🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 99 (from laksa096)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa099.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/16/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/16/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/2010\/nov\/16\/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement","crawl_time":1771700985,"first_indexed_time":1466706424,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,theguardian!www,\/uk\/2010\/nov\/16\/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement s443","src_root_hash":"4161074618625082499","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Prince William and Kate Middleton engagement announced | Prince William | The Guardian","meta_descriptions":["<p>Clarence House statement reveals engagement of second in line to throne and his long-term girlfriend after weeks of speculation<\/p>"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"William  and Kate announce their engagement\nPress Association\nKate Middleton today spoke of the \"daunting prospect\" of joining the royal family as she and\nPrince William\nannounced they would get married next year.\nWearing the blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring that the prince's father gave to Princess Diana in 1981, Middleton said \"hopefully, I will take it in my stride\", while adding that her future husband was \"a great teacher\".\nPrince William said the ring \"was very special to me\" as was his bride-to-be. Giving it to her was \"my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today\" and the excitement that the couple were going spend their lives together.\nThe long-expected news that the second in line to the throne was to marry his long-term girlfriend was announced by Clarence House earlier in the day .\nThe prince asked Middleton to marry him during a private holiday in Kenya last month and has, the royal press office stressed, asked her father's permission.\nMiddleton said, during a brief press conference and photocall at St James's Palace, London, that the prince had been \"a true romantic\", was \"a loving boyfriend\" and \"very supportive of me in good times and also through the bad times\".\nPrince William said of their engagement: \"The timing is right now, we are both very, very happy. We both have a very good sense of humour and we take the mickey out of each other a lot.\"\nHe added that Middleton had \"plenty of habits that make me laugh that I tease her about\".\nThe formal statement said William's father, Prince Charles, was \"delighted\".\nSpeaking at his Poundbury model village in Dorset, Charles said that he was \"thrilled, obviously\", and joked: \"They have been practising long enough ... it makes me feel very old.\"\nWilliam's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, on her way to an official engagement at the Apollo Theatre in London, told a wellwisher: \"It's brilliant, isn't it? It's absolutely wonderful.\"\nMiddleton's parents, Michael and Carole, were \"thrilled\". Her father Michael, reading a statement outside their home near the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, said they had got to know the prince very well: \"We all think he is wonderful and we are extremely fond of him. They make a lovely couple, they are great fun to be with, and we've had a lot of laughs together. We wish them every happiness for the future.\"\nEarl Spencer, the prince's uncle and brother of Princess Diana, said: \"It's wonderful news. Very exciting. My family are all thrilled for them both.\"\nThe Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were also \"absolutely delighted\", Buckingham Palace said. During a reception this afternoon at Windsor Castle for leaders of British overseas territories including Bermuda, Montserrat and the Falklands Islands, the Queen told a guest who congratulated her: \"It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time.\"\nPolitical leaders and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, echoed the sentiment.\nFull details of the wedding plans have yet to be announced. The statement said only that the wedding would take place in London next spring or summer.\nSt Paul's Cathedral\nand\nWestminster Abbey\nare possible venues, although both have painful resonances – St Paul's was where Charles's ill-fated wedding to Princess Diana took place in 1981, while the abbey hosted Diana's funeral in 1997.\nWilliam and Kate have known each other for eight years, and met as students at St Andrews University. They subsequently shared student accommodation for two years and, apart from a brief separation in 2007, have been together ever since.\nMiddleton will be the first commoner to marry an expected future king for 350 years, since Anne Hyde married the future King James II in 1660.\nMiddleton is eldest of three children in a family whose fortune is based on a mail-order children's party accessories business.\nThe prime minister, David Cameron, said the whole country would join him and his wife, Samantha, in wishing the couple \"great joy\".\nLater, he said that he had spoken to the prince to pass on his congratulations and predicted \"a great day of national celebration\".\nThe prime minister told a press conference at Downing Street that it felt \"great to have a bit of unadulterated good news\", and said a cheer had gone up when he told ministerial colleagues at today's Cabinet meeting.\nThe Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said via the social network Twitter: \"Delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. The whole country will be wishing them every happiness.