British Royals

Weekend tidbits (and ironically another round of non-stories) on Prince William & girlfriend Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton moves in with Prince William… so are wedding bells on the cards?

This has been falsely reported numerous times before.  This time is no different.  No concrete proof… just Katie Nicholl connecting the dots — citing recent outings by the couple spotted by the press and information gathered from the The Party Times website.

Prince William and long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton are busy home-making in Wales, sparking fresh rumours that they will shortly announce their marriage plans. Sources close to the couple say Kate has given up her full-time job at Party Pieces, her family’s internet party planning business, and now spends much of her time at William’s home in North Wales while he trains to be an RAF search-and-rescue heli­copter pilot.

Reveals a “friend”: “Kate no longer works on a full-time basis at the offices of Party Pieces as those closest to her feel it wouldn’t be fitting for a future Queen to be working on a family-run web­site. Kate used to be the photo­grapher for Party Pieces, but they’ve hired Millie Pilkington to replace her and Kate is now focusing on her life with William while he trains at RAF Valley. William will be training for three years and they agreed that Kate should be closer to him. They go out to the shops in Blaenau Ffestiniog for groceries and she’s settling in well.”

Article: Daily Mail

Kate Middleton warns Wills to stay away from Africa/Jecca

Bride-in-waiting Kate Middleton has ordered Prince William to keep out of Africa – and away from his Kenyan-based old flame Jessica Craig.

Concerned Kate has seen William become a shoulder to cry on for ­Jessica after the break-up of her engagement. She broke off her engagement to Hugh Crossley last October but was devastated when he married and became a dad four months later.

Kate hit the roof when William told her he wanted to return to Africa this month to support Jecca, 28, who’ll be hosting a charity marathon across the family wildlife estate.

Article: Daily Star

Note: Prince William has already been a supporter of the Safari Marathon.  In May, he received prospective runners in St. James’ Place.  Previous story here.  And besides, William doesn’t need to go to Lewa to see Jecca.  She lives in the UK and was recently spotted at Ascot.

William “kicking himself” for predicting his marriage 5 years ago

During a ski holiday five years ago, William, who turns 28 today, admitted that he didn’t want to get married until he was “28 or even 30“.

Now he is said to have told friends: “I was young, I’d had a few drinks… what can I say? I wish I had kept my big mouth shut!”

Sources say the prince is “deeply committed” to Kate Middleton, who he has been dating for almost eight years, but is determined to concentrate on his career as an RAF search and rescue pilot for the foreseeable future.

Tags: jecca, kate, william

Jecca & Hugh Crossley

Perhaps the juiciest of this weekend’s royal gossip is the fact that Jecca Craig has called off her engagement with long time boyfriend Hugh Crossley. Just as we did when Emila d’Erlanger announced her engagement, let’s get to know Jecca a bit more.

Who is Jecca?

Jessica (Jecca) Craig is a very close friend (rumoured ex-girlfriend) of Prince William.  Her family owns a wildlife reserve in Kenya where Wills spent part of his gap year helping with rhino conservation.  He and Jecca are said to have carried out a “pretend engagement” during their time together.  On Wills’ 21st birthday celebration, his Out of Africa themed party saw Jecca as guest of honor.  In 2003, St James’s Palace “denies that there is or ever has been any romantic liaison between Prince William and Jessica Craig.”

Nevertheless, Wills has remained close with Jecca.  He goes to Africa almost every year to visit her family.  In 2005, he even brought girlfriend Kate Middleton on an African holiday with Jecca as their guide.  Last year, William opted to attend Jecca’s brother’s wedding in Kenya over his own cousin Peter Phillips’.

Jecca is currently based in London and has been living with boyfriend Hugh Crossley since 2005.  In October last year, they announced their engagement.  Now, as confirmed by Jecca’s father, the engagement is off.  “There are no third parties involved.  Jecca decided she just wanted to finish her degree.” There are also rumors that the reason behind the break up is because Hugh wouldn’t want to relocate to Africa.  Hugh, appearing hopeful, says they are still “working it out.”

Kate & Jecca

Article: Telegraph
Old Article: Wills in the Wilderness with Kate & Jecca (2005)

Is this news significant?  Probably not.  People who are not in favor of Kate Middleton may find Jecca a suitable alternative, but I doubt that this has anything to do with William.  I personally like Jecca.  She knows how to behave and keep her mouth shut.  And she hails from a dignified family that is deeply involved in a wonderful wildlife conservation project.  So does Kate have reason to worry?  Don’t think so.  She and Jecca seem to have grown as friends.  The past few years saw them attending weddings together, whispering intimately during the Boodles Boxing Ball, sharing hello kisses during William’s birthday…  Has William really ever been in a relationship with Jecca?  Possibly.  Seriously?  I doubt it.  If the relationship had ever been serious, Clarence House would NOT have denied it.

Tags: jecca, kate, william