It will be all in the family for Prince William and Kate Middleton, who Monday morning announced their wedding party.
As was widely predicted, Kate, 29, has chosen her sister Pippa as her maid of honor – whose job, it is stated, will be to make sure the bridal gown is displayed properly and the young wedding party is kept in line – while Prince Harry will be his brother's best man, the palace announced.
For royal watchers, the real treat may be in observing the young friends and royal relatives who will make up Kate's bridal party. Among them are Lady Louise Windsor, 7, the daughter of William's Uncle Edward and his wife, Sophie Wessex. Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, 8, is also from the wider Windsor clan. She is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth's nephew Viscount Linley and his wife, Serena.
A close friend of the couple, Hugh van Cutsem, is the father of another bridesmaid, Grace, 3. She, like one of the pageboys announced by the palace, Tom Pettifer, 8, is a godchild of William's. Pettifer is the son of William's nanny, Tiggy Pettier (nee Legge-Bourke), and her husband, Charles.
There's also a spot for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's granddaughter, Eliza Lopes, 3, whose mother is Camilla's daughter, Laura. The other pageboy is William Lowther-Pinkerton, 10, son of Jamie Lowther-Pinker, who as the princes' private secretary is the one heading up the wedding planning – and all the crucial work for the couple and William's brother Harry.
The palace ends its announcement by saying that the couple will withhold news of the what the bridesmaids dresses and the uniforms of the pageboys until April 29th – which happens to be the wedding day.
Here's one star who isn't eagerly checking his mailbox for the big wedding invitation.
Despite the buzz about him performing at the royal wedding on April 29th (whether officially or as a street performer outside Westminster Abbey, as he joked), Elton John says he won't make the invite list.
"I think because of my relationship with Princess Diana, people automatically think I'm going to be invited," John told Reuters.
But since he doesn't know Prince William well, "I'm not invited to the wedding, I would not expect to be invited to the wedding," he says.
Still, he's happy to join the throngs of well-wishers.
Prince William and Kate Middleton "seem very happy," says the singer, who performed at the 2007 London memorial concert for Princess Diana. "He's a terrific man, William, and he's going to be a great king."
Not to mention a great groom.
"These boys are their own people, they have their own friends," says John. "I just hope that they have the best day and its sunny and it's a great occasion for them."
Newly engaged to Prince William, 28-year-old Kate Middleton has been the portrait of poise and grace. But friends tell People magazine in this week's issue that the future princess wasn't always so self-assured.
As a young teen, she was shy and awkward. "She wasn't really confident," says a former classmate. "The poor girl, we felt sorry for her."
Now, of course, she is set to become one of the most famous women in the world. As anticipation mounts over the April 29 wedding date, those inside Middleton's circle say she will draw on her quiet inner strength.
"While she's not the sort of person who bursts through the door and grabs people's attention, she very much has presence," says a friend. "She draws attention to herself in a very unobtrusive way."
So far, say observers, she's proved herself a quick study on the royal stage – despite little-to-no formal training. "There's no charm school for princesses," says Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine. "It's sink or swim."
For much more on Kate, including her stellar style and candid photos of her childhood, pick up this week's issue of People on newsstands now.
Mark your calendars: Prince William and Kate Middleton have chosen a wedding date!
The Royal wedding will take place on Friday, April 29, 2011, according to the British Monarchy Twitter. It will take place at Westminster Abbey, the venue for the 1947 wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth, William's grandmother the Queen.
The couple, both 28, have received their wish to have a relatively early ceremony. William is known to have wanted as short an engagement as was practical and they both wanted a spring wedding.
Early clues as to the venue came only a day after their November 16th engagement, when Kate was seen leaving the Abbey after receiving a tour by officials.
Sources early Tuesday said that despite the fact it can seat 2,000 guests, the couple like the Abbey's "intimacy." The palace officials have also announced that the Royal Family and will pay for the church service, the music and parties. The cost of security – likely to run into millions – will be met by the British taxpayers.
Meanwhile, the couple are continuing their lives as they had been pre-engagement. Catherine Middleton, as the palace calls her, was seen shopping at upmarket superstore Waitrose in Menai Bridge, not far from the home that the prince rents in North Wales.
It will also be a public holiday in the U.K, the Prime Minister David Cameron announced. There is already the May Day holiday on the following Monday, making for a festive four-day weekend for the country.
The BBC reported that the date is also the feast day of St. Catherine of Sienna.
The wait is over: Prince William and Kate Middleton, having been a couple on and off for eight years, are finally set to wed, they have announced.
While no date has been revealed, it is thought the ceremony will be held in a few months and be the biggest since William's mother, Diana, married Prince Charles.
"Everyone is absolutely delighted. He has never had eyes for any other woman since Kate came on the scene," says an old friend. "She is going to make a wonderful wife, a wonderful princess."
Both the future bride and groom are 28.
The Official 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.
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 will be all in the family for Prince William and Kate Middleton, who Monday morning announced their wedding party.
