Prince Charles’ Clarence House has officially announced that Prince William and Kate Middleton are to be married:

“The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton. The wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011 in London,” the statement read. “Further details will be announced in due course.”

This is big royal news! Who doesn’t love a royal wedding? The engagement is said to have taken place last month on a trip to Kenya. The two have dated on and off again for approximately 7 years after they had met and were roommates at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland.

Kate is the daughter of self-made millionaires and is said to have received the royal stamp of approval. Thank goodness because you can only imagine the hell she would go through if she weren’t ‘approved’. It makes it sound like a piece of grade A beef or something, no?

The statement also said that:

“Prince William has informed the queen and other close members of his family,” the Clarence House statement said. “Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton’s father.”

After the wedding, the royal couple will:

“live in north Wales, where Prince William will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force.”

I feel for this girl. The paparazzi are going to be hounding her endlessly from now on, but she does seem to be able to take it all in stride. Maybe someone should give her a taser so if they get too close she can zap them.

Congratulations to the happy couple.

Photo Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/ WENN