Post by mousiekins on Aug 29, 2010 8:47:26 GMT -5
In a revealing interview that’s set to rock the monarchy, a member of Prince William’s inner circle exposes the young royal’s darkest secrets: his flings, his loathing of royal duties and the real reason he’s stalling over marrying girlfriend Kate Middleton – he’s still in love with Jessica ‘Jecca’ Craig, the woman named as his ‘true soulmate’.
William’s long-time friend and confidante Tamara tells New Idea exclusively that the 28-year-old heir to the throne is set to repeat his father’s biggest mistake and marry the wrong woman. Just as Prince Charles wed Diana and kept his lover Camilla Parker Bowles waiting in the wings, Wills is caught in a messy love triangle between Kate and his first love, African-born Jecca, 27.
According to Tamara, Wills is in regular contact by phone, text message and email with his ex-girlfriend, who is single after calling off her engagement to British aristocrat Hugh Crossley. He’s also met with her several times in London and her native Kenya. He is ‘definitely’ still in love with her and has been since he was 19.
‘She was his first real true love and he’s not the type of person who gets over that,’ Tamara says, speaking out for the first time.
The Wills-and-Jecca love story seems to be the Charles-and-Camilla saga repeated.
‘It’s sad in a way that Kate Middleton exists, because they’d be a sweet couple,’ Tamara says. She thinks Wills would be making a huge blunder marrying Kate, because it’s obvious to his friends – and brother Prince Harry – that Jecca is ‘definitely his soulmate’.
‘Harry sees how much his brother loves her and cares about her so of course he respects her and likes her as well,’ Tamara adds. ‘[Jecca is] fairly open and incredibly nice and intelligent.’
Wills’ reluctance to propose to Kate, who he’s dated on and off since 2003, comes as no surprise to those who know about Jecca. Even less surprising is news that Jecca didn’t return to Kenya as expected after breaking up with Hugh and has lingered on in London.
Tamara believes protocol is the main thing keeping the pair apart. ‘I’m surprised they aren’t dating right now – I guess because he has to stick with Kate and Jecca has just ended her engagement,’ she says.
‘She kind of broke it off [the contact with Wills] for a while, especially when she was engaged. I think she was expecting him to get engaged soon and she didn’t want to be looped in with the marriage and become a Camilla sort of thing. And of course she thought she’d be getting married.
‘But when [Jecca and Hugh] broke up, a lot of people said: “Well now that she’s free, maybe William will make a move.”
‘About two weeks ago I was in discussion with who says Jecca isn’t really keen on taking up a job in London because it’ll be too much publicity, too much of a temptation. And of course William can’t exactly move to Africa.’
In the UK, Jecca is often jokingly called Wills’ ‘former fiancee’ – a reference to a ‘pretend engagement’ game they played when he stayed at her parents’ Lewa wildlife reserve during his 2001 gap year. British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported it was ‘an open secret he had a fairly serious fling’ with Jecca.
When speculation about the relationship heated up in 2003, royal minders took the unusual step of issuing a formal statement insisting the pair had never dated. The palace had never done this for other rumours and the media concluded Wills wanted to protect Jecca from public scrutiny. Shortly after, she was Wills’ guest of honour at his African-themed 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.
‘She was sitting at his right hand in a position normally reserved for a serious girlfriend, wife or fiancee,’ Tamara recalls.
According to Tamara, Wills has never recovered from splitting with Jecca over different priorities – his destiny is the throne and she is a free spirit.
‘Jecca’s family has a place in Kenya and William has always loved Africa. He loves the freedom of it,’ Tamara explains.
‘Between Jecca and Africa, I think he fell in love with both. But she’s used to freedom and cut him off and said: “I don’t want that kind of life.” She doesn’t want to live the life of a princess. She wants to have a real career. You can’t do that if you’re married to a future king.’
Wills was devastated by the end of the romance and threw himself into life at St Andrews University. Tamara says the split prompted Wills into many flings.
‘He dated a lot of girls at St Andrews the press never seemed to report on. He was confused – which is kind of stupid, because it seems obvious why Jecca wouldn’t want to be in a serious relationship with him. But he couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around it,’ she says.
