Their famous partners could not be more different - one is in training to be a future king, while the other is the first British male to win Wimbledon since the 1930s. But the lives of Kim Sears, 26, and the Duchess of Cambridge, 32, have taken a remarkably similar path since the early Noughties. Yesterday, after nine years together, Kim and Andy Murray, 27, announced their engagement. Scroll down for video Tennis star Andy Murray has proposed to his girlfriend of nine years Kim Sears (left). The 26-year-old and the Duchess of Cambridge (right) have followed similar path in their adult lives, including long courtships before getting engaged to famous men. Like Kate, Kim has had a style transformation into a fashion icon
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Kim Sears and the Duchess of Cambridge have followed similar paths
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Both women had long courtships before getting engaged to famous men
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Judy Murray claims independent Kim is 'Best thing to happen to Andy'
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Straight A's student shuns the limelight and has forged career as an artist
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Like Kate, Kim has had a style transformation into a fashion icon
Much like with Kate, regular press reports questioned how long Kim would wait to get a ring on her finger, despite repeated affirmations from the couple that @placeholder was focusing on choosing her career path.