People seem to forget that Deer Stalking is neccessary to control deer population numbers. Unfortunately the extinction of the Wolfe and Bear (Natural Predators) mean that these creatures are getting out of control. I think that a clean unexpected shot from 100m is quite a nice way to go!

Stu, London, Uk

I cannot understand the fuss about stalking. Free range animals living in their natural habitat, are killed instantaneously by people who have trained for many years. Preventing suffering is the highest priority of all those involved.

Compare this to the brutal existence & death of most farmed animals and it hardly seems 'cruel'. The League against Cruel Sports should spend more time focusing on the rising incidents of dog fighting in this country, rather than latching on to any easy headline.

Victoria, london, UK

That's sick! How could anyone shoot a deer, its such an immoral thing to do. I hate it when upperclass people think they can just shoot animals because their rich! Those deer have feelings and they feel pain!!!! How are they allowed to shoot deer when fox hunting has just banned, its just as cruel! There should be no expections for rich people, even the royal family!

Emily, Caerphilly, UK

When are we going to consign these people to the past and dump them? How many hospitals could we build with the money that one of the royals costs per lifetime?

Hazel Woods, Bedford, Beds

Why so many Americans commenting on this story? It's not their royal family - butt out!!!

savannah, London, UK

I hope that if they do get engaged, that the press will afford them the privacy that they deserve.

Gregory Boudreau, Halifax, Canada

No-one seems to complain about coarse fishing,perhaps that because its the largest participant sport in the country enjoyed by the working man. Most of the criticism of deer stalking, like hunting with dogs, is due to the perception perpetrated by the media that it is an upper-class pursuit. Perhaps Miss Middleton should try ferrets instead!

Martin Conway, Northampton, UK

To Dave of knutsford Chesire...If She's pursuing him and he doesn't like it...... He can always run ....but....why go out again with a girl that you don't like???? then that is stupidity....
Ridiculous !!!! You can't force a man to go out with a girl he doesn't like...
He's dating her again because he realize that He still loves her... Do you know what is L-O-V-E means Dave??????

Joy, Zoetermeer, Netherlands

The meat is healthier for you; not loaded with steroids and led into a chute to be killed in a much more cruel manner. Hunting is a sport, the meat is eaten, not wasted and if this young couple enjoy each others company whose business is it what they do? In the words of Ted Nugent...."You can't grill it unless you kill it."

cde, Penscola, FL

It's interesting to note those who defend Kate and her gun toting with gusto are mostly Americans where guns are right and a national past time. Blood sports are not sports at all. Whilst there is a use for culling in nature there certainly is not anything remotely appropriate about a silly little girl using hunting as a means to catch her prince.

Kate should be ashamed of the way she is acting. Not only is she showing no respect for herself but she's increasingly appearing to be nothing more than a girl who is bent on being a princess. I'm with Dave on this. People need to stop making excuses for this increasingly desperate young woman who has nothing to show for 5 years of prince hunting but nice hair and a lovely smile.

F.R. Banks, Sydney, Australia

Interesting how the art of stalking is condemned by "animal lovers" yet when the NT banned deer hunting on their land the deer population was raveaged by disease and illness owing to over-population that was a direct result of there being no natural predators. Stalking is a bona fide way of culling the injured and weak from a population, and short of introducing wolves back into the eco-system it is hard to see a better alternative. Furthermore ghillies are very skilled in their art and the loss of their skills would be a travesty.

Lord Snooty, London,

Go Kate! I had no idea that so many of you over the pond were so anti-hunting. As a female hunter, I totally support Kate's participation in this event. And I agree with apparently everyone else in America that if you're going to oppose hunting, then you should give up eating meat because that's hypocritical. I do not understand why some of you don't like her. She's upper middle-class and WORKING at a job, staying true to the man she loves, and putting up with the idiot upper-class criticizing her for being middle-class. Over in America, she'd be actually appreciated for who she is, and not despised for who she loves.

Wild WoodsWoman, Madison, Wisconsin/USA

I think you all need to get a grip and worry about what's going on in YOUR own families.

Therese, Downingtown, PA USA

Kudos to Ms. Middleton. The class comments and hunting comments aside, all citizens of a free society should know how to handle firearms proficiently.

Joseph T. Leone, Esq., Madison, Wisconsin, USA

In America yes we have debates about hunting verses animal cruelty. I am not sure if Kate is a hunter by nature or if she is trying to become one because the royal family loves to hunt. We may be the top of the food chain but we don't have to hunt for our food any longer. They have places where we can buy our food... Thus...Hunting in this company has become a cruel sport.
But as far as Kate and William are concerned, I think they should be left to have private family time without the public jumping to the gun and screeming engagement.

