As the wife of a man serving in the RAF, Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, already has a life involving the military.
But now she is being lined up to become honorary colonel-in-chief of a British Army regiment.
It is tradition for members of the Royal Family to become honorary colonels-in-chief of an Army regment. Catherine's husband, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, is honorary colonel-in-chief of the Irish Guards, and he wore the red ceremonial uniform of the Irish Guards during his wedding and will wear it again when he leads the regiment on horseback at this year's Trooping the Colour.
And regiments enjoy having a Royal as their honorary colonel-in-chief as it brings them prestige and attention. For this reason, regiments are vying with each other to have the beautiful, young future Queen as their honorary colonel-in-chief.
A possibility is that Catherine could become the colonel-in-chief of one of the regiments associated with her husband's mother.
Diana, Princess of Wales was the colonel-in-chief of the Light Dragoons. Her position is currently held by King Abdullah of Jordan, but he may be willing to relinquish the role.
Kate Middleton provokes battle between Army regiments
The former Kate Middleton is being lined up to become the colonel-in-chief of an Army regiment.
The former Kate Middleton is being lined up to become the colonel-in-chief of an Army regiment Photo: Rex Features
By Richard Eden
29 May 2011
The Telegraph
Already a dutiful Forces wife, the Duchess of Cambridge can look forward to becoming more involved in military life. Mandrake hears that the former Kate Middleton is being lined up to become the colonel-in-chief of a regiment.
"Everyone is vying for Kate to become their colonel because of the prestige and attention that it will bring their regiment," says my man in the officers' mess.
A courtier confirms that her appointment is likely, but says the choice of regiment has yet to be made. An intriguing possibility is that Prince William's wife could become the colonel-in-chief of one of the regiments associated with his mother.
Diana, Princess of Wales was the colonel-in-chief of the Light Dragoons. Her position is currently held by King Abdullah of Jordan, but he may be willing to relinquish the role.
Although the king has held the post since 2003, it has caused some unease in Jordan while the British have been involved in conflicts in Muslim countries such as Afghanistan and now Libya.
Diana was also the colonel-in-chief of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. She was delighted that, when it was merged with the Queen's Regiment in 1992, the combined force was named the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
However, she was greatly saddened when she was forced to relinquish her Army roles after her divorce from the Prince of Wales in 1996. Her position at the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment was handed to Queen Margrethe of Denmark, who, similarly, may be happy to hand over the role to a member of the British Royal family.
In February, William was given his first honorary appointment in the Army, when Maj Gen Sir Sebastian Roberts agreed to step down as colonel of the Irish Guards.
The Prince proudly wore the ceremonial uniform of the Irish Guards at his wedding and will, as Mandrake disclosed last Sunday, don it again when he leads his regiment on horseback at the Trooping the Colour ceremony next month.
William's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, was appointed as the Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion the Rifles in 2006 after she married Prince Charles. She has since been given six other honorary military positions. A St James's Palace spokesman says no announcement is "imminent".
telegraph.co.uk
But now she is being lined up to become honorary colonel-in-chief of a British Army regiment.
It is tradition for members of the Royal Family to become honorary colonels-in-chief of an Army regment. Catherine's husband, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, is honorary colonel-in-chief of the Irish Guards, and he wore the red ceremonial uniform of the Irish Guards during his wedding and will wear it again when he leads the regiment on horseback at this year's Trooping the Colour.
And regiments enjoy having a Royal as their honorary colonel-in-chief as it brings them prestige and attention. For this reason, regiments are vying with each other to have the beautiful, young future Queen as their honorary colonel-in-chief.
A possibility is that Catherine could become the colonel-in-chief of one of the regiments associated with her husband's mother.
Diana, Princess of Wales was the colonel-in-chief of the Light Dragoons. Her position is currently held by King Abdullah of Jordan, but he may be willing to relinquish the role.
Kate Middleton provokes battle between Army regiments
The former Kate Middleton is being lined up to become the colonel-in-chief of an Army regiment.
The former Kate Middleton is being lined up to become the colonel-in-chief of an Army regiment Photo: Rex Features
By Richard Eden
29 May 2011
The Telegraph
Already a dutiful Forces wife, the Duchess of Cambridge can look forward to becoming more involved in military life. Mandrake hears that the former Kate Middleton is being lined up to become the colonel-in-chief of a regiment.
"Everyone is vying for Kate to become their colonel because of the prestige and attention that it will bring their regiment," says my man in the officers' mess.
A courtier confirms that her appointment is likely, but says the choice of regiment has yet to be made. An intriguing possibility is that Prince William's wife could become the colonel-in-chief of one of the regiments associated with his mother.
Diana, Princess of Wales was the colonel-in-chief of the Light Dragoons. Her position is currently held by King Abdullah of Jordan, but he may be willing to relinquish the role.
Although the king has held the post since 2003, it has caused some unease in Jordan while the British have been involved in conflicts in Muslim countries such as Afghanistan and now Libya.
Diana was also the colonel-in-chief of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. She was delighted that, when it was merged with the Queen's Regiment in 1992, the combined force was named the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
However, she was greatly saddened when she was forced to relinquish her Army roles after her divorce from the Prince of Wales in 1996. Her position at the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment was handed to Queen Margrethe of Denmark, who, similarly, may be happy to hand over the role to a member of the British Royal family.
In February, William was given his first honorary appointment in the Army, when Maj Gen Sir Sebastian Roberts agreed to step down as colonel of the Irish Guards.
The Prince proudly wore the ceremonial uniform of the Irish Guards at his wedding and will, as Mandrake disclosed last Sunday, don it again when he leads his regiment on horseback at the Trooping the Colour ceremony next month.
William's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, was appointed as the Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion the Rifles in 2006 after she married Prince Charles. She has since been given six other honorary military positions. A St James's Palace spokesman says no announcement is "imminent".
telegraph.co.uk
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