Imminent Engagement Announcement for Kate Middleton?
After six police officers escorted Kate Middleton to her job at Jigsaw Fashion House yesterday, 10 officers were called to escort her from a London nightclub early today.
The force arrived in two vans and formed a police cordon to shield her from a pack of waiting paperazzi. There are increasing concerns for her safety as her every move is tracked by scores of opportunist photographers jostling for the scoop picture that will sell for thousands around the world.
Yesterday, four officers stood guard outside her Chelsea home. Since ordinary members of the public are not entitled to police protection, it seems clear that the escalation is due to some as yet unannounced factor.
It could only be an imminent engagement to Prince William. Should that occur, a 2007 wedding is almost certainly on the cards.
And the first Royal Anecdotes prediction of the year will have proved true.
John correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t the police discreetly trail Diana and Sarah just before the official engagements were announced?
By Trudie on January 5th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Yes, Trudie, when an engagement has been decided on, but not yet announced, the police treat the person involved as already engaged. That means they give the game away, of course. So now we know.
By John on January 5th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Well done, John! This is good news and I am eagerly awaiting the engagement announcement! Will the fellow who gave Kate the parking ticket henceforth be hanging by his heels in a dungeon or is that too medieval to contemplate?
By Gigi on January 5th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Frankly, Gigi, that guy should be hanged, drawn and quartered for grandstanding in front of the cameras.
By John on January 5th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
I am ready for an engagement. Enough of this back and forth, will they or won’t they stuff! But isn’t it just a little bit of a coincidence that Kate suddenly has a fleet of officer protection the day after she gets a parking ticket?
By Elizabeth on January 5th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I admit the timing is extremely interesting. My guess is that the Palace intended to upgrade Kate’s security but didn’t get on the ball until a day too late. Or, it is also a possibility that during the same day when Kate was given that ridiculous parking ticket, Prince William said “Ok, let’s go forward with the engagement announcement” and that decision activated the upgraded security. I am with Elizabeth, I just want to hear that Prince William and Kate are truly engaged and that the wedding is being planned. All this “will he and when, time and again” is giving me an irregular heartbeat and sleepless nights! “)
By Gigi on January 5th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I think the timing is less related to the fact that she got the ticket than the level of media scrutiny that the pictures taken of her while getting the ticket imply. If you look at the pictures on the wire, there appears to be a fairly large crowd of photographers around her. One picture seems like it could have only been taken by someone on his knees, close to her car, and trying to get his camera up her skirt. The downside of Kate taking this job that everyone so badly wanted her to have is that now there are reliable places and times where the photographers can track her down and punch their meal tickets. And they are taking full advantage. And what can she do about it? She can’t leave London without quitting the job, but she’d get a lot of negative attention if she quit. But it seems she can’t go about her life in London anymore without protection, and she’s going to get a lot of negative attention about that also. It seems that a formal engagement is the only way out of the present situation, and it’s really very unfortunate if if ends up happening now for that reason only.
By KS on January 5th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Great point, KS. Kate really does have few options. I am one who wanted her to do *something* productive with her time (that was at least apparent), but now that she has, she is stalked even more so. Maybe the palace did want to keep the engagement quiet until the official announcement (i.e. no protection, or limited), but the parking ticket fiasco (the abundant photogs, not the actual ticket!) may have moved Kate’s timetable up a little. I guess it is still “wait and see”…
By Elizabeth on January 5th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
I agree with KS… maybe they are already engaged,… but remember, the english monarchy lately so it necesarily does not mean they are engaged, but who knows? Maybe she Kate thought she could deal with being a royal gf, I mean while in uni and agreement was made with the press so he wasn’t stalked while he was in uni and while they started dating ya know??
What if her parents asked for this extra protection???
By Ziny on January 6th, 2007 at 5:20 am
Kate’s been in no-man’s-land for quite a while. As I’ve been saying here, it really should rule her out of a regular job. It’s clearly becoming intolerable for her and probably her employers too.
William should bring her into the fold without delay, with a proper Royal status, so she can do what Royals do without pressure to be “normal” in the “real” world
By John on January 6th, 2007 at 11:18 am
“normal real world” the royal way.. LOL
By Ziny on January 6th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
What a joke and what a waste of taxpayer money. She is just some plain Jane that we are all footing the bill for irregardless if she becomes engaged. The Royals do not do anything. Make them all get jobs and stop living off of our money. Kate is ugly anyways.
