Kate Middleton is engaged say rumours
With rumours running in the German and Swiss press apparently suggesting that Kate Middleton and Prince William were secretly engaged four weeks ago, Kate celebrated her birthday last night without him.
Kate Middleton in fetching hat
The British press is making much of the fact that Prince William was not around to celebrate his girlfriend’s 26th birthday, studiously ignoring his high-pressure new role in the RAF.
However, Kate managed to get out and about with a party at her Chelsea flat attended by family and friends, then leaving for a dinner engagement before moving on to a club with her sister Pippa.
Their parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, joined them for dinner at Tom Aikens’ restaurant in Chelsea and, at around midnight, dropped them off at Kitts Club in Sloane Square.
Prince William learning to fly with the RAF
We await Palace reaction to the engagement rumours — if any.
I really do think that people are getting ahead of themselves here. William & Kate seem to be too busy at this time and I think this would put too much pressure on William & Kate. It was a lot of pressure on them last time and we all know what happened after that. I just don’t want to see them go down again.
By Claudius on January 10th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
John, do you really think that a ‘secret engagement’ is a likely scenario for Prince William, who will one day be King? Somehow, I think his rank would require more fanfare, pomp and circumstance to accompany a milestone like an engagement. Furthermore, unless Prince William and Kate became engaged with an heirloom ring, I cannot imagine that all of Britain would not have been alerted within a day or so of a purchase of a ring! Even the most discreet Royal Jeweler has lower level employees who whisper Royal secrets to the media for a few pounds. On the other hand, if there was indeed a secret engagement, that certainly explains the sudden decision to provide Kate with 24 hour protection that is normally only granted to senior members of the Royal family.
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Gigi, these two are a law unto themselves. It’s known that William had a trial “marriage” with Jecca Craig, so who knows what is happening right now.
I must say I didn’t think there would be all this activity going on so soon. They seemed to have dampened it down nicely. Now we’re back in frantic speculation mode again. It may be there’s something in this. We wait and see, as always.
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
John,
When was this “marriage” with Jenna? As far as I know, K + W have been dating since he was around 20. So wasn’t this too young for him? I read about her but I don’t really know much about this relationship, how long it lasted, etc. Any insights?
Thanks.
By Marilyn on January 10th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Marilyn, the Jecca Craig thing goes back to his gap year when he spent time in Kenya, where her father has a farm. It was before Kate came on the scene. Oddly, William met her recently and there was a frisson of excitement in the press, along with the usual wild rumours.
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Well as you said John, lets just wait and see. To me, it’s just too much attention on them now. But Kate looked very happy so maybe there’s something it all.
By Claudius on January 10th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Claudius, all will be revealed in its own time.
By John on January 10th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I just hope it isn’t ages and ages before we get to see nicely detailed photos of the ring!
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I wanna see the ring, too!
By Alicia on January 10th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Gigi, William might have given Kate Diana’s beautiful sapphire and diamond engagement ring and kept it all very secret.
By Arthur on January 10th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
That would be splendid, appropriate and a superb gesture!! Nevertheless, I still want to see nicely detailed photographs of that gorgeous ring, with which I am very familiar, on Kate’s hand!
Documentation is a key factor in the magic of pageantry, let us all recollect. WHERE is Lord Snowdon and his camera when we need him?! 
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I’m also with all of you who want to see the ring, when and if (no jinxing here!) it appears on Kate’s hand. I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m tired and unimpressed of the guady 99-carat diamond monsters that most celebrities haul around on their hands… I can’t wait to see what gorgeous and classy bauble will represent the love between Kate and Wills!
By Blondie on January 10th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
This beats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hands down. I just have this gut feeling that we’ll be hearing something definitive soon.
By Mary on January 10th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
From your lips to God’s ears, mary and Blondie! I am also tired of Hollywood’s tasteless toys and baubles.
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
The earrings that William gave her looked very good on her last night.
By Claudius on January 10th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Really? Where did we hear that Prince William gave kate diamond chantelier earrings? Claudius, tell us more!
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
It was said that he gave her earrings for christmas. If you look at the pictures from last night, you will see them.
By Claudius on January 10th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Only they aren’t real diamonds– the sales clerks said they were very nice fakes. A female friend who knows Kate’s tastes helped William pick them out, steering him away from real gems to something more to Kate’s liking. If Kate’s wearing them, then it must not bother her that they aren’t “real” gems. The real gem is her boyfriend!
