Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Recent Tough Times Has ‘Made Their Marriage Even Stronger’

On their 14th wedding anniversary, Prince William and Kate Middleton stayed overnight at a small remote cottage with stunning views on the Scottish Isle of Mull. “Wonderful to be back,” they posted on Instagram, along with a photo of themselves with their arms wrapped around each other. “Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome.”

Their working vacation marked the first time the royal couple have done a joint official trip since Kate’s cancer went into remission. The parents of three have expressed gratitude that their lives are back to normal, but experts note that the difficulties of the past few years have changed their marriage for the better. “They’ve gone through some exceptionally tough times, particularly recently,” longtime BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells Closer. “But I think that has made their marriage even stronger. We see them out and about in public touching one another tenderly and sharing private jokes. They laugh a lot.”

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Spending their anniversary in Scotland has special meaning for the couple, who met there as undergraduates at University of St Andrews. Back then, they often snuck away for long weekends at private cottages on the royal family’s Scottish estate, Balmoral. “They kind of grew up together at university — as all undergraduates do,” says Bond, who adds that having been friends first created a solid foundation for their marriage. “They spent almost 10 years together before marrying,” she says. “I think it is that strong friendship and understanding that has kept them so united through thick and thin.”

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That period also allowed Kate, 43, who was born into a middle-class family, to decide if she really felt suited to marry into the British royal family. “She understood that she was marrying into an institution and that her husband’s destiny was mapped out before him — as hers would be too,” Bond explains. “I think after 24 years with William, most of it either as his girlfriend or wife, Catherine has accepted, and even embraced, her destiny.”

Their life together has seen a lot of joy, including the births of their children, George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, 7, while their empathy and dedication to public service has made them the most popular members of the royal family. But like anyone, they have faced ordeals no one expected, including Kate’s treatment for an unspecified cancer. William, 42, who called that year “brutal,” stepped up for his family, making Kate and their children the center of his universe. Now he feels fortunate and grateful to have his wife back at his side and his father, King Charles, who is also fighting cancer, still capable. “I’m sure their greatest wish is for life to go on as it is at the moment, with Catherine in remission and the King with a full diary of engagements,” Bond says.

Kate’s illness forced William to prioritize what is important in life. These days, he is less inclined to waste time on his uncle Prince Andrew’s sex scandal or his brother Prince Harry’s drama. “William has been a strong voice in managing the Andrew problem — he is adamant that there is no way back for his uncle,” Bond says. “And I think they are all united in despairing of any change in the rift with Harry and Meghan.”

She explains that the brothers are no longer in contact and they are unlikely to speak to each other anytime soon. “Harry’s latest interview has made things a whole lot worse,” she says. “I don’t think William has room in his head or his heart to deal with all the hurt that Harry has caused. He is concentrating on his wife, his children and his father. It’s incredibly sad, but it’s impossible at the moment to see any way forward.”

Past generations of British royals did not prioritize family the same way William and Kate have. “Right from the start, Catherine made it very clear that they were going to be hands-on parents, that the family would come before pretty much everything,” Robert Hardman, the author of The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, tells Closer. “They both have the view that what matters most is what is best for the children, rather than whatever is best for tradition or the institution.”

In September 2026, Prince George, who is third in line for the throne, is expected to start at a new school, but it’s clear that William and Kate won’t just follow what’s been done before. William and Harry both attended Eton, while Kate is an alum of the co-educational Marlborough. She has reportedly also visited two secondary schools in London. “I think it would be great if the three children could be kept together throughout their schooling, and co-ed Marlborough would be an excellent option,” Bond says. “Catherine enjoyed her time there.”

The decision has likely already been made, although it won’t become public for a while. “They will pick the right school for the right child,” says Hardman, who notes that when it comes to education, the past doesn’t really matter. “The royals have been breaking their own traditions on a fairly regular basis,” he says. “Up until Queen Victoria, monarchs were educated at home by governesses.”

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Keeping the monarchy relevant is extremely important to the couple. “I think they are completely united in doing all they can to keep the monarchy connected with the younger generation,” Bond says. “They look modern, they act modern. They are extremely comfortable wearing jeans and trainers on public visits, sitting on the floor with school kids or kicking a ball around with youngsters.”

William and Kate have also managed to carve out a genuine private life for their family. “They could live in all sorts of very grand properties if they wanted to, but their home is actually a relatively small cottage on the Windsor estate,” explains Hardman. “[Adelaide Cottage in Norfolk was never] a place for top ranking royal officials, it was for middle-class officials, second-rank courtiers, but now it’s their home and they’re very happy there because it feels normal.”

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Without a lot of fuss, they’ve been allowed to live real lives too. “These days there are boundaries which are rarely overstepped,” Bond explains. “Catharine can, for example, do the school run without fear of paparazzi hiding around every corner. She and William are left pretty much alone during their private times in London or Norfolk.”

When they do step on the public stage, they try to make it count. They are passionate about mental health initiatives, providing children strong starts and protecting the environment. “William has said publicly that he intends to carry out his role with ‘a small r’ and that is a very telling phrase,” Bond says. “[As king], I don’t think he will want all the fuss and flummery that all too often accompanies the royals. He would much rather just be called William and get on with the job at hand. And Catherine is exactly the same. She strikes me as a strong young woman who will one day, hopefully some years away, make a graceful and much loved queen.”