Kate’s career as Photographer kicks off with Diana’s Snapper
Royal girlfriend Kate Middleton is to be taught the art of photography by Princess Diana’s favourite snapper Mario Testino.
Prince William has arranged for her to have a series of sessions with the world’s top fashion lensman who took the iconic Vogue cover shots of his mum.
Sources say Kate, 26, flew to New York to meet Testino in November and will return to his studio in March.
The beauty – who quit as a buyer for fashion chain Jigsaw in October – is said to be “extremely passionate” about photography and keen on making it a career.
A close pal told The Sun: “Kate’s very excited. She’s itching to get her teeth into a new career and says William’s been fantastically supportive.”
Sources say the prince, 25, “sounded out” Testino when the snapper flew to London last September for a service to mark the tenth anniversary of Diana’s death.
Wills – who split from Kate for three months last year – is determined to throw himself into his military and royal duties this year and had worried about how that might affect their romance.
The source said: “Now Kate’s focused on something it’ll be far easier.”
Peruvian-born Testino, 54, was a close pal of Di. Two years ago he was chosen to take Prince Harry’s 21st birthday photos. (via The Sun)
January 21st, 2008 11:06
Great, she will receive personalized knowledge of a world famous photographer. I hope she takes advantage of this connection with Mario Testino, he is very pasionate in his photography.
January 21st, 2008 11:29
I wish her the best of luck in her new found career.
However, perhaps the newspapers have their facts wrong as she has been seen several times in London since November. Just a small point, most likely a misunderstanding by somebody.
Good luck to her though and hopefully she is as passionate about photograpy as the article says. I believe it is a difficult career to enter.
January 21st, 2008 17:57
Didn’t she say last year that she was interested in abstract photography and not people?
I’ll believe it when I see it. This could be just like the baby clothes line or Jigsaw: another Fake career for a Fake girl. I hope I am wrong.
January 21st, 2008 23:11
Funny how this comes up when it seems as if the public is asking again “why doesn’t Kate have a job?”. I think this is all a smoke screen to acti as if she is ambitious. Sorry guys, but that’s what I think. Kate doesn’t live in the real world…not even the real “Royal” World.
January 22nd, 2008 06:18
Hi Guys,
The placement of Kate with Mario Testino in the USA seeems to be a most unusual arrangement and if true is fraught with dangerous overtones.
Kate Middleton is the type of model that Testino likes to have as a subject rather than take on as a apprentice and one must question whoever made the arrangements.
In addition Kate’s reported stay in USA would mean that she would be out of the UK during William’s graduation cermony at Cranwell and his leave between RAF and RN secondments .
In addition, unless she returns for a mid course break, she would also miss Peter and Autumn’s wedding , assuming that it is their intention to invite her.
However considering her non invites to the multiple royal family festivities prior to Christmas and William’s dinner with Camilla and children, it may well be that there is no intention to include her. The question must therefore be why ?
Her soujourn in the USA may therefore be very convenient and thus avoid any unpopular announcement having to be made.
The exact date that she will leave for America is not announced but is said to be late March.
The story seems fictitious but if true would be very convenient.
January 22nd, 2008 06:46
The apprenticeship does not specify for how long it will be, it just says March 2008. When March comes, we will know if she will make it for April and May Royal events.
January 22nd, 2008 09:32
Yes she will be here in March but I’m sure she will back in the UK in time for the graduation in April and the wedding in May. I can’t be believe in two more months William will get his wings.
January 22nd, 2008 11:09
guess just have to wait and see if she does leave in March although werent there similar stories last year by Katie Nicholl that she was supposed to be working for Tom Ford in NY also?maybe its not an apprentice but maybe curate testino’s work like what she did in November for Alistair Morrison or something?
January 22nd, 2008 13:07
apprenticeship, portrait session, different writers, different wording, but all say IN March 2008. Just have to wait and see.
Testino has been behind Kate in the past, previous to April 07, he also came to UK in Sept. 08.
January 22nd, 2008 13:36
Hi benign, Hi Me
Think carefully when M/s Nicholl’s reports are published.
Forcasted Events usualy do not materialize but no explanation or corrections are published.
