Remember when you last reached a crossroads in a connection and you had to decide whether to continue or disconnect? And by connection I refer not just to a relationship, such as a romance, but a wider definition of emotional connection including friendship or a job or even taking the plunge and emigrating to a new country.

The Kate – William saga brings to mind for me a few tips on reassessing our connections.

In other words, is there any point in committing more of my time, energy, resources into this connection? Englebert Humperdinck immortalized these first lines in the song, Last Waltz: "Wonder should I go or should I stay…?"

I will bring in other great songs from popular culture in illustrating my points.

"We'll be friends forever" shows up in many high school yearbooks – think of the closing song in Grease – however, quality connections are negotiated continually by the two people involved to be win-win. By that I mean mutually beneficial – you do a good job at work so they meet organizational goals and you get a paycheque and skills and camaraderie.

You certainly are at your best when the other is keen to make you happy. In non-profit organizations or churches, volunteers work extraordinarily hard as a dedicated team towards a clear and honorable goal. How many times have you fielded a call at 1am from an anxious friend?  In the realm of romance, how heartening it is when the other fancies your fabulousness - Tom Jones expressed it in his rendition of the Bacharach/David What’s New, Pussycat?: "I’ve got flowers and lots of hours to spend with you…"

 And how willing are we to be available to such a suitor, as depicted in another Tom Jones hit: "Help Yourself" – "Love is like candy on a shelf, you want a taste so help yourself, the sweetest things are there for you, help yourself, take a few, that’s what I want you to do…"

When it is mutual, you both benefit from the alignment of synergies like Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and her 'Bertie', King George VI or Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his Cuban wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

Despite the wonderful qualities in each of us, many connections come with an expiry date. Rightly so, we learn and move from life experiences and grow into our potential, as do 'The Other'. Enjoy it while it lasts, accept this fact of life, and have a contingency plan in place.

How reassuring that the coins bearing HM’s face show signs of graceful aging. Otherwise we think Botox.

Given that fact, be aware “You are exceptional, you are not the exception” as Greg Behrendt and Liz Trucillo wrote in He’s Just Not That Into You. When you see that the "writing's on the wall", it is time to move on.

Royals who respond to the signals and adapt have staying power. Sweden shifted after the death of Gustaf VI Adolph in 1976 with the new King retaining little of his grandfather’s political power and paying tax.