He may be the future King… but she made sure the world knew he was the lucky one.

In November 2010, when Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William sat down for their first official joint interview following their engagement, the world saw something refreshingly modern: not just a future king and queen consort, but a young couple still capable of teasing one another like university sweethearts.

The interview, conducted by Tom Bradby and broadcast on ITV, came shortly after their engagement was announced by Clarence House. Anticipation was enormous. This was the woman who had quietly stood beside William for nearly a decade — enduring intense media scrutiny, a brief public breakup, and the pressure that comes with dating the future monarch of the United Kingdom.

Yet what unfolded on screen felt far from stiff or rehearsed.

Seated side by side, their body language spoke volumes. William leaned slightly toward Catherine, protective but relaxed. Catherine, poised in a now-iconic sapphire blue dress, appeared calm yet visibly excited. There was laughter, shared glances, and the kind of comfortable rhythm that only comes from years of shared experience.

When the conversation turned to how their romance began at the University of St Andrews, both smiled knowingly. They had met as students in Scotland in 2001, initially as friends. Catherine admitted she was shy at first — even blushing when she realized who William was. It wasn’t a dramatic, fairy-tale beginning. There were no instant fireworks, no royal proclamations. Instead, there was friendship, shared lectures, supermarket trips, and the ordinary rituals of student life.

And perhaps that ordinariness is what made their bond so resilient.

Midway through the interview, as Bradby gently probed their dynamic as a couple — who supports whom, who brings what to the relationship — the moment came that would quietly charm viewers around the world.

With a playful smile and unmistakable confidence, Catherine remarked that William was “very lucky to have me.”

It was said lightly, almost mischievously — the kind of line delivered with a raised eyebrow and a sparkle in the eye. There was no arrogance in it. Instead, it revealed something far more telling: comfort. Security. Equality.

William’s reaction was immediate. He laughed, nodding in agreement, clearly amused and perhaps even a little impressed by her boldness. There was no awkwardness, no attempt to reclaim royal gravity. Instead, he leaned into the joke, reinforcing what had become clear throughout the interview — this was not a one-sided fairy tale. This was a partnership.

For royal watchers, the comment was significant. For centuries, royal brides were often portrayed as the “lucky” ones — chosen, elevated, granted entry into a rarefied world. Catherine’s remark subtly flipped that narrative. Here was a future queen consort confident enough to suggest that the heir to the throne was fortunate, too.

And in many ways, he was.

By 2010, Catherine had already weathered the storm that comes with loving a prince. She had been chased by paparazzi, scrutinized for her career choices, and dissected in tabloids that questioned everything from her wardrobe to her intentions. Through it all, she maintained composure. No public complaints. No dramatic interviews. Just quiet endurance.

During the interview, William acknowledged this strength. He spoke about Catherine’s grounding presence, how she kept him balanced, and how important she had been during difficult periods in his life. There was genuine warmth in his voice, particularly when referencing the loss of his mother and the importance of building a stable, loving future.

The “lucky” comment, therefore, was more than playful banter. It symbolized mutual respect. Catherine was not entering the Royal Family as a passive figure; she was stepping in as a steady, self-assured woman who understood the magnitude of the role ahead.

Observers also noted the natural chemistry between them. They interrupted each other gently. They shared private jokes. When one stumbled slightly over words, the other filled in seamlessly. It felt less like a formal announcement and more like a glimpse into their living room.

Even their engagement story — involving the iconic sapphire ring that once belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales — was told with an air of intimacy. William described carrying the ring in his backpack for weeks during a trip to Kenya, waiting for the perfect moment. Catherine listened with visible emotion, her expression softening at the mention of Diana.

That blend of history and modern romance defined the interview. Tradition met informality. Duty met affection.

In retrospect, the brief, joking claim that William was lucky encapsulated much of what has come to define their public image in the years since. Their marriage has consistently been presented as a partnership rooted in friendship. They appear to consult one another, support one another’s initiatives, and share parenting responsibilities in a way that feels contemporary rather than ceremonial.

The interview marked a turning point not just for them personally, but for the monarchy’s public tone. Gone was the distant, formal stiffness of earlier eras. In its place was relatability.

And perhaps that is why that lighthearted moment endures. It wasn’t scripted grandeur or constitutional gravity that captured hearts. It was a simple exchange between two people clearly in love — a future king laughing as his fiancée confidently teased him on national television.

In that instant, viewers weren’t just watching history unfold. They were witnessing something more human: a woman secure enough to joke that a prince was lucky — and a prince secure enough to agree.

See the full interview below: