Kate Middleton: NOT the Next Princess Diana

Recently, the media has gone crazy with news that Kate Middleton and Prince William will soon be engaged. This buzz seems to be primarily based upon the increased security that Kate Middleton has received lately.

However, increased security does not necessarily mean that Kate and William are getting engaged. It simply means that Will wants to protect his girlfriend. Considering that he blames his mother's death on out-of-control paparazzi, it is not surprising that he should make efforts to protect a woman whom he cares about dearly.

While many are comparing Kate Middleton to Lady Diana Spencer, hailing Kate as the next Princess Di, there are many differences between the two. For starters, Lady Diana Spencer was born into the British aristocracy, while Kate is the child of entrepreneurs who own a party supply business.

Kate and Will have also done a good job of not repeating the relationship mistakes of Will's parents. Charles and Diana became engaged after a short courtship, when Diana was merely 19 years of age. Kate, on the other hand, has been dating Will for more than three years. Will is in no hurry to get married, understandably. His parents' marriage fell apart when he was a young child. Considering the effects that divorce has upon any child, Prince William is in no hurry to rush into marriage prematurely.

Times have also changed since Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married. At that time, Prince Charles, who was in his early thirties, was under much pressure to marry. Since the Royal Family would prefer to avoid another scandalous divorce, Prince William has mostly avoided this pressure.

Opinions on the importance of the princess bride's virginity also seem to have changed. Back when Charles was courting Diana, a potential bride was expected to be a virgin. As far as one can tell, the Royal Family appears to approve of the relationship between Prince William and Kate Middleton, despite widespread reports that Will often spends the night at Kate's Chelsea flat.

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana also seem to have very different personalities. Princess Diana was well-known for her charity work and her work to change the Western world's perception of AIDS sufferers. Princess Diana, having grown up in the aristocracy, was used to portraying a dignified saintly figure. Kate has also done her part to support charity, although her role in doing so has included modeling lingerie in a charity fashion show.

Kate Middleton, unlike Lady Diana Spencer, was also an exceptional student. Kate, who met Prince William while attending the University of St. Andrews, was at the top of her class, while Diana is said to have struggled academically.

It is said that a man often chooses a spouse who has a lot in common with his mother. For Prince William, this does not seem to be the case. Although Kate and Diana have little in common, the media is still proclaiming her to be the next Princess Di. As Kate Middleton turned 25 recently, everyone is asking the same question... When will Kate and Will wed? Someday, it seems, but they see no reason to rush.