Who's cozying up to Kate now?

Since she broke up with Prince William, 25-year-old Kate has become something of a fixture on the London club circuit (or at least its more Sloaney reaches).

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However, her usual companion when out partying has been her younger - and from what one gathers, highly socially ambitious - sister Pippa, 22.

And now this. One does not want to leap to unwarranted conclusions, but as she and her male friend were driven away from the Mahiki club in Dover Street last night, they did seem to be giving each other an uncommonly fond look in the back of the car.

There was no shortage of male attention for Kate - she was spotted with another mystery man in a blue shirt that same night.

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But it was the gentlemen in the pink shirt that appeared to catch her attention. And yes, the girl does seem to look rather happy.

Quite radiant, in fact. The last time Kate was snapped looking so pleased with life in the back of a car, she was gazing into the eyes of Prince William, and such was the look of love they exchanged that most of us thought that wedding bells could not be far off.

Oh well, you can't get it right all the time.

Kate was out at Mahiki and then Boujis, accompanied by friends including William's old pal Guy Pelly.

As to the identity of Kate's main companion, that is for the moment a mystery - but it will not, we suspect, remain so for long.

No one could accuse her of being inconsistent. Those cords, that pink gingham shirt, the cufflinks, even the well-polished loafers - he could not look more like an inhabitant of the Fulham- Gloucestershire-Sandhurst social triangle if he tried.

As for that receding hairline - well, let us just say that it won't be the first time that Kate has been squired by a young man going prematurely thin on top.