London, January 5 : Prince William reportedly stunned his girlfriend Kate Middleton by planning a candlelit dinner in a romantic hideaway cabin - fuelling rumours that he would soon pop the question.

Kate was said to have been left wide-eyed after stepping into the tucked away lodge to find a table decorated with crisp white linen and silver cutlery.

William had taken Kate to Scotland on a surprise vacation to spend quality time with his girlfriend, father Charles, and stepmother Camilla.

The 26-year-old royal had allegedly worked up the surprise with the help of his father's flunkeys at the Aberdeenshire hideaway at Birkhall.

The couple purportedly spent the evening having a private supper before nestling in the cabin beside the picturesque River Dee, while a roaring log fire fought the outside temperatures plunged to -5°C.

"William and Kate are enjoying some quality time together before he starts his helicopter training. Birkhall has dozens of tiny hideaways and lodges that are perfect for a romantic evening," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

The lovers had previously been speculated to have relationship trouble following William's decision to prioritise his career in the Royal Air Force, which led them to put their alleged wedding plans on hold for eight years.

William, who is to spend 18 months training to be a pilot from January, followed by another six-year commitment in the RAF, is said to have decided not to marry before completing his training to become a Search and Rescue Officer. (ANI)