Church leaders welcome Royal Engagement

Regent's Park

Archbishop Vincent Nichols,and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams have both expressed their happiness at the news of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The couple, who are both 28, will marry in spring or summer 2011, before Miss Middleton moves in with her husband in Wales while he continues to serve with the RAF air-sea rescue service.

Lambeth Palace said Dr Williams was "delighted" at the news.

Archbishop Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Roman Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, said: "I was delighted to hear the news of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. My congratulations to both of them and I wish them every happiness in their married life together.