Royal News Links
Church joker Queen Elizabeth – Monsters & Critics
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth burst out laughing during a festive church service at Sandringham. Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and Prince William and Prince Harry all started laughing at the quip which was made on the Norfolk estate…
Prince Andrew has £1m villa built for him in Abu Dhabi – The Sun
A source revealed: “It’s a very impressive building and must have cost the Abu Dhabi royals well over £1million.” The prince – dubbed Airmiles Andy – is a frequent visitor to the Gulf state…
Queen cheers up dog owner with sympathy letter – Telegraph
The Queen sent a letter of condolence to a pensioner who wrote to Buckingham Palace to say that his dog had died. “Her Majesty was so sorry to learn of the death of your little dog, Teddy, and can understand how much you will miss his faithful companionship,” …
December 31st, 2009 12:46
Good Evening All,
This dear old man by the name of James Fletcher now 97, expressed his wish to see William & Kate marry next year.
http://tinyurl.com/yfvbvgy
December 31st, 2009 14:14
Thanks Rman for the link, what a lovely gentleman and obviously an eager royal watcher…
Happy New Year 2010 to all royal watchers here !
December 31st, 2009 16:26
Another article on William to get his wings:
http://tinyurl.com/yc2ttyw
December 31st, 2009 21:36
I wish everyone a Happy New Year.
December 31st, 2009 21:40
Happy New year to all! May 2010 bring you health,happiness and prosperity!
December 31st, 2009 22:08
I want to wish a safe, happy and healthy new year to everyone!
And my vote is for the announcement of W&K’s engagement. Fingers crossed!
December 31st, 2009 22:32
Happy New Year Everybody!!!
Everyone stay safe, Hale get better and may God continue to bless us all.
Katharine, I’ve got my fingers crossed too.
December 31st, 2009 22:53
Happy New Years to all, Katharine, Rman ‘ll make it three with crossed fingers. If it helps, I’ll even cross my toes. Lisa keep sending good thoughts. Hale get well soon. Rman you are so positive about this. I hope that you and mapleleaf will continue with your wise wolrds. Ked contiue with you riddles. I hope everyone finds this to be an exciting and happy year.
December 31st, 2009 23:48
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1239787/Tireless-Queen-shows-sign-letting-age-83.html
January 1st, 2010 00:16
happy new year everyone
January 1st, 2010 00:20
im hope that wk announcement of engagements
January 1st, 2010 00:53
Wishing you all peace, love, and sooooul!
January 1st, 2010 08:13
Happy new year everyone! I wish you all the very best for 2010.
Hale, I hope you get better very, very, very, very soon!
Here’s to plenty more royal drama and exciting events in 2010!
January 1st, 2010 09:07
Happy!
Happy! 
New Year everyone.
Steve, wishing you all the very, very best and thanking you for a wonderful, lovely site. All my personal best to you. Greatly appreciate the work you put into this this site.
Thank you to all the members to this site for your kind messages.
Wishing you all a very happy New Year. Especially a healthy one.
I have had my OP and am happily now at home and catching up with all the TV news reports.
Ked, if you are still in Switzerland, take great care.
Everyone, once again a very Happy New Year.
January 1st, 2010 09:18
So glad to hear your home,Hale! Recover swiftly and Happy New Year!
January 1st, 2010 10:06
Good Morning & Happy New Year,
Well 2010 is here and I’m hoping this year will be a good year for everyone.
January 1st, 2010 10:17
Happy New Year
January 1st, 2010 18:09
Rman, I shall keep my fingers crossed for you come Valentine’s Day.
January 2nd, 2010 01:53
Thanks Hale and Happy New Years everyone!
January 2nd, 2010 03:53
im keeping my fingers for heir announcement of their i think it will happen just wait for that i know wills wills and kate announce it later next year
hale glad to hear you get home with family
January 2nd, 2010 08:18
Kat, that’s so funny about your crossed toes! LOL. Yes, indeed. Whatever it takes to get us to Westminster Abbey.
