Royal Romance: Kate Middleton and Prince William’s love story from their sweetest PDAs to looks of love on the day they celebrate their engagement anniversary

The Prince and Princess of Wales have navigated what William has called ‘the hardest year’.

Princess Kate has been mostly out of the public eye for the last 12 months while undergoing treatment for cancer.

Despite the difficult times the couple have faced, their marriage seems to be stronger than ever.

They rarely showed any public affection in the early days of their matrimony, after marrying 13 years ago in 2011, but they occasionally delight royal fans with loving gestures towards one another – especially recently. 

On November 9, Kate attended the Festival of Remembrance event in Kensington, London, in what was her first high-profile appearance in months. 

In a rare romantic manoeuvre, William adoringly clasped his wife’s upper waist and back as they entered the music hall. 

It isn’t the first time the prince has publicly shown his love for Kate, read on below as MailOnline looks back at their sweet PDAs. 

The Prince of Wales lovingly places his arm around Kate’s back as they walk inside 

Back in September, the Waleses released an emotional video that featured a candid voiceover from Kate detailing her cancer treatment journey. 

The personal footage captured the couple’s connection with one another and included shots of them embracing on picnic blankets as well as two rarely seen kisses.

In one clip, William planted a sweet kiss on his wife’s cheek as they sat together in a woodland area. 

They shared another smooch while laid on a sandy beach, thought to be in Norfolk.

The family were also seen sat together with their arms wrapped around one another, all three of their children – Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George – smiled as Kate put her hand on William’s leg.

William and Kate with their three children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George in the Princess’s health update video released earlier this year 

Kate and William’s adoration for each other and their young family shone through again in June during Trooping the Colour.

They stood with their children on Buckingham Palace’s balcony and shared a sweet moment together as they smiled and gazed into each other’s eyes.

Both looked relaxed and happy to be back in front of the public again in what was Kate’s first official appearance this year. 

The couple’s displays of love go further back, too.

In November last year, William and Kate couldn’t help cosying up to each other during a lavish reception for the President of South Korea at Buckingham Palace.

William was seen placing a tender hand on his wife’s lower back, a gesture that was returned by Kate who put her hand on her husband’s back before holding his hand.

The royal couple gaze lovingly at one another on Buckingham Palace’s balcony during Trooping the Colour earlier this year 

William and Kate attending a welcome ceremony for the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, at Horse Guards Parade last year 

Last year, Kate was seen seemingly giving her husband a gentle tap on the behind on two separate occasions. 

The couple waltzed across the red carpet at the BAFTAs in February 2023 – William looked dashing in a black suit and bow tie, while Kate stunned in a white gown and black gloves.

The Princess sent royal fans into a frenzy when she appeared to lightly tap William’s behind during the event. 

And it wasn’t the only loved-up gestures the couple shared that evening. They were seen gazing into each other’s eyes, smiling together and whispering at one another.

Later that year, in July, Kate seemed to playfully pat her husband again during King Charles’s Scottish Coronation in Edinburgh.

The Prince and Princess of Wales attending the BAFTAs in February 2023 when Kate seems to tap her husband on his behind

Kate seems to playfully pat her husband again during King Charles’s Scottish Coronation in Edinburgh last year 

Back in 2022, the couple treated royal fans with multiple tender moments in public.

After William won a trophy at a charity polo match in Windsor, he kissed Kate’s cheek as they embraced.

They ended the day walking away with their arms affectionately wrapped around each other’s waists. 

In December 2022, the royal couple jetted out to Boston to attend the Earthshot prize gala. 

They couldn’t seem to keep their hands off one another. As well as holding hands on the red carpet, the pair shared an intimate moment later when they were both seated inside the venue.

William was seen placing his hand on his wife’s back as they leaned together to talk quietly.

The couple attending a charity polo match in Windsor in 2022 where they shared a kiss and walked away with their arms around one another’s backs

William and Kate holding hands on the green carpet of the Earthshot Prize Awards in America in 2022

The couple lovingly placed their hands on each other’s backs during the ceremony 

Back in 2020, the couple shared a romantic clifftop walk in rural Ireland during their tour in March.

They enjoyed a stunning coastal backdrop as they walked arm-in-arm along the trail in the Howth peninsula – east of central Dublin.

They hugged as they posed for a picture, before meeting Irish environment minister Richard Bruton, who said: ‘They remarked on how you couldn’t come to Ireland and not see the coastline so they got their wish. 

‘And they saw it in a benign light, normally there is a wind howling – it’s really beautiful today, they couldn’t be luckier.’ 

The couple wrap their arms affectionately around one another during a walk in Ireland in 2020

Kate and William smiling while stood on the clifftops in Ireland in 2020

William didn’t shy away from showing his wife love in 2017 when they were at a Heads Together event. 

The couple were pictured as the prince wrapped his arm around Kate’s shoulder.

The gesture mirrored another sweet moment back in July 2011, three months after their wedding that year.

William had wrapped an arm around Kate and pulled her in for a hug while she tenderly placed her hand on his torso. 

William lovingly wraps his arm around his wife’s shoulder during a training day for the Heads Together team in 2017

The prince pulls his wife in for a hug during a dragon boat race event in 2011

Their 13-year-long marriage began after meeting at St Andrews University when they were both students in the early 2000s.

They tried to keep their relationship private during their time there. 

When they graduated in 2005 – Kate with a bachelor’s degree in Art History and William in Geography – the couple were photographed with their arms around one another. 

It was the beginning of a relationship that would go on to shape the monarchy, with William and Kate seemingly going from strength to strength, even during the tough times.  

The young couple embracing on their graduation day at St Andrews University in 2005