Everyone loves a romantic origins story.

As the couple who ignited a new generation of Royal followers, Kate Middleton and Prince William's coming together is one of legend.

The couple met at and dated during university, only to split up after five years due to "public scrutiny" and constant engagement pressures.

But despite the smear campaign that labelled Kate a social climber, it was William who did most of the chasing.

"Kate actually had another boyfriend when she first got to St Andrews, Rupert Finch, who by all accounts was a nice man," Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter explains in the latest episode of 9Honey's The Windsors podcast.

"Rupert was ahead of Kate in terms of school, he left university in 2002. Prince William, he kind of expressed a bit of interest but I think Kate was still playing hard to get. She wasn't terribly sure if she was interested.

In exchange for photos and the occasional interview, the Buckingham Palace came to an agreement with the press to leave William alone during his university years, allowing Kate and his relationship to blossom in relative peace.

Regarded as one of the world's most eligible bachelors, it was no surprise the media frenzy that ensued when news of their engagement broke. And the rest, as they say, is history.