Britain is agog over new reports that Prince William, the world's most eligible bachelor, will marry his longtime girl friend, Kate Middleton, next summer at Westminster Abbey. "A date has been earmarked for a royal wedding next year," a senior Abbey source said, adding that while the timing is tentative, the palace is talking about the second week in August. One of William's distant relations, German Prince Julius Eduard von Anhalt, said last month that the couple will announce their engagement this fall and tie the knot in July. William, who once said he'd never marry "until I'm at least 28," has been the focus of renewed speculation since he reached that age in June. The prince and Middleton, also 28, have been a couple for seven years, since they were students at St Andrews University, but his reluctance to set a wedding date has earned her the nickname Waity Katie. Royal-watchers have suggested that the couple may choose August 31, to honour his mother, Princess Diana, who died on that date at age 36 in 1997. Her funeral was held at Westminster Abbey. William's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, reportedly discussed marriage arrangements in May when they visited the Abbey -- where their own marriage ceremony was performed in 1947. William's parents, Diana and Prince Charles, were married in St Paul's Cathedral but William is believed to have vetoed that venue. There had been reports earlier this year that William and Kate would wed this summer while he was in training to become an RAF search-and-rescue pilot. He is expected to be spending more time on a British base in coming months. A friend of the couple told said, "To be honest, next summer would be perfect. It's pretty much impossible for them to marry in 2012 due to the [Queen's Diamond] Jubilee and the London Olympics, which means that unless they take the plunge next year, Kate would have to wait until 2013 to walk down the aisle. "She has been very patient so far, but I think that is asking rather too much -- even of her," the friend said. "Kate will be allowed to spend the first few years of married life as an officer's wife, rather than a full-time royal." Britons have closely watched the William-Kate romance for years, including their breakup during a vacation in Switzerland in 2007 and reconciliation some months later. Officially, the palace isn't confirming any of the wedding reports. "The only two people who know anything about their future plans are Prince William and Kate Middleton," a spokesman said. <table class="ae_noborder" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td bgcolor="#ef4130">Honeymoon bets</td></tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e1e1e1">Rupert Adams, a William Hill spokesman and bookmaker, said, "Tanzania is the big mover in the market and went from 33-to-1 to second-favourite - the reason being I understand that Kate has told friends in the past that if she could chose anywhere or do anything on her honeymoon then perhaps a safari was what she wanted to do. Outside from that, you've got everything from Vegas at 100-to-1 to I think Florida, Disneyland at 250-to-1."</td></tr></tbody></table>

World's smallest man clings to short-lived title

Britain is agog over new reports that Prince William, the world's most eligible bachelor, will marry his longtime girl friend, Kate Middleton, next summer at Westminster Abbey

Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton to make it regal

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Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton to make it regal

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