This archive report was first published on 4 May 2021.
Prince William's decision to marry Kate Middleton in 2011 marked the end of a long period of speculation about his love life. Before meeting Kate, William was known to have dated several women, some of whom have spoken publicly about their relationships with him.
One of William's earliest known love interests was Jecca Craig, whom he met while on a gap year in Kenya. The two reportedly had a 'pretend engagement' during their time together, and Jecca even attended William's 21st birthday party in 2003. However, things took a turn when Kate and William started dating in secret, and Jecca was reportedly given a cold shoulder by the couple.
Jecca attended William and Kate's wedding in 2011, but the two didn't stay in touch for long. In 2016, William flew to Kenya to watch Jecca marry Professor Jonathan Baillie.
Another woman who caught William's eye was Olivia Hunt, whom he dated during his first year at St Andrews. The two reportedly enjoyed a whirlwind romance, but things ended abruptly when Kate and William realized they had feelings for each other. Despite the breakup, Olivia remained friends with the couple and even attended their wedding.
William also had a brief romance with Rose Farquhar, a childhood friend from his aristocratic circle. The two reportedly started dating after they finished college, but their relationship didn't work out. However, they remained close friends and even appeared together at society weddings.
Carly Massy-Birch was another woman who dated William during his time at St Andrews. The two reportedly had a casual relationship, but things got awkward when Carly said 'I've never dated two people in this room' during a night out with William and Kate. William was reportedly taken aback by the comment, but the two eventually remained friends.
Isabelle Calthorpe was another woman who caught William's eye, but their relationship never developed into anything serious. The two met at a ball in 2001, and Isabella even married Richard Branson's son, Sam, in 2013.
Finally, there was Arabella Musgrave, whom William dated shortly before moving to Scotland for university. The two reportedly had a whirlwind romance, but things ended abruptly when William met Kate.
