Wedding pullout was over Hello! spread
Dean Rousewell of The People (UK) is reporting that the Hello! magazine spread of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, prior to their wedding on Saturday, did influence Prince William and Kate Middleton to pull out of the occasion.
“Royal sources say the pair grew wary after Princess Anne’s son and blonde Autumn signed a £500,000 [$1m] deal with celebrity mag Hello!”
A “senior aide” is reported to have told The People, “William and Kate had provisionally agreed to go. But it became obvious there was a danger of the whole thing turning into a disaster. Kate was very concerned about how it would be seen if attention was focused on her. And when William heard about the mag deal his mind was made up. The Queen also thought it was a wise decision. Her motto has always been: ‘Never let light in on the magic’ — the Royals must retain their mystique. A holiday was arranged and William told Peter it was for the best.”
Peter inherited £6m ($12m) in the Queen Mother’s will and has a well-paid job with Royal Bank of Scotland. Autumn is the PA to Michael Parkinson, a broadcasting legend in Britain. They live in a cottage on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe estate.
We have to remember that the previous Royal Editor of The People was jailed for tapping into the mobile phone voicemail of members of the Royal Family, including Prince William.
Does the present incumbent have such impeccable sources? We shall see.
I’m inclined to believe this story though as it matches my own speculation when the news first broke.
I actually wouldn’t be surprised if people.co.uk simply took this theory from you, John. I often feel that the supposed “royal experts” relie a lot on what they read on royal blogs and forums. Richard Kay had a small blurb about Chelsy becoming more popular among “Courtiers” than “Waity Katie” and that insult of Kate is verbatim from a royal forum.
However we’ll have to wait and see. I have to admit I’d be disappointed if William and Kate don’t go to the wedding and still cannot imagine that the Hello thing would have caused such a big rift between William and Peter. Harry and Chelsy will upstage Peter and Autumn just as much as William and Kate would, hence all four of them might as well go.
Yet, William did not attend the Memorial Parade today. He might very well have travelled to Mystique then.
By Isana on May 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Isana, we shouldn’t forget that William is still a serving Army officer, despite his Naval appointment in June, so probably has ongoing training and other duties too.
He’s apparently going to serve for a few weeks on a nuclear submarine which will allow him to sport the coveted Dolphin badge alongside his Wings.
As for nicking my ideas — it happens all the time.
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I agree Isana, I’ve seen many articles where ideas are taken from forums.
By Me on May 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Me, I’m sure you’re right. I’m far too busy for forums though, so never get to use their ideas. I have to make do with my own
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I simply don’t buy the whole “disturbed by the Hello magazine sellout” story. Wasn’t Eugenie on a magazine cover this year? Wasn’t Zara on a magazine cover recently? The bit about “The Queen also thought it was a wise decision. Her motto has always been: ‘Never let light in on the magic’ — the Royals must retain their mystique.” is twaddle. It sounds like an editor (and not a very quick-witted one) is attributing his retreaded clichés to an evermore modern and media-savvy Royal Family.
If William and Kate are on holiday somewhere, wouldn’t Hello be following their every move as they successfully overshadow the Royal wedding?
Maybe William is in Afghanistan.
By Dan on May 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Dan, I agree with you about the Queen reference in the quote. This is applying a general quote to a particular case without supporting evidence.
There are now two possibilities. 1) it’s true and they are refusing to take part in an auctioned wedding at Windsor Castle. 2) Clarence House is trying to conceal their presence as it did over Kate at the Wings ceremony.
The second stretches credibility because you can’t keep crying wolf and would be very cack-handed.
The first was my first guess when the story broke and I’m standing by it.
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Also, Dan, the money from most cover shots goes to charity, not to the Royal involved unless they are very minor. We’re talking about the Queen’s eldest grandson in this case.
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I am sure you are right, John, but it is a great pity that this is being caused by a poor decision on the part of Peter Philips. I find this deal with Hellow magazine to be very out-of-character for Peter, who has done his utmost to fly under the radar all his life. As you say, he does not need the money, either. What on earth was he thinking?
I must add, however, that if the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh can attend the wedding, despite the Hello involvement, then Prince William and Kate can attend also. Something doesn’t seem right to me about this whole thing. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
By Gigi on May 12th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
What is the evidence that the wedding has been “auctioned”? The Hello story and photo shoot have already taken place. I’m sure the wedding procession at Windsor will be widely covered by the media, as Charles’s and Camilla’s was (not an exclusive “auctioned” to Hello), and wedding photos will be released by the family, again widely disseminated.
