Kate Middleton and Prince William‘s relationship has taken place completely in the public eye, but there were still a few more intimate moments that happened during their dating days that only few people would be privy to. And in his new book, The Royal Butler, Grant Harrold, a former butler to King Charles, is sharing a peek into one of the couple’s more “romantic” dates that took place behind closed doors and convinced palace staff that they were truly meant to be.
The date in question took place after Will and Kate got back together following their brief breakup in 2007. It was February 2008, and William wanted to have a private meal with Kate at Highgrove House in order to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
“It was just the two of them. It was really nice, quite special actually,” Grant told People.
Despite the fact it was a date, he also said that the couple “very much interacted with me throughout” as he served them during their meal, adding that he noticed that once they got back together after their split, something significant had really seemed to have changed between them.
“Before, they weren’t [really] holding hands — it was very much William’s friend,” he said. “After that, when they got back together, it absolutely changed, and it was very much them as a couple. Something changed, and you knew they were a couple, and from then on, it was very much a waiting game.”
Grant added, “After they got back together, I was convinced they would get married. We didn’t know how long it would take.”
After witnessing their interactions as a couple, he said he believed that friendship truly is at the heart of Will and Kate’s relationship.
“When you saw them together and see them get on as friends, although they were in love, they are also absolutely best friends,” he said. “They remind me of the Queen and Prince Philip. Their relationship was similar. They were best friends who worked together as a team.”
Now, going into the future, Grant said he thinks they’re “very much a modern royal couple, which you can see with all the changes they are going to make in the coming years.”
That sounds a lot like what other royal insiders have said about Will and Kate, so it’s not surprising at all. After more than 20 years together, it really seems like they’ve found the perfect rhythm with each other and their family life as they also juggle their work as senior royals.
