Final article in our series “The Royals Influence on Pop-Culture”
On April 29, 2011 Catherine Elizabeth Middleton fulfilled the life long dream of little girls……she became a Princess. She married HRH Prince William in Westminster Abbey. They are now known as HRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I have had the pleasure of reading William and Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christopher Andersen and find their courtship interesting, romantic and one that almost did not last. What makes their relationship different from previous royal relationships?
Their relationship seems to be a very strong one built upon years of commitment and dedication. Also William and Catherine are two very strong people in their own rights. Let’s take a look at how William and Catherine grew in to who they are today as people and how they each effect their relationship. To do that, we must start at the beginning.
William Arthur Philip Louis was born on June 21, 1982 to HRH the Prince and Princess of Wales. He was a breath of fresh air for a while but not even his birth helped the relationship between his parents.
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born on January 9, 1982 to Michael and Carole Middleton. She is the eldest of three children. Her siblings are Philippa and James. In 1987, her parents began a party supply company called Party Pieces and have since become extremely wealthy.
Click here to read more info. on Kate’s biography.
At First Sight
William and Catherine first saw each other when Catherine was attending Marlborough College. William went there for a match between Eton and Marlborough. She stood along the sidelines apart from the rest of the crowd. They made brief eye contact. It would be sometime later until they would meet again.
St. Andrews University
William attended St. Andrews University on the advice of the Queen because Scottish nationalism was on the rise at the time. Plus it was a school that no other male in his family attended as he didn’t want to follow in anyone’s footsteps.
Catherine had applied and was accepted to the University of Edinburgh. She then spent her gap year( a year that students take off to broaden their horizons before heading to University) in Florence. When Carole learned that William was going to attend St. Andrews she encouraged her daughter to apply. However, Catherine had made it known that she wasn’t going to apply simply because the Prince was going to be there. She still had intentions of attending the University of Edinburgh.
While she was in Florence, she watched William give a press conference about a book written by his mother’s former press secretary. This conference re-ignited the crush she felt for William and she would joke around with her friends about him saying “He’s mine, you know.” Catherine agreed to attend St. Andrews University due to her mother constantly pressing on the issue.
William and Catherine again met at University when William, invited up to his room for a drink, what would become his close circle of friends. These friends included Fergus Boyd, Oliver Healy, Jules Knight, Carly Massy-Birch and Catherine.
Other Relationships
Originally, William began dating Carly Birch. They dated for seven weeks before their relationship ended due to the paparazzi and security detail that William lived with on a daily basis.
William had also met Jecca Craig before going to University. He asked her to marry him on a lark in Kenya. He had also met Anabella Musgrave around the same time as Jecca and the two women were unaware of one another. He had dated Anabella Musgrave for a bit but she didn’t like being famous for going out with William. He dated Bella Musgrave while he was dating Carly Birch at St. Andrews as well as still keeping in touch with Jecca.
Catherine was in a relationship with Rupert Finch while at University but that relationship ended when he graduated. Rupert was also at the runway show that Catherine participated in wearing the see-through dress that caught William’s eye.
Although William and Catherine started out in other relationships they became good friends . William leaned heavily on Catherine for advice because she never told him what she thought he should do and he liked that. They both were considering leaving St. Andrews early on and their respective parents talked them into staying. Later, they made a pact that if the next year didn’t work out for them they were going to leave together.
Click here to read more.
Dating
William and Catherine lived together with another room mate before the press found out they were a couple. William would cook for Catherine trying to impress her but he would always burn something and find other haphazardous ways to ruin the meal and she would have to try and fix whatever problem he was having.
They would often go out to bars and nightclubs for entertainment. Catherine was always aware of the media and would always go the restroom before she left the club to freshen up her make-up. She also was very aware of the perception that was given to the media and would warn William and his friends about what the perception of what they were doing would look like.
During this time, William was still visiting Jecca Craig in Africa, even though William and Jecca were only friends, Catherine felt concerned for the relationship. It wasn’t until William took Catherine to Africa and she was able to spend time there that she finally relaxed about things.
William would go to bars and clubs with his friends and dance with various women. Catherine finally put her foot down and told him she was going to be accompanying him to these places.