January 2nd, 2010 17:44
Prince William; I will not become shadow king.
Happy New Year, everyone!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/6925437/Prince-William-I-will-not-become-shadow-king.html
January 2nd, 2010 18:11
Thanks AJ for the link. It’s pretty much a rehash from last year.
I still think the press was pretty much wrong to make it seem like the Queen is giving the throne to William and not Charles. The point is that William’s duties will increase and he will do things on behalf of his grandmother. The whole “Shadow King” headline was just nonsense.
January 2nd, 2010 18:16
Thanks for the article. Most of it is just a collection of facts we pretty much already knew,with one exception which I personally found interesting
“”If he stays in the Armed Forces, Prince William will want a meaningful role. If appropriate, he would want to deploy in a front-line role,” a senior aide said”"
The use of the word “if” indicates to me that there is some room for him to exit the forces.
I don’t think there is a sane mind out there that actually believes William will see front-line action.
January 2nd, 2010 18:22
No they will not put him out on the front-line.
January 2nd, 2010 20:12
Interesting article from the Times about the paps finding it tough going these days.
http://tinyurl.com/yev3kh4
Happy 2010, y’all.
January 2nd, 2010 23:23
Um I’ve been out of the loop for a while as I’ve been on vacation but did anyone else notice that the Team Highgrove website shut down?!!??! Very very odd….
January 2nd, 2010 23:34
About Team Highgrove, whoever was in charge of it was looking for smeone to take it over. I remember reading that on one of its posts. Not quite sure why, I think I remember someone on that site saying that Mapleleaf would be good, That is if memory serves me clrrectly. The last post that I remember reading was about William and Kate’s Augst vacation.
January 3rd, 2010 00:01
yeah i think in would be better if team Highgrove is was not shuting down their popular for news and as while for pictures and news
January 3rd, 2010 07:24
Hello everybody.
Well now, all you chaps know my feelings here. William is determined to continue hiding within the RAF. What are the odds of him serving in the front line? Nada. I daresay though the men in grey may even try some PR stuff.
I also happen to think this is one of the reasons Harry was bought back early. I truly do not think it has anything to do with the Aussie Mag or the drudge report or for that matter Jon Snow letting the cat out of the bag on channel 4 news. The palace are hedging their bets in so far as Harry is concerned.
As for the Telegraph article. This is St.J’s polite way of saying their shall be no engagement next year. Personally, I never thought their would be.
As for the short visit to OZ/NZ, I truly ask myself is it worth our taxes which pay for the RPO’s? I’m curious to hear from any Aussies & NZealander’s, is it worth your tax paying dollars.
Personally, I am ticked off the way everybody is tip toeing on egg shells around PW.
As for the Q stepping down or PC stepping aside, I thought that utterly absurd. The Q took a holy oath, “Whether her life be long or short” to serve the people.
PC’s has waited his whole life to become King, there is no way he would ever step aside.
I happen to think the press have shown themselves to be arrogant and extremely insulting to their readership assuming that the vast majority of this country are so ignorant in the workings of their monarchy.
So I guess the next Kate story the press may resurrect is the ‘old faithful’ one of Kate going to NY.
Anything to sell their junk.l
January 3rd, 2010 07:46
PRINCE WILLIAM
Patron, will attend a reception to launch Tusk Trust’s 20th Anniversary year, HSBC Private Bank, St. James’s Street, London.
January 3rd, 2010 09:51
Hale,
I am in shock. I can not believe you wrote the following: “As for the Telegraph article. This is St.J’s polite way of saying their shall be no engagement next year. Personally, I never thought their would be.”
Do you really believe this?
Do you think the engagement will come much later, in 2011, 2012, 2013 perhaps?
So many here at BRW believed an engaement would come a few days ago, clearly you were not in this group.
How interesting!
January 3rd, 2010 09:53
It may well be a red herring
January 3rd, 2010 10:15
Hale – I couldn’t have said it better myself. You have summarized coherently the problems.
