Prince William and Kate Middleton have been seeing each other again – and shared a passionate kiss at a decadent Army party before disappearing to the Prince's private quarters.
The party and other secret dates are tentative steps towards a reconciliation, with sources close to both William and Kate saying he wants to give their relationship a second chance.
However, while Kate is enjoying his company, she has made it clear she will not become involved with William again unless he makes a firm commitment to a future together – and even then she is unsure whether it is what she wants.
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Enjoying the limelight: Kate has found a new confidence since the break-up
The pair have not been seen publicly together since their split in April. But The Mail on Sunday can disclose that Kate visited William at his Army barracks in Bovington, Dorset, on June 9.
She joined him at a troop leaders' party to celebrate the end of one of his Army courses. Eyewitnesses have told me the pair, who were happy and relaxed in each other's company, were spotted kissing on the dancefloor at around midnight. They then left the party early to go back to William's barracks.
Making all the moves: William invited Kate to the decadent Army party
"William invited Kate down for the party," a source said. "There were about 150 people and it was a Moulin Rouge-themed bash called Freakin' Naughty.
"There was a bouncy castle and a paddling pool full of gunge and blow-up dolls. It was a great night with everyone in party mood and dressed up in doctors' and nurses' outfits as well as sexy Ann Summers lingerie.
"There were even a few naughty nuns and plenty of flesh on show, but William and Kate were more modestly dressed.
"Kate had clearly gone to a lot of effort, though, and looked gorgeous. It was obvious to everyone that William couldn't take his eyes off her.
"She spent the night chatting with William, but also flitting around from one group to another. She seemed very relaxed and confident, even though they were mostly William's friends, many of whom she didn't know.
"William was following her round like a lost puppy as she went around the room, chatting away and dancing.
"In the end, he just grabbed her and took her on to the dancefloor where they started doing some rather close dancing. They couldn't keep their hands off each other but William didn't care that people were looking.
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"At about midnight, he started kissing and smooching her. His friends were joking they should get a room, and it wasn&£39;t long before William took Kate back to his quarters."
This was one of several dates friends of the pair have told me that they have shared in recent weeks.
Next Sunday, Kate will attend the Princess of Wales Memorial Concert at Wembley Stadium.
She will spend time behind the scenes with William and Harry, who have helped organise the event, and Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davy.
Three weeks later, on July 21, William, who turned 25 last week, will be with Kate at the wedding of one of her cousins.
I understand Kate will use the two events to gauge how comfortable she is being with William in public again.
Although she has been happy to smile for photographers while emerging from London nightclubs since the break-up, the constant media attention during her four-year relationship with William sometimes proved difficult for her.
But the real problem that led to the split was William's unwillingness to commit to a long-term relationship and, ultimately, marriage.
I understand that William has told Kate he is very serious about getting back together but, ironically, this time it is Kate who is struggling to decide what she wants.
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Kate out on the town with Charles Morshead
One confidante of the 25-year-old told me: "Kate and William have been in touch and secretly seeing each other for about a month now.
"It's been kept very quiet and – until the party two weeks ago – confined to only their tightest social circle. Seeing each other hasn't been easy because of William's Army commitments, but they have managed it – and done so without anything coming out.
"William has been doing all the chasing and he is the one saying he wants to make it work. It's now Kate who's not sure. She's said it is the toughest decision of her life.
"Kate has played a clever game. When they split up, which actually happened weeks before it was announced, she stepped back and allowed William a bit of space.
"While she was heartbroken, she was also able to unleash a bit more of her true self. That's why she wanted to be out with her girlfriends and even flirted with other guys at clubs.
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"Kate felt she was never able to do those things when she was with William.
"Now the ball's in her court. William wants to make things work and said that if they get back together, it will be the real thing."
Another friend of Kate told me: "Kate's thinking about things. Her relationship developed quietly at university and when it all finally came out, being in the limelight put a huge strain on her.
"Kate's a lovely girl and she absolutely loves William. They were incredibly well matched, but she's told us she's trying to work out what she wants and whether she really does want to get back with him.
"It's such a nightmare because she knows if they do get back together, there'll be no turning back. There will have to be an engagement and then marriage."
Kate, who works as an accessories buyer for the High Street chain Jigsaw, has been linked with several aristocratic friends of Prince William since the split, including Charles Morshead and Henry Ropner.
However, her friends agree she has not been interested in finding another man.
Partying and meeting new friends, on the other hand, has been a priority.
She has made regular visits to high-profile nightclubs such as Boujis and Mahiki where she has raised no objections to being photographed in the early hours, smiling and joking with friends.
As a result, say friends, Kate has become more confident and less concerned about media scrutiny. She has also found a new sense of style and is in great shape after training for a record-breaking race across the English Channel in a Chinese dragon boat in August.
She will be part of a 17-woman crew who will attempt to paddle the 20 miles to raise money for the Babes in Arms cot-death charity.
Another friend said: "Going out a lot was just what she needed. Things with William had become a bit too heavy and monotonous, and they needed a break. Kate's not really a rebound sort of girl and William remains the great love of her life."
Meanwhile, William has spent most of his time with his fellow Blues and Royals soldiers and, despite hard-drinking nights out, has not been chasing other women.
A friend of his told me: "William hasn't stopped pining for Kate since they split up. He keeps saying she's an amazing girl and the best thing to happen to him. He's definitely serious about getting back together."
Far from disappearing from the Royal fold, Kate has also remained close to Prince Harry since the split. She has often spoken to him and his girlfriend Chelsy. A spokesman for Prince William said: "We do not comment on the Prince's private life."
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