Dorothy, Mobile, Alabama

Good for them! Someone has to keep the skills of Hunting and Stalking! Good lord, how do these people think Humans succeeded anyway? I can tell you this for sure, it wasn't by eating wheat grass and by wearing straw skirts in frigid climates! It was by Stalking, Hunting and Killing for food and Shelter. Its called Survival; heaven forbid humanity goes back to that sort of sustenance lifestyle, the bleeding heart liberal leaf eaters will be the first to go! I have to wonder how they feel about the farmers they buy their wheat grass hunting and killing the moles, rabbits and deer that would otherwise eat their crops? Wonder if their hypocrisy has hit them yet? Nah, no bet.

Daenerys, Newberg, Oregon, USA

My grandfather was a hunter/fisherman with great compassion and care for the wild. He had a motto "Never shoot anything that you do not intend to eat." You also never stalked prey that didn't have a fighting chance (i.e. shooting a sitting bird, they must be "on the wing") and you never let an animal suffer. Proper gun training is essential to hit your target without inflicting pain.
Additionally, our teeth are designed to break down many different substances, among them, meats. Go figure!

Carol Hefner, Edmond, Oklahoma

Stags are delicous! Yummy!

scott, Montville, USA

All of us who eat meat should, at some point, kill an animal. We as a society are becoming too far removed from our food. The hunting culture is also frequently a men's only club. Kudos to Kate for not being afraid to try her hand at hunting.

Jen, St.Paul, USA/ Minnesota

I'm amazed you give such credibility to "The League Against Cruel Sports". This is where real food comes from, not the deli. Come on over across the pond and we'll show you how it's really done here in TEXAS!

Bill Pace, New York, TEXAS, USA

We in America laugh to hard at the way you try to put down William and Kate. They are a young couple in love! So...Kate likes to hunt...so do I. Big deal, we are the top of the food chain....get a freaking CLUE!!!!

We see you as jealous, cranky, and there is nothing more to those of you who cannot be happy for them. What politician/leader (elected or otherwise) is perfect? We certainly don't have any of that over here!

Apparently, many on this board find themselves to be so, but I have news for you (your are not).

Brenda, Roanoke, Virginia/USA

God help us if we adopt the ways of the rediculous people who suggest we give up the ages old practice of Hunting.

Tim, Guyton, USA/Georgia

Diana could afford to reject the 'huntin' shootin' fishin' ethos of the royal family because in terms of class her family were leagues above the essentially middle class royals; Kate comes from an aspiring middle class family and would probably think that this is how you become upper class.

Shame.

Nell, Sheffield,

At the end of the day the deer have lived a far better life than most of the sheep and cattle that we seem to have no problem raising purely for meat and shipped off for mass slaughter (you don't here these people complaining about the this or the slaughter of animals for foot and mouth - most definately not a 'nice' way to go!)- come on people wise up, if she'd been out shooting tigers or some other endangered creature for 'fun' fair enough - personally I love a bit of venison, beef, lamb the lot!

Lets get our priorities right and focus on something much more important.

Ami, blandford,

As an American whose maternal grandmother hails from England, I admit that I find the Royral family both interesting & fun reading. However, I don't find the hunting of animals cruel, and unusual. Nor do I think that the Royal Family should have to adhere to the current "politically correct thinking" by NOT hunting animals. Lets face it. As long as there has been humanity there has been a meat eater. All this veggie only eating has been brot in the last Century by Liberals who have this strange notion that its wrong to eat to live. I suggest these apartment & city residing liberals get their proverbial behinds out to rural farms & start working the land & animals. Once you've had a little sweat on your brows & some blisters on your hands you'll discover that animals are food & only those with "too much time on their hands" worry over what their eating. Otherwise, best of luck to Wills & the young lady in question. They both deserve happiness.

tori, Merritt Island, United States

Ha!

When the next massive catastrophe hits the UK, it'll be people with guns who know how to hunt that survive, not the chubbers who spend their entire time on their fat behinds watching endless TV eating cake and worrying about phone ins.

Chris Curtis, Auckland,

Is it really a national tragedy that she went hunting? It's a sport, and she's showing an interest in that aspect of her beau's life. Why is she being torn apart? You all are taking things a little bit too seriously. She seems like a very respectable young woman. Give her a chance.

