A Prince and his Queen-to-be

THE love between Prince William and Kate Middleton was self-evident as they posed for their engagement photos. Their tender intimacy and good humour spoke volumes; there was none of the awkwardness when the Prince's parents prepared to marry. And, while the announcement surprised few, its timing – and the ensuing goodwill – showed the Royal Family's continuing esteem and its ability to unite and lift the nation at a time of great uncertainty.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Nov 2010, 22:35 BST
Updated 16th Nov 2010, 22:35 BST

Next year's ceremony should continue the tradition of royal weddings galvanising the nation's spirits in a time of austerity – the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh married in the aftermath of the war while the recession of the early 1980s formed the backdrop to the marriage of Willam's parents. An international celebration, it will also be a service rich with poignancy. For, as well as being the 30th anniversary of Prince Charles's ill-fated marriage to Lady Diana Spencer, 2011 would also have been the 50th birthday of the late Princess.

Yet, while Prince William has clearly inherited his mother's easy-going manner, he and his bride-to-be have learned lessons from the unhappy history of some past royal marriages. He and Kate, or Princess Catherine as she will become known, have enjoyed a long courtship, lasting eight years, that has withstood both the test of time – and intense media scrutiny. This has not been a whirlwind romance.

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Both are, of course, enormously aware of their onerous responsibilities as a future King and Queen of this country. And, while both know that the public's expectations will be high, and that the House of Windsor cannot afford another marriage that ends in acrimony, the couple's low-key romance bodes well as they prepare for a life in the spotlight.

The fact that William is a thoroughly modern Prince – a serving officer in the RAF – has seen him earm the public's enduring respect, as exemplified by his Remembrance Sunday visit to Afghanistan. A greater challenge will be to ensure that his wife's role is clearly defined to avoid the pitfalls that have afflicted other commoners who have married into the Royal Family. Equally important is the couple's desire to retain their privacy – the timing of their engagement was even kept from senior politicians – and the extent to which the Royal household is now far better equipped to handle the demands of the modern media, hence the quiet support that has been offered to Kate Middleton while her prince has pursued his career.

Yesterday's engagement was a momentous, life-changing announcement for the couple – and the country that they will eventually reign over. In this era of celebrity froth, it is difficult to think of two finer young people to lead Britain, and the Commonwealth, into the future. We wish them well.

Related topics:Prince WilliamPrinceKate MiddletonQueenPrince Charles