‘Charles prompted Wills’ decision on Kate’

Prince Charles encouraged his son Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, to reach a “make or break” decision on whether to marry his long-time girlfriend...

Prince Charles encouraged his son Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, to reach a “make or break” decision on whether to marry his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, according to The Sunday Telegraph. “William was recently advised by his father to think about making up his mind one way or the other,” a source close to the royal family was quoted as saying.

“Prince Charles has suggested that it would not be fair to keep Kate hanging on if he was not prepared to marry her sooner rather than later. This is history repeating itself as Prince Philip told Charles during his courtship of Diana that he had to make his intentions known swiftly.”

The Queen, who had met Kate on a few occasions, is said to be upset. “Kate is such a nice girl and the Queen likes her very much,” said a friend of the monarch. “Prince William is an extra special grandchild because he has been brought up to take over her role. She has a special affection for him.”

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According to The Mail, William decided to break up because he felt the “fun” had disappeared from their relationship. The report said the 24-year-old prince told Middleton, 25, that it was all over in a “face-to-face” meeting last weekend. “He sat her down and told her, he didn’t gild the lily,” said a source.

Afterwards, William reportedly told a friend: “I’m too young for all this. I’m just doing what normal 24-year-old blokes do. I don’t need to be nailed down. All the fun has gone out of it.” Middleton was reported to be “desperately upset”. Her friends said she had always believed they would marry.

William has acknowledged there were underlying factors that led to the split, including the belief that their different backgrounds could not be ultimately reconciled. Yet it was a showdown forced by Middleton three weeks ago that triggered the decision to end it once and for all. Following William’s high-profile partying last month, she reportedly sought “assurances” from him. “Until then she had never pressed William about it,” explained a source. “This was not really an ultimatum, more a test. She just wanted to know where she stood, to clarify her position. William responded by saying he was not ready for marriage — and the whole thing collapsed.”

According to the tabloid, it was William’s “obsession” with one girl in particular — stunning heiress Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe — that really made Middleton feel threatened. William is also said to have told friends that he thought his brother Harry’s girlfriend Chelsy Davy was “more fun” than Kate, adding: “She is also very bright.”