Prince refused to sign pre-nuptial deal - Ottawa Citizen

Prince William's whispered words to Catherine Middleton at the altar in Westminster Abbey, "you are beautiful," were not his only pre-betrothal romantic gesture. The Duke of Cambridge, as he now is, refused to sign a pre-nuptial agreement with his fiancée.

"William was advised that some sort of legal agreement might be a good idea," said one of his friends. "But he loves Kate and trusts her implicitly, and was adamant that no agreement was necessary."

A St. James's Palace spokesman confirmed Saturday that there was no pre-nup.

After Prince William's engagement to Middleton was announced last November, Patrick Jephson, a former private secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales, urged the couple to sign a pre-nuptial agreement.

"There will be a tidal wave of sentimental slush, but you've got to be practical," Jephson said.

"If she were my sister I'd tell her to get a good pre-nup. It's such a public thing.

"If they don't get this one right, what's going to happen to the institution in the long run?"

Pre-nuptial agreements have been popular with Hollywood stars for many years, but were never part of British law until last October, when judges used a test case involving Katrin Radmacher, a German heiress, to rewrite marriage law in Britain.

She was allowed to protect her family's fortune and restrict what her former husband was entitled to.

Also on Saturday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they would not be immediately travelling overseas for the traditional post-wedding break, choosing instead to spend time at an undisclosed location in Britain before the Duke returns to work as a search-and-rescue pilot this week. The sudden change came despite aides having said consistently that the honeymoon would immediately follow the wedding.There was speculation it may have been prompted by security concerns. The couple were originally believed to have booked a honeymoon in Jordan, where the Duchess lived for two years as a child, but potential security hazards surrounding the continuing unrest throughout the Middle East may have prompted them to rethink their plans.

The couple left Buckingham Palace on Saturday morning after an evening reception on Friday that lasted until after 3 a.m. In front of 300 close friends and family attending the reception, the duke declared that his new wife is "my rock," and revealed the true debt he owes to Middleton. His words told how she gives him the security and normality he has craved.

It is thought the couple may have travelled to Balmoral, the Queen's estate in Scotland, where the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales, also spent part of their honeymoon. Other possible locations include the Scilly Isles, where Prince William holidayed with his parents and Prince Harry in 1989.