Cool orf!

PRINCE William has told girlfriend Kate Middleton he wants to put their love on hold while he concentrates on his military training.

We can reveal they have agreed a SECRET PACT in which Kate, 26, will have little contact with Wills over the next YEAR.

A source close to the couple told the News of the World the 25-year-old Prince has hinted he may PROPOSE when he becomes a full-time royal in 2009.

But friends of the beauty say she is privately WORRIED Wills-currently learning to fly with the RAF-is trying to cool the relationship.

Fear

A royal source told us: "Kate has been playing second fiddle since the start of the year spending very little time with William. It's almost a case of, 'Don't call me, I'll call you'.

"At the moment the only chance she gets to see him is at weekends when he returns from RAF training.

"William has told her in no uncertain terms he wants to prioritise his duties and throw himself into the role."

But Kate's pals say her big fear is that William may simply have grown tired of her by the end of the pact. He has already admitted he doesn't want to get married until he is 28 or 30.

One friend said: "Kate is prepared to wait for William-there is no question of that. But she's concerned he's trying to loosen the relationship.

"She knows it's a risk but feels she can only accept his 'pact'. Kate loves him and hopes he will finally realise she's the one.

"He wants to excel at his military career but she doesn't want it to be at the expense of their relationship. After all she has put five years hard work into it and taking the pressure that comes with being his girlfriend."

Surfing

The couple split last April for around two months but never went more than two days without texting or phoning each other.

But they have hardly seen each other this year with the prince snubbing Kate by spending a rare free weekend in Newquay, Cornwall, surfing with a dozen male friends a fortnight ago.

Wills is stationed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire. In June he joins the Royal Navy on a stint which will may him abroad for up to several weeks. From 2009 he begins intensive training on his constitutional duties including a stint at the Foreign Office.

Our source said: "William has told Kate if they can survive this long stint apart then he'll propose to her. The pressure will then be on to get married from next year."