Royal engagement frenzy

The front pages of British national newspapers are dominated by news of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 17, 2010, in London. Th prince and Middleton, who have been in a relationship for the last eight years, will marry in the spring or summer of 2011.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Tourists congregate outside Buckingham Palace in London on Nov. 17, 2010, the day after the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

The front pages of British national newspapers are dominated by news of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 17, 2010, in London.

Photos: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Photos: Kate Middleton
Photos: Power Weddings
Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Sapphire rings are displayed at New York's Natural Sapphire Co. on Nov. 17, 2010, in New York. The company has been overwhelmed with orders for reproductions of the sapphire and diamond ring that once belonged to Lady Diana and has now been presented to Kate Middleton after Prince William proposed to her. The original ring is an oval, 18-carat sapphire ring set with diamonds and 18-carat white gold. The reproduction will cost an estimated half-million dollars.

Photos: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Photos: Kate Middleton
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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Michael Arnstein, CEO of New York's Natural Sapphire Co., holds a 69-carat sapphire worth over a million dollars on Nov. 17, 2010, in New York. The company has been overwhelmed with orders for reproductions of the sapphire and diamond ring that once belonged to Lady Diana and has now been presented to Kate Middleton after Prince William proposed to her. The original ring is an oval, 18-carat sapphire ring set with diamonds and 18-carat white gold. The reproduction will cost an estimated half-million dollars.

Photos: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Photos: Kate Middleton
Photos: Power Weddings
Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Two people walk past a newsstand reporting the news of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 17, 2010, in London.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

A selection of British national newspapers published in London on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, reacting to the announcement on Tuesday that Britain's Prince William is engaged to Kate Middleton.

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Photos: Kate Middleton
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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

The front pages of British national newspapers are dominated by news of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 17, 2010, in London.

Photos: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Photos: Kate Middleton
Photos: Power Weddings
Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

A woman views Westminster Abbey the day after the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 17, 2010, in London. The prince and Middleton, who have been in a relationship for the last eight years, will marry in the spring or summer of 2011 and Westminster Abbey has been identified as a potential venue for the ceremony.

Photos: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Photos: Kate Middleton
Photos: Power Weddings
Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Workers at Aynsley China start producing commemorative plates, cups and mugs to mark the engagement between Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 17, 2010, in Stoke-on-Trent, England. The historic china company has rushed through production of collectible china after the announcement of a royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Photos: Prince William and Kate Middleton
Photos: Kate Middleton
Photos: Power Weddings
Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Workers at Aynsley China start producing commemorative plates, cups and mugs to mark the engagement between Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 17, 2010, in Stoke-on-Trent, England.

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Photos: Kate Middleton
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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Guilder Lyn Holmes examines a "Loving Mug" made to mark the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Aynsley China in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010. The company, which was established in 1775 by John Aynsley, has been producing commemorative tableware to mark royal occasions since the late 19th century.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

This image made available in London by Aynsley China shows one of a series of designs for a new range of china pieces which went into production Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, following the announcement of Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement. Royal officials announced that Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, and Kate Middleton will marry next spring or summer in London.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Lithographer Cherron Degg holds up a transfer to be applied to a crown plate made to mark the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Aynsley China in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Members of the media work on the story of Prince William engagement, across the street from Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

A man takes a picture of Buckingham Palace in central London, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, after Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

A woman picks up a copy of the Evening Standard at Victoria Station in central London on Nov. 16, 2010, following the announcement that Prince William and his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are to marry next year.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

A woman poses with a copy of the Evening Standard in Victoria Station in central London, on Nov. 16, 2010, following the announcement that Prince William and his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are to marry next year.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Members of the media congregate opposite Buckingham Palace after the announcement of the engagement of Britain's Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton, in central London on Nov. 16, 2010.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

A woman reads a newspaper announcing the engagement of Britain's Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, as she stands outside St James Palace in central London on Nov. 16, 2010.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

A man distributes copies of a free evening newspaper with front-page story and picture of Britain's Prince William engagement with girlfriend Kate Middleton, outside a central London train station, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Members of the media are shown at Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, after the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged

Television journalists report from outside Clarence House shortly after the announced engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Nov. 16, 2010, in London.

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Photos: Kate Middleton
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Prince William and Kate Middleton Engaged