There is exactly one scenario when it’s ok to last 11.5 years from talking to wedding and it’s when you start out as middle school/high school sweethearts. And even then the talking stage should/could be interpreted as “holding hands/kissing but no sex”.
Amal’s 41, the ex was in her 20s at the time. Believe it or not, sometimes men start liking older women as they age. Also they’re not so much more/less atractive than each other as they different kinds of attractive.