British Royal Wedding

According to Australian magazine New Idea, Prince William is due to pop the question to Kate Middleton any day now.

The couple are reportedly booked in for an “official meeting” with the Queen and the proposal date set for what would have been Princess Diana’s 48th birthday (1st July).

The magazine doesn’t stop there, detailing a “traditional” wedding, the honeymoon (an island in the West Indies) and the number of children they will have (three). Most importantly – according to an insider – grandmother Liz is unlikely to object to the union as “Kate loves shooting, so she’ll fit in well”. (via Sydney Morning Herald)

The Daily Star reckons that the BBC is chasing Kate Middleton to appear in the next series of Strictly Dancing…

They are desperate to land Prince William’s girlfriend when the new series returns to our screens later this year.

A show insider said: “Kate is top of our list of dream signings this year. She’s the type of person we’d love to have.

She oozes sex appeal but is also a firm favourite with women who admire the way she has conducted her relationship with William.”

Loved-up Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton sneaked off for a romantic weekend – under the names of Mr and Mrs Smith.

Kate used the popular aliases to book them into a holiday home as a birthday treat for Wills, who turned 27 yesterday.

But any hopes the famously shy couple had of a private break were dashed when Wills’ brother Harry, 24 – and a bunch of pals – tagged along. And instead of a romantic dinner on Friday, the lovers went to a boozy beach barbie.

A source said: “They have been staying at private house under the assumed name Mr and Mrs Smith.”

“It is quite funny really that they feel they need to go to such great lengths to keep their visit a secret – but I suppose it adds to the romance.” The couple’s made-up names mirror those of Charles and Camilla, who famously used to refer to themselves in code as Fred and Gladys.”

Read more at The Sun…

The Sun has ignited royal wedding speculation by reporting that Prince William will take Kate Middleton to Balmoral to meet the Queen in August…

It is the first time she has been invited to the Queen’s traditional break at the Highland retreat.

William, who is 27 today, plans to spend the August bank holiday weekend there with Kate. Her meeting with the Queen and Prince Philip will be seen as significant.

The fact that she has been invited to Balmoral, during a royal shoot, will be seen as important.

A source told us: “Kate loves shooting so she will fit in well with the Royal Family. She will take it in her stride.”

Bookie William Hill is offering odds of 2-1 ON that they will get engaged this year.

New photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton, taken at a friend’s party, have surfaced. Thanks to Charlotte, and Mapleleaf for the links!

Mapleleaf informs us: “The party was this past weekend in Newbury, Berkshire. Guy Pelly’s girlfriend Susanna Warren and her brother Jake Warren threw their annual ‘Folklore’ party at their place. Chelsy was there as well, although no pics of Harry have surfaced.”

There are more pics and details on The Royal Forum – http://tinyurl.com/nkg3gs

Kate Middleton hits Bond Street – Osoblog
God, it’s a tough life being the girlfriend of a prince… Kate Middleton was forced to spend her weekend traipsing around London’s Bond Street buying from Prada. Somebody’s got to do it though…

Harry ‘UK’s most eligible bachelor’ – Press Association
Prince Harry has been voted Britain’s most eligible bachelor by a panel of judges which included the TV presenter rumoured to be his girlfriend. The Prince topped this year’s list of 50 men chosen by celebrities for the women’s magazine Company…

Archive Footage Released: Life of a future queen – BBC
The BBC is releasing archive footage showing her taking the salute for the first time in 1951. The footage forms part of a new online collection which collates key radio broadcasts, news items and footage chronicling the Queen’s life as a princess between 1940-1952…

A story posted on Spalding Today’s website reports that Prince William and Kate Middleton attended a ‘royal’ wedding a few weeks ago…

Two friends on a caravan holiday in Norfolk rubbed shoulders with Royals at the wedding of Princess Di’s niece. From their pew in Snettisham Parish Church Josie cheekily snapped Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton with her digital camera.

“We watched the guests going in including Prince William and Kate and Earl Spencer, and were standing by the church door when a man beckoned us in, gave us a lovely order of service which I’ve kept and showed us to a pew.

“I’d never imagined I’d go away for a weekend and be so close to Prince William I could have touched him!

The Mirror reports that Kate Middleton has been cold-calling local business selling online ads for her parent’s company Party Pieces…

Last week she called super-trendy Ella’s Kitchen in Henley-on-Thames, which makes organic food for children.

Staff thought it was just another sales pitch until they realised who it was. One said: “Kate’s parents live near here, but was quite odd to realise she was flogging ad space like some telesales girl though.”

Kate Middleton joins Prince William for a weekend of polo – Daily Mail
She’s either a big fan of polo or Prince William’s number one fan. Kate Middleton was snapped supporting her boyfriend at a soggy polo match this afternoon. The Prince was taking part in two separate matches this weekend and despite the grey skies, Kate clearly couldn’t be kept away from his match on Sunday…

Photos: Kate Middleton watches HRH Prince William and HRH Prince Harry compete in The Dorchester Trophy polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 7, 2009 – Getty Images

Photos: Kate Middleton at Polo – Fotobanka isifa

Photos: Kate Middleton attends a charity polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club – WireImage

British newspaper The Mail on Sunday has published a never before seen photo of Kate Middleton.

The photo, taken in 2001,  shows Kate dressed in clown makeup and taking part in a foam fight to mark the end of freshman week at St Andrews university.

It is one of a very small number of pictures that have been published showing Miss Middleton during her time at university.

In her early student days, Royal protocol would have been the last thing on Kate’s mind – but just weeks after this picture was taken she met Prince William and her carefree life would change for ever.

The photo lay undiscovered in a photographer’s collection until last week.