William and Kate: engagement and relationship rumours and musings 2009

[Menarue]

Thanks for jogging my memory Iluvbertie, I remember it was said at the time that extra negatives were taken and they had been sent to be developed by either a close friend or lady-in-waiting. There was quite a fuss at the time.

 

[iowabelle]

About the Koo Stark article. It talked about the two spirited beauties. Can't say that I've seen that much that speaks of Kate's spirit, so how would we know that she is spirited?

 

[Binky]

The Koo Stark article seemed to be reaching. Koo and Kate are simply two pretty brunette gals who are/were liked to Royal Princes. Looks like it was a slow news day and they had to print something.

 

[Iluvbertie]

About the Koo Stark article. It talked about the two spirited beauties. Can't say that I've seen that much that speaks of Kate's spirit, so how would we know that she is spirited?

We wouldn't but the author of the article might.

 

[iowabelle]

I've been a little disappointed by Kate. Given that the girl has a pretty good education, she just doesn't seem to have done much since graduation. The one thing she did that seemed to speak of spirit was being on that rowing team, and that was curtailed (I'm not sure if she was advised by BP to end it, or she just changed her mind, or what).

IMO one of Diana's big problems was that she didn't have an identity apart from the PoW. Had she had interests to occupy herself or to use to bolster her self-esteem, she might have been more successful in the glass bowl. And Kate seems to be walking down that same path. Yes, I know I might be wrong in my interpretation because we really aren't that well-informed about what's going on with her.

 

[Roslyn]

I feel the same way, Iowabelle. I would be delighted to see a newspaper article about Kate pursuing some interest, preferably something worthy but any interest will do just to show she has interests. I recall reading she's interested in photography; I'd be happy to learn she is pursuing this and perhaps see an article about a small exhibition. A master's thesis on some obscure aspect of art history would be OK too. There are many possibilities.

As you say, we don't know what she's doing, and she might be doing lots of interesting things and we just don't know about it. Somehow I doubt that though as I am fairly sure the snooping press would have found out.

 

[rmay286]

IMO one of Diana's big problems was that she didn't have an identity apart from the PoW. Had she had interests to occupy herself or to use to bolster her self-esteem, she might have been more successful in the glass bowl. And Kate seems to be walking down that same path. Yes, I know I might be wrong in my interpretation because we really aren't that well-informed about what's going on with her.

In fairness, though, (even though I feel the same way about Kate), someone who had a lot of interests while a commoner might not adapt well if these were things she'd have to give up upon entering full-time royal life.

 

[Sonjapearl]

But what about the other European crown princesses? Letizia was a journalist, Mary was a real estate agent and Maxima was a financier. They all had to give those up once they became royal (although Maxima continues to be active in the financial world by promoting microfinance and such). Why can't Kate pursue something even if she had to give it up? She might use it to her advantage like Maxima does. I hope I made sense.

Even though I hope Kate is doing something worthwhile very quietly, I also get the impression she is preparing for the royal life even though there's no ring on her finger. I think she should enjoy life now and not live in the future tense, because she could never have these chances again.

I hope I made sense.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I think you made very good sense.

 

[MARG]

You have made a good point. However, all of the above were well and truely established in their chosen career before their respective Prince Charming's burst into their grey (well pastel) lives, swept them off their feet and carried them away. Ah romance!

Kate and William met at University and have literally grown up being the centre of a media storm. So while your point was valid I don't think it is applicable in this case.

 

[Skydragon]

But what about the other European crown princesses?--- snipped ---- I think she should enjoy life now and not live in the future tense, because she could never have these chances again

I think a lot of people here would not want their royals to have an 'ordinary' job. So if she did get a job in the city and then married William, she would have to give it up. Apart from anything else, the security options and cost would be horrific!

It seems she is doing what she wants with her life and that is the media are getting upset, because she won't let them into her life, (and good for her).

