Prince William’s touching tribute to his wife, Princess Kate, has gone viral online after footage from a 2021 speech given in Scotland has resurfaced on social-media site TikTok.
William and Kate’s relationship has been pulled into public focus in recent months, as Kate underwent abdominal surgery at the beginning of the year, before the royal went on to announce that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
In the immediate aftermath of her surgery, William canceled all of his public appearances to support his wife in her recovery. When the princess made her cancer announcement on March 22, she paid her own tribute to her husband, saying: “Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance.”
The couple first met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and began dating soon after. In 2010, William proposed, and the couple married at Westminster Abbey in London the following April.
Together, they have three children: Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5. The couple will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary on April 29 this year.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Uploaded to TikTok by user @brunettecatherine on March 20, footage of William speaking at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2021 has gone viral. In it, he discussed how Scotland is a place of significance to him, both for a connection with his late mother, Princess Diana, but also with Kate.
“Scotland is the source of some of my happiest memoires,” William said, “but also my saddest. I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died.
“Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk [church] that very morning. And in the dark days of grief that followed, I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors. As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep.”
“And yet alongside this painful memory, is one of great joy,” William said, making a touching reference to his wife.
“Because it was here in Scotland—20 years ago this year—that I first met Catherine. Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”
The video has been viewed over 657,000 times on the social-media site so far, gaining in excess of 56,000 likes and more than 200 comments, many of which have praised both William and Kate.
“Poor guy has been through so much,” wrote one TikTok user of the prince.
“She was sent to him. They are soulmates,” posted another of the couple, with a further comment reading: “Hard times…create strong people.”
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.