By Angie on January 6th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
The Monarch is Head of State, Angie, so has an important constitutional position. Also most of the income from the Royal estates goes to the taxpayer through the Treasury. Only a small part pays for the Monarchy.
Add to that the huge increase in tourism attracted by the Royals and the taxpayer does very well out of them.
By John on January 6th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
[...] Imminent Engagement Announcement for Kate Middleton? Royal Anecdotes - Royal Secrets [...]
By LifeTimes » Kate Middleton Betrothal? on January 6th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
John, apparently several high rollers have placed 1,000 pound bets that Prince William and Kate’s wedding day will be July 19, 2007 and bets are now off on that date because of the risk. What do they know that we don’t?
By Gigi on January 6th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I suspect they have more money than sense, Gigi.
But it could be friends of Kate, or footmen at the Palace who have heard a little whisper. You can’t keep that sort of information quiet for long. They should announce it quickly.
One thing’s for sure, we know it’s about to happen now.
By John on January 6th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
It is fortunate that I am not a betting person, because I was sure it was going to be November 20th!
That shows how much I know! Of course they have a far better chance of good weather in English summer than in November. Why in the world are they delaying the announcement, do you suppose? Sometimes I think those PR people at the palace do more harm than good.
By Gigi on January 6th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Well, our earlier forecast of a December announcement and a May or June wedding was not that far out after all. The “pencilled-in” story was pretty accurate I think.
Now all we need is the venue : the Abbey or Windsor? I’m guessing it will be the Abbey.
By John on January 6th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
They’re probably delaying the announcement to fit in with the political programme. Parliament is not sitting right now, so it would be a good time, but there are all kinds of strange conventions around these things.
By John on January 6th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I am hoping you are right about the Abbey. I love Windsor but the Chapel there just isn’t large enough to accommodate everyone who will want to come. This wedding will garner tremendous interest and enthusiasm, not only because Prince William is one of the world’s last links with beloved Princess Diana, but because he will be King in the fullness of time. Only the Abbey has the splendor and the scope to properly frame such an event, in my humble opinion.
By Gigi on January 6th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
John, there is speculation in a piece I just read in one of the Sunday papers that Prince William is waiting for Tuesday January 9th, Kate Middleton’s 25th birthday. to propose to her. A ring for one’s 25th birthday (and a marriage proposal) seems ideally apropos.
For some reason I did not realize until today that Kate’s middle name is Elizabeth. Very nice coincidence!
By Gigi on January 6th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
The police presence suggests this is a done deal, Gigi. The rest is icing on the cake. There could be an announcement on the 9th, but do you think a proposal is still necessary?
By John on January 6th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
By Gigi on January 7th, 2007 at 12:28 am
After seeing what Williams mother went through all I can say to Kate Middleton is “RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!”
By Julia on January 7th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
[...] Imminent Engagement Announcement for Kate Middleton? Royal Predictions for 2007 When? is the Only Question [...]
By Kate Middleton - Celebrity of 2007 » Celebrity at Work - Influencers of the Zeitgeist on January 8th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
wow! spend a couple of days away from royal anecdotes and i miss so much! apparently, her (almost undoubtedly) imminent engagement is news all over the world. such buzz! all i can say is that i can barely wait…
By s.s. on January 8th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
[...] Imminent Engagement Announcement for Kate Middleton? Royal Predictions for 2007 When? is the Only Question [...]
By Kate Middleton - the Perfect Royal Duchess » Aristocracy Anecdotes - Secrets of Aristocrats and Toffs on January 9th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I PREDICT that there will be no engagement. Kate Middleton will get fed up of the media attention and the couple will break up.
Remember, you heard Prophet Crosswell say it first!
By Prophet Crosswell Predicts on January 9th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
And if you’re wrong, Prophet (?) …?
By John on January 9th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
In my lifetime, I must say that where there is smoke, there is fire, almost invariably. True, Kate and her family are getting fed up with the media, and no wonder, but the Royal Family is getting involved, by giving kate extra security and by preparing a legal challenge to the press intrusion. I doubt that the palace would get involved if Prince William and Kate were not very close to announcing their engagement. I don’t see this match being derailed by anything short of a global catastrophe at this stage.