As I’ve said many times, the absence of William and Kate – demonstrated by this media frenzy surrounding the possibility — will be a far greater distraction from the bride and groom than the couple’s presence in the pews ever would be.
By Dan on May 12th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Your latter point is very true, Dan, but Hello! has been given clearance to print private shots from the wedding itself. Not sure how many, but one is enough.
As for the Queen’s presence, it may not be set in stone.
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Gigi, “the other shoe to drop” puts it in a nutshell. Something’s a bit fishy about the whole thing.
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
If the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh pull out of attending this wedding, we will know there has been a serious rift in the family. Princess Anne is their only daughter and the Duke adores her. Peter is Anne’s only son, the Queen and the Duke’s first grandchild and is their favorite grandson, whom the Duke calls “a winner.” Since the Duke rarely praises anyone for anything, this is high praise indeed! I love a mystery and British Mysteries are my favorites, but this one has an ominous overtone to it that has me worried.
I smell herring. Does anyone know if it is red?
By Gigi on May 12th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
We’ll know on Saturday, assuming there’s any footage at all, apart from what’s been sold to Hello!.
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Isana, the story that Clarence House “Courtiers” think of Kate as “glacial”, while Chelsy is everyone’s favourite, is a bit odd. If I had to think of a word to describe Kate’s public appearances it wouldn’t be glacial. She’s not the Queen Mary type at all.
I’m sure Chelsy is popular, though, as she has an outgoing personality with a dash of adventure. Kate is just ensuring she doesn’t accumulate a wild and woolly reputation that may be held against her later. Wise move, I think.
By John on May 12th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Whatever is going on here, I just hope there has not been some sort of break down of the relationship between William and Peter. I always thought they were rather close, or is that incorrect? If PW & K do stay away, I hope it’s with Peter & Autumn’s understanding.
By Claire on May 12th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I agree with Dan. Regardless if they are there or not the press is going to mention PW and K a million times.
By happydally on May 12th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
You are right, I fear Peter and Autumn will not be the center of press attention on their wedding day regardless of whether William and Kate attend or not. If they don’t attend, the speculation why will probably take up a large part of the coverage and the rest will be filled with Harry and Chelsy.
I’m always astounded that the British press can apparently not be happy to have two handsome, lovely Princes with likable beautiful girlfriends. Why does one always have to be good and the other one bad? They are not in competition with each other, they play for the same team (albeit in different positions).
By Isana on May 12th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I feel the same way about the Daily Mail’s story about Autumn being the new Princess Pushy. As if anyone could take that title from dear Princess Michael…. But why start dissing Autumn for no reason, and in the very week of her wedding? After too many sad examples to count, does any young woman (or man for that matter) STILL believe marrying into the Royal family just to become famous is a good idea?
Say what you will about the American media, but the President’s daughter got married over the weekend and the coverage was adoring, even for the father of the bride. (His best showing in a long time!)
I hope Kate, Autumn, and Chelsy band together, despite age and cultural differences. They’ll need the support. Of course, the press will soon start chattering about how much they HATE each other.
By Dan on May 12th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I really do think the press is going too far with this story and I’m so suprised that this has not been cleared up. I still think they will be there but I don’t understand what Peter & Autumn’s interview have to do with William & Kate not attending the wedding?
By Claudius on May 12th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Well I think Claudius that if hello are allowed into the wedding that the focus may turn to what Kate Middleton is doing rather than focusing on Autumn. This could cause a backlash for Kate as she could be accused of stealing the limelight. Prince William is also very private and does not like media attention. Although it would be very odd if he didn’t attend and the wedding and the Queen didn’t. I guess we will all have to wait it out and see what happens.
By Jackie Mccoy on May 12th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
gigi – i’m with you – something is just not right about this whole thing..obviously theres more to it than we all know…
By coni on May 12th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Well if that is the case then these people need to grow up and not pay any attention to what the media say. I think back when Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah’s couch, expressing his joy over his new relationship and he showed everyone that he was in a happy place in his life. Even though people thought he was crazy, he paid no attention to it. William & Kate will get some attention regardless but they shouldn’t hide from the media. I do think it’s childish and everyone knows that William & Kate is in a happy place in their life and I wouldn’t hold back on showing people that. They shouldn’t let the media ruin their participation in the wedding. He and Peter are close and I know he will want to be there to wish his cousin off and congradulate him.
