Kate and William have just returned from their five-day Pakistan tour and appeared to have a brilliant time visiting charities which aimed to empower young people, particularly with education. They always appear to present a united front and their long courtship, which first began when they were only second-year university students in 2003, seemed to reflect an ideal romance in the lead up to their 2011 wedding. However, the ITV documentary ‘Prince William at Thirty’, uploaded to Youtube in 2012, revealed the first real hiccup the couple faced in their relationship after university.

After graduating from the University of St Andrews – where William had set up an agreement with the press to ensure he had privacy throughout his studies – the two of them found themselves right in the spotlight.

As Kate does not have a royal background, she was not used to the huge amount of media attention.

In the documentary, royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah said: “There was intense media scrutiny on Catherine down in London and I think that was very difficult for them because their relationship had to change and adapt to that. I think it was very hard for both of them.”

The documentary’s narrator said: “She got her first taste as life is like as a royal. Her every move now the subject of press speculation.”

To make matters even more trying, the couple were also trying out long-distance as William had taken up his military training in Wiltshire, and later Sandhurst, while Kate was setting up a career in London.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl said: “I think it was probably the first real major test.”

On Kate’s 25th birthday “she had to run the gauntlet of cameras” that was on the street outside her house, according to the documentary’s narrator.

Ms Nikkah said: “You would see hundreds of press photographers outside her home which is very difficult for anyone trying to make their way. It was almost as if whatever she did, whether she went to work or didn’t go to work she would be scrutinised and almost hounded.

“Prince William did not take very kindly to this and that’s when we started to see the Royal Family, driven by Prince William on this, starting to take action against the press and against the pursuit and harassment by photographers of Catherine.”

Greater tensions were caused when William became the subject of press speculation too. He was photographed dancing closely with a blonde girl on a night out, which reportedly sparked a brief break-up between the couple.

Ms Nicholl said: “I don’t think anyone could really blame William. I mean he was part of the Blues and Royals household calvary – known as the Booze and Royals – and he was having a great time!”

There were great consequences for his free-spirited night out though.

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As Ms Nicholl recalled: “William looked like he was having far too much fun, certainly according to Kate who called the shots, and said ‘Well, you can’t have it both ways’ and that was he said ‘Well we’re going to take a break’.”

While Kate later said she was “not very happy” about the split at the time, many supporters recognised how admirably she coped with such a public breakup from her university sweetheart.

Jennie Bond said: “I think she conducted herself brilliantly when William dumped her. She had all those headlines and everything but she just go on with life.

“I think William very soon realised that actually he had made a bit of a mistake here and went and wooed her back.”

The couple now have three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and appear to be incredibly content in Kensington Palace.

His brother Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle however have recently admitted they are currently struggling with the scrutiny that comes with being in the public eye.

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