Happy 24th Birthday Prince Henry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984), commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales. Grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, he is third in the line of succession to the thrones of the United Kingdom and the other fifteen Commonwealth realms…
September 15th, 2008 04:57
Harry has his mothers common touch. I just love this kid.
September 15th, 2008 06:22
William joins RAF flight and rescue team according to the Telegraph (and the Sun). He will stay in the military till he’s 31!
http://tinyurl.com/5fl6sm
http://tinyurl.com/5drngd
“The surprise announcement from Clarence House ends the speculation that Prince William would leave the military next year to become a full-time working Royal.
In his new role, which requires an 18-month training period, he will fly Sea King helicopters. He will be attached to the air search and rescue team for a minimum 30 month period which means he will be at least 31 before he will even consider returning to civilian life.”
September 15th, 2008 06:32
Hai Lieutenant Spike he…he..happy B’day pal! what your feeling at this new age?? 24 years is a moment to be grow up like as me too 3 years ago he…he..maybe your mom’s Diana pray for your life in heaven young bro! btw, visit at your mom grave more complete for your B’day now.from your sister at Indonesia.
September 15th, 2008 06:47
Happy Birthday !!!
September 15th, 2008 07:03
Hello,
This is not a surprise and I think many have known that because PW was unable to get into a battle zone he has been angling to find a fulfilling period for his life.
It is a new output for him, probably only recently decided following his recent traing with the RAF because previously his youthful intent had been to be in ‘Special Forces’ which obviously was not feasible so he has chosen his ’special life task.’
It certainly puts paid to the several reports of his attachments to Foreign Office, Government agencies and more importantly his so called training to take over the Royal Estate.
It also must be a blow to KM and something she probably has been living in dread with that is if she really knew of his plans which may be very doubtful . It certainly explains his reluctance to tie himself down with an engagement and may be the beginning of the end.
Now officially (if it is official and not further speculation) announced she must despair of ever getting her Prince to herself for any quality time. It appears that PW has chosen his life and career and unfortunately it sems as if she isn’t, for the present ,included.
She has suffered overthe years with PW’s attachment to his military colleagues, taking second place to boozy outings in Cornwall and to his other pursuits with his service friends always to her detriment and she must now, I fear, really consider her options and her way forward.
It also brings into focus his real reason for getting back with her in July/August 2007. Was it , as suggest, a ploy to regain the popularity his infidelities had lost as suggested by many at the time or was it his love for KM?
It certainly looks now that that his actions then may certainly be speculated upon unless he makes a positive reaction by demonstrating his commitment to his loyal partner. An announcement on his career for the next 5/6 years must be accompanied by some action telling KM and the country what his intentions are.
He has obviously attached himself to her and her family getting the family life he obviously didn’t get at home but now , being an honourable gentleman, he must put the record straight.
Failure to do this may live with him for ever including the time when he is crowned King. The public do and will have long memories and his reputation, so dear to him may well be in the balance.
I wonder if Rman can throw any positive light on this announcement andwhat he feels KM should expect and receive.
September 15th, 2008 07:19
ked,I am quite sure this decision was not made overnight and Kate was fully aware of it. These plans surely took months to bring together and considering how William and Kate seem stronger then ever at this point, I think we can assume that she was fully aware and fully supportive of this decision.
As a royal,and as a future King,much of William’s life decisions are not his. I applaud him for choosing to do something he loves and not just settleing for a life of royal duties while he waits for his next title.
I am sure he will continue to have a supportive partner in Kate Middleton, by his side.
September 15th, 2008 08:13
This sounds like a terrific move for William career
wise, although it surprised me a bit as I thought having PW there to take up some of the engagements for the Queen and Prince Philip over the next few years as a full time Royal would have been very helpful. Goodness knows they already carry on like Energizer bunnies, and are so very admirable for doing so, but one wishes they might be able to ease up a bit.
I’m sure Kate is delighted by whatever makes William happy. Her mother and father, who was also a pilot, can probably lend much support to Kate and can help her to understand the requirements and cope with the absences.
I see no reason why they couldn’t marry in 2009, as Kate could easily take on a Royal role without William there as she seems very self-assured and composed. I would imagine dealing with the public will not be as difficult for her as it might be for a shy person.
Sarah Ferguson was a military wife, and she and Andrew made it through the lonely first years, I believe, and they were not the love match William and Kate seem to be. So there is great hope that this will work beautifully for William and Kate.
September 15th, 2008 08:17
lisa,
I can see your point, but consider that over the past two years PW’s life decisions seem to be haphazard and short term and whilst it was less than 12 months ago that he learnt to fly I feel this way forward is a very recent development brought about, I suspect, by PH’s active service and subsequent publicity.
Since that time PW has tried to emulate PH’s involvement on active service hence his flight to Afghanistan and the resultant negative publicity, then the drug bust planning claim
(after 3 days on ship) and his minimal involvement in the action, followed by his so newsworthy disaster training in the Caribbean.
These have all given PW minimal , if not negative kudos, and he has now come up with something he can possibly do. Let’s wait and see the stories of daring rescue missions which will come out as they surely will to redress the competitive nature of his relationship with his younger sibling.
I suspect , but don’t positively know, that KM has had minimal notice and definitely no involvement in this next episode and don’t be surprised if KM doesn’t take a sabbatical year or so out of the UK with possibly a post graduate course at an overseas University . That seems her only respectiable and face saving option.
I do wonder if KM regrets taking PW back last year which has been followed by such horrendous attacks on herself and family. It would be interesting to know what promises PW made to win back her confidence in him.
I feel so sorry for KM at this time as she has devoted her best years to a relationship which, failing an early engagement announcement ,has now become an embarrassing National tragedy with posible disastrous effects on the future of the Monarchy over the next few decades.
I do hope that I am reading these recent developments incorrectly but it does seem as if it is the culmination of events over the past 12 months or so.
September 15th, 2008 08:23
Ked, I’m alittle busy but we all know that William is a busy guy and I know that he will continue to have Kate by his side. Like I said before, she’s not in the dark about any of this. She knows what’s going to happen before it is announced. This is why she is officially his future wife because she is waiting patiently, and sticking by him no matter what. Their love for each other is what make them stick together and get through this easily. It also give her some time to get involved in charities and organizations so the public can get to know her better.
September 15th, 2008 08:47
Separation makes the heart grow fonder. Kate surely knew of his plans and like always she supports him like many military wives and girlfriends. Nothing unusual with this.
September 15th, 2008 08:52
I meant absence makes the heart grow fonder lol
September 15th, 2008 08:59
Ked, Rman, I also see this as a tremendous opportunity for Kate to continue with her charitable causes (for example, the Roller Disco event to benefit Tom’s children) which will enable the public to see Kate for the caring individual she is known to be by all who know her.
Best case scenario: royal engagement is announced and Kate does Royal duties for two.
Worst case scenario: engagement is delayed but Kate is able to pursue the photography and enjoy a spot of independence prior to joining the RF.
I do wonder if, due to the recession in Britain, whether sales have been down at Party Pieces like they have been in so many other businesses? It seems plausible to me that the Middleton’s might need everybody to pitch in at the moment (Kate and James) to help out as that is often the case when a family business runs into a few bumps. It could be, of course, that everything is rolling along brilliantly, but when one reads the dismal tales of the consumer credit crunch and homeowners declining equity one wonders how many people can shell out for a luxury children’s party?
So it may be that Kate cannot pursue her dream career if she’s “needed at home”?
September 15th, 2008 09:11
I think there are still plenty of people who can afford these parties for their children. PP is pretty affordable plus they ship their party supplies to other countries not just Britain. I know here in America despite the financial problems and high gas prices,iIt seems people are still splurging on luxury items (including gas guzzling SUV’s). I do hope for the best case scenario you described alsgal. That would be great. I hope they become engaged before he leaves. Kate is strong enough to handle things on her own. I think it will be harder on her if there is no engagement. Come on Wills!!
September 15th, 2008 09:19
Hello Rman,
Thanks for response. I can’t see a way out for them and I feeel that this latest task is another hastily arranged episode.
Only two weeks ago someone leaked the news that HM asked PC to find a job for PW and suddenly this ‘job’ comes up.
PW and KM had barely returned from their family holiday with KM’s people and a leak come out of PB again.
Then two weeks later Air Sea Rescue is announced with an addendum that reads “PW will therefore be in the Services until he’s 31 years of age”. If this had been planned why transfer from Army to RAF , why not go straight into RAF ?
Almost monthly, changes to PW’s life and future are published and most of them producing delays to his personal life and to KM’s life.
How do you think the slobs who criticise her so frequently are going to react to this ? Further attacks on KM and other exaggerated revelations about her family dragged up from who knows where for how many more years?
PW is an enigma to most of us. He is said to love KM and thinks of and accepts her family as his own yet will let lies and disparaging reports circulate without any reaction.
He knows he could stop them at a stroke but conveniently ignores them with no thought of the horror and distress suffered by KM and her family. What do you think the friends of her and her family think of his attitude. ? What do you think his future subjects think of an uncaring attitude to close loved ones?
How will they perceive his attitude to his subjects in future years ?
It’s a damning path he has chosen to tread so answer why ? Is he so unsure of his feelings for KM ? Or has the pressure got to him ?
Is he so fearful that he will follow the path of his Father,Uncles(both sides) , Aunt and so many of his forebears that a meaningful, loving, loyal relationship is beyond him ? Is this his way of protecting KM from future heart ache and faithlessness ?
Is it time for PW to show the country that he has character and is a better and nicer person than many of his relatives and those who have gone before him?
September 15th, 2008 09:21
Sorry, Maddie but that is simply not the case. SUV sales in North America, despite massive price reductions, have fallen to the lowest levels ever and consumption has dropped. Sales figures indicate consumer confidence is plunging, and the data that is coming out now indicates fall will be much worse.
September 15th, 2008 09:55
Happy Birthday Harry have many birthdays to come. I hope you have a nice party and a cake.
September 15th, 2008 09:58
This pilot thing sounds to me like a way for William to avoid becoming a full time royal. Which is pretty disappointing. I mean the Queen, even though she is in good health, is getting older every year. Charles already does 600 engagements a year. When does William plan to learn how to run the various royal estates or the Duchy of Cornwall? There’s nothing wrong with being a rescue pilot but it just isn’t relevant to the kind of work William will need to know how to do. But this should finally put to rest any notions that courtiers are pulling the strings. I can’t imagine anyone being this short sighted. God forbid something happens to HM in the next few years & Charles becomes King. William will be completely clueless as Prince of Wales.
September 15th, 2008 10:06
nikki,
I have only just read the CH statement and it says that he will have time away from his duties to carry out some Charitable work and some Royal duties.
I think it does smell of ’suits’ pulling the strings.
The strings that bind him to KM, when does she get the time she deserves ?
Perhaps Tom will get his chance but I hope she finds happiness.
September 15th, 2008 10:09
Ked, I am at a total lost for words. I think that this arrangement of another job in SAS sounds like what happened to Prince Andrew and Koo-Stark. I hate to be negative, but I do believe that all the negative press about Kate and her family has hurt her with the RF. It appears that she was a puppet this past year and I feel like she got used. Some may disagree, but I can’t imagine she has to be happy about this SAS announcement. Not only will there be no engagement, but he will be gone alot. Kate would be crazy to stick around and wait for him. I think she should take a job or continue her studies as Ked mentioned abroad and get away from the RF. Why did William take her to these ceremonies and this latest wedding, if he has no intention to put a ring on her finger? I still think the RF is hoping he will find a better suited girl.
September 15th, 2008 10:18
Sorry, meant RAF.
September 15th, 2008 10:32
I think it varies where you live. Luckily for us, foreclosures are not as widespread as most states. Fortunately, I am still able to spend on some luxury things as well, but I would never drive a suv. I don’t feel this is the end for KM and PW. They have appeared in public together at some important events. They look closer than ever!
September 15th, 2008 10:39
I have to agree with Ked and gracie. If William really wanted an engagement, he could have proposed by now as this was not part of the originally plan (as far as I am aware). However, with more and more negative stories coming out about Kate it would not be a good time for an engagement.
I think Ked said better than I did but you get the idea
September 15th, 2008 10:45
I’m sorry but can people stop putting the blame on the courtiers? I’m sick of hearing that excuse. William is a grown man. He is calling the shots here. It’s nice to believe he can’t make any of his own decisions but he’s made all of them on his own so far. If if were up to the RF and their advisers he would have already been a full time royal by now. Forget Kate Middleton for just a second. What about the monarchy? William is the royal and he’s gotten his share of negative publicity over the last few months. This only hurts William. Why the RAF after all the bad pr he’s gotten? This just means more years doing something totally irrelevant to his role as Prince of Wales/King. If something happens to the Queen William will have no idea what to do as Duke of Cornwall. Doing 10 or 14 royal engagements over the next few years won’t cut it. It is William that is showing bad judgment in this situation. Not the Queen or Charles or any anonymous courtiers. He should want to be as prepared as he can for his future position. However noble a rescue pilot career may be it is not what he should be doing.
September 15th, 2008 10:48
I don’t think that’s fair, Nikki-William should decide his career, not anyone else. I mean, he didn’t chose his parents, it’s not his fault he’s a prince and you shouldn’t hold it against him. He should chose his career, not anybody else, he’s a grown man and can make his own decisions-besides, the best way to help people is to set an example for them, not tell them what to do.
September 15th, 2008 11:12
The fact is as Ked has stated better than I, that William life is not his own. He has been told what he will do with his life since day one. I am sure he has some voice with in the RF, but ultimately it is up to the Queen to decide what’s best. I agree with Ked, Nikki, that this sounds like William’s not ready to take on more royal duties and now he/Firm have decided the RAF is best. I think it’s silly and William should be learning things that will keep the monarchy alive for the future. I think this new RAF task that has been added will be seen as a waste of money once again. There is no reason for William to be training to do search and rescue missions, when there are already full time military who do that. I think William is going to come out of this looking like a jerk. Really. It looks like he used Kate and so did the RF until she was not getting good press for them and now this comes up. This looks more like a separation w/o William having to get bad press again for breaking up with her. They’ll eventually say they grew apart and that will be it. I hope Kate finds someone not in William’s circle.
September 15th, 2008 11:13
Apryl,
William’s career has already been decided- he’ll be King. If he doesn’t like that fact & wants to do something else he should step aside. But as it stands now he is second in line to the throne. IMO he should spend these years learning the ropes- managing a large estate, increasing charity work, state dinners, royal engagements, the Duchy of Cornwall. William can do whatever he wants, it’s his life. But it seems irresponsible to me to not fully prepare for these important roles he’ll have in his life. I just sense a great deal of denial from William about who and what he is.
September 15th, 2008 11:37
Hello,
Don’t take anything for granted or at face value and above all don’t believe that anyone directly in line to the succession has their own life.
They exist for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to be there ready and able to accept that crown when that time comes.
There has only been one failure over the entire period and he rebelled for love and made it clear from the beginning of his love affair that his love wasn’t negotiable.
PC also made that a condition when he divorced Diana and eventually married Camilla but was adamant that he would not give up his crown when his time came.
PW has the same requirement. He wants his crown as and when, but so far has toed the line but at the expense of KM and unfortunately her family.
At this stage PW has put his birthright before his love life and seems determined to continue this path .
All that we can do is surmise why and speculate how far will he go without sacrificing his Royalty.
Who is between the rock and the hard place ?
PW or KM ?
On the present evidence there appears to be no contest.
