British Royals

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Archive for Kate Middleton*

Royals Target Scapegoat in Privacy Fight

Mar 29

Posted by britishroyals in Kate Middleton*, Prince Harry, Prince William | 1 Comment

Kate Middleton’s recent privacy suit has gotten more interesting.  Rex Features has already settled.  Ikon Pictures, as well as photographer Niraj Tanna, are still under negotiations – but are also looking to settle.  Now, The Express publishes an interesting story on what could have happened and (more importantly) why Kate pressed charges for the Christmas tennis photos.

As always, take this story with a grain of salt…

Photographs of Kate Middleton playing tennis on Christmas Day were seen by the Press Complaints Commission as they were sent to ­newspapers, despite her claim that they invaded her privacy. Sources close to photographer Niraj Tanna say he was advised by the PCC that as long as he hadn’t ­harassed Kate and had taken the photos from a public place, he had acted within their Code of ­Practice. He continues to claim he did not harass Kate or take pictures of the family during Christmas lunch.

Tanna is, however, not fighting the case because he cannot afford to lose. “He can’t afford to go to court even though he’s got a good case. It’s a real David and ­Goliath situation, him versus ­Harbottle & Lewis”

The Express claims Tanna has developed good rapport with Kate over the years, and that her parents even approached him for some shots for their family album. As a photographer, he turns up in events not even the more experienced paps know about… and is suspected of having a mole close inside the royal circle. Nevertheless, Prince William and Harry despise Tanna. Harry has once got into an altercation with him outside Boujis nightclub.

So Is Tanna the royals’ scapegoat?

Article: The Express

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Royal News Bits: March 28, 2010

Mar 28

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

Prince Harry is offered chance to fly fearsome Apache helicopters

Prince Harry may return to Afghanistan now that he has been judged talented enough to fly Apache helicopters. The 25-year-old Prince is said to have impressed his instructors so much during his helicopter pilots’ training course that he has been given the option of flying either Apaches or the Lynx utility helicopter.

Only the most talented trainees are offered the chance to fly Apaches, which are each worth £35 million: just 2 per cent of those who embark on the Army Air Corps’ helicopter pilots’ training course end up flying the strike aircraft.

Article: The Telegraph





Prince Charles visits British troops in Afghanistan

Prince Charles laid a wreath at a memorial at the main UK base at Camp Bastion and visited a forces hospital. The prince also travelled by helicopter to a forward operating base in Nad Ali involved in a major offensive against the Taliban, Operation Moshtarak.  [ Article: BBC News ]

Frustration over trip revealed. A frank, high-level memo which lays bare the “frustration” felt over the Prince of Wales’s trip to Afghanistan has been leaked in Whitehall, causing embarrassment to senior figures in the Foreign Office. [ Article: The Telegraph ]

William & Kate will wed in time of Rugby World Cup

Just another speculation on Prince William, Kate Middleton and their future. Palace officials have earmarked next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand as the perfect “honeymoon” for a new princess. Kate and William are under intense pressure within royal circles to finally name the day. William’s first official foreign visit to Australia and New Zealand earlier this year was a massive success.

And a royal aide revealed: “Everyone was amazed at how well he was received. There is a long tradition of new royal couples visiting the important Commonwealth countries as soon as possible. This would be a great opportunity if the timing holds together.”

William & Kate are said to be reluctant to wed in 2012, which would coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. And 2013 is considered unlucky. So could it be next year? [Article: Daily Star]

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Party Pieces Launches “The Party Times”

Mar 28

Posted by britishroyals in Carole & Mike Middleton, Kate Middleton*, Pippa & James Middleton | 4 Comments

Party Pieces, the business run by Kate Middleton’s family, has launched The Party Times – an online party magazine.

The Party Times includes party tips, entertainment ideas, fun recipes, party games, latest themes, competitions & much more!  They also include staff and party friend interviews – including one from mum Carole and brother James.