 

[Charlotte1]

She already has a Masters Degree in Art History from St Andrews University. ( William has a MA in Geography)

She organised a photo exhibition in November 2007, it raised funds for UNICEF. ( Not her own photos but of a well-known photographer) The press didn't know any details of this until the exhibition was opened and they received a press release about it so it got press coverage for the general public to see the exhibition. She's shown that it's possible to live a private life ( with a little help from some legal manouvering, complaints to PCC) Just because she chooses to live out of the limelight for now doesn't mean that she's not doing anything, she has been proactive about not having her privacy invaded.

 

[Menarue]

As she has been living her life out of the limelight she just might be doing nothing who is to know? A photo exhibition in 2007, wonderful, it is now 2009, which leaves quite a lot of "in the meantime".

 

[muriel]

As she has been living her life out of the limelight she just might be doing nothing who is to know? A photo exhibition in 2007, wonderful, it is now 2009, which leaves quite a lot of "in the meantime".

Quite right, if what Kate does is not plastered across the tabloids, she does nothing - Quite a natural hypothesis if that is the view you want to take!

 

[Principessa Cano]

She already has a Masters Degree in Art History from St Andrews University.

She has a Scottish Masters, which is the equivalent to a Bachelor from other countries... at least that is what I have been told.

 

[Iluvbertie]

As she has been living her life out of the limelight she just might be doing nothing who is to know? A photo exhibition in 2007, wonderful, it is now 2009, which leaves quite a lot of "in the meantime".

Or she could be working very hard for her parents.

Because we don't know we really can't say she is or isn't working hard.

We might make an assumption based on lack of reports in the papers but they are only assumptions.

For all we know she might be working very hard for her parents, studying, learning a foreign language, making clothes for disadvantaged kids, playing with the dog, cooking or anything.

What we do know is that the press can't tell us anything, and that is all that we know. It is wrong therefore to assume she is doing nothing just because we aren't told she is doing something.

 

[rmay286]

I don't see anything wrong with Kate pursuing further education or trying to move up in a career. There is always the possibility that her relationship with William doesn't work out, no matter how committed they may be now, and I think it's very admirable when someone works hard at developing their abilities and broadening their experiences. That being said, she would have to just give these up once she married William, so it's a tough call to make.

But one conclusion I won't draw is that Kate is just a social climber or just wants to be a princess, because there is no basis for this IMO.

 

[4Pam]

If all she's really after are the money and crown don't you think the Queen would've caught on already and said something to William?

 

[Mermaid1962]

I think that this is exactly the sort of thing that Royal children are warned about all the time they're growing up: be careful of who your friends are and what they want from you.

If all she's really after are the money and crown don't you think the Queen would've caught on already and said something to William?

 

[Ella Kay]

If all she's really after are the money and crown don't you think the Queen would've caught on already and said something to William?

Precisely. I think it's mad for some to argue that the Middletons are middle-class nobodies in one breath and then suggest that they're the next coming of the Boleyns in the next. I trust William, who is reportedly pretty paranoid about people and their agendas, to know whether or not someone's trying to snow him.

 

[Odette]

According to published rumours, P William rented a house by his RAF base and they will move in together.
The issue that baffles me is not whether she has a job or not or works for her parents 40 houres a week or not. What I wonder about is what is she expecting to come out of this affaire? If he promised her nothing, regardless of his intentions, it is silly of her -and terribly undignified- to allow herself to be treated like that. If they have been secretly engaged, she should stay behind and go to a princess school to prepare herself for what is coming.

 

[Charlotte1]

She has a Scottish Masters, which is the equivalent to a Bachelor from other countries... at least that is what I have been told.

