couple released a special film featuring their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, playing on the beach and toasting marshmallows. They also commissioned two official portraits. Photographer Chris Floyd recalled the session: 'In that time, they were just another pair of people that I was photographing. I just forgot where I was and who I was with and I was just photographing a couple, who in this case, were celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.'
Royal broadcaster Katie Nicholl sums up the couple's journey: 'They are very much still in love and united, and have been through things which could have broken a couple, and they deserve to celebrate together.'
