Will Kate Middleton Be the Newest Princess?
Nov. 30, 2006 — -- Royal watchers say it's likely that Prince William and his longtime girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are set to announce their engagement.
Queen Elizabeth has invited Middleton to spend Christmas with the royal family, and Middleton won't be staying at gardener's cottage on the estate as she did last year.
Instead, she will be staying at the big house.
For royal watchers, Elizabeth's breaking her strict rule on no boyfriends or girlfriends at the Christmas table can mean only one thing: A royal wedding is in the cards.
Engagement rumors have been flying since the pair started dating in college and reached a fever pitch when the pair vacationed in the Caribbean.
The Dec. 1 cover of People Magazine features a holiday invite that some people say indicates that the marriage is imminent.
"If that is the case, that's a huge deal," said J.D. Heyman, senior editor of People Magazine. "That would certainly be a signal that she is a special person in the royal family and that this might be a prelude to an engagement."
Robert Jobson, author of "William's Princess," agrees.
"It's quite clear that she is seen as potential marriage potential," Jobson said.
Stores are already making memorabilia. It seems like Britain wants a new princess.
"Everybody seems to like her," Heyman said. "The queen seems to like her. Prince Charles seems to like her. This is certainly somebody who seems to have the royal stamp of approval."
Middleton also appears to have the stamp of approval from a cautious queen.
"The queen is not ready to marry off anybody in the royal family after her recent experiences," Heyman said. "Diana and Charles didn't take. Fergie and Andrew didn't take."
Prince William's love is a commoner. Middleton is the daughter of a former flight attendant without a drop of blue blood in her veins.
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