Former royal butler says Kate and William's breakup changed everything
A former royal butler has opened up about the moment he knew Prince William and Kate were destined to get married following their short break-up in 2008.
Grant Harrold worked as a butler to King Charles between 2004 and 2011.
He told People he witnessed the start of the now Prince and Princess of Wales' relationship and saw how Catherine was welcomed into the family.
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A former royal butler has spoken about Prince William and Kate's split before they married in 2011. Getty
Following the pair's public split in April 2007, Harrold witnessed their reunion at an intimate Valentine's Day dinner at Highgrove House just a few months later.
He said the dinner left no doubt in his and other palace staff's minds that William and Kate were destined to be together.
"It was just the two of them. It was really nice, quite special, actually," Harrold said
He said, despite it being "a romantic dinner for them, they very much interacted with me throughout."
Grant Harrold worked as a butler to King Charles between 2004 and 2011. X
The meal was served in William's country home, which Harrold said he had been hoping to serve a private dinner at.
Harrold said the dynamic between the couple shifted following their short break-up.
"Before, they weren't (really) holding hands – it was very much William's friend," he said.
"After that, when they got back together, it absolutely changed, and it was very much them as a couple.
"Something changed, and you knew they were a couple, and from then on, it was very much a waiting game."
"After they got back together, I was convinced they would get married ... we didn't know how long it would take."
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Harrold said William and Kate's breakup was pivotal, with everything changing after that. Getty
That day did come eventually, on April 29, 2011.
"When you saw them together and see them get on as friends, although they were in love, they are also absolutely best friends," he added.
He said the pair reminded him of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, who died in 2022 and 2021 respectively after 73 years together.
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He said palace staff knew the couple were destined for each other. Getty
"Their relationship was similar. They were best friends who worked together as a team."
Harrold added that William and Kate were a "modern royal couple" and it will be evident with the changes they will make in the upcoming years.
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