THE failure of the first marriages of the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duke of York suggests dysfunction.

Is the marriage of HRH Prince William and the commoner Kate Middleton any more likely to succeed where so many have failed and wounded public support for the monarchy?

The two partners know each other far more pre-maritally than their predecessors and the new princess has had years in which to prepare mentally for her new role.

The couple are also both young, confident, charismatic, energetic, happy, outgoing people who have been in love for some time because of a deeper compatibility.

ML Grey, West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe