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Kate Middleton and Prince William met and began dating when they attended college together, but before they were an item plenty of women hit on the royal. The now-Duke of Cambridge was reportedly uncomfortable with all the attention he received while at school so his future bride helped him out when he was cornered by other ladies at student bars and parties.

Here’s what she did and how William reacted.

Prince William wearing a navy jacket and Kate Middleton in a beige coat during a visit to the Church on the Street in Burnley, England
Prince William wearing a navy jacket and Kate Middleton in a beige coat during a visit to the Church on the Street in Burnley, England | Danny Lawson – WPA Pool/Getty Images

William and Kate started out as friends

William and Kate were introduced in 2001, the first year they were studying at St. Andrew’s University. During their joint interview in 2010, Kate recalled their first meeting and stated that they were friends for a while before they became romantically involved.

“I actually went bright red when I met [him] and scuttled off feeling very shy about meeting,” she admitted, adding, “William wasn’t there for quite a bit of the time initially, he wasn’t there from Fresher’s Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other, but we did become very close friends from quite early on.”

By their sophomore year, the two became roommates when they moved into an off-campus house together with some mutual friends.

Prince William and Kate Middleton smiling as they attend 'Rippa Rugby' in the Forstyth Barr Stadium
Prince William and Kate Middleton smiling as they attend ‘Rippa Rugby’ in the Forstyth Barr Stadium | David Rowland – Pool/Getty Images

What Kate did when others hit on the prince

As The Mirror noted one of their college pals, Laura Warshauer, spoke to royal author Katie Nicholl about how Kate would help William out when other ladies would hit on him.

According to Warshauer, “Will was getting really hit on by this girl at a party and it was getting quite uncomfortable because he couldn’t shake her off. He was being really polite, but this girl just didn’t get the hint. All of a sudden Kate came up behind him and put her arms around him. He said ‘Oh, sorry, but I’ve got a girlfriend’ and he and Kate went off giggling.”

In her book Kate: The Future Queen, Nicholl wrote that Warshauer recalled William being very grateful for Kate’s help and mouthed “thanks so much” to her afterward. “Kate was the only girl in the room who could have done that,” Warshauer added.

Happily ever after

Prince William and Kate Middleton leaving Westminster Abbey on their wedding day
Prince William and Kate Middleton holding hands as they leave Westminster Abbey on their wedding day | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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William and Kate’s friendship blossomed into romance and after trying to keep things quiet for a while, they were pictured cuddling up to one another while at the Swiss ski resort of Klosters in 2004.

The pair announced they were engaged in 2010 and tied the knot the following year at Westminster Abbey becoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Since then, the couple has welcomed three children. Their oldest son Prince George was born in 2013, followed by his sister Princess Charlotte in 2015 and their brother Prince Louis in 2018.

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