Inside Kate Middleton and Prince William's love nest - with bomb-proof front door
Kate Middleton and Prince William have come a long way since they first met as students in 2001 - and today live in a stunning apartment in Kensington Palace with their three children
by Leo Roberts, Mitya Underwood · The MirrorBefore Prince William and Kate Middleton moved into their lavish Adelaide Cottage, they resided in a modest yet highly secure student property. Shortly after meeting at the University of St Andrews, the pair relocated to a small two-storey, four-bedroom Edwardian townhouse nestled in the heart of the historic city.
The home was equipped with typical student essentials - comfortable sofas, a large television, and an assortment of mismatched tables and lamps. However, it also boasted unique security features such as bulletproof windows and a bomb-proof front door. The property is located on Hope Street, an Edwardian street where many homes are valued in the seven figures.
Both William and Kate, who initially enrolled to study History of Art before William switched to Geography, reportedly paid £100 per week each, along with their two housemates.
These housemates were Fergus Boyd, who later became Prince George's godfather, and mutual friend Olivia Bleasdale. "We moved in together as friends because we were living together, we lived with a couple of others as well, it just sort of blossomed from there really," William revealed during the couple's official engagement interview.
"We just saw more of each other, hung out a bit more and did stuff", reports OK!. Regarding Fergus and Olivia's reaction to their blossoming royal romance, William shared that they "were a bit surprised that it had happened, then they realized it was really nice and it was good fun and we got on really well, they were good friends of ours as well so we had a good giggle with them as well."
The student accommodation featured a small kitchen, with a single counter top encircling the room, a small sink beneath a window, and a counter-top stove on the right side. William reportedly used to whip up Bolognaise dishes in an attempt to charm his then-girlfriend.
Despite a brief, highly-publicised split in 2007, which led to Kate being unkindly dubbed 'Waity Katie', the separation ultimately strengthened their relationship, according to an expert speaking to OK!.
"Their relationship started out as friendship, so everything is built on the foundation of friendship, trust, love and loyalty," says Royal author Katie Nicholl. "They have stuck together through thick and thin."