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William and his two other women
Last updated at 12:22pm on 16.04.07
Kate ventures out with a box of the Sunday papers yesterday
He has been involved in a serious 'flirtation' with a well-connected young woman for four months - although he is said to be keener on her than she is on him, we can reveal.
At the same time the future King has been seen kissing and cuddling with an attractive blonde in a London nightclub.
But he has managed to keep both women's identity secret. Neither is among the string of names to be publicly linked with the prince in recent months.
William, who is back in army training today at a camp in Dorset, began acting as a single man after Kate revealed her devastation that an expected announcement of their engagement never came in February.
"As far as she was concerned, it wasn't a question of 'if ', just 'when'," said a friend. "She openly admitted that she expected a formal announcement to be made by Clarence House."
However William, 24, had made clear to those close to him that while he was extremely fond of Kate, he never thought of her as "the one". He was, he said, too young to settle down and wanted to throw himself into his career as an Army officer. "All the fun has gone," he complained. "I don't want to be nailed down."
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Kate was pictured looking strained today
The Mail has also learned that William was "deeply affected" by the death in Iraq of his Sandhurst colleague and close friend, Joanna Dyer, which prompted him to reevaluate his life.
Kate, 25, remained hopeful that their relationship could be salvaged. But William last week informed the Queen and Prince Charles that he had no option but to break it off.
Contrary to weekend speculation, there was no discussion. William has always made clear that unlike his father, who was forced to give up the woman he loved to catastrophic effect, he is very much his own man.
But his family agreed that it would be unreasonable to expose Kate to increasing public scrutiny when he was unwilling to commit.
William and Kate reportedly decided to part during tearful heart-to-heart talks in the Alps. The pair realised "it was over" during a ski break in the resort of Zermatt, Switzerland, last month, according to a report in The Sun.
William enjoying female attention in Elements nightclub, Bournemouth
The break-up of her first serious romance has hit Kate hard. It is only four months since she attended William's graduation from Sandhurst as part of his official party, leading to fevered speculation - not least amongst her own family - that an engagement was inevitable.
But a friend of the prince insisted: "It was never on the cards. Kate did everything she could to make him stay - playing a waiting game one minute and then hard-to-get the next.
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William with Lisa Agar, the blonde he took back to his barracks
"Just the other week, she said she intended to be photographed at as many places as she could without William to punish him for all those pictures that appeared of him clubbing with other girls.
"But William's heart just wasn't in it any more. As she was planning the wedding, he was working out how to extricate himself."
In recent weeks William's name has been linked with a string of young women - including students Lisa Agar and Ana Ferreira and PR girl Tess Shepherd as well as society beauty Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe.
"He is only 24 and simply wasn't ready to settle down," said a source. "He has always had a roving eye, far more so than Harry, who is meant to be the family playboy. That's something Kate has always known and accepted - it was part of the deal, if you like. I suppose in that respect, she would have made a perfect Princess of Wales.
"What has changed in recent months, however, is the way in which the public was starting to view Kate as a future princess.
"William's visit to that nightclub in Bournemouth the other week (when he met 19-yearold, blonde Miss Agar and ended up taking her back to the officers' mess for a drink) was all rather harmless but he knew it made him look a cad."
Another nail in the coffin, say friends, was the decision by Woolworths to produce a line of "William and Kate" memorabilia. Although it was obviously a cheap publicity stunt, the prince was said to have been "rattled". "Things like that don't roll off him easily," said one. "He, more than anyone, knows that once her name is on the tea towel, it is very difficult to take a step back."
While the Queen and Prince Charles, both of whom are said to like Kate immensely, are said to be sad but supportive of William's decision, Prince Harry is known to have had sympathy with those of William's friends who dubbed Kate "the limpet".
"Harry has always felt Kate enjoyed her fame-byassociation a little too much, unlike his own girlfriend, Chelsy," said a source.
"When she met William, Kate had few friends of her own. Since then, she has become incredibly self-aware and has even managed to bag herself a cut-price Audi thanks to her royal links - at the same time as professing that she wants to be treated as an ordinary working girl."
