There are more signs of strain between the Royal Family and the Middletons this weekend.

It’s been reported that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie refused to make space in the front row of a fashion show for Pippa Middleton, Kate’s younger sister. After some embarrassment, she found a seat elsewhere.

It seems that Kate didn’t invite Beatrice to her midnight roller-skating event two weeks ago. Nevertheless, the Princess turned up only to find herself inappropriately dressed.

We also learn that Prince William will be required to spend six years on active service in the RAF following 18 months of training. That adds up to a formidable seven-and-a-half year spell in various inhospitable regions a long way from London.

A chorus of friends and insiders are now claiming that a marriage between William and Kate is off the schedule for at least that length of time.

As Royal Anecdotes suggested immediately after the announcement of William’s decision, a marriage must now be in serious doubt. Extensive preparations by the Palace for a 2009 wedding are said to have been shelved.

As I wrote at the time, all the psychology of this decision fits in with the classic Bolting Bloke Syndrome (our name). He has been with her for so long they’ve become comfortable with each other, but the spark is gone. It’s no longer interesting enough to go the last mile to marriage.

By signing up for a lengthy military service, he creates a wide gap of both time and space between them in the hope the relationship will wither on the vine and fade in the minds of the general public.

The thought may occur that an engagement could still happen at Christmas, as was previously pencilled in, leading to a wedding in the summer. However, would Kate — who enjoys London nightlife — be prepared to live as a service wife in remote parts of Scotland or Wales for seven years, with William out on active duty or standby for much of the time? She would be 35 when he is released.

Again, the psychology says not.

In our view, Prince William has made the decision to move on. It was the only explanation for his announcement, which took everyone at the Palace and Clarence House by surprise.

Kate should move swiftly to shore up her reputation by indicating the relationship is over. Hanging on to an occasional friendship while becoming a laughing stock among her peers, and her gloating enemies, is the worst possible outcome for her.

I believe a wedding was definitely on, and being actively planned for. In the end, William couldn’t bring himself go through with it, but couldn’t end it either. He felt boxed in and made his escape in a helicopter.

Last week Kate was seen out with her first serious boyfriend, a chap who slightly resembles Prince William. He may now be the closest she gets to her Prince.

Last week it was Royal Ascot, this week and next it’s Wimbledon. With such entertainment on offer during a packed summer season, it’s not surprising that Royal news is all about sport.

It doesn’t help, of course, that Princes William and Harry are mostly away on military service, while their girlfriends are either keeping a low profile or completing university exams.

So, what’s happening this week? Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa, now working as a party organizer, gave Ascot a miss last week, as did the rest of her family, despite rumours to the contrary. She will, however, visit Wimbledon this week:

“I’ve not been to Ascot because I don’t like racing, but I love tennis and I’m going to get along some time [this] week.”

Perhaps the same reasoning applies to Kate and, just as in previous years, she will make a regal appearance in the Royal Box.

There’s also some chatter around that Pippa is still seeing old uni chum and flatmate, George Percy, heir to the Duke of Northumberland. “It’s true we’re often seen together, but we’re not going out, we are just very old friends,” she said, modestly.

What’s turning out to be the longest saga in the history of romance has the legs to go on and on.

According to reliable sources, Kate Middleton is now comfortably installed at Clarence House, even though she still keeps an apartment in London with her sister Pippa.

Word on the street is that Kate has put together a gymnasium and workout facility in the heart of the Queen Mum’s old residence.

A Royal aide has explained, “Kate has all her things there [Clarence House] and asked William and Harry if they would allow her to build a gym. She works out for at least an hour a day and loves to stay slim and toned. She and Pippa use the gym all the time because it has great equipment and it’s completely private. She has even had William and Harry doing crunches and press-ups.”

It must seem like home from home when the Princes return at weekends from Army training only to be frogmarched to the gym by Sergeant Major Middleton.

The question hanging in the air now — and romantic sagas always have plenty of those — is, will her superfit, wings-on-his-heels boyfriend invite her to the Lord Mayor’s Sporting Heroes Dinner at the Guildhall on Thursday?

A companion is included on the stiffie. I don’t think he’s going to take Mike Tindall, do you?