Julia, Chicago, USA

Gees, people, give her a break! It's a sport, for goodness sakes. Let them have their fun. I'll bet they've accomplished more for humanity in their young lives than "Dave" will in all of his.

Julia, Chicago, USA

Also an American, I wonder why so many people speculate about Prince William and Ms. Middleon's PRIVATE life. If they make each other happy- good! Would an ordinary citizen want photohounds to steal private moments and gossips to make nasty comments about a loved one? No! Leave them alone and let them live in peace.

As for the cruelty to animal activists-- Until her RH forces you to eat a deer steak- mind your own business.

A. Johnson, Charleston, WV, USA

As an American, I have no attachment, one way or the other, to the Royal Family. Rather, I watch them and their exploits with bemusement. That said, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments previously expressed opposing the Royal's enthusiasm for bloodsports. I was hoping that Ms. Middleton would eschew such pastimes, as did Diana. Sadly, that doesn't appear to be the case.

Judith, Minot, USA/North Dakota

Good luck to Kate Middleton and to William. But for me it's a shame if she is drawn into the world of deer stalking. True, it's natural to eat meat, but I find it perverse that anyone should derive pleasure from the act of killing.

Keith, Brussels,

Whats wrong with stalking? As long as it is done humanly and no cruelty is involved surely its just the same as buying meat from Tesco's? Except that they know where they're meat has come from. And yes you can buy venison in Tesco's.

George, Suffolk,

Sue B of Pontypridd - what have YOU done? Have you worked in Third World countries, adopted children or campaigned for Human rights ..or anything? Wealthy individuals who still sponge of their parents at the age of 25 while waiting to bag a rich husband to leech off, surely should use their clout and money for helping those less fortunate not simply lavish thousands on holidays, clubbing and clothes!

Peter, Bradfield, berks,

Diana was bloodied at the age of 16 in her country house.It was a tradition that run throu her family for centuries.According to her father and brother she was a great shot too.But months after she was blodied,she chose to drop shooting for deers and birds,cause she couldnt agree with the cruelty and couldnt stand it.She only joined numbered shoots after that,especialy at the begining of her romance with Charles,but after the mariage she completely stopped it.Thats why she was special and different.Raised in the same inviroment connected with such kind of cruelties,she chose to do differently even knowing that this may make her an outcast among her own family(The Windsors i mean,but they were never her family).Kate seems is being trained as the new mouse of Charles and Camilla.They already have made William their puppet.

Nina Papas, London,Uk,

What have YOU ever done Sue B of Pontpridd? I take Dave's point, while most people in the UK are working hard simply to exist and pay the bills, people like the Middleton woman are still sponging off their parents at the age of 25 while trying to bag a rich husband to continue the hedonistic and empty lifestyle. Why isn't this woman using all her money, connections and free time to help the less fortunate or achieve something in her own right? Unfortunately, she also lacks beauty as well as intelligence and charisma.

Peter, Bradfield, berks,

Oh dear. Someone else getting involved in the Royal's insatiable appetite for bloodsports... Very sad and bitterly disappointing!

Phillip Anderton, Poole, England

maybe she is training to shoot papparazzi
She is just trying to fit in, anyone who wants to join Britain's most dysfunctional family deserves what she will undoubtedly get.

billcarr, turku, finland

I say 'go for it Kate'! Bill (William) will be sucked along in your draft! (Being one from the 'rebel colonies' I can avow and declare to you all that if ANY person walking the face of the planet today thinks that they ARE somebody of 'royal blood'...... well......... who am I to interfer with their fantasy!! ......and if they truely feel this way................ well................. they deserve a 'pass'!! ) We (the little people) will continue to hang on your every word and deed so long as you (the 'Royals') continue to entertain us with your perverse rendition of 'The Simple Life'! So a young girl shoots a gun!! BIG DEAL!! If England hadn't surrendered to the gun ban group it's just possible you wouldn't be loosing your country to Radical Islam .....without one shot being fired! Don't believe me!? Investigate and find out just who moved into and who moved out of your country last year! WAKE UP ENGLAND TO 'THINGS' THAT REALLY MATTER!!

Paul Reckley, Cumberland, Maryland USA

I think it is wonderful if Miss Middleton wants to take an interest in hunting if she cares to. I admire her at least giving it a try as it will give her an understanding of the freedom and joy of enjoying nature at it's best that most hunters' enjoy when they head out each year. If it weren't for hunters and their love of the meat.. we would be run over by wild life and a huge amount of Good meat would go to waste. alot of hunters donate their meat to homeless shelter to feed the needy. Whatever her reason/reasons are for giving it a try.. so what? She is entitled to do what she likes, just as you and most citizens are as long as they are not breaking the law.

