Prince William and Kate Middleton hint at engagement
Prince William and Kate Middleton have described their week-long break on Desroches Island in the Seychelles as “the best holiday everâ€.
The Sun is reporting that, after dining with some staff on their last evening, William told them: “We will definitely return. We have had the most fantastic break.†When one local quipped that the isle was a “honeymooners’ paradiseâ€, the couple exchanged “huge smilesâ€.
A source said, “William told islanders that he and Kate had the best holiday ever and that it was the break that they needed together. They are obviously devoted and could not keep their eyes off one another. There is very little to do on Desroches except relax with the one you love and they certainly did that.
“William told the locals he loved how secluded it is, without even a mobile phone signal. He said it was an ideal haven for a relaxing holiday. He then promised that he and Kate would definitely return. The locals were delighted and one said, ‘You know this place is famous as a honeymooners paradise?’ William and Kate exchanged glances and both had huge smiles on their faces.â€
The Prince and Kate spent their last day scuba-diving and sunbathing before flying back home to London on Thursday night.
What everyone wants to know now is what was decided on the island about their future.
It’s believed they will head north following the Memorial Service for Princess Diana on Friday to spend more quality time at “Teapot” Cottage on the edge of the Balmoral Estate.
Teapot Cottage at Balmoral
It is unlikely anything will be leaked before the service. Might not an announcement from Balmoral be perfectly timed in this year of the Queen’s Diamond Wedding anniversary?
What a thoroughly lovely looking cottage. It looks like a Thomas Kincaid painting.
Now, unless there is a really big upset between them, Kate and Wills are headed down the same road together. People can say Kate may be in it for the money and fame, but just look at her face in some of the photos. The way she looks at him does not speak money to me. She is quite obviously in love with him. He’s such a lovely person, as far as I have heard, so that would be very easy to do.
By Beth on August 25th, 2007 at 11:58 am
There’s a lot of character in her face, Beth. She seems very mature and steady. As she’s now around 26, it would be a shame to waste any more of her 20s in boozy nightclubs.
By John on August 25th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Well, John, if an engagement is imminent, she will start getting polished up by BP. Too bad the Queen Mother isn’t here to help get her ready the way she did Diana.
By Beth on August 25th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Blink…
By Positive on August 25th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Did I make an error?
By Beth on August 25th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
I think Charles would appreciate the idea that teapot cottage looks like a Thomas Kincaid painting.
By Marie on August 25th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I’m just glad that they had a good time on the island. They was away from the crap they usually have to deal with. I don’t know what took them soo long to have a vacation by themseleves. Now we can tell that the relationship is on a mature level. But for the engagement, I think they will need all of our prayers on that because the media is something else.
By Claudius on August 25th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
As John mentioned somewhere, it was just this last June that William gained access to his inheritance. He now has his own money and can use it to plan his own vacations. It could be that he was unable to take a solo vacation with Kate before now.
By Evelyn on August 25th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Uh Beth – the QM didn’t coach Diana prior to the marriage at all – Diana was literally thrown into the deep end and left to swim entirely on her own. She had no “training” or “coaching” by anyone – not in the RF or by any of their couriers either. It is highly unlikely Kate will get anything either unless William is smart and works with her himself to prepare her for what she is likely to come up against as a Royal.
If they do announce an engagement, I will be amongst the thrilled. Kate has been with William for a long time – they are going into this not only as lovers but as friends – and that is just so important. As long as Kate goes into this with wide open eyes – I do believe she will do just fine.
By On The Outside on August 25th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Well, put it down to age then. It has been a long time ago and maybe I just don’t have it right. I could have sworn that Diana stayed at CH with the QM up until her marriage to Charles. Maybe that was media hype back then, as well.
By Beth on August 25th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Beth:
If William and Kate do become engaged, the best thing for Kate is to insulate herself from BP and Clarence House, so she doesn’t end up lonely and depressed like Diana was before her marriage. Kate is older and more mature then Diana, and Kate should flex some muscle and make her sentements known that she will not be cut off from family and friends during the engagement period. Diana’s famous “training period” before the marriage was a disaster – there was no training! The Queen Mum, QE II and the rest of the Royals ignored Diana in the run up to her marriage to Charles. Diana was literally “the bird in a gilded cage!” Let’s hope William has learned from his mother’s unhappiness and will be man enough to protect Kate from “the grey suits.”
By Arthur on August 25th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
The length of William and Kate’s relationship should have given William ample opportunity to help Kate understand what will be expected of her as a member of the royal family.
