Prince William too busy to marry Kate Middleton?
British tabloid News of the World reports that Prince William has ruled out marriage to Kate Middleton next year because he is too busy…
Instead, he will step up his role as a roving royal with two ground-breaking official tours to South Africa and Australia. The prince is also determined to complete his tough helicopter training course.
His hectic schedule means Kate and Wills – both now 27 – could be approaching 30 before they wed. One high-ranking Palace figure told the News of the World: “All this talk of a wedding next summer is wide of the mark.”
William’s trip to Australia is expected to take place early in the New Year. He will travel to South Africa in June, where he will carry out a series of engagements and attend the World Cup.
August 9th, 2009 20:15
This is a fluff piece which is pretty funny.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25905756-5000117,00.html
August 10th, 2009 00:42
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205306/Keep-tight-grip-dog-Princess-Anne.html
update
i hope is practice parental duties..
August 10th, 2009 06:23
If I recall, Charles had a pretty hectic schedule in 1981.
August 10th, 2009 11:06
Hello,
I always seem to arrive back in UK jet lagged and tired and hope to relax by catching up on the posts and something odd happens. If PW DID say ‘he’s too busy’ or if it was even implied from a reputable source in that particular way , things are not good. You may recall that I mentioned in a post a week or so ago that PW/KM’s appearances would be even more infrequent as the new ‘mandarins’ took charge. Well this may just be the precursor of even more bad news.
Yes I know I’ve put 2014 down as the year and that was carefully worked out taking the known circumstances at the time. Things may now be an awful lot different but I don’t see many hopeful messages coming from the PW side as it looks at present.
I have for weeks been waiting for a sign, message or report to enhance KM’s position or status . Nothing has come apaart from a couple of posed hugs and kisses but nothing from the RF in general.
When Peter and Autumn looked to be a serious relationship HM recognised it months or nearly a year before the their engagement. She just let it be known that Autumn was accepted by inviting her to spend a summer cruise with her and the close family. With Mike and Zara it was the same and on the official photograph with the family after Peter/Autumn’s wedding sure enough Mike is well placed and very visible. At each stage neither of the grandchildren were officially engaged but seemed to be fully accepted as partners by members of the RF
I think both of the above set of circumstances were very significant and I have been waiting for KM to receive similar invitations. Also PW has still not come out and defended or supported KM during any of the numerous and hateful attacks made against her or her family.
Why? Is it to ensure that if he decides to finish or whatever he has been advised not to put himself into a position from which he couldn’t withdraw.
Yes he has been ‘caught’ with KM in slightly disconcerting circumstances but nothing that very good friends may occasionally find themselves in and remember all good friends of royal Princes remain ‘good friends’ for years afterwards.
KM still awaits that acknowledgment and I did think that if the visit to Balmoral was factual and she was taken to the Highland Games then that may have been some indication of acceptance. We still may see something akin to that during this summer. If not, well conclusions may well have to drawn. The absence and lack of fully attributable news may well be bad news for their relationship, which in any case is going to be under tremendous strain during 2010 if the reports of PW’s activities are true. Even the SAR traing alone is so arduous that many extremely competent pilots fail and take on less demanding flying roles within the RAF so if PW can take so much time away from his traing how competent can he really be? Or will exemptions and exceptions be made as they were admitted to have been prior to the initial award of his ‘wings’ before he decided to become a full time pilot?
Many ‘happenings’ could ‘happen’ over the summer with nothing, absolutely nothing ruled out. Think carefully about it
August 10th, 2009 11:35
The biggest sign that Kate has been accepted into the royal family is when the Queen invited Kate to the Order of the Garter service. Kate stood with the royals at the church and sat with Harry during the service. The Queen acknowledged her grandson’s longtime girlfriend. The Queen used William’s important day to acknowledge Kate. Charles has given his acceptance as well, he did give her shooting lessons at Balmoral.
We shall see what’s going to happen next year. I just hope next year is it because all this taunting and teasing of this girl is seriously getting on my nerves. The problem is that people find it too hard to accept that William is in love with the woman of his choice and they have allowed the tabloid nonsense to tell them who Kate is and what’s she’s like.