By Claudius on May 12th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Someone at Royalforums just posted that William and Kate were supposedly seen entering a plane at Heathrow.
I agree with you Claudius, William really needs to get over his obsession with privacy (and I’m sure he’s the driving force behind it since Kate seems to handle the press just fine). I understand that he doesn’t want to have his private life in the papers but he must not allow the press to dictate his every move. They’ll report whatever he does anyways and his life would be so much easier if he just ignored all of this.
By Isana on May 12th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Re: William and Kate boarding a plane: planes fly both ways. The Queen and Prince Philip are off to Turkey tomorrow, but I’m sure they’ll be back for the big day Saturday.
They must know by now that they get their best press when they are all together looking like a real family. Even Camilla’s fortunes improved after the Family demonstrated a united front at her wedding to Charles. It is always a powerful image to the world when they are all front and center, whether the occasion is happy or sad—no one upstaging or overshadowing any other. I remember the way the Princes stood at the four corners of the Queen Mother’s casket at her funeral. Did any of us stop to think which one of them overshadowed the others, or which one had the prettier wife or girlfriend?
United they stand, divided they fall. If they’ve decided to send William and Kate off due to some strange media concern—or if W & K have made this decision on their own—it’s a big misstep.
By Dan on May 12th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Isana any indication on where they were flying to?
By Jackie Mccoy on May 12th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Well said, Dan. In fact, when King George V died, his four sons (the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Duke of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester) stood vigil at the four corners of their Father’s casket. This “Vigil of the Princes” was a gesture that not only pleased the public, it pleased the newly widowed Queen Mary a great deal. I forget which British statesman said it, apropos of King Edward VII and his wish to marry Mrs. Simpson, but the gist was that the British people hate having no family life at court. It was true then and it is true now. The British people want to see a loving, united Royal Family and when they do not, we begin to hear all the nonsense about how Britain should abolish the Monarchy.
By Gigi on May 12th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I just think its wonderful that Harry and Chelsy will be attending.
By Judy on May 12th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I haven’t been following William and Kate as long as some of you
so I look to your comments for thoughts. The story could be leading in many different ways. It could be a ploy to let them slip in so that the main focus will be on the bride and groom.
This is what I am routing to have happen. It could be that they just don’t want the publicity. William could have realized that by taking kate to the wedding it would feed into the nearness of an engagement. Maybe, he doesn’t want to face that. They could be nearer to an engagement and want to come to some final thoughts before William went back to military training. Then they could announce it before he left for service. I do find it strange that for months the media has said that they both would go and now they aren’t. I think that for everyone’s sake that some kind of statement should be made to explain what is going on for this to happen. At any rate, I don’t think that will happen.
With that, I hope that they are still going strong and that everything will be explained in its own time. Royal followers including me are anxios to know. By the way, I think that they are getting more attention now than if they had ust gone to the wedding. I am still routing for them!!!
By kat on May 12th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Jackie, the poster didn’t give any further information. As far as I know there are also no pictures of William and Kate at Heathrow which is unusual since there are always a lot of paps there. So who knows whether this sighting is valid, the person might simply have mistaken some other couple for William and Kate.
Kat, I would hope for some clarification as well but like you I don’t expect it to come. Yet I wouldn’t blame the current media “frenzy” on William and Kate. Who knows whether they indeed went on holiday and if they did they might have planned all along to return in time for the wedding. In a way I can understand that they don’t feel a need to explain their vacation schedule to the public. This might as well be another “trick” by the tabloids to sell more papers. What else would there have been to report about after it was known that both Princes and their g/f’s would attend? This reminds me too much about the speculation before the Klosters trip and the wings ceremony. Since William and Kate keep a low profile and hardly allow themselves being pictured together (apart from official functions), the papers have to fill the void with something.
By Isana on May 13th, 2008 at 7:31 am
AAAHHH!!!
Does anyone here have a subscription so they can tell us what the article says?!? 
By Evelyn on May 14th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I wish I did
By dally on May 14th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Good grief!! Can one of our merry band of RA friends who lives in theUK go buy a copy of Tatler and brief us on the article?
By Gigi on May 14th, 2008 at 4:09 am
I am sure that many of our RA friends are probably having sweet dreams of royal weddings. Hopefully, there will be more info when I get up in the morning.
By kat on May 14th, 2008 at 4:16 am
The magazine website has been hacked by a terrorist group. The site’s in a mess.
