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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Paige Holland

Kate Middleton's sweet message in guest book at lodge where Prince William proposed

The Duchess of Cambridge wrote a sweet note in the guest book at the holiday lodge in Kenya where Prince William popped the question.

Kate and William met when they were 19 and both studying at St. Andrew's university. They were good friends before they moved into a shared house with other pals, where romance blossomed.

Despite a brief split in 2007, William got down on one knee and asked Kate to marry him, whilst on a romantic holiday in Kenya.

The couple travelled around the country before heading to Lake Rutundu, which William had decided was the perfect place to pop the question.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, he booked a log cabin for their stay and the couple spent the day fishing for rainbow trout.

The pair left a sweet note in the guest book (dukeandduchessofcambridge/Instagram)

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She claims that when they returned to the lodge, William took Kate out onto the veranda, got down on one knee and proposed.

The following morning it was time to check out and head home - but not before they both wrote a goodbye messahe in the lodge's guestbook.

Kate wrote: "Thank you for such a wonderful 24 hours!

"Sadly no fish to be found but we had fun trying. I love the warm fires and candle lights—so romantic. Hope to be back soon."

She signed off Catherine Middleton.

William then wrote: "20th-21st October 2010. Such fun to be back!

"Brought more clothes this time! Looked after so well. Thank you guys! Look forward to next time, soon I hope."

And there's a sweet reason he decided to propose in Kenya.

William explained why he picked Africa for the special moment, at an event at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the UK's relationship with Africa.

He said: "The African continent holds a very special place in my heart. It is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died.

"And when deciding where best to propose to Catherine, I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee."

And he did so with his late mother's ring.

Kate and William didn't officially announce their engagement until the following month.

A statement from Clarence House at 11am on Tuesday, November 16 read: "His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton are engaged to be married.

"The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton. The wedding will take place in the Spring or Summer of 2011 in London."

The pair tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

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