Royal News Links
The triumph of Kate Middleton: She tightens her grip on Prince William as she searches for their first home - Daily Mail
Like so many of us, when she has a spare moment, Kate Middleton likes to sit at the computer and gawp at property websites. Unlike so many of us, though, Kate’s daydreams (all she really wants out of life, she told one schoolfriend, is to “get married, have a nice house, a couple of dogs and go skiing every year”) aren’t entirely idle. “Yes, William and Kate are house-hunting,” says a friend. “I know everyone expects that William will eventually go and live in the £5 million house being built on the Duchy of Cornwall’s Harewood Park Estate in the Wye Valley, but that’s not necessarily a given….
Does busy Bea really need a £250,000-a-year bodyguard? - Daily Mail
Princess Beatrice was at the centre of a security row last night over the “phenomenal” cost of her bodyguards. The Queen’s granddaughter has established herself as a globe-trotting party girl in recent months, as she enjoys her gap year. But her social activities in Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Belgium - not to mention England - are costing the taxpayer dear. Despite being considered a low security risk, the 19-year-old is guarded everywhere she goes by Scotland Yard officers, at a cost of at least £250,000 a year…
Duran Duran guitarist John Taylor embarrassed of of Princess Diana being a fan - The Cheers
Duran Duran guitarist John Taylor was “embarrassed” when he discovered Britain’s Princess Diana was a fan of the band. The musician joked he was left red-faced when the princess publicly declared the 80s group her “favourite band” because he “clearly used more hairspray” than her. He said: “I think I was just really embarrassed because I clearly used more hairspray and had bigger shoulder pads than her.”…
January 8th, 2008 11:46
maybe Kate is the one looking for a house and thinking of moving out of Chelsea to get some privacy. Its probablye time for her to kick start her career as a curator or her interest n photography. There must be a very good reason for her to be laying low and wish her the best of luck to her….
January 8th, 2008 12:29
Hello benign,
Strange goings on !
The more I think about the happenings of last few weeks the more sure I am that things are over but I dont think they dare make an announcement to that effect. To protect William’s popularity (after all he is to King) I think Kate will just fade away over the next 12 -24 months.
Then William can start again.
I do feel sorry for them both as I would have like to have seen them together for ever , but I think there has been a lot of nonsense since last April and I think Kate have even played along to protect William. After all they have been friends a long time and in 5+ years one get to know a lot about a partner.
But as Im fond of saying. We don’t know, its all speculation and guesswork with some analysis and relation to how we ourselves would behave. Kings are different
January 8th, 2008 19:55
Happy Birthday Kate! May you find the happiness that you have been seeking for..
hello Will…
January 8th, 2008 20:18
Will, you get funnier by the day. It is very interesting to hear you say that knowing very well that William is busy during the weekdays now and I’m sure Kate is busy with her career. 2008 is the year for them to get down to work and for them to support each other. It hasn’t been forever since we have seen them together either. They did go on shoot last month. So they are doing fine. But keep being funny Will, I do enjoy a laugh.
January 8th, 2008 23:30
Hi Claudius, greetings benign,
Claudius all I say is look and learn ,watch the non appearances or reports of Kate’s activities.
Liz and I were out running on Sunday along embankment then turned up cheyne gardens and into oakley. Near phene st corner there were 4 photographers having coffee. I asked if they were looking for Kate. Just a shrug and an expression from one guy who i think was italian was ,’old news’ . They didnt sem very interested but neither were they communicative.
That said it all for me
January 9th, 2008 01:09
Yeah I know what you said Will. The focus should be on William who is working hard in the royal air force and Kate is celebrating her 26th birthday. I’m sure she’s enjoying her birthday but her mind must be on William and praying for him to stay safe. They are working hard this year and may make very little appearences. There is no room for untrue stories. I rather someone wish Kate a happy birthday and not break her spirit with crazy stories. We may see Kate at William’s graduation in April when he gets his wings and we have Peter & Kelly’s wedding coming up so things are okay.
January 9th, 2008 08:16
Hi Will,
did you read the Daily Mail about Kate having bodyguards? supposedly the original story came from the evening standard…papers are coming up with reasons why she hasnt been seen lately? so the paps havent seen her too ha….wonder if shes at her parents house…
January 9th, 2008 09:41
Hi benign,
I havent read it but have been told about it, apparently has same wording as piece last birthday announcing a police boby guard for Kate. I think I’ll wait and see a little before chasing that one up.
Again been told Kate is in/near Whiltshire but don’t know where.
Also told that William and bodyguard were seen just after New Year in Dorchester on motor cycles but an’t confirm either.
Chelsea area is very quiet and has been since weekend. Had lunch out today near Oakley Gardens but there were no comments at all.
All very strange.
Don’t read anything into anything at present.
There is a great deal that we do not know about.
