Prince William and Kate Middleton's love story began during their time attending St. Andrews university together in the Noughties.
After the pair became engaged in 2010, the Duke of Cambridge recalled his instant connection to Middleton during an engagement interview, saying: 'When I first met Kate, I knew there was something very special about her. I knew there was possibly something that I wanted to explore there.'
Describing their initial friendship as 'a good foundation' for their eventual relationship, he spoke further about their first time meeting. 'I actually think I went bright red when I met you and sort of scuttled off, feeling very shy.'
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Almost 12 years after they married at Westminster Abbey, the details of their former friendship as students has resurfaced.
According to The Mirror, Katie Nicholl, who is now a royal expert, decided to have her milestone birthday on the same day as Middleton's. 'It caused a real divide and a bit of social rift. Kate was very upset,' Katie highlighted in her book, Kate: Our Future Queen, after speaking to some of the duchess' friends.
This dilemma, which apparently led to the future Queen distancing herself from Nicholl for a bit, also meant that Prince William was left in an awkward position when it came to deciding which party to attend.
And, while a few decided on Nicholl's party, Prince William stayed loyal to Middleton by keeping his promise and turning up to hers, even if slightly late.
Prince William is understood to have arrived to Middleton's do in a Volkswagen Golf, at which point she slipped out of the reception to meet him.
The Duchess of Cambridge's 21st birthday was a big occasion for more than just those reasons, too, as the event also saw Prince William meet her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
It appears as thought the duke, who is said to have been 'very relaxed' during the party due to knowing a few of the attendees that were there, also made a good impression on Middleton's friends, who he effortlessly interacted with.
Referring to Prince William, Nicholl explained: 'We all gave him his privacy, and he kept himself to himself.'
'It was a sit-down dinner and dance and Prince William looked very dapper; he seemed to be having a lot of fun - we all were.'
During the pair's engagement interview, they also explained that during the second year of their studies when they were still just friends, they moved into a house together with two others, which led to a relationship that 'blossomed' between them.
Middleton, who first started dating Prince William in 2003, before they briefly broke up in 2007 and later rekindled their romance, celebrated another milestone in January - her 40th birthday.
To mark her new decade in life, the mother-of-three had a Victorian-style photoshoot that subtly referenced the Queen and William's late mother, Princess Diana.
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