She has a Scottish Masters but it is a higher degree than a Bachelors degree as an English Bachelor degree is a 3 year degree, also in Australia, South Africa ( Chelsy Davy has a 3 year Bachelor's degree) the Scottish Masters is a 4 year degree. US Bachelors' are 4 year degrees but the education system is different as students don't specialise in High School the way the education systems that were based on the British did. (Eg In the UK medicine can be studied as an undergraduate degree, straight from high school as students have already done the high level science subjects to be accepted. In the US students first need to get an undergraduate pre-medicine degree and then study medicine as a post-graduate degree)

Mary was a real estate agent

Mary was never a real estate agent, she worked in marketing. That's one of those annoying factoid ( false bit of information taken as fact) that keeps circulating.

According to published rumours, P William rented a house by his RAF base and they will move in together

They're not moving in together as during the week William still has to live on base, the rented house is for weekends, Harry is going to share it with him as it will cut down on security costs. The press speculation is that Kate will spend time there.

 

[Roslyn]

Mary was never a real estate agent, she worked in marketing. That's one of those annoying factoid ( false bit of information taken as fact) that keeps circulating.

It's been interesting to watch that factoid develop. Mary has a Commerce/Law degree (BComm.LLB) from the University of Tasmania and I understand she also has professional certificates in advertising and marketing. At one stage - when she was in Sydney, I think - she worked for a real estate company, which is probably how the rumour started.

 

[Roslyn]

She has a Scottish Masters but it is a higher degree than a Bachelors degree as an English Bachelor degree is a 3 year degree, also in Australia, South Africa ( Chelsy Davy has a 3 year Bachelor's degree) the Scottish Masters is a 4 year degree.

Kate's course was an undergraduate course though, not a postgraduate degree. As I understand it, all Scottish undergraduate courses are 4 year degrees. Though a BA is a 3 year degree here, Law is a 4 year undergraduate course at Sydney Uni. I think of Kate's degree as equivalent to our bachelor's degrees, but maybe I shouldn't. Anyway, whatever she's got, she could do more study. I think more study in a nice safe discipline like Art History would be deemed to be a suitable way for a princess in waiting to spend her time, if that's in fact what she is.

 

[muriel]

What I wonder about is what is she expecting to come out of this affaire?

May be spending a life together with the man she loves??

If he promised her nothing, regardless of his intentions, it is silly of her -and terribly undignified- to allow herself to be treated like that.

Treat like what?

If they have been secretly engaged, she should stay behind and go to a princess school to prepare herself for what is coming.

And may be she is attending "princess school".... the only thing that seems certain for now is that we do not know!

 

[Luv2Cruise]

I think a lot of people here would not want their royals to have an 'ordinary' job. So if she did get a job in the city and then married William, she would have to give it up. Apart from anything else, the security options and cost would be horrific!

It seems she is doing what she wants with her life and that is the media are getting upset, because she won't let them into her life, (and good for her).

Totally agree.

 

[Jo of Palatine]

Quite right, if what Kate does is not plastered across the tabloids, she does nothing - Quite a natural hypothesis if that is the view you want to take!

I think Catherine through her living out of the limelight shows us exactly what she thinks of people who assume the worst of her if they get no information - she simply ignores them. And that ability not to cater to the public like a celeb but staying quietly and dignified behind closed doors is exactly what "ladylike" means. I have no doubt that at least Charles and Camilla know exactly what Catherine is doing - if the relationship is as serious as some people here wish to think, then HM and the DoE (and their grey men) are informed, too. These are the people who count for a future queen - not you and me and the media.

 

[crisscross1]

If William and Kate intend to marry some time down the track, will they be able to now that Victoria has announced her plans to marry in 2010 or will they have to wait until after that date? Do you think there is an understanding between royals regarding this subject?

 

[Josefine]

If William and Kate intend to marry some time down the track, will they be able to now that Victoria has announced her plans to marry in 2010 or will they have to wait until after that date? Do you think there is an understanding between royals regarding this subject?

not a wedding at the same date but the same year is not a problem
just look at the weddings at 2004
3 weekends in a row
first out denmark, spain and last Jordan
all crown prince weddings

 

[lucien]

I don't believe Kate and Wills will ever marry.Schoolgirl dreams and media hypes don't match..