6 Glaring Signs Kate Middleton & Prince William's Marriage Is On The Rocks

When William, Prince of Wales, and Kate Middleton tied the knot at London's Westminster Abbey in 2011, it seemed like a fairy tale. She was, after all, a commoner, whose college sweetheart just happened to be the future King of England. But as this royal couple's marriage has unfolded, it hasn't necessarily been a story of simple happily ever after. From alleged infidelity to rumors that Kate Middleton had secretly died – in fact, she was privately navigating a health crisis — their relationship has always been characterized by tension between what happens behind closed doors and what's known to the public.

It's rare that the royal family speak directly to the public about their private lives. That has left fans piecing together the state of each couple's relationship based on subtle body language and brief news stories, like the awkward Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moments that make us question their relationship. Unfortunately, when it comes to Prince William and Kate Middleton, some of the clues that the public has put together hint that this couple is in a rocky place.

In 2024, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, announced that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after cancer was discovered following abdominal surgery. While having the abdominal surgery, she spent 13 days in hospital. In loving, happily married couples, a spouse can generally be counted on to appear regularly at the sick partner's bedside, providing encouragement and emotional support. But William, Prince of Wales, was not consistently by his wife's side during or following her operation. In fact, some fans believe he barely bothered to show up at the hospital, since Prince William made headlines for a hospital visit only once — two days after her surgery.

While it's possible that he slipped through some private entrance to visit his wife, the entire ordeal wasn't exactly a portrait of marital bliss. In fact, his absence left many speculating that their bond had totally broken down. 

Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, have never been huge on public displays of affection. Couples within the royal family tend to stay formal and dignified when making appearances. Still, in the past, William and Kate have been a little more flirty in public than the previous generations of royals, occasionally holding hands or hugging. So when Prince William was caught pushing his wife away during a 2025 appearance, fans speculated that there might be conflict brewing. "This is almost Melania level 'get your hands off me,'" joked one Reddit user, referencing the times Donald Trump and Melania sent divorce rumors flying thanks to PDA fails.

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Prince William's hand swat recalled the couple's seemingly strained body language in the days following Queen Elizabeth's death. The Prince and Princess of Wales walked several feet apart, which was dramatically different from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who held hands nearby. "[Harry and Meghan] basically looked like they actually wanted to be in each other's company, in complete contrast to Will and Kate," wrote one Reddit user. They hardly looked like a couple on the same page. So much distance between them suggested there was serious tension.

On a few recent occasions, Kate Middleton has appeared without the 12-carat sapphire and diamond ring that has long been her signature. Kate Middleton's lavish ring stack is super meaningful, including the engagement ring that once belonged to her husband's mother, the late Princess Diana. So her choice to appear without it, even while she did wear a simple wedding band, during a January 2026 hospital appearance and later that same month for a celebration of the national women's rugby team, felt loaded with symbolism.

Missing rings are usually one of the earliest signs that a famous couple's relationship is on the rocks. Certainly, Kate, the Princess of Wales, is aware of the speculation that its absence would incite, and she skipped wearing it anyway. While some experts suggested the ring was only missing because its size makes it a tad impractical, that didn't quite square with the range of photo ops that she has worn it for in the past. "This is a ring she's so attached to she's gardened and [scuba-dived] in it, so it seems odd that she's not going to wear it anymore," observed one Reddit user. Considering that the royals are incredibly intentional about using their wardrobe choices to make statements, it's totally possible that Kate Middleton left her ring at home to convey something about the state of her marriage.

In January 2026, Prince William brought a new crisis manager on board, which left fans wondering what trouble might be brewing behind the scenes. The royal family has weathered their fair share of turmoil, from Andrew Mountbatten's association with the Epstein files to King Charles III's cancer diagnosis. An inside source told the Daily Mail that the crisis manager would be taking on "a non-crisis-based role in the [Kensington Palace] press office, working on the day-to-day press interaction Kensington Palace has."

But, despite the fact that the Palace insisted the new employee wasn't coming aboard to deal with a specific, discrete reputational emergency, fans have theorized it may be an attempt to cover up the seemingly growing tension between Prince William and Catherine. "When somebody hires crisis PR, you know it's about to be a hot mess," wrote one Reddit user. "Maybe they've rightly decided that it's a losing cause to try and fool the public that you are happily married," suggested another Reddit user. Either way, fans aren't buying the explanation that this is a regular hire.

In the past, William, Prince of Wales, has made headlines for his heartfelt public birthday wishes to his wife, Kate Middleton. In 2025, the couple's official Instagram featured a portrait of the princess, along with a sweet note penned by the prince: "To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you've shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you."

So when the Princess of Wales' 2026 birthday came and went with no public acknowledgement from Prince William, fans quickly suspected that there might be a rift between the couple. "I wonder if this is a soft separation launch of sorts," speculated one Reddit user. While William may have done more to acknowledge his wife's birthday privately, someone overlooking their partner's birthday is not a great sign. "Everyone wants to feel loved and feel special, and if they fail to do this normally and on your birthday, this tells you all you need to know," matchmaker Susan Trombetti told Elite Daily, and this principle is no less true for royal couples. If Prince William is dropping the ball on Kate's birthday, it's not a good sign for the relationship's longevity.

In 2019, rumors swirled that Prince William was having an affair with British aristocrat Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley. "Kate was devastated by the rumors of the affair," an anonymous inside source told RadarOnline.com. The same source shared that the royal couple had subsequently been through marital counseling. That might have truly been the end of the story, but then the rumors about his infidelity persisted.

A 2022 tip to gossip account DeuxMoi reignited the rumors: "This British royal's extramarital affair is an open secret in London and amongst the English aristo set" [via Cosmopolitan]. The post implied that Prince William was continuing to get his sexual needs met outside of their marriage. While there are happily married couples who have found a way to embrace non-monogamy, William's rumored persistent cheating suggests this couple is going through major turmoil. "He's probably continuing to cheat, with Rose or whomever else," wrote one Reddit user. "Kate seems absolutely miserable."