Prince William did a 'terribly' embarrassing thing moments before meeting Kate Middleton for first time

Prince William
(Image credit: Getty)

Prince William did a 'terribly' embarrassing thing ahead of meeting his future wife Kate Middleton, a royal author has revealed.

Prince William did a 'terribly' embarrassing thing moments before meeting his future wife Kate Middleton for the very first time.

The Duke of Cambridge, who was studying at the University of St Andrew's when he was introduced to Catherine Middleton - the name she was formerly known by, little did he know back then that she was to become his wife.

Meeting someone you like for the first time is a nerve-wracking time for most of us, and that includes Prince William, who almost literally fell head over heels for his love.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Speaking in a 2020 documentary William & Kate: Too Good to Be True, royal author Tom Quinn said, "One of the funny stories is he was so desperate to meet her that as he walked towards her, he apparently tripped and said, ‘Oh, that’s a terrible start, you’re going to think I’m a complete clot.’”

But his clumsiness didn't put Kate off. She established a firm friendship with the young prince very quickly and they started secretly dating when they were living together in their second year of university.

And it's not the first time Prince William has been embarrassed, his mother Princess Diana left him 'embarrassed' after their iconic trip to Thorpe Park.

Princess Diana, Prince William, Prince Harry, embarrassed Thorpe Park

Diana Princess Of Wales, Prince William & Prince Harry Visit The 'Thorpe Park' Amusement Park. (Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

How did Kate Middleton catch Prince William's eye at a fashion show?

Kate, who was 19 at the time, took part in a St. Andrews University fashion show, strutting down the catwalk in a rather barely-there sheath dress. Prince William paid £200 for a ticket and apparently whispered to his friend, “She’s hot!”. Although Prince William and Kate had been good friends prior to this night, seeing Kate confidently take to the catwalk obviously made Prince William see her in a totally different way. The young couple had their privacy protected up in Scotland, but the pair’s relationship was confirmed in 2004 when they were pictured skiing together.

The couple have gone on to have three children, son Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, and the pair recently revisited the University in May this year to host a drive-thru cinema for NHS workers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xztF3ZxEDFg

Prince William had started off his teenage years as a heartthrob and he found it difficult to deal with. And it only heightened when he applied to study at St. Andrew's as figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service found that applications had increased by 44 percent in a staggering move dubbed the ‘Prince William effect’.

Prince William, who has attracted the attention of women of all ages, was recently left red-faced when one cheeky admirer asked for a kiss.

And the Duke left hearts fluttering after he shared a snap of him receiving his Covid jab as fans were distracted by how hunky he looked.

A photo posted by on

This year Kate and William celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary by releasing a family video to mark the milestone.

Selina Maycock
Senior Family Writer

Selina is a Senior Family Writer for GoodtoKnow and has more than 16 years years of experience. She specialises in royal family news, including the latest activities of Prince George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet. She also covers the latest government, health and charity advice for families. Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism, and gained her NCTJ and NCE qualifications. During her career, she’s also written for Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, and Woman's Weekly as well as Heat magazine, Bang Showbiz - and the Scunthorpe Telegraph. When she's not covering family news, you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories (including award-winning scarecrows!)