Why William and Kate didn't sign a prenup when they got married
![Prince William and Kate Middleton](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLRzD5GRqP6LuAdbyacQk4-415-80.png)
The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary this year, but since they tied the knot in 2011 many details about their big day have become public - and it seems that they chose to forgo a number of royal traditions to make the day their own. As well as creating their own wedding guest list, Kate reportedly shocked the late Queen Elizabeth II by doing her own make-up and they also broke protocol on their wedding night.
However, one thing that surprised many royal fans is that William and Kate decided against signing a prenup. While it isn't something that many royals have been publicly known to do in the past - the late Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson didn't sign prenups when they married into the royal family - one of Diana's former private secretaries, Patrick Jephson, commented on the idea that conversations could be happening within the royal household. When William and Kate announced their engagement in November 2010, Jephson said: "If she was my sister, I'd tell her to get a good prenup... Kate's not just going into a marriage, she's going into a business."
In response, insiders claimed that such discussions weren't taking place at all, and they refuted claims that William had 'refused' to sign one despite being advised to by those in his circle. In fact, they denied that William rejected the idea of a prenup because it was never considered in the first place. One royal source told the Daily Mail at the time: "For him to refuse, it would have had to have been suggested to him by someone and it was not. There is no prenuptial agreement in place for this wedding."
Several royal couples have navigated divorce, including Princess Diana and the then-Prince Charles, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. While the Duchess of York was given a £15,000 yearly payment from her ex-husband following their divorce in 1996, Diana's legal team secured her a £17 million payout.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Jadie Troy-Pryde is News Editor, covering celebrity and entertainment, royal, lifestyle and viral news. Before joining the team in 2018 as the Lifestyle and Social Media Editor, she worked at a number of women’s fashion and lifestyle titles including Grazia, Women’s Health and Stylist, and now heads the Marie Claire UK news desk.
-
It's official: these are the 100+ most sustainable brands in the world for 2024, according to experts
Meet the winners of this year's Marie Claire UK Sustainability Awards.
By Anna Bartter
-
Yes, travelling more sustainably is possible – and our 2024 Sustainability Award winners make it that bit easier
Meet the best eco-friendly travel and lifestyle brands to have on your radar.
By Anna Bartter
-
Keen to eat more sustainably but not sure where to start? Meet the food and drink brands going to extra mile for people and planet
Meet the brands leading the charge for planet-friendly food and drink
By Anna Bartter
-
How Princess Kate will change royal history when she becomes Queen
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Princess Kate's surprising comments about becoming Queen have resurfaced
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
The reason why William and Kate 'refused' to move to Frogmore Cottage
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Princess Kate had 'very clear' rules for the King regarding her children's upbringing
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Why Prince Harry 'pushes William's buttons' when it comes to Princess Kate
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
This important event was the last time William and Harry spoke, apparently
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Kate contacted Meghan to 'clear the air' after royal book controversy
She wanted to 'clear the air'
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
There's a reason Prince William has grown a beard, body language expert claims
It's pretty symbolic
By Iris Goldsztajn