Nov 9, 2009, 11:38 GMT
Britain's Kate Middleton is moving to New York.
The 27-year-old beauty - who is dating Prince William - is leaving London in January to work with top snapper Nikolai von Bismark as she trains to be a fashion photographer.
She has reportedly told her beau she will stay in the American city if she is offered permanent work as a photographer or stylist.
A family friend told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "She feels this is her last chance to carve out some sort of identity for herself before she is swallowed up by the royal family."
Kate and William - who are reportedly planning to marry after they turn 30 in 2012 - will first spend Christmas together with the rest of the royal family at Queen Elizabeth's Sandringham estate.
While Kate's away, William, 27, is planning to focus on his duties in the RAF where he is training as a search-and-rescue pilot.
But with Kate moving to New York it could be a struggle for the couple, who have been dating on-off for eight years, to meet up for regular dates.
The pair were last month spotted at a London restaurant - close to Kate's home in Chelsea - after booking under the name of Goldsmith.
And Kate proved she was an independent working woman by insisting on paying the bill with her credit card.
It is believed the pair used the alias Goldsmith because it is Kate's mother Carole's maiden name.
A source said: "They try to have as normal a relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend as they can. But, of course, they have to use a bit of imagination when they go out together to avoid attention."
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