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| Royal wedding: William and Kate start planning | Royal wedding: William and Kate start planning |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Prince William and Kate Middleton have been holding discussions over the royal wedding, which is due to take place in London next spring or summer. | Prince William and Kate Middleton have been holding discussions over the royal wedding, which is due to take place in London next spring or summer. |
| The couple, both 28, were "still on cloud nine" after their engagement was announced on Tuesday, a spokesman for St James's Palace said. | The couple, both 28, were "still on cloud nine" after their engagement was announced on Tuesday, a spokesman for St James's Palace said. |
| They have given royal aides a list of possible wedding dates and venues, which will now be considered. | They have given royal aides a list of possible wedding dates and venues, which will now be considered. |
| Meanwhile, Sir Tom Jones has offered to sing at the couple's wedding. | |
| And US President Barack Obama said he "sends best wishes" to the couple, according to a White House spokesman. | |
| The news of the engagement triggered congratulations and widespread news coverage around the world. | The news of the engagement triggered congratulations and widespread news coverage around the world. |
| The St James's Palace spokesman said: "They are still very much on cloud nine and are still enjoying the happy moment. | The St James's Palace spokesman said: "They are still very much on cloud nine and are still enjoying the happy moment. |
| "They are enjoying talking to friends and family and enjoying one another's company and showing their commitment to each other publicly." | "They are enjoying talking to friends and family and enjoying one another's company and showing their commitment to each other publicly." |
| 'Big wedding' | 'Big wedding' |
| He said "all options are on the table" after the couple spent part of Wednesday discussing options with officials. | He said "all options are on the table" after the couple spent part of Wednesday discussing options with officials. |
| Aides will now consult with the Queen, senior royals, Miss Middleton's parents and others before reporting back to Prince William and Kate, who will make the final decision. | Aides will now consult with the Queen, senior royals, Miss Middleton's parents and others before reporting back to Prince William and Kate, who will make the final decision. |
| The spokesman stressed the prince and his bride-to-be were conscious of the country's economic situation. | The spokesman stressed the prince and his bride-to-be were conscious of the country's economic situation. |
| The wedding will take place in London and the couple will then live in North Wales, where the prince, who is second in line to the throne, is serving with the RAF. | The wedding will take place in London and the couple will then live in North Wales, where the prince, who is second in line to the throne, is serving with the RAF. |
| Speculation about the wedding venue has focused on Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and the smaller Guards Chapel, where the 10th anniversary memorial service for Princess Diana's death took place. | Speculation about the wedding venue has focused on Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and the smaller Guards Chapel, where the 10th anniversary memorial service for Princess Diana's death took place. |
| Meanwhile, a group of schoolchildren from Westminster's St Augustine's primary school discussed the wedding with the Duchess of Cornwall as they rode a Routemaster bus through the centre of London. | Meanwhile, a group of schoolchildren from Westminster's St Augustine's primary school discussed the wedding with the Duchess of Cornwall as they rode a Routemaster bus through the centre of London. |
| She told them it would be a "big wedding" and they will "even invite the Queen", some of the children said afterwards. | She told them it would be a "big wedding" and they will "even invite the Queen", some of the children said afterwards. |
| 'Excitement and anticipation' | 'Excitement and anticipation' |
| In the Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron made a statement to MPs: "I'm sure the whole House will wish to join me in sending our warmest congratulations and best wishes to Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. | In the Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron made a statement to MPs: "I'm sure the whole House will wish to join me in sending our warmest congratulations and best wishes to Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. |
| "I'm sure everyone agrees this is wonderful news, we look forward to the wedding itself with excitement and anticipation." | "I'm sure everyone agrees this is wonderful news, we look forward to the wedding itself with excitement and anticipation." |
| Speaking about his offer to perform at the wedding ceremony, Sir Tom Jones said he had "always been a royalist and I always will be. | |
| "If they invite me along to the wedding I'd happily come and sing a few songs." | |
| BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said Buckingham Palace would be "very sensitive" to the economic climate when making its plans. | BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said Buckingham Palace would be "very sensitive" to the economic climate when making its plans. |
| He said: "They will want to send a very definite signal that it is not on the lavish scale of the Charles and Diana wedding of 30 years ago, that it will be a royal wedding suitable and appropriate to the times." | He said: "They will want to send a very definite signal that it is not on the lavish scale of the Charles and Diana wedding of 30 years ago, that it will be a royal wedding suitable and appropriate to the times." |
| Two venues - Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral - will be hoping that bride and groom will marry in their place of worship. | Two venues - Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral - will be hoping that bride and groom will marry in their place of worship. |
| But both have the potential to re-kindle unfortunate memories - St Paul's as the place where William's parents began their unhappy marriage, Westminster Abbey as the venue of Diana's funeral. | But both have the potential to re-kindle unfortunate memories - St Paul's as the place where William's parents began their unhappy marriage, Westminster Abbey as the venue of Diana's funeral. |
| Yet the challenge will be to put together an event which will meet the wishes of the bride and groom, the expectations of a country wanting to celebrate the marriage of a future king and queen, plus the sensitivities of a country enduring economic hardships. | Yet the challenge will be to put together an event which will meet the wishes of the bride and groom, the expectations of a country wanting to celebrate the marriage of a future king and queen, plus the sensitivities of a country enduring economic hardships. |
| It all seems to point to a royal wedding on a rather smaller scale than in the past. | It all seems to point to a royal wedding on a rather smaller scale than in the past. |
| That could take them to smaller venues such as the Guards Chapel where the memorial service for Diana was held in 2007, or at the (even smaller) Chapel Royal at St James' Palace. | That could take them to smaller venues such as the Guards Chapel where the memorial service for Diana was held in 2007, or at the (even smaller) Chapel Royal at St James' Palace. |
| Anti-monarchy group Republic said taxpayers should not have to pay any money towards the event as the wedding should be "private". | Anti-monarchy group Republic said taxpayers should not have to pay any money towards the event as the wedding should be "private". |
| But the chief executive of VisitBritain, Sandy Dawe, said the wedding would be a great tourist attraction. | But the chief executive of VisitBritain, Sandy Dawe, said the wedding would be a great tourist attraction. |
| "We've seen the story of their announcement of the marriage go global. The ceremony itself could attract many billions of viewers around the world and that publicity is almost bound to generate more visitors from overseas." | "We've seen the story of their announcement of the marriage go global. The ceremony itself could attract many billions of viewers around the world and that publicity is almost bound to generate more visitors from overseas." |
| Speaking in a joint television interview, the prince said he gave his fiance his mother Diana's engagement ring, having carried it in a rucksack for three weeks. | |
| "It's my mother's engagement ring so I thought it was quite nice because obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all - this was my way of keeping her close to it all," he said. | "It's my mother's engagement ring so I thought it was quite nice because obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all - this was my way of keeping her close to it all," he said. |
| His bride-to-be called the late princess "an inspirational woman" and said that joining the Royal Family was a "daunting prospect" but something she hoped to take in her stride. | His bride-to-be called the late princess "an inspirational woman" and said that joining the Royal Family was a "daunting prospect" but something she hoped to take in her stride. |
| The royal couple will consider the current economic times in their wedding planning, but we'd like to know if you opted for a "budget" wedding? If so do you have any cost saving tips? Or have you been a guest at a thrifty wedding? Send your comments and tips using the form below. | The royal couple will consider the current economic times in their wedding planning, but we'd like to know if you opted for a "budget" wedding? If so do you have any cost saving tips? Or have you been a guest at a thrifty wedding? Send your comments and tips using the form below. |