PRINCE William¿s romance with Kate Middleton was doomed when he decided to put Army life first, pals claimed last night.

PRINCE William¿s romance with Kate Middleton was doomed when he decided to put Army life first, pals claimed last night.



Last month the pair seemed happier than ever as they skied down a Swiss mountain together, stopping only to kiss and hold each other close.



From the outside all the signs seemed to suggest the young lovers were just weeks away from announcing their intention to wed.



But in reality, it is understood they had been on a downward spiral since Kate saw the 24-year-old future king passing out from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in December last year.



Friends say William, now a fully-fledged officer in the Blues and Royals, has engrossed himself in Army life ¿ preferring to go out drinking with his colleagues than drive back to London to see Kate.



When he began his 2½-month tank commander course at the Army¿s school of armoury in Bovington, Dorset, on March 16, the relationship was in freefall.



The course means the Prince is stuck on an isolated base from Monday to Friday each week.





Romance ... but Kate has split with Wills, pictured passing out at Sandhurst