By Evelyn on January 10th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
WHERE is Lord Snowdon and his camera when we need him?!
Gigi, I fear Lord Snowdon is putting the finishing touches on his tell all book about his marriage to Princess Margaret. I wonder how Her Majesty fells about this. Snowden managed to maintain a good relationship with the Royal family after his divorce from Princess Margaret, but that will probably change once his book is published. I suppose, at age 77, Lord Snowdon believes he has nothing to loose. His children might not agree with that sentiment.
By Arthur on January 10th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I believe that Lord Snowden had a parting of the ways with Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto over their auctioning most of the valuable jewelry and art objects they inherited from Princess Margaret. Let us hope that Lord Snowden’s book reveals things about himself but does not tarnish the memory of Princess Margaret. That would not be the act of a gentleman, especially while the Queen is alive and can be hurt by such a revelation, not to mention the children of Princess Margaret. He claims he only wishes to “set the record straight about himself.” I most certainly hope he knows what he is doing. Thank Heaven the Queen Mother did not live to see this.
By Gigi on January 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I think a private betrothal would take the pressure off of them personally. I think a public engagement announcement would ruin their lives right now.
By Amity on January 11th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Also, the 24-hour protection was not a “sudden decision.” It took a tremendous amount of planning – it was just a surprise to us. But what do I know?
By Amity on January 11th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I agree with Amity. Perhaps they did get engaged and didn’t let it get to the media.
After what his mother went through, couldn’t William feel strongly about protecting Kate from a similar fate?
By Molly on January 11th, 2008 at 2:15 am
As I understand it, a “betrothal” is a semi-binding contract and agreement between two parties that they will marry; an “engagement” is a proposal of marriage. Perhaps the former applies in this situation, but they will save the latter for when they are ready for a story for the public?
By Amity on January 11th, 2008 at 3:03 am
Also, I would imagine that if they did have some sort of betrothal, the only people who would know for sure would be the two of them, and probably Charles and the Queen. Possibly Kate’s parents, Pippa, Harry, Prince Phillip, and Camilla may know about it now too. I don’t see how they could keep it from the media otherwise.
By Amity on January 11th, 2008 at 3:07 am
A betrothal was, until the early 1900′s, an exchange of preliminary vows that bound the couple and then culminated in marriage. The word betrothal comes from the act of two persons “pliting their troth” one to the other, and was actually done in church before a minister, priest or prelate. The words spoken on those occasions, were, as I recall, “I (name) plite thee, (name), my troth as God is my witness.” For all I know, this practice may still be in use in Royal circles.
By Gigi on January 11th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Thanks, Gigi. That is very helpful. My understanding is that one cannot break a betrothal without something that is roughly equivalent to divorce – is that so? In any case, it is a very solemn vow, and it would result in 24-hour police protection for Kate.
By Amity on January 11th, 2008 at 3:38 am
If Kate’s wearing them, then it must not bother her that they aren’t “real” gems. The real gem is her boyfriend!
Evelyn, your attitude gladdens every man’s heart.
By John on January 11th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I think every one in the media is being ridiculous about William being absent from Kates birthday. He is on duty after all and the military is more important than someones birthday. Secondly Charles and Diana’s engagement was kept a secret for nearly 2 weeks before it was revealed to it is not unheard of and Arthur no one will see Diana’s ring on Kates hand, Harry has that ring.
I think there will be an announcement soon as Diana had bodyguards the minute her engagement was announced so did Sarah so this is some kind of signal the only ? is when.
By Trudie on January 11th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I agree with John in that I am amazed that they have upped the hype so much so soon in 2008 when they had gone to so much effort to dampen it down.
I can only hope it means that the emgagement is imminent otherwise the pressure will be back on Kate and the relationship will be back to where it was this time last year.
Also Mary, as interested as I am in this relationship I am also fascinated by the Obama/Clinton struggle. I can’t get enough of the primaries, for the first time in a long time I’m gripped by the potential democratic nominees.
By Eliza on January 11th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I agree with Trudie that the announcement will possibly be soon. Saint Valentine’s Day? That would be ideally apropos! Or, since Groundhog Day has been forever hallowed by the marriage of one of our merry band, let it be then, February 2nd! I do hope they won’t tarry long, as I am not getting any younger.