September 15th, 2008 11:47
Guys I don’t think Kate is upset at all. She knows what’s going to happen before we all do and Prince William and the royal family is making it clear that she will become part of the royal family and be by William’s side. I have said this over and over, she’s not in the dark about his plans. We are all still hoping for a announcement later this year and he can take a leave off for a wedding next year. She can live on base with him as well. That’s the life The Queen & Philip wanted. Just seeing William & Kate at the recent wedding tells us that there is nothing to worry about. They will be fine and they are sticking together. I do understand that this latest announcement seems like there’s no light at the end of this tunnel but there is. It’s just giving her time to adjust to royal life and the work that lies ahead. I look forward to seeing her at the charity event this week. I wish her luck.
September 15th, 2008 11:49
Ked, I totally agree. I think that since this is the path William has taken, then Kate should come out of hiding and get on with her own life. This decision had to have been planned out months in advance and had to get the clearance of the military, so I am assuming that Kate and William have know this was what he was going to do. Maybe she will continue to wait for him, in the shadows content with the occasional party or ceremony he is allowed to take her to. It’s sad really. Kate has been in the shadows catching hell about her life and her family and no of that is taken into consideration. I think she should go do her own things and what will be will be.
September 15th, 2008 11:57
Congrats Henry,
We share the same age, I’ve also turned 24 today.
Have a nice afternoon,
Reda
September 15th, 2008 11:57
Ya’ll seem to think you know William and the other members of the royal family pretty darned well, huh.
September 15th, 2008 12:02
Actually the Telegraph pointed out that he will be near Kate now. So there’s nothing to really worry about. As soon as I read the latest news I said to myself, “Oh Lord, this will make everybody pull their hair out” But this will give her sometime to adjust and let the public know what she’s all about. Not the silly “Waity Katey” the press was dubbing her. I’m very happy that we will get a chance to know her better and see her stick to her Prince’s side. Now that is something I wish I can find, a woman who will stand by me no matter what. What a strong person she is.
September 15th, 2008 12:05
ked,
I think you must be seeing something I’m not seeing. William hasn’t put the crown before Kate or anything else. It’s pretty clear with this rescue pilot thing he’s avoiding duty and being a working member of the RF. He’s perfectly content to hide in the military until he’s 30. Maybe he thinks the general public will lose interest in him after a while. He’s probably right on that. Too bad because I really felt William had the potential to become a great king. And Kate should definitely get out of this relationship. Even if they did get married William wouldn’t be around to support her at all. She would be left to fend for herself just like Fergie was.
September 15th, 2008 12:06
Roman, I hope you are right. I thought the Garter ceremony showed that Kate and William relationship was going towards an engagement, but now this announcement makes me wonder if that is the case. If Kate was to be apart of this new direction in William’s life, would it not have been a perfect time for CH/William to say so? Instead this will no doubt make for a feeding frenzy, once again, on the status of their relationship. It will look worse for Kate if she continues to wait behind the scenes for William as he trains for what, 3-5 more years? Maybe they will announce an engagement and Kate will be a military wife, but it does not look likely at this point! The picture of Kate and William on cover of HELLO!, looks like William is not pleased that they got a photo of him and Kate together at the wedding. She looks happy and teary-eyed and he is looking at the camera with disgust. I think CH knows that they have to tread carefully when it comes to Kate because the public will have simpathy for her if William ends it and CH does not want him to look like a insensitive jerk. I hope your right Roman.
September 15th, 2008 12:11
I agree Rman. Kate is very strong, loyal, and supportive. We should all be so lucky to find such a person to have in our life. It is not an easy task for one in his position to find such a woman who truly loves him and sticks by him through all the bs that dating him requires.
September 15th, 2008 12:14
Rman, I have read the Telegraph and the only mention of Kate was that it did not look likely to happen. In fact it says that Charles and Camilla can get all the attention now that William will be in the background.
September 15th, 2008 12:16
Rman,
When KM/PW were at the wedding in Austria I am positive that she had no idea that he was extending his Military career beyond January 2009 and was under the impression that during the remainder of this year PW would be taking his part in Royal and Constitutional events as well as certain Military commitments.
I do however have the feeling that the two comments understood to have been released from BP/CH ,firstly that HM had asked PC to find a job for PW and secondly there was no indication of an engagement for at least 18 months were premeditated.
Each and every time an engagement is mooted or seems imminent BP/CH throws yet another spanner (or corkscrew) into the works and one has to ask why?
For the past two years PW’s commitments have been revised, renewed , increased, decreased without any clear path and it must seem to many that changes in policy,personel or just circumstances are reacted to with knee jerk
decisions which may or may not reflect on certain personal relationships and their desirability or non desirability.
Who is leading this hotchpotch?
September 15th, 2008 12:24
No Ked I do have a very strong feeling that she knew all about this. He wouldn’t want her to find out by reading it the papers or seeing it on the news. No, she knew all about this. It was just announced today but the knowledge of it was already known among them. I’m telling you it just prove how strong they are and how much in love they are. Kate knew all about this, and if she’s okay with it and sticking by her Prince then we should be patient right along with her.
September 15th, 2008 12:33
Gracie, look at the Telegraph Video and you will see what I’m talking about. I just want to say to my fellow Royal Bloggers, don’t let this latest news throw you completely off track. Everything is coming together slowly. We just have to be patient and make sure that William & Kate have our full support. We are rooting for them all thec way. Harry & Chelsy included.
September 15th, 2008 12:34
I don’t think that Ked is implying that Kate found out about it this morning when she picked up the morning paper. I agree with Ked that it’s entirely possible that she was just told about this in the last day or so.Yes, theses sorts of plans take awhile to organize, but that doesn’t mean that Kate, or even William, are privy to the ins-and-outs of all of the decisions as they’re being made.
Obviously we would hope she would find out about the plans prior to it hitting the press, but that doesn’t mean that they run the plans by her for approval, or that they actually take his relationship with her into account when planning either. It’s not how it should be, but it seems like that’s how the royal family has been for centuries…blood-line first, country second…significant others, especially non-engaged significant others, consistently seem to get the short end of the stick in these relationships, unfortunately….
September 15th, 2008 12:45
Rman,
But what is the point? I think that’s what a lot of us don’t understand. William doing additional military training until he is 31 yrs old is a complete waste of time. It has nothing to do with his duties as POW or King. It’s just a bad idea with seemingly no logic behind it other than allowing William to put off being a full time royal. And I disagree with you about Kate- she’ll look like a fool if she waits around for him that long. But William will look even worse than her. They’ll both come out looking terrible.
September 15th, 2008 13:05
Rman,
Believe me. KM didn;t know about this in Salzberg
September 15th, 2008 13:05
L, I know that they don’t have to get her approval, I’m just saying that she knew all about this and you know it must have came up when they was on vacation. William and Clarence House just announced it today but they knew about this for some time. Nikki, why do you think I just said don’t let all of this throw you off completely? Because I know that would happen. It’s his choice and his plan so he & Kate is going along with that. We really don’t see the point but they do so what can you say. It’s their life. We just have to sit and see how it all plays out. I really don’t see the point either but this is how they are doing it.
September 15th, 2008 13:16
Ked it was just announced today, they knew when it would come out. This is one if the reasons why they have spent soo much time together this year. Ked please trust me when I say that she knew abou this all along when William decided to do this. Like all couples, they talk about what will happen next. It’s a suprise to us, the outsiders but not to Kate. She is the insider and William’s lover. We are the ones that thought William would become a full time working royal next year. There is no doubt that these two are in love with heach other and will get through this together but the public needs to see that Kate is not being totally push to aside and very much part of William’s life and we are about to see that. It’s very important for the media and public to see that or everyone will get off track and get completely lost in all the speculation that will follow this news. We know it’s coming, so get prepared for it. It’s not going to be pretty.
September 15th, 2008 13:17
William applied for this position back in May.
http://tinyurl.com/6xqr9c
He laready said in the Matt Lurer interview how he’d like to become a helicopter pilot.
http://www.theinternetforum.co.uk/node/2603
So these plans are not new and have apparently not been decided at short notice either. It’s just that (once more) the press got it all wrong and reported he’ll start full time royal duties next year. Those reports were never confirmed by CH.
But why should this training keep him from marrying? If I understood correctly his base will be I the UK.Hewon’t be deployed abroad so he’ll basically have a 9-5 work day and the weekends off. Millions of service men aremarried and have a family. Their “job” didn’t keep them from marrying why should it do so with William?
September 15th, 2008 13:21
Ked, not to sound rude, but why would she discuss RAF at Salzburg. I totally agree with you on all fronts, but I would have expected her to have know he was going to do this for months. I remember when they floated all these theories around before his month long navy tour and that was one of the ideas that Sun said William was putting in for RAF rescue training but he had to get approval. Correct me if I am wrong. It sounded far fetched at the time and then it was not mentioned. Back to Kate though, are you serious that she just found out about this like the rest of the world?
September 15th, 2008 13:37
Trixie, thanks for bring that artical back to our attention. That is what I’m saying that she knew about this but CH just made it official by annoucing it today. No Gracie I don’t believe Ked thinks that Kate found out like us but this is taking everybody by suprise because our focus was on him ending his training this year, become a full working royal next year and start getting involved in government. But since he had to apply for this new training, it’s coming to full circle for us now that this was the plan the whole time. So we will have a couple of wrinkles while watching them walk down isle, lol, that’s okay. (laughing). It’s okay the we and William & Kate will be associated with AARP before a we get to see a wedding. We can wait a little longer. LOL.
September 15th, 2008 14:01
gracie,
You are correct. It was mentioned several months ago and may well have been acted upon.
I agree that there was no reason why it should have been mentioned in Austria and neither do I imply that she heard about it from the Telegraph today. She would have been notified earlier but I suspect not by PW.
KM had not previously known of his plans to continue his Military service in any branch of services after January 2009.
I do not believe that this course of action was seriously thought about until a career choice was mooted by HM fairly recently and the leak was obviously leading up to today’s news.
In he same way the 18 month time limit o an engagement was obviously similarly leaked again indicating that BP/CH sources had heard something even if they didn’t know exactly what.
PW/KM marriage plans now are very problematical with such a lot of baggage being carried forward and the resulting difficulties of Military life both with security and separation
In the long term perhaps it will be better that they do not marry and KM then spared the inevitable ‘Windsor”‘ infidelities endemic to Royal Princes, later in their married life.
It was and should still be a wonderful fairy story but I am not sure we are gong to see it. I will however rejoice in the news should the impossible happen and would pray for their happiness.
For the future God Bless them both, he as our future King, she as a wonderful loyal and loving partner of his youth.
September 15th, 2008 14:11
Trixie,
I have friends from University who were in the University Flying Squadron at present training in the RAF as Pilots and I am led to believe that in the Search and Rescue section the hours worked ars ‘as required’ with living on the base manditory.
The number of hours actully worked (after Training) are not regular and not I think conducive to married life as accidents happen at all times but stand by duries are onerous
There will be difficulties ahead.
September 15th, 2008 14:16
Ked yes I think the impossible will happen. He will not find another person like Kate. That is very rare. That’s why they are sticking together and there’s something between them that we don’t get a chance to see. I wonder will they will be at the charity event that is coming up? Like I have always said, they are keeping us all on our toes and on the edge of our seats. Six Flags Great America cannot compare to this thrilling ride.
September 15th, 2008 14:17
Hello again,
The involvement of PW in the Foreign Office and with Elder Statesmen following the end of his Military Service in January 2009 was an official CH response to questions.
September 15th, 2008 14:20
Ked,
I’m with you. The reports today and for the last few weeks have indicated there will not be an engagement or wedding. If I were Kate I would simply move on at this point. Army life can be even more restricting than royal life. She has been incredibly loyal to him but William doesn’t really have his priorities in order. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t see things working out between them.
September 15th, 2008 14:20
Rman,
Yet again I applaud your steadfastness, humour and cheerfulness.
Long may you continue as such and hopefully get the desired result.
Well done again.
September 15th, 2008 14:54
Ked, PW did not even relay this important news to Kate himself? She must be heartbroken.
September 15th, 2008 15:00
I think either Kate won’t be able to go to the charity event because of too many paps again OR she will be there, smiling, and looking gorgeous along side her William.
I don’t see anything changing between them as I agree w/ Rman, she is loyal to the death and will wait an eternity if necessary. Let’s hope William understands the jewel he has in Kate; for that is very, very rare.
The only question now is for Kate to answer — is PW a Prince worth waiting for?
If engaged already, I really don’t see why they can’t announce their engagement now and I wouldn’t be half surprised to see one in December. William does like surprising people!
Kate would make a fantastic military wife so I don’t think that’s an excuse not to marry in the next year or so.
It seems certain he can get two weeks off next summer for a wedding and honeymoon as this is common in the military. Very little else is required of the bridegroom.
It’s obvious to everyone she’s put her life on hold and it’s time PW either allows her to make a life of her own or makes an honest woman out of her. She can’t stay in this limbo for another 3 years; it’s not fair to her or her family. JMO.
September 15th, 2008 15:25
What I don’t get is if William had no intention to marry her, why did he not step in and advise her not to quit her job at Jigsaw? Why lead the girl on? I think he should have used his connections to help Kate get a job she would like, maybe an art gallery or something. Ever since she left Jigsaw she really has almost gone into hiding. Pictures are vary rare of her and she seldomly goes out unless it is when William is away. Kate might not have full time security, but something is going on to the point where we no longer see pictures of her doing everyday things. I guess what I am getting to is why would William allow a cocoon-like circle to protect this girl and then go off and spend 5yrs in military? Kate will have to leave the country to establish a new life w/o the protection she has been recieving from the press. I am curious too if William will be at Disco.
September 15th, 2008 15:28
alsgal,
I may be the Devil’s advocate here but how easy is it to give up the love of your life and to all and sundry they are both with the person they love.
However one is a Prince of the Realm and a future King , she is an honourable,loyal but loving subject.
So where do they go ?
September 15th, 2008 15:32
To me it seems like a great idea to have William take on this job which combines something he enjoys and something that helps others while at the same time Charles won’t have to worry about William (and his wife) overshadowing him which would have inevitably happened had William taken on full time duties.
I think William and Kate could live on base together once married. William will not spend any time abroad but participate in sea rescue missions. Those won’t take him away from home for very long even if he’s constantly “on call”. HM and Philip did the same. The press may not like it but I see no reason why this shouldn’t work. They would have the chance to spend the first years married (possibly with adorable toddlers) in relative privacy.
Btw. I’m sure this was another example of William showing those royal correspondents “the finger”. All of them were spelling out his future as full time working royal next year and it turns out, he had totally different plans altogether – and noone really knew despite of the Sun article. I love it!
September 15th, 2008 15:37
Well, I agree that it’s not fair and I do believe that William will soon make things very clear. But I will not argue on this subject because I completely understand it has thrown everyone off track and the press may have fun with this. It’s going to take alot of pictures to be shown at Charles’s birthday celebrations to let everyone know that things are okay. That’s why I’m warning you guys now before the media starts to add fuel to the fire. There is alot of speculation out there and the reports will make it sound like William won’t have time for her anymore. But the point is that William & Kate is happy and doing this their way. I think the major problem is that she has never publicly expressed how she deals with the media attention and the life she now has as his future wife. When these training announcements come up, people can only imagin her feeling down and sad that she has to wait. That is one of the reasons why people call her waity katey because people think she is just sitting and waiting. I think her goal is to show people that she is sitting and waiting but being by his side and making a life for herself. I siad before that we need to see her being involved in some charity work so the public can see two people working towards their future together and not one leaving the other. What we need to understand what they are doing works for them not us. We are on one page but they are on another.
September 15th, 2008 16:08
Trixie I totally agree.
September 15th, 2008 16:13
Rman, sometimes with the enigmatic William I don’t even think we’re in the same book, much less on the same page, but I do agree.
