Prince William And Kate Middleton Are Engaged!

by Verena von Pfetten | 9:36 am, November 16th, 2010

It’s finally happened! Prince William and Kate Middleton are engaged, and according to reports, it happened over a month ago while the lovely couple was on vacation in Kenya. But fret not, this is no rumor. Buckingham Palace has released a statement confirming the engagement, which means everyone is in the clear. Let the dress speculation begin!

But first, a few more details about the engagement. According to Reuters, William had informed Queen Elizabeth of the engagement and asked permission from Kate’s father beforehand. And while the Palace released a public statement, Prime Minister David Cameron was told the news during a cabinet meeting. The Palace’s statement:

The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton. The wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011, in London. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.”

Middleton has managed to avoid an intense spotlight for the last eight years of her relationship with William, but speculation has already begun as to how she’ll survive the ensuing press frenzy surrounding their engagement. As WWD (somewhat snidely) points out, “Unlike Princess Diana, she appears not to crave attention or a flashy lifestyle.”

Middleton’s sartorial style can be described as classic, clean, and simple — which may speak to her dress choice. According to WWD, she tends to stick with the same designers and high street brands such as Jigsaw, Katherine Hooker, and Longchamp. One of her favorite lines is Issa, which has led the British press to guess that her wedding dress will be designed by the brand’s designer, Daniella Helayel.

We think it’s safe to say that Kate’s dress will skew traditional, but we’re curious to see if she opts for the ubiquitous (and so overdone) strapless wedding gown over something a little more playful or even vintage inspired. Either way, congratulations to the happy couple — and to the British press, who now have a year’s worth of front page stories. Although one thing has been notably absent from the current crop of stories: details on the ring! According to the Daily Mail, the happy couple are scheduled to “appear in public later today, when the Princess-in-waiting is expected to show off her engagement ring.” Keep your eyes peeled, folks.

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