Duke, Duchess and George of Cambridge

Duke, Duchess and George of Cambridge

Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly knew each other before university.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine were initially thought to have met while studying at St. Andrews University, but it is now believed the couple first stumbled across each other while at sixth form with the help of mutual friends, according to royal biographer Katie Nicholl.

Speaking in an interview with US TV host Katie Couri, Katie - who is researching for her book 'Kate: The Future Queen' - said: "This was really fascinating for me. I was speaking to some of her [Duchess Catherine] friends at Marlborough College, which was where she went before St Andrews, and they said, 'Uh uh, she didn't meet him at St Andrews. She met him before she got there... through some of her friends. They knew Prince William and Prince Harry'."

Katie said she thought it was "interesting" after gathering new information that the Duchess - who was known as Kate Middleton before she married William in 2011 - decided to pursue her education at the Scottish university as she had originally applied to Edinburgh University.

However, Catherine declined the place at Edinburgh, took a gap year and then applied to St Andrews following the announcement that the Duke would be studying there.

Katie said: "It was a big risk - applicants to St Andrews had shot up by nearly 50 percent when the Palace announced that Prince William was going there."

The couple confirmed they were dating in 2004, but briefly split in 2007, before going on to tie the knot in 2011 and, most recently, in July of this year, welcome their son Prince George into the world.