A newly resurfaced video offers a rare glimpse into Princess of Wales Kate Middleton's private moment of anxiety immediately following her first major public appearance as Prince William's fiancée.
The Infamous 2010 Engagement Interview
Back in November 2010, global excitement erupted when Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement. The couple, who got engaged during a trip to Kenya, returned to the UK for a now-iconic interview with ITV's Tom Bradby at Clarence House.
During the televised conversation, the world saw Kate's sapphire and diamond engagement ring and heard the couple discuss their future hopes. William even admitted they were both nervous, famously comparing their composure to ducks: "very calm on the surface with little feet going under the water."
The Unseen Moment of Panic
It was after the cameras stopped rolling, however, that a more vulnerable side of the future princess emerged. Behind-the-scenes footage from that day captured the moments immediately after the formal interview concluded.
In the clip, Prince William can be heard trying to calm his visibly anxious fiancée, gently instructing her to "breathe." Kate quickly responded with the telling admission, "I'm not very good at that."
This moment aligns with accounts from royal author Katie Nicholl, who wrote in her book 'Kate: The Future Queen' that Kate had been "dreading" the interview. Nicholl reported that after the session, Kate leaned back and sighed with relief, exclaiming, "I'm no good at this!"
Lasting Nerves and a New Home
The interview itself revealed that nerves were nothing new for Kate in her relationship with William. She confessed to having gone "bright red" when they first met at the University of St Andrews, scurrying away feeling very shy.
Despite the challenges of those early public days, the couple has built a strong foundation. They have recently settled into their "forever home," Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where they plan to remain even when William eventually ascends to the throne.
This rare look behind the royal curtain serves as a poignant reminder of the very human reactions that lie beneath even the most polished public performances.
