Television viewers are being given a chance to choose a wife for Prince William in a tongue-in-cheek show.

　　Programme bosses are hoping to save the prince the bother of finding a partner by putting it to the public vote.

　　Channel 4's digital channel E4 will profile potential candidates from Europe's minor royalty in the six-part series A Wife For William. The station said: "At the end of the series the people's choice will be revealed - a girl who may well end up being our Queen and, fingers crossed, William is watching."

　　Royal experts have drawn up a list of 25 potential posh candidates. They include Danish princesses, well-heeled heiresses, hooray Henriettas and well-bred celebrities. Then viewers will have their choice of who they think would be most suitable for the 21-year-old.

　　A spokeswoman said: "Given the mess the royals have made in finding their own partners, E4 proposes that the British people choose."