KATE AND WILLIAM WILL WED AND ANOTHER FAIRY TALE BEGINS.

BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS WHO WILL BE THE NEXT KING OF ENGLAND? PRINCE CHARLES OR PRINCE WILLIAM?

ONE IN THREE BRITS want the Queen to abdicate in 2 years and allow William and Kate to be monarchs. One poll shows 59 percent of Brits want Charles to step aside for his son, reports our correspondent from London, Mark Stevens, a former Chicagoan who became a British citizen last November after living there many years.

WE HAVE COUSINS, DENNIS AND PAMELA SPENCER, NO RELATION TO THE LATE PRINCESS DIANA SPENCER, who reside in Brondesbury Park, Willesden, London, and are supporters of Prince Charles. “He’s been trained since birth to be king, and he’s a dedicated, intelligent man. And Camilla is lovely,” Pamela told us. “Prince William is only a helicopter rescue pilot and much too young. Charles is an environmentalist and a respected statesman.”

MARK STEVENS CREDITED KATE AND WILLIAM “with making their wedding as modest as it could be, and with their extraordinary sensible behavior have forced the press to give them a measure of privacy.” Without wild antics and scandals, the hoopla has been kept under control. The only casualty has been 20-something young ladies whose dreams of becoming a princess have imploded (though Prince Harry’s still out there).

“BRITAIN’S NATIONAL DEBT is 124 billion pounds, petrol is 6.30 pounds a gallon, a rise in the pension age from 65 to 67, the conflicts in Libya and Afghanistan give Brits plenty to think about, besides the wedding,” said Stevens. “The financial collapse of Portugal will see Britain contributing 4 billion pounds to prop up their economy, and the threat of union strikes here are real issues the British people are concerned about.” The wedding is a temporary diversion.

“ONE MILLION WILL LINE THE STREETS and see the couple on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the ceremony,” said Stevens, “and the Royal Family is selling its own set of official souvenir mugs, tea towels, plates, etc. Since my invite was lost in the post and April 29 has been declared a holiday I will watch the ceremonies on my TV and wish Kate and William a long and happy marriage. Sadly, everyone will compare it to Charles and Diana’s union.

“IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HISTORY PLAYS OUT THE NEXT CHAPTERS and who will sit on the throne in England.”

MEANWHILE PRINCE CHARLES WILL VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE MAY 3 TO MAY 5 TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA. The Prince of Wales will also give the keynote speech at a Georgetown U. conference on sustainable agriculture.

THANK HEAVENS THERE ARE NO “BIRTHERS” in England to mess up Da Wedding. When detractors noted that Kate’s mother is Carol Goldsmith, her last name caused a stir. Was there Jewish blood to taint the royal pool? They huffed and they puffed and had to admit the last five generations of Goldsmiths had been married in churches and there was more chance of a Jewish connection with ancestors of Prince Philip … SECURITY IS TIGHT but the Ladies Who Lunch are concerned “some nut could toss a bomb or start shooting during the outdoor crush” at this historical union. May all be serene.

DA WEDDING HAS PUSHED CHARLIE SHEEN and hopefully Lindsay Lohan off the front pages.

LATE BLOOMING ARTIST MATT LAMB unveils his Museum of Private Collections, featuring the art of Dali and Lamb, in a black tie party May 5 at 435 E. Illinois St., promising big names and the debut of a clothing line called Lamb and Cooked in Barcelona. Irene Michaels is producing the event.

FASHIONISTAS ARE EXCITED about the May 4 super shopping event at the Drake Hotel from 6 to 9 p.m. planned by CeCe and Melinda with top local designers offering special discounts on accessories, clothes, handbags, hats and more. It’s free to get in to the shopping extravaganza.

IKRAM GOLDMAN, now an established success story in the rough, tough fashion world, gets the Legend of Fashion Award May 5 from the School of the Art Institute in fashionable style at a Millennium Park extravaganza. This lady has guts. Ikram, marking 10 years at her 873 N. Rush St. salon, is opening a 16,000 square-foot mega-clothing heaven at 15 E. Huron St. in May, taking her expertise and reputation to dream levels. A troublesome economy? Goldman clients seem immune, and her association with First Lady Michelle Obama adds a magical touch. Ikram is hosting her own May 7 celebration that is the hottest ticket in town.