The Breakup
William and Catherine broke up in 2007 because William was not willing to make a commitment to Catherine and he also felt that the press intrusion into her life was not fair to her. Catherine went home to her parent’s house, Clarence House leaked the news of the break-up (the Queen thought it best not to prolong anything) and William went out with his pals to a nightclub on that day.
Spurred on by Carole, Catherine did not sit around and pity herself for long. She and Pippa (who was newly single herself) went out to nightclubs and she also joined a rowing crew. Harry told his girlfriend Chelsy that it was driving William crazy to see Catherine out there having a good time. She was seen out with other men as well which made William jealous and he summoned her to Clarence House to have a drink. During that meeting, he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to get back together. Catherine finally made the final move that would win back William. She was photographed with Jecca Craig’s ex at a nightclub. The next day, she was summoned to Clarence House again to have a drink with him. This time things became more physical and they were secretly back together by the time the concert for Diana was televised.
Catherine and the Royal Family
Catherine is well liked by the Royal Family but Camilla is another matter. Camilla told Charles that William should not marry Catherine because she was a commoner and was “rather pretty but dim.” Even though Camilla herself was a commoner she believed that she was excluded from that category because her great-grandmother was King Edward the VII’s mistress.
Catherine was not invited to the wedding of Camilla and Charles (neither was any other woman that Camilla deemed to be more beautiful than her) because she did not want to be upstaged on her wedding day.
The Queen likes Catherine very much and was disappointed when William and Catherine broke up and was overjoyed when they announced that they would be married.
The Engagement
They were engaged secretly for almost two years but did not make this information public because the wedding was still to be planned. William took Catherine to Africa to officially propose to her and give her his mother’s ring (he ironically proposed to Catherine in the same spot that he had faux-proposed to Jecca Craig) Catherine burst into tears.
It has been a long road for William and Catherine but they steadfastly proved that with love time and patience, love always endures.
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parisienne
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Hi Everyone!
This is the extremely condensed version of their relationship.
I know that in previous articles we have spoken about whether or not the Queen will make William King instead of Charles. The last chapter of the book touched on that. Basically, the gist was the Queen has THOUGHT about abdicating and giving Charles the chance to be King for only a certain number of years and then he must abdicate in order for William to be King. However, the question is would Charles honor the arrangement or would he renege the arrangement basically telling everyone he will be King until he dies?
As it stands right now everyone knows that the public wants William to be King and not Charles.
However, no one close to the Queen thinks this will actually happen seeing as the Queen has made no motions about abdicating. Which would put William in his 50’s when he becomes King.
Great job Paris. I’m impressed great research.
Thanks!
I am impressed at how much meat (maybe this should be alternatively described as material) many women see in romance stories. Yes, I’m being sincere. It’s a unique gift to behold when you see this fine eye for details regarding human lives. Great article, Paris!
Though I am glad William is impressed with his mother, (a wonderful trait) he is not in fact Diana.
I’m sure there are many ways in which she influenced him including her insistence that he not be educated by a Governess as Prince Charles was. Helping to make sure the boys understood how ordinary or non-royal Brits lived. Even showing the boys the realities of poverty in London sound every much like what we know of her.
I know he’s still young, other than the Homeless Center, do you know of other ways William emulates his mother’s behavior or teaching?
CR,
Thank you! Watch the entire video My Mother Diana if you get a chance. It explains a lot about William’s character.
CR,
William has spoken about how Diana helped them to stay grounded in reality and that’s its very easy to lose oneself in his lifestyle and that he was grateful for what she taught him because he remembers those lessons when he tends to get lost in the Royal fishbowl. I’ll see if I can find the interview.
CR,
http://www.hulu.com/watch/366131
In the last 20 min of this video, William speaks about Diana and what she taught him. Its very brief.
Since he will have the ear of future Prime Ministers I would love to know what he might say to them.
What does he think about the topics below?
• Industrial Agriculture
• Educational Access
• Responses to diversity and foreign born nationals
• The Environment
• Illness and Medical Access
• Public access to Technology
In regards to some of these topics I don’t know what William would say to them.
Their official website might have some answers.
http://www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org/
You are correct the foundation had many answers, Here are many of my answers to my questions;
Although their Foundation is not limited to these three areas of focus, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry aim to make the following their early areas of focus:
1) Armed Forces – Promoting the welfare of those who are serving or who have served their country in the Armed Forces
2) Young People – Helping children and young people to build their skills, confidence and aspirations.
