Kate Middleton resurfaces
We haven’t heard much news about Kate Middleton lately, so it’s interesting to hear she’s rather put out by Prince William’s proposed motorbike trip down Africa in June.
The idea, obscurely named Operation ER+Queen (something to do with Easy Rider and Steve McQueen), is that Princes William and Harry will bike 1000 miles down the length of Africa to Lesotho and South Africa in aid of Harry’s charity for African children.
Today’s Mail on Sunday has the following passage : “A friend of Harry’s said: ‘Chelsy has been helpful and encouraging about the trip.
‘She has travelled a lot in South Africa and hopes she and Harry might have some time together out there once he has completed the journey.
‘Kate Middleton, on the other hand, is rather put out by the whole thing.
‘She feels excluded because she can’t help in the same way Chelsy can and is annoyed William is choosing to spend some of his valuable leave away from her.’ ”
So there is some tension there. But this trip is so full of dangers, it may not happen.
This is a trip that probably will never happens. If it does, I’m sure they will have proper security. I read the Mail article, and to be honest, I didn’t know it was for a good cause, I thought it was only pure fun.
As for Kate, I think she is slowly getting out of the picture. They seem to not be spending any time together or planning to have any time in the future. Even if she doesn’t agree with the trip, she could at least show some enthusiasm and be supportive of William, whatever his endeavors might be.
As for this relationship, it doesnt look goo to me.
By Marilyn on February 17th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I hate to point this out to Kate but William is royal and being royal involves raising money for charity. If William wants to help Harry raise money for Sentabale I say it’s about time. Kate has yet to realize the relationship is not all about her. If this trip comes about I think it is excellant that William and Harry are approaching fund raising in a hands on modern way. It seems Chelsy is still very much in the picture and Kate is a tad jealous.
By Trudie on February 17th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
The trip seems like an interesting idea, I wonder if it will really happen. However, I have to say I laughed when I read the part about Chelsy and Kate. A ‘friend’ of Harry’s says that Chelsy is being so supportive but mean old Kate isn’t, it reminds me of the type of posts you come across on message boards – I think Chelsy seems like such fun but Kate looks so boring: I think Kate is so classy, I find Chelsy so common. The newspapers also seem to have a Kate vs. Chelsy mentality. This is a shame, especially if these are the two women the princes choose to spend their lives with. I fear we will be subjected to constant headlines of jealously and fights between the two princesses within the palace walls. Maybe Kate does have reservations about the trip, I know I would if my partner wanted to take on such a monumental task but does it have to be because she is jealous Chelsy can help more or that he is not spending all his leave with her, perhaps she is just worried. From the lack of press about Kate over the resent weeks it seems like she is quietly getting on with her life while William is completing his training and I would imagine that she will continue to get on with things if they do end up doing this trip – but I guess there is no story in that!
By Ash on February 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
There are a lot of things that Kate could do to help with this cause. She could use her photography skills to document the planning phase and the actual running of the biking event.
With William being busy with the RAF, Kate could become envolved with the advertizing and fundraising aspect of the event. I do have questions about William and Kate concerning the media. There are a lot of mixed messages going on. On the one hand, pictures were released (at another site) with them at Seychelles during their August vacation which shows how together they are. On the other hand, rumors of a weakening of their relationship is being reported. I think that the media is choosing their words for the greast of impacts. For example, instead of saying Kate is annoyed about not being included in the event because she isn’t being able to be with William, they could of said that she is disappointed about not being able to spend more time with him. We can all understand about wanting to be with the one that you love. She could be supporting William but wishing that she could be with him more. It will be interesting to see how things do play out with this charity event. I wish all concerned the best of luck if it does go on this June. I am pulling for William and Kate.
By kat on February 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I am too but I think people are making a big deal out of nothing. Kate can be there and cheering William & Harry on. I’m sure she would be there with them. If this event happens. It’s nice to see William & Kate still going strong. I think if you are going to be part of the royal family, you have to be strong. Diana one said you can either sink or swim and she swam.