I am GRAVELY concerned about Prince William just burying his head in the sand and I wonder.
Does he want the monarchy to die? Because I feel that is what he is doing.
January 3rd, 2010 10:20
It wasn’t until STJP or PW people confirmed in the Telegraph that he was not fufilling more duties than before that i realized there wouldn’t be a marriage this year nor the year after.
I think PW is doing what he wants when he wants and to no one’s benefit but himself.
My feeling is that Kate however much she loves him should go now. I fear for her that she will be in the same position 10 years from now. And maybe yes she doesn’t mind, but i don’t beleive that in my heart of hearts. and what if they do go their separate ways in 10 years time – after given PW the benefit of the doubt for 10 years?
I don’t think that KM is evil or bad, just misguided with this wayward man. If she was my daughter I think I would be encouraging her to explore a bit.
January 3rd, 2010 11:42
Good Evening My Royal Peeps,
Guys the Telegraph article is a total repeat from last year when the Palace was trying to clear up the ‘Shadow King’ reports. The news is very slow because the royals are still enjoying their New Year and William’s trip is coming up.
There’s a catch to all of this, William is not going to make Kate wait for ten years to marry. The media is just reporting on William’s training right now but once the engagement is announced and wedding details are revealed, things will become much clearer to us all. Even if there’s no engagement this year, there’s a possibility that we will see the team at St. James’s Palace working on Kate’s image along with William, (They can work on both folks). I do believe this couple are now in the planning stages now. It’s 2010 and they know it’s time to get with the program.
We just have to wait and see how everything will play out. I things may look hopeless at this point, it seems like a wedding may never happen but just wait because all of this will become a full circle soon.
It’s 2010, lets keep hope alive!
January 3rd, 2010 11:48
If we see no change this year – i would say in the next six months I think the proverbial writing is in on the wall William does not want to face up to ANY real responsibility – he wants to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it.
If he was like his mother he would be an agent for change not one hiding in the background
and if Keds report is ever cohoberated about William never actually training I will have lost the last bit of respect I had for him.
Rman – I beleive you are one in a million – providing hope where there is none – and i think that at times it is very important, optimism is certainly a wonderful thing when you are watching what is going on – where reaslim is needed is at the level that it is being lived at.
January 3rd, 2010 12:19
That’s all we can do really?, keep hope alive. I just don’t see William hurting his longtime partner this way and I also don’t think William wants to deal with Michael Middleton either. Michael Middleton have watched his daughter’s relationship grow from just two college sweethearts to fine loving and trusting adults. He has sadly witnessed the media basically have his family fo breakfast, lunch and dinner because many of them think his daughter is not good enough for William and his family is not good enough to be related to the royal family. After all these years of seeing his family being the tabloids playtoy, he has kept his mouth closed. If William were to keep this relationship dragging with no hope insight, I believe Michael would have something to say to William and I really don’t think William wants to go there. There will come a time when Michael will stop minding his own business.
January 3rd, 2010 12:30
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/6926732/How-should-Prince-William-best-prepare-for-the-role-of-king.html
for all intents and purposes – not knowing the man – michael is the most discreet man I have ever come across and a true gentleman.
I don’t know RMAN about William – the more he decides on things the more he looks like a petulant child.
I don’t get the feeling Wiliam cares about what anyone thinks — just himself…..
January 3rd, 2010 12:53
That’s true really?, Michael is very discreet and for the few times we have seen him in public he seems to be a nice guy. But like all fathers that love their daughters, will want to know where their daughters relationships are going. Fathers don’t like to see their daughters hearts being played with and I really don’t see William doing that. Remember William’s father played with his mothers heart and that left Diana in great pain so I don’t see William going down that road.
There’s got to be a catch to all of this but it hasn’t been revealed yet.
