Unexpected decision left Kate Middleton ‘crushed’ in birthday heartbreak
Kate Middleton was left ‘crushed’ by Prince William’s decision to join the RAF in 2008
Kate Middleton’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – alongside husband Prince William, always go the extra mile to make her birthday special.
Over the years, she’s enjoyed memorable celebrations, from evenings out dancing with her sister Pippa to intimate family gatherings with the Middletons. However, her 27th birthday likely stands out for less pleasant reasons, as she had to bid an emotional farewell to Wills following a choice that left her “crushed”. The pair had been an item for several years by then, having first met at St Andrew’s University aged 19, yet Kate’s hopes of a Royal engagement remained unfulfilled.
In September 2008, just as speculation mounted that the Duke was preparing to propose, it was formally revealed that he would be joining the RAF – a move that caught both his family and girlfriend off guard. Having recently finished placements across different branches of the Armed Forces, William faced two options – rejoin the Household Cavalry or step away from military service to commence his Royal responsibilities.
For William, pursuing an RAF career offered additional time and independence before fully embracing his Royal role, providing him with a level of personal freedom that his grandmother and father never experienced. But for Kate, it represented a setback as many had anticipated her marrying the prince and embarking on her Royal journey, reports the Mirror.
In her book, Kate: The Future Queen, Royal expert Katie Nicholl writes: “With that single decision, Kate’s life was turned upside down. She had expected a proposal once William had completed his military training, but instead, she was forced to accept that there would be no engagement any time soon. Kate would have to wait even longer.”
William’s new role required 18 months of training in Shropshire, followed by a two-year posting at a remote UK location. Katie writes: “Was Kate prepared to join him? She supported his desires and ambitions, but privately she was crushed. William was asking her to be an army wife – without the nuptials. Her frustration was understandable.”
In the following weeks, Kate and William enjoyed some precious time together in Scotland, where they celebrated New Year, and Kate took a holiday with her family. However, by the time her birthday arrived, it was time for the prince to begin the next chapter of his life. Katie claims that William felt certain their relationship could withstand the distance, with the Shropshire posting roughly three hours from the capital.
According to Katie, Kate struggled even more as their circle of friends began settling down whilst she remained in limbo. She writes: “For Kate, it was a step backwards. It seemed that everyone was getting married except for her. As she neared her 27th birthday, Kate’s plan to be married with children by the time she was thirty was looking increasingly unlikely.”
Katie suggests it wasn’t only Kate who felt anxious – her mother, Carole Middleton, was also becoming “jittery”. Despite the challenges, the couple managed to maintain their bond, with William frequently making the 130-mile journey back to Bucklebury to visit Kate. Towards the end of 2010, William finally made things official by proposing. The pair chose to keep their engagement private initially, before publicly announcing it on 20 November. They exchanged vows in a spectacular Royal ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