3) Conservation – Supporting communities to protect and conserve their natural resources for future generations.
The Duke of Cambridge is also Patron or President of a small number of charities or organisations, which range across a wide spectrum of life in the UK and abroad. In 2006, The Duke and his brother, Prince Harry, created The Prince’s Charities Forum in order to foster collaboration among the charities and organisations with which they are affiliated.
Paris,
What inspired u to research and write about this topic?
OB,
My inspiration came from the fact that his own parents relationship was one that was put together very quickly. Diana was chosen for Charles because she was from the aristocracy plus she was a virgin. They were also married after dating 6 months. That’s not much time to honestly get to know someone on any type of spirtual/mental level.
Charles never gave up Camilla and when Diana was pregnant with William she threw herself down the main staircase at Sandringham House in defiance of their relationship. When William was christened, Diana was shunned by the Royal Family. Feeling unwanted and unloved she took many Valium and drank half a bottle of Scotch. She had to be rushed to the hospital to have her stomach pumped.
To see someone like Kate come in to William’s life and basically be a great support for him was very refreshing. Seeing as his home life wasn’t the greatest and all the intimate details of his parents relationship are internationally known.
Also, Kate always had a crush on William and would often tell her friends that she was going to marry him one day. If she saw something about him in the news, she would defend his actions to her friends. So it was almost like a premonition for her to actually fulfill her dream.
Wow! All I can say. Kate sounds like a very thoughtful person. I’m sorry William proposing to Kate in the same place he proposed to his ex-girlfriend doesn’t sound very thoughtful. IMO!
IA. His proposal wasn’t original at all.
Really, some people take things for granted if they don’t feel they have to work hard for them IMO!
ITA.
I have to say I really admire Kate. Its a lot to give up. Your freedom is no longer managed by u but the public. Does one ever get use to this scrutiny? At least the first ladies only have 8 years of this public display in America but she could have 8 plus years. Do u think its possible to have real privacy in this situation?
I think it is possible to have privacy because they lived together for 3 years before anyone found out they were a couple. Although that was during the time of the media ban.
Kate was being followed once by paparazzi and instead of causing an accident, she pulled over to the side of the road. She got out of her car to ask the paps to stop following her and she was basically told “if you want your privacy don’t date a prince.”
The royals are not seen as people by the paps but then again neither is any celebrity.
Well I guess its possible to avoid the paps if u don’t rely on public transportation. I can’t imagine not being able to jump on a Subway or go to a Museum. Little stuff we take for granted must be difficult for those who live in the public’s eye.
Not only public transportation. The paps found out where she lived and camped out side her door then put the pictures with arrows pointing to her place in the papers. The only time they had real privacy was during the media ban at st, andrews.
OMGosh! I would have to move to a remote Island after that.
After that he was able to get her some protection but not much. No bodyguard but she had an alarm system, bullet proof doors and windows.
Well, I hope she has better protection now. Although, the hospital prank a few months back doesn’t sound like it.
She does although I don’t think the hospital had good policies in place.
Oh! That’s good.
Hi Everyone!
Hi Paris!
Great article! There’s alot of stuff I didn’t know about in there! 🙂
If you don’t mind; what did YOU not know?
Lol! Just the basics. Who the important Royals are, where they stand in line to the throne, the role they play, where they live, plus any major news that happens. Births, marriages and deaths etc. Things like that. We learn far more about their ancestors than the ones alive today, lol!
There are those that follow the gossip of their day to day lives but I and people I know don’t. You hear things but we just never think about it in depth or bother to find out more because…. Well it’s gossip, lol! And really the major press intrusion started around Charles and Diana. Of course it was there before but it seemed to kick up a gear around them and hasn’t died down. So it’s still kind of a new thing.
I highly doubt that children right now are going to learn the past girlfriends or the ins and out of how William and Kate got together. It’ll be they met at university, the press intrusion, and their engagement etc… That’s all that really matters but most importantly that’s all they’ll have time for. We have a long history to learn and only so many years to learn it in, lol! I hope that helps a bit!
Hi Ozzie,
Thanks! What didn’t you know?
