Why Prince William and Princess Kate spent their first Valentine's Day as a married couple apart
The prince still made the occasion special though!
Prince William and Princess Kate are known for their strong, loving partnership, but their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple in 2012 was spent apart – for a very good reason.
At the time, William, 42, was deployed to the Falkland Islands for a six-week tour as part of his role as an RAF search and rescue pilot.
His duties meant that he missed the romantic holiday with his wife of 10 months. The couple had married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
However, William made sure to mark the occasion in a special way.
Prince William’s sweet gesture for Princess Kate on Valentine’s Day 2012 as they spent it apart
While carrying out a solo engagement in Liverpool on February 14, 2012, the now Princess of Wales revealed the thoughtful way her husband made sure she still felt loved on Valentine’s Day.
When a young boy named Jaqson told Kate he was sorry Prince William couldn’t be with her, Kate smiled.
“Do you know where he is, Jaqson? He’s in the Falklands, but he’s sent me a card this morning,” she reassured him, as reported in HELLO!.
Jaqson’s mother later shared that Kate had revealed that she received a bouquet of flowers from her husband, despite him being thousands of miles away.
William completed his six-week deployment on March 21, 2012.
Upon his return, he and Kate enjoyed a short period of leave together before he resumed his duties in the UK.
This wasn’t the only Valentine’s Day where royal duties kept the couple apart. Over the years, Kate has often marked February 14 by attending public engagements, just as William has.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also spent first Valentine’s as a married couple apart
Meanwhile, William’s younger brother Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle also spent a Valentine’s Day apart in 2019. It was their first as a married couple too after tying the knot in May 2018.
Harry was in Norway visiting the British armed forces.
However, soldiers surprised him with a romantic setup inside a makeshift igloo, complete with candles and photos of him and Meghan from their wedding day.
Laughing at the unexpected tribute, Harry playfully joked: “You weirdos! It’s very kind of you to invite me into your private shrine or whatever you want to call it. And the music, is that part of it? Very romantic.”
William and Kate’s message on Valentine’s Day 2025
While their first Valentine’s Day was spent apart, William and Kate’s relationship has only grown stronger over the years.
For Valentine’s Day this year, William and Kate shared a sweet photo on Instagram. The image was captioned with a red heart.
It showed William sweetly kissing a smiling Kate on the cheek. Royal fans flooded the comments to gush over the famous couple.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my favourite royal couple!!” One fan wrote.
The Prince of Wales made sure that distance didn’t stop him from showing his love, proving that even at the most demanding times, he is a devoted husband.
Now, over a decade later, William and Kate’s love story continues to inspire royal fans.
Read more: Prince William and Kate Middleton’s sleep arrangements after his surprising comment
Are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? If so, how are you marking the occasion? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @RoyalInsiderOfficial.
