Prince William to Reportedly Tie the Knot With Kate Middleton

Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton leave the wedding of their friends Harry Mead and Rosie Bradford in the village of Northleach, Gloucestershire, England Saturday Oct. 23, 2010. Royal watchers, gossip columnists and biographers have all named 2011 as the year William will finally tie the knot with Middleton. (AP)

Prince William and longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton are finally planning to wed next year, after eight years of dating and two splits, Us Weekly reports in its issue released Wednesday.

William, the second-in-line to the British throne behind his father, Prince Charles, reportedly promised Middleton he would marry her in a secret pact made three years ago while the two were on vacation in the Seychelles.

“Kate wanted assurances from William,” Katie Nicholl, royal watcher and author of the newly released “William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls,” told Us Weekly.

Why the postponement?

“William told Kate she was 'the one,' but he was not ready to get married. She…agreed to wait for him,” an unnamed source told US. “He wants to spend the rest of his life with her.”