Prince William has whisked Kate Middleton off to Scotland for a New Year break…with his father and stepmother in tow. The intimate family gathering will inevitably lead to rumours that the couple are likely to become engaged soon.

William, 26, has been dating Miss Middleton for six years – and had been expected to take a skiing trip with her in his last few days of freedom.

Soon he is to start training as an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter pilot, for which he will be sent to bases around the country, meaning there will be a limited amount of time he can spend with his girlfriend.

It is considered particularly unusual for the prince and his father to spend time together at Prince Charles’s private retreat, Birkhall, on the Queen’s Balmoral estate. A friend said: ‘Their decision to fly up to Scotland has taken everyone by surprise.’

The couple have only just been reunited after spending Christmas apart, as dictated by royal protocol.

Miss Middleton flew to Mustique with her family for the holiday, while William was with the Royal Family at Sandringham for their traditional celebrations.

On New Year’s Day, they traveled up to the Highlands from London, accompanied by William’s bodyguards from Scotland Yard. They will spend several days at Birkhall.

William and Kate have rarely been seen out and about in recent months, leading to speculation that their romance was, once again, on the rocks. But sources close to the couple insist they are ‘as strong as ever’, and have merely attempted to keep their relationship out of the limelight, as they felt pressurised by the level of publicity it had been receiving. (via Daily Mail)