British Royals

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Archive for Kate Middleton*

News Bits: Jan 27, 2010

Jan 27

Posted by britishroyals in Kate Middleton*, Prince Charles & Camilla, Prince William, The Middleton Family | No Comments

Prince Charles bills Kate Middleton’s family for holiday

Prince Charles made Kate’s family pay for their Christmas holiday at historic Restormel Manor in Cornwall.  Regular winter rates would be around £3,000 a week.  The property is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, whose income pays for Charles’ public, charitable and private activities.  A royal source told The Sun: “The Middletons paid for their stay like anyone else booking a holiday there.” This is the holiday when the Middletons were photographed playing tennis, and Kate — using the Queens lawyers — took legal action.

Article: The Sun

Prince William starts RAF Search & Rescue Training in Anglesey

Wills has returned from a Royal tour of Australia to spend 8 months at the Anglesey airbase with the Search and Rescue Training Unit.  He will be staying at the officer’s quarters with other trainees, and will be trained with Sea King helicopters.  “This will see him training over the mountains of Snowdonia and off the coast of North Wales. He will probably remain at the base until August or September, at which point he will receive his first posting.”

Article: North Wales Daily Post





Prince Charles hits out at ITV; won’t ski at Klosters this year

Prince Charles has attacked ITV bosses for axing the South Bank Show after 32 years. Speaking in front of a star-studded crowed during the South Bank Show Awards, he insisted the popular show had been ‘the most important beacon of arts that the country has had’.  [Article: Daily Mail]. Clarence House has also confirmed that Prince Charles won’t be skiing at Klosters this year.  Rumours say he was advised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to cut on expenses during the recession, though Clarence House denies it.  [Article: The Telegraph]

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William & Kate Map a Bridal Path

Jan 24

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Another weekend, another wedding rumour…

Adam Helliker of The Express says the wait may be nearly over for Kate Middleton as she and Prince William held a 5-day “summit” with Prince Charles between Christmas and New Year at his Scottish retreat, Birkhall.  They discussed the the delicate subject of timings over their impending engagement and wedding.

“Kate was also able to discuss the stress and pressure that her parents have been under too,” confides a friend. Michael and Carole Middleton have been concerned that their daughter has put her life on hold since meeting Wills at university eight years ago. She even cancelled an opportunity to work for American Vogue in New York so that she could support William.  Carole has not only had to put up with press inquisitions about her daughter’s future prospects but also had to bite her lip every time she reads disparaging tabloid newspaper reports about “work-shy Waitie Katie”.

However, a conference call from Birkhall to the Middletons’ Berkshire roost put their minds at rest, reinforced by William himself who paid them a visit on Kate’s 28th birthday to assure them that plans to announce their engagement are imminent.

A family friend says a wedding this year seems unlikely, though.  “Even though William has his wings he still has lots more training and flying commitments with the RAF and there is also a general election, so they will probably marry next year.”

Article: The Express





Meanwhile, Katie Nicholl reports on William’s living conditions as his training brings him to RAF Valley in Anglesey starting this week.  He will be living in a box-sized room with a single bed, which means Kate Middleton is unlikely to come and visit.

“‘Kate is unlikely to want to come to Valley. It’s a pretty miserable place and six hours from London. William has a hard eight months ahead. He will get weekends off and he and Kate have chosen some places to meet up.  Pilots don’t usually stay in Anglesey for the weekends.  William loves Wales and hopes to spend weekends with Kate in the countryside.”

Article: Daily Mail (scroll down)

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Video: Prince William the Gentleman

Jan 22

Posted by britishroyals in Kate Middleton*, Prince William | No Comments

What a perfect gentleman! Prince William was captured assisting Kate Middleton — along with four other ladies — off a chopper after a surprise ride he is said to have arranged. The Sun had previously reported on this story.  It took place after Wills received his helicopter badge in a ceremony in Shropshire on January 15, 2010.

Thanks to kinga77 from the forums for the video, and dagsi for the link

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Royal Experts Share Their Views While Following William on Official Tour

Jan 18

Posted by britishroyals in Kate Middleton*, Prince William | No Comments

Some royal “experts” have followed Prince William on his official tour to Australia and New Zealand, and a couple of them have given interviews to local publications.

The Sun’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards, who has been covering the royals for 35 years, talks to TV show Breakfast.  He reminisces taking pictures of William as a toddler, the early days of Diana, good and bad encounters with Prince Charles, and shares his views on the future of Kate Middleton.  While he believes Kate will eventually become princess, this year may be too busy for an engagement.

Video: Watch the 10-minute interview (TV NZ)
Article: Interview snippet (TV NZ)

Judy Wade, Hello! reporter, explains why William won’t be picking up a lass in Australia.  “His heart belongs to Kate Middleton, girls,” she says.   “You just need to see them together to see she’s staked her claim on him.” Besides, Wills, once “divine” at 18, has developed a serious nature and a balding patch that turn some women off.  Prince Harry is the heart throb now and he’s far more fun.