January 3rd, 2010 13:50
I don’t think Pr. William is selfish or trying to avoid responsibilities. He is doing the right thing. Marriage is a major step for anyone. There is more to marriage then just love. When the time is right, he will marry. No one should go into marriage if they know that they are not ready. You really don’t want to make mistakes. A divorce is worse than a girlfriend-boyfriend break up.
Let’s say, if he was to break up with Kate or anyone else, yes he will get criticized for a little while. But that will not be a major wobble for the monarchy. But if he was to go in marriage (knowing that he is not ready: might have doubts) either divorces, cheats, and etc. That will definitely hurt the monarchy.
Kate is not being held against her will. If waiting were so hurtful for her, she would have moved on. If she is still there, that is because she understands the circumstances and is willing to participate.
If they get married, that’s great. If they marry other people, that is still great.
I think we are the selfish ones. We like to see happy endings. We are the ones putting a timeline as to when we will like to see them get married. Notice, neither one of them ever spoke to the public about their decisions for each other. We are looking for that fairy tale story: two love birds meet, they went through all that 1920s romance like stories, at last, they get married, and live happily ever after.
I think if we want to judge the success of the monarchy and Pr. William’s contribution to it, we have to look at their actual works. I think we need stop fantasizing their lives and judging them based on our imaginations.
January 3rd, 2010 15:29
In this discussion, remember that no one knows what is being said or done in private. The decision to marry belongs to William and Kate alone. The rest of us need to pray that they make the correct decision, whatever that is.
January 3rd, 2010 15:57
Such interesting conversation! Where to begin. For starters I am not getting all in a tither over the Telegraph article because it is really very little new and mostly a story built around a few quotes. I do understand however how Hale would think it was intended to send a message out that there would be no wedding. That may actually be true. 2010 may or may not be the year for the big event but if it isn’t I don’t think it bears negatively on the relationship at all. William is being slowly groomed and introduced into public duty. That is fairly obvious. I think he grew leaps and bounds in 2009 in that regard and will continue to gain the confidence he needs to carry out duties as a fulltime royal. Kate is at his side supporting him and allowing him to grow into his role. If anything it show great strength in the relationship that she is willing and able to take that supporting role and that the relationship is solid enough that she does not need to demand marriage. I would imagine that once William returns from his overseas trip we will hear something if it is to be this year. We just have to be patient and ingnore the silliness in the papers and the lunacy on the internet.
January 3rd, 2010 16:09
Oh yes William is being SLOWLY groomed! At his behest! The document that was leaked proved what the others wanted HM et. al. and he defied them after obviously letting it get so far that there was a document drawn up!
His lack of initiative with the RF is sad given he is almost 30
Once he is 30 we will have a pretty good idea just how much he is INTO anything other than himself.
After that we can expect more of the same
I don’t know but I am leaning towards a wedding with Kate and Will but not for many years.
If I was her I would be out of it by now – with no real support and the possiblity of being left in the cold for that many years would not be worth it too me.
January 3rd, 2010 16:13
Good, because he’s with Kate and not with you.
January 3rd, 2010 16:18
With all due respect,really? The statement you make are based on having no idea of what the couple feels for each other,what their life is like or what plans they may have. They may wait years to marry and if they do it is because they want to and are happy with it that way. Neither of them is compelled to remain in the relationship if they do not want to. Kate’s life would be a whole lot easier if she was not in this relationship. That is as plain as day. People go on and on about how she want the crown,wants to be a princess blah blah blah. In a fairytale those things are wonderful, in reality maybe not so much. I doubt she stays for any other reason then love. Ditto for William.
January 3rd, 2010 16:55
Lisa I do agree. From what I see, the real love story behind William’s relationship with Kate has never been told properly. There’s got to be more to this relationship that keeps it going after all this time. I personally think it’s a mixture of love, friendship, understanding, trust and good humor. With tons of tabloid stories (focused on you) coming across your eyes on a daily bases, you’ve got to have a sense of humor in your relationship. We really don’t know what the plans are but I’m sure this couple have something up their sleeve. They will lets us know about it when they feel like it. I’m just happy that they have come this far and I think the royals are happy with it too.
