The couple reportedly separated briefly in early 2007, but quickly reconciled

Prince William didn’t quite seem himself during a reported brief split from Kate Middleton many years ago, according to former royal butler Grant Harrold.

Although a split was never confirmed, it was widely reported that William and Kate took some time apart in the mid-2000s during their dating days.

In an interview with InStyle amid the release of his new memoir, The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life in Royal Service, Grant opened up about the subtle signs that William was struggling emotionally during that time.

He described the prince as “very quiet,” “withdrawn,” and “not 100 percent himself”.

Royal butler Grant Harrold described William as “quiet” and “withdrawn” during his reported split from Kate Middleton (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Prince William ‘wasn’t himself’ during ‘split’ with Kate Middleton

Grant worked as a butler for King Charles from 2004 to 2011. He recalled that William’s demeanour noticeably changed during reports of a separation from Kate in 2007.

“He became very quiet. He became a little bit withdrawn. I didn’t see a huge amount of him,” Grant said. “I didn’t ask him, I didn’t say anything. I just knew he wasn’t himself 100 percent. I knew he wasn’t himself.”

At the time, William was reportedly spending time at Highgrove, Charles’ country estate, where Grant was based.

Although he didn’t directly discuss the alleged split with the prince, Grant said it was clear something was off.

Grant also said he always believed Kate was William’s perfect match. “Kate was always the one,” he said.

The couple had been together since meeting at the University of St Andrews in 2001. They reportedly started dating in 2002. However, the pressure from the media in the years that followed graduation became overwhelming, especially for Kate.

Grant speculated that William and Kate may have “split up to get the media off Kate’s back, because it was so bad at the time”.

He recalled thinking the split might have been meant to give the couple some “breathing space” amid mounting engagement pressure.

While he emphasised it was “just my view” and he had “no information,” he admitted that when they reconciled, he found himself wondering whether they had really split up at all, or simply taken a temporary step back to cope with the media frenzy.
The couple reportedly separated briefly in early 2007, but quickly reconciled (Credit: SplashNews.com)

‘I secretly wanted them to get back together’

Grant also spoke fondly of the Kate Middleton he knew in the 2000s, long before her royal titles. “[She was] lovely, very bubbly, very talkative,” he recalled.

He also described her as “not shy at all”, recalling how the now Princess of Wales would regularly strike up conversation and ask how he was doing.

Kate also defied expectations when it came to royal formality.

Grant emphasised Kate’s independence, noting that she “did everything herself”, including fetching her own food and drinks.

I kept hoping that was the case and they would get back together.

After a few months seemingly apart, William and Kate reunited, and Grant was “thrilled”.

“I kept hoping that was the case and they would get back together. I secretly wanted them to get back together,” he said.

William and Kate went on to marry in 2011 and now share three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.

Grant’s book promises more behind-the-scenes stories from his time with the royal family.

Read more: ‘Change’ in Prince William’s confidence after receiving Prince of Wales title