Queen Elizabeth II took decisive action to reunite the Prince and Princess of Wales following their painful 2007 breakup, according to newly disclosed details in a forthcoming royal biography.
The late monarch requested a private audience with her grandson shortly after learning he had separated from Catherine, encouraging him to trust his feelings and wed the woman who would eventually become Queen.
This previously unreported intervention proved transformative for the Royal Family's future, with the Queen successfully persuading William to restore his relationship with Catherine.
The revelations emerge in Russell Myers' new book, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story.
Queen Elizabeth II 'held crunch talks with Prince William' after Catherine's ultimatum
|GETTY
The separation came after Catherine presented William with a stark choice following four years of courtship: commit to their shared future, or she would end things herself.
William responded by terminating the relationship, a decision that would prove short-lived thanks to his grandmother's counsel.
The couple had been together since meeting at St Andrews University, where their romance first blossomed during their student years.
Mr Myers' biography offers a fresh perspective on the circumstances surrounding this pivotal moment, which ultimately altered the trajectory of the British monarchy and set the stage for the Queen's historic intervention.
Prince William and Catherine briefly split up in 2007
| PABeyond reuniting the couple, the Queen also took Catherine under her wing in the years that followed.
The monarch shared wisdom with her future granddaughter-in-law on navigating life with "headstrong husbands" and the demands that would accompany her eventual position as a senior working royal.
This guidance from Elizabeth II helped prepare Catherine for the unique pressures she would face as she transitioned from commoner to future queen consort.
Mr Myers' biography reveals for the first time how the late sovereign played an instrumental role not only in saving the relationship but in mentoring Catherine for the responsibilities that lay ahead.
The Queen Mother pictured with Queen Elizabeth II, and great-grandchildren, Prince William and his brother Prince Harry, in 2000 | PALATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Prince Andrew and Prince William stood side-by-side as they exited the cathedral after the Duchess of Kent's funeral
| REUTERSThe biography, penned by The Mirror's royal editor who has spent nearly 10 years following the couple, also contains significant disclosures about other royal matters.
Among these is William's desire to see his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, removed from public duties immediately after the former duke's catastrophic BBC Newsnight appearance in 2019.
The book additionally explores how William and Catherine responded to Harry and Meghan's departure from royal life, alongside previously unknown details about the princess's cancer diagnosis.
Mr Myers described his work as "a truly intimate portrait of William and Catherine" that "moves beyond the headlines as it explores love, resilience, and their journey together as they navigate their public duties amid this unprecedented era."