R.G, Farmville, USA

to Dave, how do you know she's pursuing him and not the other way around?

Lyndon, Knightsbridge,

Three cheers for Ms. Middleton! May her aim be steady and shots accurate. Wild game, properly prepared, is better than the best beef. Certainly it is better the the best Tofu.

Dr. John Alfson, Monte Vista, CO/ USA

I'd love to know what things of significance Dave of Knutsford has achieved, and what positive contribution he has made to the world. Or does he, like the most of us, live an ordinary life? So why condemn another person for having lived an ordinary life? (even if that ordinary life is in the process of becoming extraordinary)

Sue B, Pontypridd, Wales

This desperate and irrelevant young woman will stop at nothing in her pursuit of a Prince. it is sad to be 25, wealthy and never have achieved anything of significance or made a positive contribution to the world. Run for hills William!

Dave, Knutsford Cheshire,

As one who finds value and meaning in hunting, I have to say that killing animals is easy. In my opinion those who kill their game should also be required to butcher it. That makes the reality of the death of another creature much more real. Too many wealthy "hunters" simply shoot their game and then leave the "dirty work" to their hired help. This should not be. Our food does not come from the Earth in neat plastic containers.

Warren, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA

I'm glad to see your future princess is enjoying a sporting tradition that us former colonials still greatly enjoy. So sorry old chaps that you've evolved beyond firearms and a connection with the land and food procurement. Oh that one day I too might be as evolved as you brits (lower case intentional).

Yankee Doodle, Boston, USA/ MA

Much ado about nothing. The Royals have always hunted and I see no reason why they shouldn't continue to do so. The deer are eaten so how is this different that the slaughter of beef or sheep?
It merely gives a certain group another chance to criticize the Royal Family. I mean, after all, they are Her Majesty's Deer, and there are far more important things to worry about in this world.

Laurents deWelles, Camelford, UK

I am originally from England and have been brought up to respect the Monarchy, knowing full well that one of the rituals of the High Society is one of Huting Deer and the other Fox Hunting which is also equally as cruel, I firmly believe that these so called Sports of the Wealthy should indeed be abolished, these shameful acts of wanton cruel deaths to these beutiful creatures should not be associated with the Monarchy who most people do look up to, they shoudl now be looking at what is happening around the world and England when it comes to cruelty of animals and this kind of "Hunting" shoudl not be allowed to continue to show the children growing up thats its fine to deliberately go kill these fine animals, just for the "fun" of it. Where do the Queeen and her family and now especially a potential heir to the throne and puroprtedly future wife get off on performing and enjoying these atrocities to Wildlife and try to throw it all off in the name of High-handiness for the Wealthy?

Kathleen Holloway, Holden , Maine, USA

Obviously, the common people in Europe are not use to hunting like Americans are. I suppose all you people complaining about her killing a deer are vegans? Because if you eat any kind of meat you don't have a moral leg to stand on.

Phil Schmidt, Omaha, USA / NE

What a pity the deer can't shoot back. We might then be rid of the Windsors once and for all. Vive La-Repbublique.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Yes, it does beggar belief that any morally minded person, could stalk a magnificent creature and take it`s life. Miss Middleton, should fit in perfectly with the cruel side of the Royal family.

Savanski, Nottingham, UK

The positive aspect of this disgusting spectacle is that it may well hasten the end for the Windsor dynasty and bring about the Republic, which most people in this country would like to see anyway.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

It's a pity there's not a true conservationist in the Royal circle. They all seem determined to slaughter wildlife in all its forms. Get a life and stop destroying others!

Steve, ZAMBIA,

More power to her, if she can hit a 10cm target at 100 metres. Good hunting on both counts.

Peter F. Benson, Fitchburg, Mass./ USA

cruel sport says who....I grew up in the country where we hunted to feed the family,a wonderful bonding experience,if anything ever happens how will these people goe on with out knowing how the human race has always survived....we ate deer,elk,pheasants,ducks,quail,chukar,geese,.turkey....and I am so greatful to my father for being taught the right way...use everything,....Good show Kate ......u may need the gun experience for the paparazzi...and the animal people who cant ....welcome to the family.......

Debra, ketchikan, alaska