Speculation is rife that Britain's most eligible bachelor has been snapped up by one of his university roommates.
According to a British magazine, Prince William intends to marry girlfriend Kate Middleton "in the near future."
The Spectator reports that the prince and his girlfriend, who are currently on vacation at a ranch in Kenya, "are said to be moving into a house in London together, with a view to marrying in the near future."
Middleton is one of three women who shared a house with the man second-in-line to the British throne during their time as students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
The Spectator article says unnamed "friends" have suggested a royal wedding is imminent.
"At a time when very few 23-year-olds manage to sustain a relationship for more than a few months, it is hard to believe that William has already met Miss Right," the magazine reports.
"Kate's gradual introduction into the royal family has been carefully managed, and has been a tremendous success. Not only has she gained the Queen's approval, but the Duke of Edinburgh is said to be especially fond of her, and Charles and Camilla already see her as part of the family," the article claimed.
London's Daily Express newspaper reported that Prince Charles has invited his son and his girlfriend to move into his royal residence, Clarence House, rather than buy a home of their own.
"Kate has already got some of her clothes and possessions in wardrobes inside William's apartment," the Express reported, noting that Charles is sensitive to the issue of how royal romances are treated by the British press and public.
"Prince Charles and Camilla both adore Kate and they can see how happy she makes him," the newspaper said. "He knows there will be people who kick up a stink, but Charles is determined that William and Kate are happy together."
The Spectator claims that Middleton's mother pushed her in the direction of St. Andrews University in the hope of a royal encounter.
"Some insiders wonder whether her university meeting with Prince William can really be ascribed to coincidence," said the magazine.
"It has been suggested that her mother persuaded Kate to reject her first choice on hearing the news and take up her offer at St. Andrews instead."
However The London Times reported that William's choice of university had not been reported when Middleton selected St. Andrews. It also noted that the Prince told a reporter this year that he is "too young to marry at my age. I don't want to get married until I'm at least 28 or maybe 30."
Middleton, 23, is the daughter of parents who run a successful mail-order business in England. Her relationship with a future king has been treated with discretion by the British press, which backed off its intense scrutiny of the royals following the death of Princess Diana, William's mother.
According to The Times, Middleton's clean image of a shy, awkward girl who grew into a dignified swan had only one blemish -- an early teenage predilection for mooning.
Schoolfriend Jessica Hay told the newspaper: "Our room faced out on to the boys' boarding house. Every night we took turns to show our bare bums to the guys to see if they could guess whose they were. She then got kind of addicted to it. We must have done it 90 times."
The Queen and Prince Phillip have apparently formed an affectionate bond with Middleton after meeting her at the St Andrews graduation ceremony in June.
In September, William is to work in the City, London's financial district, as part of a second gap year, intended to usher him into a more prominent public role.
In May he is due to enrol for officer training at Sandhurst, where his brother Prince Harry is currently training, entailing a minimum three-year period in the army.
There has been speculation that Middleton will make use of her History of Art degree by joining a London auction house.
CTV.ca | Rumours swirl of wedding for Prince William
Wait and see then we will know more next year...