Kate Middleton Interview.  There was originally an interview from Kate, but was removed a day after it was known to the public. Kate talked about wearing her favourite spotty clown dungarees, eating bowls of jelly and playing games of musical statues. Kate also recalled her fondest party memories and shares her top tips for little party-goers.

James Middleton Interview.  Founder of The Cake Kit Company, James remembers his childhood party memories. Dressed in his favourite red Indian outfit, he loved playing games of musical chairs and finding party bags filled with foam planes, Fizz Wiz candy and, of course, birthday cake.

Carole Middleton Interview. Carole Middleton founded Party Pieces in 1987 after finding it difficult to source fun, simple party products for her children’s parties. Now more than 23 years on the company is still going from strength to strength.

Party Pieces launched a Twitter account: twitter.com/Party_Pieces
Party Pieces is now on Facebook





Skeptics might doubt Kate’s involvement with their family business, but what’s undeniable is how Party Pieces expanded since she started working for them around January 2008.  Since then, Party Pieces launched the following subsections: First Birthdays, the Cherrypicked Collection, Celebrations, and now The Party Times.

The person in charge of this latest section is sister Pippa, as shown by The Party Times’ “Our Story” section, and contact email address.  Party Pieces has truly grown into a family endeavor!


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At Last! Some Ski Pictures of William & Kate

Mar 24

Posted by britishroyals in Carole & Mike Middleton, Kate Middleton*, Pippa & James Middleton, Prince William | 3 Comments

Update: more pictures

Bauer-Griffin Online has exclusive pictures of Prince William & girlfriend Kate Middleton’s ski trip in Courchevel in the French Alps.  There were seen skiing, on chairlifts, playing chase on snowmobiles and having meals on restaurants.  Pancakes on the first day.  Some champagne and mulled wine on the 2nd.

Bauer-Griffin Online’s Exclusive Pictures
Hello! Magazine’s page scans and article highlights

Due to popular demand, Catharina has posted another picture of Kate and William’s behind in her blog.  Thanks for the heads up, Cat!

The week-long holiday is over and the couple is presumably back in the UK.  Prince William in particular flew home on Sunday.  For more sightings and articles about his ski holiday, follow the previous entry below…

Prince William & Kate Middleton have been spotted by bloggers and fellow vacationers. Click here for twitter accounts.  After the tweets confirmed their presence, photographers have started gathering in Courchevel in hopes to get snaps.  But pictures are scarce.  According to royal reporter Richard Palmer in his tweet, he’s “not sure anyone’s buying.  Too expensive and where’s the interest?“  Well I’m pretty sure there’s A LOT of interest, which is why they’re expensive.  More likely, in light of Kate’s recent privacy suit victory over Rex Features, photographic agencies are simply too scared to buy.  Whatever people say, the Royals’ increased demand for privacy – starting with the Queen’s plea for a paparazzi ban in Sandringham last year- works!  We’ll see if we get more pictures over time.  As for now…

Coy Kate Covers her Face; William Jokingly Calls Kate’s Father “Dad”

There had been lots of kissing, hand holding and hugging in the snow. But sitting on a ski lift with a laughing group of friends, Kate Middleton suddenly went all shy. She hid her face in her hands as they set off for another day on the slopes at Courchevel in France.

Prince William & Kate, who are holidaying with Kate’s parents Mike and Carole, have been enjoying family get-togethers in the resort’s restaurants.

Ski instructor Meret Visser, who ate at a nearby table, said: “Prince William and Kate looked like a honeymoon couple. He held her hand under the table, stroked her hair and kissed her cheek.”

‘William was clearly very close to Kate’s father. Every time he spoke to him, William replied, “Yes, Dad”.  “Everyone in their group was laughing at this  -  it was clearly jokey. But William did look like part of the family.’

Yesterday the couple – both in red ski pants – raced down the slopes and had lunch al fresco, sitting on the snow at 9,000 ft with a group of friends, which includes Kate’s sister Pippa.

