On November 16, 2010, Prince William and Kate Middleton posed for photos in the State Apartments of St. James’s Palace in London, marking a historic moment. After much speculation, Clarence House confirmed today the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton. The couple is set to marry in either the spring or summer of the following year, and they will continue to live in North Wales while Prince William serves as a search and rescue pilot for the RAF.
After eight years of dating, the couple got engaged during a vacation in Kenya. Their engagement, like many royal engagements, captured the public’s imagination, with Prince William’s confession about a significant secret he kept from Kate Middleton adding to the intrigue.
Renowned author Robert Hardman describes the announcement of the royal engagement as the beginning of years of public anticipation. He explains that royal engagements often spark fascination with every detail, from the wedding dress design to the choice of bridesmaids and best man, and where the wedding will be broadcast.
When Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement in November 2010, it created quite a stir. The couple shared details about their romantic Kenyan vacation, where William proposed using Princess Diana’s engagement ring. In an interview with Tom Bradby of ITV, William explained, as reported by OK Magazine, “It is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died. I couldn’t think of a better place to propose to Catherine than Kenya, so I got down on one knee there.” He added with a smile, “I knew if this thing disappeared, I’d be in a lot of trouble.”
The couple’s official engagement photograph was taken at St. James’s Palace by renowned photographer Mario Testino, who admitted he waited quite a while to capture the perfect shot. The iconic image highlighted the stunning engagement ring, which featured a large sapphire surrounded by 14 sparkling diamonds. The ring was resized by renowned jewelers G. Collins and Sons to fit Kate Middleton, adding a special touch to the memorable photograph.
