PRINCE William’s romance with Kate Middleton was destined to fail because they met “five years too early”, close friends said yesterday.

Confirmation of the split came as a shock after widespread predictions of a royal engagement this year. Friends said William and Middleton would remain firm friends but the relationship, which started at university, had come when they were both too young.

It is understood that the couple broke up over the Easter weekend and that it was an “amicable” agreement. The Queen was informed last week and was last night said to be “feeling for them both”.

William is understood to have become increasingly ill at ease recently over speculation that he would marry Middleton. He has always felt that it would be unwise to marry before his late twenties.

“The timing was wrong,” said one close friend. “I think she realised it as well. She’s no fool. They are very young. How many university romances survive — maybe one in 100?

“Wills met her five years too early. They may get back together some time in the future. In five years or 10 years — who knows? These two will be friends for the rest of their lives. Don’t blame William or Kate.”

Although the couple were subjected to media scrutiny over their relationship, one friend said this was not the key factor in the decision to part: “It is not the media who did it . . . nor is it anything to do with his commitments to the army. William needs to live his life a bit.”

The couple had been seeing less of each other in recent weeks, since William embarked on tank training duties at Bovington Camp, Dorset. He has also been visiting night-clubs in Bournemouth and was recently photographed with an arm draped around an attractive student.

It was hoped among some of those close to the Queen that Middleton might help to provide a more modern and approachable image of a younger royal family. Royal sources said there was “understandable disappointment” that the relationship had ended.

A confidante of the Queen said: “The Queen is feeling for them both. She is sad if any hurt has been caused to Prince William or to Kate.”

William is now keen to concentrate on his army career with the Household Cavalry. It emerged this weekend that he is expected to stay in the services until 2009 and will then start to undertake more royal duties.

Within royal circles there is an expectation that by his late twenties William will be carrying out a full diary of public engagements. When he is 30, the Queen will be in her diamond jubilee year and marking her 86th birthday.

Yesterday Middleton put on a brave front as she went out with her family for lunch near her home in Berkshire. She looked composed but avoided questions from reporters.

She works as an accessories buyer at Jigsaw, the clothing chain, although it is unclear whether she will be returning to work there this week.

Speculation about an engagement intensified last autumn and Woolworths, the high street chain, was so confident of a royal wedding that it announced plans to produce commemorative tea towels, mugs and plates within 48 hours of an announcement.

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