\"\nScotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, congratulated the couple and said: \"Of course, this was a match made in St Andrews, and everyone in Scotland will join with me in wishing the prince and Ms Middleton every happiness as they look forward to their wedding day and a long and fulfilling married life together.\"\nThe Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: \"I'm very pleased to hear that they plan to begin their married life in north Wales.\"\nGraham Smith, spokesman for\nRepublic\n, a group campaigning for an end to the monarchy, said: \"We mustn't see the government wasting limited resources paying for a major set-piece event ... if people are being told to tighten their belts, if the government is making thousands unemployed, if welfare payments are being slashed, it would be sickening for the government to allow a single penny more to be spent on the royals at this time.\"","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p?c1=2&c2=6035250&cv=2.0&cj=1&cs_ucfr=0&comscorekw=uk-news)\n\n[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/2010\/nov\/16\/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement#maincontent)[Skip to navigation](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/2010\/nov\/16\/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement#navigation)\n\n[Skip to navigation](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/2010\/nov\/16\/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement#navigation)\n\n## Support the Guardian\nFund independent journalism with €12 per month\n\n[Support us](https:\/\/support.theguardian.com\/eu\/contribute?REFPVID=mlwp0ujqf04tufzuf341&INTCMP=header_support_2025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU_CONTROL&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22header_support_2025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU_CONTROL%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22campaignCode%22%3A%22header_support_2025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU_CONTROL%22%2C%22abTests%22%3A%5B%7B%22name%22%3A%222025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU%22%2C%22variant%22%3A%22CONTROL%22%7D%5D%2C%22referrerPageviewId%22%3A%22mlwp0ujqf04tufzuf341%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fuk%2F2010%2Fnov%2F16%2Fprince-william-kate-middleton-engagement%22%2C%22isRemote%22%3Atrue%7D)\n\n[Support us](https:\/\/support.theguardian.com\/eu\/contribute?REFPVID=mlwp0ujqf04tufzuf341&INTCMP=header_support_2025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU_CONTROL&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22header_support_2025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU_CONTROL%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22campaignCode%22%3A%22header_support_2025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU_CONTROL%22%2C%22abTests%22%3A%5B%7B%22name%22%3A%222025-01-01_NEW_YEAR_HEADER__EU%22%2C%22variant%22%3A%22CONTROL%22%7D%5D%2C%22referrerPageviewId%22%3A%22mlwp0ujqf04tufzuf341%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fuk%2F2010%2Fnov%2F16%2Fprince-william-kate-middleton-engagement%22%2C%22isRemote%22%3Atrue%7D)\n\n[Print subscriptions](https:\/\/support.theguardian.com\/subscribe\/weekly?REFPVID=mlwp0ujqf04tufzuf341&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerPageviewId%22%3A%22mlwp0ujqf04tufzuf341%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fuk%2F2010%2Fnov%2F16%2Fprince-william-kate-middleton-engagement%22%7D)\n\n[Search jobs](https:\/\/jobs.theguardian.com\/)\n\n[Sign in](https:\/\/profile.theguardian.com\/signin?INTCMP=DOTCOM_NEWHEADER_SIGNIN&ABCMP=ab-sign-in&componentEventParams=componentType%3Didentityauthentication%26componentId%3Dguardian_signin_header)\n\nEur\n\n- [Europe edition](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/preference\/edition\/eur)\n- [UK edition](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/preference\/edition\/uk)\n- [US edition](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/preference\/edition\/us)\n- [Australia edition](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/preference\/edition\/au)\n- [International edition](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/preference\/edition\/int)\n\n[The Guardian - 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Giving it to her was \"my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today\" and the excitement that the couple were going spend their lives together.\n\nThe long-expected news that the second in line to the throne was to marry his long-term girlfriend was announced by Clarence House earlier in the day .\n\nThe prince asked Middleton to marry him during a private holiday in Kenya last month and has, the royal press office stressed, asked her father's permission.\n\nMiddleton said, during a brief press conference and photocall at St James's Palace, London, that the prince had been \"a true romantic\", was \"a loving boyfriend\" and \"very supportive of me in good times and also through the bad times\".\n\nPrince William said of their engagement: \"The timing is right now, we are both very, very happy. We both have a very good sense of humour and we take the mickey out of each other a lot.\"\n\nHe added that Middleton had \"plenty of habits that make me laugh that I tease her about\".\n\nThe formal statement said William's father, Prince Charles, was \"delighted\".\n\nSpeaking at his Poundbury model village in Dorset, Charles said that he was \"thrilled, obviously\", and joked: \"They have been practising long enough ... it makes me feel very old.\"\n\nWilliam's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, on her way to an official engagement at the Apollo Theatre in London, told a wellwisher: \"It's brilliant, isn't it? It's absolutely wonderful.