If people would wake up and pay attention to the evidence that William loves this girl, he has bonded with her family, the royals and royal advisors have embraced her then things will be okay. But we go through this same crap ever year on people thinking she is not being accepted enough or William is just treating her badly. It’s just getting tierd now.
August 10th, 2009 11:40
My eyes are always wide open
August 10th, 2009 12:29
ked,why are you taking Jobsons report as factual and not Goodmans? Just curious because I don’t believe either one of them. Honestly, we don’t know anymore then we did before except that William and Kate are together and apparently happy with that state. Anything more is unfounded rumor.
August 10th, 2009 12:32
Yeah we just have to wake up and smell the English Breakfast Tea brewing. The couple has made very few appearences this year but in those very few appearences, we have seen nothing but deep love between those two. Even if nothing happens next year, it’s clear they are heading to the alter.
But I am keeping my fingers crossed.
August 10th, 2009 12:34
Rman
I hope next year is it too. Ked does make some good points. I think Kate does need to be photographed with the Queen. Freddie Windsor is getting married in September no? Is the Queen expected to be in attendance? That would be an opportunity for Kate to be photographed with the family & the next stage after that would be an announcement next year. However if it doesn’t happen next year then although I know others may argue differently but I seriously think we might have a problem.
August 10th, 2009 12:36
Lisa
I don’t think Ked is taking it as factual what I think he was saying was “if” what William said about being to busy to get married was true then we might have a problem.. Honestly I just want them to announce already and for this to be all over. I am so tired of waiting..
August 10th, 2009 12:36
William was not present for Peter’s wedding or he and Kate may have been in the photograph with the family. I do not think HM will attend Freddie’s wedding. JMO.
August 10th, 2009 12:39
jj, I hear ya but it always seems like the glass is half empty and never half full…
We just don’t have enough facts so we have to just wait and see what happens. I personally don’t think they would be together at this point if it was not for the long haul.
August 10th, 2009 12:48
Very true Lisa and you are right we don’t have all of the facts only snippets. I’m just tired..
August 10th, 2009 13:07
Ked, I think a good place for you to look for a sign would be to read this article:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/93017/L-plate-Kate-s-royal-lessons/
I don’t believe anything Clive Goodman says, but at the same time I don’t believe the other article either, and that’s why I mentioned that article. It just points out the differing stories floating around in the media.
I think it’s a mistake to look for the same sort of sign that was shown when Autumn Kelly was allowed to go on holiday with HM and the Royal Family.
I think people forget that Peter and Autumn were living together in the same house on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe estate when Autumn went on that cruise, and they had been living together for 3 years. It would hardly have made sense NOT to have included Autumn under that circumstance. She was already living as Peter’s live-in girlfriend at the time. It would’ve been the worst sort of slap in the face if Peter had gone on the cruise and been forced to leave his live-in girlfriend of several years behind.
Openly living with Peter as his live-in girlfriend put Autumn into a postion in which she HAD to be invited, or else the RF would’ve been made to look like they disapproved of Peter’s live-in girlfriend.
The same goes for Zara and her live-in boyfriend Mike. Zara and Mike have been living together for years, just like Peter and Autumn.
Not only that, but Peter’s relationship with Autumn, and Zara’s relationship with Mike, have NEVER been under the same sort of media scrutiny that William and Kate have been under. I think William would definitely prefer his relationship with Kate to be treated the exact same way that Peter’s relationship with Autumn was treated by the media, which ranged between polite indifference or very mild interest when no better news or more popular Royals were available. Same for Zara and Mike, with slightly more interest.
Unfortunately, William and Kate’s relationship is entirely too popular with the media for that to ever take place.
So it’s not realistic to expect any overt signs from William and Kate like the cruise that Autumn went on with the RF. If such a sign of an impending engagement between William and Kate were ever, ever given, the media would literally go crazy.
William has been stubbornly determined to conduct his relationship with Kate as privately as he possibly can for as long as he possibly can.
Anyone who is as stubbornly committed to personal privacy as William is, is simply NOT going to give off any signs of an impending engagement, because his and Kate’s personal relationship is already under a tremendous amount of public scrutiny as it is.
