Now that she's ready to marry a royal and take part in the wedding of the decade, $10 million might seem like small change. But Kate Middleton's loyalty to Prince William came at an astronomical cost.

While the golden couple is all smiles these days and poised to become husband and wife in front of a worldwide audience on April 29, their relationship hit a serious roadblock three years ago and they parted ways for several months.

Within days of the split, Kate was inundated with offers to sell her story and reveal the most detailed insight yet into the life of the future king of England. Television, book, and magazine deals came flooding in, yet Kate steadfastly refused to entertain any of them, turning her back on a fortune in the process.