William and Kate

Wedding anniversary marked by love and struggle

Prince William and Princess Kate said yes to each other on April 29, 2011.

(Bild: AFP)

Last year, they showed off their sporting prowess on bikes for their wedding anniversary; this year, Prince William and Princess Kate shared a beautiful, never-before-publicly-seen black and white portrait of themselves after their wedding 13 years ago. A sign of the couple's love and struggle as they face their biggest challenge to date.

This year, William and Kate were apparently unable to take a photo especially for their wedding day. The happy couple idyll of the previous year has given way to loving care from Prince William after Princess Kate was diagnosed with cancer following a serious abdominal operation in January.

In order to prevent a new outbreak and destroy all cancer cells, the Princess of Wales has since had to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy. 

Beautiful wedding portrait
Nevertheless, the couple celebrated their wedding day and published a black and white photo on their social media channels from  April 29, 2011, which shows them after their wedding in Westminster Abbey at Buckingham Palace.

The picture, which was previously under lock and key, shows Kate in her famous ivory-colored lace wedding dress by Alexander McQueen. William is wearing his Irish Guards uniform - and one is tempted to exclaim: "How young they were then!"

The prince and princess, or rather their social media team, simply wrote the words: "13 years ago" to accompany the portrait.

The beginning of a wonderful family
William and Kate's wedding was a major event that attracted worldwide attention. For the heir to the British throne and his wife, it was the start of their wonderful family.

Prince George was born in 2013, followed two years later by Princess Charlotte and in 2018 by baby Prince Louis. 

During her cancer treatment, her children are the princess and her husband's biggest concern. When Kate made her diagnosis public in a video shortly before Easter, she explained that she and her husband needed and still need time to explain the situation to their children in a child-friendly way.

This is how William and Kate appeared on Twitter on their 12th wedding anniversary: 

"Comfort and confidence" from William
William is said to be very worried about his wife. When she received her diagnosis, he canceled a visit to a mass at the last minute and took a long break with her and the children over Easter. He only returned to the public eye last week. 

"Having William by my side is a great comfort and a source of confidence," Kate explained in her video. In her only personal message after the diagnosis, she explained that she did not show a recent photo on her wedding day either: "Now I have to concentrate fully on my recovery."

Prince William and Kate Middleton, as she was known by her maiden name, met at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in 2001.

Both were studying art history there. William was in his second year when Kate started her first year. They lived in the same hall of residence and quickly became friends. Their friendship developed into a romantic relationship over the years.

The official Mario Testino engagement photo.

(Bild: MARIO TESTINO / AFP / picturedesk.com)

Princess Kate and Prince William after the birth of George

(Bild: APA/AFP/Ben STANSALL)

Prince William and Princess Kate

(Bild: APA/Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

Prince William and Princess Kate at an event at the Royal Albert Hall.

(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/Aaron Chown)

They announced their engagement on November 20, 2010, after William asked for Kate's hand in marriage during a trip to Kenya in October 2010 with a diamond ring that had once belonged to his mother Diana.