Before marrying Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William was romantically linked to a number of women, many of them from aristocratic or well-connected British families. Over the years, tabloids followed his dating life closely, often speculating about whether one of his girlfriends might eventually become the future queen. Some of these relationships were brief and casual, while others appeared far more serious and attracted intense public attention.
Davina Duckworth-Chad
One of William’s earliest rumored romantic connections was with Davina Duckworth-Chad, a member of a prominent aristocratic family. She had known the prince since childhood, as both moved in the same elite social circles. Although the pair were reportedly close for many years, their relationship remained more of a long-standing friendship, and any romantic involvement was believed to be short-lived.
Rose Farquhar
Another early companion was Rose Farquhar. Her family had longstanding ties to the royal household—her father often arranged country retreats and hunting trips for the royals. William and Rose reportedly went on a few dates when they were younger, but their connection did not develop into a serious romance and the two soon went their separate ways.
Arabella Musgrave
During his student years, William was linked to Arabella Musgrave, who worked in public relations for the luxury fashion brand Gucci. According to British tabloids, their relationship was intense but relatively brief. The pair reportedly met through mutual friends in London’s high-society circles, and rumors of their romance circulated widely at the time.
Carly Massey-Birch
While studying at University of St Andrews, William was also rumored to have gone on a few dates with Carly Massey-Birch. The Scottish student briefly became the focus of media attention after their outings were reported. Some tabloids even speculated that she might become the prince’s girlfriend, though their connection ended after only a handful of dates.
Olivia Hunt
Another relationship from his university years involved Olivia Hunt, the daughter of a well-known London doctor. Their romance was said to be one of the prince’s more passionate relationships during his time as a student. However, like several of his early romances, it eventually faded as William’s life—and public role—continued to evolve.
Jessica “Jecca” Craig
One of the women often described as a major early love in William’s life was Jessica Craig, widely known by the nickname “Jecca.” The two reportedly met during William’s gap year in Africa, where he spent time at her family’s wildlife conservancy in Kenya. Their bond was strong enough that many royal watchers believed the relationship might become serious. Even after they separated romantically, they reportedly remained friends for years.
Rose Hanbury
More recently, the name Rose Hanbury—the Marchioness of Cholmondeley—became entangled in controversy when rumors surfaced in 2019 claiming that William had been involved with her while married to Catherine. The speculation spread widely across social media and gossip columns, although no credible evidence was ever publicly confirmed and the claims were strongly disputed by those close to the royal family.
Despite the long list of rumored relationships during his younger years, William’s most enduring partnership ultimately proved to be with Catherine. The couple first met while studying at St Andrews and went on to marry in 2011, beginning a new chapter in the modern history of the British royal family.
