It’s barely been a week since Prince William announced his engagement to girlfriend Kate Middleton, but the media is flooded with news bits everyday.  This weekend saw a lot of articles regarding the royal couple.  Click here to find other articles this entry might have missed.

First up, Katie Nicholl’s royal articles.  While this royal correspondent doesn’t have the best track record in accuracy, she recently hit the jackpot by launching her book William and Harry William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls only a week before the engagement was announced.

Palace frustrated and Queen left in the dark as Prince William insists on taking charge of wedding plans

The decision by Prince William to oversee every last detail of his wedding has caused friction and complicated the preparations.  They said William has insisted his four-strong team of aides take charge – and has kept Buckingham Palace, which would normally play a key role, ‘largely in the dark’.

Based at St James’s Palace, William’s advisers were already on the back foot after he sprang last Tuesday’s engagement announcement upon them with just two hours’ warning.

The Mail on Sunday has been told that his refusal since then to accept help from senior members of the Queen’s household has added to the ‘general sense of frustration’.  A source said: ‘The Queen has joked that she hasn’t a clue what is going on, but it is actually quite serious. This is turning into a drawn out and rather complicated process.’

It also hasn’t helped that William, an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, returned to work after last week’s announcement.

Perhaps William is trying to avoid the political “grey men” that Diana had the displeasure of dealing with during her day…

Article: Daily Mail

The Mail on Sunday published a special Engagement Souvenir edition celebrating William and Kate’s engagement.  It contained excerpts from Katie Nicholl’s book covering Prince William’s courtship with Kate — through university, the “aha” moment, the breakups, the makeups and the promise of marriage.  It is the same excerpt that was recently published in Vanity Fair.  These articles, however, boast of new pictures! — For the familiar royal watcher, you’ll see newly revealed pictures of William & Kate dancing in a university gala back in October 2004.

• Kate Middleton: the making of a very middle class Princess (Part 1)
• Kate Middleton: the making of a very middle class Princess (Part 2)

Video of Kate SINGING!

12-year-old Kate Middleton plays Eliza Doolittle

A 12-year-old Kate Middleton starred as Eliza Doolittle in a school play production of My Fair Lady.  News of the World uncovered a video of the future Queen belting out classic songs such as Wouldn’t It Be Loverly and I Could Have Danced All Night.

A fellow cast member at St Andrews prep school, Berks, told NOTW: “Kate was the best thing in the whole show.”

News of the World is now a paid site, which means you’ll need a credit card or UK phone number to register.  However, registering gives you free credit, which means you won’t actually be spending anything to view this gem of a video!  Thanks to putski for the alert.

Video and Pictures: News of the World

Other Articles:

• The Sun: New pic of Kate and her engagement ring as she drives from her family home in Berkshire + William on a friend’s weekend stag do.
• Daily Mail: Kate to be given counseling to avoid possible depression for being the future King’s wife
• Express: Sophie Wessex volunteers as Kate’s steadying hand
• The Sun: William’s RAF pals plan special fly-past during his wedding day
• Express: Panic at the Palace as polls say William should be King instead of Charles
• FOR LAUGHS: Anne Hathaway portrays Kate Middleton on SNL spoof

Related Posts:

• Prince William Taking Over Queen’s Duties — Not!
• William & Kate Wedding Rumours Hit Fever Pitch
• 100 Days to Go Till the Royal Wedding
• Book Excerpt from Kate: The Making of a Princess
• The World Eagerly Awaits the Next Royal Wedding