William and Kate: engagement and relationship rumours and musings 2005 - 2008

[CasiraghiTrio]

^Well, the Sandhurst parade was attended by The Queen and she gave a speech and inspected the graduating cadets, so in that sense it was a formal and regular engagement for her. I don't remember if she attends it every year, but I know she does do it sometimes. It was mentioned in the Court Circular anyway. So by that rule, it was an official event.

 

[stellam]

The mere factor that Kate was at the Garter Ceremony tells me that all we have to do is sit back and wait for the announcement. I think the ring is being made (from Welsh gold, might I add) as we are writing down our assumptions!!!

Stellad

 

[msleiman]

so you are saying that because Kate was in the stall at St.George and waiting on the Galilee porch of the chapel that it means something more?

 

[MARG]

Bet ya bootees baby!

Thus are the subtle and intricate dances of a very proper royal courtship.

 

[christinacg]

That was the past. That was before royal started living with their "partners". How times have changed, and the Sandhurst passing-out parade was public. The reporters saw it, and they were there. We saw more coverage of that then the Garter ceremony.

I know times of changed, more so in other houses, but I think the Queen is still very traditional and old fashioned when it comes to the royal family and I don't think she would have Kate photographed with the family unless a serious commitment between Will and Kate was known.

 

[Duchess]

i agree. i think they've been engaged for a little while now but have been holding off on making an announcement until he's finished his military duties. i just can't for the life of me see a girl like her just waiting around all this time if nothing were going to come of it. she knows he's going to have to marry at some point so it's not like they can just decide to live together forever like the average joe does. also, if she were "just his girlfriend" i really don't think she would be attending all these high profile events - passing out, garter ceremony, peter and autumn's wedding.

 

[Odette]

I know times of changed, more so in other houses, but I think the Queen is still very traditional and old fashioned when it comes to the royal family and I don't think she would have Kate photographed with the family unless a serious commitment between Will and Kate was known.

If the Queen was photographed with Kate I'd say something is brewing. However things have been changing within all the Royal families and I have a feeling the elder members have just about given up.
If one believes the rumours about W&K relationship over the years, it has been rocky. He does not have a vast experience in the love department. Marrying at 26 your college love in front of the world does not seem like a brilliant idea. Kate seems determined to make it to the finish line, I just hope they wait a bit longer.

 

[blondie28]

I still feel William would be young. I have a feeling he will wait like Peter, who met Autumn when he was like 26. So there might be hope for others!

 

[Odette]

I still hope he wakes up and falls in love with Theodora of Greece. Oh they would make beautiful babies!

 

[avrilo]

Kate seems determined to make it to the finish line, I just hope they wait a bit longer.

Kate seems determined?... What about him?. He seems quite "determined" to make it to the finish line. I think too they should wait too, but I trust William is wise enough to know what he is doing. I mean at 26 you are young but you are also an adult.

 

[Odette]

I believe that if William was determined they'd be engaged by now. A 26 year old lady is much more matured than a 26 year old male who did not fly too far from the nest and has more or less dated the same person since he was out of his teens. I am too old for him so I do not have a horse in this race, but this does not look too promising to me.

 

[blondie28]

A 26 year old lady is much more matured than a 26 year old male .

Exactly! That's exactly what I think. They don't seem to me to have a relationship to last the rest of their lives. I don't care about a grand royal wedding, I just care about happiness, and to me he doesn't look that happy when he is with her, if he is not drunk.

 

[MARG]

. . . . if she were "just his girlfriend" i really don't think she would be attending all these high profile events - passing out, garter ceremony, peter and autumn's wedding.

Well the passing out parade and Peter and Autumn's wedding are private, girlfriend/partner events.

The Garter is a "Royal Event" and a very public event at that, so there is the difference.

However, times have changed, as many posters have pointed out . . . so Kate's presence obviously denotes the royal acceptance of William and Kate's relationship, but, it may not be .

 

[Luv2Cruise]

As per the blurb below about the Garter proceedings (from a book scanned by someone at another site, a respected royalty site), Kate's presence at this event and beside Camilla is significant. Not that I needed a book to tell me that. I highly doubt just any woman William is casually dating would be standing beside his stepmother and brother at such a momentous occasion. Sorry, I am unable to cite a reference to the book:

"Certain members of the congregation who have been lunching with the Queen walk down the hill to the Galilee Porch to watch the procession pass. [Where Kate was standing.] You will observe a group of ladies walking down. These are wives of the Knights of the Garter. There will almost certainly be some royal cars conveying members of the royal family to the Galilee Porch. [Kate arrived in an official car, with Harry's staff person, and was photographed standing with Camilla, Harry, and Sophie, among others.]"

Kate's presence today was siginficant, no matter how some kids on the internet will try to spin it or downplay it, or curse Kate for it, but she is "in" as has been common-sense obvious to me for quite some time now.

 

[ghost_night554]

Ya but I also think in regards to him not being happy wth her is first off William is private to begin with aka doesn't tend to show much emotion and we haven't really seen them I mean we have pics of them at clubs and a few events but other then that we can't assume what they're like behind closed doors.

 

[blondie28]

Yeah, but if you really love somebody why be afraid to show it. Love is the best gift God has given us, why not let it shine through. George V and Queen Mary are old timers but you could still tell they really loved each other, same with all the other older and younger royals.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Yeah, but if you really love somebody why be afraid to show it. Love is the best gift God has given us, why not let it shine through. George V and Queen Mary are old timers but you could still tell they really loved each other, same with all the other older and younger royals.

