When it comes to royal gossip, we Aussies love a cheeky behind-the-scenes story — especially when it involves a bit of good-natured ribbing between the future King and Queen!

And thanks to a former royal butler, we’ve just been treated to a delightful peek behind the palace curtains at the early days of William and Kate’s romance.



Grant Harrold, who served as a butler to then-Prince Charles at Highgrove House from 2004 to 2011, has spilled the beans on a hilarious private moment between Prince William and his then-girlfriend, Kate Middleton.

With his memoir, The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service, set to hit Aussie shelves on August 26, Harrold has shared stories that show the royals are just as human—and just as prone to a bit of banter—as the rest of us.

A Cheeky Dig at the Future King​

Picture this: it’s the early 2000s, and a young William and Kate are sitting around the kitchen bench at Highgrove, chatting with staff.

William sat directly across from Harrold, with Kate to his side. The conversation turned to the woes of getting older… something we can all relate to!



Harrold recalls: 'I remember saying, “I think the worst thing is when you get older is going grey and getting bald, from a man’s point of view.”'

At that, Kate burst out laughing. William, who was already starting to lose a bit of hair up top, shot back with a wry, 'Thanks, mate.'

Kate, still giggling, chimed in with a playful, 'Well done, Grant.' It was a moment that showed the Princess of Wales’ sense of humour and the easy, teasing rapport she shares with her husband.

Harrold also remembered that when William first introduced Kate, he simply described her as his 'friend.' 'She was very softly spoken, a beautiful smile, just a beautiful girl,' he said.

A Royal Romance for the Ages​

William and Kate’s love story is now the stuff of modern fairy tales, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

The pair met at St Andrews University in 2002, dated for several years, and even had a brief split before reuniting in 2007.

Harrold admitted he was 'worried' during their breakup, saying: 'I liked the idea of this couple, because they were so nice [together]. I know it sounds silly but I couldn’t imagine them being with somebody else, and because I’d got to know them, I just thought it would be sad. She’s the perfect future queen.'

One particularly touching memory from Harrold’s time at Highgrove was seeing Kate standing alone at Prince Charles’ 60th birthday party. The star-studded marquee was filled with actors, singers, and VIPs, but Kate looked a little lost.



'So myself and my friend went over and were chatting, because we didn’t want her standing on her own … It seemed a shame,' he said. Shortly afterwards, William appeared and the two quietly slipped away together.

From Private Jokes to Public Life​

Of course, the rest is history. William proposed to Kate in Kenya in October 2010, with their engagement announced the following month.

The world then watched as they wed in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, a spectacle viewed by tens of millions around the globe.

Now, as parents to Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (7), the couple continue to charm the public with their warmth, humour, and down-to-earth approach to royal life.

And if you’re keen for more royal tales, keep an eye out for Grant Harrold’s memoir, The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service, available in Australia from August 26. Who knows what other royal secrets might be revealed?

Read more: Former staff member pushes back on royal controversy


Let’s keep the conversation going—what’s your favourite royal moment, and do you think Kate’s sense of humour is the secret to her and William’s happy marriage? Tell us below!