\"\n\nMiddleton's parents, Michael and Carole, were \"thrilled\". Her father Michael, reading a statement outside their home near the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, said they had got to know the prince very well: \"We all think he is wonderful and we are extremely fond of him. They make a lovely couple, they are great fun to be with, and we've had a lot of laughs together. We wish them every happiness for the future.\"\n\nEarl Spencer, the prince's uncle and brother of Princess Diana, said: \"It's wonderful news. Very exciting. My family are all thrilled for them both.\"\n\nThe Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were also \"absolutely delighted\", Buckingham Palace said. During a reception this afternoon at Windsor Castle for leaders of British overseas territories including Bermuda, Montserrat and the Falklands Islands, the Queen told a guest who congratulated her: \"It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time.\"\n\nPolitical leaders and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, echoed the sentiment.\n\nFull details of the wedding plans have yet to be announced. The statement said only that the wedding would take place in London next spring or summer.\n\n[St Paul's Cathedral](http:\/\/www.stpauls.co.uk\/) and [Westminster Abbey](http:\/\/www.westminster-abbey.org\/) are possible venues, although both have painful resonances – St Paul's was where Charles's ill-fated wedding to Princess Diana took place in 1981, while the abbey hosted Diana's funeral in 1997.\n\nWilliam and Kate have known each other for eight years, and met as students at St Andrews University. They subsequently shared student accommodation for two years and, apart from a brief separation in 2007, have been together ever since.\n\nMiddleton will be the first commoner to marry an expected future king for 350 years, since Anne Hyde married the future King James II in 1660.\n\nMiddleton is eldest of three children in a family whose fortune is based on a mail-order children's party accessories business.\n\nThe prime minister, David Cameron, said the whole country would join him and his wife, Samantha, in wishing the couple \"great joy\".\n\nLater, he said that he had spoken to the prince to pass on his congratulations and predicted \"a great day of national celebration\".\n\nThe prime minister told a press conference at Downing Street that it felt \"great to have a bit of unadulterated good news\", and said a cheer had gone up when he told ministerial colleagues at today's Cabinet meeting.\n\nThe Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said via the social network Twitter: \"Delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. The whole country will be wishing them every happiness.\"\n\nScotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, congratulated the couple and said: \"Of course, this was a match made in St Andrews, and everyone in Scotland will join with me in wishing the prince and Ms Middleton every happiness as they look forward to their wedding day and a long and fulfilling married life together.\"\n\nThe Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: \"I'm very pleased to hear that they plan to begin their married life in north Wales.\"\n\nGraham Smith, spokesman for [Republic](http:\/\/www.republic.org.uk\/Who%20we%20are\/index.php), a group campaigning for an end to the monarchy, said: \"We mustn't see the government wasting limited resources paying for a major set-piece event ... if people are being told to tighten their belts, if the government is making thousands unemployed, if welfare payments are being slashed, it would be sickening for the government to allow a single penny more to be spent on the royals at this time.\"\n\nExplore more on these topics\n\n- [Prince William](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/prince-william)\n- [Monarchy](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/monarchy)\n- [Queen Elizabeth II](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/queen)\n- [King Charles III](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/prince-charles)\n- [Prince Philip](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/prince-philip)\n- [Royal wedding 2011](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk-news\/royal-wedding-2011)\n- [news](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/tone\/news)\n\nShare\n\n[Reuse this content](https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fuk%2F2010%2Fnov%2F16%2Fprince-william-kate-middleton-engagement&type=article&internalpagecode=uk\/2010\/nov\/16\/prince-william-kate-middleton-engagement \"Reuse this content\")\n\n### Most viewed\n- [![](https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/89aabc793891abc5748a252f9988883fb183905c\/0_4_4500_3600\/master\/4500.jpg?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) ‘Don’t go to 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All rights reserved.\n\n(dcr)","attrs_readable_markdown":"William and Kate announce their engagement Press Association\n\nKate Middleton today spoke of the \"daunting prospect\" of joining the royal family as she and [Prince William](https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/uk\/prince-william) announced they would get married next year.\n\nWearing the blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring that the prince's father gave to Princess Diana in 1981, Middleton said \"hopefully, I will take it in my stride\", while adding that her future husband was \"a great teacher\".\n\nPrince William said the ring \"was very special to me\" as was his bride-to-be. Giving it to her was \"my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today\" and the excitement that the couple were going spend their lives together.\n\nThe long-expected news that the second in line to the throne was to marry his long-term girlfriend was announced by Clarence House earlier in the day .