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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Paige Holland & Rebecca Russell

Prince William broke major wedding tradition when he proposed to Kate Middleton

The royals, like any family, have their own set of traditions, but Prince William broke a major one when he proposed to Kate Middleton.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge started off as friends after meeting at St Andrew's University when they were 19, and with them both living in the same house, their relationship quickly blossomed.

The couple's official engagement portrait (Getty Images)

Despite a brief split in 2007, William proposed with his late mother's engagement ring during a trip to Kenya in 2010, with which his dad Prince Charles famously joked: "They have been practising long enough."

But during their famous engagement interview with journalist Tom Bradby in 2010, the couple made many interesting revelations about their relationship, including how he broke a major wedding tradition.

William broke a major tradition (WireImage)

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William confessed that he hadn't asked Michael Middleton for his daughter's hand in marriage, as he feared what he might say.

He said: "Well, I was torn between asking Kate's dad first and then the realisation that he might actually say 'no' dawned upon me.

"So I thought if I ask Kate first then he can't really say no. So I did it that way round.

"I managed to speak to Mike soon after it happened really and then it sort of happened from there."

Kate said 'I do' in April 2011 in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey, and since then, the couple has welcomed three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with whom Kate's family is a huge help.

Prince William has made open declarations of his admiration for his in-law's many times over the years.

Carole Middleton especially has been credited by William for welcoming him into their close family and for taking on a huge role in helping to raise her royal grandchildren.

Channel 5’s royal correspondent Simon Vigar said: "Carole is very involved in the upbringing of George and looking after her eldest daughter Kate when she was ill with this extreme morning sickness.

"For many weeks, Kate was at home in Berkshire with mum and dad and Grandma Middleton was taking up the strain."

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