Prince William celebrates his 27th birthday on Sunday, and long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton will no doubt be helping him mark the occasion.
She has kept a low profile in recent months as the future King trains to become a full-time pilot with the RAF's Search and Rescue Force.
The pair were last month pictured together for the first time in five months and looked closer than ever as, in a rare display of affection, William was spotted with his arm around her at a polo match.
There has been speculation the couple will walk up the aisle soon and bookmaker William Hill is now offering "odds on" at 1-2 that they will get engaged in 2009.
The chance of William asking Kate on his birthday is put at 33-1, while the odds of Kate getting in first and asking William to marry her are 66-1, the firm said.
By turning 27, William inches closer to the age he suggested he would want to wed as he once remarked: "I don't want to get married until I'm at least 28 or maybe 30."
Second-in-line to the throne William, who is based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, is planning to become an operational pilot early in 2011.
Talking on Thursday, he hinted he would like to follow in brother Harry's footsteps and fight on the front line.
Harry served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan last year and his elder brother hinted that he wished to emulate his achievement.
When asked if he thought an operational role was an impossibility, he replied: "In my mind, of course, you talk to everyone else and it's impossible. I still remain hopeful there's a chance."
