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Although the Prince usually has his own guards, it was the sight of a team dedicated to Kate that fuelled speculation the lovebirds are set to get engaged. The rise in protection comes after

increasing numbers of paparazzi have started following Kate, who is expected to one day marry William and be a future Queen. Such interest in the couple brings back memories of Prince

William's mother Diana, who was followed endlessly by photographers. She was being pursued by a gang of paparazzi when she was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997. It is thought

24-year-old Kate's rising profile – which has grown rapidly over the past few months – has led to increased protection to avert a similar disaster. Police were stationed outside her

home in Chelsea on Thursday to cope with the growing number of cameramen waiting to catch her go to work. The problem of snappers has become so bad for her that she made a complaint about

them following her in 2005. As an ordinary member of the public she is not entitled to a police guard – but would qualify for the protection should she become engaged to Prince William. The

security detail came just days after photographers captured embarrassing images of Kate receiving a parking ticket near her west London home. A Scotland Yard spokeswoman last night said of

the increased security: "We don't comment on protection matters. We never have and we never will." Bookmaker William Hill has offered 2-1 odds on the Prince getting engaged to

Kate and 4-1 for them to get married later this year.