If they were to give any sort of sign, even the most minute sign, that they were close to an engagement, the press coverage would be absolutely insane.
I seriously think they’ll hold out until the very, very last minute before making an announcement. Whether it’s 2010, 2011, or 2014, I think we won’t see any signs whatsoever until the actual engagement announcement is made.
William will never be able to copy what Mike Tindall did and tell the press that they will eventually get married. It just can’t happen, because the press would hound William and Kate incessantly.
It’s doubtful that an engagement will be announced for Mike and Zara before the 2012 Olympics, so that’s at least 2 years before an actual announcement will be made.
There’s just no way William and Kate would be able to have any peace at all if William announced his intentions a full 2 years before an official engagement announcement was made.
Knowing this, it’s just not logical to assume that William would allow a concrete sign of his future intentions to be seen. I believe William is going to conceal everything he can possibly conceal up until the very last minute.
Therefore, the most we can hope for are paparrazzi photos of William and Kate kissing in a car park. If we’re lucky, we might see Kate attend Wills’ graduation from the RAF SARF training programme, but that’s the most official event we can realistically look forward to Kate attending.
Besides, after the revelations about Unsavoury Uncle Gary, Kate is probably going to want to keep as low a profile as possible for as long as possible.
August 10th, 2009 13:24
I know, we all have grown tierd of the wait which produces a great deal of doubt but folks lets just remain calm and positive. I know it’s not easy but that’s all we can do. The rest is in William & Kate’s corner. If they decide to take us down another year of waiting, then that’s something we will have to accept. I just hope and pray that’s not the case. I’m hoping for the best.
August 10th, 2009 13:26
There is a good GAGE for all of this, and that comes at Christmas.
Lets see if Kate goes to spend Christmas with the Royals. Kate has been to Sandringham and stayed at Wood Farm on a shooting party just before Christmas last year. But Kate has NEVER been to Sandringham during Christmas week.
It has been reported that she prefers to spend it with her own family so as not to intensify engagement rumours.
Given the recent scandal, I happen to think it would a good thing if Kate did go this year, that is if she is invited, that way we shall see if the Queen is prepared to overlook this GG story.
I do not believe for one minute if Kate was invited she would not go, as she to I’m sure would like it to be seen that this GG story is being ignored by the Royals.
Come Christmas, if I read a story saying she was invited but chose not to go, or that her family decided to go on holiday for Christmas, then frankly my reaction to that is Kate is skating on thin ice.
KED, good post, and once again agree 100%.
I am aware that everyone is putting their faith into the Robin Nunn book, which I have no doubt will generate a flurry of articles. But frankly I to was hoping that more PR was done on behalf Kate.
Instead we are being fed diversionary stories. Chelsy’s day linked to rhino horn killings. Knatchbull video’d smoking Crack.
Naughty Prince Charles, that last one is way below the belt.
August 10th, 2009 13:41
I agree Mapleleaf, this couple relationship is very popular with the press and I think their popularity is more intense than the Charles & Diana days. But they really handle things very well and they don’t to let the intensity hurt their relationship. That’s why I know they will be fine once they get the word out.
August 10th, 2009 13:48
Rman,
I don’t want to make too much of this but is it clear who is ‘taunting and teasing’ KM most ?
I ask again Why ?
Unless he has been advised against supporting or acknowledging KM why does he not do so?
Yes he’s seen with and seems very much attached to her so why is there such reluctance on his part ?
Rman, yes KM was very much part of the KotG scene but only as the current girl friend of PW exactly as she was at his army passing out parade and his RAF wings ceremony .
KM has never been acknowledged in photograph or print by the person who really matters yet HM did so for the partners of two of her other grandchildren by a very public dsplay well before any official announcement.
KM needs that too especially as PW appears so reluctant to show acceptance of her other than as his current girl friend. KM surely needs and deserves more recognition than that unless he is acting under advice or just considers her as such. Officially all that has been acknowledged is that they are very good friends which is very similar to the acknowledgement shown to other female friends.
