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Kate Middleton was left devastated when Prince William ended their five-year relationship in a phone call while she was at work in 2007. But the future Duchess of Cambridge did not let the heartbreak stop her from living her life to the fullest.
Kate, who was 25 at the time, was working as a fashion buyer for Jigsaw when she received the shocking news from William, who was pursuing his career in the military.
According to author Tina Brown, who wrote the best-selling Palace Papers, Kate had to excuse herself from a meeting and pace around the parking lot of the Jigsaw headquarters for an hour-long heart-to-heart that left her in pieces.
She was given compassionate leave by her employer and fled back to her family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, where her mother Carole was on hand to comfort her.
Carole whisked Kate off to a friend's art show in Dublin, where she mingled with celebrities and enjoyed the Irish hospitality.
On their return, Kate resumed her work for her parents' company, Party Pieces, compiling and editing catalogues for the online party supplies business.
She also enlisted the help of her younger sister Pippa, who had recently graduated from Edinburgh University, to get her out on the town and have some fun.
The sisters were spotted at various social events, wearing thigh-high dresses and skirts that showed off their toned legs and exuding the vibes of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", as Brown put it.
Kate also joined an all-women rowing team called The Sisterhood, who challenged an all-boy's team called The Brotherhood to race across the Channel in a dragon boat for charity.
Kate, who was the coxswain of the team, cut a striking figure as she steered the boat and cheered on her teammates during their training sessions on the River Thames.
She also showed off her athletic prowess by taking part in a roller disco charity event, where she wore a green sequined dress and yellow knee-high socks.
Kate's confident and carefree attitude soon caught the attention of the media and the public, who admired her resilience and grace in the face of a painful break-up.
It also made William realise what he was missing, and he soon reached out to Kate to rekindle their romance.
The couple got back together in June 2007, after a brief separation of two months, and went on to marry in 2011 and have three children.
Kate's story is a testament to her strength and determination, as well as her loyalty and love for William.
She proved that she could handle the pressures and challenges of being in the royal spotlight, and that she was more than ready to be his partner for life.