By Claudius on February 17th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Interesting scenario.
Harry’s friends start to comment Kates reactions to Williams decisions?
Kate commenting in the open things concerning her relationship to the prince N O W ?? When she kept dead quiet throughout their separation last year?
IMO thats only empty wind blow down the same old chimneys over and over again.
They keep low, as they did all the time since christmas, they will not start to blubber just to keep the prints busy.
By Gena on February 17th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I wouldn’t put too much credibility in these kind of articles in the first place. The article names one of Harry’s friends as “source”. Even if one believes that a friend of Harry who’s close enough to know details about this trip would talk to the DM, how would a friend of Harry know how Kate feels? And how would the friend have contacted Harry who seems to have been gone on duty abroad? I think the DM just tried to add some spice to a story that had already been reported last week and brining the girlfriends in always does the trick. If there’s any thruth to this at all (which I doubt) I could only imagine that Kate would like to join the trip or hopes to spend some time with William alone during his holidays but I doubt she’s jealous of Chelsy. Furthermore I don’t see how Chelsy could be of great help to plan the trip. I’m sure if this happens at all, it will be Royal Security Officers who do the planning and decide which route to take and they certainly won’t ask Chelsy Davy for advice.
By Isana on February 17th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I agree with Isana. This unnamed source quoted by the Daily Mail seems fishy to me and the whole story lacks credibility. We’ll just have to wait and see, of course, but in the meantime, permit me to doubt.
By Gigi on February 17th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
At Teamhighgrove they post that William tried to date Kate for the Valentines, but his commanding officers did not allow him to take leave. Kate would have driven half the way north into Lincolnshire to meet halfaway. So they are supposed to meet during the weekend. If it is true, it shows, that they are able to maintain their relationship during several weeks, without meeting. When my husband started his service he was away for a whole month, and this was in the time before everybody had cell phones. Perhaps we will have some nice photos after this weekend showing them stroll down at some nice country walk, in the springtime weather we have at least here in western europe.
By Gena on February 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Trudie, Gigi, is there an inevitable custom for late Valentines, something no man should miss to do to appease his Lady, especially if one has missed her birthday, just some weeks ago?
By Gena on February 17th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I wish I could be rich so that random things I do for fun magically become for a good cause.
By ClassyCanuck on February 17th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Personally I think Valentines day is over rated. It is too commercialized if you think about it the price of Flowers triples and IMO only the guilt ridden buy into it. My husband and I stopped years ago celebrating If you can’t say I love you or surprise your mate 364 other days of the year just what is the point?.
By Trudie on February 18th, 2008 at 12:18 am
While I agree with all of the comments above regarding the healthy dose of skepticism about all reports, I could see how Kate could be disappointed if William and Harry were going on a motorcycling trip without her in Africa – particularly since William is very close to his ex-girlfriend Jecca Craig (and it would make sense for him to meet up with her there). No matter how solid your relationship seems to be, I would think it would be very natural to feel uneasy when there are all sorts of press reports about your relationship being rocky (Kate wouldn’t be the first public figure to learn about bad personal news from the media), you have already had a bad experience the previous year with a very public and humiliating breakup, and you may not have any binding commitments from your beloved to put your heart and mind at ease. Long-distance relationships are very challenging, and often it is the doubts that well-intentioned people whisper in your ear that are the worst. While I certainly feel that William and Kate can and hopefully will make it, Kate has to deal with a lot – and she is forced to do it privately. I certainly don’t envy her position.
By Amity on February 18th, 2008 at 3:32 am
I hope that Kate can stay strong in the face of the media. Someone has said recently that you can’t always believe what you read in the newspaper. I truly do believe this is right. My wish is that William and Kate can overcome the rumors. I do believe that their love will win out in the end.
By kat on February 18th, 2008 at 4:10 am
I don’t see how a friend of Harry’s could possibly know what William’s girlfriend is thinking.