I knew basic details about them but not anything indepth. When you grow up and live around things for a long time you tend to not take for granted the things around you, because they’re always there. Once you know the basics that’s enough because you live side by side all the time so to speak. You only end up looking for only the major news and not the minor news.
And if you understand that you are a genius! I think I need another cup of tea to wake me up some more, lol! How can I put it in an easier way……
Ok, once I had an art project to go into the next town over and take photo’s of it’s architecture for inspiration. It wasn’t till I did it, did I realise how old some of the buildings were and the details of them. I’d walked past them many times before and saw that they were old but never paid much attention, because I grew up around it and it was always there. So I knew the basics but not the details of these old buildings, which I only found out when I was asked to look at them. Same thing with the royals basically, lol!
Great example Ozzie. Love it!!!
Ozzie!
So would this be called an OBE? I’m still learning the terms. So please forgive me.
OBE is the Order of the British Empire. Its a medal. 🙂
Wait Ozzie calls it “Other Buggers Effort.” I’m confused. Hahaha!
LOL! Sorry.
You’re both right! OB has the right official title, Paris has the right jokey/insult title people call those that have received an OBE that they don’t like!
I understood completely what you were saying and can i have a cup of Earl Grey while you’re up? 🙂
Sure, lol! 🙂
Hi Ozzie & Paris.
Hi Everyone!
Let me read and get caught up.
Hello!
Going back over the article, I can see how many might think this was a preemptive strike to assure Will and Kate will be the next choice of royals on the throne.
Paris,
Should this audience presume you do not like the Prince of Wales? Why not place the prince’s brothers; Prince Andrew, Duke of York or Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex on the throne? Obviously this has happened many times in the past. If Charles is so terrible why not completely erase all aspects his nuclear family from the royal service.
CR,
The throne goes by lineage. The eldest child (Charles) produced two heirs (so Charles is first, William is second, William’s child is now third with the new law that was passed and Harry is fourth.) I like Charles very much.
Hmmmm, if you say so.
It does. Charles is the oldest child of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. He gets dibs on the throne. Then any of Charles children but since the new law came into place whether that baby is boy or a girl it will be on the throne. Then Harry. Then Harry’s kids if he has kids then Anne kids then Andrew, then Andrew’s children then Edward.
So basically Charles, Willam, William’s child and Harry would all have to die at the same time for anyone else in the family to take the throne.
I understand you, but when there were understood conflicts in the past the birth order preference was discarded for the preferred royal personality. If I understood right Queen Elizabeth’s father and grandfather won those contests. in terms of birth order, neither was first born.
Ultimately I prefer William too, but the uproar (it might cause) seems like it would be damaging to the countrie’s desire to project confidence and stabiltiy.
I don’t know if I’m understanding what you’re trying to say. Queen Elizabeth’s dad was only King because his brother gave up the throne to go run away with his mistress. Her father was looked on favorably because he was married and had a family. The people didn’t like the fact that the King was running around with an american divorcee. They didn’t like it when Charles did it either.
Yup, what Paris said. Basically the goverment, the public and the Church of England didn’t agree to it so he was forced to give up the throne. And it is very interesting about Charles mirroring his Uncle (which is odd because he grew up knowing how they family didn’t like what his Uncle did, so you would expect he’d avoid it), so it’s going to be interesting times ahead!
Thanks for backing me up Ozzie! Given that the King is the head of the Church what he has done is viewed as immoral.
Correct again! 🙂
thanks! 🙂
CR,
Its not that Charles is a terrible person he’s not a bad person. Many people don’t agree with his personal choices in life and they don’t like Camilla. The Queen doesn’t even like Camilla. Camilla doesn’t like Kate.
Paris or Ozzie,
I think one of the best descriptions of the current royals (of any country) is they make excellent good will ambassadors. With their lineage clearly associated with a country’s history they are excellent sudo representatives of the countries enduring “consciousness.”
If many are claiming many of his choices make Charles unpopular, you seem to be suggesting that something is less than stellar about his reputation.
Without requisite political grace, do you think a royal is a poor candidate? And if so why?
Paris or Ozzie,
Are the new royals politicians? Many of Diana’s stands were obviously very unpopular in her day. Most of these performances would have defined her “as the video suggested” very naïve.
