Royal wedding: Prince William to marry Kate Middleton

“It’s their first foray into the type of Scandinavian royal families who go around on bicycles among the general public. She is much more accessible, much less from the grand house background,” he added.

Although popular with the public, the daughter of self-made entrepreneurs has nevertheless faced a snooty skepticism from a small number of royal watchers who question whether she has the right “breeding” for the job of being a future queen.

Such mutterings were not uncommon when she and William split up for a time in 2007, but sources at Buckingham Palace Tuesday were adamant that the future of the monarchy is in safe hands, according to reports Tuesday.

The couple will live in North Wales after their wedding in order to allow William to continue with his duties as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot.

Speculation about an heir

Speculation about when they will produce an heir will no doubt follow quickly on news of their wedding. William’s mother, Diana, became pregnant with him just four months after she wed Charles.

If William and his new bride have no children, William’s brother, Harry, will remain next in line to the throne after him, followed by any future children he might have.

However, some royal watchers warned Tuesday that the most pressing issue would be for Miss Middleton to find out quickly what her royal role is expected to be in order to prevent the same problems faced by Diana, Princess of Wales.

Patrick Jephson, who served as Diana’s private secretary, urged the new future queen to turn her attention to the practical side of life within the royal family.

"If they want her to be a wife, a pretty face, to keep quiet and stay in the background – get that straight now, not in the future," he told the Press Association news agency. “If they want her to be more active and carry on the role Diana-style – let's get that straight, too.”

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