Wills and Kate — Battle of the Sources
Clarence House appears to be damping down Saturday’s story of a rekindling of the romance between Prince William and Kate Middleton. On Sunday, a “source close to William” is reported as saying that rumours of romance are wide of the mark and he was far from ready to commit again.
Given the enthusiastic quotes from “sources” close to both parties on Saturday, it would seem we’re into a Battle of the Sources.
If the “source close to the Prince” is William’s equerry and aide Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, these are clearly William’s own views. However, this is a dangerous game to play. The public were fed up with the merry-go-round of unrebutted engagement stories that swirled around over Christmas and New Year. A repeat performance is almost certainly not in the best interests of either party.
If these two are back together, it has a clear path — marriage. If they are not, why then are they acting like love-sick teenagers?
Maybe William should hire Alastair Campbell as his publicist — for the sake of Kate’s reputation, if not his own.
Well maybe Wills gets dampened by the circus and the frenzy made by the press again? Or maybe all this fuss is getting nowhere, maybe Wills wanted to re-emerge the rumours again in order to made it clear that he is not dating Kate again, because she will appear at the concert soon? Why rumours of a rekindling only 2 weeks after a kiss at a party? This is not very innocent just one week before the concert.
By Lilyfromfrance on June 25th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Maybe they’re just playing with us, so they can surprise us all and announce their engagement at the concert? That would be a lot more fun than a Clarence House announcement.
By Evelyn on June 25th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Their behavior at the party - a costume party for Army types - was very amorous. There were pictures on the Internet and MySpace. So someone that attended that party called the tabloids. (These persons then become “sources close to the couple” in tab-speak.)
The denials come from William (or others in the palace) so the public doesn’t start speculating about a marriage again.
As for Kate — her whole identity as a young adult is based on being William’s girlfriend. She probably has a hard time letting go.
By Alicia on June 25th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
In any case, Clarence House cannot confirm it and will not confirm anything until Wills and Kate give officially their approval to inform the public that they decided to resume their relationship and their decision to engage.
I don’t have the feeling that they are to do it soon. According to the report of the Daily Mail, Wills is chasing Kate and she is now somehow reluctant to go back.
As a matter of self-respect, Kate cannot and should not accept immediately. She needs to play “hard to get”. If not, Wills would feel that at the end, it was easy to get her back and he would do it once, twice, many times again. She needs to be sure that the expectations and involvement level of Wills in the relation are quite similar as hers. She might be deeply in love but she is not going to accept if the conditions offered are not matching her needs.
If they engage, I don’t think that this decision would be announced in the concert. It’s too soon and would be like drawing off the attention of the event from the real motive, who is Diana and not the engagement of Wills and Kate. They would announce it at any other time.
By Claudia on June 25th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I think you’re right, Claudia. If Kate is playing hard to get, Clarence House is going to wait until it’s firm enough not to deny it’s happening.
By John on June 25th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
When Princess Elizabeth and Lt. Philip Mountbatte, RN were engaged, Buckingham Palace denied it absolutely for months, when at the same time, Philip’s Mother had taken a family tiara to a jeweler, had it dismantled, and the diamonds were made into an engagement ring for Princess Elizabeth and a bracelet for Philip to give her as a wedding gift. I think Claudia is right about the CH denial. In high profile engagements and weddings, timing is everything.
By Gigi on June 25th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Yeah but on the other hand Prince Andrew had said the palace has lied for years so it’s a tough call. Also it was already known that she would be at the concert. As I have said in the past Time will tell.
By Trudie on June 25th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
I don’t believe anything I read. All sources are biased. If Kate goes back to him, it tells me everything about her. He publicly appeared with Brazilian students and it wasn’t the first time he fooled around. Why would she go back to him after everything? Because she loves him, or because she really wants to be Princess Catherine? If true it appears as if they both don’t know what they want, it’s like a light bulb about to go out- on,off,on,off… Not very stable and not very good for a healthy marriage. I think perhaps the tabloids want to sell more papers. Again, lets talk again in a year’s time, as I said before, we are wasting our time guessing what goes on behind headlines. Let’s see what happens. Also, people can be friends after a break-up but that doesn’t mean they’re back together.
