Kate Middleton's local licensee rubbishes claims

The licensee of Kate Middleton's favourite pub has rubbished claims that her family is unhappy with the events he has planned for the night of the royal wedding.

John Haley, who owns the Old Boot in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, has known the Middletons and Prince William for years as the Princess-to-be's family lives just a five-minute drive away.

Haley is invited to the wedding on 29 April and is returning to the pub for the 6pm start of his Royal Wedding Party.

The event is already sold out with 300 people attending at £15 a head. Guests will get a barbecue dinner and enjoy live music and a disco.

There are competitions for the best prince and princess, the best royal wedding collage or painting and the best royal wedding hat.

Newspapers had reported that the Middletons were angry that Haley had advertised the event so widely in neighbouring villages and publicly discussed his invitation.

"It's all hearsay and bad journalism," said Haley. "It's all great news and there are no problems.

"The event is sold out and we could have done more, but we can handle 300 without trouble. I am very excited for the wedding."