The UK's Prince William has asked his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, to marry him giving her his late mother's engagement ring, paving the way for another prospective lavish royal wedding since Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer nearly 30 years ago.

 

Royal officials announced on Tuesday that Prince William will marry Kate Middleton next spring or summer in London, ending years of rumored splits, reconciliation, and "will they / won't they" speculation.

As the couple posed for photographers inside St. James's Palace, the bride-to-be acknowledged that possibly becoming queen someday is "a daunting prospect."

Kate Middletion, Prince William's Fiancee, said, "Well, it's quite a daunting prospect but, you know, hopefully I'll take it in my stride. William's a great teacher, so he'll be able to help me along the way, and I really look forward to, look forward to, spending my time with him."

Prince William proposed during a vacation in Kenya last month, and gave Middleton the oval blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds that his mother, Princess Diana, once wore.

Prince William , UK Royal Family Member, said, "Well, as you may recognize now, it's my mother's engagement ring so, of course, it's very special to me -- and Kate's very special to me now as well -- it was only about the two put together. But it was my way of making sure that my mother didn't miss out on today, and the excitement and the fact that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together."