time to sort of grow and understand myself more as well. hopefully, yes. reporter: william s father took a pragmatic view of the relationship that s been going on so long. obviously it s real. they ve been practicing for long enough. reporter: william and kate had been an item with one brief splitup since they shared an apartment with others at college in st. andrew s in scotland. she caught his eye, it s said, at a charity fashion show. he bought a front row seat. they are just a normal couple who are in extraordinary circumstances. reporter: as william went through his military training, kate middleton was his special guest as he graduated. but the chattering classes were not always kate s biggest fans. she wasn t royal, she wasn t even aristocratic, her parents were in the toy business. her mother had even been a flight attendant. what kate had was staying power and the prince s eye. in marrying a woman he s known for a long time, who s his own age, and who ha
queen of england, well, that s page-one news around the world. prince william, second in line to the british throne and kate middleton, both 28 years old, announced their engagement today. in a world filled with troubles the headlines gave the brits and others reason to celebrate. mark phillips in london now on another wedding of the century. reporter: she has been called waity katie, but kate middleton catherine elizabeth middleton now, according to the palace announcement is wait nothing more. finally a marriage that had been wildly rumored for years is official. enagement sealed with the same sapphire and diamond ring williams father had given his mother. his way, william said, of bringing princess diana close to this joyous event. it s my way of making sure my mother didn t miss out on today. reporter: william had popped the question three weeks ago on a romantic vacation in kenya, prompting the question today for a couple who s been together for at least eight ye