Princess Kate, who recently celebrated her 42nd birthday, had an unforgettable day, but not for the reasons she had hoped.

The source of her heartbreak was none other than her husband, Prince William.

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Throughout the years, Princess Kate has enjoyed many birthdays with Prince William since they first met at St Andrew’s University in 2001.

However, there was one particular birthday that left her crushed and disappointed due to her husband’s unexpected decision.

In 2008, Prince William faced a difficult choice around Kate’s birthday, one that took both his family and his girlfriend by surprise.

At the time, Prince William had just completed his assignments with different branches of the armed forces.

He had to make a crucial decision – whether to continue with the household cavalry or leave the forces to fully commit to his royal duties.

The palace officially announced that the now Prince of Wales would join the RAF, a decision that caught everyone off guard, including Princess Kate.

Speculations were rife that William would propose soon, but this turn of events shattered those hopes.

In her book “Kate, The Future Queen,” royal author Katie Nicholl reveals that this single decision completely changed Kate’s life.

She had anticipated a proposal once William finished his military training, but instead, she had to come to terms with the fact that an engagement was not on the horizon.

Kate would have to wait even longer for that special moment.

According to Nicholl, Princess Kate was privately crushed and frustrated.

William’s new role required him to undergo 18 months of training in Shropshire, followed by two years at a remote location somewhere in the UK.

The author writes, “Was Kate prepared to join him?

She supported his desires and ambitions, but privately she was crushed.

William was asking her to be an army wife without the nuptials.

Her frustration was understandable.”

Despite the challenges, Prince William was confident that their relationship could withstand the distance.

The Shropshire base was around three hours away from London, and he believed they could make it work.