If it works for them then that’s great but we cannot deny that this image of “Waity Katie” is harmful to both the couple and the Monarchy — otherwise, Kate would not have authorised the “friend” to speak to Hello on her behalf about her job working for her parents.
For the Royals, image does count, so while I can understand William’s desire to have a private life and do the things he wants, he is, as future King, affected by public opion and cannot turn his back on it entirely. Nor can his potential future consort, as they seem to understand already.
I think we may be in for that fabulous December surprise; and if not I’ll reiterate and say it’s not helping anyone if he’s dallying.
September 15th, 2008 16:20
Sorry, Rman, the first part was fuzzily written — what I meant was that we as onlookers and supporters seem to not be aware or able to guess his actions as we have been surprised (usually quite pleasantly) a time or two. In that sense, he and Kate are on one page and many of us feel we are reading a diferent book altogether.
The choice of St. Andrew’s, even going back to Kate last year after the very public breakup were to some of us, unexpected yet delightful choices.
I think he enjoys it a bit, keeping the press and the public guessing. It gives him some element of control over an otherwise very controlled public life that is for the most part, not really his to choose by virtue of his position.
September 15th, 2008 16:37
I get what you are saying. Yes I think they like to keep us guessing and on out toes. I guess I should have said that they are on one page and we are in another book. They are just a couple of steps infront of us and we get very confused. I have no doubt with this new news people will throw in the towel but I just feel that there’s a twist to this and a suprise with it. I don’t throw in the towel because I just know that something is behind all this for the greater good. That mystery something will make us jump for joy. The suspense is killing.
September 15th, 2008 16:48
With all this stuff that William has planned, maybe now we will see Kate out more. I think that will be a true show of where the relationship is going. Kate tends to hit the town when William does something, slips up and she will not be wearing her rings either. Look for the rings in photos of Disco! I assume she will be there and Willem Marx too.
September 15th, 2008 16:51
oh my,where to begin..LOL.
Everyone makes good points. I think the best thing to do is to take a deep breath and watch what happens next.
William is training to be a pilot, not a monk,therefore I see no reason why he would have to give up his lady or delay any wedding plans.
I do believe this plan has been in the work for a long time and it is just now that is is being released to the public, just like the wedding will have been planned and all settled when they are ready to share it with us.
ked, if Kate gave anyone the impression in Salzberg that William’s plans were different,it is because she knew the real deal was not ready for public consumption.
If Kate was unhappy about William’s choices or felt like she was being pushed aside,I cannot imagine she would continue to support him.
I believe all is well and it is us, not Kate that was taken by surprise by this news!
September 15th, 2008 17:19
Hello,
I really love Rman’s romancing and he is so loyal and constant to the couple and always without any fears that they will not get together.
I have been telling him since , well , a long time that there wouldn’t an engagement this year and I even mentioned 2010 on a few occasions but he still is not put off.
If there is to be an engagement/marriage then it certainly seems to be ‘in the future’ which may be realistic for some people but PW has to produce heirs and whoever is his wife has to bear them.
In PC’s case there were no problems in his being well into his early 30’s when married because Diana was still a very young lady.
For KM there is a problem as she in fact is slightly older than PW, only a few months granted, but her childbearing years are being somewhat squashed up.
Her 20’s spent waiting for PW, her 30’s bearing their children, her 40’s supervising and nourishing their children and her 50’s well perhaps wondering . ?.. well we’ll just leave it at that.
KM is not having the best of things is she ?
September 15th, 2008 17:27
Ked, she could start the child bearing before her 30’s?!
September 15th, 2008 17:38
alsgal,
I love your very descriptive ‘enigmatic’ for PW and so apt;
In French , enigmatique
Greek; ainigma
Latin; aenigmaticus.
I hope ?
Well anyway they all mean the same ; ” riddle.”
and as the adjective how about ;
puzzling,hard to understand inexplicable , baffling , perplexing, bewildering , incomprehensible, unfathomable, and literally ;
as clear as mud.
And the opposite if enigmatic is, wait for it,
“straighforward.”
Not a genius only the Oxford dictionary.
September 15th, 2008 17:43
alsgal,
Sorry for double post but had to refer to your “the finger ” !
Did you see Top Gun with ‘Goose’s” explanation of ‘ communicating ‘ ?
Not relevant to subject but funny.
September 15th, 2008 17:44
Sorry should have been Trixie’s finger.
Apologies.
September 15th, 2008 18:20
Ked, have you heard any news of a break-up?
September 15th, 2008 18:41
Sun says that William can choose to train out of Cypress, Faulklands or UK. Larcombe says he will most likely stay in UK for personal and security reasons. Sources state Kate will have to wait cause William wants to fly. If William gets to do what he wants, then Kate should go and do what she wants as well. I still don’t think CH is going to get the PR they want out of this. William is starting to look like a cad.
September 15th, 2008 18:50
gracie,
Hello,
No but there’s lots of chat in the club house and the buzz is that she’d be better off out of it but obviously she’s very much in love so what should she do.
Nothing of consequence but the guys seem to think she’s much too nice for (him) .
Someone somewhere seems to have made one big mess up but only PW can clear it up and he knows what he has to do.
Will he (can he) do anything or is he stuck up a gum tree?
What a mess and are we making too much of it anyway ?
A couple of weeks ago all seemed ok and they seemed comfortable and happy so lets just wait and see.
September 15th, 2008 19:00
Hello,
Interesting,
Sun;s comment on delay in PW;s wedding plans cut from Internet ?
September 15th, 2008 19:03
Yes Ked, people are making too much of it. I also agree with you, he can clear it all up before everyone have a stroke. I do belive he will do just that.
September 15th, 2008 19:08
Ked, thanks for your response. If this was indeed a choice he made, then there is no mess up. I can’t imagine he would make a choice like this w/o thinking it could create problems in their relationship. I don’t think “The Firm” could just tell him you will go be a RAF rescue pilot and William have no input into the decision. I don’t even understand how he can be a pilot when he wears glasses. I thought you have to have 20/20 vision.
September 15th, 2008 19:19
Ok,I will throw this out there…has anyone considered the possibility that they could marry this year before William starts his training?
September 15th, 2008 19:19
Ked, very odd. Sun’s “Willam’s wedding delay held up by chopper?” It will not let me look at the story. I think William should have made plans to either end it with Kate before the RAF decision or an engagement announcement should be made. William will make the public angry if they think he dumped her again. Does not sound like his PR people are helping him.
September 15th, 2008 19:23
If William is still playing games with the press at this stage in his life then that speaks volumes about his level of maturity. Do the Queen or Charles play little mind games with the media about their plans? Of course not. In their position it would be foolish. And I don’t think all the papers made it up about William being a full time royal. There were some pretty reputable sources all with the same story- The Telegraph, Evening Standard etc. The rescue pilot career was probably a possibility but a remote one. Otherwise William could have been doing that all along instead going to 3 different branches and now the SAS stuff. I’m almost hoping at this point they don’t get married. Kate has spent 5 years with him mostly in the background with all the problems of being a real royal but with none of the protection. And for long stretches her prince wasn’t around. Perfectly understandable because that was part of his king preparation. Now she’ll waste a few more years with William on an army base all so PW won’t be in the spotlight? How romantic. Not! I better stop posting for a while because right now I have nothing positive to say. Later.
September 15th, 2008 19:24
Lisa, I have thought that possibly an engagement might happen this year, but not a wedding. He starts in January and I don’t see a shot-gun wedding not for William. I always thought the earliest for a wedding would be Spring of next year.
September 15th, 2008 19:33
gracie,I would not discount anything at this point. I think we will know something as to their status within 30 days. Anything is possible. I have always felt that due to the threat of terrorism that the time between the announcement and the actual wedding would be short. Either way,I think they are fine. It is us(the public) that is in a hurry. Perhaps kate is happy to live with William while he is training and not have to deal with the enormous change in her life that the marriage will bring. People always assume Kate wants to get married and asap. Maybe that is not the case. In our haste to romantisize things,maybe we are imposing our desires on kate.
September 15th, 2008 19:50
I’m so glad you said that lisa. Somehow I think that announcement will come soon. Other than this news William got something up his sleeve.
September 15th, 2008 20:10
Better than something up his sleeve would be something shiny in his pocket and I’m not talking about a foil gum wrapper.
A ring William. One.diamond.ring. That’s all we ask, and all that Kate needs to become William’s devoted wife and bearer of his woung.
September 15th, 2008 20:13
^ Young, not woung.
September 15th, 2008 20:18
alsgal,Mandrake has a piece about a designer who wasencouraged by the person who designs the queens hats to draw up some ideas for a dress for Kate. maybe someone can post the piece as I am terrible at linking these things…
September 15th, 2008 20:32
Ok, here it is…
Party planner
Kate Middleton may not yet be engaged to Prince William, but that has not stopped Christine Kendall, an exclusive bridal gown designer, from sending her plans for royal wedding dresses to Clarence House.
“I was encouraged to draw up some wedding dress ideas for Kate by Philip Somerville who makes the Queen’s hats,” Christine tells me at the Qasimi show at Westminster Central Hall at the start of London Fashion Week. “They thanked me and kept the plans.”
September 15th, 2008 20:57
Lisa, Mandrake is rather well-connected isn’t he? Although his claim about PW saying he didn’t like to dance with Kate was shot down by the eyewitness reports of them waltzing together at the wedding in Salzburg, for many other little tidbits he has been correct.
Veddy, veddy interesting news — let’s hope it’s true.:)
September 15th, 2008 21:06
Well this is a bit more believable since he is actually quoting a person. I am reading different opinions that suggest that living together as a military couple is exactly the kind of privacy that William would desire. They could basically have their cake and eat it too! (wedding cake,that is! )
September 15th, 2008 21:29
As long as they save the top tier for the baby’s christening!
Lisa, military life would indeed offer them privacy and quiet. Let’s also think of the Queen and Prince Philip in Malta as an example rather than Andrew and Sarah at Sunninghill. (Besides, that was one tacky house.)
Only thing curious abpout the Mandrake story is why the designer would say this on the record to Mandrake. These people are supposed to be discreet, at least prior to the big Event. It would seem Chrsitine has already taken her designing self out of the running with this admission?
September 15th, 2008 21:48
I would imagine you are right about Christine,alsgal. Maybe she felt she could speak about it because she knows she did not “get the job”
September 15th, 2008 21:57
There will be people dropping hints. I wouldn’t be suprised if the job went to Issa. Alsgal, The Queen & Philip loved that lifestyle they had back then. Their family often tell the stories who they made friends with other couples and went dancing alot.
September 15th, 2008 22:40
Isn’t one of the possibilities for William to be based in Cyprus? Also filled with those delightful Mediterranean breezes!
September 16th, 2008 03:32
Hello,
I am amazed that PW is to be allowed to fly helicopters day in day out. The number of Helicopter accidents in both military and civil flying is well above average crash rates and survival rates from helicopter crashes are virtually zero.
Here we have the second in line to the throne, unmarried and without an heir seemingly putting his birthright in jeopardy.
Where are his advisors, where is his father, where is HM ? These are people who should be protecting the Monarchy not allowing their next but one King to take even the smallest risk.
I am also amazed that the press has not taken up this as it is a clear risk and one which should not even be considered.
I understand PW’s frustration in being a soldier not allowed to go into battle zones especially the sibling jealousy that has provoked this last minute change of career. PH has received the respect of many, for at least going into a battle zone and PW obviously resented that as he has resented PH’s achievements since they were children . PH was the daring one and first on the water ski and bungy jump , PW the mummy’s boy holding back although eventually joining in.
In addition PW eyesight is suspect and would normally not be considered for training with less than 100% eyesight. If a pilots sight deteriorates after training and with a certain level of experience ,conditions apply and within reason he can continue flying.
To be accepted for training with less than perfect eyesight is very unusual. I understand that PW does wear contact lenses most of the time.
It is also understood that his basic educational results would also have disqualified him from acceptance for training but I would think that a Degree standard should be qualification enough despite other applicants being rejected for low level GCSE and A level standards.
In every respect this is a desperate clutching of straws to maintain the popularity of a future King but this could fall even more should his relationship with KM take a disasterous turn. It happened before and prompted the last minute attempts for PW to persuade KM to make up in July 2007.
September 16th, 2008 04:53
William may as well break his neck falling down the stairs in the palace. I doubt he’d be happy being put in cotton wool his whole life until his grand-mother and father finally die.
I do not know about the requiremtns for helicopter flying. I doubt they are as high as those for fighter jet pilots which seems to be what you have in mind, ked.
Prince Willem Alexander of the Netherlands is a professional pilot as well. He even flies airline planes regularly. Yes there is a rather high risk of accident but then it’s not like the monarchy will seize to exist should William die. The list of possible successors has well more than some hundred names on it I’m sure.
September 16th, 2008 06:08
Morning Trixie,
Your point is appreciated but we could all be run over at traffic lights but we take precautions and look both ways. My point is have they estimated the risk ?
Yes the succession is secured with PH but he is a soldier anxious to get back into a battle zone and is also unmarried without an heir.
So two accidents out of the thousands that happen in military each year could decimate the next generation and we would go back to Andrew to succeed Charles. Gets conplicated and all because someone is not thinking clearly.
Initial requirements for Pilot training are same for all branches as I have been informed
recently but additional fitness requirements are applied for jet fighters. Educational requirements are also strictly applied. Normally!
By the way KM was out alone at a nightclub this week and drove herself home as per ITV early morning show. (cant confirm as I was told it)
September 16th, 2008 07:37
Ked, I too am surprised that he qualifies to fly. My father was a helicopter pilot as well as a fighter pilot in and at the time he had better then 20/20 vision. Someone who wears glasses would not be allowed to pilot a military aircraft. To become a pilot is very, very difficult and dangerous. Only the best make it, but it is after years of training. One has to be very calm in critical conditions.
I am really surprised that after the Chinook incidents, that the RAF would want William any where near them. This PR move looks to me like William is a selfish man at the heart of him. He will endanger those around him and jeapordise the monarchy just so he can do what he wants to do. This has JFK JR. all over it to me.
September 16th, 2008 07:43
I think the Mandrake story was leaked from either the Midds side or CH. It comes out right when William makes RAF decision. Kate has to try to make it through this with some type of dignity and the Mandrake column shows that indeed someone in RF was planning a wedding for Kate and William.
September 16th, 2008 08:01
was or is
September 16th, 2008 08:08
gracie,
Although there is said to be a shortage of Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilots because of Battle field requirements some prospective entrants for training from within RAF did not satisfy requirements.
So at least PW will be helping to fill a gap in recruitment as he has obviously passed the requirement criteria.
September 16th, 2008 08:15
Gracie, I must admit that although I am proud of William, I also had the worry about this ending in some sort of JFK, Jr. type of tragedy. Perhaps Diana was being her usual intuitive self when she said “Good King Harry”?
We must keep our fingers and toes crossed for young William.
September 16th, 2008 08:26
Ked, you just stated yourself that he was not qualified. I have a hard time believing he passed requirement criteria. I think this is just another example of how the RF make their own rules. Some qualified full time active duty pilot probably got booted because William has fallen in love with flying.
September 16th, 2008 08:34
Alsgal, their lives are very similar in a sense. JFK JR. did not know how to fly using his instruments only. That is very critical for a pilot as it is very easy to get disoriented and get vertigo. I hope that William is trained for these type of conditions.
September 16th, 2008 08:35
Duncan Larcombe of the Sun broke the story about Kate and William’s reunion last year and has been right on a few other occasions since then, I believe. I wonder if the “no wedding until 2010″ is from an inside source, or if DL has simply been reading these Forums like all the other reporters and bases his info on that?
