On Wednesday evening, Prince William attended a gala evening of music and food in London to mark the end of his year as Patron of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

The constantly solo Prince suggests that Kate Middleton has resumed her role as casual girlfriend rather than the “Girlfriend,” to which she had been promoted, according to recent reports, with the consent of the Queen.

The Grand Finale of the event was at St Paul’s Cathedral in celebration of the end of the appeal for 2008.

Money was raised throughout the year for Wellbeing of Women, which funds research into women’s health, and Orbis, which works to prevent blindness in developing countries.

David Lewis. the Lord Mayor of the square-mile financial district, who should not be confused with Boris Johnson, the publicly-elected Mayor of all London, said of the occasion:

“I have had such a wonderful and exciting year with tremendous support from many people and organisations in the City. I am delighted that many of our friends have joined us to celebrate the Grand Finale to my Lord Mayor’s appeal.”

William now steps down as the Appeal’s Patron.

Quite what this quiet period in Kate’s role signifies for the future is not yet crystal clear. My guess is that the high spot of the relationship has passed and an enduring friendship has replaced it.

The Prince will be fully occupied from January with an 18-month spell of intensive training as a helicopter pilot with the RAF’s Search and Rescue unit. The belief is that he will make the grade and go on to serve for up to six years in various remote spots around Britain, and possibly abroad.

Marriage, it seems, is the last thing on his mind.

As for Kate, she is rebuilding her life and expectations within the Middleton family business and, no doubt, will re-emerge into the London night scene as the fancy takes her.

The Queen clears her diary
An inside source is saying that the Queen has cleared her diary of engagements for the holiday season at Balmoral in case Prime Minister Gordon Brown falls on his sword and resigns from office.

Such is his plight — poll ratings dropping like a brick, conspirators plotting against him from all sections of his party — that the Queen reportedly feels she should be prepared for any eventuality. It’s the convention that a Prime Minister resigns directly before the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

A courtier is quoted as saying, “The Queen is spending most of the summer at Balmoral but we aren’t putting any visits to far-flung tropical islands in her diary. If Brown comes a cropper, she must be able to get to Buckingham Palace sharpish.”

The source does not mention the PM’s annual pilgrimage to Balmoral when the Sovereign entertains her chief minister and spouse while being briefed on all the latest Westminster gossip.

According to various reports, on these occasions the Royal Family serve their guests and even clear away the dishes themselves after dinner. Cherie Blair was said to be speechless when this happened to her.

Perhaps that’s why the Queen does it.

Is Kate Middleton receiving free designer dresses?

A weekend newspaper report suggested that Kate Middleton was being gifted free or heavily-discounted outfits from the Brazilian couturier, Issa.

The haul included the astonishing coral pink number (pictured) that she wore to the Boodles Ball, on which we commented fulsomely here at Royal Anecdotes. The implication of the piece was that Kate may be using her Royal connections to obtain freebies.

However, the designer herself said that Kate is a “private client” and that was all there was to it.

I don’t know how these things work so can’t really make much sense of it. It may be that the designer “lent” her a dress or two for a big occasion because of her patronage in the past.

Kate’s signature “look” seems to come from this talented designer. But she must beware of any hint of free-loading. Once that hits the headlines, the public and press will never let go and every transaction she makes will be examined for the slightest discount or favouritism. The Duchess of York is a salutary example — and I won’t even mention the Blairs.

Judging by the style this Brazilian lady has given Kate, would I be amiss in suggesting she might be perfect to design her wedding dress?

But for Kate’s sake it should be paid for in full … plus a generous tip!

Are Royals infiltrating politics?

We know that some senior politicians, especially in the Labour Party, secretly covert the Crown. Their attitude is, “why should they get all the glory while we do all the work?”

But are the Royals hitting back — in the best traditions of Tudor skulduggery?

It seems the new Mayor of London, former Tory Minister, Boris Johnson, is a direct descendant of King George II and a distant cousin to the Queen. Having displaced Red Ken Livingstone in the May elections, Boris is perfectly placed to turn City Hall into a minor Royal Palace.

The revelation comes in that excellent BBC programme, Who Do You Think You Are?, which examines famous people’s family trees.

Amusingly, the show was held back during the election in case it dented Boris’s man-of-the-people image. As an Old Etonian with the poshest accent on record, that might have been water off a coot’s back.

And if you think that’s a one-off, think again. Conservative leader and the next Prime Minister after a general election, David Cameron, is a direct descendant of King William IV. The Royals are on the march.

Of course, the Labour Party could hit back by encouraging some of its young bloods to marry into Royalty.

Watch out Beatrice and Eugenie!

The Boris edition of Who Do You Think You Are? will be shown on BBC1 on August 20.