Kate Middleton to get 24-hour guard
The London Evening Standard is today reporting that Kate Middleton is to get round-the-clock police protection. The operation has been weeks in the preparation and is ready to go at short notice.
The scene last birthday outside Kate Middleton’s home
The article outlines the plan, “An experienced chief inspector, John Hourihan, has been found to manage a Kate and Wills ‘team’ made up of four bodyguard officers for each of them. The officers will be hand-picked and highly trained in marksmanship, close protection duties — including emergency first aid — and the essential diplomatic skills.”
This contrasts with recent articles in the Daily Mail calling her “Waity Katie” and implying that she was searching for a house for them both in bizarre places like North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Apparently — according to the piece — she wouldn’t accept any house owned or controlled by the Royal Family.
I didn’t believe that then, and this is confirmed by the Standard report : “Rumours of an engagement have also been fuelled by intense activity in recent weeks on the Harewood Estate near Ross-on-Wye, a property acquired by Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall in 2000 which, it is believed, has been earmarked as a possible home for William and his bride.”
An insider is reported to have said, “She is treated by the staff with the kind of deference reserved for members of the family. Everyone thinks she and William are a done deal.”
Kate really does need protection now, as well as receiving the overt respect of the Royal establishment to quash the jungle of tittle-tattle surrounding her every move.
Wow, William is really really clever. Since he is known to be training with the military on her birthday, he one-ups the media by releasing news of Kate’s new police protection on her birthday. He will make an unbelievable King (and, possibly, husband!)
By Amity on January 9th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
[...] Continue Reading [...]
By LifeTimes Network Magazine » Kate Middleton gets 24-hour guard on January 9th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Well John, your “triangulation” need must have been filled on this story. I am thrilled of course but the timing is either brilliant or weird. Would they get engaged when he has this hyper time consuming year ahead? Would they get engaged and have the engagement last a full year till his military stuff is done? Would they marry while he is so engaged in this training? But then again if the report is true (and you must be satisfied that it is, is the Evening Standard especially reputable?) concerning the protection, this would be a signal of something and the press would go wild!
By Claudia on January 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Claudia, the Evening Standard is a sister paper to the Daily Mail, which is generally reliable. I’ve managed to stand the story up, although it hasn’t hit the TV news bulletins yet. They are probably doing their own investigations for it.
By John on January 9th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I must say that I find it believable on the whole. Many of us have expressed bewilderment that the Royal Family has not provided Kate with protection officers long ‘ere this and the scene outside her London flat last year at this time was most unpleasant. I say ‘thank Heavens’ and I am also delighted to hear that there is now a flurry of activity, once more, at the Harewood Estate. Kate would not be the first Royal bride to marry while her bridegroom was training with the military, after all. Things are definitely looking up!!
By Gigi on January 9th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
This is all very interesting, especially since some members of the British Government are presently calling for the suspension of police protection for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. How will the Royal Family justify police protection for private citizen, Kate Middleton, unless her engagement to Prince William is imminent?
By Arthur on January 9th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
My understanding is that the Evening Standard is the preferred newspaper of the Queen? Also, while I have no idea whether or not this is a harbinger of an engagement announcement soon or sometime next year, it almost doesn’t matter, as it is a de facto indication that the Royal Family is acknowledging Kate openly and publicly as one of their own.
By Amity on January 9th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
All I can say is IT’S ABOUT TIME !!!! after 5 long years it is pretty much acknowledged that they are long term and her association with William could make her a target for deranged William followers especially after all the hate for her that is out there. That said a terrorist could also get to her thinking what a coup it would be to get the girlfriend of a future King. Police protection for Beatrice and Eugenie is a problem because they have the HRH but have no real chance of inheriting the throne I think the cost of their protection should be bourne by their father as they carry out no engagements and Beatrice in particular shows herself to be into nothing but partying.
By Trudie on January 10th, 2008 at 12:42 am
We’ve written here many times about how Kate needed protection, so I’m glad it’s coming. It seems like a princely birthday gift to me! With William away so much over this year, it’s good to know that Kate will not go unprotected.
I was just reminded that in the US, there is a tradition that women can propose marriage to men on “Sadie Hawkins Day”– February 29. Is there a similar tradition in the UK? It doesn’t seem like Kate needs to head that direction, though; the protection order makes me think they are unofficially engaged.
Will this royal wedding necessarily need to be in the summer? In 2009, Valentines Day would be on Saturday.
By Evelyn on January 10th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Of course I am not a taxpayer in the UK, but I strongly believe that all the children and grandchildren of the Queen should be given 24 hour protection. Beatrice and Eugenie may not at this point in their lives be working for the Royal Firm, but they will in due course and Prince William will need their support when he is King. As for Prince Andrew paying for this, his Civil List income may appear princely to some, but it is not nearly as fulsome as it would need to be to provide 24 hour security for his daughters. Here in the US, all sitting US Presidents and former US Presidents and their families get Secret Service protection for the remainder of their lives. That is as it should be. Sitting Vice Presidents and families get Secret Service protection as well.
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 3:41 am
Gigi I hate to disagree with you but in the case of former Presidents and their families getting secret service protection for life this has changed. The last president to have protection for life is Clinton. Once the current Bush leaves he will only have protection for the next 12 years after leaving office if I remember correctly. Also once they leave office their children lose their protection once they are of age I believe. As for the case of royal grandchildren I do not believe that any of HM’s cousins have protection I believe only Princess Alexandra has an escort when she attends royal engagements.
By Trudie on January 10th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Finally!
