Royal Wedding Special
The story so far... I
t was defi nitely a case of something borrowed something blue when Kate Middleton and Prince William announced news of their engagement to the world’s media in November, from the State Apartments of St James’ Palace. Wearing Diana’s dazzling oval blue 18-carat sapphire and diamond
ring by royal jewellers Garrard and a sapphire blue Issa dress – a replica of which sold out within hours – the future Queen of England beamed with delight as she spoke about William’s romantic proposal. The prince had carried the ring around in his rucksack
for three weeks but it was while the pair enjoyed a 24-hour stop over at the Rutundu Log Cabins during their Kenyan holiday that he went down on one knee and popped the question. “I’d been planning it for a while,” William told reporter Tom Bradby of ITV News. “But as any guy out there will know it takes a certain amount of motivation to get yourself going. It just felt really right out in Africa.”
22 BRITAIN
Above left: Kate Middleton in the now-famous blue Issa wrap dress she wore at the official announcement of her engagement. Inset: Kate attended Prince William's RAF wings graduation in Lincolnshire in 2008. Above right: The couple at a Rugby Union match at Twickenham in 2007
Even the heir to the throne is not immune to nerves.
“I wanted to ask Kate’s dad fi rst but then the realisation that he might actually say no dawned upon me,” William explained. “So I thought if I ask Kate fi rst then he can’t really say no. So I did it that way round.” Needless to say, he shouldn’t have worried. His future
in-laws, Michael and Carole Middleton, spoke of how “delighted” and “thrilled” they were by the announcement. The Royal Family shared in the joyful news with Harry saying “It means I get a sister, which I have always wanted;” Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, declaring it “wicked” (she was presenting the Wicked Young Writers’ Award at the Apollo Theatre in Victoria at the time); the Queen saying, “It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time;” and Prince Charles, “They have been practising long enough.” Of course an eight-year relationship – the couple met
in 2002 as students at St Andrews University – certainly seemed ‘long enough’ to many, but it allowed the couple to
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PHOTO: REX FEATURES
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