Yesterday Kate left the £1million family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, to buy the Sunday papers, venturing out once again with her parents and sister Pippa for lunch.
Clarence House has declined to comment. But a source insisted the split was amicable - "It is just a case of two young people drifting apart." Another said: "They are still incredibly fond of each other. It was just a case of right girl, wrong time."
Reader views (28)
How silly. One, look at all us yanks putting in our two cents. It's not our business, is it? Two, the young man was dating, not married. It says nothing about a man's character to break up with a girlfriend. Being able to leave when it quits being fun is what dating is for. My husband and I started dating and were both clear with each other that we were just looking to have fun. Well, we eventually made it permanent, but 14 years later we're still having fun.
If he's not having fun anymore, better that he found out now rather than later, like his dad.
"He needs a roooyyyyalll girlfriend." Oh, please. I'm sure the man is more than capable of deciding for himself who he wants to ask out, with no help from any of us.
- Julie, Atlanta, US
Ironically enough, Kate should consider herself extraordinary lucky! She has avoided a surefire catastrophe, already in the making. The "limpet", according to Prince Harry and his friends? How about the "trap" concerning Prince William? He simply didn't deserve her! Kate should rejoice instead of crying! Now the future is indeed hers. Have fun, Kate and above all BE HAPPY!
- Luciano Salvati, Florida, USA
I stand behind William 100%. He broke it off with someone he no longer loved. No harm in that. He is young, beautiful and has plenty of time to find someone he loves and will marry someday. What is so wrong with William living his life by having fun, partying and hanging out with girls? Any man on this earth would do the same thing if they were in his shoes and anyone who says they wouldn't is a liar
Cheers William!
- Kaleena, USA
I sincerely hope William will choose someone of royal blood as his
princess. Too bad Princess Madelaine has a live-in boyfriend! However, how about Princess Theodora of Greece? "Love" only lasts a brief time, so William should choose a young woman who is on an equal plane. Companionship/friendship/sense of duty can make his marriage a success. Kate is probably a wonderful person, but, with a gum chewing mother, the cards were stacked against her. Also, William should wait a few years.
- Diane, Las Vegas, USA
What do you mean he doesn't have what it takes to be king? All you need is a roughly circular-shaped head so the crown will fit. That and the right grandmother.
- Erik, Philadelphia, USA
Poor Kate, but then what did she expect? William is handsome, enjoys rank and privilege, and stands to inherit a fortune as well as the throne. Small wonder the tarts are lined up to sleep with him. But he had better be careful to not impregnate any of them. The mothers of royal ******** are not as easily bought off or put off as they were a hundred years ago. At least William's boarish behavior is not as bad as that of the drunken yob who is his younger brother.
- Bill, Chicago USA
She's a lot better looking than that guy. He looks like a 40-year old, and he's got those Bee Gees teeth. She could do a lot better; well, maybe not in the money department.
- Tom, NYC USA
Like father, like son.
- Lisa Taylor, Texas
Prince William saw how miserable his mother was being with a man who didn't love her... He now sees how apparently content his father is now. A smart kid would notice a little extra time in that kind of a decision makes sense. Maybe he wants it to be the real thing the first time?
- Tracey, Ohio, USA
William needs a ROYAL bride, bring on Princess Madeleine of Sweden or Princess Theodora of Greece. Enough of these common girls!
- Kit, USA
Leave her alone - more class and she will do well. That family ruined Diana - pulled her in under terrible conditions and she loved him so.
Kate is a lady and will do very well in life - stand behind her.
- Gloria, USA
I agree with Shirley - better to get rid of the bum now than be married to him later!
- L. R. Mcdowell, Akron, Ohio, USA
He is a 24 year old lad who has fallen out of love. Hardly makes him a bad bloke. Sow your seeds for a few years yet William - you have plenty of time to be tied down.
- Noel, Stockwell
If he's anything like his father, she's far better off. I'd rather be single and sad than humiliated like Princess Diana was all those years. I just hope he's a far better man than his father was in regards to how to treat a wife. She's better off getting cut loose now.
- Debi B, Memphis, USA
Kate, you are well out of that dysfunctional family. In a few years time you will bless the day you got out of that relationship.
