Newsmakers
NEWSMAKERS
Prince William sets wedding date
LONDON
Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry April 29 in Westminster Abbey, the historic London church where Princess Diana’s funeral took place. Royal officials said Tuesday that the couple chose the venue for its beauty, intimacy and historic royal connections, and the date because they wanted a spring wedding. It also is the feast day of St. Catherine of Siena, whose name Middleton shares — though that is a coincidence. The government said the day, a Friday, would be a public holiday.
Prince William’s private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, said the couple chose the 1,000-year-old abbey in central London because despite its size — it holds 2,200 people — it has a sense of intimacy. It also has centuries of royal history. William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and her mother both married at the abbey, where British kings and queens are crowned and where 17 monarchs are buried. William and Kate decided against celebrating their nuptials at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where William’s parents married in 1981.
The palace said the royal family and the Middletons would cover the costs of the wedding, reception and honeymoon, apart from security. There have been grumbles about the propriety of having a lavish royal bash in the midst of economic austerity.
Jennifer Grey named ‘Dancing’ champ
LOS ANGELES
Jennifer Grey is the new “Dancing With the Stars” champ.
The 50-year-old actress beat out actor Kyle Massey and voting favorite Bristol Palin to take the title Tuesday.
Grey and professional partner Derek Hough earned a string of perfect scores on their way to the mirrorball trophy. The couple consistently topped the judges’ leaderboard throughout the season, but Palin’s cadre of voter support led to some surprising upsets, including Brandy’s elimination after earning a perfect score last week.
Vindicator wire services