Kate Middleton and Prince William went to marriage counseling

When William, Prince of Wales, and Kate, Princess of Wales, married in 2011, they did so in a ceremony like no other: at Westminster Abbey, with Kate dressed in a custom-made wedding gown, a horse-drawn carriage ride to Buckingham Palace, and millions of onlookers around the world.

But in some ways, their wedding was like anyone else’s: Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding had a few hiccups, and they were both very nervous about the big day. What probably calmed some of those nerves, at least when it came to thinking about their marriage beyond the wedding day, was that they went to marriage counseling together.

Before they were married, palace officials confirmed that Kate and William had met with the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury for counseling. Both were part of the wedding ceremony, with the bishop preaching a sermon and the archbishop officiating.

The Church of England, where Kate was confirmed a couple of months before the wedding, suggests on their website that couples talk to their church leaders about what their marriage vows really mean and how to live them out in what they call “marriage preparation” or “marriage discussion.”

Since the sessions were confidential, we don’t know exactly what Kate Middleton and Prince William talked about, but we do know that premarital couples therapy has many advantages. It can help uncover potential problems that may arise in marriage, as well as offer spouses better ways to communicate with each other and solve problems together.

However, something unique about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s situation that likely came up with their marriage counselor is how their relationship would be very much in the public eye, considering William’s position as the future king of England.

Navigating their life as a married couple would face more public scrutiny than almost any other couple on the planet, and so far, it seems their bond is as strong as ever. We don’t know if this is due to marriage counseling, but it certainly won’t have hurt them.