Gossip: Prince William, Kate Middleton
Prince William is formally engaged to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton.
At last, Britain will have another royal wedding. Prince William is formally engaged to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton, and the couple will marry next spring or summer in London, Buckingham Palace announced this week. Their romance began in college and briefly faltered in 2007, but after their reunion, the tabloids began calling Middleton “Waity Katie” because no ring was forthcoming. “We’re obviously thrilled,” said William’s father, Prince Charles. “They’ve been practicing long enough.”
William, 28, is second in line to the throne, after his father. His marriage to Middleton, also 28, will be Britain’s biggest spectacle since Charles’ marriage to Diana Spencer in 1981, and the news was greeted with great enthusiasm by a British public weary of somber economic news and budget cuts. “It’s great to have a piece of unadulterated good news that everyone can celebrate,” said Prime Minister David Cameron.
A free daily email with the day’s biggest news and analysis – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.