What we observe may lead us to think there is more to it but even after so many years there is no certainty and the ever increasing time scale clearly indicates a certain reluctance , so I ask again Why?
August 10th, 2009 14:43
Remember both are away from England. Nothing will happen until they both get back.
August 10th, 2009 14:51
Hale, Kate wouldn’t be invited to attend Christmas with the royals at Sandringham until after an engagement was announced. Only fiances and spouses are invited, not girlfriends/boyfriends.
August 10th, 2009 15:34
Ked I’m sure Kate will be seen with the Queen soon but the Queen really did acknowledge Kate at the Order of The Garter Service and I found it interesting that she choose to do it on one of the most important events on the royal calendar. She didn’t acknowledge just a friend or a girlfriend but she acknowledged the second in line to the throne’s longtime companion. That was a very important day that William became the official 1000th Knight of the Garter.
I’m sure William & Kate have a good friendship within their relationship, you can’t date that many years without being friends. William has shown that he loves this girl and he sticks with her even when times gets tough and the press gets nasty. He do this in such a unique way that he don’t have to use words. The press and people use to call Camilla all sorts of names (still do at times) and Charles never stood up for her, all he did was continue his relationship with her and married her. Camilla is now future Princess Consort of the United Kingdom.
The point is people are so harsh these days and people care less what William say or do, they treat this girl badly because they feel like it. She can’t speak up for herself at this time and she’s not in the position to show that she’s more than a pretty longtime girlfriend of a prince so they take advantage of that dance on her tonsils. I’m hopeful that the great day will soon come when Kate can officially show what she is made of and why William has loved her all these years.
I can tell that there’s so much more to her and the press only gives us so much to work with and they paint her in so many different lights. I look forward to getting to know her more. Nothing is guaranteed but I remain hopeful in the face of doubt and bad press.
August 10th, 2009 15:43
That’s right Ella Kay, last year Kate spent her pre-Christmas time at Sandringham with William, Harry and the Earl & Countess of Wessex was in residence at that time. Once she is married, she can then attend the royal family Christmas festivities. She probably do what the Duchess of Cornwall do, spend the early parts of the day with the royals and then go and spend time with their own families.
August 10th, 2009 16:24
Ella Kay, you are very much mistaken. Koo Stark and Amanda Stavely as well as former girlfriends of Prince Charles spent Christmas at Sandringham. Neither Andrew or PC was engaged to any of them.
Also, long before PC was married he was seeing Lady Jane Wellesley the daughter of the then Duke of Wellington, and she remains the only then girlfriend I had ever seen photographed with the Queen herself.
So if you think being asked to spend Christmas at Sandringham is only for girlfriends/fiances/wives, you are mistaken.
August 10th, 2009 16:26
Ked,
Excellent post! I am also waiting for a significant and meaningful sign from the palace/BRF regarding the status of this relationship especually after Uncle G.
So far nothing. I wonder what the future holds for these two.
Hale,
Christmas at Sandringham would be a good sign for Kate.
August 10th, 2009 16:38
& Hale correct me if I am wrong but Prince Charles proposed to Lady Jane W and she turned him down??? So the status quo remains if you are photographed with the queen you are in or at least going to be asked?!?!?!
I haven’t heard the other stories before about non fiancee’s attending Christmas at sandringham. I think what was clear at that time was that they were trying to get Charles down that aisle as fast as possible but it’s still a surprise that some were invited to xmas???
August 10th, 2009 16:57
The royals did everything they could to get Charles married. Autumn didn’t appear with the royals during the Christmas time until she married Peter.
Clover, I just hope things move along because to go through another year of this will drive me insane.
August 10th, 2009 17:07
jj, no, PC never proposed to Lady Jane, but should have. I maintain that is the girl he should have married. But unfortunately they were both young at the time.
PC proposed to Amanda Knatchbull, the grand daughter of the Earl of Mountbatten.
Prince Andrew was extremely serious about Koo Stark, and she indeed spent Christmas day with the RF. The Daily Mail, (Nigel Dempster) made great mirth of it at the time, because the Q always dresses formally for dinner, and Koo Stark turned up wearing a Ra Ra skirt.
