Carole Middleton reportedly had concerns and “fears” about the future of her daughter, Kate Middleton. A royal expert claimed that it took place years before Prince William proposed to his now-wife.

Express UK reported that the assertions came from Katie Nicholl, who spoke with Vanity Fair about the matter in 2011. She stated that the Duchess of Cambridge’s mother felt “concerned” at Christmas of 2009 because the Duke of Cambridge had not proposed yet.

The expert noted that a source told her all about the concern, adding that Carole Middleton became worried after seeing her daughter’s life had “come to a bit of a standstill.” She allegedly believed that the now-future Queen Consort could not “get on and do normal things” due to the public interest in her.

Nicholl continued that, as per the insider, Kate Middleton’s mother even voiced her fears to Prince William. She, also, urged the royal-born Prince to “make an honest woman” out of her daughter so she would not be “left waiting in limbo.”

At the time, the press had dubbed the Duchess of Cambridge as “Waity Katie.” Cheat Sheet said that it was because she had been waiting so long for a marriage proposal from the Duke of Cambridge.

But, despite all the remarks about the royal couple, Katie Nicholl shared in the same interview that Kate Middleton still had the “last laugh.” Apart from having Prince William, they, also, had a “secret pact” about tying the knot as early as 2007.

The expert claimed that no one knew about the pact, noting that the pair are “very good at keeping secrets.” She, then, pointed out that the two personalities made it after getting back together for the second time.

The same publication, later on, added that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wanted to be “absolutely sure” about entering a marriage. Moreover, the royal-born Prince reportedly knew that he had to complete his military training as a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot before he could marry his then-girlfriend.

In November 2010, Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement before the public. They consequently revealed that the proposal took place a month earlier.

In an official interview that they did regarding their engagement, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stated that it happened during a trip to Kenya, alongside friends. The royal-born Prince believed it was the “right time” before saying that they had been talking about marriage for a while, so it was not a “massively big surprise.”

The royal couple tied the knot in 2011 and officially became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.