\n\nThe prince asked Middleton to marry him during a private holiday in Kenya last month and has, the royal press office stressed, asked her father's permission.\n\nMiddleton said, during a brief press conference and photocall at St James's Palace, London, that the prince had been \"a true romantic\", was \"a loving boyfriend\" and \"very supportive of me in good times and also through the bad times\".\n\nPrince William said of their engagement: \"The timing is right now, we are both very, very happy. We both have a very good sense of humour and we take the mickey out of each other a lot.\"\n\nHe added that Middleton had \"plenty of habits that make me laugh that I tease her about\".\n\nThe formal statement said William's father, Prince Charles, was \"delighted\".\n\nSpeaking at his Poundbury model village in Dorset, Charles said that he was \"thrilled, obviously\", and joked: \"They have been practising long enough ... it makes me feel very old.\"\n\nWilliam's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, on her way to an official engagement at the Apollo Theatre in London, told a wellwisher: \"It's brilliant, isn't it? It's absolutely wonderful.\"\n\nMiddleton's parents, Michael and Carole, were \"thrilled\". Her father Michael, reading a statement outside their home near the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, said they had got to know the prince very well: \"We all think he is wonderful and we are extremely fond of him. They make a lovely couple, they are great fun to be with, and we've had a lot of laughs together. We wish them every happiness for the future.\"\n\nEarl Spencer, the prince's uncle and brother of Princess Diana, said: \"It's wonderful news. Very exciting. My family are all thrilled for them both.\"\n\nThe Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were also \"absolutely delighted\", Buckingham Palace said. During a reception this afternoon at Windsor Castle for leaders of British overseas territories including Bermuda, Montserrat and the Falklands Islands, the Queen told a guest who congratulated her: \"It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time.\"\n\nPolitical leaders and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, echoed the sentiment.\n\nFull details of the wedding plans have yet to be announced. The statement said only that the wedding would take place in London next spring or summer.\n\n[St Paul's Cathedral](http:\/\/www.stpauls.co.uk\/) and [Westminster Abbey](http:\/\/www.westminster-abbey.org\/) are possible venues, although both have painful resonances – St Paul's was where Charles's ill-fated wedding to Princess Diana took place in 1981, while the abbey hosted Diana's funeral in 1997.\n\nWilliam and Kate have known each other for eight years, and met as students at St Andrews University. They subsequently shared student accommodation for two years and, apart from a brief separation in 2007, have been together ever since.\n\nMiddleton will be the first commoner to marry an expected future king for 350 years, since Anne Hyde married the future King James II in 1660.\n\nMiddleton is eldest of three children in a family whose fortune is based on a mail-order children's party accessories business.\n\nThe prime minister, David Cameron, said the whole country would join him and his wife, Samantha, in wishing the couple \"great joy\".\n\nLater, he said that he had spoken to the prince to pass on his congratulations and predicted \"a great day of national celebration\".\n\nThe prime minister told a press conference at Downing Street that it felt \"great to have a bit of unadulterated good news\", and said a cheer had gone up when he told ministerial colleagues at today's Cabinet meeting.\n\nThe Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said via the social network Twitter: \"Delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. The whole country will be wishing them every happiness.\"\n\nScotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, congratulated the couple and said: \"Of course, this was a match made in St Andrews, and everyone in Scotland will join with me in wishing the prince and Ms Middleton every happiness as they look forward to their wedding day and a long and fulfilling married life together.\"\n\nThe Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: \"I'm very pleased to hear that they plan to begin their married life in north Wales.\"\n\nGraham Smith, spokesman for [Republic](http:\/\/www.republic.org.uk\/Who%20we%20are\/index.php), a group campaigning for an end to the monarchy, said: \"We mustn't see the government wasting limited resources paying for a major set-piece event ... if people are being told to tighten their belts, if the government is making thousands unemployed, if welfare payments are being slashed, it would be sickening for the government to allow a single penny more to be spent on the royals at this time.\"","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/People_and_Society\":940,\"\/People_and_Society\/Family_and_Relationships\":939,\"\/People_and_Society\/Family_and_Relationships\/Marriage\":820,\"\/News\":136,\"\/News\/Gossip_and_Tabloid_News\":132}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":998,\"\/Article\/News_Update\":996}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":957}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":1289921340,"attrs_original_publish_time":1289921340,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"1926","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"907","body_ext_links_number":19,"body_int_links_number":162,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":1,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":317,"download_ttfb_msec":302,"download_size":60462}

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Prince William and Kate Middleton engagement announced | Prince William | The Guardian