Recently; Kate and William Christmas Holiday
Kate’s security detail with a report
duplicating words used in jan 2007
and so on
It appears that she relies upon a new soop or interewsting news to cover up her earlier reports and most people then forget the detail.
January 22nd, 2008 13:41
Hi Me,
With respect do you think that anyone could pick up enough in 4/5 weeks to even get an idea of what is required.
Most of the Commercial photographers have served years and years of apprenticeship to become novice paps.
I am not saying Kate will require or ask for that level but to make anything of it she will require time
January 22nd, 2008 13:42
Its not Katie Nicholls who wrote this but another writer Rebecca English. If this is true, good luck to her and maybe its more interesting than doing cubism photography which was reported first as her favorite thing to take photo of…
January 22nd, 2008 13:44
Hi again
I still think that Testino will come up with some magnificent studies of Kate. She is super photogenic and he will recognise that, in fact I have no doubt that he has already considered this.
January 22nd, 2008 14:39
Will, thats why I wrote apprenticeship, portrait photo session, different writers, different wording, different tabs and now another one “internship” ! So the best is to wait until March and see what its all about, if its true for the first place. Maybe she’s taking a crash course in some minor subject related to photog, his experiences, etc. Its not a flying crash course to get her wings. I think this much answers and gives my POV to both posts, which are totally different
January 22nd, 2008 14:47
Sorry for the double post, Will nobody knows if she has what it takes to be a photographer of cubic, abrastract, portrait, etc. If the news is even true, then I really doubt Mario Testino would take her and waste his time, even if she is the gf of PW. So if its true, he must have seen or known, or how did some press put it - gave her assignments to do on November. Its not that we truly have a Daily Kate to know exactly what she does, who she talks to , who she calls on her 24/7.
BTW, did they already change the Photography Exhibition in Chelsea - Bluesomething of KM - I heard its about to end (end of Jan) and a new one should be coming soon. Any news, anyone ?
January 22nd, 2008 17:12
Hi Guys,
Suddenly no one is talking about engagements, break-ups, flying, Thomas, whoever, whatever.
Suddenly everyone is talkng about what and which photographs Kate will be taking.
Suddenly everyone is talking about when is she going,when is she coming back, will she ever come back?
Suddenly we are all interested. Is it an internship,usually twelve to twenty four months, is it an appenticeship, two to three years, or is it an assistant photographer(ship) ,three to four weeks or is it just a visit,and a convenient break from the UK for a couple of months?
Suddenly someone somewhere is going to be promoted, KCB,CBE, or even KCMG ? William certainly knows who it is and suddenly all the pressure is off William.
Suddenly whoever that someone is will be considered a genius for a time and is even now being briefed; “come up with the next one suddenly.”
Suddenly……………………………. ?
January 22nd, 2008 18:48
Well, lets hope she “decides” to keep this job.
Maybe she realizes she has to do SOMETHING with her life than just sit and click her heels waiting for William to MAYBE ask her to marry him.
Nice going Wills…give the girl a job
January 22nd, 2008 19:37
Really think everybody comments on what is published in the tabs, monitoring and commenting on whats on hand. If tomorrow another article with different story or even pics appear, be sure that everybody royal interested will comment on that new issue, story, subject…that comes, people even commented on Kate has Eczema !
but you see people write comments to say they believe or not a certain article, monitoring, disecting, and believing what each one prefers to believe. That part of all of this.
January 22nd, 2008 20:10
Hi agape_eternal,
Big maybe. What if William has asked Kate to marry him , say at Balmoral in October , and she said no!
Shock horror!
That scenario would answer following questions.
(1) Kate looking and acting happy. Pretence is all over.
(2)William has had a face like thunder several times since and resorting to Miss Branson as he’s done in the past. Her boy friend is never mentioned or even identified.
It an unlikely scenario but it just may be true because we dont know and no one is going to tell us.
We hear rumours, we read newspapers but that is never mentioned so it could be true and I repeat. We do not know
January 22nd, 2008 20:38
Will,
I hardly see that scenario happening. Are you kidding…Kate saying no to William’s proposal. I can’t see that AT ALL! However, that is just my opinion, and you could certainly be right.