I believe Isana has the right of it, that Kate and Chelsy’s names have been used to spice up the article and create more interest.
I also believe that William and Kate will be able to ride out the rumours and keep their relationship lowkey and going steady despite any sensationalistic claims made by the media.
By mapleleaf on February 18th, 2008 at 4:56 am
One point about “Harry’s friend” : most friends of Harry are also friends of William. They were both at Eton and shared the same “Highgrove set” of pals. They are both in the Blues and Royals, so again they will know the same people.
I agree though it’s unlikely that Kate would be jealous of Chelsy, since a trip like this is a highly technical operation, and Harry is a fully-trained reconnaissance officer. He can call on much greater expertise than a girl who flies into different resorts and spends time on beaches and in bars.
By John on February 18th, 2008 at 8:41 am
There was a totally unbelievable story in the Mail a few weeks back, which I wrote up here. It stated that Kate was looking for their marital home in North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire or Norfolk. Strangely these counties are close to where William is temporarily training.
I now believe she may have been looking for a short-term rented house where she and William could be together until the summer. Harry was reported to have rented a cottage in a Dorset village as a “love nest” for himself and Chelsy when he was on the tank course at Bovington.
Sometimes the story gets mangled and is made to refer to something else. Kate may, of course, have found such a house and be meeting there in the greatest secrecy.
By John on February 18th, 2008 at 8:48 am
By Gigi on February 18th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Kate has been known to go out with Guy Pelly,and Williams group of friends for outings, they are friends to both Pr. William and Harry. So it is possible for things to get out inadvertantly to the press.
By U.S. on February 18th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I suppose it is possible, U.S., but I really doubt it. Among those people who are members of the “inner circle of friends” of the Royal Family, the rules are clear: you talk to anyone about the Royals, and you are out. I think it is far more likely that the press, desperate for anything to boost their sales, are getting fanciful yet again. Just my opinion, of course, and we shall have to wait and see.
By Gigi on February 18th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I agree with you Gigi. The press without any real news is sensationalizing everything. We’ve gone from a harmless dance at a wedding two years ago to he captured my heart that night. It is a little suspect that these women are just now coming to light. Someone must be trying to fill the news vaccum by digging into Prince William’s past. At any rate, the news is irrelevant since it happened in the past. John’s insight into the house hunt by Kate is very interesting. I like his thinking.
By kat on February 18th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Gigi is correct. W&H’s criteria for friendship = discretion.
By Amity on February 19th, 2008 at 12:13 am
John wrote, “I now believe [Kate] may have been looking for a short-term rented house where she and William could be together until the summer. … Kate may, of course, have found such a house and be meeting there in the greatest secrecy.”
If this is the case, it could be another reason why Kate quit her job in London. It just wouldn’t work with this plan. Photography would be something she can take with her wherever William’s career takes them.
By Evelyn on February 19th, 2008 at 12:39 am
We’ll probably never know, Evelyn — and I hope we won’t. They deserve some alone time away from the mad atmosphere in London. I do hope my guess is true.
By John on February 19th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I hope it is, too, John. It is pretty to think of them spending quality time away from peering eyes, microphones and lenses. It is romantically like Sir Robin of Lockesley and Maid Marian’s idyllic time spent sheltered by the green woods of Sherwood Forest!
By Gigi on February 19th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I’m getting worried with the no information at all about Kate.
By Me on February 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I am not alarmed as yet. She can’t have come to any harm and I really believe that had she and Prince William parted, the press would have found out and told everyone they knew. That is my theory, anyway. Maybe I am just whistling in the dark.
By Gigi on February 20th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Who knows when was the last time kate was seen in public?
By Marilyn on February 20th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
I think the last pictures of them were taken 12/18/07 when they were hunting together in Windsor. Since then there are no pics and no “sightings” of them either.
By Isana on February 21st, 2008 at 9:01 am
Maybe they have a very private “love nest” near Cranwell in Lincolnshire, where William is training. It would explain quite a lot, including the sudden end of the Mario Testino project.
