Engagement rumours surround Prince William and Kate Middleton

Monday, October 15, 2007

Was Kate Middleton hunting for a fiance this weekend? The on-again, off-again girlfriend of Prince William is definitely on again and has sparked rumours of a royal engagement after she was photographed on a hunting trip alongside Prince Charles.

British newspapers were buzzing with engagement reports after photos were published yesterday (Oct. 14) showing Middleton clad in a camouflage jacket and lying on her stomach aiming a rifle during a stag hunting expedition at the royal family’s Balmoral estate.

The Sunday Times said the pictures indicate Middleton’s “induction into the royal family appears to have stepped up a notch,” while the News of World noted, “For Kate to be invited to join the party is an honour, especially with Prince Charles in charge, and it means her relationship with Wills has reached another stage.”

Royal watcher and author Christopher Wilson tells the Sunday Mail the couple is headed for an engagement, but not until the new year.

“We can’t expect to see anything happening until the inquest into the death of Diana is over and the dust settles,” says Wilson. “But I think it is a case of when and not if they will get engaged.”

What the hell - what does it take for them to figure out the danger - idiots

here is the story

By JILL LAWLESS

The Associated Press
Friday, October 5, 2007; 4:05 PM

LONDON — Paparazzi aggressively pursued Prince William and his girlfriend early Friday as they left a nightclub, following them by car through the streets of London after photographing the couple, the prince’s spokesman said.

The chase came just days after the start of an inquiry into his mother’s death in a 1997 car crash after being pursued by photographers.

British newspapers on Friday ran pictures of William and Kate Middleton, both 25, in a car after leaving a London nightclub in the early hours. “Threatening” paparazzi then chased the couple in their car, Paddy Harverson said.

“Having already been photographed leaving the club, he and Kate Middleton were then pursued in his car by photographers on motorcycles, in vehicles and on foot. The aggressive pursuit was potentially dangerous and worrying for them,” Harverson said.

The photos of the couple were published in the same week as pictures of William’s mother, Princess Diana, leaving the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1997, as part of the inquest into her death. The inquiry is charged with determining how Diana came to die with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed in a car crash while being pursued by paparazzi.

Harverson said it “seems incomprehensible, particularly at this time, that this behavior is still going on.”

The matter has been raised with the Press Complaints Commission, Harverson said. In a statement, the commission reminded editors that it was “of the utmost importance not to use photographs which have been taken in a manner that may have compromised the safety of individuals, which may include pursuit in vehicles.”

William and Middleton met at St. Andrews University in Scotland and dated for several years, but announced their split in April as speculation swirled that they were about to marry. Middleton had been pursued by photographers outside her London home and nightclubs in scenes that drew comparisons to the coverage of Diana.

Newspapers reported this summer that the pair had rekindled their romance.

There’s some interesting news from Katie Nicholl in the MoS concerning the movements of Kate Middleton and Prince William. Their under-the-radar love affair is set to come back into the spotlight as William plans to take her to Balmoral in October to meet the Queen and Prince Philip.Katie writes, “Until now Kate has enjoyed a warm welcome from the Monarch but their next meeting could be frostier.”

I wonder. Would William subject his long-term girlfriend to a painful encounter with his grandmother if he knew she would meet with froideur and an unfriendly welcome? It would be embarrassing to everyone and doesn’t ring true to me.

More likely though, the MoS says, “While I’m told there is to be no engagement announcement for the foreseeable future, they are very much an item again and have already planned another romantic retreat.”

A friend is quoted as saying, “William said the Seychelles holiday with Kate was perfect because it was just the two of them. It went so well they have planned another short trip to Scotland. William was originally going to take a group of friends stag-shooting to Balmoral, but he’s decided he wants to have some time with Kate. They are very much in love and want to enjoy their relationship out of the spotlight before they go public again.”

That sounds like smart thinking. They really need to firm up on their future before coming out in public again.

From http://www.royalanecdotes.com/

It won’t be the tell-all book about his relationship with Kate Middleton that everyone is dying to read, but it will probably end up on the best seller’s list none-the-less.

Prince William has decided to write a tribute book to his mother, the late Princess of Wales, following the success of this summer’s Concert for Diana. The book will include many unseen photos of Diana from her early years, as well as recollections from former friends.

From http://www.theinternetforum.co.uk

June 2007

Following their April split after dating for five years, Prince William and former girlfriend Kate Middleton have resumed their relationship, according to widespread coverage in British newspapers.

Per custom, a spokeswoman for William’s Clarence House office declined comment on the stories. “We don’t discuss William’s private life, it’s a matter for him,” she said.

