LONDON: Speculation is rife that Prince William might announce an engagement with his girlfriend Kate Middleton soon after the couple were spotted walking together down the aisle at a friend's wedding for the first time.
Both William and Kate happily posed for photographs at the wedding ceremony they attended as a couple in Austria, with Prince Charles' bodyguard acting as a protection officer for the second-in-line to the British throne's ladylove.
However, rumours of the couple's wedding have been dispelled by a senior Royal Household source, saying "it's premature".
"There is a lot of planning involved in a Royal engagement announcement of a member of the family as senior as Prince William. A number of high-profile people have to be informed formally, and the couple have to be introduced to the Prime Minister of the day among others. All this takes time.
"As far as I am aware I cannot see there being an engagement between the Prince and Miss Middleton for at least 18 months," the unnamed source was quoted by the 'News of the World' as saying.
He has also dismissed rumours which fuelled speculation of an imminent announcement that the couple were set to meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Balmoral this weekend.
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