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Kate Middleton given her own Royal Protection Officer for first time
Last updated at 12:44pm on 21.03.08Flanked by her first royal bodyguard, Kate Middleton looked more like a princess than ever.
She is not entitled to official security until she becomes engaged to Prince William.
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Watchful eye: A protection officer close by Kate Middleton in Klosters yesterday
Kate Middleton with the Royal Protection Officer in Klosters on Wednesday
But in the Swiss Alps yesterday, the 26-year-old was accompanied by one of his armed Scotland Yard protection officers.
Miss Middleton and the male detective tackled some challenging runs, then met up with William, 25, in the resort of Klosters.
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Loved up: William and Kate on a drag lift
Kate meets up with the Prince after a gruelling session on the slopes
Before having lunch, the prince and his girlfriend, both strong skiers, took a drag lift together and tackled some difficult black runs.
The decision to give Miss Middleton a bodyguard was a precautionary measure on busy slopes - not a permanent arrangement.
But it is still a significant step toward her becoming a full-time member of the Royal Family.
Miss Middleton has always rejected the idea of security so she can retain her independence.
But senior royal sources say talks about handling her security are under way, in case she and William decide to take their four-year relationship further.
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Kate enjoys the sunshine at lunch as she shows off her toned arms in sporty t-shirt
This is the first time Kate has been given a bodyguard while out on her own
Until they do, nothing will happen as taxpayers pay for royal guards. Unofficially, Miss Middleton has been told help is a phone call away.
For the first time since the couple arrived on Sunday, the heavy snow and bitter wind abated, allowing Miss Middleton to put on her sunglasses.
For onlookers, the sight of her skiing with a bodyguard, instantly invoked memories of Princess Diana.
She often skied with just her Metropolitan Police bodyguards while in Klosters with Prince Charles.
He is due to join William and Kate tomorrow. The Duchess of Cornwall will not accompany him. Camilla does not ski and is said to hate the cold.
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Reader views (11)
I'm sure that William is intelligent enough to figure out if Kate really is a gold-digger - I certainly give him credit for that. She seems like a lovely well-adjusted girl.
- Ela, Ottawa
I'm appalled by the constant barrage of criticism that Kate has to face. It seems that a great many people simply resent her relationship with a royal Prince, probably based on her ordinary middle class background, ordinary self-made parents, pleasant (without being stunning) looks. It's about time recognised that Kate could be a breath of fresh air for the stuffy Windsors!
- Sam Webster, London
For the record, the civil list paid the UK Royal Family £7,900,000, and the crown estates (inalienable property of the crown) raised £200,000,000 for the chancellor.
Any other parliamentary allowances are repaid in full by HM The Queen within each year. The royal family then pay income tax etc on their other income.
So, HM The Queen pays us more than £192,100,000 to be our queen...
- Mike Hudgell, London, UK
I agree with Chuck. The princes also inherited a packet from their mother and are perfectly able to fund their girlfriends' protection themselves. Now, it is reported that, Harry is worried about Chelsy's safety. Don't be surprised if she shows up with a protection officer too! The taxpayer should definitely not foot the bill for either girl!
- Sylvie Harwood, Bayonne, France
Cobblers! Prince William is not on the Civil List and does not receive "bundles of cash from the taxpayers already". Only the Queen and Prince Philip are now on the civil list and the Parliamentary Allowances granted to a small number of other Royals are repaid to Parliament by the Queen: i.e, they suffer this rubbish for free. Kate Middleton would not need a protection officer if she wasn't dating someone whose security is put at risk by being made a public figure whether he likes it or not: why shouldn't the public foot the bill? They pay a lot more for Salmon Rushdie and Tony Blair!
If you want to be anti-Royal, be so factually rather than inventing stuff to back up inverted snobbery and prejudice.
As for Kate Middleton: she should look around and notice that everyone else is wearing a helmet . . .
- Roz, Chamonix, France
and where, Justine from Sussex - did you get this information from? What a load of rubbish.
- Mj, East Anglia
People are very harsh on any girl the royals are with and nobody will ever be good enough for William. Give them a break.
- Charlie, London
The taxpayer should not be picking up this bill. If Prince William had any propriety, or gallantry for that matter, he'd have made the arrangements and paid for them himself. After all, he's getting bundles of cash from taxpayers already. This girl has no official status and should not be treated as such until she does.
- Chuck Unsworth, London, UK
I suppose the UK taxpayer is paying for this ?
- Neil Grinsell, London, UK
And who pays?
- Roy G, Solihull, England
Kate Middleton is a very good girl but not worthy of becoming the Queen of England, a job which requires great responsibility she lacks. She and her mother followed Prince William to St Andrews( her mum apparently waited for the Prince to choose his college before enrolling Kate). Thus this planned venture itself gives hints of the 'gold digger' nature of Kate Middleton.
- Justine, Sussex,London
