British Royals

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Prince Andrew’s “Friend” Alexandra Eastcat Gives First Interview

Aug 29

Posted by britishroyals in Prince Andrew | 1 Comment

Alexandra Eastcat, the 25-year-old bikini model who made news after being photographed on a yacht rubbing suntan on Prince Andrew’s back, spoke to the Mail on Sunday.

Any romance between her and Andrew is “ri-di-cu-lous”

“I’m not stupid. I can see what a juicy bit of gossip it must have seemed – one day, I’m putting oil on Andrew’s back; the next, we’re getting on a private jet together. It all looks so romantic, doesn’t it? But I know what happened – and what did not.”

“Andrew asked me again to rub cream into his back. I’d barely met him – and he is a royal. But I couldn’t say no twice, could I?”

Prince Andrew gave her a history quiz. He’s very interested in Spanish history and culture. They talked about the English countryside, the Philippines and military history. He talked fondly of Fergie and of his daughters.

When they boarded a private plane together the next day, they simply read books.   And when she and the Prince parted, they promised to keep in touch. She had no intention of talking about what she regards as a ­fledgling friendship.


Article: Daily Mail

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Fergie Needs Family to Salvage Financial Situation

Aug 10

Posted by britishroyals in Fergie, HM The Queen & Duke, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie | No Comments

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

Prince Andrew to the Rescue

Sarah Ferguson might face bankruptcy

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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Prince Andrew & his Intriguing New Bikini Model Friend

Aug 8

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Alexandra Escat

Alexandra Escat

At 25, she is just three years older than Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice.  But there was no sign that ­stunning bikini model Alexandra Escat was tiring of her more mature companion, as they boarded a private jet together on Saturday.

The Duke of York and Alexandra were flying out of Olbia Airport in Sardinia, where last week they were ­pictured engrossed in each other’s ­company on board a superyacht.  At the time, sources dismissed speculation of a relationship, saying Miss Escat was married Prince Andrew’s friend.  But The Mail on Sunday has established that she is single and joined the party as she knew one of the fellow guests.

Still, friends of Andrew insisted that Miss Escat was ‘not a new love item’, but there was no denying the pair enjoyed spending time together.  She was seen grinning and rubbing suncream into his back.  Prince Andrew was also pictured kissing her hand.

The exotic brunette, whose exotic looks are a legacy of her Spanish father and Filipina mother, is a well-known face on the party scenes of Madrid and Manila, the Philippine capital.    Alexandra has a degree in advertising and public relations, has modeled for shampoo, and writes an online
Madrid society column.

A spokesman for Prince Andrew refused to comment on his holiday or his private life.





Article: Daily Mail

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Royal Family Whereabouts

Aug 5

Posted by britishroyals in Fergie, HM The Queen & Duke, Peter Phillips, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, Sophie | No Comments

Happy Landings as the Royals End Their Holiday Cruise

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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Queen Leads Royal Family on Island Cruise

Jul 25

Posted by britishroyals in HM The Queen & Duke, Peter Phillips, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Sophie | No Comments

It’s a slow weekend… and the Royals are on holiday…

The monarch used to adore her annual cruises around the Western Isles of Scotland aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia and wept when the ship was decommissioned in 1997. Those days seemed destined to be more than a memory, but so keen was she to repeat the experience that she has spent an estimated £200,000 chartering a new cruise for her children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

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
Pictures: Zimbio

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Fergie on Oprah

Jun 2

Posted by britishroyals in Fergie, Prince Andrew | No Comments

Sarah Ferguson on Oprah

Sarah Ferguson on Oprah

She may be in disgrace, again, but Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, still hasn’t lost her regal touch. Telling Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday about being caught on tape soliciting a £500,000 bribe from an undercover tabloid reporter posing as an Indian businessman, Ms. Ferguson kept referring to herself in the third person – the royal she.

“I feel really sorry for her,” she said while watching herself sell access to her former husband, Prince Andrew. Ms. Ferguson cast her personal worst as an aha moment. “It’s almost like I’ve freed Sarah from the treadmill of her life, really, of her long life of trying to be perfect,” Ms. Ferguson said.

Other highlights:

  • She had been drinking that evening of the “Cash for Access” scandal
  • When she first met the impostor, she instinctively knew he’s a News of the World reporter, and told him so.  But after some misleading research and a promise of a confidentiality agreement, she went on to have another dinner and talk with him
  • Her initial urgency to get the $40,000 was to obtain money to help a friend.  That money has since been returned to News of the World.  The £500,000 was just a figure plucked from her head during their meeting to help her financial matters
  • She might need to file for bankruptcy.  She won’t reveal how much in debt she is, but it’s an “upward battle.”
  • She won’t confirm how much money she got from her divorce from Prince Andrew, as it would breach a confidentiality clause.
  • Fergie takes this personal low as a result of 25 years of a downward spiral – of hating herself, her poor self esteem, food battles, and not facing her demons as she should have.
  • In the end, Fergie admits “I think I’ve been like a huge, overtrusting, idiotic, stupid woman that went and looked for this situation, and that’s all I can say, really,” and hopes she can go forward and learn from this gigantic lesson.

Opinion: NY Times





One Backs Fergie

The Queen and Prince Charles have backed the shamed Duchess of York over the cash-for-royal-access scandal.

Fergie and ex-husband Prince Andrew met at Royal Lodge – the home they still share in Windsor Great Park – and she wept: “I’m so sorry.” Andrew, 50, revealed that the Queen and Charles had both called to say they would support him – even if he chose to stick by her.

A pal of Fergie’s said: “It meant so much to her because she is now confident that Andrew is looking out for her and it also shows she hasn’t completely alienated the Royal Family.”

Article: The Sun

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