The article looks to me like a spoof and/or speculation. Another headline to make you buy.
By John on May 14th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Sorry but I don’t buy into the story that Kate was concerned attention would be focused on her and the story made up Williams mind. While Diana was seperated from Charles and at the height of her popularity she attended the wedding of Viscount Linley and attention was focused on the newly married Linley’s. If they don’t attend there is probably another reason. Also if W&K were at Heathrow why have no pics surfaced as when they went skating?
By Trudie on May 14th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Prince Charles was at RAF Odiham today planting wings on three new Chinook helicopter pilots. The blurb on the Prince’s website notes that Chinooks from Odiham are currently serving in Afghanistan, and the wing commander at the base is quoted saying the Prince “has taken an interest in RAF Odiham for some time.” Also, “He has had people from the station over to Clarence House for a face-to-face discussion on what the personnel are doing.”
There’s been a lot of talk about Princes, Chinooks, and Afghanistan lately.
Does anyone know where William is while all the attention is focused on his cousin’s wedding?
By Dan on May 14th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Dan, some say Mustique. I say, I don’t know.
By John on May 14th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Does anyone in the Family still own Princess Margaret’s home on the island, did she sell it, or do her children have it?
I recall her interview with Barbara Walters, years ago, was done there.
By Dan on May 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
She left the house to her son, Lord Linley, who sold it before she died, much to many friends’ consternation.
By John on May 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Ah yes, that rings a bell.
If William and Kate were in the Caribbean, it seems we’d have had a “prying eyes” pap shot by now, like we recently had of Beatrice and her boyfriend. Although I understand Mustique is more exclusive and private.
When has that ever stopped the press? Maybe I’m having a Fayed moment, but I think something fishy is going on. Like one of those press blackouts we occasionally hear of.
By Dan on May 14th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Wake up and smell the fish. An adage for our time, Dan.
By John on May 14th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
If no member of the Royal Family ever went to the island of Mustique again, that would be very helpful. Every time that island is mentioned, it resurrects the memories of all the bad press surrounding Princess Margaret and the friends she entertained at her house there. Surely there are other islands with sun drenched beaches where members of the Royal Family can vacation that will not bring back negative things best forgotten. I would be grateful if Colin Tennant had never offered Princess Margaret the land on the island of Mustique as a wedding gift. Perhaps the swiftness of the sale of the Mustique house by Lord Linley signaled the distress and embarrassment his Mother’s association with that place engendered in the family. More likely, however, it was the money that was the issue, since Viscount Linley very nearly had a very serious falling out with his father, Lord Snowden, because Linley put up for auction Princess Margaret’s furniture and jewelry after her death.
I am with you, Dan. Something is rotten in Denmark, however in this case, the location is as yet unknown.
Where, O where has Prince William gone and where O where will he and Kate be on Saturday? The developing fandango has turned into a muddle.
By Gigi on May 14th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
It could well be that Prince William has flown out on some sort of military maneuver. That could have been arranged last-minute. Peter & Autumn certainly would accept that duty as a valid excuse for PW’s missing their wedding, and the Queen would give her approval, too. And it would not do for Kate to go to the wedding without William, so perhaps she’d gone off on holiday somewhere private.
If the mission is as quickly concluded as the last, PW could still return in time for the wedding. If it’s a longer venture, perhaps not.
Of course, this is all conjecture by someone who knows absolutely nothing. A colleague once told me that I have a “very active mind….”
By Evelyn on May 14th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Although I agree that something is fishy, I don’t recall that any photographs were ever released of that last time which PW & Kate went to Mystique for their “make or break vacation” where they supposed to have checked in under her last name? So if they are in Mystique (and I doubt that they are) it is a possiblity that they could go undetected by the paps.
By Jackie Mccoy on May 14th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
p.s I can’t wait for Saturday to come this spectuation is driving me crazy.
By Jackie Mccoy on May 14th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Me, too, Jackie. And in my case, I wouldn’t have far to drive.
By Gigi on May 14th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Actually scratch that I meant the Seychelles the Desroches Island trip
By Jackie Mccoy on May 14th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
There were photos of Kate making airport connections on the way to that holiday last August.
By Evelyn on May 14th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if William’s attachment to the RAF ended with some kind of “active duty” manouvers. He went to Afghanistan once already. Maybe that was prep for a longer tour. He certainly wouldn’t be able to disappear for 10 weeks, as Harry did, nor even 4 weeks–to be eligible for the service medal Harry just received–but a brief stint would end the chatter about his “joyriding” in Chinooks.
