A Busy Week for Kate Middleton and Prince William
Tomorrow, Monday, Prince William will report for duty as an officer in the Household Cavalry. Second Lieutenant William Wales will enter the regiment’s barracks near Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry is also based with the Blues and Royals.
It’s unclear whether this will interfere with William’s plans for Kate Middleton’s 25th birthday. She is reported to be disappointed that he didn’t turn up to the Middleton’s Scottish retreat over the New Year period. They were, however, on the phone “non-stop”.
Also on Monday, the formal inquest into Princess Diana’s death reopens after a lengthy police investigation under Lord Stevens ruled that the crash was an accident and that she and Dodi Fayed were not victims of an elaborate murder plot.
Dodi’s father, Mohamed, has already called for “a people’s jury” to decide the outcome, but this will not happen. Most people now realize he’s just trying to shift the blame from his own organization, which was responsible for the arrangements that killed Diana.
On Tuesday, Kate Middleton celebrates her 25th birthday. The itinerary is not yet public, but there’s a lot of speculation around that a July 19 wedding will be announced on this day.
John, I’m beginning to be a little fearful for the future of this relationship. I’ve read reports that it’s beginning to negatively affect them, especially William. It’s reported that William did not join Kate’s family after Christmas nor did they go skiing as had been widely reported. Then I read Kate has given William an ultimatium and put him on the clock for one year to make his move or she’s history. Now today I read that Charles apparently has told William that despite the press reports and intense worldwide speculation, there is no rush to get married, which is true and wise advice.
Kate’s birthday is interesting as it falls on his second day of reporting to duty. Being press savvy as I have always suspected, I fear William will take one giant step backwards and avoid being seen with her in public, no more nightclub visits, polo, photographs outside of her apartment, etc., in order to quell the media onslaught.
Of course I could be totally wrong and William didn’t make Christmas with Kate because he was busy picking out an engagement ring for Kate’s birthday present and huddling with his advisors on how to manage the engagement announcement!!
By Positive on January 7th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
The last person who should be giving Prince William advice on ANY subject is Charles, whose poor judgment and worse decisions have caused the Monarchy endless problems. I am reading that it is the pressure of the press photographers that has Prince William on edge, and why not. Neither he nor Prince Harry, reportedly, have forgiven the press for the misery they caused Princess Diana. I am going to revise my thoughts on this somewhat. Since Prince William will be at the barracks on Kate’s 25th birthday, that is hardly a day to announce the engagement. My guess is a St. Valentine’s Day announcement, with the wedding either July 19 (that is what the big money says) or November 20 (which is the Diamond Anniversary of the Queen.) I shall be proved dismally incorrect on all of this, I feel sure, but that is my guess.
By Gigi on January 7th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I was just reading that William will begin 5 months of training in Dorset in March. Could a wedding already be planned, and it could happen before William has to go to training? Otherwise, I doubt there would be a wedding before those 5 months were up…at least August. Any thoughts?
By Elizabeth on January 7th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Well, that certainly seems to negate the possibility of a July wedding, unless they plan to have a delayed honeymoon. John, what do you say to this latest wrinkle?
By Gigi on January 7th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
You all make such great points. As usual we’ll just have to wait and see. Man I couldn’t bear it if I lived in London. From what I understand, this is headline stuff over there. If I were in Kate’s shoes I’d be a basket case. I’d be terrified that William would break it off with me because of the press or even worse, suspect me of being behind the press speculation.
By Positive on January 7th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
My childhood penpal, who now resides in Surrey, just emailed me to say that this matter (Prince William, Kate and the expected engagement) is all that anyone is talking about. Since she and her husband can hardly be described as Royalists, this seems a significant barometer to measure public interest. She further says they have postponed booking their holiday plans until they hear when the wedding date will be, and says they are not the only ones doing this. The PR staff at the palace had better get moving before everyone’s holiday plans are impossibly snarled.
By Gigi on January 7th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Wow, Gigi. That is some intense speculation! What do they make about what Pos said? And Pos, where does this info come from? I would like to read those stories, too… are they on the internet?
By Elizabeth on January 7th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
They are links to stories I’ve read on the internet, yes. It’s getting late here and it’s halftime during a playoff game between the NY Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. I’m running to get ice cream. TMI I know, but the short of it is after the game or perhaps tomorrow I’ll try to find links to the many articles and post them here if it’s ok with John…
By Positive on January 7th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Btw, WOW Gigi!!! I’ll be in St. Maarten in June 07, other than that, I’m keeping an eye on the calendar for perhaps my first visit to London — for a wedding!!
Purely for selfish reasons I hope they hang on and don’t tie the knot until 2009 — I’ve got too many vacations planned until then, and I don’t want to squeeze another one in!! 
By Positive on January 7th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
I sincerely doubt that a wedding for Prince William will happen this year, nor do I think it was ever intended to happen this year. It is my personal opinion that any engagement announcement between them would happen at the end of this year or the beginning of next year (or even later) and that a wedding would take place either in 2008 or in 2009. I also don’t believe that Kate Middleton actually gave Prince William an ultimatium, I think that’s just so much overly dramatic tabloid chatter. Positive, I am concerned that you might be right about Prince William taking one giant step backwards with regards to his public appearances with his girlfriend. He has never seemed to be comfortable with the media attention on his relationship, and the really negative and rabid attention they have been receiving lately might just make him really pull back from being seen in public with the young lady. I hope I’m incorrect, though.
By mapleleaf on January 7th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Treeka what planet are you from? that first line in your comment is totally offensive and uncalled for and so are the rest of your comments!!! I hope that William and Kate announce and engagement when they are ready and for the Media to stop butting in.
