Royal engagement

The British royal family announced Tuesday that Prince William, second-in-line to the throne, is engaged to be married to Kate Middleton in spring or summer of 2011. They are both 28 years old.

According to the statement, Prince William proposed to Middleton during a vacation to Kenya in October.

There has been plenty of speculation in the British media in recent months that an engagement was imminent.

The couple has been together for most of the past eight years after meeting as students at St. Andrews University in Scotland.

'A great day'

Recently, Prince William has completed his helicopter pilot training and is a search and rescue pilot for the Royal Air Force stationed in north Wales. The couple will live near William's base after the wedding, according to the royal statement issued Tuesday.

Congratulatory remarks poured in from around Britain following the announcement. Prime Minister David Cameron received the news during a cabinet meeting.

"A great cheer went up and a great banging of the table," Cameron told reporters. "A great day for our country, a great day for the royal family and obviously a great day for Prince William and for Kate."

William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was "absolutely delighted" at the news, according to Buckingham Palace.

Prince William is the son of Prince Charles, heir to the throne, and Princess Diana. Charles and Diana were married in 1981 but divorced in 1996. A year later, Diana was killed in a car crash in a Paris tunnel while being chased by paparazzi photographers.

Author: Matt Zuvela (AFP, Reuters, dpa)
Editor: Rob Turner