Articles with Pictures: Daily Mail | The Sun

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Hello! Magazine on Prince William & Kate Middleton’s Ski Holiday

Mar 23

Posted by britishroyals in Carole & Mike Middleton, Kate Middleton*, Pippa & James Middleton, Prince William | 1 Comment

**Updated with article highlights** Prince William and Kate Middleton made the cover of the current issue of Hello! Magazine.  Here are page scans of their exclusive on William & Kate’s ski holiday in Courchevel, France.  Article highlights below.





There’s nothing significantly new in this exclusive. They used ski instructor’s Meret Visser’s quote along with loved-up stories from previous articles. It was written by Judy Wade with additional reporting form Thomas Whitaker.

Article highlights:

  • Their group hired a luxury 5-bedroom chalet which can be rented between 11,000-17,000 euros/week. It comes complete with a resident chef, steam room, roaring log fire, and plasma TV room.
  • “They both clearly love their skiing and hit the slopes everyday”
  • “The Prince is a very competent skier, but Kate is even better than he is.” He did very well to keep up with her
  • They rented their ski gear
  • A trusted member of their circle said there has been no talk of an engagement this year – which is not surprising
  • William is cramming an 8-month course into 6 months. He’s allowed this holiday week off before starting the final stage of training
  • Kate is still with Party Pieces. “Kate is not hiding away, she goes out in London a lot, leading a normal life, using public transport often, but she just hasn’t been spotted. While it’s true she doesn’t like the paparazzi, she hasn’t been trying to avoid them. She is simply going about her business like a normal 28-year-old.” She and William have remained low key, meeting regularly.

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Prince William May Put Off Royal Duties to Continue Flying

Mar 23

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

Prince William may postpone becoming a full-time royal and spend much of the next decade in the military – partly to avoid accusations of shortchanging taxpayers of £400,000.

William is acutely aware that if he leaves the RAF in 2012 after his planned three-year tour of duty as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, he will have only repaid about half the £800,000 cost of training him. Until now William’s advisers have expected him leave the RAF after just one tour of duty and revert to an earlier plan to start full-time royal duties like his father Prince Charles.

“It is too early to know what Prince William’s plans are after he has served a tour of duty with the search-and-rescue force,” a St James’s Palace spokesman said. “Many options will be open to him at the end of his tour.”

The new thinking at St James’s and MoD HQ will raise speculation about whether a prolonged career in the military will delay wedding plans for William and Kate Middleton, his girlfriend of seven years.  Friends, however, believe that although Kate enjoys partying in London, the couple will relish life as an Armed Forces couple living initially in the country near RAF search-and-rescue airfields and later perhaps near other bases. Such a lifestyle, with only a small number of official royal engagements in her first few years, would allow Kate a gentle introduction to life as a future Queen.

Article: The Express

Prince William Flies Home from Ski Holiday Despite Strike

Prince William flew home with a Jet2 plane

After a week-long ski holiday with girlfriend Kate Middleton and her family (previous articles, Hello! Mag scans), Prince William jetted home on Sunday using strike-hit British Airways – enraging union firebrands hell-bent on grounding him.

Wills  joined tens of thousands who defiantly boarded jets – some of the flights using specially- chartered planes. The Prince and 200 passengers flew home from Switzerland on an aircraft supplied by Jet2 – complete with cabin crew to replace those on strike.  He enjoyed a fuss-free 3-hour flight to London’s Heathrow.

The Unite union was left desperate for a propaganda coup to bolster its three-day walkout by cabin crew, which started on Saturday and continues today. Its biggest hope was to strand Wills in Geneva after his ski holiday with girlfriend Kate Middleton, 28.

A source said of the Prince’s flight: “It’s a major kick in the teeth for the unions. They would have loved to have embarrassed BA by leaving William struggling.”

Article: The Sun

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