January 9th, 2008 09:45
benign,
Google “Kate Middleton birthday girl”
Must go have clients rest of day
January 9th, 2008 11:00
It’s so great to hear that Kate will now get her own protection. William is away now and I know he must had a plan to get her some protection because he’s not in the city to look after her at this time and it tells us that things will only get more exciting.
January 9th, 2008 18:14
Will,
Kate was pictured leaving home in west london today (is this still chelsea) and also having dinner with Pippa at Tom Aikens restaurant….interesting that she came out and wonder if there was anyone else with her besides her sister..
January 9th, 2008 18:22
Hi Guys,
Sorry but I don’t think the report of imminent protection for Kate rings true.
Think back to the report of William and Kate going away together over Christmas/new Year Period. The detail was immense, so detailed was the report giving date,venue etc that I recall remarking that no security officer would allow such detail to be forthcoming so far in advance.
This report has similar detail giving names,ranks and duties in great detail. Again I say that this is most unusual and really doesn’t have credence.
I haven’t checked back but think that this report is by same reporters who conjured up the holiday report and also why release report in Evening standard ? Purely and simply to increase Daily Mail sales tomorrow. Also note that both Mail and Telegraph are on similar ‘give away ‘ DVD’s in effort to maintain circulation figures during slow January period.
Wait for further confimation before taking it as gospel truth and remember holiday fiasco !
There is something happening ‘out there’ but as yet remains a mystery.
January 9th, 2008 18:47
Hi benign,
Know the reataurant well. Wines are super but as all SW2/SW3 quite expensive.
Will probably have chapter and verse after lunch omorror.
Bye now
January 9th, 2008 19:59
I do think people are getting ahead of themseleves here. It’s great to know that Kate will now get protection but I don’t think we will hear of an engagement until later this year or 2009. They are very busy this year and it seems like they don’t have the time for an engagement at this time.
January 10th, 2008 09:05
Hi benign
Kate was at dinner last evening with her sister, her Mum and Dad and two or three friends (all girl friends).
Tom Aitkins’ usually closes at about 11 but kate,pippa and friends went off to nearby club in Sloan Square. They weren’t too late leaving and I’m told they had a lift part way and Kate and Pippa walked back to their flat.
The sisters are now flat mates and seem to get on very well with one another.
Oh Kate didnt seem to have the ‘fake’ diamond dangly earrings on.
January 10th, 2008 09:29
It was interesting last evening to note that of the friends at Kate’s reception , at their dinner and at the club afterwards non were from the usual ‘Prince William’ set.
Methinks that the concern felt last month by William’s associates at Kate’s involvement with her own set of friends will increase.
All very different to the April split when Kate was escorted almost exclusively by the pretorian guard of William’s friends. The ‘Guys and Dolls’ were conspicuous by their absence as they have been when KAte has been out of late.
Interesting
January 10th, 2008 11:06
Kate looked realy good last night and very happy. I think people are getting carried away with the engagement thing. William & Kate are too busy right now. Maybe later this year but not now I don’t think. But I’m sure she’s smiling because her future is very bright.
January 10th, 2008 11:21
Hello Will,
thanks for the info. Yup, i saw pics of their parents having dinner with them and pics of her and Pippa going to Kitts club i think. You just read my mind coz i was curious to know if any of William’s friends were seen or even having dinner with them. Its a bit weird that none of his friends were there to celebrate with her just to make up for Wills absence. I read that Paul Burrell’s is up for questioning next and maybe something will be happening then….
- btw, she looks okey a bit tired but definitely gain some weight which is good. Pippa seems to love having too much tan..James was MIA…
again, thanks Will….
January 10th, 2008 13:21
Hi Guys,
In particular Claudius and benign as we seem to have a similar but diverse sense of purpose.
Hope all are now back hard at work with the lazy days of Christmas and New Year behind us once again.
Claudius I agree with your coments about the engagement and the happiness in Kate’s smile and appearance. In the words of our cousins ’she looked a million dollars.’
However how difficult the future may be. Kate and William will undoubtedly remain friends, how can you dismiss 6+ years of friendship and 4+ years of a very intimate friendship especially at a young age with,by all acounts,Kate’s reported influence in saving William’s university career.
In addition there will have been many many other moments of intimate communicaion and mutual respect.
Consider the possible affect of their not getting engaged for whatever reason but remaining friends. How do they move on ?
For Kate it may be possibly slightly easier as its natural that if she doesn’t marry William there will certainly be some other extremely lucky Guy out there ,possibly years in the future nand she will be happy
But William ? How difficult is it going to be for him . As a Monarch he will be expected to have an heir, and as they say, a spare , so therefore a wife will have to to be found.
Can others reading this imagine the problems or am I alone in my thoughts ?
I don’t think history can possibly repeat itself !
but who knows ?