By Cleo on June 25th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Cleo, I have to write about something. I can’t turn the site off for a year. They could be married by then.
By John on June 25th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
“Because she loves him, or because she really wants to be Princess Catherine?”
Both
Cleo is right, we are wasting our time guessing whats goes behind headlines. Lets sit in front on tv with a packet of crips. Blair and Big Bro on C4 tonight. Fabulous.
By Lilyfromfrance on June 25th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
You watch C4 in France, Lily?
I saw the first part of the Blair thing on Saturday — a bit too kind to him, I thought.
By John on June 25th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Guessing what the Royals are up to has been an entertaining pastime for years. Some may feel it is a waste of time, but I find it quite enjoyable and it is always fascinating to hear the views of others. Advance, John, we love Royal Anecdotes!
By Gigi on June 25th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
John, this is off-topic, but there is talk that Princess Anne has left her husband, Timothy Laurence. Have you heard this and is this story credible?
By Gigi on June 25th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Yes I can watch it John. C4 and 5.
I love watching Gordon Ramsay (I should be ashamed of myself I know, but this guy makes me laugh).
Can you watch French tv in Devon? (If I remember well you live in Devon?). I have friends in Kent who can watch 3 French TV channels.
By Lilyfromfrance on June 25th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I agree Gigi. I hope that the Royal Anecdotes readers have understood that my comment about tv and crisps was ironical
By Lilyfromfrance on June 25th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
By Gigi on June 25th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Thank you sweet Gigi
By Lilyfromfrance on June 25th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I’m so out of the loop, i only just heard that the two were back together! So i naturally rushed to my ’source’ to give the the s.p.
I hope they are back together and i hope Kate plays her cards right, (she’ll need to), she is good for William and the royals. I always thought she had alot of class and partying doesn’t negate that, The Queen Mother was known for her gins after all. They all know how to let loose.
By Eliza on June 25th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
the above is abit all over the place. Really what i was trying to say was that if seeing Kate’s knickers is the worst that has happened while she was drunk that is not too bad. If she does go around getting drunk she could have said something out of order very easily and she didn’t. She had serious provocation to say something about the situation and she didn’t. In my book that does show exceptional restraint in a world where everything is blabbed. There are different ways of exposing oneself and her knickers been shown by a press who were keen to embarass her is the least of them.
as for the she and William getting back together, a snog at the Army barracks is a good sign but not necessarily enough. The next few weeks should make it more clear.
At least she has the cop on not to undervalue herself. Kate learnt in the last few months that she can have a grand time without him, even if she still loves him, so she easily has the upperhand now-heir to the throne or not, his options are way more limited than hers. He can’t even work for God’s sake! Charity work in the capacity that he will be doing it, admirable though it is, is not sufficent to exercise a young intelligent man for the next fifty years. I think he may get married purely for something to do.
By Eliza on June 25th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
A shrewd assessment, Eliza, and very interesting. Like all RoyalPrinces who were born to be King, Prince William is expected to marry and provide the monarchy with heirs in order to secure the throne into the future. Most of his course was charted before his birth and there does not appear to be a great deal of flexibility possible, even in this day and age.
By Gigi on June 25th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
no there isn’t, Gigi, and it’s very sad for them. I really believe they should be left have a job for a few years albeit not one where they can be killed! I have a sister who works in Goldman Saches and a few of the European heirs worked there for a few years learning about managing money, i’m not say high finance is where he should be but a big multinational like that could protect him and still give him some semblance of a normal life. I think it’s time Clarance House thought outside the box in planning the boys lives. The army & navy are no longer relevant, they will never be leading their country into battle so let them do something that is relevant. Of course the problem is the press would never leave them alone but then again they don’t leave them alone now so that is no excuse. The real problem is the lack of imagination from the grey suits
By Eliza on June 25th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
it is sad for both boys, Gigi. I would like to see them have an opportunity to have a normal life for a while. The army patently isn’t for them, the risks are too high. But a job where they can’t be killed could surely be found.