All is not lost if we don’t recieve any engagement news this year but I continue to hope there will be some official news. I also hope that we get a chance to see Kate a bit more this year, watching her support the charities she cares about and more appearences of the couple together. We have the wings ceremony coming up so I’m looking forward to that.
Guys we just entered 2010 and it’s full of promise. We shouldn’t let a repeated article get us down and fill us with lots of doubt. Not only should we keep hope alive but we should send our thoughts and prayers to this couple because they now have to face brand new pressures in this new year. I’m hoping and praying for the best.
January 3rd, 2010 17:06
New pictures of Chelsy on the beach with her family.
http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/8467/chels1.png
She’s not posing is she?
January 3rd, 2010 17:16
Thanks for the pictures,Rman. I love the beach! She seems to be having a fun time!
January 3rd, 2010 18:27
i have no doubt that kate loves william
but no love is worth this
mark my written words
this is the end of the end for both of them
I think he will be ready to marry but not before he is 40
If kate doesn’t mind a wedding at 40 and a family then after dating him this way and he is away a lot — if he really is doing his training then
well go for it
and yes I am not her which is why she is doin something other than i would do!
I wish the best for them both but i am sure this is not good news for them if she was entertaining being married
they have others to think of too you know
like Carole, Mike, James and Pippa — who are all casualties of a non formalized relationship with a future king
January 3rd, 2010 18:36
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817666&search_id=1581863&pagenum=2
Kate Middleton playing tennis, Cornwall, Britain – 25 Dec 2009
2009-12-25
EXCLUSIVE – UKH Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ikon Pictures Ltd. / Rex Features ( 1076109a ) Kate Middleton Kate Middleton playing tennis, Cornwall, Britain – 25 Dec 2009 Kate Middleton enjoyed a game of tennis with her family at their rented cottage, in Cornwall, on Christmas Day, during their Christmas break
January 3rd, 2010 18:39
New pictures of Kate during her family’s christmas break in Cornwall.
http://tinyurl.com/y8qba5t
http://tinyurl.com/y93rqcc
http://tinyurl.com/y88usfw
January 3rd, 2010 18:40
LOL, now you beat me to it Me.
January 3rd, 2010 19:10
More pics of the Middleton’s playing tennis on Christmas:
http://press.picturedesk.com/de/results/images/kate-middleton.html
January 3rd, 2010 19:10
a pic of Pippa Middleton
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817667&search_id=1581863&pagenum=2
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817668&search_id=1581863&pagenum=2
and James Middleton
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817653&search_id=1581863&pagenum=2
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817672&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
January 3rd, 2010 19:11
Kate
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817671&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817673&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817674&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817677&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
January 3rd, 2010 19:13
More Kate
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817678&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817679&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
Manor on which Kate and her family stayed during the Christmas break. Kate Middleton playing tennis, Cornwall, Britain – 25 Dec 2009 Kate Middleton enjoyed a game of tennis with her family at their rented cottage, in Cornwall, on Christmas Day, during their Christmas break
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817680&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
January 3rd, 2010 19:15
More Kate
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817683&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817684&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817685&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
http://www.isifa.com/detail_ed.php?id=24817686&search_id=1581863&pagenum=1
January 3rd, 2010 19:15
Nice pictures! Great to see her have a private holiday. Love the bracelet with the heart hanging from it. Kate has one lovely head of hair!
January 3rd, 2010 19:47
That is some “cottage”. Wonder who the two unidentified blokes are.
January 3rd, 2010 20:11
That is a Duchy of Cornwall Estate
January 3rd, 2010 20:37
That is correct.
Restormel Manor. Beautiful. Google it for pictures. The links are too long.
January 3rd, 2010 20:54
Looks like they had good weather while the rest of Britain was in a deep freeze.
January 3rd, 2010 21:00
Duchy of Cornwall… as in Prince Charles is the landlord?