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<p>Clarence House statement reveals engagement of second in line to throne and his long-term girlfriend after weeks of speculation</p>

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William and Kate announce their engagement Press Association Kate Middleton today spoke of the "daunting prospect" of joining the royal family as she and Prince William announced they would get married next year. Wearing the blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring that the prince's father gave to Princess Diana in 1981, Middleton said "hopefully, I will take it in my stride", while adding that her future husband was "a great teacher". Prince William said the ring "was very special to me" as was his bride-to-be. Giving it to her was "my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today" and the excitement that the couple were going spend their lives together. The long-expected news that the second in line to the throne was to marry his long-term girlfriend was announced by Clarence House earlier in the day . The prince asked Middleton to marry him during a private holiday in Kenya last month and has, the royal press office stressed, asked her father's permission. Middleton said, during a brief press conference and photocall at St James's Palace, London, that the prince had been "a true romantic", was "a loving boyfriend" and "very supportive of me in good times and also through the bad times". Prince William said of their engagement: "The timing is right now, we are both very, very happy. We both have a very good sense of humour and we take the mickey out of each other a lot." He added that Middleton had "plenty of habits that make me laugh that I tease her about". The formal statement said William's father, Prince Charles, was "delighted". Speaking at his Poundbury model village in Dorset, Charles said that he was "thrilled, obviously", and joked: "They have been practising long enough ... it makes me feel very old." William's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, on her way to an official engagement at the Apollo Theatre in London, told a wellwisher: "It's brilliant, isn't it? It's absolutely wonderful." Middleton's parents, Michael and Carole, were "thrilled". Her father Michael, reading a statement outside their home near the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, said they had got to know the prince very well: "We all think he is wonderful and we are extremely fond of him. They make a lovely couple, they are great fun to be with, and we've had a lot of laughs together. We wish them every happiness for the future." Earl Spencer, the prince's uncle and brother of Princess Diana, said: "It's wonderful news. Very exciting. My family are all thrilled for them both." The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were also "absolutely delighted", Buckingham Palace said. During a reception this afternoon at Windsor Castle for leaders of British overseas territories including Bermuda, Montserrat and the Falklands Islands, the Queen told a guest who congratulated her: "It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time." Political leaders and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, echoed the sentiment. Full details of the wedding plans have yet to be announced. The statement said only that the wedding would take place in London next spring or summer. St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are possible venues, although both have painful resonances – St Paul's was where Charles's ill-fated wedding to Princess Diana took place in 1981, while the abbey hosted Diana's funeral in 1997. William and Kate have known each other for eight years, and met as students at St Andrews University. They subsequently shared student accommodation for two years and, apart from a brief separation in 2007, have been together ever since. Middleton will be the first commoner to marry an expected future king for 350 years, since Anne Hyde married the future King James II in 1660. Middleton is eldest of three children in a family whose fortune is based on a mail-order children's party accessories business. The prime minister, David Cameron, said the whole country would join him and his wife, Samantha, in wishing the couple "great joy". Later, he said that he had spoken to the prince to pass on his congratulations and predicted "a great day of national celebration". The prime minister told a press conference at Downing Street that it felt "great to have a bit of unadulterated good news", and said a cheer had gone up when he told ministerial colleagues at today's Cabinet meeting. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said via the social network Twitter: "Delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. The whole country will be wishing them every happiness." Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, congratulated the couple and said: "Of course, this was a match made in St Andrews, and everyone in Scotland will join with me in wishing the prince and Ms Middleton every happiness as they look forward to their wedding day and a long and fulfilling married life together." The Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "I'm very pleased to hear that they plan to begin their married life in north Wales." Graham Smith, spokesman for Republic , a group campaigning for an end to the monarchy, said: "We mustn't see the government wasting limited resources paying for a major set-piece event ... if people are being told to tighten their belts, if the government is making thousands unemployed, if welfare payments are being slashed, it would be sickening for the government to allow a single penny more to be spent on the royals at this time."

