Kate Middleton's royal difficulty

So, is this why Prince William has not yet made an honest woman of Kate Middleton? Of all the attributes needed to feel at ease in royal circles, being a horse lover must be close to the top of the list: the Queen still rides in Windsor Great Park, her daughter Anne and granddaughter Zara are rarely out of the saddle, William and Harry both play polo and Charles wishes he still did.

But now it can be revealed: Kate Middleton is allergic to horses and, according to friends, is trying to "overcome" the problem.

The Sunday Telegraph talked to two men who know about the condition - TV vet Bruce Fogle who suffers from it himself, and allergy expert Adrian Morris.

Fogle said the allergy was a serious matter because it involves the lungs. "I will use a bronchial dilator if I am going near horses," he said. "The alternative is to desentitise myself by using a vaccine beforehand."

But Morris advised Middleton against desensitisation treatment. "This could lead to a dangerous reaction," he said. "I would advise her to avoid the allergen. If she is going to come into contact with it, she should take antihistamines." ·