DL was the one who participated in the sting to nab the men who took Pippa’s digital camera card. So I wonder if he was “rewarded” with that tidbit?
OR, as I and many hope, that this is a plant, a red herring and that summer 2009 is Royal Wedding time and the 2010 is just to throw everyone off whilst preparations are being made.
September 16th, 2008 08:48
Yes I think a wedding is being planned.
September 16th, 2008 08:54
One question:
It’s been reported that William put in the request for this training position this past January.
Wasn’t that the same time the friend told Hello! that Kate had decided to move back in with her parents?
Hmmmm. Not sure what to make of that.
Did they get secretly angaged at that time, and PW said, look I’ll marry you in summer of 2010 when I get a break in my training, and Kate said Great, and in the mean time I’ll go back to my parents and help out a bit.
Hmmm.
September 16th, 2008 08:57
gracie,
I don’t think I said that PW was not qualified for flying, the RAF instructors will do that.
I mentioned that applicants with less than perfect eyesight are not selected for training but if eyesight deteriorates after qualification he may continue to fly under certain circumstances.
The Educational qualifications are said to be a certain number of subjects at high grades at CGSE and A level exams. I also said that a University degree should be qualification enough but I understood others had been rejected because of their grades at CSE and A level.
I also heard that despite shortage of pilots some from within RAF had been rejected for both reasons.
September 16th, 2008 09:02
Alsgal, maybe your are right. But it seems like an elaborate tale to disguise wedding plans. It seems odd though as Ked mentioned, that their is not alot of press coverage on William change in career paths. I remember the fury of the Chinook incidents and how the papers and the military went wild with negativity. I guess that is why I as so surprised that the military would want to deal with William again and why his PR people would think this was a good idea. Then there the Mandrake story. He seems to be pretty reliable as far as gossip goes, and the wedding dress designer revealing this makes not sense either. I think it is odd that not even the DM has not gone to town with this new development. After all, their negative stories on Middletons probably didn’t help matters and it seems they would be happy if William and Kate break up. Hopefully Kate will be at Disco tomorrow and we will see.
September 16th, 2008 09:15
Yes the big charity event is tomorrow and hopefully she is there. I do hope also that William will be there. Can’t wait.
September 16th, 2008 09:23
With all these stories floating around,it is hard to know what to believe. The mandrake story specifically quotes a real person,not some royal “aide/source” so I tend to find it more credible.I think there is a plan in place and it probably includes a wedding sooner rather then later and we will know before too long.
As for the disco,it would totally surprise me if Kate shows up at this event unless there is a private reception/party before or after the event. With easy public access to the event,it would be a security risk at best. Too many people would turn out to catch a glimpse of Kate not to mention the possibility that some who were not her biggest fans could also show up. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
September 16th, 2008 09:29
William doesn’t like the press bothering him, duh. It’s pretty obvious.
September 16th, 2008 10:00
Lisa, I get the feeling Kate will be there because I don’t think Kate is the type to consider herself too precious.
She was at the Mandela concert alone and there were certainly loads of strangers she had to deal with then. I’m sure some of the nicer young men in their set will look after her, and would be delighted to do so.
It would seem like they will have some sort of security, although given how low profile Kate has been recently, that might not even be necessary?
Also, I agree the Mandrake gossip is a bit perplexing. Yes, he is usually right (save for the PW not dancing w/ Kate bit as he and Kate tore up the floor in Salzburg) however, it just seems mighty naive of the designer to leak a detail like this if she wanted the commission.
Odd, but let’s continue to hope for the good news they might be surprising us with soon.
September 16th, 2008 10:02
I don’t think the RAF would be opposed to William flying for them. At least now the training he already received could not be considered a waste of resources anymore. Most of the cirticism was centered around the fact that William learned to fly when he would (supposedly) never use those skills to the benefit of the RAF (and the British public) at all. Now as a Sea and Rescue pilot he will. Also most in the RAF were actually defending him against criticism when the Chinook incident occured.
I agree lisa that I would be surprised to see Kate at the roller skate disco though I’m not sure how public the event is. She was at the BB Ball and the HvS charity event. Those were open to the public, too, right? Maybe they’ll have a VIP section.
September 16th, 2008 10:04
Hello,
I know we are all still speculating on a early engagement and marriage announcement but as I have tried to tell you for several months it just isnt coming and yet.
I think events in May/June this year gave a very clear indication that the couple were not completely agreed on a date.
That they are still in love may not be in question
and that is why when seen together they do look happy.
KM knows PW well enough to know that he is stubborn, that no one is able to even talk to him once his mind is made up. She is very much the more mature half of the couple whilst PW is childish in his decision making and this is shown in his decisions both in and out of the service.
Because of her deep love for PW I think she is prepared to wait but may well have laid down some conditions of her own. I obviously don’t know this but I am sure that as time enfolds some differences will be seen in her attitudes.
Of course PW does not want her to talk to the press and so far she has respected this but it may just change and PW will probably dread some of the unknown facts of their relationship coming into the publi c domain. I know she has never spoken to reporters but lets wait to see if she may now be prepared to stand her corner.
September 16th, 2008 10:11
What do you mean by may/june not agreed.
They did not agree Wing ceremony ?!
They did not agree for her appearance in P&A wedding ?!
They did not agree to go to Kloster/Mustique 1st round ?!
September 16th, 2008 10:25
ked,knowing what you and the rest of us know about the way the tabloid press trolls these message boards for stories, do you think it is wise to make the kinds of statements that could lead people to think you may have some kind of inside connection? We should wait and see how this all plays out.
September 16th, 2008 10:35
and they did not agree BBB.
I agree Lisa, but it won’t stop, the rag mags do troll and have copy/paste many so posters.
September 16th, 2008 11:16
Okay lets not go back into all that. This year royal events that Kate attended was a message from William and the royal family that Kate is the chosen one and these two will walk down the isle so that message is very clear and understood. We all know that this won’t drag on for a longtime. He will make things more clear soon enough. Do anyone know what time the events is tomorrow? I hope they raise a lot of money.
September 16th, 2008 11:20
Okay everyone:
To get into the RAF you just need a handful or GCSEs and a few passes for your a levels. William has gone to university for petes sake. Of course he is qualified.
If his eyesight is a problem they would not let him do it for him own safety. The British armed forces do not give a damn about social status. Once you are part of the armed forces, that is it and you are all the same level just like everyone else.
P.S. Missed you all so much I had come back xxx
I have a lot to catch up on so it may take me a while.
Kate and William in Austria for the wedding: Well they looked happy enough, just usual really. I don’t think it can tell us much about their relationship other than they are still dating.
September 16th, 2008 11:26
Okay I just went to the website and the event starts at 8 until late.
September 16th, 2008 12:50
Hey, Rman,
Could you post the web site, please?
September 16th, 2008 13:30
The website
http://rollerdisco.org/
September 16th, 2008 13:50
Me,
I think you misunderstand exactly what I was saying.
I agree they are still in love and that when together they are very happy and show it. So that at holidays, Wings ceremony and at the Wedding they were together and enjoyed one another.
What I said was that it was in May/June when they agreed to disagree over a date for the wedding.
Initially I thought that KM was not aware of his application to rejoin the RAF but on reflection it became obvious that when he applied in May she became aware of it and then knew that an engagement/wedding was on hold.
She left London and the place she was living, wherever that was and returned home to her parents house and virtually vanished from view for long period.
She was, it transpired working at her parents business and continuing to date PW.
Peopel do that. They don’t agree on when to get married and if mature enough and in love then they stay together and wait for the next time.
As a matter of interest KM was out and about alone at a London club during the week and got away with it. She even drove herself home quite early and was in fact staying at the flat she shares with her sister. Previously when in London she had been staying elsewhere.
Hope that takes you off my back.
lia,
What I said has been said before and people know that PW is stubborn and makes silly decisions, helicopter joy rides, Peter’s stag party, wandering hands etc at Bournemouth .
In the same way people know that KM is a lot more mature and she shows it by the way she has stood up to the barrage of criticism to herself and family. It takes maturity to handle that.
Apologies for dodgy post but not at home and on palm top with smallish keys.
September 16th, 2008 14:17
Ked, not to doubt the ITV report, but does it seem curious to you or anyone else that they said she drove herself home after clubbing? When she went alone before without William we always seemed to see a picture of her taking a taxi home. So, I always wonder if something is true when some of those usual details seem off –
I am getting a bit confused now as to the timeline as well. Did Kate move home in May or January? When did William put in his request?
I ask why because it seems that if these two events occurred around the same time then it would seem like they may have agreed on an official engagement date at that point.
Whether it was set for a wedding next summer or summer 2010 now seems to be the only question left.
September 16th, 2008 14:35
alsgal,
I have asked about the ITV report and it was made by a presenter whose daughter was leaving club at same time.
I’m not sure if she also said she photographed her and made another comment about what KM did as she drove away but I think that comment need not be mentioned. (it wasn’t a nasty comment or vindictive just something KM did as she drove away).
But I do know her car was parked near her flat the next am, that I am sure of.
September 16th, 2008 14:39
I have a feeling that they have set the date and will go from there. So we will see more of Kate with William and at events. I’m telling you that this couple has come along way and they have matured alot because many couples wouldn’t be able to go through this.
September 16th, 2008 14:45
Hello,
Look they are going out as boy and girl friend, they are not engaged but obviously have great feelings for one another and enjoy each others company.
PW is obviously not ready for marriage and KM is but have decided not to finish it at present but to enjoy going out together.
This comment may differ from my earlier posts but as of today that is what I think and now believe.
What is going to happen will and nothing we say or speculate about is going to bring forward or put back any decision.
I don’t think either of them now know when that decision will be made but I am also positive that at one point they were very close to making whatever the decision was.
OK.
September 16th, 2008 14:52
Okay, lets not speculate anymore. Just wait and be patient.
September 16th, 2008 16:16
I think Kate is getting the short end of the stick. Hopefully, she will come to see that someone else might appreciate her more than William and the RF. William must not be ready to commit or the Queen/Firm don’t want William to commit at this stage in his life. I don’t see Kate talking to the press though, that tends to be the “kiss of death” for any royal relationship. If she is not wearing any rings at Disco or she leaves with Willem Marx than we will know all is not well.
September 16th, 2008 17:43
I think Kate will be at the roller disco. She is on the committee and and wanting to raise money for charity and besides she seemed to enjoy rollerskating with William. Can’t wait to see if will harry or chelsy show? Wouldn’t that be the greatest?
September 16th, 2008 18:27
Maddie, I wouldn’t be surprised if all of them were there, along with Pippa and even maybe handsome James, to sort of make the statement that despite William’s new career move, he and Kate are still very much “on” and nothing has changed between them.
William has attended a few of these other events (Kate’s Unicef photography thing) so I see no reason why he won’t make it to this as it’s for a good cause and lots of their friends will be there.
Sounds like fun, and I think we are going to be getting lots of pictures of lots of very loved up couples having fun whilst skating!
September 16th, 2008 19:08
Thanks Rman!
September 16th, 2008 19:16
It would be great if Kate were to go to London’s Fashion Week. I am surprised Pippa has not shown up.
September 16th, 2008 19:36
DM, Allison Pearson writes about how “waity Katie” will have to wait even longer now. Just so sad that the press really has to dig it in. Based on what Ked says, Kate is/was ready to marry William and for him not to be would hurt. The press can be so vile and heartless.
September 16th, 2008 20:01
I personally can’t wait until Waity katey gets the last laugh and tells these so called writers to kiss her Tiara!
September 16th, 2008 21:37
alsgal, I wouldn’t be surprised either to see all of them there. They all seem to like to have fun and we know will and harry love to help out charities. I think kate is going to do great at charity work and public appearances. She is a natural!
September 16th, 2008 21:55
The helicopter training announcement was such a surprise that it seems foolish not to expect more of the the unexpected at this point.
Now that nearly everyone is saying “no wedding until 2010″ I think we are in for a big gotcha! moment when William and Kate announce their engagement this fall or in January. Why? Because PW seems to enjoy making the press look like the ignorant blowhards they often are. Understandable, too, given what they did to his Mum.
September 17th, 2008 01:09
Hello,
As PW is to judge a photographic exhibition by homeless people chronicling their life style over a twelve month period , I wonder if he may ask KM to help as she probably knows more about it than he does?
Doubt it as it may attract other photographers.
September 17th, 2008 01:18
Hello,
Following on, perhaps KM will not now accompany PW on his semi royal appearances as her attendance will again spark off rumours of an engagement.
Perhaps her status may be changed from Girl Friend to girl friend ?
September 17th, 2008 01:29
That is something I truly doubt. William did not build her up just to knock her down. Now it’s time for her show the public that she is ready for this. Like I have said before, get ready to see Catherine Middleton in action.
September 17th, 2008 02:59
i´m alway surprised with you guys… why do you think kate wants to get married so desperat? maybe she is glad that pw is not rushing into anything – once they´re married her life – the way she knows it – will be over. and seriously i can´t see a 26-year-old with a masters-degree be totally crazy about the idea to be followed by paps even more than now while her only “job” would be to show up at different places to open up clincs, schools,… or to raise money for whatever charity! maybe she is glad the she gets a few years for herself before all of that…
btw: sorry for my terrile english, i´m obviously not a native speaker..
September 17th, 2008 03:19
Rman,
When will you understand the selfish character of PW, he’s a Royal and a Windsor and his recent consistent manoeuvring have shown that nothing matters except his own ambitions.
PH is different and is a lot warmer than PW but a lot more spontaneous .
Over the years this trait of PW has become more and more apparent but none more so that over the past two years.
September 17th, 2008 03:30
spimic,
I think that’s a very good point and something that has been tentatively explored over the past year or so.
KM however is not getting any younger and if she marries PW she will have children and the years go by very quickly.
Another point is her security which is virtually non existent when away from PW. Not just physical security but the psychological effect of being neither on the inside or the outside and made to suffer indignities as well as vile attacks against her family.
All this would stop if she became PW’s wife because of the protection she would have as part of the RF.
September 17th, 2008 03:32
sorry guys
either or
neiher nor
whoops!
September 17th, 2008 05:22
@ked: well, given the fact that kate´s parents are kind of rich, i guess if protection would be really necessary they could and would afford it.
and of course she is not getting any younger, but hell, she is 26! she has – at least – 15 years to give birth to a little heir to the throne. so even if they would get married five years from now, there would be plenty of time left.
and i honestly doubt that she is suffering from any negativ psychological effects just because she is not an (official) member of the royal family yet. why would she?
September 17th, 2008 07:21
Ked, yesterday you mention that Kate might lay some groundwork for this new development and we might expect a change in her attitude. Based on your comments today so far, it sounds like Kate might not be attending anymore royal events, so are they unoffically broke up? Please help me to understand why William would allow Kate to attend these events this year and go on holidays with her family and skiing with Charles, just to dump her again. If he used her to help his own image then not only is he selfish, he is cruel.
September 17th, 2008 07:25
Ked, what will become of Kate? If you know her tell her that we support her and she needs to find a better man and start her life.
September 17th, 2008 07:47
This is all becoming quite ridiculous.
September 17th, 2008 08:00
I think the press is more cruel than William ever could be. He’s just like any other man, maybe he doesn’t know how to deal with women like my guy friends don’t. And then everybody tries to tell him what to do and what not to do. If someone tried to do that to me I’d be seriously annoyed.
September 17th, 2008 08:46
The press is gearing up for the charity event today and I think there will be some kind of coverage. LOL, Garcie, believe me when I tell you that boy will not let something that good go just like that. William may have a great deal of responsibility and will be Head of State in the future but he will hold on to her. He would be a total fool if he let her go. He’s found something strong, solid, beautiful, loving and loyal and human nature tells you that is something you need.
