Prince William was 'falling in love' with Camilla's niece before he met Kate

He may now be happily married to Kate Middleton and have three adorable children, but way back when Prince William was 17, he apparently had a massive crush on Camilla Parker Bowles’ niece.

Emma Parker Bowles was 25 at the time and the young prince is said to have become infatuated with the journalist and TV presenter.

“He was looking lovingly at Emma and she was hanging on his every word,” a source told the Sunday People in 1999.

"Sometimes he gazes at her so adoringly that it becomes a bit embarrassing.

“He looks every inch a young man who is falling in love."

Fast-forward to just four years later and Prince William spotted Kate Middleton while they were both studying at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland.

Within months they were reportedly inseparable and in 2006, they attended Camilla’s daughter, Laura Parker Bowles’, wedding together - where they would no doubt have come face-to-face with Emma Parker Bowles.

William dropped to one knee in October 2010 and popped the question to Kate while they were on a trip to Kenya together.

Days later the pair were pictured in Buckingham Palace beaming for photographers, with Kate wearing Princess Diana’s famous sapphire engagement ring.

In 2011, they wed in a lavish Westminster Abbey wedding, with some of the world’s biggest dignitaries and celebrities in attendance.

Just last year, the pair welcomed their third child together and appear to have a blissfully happy marriage.

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