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Prince William and Kate Middleton are engaged and will marry next year, Clarence House announced today.

William, 28, proposed during a holiday in Kenya last month after asking Kate's father for his daughter's hand.

The couple have been together for eight years and Kate had been dubbed 'Waity Katy' amid criticism that she hanging on for a proposal but now her wait is over.

The pair have been together for eight years and have recently been spending much of their time in north Wales where William is a search and rescue pilot.

Their wedding, scheduled for 2011, will be the biggest royal event since the wedding of William's mother and father in the 80s.

Clarence House said: '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.

'Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya.

'Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton's father.

'Following the marriage, the couple will live in north Wales, where Prince William will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force.'It is claimed personnel at Westminster Abbey have been contacted about arranging a royal wedding in the second week of August. ...

David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband both said they were 'delighted' for the couple.

The Prime Minister was told of the engagement during the Cabinet meeting this morning and relayed it to ministers.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed Kate Middleton's parents were guests at a private shooting party on the Queen's Scottish estate.

The move was seen as highly symbolic and an indication that the middle-clas Middleton family were now firmly being welcomed into the royal fold.

It is now clear that Kate and William, who are both 28, were already engaged at the time of the visit to Birkhall, Prince Charles' private residence on the Balmoral estate.

The invitation to Mr Middleton, a former airline despatcher, and ex-air hostess Carole shows the royal family were keen to start off on the right foot as Kate edges to becoming a Princess.