Prince William and Kate Middleton mark 25 years since meeting

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are marking 25 years since they first met as students at the University of St Andrews in 2001. To celebrate the milestone, the couple is reportedly planning a quiet romantic weekend getaway to a countryside cottage.

New details from royal biographer Ingrid Seward suggest the couple's romantic timeline may differ from long-held public accounts. While it has traditionally been believed that William's romantic interest in Catherine was sparked by her appearance at a student charity fashion show in March 2002, Seward reports that the pair had already been on a private date during the 2001 Christmas holidays. According to Seward, William drove to pick up Catherine from her family home in Bucklebury for a meeting at a local pub, marking a significant shift in their relationship.