Kate Middleton and Prince William (WireImage/Indigo)

Engagement rumors are churning again for Prince William and Kate Middleton, who stepped out this weekend in Gloucestershire to attend the wedding of friends Harry Meade and Rosie Bradford. It’s the first time Wills ‘n Kate have been photographed together in a few months, and the fact that they chose to walk side-by-side for photographers (something they normally avoid) is seen as “very significant.”

Kate Middleton (WireImage/Indigo)

Who knows what’s really up behind the scenes? These recent wedding rumors feel different from previous ones, however–most notably, the tone of PR officials at Clarence House has changed. It’s always been a question of not if, but when–and now it’s looking as thought that ‘when’ could be sooner than we think. (Oddsmaker William Hill has stopped taking bets on the wedding year–2011–and now is only taking bets on the month.)

Isabella Calthorpe: The one that got away?

One possible scenario that keeps coming up: William will ask the Queen’s permission this Christmas at Sandringham, announce the engagement in February, and hold the actual ceremony–perhaps at Westminster Abbey–in June or July. Time will tell…!

Olivia Hunt (Ikon Pictures Limited)

In the meantime, we’ll just have to contend ourselves with stories about “The one that got away” (that’d be Isabella Calthorpe) and about former Prince William girlfriends at the wedding like Olivia Hunt, Rose Farquhar, and the one who really fascinates me: Jecca Craig.

Jecca Craig (Ikon Pictures Limited)