Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William are now the proud parents of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married in 2011 after their relationship first started at university in 2001. However, it was not all plain sailing, with the couple going on a “trial separation” in 2004 followed by another brief break in 2007.

Biographer Andrew Morton, in his 2011 book “William and Catherine”, writes how Kate had to “give up” her independence when she got back together with the prince in 2007.

Mr Morton writes: “There was, however, one casualty of this romantic reunion: Kate herself.”

He claims some of her friends believed “she was giving up independence for conformity and adventure for safety”.

During the brief 2007 split, Kate had stepped out on her own, being photographed at many events around town.

Most significantly, she had undertaken gruelling training to enter a women-only boat race, which she called off at the last minute when her relationship with William got back on track. 

Mr Morton continues: “When she pulled out of the dragon-boat race in August with just a week to go, their worst fears were confirmed.”

Race organiser Emma Sayle told the author that she pleaded with Kate: “Remember, this is not just for charity, it is for yourself.

“Please don’t drop out. For the first time in your life you are actually doing something for yourself.”

Mr Morton adds: “Her friend Alicia Fox-Pitt also had to drop out after breaking her collar bone in a riding accident. Alicia, however, travelled to Dover to wave the team off on what proved to be a world-record-breaking endeavour.

“As for Kate, it was as if the last three months of relative independence had become another country, the Sisterhood never heard from her again; not so much as a word of congratulation or a donation to the children’s charities for  which the women raised more than £100,000.”

Mr Morton also writes how Kate’s friends were relieved at the 2007 split from Prince William.

He claims that, in April 2007, when Clarence House unofficially let the world know that the romance between William and Kate had run its course, “few of her friends shed a tear”.

The biographer adds: ”The prevailing reaction for most of them was: ‘Thank goodness that’s over!’

“For years they had watched helplessly as Kate, whose university dissertation had been on Lewis Carroll, had gradually disappeared down the royal rabbit hole into the Windsor wonderland, leaving her friends out in the cold.”

One of Kate’s circle told Mr Morton: ”During her time with William she upset a lot of friends by not making the effort to see them.”

Mr Morton also writes about how Kate had been unhappy in the relationship when William made her feel “treated like a servant”.

He writes: “Obstinate and strong-willed, William could be an overwhelming presence and, at times, Kate felt taken for granted – treated like a servant rather than his girlfriend.”

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