Prince William gets his Wings
Updated 16.15 GMT : Contrary to earlier reports, Kate Middleton was at Prince William’s award ceremony at RAF Cranwell today. The BBC has some intimate footage of the golden couple walking along a corridor at the base. Kate looks stunning in her trademark white coat, and the pair seem every bit the fond, engaged twosome. The fact that they allowed such shots suggests their story is moving up a notch or two.
Prince William and Kate at RAF Cranwell
It was all over in an instant. Prince William walked up to the stage at RAF Cranwell and received his flying insignia from his father, the Prince of Wales — who himself had won it back in 1971.
After a four-month attachment with the RAF — normal officer-training takes four years — Flying Officer Wales gained his cherished Wings this morning. The training was to familiarize him with the ethos and methods of the flying service to prepare him for the role of Commander in Chief when he ascends the Throne as King. He also learned to fly fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
This wasn’t a Passing Out Parade as we saw at Sandhurst, more like a simple awards ceremony. A proud Kate Middleton watched with obvious delight from the floor, accompanied by William and Harry’s Private Secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and their aunt Lady Sarah McCorquodale, who must have been relieved to attend something other than Diana’s inquest.
Prince Charles also bewinged 20 other students at the ceremony.
The night before, a dinner was held at RAF Cranwell, attended by both Princes and the Duchess of Cornwall, to celebrate the achievements of the new young flying officers.
This was indeed it seems a rather low key affair unlike his Sandhurst days. It is great news to hear William is now going to “get stuck in” to his duties within the royal family - could he have time to squeeze in a Royal engagement too!
By SuffolkSim on April 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Well Sim, there are two windows this year : summer and Christmas.
By John on April 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
John , Kate was there atleast that is what the new organization in the US are saying.
By annette on April 11th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I didn’t see her on the TV broadcast, but I’ll check again.
By John on April 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
It you go to getty images they have a picture of PW & K together after he received his wings. Can you hear the Kate haters groaning already, lol.
By Sara on April 11th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Sara, I just updated the piece. The BBC is showing some stunning footage of them together.
By John on April 11th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Congratulations to William on getting his wings. It is great to see Kate with him. It’s funny because when I saw it mentioned this morning on Sky News I did wonder if perhaps Kate would be there after all. It would have been sad to see William achieving a life long dream without the woman he loves beside him and I’m glad that he didn’t have to.
By Ash on April 11th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Yes, it was cleverly concealed, Ash. Up to an hour ago, the Mail was saying it was unlikely Kate would be there. But the pictures said otherwise.
By John on April 11th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
How wonderful! I doubt anyone can deny the direction this relationship is moving in after seeing these photos! Truly great news!
By Claire on April 11th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
What a wonderful picture, it is so good to see Kate supporting her man, her face in all pictures are wreathed in smiles and still sporting a tan from Klosters.
Can an engagement announcement be very far off??
By Royalist on April 11th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
good for them! am glad kate was able to be there..am thinking engagement before years end…
By coni on April 11th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Thank you, John. I’m happy to see that she was there and they are literally beaming. It says a lot about the reliability of the DM’s “royal sources” that they claimed until this very morning that she would not attend.
I read that there are pictures of last weeks charity event in OK magazine including some of William and Kate. Does anyone know whether they have already been posted online?
By Isana on April 11th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
There are some particularly good photographs of W&K in the Daily Express-no more the on again/off again girlfriend.
By Royalist on April 11th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Congrats to Prince William! He looks very handsome and Kate seems to be beaming with pride at his achievement. I have scanned the various news sources and it seems to be that the press (at least, in the UK) is restraining itself from going over the top about Kate’s presence at William’s passing out ceremony. They all mention Kate, but seem rightly focused on his achievement and the father-son aspects of the story.
Am I being too optimistic to think that perhaps the press realize their contribution to the stress that caused Wills’ and Kate’s break-up last year? Or, is a more cynical view more appropriate? There seems possibly to be a recognition by the press that if they over-do their coverage of Kate, they might prevent the thing that they want most: a royal wedding/couple that would be an excellent source of revenue to sell magazines/papers for years to come.
By Lisa on April 11th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I am absolutely delighted!! I am proud of Prince William, who looks so handsome in his RAF uniform, and I am delighted that Kate was with him to see him win his wings!! She looks simply lovely, as ever, and I agree that the Daily Mail needs to ask pointed questions of their souces!
I would say that the engagement announcement cannot be far off. I forget which online paper had a number of photos of the event, but one of them was a photo of Prince William standing next to Charles and he simply towered over him! Princess Diana’s genes have stood the Royal Family in good stead–two handsome, healthy Royal Princes of impressive height!
