Adam Helliker of The Express gives updates on Sarah Ferguson’s financial trouble.

Prince Andrew to the Rescue

Sarah Ferguson may have to face bankruptcy

Prince Andrew has stepped in to rescue the Duchess of York’s finances as her debts threaten to spiral out of control.  The Duke of York has written off part of an estimated £5million owed by his ex-wife, according to royal sources who revealed the full extent of the crisis yesterday.

At least one financial adviser to Buckingham Palace has recommended she opt for voluntary bankruptcy, a move said to have “deeply concerned” the Queen. According to The Express, Sarah Ferguson’s debt at its highest point totalled £1.5million in Britain and £3.5million in the US, although Andrew has now settled most of her personal debts, believed to be about £1.5million.

Article: The Express

Princess Beatrice & Eugenie “Pawns” in Royal Money Row

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are being used as pawns in a battle of wits between their mother, the beleaguered Duchess of York, and her arch enemy Prince Philip.

The Express reports: “The subject of Sarah and what Andrew has offered to do for her came up several times. On several occasions Beatrice and Eugenie had to join Andrew in defending their mother, which was a draining experience for them given they feel intimidated by Prince Philip.”

“Philip’s view is that the Royal Family cannot be seen to be bailing out someone who is so profligate, especially in these restrictive times. He just doesn’t understand why Andrew always takes Sarah’s side. Meanwhile those poor girls are caught in the middle.”

Article: The Express
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The Royal Family were in high spirits yesterday when they took a walk down memory lane at the end of a 10-day holiday cruise.  Three generations of royals, with Peter Phillips’s pregnant wife Autumn carrying a fourth, disembarked the five-star cruise ship, the Hebridean Princess, and took a nostalgic trip to the late Queen Mother’s home, the Castle of Mey.

The Queen paid £300,000 out of her own private funds to charter the 49-passenger vessel, although it cost taxpayers an estimated £1 million for police, divers, dog handlers, Ministry of Defence police marine units, and a Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, HMS Kent, to provide security for the trip.

Article: The Express | Daily Mail

Zara Phillips Joins Sailing Team for Cowes Week

Think Zara Phillips and you think jodhpurs, crops and horse riding competitions. But today, the young Royal proved that her sea legs are just as competitive as she swapped the equestrian life for one on the open waves.

Zara was taking part in the Artemis Challenge, which saw a fleet of six yachts sail round the Isle of Wight to win money for charity.

Article: Daily Mail

Prince Andrew in Sardinia while  a Man Arrested for Breaking Into his Home

Cops have arrested a man on suspicion of breaking into the grounds of Prince Andrew’s house. The 43-year-old was nicked at his home in Colnbrook, Berks, over conspiracy to commit theft and is being held in police custody.

While all this was happening, Prince Andrew was spotted in a yacht in Sardinia, apparently with a woman massaging sun cream on his back. According to Richard Palmer, the woman was the wife of another guest, and not Prince Andrew’s new girlfriend

Article: The Sun
Pictures: StarTraks Photo
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The Queen, the Duke, with their young children - Prince Charles & Princess Anne

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II may be 84 but she still has plenty of byte – as she’s shown by joining the photo-sharing website Flickr.

The Queen has already uploaded more than 600 snaps, many of which are very rare, and she plans to write a frequently-updated diary of the Royal Family’s engagements.

The pictures include historic shots of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from the early days of photography, plus the Queen as a child with her parents and in early royal duties.

The launch follows that of royal.gov.uk, the monarchy Twitter account in 2009 and the Royal Channel on YouTube in 2007.

A Palace statement said: “The Flickr photo site is the latest way the royal household is engaging with technological innovation.”

Article: The Sun
Link: The British Monarchy’s Flicker account
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Among the highlights of the trip will be two parties to celebrate the 60th birthday of The Princess Royal next month and the 50th birthday of The Duke of York earlier this year.

Bathed in glorious sunshine, an excited Royal Family arrived en masse at Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis to begin their holiday.

The Queen, dressed in a lime green trouser suit and pastel headscarf, boarded the luxury Hebridean Princess, which will be their home for the next ten days. She was joined by the Duke of York and his daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.

