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Prince William and the Princess of Wales’ (formerly known as Kate Middleton) relationship began during their college days in the early 2000s when they both attended St. Andrew’s University in Scotland. They dated for several years before tying the knot on April 29, 2011. And in the years since have welcomed three children.

But the pair’s love story wasn’t all smooth sailing. As many royal fans recall, the two broke up not once but twice.

In 2004, not long after the public learned that they were together, news came that William and Kate called it quits. Their time apart was brief, and they rekindled their romance. But in 2007, they split for a second time. By then, everyone knew who Kate was so when she was seen out and about, people plummented her with questions.

Kate Middleton attends The Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco at the Renaissance Rooms in London
Kate Middleton attends The Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco at the Renaissance Rooms in London | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

During their second breakup, Kate was spotted attending a party with her sister, Pippa Middleton, for historian Simon Sebag Montefiore‘s book, Young Stalin. While there, she spoke with journalist Richard Franklin and socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson.

According to Hello!, Palmer-Tomkinson, who was friends with William since childhood, asked the question everyone wanted to know about how Kate was doing following her split from the future king.

Kate gave her a three-word reply, saying, “Really, it’s fine.”

The pair got back together shortly after that and spoke publicly about the breakup during their joint interview following their engagement in 2010.

“We were sort of both finding ourselves as such and being different characters and stuff,” William said. “It was very much trying to find our own way. We were growing up, and so it was just sort of a bit of space and a bit of things like that.”