September 17th, 2008 10:10
That was kind of sappy.
September 17th, 2008 10:35
I have to say that I’m thinking along the same lines as Ked. I hope Kate is strong enough to hold on for William. She’s come this far so I doubt she’ll give up on him easily. One think I’m hoping for is that William being with the RAF will allow Kate to stand up on her own two feet and to show people what she is really made of. The Roller disco is a good start it would be interesting to see what else she can do.
Happy Birthday to Harry with love. xx
September 17th, 2008 10:44
Gracie,
September 17th, 2008 11:10
Hello,
One thing that the press frequently remind us of is the first time KM came to PW’s notice. The cat walk at Aberdeen Students Union Charity Fashion Show.
This is not strictly true but not a completey false story just a little reporters licence. KM and PW had already “met” but it was because of her that he spent and donated £225 towards the cost and for a ‘benefactors’ seat at the show.
Now tomorrow the British Fashion Show continues but I don’t expect PW to be seated in the front row and neither do I expect he has contributed to the costs.
I wonder though, will he be missing anything spectacular ?
It always has the best of British, European, Asian,American and possibly South American designs.
September 17th, 2008 11:47
Ked, am I missing something here? What exactly are you talking about in your last post? I would not expect William to attend the British Fashion shows anyway. He’s not big on style really, not like Harry. Or are you using fashion shows aa an analogy for the status of Kate and Williams relationship.
Rman, I am trying to stay positive, but the recent events have lead me to think more like Ked. Sometimes Ked’s post drive me nuts cause they always seem like riddles and were supposed to guess the meaning. Just as Will’s were. But that’s why I keep blogging on here.
September 17th, 2008 12:01
Hello gracie,
Jusst for the record I was out having lunch today with afriend who mentioned that the Issa designer Danielle Helayel was showing her collection tomorrow at the Britis Fashion Show (as if i’d know that on my own)
KM has been wearing her dresses quite often and I was really speculating if she may put in an appearance and outlanishly suggest that perhaps KM would make a wonderful model.
That’s all.
Career move perhaps ??
September 17th, 2008 12:06
Another article
Lots of pressure
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/17/earlyshow/main4454416.shtml
September 17th, 2008 12:07
The title of that article is:
Will’s Career Move A Relationship Killer?
September 17th, 2008 12:27
Thank you for the link, Me.
The press is at it again I see. Conspiracy theory over conspiracy theory. Maybe someone should tell William not to invite Kate to high profile events anymore since he’s apparently planning to get ridd off her. Why should she be invited to Charles’ birthday party when William is planning to dumb her soon anyways? Why bring her to the Garter, go on holiday with her, attend a wedding together, invite her to Peter and Lady Rose’s wedding? Why “raise” her public profile before a possible split? That makes no sense at all.
I do not see how a lack of comment from CH means anything either. They never denied any stories on behalf of Kate all they asked for is for her not to be hounded by paps – and as far as we know she is currently left alone most of the time.
I see this more as a media compaign to force Kate (and William) to be more visible with their relationship and their private lives. The press does’t have a clue what’s going on (they were totally wrong about William’s plans next year) and they hate it. Hence they now try to blame some sort of palace conspiracy for the fact that THEYhave no clue what Kate does and that THEY (the press!) are calling her lazy, a party girl and all sorts of names. That’s ridiculous! The name Waity Katie wasn’t made up by any “grey suit” from Clarence House but by catty online forum posters – they are, I guess, also the source for this totally ridiculous conspiracy idea. William doesn’t need a media campaign to get ridd off Kate. All it takes are the words “It’s over.”.
And I am sorry but if it was indeed the case that William lied to Kate about the possibility of a wedding for the last 4-5 years (which I do not believe at all) than it’s her own damn fault to stick with the lier anyways. If he had promised her to get engaged this winter and now has postponed it for another 5 years, she’d be stupid to stay with him and there would be absolutely no reason to feel sorry for her. However I cannot imagine that this is the case at all. There has been speculation about a wedding for at least 4 years now. Does anyone really believe that for 4 years (!) Kate again and again believed William when he promised her an immidiate engagement and then nothing happened and she still stayed with him and looked happy as can be whenever they were pictured in public? I’m sorry but noone is that dumb or that good an actor!
I think it is much more likely that they have their plan mapped out and have followed it through the entire time. Everything else is nothing but gossip spread by those who are obviously not in the know at all …
September 17th, 2008 12:30
I know I just saw the video. We all know that the big problem here is that no one knows how William & Kate will go about this. People are mainly focusing on the fact that William will be doing this thing for awhile and they can’t figure out where she will fit in on all of this. The only thing the public can come up with is this will harm the relationship. It’s puzzling and everyone is trying to figure out what’s going to happen. All we can do is just watch what they will do next.This is really getting interesting and I mean that in a exciting way.
September 17th, 2008 12:33
Exactly, Rman, especially because people tend to forget that William was in the military for the last 4 years and it hasn’t prevented him and Kate from having a stable relationship (except for the very brief split in 2007). Why they would suddenly need to become full time working royals to sustain that state of happiness is beyond me.
September 17th, 2008 12:33
Trixie I 100% agree. Something is up.
September 17th, 2008 12:52
Ked, I get it now. Sorry, I just found the Issa story on the Telegraph so now your post makes sense. Based on what you say and the Telegraph, Kate will be modeling at Issa show tomorrow. Do you think Kate has gotten her own PR? Seems like she is getting good press coverage and has some good friends willing to speak out on her behalf. I am glad that Issa has found Kate and vice versa. Perhaps Kate can work for her, maybe not modeling full time, but behind the scenes. KED, if Kate will be modeling Issa, than I would think her and William have cooled it. I don’t think the RF would like her doing it.
September 17th, 2008 12:53
I understand what you are saying Trixie, but who’s to say that William ever made such a promise? The most I can believe is him saying ” I do see us having a future and I am very much in love with you, but now is not the right time, so later”.
Someone above made a very good comment (sonia perhaps?), and they said something like “What if they do not want to get married?”. IMO that is a very good question, because we have only seen signs that they are in a serious relationship not that they are engaged. I have said many times that the events that Kate attended are ones that I would expect her to. The weddings: she is friends with the family and William’s friends, of course she would attend the weddings. The Garter ceremony: She was there in a position to support William as we would expect any girlfriend to do. She was there at his passing out and his Wings ceremony to support him just as Chelsy was at the medal thingy earlier this year.
I’m not saying that they will not get engaged or are not serious about each other, I am just highlighting a different angle to these stories.
September 17th, 2008 13:06
We’ll see.
September 17th, 2008 13:11
Me,
Good spot.
With Patrick Jepson involved this article does seem to give credence to the conspiracy theory that the PW inspired ‘makeing up’ in July 2007 may well be factual.
You may recall that CH mandarins were so concerned about PW fall in popularity when splitting from KM that they were looking for ways to combat it. So PW persuaded a reluctant KM to come back following his popularity fall and especially after PH informed him of senior army officers comments on the nature of the break up with KM at the night club party for PH.
The DM then came up with the view that the British would never forgive PW if he and KM split again.
Since PW and KM got back together their relationship seemed tp prosper except for the way he appeared to treat and ignore her during the autumn of 2007 and his reported dalliance with the American beauty he met at Miss Branson’s party the day following KM departure on Christmas holiday with her parents. Remember the earings story ? What happened to them ? Anyone seen them or are they safely over the Atlantic?
Then suddenly over the next seven to eight months love really seemed to blosson again and PW seemed as smitten as he originally was in the early days at St Andrews.
All this time however PW’s itinerary seemed to start filling up and critical reports on KM , many seemingly originating at BP or CH , appeared regularly in press with the most disgusting part being the unprovoked attacks on her family.
All seemed well however with the couple seen together at high profile and even Royal events and the engagement furore reached even more hights.
Something had to be done ( in CH’s thinkig) and two remote reports were leaked. The Queen asked PC to find a job for PW , and a CH aide suggested after PW and KM were together at Austrian wedding, that his diary was full and any engagement would be at least 18 months ahead.
Then like a bolt out of the blue PW’s new job was announced and reports started appearing on the delays of up to X years in an enagagement and marriage.
Now PW is seen as the knight in shinning armour and KM as the wicked princess in the west trying to stop him doing his duty for the Country. The CH initiative of July 2007 had reached fruition.
Or has it ?
PW does look enamoured with KM even at a distance and close up they were like new lovers in the first flush of love.
If he did in any way split with KM these facts or stories will remain and for years will be remembered and any future spouse for PW, assuming KM’s demise,will be clearly warned and alerted.
The British people have long, very long memories especially with regard to Royalty.(Duke of Windsor abdication 70+ years ago still talked about by older citizens with hate despite David being the most popular P of W ever).
If PW goes along with the obvious wishes of senior RF and perpetual family retainers in and close to BP and CH, and casts KM aside some 50,60 years on it will haunt him and the stories exaggerated so that he is the sinner and KM the victim of his cruel deception.
Think what future republican supporters will make of that over the years.
Monarchy at risk , not just in Australia, but in UK as well.
It’s unbelievable but could just be real.
September 17th, 2008 13:12
Trixie,
Some people are that dumb, though, William is a prince, after all.
September 17th, 2008 13:14
Yes, we will see. It is just another idea because at the moment most people are saying “yes they will marry next year, this will not stop them”, or “this may pave the way to a break up” (like the papers are doing. I and sonia (I do think it was sonia …hmmm), are just suggesting the middle ground, after all there is no rush for them to marry and no real reason why they must apart from a lot of reporters wanting to start on wedding plans, the Big Day, baby rumours and infidelity (they will probably come knowing the press even if they are lies-the cheating part I mean).
September 17th, 2008 13:17
Good post Ked. I didn’t comment on it before as you posted as I was writing my comment so I didn’t get to read it.
September 17th, 2008 13:40
Trixie,
PW has been in forces for 2 years not 4.
Relationship stable ? There are many strays out there but only on one side.
B
Good to hear from you again.
KM and PW received individual invitations to the Austrian wedding and travelled separately but did not stay at same premises. I did however hear that she travelled back with PW .
Also do you think PW will be the first PofW not to have a mistress (as PC told Diana).
It’s an interesting life!
September 17th, 2008 13:45
Ked, good post and I think that Jepson does add truth as he knows the inner workings of “The Firm.” Its one thing for CH/BP to come up with this vial PR plan knowing all along that their goal was to kick Kate to the curb, but if William knew that Kate and her family would be dragged through the mud to bolster his image, it’s disgusting! I believe people will talk to the press and William if this is true will be surprised at the damage this will cause. People in general, usually support the underdog.
September 17th, 2008 13:51
Ked, will you be at Disco?
September 17th, 2008 13:54
Interesting post gracie. I do wonder if it is deliberate as I can’t imagine William agreeing to something like that. Unless of course he is a complete idiot.
Great to be back ked. I missed everyone’s comments here and had to come back.
They stayed in separate hotels?! :O I’m surprised I must admit.
Will PW have a mistress? Difficult question. I don’t think he will because he has seen the agro and pain that it causes. If he did I would hope that his wife (whomever she maybe) would walk away with her head held high, nobody deserves to suffer that sort of pain especially when that person is in the public eye. However, I don’t think he will or maybe I just hope that he will not. There maybe indiscretions, he is known for his wandering eye, but I would hope that when he married, he will marry “The One” and will not think of anyone else…or maybe I’m just naive.
September 17th, 2008 13:55
Good question gracie….come on ked, will you?
September 17th, 2008 14:00
I agree that PW has seen the heartache and pain that affairs can bring, but the human brain has an amazing ability to convince one’s self that their situation is “different” and that their situation is “acceptable because…..” and they can rationalize it to themselves and somehow fail to see the parallels between previous mistakes and their own.
I’m not saying that he will definitely have a mistress, I’m just saying that, unfortunately, I don’t think his past experiences will be enough to complete deter him from all temptation.
September 17th, 2008 14:10
Okay everybody, lets not get into all of that. There is no way William or the royal family will kick her to the curb. They will just face this like that have faced all the other stuff, together. That’s all there is to it. Why do I feel like all of this will come to full circle soon? Right now people are very puzzled and like I said before all people are seeing at the moment, that Kate will be casted aside. There’s something fishy about this. Skip the fact that this would make himself look bad, William wouldn’t hurt that girl. It’s just not in him. There’s soo much love there and they have come a long way. Even his family see that. She know something we don’t and that’s okay. My fellow royal bloggers, a curve ball just came our way, are we giving into it or are we going to face it like William & Kate do? Because this is very fishy and I have a feeling that there’s more to this.
September 17th, 2008 14:13
Is it not 8:00 in the UK? I hope we will start to get pics soon, cause I think there will be pics. Everyone is wanting to see if Kate is there. Which I suspect she will be as it would add fuel to the fire if she did not. I just read on the Sun that William left on Monday for some Apache training somewhere in UK. So we know he won’t be there. What perfect timing!
September 17th, 2008 14:18
Rman, I love how positive you are and I want to believe in the fairy tale. But Ked seems to have inside knowledge or he’s a mind reader. The RF can be a calculating bunch or they would not have lasted this long!
September 17th, 2008 14:19
gracie, B ,
No. I’m not on that list. Didn;t go to Marlb but was offered place at St Andrews but decided to follow my mother, half brother and half sister to the spires where my young sis is still up.
I think that it would be difficult to get odds on PW not getting involved elsewhere at some stage. Check his and PH’s history, his genes,his fathers genes,his mothers genes, his uncles and aunts on both sides and ancestors going back how many hundred years.
Bookmakers make odds on breeding, recent results and blood lines so I think PW would have difficulty getting evens. Don’t you ?
September 17th, 2008 14:29
Ked, who else could fill William shoes for Kate?
September 17th, 2008 14:29
Gracie thanks but I really don’t believe in fairytales. Royal or not, marriage is the real thing and not a fairytale.
September 17th, 2008 14:40
Getty has pictures of the arrivals..Kate is there.
September 17th, 2008 14:46
Lisa, yes Kate is there and is beaming. Yo go Kate!
Rman, sorry not trying to be rude.
September 17th, 2008 14:49
All I can say is, William is William.
September 17th, 2008 14:49
her outfit is…colorful:)
September 17th, 2008 14:55
Yes GO KATE! Where do you guys see pictures?
September 17th, 2008 14:57
RMAN…go to the getty images website and type in kate’s name and the pics will pop up….
Is she really wearing the black boots….again?!
September 17th, 2008 14:59
I am sorry but I do not only find those conspiracy theories ridiculous but also digusting. You must really have the lowest opinion of William to imagine that he would in any way allow something like this to happen.
I am always surprised how some apparently believe that the British Royal Family has the press at their back and call to print whatever they ask them to print. Do you believe that the BRF controls the British media from the Daily Mail over the Sun to the Independent and the Guardian? I think it is completely unrealistic and crazy to think so. Kate isn’t the only one who gets bashed in the press. Royals have gotten their fair share in the past. I guess it’s everyone’s turn eventually.
The recent trash about Kate doesn’t come from CH or out of nowhere it started online and translated into the papers because people commented VERY negatively on Kate in the comment sections in the paper. And we all know that especially the DM uses its own comment section and TIF as a source of their stories. To be fair part fo the criticism is also Kates doing because she quit her Jigsaw job and was out and about partying a lot in 2007 after the split. For almost a year all the people saw of her were pictures of her shopping in London and leaving night clubs (I’mnot saying that’s all she did but that’s what people saw and in nowadays media culture what is not captured in pictures doesn’t exist). Obviously that affected her image and since the press hasn’t caught up on the fact that she very much stopped this life style almost a year ago, many still have that impression. It is not like lies are made up about her. The press only plays it’s usual game and exaggerates what is going on by a thousand… Before the split in 2007 Kate was this über-perfect woman and future Princess and now a year later she’s suddenly the worst that could possibly happen to the RF. That’s not a conspiracy that’s media game.