Markdown

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Wearing the blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring that the prince's father gave to Princess Diana in 1981, Middleton said "hopefully, I will take it in my stride", while adding that her future husband was "a great teacher". Prince William said the ring "was very special to me" as was his bride-to-be. Giving it to her was "my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today" and the excitement that the couple were going spend their lives together. The long-expected news that the second in line to the throne was to marry his long-term girlfriend was announced by Clarence House earlier in the day . The prince asked Middleton to marry him during a private holiday in Kenya last month and has, the royal press office stressed, asked her father's permission. Middleton said, during a brief press conference and photocall at St James's Palace, London, that the prince had been "a true romantic", was "a loving boyfriend" and "very supportive of me in good times and also through the bad times". Prince William said of their engagement: "The timing is right now, we are both very, very happy. We both have a very good sense of humour and we take the mickey out of each other a lot." He added that Middleton had "plenty of habits that make me laugh that I tease her about". The formal statement said William's father, Prince Charles, was "delighted". Speaking at his Poundbury model village in Dorset, Charles said that he was "thrilled, obviously", and joked: "They have been practising long enough ... it makes me feel very old." William's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, on her way to an official engagement at the Apollo Theatre in London, told a wellwisher: "It's brilliant, isn't it? It's absolutely wonderful." Middleton's parents, Michael and Carole, were "thrilled". Her father Michael, reading a statement outside their home near the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, said they had got to know the prince very well: "We all think he is wonderful and we are extremely fond of him. They make a lovely couple, they are great fun to be with, and we've had a lot of laughs together. We wish them every happiness for the future." Earl Spencer, the prince's uncle and brother of Princess Diana, said: "It's wonderful news. Very exciting. My family are all thrilled for them both." The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were also "absolutely delighted", Buckingham Palace said. During a reception this afternoon at Windsor Castle for leaders of British overseas territories including Bermuda, Montserrat and the Falklands Islands, the Queen told a guest who congratulated her: "It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time." Political leaders and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, echoed the sentiment. Full details of the wedding plans have yet to be announced. The statement said only that the wedding would take place in London next spring or summer. [St Paul's Cathedral](http://www.stpauls.co.uk/) and [Westminster Abbey](http://www.westminster-abbey.org/) are possible venues, although both have painful resonances – St Paul's was where Charles's ill-fated wedding to Princess Diana took place in 1981, while the abbey hosted Diana's funeral in 1997. William and Kate have known each other for eight years, and met as students at St Andrews University. They subsequently shared student accommodation for two years and, apart from a brief separation in 2007, have been together ever since. Middleton will be the first commoner to marry an expected future king for 350 years, since Anne Hyde married the future King James II in 1660. Middleton is eldest of three children in a family whose fortune is based on a mail-order children's party accessories business. The prime minister, David Cameron, said the whole country would join him and his wife, Samantha, in wishing the couple "great joy". Later, he said that he had spoken to the prince to pass on his congratulations and predicted "a great day of national celebration". The prime minister told a press conference at Downing Street that it felt "great to have a bit of unadulterated good news", and said a cheer had gone up when he told ministerial colleagues at today's Cabinet meeting. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said via the social network Twitter: "Delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. The whole country will be wishing them every happiness." Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, congratulated the couple and said: "Of course, this was a match made in St Andrews, and everyone in Scotland will join with me in wishing the prince and Ms Middleton every happiness as they look forward to their wedding day and a long and fulfilling married life together." The Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "I'm very pleased to hear that they plan to begin their married life in north Wales." Graham Smith, spokesman for [Republic](http://www.republic.org.uk/Who%20we%20are/index.php), a group campaigning for an end to the monarchy, said: "We mustn't see the government wasting limited resources paying for a major set-piece event ... if people are being told to tighten their belts, if the government is making thousands unemployed, if welfare payments are being slashed, it would be sickening for the government to allow a single penny more to be spent on the royals at this time." 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Readable Markdown

