Princess-to-be Kate Middleton has left her job at her family's online business to prepare for her wedding day.
With less than 100 days to go until she marries Prince William, the 29-year-old has decided to give up her position at Party Pieces in order to oversee all the intricate details of the April 29 ceremony.
Kate is said to be at the helm when it comes to organising the wedding, spending hours with William at their rented farmhouse in Anglesey making plans.
"They've worked really hard, doing it their way, and they're nearly there," a member of the royal household tells HELLO! magazine this week. "They know exactly what they want. In the end it will be a traditional Anglican wedding. Don't, for example, expect a rock band to be performing inside the Abbey."
"She is really throwing herself into it with gusto and energy and is an absolute pleasure to work with," a friend said of Kate, who has worked for her parents' business since she gave up her job as an accessories buyer for Jigsaw in 2007.
"It is a steep learning curve and at the same time she is learning a lot about the royal family and what the future holds."
The couple are said to have already made most of the key decisions – Kate has chosen her all-important dress designer – but are determined to keep some details under wraps, including the bride's gown, the rings and the words of the vows.
"They don’t want the world to be sick of their wedding before they become husband and wife," the insider added.
But some details have emerged about the big event. It has been revealed that three different invitations will be sent out in mid-February; the largest group will be some 1,700 people invited to witness the wedding ceremony.
After the marriage, the Queen will be hosting 600 to 700 people for a finger food lunch party at Buckingham Palace, and in the evening a select gathering of the couple's closest friends will be invited to a dinner-dance at the palace.
It has also been revealed that while Kate will reportedly leave for the wedding from the Goring hotel, William will make his way from St James's Palace – the residence many insiders believe will be the couple's base after their marriage.
Read the full story in this week's copy of HELLO!, issue number 1159.