Following Andrews split with Fergie, the only girl I recall him getting serious with is Amanda Stavely, who also spent Christmas at Sandringham. Prince Phillip let it be known that she had his approval.
But Stavely who admits how opinionated she is felt that the Royal lifestyle would be to constraining. She went on to become a hugely successful business woman.
August 10th, 2009 18:05
Hale,
“So if you think being asked to spend Christmas at Sandringham is only for girlfriends/fiances/wives, you are mistaken.”
I think you and I must be talking about different things. I’m not talking about the family’s more extended Sandringham holiday during the Christmas season, which is what I now assume you’re referring to.
I’m talking about Christmas Day itself, which is for family (including spouses and engaged partners) only. Girlfriends or friends are not invited for Christmas Day.
August 10th, 2009 18:27
Ella Kay, please read my post above yours. I remember it well. Koo Stark spent Christmas Day with the RF. She turned up wearing a Ra Ra skirt.
August 10th, 2009 18:31
Rman,
LOL!
I know we all need something to happen, another year of ups and downs and being in the dark will drive all of use crazy.
August 10th, 2009 18:53
Hello,
I seem to remember reading (true or not ??) that KM was invited to Sandringham for Christmas several years ago but refused HM’s invitation. Comments attributed to her at that time explained that she would not join the RF at their Christmas celebration untl she and PW wre engaged.
KM’s parents however leased a house over the Christmas/New Year period and arranged a New Year celebration that PW was to have atended together with several friends of KM and PW.
At the time it was reported that PW did not turn up at the party and it was said that the couple then had one of their ‘partings’ and PW apparently was for a short period linked with another ‘friend’.
I am unable to confirm/deny this story as it was attributed to a ‘friend of……’ and KM’s family , following the custom they have followed over the years, made no comment.
This jet lag has really thrown my sleep pattern to the high heavens .
August 10th, 2009 18:56
LOL, It’s enough to drive you crazy. Every year we go though these up and down periods and then someone comes up with a crazy artical like Jobson just did and that just adds fuel to the fire. I will never forget when last year people was saying that Kate was at home with her mother because she needed her to help nurse her broken heart. Why? because William went to train in the Caribbean and he just abandoned her. I mean this is crazy stuff.
I will be glad once all of this is over with and we will be able to celebrate the joyful news together and look back on all the crap we went through over the years and just laugh about it. I may cry though and you haven’t seen anything until you see a grown man cry.
August 10th, 2009 19:16
All I know Ked is that when these two finally marry, we will see Kate attending Christmas service with the royals at Sandringham. Last year Kate was pictured with William and Harry on the estate for a shoot, so she was there for a pre-Christmas gathering. Then later Kate went with William to Scotland.
So please lets not go crazy when the tabs come up with another “Queenly” Christmas invite for Kate this year. The tabs can come up with so much crap that it’s not even funny. Just like the one you just mentioned Ked. This is one of the reasons why people make fun of this couple’s relationship, the tabs have their fun with them too much.
August 10th, 2009 19:47
I think the bottom line is that we will NEVER see the signs of impending engagement with William and Kate that have been seen with other Royal dating couples.
It’s more probable that the only sign we’ll get is the actual engagement announcement itself.
Before Peter and Autumn got married, the press wasn’t even one quarter as interested in Autumn as they were and continue to be interested in Kate Middleton. And even though Zara Phillips is Royal, the press is more interested in Kate Middleton than they are in Zara.
William deals very well with the media’s interest in himself, but he seems absolutely determined to deflect the media’s interest in his private relationship and the interest in his girlfriend.
Knowing this to be the case, why do people keep expecting William and Kate’s relationship to follow the pattern of other Royal Family member dating relationships?
At this time they’ve been in a steady relationship without an engagement announcement longer than any other member of the British Royal Family except Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones. After January 2010, William and Kate’s dating relationship will pass Edward and Sophie’s. In the last year and a half, Kate Middleton ’sightings’ have become almost completely non-existent even though William and Kate continue their relationship.
This is a pattern that William seems to want to continue. We royal watchers will just have to accept that reality, and throw away any unwritten ‘rule books’ of how we think a Royal Family member will conduct their relationship with a significant other.
