Prince William’s bad gift for Kate Middleton that she ‘never let him forget’ revealed
Prince William’s bad gift for Kate Middleton came in the early days of their romance and he has ‘no idea’ now why he opted for it…


Prince William’s bad gift for Kate Middleton was one she “never let him forget” according to the future King who revealed all during a podcast appearance.
- The Prince of Wales previously revealed the unusual gift he gave his wife in the early days of their relationship that “didn’t go well”.
- He admitted that he had “no idea” why he chose this particular present looking back all these years later.
- This royal news comes as Kate Middleton's fashion hack for a seamless silhouette was revealed during a Windsor Castle royal engagement.
From the birthday gift that sparked the Queen’s most iconic hobby, to Kate Middleton’s “frugal” gift to her late grandmother-in-law that reportedly helped to forge their strong bond, the Royal Family’s gifts to one another are often incredibly heartfelt and fascinating. However, it seems that when it comes to present-buying for his wife of eleven years, the Prince of Wales learnt a valuable lesson early on in their relationship. Prince William’s bad gift for Kate Middleton when they were dating apparently “didn’t go well” - and neither of them have forgotten it…
Back in 2020, Prince William, who was then second in the royal line of succession, opened up to football star Peter Crouch on his podcast and made a rather surprising revelation.
His appearance was in support of the Heads Up campaign which was launched by the FA and Heads Together and spearheaded by the senior royal. It encourages men to feel more comfortable discussing their mental health and feeling able to support their loved ones during the toughest of times.
Prince William got candid during his talk with Peter and the matter of gift-giving also came up. Whilst the footballer admitted he once bought his wife Abbey Clancy a raincoat three years in a row, the Queen’s grandchild had his own confession.
“I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once - she's never let me forget that,” the royal declared, before going on to add, “That was early on in the courtship, that was - think that sealed the deal.”
The Prince continued, "It didn't go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars, it seemed like a good idea at the time."
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The Prince and Princess of Wales’ love story began at the University of St Andrews in Scotland where they were both students. And whilst sadly Prince William’s bad gift for Kate Middleton in the early days didn’t seem to have gone as well as he might’ve hoped, the future King did pull out all the stops in the kitchen to try and impress her.
During their engagement interview back in 2010, Prince William admitted that Kate Middleton “took control” to help him save kitchen mishaps as he’d tried making “amazing fancy meals” for his future wife. Kate herself admitted in a sweet moment that he “did cook for [her] quite a bit” at university as he showed his thoughtful side.
Meanwhile, for her 39th birthday back in January 2021, Prince William is understood to have helped the couple’s children organize a quiet tea party for Kate at home. Although it’s not known how exactly Kate Middleton’s 40th birthday was celebrated this year - or what her husband might’ve gifted her - it’s likely that Prince William thought of something equally meaningful.
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. She specialises in the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the latest royal outing or unmissable show to add to your to-watch list, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
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