Police guard sparks Kate engagement talk

Police guard sparks Kate engagement talk

The Scotsman 6th January
FERGUS SHEPPARD – Media Correspondent

SECURITY around Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Prince William, is believed to have been tightened within the past 48 hours.

Mark Borkowski said: “Many newspapers have cut back on their picture desks over the years and there are more very clever freelancers.

“Some of them, with the right impromptu picture of Kate Middleton syndicated – even if it is not taken up by a publication here – would earn enough to keep the average man, woman and child in this country in a life of luxury for the next year.”

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The increased police presence has prompted speculation that either the couple are set to announce their engagement or that she has been the victim of a threat.

What is known for certain is that the former St Andrews’ student has been receiving growing attention from the paparazzi – something the Royal Family is understood to be keen to protect her from.

Despite the fact that as a private citizen she is not entitled to a police guard, two officers were posted outside Miss Middleton’s Chelsea home on Thursday, and her VW Golf received a police escort as she drove to her job at the Jigsaw fashion chain in Kew, West London.

Then at 3am yesterday, a group of ten police officers were called to a London nightclub after 24-year-olds Kate and William became aware of photographers outside.

The presence of high-profile security support, marks a clear change in attitude towards safety arrangements regarding Miss Middleton, whose habit of travelling to work by public transport has been hailed as a sign of her “down-to-earth” attitude.

However, up to a dozen paparazzi photographers now routinely tail Miss Middleton in the hope of securing a lucrative snap – an all too familiar scenario for William, whose mother Diana died in a car crash while being chased by photographers in Paris in 1997.

William has reportedly been told by aides that he should make a decision on the couple’s future before becoming a serving army officer prompting rumours of an imminent engagement announcement which would put Kate in line to become Queen.

One Fleet Street insider said: “Kate is seen as a more serious girlfriend than others so there is inevitably a lot of interest in what she does.”

Ms Middleton has voiced her concern over media behaviour ever since her relationship with William became public. In 2005, her legal team asked newspaper editors for privacy.

The Press Complaints commission yesterday told The Scotsman that lawyers for Miss Middleton had recently been in contact expressing concern about how some photographers were behaving.

A spokesman for the press watchdog said: “Kate Middleton’s lawyers have been in touch with us over the last few months.

“They have drawn to our attention a number of instances where they have had concerns.”

Newspapers would be potentially in breach of the PCC’s rules if they published paparazzi pictures that were obtained by subterfuge, harassment or other underhand methods.

However, one leading public relations expert last night warned that Miss Middleton was at the centre of a “long dirty war” driven by circulation and a global market for royal photos.

Mark Borkowski said: “Many newspapers have cut back on their picture desks over the years and there are more very clever freelancers.

“Some of them, with the right impromptu picture of Kate Middleton syndicated – even if it is not taken up by a publication here – would earn enough to keep the average man, woman and child in this country in a life of luxury for the next year.”

The value of royal pictures was spectacularly demonstrated by the photo of Princess Diana kissing Dodi al-Fayed on board a yacht in 1997. Taken off the Italian Riviera village of Portofino, the image earned celebrity photographer Jason Fraser – dubbed “king of the paparazzi” – a reported £1.3 million.

Scotland Yard and Clarence House last night refused to comment on security arrangements or suggestions that Ms Middleton had received threats.