Wills met Kate at St Andrews and romance appeared to blossom. But after five years of what seemed a serious courtship, they split in April 2007. Tamara says Wills was quick to look for other prospects.
‘He put out feelers towards other girls besides Jecca to see if anyone was interested and he got really battered down,’ Tamara says.
‘I think he’s losing his looks – he’s going bald and is looking more “Windsorish”. Most of the girls he’d marry or date are engaged or married already.’
But that didn’t stop Wills.
‘There are seven or eight girls he’s had flings with. But Kate doesn’t really care. She knows she’ll get the ultimate prize – the wedding and the title,’ Tamara says. ‘I think maybe she cared when they first left university and she had a thing about having an engagement ring immediately. But as time’s gone by she’s relaxed.’
William’s bevy of past women consists of ‘girls he’s known for a while, so he knows they’re not going to be saying anything about him publicly’, explains the 29-year-old, who has been a part of Wills’ royal inner circle since meeting as teenagers at a party at Eton. ‘They’re protecting their social status as much as he is.’
But Tamara predicts Kate won’t tolerate flirting once they marry, ‘because there’s a huge difference between having some fun when you have a girlfriend compared to when you’re married’.
Keep enemies close
Kate and Jecca have met on several social occasions. In 2005, Wills even took Kate on an African holiday, with Jecca as their guide. Tamara says the relationship between the two love rivals is ‘very polite’.
‘Of course Kate is always on the lookout for any kind of thing that seems screwy,’ Tamara says. ‘She was looking forward to Jecca getting married because she thought that would be the end of it.
‘I think she was jealous, but I don’t think she sees a reason to be anymore. I think Kate pretty much knows that nothing will keep her from marrying that man.’
Tamara is ‘99 per cent sure’ Wills will deny his feelings for Jecca and marry Kate, but he’ll delay it for as long as possible.
‘I don’t think it will happen for another year at least, maybe two years. He’s going to enjoy every last thing he can out of the military beforehand.
‘I know he’s happy that he’s getting to stay in the air force for another however many years before going straight to royal duties. That’s the only reason I think he ever joined the military… He’s not shy about how he doesn’t like the official stuff. He’s been listening to his father complain about the daily duties and how boring it is.
‘That’s another reason to keep from getting married. The second he has a wife he’ll be expected to go out and do things together – not hide away from anyone.’
William’s long-time friend and confidante Tamara tells New Idea exclusively that the 28-year-old heir to the throne is set to repeat his father’s biggest mistake and marry the wrong woman. Just as Prince Charles wed Diana and kept his lover Camilla Parker Bowles waiting in the wings, Wills is caught in a messy love triangle between Kate and his first love, African-born Jecca, 27.
According to Tamara, Wills is in regular contact by phone, text message and email with his ex-girlfriend, who is single after calling off her engagement to British aristocrat Hugh Crossley. He’s also met with her several times in London and her native Kenya. He is ‘definitely’ still in love with her and has been since he was 19.
‘She was his first real true love and he’s not the type of person who gets over that,’ Tamara says, speaking out for the first time.
The Wills-and-Jecca love story seems to be the Charles-and-Camilla saga repeated.
‘It’s sad in a way that Kate Middleton exists, because they’d be a sweet couple,’ Tamara says. She thinks Wills would be making a huge blunder marrying Kate, because it’s obvious to his friends – and brother Prince Harry – that Jecca is ‘definitely his soulmate’.
‘Harry sees how much his brother loves her and cares about her so of course he respects her and likes her as well,’ Tamara adds. ‘[Jecca is] fairly open and incredibly nice and intelligent.’
Wills’ reluctance to propose to Kate, who he’s dated on and off since 2003, comes as no surprise to those who know about Jecca. Even less surprising is news that Jecca didn’t return to Kenya as expected after breaking up with Hugh and has lingered on in London.
Tamara believes protocol is the main thing keeping the pair apart. ‘I’m surprised they aren’t dating right now – I guess because he has to stick with Kate and Jecca has just ended her engagement,’ she says.
‘She kind of broke it off [the contact with Wills] for a while, especially when she was engaged. I think she was expecting him to get engaged soon and she didn’t want to be looped in with the marriage and become a Camilla sort of thing. And of course she thought she’d be getting married.
