For many families, deciding where to spend Christmas can be a tough choice – just ask the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Before they were married, tradition dictated that Kate could not spend the big day with the royals at Sandringham, so she and Prince William had December 25 apart. In 2006 after many years of dating, this was still the case, but despite not being together for Christmas, it has been reported that they had big plans for New Year. But according to a book, Kate was left in floods of tears when William cancelled his plans last-minute – leaving her fearing for the future of their relationship.

In her book released in 2011, The Making of a Royal Romance, royal author Katie Nicholl claims William had promised Kate he would join her family but decided to stay with his family instead – and informed her on the phone on Boxing Day. 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 later in 2007, Kate and William briefly split and sources later said the late Queen was disappointed by the breakup.

The couple back in March 2007 ( Image: AFP/Getty Images)

But the split seemed to be short-lived as a short time after, William and Kate were seen kissing at an army party at barracks in Bovington, Dorset. And in July 2007, Kate and her brother James were seen at the Concert for Diana, held at Wembley to mark 10 years since William’s mother Princess Diana’s death.

It wasn’t long before their romance was confirmed to be back on, and Kate moved into William’s Clarence House flat, where he would return from military duties on Friday nights for cosy weekends together – and the rest they say is history. That’s because in 2010 the couple announced their engagement and married in April 2011. They’ve now been married for almost 13 years and have three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

It’s unknown exactly what the children aged 10, eight and five will have received for Christmas this year, but according to Katie, Kate is mindful not to lavish extravagant tech gifts on her three children. That’s because she’d reportedly prefer to get them practical presents so they don’t end up having too much screen time.