It’s hard to believe a year has gone by since our favorite Brits tied the knot during a not-so-private ceremony in front of 3 billion viewers. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t wake up at the crack of dawn to watch the nuptials. After waiting out an eight year courtship, the royal-obsessed public couldn’t get enough of Will and Kate on their wedding day (and of Pippa Middleton’s backside, for that matter). As if being young, rich and royal wasn’t enough to make us jealous, the newlyweds seem to have the perfect relationship. In honor of their one year anniversary, Her Campus put together love lessons for a collegiette’s life, brought to you by Will and Kate.
“All You Need is Love”
The Beatles got it right with this one. Although attractive blue-blooded women vied for William’s attention since his days as an adorable blonde teen, he chose Kate Middleton—of a working-class family of coal miners and builders—instead. Her father was a pilot and her mother was a stewardess for British airways; later, they created a party supply business that transformed their family into multi-millionaires. It may not have been the textbook choice Prince Charles was looking for for his son, but their relationship was enough to convince anyone, even the Queen of England, that these two were meant to be together. In the long run, it’s better to listen to your heart than anyone else.
Pressure from friends and family to be with a certain type of person can often lead you in the wrong direction. It may be beneficial to look at your relationship without any of the external factors and see if your personalities are compatible. Although Kate has no royal blood, William didn’t let that stop him from pursuing a relationship, and ultimately, a marriage.
Check Out Your Chums
Will and Kate met at St. Andrew’s University in 2001, where they both studied art history. Although in the beginning they were just friends (Kate was dating another guy), the world’s most eligible Prince allegedly paid $350 for a front row seat to watch Kate model swimsuits in a charity fashion show. It wasn’t until 2003 that Kate and William began seeing each other and not until 2005 that they officially became an item.
The romance of a new relationship may eventually wear off, so it is important to have a foundation of friendship. Kate and William were friends before they started dating, which made their relationship stronger. If you begin a relationship after a friendship, you know that person possesses the qualities you look for in a friend. If you do jump right into a romance, make sure your guy would get along with your friends, would support you and would be there for you when you needed him. Take a closer look at your guy friends—there may be a potential relationship on the horizon.
Find Your Own Cup of Tea
Don’t let having a boyfriend compromise your individuality. It’s always important to keep the things in your life that make you happy. Part of the reason that Will and Kate work so well together is their balance of interests. In a relationship, it’s important to maintain your independence—don’t compromise your hobbies if they are what you love to do. During their relationship, William focused on his military career while Kate was busy with volunteering and working as a fashion buyer for the women’s retail store, Jigsaw. When they did spend time together, they had fun as a couple.
Come Up Smelling of Roses
William and Kate took some time apart for themselves and for their relationship back in 2007. Even though they took a several month-long break, they kept closed mouths and respected each other’s privacy while still showing support for each other. Although they weren’t together, Kate attended the Concert for Diana, put on by William and Harry, which marked the tenth anniversary of her death. Their maturity during the time apart showed the trust that would be crucial in their relationship in the future.
Remember the old saying, “If you love something, set it free; if it comes back it’s yours, if it doesn’t, it was never meant to be?” It’s true that when you take a step back and look at your relationship, you can really see from a new perspective. Taking time apart can strengthen your relationship and prove it’s strong enough to last. Trying times show someone’s true colors, if it’s meant to be, time away from each other will be beneficial.
While William is away on military leave these days, Kate isn’t stressing about their relationship. The break they took before getting married proved to each other that although they could be independent individuals, they were better together. Because they respected each other during their break, they were able to come away from it with a healthier relationship.