January 10th, 2008 13:33
If that were to arise then I think it would be worth talking about but I really don’t see the need to get into that. Things are going great for her and William and that is all that matters. I do believe that William & Kate is not only partners by are friends as well. You have to have both. She didn’t look down because he was not there, she know he is carring out his dream and she is very understanding. You can tell she is behind him 100%. Things are so good right now, talking about breakups is so worthless.
January 10th, 2008 14:13
Hi Will,
i read another article i believe its the London Paper and its on London Lite also that Tom Van Straubenzee was there at the club and dance with her all night. i read somewhere that Kate really likes Tom amongs all of Williams friends…interesting isnt it…
January 10th, 2008 14:49
Claudius,
Just look at the smile and sparkle in Kate’s photographs yesterday and the fact that she didn’t look down was simply because he was not there. On her own she was herself.
Did we see the same sparkle in those forced smiles in cars outside night clubs ? Have you seen William smile at or with Kate over the past months ?
Did we see Kate or William smile in the photographs at Windsor despite his cynical play act when he saw the photographer?
You must agree that that over the past months of celebrations and events Kate had been badly ignored and seriously let down. If he had wanted to acknowledge Kate as his partner in public he could have done so. He just didn’t. Why ?
In particular the fact she was not invited to join him when he entertained his step mother and family must have been particularly galling as that would have been William’s decision. After all she is friendly with them and they had met socially many times . The fact is that William has been very careful lately to keep a distance betwen himself and Kate and there must be a reason for that.
I think the CBS news reporter made a very valid point in her report yesterday . She suggested that yet again William had ‘cold feet’
But we do not know and are not told !
Let us hope all comes out well in the end , whatever that end is
January 10th, 2008 14:57
Hi benign
Very interesting ! I understood that he and William have not been as close over the past year as they once were.
Did he go out with Holly Branson at one time ?
January 10th, 2008 14:58
If you look at the pictures, Kate was wearing the earrings that he bought her for christmas. I see what you are saying Will but things are changing now and you can tell she is herself when she is with him. I think people should cool down and what for an announcement. People are getting too hyped up about her protection officers. William is looking after her even those he’s in training and that is good.
January 10th, 2008 14:59
If you look at the pictures, Kate was wearing the earrings that he bought her for christmas. I see what you are saying Will but things are changing now and you can tell she is herself when she is with him. I think people should cool down and what for an announcement. People are getting too hyped up about her protection officers. William is looking after her even though he’s in training and that is good.
January 10th, 2008 16:09
Claudius,
Very quickly. I understand Kate was not wearing the diamante earings but I cant confirm. It was thought that she had on ‘drop pearl’earings but Im not sure of this .Its hearsay.
January 10th, 2008 16:13
If you look at the pictures on William & Harry Unlimited, you will see them.
January 10th, 2008 16:34
Thanks Claudius , sorry but I cant check as I dont seem to be able to get onto William and Harry unlimited.
I understand that when Kate was photographed earlier near her home she had pearl earing on.
Obviously she changed.
Wonder how William got the earing to her as she had left country when he was purchasing them ?
January 10th, 2008 16:37
claudius , Sorry to be a bore.
Liz has just mentioned that as they were selected by Miss Branson and Miss Al Fayed she’s surprised Kate wore then
That is a typical woman’s comment.
Don’t think I’ll get supper tonight after that comment
Bye and good night
January 10th, 2008 17:15
Liz is right, Will..i wont wear then too unless its my very best friend who pick it not a friend.
If you look at this pic, i dont think its the same earrings though coz the one Will supposedl bought had stones but this one doesnt look like it..
http://www.bigpictures.co.uk/lowres/00000000453/big20080110set152_2183.bro
i didnt know about Tom had a thing with Holly..is it confirm that it was holly or C picked the earrings? again, very very interesting…
January 10th, 2008 17:37
hi benig,
As far as I knew Kate wasnt wearing diamante but Claudius is quite meticulous and I couldnt access photograph he had seen on Will and Harry unlim. to challenge him.
In any case he went shopping after she had left country so he must have posted them to her.
Understand Holly was with William most of the day and Miss al F. replaced the personal shopper assigned to William . I think it must have been interesting with H v C ?
By the way I have been directed to photograph of T van St at Sandhust when he was with Kate. It appeared to be the same guy who was in car with Kate and near her house in Chelsea but now not certain as I hadnt copied them.
It was interesting though that he was the only one at the club she went to as its well off their normal areas
January 10th, 2008 17:39
benign
Sorry for spelling . Using blackberry
bye and goodnight
January 11th, 2008 00:45
Hello everyone, those are definitely not the earrings it was reported PW bought KM. I saw both pictures and they definely are not the same earrings. William’s were stones and were more delicate. These are bigger - definitely not the same earrings.