It isn't easy being a royal and having the world's eyes watching, but it helps to have a supportive partner. That's exactly what both Kate Middleton and Prince William have in each other. Friends since college, they're now future leaders of the UK who have not only an equal understanding of their responsibility but also an equal dedication to their family. In the end, they have support in both their professional and personal lives from one another.
Behind closed doors, Kate and Will work hard to protect their marriage and keep their family unit strong. In public, they're dedicated to serving the citizens they represent — and in every moment in between, they have each other's backs.
Will was born into this royal life, but Kate loved him enough to take it all on, and now, they can each be each other's rocks when things get tough — like when two of the other most prominent working royals quit. Here's how the Cambridges stay tough — together.
Cheering on Will During Polo Matches
Nowadays, she takes the kids with her to watch Prince William's polo matches, but Kate Middleton has been cheering on Will from the sidelines for much longer than they've even been married. She first started popping up at his matches in 2006 after the duo went public with their romance.
Helping Kate Deal With the Media Attention
Early in their romance, William made sure that Kate was as protected as possible. He didn't want to see what happened to his mother happen to his girlfriend. He reportedly set up a panic button in her apartment, which would alert the police if she needed help. He also established an emergency hotline that would allow her to call him directly whenever she needed.
Concern When Kate Is Sick
During pregnancies, Kate suffers from hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness that can require hospitalization. William reportedly was the most supportive husband when the duchess first fell ill while pregnant with Prince George. Express reported that he sprang "into action and drove his wife along with their personal security team 50 miles in their Range Rover to the hospital where Kate was placed on an IV drip."
William brought flowers to the hospital when Kate was able to come home.
Stepping in for Kate on Tour
When Kate again fell ill while pregnant with Princess Charlotte, William was there to step up and take on more work. He ended up going on a royal tour of Malta in place of Kate and apologizing on behalf of his wife. He really lives up to that whole "in sickness and in health" part of his vows.
Standing Up to Prince Philip for Kate
The royal family members rarely make waves, so it must have taken a lot of bravery for Prince William to defy Prince Philip's plans for him, but Will did it for the sake of his relationship with Kate. Reportedly, Philip wanted William to join the Royal Navy, but William refused as it would have taken him too far away from Kate.
Helping William Cope With Losing Princess Diana
Prince William admitted earlier this year that becoming a parent reactivated some of the trauma of losing his mother at such a young age. "The emotions come back, in leaps and bounds. It's a different phase of life and there is no one there to kind of help you. I definitely found it very, at times, overwhelming," he said.
Although Kate cannot fix the fact that Princess Diana is gone, William gave her credit for helping him navigate his feelings. "Me and Catherine particularly, we support each other and we go through those moments together and we kind of evolve and learn together," he said.
Celebrating Anniversaries
In 2017, Kate Middleton helped Harry and Will commemorate the 20th anniversary of Diana's death by visiting the White Garden memorial at Kensington Palace. It must be a difficult day for Diana's sons each year, and it's nice that William has Kate's shoulder to lean on for these tough moments.
After Megxit, Kate Was a Pillar of Strength for Will
Following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit from the royal family, a lot of pressure was added to both William and Kate's shoulders. But even as her own workload was growing, the Duchess of Cambridge reportedly made sure to also be there for her husband. A body language expert told the Daily Mail that the vibe Kate was giving off in March was one of strength and resilience to keep the royal family afloat "almost singlehandedly."
Praising Kate's Mothering Skills
After Princess Charlotte's birth, William raved to BBC about the Duchess of Cambridge's parenting skills. "It is fantastic having a lovely little family and I am so thrilled. Catherine has been doing an amazing job as a mother and I'm very proud of her."
Aww, that's so sweet of him to say.
Splitting Homeschool Duties
Both of the Cambridges view parenting as a shared duty, and now that their kids are being homeschooled, they've split up the tasks. George's work is a little harder, so they help him focus on that while also creating activities to keep little Charlotte and Louis busy. It sounds like a well-oiled machine.
Working Through William's Illness Together
Around the same time his father contracted the coronavirus, William also came down with the illness. Fortunately, he had Kate by his side — literally. She joined him for several of his Zoom videos and carried out her own video engagements throughout April as Will recovered.
Will Cooks Breakfast
Not only do they share parenting duties, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also seem to share cooking duties. "He's very good at breakfast," Kate said last year.
She added that Will tended to cook a bit more when they were in college when he was still trying to impress her, but it's cute that that he still is at least a regular breakfast-maker. Will's not about to leave Kate with all the cooking.
Supportive PDA
Unlike Meghan and Harry, Will and Kate rarely show PDA, but one expression of touch that they are comfortable with in public is a gentle hand on the back. They both do it from time to time, and it's a great metaphor for how they have each other's backs no matter what.
Excellent Colleagues
A royal expert told People magazine last year that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's marriage works so well in part because they have balancing strengths. For example, when they're at a work event, they both have their own roles that they happily execute.
"They are a great double act … people make much of William giving the big speeches, but Kate is there too, asking questions of presidents and their wives. These things are easier when they are side-by-side," the source said.
Checking In on Each Other
In the same People article, a supposed royal friend added that the duo always makes sure to check on one another and lend support if needed. "They look after each other … They have different roles, but they come together as a team," the friend said. And this team is all about having one another's back.
