William, Kate set their wedding date

LONDON - Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry on April 29 next year. The couple - who revealed their engagement to the world last week - will tie the knot at Westminster Abbey in London and the date will be a public holiday in the UK.

The venue has extra significance for William as it was where his mother Princess Diana's funeral was held in September 1997.

At a briefing at St James's Palace, the prince's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said: "The couple have chosen to be married at Westminster Abbey on the Feast of St Catherine on Friday 29th April. The couple were moved to choose the venue because of its staggering beauty, its 1000 years of royal history and its relative intimacy, despite its size.

"The venue has long associations with the Royal Family - it is in many ways the Royal Family's church - and of course with Prince William personally. They're on cloud nine like any other newly engaged couple. They're now getting stuck into organising their wedding. I've never seen two happier people, which is fabulous."