You could say that the press wouldn’t leave them alone but they don’t now. And they would get into less trouble if they were busy. Prince Charles has spent his life trying to fill his life with purpose and the jury is out whether he has succeeded or not, who is to say that William will fill his life any easier.
everybody mocked Prince Edward when he tried to work in the entertainment business but at least he tried.
I don’t think their own business would work but if they could be sheltered a little in some company they might have a semblance of a normal life. Other european heirs worked in the City for a while and didn’t come to any adverse attention (that i know).
By Eliza on June 25th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
That is an interesting and pertinent point, Eliza. You are correct that other heirs of European Royal Houses have had careers, even former Kings (Ex-King Constantine of Greece) have done so, without the glare of adverse publicity. I do not know why the members of the British Monarchy are unable to escape such undue scrutiny, but they are, indeed, unable to do so. Of course there are peripheral members of the British Royal Family who have had careers, notably Angus Ogilvy, but I cannot think of a blood member of Britain’s Royal House who has.
By Gigi on June 25th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Gigi, what about Princess Margaret’s kids? (I forget their names). I seem to remember that they had careers and were doing quite well.
By On The Outside on June 25th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Good point! Both David, Viscount Linley (who owns a flourishing custom design furniture concern) and his sister, Sarah, who married Daniel Chatto, had careers. I can’t recall what Sarah’s career was, though. Does anyone remember? The last thing I heard about David and Sarah was that they were selling many of their deceased Mother’s treasures (jewelry, etc.) at auction to pay the death duties on her estate, and that Lord Snowden, their father (Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden’s ex-husband) was livid about it and quite at loggerheads with his son and daughter.
By Gigi on June 25th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
[...] at Royal Anecdotes discusses the battle of the sources that seems to surround the story about Prince William and Kate Middleton getting back [...]
By Royal Bloggers This Week (6-25-07) on June 26th, 2007 at 3:39 am
Gigi, Sarah Chatto is a talented artist who has worked for art galleries in London. She taught Prince Charles to be a better watercolourist and they often took holidays in Italy together.
Most male members of the Royal Family have had careers in the Royal Navy. Prince Philip was decorated in the war and all have served in some capacity. Most ordinary folk would call serving in the armed forces a job.
It’s the aristocracy that traditionally doesn’t have jobs. London is full of young gels who have trust funds in lieu of jobs. If Kate is to be taken seriously by the upper echelons these are the ones she has to compete with.
In Britain, there are hundreds of thousands of young people who spend their entire youth living off generous state benefits. At least Kate is living off the proceeds of her family’s business and not pushing drugs or scrounging off other people. Let’s give the girl a break.
By John on June 26th, 2007 at 9:06 am
Lily, we can get most French stations here with the right cable or satellite dish. I find one station is enough for me — so long as it’s not the PC BBC.
By John on June 26th, 2007 at 9:10 am
i think Sarah is an artist but i’m not sure in what capacity. But proving your point again Gigi that the British royals always come to adverse attention when they are in trade, David has now got the name for being mercenary by selling off his mothers trinkets and certainly he did go abit far when he put up for auction a picture of herself that she loved and seemingly had in the hall of her home so everyone saw it. He got such abuse about that he had to buy it back at the auction. As for his furniture business, i read an article which said that he is now a director or something with Sothebys (excuse spelling-i have a mental block) as well and the article slagged him off for the amount of travel he would be doing with small children. Personally speaking i think fathers should be around when children are small but then alot of fathers have to travel for business and they don’t have the national press giving them a hard time .