In a way the same happened to Harry only vice-versa. Last year he was that useless party animal and Nazi constume wearing playboy and now he’s the caring, down-to-earth, handsome hero Prince. I’m sure some event in the future could well lead to another u-turn in his public image.
William’s image has changed for the worse as well. He took quite the tumble because of the Chinook incident. So I do not understand why only the criticism directed at Kate should be the result of a conspiracy campaign.
William’s RAF committment isn’t a surprise either. It did NOT come out of the blue. It was reported in MAY already that he applied for this position (I provided the link in another thread). Apparently some false rumours were spread about William’s plans for next year but that doesn’t mean that he changed his plans. He applied for the position in May so he knew this is what he wanted to do at least since then.
September 17th, 2008 15:00
Of course the DM has their piece up already…”skatey Katey”…they are just so creative…
September 17th, 2008 15:01
What else could she wear w/that outfit? I think she will be taking her boots off for skates anyway. I am glad she seems estatic! William is a silly man if he let her go. She’s got a set of legs that all women wish they could have.
September 17th, 2008 15:05
Thanks for the tip about the pics. She looks radiant – as usual.
September 17th, 2008 15:07
Trixie, I agree. She still looks stylish despite the 80’s theme. Love her skates, the wheels have lights in them.
September 17th, 2008 15:11
I really hope someone from Will’s “side” shows up to support her…
September 17th, 2008 15:13
Well, nothing against Kate, but I don’t think it particularly suits her, maybe its the mix of non-coodinating colours.
Her legs are good I guess, but just like any other woman who works out.
Lisa: I agree about the Skatey Katey. I would have thought that they could do something more original. Maybe they need a new staff?
September 17th, 2008 15:15
Okay, I see the pictures. She looks great and colorful. Despite all the non-sense of the relationship, she always have her head up and smiling with lots of confidence. No matter what the press try to come up with, she has a way of letting us know that she is doing just fine. The DM makes my toes ache with their silly name calling.
September 17th, 2008 15:17
Here’s a link to the first pics:
http://tinyurl.com/3t4usj
and to the DM article
http://tinyurl.com/4y34w5
September 17th, 2008 15:17
I bet that place is utter madness with all the press that must be there. It will be good for her if it turns into a success for the project,though. Great PR!
September 17th, 2008 15:21
You see that’s half the problem I think for most people lisa. We can see pass the PR excuses (or usually can unless they are true) but a lot of people may turn around and just say it is PR repair work.
Either way it is excellent to see her there. Some people were saying she wouldn’t be, if that had been the case I would hope you would have excused me whilst I moaned but as it happens she was there so I can save my energy.
September 17th, 2008 15:25
Based on Disco web page they have raised $60,000 so far. I think the goal is $100,000, but the night is still young and they may recieve more funds. I wish we could get photos of what everyone else is wearing too.
September 17th, 2008 15:25
B, I never expected her to be there. It seemed a bit too accessible to me but it is hard to gauge such things from over her in the US!
I am glad she is there. It is a great cause and it is great PR. And yes, she needs great PR right now,especially if an engagement is not far off.
September 17th, 2008 15:29
The DM has pics of Holly Branson, Pippa and Kate arriving with a friend up now. Just click the link I provided above.
September 17th, 2008 15:31
Well I don’t think an engagement is close (but let’s not go down that route. I’ve agreed to disagree with some members here
)
I expected her to be there even though it is a public place. If she is willing to go to the Mandela concert, go shopping in Kings Road (not recently but in the past) etc, she should be willing to go to an event that she organized. It’s just as public as lots of other places.
September 17th, 2008 15:32
Lisa, I truly believe that’s about to happen. We will now see her doing more chaity work and attending events. She is truly following in The Countess of Wessex foot steps.
September 17th, 2008 15:33
Pippa looks great! She is becoming really stylish.
I think the black is a more modern take on the eighties which is probably why I prefer it.
September 17th, 2008 15:36
Everyone here knows what a huge fan I am of Kate’s and that I still believe William is about to pull a rabbit out of a hat.
Allow me to reiterate that it is truly wonderful that she has now chosen to help a charity which was set up for her late friend who died over 4 years ago. Though I see some are rather harshly asking why did she wait to get involved now, I am certain she would have gotten involved sooner if not for her profound grief. At any rate, it is better late then never as it is for a very good cause.
That said, these ancient eyes of mine were a bit shocked by Kate’s outfit as I fnd it somewhat undignified. Now, you all know I am “a woman of a certain age,” as the French so delicately put it, but somehow I think Kate should have probably avoided wearing something like this no matter how good the reason seemed at the time.
The problem is that this set of pictures will be printed out of context later on, without any mention of it being a roller disco ball. And seeing Kate dressed like that, people may jump to some rather interesting conclusions. That is my worry.
I understand it was the theme of the evening, but what I’m trying to say as (I hope) diplomatically as possible is, I simply think something more refined would be in order befitting her status as the future Queen.
JMO, though.
September 17th, 2008 15:40
Very good point alsgal, especially about the clothes.
It’s so nice to see people like you and Rman who stick to your beliefs no matter what. I find it very freshing and I applaud you for it.
September 17th, 2008 15:40
Trixie,
I’m afraid you do have rose coloured specs on.
If you check the negative reports of KM over a sixteen week period earlier this year well over two thirds seemed to have a source at BP or CH. Now I know it is easy for a reporter to say ‘this source’ or ‘that source’ but how come all with CH/BP quoted sources were nagative comments without a single positive one.
Other sources quoted over the same period had mainly negative comments but had a limited number of positive comments.
Coincidence ? Once , twice or even half a dozen times perhaps but over 30 times. No way.
Can you name a single positive comment relating to KM that was sourced ,true or false, from BP/CH ? I couldn’t find one over the past year and that is fact.
Trixie, believe me, there are many families close to BP and CH many of whom have the succession of service grand father,father and son who resent the intrusion of new families not just KM’s. Unfortunately for her she caught the eye of the biggest prize in the 21st century and became an easy target.
Conspiracy theory or not check the provenance of my earlier post and tell me that it was and is a series of coincidences. Yes I may be wrong on some points as they are all from memory but most I know to be true according to reporting and cetainly agree with particular knowledge that I had. Accurate or not I can’t answer but they were reported at time and certainly have successive timing.
The fact that KM did have an uber perfect image at that time was a big part of the trouble. KiM had to be doewn graded and PW upgraded and with KM it worked.
Unfortunately ,because of his own failings or arrogance, it didn’t work for PW and his image, so other strategies were implemented and delays in the natural progression arranged.
Coincidence ?
Over hundreds of years similar circumstances have arisen and linked to the RF but mainly to their long term retainers who jealously guard their own family influences generation after generation. It happened then and it happen now.
Coincidence , conspiacy theories, maybe but doubtful so many times
September 17th, 2008 15:43
Well they are dressed silly but it looks like fun. I’m not suprised not to see William there, when they went skating last year, it looked like she had to help him out a bit. He may not be that good in it.
September 17th, 2008 15:44
Well,I am not fond of this outfit either but one thing is for sure,Kate is her own woman and she is not afraid to show up dressed silly knowing there will be throngs of cameras there snapping her.
September 17th, 2008 15:46
Alsgal, I’m with you. Something tells me that he’s about to pull a rabbit out of a hat too.
September 17th, 2008 15:54
Alsgal, I can see where your coming from and you are probably right in saying these photos will one day be used out of context. But I think she looks rather tame in comparison to say Holly Branson and she is wearing nude, shiny tights under her shorts. But you know the always find fault with Kate no matter what and she needs to live her life, just as William gets to live his. If she and William have no future plans to marry than I think she needs to think more in terms of what she wants instead of what the RF want. She seems to have been to caught up in what the RF want and forgot about her life and I think its been to her detriment. I will eat my words if I am wrong, but I don’t think the RF want her and maybe William does not either.
September 17th, 2008 15:54
Hello,
People get with it.
She is with it and didn’t worry about the press and their comments. She knew they would be there and had she arrived in an overcoat they would have said she was a spoil sport or something not so polite.
This is typical roller disco costume as were the others with her so just and sent your cheques in and if you make then ‘gift aid’ the charity will reclaim 20% tax as well.
September 17th, 2008 15:56
gracie,
She did have her ring on
September 17th, 2008 15:58
Excellent point Ked. What else did we expect?
September 17th, 2008 16:00
B, thank you and I don’t know how Rman manages to maintain the optimism but I find drinking during the day helps a bit.
I will say it again, and with a nod to Ked’s post, I know there are many both inside the Palace who now seem to be against this union but I think William is strong enough, and their love is strong enough, to withstand those evil forces.
Despite whatever forces are at work, or that she seems to be receiving a spot of bad press at the moment (the Mail article seemed rather snarky BTW, imo)
it does not change the simple fact that Kate is a nice girl and there must be something special about her or William wouldn’t be in love with her.
Whatever transpires, I plan to be sitting along the route to Westminster Abbey in June of next year with my Moulson’s and my lawn chair and thimbles in tow. Let’s hope Rman and I aren’t the only ones out there.
September 17th, 2008 16:06
alsgal,I think we can read too much into the gossip coming out about how people in the palaces don’t want kate etc…it is all gossip and unfounded internet rumors. I am really trying to form my opinions by what I see with my own eyes. Some will say I have blinders on but I learned long ago not to read too much into bloggers who claim to have “inside info”. They rarely do. No offense to anyone here. This is a very reasonable group. I just think people tend to get carried away at time and read too much into things.
September 17th, 2008 16:09
lol, this stuff does make you want to drink. But despite all the stuff going on at the moment, I feel things will make a great turn.
September 17th, 2008 16:14
Alsgal you are funny!!! She is wearing her rings I agree, so maybe…who knows? Now, this is another theory and ya’ll are gonna have a fit, but I still think Kate looks a little thick through the middle. I want to see a good profile of Kate in this Disco outfit and then I will shut up.
September 17th, 2008 16:20
Lisa, I so agree and btw it’s Molson’s but be forewarned I’m on my second gin and tonic and it’s only after 5 pm EST. (Like my Al always says, somewhere in the world it’s happy hour.
)
We really can’t read too much into anything as who would have thought this time a week ago Prince Bill was going to be flying a helicopter for the next 5 years.
Also, the press are simply careless sometimes.
Look just now at the Skatey Katey Mail article, that they made a point that Kate’s only job was working 4 days a week for Jigsaw. Rude, as it has nothing to do with disco, roller shating or cancer relief.
Well, Jigsaw’s owner Belle Robinson said herself in that Evening stadard interview that Kate worked for her 3 days a week. Check for yourself, I’m too tipsy to URL it. Not that it matters, but if they can’t even get an on the record factual detail like that right, God only knows what else they’ve messed up in their article.
William is right to not tell the press anything, and let’s just hope he will get the big PR dogs onto Kate’s side before she becomes the joke the press seem hellbent on turning her into.
It’s not right, and it’s not fair, and most importantly, it’s just not nice.
September 17th, 2008 16:22
alsgal,The Press Association is covering this event very nicely. I think we tend to forget what a rag the DM truely is.
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j9khwOpoB37hGoie7wSwNKX9iRLw
September 17th, 2008 16:25
Alsgal, if they get married I think all of us should meet and we can all sit in our lawn chairs outside Westminster Abbey! Maybe we can get someone to sponser the trip for those in the U.S. I have a feeling alot of people will be moving if this election does not go well anyway.
September 17th, 2008 16:30
I want to see what guys showed up and what they are wearing too!
September 17th, 2008 17:11
gracie,
What are you suggesting ?
Are you suggesting an Anne Boleyn .Elizabeth 1st ?
September 17th, 2008 17:26
The press is doing a good job getting it out there that Kate is really trying to help her friends family for this ward.
September 17th, 2008 17:30
Hello,
KM seems as competent on Rollers as she was on Ice at Somerset House last December and as she is on skis. Apparently she was the best skier in the group and marked out the piste with an instructor last skiing holiday prior to group starting skiing.
She had good body angle and control on ice last backend and shows it again in the first photograph on Trixie’s post so obviously has good body balance essential for skating , skiing and most sports.
I have also heard that her tennis is still above average London club standard and was captain of field hockey at University.
She is a very strong swimmer which incidentally led to her first meeting with PW at Aberdeen when she went swimming following a water polo match he played in.
September 17th, 2008 17:45
Sorry yet again for hogging the pages but I can not see how the DM rag get away with turning a report on a charity skating event into their 1,000th (approx) report of a history of KM’s employment history
Steven , is this a breach of privilege or privacy and can an individual or group make an impromptu complaint to the Press C C ? If so how does one do it ?
Have they said that Holly Branson has turned her back on 6 years training to become a doctor to work in PR department of Virgin
Why in this instance has she been singled out ?
September 17th, 2008 17:47
gracie,
Me thinks you really want to see who took her home not what they were wearing.
True or false ?
September 17th, 2008 18:36
Ked, you are a detective. True. As far as your Boleyn query, I do think it is quite possible. I love reading about the Tudors and really not much has changed since then, do you agree?
September 17th, 2008 18:38
Ked, I noticed her good body balance in that picture too.
September 17th, 2008 19:05
I would like to believe he would not stray from the relationship when married. I have my doubts though. Power and wealth can be very corrupting and give people huge egos. Just because he saw the devastating effects of adultery doesn’t mean he will not do the same. KM on the other hand coming from her background has a better chance of staying faithful if her emotional needs are being met by PW. It is a fact most women cheat for emotional reasons such as a need to be appreciated and shown love. However, for men, it is usually physical and just sexual. Whatever may come, I hope they both remain strong and committed to one another.
September 17th, 2008 19:10
According to the Telegraph, Princess Beatrice and her boyfriend joined the Day-Glo fundraising party. There’s pictures here:
http://tinyurl.com/3gf6gp
Princess Beatrice & Dave are in pic #3, although they weren’t in Day-Glo costumes…
September 17th, 2008 19:24
She looks fantastic! I just got home and saw the pics. I was also glad to see Beatrice show up. I knew Kate would be there. It was nice to read in the telegraph article that she was behind the scenes with the family long before the disco. I guess some naysayers might not believe this, but maybe know some will not see this as trying to get kate some good PR. This clearly depicts her as a caring individual whom we have yet to see her work her magic through charity. Just wait there is so much more to come from Kate.
September 17th, 2008 20:35
Kate apparently left the roller disco with Pippa.
http://tinyurl.com/3j6wba
And this picture shows how scary it is to be in the limelight..
http://tinyurl.com/5y5tzn
On a site note: I wonder why William didn’t show… I know he can’t skate. Has he started SAS training yet?
September 17th, 2008 21:21
First, may I say congratulations to Kate and Co. for organising this event and it truly is a nice thing they all did.
I am wondering why Kate, Holly and Pippa were dressed according to the roller disco theme but Princess Beatrice, her beau Dave Clark (is he related to Dick Clarke I wonder?) and Guy Pelly all arrived in regular casual clubbing clothing?
It seems like maybe they were either too embarrassed to dress 80s style or couldn’t be bothered to make an effort.
Maddie, I agree Kate herself looks fantastic as always; it is only the outfit which I fear later on, out of context, many will not know was tongue in cheek and will say she’s some kind of chavvy disco queen, which she most
definitely is not. Again, adore Kate, but not so sure how that outfit is going to go down w/ the grey men at the Palace or the elderly Monarchists in Shropshire. But perhaps I’m just being an old fuddy duddy!