By Gigi on April 11th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Gigi, I suspect a little mischief about Kate going to this ceremony. Most of the news we got was after the two events and the pics came later. I believe William knew Kate would be the story. More smokescreens, methinks. But worthy ones, so that the other graduates could have their moment.
By John on April 11th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
The BBC has a video clip of them on their site and one can see that Kate had to almost run to keep up with William who seemed eager to get out of there and away from the photographers.
By Isana on April 11th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
If that was the rationale, I am pleased that such trouble was taken to assure the RAF graduates their moment in the sun, John. I think it was very well handled. I know the media hates to be managed, but in this case it was necessary and prudent. The photographs are wonderful!! She and Prince William look so happy! What a lovely time this is with everything going so well. I am as pleased as punch!
Now all we need is a lovely beribboned and flower-decked Maypole with pretty maidens dancing on the Village Green, garbed in lovely dresses of pastel hues while callow lads play for them on pipe, drum and fiddle! 
I just know that everything is coming up roses!
By Gigi on April 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Yes Isana the bbc footage is really cute. Especially the part at the end where he looks back to make sure she is still there and she grasps his arm. Gosh I’m a hopeless romantic!!! I really do hope they use the summer window to announce the engagement instead of christmas!!!
By Jackie Mccoy on April 11th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
By Gigi on April 11th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
And Jackie, thanks for your description, too!
By Gigi on April 11th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I will try to be calm but I am getting very excited! This has to be sign that an engagement isn’t far away. It is lovely to see them so happy looking and smiling.
By Eliza on April 11th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Silly fact but…..I think that she is wearing a BCBG coat too! I tried on a version in red. It is the only coat in this style I have seen that has a zipper. I saw an atricle that discusses how she has several items from this brand.
By Cate on April 11th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I must say, I am humbled and ashamed of my doubts. The birds are chirping the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining just so!
By Madelaine on April 11th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
For logistical reasons, I don’t know if they will announce their engagement this year, but I thought her surprise appearance was another brilliant move by William to quash the Kate-doubters.
By Amity on April 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Jackie, I would like to second your comments. Congratulations to Prince William!!!! I just learned that William will get leave in May. That is the perfect time to announce their engagement. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Two things come to mind. Where is Claudius? John and he have been her strongest of supporters. We haven’t heard from him lately. Secondly, does anyone think that they will have a short engagement? Again, I wish them all the best.
By kat on April 11th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Yes, I think they will have a short engagement. If he will not be a full-time Royal until January 2009, then I hope they will delay their engagement announcement as long as possible - perhaps the first half of the new year? It would be a kindness for him to allow her one last Christmas with her family….
By Amity on April 11th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
The picture looks photo-shopped.
By Ursula on April 11th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
am not meaning to be flip but after one joins the royal family why does their own family go by the wayside…can kate expect to never spend another holiday with her family?? is this really the case???
thoughts
By coni on April 11th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Two things.. John, thanks for changing the photo. I’m so tired of those black boots.
Second, if the ceremony was indoors, why didn’t she take off her coat? I wanted to see what she was wearing.
By Marilyn on April 11th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
I appreciate the black boots…it makes her seem a little less frivolous…after all we’ve seen the coat before as well. This shows me a tiny bit of sensibility as far as spending money on clothing.
By happydally on April 12th, 2008 at 1:28 am
So he gets his wings after 4 months in the same ceremony as officers who trained for 4 years? Doesn’t that kind of belittle their accomplishment?
PS: His jacket is one size too big.
By ClassyCanuck on April 12th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Marilyn
I suspect that she didn’t take off her jacket because she didn’t want the next days headlines to be about what dress she was wearing. Look at the fuss made over her boots & coat!!
By jackie Mccoy on April 12th, 2008 at 5:07 am
Because Prince William is the Heir (after Charles), he can never actually serve as an RAF pilot. Therefore, he takes a shortened course which makes him completely competent to operate the aircraft, but does not give him the intense, long term training a pilot must have to go into battle. No one’s accomplishment is belittled because they are being trained for a different reason and a different mission. Believe me when I assure you that Prince William’s RAF uniform was hand-fitted and hand-tailored for him and therefore is definitely not one size too big!
By Gigi on April 12th, 2008 at 6:05 am
John,
I thought this picture was so sweet. I hope it is ok to share…
LINK
By Madelaine on April 12th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Classy, as I wrote in the piece, William was there to absorb the ethos and methods of the flying service, not to become a fulltime fighter pilot on active duty. The fact that he flew both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters SOLO entitles him to his Wings.
By John on April 12th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Coni, joining the Royal Family doesn’t mean your own goes by the wayside. You are expected to spend Christmas at Sandringham, at least part of the time — Charles and Camilla left for Scotland on Boxing Day this year.