By Alicia on January 10th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Given Prince William’s military commitments until early 2009, it is too soon to announce an engagement. Rather than have Kate suffer under the glare of the press like she did last year on her birthday as they waited to spy a ring, it seems like William chose to pre-empt the paparazzi with a not-so-subtle indication that Kate is the one for him, even if it is not yet formally announced. If that is so, my opinion of the prince, which was not negative, just increased.
By Lisa on January 10th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Trudie, you are correct about Bill and Hillary Clinton being the last former President and First Lady to receive Secret Service protection for life. George and Laura Bush will receive Secret Service Protection for no longer than 10 years beginning the day President Bush leaves office. Secret Service protection ends for the Vice President and his family the day the Vice President leaves office. Children of a former President receive Secret Service protection until they reach the age of 16. Exceptions can always be made if warranted. Chelsea Clinton received Secret Service protection while attending Oxford University by Executive Order of President Bush. Chelsea was studying in England after 9/11 and it was a turbulent time for her to be abroad. I wouldn’t be surprised if Congress amends the 10 year rule for President Bush. Mr. Bush’s post-presidency will create special challenges for the Secret Service because of the war in Iraq and the many enemies Mr. Bush has made in the US and abroad.
By Arthur on January 10th, 2008 at 7:51 am
The problem with Princess Beatrice is that she’s on her gap year and seems to be partying all over the world. That looks bad to sceptical taxpayers when Zara, who is a high-profile international sportswoman, gets no protection at all, despite being the Queen’s grand-daughter.
A little logic here might be better than stripping away anyone’s protection.
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 9:26 am
A news this through the Swiss and German press goes: – I try to translate it.
LONDON. “just” the German “Bild” – newspaper and not British-leaves like the “Sun” knows, why Kate Middleton (25) and Prince William (25) look for a common place to stay for itself: The two ones got engaged secretly. And this already already four weeks ago. On palace Balmoral, the Scottish summer-residence of the Royals, cottage, her future in-law-dad of Prince Charles and Prince William are supposed to have met. The son opened his marriage-intents on that occasion and father Charles gave his blessing. With a royal wedding, it is to be reckoned at the earliest 2009, however, because the second first should complete his/its education in the British succession with the military. Marriages the two ones, this means a novelty in the history of the Royals: William would be the first successor, that marries from love and doesn’t take any woman stipulated through the yard-politics.
-end of translation-
By heros on January 10th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Thanks for the tip Heros. There’s certainly a lot going on behind the scenes at the moment. If this is true, the Palace won’t say anything until the announcement is made, so we could be kept in the dark for quite a while.
On the other hand …
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Incidentally, Heros, your translation is incredibly cute.
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 11:50 am
By Heros on January 10th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
We can understand it, though.
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
We certainly can understand it, and thank you very much, Heros, for the interesting information! I can assure you that if I were to try to translate an English release into German or French, the results would be disastrous! I am assuming, John, that if Prince William sought the consent of Charles, he also sought the consent of the Queen, whose consent he must have to wed, since he will one day be King. Is that the case? Also, I agree with you, John, regarding erring on the side of caution in security matters. Those who believe that the members of the extended Royal Family need no protection should recall the horrific death of Lord Mountbatten at the hands of the IRA, and the collateral deaths of his grandson, a local boy who helped with the boat, and the elderly Mother-in-Law of Patricia Mountbatten. That disaster was a dreadful price to pay for a little economy.
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Thanks for the information regarding the US security details for Presidential families, Trudie and Arthur. I have a feeling, however, that all those plans will change because of post-9/11 concerns. If they don’t, they should!
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Gigi, in theory he doesn’t have to consult the Queen as he’s over 25. In practise, it would be unthinkable if he married against the Queen’s advice. There would be a lot of bad blood and the poor girl would be shattered.
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Thank you for clearing that up, John. I must now warn everyone that I fear that I am already enveloped in a romantic daze and am tantmount to gathering roses for the rose bowl in preparation for the announcement of the Royal Engagement! When I think of all the lovely photos, stories and descriptions that await of us Royal Fetes leading up to the Royal Wedding, I am getting more and more excited!! My husband tried to calm me last night by saying that he doubts that Royal Engagements are announced in a dreary month like January, but I am giddy with anticipation nonetheless!
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Is January any more dreary than February? That’s the month Prince Charles chose to announce his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer.
By Evelyn on January 10th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I have to admit, I’m excited too. Even if it takes a couple of months to announce it.
By Claudius on January 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Excellent point, Evelyn! To be frank, I don’t care if they announce the engagement on Groundhog Day in the middle of an icestorm, just so they announce it!
For those of you are are unfamiliar with Groundhog Day, it is February 2, the same day as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
This Groundhod Day will the the 18th anniversary of my now husband’s and my engagement! So I certainly would approve that day. Plus, it’s on a Saturday this year– and Prince William will not be flying on Saturdays, so he’d be free to make an announcement with Kate.
But any Saturday in the next four months would be fine with any of us, right?
By Evelyn on January 10th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I have long suspected that they were either already engaged or else would become engaged privately prior to releasing an announcement to the rest of us. If I were William and Kate, I would keep an engagement private for as long as humanly possible. They have already revealed that Kate is to receive a security detail – isn’t that enough? It’s difficult to see how it would be in their best interests to have a long public engagement. The moment an announcement is made, the media circus is ramped up exponentially – and until sometime next year, William will not be there to bear part of the burden. I don’t see how an announcement would help his military studies or Kate with her life. Plus, this way she can plan in peace – whether that is a wedding and/or all the aspects of life after a wedding. Perhaps she is already thinking about how to carve out her own niche in public engagements such as the Bluebird photography event?
By Amity on January 11th, 2008 at 12:43 am