The Royals’ Forgotten First Loves Before Their Fairytale Marriages – Including Princess Kate’s University Romance

Today, it is difficult to picture the British royal family without their familiar couples. Prince William and Princess Kate have become one of the most recognisable royal partnerships in the world, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have built a life together after their marriage in 2018.

However, their love stories did not begin with the relationships the public knows today. Before finding their eventual partners, several senior members of the Royal Family experienced romances that attracted attention at the time but ultimately came to an end.

Some of these early relationships lasted only a short time, while others continued for several years. In several cases, former partners have remained on friendly terms with the royals, even attending their weddings or important family occasions.

Here is a look back at some of the royal family’s lesser-known early romances.

Princess Kate and Rupert Finch

Before her relationship with Prince William became one of the most famous royal love stories of the modern era, Princess Kate had reportedly been romantically involved with another student at the University of St Andrews.

William and Kate first crossed paths in 2001 when they were both studying at the Scottish university. Their friendship eventually developed into a romance, but Kate had reportedly already dated Rupert Finch, an older student at St Andrews.

Finch was said to have been in his fourth year when he and Kate became a couple. Their relationship reportedly lasted around a year before they decided to go their separate ways.

Despite the end of their romance, there appears to have been no lasting animosity between the former couple. Finch later married Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs, and the pair attended William and Kate’s wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

The fact that Kate’s former boyfriend was present on her wedding day is a sign that their relationship remained amicable despite their romantic history.

Prince William and Rose Farquhar

Princess Kate was not the only royal to have a significant relationship before meeting her future spouse.

Prince William’s early romantic history reportedly included Rose Farquhar, a singer and childhood acquaintance. The pair are believed to have dated briefly around 2000, shortly after William’s time at Eton College was coming to an end.

Although their relationship did not develop into anything permanent, Rose remained part of William’s wider social circle.

She eventually found lasting love elsewhere, marrying family friend George Gemmell in December 2022. William was reportedly among the guests at the wedding, demonstrating once again that royal relationships do not necessarily end with bitterness when romance comes to an end.

William’s relationship with Rose is largely remembered as one of his earliest reported romances, long before his relationship with Kate became serious.

Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy

One of the most well-known relationships in Prince Harry’s past was his long-term romance with Chelsy Davy.

Before Harry met Meghan Markle, Chelsy was his most prominent girlfriend. The pair reportedly began dating in 2004 after meeting in Cape Town during Harry’s gap year.

Their relationship lasted approximately seven years, although it was famously on and off. During that period, Harry and Chelsy were frequently photographed together, and she became familiar to royal watchers around the world.

Ultimately, the couple ended their relationship in 2011. Chelsy later spoke openly about the difficulties of being involved with a member of the Royal Family.

In an interview with The Times, she described the experience as intense and intimidating. She explained that dealing with constant public attention was particularly difficult because she wanted to live a relatively ordinary life.

Chelsy has since established a very different life away from the royal spotlight. She now runs a jewellery business from Mauritius and is a mother of three children.

Although their romance ended years ago, Chelsy has occasionally been mentioned in connection with Harry’s life before Meghan.

Princess Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles

Princess Anne also had an important relationship before her marriages.

The Princess Royal has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Captain Mark Phillips, with whom she was married from 1973 until 1992. She later married Sir Timothy Laurence in 1992, and the couple remain together.

However, before her first marriage, Anne reportedly dated Andrew Parker Bowles, who was said to have been her first boyfriend.

Their relationship developed during the 1970s, when Anne was in her twenties. Despite their apparent affection for one another, the romance ultimately could not lead to marriage.

One major obstacle was Andrew’s Catholic faith. At the time, his religion was considered incompatible with Anne marrying him under the rules and traditions associated with the Church of England.

Andrew subsequently married Camilla Shand in 1973. Their marriage eventually ended in divorce in 1995. Years later, Camilla would marry King Charles, making her part of the Royal Family and, through marriage, Anne’s sister-in-law.

Interestingly, Anne and Andrew appear to have maintained a friendly relationship over the years. They have been seen together at public events, including the Cheltenham Festival, suggesting that their former romance did not prevent them from remaining on good terms.

Prince Edward and Ruthie Henshall

Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, also experienced a notable romance before marrying Sophie.

Edward and Sophie, now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, married in 1999 and have built a long-lasting family life together. However, before meeting Sophie, Edward had a high-profile relationship with West End performer Ruthie Henshall.

The pair first met in 1988, when Edward was working as a production assistant for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatre Company.

Their relationship reportedly continued on and off for approximately five years before finally coming to an end.

One reason the relationship could not progress was the different career paths the couple wanted to pursue. Ruthie was determined to continue working as an actress and singer and did not want to give up the career she loved in order to become a member of the Royal Family.

Speaking to HELLO! about their relationship, Ruthie reflected on what life as a royal might have meant for her. She explained that she did not believe she would have been particularly well suited to royal life because she could not imagine sitting back while other people pursued the profession she was passionate about.

Ruthie has since written a memoir, The Showgirl and the Prince, in which she reflects on her experiences and her relationship with Edward.

Duchess Sophie’s Life Before Edward

Sophie also had a romantic history before meeting the man who would become her husband.

Before marrying Edward, she was known as Sophie Rhys-Jones and reportedly worked as a ski representative in Switzerland. Her career allowed her to experience life abroad and work in the skiing industry.

According to the late royal writer Garth Gibbs, Sophie had reportedly hoped to settle down in Australia after becoming romantically involved with an Australian ski instructor.

Speaking in a 1999 documentary about Edward and Sophie, Gibbs suggested that Sophie had considered getting married and building a life in Australia.

Her plans eventually changed. After completing her ski season, Sophie returned to the UK, where she later began a new career in public relations and broadcasting.

She eventually met Prince Edward through Capital Radio in 1987. Their relationship developed over time, eventually leading to marriage in 1999.

Today, Sophie is one of the most senior working members of the Royal Family and has taken on an increasingly important role in supporting charitable and public causes.

These stories show that even the most recognisable royal couples had ordinary romantic journeys before finding their eventual partners. From university relationships and childhood romances to long-term partnerships that struggled under intense public scrutiny, the royals’ early love lives reveal a more personal side of their lives.

While some former couples have completely moved on, others have remained friends and continue to appear at important family occasions. Ultimately, these forgotten romances became part of the journey that led several members of the Royal Family to their eventual “happily ever after.”