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| Royal Wedding: Prince William and Kate set date | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry on Friday 29 April at Westminster Abbey, Clarence House has announced. | Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry on Friday 29 April at Westminster Abbey, Clarence House has announced. |
| The couple, both 28, got engaged while on holiday in Kenya in October. | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said it would be "a happy and momentous occasion" and would be marked by a public holiday. | Prime Minister David Cameron said it would be "a happy and momentous occasion" and would be marked by a public holiday. |
| The Royal Family and the Middletons will pay for the wedding itself, but the taxpayer will meet the cost of extra security and transport. | |
| Westminster Abbey has hosted the weddings of the Queen and Queen Mother and was the venue for Princess Diana's funeral in 1997. | Westminster Abbey has hosted the weddings of the Queen and Queen Mother and was the venue for Princess Diana's funeral in 1997. |
| The prince's private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkington, said the couple wanted a spring wedding and chose the abbey for its "staggering beauty", 1,000-year royal history and its feeling of intimacy despite its size. | |
| He said William and Kate were "calling the shots" on the wedding plans, but had a "rather large supporting cast" to help them. | |
| "We know that the world will be watching on April 29, and the couple are very, very keen indeed that the spectacle should be a classic example of what Britain does best," Mr Lowther-Pinkington said. | |
| "Prince William and Catherine have made it very clear that they wish everybody to be able to enjoy the day with them. | |
| "Consequently, the day will be a proper celebration for the nation and the realms. | |
| "Having said that, the couple are very mindful of the current situation, and for example, Prince William has already expressed a clear wish that any involvement by the armed forces should rely in great part on those servicemen and women already committed to public and ceremonial duties." | |
| 'National celebration' | |
| The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, welcomed the couple's choice of venue. | |
| "We are very pleased they have chosen Westminster Abbey for their marriage and look forward to the detailed planning for what will be a great and happy occasion for the couple themselves, for their families and friends, for the country and Commonwealth and for well-wishers across the globe," he said. | |
| The extra holiday will fall in the same week as Easter Monday, giving millions of workers a three-day week. | The extra holiday will fall in the same week as Easter Monday, giving millions of workers a three-day week. |
| Mr Cameron said: "We want to mark the day as one of national celebration, a public holiday will ensure the most people possible will have a chance to celebrate on the day." | |
| Public Holidays are devolved in Scotland and the Scottish government is yet to announce whether it will follow Westminster's lead. | Public Holidays are devolved in Scotland and the Scottish government is yet to announce whether it will follow Westminster's lead. |
| However, the BBC understands that ministers in Scotland are expected to agree to the move when the cabinet meets later this afternoon. | |
| The wedding date falls six days before the Scottish parliament election on 5 May. As 28 working days, including public holidays, are needed between dissolving parliament and polling day, parliament could be dissolved a day earlier than expected. | |
| 'A party' | |
| Prince William proposed to Kate with his mother Diana's diamond and sapphire engagement ring. | |
| Asked why he had done so, he said: "It is very special to me and Kate is very special to me now as well. It is only right the two are put together." | |
| Mr Lowther-Pinkerton said the couple were "completely over the moon" about their engagement. | |
| "I've never seen two happier people," he added. | |
| The Press Association reported that a concert in Hyde Park had been proposed to coincide with William and Kate's wedding. | |
| It said a senior royal aide had refused to confirm the suggestion but had added: "Their view on it would be, 'Let's have a party.'" | |
| What is your reaction to the announcement? Are you planning to get married on the same day? Send us your comments using the form below. |