Robert Jobson - William and Kate: The Love Story--A Celebration of the Wedding of the Century

For Camilla, Charles and Alexandra

M y goal in writing this book was to present a serious examination of Prince William and Kate Middleton two people whose journey together will fundamentally shape our 21st-century monarchy. I wanted to explore what makes our future King and Queen Consort tick and examine the backgrounds of these two young people and discover what cemented their love. From my research I hope to also explore what we the paying public can expect from this new royal double act. Members of the Royal Family understandably guard their privacy jealously. Therefore, telling their story has not always been straightforward. However, I believe the completed work will both enlighten and entertain you.

Of course, this book would not have been possible without the vision of my publisher John Blake this being our third book together. Thanks too to Rosie Virgo and my editor Lucian Randall and the rest of the first-class editorial team at John Blake Publishing Ltd for producing this book at rapid speed. Editor Andy Armitage worked hard and fast to pull everything together. Special thanks too to my agent Humfrey Hunter and to photographer Niraj Tanna of Ikon Pictures for his exclusive photographs.

I am also indebted to many people without whom this book would have been impossible to write. To preserve their privacy, some of them have asked that I keep their contribution anonymous. But they know who they are and how much I appreciate their help.

However, I am glad to acknowledge the support of the following: Miguel Head, Paddy Harverson, Colleen Harris MVO, Ailsa Anderson LVO, Lt Ed Perkins, Felicity Murdo-Smith CVO, Ryan Sabey, Dominic Herbert, Arthur Edwards MBE, Robin Nunn, HP, Ingrid Seward, Mo Davies, Elena Nachmanoff, Sigi DeVos, Ken Wharfe MVO, Laura Squire, Deborah Hinton, Jessica Hay, Richard Kay, Harry Arnold, Camilla Hitchcock of First Steps Academy, Fulham, Alexandra Hambrook for her brilliant ICT skills, Ian Walker, Mark Stewart, Jean Figg, Michael Dunlea, Kent Gavin, Lord Janvrin, Geoff Crawford, Stuart Robertson, Mark Bolland, Patrick Jephson, Dave Ofield, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Stuart MacLean, James Weatherup, Tim Ewart, Tom Bradby, Neil Wallis and David Mannion and the rest of my colleagues at ITN. I would also like to thank Ian Edmondson for the original concept and for his friendship and of course my editor at the News of the World Colin Myler.

Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank my family, particularly my mother and late father for their love and guidance. I would also like to thank my wife for her unbelieveable patience and love and for putting up with me while I tried to finish this book at rapid speed.

A princely marriage is the brilliant edition of a universal fact, and, as such, it rivets mankind.

W ALTER B AGEHOT (182677),
AUTHOR OF T HE E NGLISH C ONSTITUTION

A multitude of rulers is not a good thing.
Let there be one ruler, one king.

H OMER, THE I LIAD

T ightly holding the arm of the only man she had ever truly loved, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton tried her best to maintain her poise. With a beaming smile and gently leaning on her royal prince Royal Air Force Flight Lieutenant William Wales they looked a couple deeply in love, completely at ease with each other. He had given countless interviews in the past, usually with his younger brother Prince Harry, a natural performer in front of camera, stealing the show with one-liners and derogatory quips about his older, more considered brother.

Giving the boys that experience had been part of palace strategy, to help both princes, second and third in line to the British throne, to learn the ropes of royal life as well as how to cope with the ever more demanding modern media. In the past, royals didnt do interviews Queen Elizabeth II still hasnt after nearly 60 years on the throne but this new generation has no choice but to do them unless it wants to seem completely out of touch.

This time William took the lead, gently guiding his bride-to-be through the minefield of her first outing before the unforgiving British press. After all, this was a new experience for Kate, but it was one that she would have to get used to. She knew her every move and nuance was being scrutinised, her every word reported around the globe to millions of television viewers, who until now had seen her image only in glossy magazines and newspapers; but they were now at last hearing her voice for the first time. She was clearly nervous; who wouldnt be? But she was not about to show it. After all Miss Middleton was honed from sterner stuff.

That morning Williams father, the Prince of Wales, had released a press statement that had made headlines on the 24-hour news channels around the globe. It began, His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton are engaged to be married. It continued, The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton.

The wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011, in London. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.

Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya. Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middletons father.

Following the marriage, the couple will live in North Wales, where Prince William will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force.

At last the marathon courtship of the second in line to the throne, more than eight years in all, was over. Life for this handsome young couple, both 28, would never be the same again.

Prince Harry, who had been in flying training at Middle Wallop that day the young man with whom he had suffered so many of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in life, not least their mother Princess Dianas death in 1997 was the first to comment on his big brothers happy news: Im delighted that my brother has popped the question! It means I get a sister, which Ive always wanted.

Back in London Kate was taking her first tentative steps in public life. Its obviously nerve-racking, she admitted in a cut-class, English, public-school accent when asked whether she was excited or nervous about marrying into the Royal Family. She said the Queen had been welcoming, as too was her new father-in-law Prince Charles. Now, with Princess Dianas 18-carat, oval, sapphire ring on her finger, she had realised her destiny. Containing 14 small diamonds surrounding the blue stone, in a cluster setting from the royal jewellers Garrard, the engagement ring had cost Prince Charles 28,000 thirty years earlier, when he had placed it on the finger of the shy Lady Diana Spencer, a young woman not long out of her teens. In todays money it would have cost 100,000, so perhaps in this age of austerity giving his fiance a recycled ring wasnt a bad PR move. But that had not been Williams motivation.

It was my mothers engagement ring, so I thought it was quite nice because obviously shes not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all this was my way of keeping her close to it all, he said. It was a touching gesture that some commented on: after all, hadnt it been an ill-fated ring that marked an ill-fated marriage and doomed match? It took Kates breath away when William produced it from his rucksack out of the blue while they holidayed together in Kenya. Its beautiful. I just hope I look after it. Its very, very special. In a single deeply significant gesture, William had brought his iconic mother right back into the public consciousness and onto the newspaper front pages that she had graced during the latter part of the 20th century, when she ranked as one of the most famous people in the world.