January 3rd, 2010 21:00
Thanks for the great pics. Indeed Lisa it is.
January 3rd, 2010 21:02
Yes Sojo, type “Restormel Manor & Cottages” and it belongs to Prince Charles, Duchy of Cornwall. And you will see the Tennis Court.
January 3rd, 2010 21:04
I just googled the Duchy of Cornwall. Is it owned by Prince Charles? How far is it from Sandringham?
January 3rd, 2010 21:07
Restormel Manor House, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
http://www.duchyofcornwallholidaycottages.co.uk/cottage/restormel-manor.php
January 3rd, 2010 21:11
Who’s your daddy? LOL
January 3rd, 2010 21:23
Thank you Mathilde for the link. It is just gorgeous. It is interesting that it is owned by Prince Charles the father of Prince Wlliam.
I was glad to see the family having such a good time. Kate looked wonderful. I am glad that she now is sharing quality time with William. I do hope that they will be very happy together.
They appear to be so much in love and devoted to each other.
January 4th, 2010 00:00
nice pics of kate middleton i have nothing to say to her is pretty
January 4th, 2010 00:20
Lol Lisa. It’s great that they rented a cottage on the Duchy of Cornwall Estate and it proves that Kate has a great relationship with her future father-in-law. Looks like they hade loads of fun.
January 4th, 2010 08:20
Clover, I never believed there would be an engagement this year because:
a) we have a general election this year. It is possible it will be a close count this year because both the two main parties politicians were caught out defrauding the public via their expense claims. Politicians do not like sharing their limelight with anyone especially with royals.
b) the World Cup is also on this year. The World Cup is the biggest football event and is much loved over here.
There are those who think that the reason W & K have not married to date is because the relationship has problems, I have never been one of those. In my opinion the reason W & K have not married yet is because W sees marriage linked to full time royal duties and that is what William wishes to avoid.
2012 is also OUT. That year there is the Q’s diamond jubilee as well as the Olympics.
Therefore when these two tie the knot there are only two possible dates and that is 2011 and 2013.
2013 would tie in with what Ked has been saying all along when William would have completed his full training with the S & R.
The ‘Shadow King’ article was prompted by that leaked Treasury notes. Which we all know are quite old and hark back to 2008 before W announced his wish to train with the S & R.
I think you all know I have my doubts about William. I sometimes wonder if he ever wants to be King because quite frankly I view his stint with the S & R as a way of hiding from his kingly lessons.
There are those who point out that when The Q was plain Princess Elizabeth she married Phillip and lived in service quarters in Malta. For a time I suspected that this would also be the case with W & K, but I don’t think that now.
William has such a phobia about the media, I to wonder if he would prefer the monarchy to disappear because I doubt he has the guts to abdicate.
However, I must emphasize I do not believe the fact that W has delayed marrying K has anything to do with problems in their relationship. I do not believe their are problems in the relationship of W & K, the problems are all William’s towards his royal responsibilities. Personally I think he has been to sheltered. They tip toe around him as if they are all walking on egg shells when what they should be doing is giving him a good boot up the………
So sorry to put a wet blanket on any wedding hopes here, but 2010 will be the year of the same old, same old news.
As for Kate’s image. I don’t see St.J’s doing anymore than they have done. I wish it could be so and took more care of Kate, but I suspect they also have to take into consideration the what ifs of ’supposing they break up’ which I don’t think W & K will do but St’J’s MUST hedge their bets because ultimately they are responsible to the RF and not the Middletons.
January 4th, 2010 08:58
Hale,
Thanks so much for addressing the questions I raised about the PW/KM relationship with that excellent summary of events and your personal beliefs.
I enjoyed reading it and I agree with your rationale for why movement in the PW/KM relationship may not happen for a long, long time.
Again, great post!
January 4th, 2010 10:19
Clover, you are most welcome.
Take good care of yourself.
January 4th, 2010 10:42
Hi there everyone/ Hope you all had a good Xmas and may I wish you all peace, hope, joy and contentment in 2010.