By Gigi on January 11th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Nowadays nobody here uses the old Anglo-Saxon term “betrothal”. We use the French word “engagement” to mean a wedding that’s been officially announced so that the couple are “affianced” — another French word.
I know that French is the language of lurve, but I rather like ye Olde Englishe version.
By John on January 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I personally don’t think they are engaged yet, as in that William already proposed on bended knee and gave her a ring but I’m sure they have spoken about marriage. With the constant media speculation and especially after their break-up they must have made some sort of decision about their future and since they are still dating, they must have decided that they want to spend their future together. I don’t expect a marriage until summer 2009 though hence an engagement would probably not be announced until the end of 2008/early 2009. There’s no need for them to rush and during his military training William wouldn’t have time to help Kate to find her place in the RF anyways. Why should he marry her only to leave her alone for his stay with the Navy?
I don’t get why the English media keeps pushing this issue so much. Ever since the media ban around them was lifted when they left university in 2005 those rumours prevail. Why? They are still young and what will come will come. They should really be left alone!
By Isana on January 11th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I don’t know if they are secretly engaged or what. But IMO they will not announce an engagement, if any, until his cousin gets married. William is busy until April and an engagement will mean photos, etc and he will be unable to do so. And also he should take the distraction from bride and groom when his cousin marries. I say after the wedding. But then again no one really knows.
By Marilyn on January 12th, 2008 at 3:11 am
OOOOps. I meant he shouldn’t take the distraction away from bride and groom.
By Marilyn on January 12th, 2008 at 3:12 am
I’m not sure that Peter & Autumn really want all the attention. By royal standards, Peter’s life and their relationship has been pretty low-profile, in terms of media. They might actually prefer to have less focus on their wedding, if William & Kate were to be preparing for a summer 2008 wedding.
I think summer 2008 is possible, although there are very good reasons for them to wait until 2009.
By Evelyn on January 12th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Peter and Autumn probably do not want the media attention, but my guess is that they are going to get it. Unless we have a Royal engagment to distract the media or some other very major event, Peter and Autumn are going to be front page hot news for months!
By Gigi on January 12th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Fortunately for them (and thanks, in part, to Princess Anne), I’m not so sure Peter and Autumn can sell enough papers to be front-page news for months….
By Amity on January 12th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Let’s hope all the media attention translates into televising the wedding ceremony from St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. I’m not going to hold my breath, however, since Peter Phillips is not Royal and Princess Anne is famous, or infamous, for telling the media to “naff off!”
By Arthur on January 12th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
By tradition, the wedding belongs to the bride’s family. However, this is not the case with a Royal wedding, as we have seen in the past. The first clue that Autumn Kelly’s family is not in control of the wedding will be the venue chosen and the prelate who is asked for perform the ceremony. After that, all bets are off! My guess is that Princess Anne will have a great deal to say about everything concerning her son’s wedding. Mark Phillips, Peter’s Father, will probably be lucky if he is invited, knowing Princess Anne.
By Gigi on January 12th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I thought Princess Anne and Mark Phillips got along quite well since their divorce. Doesn’t Mark Phillips and his current family live in a house on the Gatcombe Park estate?
By Arthur on January 12th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Arthur, the reason that I am not sure that is true is because Mark Philips was not included in the family group present when Zara got her recent honor from the Queen. I would doubt that Mark Philips lives on the Gatcombe Estate–that is where Princess Anne lives with her current husband, Timothy Laurence. I believe Peter and Autumn live there, and also Zara and her boyfriend. John, can you clear this up?
By Gigi on January 13th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Gigi, I remember Mark Phillips’ very conspicuous absence from Zara’s honors ceremony with the Queen and nothing was mentioned about it in the British press. At the time, I thought Mark’s absence might have been because Princess Anne’s current husband, Timothy Laurence, was being honored at the same ceremony. I’m sure John will sort it out for us. Right now, it’s back to the NFL playoff game between New England and Jacksonville. Go Pats!
By Arthur on January 13th, 2008 at 1:59 am
If I remember, Mark Phillips is working for the US eventing team, who have been training. Duty calls! I’m sure he called Zara at the earliest opportunity, and probably saw her over the holidays.
I know Sarah Ferguson continued living in Prince Andrew’s home for years after their divorce. But neither has remarried as of yet.