By Eliza on June 26th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Gigi, there’s a lot of gossip that the marriage of Princess Anne is in trouble and that the Queen is concerned there may be yet another divorce in the family. All speculation, of course. It’s interesting though that Anne has been spending time with old flame (of many) Andrew Parker-Bowles.
I think they’ll probably sit this out. At their ages, they should be resigned to their lot by now.
By John on June 26th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Andrew Parker-Bowles! Has she no sense! You are all probably too high brow to read Jilly Cooper but i read Riders as a teenager and the main charactor polo player Rupert Campbell Black is a serious letch who has no shame but oodles of charm and is supposedly based on APB. Really i hope that John is right and they sit it out because it smacks so much of white mischief and boredom. At the risk of repeating myself - they all need a job, they have too much time on their hands!
By Eliza on June 26th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Eliza, Jilly Cooper is a big friend of Camilla, so she probably enjoyed having a dig at Andrew Poker-Bowles.
By John on June 26th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Absolutely, but then Rupert is hugely charismatic, i fancied him myself!
By Eliza on June 26th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I am frankly dismayed by the verbal and newsprint criticism of people who are not gainfully employed. Whose business is it if someone chooses to live off an inheritance rather than a salaried employment? How is this harmful or threatening to others? On the contrary, those who can afford to live on their wealth should not take jobs that others may need to support themselves.
Regarding Princess Anne, my recollection is that she wanted to marry Andrew Parker-Bowles but could not because he is Roman Catholic. She married Mark Phillips and had two charming and attractive children, divorsed Phillps and married Timothy Laurence, and now may be preparing to divorse him. Camilla wanted to marry Charles (proof positive that she lacks judgement), married Andrew Parker-Bowles instead and had two children, then divorsed and married Charles. Perhaps Anne, seeing her brother marry Camilla, would like to turn back time and marry Andrew Parker-Bowles. This is sounding more like a soap opera every day! As for the Queen worrying about the damage to the Crown another divorse might cause, I believe that ship sailed long ‘ere this. There is a damaging cruelty inherent in keeping couples apart who love each other and want to share their lives. What we have seen is the wreck of the personal lives of Prince Margaret (who was not allowed to marry Group Captain Peter Townsend and married Antony Armstrong-Jones on the rebound), Princess Anne, and perhaps others. I do not include Charles in this category because it is my confirmed opinion that Charles has made a lifelong career of loving himself and no other.
By Gigi on June 26th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Gigi, it’s not that they shouldn’t live off their inheritance, more power to them but it’s what to do with themselves. Everybody needs a focus in life or its empty- call it the Paris Hilton syndrome. Though to be fair Princess Anne seems to have a fairly full life, she has her charities in which she is very active, her children, her horse pursuits - she rides out race horses most days etc so maybe she isn’t the best example of a wasted life.
By Eliza on June 26th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Excellent clarification, Eliza! I agree that Princess Anne has lived a full and useful life. Despite the frequent vascillations of her heart (which have exhausted everyone in the English-speaking world) she does much good and has reared two fine children. She does not, in my opinion, receive the credit she should for all she does, perhaps because of her prickly personality, which is, lamentably, so much like Prince Philip’s.
By Gigi on June 26th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Gigi you’re right about Chucky who turned loving one self into a true art form. Freud would have a lot of fun with him being so misunderstood and all. lol
By Trudie on June 27th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Eliza, you make some very interesting points.
By Positive on June 27th, 2007 at 2:19 am
I do agree that Kate has been living her life as “future Princess Catherine” and has been nicely planning her life towards the succession eventually. From all her actions, I think she loves the throne more than the heir to the throne! Sad but true.. And love puppy Wills is just too deep into her trap that I think it’s rather late for him to clamber back to reality.. Unless some elderly royalty steps in but won’t be much of help since he’s 25 and doesn’t need the Queen’s consent to marry..
By Annyonghaseyo on June 29th, 2007 at 2:58 am