Smash hit

It was the first time she had attended such a high profile event where the Queen and other senior members of the family were present.

But with news of their split, royal fans' hopes for a William and Kate wedding have been dashed.

Clarence House refused to discuss the matter. A spokesman for the Prince said: "We don't comment on Prince William's private life."

Meanwhile, psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos said Prince William and Miss Middleton must have been under "horrible" pressure from constant public scrutiny.

"They've been scrutinised constantly, comments made, editorials written about a relationship they themselves are probably trying to figure out," Dr Papadopoulos said.

"Most people at that age are thinking about things like, we need to look for a mortgage, but she's got MI5 helping her with bodyguards, and when they look into the future, it must be surreal, particularly for her, as he at least has been born into it.

"We talk about how difficult it is for people who become a celebrity overnight, but for her, it was worse. It wasn't what she was looking for, she just fell in love with a boy she met at college."

Dr Papadopoulos said the couple met during their formative adult years.

"People are working out what they want from life, where they are going, who they are, and it is not surprising if one road diverges rather than converges with their partner.

"Five years later, it may have had a different outcome."

Dr Papadopoulos said that when people meet at a young age, "they wonder how much they are in love, and they wonder if they should have fooled around more".

"Also they are not able to step away from it and look at it. A lot of people break up and then get back together, but the idea of them getting back together...

"Already they will be reading hundreds and hundreds of stories about them breaking up."

Dr Papadopoulos thought William would be able to cope better in future.

"The difference will be that he personally will be more used to this, he will be more used to handling the pressure.

"And the girlfriend may be older than Kate herself, and will have had a chance to figure out who she is."

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