January 22nd, 2008 20:42
I can see it happen because she still can be mad about him breaking up with her.
January 22nd, 2008 21:03
so the photography voyage may be a convenient and face-saving way for Kate to slip away…
imagine how hurtful it would be for her to witness autumn’s wedding, and autumn’s presence at the recent family gathering must have been painful also
it’s possible that will proposed to kate, and kate declined, but also possible that kate had instead applied some kind of pressure on will, an ultimatum, perhaps, that didn’t pan out
that, also, might explain will’s subsequent more negative demeanor, and the gradual cooling off and fading away of their relationship
January 22nd, 2008 21:05
ps: as for kate looking so happy…..
didn’t she also look happy when will had last broken up with her?
isn’t that a face-saving gesture on her part?
to look as if she’s fine with the breakup and having the time of her life?
that probably partly contributed to will’s return to her
January 22nd, 2008 23:41
Will is right, Kate just wouldn’t turn William’s proposal down but I do see them getting engaged just keeping it a secret for awhile. They aren’t doing what people expected them to do which is date for a couple of years, announce an engagement and have the big fariytale wedding. These two are saying, look we have things we want to do at this time, we will work towards our future together and we just going to do it our own way. That is a very mature, level-headed way to do it. I can also see William looking back at his parents marriage and not wanting to follow that pattern. As Diana once said “William as a child is a deep thinker.” They seem to really have thought this whole thing through and can careless how it looks to other people.
January 23rd, 2008 00:36
Rman, I can’t tell you how great is is to hear that such a great comment. You are right they could have done the obvious and be married today but you can tell they have figured, when would Kate have the time to jump start a career in photography and be a member of the Windsor clan too?, why would William go off to the air force and navy and leave a wife behind to be lonely? This is why this is such a hot topic, because they approched their future differently. They could be married now and start to regret not doing what they really wanted to do and things could be said that would hurt each other and before you could blink your eyes, you would have prime minister announcing a separation. Who in their right mind would want that to happen. I can tell you, not the Windsors.
January 23rd, 2008 03:08
He’s never going to propose to her. He’s been dragging this out since last Spring/Summer get back together. Something tells me this whole new career aspect is a way for Kate to save face, when the press announces that she and William have broken up for good. William is flying airplanes and preparing for Royal duties. Kate is still a on or off girlfriend with no ring, no formal proposal. She has not been taken into the Royal House as Sophie was while dating Pr. Edward. William is slowly outgrowing Kate, but the Kate fans can not see it. These outings since Christmas vacation with parents to Caribbean, then the big show of the birthday night out, then last week out with William’s pals, now a rumour that she may be taking an apprentince with Mario Test…..in NY or in UK…all sounds like a way for Kate to save face, because there won’t be an engagement coming. Christmas came and went, with no ring, Her Birthday came and went with no proposal or ring, now suddenly a new career opportunity. William is not marrying this girl ,folks.
January 23rd, 2008 08:04
merrick,
Unfortunately I think that you are correct although personally I find it difficult to accept.
I thought it was all over in Dec 2006/Jan 2007 and then came the April announcement or leak in The Sun.
Between this announcement and their apparent getting together again, several items of news escaped into the press. I’ll try to list them;
A Clarence House leak indicated that they feared for William’s popularity because Kate was so popular.
At Harry’s farewell party prior to his anticipated departure for Iraq William arrived late and was appalled to be told by Harry that he had been severely criticised by senior Army officers earlier in the evening for the way he had dumped Kate. They sat in a corner and were heard discussing it for hours.
Several press reports of talks in Swiss Alps and agreement to put relationship on hold. Then the report of the break that William Telephoned Kate whislst she was in the car park at work. Not the action of a future leader one would think.
This put William in a very difficult position. As a future King with the Monarchy looking to be in trouble following the Diana,Charles,Camilla
affair, William had been put forward as the big white hope.
Now his popularity was being questioned and his reputation was one ofa drunken love rat. This was not acceptable to the establishment.
This is now the crucial part. Was William told to get Kate back on board to maintain his popularity even in the short term, with the knowledge that in the future William would be able to manipulate a tidier split with Kate for good.
