Kate Middleton has turned down an invitation to spend Christmas with the royal family, saying she will join them only after she marries William.
LONDON: Kate Middleton, Prince William’s long-term girlfriend has turned down an invitation to spend Christmas with the royal family, saying she will join them only after she marries William.
The 24-year-old art graduate has been dating the future king ever since they were at University together three years ago and is regularly seen with him and with other members of the royal family. Kate was present at William’s passing out parade at Sandhurst a few days ago, where the Queen was presiding along with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
There have been strong rumours that Prince William was likely to propose marriage to Kate this Christmas fuelled by Prince Charles’ plans to build a classical mansion in an isolated valley on the Welsh border which many think would be a home for the newly married young couple.
However, Kate’s decision to spend Christmas with her own extended family in a rented home in Scotland has dampened the rumours of a summer royal wedding. An invitation to Sandringham in Norfolk, where the royals spend Christmas together is rare honour as it is normally only family members who are invited. An invitation from the Queen signals that she has accepted Kate as future member of the family.
“It was huge honour for her to be invited, but she is very close to her own family and wants to share Christmas with them,” a friend of Kate is quoted as telling a British tabloid. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
While the royal wedding may not happen this summer as many imagined, a marriage between Prince William and girlfriend Kate is seen as a certainty, only the timing is to be decided. Though William officially lives with his father at Clarence House, he and Kate spend a lot of time together at the Middleton’s flat in Chelsea. Prince Charles acquired Harewood Park, a 900-acre estate in Herefordshire six years ago and royal observers are sure this will become Prince William’s country seat when he marries.
Charles’s architect has submitted plans for ‘starter home’ to be built on the land to the local council, which they claim they plan to ‘rent out’. The six-bedroom, two-storey house is designed to be as eco-friendly as possible. Solar panels are planned for the roof, natural sheep’s wool will insulate the loft and recycled bricks will be used for the walls.
The architecture will be along classic lines with large arches, a double-height central hall dominated by eight columns and a terrace inspired by a 4th century BC Greek monument. Such a home can only be fit for a future king!
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