By Evelyn on January 13th, 2008 at 2:04 am
Mark Phillips did live on the Gatcombe estate but, as Evelyn rightly says, he has been involved with training the U.S Eventing team, so will spend a lot of time in the States. His second wife is also an American eventer and trains Zara in dressage technique, so it would be wise for Mark to keep on his Gatcombe house. I’m guessing that they divide their time between Britain and America.
By John on January 13th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Thanks, John, for clarifying that! It is nice to know where every one is living, Royalwise, and otherwise wise.
By Gigi on January 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
First, I was glad to hear that Chelsy is back at her home. Secondly, I was wondering if Kate Middleton has gotten security, or will she get security when she is officially engaged? Am I also correct in thinking that decisions have probably already been made about Prince William and Kate’s future? Finally, do you think that the reports in the German and Swiss papers are accurate about an engagement between Prince William and Kate. Has anybody actually verified their sources to the story?
I am hoping that they are correct.
By kat on January 13th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Kat, the story of an existing engagement is not running in the British press, so I’m assuming it’s a wild guess — which may, paradoxically — be true.
The security detail would be in place if there’s a secret engagement, or a decision to have one soon. Nobody talks about security, so it’s not easy to get the full truth at the best of times.
By John on January 13th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Regarding Royal Engagements, it is nice to even read about wild guesses, especially right now when there seems to be so little Royal news about.
Anyone else want to make a wild guess?
By Gigi on January 13th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Here’s my wild guess, Gigi. Prince Harry bids adieu to Chelsy Davy and becomes engaged to the beautiful Princess Madeleine of Sweden. The Queen is delighted that someone in her family is finally interested in a true blue Royal Princess who would make a gorgeous addition to Britain’s Royal family. Princess Madeleine also looks stunning wearing hats, which is a definite plus with the Queen.
By Arthur on January 13th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
LOL! Interesting guess, Arthur! I don’t believe we have ever had a Madeleine in the British Royal Family. The Queen might not think the Swedish Princess is quite as true blue a Royal as you do, however, as the Bernadotte Dynasty to which she belongs was founded by Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, a Marshall of France who gave up his French citizenship to accept the offer to become the heir of the Swedish King who was childless. Jean Baptiste was married to Desiree Clary, (who was the former jilted fiancee of Napoleon Bonaparte) and their child, Oscar, became King Oscar I after his Father reigned and died. Neither Jean Baptiste nor Desiree had a drop of Royal blood in their veins, were totally unconnected by blood to the Vasa Dynasty or any other Royal Dynasty.
By Gigi on January 13th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Oh well, it was fun to fantasize for a while. At least Madeleine looks like a Royal Princess!
By Arthur on January 13th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Princess Madeleine is, indeed, lovely and appears to be every inch a princess. I think that Kate Middleton looks very lovely and very Royal, too, however, and believe that she will make a splendid Queen Consort for Prince William! I still don’t know how I feel about Chelsy Davy, but am certainly willing to support whatever choice Prince Harry makes in the future.
By Gigi on January 13th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
“I know that French is the language of lurve, but I rather like ye Olde Englishe version.”
Yes. English is nice but the French will tell you French is not a language, it’s la creme de la creme. It’s Freeeeench!:)
By lionhound on January 14th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Lionhound, the French always have a high opinion of themselves. The maddening thing is that they are so often right.
By John on January 14th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Well, Arthur, here is Princess Madeleine :
With a bosom like that, she could be one of Fergie’s daughters.
By John on January 14th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Madeleine is very beautiful and I can’t see Harry saying no but I doubt very much if it will happen. I think she has a serious boyfriend that she has lived with for a few years unless they have split up.
By Eliza on January 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Right, Eliza, Harry would be panting if he met her.
Anyone know if he has?
By John on January 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
One benefit of Prince Harry marrying a Princess of Sweden is that she would not be appalled by English weather, as Chelsy is. The weather in Sweden is positively arctic for a good portion of the year. However, I still believe that the best course is for both Prince William and Prince Harry to marry only those they love, no arranged matches, however attractive and regal. That way lies disaster.
“Panting,” John?! FIE!
By Gigi on January 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
We’re all agreed, then. Harry should be sent to proposition Madeleine of Sweden by dangling her photograph in front of him.
By John on January 14th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
JOHN! LOL This is getting entirely out of hand!
By Gigi on January 14th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
WOW, Madeleine certainly has some magnificent…….tiara!
By Arthur on January 14th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Well, clearly, boys will be boys!
By Gigi on January 15th, 2008 at 12:04 am