Article: Daily Telegraph AU

Richard Palmer of the Express has been tweeting as he follows William’s day-to-day activities

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Prince William Awarded his Wings as Kate Middleton Looks On

Jan 15

Posted by britishroyals in Kate Middleton*, Prince Charles & Camilla, Prince William | 2 Comments

**Updated** Prince William has been awarded his wings as a fully-fledged helicopter pilot during a graduation ceremony in RAF Shawbury in Shropshire.  The Ministry of Defence says he passed with “flying colours.”    Prince Charles, stepmum Camilla and girlfriend Kate Middleton were present to mark the occasion.

Prince William successfully completed year-long Advanced Rotary Training at RAF Shawbury after training on twin-engined Griffins to become a full-time pilot with the Royal Air Force’s Search and Rescue Force (SARF). He will start additional training in Anglesey, North Wales, where he will be taught to fly Sea King helicopters, after he returns from his first official overseas trip to New Zealand and Australia later this month. Wills is expected to serve in the Falklands this year as part of his training, will become an operational pilot in 2011 and undertake a three-year search and rescue tour of duty.

Prince Charles, who awarded Wills his wings, said in a speech: “‘But today is a day, I think, of great pride for all of the parents, not to mention the girlfriends. We all know how hard our sons have worked in between all the other activities that we don’t know about.”

Kate Middleton got to her feet and applauded her prince.  Pictures show them seated side by side and sharing laughs and whispers.

According to The Sun, after the ceremony, Wills arranged for Kate and the girlfriends of three fellow recruits to take a 15-minute flight in a Griffin Bell 412, the helicopter he trained in. He did not pilot the aircraft, but saw it off. And when it returned, he dutifully carried out the steps and opened the door.  Kate is said to have “loved it.”  See the video of William assisting Kate and the ladies off the chopper

William & Kate during his graduation ceremony

William & Kate during his graduation ceremony

Articles: The Telegraph | Daily Mail | Metro UK | The Sun
Belga Pictures: Wills & Kate 1 | Wills & Kate 2 |  Wills & Kate 3 | Wills & Kate 4 | Wills & Charles | Charles & Camilla
Pictures: Getty Images
Videos : BBC UK | Wills assisting Kate after the chopper ride

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Royal Lawyers Prepare to Sue Over Kate Middleton Tennis Pictures

Jan 13

Posted by britishroyals in Kate Middleton* | 4 Comments

**Updated with reason for charges** As we can recall, Kate Middleton and her family stayed in Restormel Manor (which belongs to the Duchy of Cornwall) over their Christmas holiday in Cornwall. Pictures of the Middleton family enjoying a game of tennis circulated in picture agencies such as Ikon Pictures, Rex Features and Isifa. And while the British press refrained from publishing them in fear of the recent paparazzi ban, the pictures have appeared in Germany.  A German photographer, now revealed as Niraj Tanna of Ikon Pictures, is said to have taken them while standing in a public footpath that looked on to the tennis courts.

Now ALL online pics have been removed. Forums have been contacted to remove links to the private pictures. It is revealed that, as speculated, Harbottle & Lewis — the Queen’s lawyers who also represent Kate — are taking legal action on the grounds of breach of privacy and harassment.  It is understood to call for the pictures to be withdrawn from circulation and for damages to be awarded from both the agency and the photographer for invading her privacy. It threatens legal proceedings in the face of an unsatisfactory response.

Clarence House emphasizes that this action is pursued by Kate herself.  “It’s a private complaint being pursued by Kate Middleton against individual photographers who allegedly harassed her family on Christmas Day. Prince William was not present at that time.”

Kate is however using the same lawyers that work for the Queen, Prince Charles and his sons.

Gerrard Tyrell, a senior partner at Harbottle & Lewis, who was instructed by Buckingham Palace to mastermind the new press strategy last year, said: “I have sent a letter before action to two agencies, Rex Features and Icon, and am waiting to hear back. If there is not a suitable response we will take legal action.  I have been working with Kate for some time and we have been dealing with these issues.”

Why did Kate decide to press charges?  Because she and her family were pursued by photographer Niraj Tanna over Christmas.  It is suggested that he was responsible for trying to obtain pictures of the Middleton family during their Christmas lunch, and that he was spotted with his camera outside the window of the Middletons’ home.  Tanna has declined to comment.

So for those in doubt, let it be known that the royals’ plea for privacy is in fact real and taken very seriously.  And apparently, it is also very effective!  Until today, no one knows for sure where Kate and William celebrated her 28th birthday.

Articles: The Telegraph |  London Evening Standard | The Guardian | The Guardian (Reason for Charges)

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