‘But when [Jecca and Hugh] broke up, a lot of people said: “Well now that she’s free, maybe William will make a move.”
‘About two weeks ago I was in discussion with who says Jecca isn’t really keen on taking up a job in London because it’ll be too much publicity, too much of a temptation. And of course William can’t exactly move to Africa.’
In the UK, Jecca is often jokingly called Wills’ ‘former fiancee’ – a reference to a ‘pretend engagement’ game they played when he stayed at her parents’ Lewa wildlife reserve during his 2001 gap year. British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported it was ‘an open secret he had a fairly serious fling’ with Jecca.
When speculation about the relationship heated up in 2003, royal minders took the unusual step of issuing a formal statement insisting the pair had never dated. The palace had never done this for other rumours and the media concluded Wills wanted to protect Jecca from public scrutiny. Shortly after, she was Wills’ guest of honour at his African-themed 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.
‘She was sitting at his right hand in a position normally reserved for a serious girlfriend, wife or fiancee,’ Tamara recalls.
According to Tamara, Wills has never recovered from splitting with Jecca over different priorities – his destiny is the throne and she is a free spirit.
‘Jecca’s family has a place in Kenya and William has always loved Africa. He loves the freedom of it,’ Tamara explains.
‘Between Jecca and Africa, I think he fell in love with both. But she’s used to freedom and cut him off and said: “I don’t want that kind of life.” She doesn’t want to live the life of a princess. She wants to have a real career. You can’t do that if you’re married to a future king.’
Wills was devastated by the end of the romance and threw himself into life at St Andrews University. Tamara says the split prompted Wills into many flings.
‘He dated a lot of girls at St Andrews the press never seemed to report on. He was confused – which is kind of stupid, because it seems obvious why Jecca wouldn’t want to be in a serious relationship with him. But he couldn’t seem to wrap his mind around it,’ she says.
Wills met Kate at St Andrews and romance appeared to blossom. But after five years of what seemed a serious courtship, they split in April 2007. Tamara says Wills was quick to look for other prospects.
‘He put out feelers towards other girls besides Jecca to see if anyone was interested and he got really battered down,’ Tamara says.
‘I think he’s losing his looks – he’s going bald and is looking more “Windsorish”. Most of the girls he’d marry or date are engaged or married already.’
But that didn’t stop Wills.
‘There are seven or eight girls he’s had flings with. But Kate doesn’t really care. She knows she’ll get the ultimate prize – the wedding and the title,’ Tamara says. ‘I think maybe she cared when they first left university and she had a thing about having an engagement ring immediately. But as time’s gone by she’s relaxed.’
William’s bevy of past women consists of ‘girls he’s known for a while, so he knows they’re not going to be saying anything about him publicly’, explains the 29-year-old, who has been a part of Wills’ royal inner circle since meeting as teenagers at a party at Eton. ‘They’re protecting their social status as much as he is.’
But Tamara predicts Kate won’t tolerate flirting once they marry, ‘because there’s a huge difference between having some fun when you have a girlfriend compared to when you’re married’.
Keep enemies close
Kate and Jecca have met on several social occasions. In 2005, Wills even took Kate on an African holiday, with Jecca as their guide. Tamara says the relationship between the two love rivals is ‘very polite’.
‘Of course Kate is always on the lookout for any kind of thing that seems screwy,’ Tamara says. ‘She was looking forward to Jecca getting married because she thought that would be the end of it.
‘I think she was jealous, but I don’t think she sees a reason to be anymore. I think Kate pretty much knows that nothing will keep her from marrying that man.’
Tamara is ‘99 per cent sure’ Wills will deny his feelings for Jecca and marry Kate, but he’ll delay it for as long as possible.
‘I don’t think it will happen for another year at least, maybe two years. He’s going to enjoy every last thing he can out of the military beforehand.
‘I know he’s happy that he’s getting to stay in the air force for another however many years before going straight to royal duties. That’s the only reason I think he ever joined the military… He’s not shy about how he doesn’t like the official stuff. He’s been listening to his father complain about the daily duties and how boring it is.
‘That’s another reason to keep from getting married. The second he has a wife he’ll be expected to go out and do things together – not hide away from anyone.’