Have things changed that much?
CR,
The Royals can never vote or have any political affliation. Diana had charitable causes. All the Royals have charitable causes.
Only the Queen meets with the current Prime Minister once a week for discussions but she has little to no political power like Paris said. She’s a figure head. Technically, she’s head of the military and should have a say on whether we can go to war or not. Whether that happens, I don’t know.
Paris is right about the line of succession. It used to from eldest male heir to his eldest male hier. If their eldest child was female and their youngest a male, it would go to the male. For example before the Queen’s grandchildren were born (because there’s so many grandchildren it gets confusing, so going off just her children is easier!) the line to the throne was Charles, Andrew, Edward then Anne. A female is only chosen if there are no sons are born That’s why Elizabeth is Queen. George only had two daughters.
However, a law is being past right now that makes whatever gender the oldest child is, it will inherit the throne. So using the Queen’s children again as an example again, the line would be Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward. I think unfortunately for Anne, it doesn’t effect her generation, only the up and coming new generation (aka Will’s and Kate’s child). I hope that’s a little easier to understand but I’ve probably just confused you even more, lol!
Oh and the public perception of the Queen’s other children is that we’re proud of the work they do for charities and ambassador roles but basically they’re idiots apart from Anne who seems sane! The males seem to have inherited their father’s idiot gene, lol! In the grandchildren it seems only harry inherited it at the moment!
What did Harry do now? I know about the Vegas photos.
Oh it’s a long history although not as long as his dad or grandfather!
There was him being caught smoking cannabis and drinking underage (I know, I know. That’s the norm now but really he should of had enough intelligence to do it somewhere really really private). He dressed in a nazi military costume for a fancy dress party. Then there was the time he called one of his military friends who was of Pakistani descent a “Paki” and other soldier who was wearing a cloth on his head as a “raghead.” Apparently, that’s normal in the military (I’m not so sure on that one) and his friends took no offence but he still had to apologise. He also apologised for the other ones too. That’s all the stupid, idiotic stuff he’s done that I can remember at the moment!
What did Philip do?
Because it did not show, here is the secondary contender.
The only reason the Queen is the Queen is because her Uncle David didn’t have any children when he abdicated. If he had had a son. David’s son would have been King.
It must be difficult for Britain given the throne is faced with such turmoil.
Ozzie & Paris-Who would u like to see on the throne next and why?
I think I would like to see William although I know that’s not how its going to go. He’s younger and can relate better to the majority of the people. IMO.
Ahhh! Fair enough. I imagine it would be less upheaval for the country as well. Given the Queen has been on the throne so long.
William and Kate. It’s not that I hate Charles but I disapprove of his choices in life. He should of been with Camilla in the first place then neither would have the stigma of the cheating and divorces that went on. But that didn’t happen. I think he should of been a better husband to Diana but he wasn’t and their divorce was very messy. That aside, I do like him although he’s a bit of an idiot like his father, lol! We’ve gradually accepted Camilla (everyone deserves to be with someone they love after all). The problem will be her title. I think the majority of us would ok with the title of Queen Consort (I think that’s the right term!) sort of like what Prince Phillip is to Queen Elizabeth. I don’t think he does official holds the consort title because he’s a prince in his own right though. That title would acknowledge her as his wife but she won’t have any “reigning” power. It’s all messy and will probably end up being argued over. It would be much cleaner and easier to skip ove to Will and Kate. It won’t though.
IA. I don’t know if you read my first reply but they have a plan in place if the Queen should decide to abdicate now. Charles would sign an agreement that he would only be king for so many years and then abdicate so William could be king. IF charles did not abdicate I don’t think the people would be very happy
Interesting. If Charles did not abdicate it sounds like Britain would do it for him.
Does Charles and William have different or similar values for politics and social concerns?
I think William is alot more like Diana in the charitable causes. When Charles gave his interview about Camilla and he admitted his affair the people were saying he’s unfit to be King but unless the Queen herself decides to skip over charles. He will be king by his birthright whether the people want him or not.
Everyone-
I have to go! Paris excellent article, research and discussion. What a way to end the series. I really learned a lot. Thanks to u and Ozzie.
Goodnight!
This was all extremely interesting. Thanks for the huge treat Paris. By all.
Night!