No sight of William
, who I would have adored seeing dressed as Fat Elvis or in red leather (think Michael Jackson in the Thriller video.)
I can only assume he wanted the night to be about Kate, although it still would have been nice if either he or Harry had been there to lend support, as I believe they were both invited.
September 17th, 2008 21:46
Wills is already based in RAF training, read the latest Sun article and everyone may know exactly where he is stationed since this past monday. Harry is still in Canada I believe, and no other news about when he will be returning to the UK.
September 17th, 2008 21:49
Chelsy starts this coming monday the term at Uni but I also understand that she is already stationed at Leeds, doing some “past” study papers, too much forced vacation beginning of january (riots in Zimbabwe) and early leave permission to see her PH when returning from Afganistan.
September 17th, 2008 21:51
and her (Chelsy) latest facebook pictures (very recently) partying in a private flat with Leeds friends.
Londoners went, the important thing is that the news is saying hundreds went to support KM in the charity rollerdisco event.
September 17th, 2008 21:51
I agree alsgal it would have been nice had william or harry been there with her. lol that would be a riot to see william dressed like Michael Jackson or Fat Elvis. I am picturing william as elvis more. I thought she looked great, but the outfit was a tad revealing for a future Queen of England. Yet, I do admire her for not caring about what they say about her.
September 17th, 2008 21:55
Thanks Me, I forgot Harry was still in Canada.
I know William is training but last year there were other weeknights when he was also training and he was seen w/ Kate at Boujis or something. I remember quite well because many complained and asked how could he stay out ’til 3 and make it back to the base reasonably sober.
Also, why is Anna Sloan listed on the Roller Disco committee but according to the website she was sorry she couldn’t make it and only donated 45 pounds? How does that work?
Agree w/ Rman, something is up. Perhaps PW is laying low because the engagement is coming and they knew it would cause a fuss.
September 17th, 2008 21:57
Sorry Maddie just saw your post
— yes, I also admire her for being true to herself and that is why I will always be in Kate’s corner. 
September 17th, 2008 21:58
Is she one of the sisterhood girls ? Aren’t they in the Amazon at the moment ?! with high tec gear it is.
September 17th, 2008 22:00
Wills is too far this time, Hampshire !and maybe the helicopter training he is under wouldn’t look good after his ‘joy’ rides.
September 17th, 2008 22:01
I mean coming to london then back to base.
September 17th, 2008 22:09
Anna Sloan was the blonde American who turned PW down when he asked her out at St. Andrew’s I thought?
If she’s the one, then I like Anna already, because if she hadn’t turned him down, PW wouldn’t have his Kate.
September 17th, 2008 22:34
There are more pictures from the Roller Disco from Belga. They’ve got ones of Tom vS and his gf, Guy Pelly, James Murray Wells, Bea and Dave… so a lot of the clan was there. Too bad Wills had to be in training.
September 17th, 2008 22:43
Emilia was there too, I think.
September 17th, 2008 23:13
L, Do you mean the cross eyed girl she arrived w/ is Emilia?
September 18th, 2008 00:21
Wow, that event was a total success and it was so good to see all their friends and family out supporting such a wonderful cause. William must be proud of her. This girl is going to continue to show us all what she is made of. GO Kate!!!!
September 18th, 2008 00:25
William is already on training with the RAF
“He arrived at the Air Corps’ base in Middle Wallop, Hants, on Monday and will spend time learning about Army air support’s vital role in war zones.
It will be a world away from the job he wants — flying Sea King rescue choppers. A source said: “William can’t wait.”
http://tinyurl.com/422sb2
September 18th, 2008 00:36
Thanks Trixie for that link. It just goes to show that these are doing just fine and all of the fuss that is going on is nothing. She is being praised for this and I hope we see more of her doing things like this soon.
September 18th, 2008 00:37
Btw, this base is near the home of Kate’s parents in Berkshire. I doubt it would have been possible to drive to London, party till 3 am and then drive back even if it was for charity and be fit for flying lessons the next day especially not on his third day. I’m sure he wants to make a good impression.
September 18th, 2008 00:51
Thanks Trixie, I did wonder why he had not turned up but that does make sense. Cheers.
The only negative thing I have to say is something which I said yesterday. Although it is fantastic that she was part of it, the press are making it sound like she was the main organiser (especially the DM). In fact there were about 10 or more others who were organizing it and I don’t think that they are getting enough credit. I think something like: “Kate was part of team along with..(names of others)…who organized the disco which was a huge success and raised £(number of pounds).
Glad she went though and thanks alsgal for tip about how to stay positive.
September 18th, 2008 04:01
Hello,
After last nights roller disco KM and Pippa returned to the flat they share in London and I understand a Range Rover or similar delivered several packages there last weekend.
It may be interesting to see if KM and her sister arrive at the Fashion week as Danielle Helayel is exhibiting her new range today perhaps the delivery was some interesting items for the show.
The Roller disco seemed to go down very well last night and most of the publicity over it has been very supportive. The usual detractors seemed to want to qualify it with typical rubbish but everyone else seemed to have very supportive reviews. I think KM was thanked for her involvement and for using her contacts to attract many of her and PW’s friends. PW wasn’t there as he was 30 miles or so away with his Army duties but some think he could have made an effort to get there as he has used his Motor Cycle to get to other venues near Lulworth Cove and Matravers via the A350
Patrick Jepson seemed to confirm several fears that have been mentioned on here over the past months and I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t some follow up along those lines.
I don’t think PW has yet transfered to the RAF but is at the Army Westland Apache Helicopter training centre but it is thought that he will make some regular visits to SAS and SBS bases to get a feel of Special forces training prior to starting his Search and Rescue training in Jan/Feb 2009.
It all seems so clinical and arranged with very little regard or comment about his private life or otherwise with KM . I shouldn’t think there will be any CH comment so all we can glean is what we see if and when they are out and about but realistically, for now, I don’t think we should hold our breath just wait and see as a quiet time ion that front has been forecast
September 18th, 2008 06:50
Ked, will you be at the fashion show today?
September 18th, 2008 08:06
I do not doubt that they are in insanely in love and will eventually be engaged, but I am wondering if PW’s new assignment took Kate by surprise as really, 30 miles away and he couldn’t show up? As Ked mentioned, he has the motorcycle. He showed up at the clubs and for other things when he was supposed to be in boot camp. So, I am just wondering what is going on behind the scenes.
I am also thinking that back before anything was “official” between Charles and Camilla, that Charles always made a point of showing up at her for good PR promoting A Brand New Camilla charity events. Not to imply in any way that Kate did this for PR, what I’m saying is Charles didn’t mind being seen supporting Camilla, his not yet official fiancee, so why couldn’t William do the same?
I am thinking perhaps Kate’s feelings might be hurt, maybe they had a small tiff, but that everything will be OK in a few days or a week.
Not to worry, as these two always, always manage to find their way back to each other.
September 18th, 2008 08:35
Asgal,
Middle Wallop is actually 80-90 miles from central London and in evening rush hour it could take nearly 2 hours to get to Vauxhall. Given that the event started at 8pm and that PW would have to be back training the next morning I do not think that it was realistic that he would be able to attend.
I also thought that it was interesting that a couple of papers carried articles about PW’s training today making it clear that he was back “at work” away from london and I wondered whether this was done so as not to seem to slight Kate. Also, at least some of his friends & also cousin supported her.
September 18th, 2008 08:39
Is Middle Wallop in Hampshire (that’s where Wills is reportedly at) really just 30miles away from London? My searches show almost 80miles.
September 18th, 2008 08:58
No, i’m sure he would have been there if he could but he has one understanding woman by his side so I don’t think she worried about any of that. Many of their friends that they share together was there and it look like it was a great night.
September 18th, 2008 09:04
Thanks, H, for that logical explanation because I was starting to get a little put out with PW for not taking the evening off from training since he’d managed to do that last year. I do see, just as you posted, that the papers did make a point of saying PW was back at work, so that tells me he simply could not be there to support her, although I am sure he was there in spirit.
I just feel that he has not stood up for her properly sometimes, and that it would benefit both of them at this point, as they are so committed, for him to let others know. He shouldn’t HAVE to do that, of course, but it would be the kind and gentlemanly thing to do IMO.
Also, does anyone know why the much speculated about Anna Sloan didn’t show up as she was on the committee? I always thought committee members had to go, it was bad form not to?
http://rollerdisco.org/index.html
This shows shows her as a member of the roller disco committee, yet if I click on the Just Giving link at the top, she said, “Sorry, can’t make it, will for sure next time” or something of that nature. Strange.
September 18th, 2008 09:27
I think the fact that Princess Bea and her boyfriend Dave were present at the roller disco party shows someone in Wills’ family wanted to attend and show support for Kate. Probably Wills himself would’ve been there if he wasn’t in Hant working with the SAS.
I’ve read so much silly mis-information it’s ridiculous!
Some people have forgotten that Wills is training with the SAS and will be until the end of this month. Wills’ outlined schedule for the remainder of this year is still valid, the only thing that’s different is what he’ll be doing after he leaves the Blues and Royals in January 2009.
But for the record I want to say that I think the raised for the “will they, won’t they breakup” issue is totally un-necessary. Wills is joining the RAF Search And Rescue in the U.K., not Outer Mongolia. He only has 18 months of training, which will end at the end of May 2010, just in time for a June wedding. Not only that, but Wills will be 28 in June 2010, which is the youngest age that he said he would get married. His exact words back in 2005 were: “I don’t want to get married until I’m at least 28 or even 30.” Well, he’ll be 28 in June 2010.
There is no logical reason that Wills’ service in the RAF is a barrier to marriage. As for Kate having to continue to wait, who says she’s worried about that? Kate isn’t complaining. Not only that, but look at Zara and Mike Tindall! They’re older than Wills and Kate, and they’ve been dating a long time also. Look at Princess Victoria of Sweden and her boyfriend Daniel, they’ve been dating for 8 YEARS and they’re still together and still not married.
A time period of service in the military does not spell disaster for Wills’ and Kate’s relationship. I just wanted to add a dose of reality to the conversation.
September 18th, 2008 09:29
gracie,
No way but a friend who is in the industry has been there this week and she is there today .
The officers mess for many unmarried Army Air Corps is near Farnborough near the M3 and some medical people are based at Lugershall also.
There is a small airfield near Middle Wallop but westland helicopters are not hangered at the training ground which is near The Danebury Ring area southwest of Andover.
September 18th, 2008 09:30
A link to some more pics for those who don’t have a WHU account:
http://tinyurl.com/3p74se
September 18th, 2008 09:40
Ked, so are you saying William could have been there last night?
September 18th, 2008 10:03
Mapleleaf,
From what I’ve read William will be in the military until he’s 31 yrs old. This is a 4 1/2 yr commitment. And no offense, but that is pretty silly of William to not marry the woman he supposedly loves because he set a ridiculous age limit for himself. What about Kate and her position? She’s waiting around another what 1 or 2 yrs based on William’s word he’ll marry her? If I were Kate I wouldn’t be comfortable with that at all and would be VERY WORRIED. Right now Prince William’s word means absolutely nothing. He hasn’t provided Kate with security guards, she still lives with her parents not in one of the palaces, and works for her parents because of the situation with William. Now compare that with what happened with Sophie and Camilla. Prince Charles and Edward behaved very differently with them even before they got married. Those women were in a much more secure position than Kate is now. I can’t believe she even took him back & allowed herself to be paraded around at very public royal functions without an engagement locked up. Especially after the way he broke up with her in 2007.
September 18th, 2008 10:08
Mapleleaf, I’m on the same page as you. I don’t know why people are always thinking that their relationship will be disaster. I think people and the media often forget that there’s two people in that relationship. She has just as much control over that relationship as he does. It’s funny, Harry can go to Canada, serve in Afganistan and be away with his regiment and people will see his relationship with Chelsy is just fine but William goes away and the media goes into fit saying that relationship is in trouble. It’s just amazing but Kate had her way of telling us all that they are fine, she is fine and she was there to help raise money. All the fuss over that relationship was totally un-necessary as you said. The pictures of her falling was very funny and I’m glad she didn’t hurt herself. The pictures showed how down to earth she is and very friendly.
September 18th, 2008 10:17
Nikki, I hear you but I have a very strong feeling all of that is about to happen. There is no way William will leave her in the background for such a longtime. She is clearly a special part of his life and you see how much his family have embrassed her. Like I said before she will there by his side through all of this and it’s great that she may live on base with him as a married couple. Guys I know things look backwards right now but believe me when I tell you, William is not like that, he will not do her wrong. She may be beautiful but that girl looks like she is tough and I don’t think you would want to get on her bad side. He lost her last year I don’t think he will do that again. lol.
September 18th, 2008 10:46
I still feel bad for her. Think how she is always there to support William, goes to all his polo games attend ceremonies that she is allowed to go to and he is not usually there to support her. Her image has been greatly damaged in this relationship and some of it is not her doing and I would think if he truly cared for her, he would want to be there to show that he supports her to the public and to her. It has to hurt. Yes I know he’s somewhere else right now, but he’s taken off for less. He might be tied to the military but he gets leave when he wants.
September 18th, 2008 10:50
nikki,
I understand what you’re saying, and I agree with what you said about the age limit thing, but I don’t agree with the idea that Kate should be worried. Wills’ being in the military doesn’t keep him from being able to get married, and I’m not convinced that Kate is upset by Wills’ continued military service anyway. After all, Wills and Kate are in a relationship with each other, not with us.
Marriage is only right for them when they say so, not when WE say so. I for one would like to see them married sooner rather than later, but I realise it’s all up to them.
The reason I doubt that Kate feels worried is she doesn’t have any reason to be. Wills has just chosen military service as a career for the next 5 years, he hasn’t gone off to work in another country or anything. Harry’s actively serving in the military and Chelsy is fine with it. Harry will be serving for more than 5 years if he’s making it career.
Kate’s living with her parents because she wants to, and it probably makes her life easier. If she wants to move back to London she can, now that the media knows Wills will be in the military, maybe she and William will be able to go places and do things together without the constant speculation of when an announcement is going to come. If I were Kate, Wills’ choice of a career in the RAF for the next 5 years would be a really good thing IMO, not a bad one.
It gives them more freedom to hang out without the relentless speculation, and if they do get married in 2010, they will be able to live the life of any married couple with a spouse in the military. I’d bet Kate would really love it, and I’d bet Wills would too. They would be able to have a cottage close to wherever he will be stationed for 30-36 months, and they would have military protection from paps and the media in general.
This decision of Wills’ to join the RAF S and R may be one of the best decisions William has ever made as far as both he and Kate are concerned!
September 18th, 2008 10:57
gracie,
No I’m not actually saying that but in and around London a motor bike is a useful way of getting about and getting about quickly.
PW thinks nothing of travelling from Highgrove to Wareham and Dorchester where hes known to have friends and ‘the tall guy’ on the big motorcycle and escorts is often seen there.
I don’t think roller skating is a forte of PW and as KM seems to be almost expert he would probably want to avoid it. He would also have his military manuals to study no doubt as the Westland Apache is a difficult helicopter to fly. So perhaps he was very busy.
September 18th, 2008 11:00
Very well said mapleleave. I don’t understand why William’s choice of career puts any doubt on their relationship or shoud be a source of concern for Kate. I said it before he has been in the military for the last 3 years and they have been just fine. What would change just because it’s 2009 instead of 2008?
And I also don’t think that Kate is in an uncomfortable position in life. Yes, the press has a go at her right now but it’s rather easy for her to deal with that if she just ignores it. I’m sure she is not unhappy about staying in Berkshire (can we even be sure that she lives at her parents and not in a cottage of her own?) and working at Party Pieces. And truth be told if tomorrow she felt like taking on a job in London or somewhere else in the UK, she could and nothing would keep her from doing so. Or she could take on a master course somewhere or a PhD. It’s not like she’s a prisoner. I am convinced she is in Berkshire working for her parents because she WANTS to not because she is forced to due to her relationship.
