Prince William and Kate Middleton might be the royal family’s power couple now, but their early relationship wasn’t always smooth sailing. They met at St Andrews University in 2001 and quickly became smitten with each other.

However, being a future King meant that maintaining a relationship under public scrutiny was challenging. While William was obliged to spend Christmas at Sandringham due to royal tradition, he had no New Year’s Eve obligations, allowing him to spend time with his then-girlfriend during their dating years.

This was reportedly his plan for 2006, but he cancelled just days before the event, opting to spend it with her and her family. In her 2011 book, The Making of a Royal Romance, Royal author Katie Nicholl alleges that William had promised Kate he would join her family but chose to stay with his own instead, informing her over the phone on Boxing Day.

According to The Mirror, Katie writes: “William had been having second thoughts and sat down with his father and his grandmother to have a frank discussion about his future with Kate. Both advised him not to hurry into anything.”

Weeks after William cancelled his plans to spend New Year’s Eve with Kate and her family, he ended their relationship in 2007. However, they rekindled their romance just a few months later and have been together ever since, reports the Express.

They got engaged in 2010 and tied the knot in 2011. The couple are parents to three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

It remains unknown how the future King and Queen celebrate New Year’s, but it’s likely they stay home with their children. Currently, the family is residing at their Amner Hall home in Norfolk, having spent Christmas at Sandringham with the rest of the Royal Family, hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The family also participated in the annual Christmas Day walkabout after attending a church service, before heading to Sandringham House for Christmas lunch.