IT’S hard to cast your mind back to a time when Prince William and Kate Middleton weren’t together.

The couple dated for a decade prior to getting engaged, but before Kate dated William she appears to have a definite type in men…

4 Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011, but it could have been a very different story Credit: PA:Press Association

The lovebirds met in 2001 when they were both students in residence at St Salvator's Hall at the University of St Andrews.

The couple began dating in 2003 before announcing their engagement in 2010, and millions watched as they tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in 2011.

However it could have been a different story, if Kate had ended up with one of her other flings.

Here are some of the bachelors of the Duchess of Cambridge’s past…



Rupert Finch

4 Kate Middleton dated Rupert Finch at university, but he is now married to Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs Credit: Rex Features

Prince William wasn’t the only guy that Kate dated when she was studying at university.

She also briefly had a relationship with lawyer Ruper Finch in 2001.

It seems there are no hard feelings though, as Rupert and his then-girlfriend Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs were invited to the royal wedding in 2011.

The invitation was reciprocated when Rupert and Natasha tied the knot in 2013.



Willem Marx

4 At Marlborough College Kate dated 'first love' Willem Marx Credit: Planet Photos

When she was studying at Marlborough College, Kate dated Willem, who was her “first love” according to one of his friends.

Willem now works as a London-based reporter for CNBC, covering geopolitical and company news across Europe.

He’s now married to Italian TV presenter Johanna Botta, and the couple have a son together.



Henry Ropner

4 When Kate split from William in 2007, she is rumoured to have briefly dated Henry Ropner Credit: Camera Press

There was a brief split in Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship in 2007.

During this time it was rumoured that she was dating Henry Ropner, who was on hand to cheer her up.

Henry is the son of baronet Sir John Ropner and the family own a £33.7 million shipping management firm.

He is now married to businessman’s daughter Natasha Sinclair.

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Kate Middleton gave birth to her third child on April 23, 2018 — a gorgeous bouncing baby boy.

But there are some unusual royal birthing rules that the Duchess of Cambridge had to follow in order to adhere to tradition.

One of them is that The Queen must be told a child has been born into the royal family before the news is announced publicly.