By John on February 21st, 2008 at 9:51 am
The last time Kate was seen in public was about 3 weeks ago (no pics) at a play – theater in London.
There are new Chelsy pics Leeds.
By Me on February 21st, 2008 at 12:12 pm
At least we know nothing sinister is going on, which is comforting. Clearly, the Middleton family knows where Kate is and so do pertinent members of the Royal Family, or there would be a massive search going on. John’s theory seems sound to me, and also attractive. Regarding Chelsy, I know she hates cold, damp weather, but she looked great swathed in black wool against the white snow in Leeds! Significant snowfall makes any place look like a winter wonderland, however dreary the setting.
By Gigi on February 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
William was surfing with friends on Feb 9th, I don’t think Kate is one of his priorities these days.
If he wanted to instead of surfing with Pelly and friends, he could have seen Kate, but he didn’t…because surely this site would have been trumpeting the reunion to the top of the mountains
He surfed with friends on Feb 9th, William, Guy Pelly, Straubenzee,Meade, Fletcher, so if he wanted to see Kate and give her a Valentines Day present, he could have on this day off with friends, I think it’s slowing down for these two.
LINK
By US on February 22nd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I don’t think it’s an indication of things slowing down at all. The 9th of February isn’t Valentine’s day. We have no proof and no indications of what William and Kate did this past weekend, which was the weekend AFTER Valentine’s day.
Since Valentine’s day itself was on a Thursday and William was obliged to work, it’s very logical to assume they would make up for spending Valentine’s day apart on the weekend. That was this past weekend.
So far, there are no reports of Prince William being sighted anywhere with anyone, friends included, this past weekend. Nor are there any reports of Kate Middleton being sighted anywhere with anyone. So there’s no reason why they couldn’t have been tucked away somewhere quietly enjoying their weekend. I can’t say they were because I have no way of knowing such a thing, but it’s certainly a strong possibility, and a very logical one.
By mapleleaf on February 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Still the photo in the LINK clearly shows that a few days before Valentines Day, he was surfing with his buddies. He could have easily celebrated Valentines with Kate if he chose to on Feb.9th, since he had to be with the RAF on V-Day. It is just as logical as those saying he could celebrate the day with her later, when he has time off. He had time off just a few days before and no sign of Kate in attendance anywhere with him. I think the it really slowed down at Christmas when NO Engagement Ring was given. I don’t think William and Kate are seriously dating anymore.
By US on February 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Actually it makes perfect sense that they are still together.
There have not been any signs of Kate lately. I think that if they had really drifted apart, there would be some sightings of her
somewhere. Since William has joined the RAF, there have been very few sightings of him as well. I don’t think that there would be an official announcement of an engagement until later in the spring if it has happened. There is the party for the Queen and Prince Phillip in March. Afterwards, in May, there will be the wedding. I am sure that neither Kate nor William would want to upstage either event. I would doubt any announcement would be made until after that. I have heard that an engagement could occur and be made known to the RF without it being announced immediately to the public. It is my hope that they are off somewhere together on the weekends. If and when they decide to make everything public, there will be plenty of time for sightings of the two of them together. By the way, the weekend after Valentine’s Day was actually closer to the actual day than the week before. I would have rather gotten together then than the weekend before Valentine’s Day.
By kat on February 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Or she could actually be heartbroken this time and hiding somewhere. IMO the other “breakup” was kind of fake and they both knew there was something there and they were going to get back together. Otherwise, why did she seemed so happy when she was looking for a tennis raquet at her parents house?
If they break up this time, that’s probably it and no more reconciliations. William spends free time with friends because they break up, William realizes he is not in love with her, and Kate cries over mommy’s shoulders. That is another possible scenario. But then again, we just have to wait and see. Prince Felipe of Spain announced his engagement and no one even knew he was dating someone.
