Prince William and Kate Middleton at Balmoral
The Aberdeen Press & Journal is reporting that Prince William and Kate Middleton have arrived at Aberdeen Airport for a short break at the Queen’s Balmoral estate.
They flew in on Thursday night on a scheduled flight from London, accompanied by a Scotland Yard protection officer.
Another passenger on the flight commented, “They didn’t get any special treatment, they were offered the same in-flight snack as all the other passengers.”
The plane touched down shortly after 6pm and the couple left the airport’s main terminal in a Range Rover, driven by Prince William.
In recent weeks there have been reports that Wills and Kate will meet the Queen and Prince Philip at Balmoral for a crunch discussion on the future of their relationship. As Royal Anecdotes pointed out then, if this story were not going forward, William would not take Kate along to meet his grandmother.
Bookies have stopped taking bets on a Royal engagement, although it may not actually take place until January 2009 when William will conclude his stints in the Army, Navy and Airforce.
The couple could, however, decide to make an informal announcement of some kind in order to establish Kate’s status within the Royal Family. That would also set up her need for proper police protection, which has been a glaring omission in recent years.
This is just the news that I have been waiting to hear. I presume if all goes well in the meeing of Kate with her majesty that she will accompany Prince William to the Queen and Prince Phillip’s wedding anniversary service at Westminster Abbey next month. Could this be the ‘informal announcement’? GREAT
By Royalist on October 12th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Excellent, John!! I can’t wait to hear what news comes of the meeting at beautiful Balmoral Castle! If this cottage dates from 1887, it must be one of the cottages Queen Victoria built during the decades after the death of the Prince Consort, when she spent so much time in seclusion. She had a large family and a larger extended family, and when she stayed at Balmoral for lengthy periods of time, as she did, accommodations were needed for retainers and visitors. Actually, 80,000 pounds sterling does not seem so vast a sum to renovate a 120 year old cottage that has been uninhabited for years.
John, are we likely to hear news at the weekend, or do you expect it to be next week?
By Gigi on October 12th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Gigi, we may get some whispers from Katie Nicholl in the Mail on Sunday, or from Richard Kay in Monday’s Mail.
Otherwise, we wait for a servant to earn a few bob by tipping the wink.
The cottage was only uninhabited for a few years, so may not have needed much structural renovation. It’s believed Kate had a lot to do with the interior design. She may have inexpensive tastes.
By John on October 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Well, then, I shall be checking the Mail online with semi-hysterical frequency throughout the weekend, John!
I have to spend some time watching the University of Texas game Saturday, going to church Sunday, and cooking meals, of course, but I shall try not miss any hot news! 
By Gigi on October 12th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Well Royalist, I have a feeling that we will see more of Kate with William at public events. I do think she will be at the party that William & Harry are having for The Queen & Duke’s wedding anniversary. People are saying that we should expect a announcement in 2009 but I have a feeling that they will get engaged soon and Kate will get the protection she needs. We just have to wait and see what happens.
By Claudius on October 12th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
But I don’t know if the Queen is in Scotland this weekend. She wasn’t today……..
By daggy on October 12th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
She’s at an event in Staffordshire today, but is free the rest of the weekend.
By Evelyn on October 12th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
That alone should endear Kate to the Queen!
By Arthur on October 12th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
“She may have inexpensive tastes.”
That alone should endear Kate to the Queen!
John, I tried for italics, but it didn’t work.
By Arthur on October 12th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
By George, I think I’ve got it
Prof. Henry Higgins is my new non de plume.
By Arthur on October 12th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Well Arthur, please do share. I’ve been trying to use italics for the longest, and I’m still not getting it right! I’m trying hard not to be the dullest knife in the drawer, so please help me out.
By mapleleaf on October 12th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Oh good, because I have no idea how to do italics, either, but I would love to know! Arthur, will you tell us how?
By Gigi on October 12th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Mapleleaf and Gigi, to write a word, or phrase, in italics, you must use the greater than and less than arrows on the keyboard, the letters em and a / as follows:
My new nom de plume is: less than arrow em greater than arrow Prof. Henry Higgins less than arrow slash em greater than arrow.