Hale, what a good post you wrote! I agree mostly with what you say.
However, I have always felt that William treads a fine line where his father is concerned. Will knows only too well that when/if he and Kate marry they will be thrust well and truly into the limelight and the press will make life hellish! Charles will be pushed right off centre so to speak and I have no doubt that William does not want either the full publicity circus or to take anything away from his father.
I also believe that William wants to achieve something for himself in his own right before he joins the royal family firm full time. I do not blame him for wanting this. After all, once he is ensconced doing the royal rounds, he is going to have a long time doing just that.
I personally loathe all the going round in ever decreasing circles with regards to a wedding. Let it happen when the time is right and not before. If William needs more time, then so be it.
January 4th, 2010 11:05
Good Morning,
Yes Hale that was a very interesting post.
In reality we really don’t know what’s going to happen. I know some people think William is hiding away in the SAR to avoid his royal responsibilities but I somehow don’t think that is true. If that were true the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince Philip would be very upset with him and we all know that his grandfather would put his foot down if this was the case. William knows his grandparents are getting older and they can’t everything like they use to. William knows his father will be a great King but there are many who question Charles future Kingship and with Camilla by his side. William knows that the stability of the Commonwealth is shaky now and it needs the young royals help to at least restore some faith in their mission. I just don’t see William ignoring the institution that he was born into.
As for William & Kate, we all are waiting to see what they will do. There may be no wedding this year but we may still get an engagement announcement. A wedding could follow next year. I’m not throwing all hope in the garbage because we just kicked off our new year and it’s full of promise. What I find so funny is that just when we start doubting everything, the couple end up doing something to surprise us in a good way. Like last year when when we didn’t see the couple together in awhile and some thought there was trouble in royal paradise, then the couple made an appearence not once but twice. Or the year before that when some psoters thought William had broken Kate’s heart by going to the caribbean to train on the HMS Iron Duke but when his training was over, they were back in each others arms before you could blink an eye.
I’m hoping that we will see Kate participating in more charity work and see her and William doing a few things together. Holding on to hope has brung me this far and I’m not letting go of it. I just think it’s worth it.
January 4th, 2010 11:21
Well goodness the year has just begun and as Rman says,it is full of promise. The next few weeks will be very exciting for royal watchers with William’s trip overseas and the Wings ceremony. After that,who knows?
Hale,I don’t agree with much of your post simply because I think William is a better man then you are giving him credit for. I do think some of your thoughts are close but slightly off the mark,if you will. If William is delaying fulltime royal duties, it is because he is not ready and needs more tweeking in some areas. Additionally I don’t see any reason to rush the man,who is quite able bodied, into the this life. He is entitled to learn a skill and serve his country if he is able. He is the son of the heir,not the heir.
I do agree that none of this has anything to do with the state of the relationship of William and Kate,which seems to be on very stable footing,IMO.
I still feel they may marry this year but if they don’t,I won’t be surprised. Kate seems to enjoy her privacy and whatever normalcy she has left. Why give that up before she is ready to start having babies? I really don’t think these two care one bit what the press write about them or what people on internet blogs think. They are living their life as it suits them. JMO.
January 4th, 2010 11:24
http://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/film/201001042677/sienna-miller/jude-law/hello-magazine/0-5-144/5144-a.jpg
Don’t like that comparison between Kate and Diana
January 4th, 2010 11:26
LadyB I know some people think Charles is worried about William and Kate getting into his way but I really don’t think that is true. I fully supports his son’s independence and it’s one of the reasons why he gave his blessing for William & Harry to have their own offices at St. James’s Palace. Charles knows his son has come of age and he will take on some royal duties. He also see that his son is in love, at some point they most likely will marry and gradually they both will take on more royal duties. Even Judy Wade said that William & Kate will not be fully thrust into royal duties once they marry but it will be a gradual process. So Charles won’t be pushed out of the limelight but he will be relying on the royal couples help with duties.
