Prince William and Kate Middleton

by Chris Peacock

  We are told that Westminster Abbey was chosen for its ‘staggering beauty’, its 1000-year-old Royal history, and – despite its size – its feeling of intimacy. No-one does weddings like the British Royal family, and one can expect the occasion to be broadcast to hundreds of millions of people across the globe.

  So what does the future hold? Considering the circumstances of his parents’ marriage – its sad demise into divorce – and tragic death of his mother, one can only wish the couple a very happy and prosperous marriage – and pray that no tragedy ever befalls them. In this new-media age, one cannot imagine that the couple will ever have more than a semblance of privacy, and yet one hopes that through the ups and downs of their relationship that they have both learned how to cope with intense media focus.

  Whatever the couple experience in the future, it is sure to be an interesting ride. For ‘fans’ of the British Royal Family, for those with an interest in its thousand-plus year history, and certainly for Prince William and Kate Middleton, it is sure to be an interesting ride.

  Appendices

  Prince William’s Military Ranks

  January 2006 – 16 December 2006: Officer Cadet

  16 December 2006 – 16 December 2006: Cornet (Second Lieutenant), The Blues and Royals

  16 December 2006 – 1 January 2009 : Lieutenant, The Blues and Royals

  1 January 2008 – 1 January 2009: Flying Officer, Royal Air Force

  1 January 2008 – 1 January 2009 : Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Navy

  1 January 2009 – present: Lieutenant, Royal Navy

  1 January 2009 – present: Captain, The Blues and Royals

  1 January 2009 – present: Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force

  Prince William’s Honorary Military Appointments

  10 November 2009 – present: Canadian Ranger

  3 October 2008 – present: Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Coningsby

  8 August 2006 – present: Commodore-in-Chief of HMNB Clyde

  8 August 2006 – present: Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Submarine Service

  8 August 2006 – present: Commodore-in-Chief of Scotland

  10 February 2011 – present: Colonel of the Regiment Irish Guards

  Prince William’s Honours

  23 April 2008 – present: Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG)

  6 July 2009: Called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

  6 July 2009: Called to the Bench by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

  23 June 2010: Made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)

  6 February 2002: Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal

  Charities Supported by Prince William

  Centrepoint

  Child Bereavement Charity

  Diana Awards

  Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund

  Help for Heroes

  Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund

  National AIDS Trust

  Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  Sentebale

  Skill Force

  The Countryside Foundation For Education

  The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry

  Tusk Trust

  Facts about Prince William

  Please note these are not necessarily from confirmed sources; please notify the author or publisher if inaccuracies are discovered

  Favourite Foods:

  Pasta

  Venison

  Fruit Salad

  Hamburgers

  Chocolate

  Favourite Hobbies and Sports:

  Swimming

  Polo

  Tennis

  Football

  Skiing

  Hockey

  Rowing

  Shooting

  Nicknames:

  Wills

  His Naughtiness

  Billy

  Wombat

  Interesting Fact – Prince William is left-handed

  Also Available