'Waity Katie' has a wobble as Prince William commits seven years to the RAF

Updated: 18:21 EST, 8 November 2008

Kate Middleton had a ‘minor wobble’ when Prince William decided to commit the next seven years to the RAF – but intends to stand by her boyfriend.

Friends say the couple smoothed things over on a trip to William’s bolt-hole at Balmoral last weekend when they discussed their future.

Kate, dubbed ‘Waity Katie’ because she is apparently happy to hang on until William proposes, will not see much of him when he starts an intensive 18-month training course with the RAF’s Search and Rescue unit in January.

Prince William Graduates from RAF Cranwell after receiving his 'wings' from his father Prince Charles witnessed by his guest and girlfriend Miss Kate Middleton.

'Cooling-off period': Prince William and Kate Middleton, pictured at his RAF graduation in April, haven't been pictured together since September

‘Kate was initially very upset, but William reassured her that she was the most important person to him and that their relationship would remain strong,’ says my source.

Although William and Kate, both 26, came to an understanding about their future during a Caribbean holiday earlier this year, I’m told there has been a
cooling-off period in recent weeks.

   

More from Katie Nicholl for The Mail on Sunday...

 

They have not been photographed together since September, when they attended their friend Chiara Hunt’s wedding in Austria.

And Kate was pointedly not at William’s leaving party last month before he left for his motorbike challenge across Africa.

Friends say William asked Kate to keep a low profile after she was photographed flat on her back at a roller
skating charity event.

One added: ‘William was a bit shocked that pictures of Kate lying with her legs akimbo made the front pages, then there was a big piece in a magazine quoting one of Kate’s friends talking about her having a full-time job.

‘Then Kate’s mother posted a glossy photo of Kate on the website for her company, Party Pieces.

‘It was all a bit too much and William wanted Kate out of the spotlight. They both have a lot to talk about. Kate is now working at Party Pieces and is happy to take a back seat while William focuses on getting through his training. He has said his military career has to come first.’

Let’s hope Kate is happy to be an RAF wife.

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