Posted on 10/16/2007 5:48:58 PM PDT by SJackson
LONDON: Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton has been photographed publicly for the first time with the man tipped to become her future father-in-law, Prince Charles, as the two went deer hunting at the Queen's Balmoral estate.
Kate's presence on the Highlands shoot, which is the clearest sign yet that the 25-year-old fashion buyer has been fully accepted into the British Royal inner circle, has fuelled speculation that she is about to become engaged to Prince William.
She is spending the weekend with William at the 5000-acre Scottish estate -- where Prince Philip proposed to the Queen -- at the invitation of Prince Charles.
Dressed in a camouflage jacket, dark jeans, leg warmers and gaiters over her boots, Kate could be seen at one point lying on the ground -- seemingly to prepare the sights of her gun before shooting. With a pair of binoculars around her neck and a relaxed shooting position, she looked a veteran stalker.
Prince Charles, wearing a waterproof coat over a jacket and tie, and sporting plus-fours, was standing a few feet away from Kate, apparently supervising.
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Photos of Middleton rekindle engagement rumours Updated Sun. Oct. 14 2007 2:51 PM ET http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071014/Kate_Middleton_071014/20071014?hub=CTVNewsAt11
CTV.ca News Staff
Photographs of Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton deer hunting in the Scottish highlands with his father, Charles, have ignited fresh rumours of an imminent royal engagement.
The photos were splashed all over the Sunday morning papers, showing the 25-year-old Kate lying on her stomach, lining up a practice shot in the crosshairs of a large hunting rifle, and taking tips from Prince Charles.
Clad in dark denim, knee-high boot gaiters and an oversized camouflage-utility jacket, Middleton was photographed for the first time alongside Prince Charles at the family's Balmoral country estate.
She was flanked by two professional hunting guides while crouched in the tall grass and received coaching from Prince Charles, who scanned her target with binoculars.
Middleton's apparent interest in blood sports has rekindled speculation that she is slowly becoming accepted within royal circles.
The Sunday Times said the pictures suggested that Middleton's "induction into the Royal Family appears to have stepped up a notch.''
Kate and William were invited to the property as the guests of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on the trip or the deer stalking activities, citing the excursion as a private affair.
Newspapers reported Middleton and Prince William, second in line to the British throne, rekindled their relationship earlier this year after an amicable breakup in April.
The couple met at Scotland's St. Andrew's University in 2001 and began dating two years later.
They have been dogged by the paparazzi since their relationship became public. Less than two weeks ago, the couple was "aggressively" pursued by paparazzi while exiting the Boujis nightclub in London.
The threatening pursuit prompted Clarence House Communications Secretary, Paddy Harverson, too issue a statement expressing how "potentially dangerous and worrying" the incident was for the pair in light of this month's inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
In January a media scrum developed outside Middleton's London home as engagement speculation reached a fever pitch.
That same month, police were called to a London nightclub to keep photographers from getting too close to the couple as they left the venue.
Middleton lodged a complaint of media harassment in March against the Daily Mirror newspaper, but settled the claim in April after the paper issued an apology and admission of error.
hmmm...I suppose it’s not as bad as if Bill Clinton went hunting with her...or Dick Cheney, for other reasons...
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camouflage jacket, dark jeans, leg warmers and gaiters over her boots, lying on the ground with a pair of binoculars around her neck and a relaxed shooting position, she looked a veteran stalker, Prince Charles, wearing a waterproof coat over a jacket and tie, and sporting plus-fours,
Yes, that's deer hunting.
And yes, I'll spend a few minutes looking for pictures.
Scent, Charles, Kate, what kind of urine did you bring with you?
“5000-acre Scottish estate ...”
Over 60,000 acres, actually.
What are “plus-fours” ?
? 
.Kate Middleton
I know what stirrups are. The Prince and I dress differently for hunting.
Not much camouflage there. I’m going nowhere near scent control
That's a good sized estate.
I thought the Order of the Gaiter was some sort of badge or something...
I swear to God this girl looks exactly like me when I was her age.
Now I don’t know if that’s good or bad but every time I see her pic I am amazed.
I think I was chubbier but I have a pic of me that looks like this pic.
Understand this was...oh,...twenty five ytears ago, a little more.
I’m just saying...
She looks Irish.
.Kate Middleton
Look at the guy behind her... My thoughts exactly mate!
My maiden name was McLaughlin.
You’re right though. She looks like all the women in my family, or some variation thereof.
Blue eyed, definitely, kind of pointy chinned. Thick hair.
Yep...she could be a sister of mine...a cousin.
What the hey...
goofy golf pants...
You Dirty Old Man!!!
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