Of course, that leads to the question of whether William understands what is expected of him, and what will be expected of his wife. On some levels, I’m sure he is aware. But William and Harry both seem to be hoping to make some changes in royal life, and no one knows how those changes will be received by the public or by the rest of the royal family.
By Evelyn on August 25th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
John, you make it sound like Kate is a lush, drinking and partying every night. If she accompanies her boyfriend William to clubs, what’s wrong with that? I never saw pictures of Kate leaving a club drunk, which can’t be said for William and his brother, Harry.
Yes, it’s true, Kate did venture out at night during her split from William, but that’s what people her age do. Was she supposed to sit home and brood after William gave her the heave ho? I think she was just showing William she could manage just fine without him and it worked. Now, I agree with you on this, if Kate and William are to become engaged, it would not bode well for the future Queen of England to become a regular at seedy London night spots. However, it she is with William and he is clubbing, I see nothing wrong with her accompanying him. If one is engaged or married to a Windsor man, one better keep a close eye on him. History has proven that commitment doesn’t mean much when the Windsor man fancies another woman.
By Arthur on August 25th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Quite right, On the Outside and Arthur. Princess Diana was confined to Clarence House with the Queen Mother prior to the marriage. Charles and his gang spun that by saying she was being prepared for her role, but that was nonsense. The Queen Mother was a nice lady but she always was in on the ruse and very much in Charles’ camp. Diana was totally isolated from her own family and friends, just the beginning of Charles’ ominous plan to control her like the proverbial puppetmaster. Just recalling this makes my blood boil.
By Gigi on August 25th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
And makes me very sad, Gigi. I really beleived all those years ago she was being taken care of at CH. Now I see here that was not so. Very sad, indeed.
By Beth on August 25th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
So– those of you who know the royal family better than I do– is there someone (or two) who would be helpful to Kate if she is to be prepared for her role in the royal family? Who might we at RA suggest?
By Evelyn on August 25th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Arthur, if you look closely, you will see Kate’s bloodshot eyes. she has been drunk quite a few times. as far as that’s what girls her age do, you have to remember that dating william doesn’t make her like any other girl. she needs to be careful and watch her image. and if they do get engaged, which i hope they do not, they should do more productive things as a couple instead of partying so much. btw, when was the last time kate worked? she’s already 25 1/2 and i’m not impressed so far.
By Marilyn on August 25th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Evelyn: Here are a few people who can guide Kate on what to expect if and when she marries into the Royal Family: Lord Snowden-Anthony Armstrong Jones, ex-husband of the late Princess Margaret; Capt. Mark Phillips, ex-husband of The Princess Royal-Princess Anne; Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, ex-wife of Prince Andrew and Cmdr. Timothy Laurence, current husband (and glorified servant) of The Princess Royal-Princess Anne. I’m sure each of these individuals could give Kate an ear full about life behind the Palace walls.
By Arthur on August 25th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Evelyn, I am sorry to say that I, personally, would not count upon any member of the Royal Family to guide Kate regarding a marriage to Prince William. Everyone has their own agendas and, marriage or not, they will regard Kate as a outsider to be used for their own ends. Kate will have to rely upon her own good judgment and that of Prince William. I hope she keeps her ties to her own blood family and her pre-William friends vibrant, as relationships with blood kin and old, trusted friends can help keep her grounded, focused and reassured. In the end, just as home is the ultimate refuge, within the circle of the nuclear, blood family is the place where may be found certain comfort and trusted advice. It is the same for all of us, Royal and commoner.
By Gigi on August 25th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I have often found that my husband’s siblings have given me good advice about dealing with their “side” of the family.
Might Edward and Sophie be two who could help Kate and William figure out how to balance public service and a healthy private life?
By Evelyn on August 25th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
“The length of William and Kate’s relationship should have given William ample opportunity to help Kate understand what will be expected of her as a member of the royal family. ”
Bingo Evelyn. This, I believe, is what the vacation alone to the Seychelles is all about. A final going over between the two of them about what they are about to get into. I seriously believe that William and Kate discussed marriage and what would be involved for Kate, how her life will change forever. But I don’t think any announcements will be made until he is done with his military obligations, that’s what, two more years from now? They will only be 27 by then. I just don’t see them getting married until they are nearly 30 years old.
Anyway, I think they would be prudent to wait as long as they can before they take the plunge.
By Positive on August 25th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
“25 1/2 and i’m not impressed so far.”