I couldn't agree more with the first part of your post, but George V and Queen Mary?? In some photos(including their wedding day photos) they appeared to be total strangers. Perhaps it was a lot different in private-and they came from a different era-but those two were the coldest, most remote married couple EVER!

A better example would be Queen Beatrix and the late Claus, or Queen Fabiola and the late Baudouin. They were quite obviously crazy for one another and very unusually demonstrative given their rank and era.

 

[caroline mathilda]

Whenever the wedding of Prince William occurs, it will be a major Royal event. Thus it will most likely occur in the summer months when the weather is at its best. The only recent Royal Weddings which occured in other seasons were those of Princess Anne in November 1973 and the Queen in November 1947. The others have occured from May through July.

Caroline Mathilda

 

[LOSSEAN]

I don't think we can compare King George V and Queen Mary to Queen Beatrix, Prince Claus or King Badouin, Queen Fabiola. The first couple were from the Victorian era where I do not think they expressed affections quite openly in the British high society - apart from the fact that it was an arranged marriage (that was why Queen Alexandda was such a breath of fresh air). But there was definitely a high level of 'comfortable' interaction in the public image of King George V and Queen Mary during their marriage. I do not feel they were at all remote from one another. But we are told they were remote from their children but certainly not their grandchildren!

I, too am abit disappointed at the lack of affection demonstrated between Prince William and Kate but it could be that they are just too careful before an engagement is announced. By contrast one can feel the vibes existing between Prince Harry and Chelsy.

 

[Luv2Cruise]

Yeah, but if you really love somebody why be afraid to show it. Love is the best gift God has given us, why not let it shine through. George V and Queen Mary are old timers but you could still tell they really loved each other, same with all the other older and younger royals.

From the pictures I've seen of George V and Queen Mary, I could tell no such thing. I barely remember him smiling at all, especially at his wife.

As for showing love, I don't need to see that. I'm not impressed by PDA, as in Zara Phillips and the way she's all over Mike Tindall, and in fact all of her relatives. It's over the top, and it can be partly childish and overcompensating. And I want to scream, back up!! Show some restraint! It's saccharine. It's for show. I'll be happy to see Kate & William muddling through, 60 years after their wedding day, like the Queen and the Duke. That's enough for me.

 

[georgiea]

The Queen's wedding in November 1947 was a major event. So it is possible that Prince William and Catherine might married in the fall or early winter 2009. Prince William might want a different wedding then his parents, which was in the summer. It will depend what season the couple perfers to marry in. I see the fall and early winter 2009 as a good time. Prince William can get use to his next career out of the military of royal duties, find a home for them, decorate it, planning a wedding and even start taking Catherine on some of the royal duties. So not to have situations that his mom and dad first married had.

 

[Jo of Palatine]

Yes, I know, it's an article form that publication, but still - to paraphrase Elspeth: sometimes even tabloids get some things right... So, okay:

Has Kate's mum got a royal date? | Mail Online

Her appearance at a Windsor Castle Garter ceremony was the first formal sign that the Queen is preparing to welcome Kate Middleton officially into the Royal Family.
And now, just two days later, I have news which could indicate Miss Middleton's romance with Prince William is to step up another gear. According to Ascot sources, Kate's mother has been invited to the royal box during this week's race meeting.

 

[Polly]

I'm one of millions, I guess, from around the world,who hope that William does indeed become engaged to Catherine.

She's attractive, obviously intelligent and well-educated, dresses neatly and with propriety, and obviously loves William and he, her. Theirs is a long-term relationship which bodes well for their future and mutual happiness, and I think that many royal couplings would have benefited from such a long-term acquaintance.

I thought that the photos of Catherine and Harry laughing at William's Garter Knight paraphernalia were absolutely charming. It boded well for Catherine and Williams' future, I believe. Here's hoping.....

 

[Luv2Cruise]

I saw the link below from the National Ledger. Not quite the Financial Times in stature, but the story says that Prince William has a large gap in his schedule in July 2009. The story also mentions the Queen inviting Carole Middleton to Ladies Day. The former is huge, the latter is even bigger. If indeed Carole Middleton shows up, I will be monitoring flights to London and making hotel reservations for next July.

National Ledger - Prince William and Kate Middleton: Preparing for the Wedding?

 

[Odette]

At best all of these is speculation. Then one wonders why isn't her father mentioned anywhere.

 

[blondie28]

Why on Earth woould William marry in July. I see that as a curse month to the Windsors. Charles and Diana and Andrew and Sarah married in July, two of the most famous break-ups in Windsor history.Besides, you know they got the thing about Kate's mum from the Daily Mail right.

 

[scooter]

Well, the weather for one thing....

 

[Mermaid1962]

They were in a time when public displays of affection were frowned on. They were basically friendly when they married but then developed a very deep love later on. Their love notes to each other during their marriage are absolutely lovely.

I think that Kate standing next to Camilla is significant. William's next in line for the throne after his father; Kate stands next to the heir-to-the-throne's wife. There it is for all to see.

 

[Skydragon]

Kate seems determined to make it to the finish line, I just hope they wait a bit longer.

Don't you mean 'makes it to the start line', she is only in the collecting ring at the moment!

 

[Cassy]

i think these two will marry.