Queen ‘surprised’ by ‘hurried’ announcement from Prince William and Kate Middleton amid leak fears

The Queen was reportedly “surprised” by a “hurried” announcement from her grandson Prince William and Kate Middleton amid fears about possible leaks.  

• The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have now been married for over a decade and it seems the news of their engagement came as an exciting “surprise” to the Queen.
• Her Majesty is said to have been “thrilled” but a “little surprised” by her grandson’s call to ask for her consent.  
• This royal news comes as Prince George granted special honor after his love of this beloved TV show was revealed. 

Prince William and Kate Middleton celebrated their milestone tenth wedding anniversary last year, releasing sweet anniversary photographs in honor of the occasion. The Queen’s grandchild and the now-Duchess of Cambridge tied the knot in Westminster Abbey back in 2011, just five months after announcing their engagement. Though it was actually in October that the future king popped the question whilst on a holiday in Kenya. Returning to the UK afterwards, the couple initially kept the exciting news quiet, though this couldn’t last for long.  

As a senior member of the Royal Family and one of the first six people in the royal line of succession, it’s understood that Prince William was legally required to ask for her consent to the marriage. And it seems that the phone call to do this and reveal his romantic proposal to Kate came somewhat out of the blue for his devoted grandmother. 

According to The Mirror, royal expert and author Katie Nicholl has claimed in her book, Kate: The Future Queen, that upon getting engaged, the stunning sapphire ring was kept in a safe. The Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement ring was originally meant for someone else and previously belonged to Princess Diana.  

Then on November 16th 2010, a few weeks after returning from holiday, it’s said Prince William and Kate Middleton decided the time was finally right to announce the news of their engagement. In her book, Katie Nicholl suggested that it was during breakfast with Prince Philip when Her Majesty received the life-changing call from her grandson. 

The expert also alleged that the Queen was "thrilled to receive William's call, albeit a little surprised at the suddenness of the announcement". And it seems there was a very good reason for this “suddenness” as a source went on to claim in the biography that the now-Duke of Cambridge was worried about the  news “leaking”.  

"The Queen had no idea that there would be an announcement that morning,” the source stated. “It was rather hurried, because William was apparently worried about it leaking out."

Katie added, "William enjoyed outfoxing the media, and this was one announcement he wanted to make himself. The last thing he wanted was a newspaper getting the scoop, as had happened with his father's engagement to Camilla."

Though the Queen might have been left a little “surprised” by how quickly Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement was announced, she was no doubt delighted at the prospect of welcoming a new granddaughter-in-law to the family. 

They are understood to have forged an incredible bond, with Kate confiding in the Queen about her early parenting struggles and making a sweet gesture to the Queen earlier this year. Now having been an official member of the Royal Family for over a decade, Kate is preparing to mark another huge milestone in 2022 as she’ll turn 40 on January 9. It’s not yet known how she might celebrate, but it’s thought the Cambridges will find a special way to mark the occasion.