William and Kate announce their engagement Press Association Kate Middleton today spoke of the "daunting prospect" of joining the royal family as she and [Prince William](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/prince-william) announced they would get married next year. Wearing the blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring that the prince's father gave to Princess Diana in 1981, Middleton said "hopefully, I will take it in my stride", while adding that her future husband was "a great teacher". Prince William said the ring "was very special to me" as was his bride-to-be. Giving it to her was "my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today" and the excitement that the couple were going spend their lives together. The long-expected news that the second in line to the throne was to marry his long-term girlfriend was announced by Clarence House earlier in the day . The prince asked Middleton to marry him during a private holiday in Kenya last month and has, the royal press office stressed, asked her father's permission. Middleton said, during a brief press conference and photocall at St James's Palace, London, that the prince had been "a true romantic", was "a loving boyfriend" and "very supportive of me in good times and also through the bad times". Prince William said of their engagement: "The timing is right now, we are both very, very happy. We both have a very good sense of humour and we take the mickey out of each other a lot." He added that Middleton had "plenty of habits that make me laugh that I tease her about". The formal statement said William's father, Prince Charles, was "delighted". Speaking at his Poundbury model village in Dorset, Charles said that he was "thrilled, obviously", and joked: "They have been practising long enough ... it makes me feel very old." William's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, on her way to an official engagement at the Apollo Theatre in London, told a wellwisher: "It's brilliant, isn't it? It's absolutely wonderful." Middleton's parents, Michael and Carole, were "thrilled". Her father Michael, reading a statement outside their home near the Berkshire village of Bucklebury, said they had got to know the prince very well: "We all think he is wonderful and we are extremely fond of him. They make a lovely couple, they are great fun to be with, and we've had a lot of laughs together. We wish them every happiness for the future." Earl Spencer, the prince's uncle and brother of Princess Diana, said: "It's wonderful news. Very exciting. My family are all thrilled for them both." The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were also "absolutely delighted", Buckingham Palace said. During a reception this afternoon at Windsor Castle for leaders of British overseas territories including Bermuda, Montserrat and the Falklands Islands, the Queen told a guest who congratulated her: "It is brilliant news. It has taken them a very long time." Political leaders and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, echoed the sentiment. Full details of the wedding plans have yet to be announced. The statement said only that the wedding would take place in London next spring or summer. [St Paul's Cathedral](http://www.stpauls.co.uk/) and [Westminster Abbey](http://www.westminster-abbey.org/) are possible venues, although both have painful resonances – St Paul's was where Charles's ill-fated wedding to Princess Diana took place in 1981, while the abbey hosted Diana's funeral in 1997. William and Kate have known each other for eight years, and met as students at St Andrews University. They subsequently shared student accommodation for two years and, apart from a brief separation in 2007, have been together ever since. Middleton will be the first commoner to marry an expected future king for 350 years, since Anne Hyde married the future King James II in 1660. Middleton is eldest of three children in a family whose fortune is based on a mail-order children's party accessories business. The prime minister, David Cameron, said the whole country would join him and his wife, Samantha, in wishing the couple "great joy". Later, he said that he had spoken to the prince to pass on his congratulations and predicted "a great day of national celebration". The prime minister told a press conference at Downing Street that it felt "great to have a bit of unadulterated good news", and said a cheer had gone up when he told ministerial colleagues at today's Cabinet meeting. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said via the social network Twitter: "Delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. The whole country will be wishing them every happiness." Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, congratulated the couple and said: "Of course, this was a match made in St Andrews, and everyone in Scotland will join with me in wishing the prince and Ms Middleton every happiness as they look forward to their wedding day and a long and fulfilling married life together." The Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: "I'm very pleased to hear that they plan to begin their married life in north Wales." Graham Smith, spokesman for [Republic](http://www.republic.org.uk/Who%20we%20are/index.php), a group campaigning for an end to the monarchy, said: "We mustn't see the government wasting limited resources paying for a major set-piece event ... if people are being told to tighten their belts, if the government is making thousands unemployed, if welfare payments are being slashed, it would be sickening for the government to allow a single penny more to be spent on the royals at this time."

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