My new nom de plume is: Prof. Henry Higgins .
If you have checked off the box for notification of followup comments via e-mail, you will see how to write in italics when you get updates with italicized words within.
Hope this helps!
By Arthur on October 12th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Eliza, where in the Devil are my slippers?!
By Gigi on October 12th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
YAY, it worked!! Thanks so much, Arthur!
By Gigi on October 12th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
C’mon now Dover, move yer bloomin arse!
Happy to oblige, Gigi. Now, if I could only improve my typing skills, I wouldn’t make so many errors!
By Arthur on October 12th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Lets hope for an engagement announcement!! That will stop the catty comments about Kate on other sites, give her protection and above all else clarity on her relationship.!!! And no they don’t have to marry right away they can marry in 2009.
By Trudie on October 12th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Very true, Trudie, I do hope that an engagement announcement will silence the naysayers. Then, we willl have plenty of time to anticipate and dream about the plans for Prince William’s and Kate’s wedding! This is going to be wonderful fun and I can’t wait for all the gala events to begin! Of course we also have Peter Philips and Autumn Kelly’s wedding in the offing.
Arthur, nothing you could ever write could approach the number of typos I have posted here. Truly, I think John cringes every time I post. There may also have been gnashing of teeth, but we would need a certificate from his dentist to know for sure. If John has recently switched to gin, I feel that I and my eternally proliferating typos may be what pushed him over the edge and into the abyss!
By Gigi on October 12th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Gigi, drinking gin did wonders for the late Queen Mum. If John has switched, he’s likely to live to 101!
By Arthur on October 12th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Since you brought it up Gigi, does anyone, and by that I mean John, know what is going on with Peter and Autumn’s wedding plans? The Palace has been very quiet since announcing the engagement. Why put it out there and not give a date, location etc. Like the Queen, I must also check my diary to see if I’m available to attend!
By Arthur on October 12th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
This is great news
By Alicia on October 13th, 2007 at 12:50 am
This is fantastic, hope an engagement is announced soon.
By Alicia on October 13th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Arthur, I think at the time the engagement was announced for Peter and Autumn, John said he thought that wedding plans would not be made public until after the Silver Anniversary celebrations for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, which are next month. On the other hand, since the wedding belongs to the bride’s family and since Autumn is both Canadian and Catholic, there may be a few things to be decided and that is responsible for the delay. For example, if Peter is converting, there are RCIA (Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults) classes and then Pre-Cana classes. That all takes time.
Excellent italicizing, Alicia!
By Gigi on October 13th, 2007 at 4:08 am
Gigi, how did you know?
I’m glad everyone has mastered italics now. Btw, if you want bold just replace “em” with “strong”.
Oh, and Alicia, don’t forget to close the tag with /em, otherwise the italics will continue throughout your piece.
By John on October 13th, 2007 at 8:49 am
I’ve not heard anything about Peter and Autumn — we’ve been so busy in the office for weeks, I’ve not had time to check the usual sources like Tatler, etcetera.
No doubt we’ll be told when it’s all sorted.
By John on October 13th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Personally I think longer engagements are better. Diana and Sarah had announced engagements and married within months. This did not bode well as they had to camp at Buckingham Palace as newlyweds. This gives the Bride and Groom time to sort out the practicalities before the big day and a good start to marriage.
By Trudie on October 13th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Thank you for the information Arthur, I’d never have figured that out on my own!
I’m thinking that Prince William and Kate will wait until the end of 2008 or the beginning of 2009 before announcing an engagement. By that time Prince William will have completed his secondments with the RAF and the RN.
By mapleleaf on October 13th, 2007 at 11:09 am
John, while I am contemplating pageantry and wondrous celebrations, what specifically is planned to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip? I am sure there will be a Service of Thanksgiving, but will there be a parade, a banquet, fireworks?
My dear Arthur, I meant to imply no criticism of gin. That remark was a reference to an old Vaudeville joke here in America. When a man appeared to be driven to the edge by maddening circumstances, the gag was “What did the guy look like?” and the answer was “He looks like he recently switched to gin!”
John, you are absolutely hilarious!