By Marilyn on February 23rd, 2008 at 2:03 am
We heard that Kate was looking for a house in the Lincolnshire/Yorkshire area. The report wrongly suggested this was a “marital home”. Clearly it was meant to be temporary accomodation while William is training in Lincolnshire. If they found that house, they are certainly not going to tell us. Imagine the reaction of the paparazzi! The place would be uninhabitable.
My guess is that their extreme low profile is expained by a “love nest” somewhere near Cranwell.
By John on February 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Yes John, but now that everyone is figuring this out, the paparazzi are going to go to that area and maybe do some research as to what houses rented out recently, etc and maybe they’ll find them. Those pictures might be worth a lot.
By Marilyn on February 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Another scenario, no pictures of them together, so everyone gets used to the idea and then he will not have the nagative response from last years breakup. In the mea time, William is in the military, so his PR has a positive image. Kate will slowly fade out of the new and will be remembered as the former girlfriend of William.
What I see in this relatonship is the lack of stability and after five years William is not even sure if he loves her. Most people I know fall in love and marry within 2 years. Most of the people I know who had long relationships before getting married usually divorce within a year or two. What I’m trying to say is you either get married within a reasonable period of time when you are “most in love” or it the marriage won’t work out.
By Marilyn on February 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
There are lots of possibilities, Marilyn. My guess is that the love nest is the simplest solution to the current total absence of news.
If they had split up, we’d surely have heard about it. There would be no point in keeping it quiet.
By John on February 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
This is just a thought. Could the pictures of the wedding and old girlfriend now are being used a smokescreen? Because of lack of news, these were dug up and now everyone is concentrating on them. This gives Prince William and Kate breathing room to have their privacy. I find it odd that in Dec. there were reports of Kate staying at CH. (however frequently is debated) She is with him for New Years. Kate is escorted by 2 of William’s best friends to Afrika, Afrika. There are no new pictures of her. I think that they are very much together and not broken up. It might be wishful thinking that they are waiting for the right moment to go public again. I think that it is romantic to think of them together without their every move being monitored by the public. There will be plenty of time for that in the future.
By kat on February 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I agree with Kat and John. If Kate and Prince William have had a parting of the ways, that news would have been found out and would be all over the press pages. The Queen may have decided that the media was taking too many liberties with Prince William and Prince Harry and decided to tamp down the intrusive publicity. Publicity is, in part, what ruined the marital relations of several of the Queen’s children, afterall. Further, both Prince William and Prince Harry are military men, doing serious work, exacting training that requires concentration and discipline. Media distractions are not only not wanted, but can pose a threat to unit cohesion. Prince William and Prince Harry and their lovely sweethearts are somewhat like ships and submarines in perilous waters. They have temporarily “gone quiet.”
By Gigi on February 23rd, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Story in News of The World
PRINCE William has told girlfriend Kate Middleton he wants to put their love on hold while he concentrates on his military training.
We can reveal they have agreed a SECRET PACT in which Kate, 26, will have little contact with Wills over the next YEAR.
A source close to the couple told the News of the World the 25-year-old Prince has hinted he may PROPOSE when he becomes a full-time royal in 2009.
But friends of the beauty say she is privately WORRIED Wills—currently learning to fly with the RAF—is trying to cool the relationship.
News of The World
By US on February 24th, 2008 at 7:23 am
To me all those “cooling off articles” just sound like a lame excuse for the press to write something about William and Kate when they have no new pictures and simply no idea what’s going on behind closed doors. Last year they wrote about a “secret engagement” after their Seychelles trip and now it’s a “secret cooling off pact”. Why should William want to cool off the relationship? He’s not THAT busy with the RAF, he does get time off as the recent pictures of him surfing and going out have shown. He surely has enough time for a Kate and Kate is free to go wherever William is. Why break up in April, get back together two months later and then cool off again after 5 months especially when both William and Kate knew what was coming? I think it’s much more likely that they have simply found a hidden place where they can meet and the press is trying to “lure” them out by calling into question their relationship.
By Isana on February 24th, 2008 at 11:05 am
That’s what I think too, Isana. The News of the World is not the most meticulous of investigative papers at the best of times.