This look as if it is happening. William is performing his Royal Duties and unselfishly giving up the love of his life for duty.(?)
Kate may be seen to be resenting this but no announcement will be made. Since August 2007 William has been totally off hand with Kate, seemingly still around but body language, and facial expressions of almost hatred are noted with a discrete distancing from her.
The reports of affair with Miss al Fayed come to light and a official note from clarence house saying that whatever happened it was over. That was a first time any of William’s activities had been acknowledged.
The came the Aberdeen report of a new split.
Odd, a respected American reporter writting in the local Aberdeen rag ???
Kate was ignored through out the autumn Royal festivities and when William invited his step mum and family out he did not include Kate. It is said that Charles was disgusted at this action and at the last minute refused to attend when he heard that Kate would not be there. Charles had as recently as October been seen with Kate in Balmoral and didnt want to be seen as part of an elaborate subterfuge.
If William has gone along with this implied scheme since July 2007 then people will judge him accordingly and the big white hope may become yet another Windsor . Enough said.
I do hope that the above is a fairy story but facts are facts.
Again perhaps love will out because over the years there was many indications of their attraction.
But again, was Kate second or third, was William really initially attracted to Miss C. the actress or was he attracted to Miss C from Kenya. Perhaps he was rejected and Kate was safe option at time but actions like that have a habit of biting back. Lets wait and see because after all is said and done, we do not know.
January 23rd, 2008 11:31
good analysis, will, and very plausible
how cynical some of it all is, though, poor kate, too bad someone didn’t give her some better advice and motivatel her to disengage earlier
January 23rd, 2008 15:47
I agree Will. Everything you have stated has been evident to see if one is not just looking at the Fairy Tale and believing the UK Fairy Tale scenerio. William is the golden British prince and despite the press selling the idea of a very-common bride for him, namely Kate, I think some part of the Palace, the RF and some of the public does not really want the Golden Prince to be forced to marry a Air Hostess daughter, just because the press is trying to sell us a Rag to Riches, Cinderella, The Prince and Kate Fairy Tale,married before he reaches 30. Notice how with any ounce of trouble or absence for a few weeks of seeing William and Kate together, the press always pulls out a Kings descendant, triple barrelled Aristocratic Lineage, Isabella C-G…as the one who got away, from William. I think what the public has not relized yet and Kate fans have not relized yet is “WILLIAM is more a Windsor” at this stage in his life. He may see Kate as a girlfriend, a hot time of fun, a security blanket for him, someone to call on, but not someone to marry and bear his children.(also it has been reported that for generations the Spencer’s could be snobbish too when it came to marrying) Kate has a real problem, because she has given years to William, she is well known as his girlfriend, fiancee-to-be. This will be with her forever,if he doesn’t marry her, she will be the girl he did not marry, but it happened to women who dated Charles and they had a new life. The truth is not many Crown Princes marry before 30 and I think by that time, William will have dumped Kate a few more times and the entire episode will be a bad tabloid story. Hopefully a decision will be made by 2009 as some have reported. The longer the relationship drags out, the more complex it will be if he ends up dumping her. I think with William’s new training and Kate’s sudden release of career opportunies, there is a slow letting go of the idea that this is a relationship that will end in marriage. I think Clarence House PR spinners are already in place and Kate’s handlers will soften her dumping, to let both William and Kate have a softer landing, when another breakup comes. We won’t see the nasty articles of family background, pushy mother and William not loving her enough. In their place the news will report Career obstacles, Career opportunities, Career advancement, Royal duties and Training as a reason for the separation-splitting of the relationship.
January 23rd, 2008 18:12
Hi merrick,Hi anstasia,
It may not happen but if it does then perhaps Kate will feel this time she doesnt have to keep quie. The public will not condemn her this time for explaining how,why and whatever the true of the various dumping,getting back together and dumpings again.
That may make interesting copy and shed some light on the various girls with whom William cheated on her over the years.
I don’t think Kate is a lady who would do that but perhaps it depends on how matters develop between now and then (whenever that is)
January 23rd, 2008 21:25
Oh Lord, just listen to the non-sense.
