This is the surprising place where Kate Middleton went after her and Prince William’s 2007 break up

And we get it.

Kate Middleton and Prince William pose at their engagement photocall in 2010
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Kate Middleton and Prince William are one of the most talked about couples in the world, from their happy (and low-key) family life with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, to their major role elevation to Prince and Princess of Wales. 

It is their happy marriage that gets the world talking about the Prince and Princess of Wales the most, with the couple celebrating their 12th wedding anniversary earlier this year. 

With the couple appearing so happy, it's hard to remember that there ever were rocky patches. In 2007 however, Kate and Wills briefly broke up, with Kate even leaving the country to process the split.

But where did she go? 

Well, according to The Express, the now Princess of Wales jetted off to Dublin with her mum, Carole Middleton, and a group of friends for a cultural (and relaxing) break.

"We were both very young," Prince William explained of the split in their 2010 engagement video interview. "It was at university, we were sort of both finding ourselves as such and being different characters and stuff, it was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up."

He continued: "It was just sort of a bit of space and a bit of things like that, and it worked out for the better."

Kate certainly seemed to agree, explaining, "I think at the time I wasn't very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person."

Then going on to normalise break ups, Kate added, "You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realised, or I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me as well although I didn't think it at the time. Looking back on it."

Luckily, it is a thing of the past and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children seem happier than ever!

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.