THE Prince and Princess of Wales are celebrating 13 years of marriage today and their “marriage seems better than ever”, claims a royal editor.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Richard Palmer insists that he’s witnessed Prince William and Kate Middleton up close and their close bond is evident.
He said to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson: “I read stuff online about the state of their marriage and I just don’t recognise it at all.
“I’m talking mainly about social media and some of the lunatics on social media.
“Because whenever I’ve seen them up close – I mean, it’s very difficult to know what goes on in anybody’s marriage, whether they’re public figures or close friends or whatever, things go on behind closed doors – but everything I’ve seen of that couple suggests to me that they are really close.
“The body language, everything, you can just tell that they, I think anyway, that they’re really into each other and the marriage has worked.
“There’s a meeting of minds there.”
Unfair opinions about the couple’s marriage have spread on social media following Kate‘s edited Mother’s Day picture.
One conspiracy theory spreading was that the couple had split with Kate not wearing her wedding ring in the edited photo.
However, Kate doesn’t always wear her engagement ring – the iconic diamond and sapphire band once worn by Princess Diana.
Millions tuned in as Prince William married his university sweetheart Kate at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.
The couple have since welcomed three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, six.
Kate is currently recovering away from royal duties following her planned abdominal surgery in January.
In March, the Princess of Wales revealed that doctors had found cancer, but she vowed: “I am well and getting stronger every day”.
Doting husband William has been by her side throughout – taking a step back from his royal duties and pulling out of engagements last minute.
The Sun’s Royal Photographer Arthur Edwards said the love he has for Kate will help them both get through this ordeal.
He said: “Cancer is a word that scares everybody and chemotherapy is a pretty tough treatment and the body needs to be strong to withstand it.
The body language, everything, you can just tell that they, I think anyway, that they’re really into each other and the marriage has worked
Richard Palmer
“Catherine has got great willpower and determination which I have seen up-close since the day I first photographed her.
“Catherine’s statement took a lot of courage to do and she has told us that the reason she kept her cancer secret until now is for the sake of her children.
“With the support of William I’m sure they will battle through.”
Arthur went on to say that the Waleses’ strength as a couple is clear and will keep the family going.
April 29, 2011 marked the day that Kate and William got married.
They tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London in a televised event which was watched by millions all over the world.
Prince Harry served as his brother’s best man, with both of them dressing in traditional military uniforms.
Kate, meanwhile wore a French Chantily and English Cluny lace Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton gown.
Kate later changed into a second white strapless evening gown for a dinner hosted by Prince Charles with roughly 300 guests in attendance.
He added: “That genuine love between William and Kate is what will get them through her cancer ordeal.
“It did not surprise me at all that when Catherine went into hospital, William stopped work immediately and took over the running of the family, getting the children to school, doing their homework reading to them – all the things that mum would have done.
“Her video statement is wonderful, talking about her love for William and his love for her and the children.
“She is a very caring person but now she needs lots of tender loving care and she’ll get that from her family.
I read stuff online about the state of their marriage and I just don’t recognise it at all.
Richard Palmer
“When I heard the news, I was transported back to the day I took their engagement photograph.
“I remember asking William ‘why did you break up with Catherine?’ He told me: ‘Because I had to be certain. I want this marriage to last forever.’
“Working with the pair of them on royal engagements I can see their absolute love is real.
“The way they always have time to turn and smile at each other and have little secret conversations, reminds me of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh whose marriage lasted for seven decades.”
More from Kate’s emotional message…
Kate’s diagnosis is the second cancer shock to hit the royal family in as many months after King Charles revealed he was also undergoing treatment.
Kate and William first met while studying art history at St Andrew’s University, where the Prince fell head over heels for Kate during a charity fashion show she was modelling in.
During their second year, the pair become roommates – the point at which William said their relationship “blossomed”.
In October 2010, it was announced that Kate and William were engaged following a proposal in Kenya.
The loved-up Prince said at the time: “We had a little private time away together with some friends, and I just decided it was the right time, really.
“We’d been talking about marriage for a while, so it wasn’t a massively big surprise, but I took her up somewhere nice in Kenya.”