IMO Lisa is right, William and Kate are happy with the status quo, and a lack of William doing ‘this’ or a lack of Kate doing ‘that’ is no indication that they’re going to break up, just like it isn’t an indication that they’re going to marry.
August 10th, 2009 20:15
mapleleaf,
You are very wise. During my travels doing errands today, I thought about how I got into following William and Kate. It is fun to watch them and the other royals. The bottom line with me is that when I am just ready to think that they might not make it, they turn around and do the unexpected. That then leads me to realize that they are two people who might not be engaged but they do truly love each other. Right now, they are following the example of the Queen and PP. They kept their relationship very private. I know that everyone has a right to their own views. However, when you see some of the remarks against Kate, it is so sad. She has been put through the wringer. I know that they must follow their own path. It is good when that path comes into our view.
August 10th, 2009 20:15
Mapleleaf the speculation can be fun for awhile but later it will drive you nuts. We just have to wait and see, I’m starting to think William really did say that, “wait and see”.
The problem I have with the speculations in that it make people come down so hard on Kate, although she probably don’t pay any attention to the negative press, I still don’t like the unfair things that is said about her. I guess I will follow what that gospel song say’s “the battle is not yours, it’s the Lords”.
August 10th, 2009 20:21
If the story, that KM received an invitation from HM to spend Xmas at S’ham a few years ago and declined, is true, which I very much doubt, I don’t think there can be any clearer indication of the state of KM’s and PW’s relationship: that it’s going absolutely nowhere, or at least not leading to marriage. Who turns down an invitation from one’s bf’s grandmother, especially if she is the Queen, if one expects to marry? Besides, I’ve heard that those who decline invitations from the Queen don’t get asked again.
August 10th, 2009 20:22
I agree kat, what Mapleleaf said is wise.
August 10th, 2009 20:25
Phoebe I highly doubt that she would turn down the Queen’s invitations. I tell you the press tabloids can come up with some crap.
August 10th, 2009 20:28
Rman,
Please don’t cry over all of this : ) It will come to an end soon, either way something official will come along and thier will be no doubt in anyone’s mind where Kate and William stand.
Be patient and be strong ;0 !
August 10th, 2009 20:30
I am making spelling errors all over the place today!
…I lost a few smilies
: )
August 10th, 2009 21:19
This guessing game is getting to everyone. I suggest we all take an August vacation and put it on the back burner for awhile. Next week my grandchildren are going back to school and I will concentrate on that for now. That way my blood pressure will stay down. Take care and I’ll be back in a couple of months.
August 10th, 2009 21:22
mapleleaf i think it will be great to see them happy,and i wanna offer for you if you can be negociator for a great gift a diamond coffe plate from 8 before christ BC.my step father have it and wanna sell it.
i can send to you the plate diamond which in the world there is only 1.
Or if anybody in this room can negociate to prince william so our blog will be the first blog who will negociate a gift to prince william.
This old plate diamond was given from the oldest son to the oldest son for generation to generation. so this is will be great moment.
please contact me at eladioarcadian@yahoo.com for the negociator and i will send the photo of the diamond plate from 8 BC.
August 10th, 2009 21:27
LOL, I will try not to Clover. Yes indeed it is time for us all to be patient and strong.
August 10th, 2009 22:55
Grandma828, I’m with you in both points. I’d so love a vacation and will take one perhaps next month, meantime still working.
August 10th, 2009 23:04
Rman and mapleleaf you are both correct. WE have to stop hanging on every word these tabloids print because most of it is nonsense. Mapleleaf is totally right in saying that we will have no hints or clue until the announcement is made.
As for Robin Nunn’s…I am not holding my breath here because I strongly feel that it will come right after the announcement.
Personally I am sitting back and relaxing about it. I will not even lurk at the hater sites anymore. It is just not worth getting worked up over. These two could announce the engagement tomorrow or they could announce it two years from tomorrow. No use in losing sleep(or crying) over it.
August 11th, 2009 00:37
I agree Lisa.
August 11th, 2009 20:47
i agree with all of you