After more than a quarter of a century, the scene is being repeated. A young girl is hounded by the media as she tries hard to go about her everyday life just because she happens to be the lady love of the future king of England.
Things were at their worst on January 9 when Kate, who turned 25 that day, stepped out of her house to go to work and come face to face with about 30 paparazzi and media men. It was a struggle for her to get to her car and a couple of photographers then stepped right in front to click some close-ups, making it difficult for her to drive away. The incident upset and frightened her so that it prompted a call to the police. This was the roughest treatment Kate has received from the media since her relationship with Prince William became known. It not only scared her but the royal family too and Kate has asked a law firm to draw up a plan to ward off unwanted media attention.
Middleton's lawyers will seek word from newspapers that they will not send reporters and phtotgraphers to hound her. If the promises are breached, she will be able to bring about legal action against the publication and the photographers and will also invoke human rights laws to protect her privacy. Prince William, 24, was highly disturbed that his girlfriend is being treated in the same manner as his mother Princess Diana, who had a fatal accident when her car was chased by the paparazzi. Speaking through his spokesman, the young prince has asked the media to stop harassing her.
Following this request by the royal family, UK's News International Group, which owns The Sun and News of the World, has imposed a ban on all News International publications printing paparazzi photos of Kate Middleton. The ban was lauded by the prince.
Middleton, who works as an accessories merchandiser for apparel store, met William in 2001 when both were students at the university of St Andrews. The two started dating towards the end of 2003 and have been together since. Everyone is expecting the engagement announcement to come any time and there are clear indications that the royal family approves of her. Last month, whe was in attendance, along with the queen, at William's graduation from Sandhurst military academy. He has since joined the Blues and Royals, an elite cavalry regiment.
There was even a report that Kate was invited by the Queen to Christmas lunch last December, making her the first unmarried partner of a royal to be asked to the festive celebrations at the royal estate of Sandringham House, Norfolk. Middleton, however, declined the offer preferring to spend Christmas with her own family.
Memories of how the media eventually drove Princess Diana to her death are painful enough for the young prince to deal with and he now has his girlfriend's safety to worry about as well. They royal family may not have much to do besides making the right public appearances and statements, but these poor folks aren't free to do anything else with the media breathing down their neck, it's a hard life, even for a prince and a would-be princess.

 

By : Atif Khan