THE predicted marriage of Prince William to long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton has the blessing of the Prince of Wales.

Regulars in the pub of that name, at least, are happy, if slightly taken aback, that the young woman at the centre of frenzied speculation can trace her blood line back to mining stock in Hetton-le-Hole, on Wearside.

It has been revealed that England's rumoured future queen is not from Home Counties aristocracy, but is descended from mining stock in the Durham Coalfield.

It came as a surprise to drinkers in the appropriately-named Prince of Wales pub, in Railway Street, Hetton. Steeped in the town's mining history, the pub is better known as the Number Nine, as it is thought it was situated alongside the ninth crossing on the rail line carrying coal from several of the nearby collieries.

Publicans Alex and Joanna Angus believe the would-be Windsor would be made welcome in the Prince of Wales.

But ex-pitmen Ken Johnston and Henry Pate do not expect to see her in the bar.

"I don't suppose we will ever see the likes of her in here," said 65-year-old Mr Johnston, a former face worker at Eppleton and Murton collieries.

"She probably wouldn't recognise somewhere like this. But, I'm sure she would be welcome to come and have a look."

Others among the clientele agreed she would be welcome at the Number Nine - providing she foots the bill for a round or two of drinks.

Ms Middleton's great-great-great-great grandfather, James Harrison, began work at Hetton Lyons pit when it opened in 1821.

Throughout the 19th Century, James and his son and grandson toiled in appalling conditions underground.

It is likely that many of their family and friends were killed in the all too frequent pit disasters, and it is known that Miss Middleton's great-great-great-great grandmother died during a cholera epidemic which killed 31,000 people in the North-East.

However, in the early 20th Century, James' great-grandson, Thomas, a carpenter, moved his family to London, including his daughter, Dorothy, Miss Middleton's grandmother.

Her daughter, Carole, married pilot Michael Middleton in 1980, and two year's later she gave birth to Kate.