Bookmakers halve odds on William's engagement

London: British bookmakers yesterday halved the odds on Prince William getting engaged this year to girlfriend Kate Middleton now their on-off relationship looks to be very much back on course.

Celebrity-obsessed tabloids were awash in heavy-handed puns after the second-in-line to the throne appeared in public with Middleton on Friday when he was awarded his wings by his father, Prince Charles, after training with the Royal Air Force.

"Royal Heir Force" proclaimed The Daily Mirror. "The Wing and I" declared The Sun over its banner headline.

William broke up with his long-time girlfriend in April last year but they now appear to be firmly back together.

Their appearance together prompted bookmakers William Hill to cut their odds on a 2008 engagement from 2-1 to evens.