By Marilyn on August 25th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
25 1/2? I haven’t heard that since I was 10 years old.
I”m 10-1/2 almost 11!!!!HAHAHA
Kate appears to be a strong woman and I believe she will be just fine. I have been very impressed with the way she has conducted herself under intense media scrutiny without any coaching for the last 5 years. No tears, no verbal attacks on photographers, no silly banter, nothing. Just silence. When it was rumored that she was dumpted, she held her head high, smiled, and did not hide away. No professional PR person could have spun that humiliation any better. And it worked, she got her man back. That episode sealed the deal for me as far as Kate is concerned. She’s tough as nails and she’s clever. And I’m confident she will make a great Queen someday.
\\
By Positive on August 25th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
A big “high five” to Positive! You could not have said it better.
By On The Outside on August 26th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Positive – I could not agree more. Just one more thing – Kate’s loyalty to William throughout both their time together and apart. I think her silence during their breakup spoke volumes – not just of her sense of class and self-respect (she did not sell out or become spiteful, even when she and her family were viciously attacked in the press), but also of her love for William. Let the cynics say what they want, but I think she genuinely loves him “for better or worse”. Fortunately for William, it looks like he realized the depth of both her love for and loyalty to him before it was too late.
By Lisa on August 26th, 2007 at 3:13 am
Beth, Diana was lodged at Clarence House in the run up to the wedding. I’m sure she asked all sorts of questions over breakfast/dinner and the QM, who strongly advocated the marriage, would have given her the benefit of her long experience. How could it not happen?
By John on August 26th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Evelyn, there were persistent reports before the April split that the Queen and “senior courtiers” were coaching Kate in many aspects of the Royal life. That was interrupted when William decided to cool it. I’m sure it will be resumed after the holidays.
In any case, as with Diana at Clarence House where she had the ear of the QM, Kate can always give a list of questions to William and he can find people to answer them.
The myth that Diana was “neglected” before her marriage, and thrown in at the deep end when she was, is completely wrong. She always preferred the company of the servants, so would go below stairs for a chin-wag with them. No doubt she heard a lot of minor grievances which built up in her mind over time.
The QM had pushed Charles into the marriage with Diana so was certainly “on her side”.
By John on August 26th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Thanks, John. Could this “coaching” be one of the reasons Kate has been given a “key” to Clarence House?
By Evelyn on August 26th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Maybe. She was escorted to the Sandhurst Passing Out Parade by William’s senior courtier, his Equerry, so she is certainly not being neglected.
By John on August 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
So in other words Diana was a lying about having been left adrift in the days before her marriage? I watched a television special about Diana on CNN this week and in it the woman who hired Diana as a nanny spoke about this, if I remember correctly. She said Diana was very lonely during this time and because she was lonely, would go down to talk with the staff, for lack of speaking with anyone else.
I’m thinking that perhaps the Queen Mother did instruct Diana, I have read as much in the past, but as far as girlfriend companionship, I don’t think that happened in that short time period. Only from what I have read, all of which I am sure is biased, Diana struck me as having been emotionally needy and hating to be alone. Even if she was busy with wedding preparations she could have been lonely for companionship of her girlfriends like he flatmates, etc., from whom I believe she was separated. So I believe the accusations about this. Warm and loving family, which is what Diana craved apparently, the royal family did not seem to appear then or now.
By Positive on August 26th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Diana was taken to Clarence House the night before her engagement was announced and she remained their for about 3 days then was moved to Buckingham Place for the remainder of her engagement until the night before the Wedding. The QM was certainly not on Diana’s side as suggested she had her own agenda to see the future of the monarchy assured and knew all about Camilla and was of no help to Diana. It had been assumed Diana knew what the life at court was and if her own Grandmother did not help her as the QM’s Lady in waiting why does one assume the QM would. If I remember correctly the job of training Diana was left to Lady Susan Hussey HM’s lady in waiting and all she was taught was how to wave.
By Trudie on August 26th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Precisely correct, Trudie. Thank you for posting that!
By Gigi on August 26th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Your welcome Gigi unfortunatly for some not only do I have the memory of an elephant but I just love History!!! especially royal history which is constantly rewritten by the sycophants trying to pass it off as fact!!!!
By Trudie on August 26th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
I also have a good memory and am a lifelong student of history, particularly Royal history. I also share your disapproval of those who attempt to whitewash and rewrite it. We are kindred spirits, dear Trudie!
By Gigi on August 26th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Thanks for the info Trudie and everyone!
