Kate Middleton
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.
Has she learned how to say, “How do you do?” ...?
That’s great, I would have posted it, but since you didn’t........
Kate Middleton
Myself, I've found cheaper alternatives.
Thank goodness the Scottish Highlands allow Royals to have guns! (otherwise it could be a violation) /s
She’s a keeper.
She very well may be.
Is there a clan called Yummy? ‘cause to me, she definitely looks YUMMY!
Maybe in Northern Ireland...
Not a lot of hunting required in that shot.
How dare they go hunting! Has PETA been notified?
“She looks Irish”
She does,and maybe their’s a son or daughter of Erin in her background, but the name is English.
http://www.houseofnames.com/coatofarms_details.asp?sId=&s=middleton
there’s.
I like fishnet stocking. How about you?
OMG! I didn’t know Sherwood Forest had “dears” like this!!
Deer hunter Kate under fire for going shooting with Royals
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Dressed in camouflage gear, Kate Middleton got some expert coaching before taking aim
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Huntswoman: Kate takes aim as she is tutored by ghillies
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