I’m sure he’ll serve active duty on a front line somewhere, if only to avoid the similar situation to his father and uncle, in which Prince Andrew served in wartime but his older brother, heir to the throne and future head of the armed forces, did not.
Then again, William may show up Saturday with a great tan, and all this typing will have been for nought.
By Dan on May 14th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I’m sure I meant maneuvers. Or maneuvres. Manoeuvres?
Anyway, all the photos in the photo gallery on the Prince of Wales’s website right now are of William at various engagements last week. That’s never happened before.
Did I say something fishy was afoot?
Ok, ok. I’ll stop!
By Dan on May 14th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
When you say that something is up, do you have any idea of what it could be? Could Prince William and Kate have gone to Windsor Castle already? It has been stated that someone had seen them at Heathrow. However, someone reported that Prince Harry was at Afrika, Afrika! He was not there, He was fighting abroad. So could it be that they wanted to throw someone off the trail by planting the Mustique story. I know that this sounds far fetched. However, things just don’t add up. Prince William was being seen with Kate-wedding, charity event, wings etc.Why pull out all of a sudden? They were going to attend the wedding. If Prince William and Kate were already there-no pics in or out-limelight stays on the bride and groom. Again, I just want things to work out of them.
By kat on May 14th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Since the media isn’t saying much of anything about any of the younger royals the last two days, I’d say something is up.
I don’t think W&K are already at Windsor. They’ve either escaped the paps and are on a private holiday somewhere, or William has gone somewhere with the military, and Kate is in hiding somewhere so people don’t start wondering why they aren’t together.
William hasn’t been seen since Saturday. He could easily be back before the wedding. We’ll have to wait and see.
By Evelyn on May 14th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
This whole thing is getting more cloak and dagger every minute! Someone, preferably in London, please drop in at 221-B Baker Street and ask Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson to look into this. Dr. Watson could write the caper up, as he loved to do, and give it the title “A Problem in Belgravia” instead of “A Problem in Bohemia.”
I have a feeling this matter is far from elementary, my dear RAers.
By Gigi on May 14th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I like the idea that William may be on active duty somewhere, with a “holiday” as a shield….
By Amity on May 15th, 2008 at 12:46 am
Gigi you are hilarious!!! I guess if CH haven’t cleared it up by now they are not going to. I guess a military deployment could be possible.. Bring on Saturday.
By jackie mccoy on May 15th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Well, it’s Thursday morning here, so not long to wait.
However, it is going to be private, so all we may see is what we saw — or didn’t see — of the recent Christening of James Wessex, Viscount Severn. It could be a great disappointment. The best story may be in the pages of Hello! magazine.
By John on May 15th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I still think they will be at the Wedding it is a private wedding not a state occaison so pictures taken of them will be nil and as for Hello their whole focus and what they are paying for is the Bride and Groom.
Gigi or John is the Champagne on ice yet?
By Trudie on May 15th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Gigi is the keeper of the virtual Champagne, Trudie. We just have the real stuff here.
By John on May 15th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I’m very confident that they will be there. William and Peter are great friends and I don’t think he would offend him by not attending.
If you’re not partied out by sunday, you can call in on a three year olds party 3-5pm, there won’t be any champagne but there might be a cool glass of pimms for harried mothers and hostesses ( and virtual friends)!
By Eliza on May 15th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Eliza, this whole wedding has been full of contradictions from the moment it was announced. First, it would be held at Windsor, then it was moved to Scotland, then back to Windsor. Peter would renounce the Throne, but now Autumn will renounce her Catholicism.
Chelsy wasn’t invited but Kate was. Now Chelsy is invited but Kate won’t go. William would be a supporter, now he’s going on holiday.
Either this is a cloud of obfuscation (deliberate) or the whole wedding is a fiasco worthy of Gordon Brown.
I know which one my money is on.
By John on May 15th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Dear Trudie, the champagne is on ice!
No matter where the wedding is held, no matter who is there or who isn’t there, the Royal Anecdotes Gala Royal Wedding Tea will be served, with champagne and wedding delicacies! As for all the rumors and conflicting information, I must say it astonishes me what a weathercock Peter Philips has become! We must hope that when his head stops turning it is facing the front–first one plan, then a different plan entirely. Some of us are getting dizzy and it isn’t from nipping into the champagne! 
By Gigi on May 15th, 2008 at 7:24 pm