Before they became the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William walked away from Kate Middleton â only to come “crawling back.”
The claim was made by Christopher Andersen, author of “Kate!,” which explores how the once commoner became the universally adored face of the British monarchy.
Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. A spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital it does not comment on books.
“Kate Middleton certainly was strategic in winning back,” Andersen told Fox News Digital. “And she had [her mother] Carole Middleton as her general or field marshal or strategist â were going to call it. But Kate was crushed in the beginning. [It] was completely out of the blue. I was in London when they broke up in 2007, and it was shocking. Everyone thought they were on the verge of announcing their engagement.”
William and Kate met in 2001 when they were students at the University of St. Andrews. The pair were friends at first but eventually started dating. After several years, William reportedly broke up with Kate over the phone.
, Kate was “clutching her cell phone close to her ear” behind a closed door at Jigsaw, where she worked as a childrens accessories buyer. In a conference room, Kate “listened to the man she had loved for five years tell her they were through.” Coworkers were straining to hear what was happening on the other side of the door.
WATCH: HOW KATE MIDDLETON WON PRINCE WILLIAM BACK AFTER THEIR SPLIT
William “stammered” that he was unwilling to commit, arguing he was “only 25” and “too young.” He stressed that the press would make her life “unbearable” as long as they remained a couple. He feared that her life was in danger, and she wasnt entitled to royal protection when he wasnt around.
Kate “pleaded” with William to reconsider. She offered to ask her parents to hire private bodyguards if thats what he wanted. William didnt budge. Instead, he said he was under so much pressure now that he was taking on the duties of a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals Regiment of the Household Cavalry. He had made up his mind.
“What had happened was Camilla and [the former Prince] Charles had actually convinced William to either ask for her hand in marriage or cut it off and not let the poor girl suffer anymore,” Andersen told Fox News Digital.
“Charles was always incredibly fond of Kate. He never doubted that she would make an excellent wife for his eldest son, and she had all the qualities necessary to become a future queen. But it wasnt fair, in Charles view, to keep the poor girl hanging. And so, [William] chose to cut it.”
“Her coworkers could hear Kate on the phone begging to know what was wrong, begging to know why this was happening, and crying,” Andersen claimed. “Understandably, Kate was devastated. Her coworkers overheard Kate pleading with William, asking, “Why?” It all came as a total shock.”
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