Carole Middleton played pivotal role after Princess Kate heartbreak

Royal commentator Robert Jobson has detailed the Prince and Princess of Wales's dating history in his new biography, Catherine, Princess of Wales.

He wrote: "As Catherine approached her 25th birthday in January 2007, [William] unexpectedly cancelled plans to attend a New Year gathering in Dundee, arranged by the Middletons.

"She sensed something was wrong. It certainly wasn't helping that newspapers were confidently predicting a royal engagement.

"Soon afterwards, seemingly out of the blue, William — now a 2nd Lieutenant in the Blues and Royals — telephoned her to suggest that they split up. He told her they both needed 'a bit of space' to 'find our own way', and he was unable to promise her marriage.

"In an emotionally charged 30-minute conversation, they both acknowledged they were on 'different pages'.It was a devastating blow to Catherine, who felt doubly let down at being dumped over the phone.

"Though it wasn't the first time William had called time on their relationship, it felt final."

According to Jobson, it was Carole Middleton, Princess Kate's mother, who helped the future Queen during her heartache.

He continued: "Carole Middleton acted swiftly, taking her heartbroken daughter for a break in Dublin — a welcome respite from media scrutiny.

"William, of course, simply got drunk at Mahiki and started yelling about being 'free'.

"On Catherine's return, she decided she wasn't going to sit around moping; what was good for the goose was good for the gander.

ROYAL LATEST:

• Zara and Mike set to 'decline summer holiday with King Charles'
• Kate taking helicopter with children sparked 'tense clash' between Charles and William
• King set to hold crunch talks for decade ahead without Harry and Meghan

"She turned to old friends for support, going on holiday with a girlfriend to Ibiza. They partied long into the night.

"Back in London, there were soon so many paparazzi shots of Catherine leaving nightclubs — often with her sister Pippa — that the media dubbed them the 'Sizzler Sisters'."

The Prince and Princess of Wales rekindled their romance at their mutual friend Sam Waley-Cohen's fancy-dress party.

The press got wind of the couple's reunion at a charity pop concert, held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana's death, as Kate sat two rows behind William.

Five years later, Prince William and Kate tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London.