The Princess of Wales will be surrounded by her nearest and dearest today as she marks her 42nd birthday. Yet one birthday stands out as particularly painful: her 27th, when Prince William's decision to join the RAF upended her hopes of an imminent engagement.
In September 2008, as rumours of a proposal swirled, William announced he would join the RAF. The choice surprised both his family and his girlfriend. Having completed assignments with all three branches of the Armed Forces, he opted for the RAF to gain extra time and freedom before full-time royal duties, a path denied to his grandmother and father.
According to royal expert Katie Nicholl in her book Kate: The Future Queen, the decision left Kate devastated. Nicholl writes: "With that single decision, Kate's life was turned upside down. She had expected a proposal once William had completed his military training, but instead, she was forced to accept that there would be no engagement any time soon." William's new role meant 18 months of training in Shropshire followed by two years at a remote UK location. Nicholl adds: "Was Kate prepared to join him? She supported his desires and ambitions, but privately she was crushed."
The couple spent New Year together in Scotland, and Kate holidayed with her family, but by her birthday William was due to start his RAF training. The base was roughly three hours from London, and William was confident the distance would not break them. Kate, however, found it harder, with Nicholl noting: "For Kate, it was a step backwards. It seemed that everyone was getting married except for her."
The relationship survived, with William regularly making the 130-mile drive to Bucklebury to see Kate at her parents' home. In late 2010, he finally proposed, and they married at Westminster Abbey months later. Today, they are parents to three children, and the earlier heartbreak is long forgotten.
