At the beginning of their relationship, Prince William offered Kate Middleton a gift that was not entirely well received by the person who was going to become his wife. She, a young student in the process of falling in love, was waiting for something romantic: a detail, a jewel, a poem, something that would suggest that her suitor was for her. But Guillermo didn’t get it right.
We have the story of Kate Middleton and the gift that she has never let Prince William forget in their more than two decades of relationship. The princes of Wales have shared countless special moments and curious anecdotes. One of the most remembered by Lady Di’s firstborn is the peculiar gift he gave Kate at the beginning of their relationship and that she, in her own words, has never allowed him to forget. In an interview for BBC Radio Five Live, the prince has revealed what is probably the biggest “mistake” in gifts he has given his wife. “One day, I bought Kate a pair of binoculars. She has never let me forget it,” he says, laughing.
We have to go back to the early days of their romance while they were both students at the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland. It was there and at that time when the gift thing happened that did not have the expected effect. “Honestly, I have no idea why I thought it would be a good idea. It just seemed right at the time,” the heir to the English throne explains. Kate was not expecting a practical and unromantic detail and the binoculars left her bewildered. Although it was never confirmed how he reacted at that moment, it was an episode that remained etched in both of their memories, and that has become a kind of recurring joke between them.
Today, more than 20 years later, marriage has established itself as one of the pillars of the British royal family. Since their wedding in April 2011, the Prince and Princess of Wales have started a family with three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. But even with maturity and accumulated experience, that binoculars anecdote continues to be a source of laughter and loving reminders.
Traditions and gifts of the royal family
Interestingly, in the British royal family there is a tradition of exchanging humorous or unconventional gifts at Christmas. Although expensive gifts are banned under the Sandringham Christmas tree, Little pranks and quirky gifts are a way to keep the mood light and fun during the holidays. For example, In his controversial memoir, Prince Harry says his aunt, Princess Margaret, once gave him a pen in the shape of a fish. But perhaps one of the most famous gifts was the shower cap that Harry himself designed for his grandmother, the queen. Isabel II, that had the phrase “Isn’t life a b—a?”
In this context, the anecdote about William’s binoculars could almost be considered a foreshadowing of this type of humorous exchanges, even though at that time his relationship with Kate was just beginning and they did not yet share the jokes characteristic of family traditions. Despite that somewhat bumpy start in the area of gifts, the love story between William and Kate has been solid. The two have grown together, faced challenges such as Kate’s illness, and worked on joint projects that have made them an admired couple in the United Kingdom and the world. They have learned to complement each other and manage the stresses of real life, always maintaining a focus on their family and their official responsibilities. From initiatives such as mental health to raising their children in as normal an environment as possible, the Princes of Wales have proven to be very compatible (if we leave aside the binoculars episode).
The fact that William shared this anecdote publicly is a reminder of the role humor plays in their relationship. In a life marked by protocol and royal obligations, maintaining space for laughter and jokes is crucial. For Kate, that pair of binoculars perhaps symbolizes more than just a failed gift. It may be an example of how, despite their differences or mistakes, Guillermo has always intended to surprise and please her, even if his execution was not always perfect. Today they are at a mature stage in their relationship, standing shoulder to shoulder against Kate’s illness, having overcome the initial ups and downs and becoming stronger as a team. Although the prince has probably improved his gift-picking skills considerably in the two decades he has been with Kate, that first mistake will continue to be one of his favorite stories to remember and share with his children and his followers. The binoculars anecdote not only reflects the evolution of their relationship but also the importance of the small imperfections that make a relationship authentic. In a world full of expectations and public gazes, the ability to laugh at mistakes and turn them into fond memories is, without a doubt, a lesson that the Princes of Wales have been able to transmit with grace and naturalness.
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