William and Kate to marry but not until 2011 · 2009-08-17 19:36
Kate Middleton is getting used to walking down the aisle at a wedding on Prince William's arm.
But on Friday, yet again, it was not their marriage, but a friend's ??“ Guards officer Nick van Cutsem, who quipped to the couple: "Your'e next!"
All the talk after the ceremony in London was of "pressure" on the prince to finally pop the question to his long term girlfriend.
According to News of the World, it is no longer a question of if but when.
The plan is that by the time the Queen celebrates her historic Diamond Jubilee in 2012 Kate will be on the palace balcony at her side as a fully-fledged princess.
Well-placed sources say that while marriage is a "done deal" it is not expected until 2011 at the earliest.
Kate is secure in the knowledge that the secret pact has already been made and the palace blueprint for the future, creating the next Prince and Princess of Wales, is already firmly in place.
William is a deep thinker, not brash and impulsive like his younger brother. He takes his role as future King and face of the royal family very seriously.
Insiders say he and his key advisers have a route map to the altar in place with Kate, the girl he has dated since they fell in love as students at St Andrews University, at its heart.
Those in the know say one of William's foremost concerns is protecting Kate. One senior figure said: "He knows that as soon as an announcement is made their lives will never be the same again."
Another strand of this carefully crafted strategy focuses on brothers William and Harry. In the short term the princes will focus on their military careers, but next year they will do more in the outside world together ??“ including foreign trips, public engagements and TV interviews.
William also has at least two big tours lined up on his own next year representating the Queen in Australia and South Africa.
The palace thinking behind this is that he has to be recognised as an individual working royal in his own right – before his personality is engulfed by "Kate-mania", just as his father's was swamped by the Diana phenomenon.
Courtiers and William himself know that any early announcement will spark a celebrity hurricane, turning Kate into a global superstar before he has been able to establish himself as an independent stand-alone royal on the national and international stages.
The palace are desperate to avoid a repeat of Di-mania. And this will dictate official confirmation of the marriage date. One impeccable source said: _"It is now accepted among senior members of the family that William and Kate WILL marry. They are totally committed to each other.
"But the timing is very important. It would have to be wrong to force the situation before William is established in his own right.
"In the future it is hoped that Kate will pay a supporting role, rather as the Duchess of Cornwall has for the Prince of Wales."
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