Kate Middleton's 'sad' hunt

Oct 25, 2007, 12:30 GMT

Brigitte Bardot believes it was "sad" Kate Middleton felt she had to take part in a royal deer hunt to win over her boyfriend Britain's Prince William.

The French actress accused Kate - who accompanied William and his father Prince Charles on a deer-stalking trip on the royal family's Scottish estate Balmoral, earlier this month - of taking part in the blood sport just to endear herself to the royal family.

Brigitte, 73, said in an US TV interview with Daphne Barak: "How sad, She was trying to win William and his family. But this is not a way to get a man. And I do know one of two things about it, you know."

Kate, 25, was blasted by animal rights groups after photographs showed her getting a shooting lesson with a rifle before joining the rest of the party on the Highlands hunt.

Barry Hugill, spokesman for The League Against Cruel Sports, said: "It is very sad that Kate has been sucked into such activities by William.

"His mother, Princess Diana, would turn in her grave if she knew he had taken part because she was opposed to blood sports."

The outing was believed to be a definite sign that Kate had been fully accepted back into the inner royal circle following her brief split from the prince earlier this year.

(C) BANG Media International