January 4th, 2010 11:28
Ugh. Hello! just sucks sometimes. That is an awful cover of Jude and Sienna. I really also wish they would lay off the Kate/Diana stuff. If I were Kate,I would burn that outfit no matter how good I looked in it!
January 4th, 2010 11:33
curious, I don’t like the comparisons either but the media will continue to do that even when she marries into the royal family, so we might as well get use to it. Once the public start to see Kate take on a royal role and see what her personality is like, they will see how different she is from Diana.
January 4th, 2010 11:43
The press did the samething to Sophie when she came into the royal scene officially. she addressed it head on in the days leading up to the wedding and I think Kate will have to do the same. In a way it’s like the press is trying to figure out what kind of royal Kate will be. They don’t do this to Sophie anymore because they have watched her royal career for nearly eleven years and now they are use to not seeing the whole ‘Diana Factor’ in her. As for Kate, right now she is fresh meat.
January 4th, 2010 12:28
And still there. She’s fit to be our future QC, IMO.
January 4th, 2010 13:27
I agree – as much as we do not want to hear or see it they will always compare KM to Diana. I do hope something good comes about early in the year.
Also, it was nice to see photos of KM w/her family on Xmas playing tennis. Is it just me wishing or do you think they (KM/PW) was trying to tell us something w/KM and family at the Duchy????
January 4th, 2010 15:44
I don’t think they were trying to say anything, they were just trying to have a really nice Christmas together.
I don’t find it strange at all that Prince Charles let them have his “house” for a few days. Not a strange thing to do to yur daughter-in-law’s family.
January 4th, 2010 15:46
Mathilde- Is it my imagination or does the guy in one of the MIddleton family Christmas tennis game photos look like the errant Uncle Gary?
January 4th, 2010 15:58
No,I don’t think that guy looks like GG. He is probably a tennis instructor, a friend or other relative.
January 4th, 2010 16:34
No benny that’s not her uncle.
January 4th, 2010 17:51
For what its worth, my mind worked like Benny’s. And I said to myself “AWESOME!” For this shows true solidarity and true meaning of family. But that is just me.
January 4th, 2010 18:18
Good Evening,
Sojourner, those pictures do show how close the Middletons are and that sometimes get looked over. That’s one of the reasons why I think Kate has not pulled out her hair over the years is because she’s got a very close, supportive family and they seem to enjoy spending quality time together.
January 4th, 2010 18:22
For what it’s worth, I agree with Sojourner.
January 4th, 2010 18:40
I do not blame Kate if she wants to postpone marriage as long as possible. This will not be a normal marriage, where they can define for themselves how they want to live, and spend their time. As a Royal, it will all be spelled out and can be very cumbersome. All the first year getting to know each other will be in full sight of the world. Why would anyone be in a hurry?
January 4th, 2010 20:43
Does anyone know what Uncle Gary is up to? Someone said he was in rehab, is that true? It would be sad if no one has anything to do with him just because he had issues that he rehabbed himself for.
January 4th, 2010 21:08
No benny, I really don’t know what UG is up to but most likely his family is there for him. They are very close and I’m sure they want him to get better.
January 5th, 2010 07:13
i think km is enjoying her family likewise a said they will announce their engagement when let us know as public but for now they been tied lipped
January 5th, 2010 09:00
That is not Uncle GG in the pics. That man despite his balding head has too much body hair compared to Uncle GG. The last report of GG was that on leaving Rehab he returned to Ibiza.
Furthermore, considering GG spends most of his time living in Ibiza the man in those pics in Cornwall is awfully pale for a man who lives on a sunshine island. Also he is older than GG.
Just because Kate stayed in a Duchy owned hotel and group of cottages doesn’t mean PC didn’t charge the Midds. Charlie is far too business savvy for that.
January 5th, 2010 10:29
Good Morning,
Oh I’m sure they paid for the cottage Hale but it proves that they all get along just fine with Charles.