By Positive on August 27th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Actually the tales about the “training” period come mostly from Diana’s accounts for the Morton book, when she was in very hostile, even vindictive, mood. Some of the servants who were there, including the QM’s Page William Tallon, say it was very different to her descriptions and Diana was deliriously happy most of the time.
If Diana needed to know something she only had to ask. There were dozens of experienced people all around her.
By John on August 27th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Actually John Sarah York said the same thing. Gigi yes I believe we are kindred spirits even though I am a coffee drinker.
By Trudie on August 27th, 2007 at 10:26 am
How is one providing training and guidance if one waits for a young, inexperienced and perhaps intimidated person to “ask” if she wanted to know something?! John, really now! Furthermore, the staff of the Queen Mother are said to be so mired in adoration for her that nary a negative comment will be said. I would hardly think the testimony of her page should be considered fair and unbiased. Further, the Queen Mother was known to refer to those who worked for her as “staff” but never as “servants,” a term she felt was demeaning.
By Gigi on August 27th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Yes, dear Trudie, my inability to drink coffee has for years placed me outside the norm. This is even more true today in this era of a Starbucks on every corner. Friday, while I waited to drive my son to a number of appointments, I sat in the Starbucks on 6th and Congress, shrinking into a corner, trying to be inconspicuous as I sipped….(gasp!) water!
By Gigi on August 27th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Gigi, I stand chastized — servants, indeed!
And may I say, your drinking habits are utterly commendable. Maybe you could give Prince Harry a few tips.
By John on August 27th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Wouldn’t it be ironic if alcoholic beverages were actually more safe to consume than water due to it’s increasing impurities? When Cornelius Vanderbilt, an American millionaire of the Golden Age, nearly died of typhoid fever, he managed to quip to his teetotaling wife “Had I been drinking scotch instead of water, this never would have happened!” Her reply was not recorded.
She outlived him by decades, I believe, but I doubt such data leads to a reliable conclusion.
By Gigi on August 27th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
In earlier times everyone in England drank ale rather than water, even schoolchildren — see Tom Brown’s Schooldays.
The only problem was they became alcoholics in early middle age, but at least they survived.
By John on August 27th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
When my younger cousin, Francois, who is a French National, used to visit us here in the USA, he would not drink milk but insisted on drinking wine. His Mother, Helene, knew my Mother was shocked that a 4 year old should drink wine, but apparently at that time, milk was still unpasteurized in France, and therefore deemed unsafe. Water was also not reliable in France at that time due to the serious and widespread contamination of the French rivers during WWII. At any rate, Francois drank wine and appears to have suffered no ill effects since he is now in his late 50s and has never experienced an illness of any kind.
By Gigi on August 27th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Children in France today are given wine diluted with water at dinner. Puritan Britain hates this, but it seems to work better than the binge drinking excesses of many of our youngster now.
By John on August 27th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
You are absolutely right, John. My husband is French and says that he was given diluted wine to drink as a youngster. He also gave it to our son. I don’t know if this was a good idea, though, as he prefers champagne, cognac and armangnac, amongst the higher end potablesnow and he’s only 23!
By Beth on August 27th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Everything in moderation, as my Mother used to say. We all need to follow that.
By Gigi on August 27th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
If Kate has read all she can get her hands on regarding what it is like behind the palace walls then she would run the other direction. Its enough to read what a time Diana had. But Kate
also needs to read Fergie’s book. Once she enters into that world she has lost everything on the outside. From what I have read
the “Courtiers” do not like any outsiders (that are not royal descent) and are known not to help an outsider at all. They have a lot of control. They feel that their positions were ordained. If Diana and Fergie so desired to leave that world, what makes Kate think that she could cope any better. It is not just about being in love…..
By Judy on August 30th, 2007 at 2:46 am
If Wm and Kate got back last week, why hasn’t anyone caught a glimpse of her over this past weekend. I haven’t read anything
about her once she got back into town. Maybe I have just missed
the articles. Will she be Wm escort this Friday for the mem. ser.
or will she be in the back ground?
By Judy on August 30th, 2007 at 2:50 am
Judy, William was reported to be at Birkhall this week, but returned to organize the Memorial Service. Teapot Cottage is at Birkhall and he and Kate may well have gone there after returning from the Seychelles last week.
They are keeping a low profile, as Royal Anecdotes suggested in “Ten tips for the girl who would be Queen”.
By John on August 30th, 2007 at 8:27 am