To further fuel this news - Prince William and Kate met in the Seychelles for a romantic getaway in the middle of August.  They stayed at the island’s only hotel and enjoyed some snorkeling while they were there.

British heir Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton have ended their high profile relationship, according to reports. The pair met while at university together in St Andrews, Scotland in 2001 and were expected to announce their engagement this year

Kate’s traded up her car  to a Audi A3 hatch-back.   How this can cause speculation that she’s closer to marrying Prince William is beyond me.  I don’t see the connection.  To me it just means that she wanted a better car!

A car like Kate’s new one

Britain sending Prince Harry to Iraq
Harry, 22, gets his wish to join the soldiers under his command
New York Times

LONDON — Britain made headlines on Wednesday by saying it would bring some troops home from southern Iraq. On Thursday, it made even more waves here by saying it would send one soldier in the opposite direction: Prince Harry, second son of Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and third in line to the throne.

Apart from being known as something of a playboy prince, Harry, 22, is a soldier, a second lieutenant in the upper-crust Blues and Royals Regiment of the Household Cavalry, who graduated from the Sandhurst military academy last year. Despite fears among his official handlers that he would be a “bullet magnet” in Iraq, he has long insisted that he would not countenance the idea of the soldiers under his command in an armored reconnaissance unit going without him.

“There’s no way I’m going to put myself through Sandhurst, and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country,” he once said.

On Thursday, he got his wish.

“His Royal Highness Prince Harry will deploy to Iraq later this year,” the Defense Ministry and the prince’s own office announced jointly in a statement that clearly reflected his superiors’ worries that his presence could draw fire on him and those serving with him. Military planners also have expressed concern that he could be kidnapped.

The prince’s brother, Prince William, 24, is a member of the same Blues and Royals Regiment. William is unlikely to be deployed in combat because, as second in line to the throne after his father, it would be too precarious.

The Defense Ministry said the prince’s deployment would be part of a rotation in May or June — after Britain begins to reduce its troops in southern Iraq to 5,500 from 7,100, as announced Wednesday.

A normal tour would be six months.

Prince Harry’s duties would be to lead “a troop of 12 men in four Scimitar armed reconnaissance vehicles, each with a crew of three.” The Evening Standard reported that special forces would be deployed to protect him.

The Daily Mail reported this week that Harry had told the military brass that he would quit the army if he were left behind.

Poor Kate has been hounded, she’s had to hire security - and she’s not officially a member of the royal family!   Is it worth it?  Mohamed Al Fayed seems to think not - Read this blog http://theinternetforum.co.uk/node/2157 to find out more about his opinions on the press and harassment.

The Prince was born into a family that had cameras, gossip, and speculation at every turn.  He was raised to smile at the camera, and ‘handle’ the press.  Someone that marries into that family CHOOSES to have that life.  Can they ever really understand or be prepared for it?  Would you like to live under a magnifying glass? What would make it worth it to you?

 Heck - I wanted to be a princess when I grew up - but I never though much beyond getting to wear pretty ballgowns and a tiara. 

What do you think?

Kate Middleton tops natural beauties - Feb 19 2007
Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton has topped a poll of natural beauties.

The 25-year-old’s English rose looks and understated fashion sense earned her first place - but Prince Harry’s glamorous other half Chelsy Davy did not feature in the top 10 at all.

Charlotte Church came second. The former Voice of an Angel has refused to diet herself down, insisting she’s happy with her curves.

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer was third, followed by Kate Moss, still a beauty despite her party-loving lifestyle.

Catherine Zeta Jones was fifth, followed by Keira Knightley - and Victoria Beckham made a surprise entry at number 10.

The survey, commissioned by Fox’s biscuits to promote its new Naturally Fox’s range, asked 1,000 people to rate the most naturally attractive celebrities.

The majority of men surveyed said they preferred women to go natural rather than adopt the plastic Hollywood look.

Surgically-enhanced glamour girl Jordan topped their list of the least natural celebrities, followed by Abi Titmuss, Paris Hilton, Jade Goody and Jodie Marsh.

Francesca Davies, Fox’s innovations manager, said: “These findings finally dispel the myth that all men are attracted to plastically enhanced women, which is a great relief for all the ’natural’ women out there!

“Kate Middleton is a true natural beauty whether in designer or high street wear.”

Top 10 Natural Beauties

1 Kate Middleton
2 Charlotte Church
3 Claudia Schiffer
4 Kate Moss
5 Catherine Zeta Jones
6 Keira Knightley
7 Gwyneth Paltrow
8 Scarlett Johansson
9 Beyonce
10 Victoria Beckham