Prince William's fear after Kate Middleton proposal sparked move that 'surprised' Queen

William and Kate kept the news of their engagement a secret for a few weeks before deciding to share it with the world - at which point, William picked up the phone to his grandmother

Prince William surprised the late Queen with an important phone call following his proposal to Kate.

William popped the question to his long-term love after nearly ten years together. He got down on one knee during a private holiday to Kenya. But the couple knew that as soon as they shared the news they would become the centre of a media frenzy - so they decided to keep it secret for a little while. In her book Kate: The Future Queen, royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed the future royal even put her new engagement ring - which had previously belonged to Princess Diana - in a safe to keep it away from public view.

Then, after a few weeks of enjoying their exciting news privately, they decided it was time to tell the world on November 16, 2010. But William had a very important job to do first, because as a senior member of the royal family, he legally had to ask for the Queen's consent first. According to Nicholl, the Queen was having breakfast with Prince Philip when she got the call from her grandson. She was "thrilled to receive William's call, albeit a little surprised at the suddenness of the announcement".

A source told the author: "The Queen had no idea that there would be an announcement that morning. It was rather hurried, because William was apparently worried about it leaking out. William enjoyed outfoxing the media, and this was one announcement he wanted to make himself. The last thing he wanted was a newspaper getting the scoop, as had happened with his father's engagement to Camilla."

William made the call from his flat at Clarence House, with an excited Kate sitting at his side. The couple also called Prince Charles and Camilla, before picking up the phone to speak to Harry, who was in Hampshire at the time. Kate, meanwhile, told her own two siblings, James and Pippa, in person. In his 2024 book, Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, serialised in the Daily Mail, James recalled the moment Kate shared the big news.

The entrepreneur told how he, Kate and Pippa went out to a "local pub" in a village nearby their home, where they spoke in hushed tones. He said: "Catherine, Pippa and I go out for a walk with Ella and Tilly to our local pub in a village close to Bucklebury. We sit in a corner, chattering quietly.

"Catherine whispers the news and says it will become public in the next day or so. Pippa and I want to be visibly excited, but we have to tamp down our emotions so no one suspects a thing." He continued: "We make a quiet acknowledgement that we'll always be there for each other, look out for one another, support each other. No matter how crazy things get."

James sweetly added that, by that time, William had certainly earned his approval, and he knew the royal was the right man for his older sister. "It was beautiful to see how he brought out her confidence. She'd blossomed. I knew he'd look after her, and he does to this day."