Prince William Will Reportedly “Spoil” Kate Middleton During Private 13th-Anniversary Celebration

It has been one of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s most challenging years of marriage yet. The Princess of Wales shared the news of her cancer diagnosis in a heart wrenching video on March 22, 2024, and, as expected, has been undergoing treatment privately, away from the public eye. And though Kate’s recovery is undoubtedly her and Prince William’s top priority at the moment, they are still dedicated to celebrating the major milestone they have coming up next week: The royal duo will mark their thirteenth wedding anniversary on Monday, April 29—and according to one source, Prince William’s main objective is to “spoil” his wife.

It's hard to believe that the couple's royal wedding, which unfolded at Westminster Abbey in 2011 and was watched by millions of viewers all over the world, was 13 years ago. To this day, the now-Prince and Princess of Wales' nuptials remain some of the most iconic of our time—and they're obviously even more special to the couple at the center of it all. According to Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, Prince William has plans to ensure that his wife feels particularly cherished this year. “We’ve got the anniversary of William and Catherine on the 29th of April,” he explained, per The Royal Observer. “With everything going on with Kate, that won’t be a public thing, that’s going to be very private. Behind closed doors, I’m sure William will work to make sure she's spoiled.”

As for what Prince William’s anniversary plans look like? It might be a true at-home date night for the couple, the butler explained—and William will take the lead in the kitchen to ensure his bride's anniversary meal is perfect. “It's possible William might cook, he's quite a good cook so it's possible he might do a little meal or something,” he explained, noting that it’s also likely that the pair will exchange gifts (lace is the present affiliated with a thirteenth wedding anniversary, so it’s possible they’ll look to this tradition as a guide when gift shopping). “Again, it's just going to be a private affair between the two of them. Once again, there'll still be an exchange of gifts, I have no doubt they will give each other a gift, and I've no doubt they will exchange cards.”

Though it’s more likely that the Prince and Princess of Wales will share a quiet meal—with either just them two or with their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis—it’s possible that the duo will host a larger group at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, their primary residence. “I've no doubt that there'll be a special meal for them, whether it's a meal where they invite friends and family, or just them,” said Harrold.

This anniversary might feel different than those the royal couple has celebrated in years past, but it sounds like it will largely look the same; Prince William and Kate Middleton have always marked their anniversaries privately. They do, however, typically invite their fans to mark the special occasion with them by sharing a never-before-seen photo—so we’ll have to keep an eye out for a sweet snapshot of the duo on Monday. Last year, for example, they posted a photo they took while on a bike ride; Kate wore an eyelet white lace top for the shot, while William, who had his arm around her, donned a navy blue button-up.