The British press today was rife with stories of how the relationship between Prince William and Kate Middleton came to an end days after it emerged the couple had split.

Various newspapers reported that multiple social faux pas committed by Middleton's mother did nothing to endear her to William's friends and family.

One tabloid said the pair decided to end their relationship last month while in the Swiss Alps on a skiing trip.

Multiple papers said that Carole Middleton, Kate's mother, did not make a positive impression on William's inner circle, who did not believe her to be sufficiently upper class - Carole and her husband Michael are self-made millionaires after starting a children's party paraphernalia business.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Carole Middleton's use of the word "toilet" rather than "lavatory", and use of the phrase "pleased to meet you" rather than "how do you do?" rubbed William's associates the wrong way.

According to the paper, they would derisively whisper "doors to manual" when Kate Middleton, 25, arrived, a veiled jibe at her mother being a former airline stewardess.

Meanwhile, several newspapers also reported that, contrary to what had been previously said in the British press, the fate of William's relationship with Middleton was not decided at a gathering of "The Firm" - the mafia-style nickname for the senior royals.

An unidentified royal insider told the Daily Mirror tabloid that "anyone who knows William knows he's a strong-minded character who's quite capable of making up his own mind."

Various newspapers added that army officer William, 24, told his father, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, that Middleton, a clothes buyer for a fashion firm, wanted more from their relationship but he did not want to commit.

Things reportedly came to a head three weeks ago after pictures appeared of a drunken William partying with army colleagues and several women in a nightclub.

According to The Sun, Middleton and William, second in line to the throne, are thought to have decided to split while at an exclusive resort in Zermatt, Switzerland, last month, citing an unnamed source close to the couple.

"No one knows exactly what was said between them, but William and Kate talked for hours about their future," the source told the tabloid.

"It is fair to say each of them wanted different things ... William feels too young and doesn't want to give up the freedom that life in the Army allows."

British bookmakers, meanwhile, were taking bets over the weekend on who William will marry, with Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue among the front runners.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said most of the stories written about the demise of their four-year relationship would be "complete nonsense," as British newspapers picked over the bones of their break-up.

"I think, in respect of Prince William, they are a young couple. We have had the announcement, fine," Blair told BBC television.

"I think, now it has been announced, they should be allowed to get on with their lives."

However, Clarence House, the royal residence which handles the prince's affairs, has refused to confirm or deny the break-up.

Many royal watchers were certain that William and Kate would wed, and British retailer Woolworths had 25,000 commemorative mugs, 15,000 tea towels, 12,000 plates and 8,000 mouse mats bearing pictures of the pair ready to go on sale within 48 hours of an engagement announcement.