After seeing how Kate's press has become less than stellar, for a girlfriend "supposedly" leading to an engagement, I
can't see where she is being "readied" or "groomed" for becoming William's fiancee. She still seems to be longtime girlfriend only.
Kate is depicted almost daily by the UK tabloid press, in a negative story.
I don't honestly feel the Palace would have allowed such , if she was going to be Pr. William's future Queen Consort. Each new story about her is negative for the most part, she seems to be left out there on her own, when a negative press story arises, taking shelter (as well as supposedly working) in her parents home. Her mother one week seemed to try to defend herself,her family against the press in a roundabout way in the Telegraph a few months ago, that alone made me feel that Kate is on her own as far as her own "pr."
William also has not done what Pr. Edward did for Sophie during the dating process and asked the press to please leave her alone , in so many words. Yes ,Kate sells newspapers, so the press will write about her, but
I don't see where anything is being done to bring her under the Palace protective fold, because her press has become so negative before she has even become his fiancee or bride.
Before Sophie married she was rumoured to be staying inside the Palace for a few days a week, for years before, getting acquainted with Palace life. No such thing has been done for Kate, from what I have seen.
I believe Kate may be a long time first serious girlfriend of the Prince in the end, as has happened for several other European Princes in the past.
William is 26 and dating her for at least six of those, still seems quite in University mode with her. University romances do not always lead to marriage and I don't see Pr. William having the maturity yet which makes me believe marriage is around the corner.