Diana didn’t really get on with her family — she fell out with her mother big time and her brother when he refused the use of a cottage on the estate. That’s why she spent Christmasses alone at KP, with only creepy Burrell around.
Kate gets on with her family so should have a happier time.
By John on April 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Ursula, there is moving footage of this event so it definitely hasn’t been digitally manipulated.
By John on April 12th, 2008 at 10:28 am
The Daily Mail is now confirming that Kate’s presence was kept a secret. Rebecca English writes :
Her appearance on yesterday’s guest list at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire was kept a closely-guarded secret.
A source said: “It was very hush-hush. William was determined not to create a fuss.
“He did consider not inviting Kate but she is his girlfriend and he wanted her there.
“All the other graduates brought their partners, so why shouldn’t he? For what it is worth, she said she thought he looked gorgeous in his uniform.”
Incidentally, the article in the Mail has an unclosed bold tag, so the entire page below the tag appears in bold. I’m itching to close that tag but I don’t have access to the site.
C’mon Mail, this is not very professional!
By John on April 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Thank you for the link Madelaine, Prince William looks very handsome in his uniform, and Kate looks very pretty! He certainly has a big smile on his face, he and Kate look really happy together in that photo.
It’s lovely that Kate was able to be present for William’s big moment when he received his wings. Everyone else had their loved ones present, it would’ve been very sad if Kate wasn’t able to attend and witness such an important personal achievement for Prince William. Congratulations to him on earning his wings!!
John, thank you for explaining that William was there to understand and absorb the methods of the RAF, not to become a fulltime fighter pilot on active duty. Just as you said, the fact that he had solo flights of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters entitles him to his Wings, and I agree that he more than earned them!
By mapleleaf on April 12th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I think it’s a lovely surprise that Kate attended. Photos of them looking so happy show what a gorgeous couple they make.
Have you seen this “hug” from New of the World?
Prince William & Kate Middleton share embrace
The 2nd photo of Kate doesn’t look much like her. My guess it’s one of those low quality pictures that was zoomed helplessly from a mobile phone and retouched unsuccessfully.
By frands on April 13th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Frands, I’m rather suspicious about the first pic. Why is William wearing his Army fatigues on an RAF base? In every shot we’ve seen out of Cranwell, he’s either in RAF uniform or his No. 1 Dress Suit. Mysterious.
By John on April 13th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Afterthought : they could be professional lookalikes hired to fake a couple of blurry shots. The NotW is noted for deception.
By John on April 13th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I don’t think the pics are faked. Why William was wearing Army clothes I don’t know, but he was leaving RAF Cranwell himself on Friday (for Isle of White where he has spent the weekend with Harry and a group of male friends, probably a stag party) so maybe that’s why he wasn’t wearing “RAF clothes”?
If somebody had wanted to use lookalikes, why would they then put him in “the wrong”clothes? They would have been very careful making the woman look totally like Kate: the coat, the ring, the earrings, the fingers, the knees (!), everything to perfection IMO.
I tend to think it is somebody using their mobile phone camera and being tempted to make a few pounds by handing them over to TnoW.
By dagga on April 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Dagga, I don’t know the answer, but if he was going away for the weekend he certainly wouldn’t be wearing Army fatigues, especially as he is still on secondment to the RAF for three weeks.
I don’t rate them at all.
By John on April 13th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
No, I don’t know either,of course I just thought that the “lookalike” was a bit too much like Kate, not only the clothes but the body too. (and I have studied that very closely
).
I nothing about military clothes, so I can be totally fooled there! I just see a lot of people wearing that kind of clothes all the time so I didn’t think it was strange at all.
By dagga on April 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Perhaps you’re right, John. It is very curious to have William in his army coat. But dagga has a strong point too… it’s pretty silly of the architect of these pictures to miss the very obvious points (William’s coat, Kate’s face in 2nd pic) when he’s got the rest of the finer details (Kate’s clothes/form, the ring on the finger, the gloomy weather, William’s balding spot) down to a T. But British tabloids are often so crazy and desperate…
Bottomline: I guess it doesn’t matter. Kate was there and they may or may not have shared that embrace publicly or privately
By frands on April 13th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
PW/PH/Mike Tindall and a few other pals celebrating Peter’s stag weekend in IOW, check out the report on the Sun. Seems they had a very fun boozy weekend.
By Me on April 14th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Why on earth is everyone suprised Kate was there?. Ofcourse the media was fed a line so the focus would be on the grads. I fully expected to see her there as she was at Sandhurst and she is Williams girlfriend/maybe secret fiancee.My Surprise was seeing Lady Sarah Diana’s sister there as she has never been at such events before that was newsworthy.
