KATE Middleton is celebrating her 27th birthday,  amid a flurry of royal wedding rumours.  As Prince William’s girlfriend celebrated her big day with family and friends, speculation was growing that the couple will announce their engagement later this year.

The pair, who met at St Andrews University in 2001, spent much of the festive period holidaying at the royal retreat of Birkhall, the Prince of Wales’s home on the Queen’s private Balmoral estate in Scotland.

During their time together it was reported that William and Kate enjoyed a romantic meal in a secluded log cabin in the grounds of the home. The Prince, an Army officer, is due to start training to become an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in the coming weeks while Kate works for a party goods supplier run by her parents.

To add to the excitement, it has emerged that the Queen has “blocked out” two dates in June, a move which usually heralds an important announcement.  Staff have been told to clear their diaries for June 3rd and 4^th.  Bosses at the Dom Perignon HQ in France have apparently confirmed that 300 vintage bottles from the Queen’s private collection are ready to be shipped to Britain.

Bookmakers William Hill said speculation around a royal wedding had seen the odds for an engagement announcement this year shorten from 6-4 to 1-2 in the last few weeks.

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During a recent visit to a centre for visually impaired ex-servicemen in North Wales, Prince William laughed off a cheeky remark about his marriage plans from Corporal Simon Brown, who was blinded by a sniper in Iraq three years ago.  Asked about a possible invite to his wedding, 27-year-old Prince William, who’s previously vowed not to tie the knot before his 28th birthday in June is reported to have replied “You will have to wait a while yet”.

While he was touring the St Dunstan’s centre in Llandudno, the royal heir had a go at archery after being blind folded to simulate sight loss.  Prince William managed to miss the entire target every time. Although he had another go with his eyes uncovered he still proved a poor shot and failed to get near the bullseye again. “I’m going to give up now before it gets too embarrassing,” he said.

Though he made no more than an off hand comment, the second in line to the throne has sent royal-watchers into a flurry of excitement that an engagement announcement from Buckingham Palace could be in the pipeline.  Speculation surrounding William’s wedding plans has led to 2012 being earmarked as a possible date for his and Kate’s nuptials as the occasion would tie in nicely with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

William and Kate have been seeing each other since getting together in 2003 when they were both students at the University of St Andrews.

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Prince William and his long time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, have hired a wedding planner. The couple have reportedly asked Ms Sarah Sienesi, a “wedding and event consultant” to undertake the planning for the wedding. Ms Sienesi has apparently been appointed as a lady-in-waiting to the Countess of Wessex, this according to the Daily Telegraph.

“It’s no longer seen as lazy or extravagant to hire someone to help you organise your wedding,” Sarah is quoted as saying. “People get their groceries delivered at home and employ cleaners, so why not have someone with insider knowledge do your groundwork on the big day?”

Recent reports have claimed that William and Kate, who have been together for around eight years, will marry in 2012. “Nothing is set in stone but 2012 is the date that is now being talked about,” a source said. “Whether William and Kate get married in 2012 or the year before, it will be the Queen who will throw them the most wonderful party and the line of thinking at the moment is that 2012 could be the perfect date. It would be the opportune time to put Britain and the Royal Family on the world stage.”

The Prince and long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton, both 27, have an “understanding” that they will walk down the aisle before Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee in 2012.

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