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THEY may have been married for 13 years today, but Prince William has “never been more protective” of Kate Middleton, according to an expert.

Former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond revealed that the Prince of Wales is “stubborn” when it comes to his family and caring for his wife.

Today marks 13 years since the Prince and Princess of Wales tied the knot
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Today marks 13 years since the Prince and Princess of Wales tied the knotCredit: Getty
Royal expert Jennie Bond claimed the couple's marriage remains 'solid'
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Royal expert Jennie Bond claimed the couple's marriage remains 'solid'Credit: AFP

Millions tuned in as Prince William married his university sweetheart Kate at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

The couple have since welcomed three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, six.

Jennie told Fabulous that they remain a “strong couple”, and William is devoted to “best friend” Kate and her health, following her shock cancer diagnosis.

She said: “William has never been more protective of his wife and children as now. 

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“He is taking special care to prioritise her health and the welfare of his young family, even in the face of some people saying he should be taking on more public engagements. 

“William can be stubborn, and perhaps never more so than when it comes to his family and their privacy.

“I think it’s a great tribute to Catherine, and their love, that he is utterly focused on her welfare. 

“They must both have reflected on those wedding vows especially the words ‘in sickness and in health.’

“It is often the hard times that make a marriage even stronger. 

“They could never have imagined that they would be marking this anniversary with Catherine in the middle of chemotherapy. 

Prince William returns to public engagements for the first time since the Princess of Wales revealed she was being treated for cancer

“But I suspect that William will make even more of a fuss of his wife - in a low key way - than ever before.”

Jennie added of their relationship: “She is his rock, his lynchpin and his best friend. 

“And their marriage is a solid one and well worth a little celebration.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to be celebrating their wedding anniversary privately.

William can be stubborn, and perhaps never more so than when it comes to his family and their privacy

Jennie BondFormer BBC's Royal Correspondent

However, Jennie said that William could have a special present planned for Kate to mark the occasion.

The royal expert shared: “I don’t suppose many people these days take much notice of traditional gifts, but the 13th wedding anniversary is called lace. 

“It is said to symbolise the intricate beauty of the relationship and the special care it needs to keep it intact, and that seems particularly apt this year for William and Catherine.”

It comes after an adorable photo of Prince Louis taken by Princess Kate has been shared on Tuesday to celebrate his sixth birthday.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding

April 29, 2011 marked the day that Kate and William got married.

They tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London in a televised event which was watched by millions all over the world.

Prince Harry served as his brother's best man, with both of them dressing in traditional military uniforms.

Kate, meanwhile wore a French Chantily and English Cluny lace Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton gown.

Kate later changed into a second white strapless evening gown for a dinner hosted by Prince Charles with roughly 300 guests in attendance.

The cute snap, which is understood to be unedited, was taken by Kate at Windsor in the last week to mark Louis's special day.

Kate and William first met while studying art history at St Andrew’s University, where the Prince fell head over heels for Kate during a charity fashion show she was modelling in.

During their second year, the pair become roommates - the point at which William said their relationship “blossomed”. 

In October 2010, it was announced that Kate and William were engaged following a proposal in Kenya.

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The loved-up Prince said at the time: "We had a little private time away together with some friends, and I just decided it was the right time, really.

"We’d been talking about marriage for a while, so it wasn’t a massively big surprise, but I took her up somewhere nice in Kenya."

Jennie claims Kate is William's 'rock' and 'lynchpin'
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Jennie claims Kate is William's 'rock' and 'lynchpin'Credit: Getty
Kate and William first met while studying art history at St Andrew’s University
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Kate and William first met while studying art history at St Andrew’s UniversityCredit: Publicity - Getty
Millions tuned in as Prince William married his university sweetheart Kate at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011
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Millions tuned in as Prince William married his university sweetheart Kate at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011Credit: AFP
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