Prince William is FINALLY engaged to Kate Middleton; and what about that RING?

Congratulations, and be STRONG, Kate.

Finally. An engagement I can get excited about. I'm a nut about Royal weddings and all of the pomp and circumstance that goes along with the whole affair. I was one of those goons who set my alarm for 2:00 a.m. to watch Charles and Diana walk down the aisle back in 1981. I was also one of the people who stayed up all night watching the news when Diana was tragically killed. I'm not ashamed to say I actually cried...Diana was a woman with whom even common Americans felt a kinship. We were close in age, the mother of two sons, in a deteriorating marriage, and also had some difficulty with the in-laws. (See how refined and civilized I'm being? I have good breedin', y'all.)

Kate Middleton, wearing Diana's engagement ring.

The Lovely Diana...

Photos: The Mirror

via CNN:

Britain's Prince William is engaged to Kate Middleton, the British royal family announced Tuesday, and has given her the engagement ring his late mother Diana, princess of Wales, got from his father, Prince Charles, palace sources told CNN. The announcement ends years of speculation about whether and when the prince would propose to his longtime girlfriend.

The prince and Middleton, both 28, have been dating since 2003. Rumors have been rife for years that they have been close to marriage.

"We're obviously thrilled," said Prince Charles, as he toured Poundbury with Atlanta, Georgia, Mayor Kasim Reed. "They've been practicing long enough."

"They make a lovely couple, they're great fun to be with and we've had a lot of laughs together," said Middleton's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton. "We've got to know William really well. We all think he's wonderful and we're extremely fond of him. We wish them every happiness for the future."

Diana...

I don't know about you, but I would find wearing Diana's ring very daunting.  The comparisons between Kate and Diana began years ago, but get ready for the onslaught.

It sounds as though the wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011.

Kate?  Be your own woman...as much as you're allowed to be, anyway.