Wedding rumors about Prince William, 24, and longterm girlfriend Kate Middleton, 25, were reignited at the beginning of the month after a comment by a witness in a hearing at the House of Commons. British royal photographer Arthur Edwards was testifying to The House of Commons select committee about a recent intrusion of Ms. Middleton’s privacy by paparazzi. The MPs are trying to set up new laws that would protect the privacy of celebrities and royals, and want to avoid another event like the death of Princess Diana.

Photographer Edwards said “She’s in love with Prince William. I’m sure one day they’ll get married.”

That seems to just be speculation by a friend of the family, though. A spokesperson for the royal family said that he has no plans to get engaged, and William himself has said he doesn’t plan to marry until he is 28 or 30. It is also thought that he will finish his duties with the Armed Forces first. He has two more years to serve.

Now there’s an explosive report in this week’s National Enquirer claiming that William has been trying to convince Kate to marry him, but was unsuccessful until his grandmother Queen Elizabeth stepped in. In a bid to help her grandson secure Kate’s hand in marriage, Queen Elizabeth is said to have told Kate that she plans to pass the crown to William, not his father Prince Charles, when she dies! Charles is not considered as worthy as William to represent the monarchy as he is divorced and has wed another divorcee that is not well liked.

Elizabeth is said to have convinced Kate that she should marry William, and that she will ensure he becomes King when she passes:

Prince William finally convinced longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton to marry him using a secret weapon – his grandmother the queen!

Gun-shy Kate has turned down several marriage proposals, terrified she’d relive the sad life of Princess Diana.

But Queen Elizabeth had her over for tea and convinced her to change her mind – by revealing her plan to skip over Charlies and Camilla and give the crown directly to Wills after her passing…

“The queen thinks Charles and Camilla would be a disaster or the monarchy if they become king and queen, because there’s hatred for Camilla and contempt for CHarles.

“Buckingham Palace advisers think Wills and Kate are the last hope if the royals are to survive the 21st century.”

Constitutional experts say the queen doesn’t have to give the crown to the next in line, and there are precedents that support her bold decision.

As part of her plan, Elizabeth expect that Charles and Camilla will live abroad like his great uncle the Duke of Windsor did after abdicating to marry Wallis Simpson.

[From The National Enquirer print edition, March 26, 2007]

If you’re not familiar with the abdication precedent mentioned in the text, the Duke of Windsor, formerly Prince Edward, gave up his position as the King of England in 1936 in order to marry his lover, a twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. Edward was only king for a year, and it was a huge scandal at the time.

Queen Elizabeth must not think much of her son’s marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles if she’s making comparisons to Edward’s abdication over 70 years ago. Indeed, Elizabeth didn’t attend the April, 2005 civil ceremony in what was seen as a snub to the couple. She did attend a church blessing afterwards.

If all this is true and if Her Royal Highness has pledged to pass the crown to her eldest grandson instead of her son, it will make for an interesting turn of events. We shouldn’t hold our breath though. Queen Elizabeth’s mom, The Queen Mother, lived to the age of 101 and made public appearances up until a few weeks before her death. Queen Elizabeth will turn 81 this year.