A REMINDER THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE IS ON LOAN, comes with news that Christie’s will auction Elizabeth Taylor’s multi-million dollar jewelry collection, plus her art, clothing and other possessions this spring … An impeccable source told us years ago that whenever Liz rallied in defense of Michael Jackson, which she did periodically when pedophile rumors were rampant, he gifted his great friend with yet another piece of extravagant jewelry. Her hunger for gems never decreased despite her awesome collection. Now wealthy fans can buy her necklaces, gowns, rings, furs, etc.

GOLD AND SILVER ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH and some of our richest blue-bloods and movers and shakers are getting big bucks to part with their diamonds and other treasures. THEY SELL because of the four Ds — DEBT, DIVORCE, DEATH OR DISINTEREST.

WAVING HIS BULLS HAT at the faithful, President Obama got cheers when he spoke at a Navy Pier fundraiser.

PRODUCER FISHER STEVENS has completed his hot new documentary on ’70s rockers and filmmakers including Debbie Harry. It’s called Blank City.

ACTRESS KATHY NAJIMY, guest at a Planned Parenthood rally at the History Museum May 5, is a favorite of reader Beth Whitney who praised her poignant yet funny take on the serious issue of women’s health … SISTERS, we must not let politicians take away a woman’s right to abortion. It must be decided by a woman and her doctor.

ACTOR BURT REYNOLDS, 75, charmed his fans when in town for a retrospective of his films. Photog Linda Matlow said he is still handsome and was surrounded by ardent boosters. (Where was Loni Anderson?)

DAN SAVAGE takes on bullying at the AIDS Foundation benefit at the Hilton, May 2. CEO David Munar knows the importance of fighting this brutal behavior.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON was guest of honor at a Casino luncheon hosted by Sugar Rautbord and Oak Family Advisors chairman John Fitzpatrick. Huffington was celebrating her Huffington Post merger with AOL for $350 million.

SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Barbra Streisand, Al Pacino, Renee Zellweger, Jessica Alba, Uma Thurman, Michelle Pfeiffer and Penelope Cruz.

JUST IN TIME TO DELIGHT THE EASTER BUNNY, Playboy bunnies got the right to display their nude charms in the upcoming NBC series “The Playboy Club” based on the swinging ’60s’ Playboy Club in Chicago, the first iteration of the nightclubs birthed by Hugh Hefner’s Playboy magazine. Gorgeous Amber Heard is the star as Maureen, a sexy bunny who wears her cottontail with pride. She is best known for her work on the CW series “Hidden Palms” that was hidden from viewers in record time. The pioneer Chicago club was on Walton and boasted $2 roast beef sandwiches. Ah, those were the days.

CLEVER IDEA TO BRING CANNED GOODS TO THE HUNGRY is the May 12 to 14 Canstruction Competition benefit at the Merchandise Mart lobby, wherein architects and construction firms build amazing structures out of cans of food, which are later donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

GLAMOR COMES TO TOWN MAY 7 WHEN PRINCESS AGA KHAN and her handsome lover Blaise Labriola arrive for the Alzheimer Association gala at the Hilton. They add their considerable charms for the Rita Hayworth gala, named for the mother of Yasmin, who died of Alzheimer’s. A party with Michael Kors heralded the annual benefit.

CANCER PATIENTS get paired with sympathetic survivors thanks to Immerman’s Angels, holding a golf outing benefit June 17. Call 877-274-5529.

BUY A BRICK is the aim of a dinner party May 9 to benefit the American Friends of the Gdansk Theater, led by Natasha Isaacs and Eva Jukubowski. It will be in the elegant home of Larisha Neshpor and David Kronfeld.

CONGRATS TO Todd Glassman on becoming a partner and Victoria Masciopinto for joining the Ladden and Allen law firm.

“THE JEWELS OF SUTTON AVENUE” is the title of a new book by local author Barbara Lewis about orphaned sisters in Detroit named Topaz, Pearl and Ruby. Lots of drama about family loyalty, saving their home, lost loves.

A CAT’S JOURNEY THROUGH ADOPTION is the subject of a charming kids’ book by Katheryn Knapik-Kick called The Many Tales of Sammy The Cat. Happy ending — he finds the human of his dreams.

A PRIVATE SCREENING OF THE FILM Jumping the Broom brought its star Angela Bassett to town for a party hosted by Sony Pictures and Ebony where she chatted with Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent and fellow Bears star Otis Wilson. No sulking diva, she mingled with fans at an after-party at Phoenix Gallery.

“YOU ARE NOT DRUNK IF YOU CAN LIE ON THE FLOOR WITHOUT HOLDING ON.” — DEAN MARTIN

CONTACT: annbgerber@gmail.com or 847-677-2232