End of the Fairytale

PRINCE William's five-year romance with Kate Middleton was dramatically killed off at a secret royal summit when the Queen said: "Don't rush down the aisle—we don't want another Diana."

Her Majesty issued the shock advice around 10 days ago after William sensationally confessed his doubts at a top-level family conference.

The prince told other royals, including Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, that he didn't want to commit to marriage in the near future and preferred to put his Army and state duties first.

The final death blow to Wills' relationship with his university sweetheart was delivered by grandfather Prince Philip.

He declared: "You can't string her along for ever."

It was felt by senior royals that after five years, the couple really ought to know if the relationship was going anywhere. They were very young when they met at university and it now seemed to have run its natural course.

The high-powered meeting of the family's most senior members— often known as the Way Ahead Group— was called at Windsor before Easter to discuss Wills' future and the important constitutional role he will play over the next few years.

Furious

But when the young prince arrived for the pow-wow he had already had a heart-to-heart with Kate following a spate of stories in which he was pictured in nightclubs cuddling or groping other girls.

Feisty Kate, 25, who famously said of Wills: "He's lucky to be going out with ME"—was furious and demanded to know where she stood.

When the prince told her he was not ready to give her any more commitment they both realised their whole relationship was in jeopardy.

William, second in line to the throne, had also confided in his father the Prince of Wales, who assured him he would stand by any decision he took.

But in the end it was the ever-present ghost of Wills' mother Princess Diana—plus the fear of yet another failed marriage and ‘annus horribilis'—that galvanised the Windsors into action.

This August sees the 10th anniversary of Diana's death but the outcry caused by the tragedy still haunts the royal family.

And within minutes of the summit meeting starting the conversation turned to William's worries about Kate. The gathering listened intently as the prince candidly described how SHE wanted more from their relationship, then admitted HE didn't know which way to turn.

He told the meeting: "I don't want any more commitment, I don't want to get married just yet. What should I do?"

That's when the Queen told her grandson straight that she didn't want him to rush into anything he felt he would regret later. She led the discussions that followed and calmed the young prince.

She made it clear the family must learn from earlier mistakes that cast them in such a bad light and urged caution so that history did not repeat itself.

A senior courtier last night told the News of the World: "The meeting went straight to the issue of William's feelings for Kate. What he said came like a bolt out of the blue. William explained how he's been enjoying life in the Army and the freedom it gives him, and that he doesn't want to be tied down at the moment.

"Within the royal family the Queen acts as head of the country and Prince Philip is the head of the family—so it was he who then gave William a fatherly talking-to. He told him frankly that he has to ‘put up or shut up'. He either commits to Kate now or he walks away. He stressed that he couldn't mess a woman around and treat her badly.

"The Queen had thought Kate could be the future of the monarchy, the future Queen even. She liked her a lot and every time they met they got on extremely well.

"But she had to put her grandson's interests first and sadly for her that meant doing what is best for him and the future of the monarchy. "If a marriage had gone ahead and ended in tears the Queen simply didn't want to still be the reigning monarch in 10 years time and left wondering why she let it go ahead. It wouldn't bode well for the royals or look good around the world.

"It's clear the Queen doesn't want William to go through a carbon copy rerun of his father, marrying the wrong woman."

Staff at Clarence House were told about the split seven days ago.

William, 24, and Kate have both been out with pals in recent days, trying to forget their upset over the end of a love affair that first blossomed as they studied together at St Andrews University.

William was partying at top London nightclub Mahiki on Friday. And on Thursday night Kate—an accessories buyer for fashion chain Jigsaw—shared the news with close friends at a dinner party.

A source at the meal told us: "At first when Kate walked in the room it wasn't apparent there was anything untoward going on.

"Halfway through the evening the conversation turned towards relationships and boys and everyone had their say. But as calm as anything, Kate turned round and said she was no longer going out with William. ‘It's over,' she said.

"Everyone's jaw just dropped to the table. There was a huge sense of disbelief, nobody could quite take it in. But Kate put on her British stiff upper lip. It was apparent she wasn't going to break down in tears. In fact she was very calm throughout the whole evening."

She might have guessed the writing was on the wall two years ago in Klosters when William admitted to reporters: "Look, I'm only 22 for God's sake. I'm too young to marry ...I don't want to get married until I'm at least 28 or maybe 30."

Sexy

Things still looked rosy last December when lip-readers at Wills' Sandhurst passing-out ceremony spotted Kate saying her man was "so, so sexy" and later added: "I love the uniform."

The downward spiral started around the prince's initiation period in January and February at Combermere Barracks, Windsor.

Kate only lives a 20-minute drive away from the base but Wills preferred to watch football on TV rather than see her.

One local said: "I saw him in the pub next to the barracks and he was enjoying himself playing pool and watching the Champions League. He just wanted to be one of the boys.

"I didn't even see him check his phone to see if Kate called or left a message."

Last month the couple were pictured enjoying close moments on the Swiss ski slopes in Zermatt. But back home, William has been based in Bovington, Dorset, on a troop leader course.

There have been occasions when he could have driven to meet Kate but, again, he preferred to stay with his fellow officers.

Then a fortnight ago came his night on the town in Bournemouth which sparked a ferocious row. "A source said: "Kate absolutely blew her top. She didn't know whether she could trust him any more."

A friend of the couple last night said: "William would often just want to crash in his room after being on exercises rather than travel to see Kate. It's very sad what's happened but as time went on they spent less and less time together. So they've decided to end it while they were both on good terms.

"They've drifted apart because they want different things.

"But somehow I don't think this is the last you'll see of Kate. She's a beautiful young woman and maybe there still is a future for the two of them—but not at the moment."