By Trudie on January 8th, 2007 at 3:05 am
i think it is important for all the pressure not to get to william. Because if your marrying somebody because of the pressure then what a sham it will be. The Monarchy have been riding william as the golden boy to save them and they do not want this to end badly. I think William should take a break in those five months of his training. In that time kate can try to establish herself and prove to everyone she is not just some slag who waits around. It will also help william from feeling restrained and suffocated which is what he’s known to do. It’s got me wondering though if there was a break would kate slowly fade back into the background or would she play it up to keep her newfound fame?
By jodie on January 8th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Trudie — trolls are just like teeth: ignore them, and they’ll go away.
MapleLeaf, as usual you’re right on target.
By Positive on January 8th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Trudie, I’ve banned Treeka from the site and deleted her comments.
By John on January 8th, 2007 at 10:45 am
The important thing to remember here is that the police presence has suddenly appeared, and William has been told by his Private Secretary, and by the Army, that he needs to regularize his relationship before taking up his officer posting. It appears he’s done that in private, so the announcement won’t be long in coming. As for the wedding, Palace staff seem to think it’s been “pencilled-in” for a long time.
The real signs are far more compelling than the gossip.
By John on January 8th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Pos: if you put up some links, could you make them text links, otherwise long ones can break the site in IE6 and some other browsers.
To do a text link just use the following code:
TEXT FOR LINKIt’s as simple as that.
Hmm, that didn’t work. It didn’t show the code, but I expect you know it, Pos?
By John on January 8th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Mapleleaf I agree also with what your saying. John Thank you for the integrity with which you run on this site.
By Trudie on January 8th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
love everybody’s comments – as always. except for treeka’s, i’m sure (thankfully john deleted it before i could read it) mapleleaf, i think it would be a very unfortunate move if william was to take a step back in their relationship at this point. if they are not yet engaged (which, as john pointed out, all the signs are leading us to believe) and he decides to slow down their relationship at this point, it would be disastrous, possibly even fatal for he and kate. as upsetting as it must be for william and kate, the tabloids are all over this building everyone up for an engagement, if not a wedding.
right now, it seems william has no choice but to either announce the engagement or get engaged, to put it simply. if neither of those things happen soon, it could possibly end their relationship. so, as excited as i will be to hear an official engagement announcement, i only pray that it will not be the result of the tabs.
anyway, as much as i adore this couple, dosen’t it seem like the only time they are seen together is in nightclubs? i understand that they are young and this is an activity that many young people do – but all the time? it seems that i am constantly reading and seeing pictures of william and kate leaving these bars/nightclubs at 2 or 3 in the morning. i confess that it disappoints me a little. any thoughts on this? is it just me?
By s.s. on January 8th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
**
i meant an engagement and wedding in the same year.
obviously a wedding if there is an engagement!
By s.s. on January 8th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
I missed Treeka’s post also, but I am sure it was wholly inappropriate since Trude reacted as she did and since John deleted it so swiftly. Thank you, John, for your vigilance, sensitivity and good taste. Regarding the reason why we only see photographs of Prince William and Kate coming out of nightclubs, I am wondering if the tabs photographers lie in wait there instead of taking the time and trouble to try to track them down other places? On the other hand, where could Prince William take Kate that would be safe from harrassment other than a private club? I doubt they could risk the cinema or a public restaurant, for example. I seem to remember that there are places to dine where the nobility are safe from photographers in London–Quaglino’s, for instance. I imagine they also go to private dinner parties at private homes, or don’t young couples do that sort of thing in the UK now?
By Gigi on January 9th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Absolutely they do Gigi. I also just read that Charles hosted a private party for William (going away) and Kate (birthday) at Highgrove this weekend. Nevermind the gads of Williams high-brow buddies and parties at their estates — I’m thinking the Van Cutsems, etc.
By Positive on January 9th, 2007 at 4:08 am
Might that party have been a private engagement party amongst close friends?
By Cate on January 9th, 2007 at 4:38 am
Now that William has taken up his Army posting, he’ll not have much opportunity to go to nightclubs — you rarely hear of Harry in them nowadays. I think they both made the most of it knowing they wouldn’t get much chance later on. The danger, of course, is becoming addicted to alcohol and other substances in the process.
Harry looked hooked at one stage, let’s hope William isn’t. At least he has the abstemious Kate to hold him back, despite the obviously-planted Jack Daniels story this week.
By John on January 9th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I think the reason for the Princes going to private clubs with their girlfriends is because they are young and firmily into the 21st century as far as dating is concerned. 20 -25 years ago romances were conducted in private at country homes it was pure luck to discover Lady Diana at Windsor and no one even noticed Sarah and it seemed so out of touch. Lets hope that the Princes control their drinking and start acting more responsible about it.
By Trudie on January 9th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Positive and Trudie, Thank you for your votes of confidence! I also want to commend you John, for maintaining the respectability and the integrity of your site.
Despite my own opinions, I actually hope you’re correct and an engagement between Prince William and Kate Middleton is announced this year. Who doesn’t love a Royal Wedding?
I agree John, I believe William and Harry made the most of the time they had available to them to do the things that young people do: go out to clubs or pubs, and have fun with their friends. I know that’s what my husband and I do in our leisure time.
I think that now William and Harry are both working in their regiment, they will have less time for those types of things. Even if they do, I still don’t see anything wrong with it as long as they practise moderation.
By mapleleaf on January 9th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Yes I’d like to thank John as well. MapleLeaf, you’re a gem and I always enjoy reading your thoughts, as well as others here. Very mature remarks, everyone.
By Positive on January 10th, 2007 at 3:08 am
Maturity is the new youth, Pos.
By John on January 10th, 2007 at 9:07 am