January 23rd, 2008 23:29
Ah( Little)man,
See you have not yet found decency to respond following your rude comments to ladies yesterday’
Typical. Didn’t think you had the bottle.
January 24th, 2008 09:08
Guys cool down, violence with violence will not get any where around. The “stupid” vs. the “little” is just as offensive as well, therefore since no one is willing to appologise for the stupid or little, just cool it down please for the rest of us whom enter, enjoy this web page.
January 24th, 2008 12:06
Hi Me
Ok Point taken.
Just a little upset at his outburst telling benign to ’shut up’.
All over, thanks
January 24th, 2008 23:12
i think kate has great and fantastic photographer see this site
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=509553&in_page_id=1770
January 25th, 2008 02:43
I think he’s setting her up with a job so he doesn’t look like a cad when he dumps that lazy broad for good!
January 25th, 2008 07:46
Wills is going to end up breaking off with kate once and for all - he’s just not ready to be married and that’s okay. And she sure as heck is not going to be embarassed by another breakup with him. So, the “fairytale” is going to be over in just a matter of time.
January 25th, 2008 07:47
Is harry’s romance with chelsy on again or still off? I haven’t heard anything new.
January 26th, 2008 03:17
Hi Lydia Lilli, Their relationship status is unknown at the moment. Chelsy arrived back in London to continue her study at Leeds university last week.
From the Daily Mail “..the couple are still on what friends describe as an “extended separation”..”
January 31st, 2008 13:06
I agree with a lot of you. I think William has started to distance himself from Kate. They haven’t been seen together in months. There was that time at the shoot when they were photoed canoodling together but I thought that was all stage. In reality I think that the relationship is just limping along. Sources in the press have be saying how that are closer than ever. I don’t see that with Wills and Kate and never have done. I seen it wil Chelsy and Harry but whenever Kate and Wills are together he’s usually drunk or he looks totally miserable. It is not a stable relationship and not one I would push to the altar.
I agree with Merrick and Will. Kate is just a girlfriend and won’t be more than that. She could have been a wife but I believe she came into his life far to early. With Wills in the army and doing royal duties, and Kate’s sudden career options I don’t think this’ll go the distant. I agree with Will that William was told to take Kate back until the palace had him in a position where he could let Kate go without too much negative backlash.
That would explain why he is never seen with her anymore because he doesn’t want to be seen with her and his press complaint in the Autumn after that nightclub incident was probably fuel by his annoyance at being photographed with Kate.
He is now helping Kate find a career and I think that it’s because once she is settled into a career he can let her go. He is just waiting for the right moment to cut the strings on this relationship. It’s only a matter of time now. I just hope he doesn’t leave it too long.
January 31st, 2008 14:30
I don’t see it with Chelsy and Harry either and it’s unfair that Harry gets all the blame for their “break-up” when she’s the bigger partier of the two.
He’s had her in tears lately and when he’s supposed to spend time with her (much like William) he’s too busy or doing something else, like when he was supposed to accompany her to South Africa.
January 31st, 2008 15:49
Exactly Jess. You have said that perfectly and have put into word what I believe very clearly. I also hope he does not drag a relationship out which is past its sell by date. After all, that is not healthy for either person and prevents both from moving on and finding the person that they are meant to be with. Well done Jess =)
January 31st, 2008 22:20
Yes, I agree with Jess too. I just hope Kate sees it as well and gets her life in gear towards independence.
February 2nd, 2008 05:49
I do feel sorry for Kate in a way. She has put her career and life on hold, which I believe was a mistake. Particularly if the relationship ends it will be very difficult for her to get a new job. After all, she is 26 and has done very little in terms of a career. She would have start from the beginning as she has not used her degree in a constructive way. However, she made that choice and has only herself to blame at the end of the day.
February 4th, 2008 07:57
I don’t feel at all sorry for Kate. All she has done since getting out of University is Party, go to Clubs and on vacations. She is the real partygirl, but the press ignores it. It has been reported the Queen does not really relish the thought of Kate Middleton becoming William’s bride. I think the Palace is slowly dIstancing William from Kate, because he has no intention of marrying her.