NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
Subscribe
Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Kate's wedding dress is available at H&M

William and Kate's security fears for royal tour

William and Kate's security fears for royal tour

How cheating rumours took DEVASTATING toll on Prince William and Kate Middleton's marriage

Kate Middleton discusses 'baby number four'

{headline}

{headline}

Kate just revealed Princess Charlotte's ADORABLE nickname

Prince Harry planned to make this 'shock claim about Kate Middleton'

Prince Harry planned to make this 'shock claim about Kate Middleton'

How Prince William 'fell into a BUSH' after wild night out

{headline}

{headline}

Why Prince William and Duchess Kate will no longer split Christmas between their families

Camilla steals the crown! Inside her secret plot to destroy Kate

Kate Middleton saves Prince William from "personal disaster"

US report: Kate Middleton pregnant with baby number four

Prince Charles doesn't know how he will keep up with the new baby

Will Meghan Markle visit Kate in hospital?

Secrets of Kate Middleton's childbirth team

  1. Home
  2. Royals

Prince William reveals Michael Middleton could have STOPPED his wedding

His fear that Kate's father could oppose his proposal lead him to ignore one of the most important rules of engagement etiquette - by Tiffany Herbrik
  • 11 Sep 2018

An interview that was released shortly after the announcement of the engagement between Kate Middleton and Prince William has recently resurfaced. The interview was conducted in November 2010 and it revealed the Duke of Cambridge's feelings he had leading up to the proposal and the inner battle he faced when it came to asking Mr Middleton for Kate's hand in marriage.

William candidly admitted in the interview: "I was torn between asking Kate’s dad first, and then the realisation he might actually say no came to me,"

"So I thought if I ask Kate first, then he can't really say no."

This lead to the royal disregarding the most important rule in engagement etiquette - asking the father first. However, he soon discovered that he should have had no fear as Kate's parents were ecstatic over the news.

"I managed to speak to Mike sort of soon after it happened," said Prince William. 

middleton

Kate Middleton's parents - Carole and Michael Middleton

During the interview, Kate revealed that there was some awkwardness to the situation as she could not tell her mother until her then-fiance had told her father.

“[My mother] was absolutely over the moon, and actually we had quite an awkward situation because I knew [about the engagement], and I knew that William had asked my father, but I didn’t know if my mum knew," explained Kate.

“So I came back from Scotland and my mother didn’t make it clear to me whether she knew or not, so both of us were there, sort of looking at each other, and feeling quite awkward about it.

“But it was amazing to tell her, and obviously she is very happy for us.”

royal dam

Prince William and Kate Middleton now have three children.

Getty Images

Marriage historian Susan Waggoner explained that asking a father for his daughter's hand in marriage was an important part of engagement etiquette in the past because, “Historically, courtship was a family affair; a young man who caught the eye of a young woman was to arrange an introduction to the father of his chosen lady.” 

These days, the gesture is seen as an act of respect towards the older generation and as a way to get closer to the new family. 

  • Royals
  • Catherine Middleton
  • Prince William

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Recommended to you

Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Kate's wedding dress is available at H&M

William and Kate's security fears for royal tour

William and Kate's security fears for royal tour

How cheating rumours took DEVASTATING toll on Prince William and Kate Middleton's marriage

Kate Middleton discusses 'baby number four'

{headline}

{headline}

Kate just revealed Princess Charlotte's ADORABLE nickname

Prince Harry planned to make this 'shock claim about Kate Middleton'

Prince Harry planned to make this 'shock claim about Kate Middleton'

How Prince William 'fell into a BUSH' after wild night out

{headline}

{headline}

Why Prince William and Duchess Kate will no longer split Christmas between their families

Camilla steals the crown! Inside her secret plot to destroy Kate

Kate Middleton saves Prince William from "personal disaster"

US report: Kate Middleton pregnant with baby number four

Prince Charles doesn't know how he will keep up with the new baby

Will Meghan Markle visit Kate in hospital?

Secrets of Kate Middleton's childbirth team

NewIdea
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
NewIdea Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions

Brands

  • Girlfriend
  • New Idea food
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from New Idea

Magazine Subscription Offer

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Shop This Offer
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!