Prince William and Kate Middleton are such a glorious royal couple that it is hard to remember a time when they were not married. But a decade before they married in 2011, they were just college buddies in St. Andrews, Scotland, studying history, going to parties, and helping each other with their social lives. Kate even had a cheeky trick to get William off the hook when a girl picked on him, according to the Mirror.

According to Laura Wershauer, a friend of the two who interviewed royal expert Katie Nicole for her book Kate: The Future Queen (opens in new tab), Kate had a quiet confidence that was unique to her around William, even in college. The friend recounted one incident she remembers vividly: "Will was being hit on so hard by a girl at a party, and he couldn't shake her off, he was so uncomfortable. He was being really polite, but the girl didn't get the hint," said Walshauer. That's when Kate interrupted. "All of a sudden Kate came up behind him and put her arm around him. He said, 'Oh, I'm sorry, but I have a girlfriend,' and he and Kate giggled and left."

It would not have been easy to be such a famous bachelor in college, but according to Walshauer, William was so grateful that he mouthed "thank you so much" to her after the event." Kate was the only girl in that room who could do that. And that was just a month into college," says Walshauer.

Of course, we know what happened next: Kate and William then became more than friends and began dating quietly while still in school; after a brief breakup in 2007, they got back together, married, had three children, and generally exemplified a healthy public relationship.

And I think it all started with a college party.