Prince William and Kate Middleton start planning royal wedding

Prince William and Kate Middleton were sitting down with royal advisers today to plan the crucial details of their wedding including date and venue.

The "nitty gritty" is totally undecided in the couple's minds and they are using time away from the public gaze, no official duties were planned today, to ensure the ceremony bears their personal stamp while meeting the demands of a great state occasion.

Preparations are being speeded by the fact that William has only until tomorrow before he is due to return to his RAF base in Anglesey where he is a search and rescue pilot.

Gallery: Royal romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Westminster Abbey, which hosted the weddings of the Queen and her mother and also Diana's funeral, is thought to be ahead of St Paul's Cathedral as the venue of choice.

If the engagement lasts the recent royal average of around five months, this would pave the way for an April 9 ceremony, though July 23 has also been mentioned.

"Discreet overtures" about the availability of Westminster Abbey on August 12 and 13 were reported to have been made. No decision has been taken on whether to mark the event with a bank holiday.

One royal source said this morning: "It's not even 24 hours [since the engagement] and it's very early days. The wedding will reflect both of their wishes and it will be very much their day. But given William's senior position there will also be a formal, ceremonial part." The couple, both 28, said they had waited until yesterday to announce their engagement because it fitted into their work schedules.

The wedding will be organised by the Lord Chamberlain's office — the part of the Royal Household in charge of state visits and ceremonial occasions — and also the Department of Culture and Westminster council.

The Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office, retired Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Ford, will take primary responsibility for preparations. The Government will establish a committee run out of the Cabinet Office to co-ordinate security arrangements and there will be a "consultation" between Downing Street and Buckingham Palace on how the wedding will be funded.

Calls have already been made for the Palace to contribute towards the policing costs, while Westminster council is hoping the Government will pick up the bill to clean the streets. It cost £300,000 to clear up after Diana's funeral, a bill met by the taxpayer.

A St James's Palace spokesman said the prince and Miss Middleton "want the day to be enjoyable for everybody" but would also be "mindful of the economic situation".

Other decisions to be taken range from the stationery used for the guests' invitations down to the all-important bridal gown. This decision will be one for Miss Middleton alone. Boris Johnson jokingly offered City Hall as a venue. "If they want a cut-price deal with a central London venue with a view of London landmarks, the ideal place would be City Hall," he said.

Westminster council said it had yet to be approached by Palace officials but promised to have the city "immaculately clean" if Westminster Abbey was preferred to St Paul's.

Dr Leith Penny, director for city management, said: "We're both used to and well prepared for any event which attracts large crowds of people, from the London Marathon, New Year's Day Parade and any protest which either visits or passes through Westminster.

"Until we have the full details of the royal wedding it's impossible to say what extra costs will be incurred and who will be liable."

Gallery: Royal romance of

If a summer date is set it will be one of the longest royal engagements in recent memory.

Prince Charles and Diana Spencer

They were officially engaged on 24 February 1981 after she selected a ring from Garrard. They were married five months later on 29 July 1981.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles

By contrast the couple were engaged for two months, marrying on 9 April 2005 at Windsor Guildhall — a day later than planned because of the death of Pope John Paul II.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson

The engagement became public on 19 March 1986 after a reported two-year courtship. They were married almost four months later on 23 July 1986.

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones

The couple were engaged on 6 January 1999 and married five and a half months later on 19 June.