The Royal Engagement - here we go again

So yesterday, after years of speculation, the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton was announced.

Am I the only one who feels like I have lived all this before when the Great British Public were sold a fairytale that did not exist?

Cast your minds back to 1981 and the way we were meant to believe that a playboy Prince Charles was going to commit to a virgin bride. I was taken in by it but I was only a young child at the time so had an excuse for the naivety.

Don't get me wrong. On a human level, I wish William and Kate true happiness together. It is just the silly media rigmarole that is already irritating me.

Can we get real? This couple have cohabited for years. Both of them have partied wildly, had sex with each other and so please don't try and set up Kate as the perfect blushing bride. Nor was I but nobody thought so or wrote about me in those terms.

I feel really sorry for Kate. Bad enough that she is a commoner so not well versed in all the protocol she will now have to maintain even on the days when she is stressed or her heart is breaking. But there is the Diana Factor - already the newspapers are full of comparisons. Let Kate be her own woman for goodness sake.

She has Diana's ring and here's hoping it does not bring bad omens to this union. The dress is being discussed and let's hope it is not the creased disaster that Diana's was. When she got out of that carriage, it was like the Emperor who walked through the street naked but everyone had to pretend it was OK really.

The papers are saying Kate and William are related. Let's hope not too closely or they might end up with a child that is less than perfect and history and recent times prove the Royals hide their less than perfect children away from the public. They should have a better attitude to disability and illness in the 21st century.

As soon as the poor cow is married, the media will be on her back about when the first baby is due. And then if it is quick, there will be fervent discussions about whether the conception predated the wedding.

The idea that they can escape to the good life in Anglesey is rubbish. Even if the paparazzi behave (which they won't), in these days of mobile phones and the internet, this poor girl will be hunted down by members of the public too.

She said it is "daunting". That will probably go down as the biggest understatement of the 21st century.

I wish them both well but can't help but pity her too.