THE ROYAL COUPLE HAVE NAVIGATED LIFE'S OBSTACLES WITH GRACE, HUMOR AND RESILIENCE

On their 14th wedding anniversary, Prince William and Kate Middleton stayed overnight at a small, remote cottage with stunning views on the Scottish Isle of Mull. “Wonderful to be back,” they posted on Instagram, along with a photo of themselves with their arms wrapped around each other. “Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome.”

Their working vacation marked the first time the royal couple have done a joint official trip since Kate’s cancer went into remission. The parents of three have expressed gratitude that their lives are back to normal, but experts note that the difficulties of the past few years have changed their marriage for the better.

“They’ve gone through some exceptionally tough times, particularly recently,” longtime BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells Closer. “But I think that has made their marriage even stronger. We see them out and about in public, touching one another tenderly and sharing private jokes. They laugh a lot.”

Spending their anniversary in Scotland has special meaning for the couple, who met there as undergraduates at the University of St Andrews. Back then, they often snuck away for long weekends at private cottages on the royal family’s Scottish estate, Balmoral. “They kind of grew up together at university — as all undergraduates do,” says Bond, who adds that having been friends first created a solid foundation for their marriage. “They spent almost 10 years together before marrying,” she says. “I think it is that strong friendship and understanding that has kept them so united through thick and thin.”