Prince William's Romantic Vow: Future King Took His 'Time Getting Engaged' to Kate Middleton to Ensure the Union Lasted 'Forever'

When Prince William and Catherine Middleton married on April 29, 2011, within the ancient walls of London's Westminster Abbey, it had been nearly a full decade since they first met in the fall of 2001.

Amid the constant "Waity Katie" media headlines of the 2000s, the pair took their time before tying the knot, and the next monarch reportedly felt it was for a good reason.

"Once William told me the reason he and Kate took their time getting engaged was because he wanted to make sure his marriage would last forever," veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards wrote.

The Prince and Princess of Wales released an "intimate" video to their official X profile on Monday, September 9, which revealed Kate was cancer-free. The clip also caused a stir in some royal circles for its lack of proper royal protocol befitting Britain's next king and queen.

In reference to the video, Edwards added, "Watching Kate snuggle into her husband’s shoulder as they sat on a pile of logs in the pine woods at Holkham beach, in Norfolk, says to me that they are still very much in love. And I am sure following the toughest few months of their 13-year marriage, it will last forever. Because they have survived the dark days — and they have a bright future to look forward to."

The millennial generation, modern future king and queen got to know one another "for months" before finally starting dating in the first quarter of 2002. The Princess of Wales revealed in her and William's 2010 engagement interview that she was "shy" when she first met her future prince.

"It did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other but we did become very close friends from quite early," her future Royal Highness spilled.

Today, after a six-month battle, the future queen is officially cancer-free and shared in the "moving" new clip on @kensingtonroyal's official social accounts. "As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment. The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family," she said. "Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown."

"The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you," the next Queen consort continued. "With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything."

Marie Claire reported on Edwards' thoughts.