Thank you for the explanation of the phrase "doors to manual". I still don't see the joke in it, but okay...
As for the way the separation was handled I would be interested in some opinions.
For me the fact that Williim and Catherine had once lived together at university and were appearing in public as a couple (as in kissing, spending holidays together, entering her home together with him leaving in the morning, hosting dinner parties at restaurants together, spending weekends at his or her family home), told me that they were an item, even without being married.
It is okay to end such a relationship, of course.
But for me the way it was handled was very unpolite and humiliating for the girl. As Skydragon said: in former times the public reading would have been that she ended the relationship. Okay, it was a rule about ending a betrothal, but in former times such "informal" ways to be a couple didn't exist, so there were no rules. In addition in former times the gentleman did all to protect the reputation of the lady.... As did Charles IMHO for Camilla, even when he confessed to adultery at TV he (IIRC) did not mention her name.
So the way William handled the situation seems to be completely unpolite. Not only is Catherine left standing in the rain, through his partying right after the news he gave the impression that he was feeling that he was well rid of her - with all the innuendos and impressions this behaviour invited.
For me it is simply unbelievable that someone who wants to become a head of state one day and be the fond of all honour could act so without personal honour. Would it have been too much to give a short statement to the press that HRH prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton have decided to separate? Or another wording to the same effect?
Plus the Royal family or prince Charles could have helped her to find a job in her profession outside the Uk for a while, maybe working for Sotheby's or Christie's (can't remember where Lord Linley is a member of the board of directors) in NY or Los Angeles. Or she could have been helped to a job with a fashion designer abroad - there must be some where the RF has connections to and who would want to help. Maybe they are already trying to help her, but couldn't they have waited till it was all settled?
One might imagine that the media got wind of the decision before it was planned to inform the press but still it should have been possible to react more dignified on William's side, to see to it that his friends keep quiet for a bit longer till Catherine would have been gone and then let her release a statement that she decided that she wanted to improve her professional experience... with anyone knowing what this means, of course, but still.
The way it happened with her was uncalled for - as she had IMHO done nothing to deserve such a callous treatment by the man she believed loved her, a man who is not a little boy having seen the movie "Free Willy" once to often but an officer on his way to command first some men and then the respect of a whole nation.
I believe that Charles and Camilla as well as the queen and the duke of Edinburgh are no social snobs even though they realise that their life is different from the life of others and that there are circumstances that set them apart. That's the way it is. Still they try to make a difference for the others they feel responsible for: you don't need to invite the homeless for dinner or let them sleep on your pillows if you want to help them. You only need to treat them as human beings with their own right of dignity. That's what William has not yet understood, IMHO.
And being the child of a different, more egocentric and selfish and less dutiful time than his grandmother or his father, I'm afraid he might be the true threat to the monarchy. Being the souverain has not so much to do with looking good, throwing parties, organising memorial concerts or services or giving his name to charities but it has to do with real compassion for the people. Both Diana and Charles (have) had that ability, even though both (have been/were brought up in splendour and have been/were convinced of their divine right to an elevated position in society.
My point is: William could and should have protected his former lover - instead he humiliated her with another night of partying. What a future king!
The picture from This London does not show a lovelorn heartbroken woman, it shows someone who is free at last!
