Bookie closes bets on Wills and Kate engagement
One of the largest bookies in the UK, William Hill, has closed betting on whether Prince William will propose to his girlfriend Kate Middleton.
The bookmakers had seen heavy betting on the market over the last week, with one punter confident enough to risk £5,000 on the emotions of Britain's future king.
"The Royal engagement seems to be a question of when, not if, and we were giving away money by continuing to accept bets," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.
"When they do get engaged it will cost us a princely sum."
William Hill had already priced the possibility of a royal engagement at odds on (4/5), but the company decided to call a halt to betting after it realised it stands to lose £30,000 if the couple choose to marry.
Rumours of an impending engagement were sparked by comments made by the Sun's royal photographer Arthur Edwards to a government committee that was debating the media's treatment of Kate.
"He has made it clear that he wants to get married and I believe what he says," Mr Edwards said earlier this month.
Although William Hill thinks the question of if the couple get married is already answered, when is a different matter.
Currently the betting is favouring an announcement from Clarence House being made in 2008.
