William and Kate's Most Adorable Couples Moments Through the Years

Prince William and Kate Middleton will celebrate nine years of marriage on Apr. 29 and by all appearances, their relationship has never been stronger. William and Kate were together nearly 10 years (with a short break-up in between) before their wedding, going from classmates to housemates to a couple to married parents of three (Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis). Through it all, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have charmed and dazzled fans with their genuine affection for each other, their easy-going personalities, and their undeniable star power. Here, in celebration of their upcoming anniversary, is a look at William and Kate's most adorable moments together. And for more on the future king of England, check out 27 Things You Never Knew About Prince William.

William and Kate famously met as students at St. Andrews in Scotland. They studied art history together (though William eventually switched to geography) before they became friends; and then housemates, sharing a place with other friends; and eventually, they fell in love. During their college years, they kept their romance low key. On graduation day in 2005, the couple happily posed for this photo, taken by Kate's father, Michael Middleton—it proved to be the first of many memorable moments for the future king and queen of England.

After William and Kate announced their engagement on Nov. 16, 2010, they sat down for the customary interview with the BBC. Looking very much in love, William told interviewer Tom Bradby that he knew from the first time he met Kate that "there was something special about her." (Ironically, Bradby is the same journalist who spoke with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for their explosive ITV interview when they revealed their unhappiness with royal life.)

Looking every inch a duchess-in-training in a royal blue Issa wrap dress, a clearly nervous Kate faltered a bit when she was asked how she felt about the inevitable comparisons to Princess Diana. "Obviously, I would have loved to have met her and she's obviously… she's an inspirational woman to look up to," she said. William quickly stepped in to put his future bride at ease. "No one is going to try to fill my mother's shoes—what she did was fantastic," he said. "It's about making your own future and your own destiny and Kate will do a very good job of that."

Nearly three billion people worldwide tuned in to watch William and Kate's royal wedding on Apr. 29, 2011, but the newlyweds managed to make their post-wedding kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace seem romantic and intimate. At first, William and Kate exchanged a chaste peck, but after the crowds chanted, "Kiss her again!" William leaned in for a more passionate kiss a few minutes later. The delighted bride giggled, the groom blushed, bridesmaid Grace Van Cutsem famously scowled, and the rest of us swooned. And for more on weddings fit for kings and queens through the years, check out 30 Fascinating Facts about British Royal Weddings.

During their first official tour of Canada in Jul. 2011, newlyweds Will and Kate were made honorary members of the Canadian Rangers and received bright red hoodies personalized with their new titles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The prince charmed Kate—and everyone else—when he gingerly helped the duchess tie up her hoodie before posing for a group photo.

We can't think of any other royals who could pull off wearing cowboy hats without looking completely ridiculous, but William and Kate looked absolutely adorable in their matching white hats and Western wear during that royal visit to Canada in 2o11. The classy cowboys arrived at Calgary Stampede sitting atop a stagecoach, pressed the red button together to start things off, took in the rodeo, and met fans who were completely roped in by their charm.

During that same 2011 Canadian tour, the newlyweds battled it out on separate teams during a dragon boat race on Prince Edward Island. William and Kate, who both love competitive sports, served as captains of their respective teams. After William's team won by a third of a length, he gave Kate an affectionate hug when he stepped out of his boat. The prince jokingly chided his royal rival as he accepted a bottle of champagne as first prize. "No chivalry!" he said.

William and Kate (with Prince Harry in tow) tried their hand at Hogwarts magic at the official opening of the new Warner Bros. Studio in London in Apr. 2013. The royals got a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility, which included a visit to the Harry Potter exhibition where they playfully squared off against each other by crossing magic wands.

J.K. Rowling was on hand to greet the royals, and Kate, who was six months pregnant with Prince George at the time, told the author that she'd read all the books and seen all the films. But William admitted he'd only seen the movies. Even royals can be superfans!

In celebration of Prince George's first birthday in Jul. 2014, Kensington Palace released three official photos of the toddler, third in line to the throne. Two of those absolutely adorable images were taken during the family's visit to a butterfly exhibit at London's Natural History Museum. Our hearts melted seeing photos of the youngest royal mesmerized by butterflies while his doting parents looked on lovingly. A truly aww-inspiring moment.

During William and Kate's trip to New York City in Dec. 2014, when Kate was pregnant with Princess Charlotte, the couple dazzled even the most jaded New Yorkers during a full schedule of events around the city. They charmed the crowd at a Brooklyn Nets' game, sitting courtside with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. They gamely smiled and waved on the jumbotron, but resisted further PDA.

Later, when they swept into the Metropolitan Museum for a black-tie fundraiser for their alma mater, St. Andrews, they were the picture of elegance and romance. And for more on Kate, check out Why Kate Middleton Is the Royal Family's "Secret Weapon" in 2020.

Taking young children to a kids' party can be a daunting and exhausting experience for most parents. But when William and Kate arrived at a children's garden party for military families during their royal tour of Canada in Sept. 2016 with Prince George and Princess Charlotte in tow, they looked as if they stepped into a fairy tale. The charming royals even dressed the part. While William and the children all wore coordinating shades of blue, Kate was the image of absolute perfection (and bravery) in an ivory knit dress.

Unlike Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are rarely seen getting physical in public. But at Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank in Oct. 2018, the romantic spirit of the day clearly moved them. William and Kate were spotted holding hands while waiting for the ceremony to start. Kate even left her hand on William's knee while chatting with Harry. So sweet!

For a couple who have said their ideal evening involves take-out and binge-watching Homeland, William and Kate really know how to dress to impress for their annual appearances at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) in London. The duke (who serves as president of the organization) and duchess always look genuinely delighted to attend the star-studded ceremony and exude more glamour on the red carpet than any of the A-list attendees, as you can see here in Feb. 2019.

School drop-off never looked so sweet and stylish. In Sept. 2019, William and Kate accompanied Princess Charlotte, who was joining her brother, Prince George, for her first day at Thomas's Battersea in London. All four held hands to help calm any first day jitters. Mum and Dad were all smiles as the foursome arrived at the posh private school. Kate wore a floral Michael Kors dress that matched the navy and red uniforms of the young royals, making for a picture-perfect— and adorable—moment.

During their first royal engagement of 2020, William and Kate headed to Bradford City Hall, where they met with students and local employers helping youngsters in the community get jobs. But in another rare public display of romance, the prince presented a well-wisher's small bouquet of white flowers to Kate as the crowd looked on, proving there's still plenty of love in their lives after nine years of marriage.

One can only imagine what must have been going through Prince William's mind earlier this year while on a royal tour of Ireland. As he and Kate were visiting the Emerald Isle in March, Harry and Meghan were in London embarking on their "farewell tour." After the contentious "Megxit" negotiations, which reportedly inflamed the tensions between the brothers, William seemed to relax in Ireland.

Throughout the tour, Will and Kate were particularly affectionate with each and were spotted with their arms around each other. The gesture was a touching reminder of the support Kate was said to have offered her husband during the most difficult chapter in the royal's life since the death of his mother, Princess Diana. And for more on the late people's princess, Here's the Truth Behind 17 Myths About Princess Diana.

Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and author of Imagining Diana and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.