Privilege and Pressure: A Profile of the Royal Romance

April 22, 2011

Britain's Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton, leave the New Zealand High Commission, in London, on February 25, 2011 (file photo)

There are just days to go until British royal Prince William weds Catherine Middleton on April 29, in a ceremony that is expected to be watched by billions around the world. Observers have praised the future princess as a glamorous new face for the royal family. While Catherine’s journey to the palace has not always been smooth, she now faces a life of extraordinary privilege played out in the world’s spotlight.

In November last year, Prince William and Catherine Middleton appeared in front of the cameras to announce their engagement. The bride-to-be answered one reporter’s question on why it had taken so long.

"Obviously we have been going out a long time, and we had spoken about our future, and it just seemed a natural step for both of us," Middleton explained.

How they met

The history of the royal couple goes back nearly 10 years - to the Scottish town of St. Andrews, where the prince began university in 2001. It was there, protected from media intrusion, that he met fellow student Kate Middleton.

Observers speculate that Cupid’s arrow struck when William saw Kate modeling a see-through dress at a fashion show. They became friends and shared a house with other students. Exactly when they began dating is unclear, but Linda Cunningham, the owner of a local café who claims William wooed his future bride over coffee and cake, says she had early suspicions.