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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Paige Freshwater

Kate Middleton discovered 'awful burden' about Prince William years before wedding

The Prince and Princess of Wales shared their wedding day with 162 million supporters - but it wasn't always smooth sailing to get to that point. The royal couple split for a period while they were at university as they each debated whether their love for each other would last the test of time and what sacrifices they would have to make for it to work.

There is still a lot of speculation over what made them temporarily call it off - but one royal expert believes it may have happened because the then Kate Middleton realised how different her life would be as a senior member of the Royal Family, reports Hello Magazine. Judy Wade, former royal correspondent at Hello! magazine, said: "She might have realised the awful burden she would have taken on.

Prince William and Princess Kate on their wedding day in April 2011 (Getty Images)

"It's a life sentence marrying a royal."

Prince William and Princess Kate spoke about their brief split in their engagement interview, with Kate admitting it made her stronger.

William said: "We did split up for a bit.

"We were both very young, it was at university and we were both finding ourselves and being different characters and stuff.

"It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up.

"It was just a bit of space. It worked out for the better."

Kate Middleton and Prince William on the day of their graduation ceremony at St Andrew's University in St Andrew's on June 23, 2005 in Scotland (Clarence House via GettyImages)

Kate admitted she wasn't happy about the break-up at the time, but in hindsight believes it was a good idea.

She said: "At the time I wasn't very happy about it but actually it made me a stronger person."

"You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realised.

"I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you're younger.

"I really valued that time, for me as well, although i didn't think it at the time."

But the couple managed to work things out and have now been married for 11 years with three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

What are your thoughts on the royal family? Let us know in the comment section below.

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