London: For the first time since their break-up this summer, Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton were caught dating in public as the couple enjoyed an alcohol-fuelled night out at their favourite club, Boujis.

A happy-looking Kate and a rather bleary-looking William walked out of the South Kensington club hand in hand at early morning hours on Friday but bumbed straight into awaiting paparazzi.

Cameras flashed and the duo was snapped together for the first time since their split up in April, though romance rekindled between them just six weeks later.

Until now they have gone to great lengths to avoid being seen in public together. But the couple allowed themselves to be snapped by the paparazzi going home in the same car - a move which is bound to fuel speculation about their future.

William, second in line to the crown, and Miss Middleton arrived separately at the club after Kate had dined with some of her friends at Brinkley's restaurant in Fulham. They had arranged to meet at Boujis at around 11 pm in what appeared to be a very boozy night.

Nothing they do is left to chance - if they are feeling relaxed enough to be seen enjoying a night out together, royal observers feel that they may be being more open about their relationship.

The pair, both 25, were keen to keep the relationship under wraps ever since romance between them resurfaced.

In August, after meeting up at a party in Oxfordshire thrown by mutual friends, Kate and William decided to go on holiday together to the isolated island of Desroches - the moments they described as "the best ever".

The couple enjoyed a week of complete privacy on the island in the Seychelles. They booked out almost the whole Indian Ocean Island resort at a cost of 20,000 pounds so as to keep the outing a secret.