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Some of the details of the early days of Prince William’s relationship with Kate Middleton have been revealed by a university friend of the couple.
The 28-year-old prince met Kate when they were both students at Scotland’s St Andrews University in 2001.
In pictures: Kate Middleton’s family photos
Fellow student Julian Knight lived on the same street at William and Kate and attended many of the same lectures. He was one of the first people to see the couple holding hands and he said he knew things were getting serious long before anyone else did.
“We knew ages before,” Julian told CNN. “In fact, it became quite amusing because we were obviously in the circle of people who knew they were together and we were just wondering when the press were going to catch on.”
Julian said William attracted very little press attention in those days and he thinks that’s why his relationship with Kate blossomed into what it is today.
“I think one of the main reasons why they were able to be together was because they were in the same hall of residence and then they lived together,” Julian said.
“Initially, they had time to get to know each other as friends — but without prying eyes — they were just a part of a group of eight people.
“So, they were always spending time together, going down to Anstruther to go banana boating or playing golf or going for a walk. They were able to get to know each other as friends without anyone going, ‘Ooh, what’s going on there?'”
Julian was even there on the night of the infamous fashion show, which saw Kate strutting down the catwalk in a see-through dress. He says everyone fell a little bit in love with Kate that night, and is sure William was no exception.
“I remember that specific night very well,” he said. “She wasn’t what you would call a risqué girl. She was a pretty safe bet; quite conservative in the way she dressed and the way she acted. And here she was not wearing that much, looking amazing.
“I think everyone did think, ‘Wow, she looks great. She looks amazing. She’s beautiful.’ And I think [Prince William] probably looked to her and was pretty impressed as well.”
Related: Prince William, the ‘normal’ royal
William and Kate are due to wed at London’s Westminster Abbey next week.
The Weekly will be tweeting live from London on April 29. Follow @AWW_London and @WomensWeeklyMag for the latest news and gossip.
Your say: Do you think William and Kate’s friends should keep gossip about the couple’s private life to themselves?
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