Prince William and Kate Step Out - Separate Doors
Prince William’s ex Kate Middleton remains very much in the limelight following their split.
By Ellie Ross
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 6/20/07 — The 25 year old, whose split with the heir to the throne was announced 3 months ago, is pictured almost daily in London evening newspapers, leaving clubs such as Mahiki bar in Mayfair. Mahiki was a regular haunt of the couple during their relationship and remains one of William’s favourite haunts.
The paps are no doubt hoping to capture a chance encounter of the exes. But so far this hasn’t happened, forcing the papers to resort to such desperate measures as a feature pointing out Kate’s dirty feet (on the front of the Evening Standard last week). Perhaps William’s great friend Guy Pelly, a barman at Mahiki, has something to do with the couple’s avoidance of one another.
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Kate has also appeared at society events such as the launch of Simon Sebag Montefiore’s new book ‘The Young Stalin’ at which she was accompanied by her younger sister Pippa. The author’s wife is Santa Palmer- Tomkinson, and Kate’s invitation apparently came from the Palmer-Tomkinson family, who are good friends of the royal family and remain fond of Kate after she accompanied them skiing with William.
Middle class Kate and her family were the subject of cruel, classist comment in the UK press following the split. Her mother, Carol Middleton, who co-owns a party accessories business with her husband in Bucklebury, Berkshire, was particularly in the firing line. Reports said that the royal family disapproved of her pushiness in encouraging the relationship and her lowly background as an air stewardess. Apparently William’s snobby friends used to greet Kate’s arrival with whispers of ‘Doors to manual’, a sneering jibe at her mother’s former career.
Even Carol’s speech was criticised – she said ‘toilet’ not ‘loo’ (infra dig amongst the English upper classes ) and on introduction to the Queen greeted her with a breezy ‘Nice to meet you’ rather than the formal ‘How do you do M’am’. Her chewing of gum at Prince William’s passing out parade at Sandhurst Military Academy caused consternation – although there were suggestions it was nicotine gum.
Prince William was apparently ‘not amused’ when Kate’s colleagues at clothes company ‘Jigsaw’ mocked up a banknote with Kate’s head on it in place of the queen’s. She was also criticised for dressing dowdily and tweedily in an attempt to appear like suitable royal wife material – in contrast with carefree Chelsey Davy, Prince Harry’s girlfriend, who dresses in sexy short skirts and Ugg boots.
Not so now. Kate has appeared in a succession of slinky outfits, proving the critics wrong and showing off her new toned figure – the result, apparently, of daily sessions with a personal trainer rather than her heartbreak.
Having been widely portrayed as the dumped party, one can’t blame Kate for wanting to show the world that she has risen above the press reports and is not grieving the demise of her relationship. Particularly amidst reports that William is infatuated with aristocratic actress Isabella Anstruther-Gough- Calthorpe. The ostentatiously named starlet is currently performing under her stage name Isabella Calthorpe in the West end production of Dirty Dancing, playing Baby’s hula dancing sister. What would the royal family make of that?
There has been widespread speculation about whether Kate will sell the story of her relationship to the tabloids. Such a decision could make her a multi millionaire overnight. But naturally discreet Kate seems to be abiding by her reported promise to William not to speak out.. And with UK gossip magazine ‘Hello!’ heralding her an A list star in her own right, and the paparazzi following her every move, why on earth would she? The question for Katie, is what will she do next?