By Gigi on January 9th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
I think they make a beautiful couple and what the monarchy needs is a couple that people can relate too. She is a patient and poised young lady and I believe she is truly in love with him. I think this couple will go the distance. Good luck to them.
By Debbie on January 10th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if William waits until he turns 25 this June to propose to Kate. That would signal the independence of his decision, without the need to gain permission from the Queen. (Not that the Queen wouldn’t approve of Kate.)
I wonder if part of the plan might be to let Kate feel the full effect of the media attention (with some limits for the sake of safety) before she needs to give a definitive answer on marriage. The media attention will not diminish, and she’ll need to live with it for decades. If she tires of it by summer, she can say “no” before wedding, marriage and children, not after.
It does look to me like this relationship is the real thing. Hopefully Kate still will want to go ahead with the plans, even with the media and the military-required separations from William.
By Evelyn on January 11th, 2007 at 5:10 am
I to believe that an engagement announcement is imminent. But I .just wish that they would get on with it all so we can have that fabulous engagement photograph from Mario Testino, Dianas favourite and can i say best photographer. Instead of those awful photographs “woolies” have put on those plates!!
By james on January 11th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Is the Earl of Snowdon still taking photographic portraits of the Royal family on occasion? The one he took of Princess Diana after the engagment was wonderful. I would love to see him take a photographic portrait of Kate, or Kate and Prince William together.
By Gigi on January 11th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
He’s in a wheelchair much of the time, Gigi, but I’ve seen a few snaps by him recently. I doubt he’d do the big set pieces these days, though.
By John on January 12th, 2007 at 10:17 am
John, the question of all questions really. I think we all now know they will marry but when will they announce it?
I’m not entirely sure that they will want to take the shine off the Queen and Duke of Edinburghs big year. After all it’s not many that make it to their Diamond wedding anniversary.
Would it be possible for a long engagement, unusual I know, but it would take Catherine (as she now wants to be titled) into the ‘FIRM’ without the need for a speedy wedding?
Maybe someone could shed some light onto this.
By james on January 17th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Absolutely, James, and that’s what I’ve been saying for ages. Get engaged quickly and wed at leisure. Kate would then have police protection and all the benefits of being part of the Royal Family.
I’m not sure that the Queen’s Diamond anniversary will be as big an event as the 80th last year or the Jubilee a few years back. The public could easily get Queen-fatigue if it’s asked to celebrate too often. HM might actually welcome a big diversion so that the event can be more private in nature.
By John on January 17th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Hello everybody, this is my first post to to this forum!
What is your opinion of kate Middleton? I am sure she is a very nice girl but is she not rather middle-class? We have a prime example of what happens when the royal family marries below itself in the way of Sarah Ferguson! I wish her and William the very best, but I am concerned this could all end in tears; surely a girl of excellent breeding and extreme good taste could have been found for William? Please feel free to disagree, but this is just my humble opinion!
Best wishes to all,
Alex
By Alex Gibson on January 19th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Hi, John. Well things have really gone quiet on the engagement front.
I haven’t heard or read anything for quite a while now. I’m still convinced it’s going to happen but the silence is almost deafening!
Has anybody heard anything at all? They said Christmas, they said February, but as yet nothing at all. I guess as usual we’ll just have to wait and see.
By james on February 6th, 2007 at 11:31 am
It’s lying doggo right now, James. Rest assured, as soon as we hear anything, it will be all over Royal Anecdotes.
By John on February 6th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Hi John.
I don’t know if I’m the only one out there who thinks this, but i’m beginning to think this is not going to happen soon.
For the following reasons really. Prince Harry being deployed in Iraq, Camillas operation, the Diana concert, I think far too many things going on in a relatively short time.
I’m not saying that I don’t think it’s going to happen rather I don’t think it’s going to happen in the short term.
But as we all know things can change but I was just wondering if I were the only one to think this or are there others out there that agree?
By james on February 20th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
It’s all a bit eerie the way the story was allowed to run, only to fizzle out into silence. There’s always something going on, though, so they can never postpone a wedding because of events. They never end. And there wouldn’t be any weddings at all.
By John on February 20th, 2007 at 1:31 pm