- Shirley, Kent
Ah well, at least she will get a TV career out of it, and you never know she might even do a spread in a lad's mag now, a sort of upper-class Abi Titmuss...
she'll probably be on Celebrity Big Brother next year....
- Jk, London, UK
I think like Diana, Kate had a fixation of being a Queen, sooner or later it would have ended the same way, and sooner the better.
It will be hard for William to find a wife with the right background, where as Kate will find another quite easily, but I am sure that for 5 million pounds - kate would sell her story.
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt
He'll regret this one day I bet. She is very pretty - much prettier than some of the society dogs in Hello magazine. Just because you have money doesn't make you a higher class than anyone else.
- Charlie, London
In the places where Will hangs out £11k doesn't buy you as much booze as you might think.
- Pete, London
Good luck to William, he seems to have ditched his Heather Mills and can now get someone with a modicum of class.
- Trevor Roll, London
Two people who grew apart - it happens. I think John in Toronto has some kind of taxpayers' money fixation - William probably does what most squaddies do and tips most of his paypacket (we do pay our soldiers over here) down his neck!
- Paul, London
11,000 pounds spent on drink... it frightens me that he might become a King one day.
I wonder how many people really feel that having a Royal family in this day and age is something to be proud of? I do not.
One question what right do they have to rule over the country?
- Jaberwokie, Switzerland
Kate 10 William 0. I have no doubt that Kate will have a beter life outside the Royal family.
- David Wickens, Burgess Hill
I think Kate's a fantastic woman and has coped brilliantly.
- Dan, Surrey
I feel sorry for any woman connected with this family. The relationship will be doomed from the start.
- Rusty D, Wilmington NC USA
To Kate, right now it might hurt, but time heals all wounds and this will make you stronger, more independent and in the end thankful that you did not stay with him. You might not see it right now, but even though William is wealthy, in the limelight and has some influence and power, he's not a very thoughtful person. Thoughtful persons don't do what he did in the way he did. If he wanted to break it off, fine, but he's acting like some kid who grew up in a very poor part of town with parents who have no values. He needs to grow up, and it's clear he's not ready to. He couldn't take on a serious relationship, and he's certainly not ready to be King. He's far too immature, selfish and unpredictable. He's also too much like his father. Consider yourself lucky, and watch to see how this plays out over the years. He's going to eventually get involved with a woman who controls him and who doesn't care as much for him as he does her, and he's going to understand then, your pain and realize he made a mistake. He's also going to seek some wild relationships that will most likely get him into trouble and put his future as King in jeapordy. He may be sewing his oats, but it's the way in which he does it. Remember this: whatever you do to people in this life comes back to haunt you. Every dog has it's day.
Kate, stay classy- good things will come your way. Life is a test of character of which William has just failed. Never sacrifice integrity to be where you want.
- John, Toronto Canada
Prince William has proven to be a total loser. The way in which he conducted himself prior to and during the breakup leaves one to believe he does not have what it takes to be King. He lacks integrity, empathy, depth, kindness. He's far too wrapped up in himself. If his family insisted he should break up with Kate, then he is not his own person, he's another puppet. If it was his own decision, his conduct is a problem, which now, will be under a bigger magnifying glass than before. The Queen is right to be worried. He doesn't get it.
Clearly he has demonstrated no class. I don't care what kind of background he comes from, education, money, he doesn't have it. He's his father's son, but worse. He's learned nothing from the split up of his father and mother.
And, drinking thousands of taxpayers money away - with Dom Perignon, was wasteful and totally classless. You would think that breaking off with the girl would have been sufficient; but no, this guy has to rub it into Kate, with pics of him groping other women just prior to the split, partying to all hours and drinking the taxpayers money away after the breakup, talking about how the fun had gone out of the relationship gave a pretty good idea of the character of this man. It is lacking, clearly. This story shows a very different person than what Clarence House wanted to have him portrayed as. He should never be King, nor should his father. LIke father, like son. The nut didn't fall too far from the tree.
- John, Toronto, Canada
Britney Spears hurry up and catch your man.
- Charles, Nottingham