The Princess Royal, boarded with a backpack and wearing cream trousers and a jacket, followed by her husband, Vice-Admiral Tim Laurence, who was carrying two bags. Viscount Linley, Princess Margaret’s son, was present with his wife Serena Stanhope and their two children, Charles and Margarita. The viscount’s sister, Lady Sarah Chatto, her husband, Daniel, and their sons, Samuel and Arthur, appeared cheerful as they boarded.

Among those due to join the trip later are the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, with their children, and Peter Philips and his wife, Autumn.

Article: Telegraph
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Fergie lets go of Kate Waddington, her PR relations adviser for 10 years

Fergie Sacks Staff to Prevent Bankrupcy

The cash-strapped Duchess of York has been forced to sack her entire team of seven full-time staff to save money. In another blow, the Duchess has also parted company with Kate Waddington, her long-suffering public relations adviser who worked hard to improve the Duchess’s battered public image.

The cutbacks will also affect three more staff who were on temporary contracts and worked for the Duchess on an ad-hoc basis. In total she should save an estimated £700,000 a year. Fergie made personal phone calls to each of her 12 tearful flunkies to explain why their jobs had gone.

But despite being £2million in the red, next week she flies to Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s luxury home in the British Virgin Islands.

Articles: Daily Mail | The Sun

Princess Beatrice looks Bea-utiful after training for London marathon

Svelte and far from shy, Princess Beatrice shows how marathon training has transformed her figure from the curvy one that in the past drew unflattering comments. The 21-year-old, said to have shed a stone and a half, displayed her new slimline look as she showered on the back of a luxury yacht in St Tropez. With her on holiday is boyfriend Dave Clark.

The fifth in line to the throne had been mortified by pictures of herself in a blue bikini during a beach holiday on St Barts in 2008 and admitted being ‘terribly upset’ by unkind remarks.

Follow the link below for pictures of Bea looking great in a bikini, including a comparative shot of unflattering pictures in the past.

Article: Daily Mail

Queen’s visit to Canada a royal success story

The Queen’s visit to Canada visit was a roaring success, drawing record-breaking crowds eager to see the monarch in the flesh in what may well prove her valedictory tour.

Article: The Telegraph

Chelsy Davy

Chelsy heading for Johannesburg?

According to Katie Nicholl, Chelsy Davy is giving up previous plans to train as a solicitor in London, will be traveling through December, and moving to Johannesburg in January.

‘She doesn’t want to live in Cape Town because all her friends have moved to Jo’burg,’ says a friend.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry did not relish being the butt of the joke himself. The Prince apparently had a ’sense-of-humour failure’ at his friend Mark Dyer’s wedding in Wales when chums continually ribbed him about his on-off relationship with Chelsy.

‘Quite a few people kept saying “you’ll be next” to Harry, and making remarks about “walking the plank” with Chelsy,’ says a spy. He laughed along at first but it wore thin pretty quickly.’

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Peter Phillips & wife Autumn Kelly are expecting their first child

The Queen is said to be overjoyed after learning that she is to become a great-grandmother for the first time.

Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn are expecting their first child in December, Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday.

Mr Phillips and his Canadian-born wife, both 32, said in a statement: “Peter and Autumn Phillips are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in December. ‘The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as well as Autumn’s family have been informed and are delighted with the news.”

The couple are living in Hong Kong where Mr Phillips works in the sponsorship division of the Royal Bank of Scotland. It is not known if they will return to the UK for the birth.

The couple wed in May 2008.  Their decision to accept £500,000 from Hello! magazine for exclusive use of photographs of their wedding ceremony – featuring the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and royal girlfriends Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy – caused some controversy.

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Queen Elizabeth II was made her fourth visit to Wimbledon on Thursday.  But it’s her first visit to the tennis tournament since 1977.  There was also the inescapable fact that Her Majesty’s last visit to Wimbledon, in 1977, coincided with Virginia Wade’s triumph — the last time a Briton won a singles title at the All England Club.

Murray bowed, again and again

He had been unsure whether he would bow at all. But when it came to it Andy Murray bowed three times for the Queen.