By John on February 24th, 2008 at 11:19 am
The News of the World story is simply saying that William has told Kate he’s not going to be around much as he’s involved in intense military training. We knew that was going to be the case and said that 2008 was going to be a long Royal year of waiting. The article also claims that William will propose in 2009 if he and Kate can survive a year of long separations.
Again, we knew that too. It doesn’t though consider that the two may have a secret place to meet close to where he’s training.
The Sun is reporting that Chelsy may be about to go off with a South African crocodile hunter. Truly a lack of hard news brings out the novelist in many newspaper reporters. Filed under Fiction.
By John on February 24th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I have a feeling that Prince Wiliam and Kate already know what the future holds for them. I find that after five years or so that Prince William knows how he feels towards Kate. I am sure that he has thought about the future, his role as future king, and his relationship with Kate. IMO, William and Kate will let the rest of us know what is going on with them. I still find it difficult to believe that they got back together just to break up again. It makes no sense for him to put his county through another break up with all the emotional response that goes with that. Surely, he weighed the consequences of him getting back with Kate. That includes her feelings and how she would cope with another public break up. I feel that the kindness of the Prince would not allow him to play with her emotions. The press is just getting antsy with nothing else to write about them.
I think that the Queen intervened and told PW and Kate to keep their relationship low key. So they are keeping things private for now. By the way, I saw that the Charity Bike Ride is in question for security purposes. I think that the article said that it won’t happen.
By kat on February 24th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
It’s so obvious William has no intention of marrying Kate. My bet is he’s already ended it. Kate fans think waiting and no appearances together means marriage and love, but it sounds like the complete opposite, a drifting apart. I think it’s all over and he is giving her a way of a graceful exit.
By US on February 24th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
He would hardly be giving her a graceful way to exit. I cannot imaginge anyone who has an ounce of compassion would put a young woman through a breake up, pursue her to take him back, and then break up with her again. The prince who arranged to get Spurs tickets for a wounded warrior has compassion. I think that he is just saying that he wants to do a good job in the RAF. This will ultimately lead to his being a better king which is admirable. You suggest that he is giving her a graceful way out is rubbish. A break up is just that. It is not hold on for a year and then I can be there for you as your husband. If you read the Daily Exprss, it has a similiar article but has a much different slant on things. I tend to believe that its sensible article is more in keeping with the truth than the News of the World. We’ll just have to see. However, I do believe that they are still together and will remain so.
By kat on February 24th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I agree with Kat and John. I do not believe that the News of the World is either reliable or credible on this issue.
By Gigi on February 25th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Well, we’ll soon know. If Kate is a settled part of Royal life, as I believe, she will pop up at Peter’s wedding. She may also be at The Ritz party in March, although that may be for close family only.
Given the situation, it would be great if the Queen made an exception in Kate’s case. It’s time she had a little positive discrimination in her favour.
By John on February 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I think we’ll know before Peter’s wedding.
By US on February 25th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Buckingham Palace is certainly keeping quiet about Peter’s and Autumn’s wedding plans. The nuptials are supposedly less than three months away, however, very few details have been confirmed by the Palace including the date and venue for the ceremony. Is this because Peter Phillips is not considered to be “Royal?”
Also, Lady Rose Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, is engaged to be married. Will Lady Rose be allowed to marry in the same year as Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly? In the past, more than one royal wedding a year was considered verboten. If Lady Rose decides to have a wedding similar to her cousin, Lady Helen Windsor Taylor, it could be a busy year for St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.
By Arthur on February 26th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Arthur, Peter’s marriage is private, so the Palace will not get involved except insofar as the Queen wishes to support her grandson.
As for one Royal wedding a year, there are now so many youngster queuing up for weddings I think that restriction will be waived. Peter and Zara are not strictly Royal, but Beatrice, Eugenie, William, Harry and some others are. Apart from Charles’s near-fiasco they usually work things out very well.
We will wait and see the outcome.
By John on February 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am