High-flying family with daughter fit to be our Queen

The couple, both 28, met in 2001 at the university where they were studying history of art.

They are rumoured to have become an item at Christmas 2003, and despite a hiccup when they briefly broke up in 2007, they have remained true to each other despite the pressures of life under the public gaze and Prince William's military career which includes long periods of separation.

Yesterday's engagement announcement came amid growing speculation of an imminent wedding. No venue has been selected but it will be in London.

Under the Royal Marriages Act, Prince William had to ask the Queen for her consent otherwise the wedding would be invalid. He also asked his future father-in-law for his permission.

Born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, his fiancee comes from a wealthy middle class background, growing up with her younger sister and brother in the village of Bucklebury, near Newbury, Berkshire. She was privately educated at Marlborough College.

She was credited with persuading the Prince to continue his studies when he considered quitting as he struggled to adjust to university life in his first year. They shared accommodation together at university but their relationship only became public knowledge in 2004 when they were photographed on a skiing holiday.

She has gradually entered the royal circle despite speculation the Windsors have looked down on her background.

In an echo of problems faced by Princess Diana, lawyers have warned paparazzi on a number of occasions over harassment of her.

In the past year, she has only been seen at William's side at weddings or on holiday but in recent months the couple have been living together part time in north Wales where the Prince is serving as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot. They are expected to continue living there after the wedding.

Miss Middleton's millionaire parents former pilot Michael and Carole, a former air hostess, married in 1980 after meeting while working for an airline. They made their fortune from a mail-order business selling toys and party paraphernalia.

Now their daughter is in line to become a future Queen.

Genealogists say the family's roots can be mainly traced back to Yorkshire.

Her mother is said to be descended from Durham coal miners, while her father's family's links to Leeds, and before that Wakefield, go back generations. His parents married at Adel Parish Church in Leeds in 1946 but

they are also descended from the Lupton family who played a prominent role in the civic and business life of Leeds a century ago.

Experts say both she and her future husband are 15th cousins, linked through the wealthy Fairfax family in Yorkshire in the 16th century, who were descended from Edward III.

She joins a long line of commoners to marry into the Royal Family – most recently the Countess of Wessex, born plain Sophie Rhys-Jones, the daughter of a Kent car salesman.

There is no requirement for members of the Royal Family to pick a royal or aristocratic spouse. One of the last was the Duke of Edinburgh, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and a descendant of Queen Victoria.

In 1923, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon became the first commoner to marry close to the throne since the 17th century when she married the Duke of York, who was then second in line.

She had a title, but was not a Princess – although as daughter of Lord Glamis, she was descended from the Royal House of Scotland.

Lady Diana Spencer was not a Princess either but she had a title and was also descended five times from Charles II.

The Duchess of Cornwall, born Camilla Shand, had no title but had intimate royal connections - one of her ancestors was a King's mistress.

The Duchess of Kent, the daughter of a baronet, was untitled when she married Edward, Duke of Kent at York Minster in 1961 in what was known as the White Rose wedding. Born Katharine Worsley, of Hovingham, near Malton, she was the first untitled woman to marry into the Royal Family for more than a century.

Miss Middleton may one day be styled Queen Catherine but will inherit a host of titles as a royal.

Her husband is likely to be given a dukedom following the marriage.

Their wedding raises the

prospect of an additional bank holiday next year to mark the marriage.

Tourism chiefs are also expecting the event to attract thousands of overseas visitors and a worldwide television audience of tens of millions.