After bringing Centre Court to its feet with her entrance to the Royal Box, the Queen allowed herself a broad smile when Britain’s number one walked out for his second round match and performed the show of respect with something of a flourish.  Tucking one arm behind his back and the other in front, he bent from the waist and smiled sheepishly, to cheers and laughter from the Centre Court crowd.

Following a comfortable victory over his Finnish opponent Jarkko Nieminen, Murray bowed again as he left the court before stooping for a third time after being introduced to the Queen on the members’ balcony of the All England Club. Describing his first meeting with the Queen as an honour, Murray, who had been under orders not to swear while on court, said: “Obviously, meeting the Queen, everybody’s going to get very nervous. When you’re nervous, it is difficult to remember exactly what was said. But it’s great. I think it is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us, I definitely enjoyed it.”

Article: The Telegraph
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The British Royal Family. Trooping the Colour 2010

The Queen has marked her 84th official birthday at the Trooping the Colour parade in central London.

She wore a light lilac outfit as she inspected rows of crimson-coated Guardsmen while the sun shone weakly over Horse Guards Parade.  The parade included more than 1,400 soldiers in the traditional uniforms of the Household Cavalry, Royal Horse Artillery and Foot Guards.

The Queen was accompanied on the short journey from Buckingham Palace by Prince Phillip, who underwent minor surgery on his left hand earlier this week.  Prince Charles also attended the ceremony despite suffering from a persistent chest infection and is scheduled to take three days off next week. He was accompanied the Duchess of Cornwall, who suffered a broken leg earlier this year and had the cast removed just two weeks ago

Also present were Princess Anne, and grandchildren Prince William, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Article and Video: BBC News UK
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The Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh has injured his ankle crashing his horse-drawn carriage into a tree stump. The 88-year-old escaped with only a “minor injury” to his ankle following the collision on the Windsor estate on Friday morning, Buckingham Palace said.

The Duke was out carriage driving in the 5,000-acre Great Park with a young female groom when the accident happened. A spokesman said the he lost control as the ponies started to “run away” immediately before the impact. The carriage did not overturn. Although the Duke did hurt his ankle, he was said to be in good spirits, and the injury has not forced him to cancel any engagements.

Article: The Telegraph

Duchess of Cornwall pulls her shoulder after breaking her leg

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall revealed yesterday she has sustained a second injury two weeks after breaking her leg while hillwalking. She took to a wheelchair to complete her first royal engagement since fracturing her left leg near Birkhall on the Balmoral estate.

But now she has pulled a tendon in her right shoulder and is struggling on crutches once out of the wheelchair. “The leg doesn’t hurt at all,” she said. “It’s the rest of it that hurts when I’m trying to get up and lug myself about. Unfortunately, I’ve slipped a tendon in this shoulder. I’ve got no leg and an arm on one side and no arm and a leg on the other.”

Article: Express UK
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Queen Elizabeth II as a baby

Long Live the Queen!

Happy 84th Birthday, Ma’am!

Previously unpublished pictures of the Queen as a baby have been released to coincide with her 84th birthday today. The photographs form part of an exhibition of the work of the photographer Marcus Adams.

The 56 images on display include pictures of the then Princess Elizabeth which were taken to be sent to her mother and father, the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, while they were on a six-month tour of Australia and New Zealand. Among the collection is a poignant letter from the Princess’s nanny, Clara Knight, which reflects how many landmarks of their young daughter’s life the then Duke and Duchess of York missed while they were on the tour.

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Queen Elizabeth, Easter 2010

The Queen was joined by two of her granddaughters as she took part in the traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle.

A crowd of well-wishers gathered outside St George’s Chapel to see members of the Royal Family as they arrived for the Mattins service.

The Queen, wearing a long violet coat and matching hat accessorised by a flower, was joined by her children Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. The Duke of York’s daughters Eugenie, wearing a dark purple dress, white beret and jacket, and Beatrice, who was in a floral dress and pale grey hat, were also present, as were the Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne’s husband Tim Laurence.

The Daily Mail also featured their story, focusing on Princess Beatrice and Eugenie’s Easter glamour.

Articles: The Telegraph | Daily Mail
Pictures: Getty Images
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