Royal wedding speculation grew yesterday after claims that Buckingham Palace has 'cleared its diary' for a June announcement of an engagement between Prince William and Kate Middleton.

According to well-connected former editor and author Tina Brown, aides plan to announce on either June 3 or 4 that a wedding will take place in November.

Miss Brown was a personal friend of William's mother Diana and has published a well-received biography of her.

She said the hint had come from an anonymous - but impeccable - royal contact.

'A high-placed source in royal circles tells me that two days in June have been mysteriously blocked out on the palace diaries - June 3 and 4,' she wrote yesterday in a blog on her news website The Daily Beast.

'They suggest this is a likely date for the engagement announcement at last of the 27-year-old Prince William and his patient squeeze, 28-year-old Kate Middleton.

'If so, a wedding itself would probably follow in November, like the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who married at Westminster Abbey that cold, damp November day in 1947.'

British-born Miss Brown, a former editor of Vanity Fair, goes on to speculate that a June engagement and winter wedding would 'make sense all around' in that it would come after the General Election and take place before William took up his first three-year posting as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot.

She added: 'The Queen and Prince Philip, moreover, are approaching two landmark moments: Philip will be 90 in June 2011, and the queen celebrates her diamond jubilee - 60 years on the throne - in February 2012.

'Their closeness to their grandson, especially Philip, makes them eager, I am told, to see William settled in matrimony.'

She claimed a winter wedding would neatly avoid comparisons with the legendary February engagement and July wedding of William's parents.

And she predicts St George's Chapel at Windsor - which has hosted several royal weddings of late, including Prince Charles's marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles - is a likely venue.

William and Kate, who have been dating since meeting at St Andrews University seven years ago, have been plagued by speculation about when they will finally tie the knot.

Talk has reached fever point recently. William turns 28 this June - the age at which he once, rashly, predicted he would get married.

Even members of the prince's inner circle admit they 'haven't a clue' as he 'plays his cards so close to his chest'.

Miss Brown's suggestion seems as good as any, due to her impeccable connections with members of the British aristocracy.

Last night a St James's Palace spokesman declined to comment, saying: 'We never discuss Prince William's private life or comment on what is merely speculation.'

Sources insisted, however, that they were tempted to take the report 'with a pinch of salt'.

'Prince William has never given the merest hint about what is on his mind regarding his relationship with Kate Middleton and his office is under the clear impression that if he does decide to pop the question, they will only be told a matter of days or even hours before he wants the world to know,' said one.

'The suggestion that staff at Clarence House, St James's Palace [the official name of William's household] or even Buckingham Palace, for that matter, have been clearing their diaries, appears wide of the mark.'

Another source also suggested that William would be training at RAF Valley on Anglesey on the dates suggested by Miss Brown - which would preclude him from travelling to London to make the customary formal announcement.

It's the type of bitter row that has gripped Desperate Housewives fans over the years.

Except this time there is no script.

Actress Nicollette Sheridan is suing the TV show's creator for £13.2million after alleging he slapped her across the face and later fired her for complaining about his violent behaviour.

The British-born star, who played sexy estate agent Edie Britt, claims her dismissal by Marc Cherry from the popular series lost her 'millions in future earnings'.

Miss Sheridan, 46, saw her character killed off last year after being one of the original women to take up residence in the fictional Wisteria Lane in 2004.

She has launched a $20million lawsuit against Cherry alleging assault and battery, gender violence and wrongful dismissal.

Miss Sheridan, whose contract stated she must be paid between £80,000 and £160,000 per episode, said Cherry was known on set for his 'abusive and aggressive' behaviour.

The lawsuit says matters came to a head in September 2008 after she questioned him over the script.

Miss Sheridan claims she tried to meet Cherry privately 'in an effort to discuss his negative demeanour toward her and to discuss whether he had a problem with her work,' the lawsuit says.

It continues: 'When Sheridan questioned Cherry about something that was in the script, Cherry took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head.'

Tension behind the scenes: Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry with (from left) Terri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Sheridan, Eva Longoria and Marcia Cross at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards

Surprise exit: Sheridan's character Edie Britt was extremely popular, but was killed off in a car accident last year

Stunned by the blow, Miss Sheridan shouted back: 'You just hit me in the head. That is not okay. That is not okay,' according to the lawsuit.

Miss Sheridan, who also starred in Knots Landing, says Cherry later went to her trailer to 'beg forgiveness' after she reported him to executives at ABC TV.

The actress insists she felt 'apprehension of imminent physical harm' for the rest of her time on the show, which is screened by Channel 4.

The documents filed at Los Angeles Superior Court also reveal the Sussex-born actress was not the only cast member Cherry allegedly had a grudge against.

After a clash with Teri Hatcher, who plays Susan Mayer, Cherry is alleged to have said: 'I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies'.

Four months after the alleged slapping incident in February 2009, Miss Sheridan was told her character was being written out and her contract terminated.

'The decision to kill off Sheridan's character demonstrates that Cherry and ABC intended to and did retaliate against Sheridan for her complaints about Cherry,' the lawsuit says.

It notes that although some of the male characters were killed off, 'none of the female characters had ever before been killed off or written out of the show'.

A spokesman for ABC said: 'While we have yet to see the actual complaint, we investigated similar claims made by Ms Sheridan last year and found them to be without merit.'

Her tendancy to copy Victoria Beckham's look is well documented, but now it seems Catherine Zeta-Jones has turned to another British WAG for inspiration.

The 40-year-old actress stepped out of her New York apartment yesterday in a nautical striped top and oversized shades that was rather similar to an outfit worn by Cheryl Cole this week.

But she gave the look a her own twist with jeans, flip flops and a red velvet scrunchie - yes, really! - in her hair.

She was joined by her fluffy white puppy, who trailed obediently behind.

Catherine later glammed up for an evening out and was seen wearing a teal draped dress and towering heels.

Of course, Michael Douglas' wife has more serious matters on her mind than her wardrobe right now.

She recently asked a federal judge in Manhattan to spare her drug-dealer step-son a harsh prison sentence.

Cameron Douglas also received a letter of support on Tuesday from his film legend grandfather, Kirk Douglas.

His famous family said he should be in a rehab facility, not jail.

Catherine said her stepson has been an 'exceptional' brother to her two children and had never been abusive to the family.

'What is wrong is wrong, but may all these positive attributes prevail, so that a facility that he is positioned in will help rehabilitate him,' she said in a handwritten note to the judge.

Catherine called him a 'considerate, worthy human being.'

The son of Michael Douglas had pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges he peddled large quantities of methamphetamine out of a trendy Manhattan hotel.

The charges carry a minimum term of 10 years behind bars.

But lawyers for the admitted heroin addict argue he should get only 3 1/2 years at sentencing next week.

Style stalker: Catherine has a history of copying Victoria Beckham's look

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1264116/Is-Catherine-Zeta-Jones-taking-style-tips-Cheryl-Cole.html#ixzz0kPUMLFIJ