By Trudie on April 14th, 2008 at 4:40 am
Trudie, I was a little surprised that Lady Sarah was there, too, but I must say that I was also delighted. I never knew why Princess Diana’s brother and sisters seemed never to be involved in the lives of Prince William and Prince Harry after the death of Princess Diana. I suspected that their absence may have been due to an edict from Charles, who was said to be quite anti-Spencer due to the eulogy given by Earl Spencer at Princess Diana’s funeral. At any rate, when Prince Harry and Prince William have been able to issue their own invitations, as they did for the Concert for Diana and other events, they have included their Spencer relations, which I am very pleased about. I doubt it has anything to do about publicity, as the Spencer side of the family seems to shun the limelight.
By Gigi on April 14th, 2008 at 5:27 am
I was pleased to see Lady Sarah and that on the BBC coverage she was shown having quite a chat with Kate. William is certainly keeping a good relationship with his mum’s family even if his dad doesn’t, shades of the Earl’s eulogy.
By Royalist on April 14th, 2008 at 7:48 am
We shouldn’t forget that Prince Charles went out with Sarah before Diana, in fact, I think I’m right in saying that he is regarded as saving the life of one of the Spencer girls who had acute anorexia.
Charles Spencer’s speech should be judged in the light of his own later divorces and family troubles — “people in glasshouses …” etc.
By John on April 14th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I too like the idea of Wiliam and Harry keeping up a relationship with their Spencer cousins. It is important for them to know their cousins on both sides.
Read about Peter’s stag- sounds like good fun. Yes they were hammered but they weren’t rowdy and they were social and chatted with the locals. Youthful high spirits. Reminded me of guys I know; have a good time but with inbuilt limits.
By Eliza on April 14th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Gigi it had nothing to do with publicity and yes the Spencers do with the exception of Charles Spencer shun the limelight. I only meant that it was newsworthy in the respect that at last there was a Spencer to share in a milestone in Williams life. unlike his graduations from Eton, St Andrews and Sandhurst.
By Trudie on April 14th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
john..thanks for clearing that up for me. I do now recall reading somewhere that Diana was “on and off” with her family. am sure kate was on the guest list all along..was just kept low profile. William and Kate are certainly playing this right in terms of exposure. Am sure he doesnt want the same mistakes that were made with his mother.
By coni on April 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
John, the eulogy of Earl Spencer made points that do not and should not be judged by his own behavior because there is no relation between them. His points were that Diana was mistreated, which she was, and that the final injury was the removal of the HRH, which nearly everyone saw as an action unworthy of the Royal Family. Further, his comments blaming the media for contributing to her death are now confirmed by the coroner’s inquest. He also spoke of Princess Diana’s qualities and her insecurities, their childhood together and her love for her sons and many others who were in need. None of those points should be judged on anything but their own merit.
By Gigi on April 14th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Gigi, his pointed reference to “her blood family” was a calculated insult to Charles and the Royal Family. His promises to look after the two Princes never materialized as he lived in South Africa most of the time. In earlier times he would have been separated from his head.
By John on April 14th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
John,
Hi. I read that CH is looking for a new Press Secretary. Could it possibly have anything to do with the statement made last week that the PW had changed his mind and KM would now be attending the RAF Wing ceremony? I thought at the time it had been an inapropriate statement - if in fact CH said that, (I just don’t know what to think anymore; honestly the only one I can trust to be correct is YOU)!!
By Madelaine on April 14th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Why was that an inappropriate statement? Apparently Prince William at first decided that Kate’s presence would cause a media storm and then, a week before, realizing that all the other graduates were having their young ladies attend, changed his mind and included her. That does not seem an inappropriate statement, unless, of course, it was not true.
By Gigi on April 14th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hi Gigi,
I though it was inapropriate given that CH supposedly never comments on their personal matters. Giving this short statement seemed as if Kate Middleton was an “afterthought”. It didn’t seem to me as if it was carefully thought out.
By Madelaine on April 15th, 2008 at 1:19 am
That is a good point, Madelaine.
By Gigi on April 15th, 2008 at 2:41 am
dont think kate was an after thought - think they were trying to be low key about the whole thing…
By coni on April 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Yes, I agree with you, Coni. Kate’s known presence would have taken the limelight from the other officers and William is very sensitive to that.
By John on April 15th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Personally, I think the whole matter was handled perfectly and with great tact. Bravo, Prince William!
By Gigi on April 15th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Seeing Will and Kate together, they seem perfectly matched. At least visually, as is put together by the old Hollywood Central Casting department.
By Alicia on April 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 pm