Kate Middleton was given dating tips by Camilla

The Duchess of Cambridge was given dating advice to help her hang on to Prince William by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, it has been revealed.

When Kate Middleton was dating Prince William at university in Scotland, his soon-to-be step mother, who married his father, Prince Charles in 2005, offered her some tips.

And her rules were clear, a royal expert has revealed.

"Camilla had confided to Kate the secret of hanging on to a busy prince- fit your timetable - well, basically your whole life - around his," Robert Lacey said in his book, Battle of Brothers.

READ MORE: Why Prince William dropped out of university

However, Lacey claims the Duchess didn't really follow what she was told to do.

Plus, fitting around William's diary proved hard, as he had so many engagements.

He also went to Sandhurst Military Academy after St Andrew's University, meaning the couple were separated.

The pair did split at one point in 2007, but soon rekindled their romance.

Also, like most women, the Duchess didn't want to appear "needy", Lacey said.

So came up with her own career as 'camouflage', Lacey claims, when all she really wanted was to marry the Prince.

The now Duchess worked for family firm Party Pieces, and as a buyer for fashion brand Jigsaw in London.

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"While Kate's medium-to-long-term objective was quite simple - to lead William in handcuffs to the altar - for the time being, she had to devise her own independent career path as camouflage," Mr Lacey, said.

"This was a matter of both personal and public tactics.

"In neither respect would it help Ms Middleton to appear the slightest bit needy - and of course there was the ultimate unthinkable possibility that she might end up getting dumped!"

But despite appearing not to follow her now mother-in-law's advice, Kate's moves landed her the future king.

The couple married in 2011, and have three children together.