12/05/2025
Prince William rarely offers glimpses into his 14-year marriage with Catherine, making any insight into their 24-year relationship a precious treat.
During the Wales Investment Summit in Newport on Monday, Prince William shared why Wales is so close to his heart. "Wales was the first place Catherine and I made our home together, on the island of Anglesey," he stated. "When you make a home in Wales, you join a family of three million people, and that sense of warmth and belonging is what makes Wales unlike anywhere else."
Though they were roommates during their second year at university, their official marital life began in Anglesey in 2008, before their marriage. It was during this peaceful time, away from public scrutiny, that William decided to marry Catherine. After their wedding, they lived there for another two years before moving back to England in 2013.
Watching his speech, I realized that William and Catherine’s love story spans the entire UK. They first met, studied, became friends, and then roommates in Scotland before falling in love. Following their 2007 breakup, Carole Middleton took Catherine to Northern Ireland for respite from the media. In 2008, they established their first home together in Wales after reconciling. Finally, they have been living in England as a family of five, choosing Windsor to raise their children and build their long-term "nest."
It was significant that Catherine paid homage to each country of the union at their wedding. The lace appliqué on her bespoke Sara Burton wedding gown was hand-embroidered with the four respective flowers: roses for England, thistles for Scotland, daffodils for Wales, and shamrocks for Northern Ireland.
Our future King and Queen have a love story made and nurtured in the UK, which is why they represent this country so well on the world stage