Why are people making viral fan camera edits of Kate and William?

Prince William and then Katherine Middleton were the stars of the early 2000s, with paparazzi following their every move.

Early morning taxi rides back from clubs in Chelsea, watching the polo together and generally enjoying their early twenties in London, the young couple were hard to miss.

Now, almost 20 years after their nights out began gracing front pages, it seems a new generation has fallen in love with William and Kate.

‘POV: you were both the IT couple in the 2000s,’ TikTok account willyandcath posted, paired with footage of Wills and Kate in their glory days.

Their graduation at St Andrew’s, William’s time at a military academy, cameras flashing as they walked into a black cab late at night – all set to the song ‘Paparazzi’ by Lady Gaga.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are TikTok famous, twenty years after their ‘prime’. But why?

Why are these videos going viral?

Psychologist Dr Halley Pontes, whose research focuses on social media addiction, told Metro: ‘People often romanticise the past on social media because memory itself is biased and naturally highlights the good and downplays the bad.

‘This happens because the way our minds work, for example, the ‘rosy retrospection’ effect explains why sometimes past events can seem nicer than they actually were, while the “fading affect bias” explains why negative feelings fade faster than positive ones.

‘Social media platforms such as TikTok, for example, can amplify these effects and biases by allowing users to select more nostalgic clips carefully and create fan cams that feel comforting and fun.

‘Sharing these fan cams not only makes people feel good but can also help people express their identity more easily, signalling a connection to others who share their nostalgia for specific events or times, such as the early 2000s. So all in all, romanticising the past can help people feel happier, more connected with others, and also part of a group, which is important, especially when the present feels difficult.’

Dr Pontes also said the increased focus on Prince William and Princess Kate’s early relationship on social media might be because it offers an interesting mix of nostalgia, romance, and celebrity appeal.

He said: ‘There is something to be said about how existing memories from their university days, casual outings, and candid paparazzi shots can be quite appealing to some people because they convey highly relatable, human moments rather than formal royal events.’

‘Social media can indeed contribute to this increased interest we are seeing by being a vehicle that encourages users to curate and share fan cams featuring these rare and comforting moments. Watching and sharing these videos can not only make people feel good but also create a sense of belonging among fans who enjoy following their relatable yet fairy-tale-like love story,’ he added.

What is our obsession with celebrity couples?

Dr Pontes said these fan cam edits aren’t just a ‘modern twist’ on a celebrity fandom – it can also be used to escape from current difficulties today.

‘When life feels complicated or uncertain, revisiting simpler, seemingly happier times can offer some level of comfort, improving overall mood,’ he said.

‘Social media makes this easier by providing carefully curated, comforting glimpses of the past. So when social media users focus on relatable moments of famous figures from earlier eras, they may briefly step away from present difficulties, finding connection and reassurance.

‘So I think this nostalgia trend is partly a new way of enjoying celebrities, but importantly, it can also be framed as a form of emotional relief and coping strategy for difficult moments by helping people turn toward familiar, comforting memories in order to make them feel good,’ he added.

It seems our love affair with royal couples isn’t going away.

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