I am also not sure whether William COULD assign bodyguards to Kate if he wanted to. I think those decisions are made by Scotland Yard and not the royals in question and to be honest so far no security risk for Kate is apparent that would demand her being followed by a bodyguard 24/7. Who knows whether she would even like that? I know I wouldn’t want a stranger to follow me 24/7 unless I was in real peril.
September 18th, 2008 11:07
I don’t feel bad for Kate, I think she likes his money.
September 18th, 2008 11:10
ked, do you honestly have wanted William to speed to London on his bike, party with Kate and then drive back to fly the next day? Weren’t you worried about possible threat to his life just yesterday? If anything sounds like unreasonable risk taking that would be it for me.
September 18th, 2008 11:13
Apryl,
Meow!
Remember she turned down more than $12 for her story and that figure would double now.
No way is she a gold digger but there are lots of pussy cats about
September 18th, 2008 11:16
Again, I just think there is no reason to worry about these two. I do understand that there’s alot of focus on them because William represents the future of the Monarchy and this woman can possibly be the future Princess of Wales and Queen so I understand that but obviously what they are doing will work for them just like Harry has Chelsy in mind when he makes his choices. These boys has made it known that they really care about these girls and they have a lot of support. So there shouldn’t be any worry about what’s going to happen because they have let it be known in their own way that there’s more excitment to come. And I’m just being positive but that’s the way it is.
September 18th, 2008 11:20
I’m sure we will see them together again soon. But if William was away and getting ready for more training, then people have to understand that. I’m sure if he could he would have been there. They always support each other.
September 18th, 2008 11:26
Trixie,
I didn’t say he should travel to the Disco but he is known to motor cycle many more miles quite quickly if he wants to go somewhere to meet up with anyone.
He does have security with him on other motor bikes usually on BMW Commando bikes, always one , sometime two.
I do however think that under the circumstances and speculation following his unilateral announcement it have been a nice and perhaps loving gesture to show his support for his loved one, especially for such a good cause.
However, he doesn’t do that sort of thing does he ?
If my girl was in similar circumstances and under similar pressure I know what I’d do.
Guys what about you ?
Gals what would you like your Guy to do ?
September 18th, 2008 11:29
BRW
OK .
Accepted.
Thanks for warning but the original comment was a little naughty.
** BRW – Hi ked, I didn’t moderate the comment – it was automatically caught in the SPAM filter because it “looked” like SPAM, that’s all. I’ve cleared it this morning. With the amount of SPAM going around the settings are wound up pretty high – unfortunately this happens sometimes. Sorry! **
September 18th, 2008 11:31
Ked just lately your theories are too much 4 me.
September 18th, 2008 11:50
Me,
Then tell me where I’m going wrong. It would help me honestly.
They may sound far fetched but being a Devils Advocate I usually look for continuity and its there if you look for it.
September 18th, 2008 11:56
I keep hearing this thing about how William remaining in the military is so great because if he and Kate get married they’ll be able to live on the base & have all this privacy and not have to deal with the media. Haven’t they already had all this privacy at St Andrews? But what happens when William has no choice but to deal with the press and the paps? Unless he plans on hiding out in the armed forces for the rest of his life he and his wife will have to deal with being public people just like the Queen/Philip and Charles/Camilla or any other member of the RF. They may as well deal with it now instead living in a fantasy world that they’re normal people. You can be in the public eye and still maintain your privacy. HM is a great example of this. But I don’t agree with Gracie. I don’t feel bad for Kate. What it looks like is William is dictating this relationship to his liking- what happens, how, and when it happens. I could be totally wrong on this, as a matter of fact I hope I am wrong, but that’s the feeling I’ve gotten for the last several weeks.
September 18th, 2008 12:04
Ked, what are you talking about?
I would like my guy to come support me and hold my hand and every once in a while kiss me in public. William gives his horses little pecks on the cheek in public view, so he should not be so uptight about kissing Kate in public. IMO. But some people don’t like to show public affection. I just don’t think William is as mature as Kate and is ready to think about someone else but himself at this time and I pray that he did not use her for his own PR.
September 18th, 2008 12:10
Ked, like being realistic and not far fetched.
September 18th, 2008 12:15
gracie,
Quite simply;
Ladies, would you have liked your lover to support you in a good cause especially when you had been taken apart by others ?
Chaps. under the above circumstances would you have made the effort to support your loved one ?
gracie, I think I’ll leave comments on the rest of you post .
I may get the boot.
September 18th, 2008 12:16
Me,
One example on being far fetched please
September 18th, 2008 12:19
Nikki, I see what your saying. I feel sorry for anyone who does not realize that they are worthy of being treated as an equal in a relationship. But that is something that takes time to develope and Kate at 26 might not have wisdom to know this. None of us know what’s going on between them, but it looks like William does not have issue w/Kate or her family getting shredded in the press and I don’t understand why he would not and only he can change it.
September 18th, 2008 12:21
Ked, why would you get the boot? I don’t think you have said anything that was out of bounds. Your just stating your opinion.
September 18th, 2008 12:29
Ked, if you get booted I will be mad. Is Issa show today? I am surprised her collection has not been shown yet. Is it not about 6:00 in UK?
September 18th, 2008 13:04
Ked I high doubt you will get the boot. You guys just have to stop talking about the non-sense about the trouble in their relationship and just realize everything is fine not on the rocks. I don’t know how the media goes from talking about the loving photos that was taken of them on the holiday and next come up with the relationship on the rocks. It’s just amazing. I’ll be mad too if you got the boot Ked.
September 18th, 2008 13:19
OK, worst case scenario: Kate, through the miracle of modern science, can theoretically still bear William’s child, and future heir to the throne, well into her fifties, if not her sixties.
William’s military career, if he so chooses, could continue to supply them both with this much desired privacy well up until the time William finally decides he’s ready, say 55 or so, when Kate then starts getting injections. Mr. and Mrs. Middleton would still only be in their early 80s, so Kate could probably continue living at her parents home in Bucklebury, because until that baby is born, what’s the rush to move out and we know she can’t live with him on the base until they are officially married.
Sure, at the rate they’re going, I’m still seeing Alsgal and crew sitting along the route to Westminster Abbey with our beer, thimbles and lawnchairs come June.
It just might be in June, 2037.
September 18th, 2008 13:22
Laughing, that is funny.
September 18th, 2008 13:24
Ked your theories far fetched or not are interesting, why would you think of even getting the boot ?
Its probably that I see thinks similar to Rman, Mapleleaf.
And yes of course I’d love to see my hubby with me in a special event like this past one, BUT with all due respect, PW has just been back 72 hours after being badly criticised while his stay in the RAF beginning this year, end of the story for me. Why insist and make a big deal out of this 1st charity event organized by Miss Middleton ?! She must have known, things sometimes can’t be the way you wish or want. The good thing is that apparently since she was there, it did not affect her, the pics are telling, she had fun out of a fund rasing good job.
September 18th, 2008 13:41
If Kate had REALLY wanted William there, she could have held the roller disco on a weekend to allow him to attend or some time in August during theri holiday.
September 18th, 2008 13:42
I just wanted to share comments in the DM article – some are amasing !
Quote
Look lets just try to leave this girl alone, the more we all build up an image of her that is unrealistic or incorrect, the more danger she is in when William finally gets around to making her Princess of Wales. I really do not want to see another Diana and I believe that William and Kate will be fine if left to express themselves normally.
Unquote
I hope the above point reaches everywhere and people think of what they write; theories, name calling, bashing or whatever. Many lately have been made famous for being quoted in the journalists articles, and I see a tendency like a race to see who gets copied or not, and getting worse by the day.
There are other comments that are not only nice in the rollerdisco article in the DM, but very wise too.
September 18th, 2008 13:47
Quote
I agree completely with some of your correspondents in that Kate Middleton is a young woman who loves life.
She is not afraid to do things which might make her look silly but which adds to the fun.
Why so much criticism?
Is she expected to act demurely and do everythng very very carefully so as not to offend anybody?
I like her as she is and so do millions of other relaxed, non-pompous people.
More importantly, William loves her for her uninhibited personality.
LEAVE HER ALONE AND GIVE HER SOME PEACE.
Unquote
I am very pleased to read more positive comments on her 1st organization charity event, she does have a lot of admires that are really fed up with the nasty remarks.
September 18th, 2008 13:53
Trixie, that’s a good point as that would prove my original suspicion that William was not there on purpose so that the focus would be on Kate and Kate’s good deed rather then the focus being on them as a couple.
September 18th, 2008 14:48
I guess Kate was not at Issa. Beatrice and Eugenie were though. I never noticed that they wore her clothes.
September 18th, 2008 14:53
I bet the DM will single that out.
September 18th, 2008 14:55
Once we see her doing more charity work and things become more official, blogger comments will change. It is good to read nice comments about her. She and other members of the committee did very well with the roller disco event.
September 18th, 2008 14:56
http://tinyurl.com/4taxmg
Not the DM but still an article about Bea and Eugenie at the Issa show.
“Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie gave the royal seal of approval to the sizzling Brazilian label, Issa, a favourite of Prince William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton, at London Fashion Week.
The two young Royals caused a paparazzi frenzy when they arrived for their front row seats at the show, held in the British Fashion Council Tent At The Natural History Museum, in West Kensington.”
September 18th, 2008 15:03
Thanks Trixie, but if KM as the DM said receives “freebies” of Issa, don’t you think she would or should have been there. Since she wasn’t there, one would think that the DM article stating that “fact” is rubbish.
September 18th, 2008 15:13
In answer to your comment Me, no I would not expect her to be there are all for several reasons:
a) She was up late last night, I doubt she would want to have to travel all across London.
b)She has just done something good (on her way to repair her repuation) why would she then do something which could damage it?
c)She is meant to have a 9 to 5 job remember, she has to sort out the catalogues.
September 18th, 2008 15:15
There is something in business and in personal life called events that you just have to go. If she receives freebies, IMO she should be there, therefore IMO the DM article was crap.
September 18th, 2008 15:16
Then perhaps the journalist should write that Bea and Eugene receive freebies too.
September 18th, 2008 15:39
Maybe Kate was not suppose to be there anyway. I’m sure Beatrice and Eugenie get freebies too, but they tend to wear other designers. Pippa was there, so maybe she was a fill in. I know Kate walked out of the Disco, but in photos she looked like she was getting help, being held up getting into the car. You know she could have hurt herself or is atleast sore and could not make Issa showing and Pippa went instead. Who knows?
September 18th, 2008 15:40
Where’s Ked?!
September 18th, 2008 15:54
Well she did fall several times. They was really protecting her and the paps was going crazy. But she gave a warm smile all the way in and out. I didn’t know Pippa went to the fashion show. Ked I hope you are still with us.
September 18th, 2008 16:15
Rman, was the blond woman with Kate a bodyguard you think?
Those pictures with all the photographers were insane. It is good to know that Kate can handle that type of situation. How much worse could it get after the engagement? I have never seen so many pictures in my life,lol…
One point I feel compelled to make and I am kinda surprised no one has made it yet. I find Kate to have a wonderful ability to be able to swing from dressed to the nines at a formal event to down and dirty with normal folk. It is a quality that will be to her advantage if she ever assumes the role of Princess of Wales. It s a quality that Diana mastered and I see it in Kate and I am sure William does too.
September 18th, 2008 16:20
Yes, Pippa was in attendance in the Issa show. Rexfeatures has pictures. It’s good that Kate sat this one out, IMO. I agree with B. After last night’s good publicity, it’d be unmindful of her to attend the Issa show, considering largely that gossip rags have been accusing her of getting freebies despite the designer’s apparent denial.
September 18th, 2008 16:30
Oh I see.
September 18th, 2008 16:33
Pippa’s sudden heightened exposure is striking me as odd..I don’t get it.
September 18th, 2008 16:35
Yes I believe the blonde lady was a bodyguard. The photographers was very much crazy.
September 18th, 2008 16:57
Looks like Kate didn’t leave in her normal taxi, but she and Pippa were driven. I do think the blonde was a bodygard and I also notice an older man wearing a dark navy jacket in some pics too. He has that Secret Service type-look, very serious. I wonder who is providing her protection, cause it’s usually not so obvious.
Lisa, I don’t get Pippa heightened exposure either. I started to question it when she went to Cartier Polo and sat in royal area w/o Kate. I’m sure being Kate’s sister helps her, although I know she has her own aristo friends. Either Pippa is trying to utilize her connections w/kate,william, or maybe there is something going on behind the scenes.
September 18th, 2008 17:04
gracie,Kate sure did need those bodyguards given the insane amount of press there. I know there were video cameras but as of yet I have not seen any video. I saw the serious looking guy in the jacket too. It is hard to know whether these security people are private or from CH. I would have to go back and look through pictures of Williams bodyguards to tell. I know he has a female bodyguard who is blond but I am not sure if it is this woman or not. She looks so small compared to Kate…
September 18th, 2008 17:14
I have noticed Pippa attending more events as a VIP but I think if Kate can’t make it to a event she goes. She has some high profile friends and I think people like her.
September 18th, 2008 17:33
There’s an article on the Telegraph website about Daniella Helayel who is the Issa designer (don’t know how to post links, sorry!)…she says that in no way is Kate an “ambassador” for her company, nor does she receive “freebies.” She is flattered that Kate wears her clothes, but wasn’t even aware of it until her assistant brought it to her attention.
So, obviously kate is just a fan of the designer and there isn’t any obligation for Kate to show up at her fashion show….
September 18th, 2008 17:37
Hey Everybody…
Where are you all seeing the pics of Kate leaving the Disco?
September 18th, 2008 17:54
Lisa, the blonde that’s helping protect Kate does not look like the women who protect the RF. Beatrice had a women that night and she wears the jacket, hair pulled pack, dark pants, etc. But the older guy is questionable. There was also another man in a tan coat, semi-bald, that was in the back he opened the car door. Man those paps are crazy! One pap was looked like he was above the rest. I don’t know if he climbed a light post or what. I do think she hurt her leg. I think that’s why they were helping her into the car. If Kate and William do break up, I don’t think the media will forget her. She is starting to be a celebrity in her own right.
September 18th, 2008 18:23
Hey,
What magazine are you guys looking at?
September 18th, 2008 19:00
gracie after looking at those pictures again I decided that the bodyguards were holding onto Kate to protect her probably because the paps were surrounding her and probably getting too close. I think they were also having problems seeing because of the TV lights and the flashes. If you look at some of the pictures the guards were holding their hands up to try to block the lights.
Teamhighgrove has alot of pictures of Kate leaving the event.
September 20th, 2008 04:48
what event is the latest event that happened to kate?
September 20th, 2008 04:54
Hi bluefire,
The latest event Kate attended was the Day-Glo Charity Roller Disco which she, among others, helped to organise…
By all accounts it was very successful and raised much needed funds for several charities.
http://www.britishroyalwedding.com/2008/09/18/kate-middleton-dazzles-at-roller-disco-charity-event/
Kate Middleton’s Charity Success;
http://www.cafonline.org/Default.aspx?page=16182
September 20th, 2008 05:03
Tnx steven. how much fund they raised?
September 20th, 2008 05:16
One report said £ 100,000 pounds but the official site shows £ 27,970 which is probably closer to the mark I would guess.
http://www.justgiving.com/rollerdisco
I also found another slideshow with large photos of the arrivals (sorry if this has already been posted)
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/KjDkkTqixXK/Day+Glo+Midnight+Roller+Disco+Fundraiser