AFTER more than three years, the world’s most eligible bachelor is back on the market. From pop stars to princesses, there are women across the world this weekend who will be reflecting on their chances of stepping out with the future king.

The split may herald the return to the spotlight of the “glossy posse”. The blue-bloods, models and billionaire’s daughters mix in William’s Gloucestershire polo circles and may hope to catch his eye. But the job of prospective royal consort comes with a health warning from the prince himself.

“These poor girls who I’ve either just met or they’re friends of mine suddenly get thrown into the limelight and their parents get rung up, and so on,” he said in an interview in 2003. “I think it’s a little unfair on them really.”

One of the first women to be linked to Prince William was Jessica Craig, known as Jecca, whose parents own an estate in Kenya. A romance was said to be an “open secret” among friends, but was denied by courtiers.

Among William’s friends and contemporaries with potential eligibility are Alexandra Knatchbull, 24, whose parents are close friends of Prince Charles. Knatchbull is often present at court functions and she is descended from Lord Mountbatten.

Others include Lady Rosanagh Innes-Ker, 28, who was for years tipped as a potential bride for William. She is the daughter of the Duke of Roxburghe. William was also linked at one point to Arabella Musgrave — her father Nicholas is manager of Cirencester Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire.

William was photographed recently enjoying himself in different female company. In a Bournemouth nightclub last month William had his arm draped around Ana Ferreira, an 18-year-old student.

Even so, one other possibility cannot yet be ruled out — a Kate Middleton rematch.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The day they dropped a bomb on the banks
• Methodist minister sent herself hate mail
• Japanese insect to be used to fight knotweed