How does the heir to the British throne let off a little steam in the wake of his very public breakup? By giggling at the gentle comedy stylings of Will Ferrell, of course.

Prince William, 24, who's back on the market after reportedly giving longtime love Kate Middleton, 25, the heave-ho last week, ventured out with a couple of pals Tuesday night to catch a screening of "Blades of Glory," says the London Sun.

"They were laughing and joking," a spy tells the tab. "It must have been a nice way to relax after the last few days."

No doubt, given that the last few days have been filled with intense speculation over what prompted the Prince to stick a fork (albeit an engraved sterling silver fork used for caviar or perhaps snails) in his nearly 5-year romance with his college sweetheart, with everything from geography to the royal family rumored to have played a part.

According to People, factors in the split included William's desire to hold onto his bachelor status (he announced a couple years back that he would steer clear of the altar until he was at least 28) and the difficulties in navigating a long-distance relationship (William is training at an army camp two hours away from London, where Kate works at a fashion firm).

A mole tells the mag that Middleton, who was snapped putting on a brave face -- and a smile -- this week, was "surprised" by his decision to call it quits, but "she knew that he was not ready for marriage."

Echoes another insider, "She knows [the split] was the right thing."

Meanwhile, there are conflicting opinions as to whether the royal family meddled in William's love life, with a "friend" insisting William made up his own mind: "He is a strong character and won't be told what to do."

But a Middleton source maintains to Us Weekly that the prince's clench-jawed relations may have counseled him to cut her loose.

"Kate wanted an assurance that there was going to be a future for them, and William wasn't ready to give that," says the spy. "His family advised him not to rush into things, and so in the end, he couldn't give her what she wanted."

Still, at least one former college pal of Middleton's says good riddance to the future King.

"Kate never felt like William put her in first place," the loose-lipped classmate tells the magazine. "To meet up for dinner, she would have to run four or five different dates by him before he would say he was available. Usually when you are in a relationship, you drop everything for your loved one, but William wasn't like that."

And while the nightlife-loving Prince isn't likely to be hurting for company, a Kate confidante is holding out hope that they could find their way back to one another.

"I don't think it's really over," the snitch tells People. "I don't think this is the last you'll see of the two of them."

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