By Gigi on October 13th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Gigi, it looks like it will be a quiet affair. Just a service and a party, probably at Highgrove — the Ritz would make it a public event. After the Jubilee and the 80th birthday, I don’t think the Queen thinks the public will want another major series of occasions. And, of course, with the Diana inquest continuing, it might not be appropriate to celebrate too loudly.
Discretion is all.
By John on October 13th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Gigi, I never thought you were being critical of gin. I took your comment as a recommendation! I’ll try anything that will get me to a healthy 101 like the Queen Mum. As a matter of fact, I’m sucking down a gin right now. The heck with orange juice!
By Arthur on October 13th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Mapleleaf, I must give credit where credit is due. To find out how to use italics, I simply pulled up an e-mail notification of comments John made, wherein he wrote something in italics. I saw how it was done and shared the information. John is the real Professor Henry Higgins!
By Arthur on October 13th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
The Telegraph has a report that Kate was out hunting today with Prince Charles–there are even pictures.
By Ameilia on October 13th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
LOL Arthur, you say something almost every post that amuses me no end!
As for Kate Middleton out hunting with the Royals at Blamoral,I saw that, too, Amelia. Kate Middleton is definitely at Balmoral, and so is Charles!! Oh to be a fly on the wall!!
By Gigi on October 13th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Kate has just been pictured with Prince Charles at Balmoral during a shoot. This is very exciting because this lets us know that she has been accpted into the family.
By Claudius on October 14th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Not to get overly excited but now that the inquest in underway it certainly is convienient that These photos are appearing and C/H is now encouraging the boys to fufill public engagements. And releasing statements about their future . If I were HM I would hold a big celebration at the Ritz to celebrate the Diamond Wedding anniversary!! It is not often a couple reaches 60 years of marriage and if Chucky is trying to push the inquest to the back pages with these petty leaks at least HM and PP can celebrate as they deserve to.
By Trudie on October 14th, 2007 at 2:40 am
I, too, would like the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to have a lavish celebration for their Diamond Anniversary, Trudie. I think a parade would not go amiss, fireworks would be just the ticket, and a lovely dinner dance at the Ritz sounds very appropriate! Champagne ought to flow like the Thames at high flood, there should be frivolity in the streets of London Town, and all of Britain should join in the mirth, with all the usual pomp and circumstance that pageantry entails.
By Gigi on October 14th, 2007 at 3:30 am
I saw the pictures of Kate hunting at Balmoral and I was very disappointed. I realize the perfect Royal woman loves the great outdoors, however, the sight of Kate dressed in camouflage fatigues, lying prone on the damp ground while looking through the scope on a rifle, appeared unseemly to me. Taking long walks with the Queen is one thing, hunting stag with the guys is something else entirely. I suppose next we’ll be treated to pictures of William showing his feminine side, sitting in a bathrobe getting a manicure and a pedicure.
Don’t try so hard to fit in, Kate. It’s unnecessary!
By Arthur on October 14th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I agree, Kate does look out of place with the guys in that
outfit. Trying to hard. I think she looks so wonderful dressed
as a lovely lady and representing what a future queen should look like.
By Judy on October 14th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I must disagree with you, Arthur and Judy. While I realize that, by tradition, hunting and stalking are male pursuits, for some long time now many woman have become proficient at these sporting pastimes. Kate’s participation may indicate her own interest in this sport, or it may indicate that she wishes to know more about a sport Prince William enjoys. Clever girl! As for the camouflage, many sportsmen wear camouflage gear for hunting and stalking. The sports outfitter shops are filled with camouflage gear, recommended for all weather and all terrain purposes. If she is going to lie prone on the ground to aim and fire a hunting rife (as one of the photos shows her doing), such waterproof camouflage is appropriate apparel. Let us also remember that Kate Middleton is an athletic young woman who loves sports and the outdoor life. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Kate is at Balmoral, in the Scottish Highlands, and she is participating in the activities her hostess and host have offered. She is being a good guest, for one thing. She is taking an interest in things Prince William likes for another. I say well done Kate!
By Gigi on October 14th, 2007 at 4:20 pm