Oh to be a fly on the wall! Two future queens — Camilla (well, she’s increasingly likely to be Queen) and princess-to-be Kate Middleton had lunch in Koffmann’s at The Berkeley Hotel in London. Why they chose such a public venue over the privacy of one of the Palaces is intriguing. Anyhow, Kate’s sister Pippa and Camilla’s daughter Laura joined the pair as they went over what seemed like 3 hours of wedding talk. The highlights below the video are from the Daily Mail and the Express, with snaps from Niraj Tanna.

ABC’s Video, with interview from Katie Nicholl

Leaning in close to each other across the lunch table, the two women were deep in conversation. The listener was Kate Middleton and the woman offering words of wisdom was none other than the former Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles. This was the extraordinary scene yesterday as Prince William’s fiancée went for lunch with the woman who will soon be her step mother-in law, the Duchess of Cornwall, for a primer on marrying into the Royal Family.

The bride-to-be looked ready for business with a Mulberry leather clutch purse and smart, purple leather notepad with turquoise ribbon page markers believed to be her wedding planning journal. They had 9 bodyguards between them.

What an insider overheard from the vibrant conversation:

“All four women were talking away like mad and none of the waiters could get a word in edgeways to serve their lunch. Kate looked fantastic in a very short black skirt, black opaque tights, a short jacket and boots.

“I heard Camilla saying… “if I can give you one bit of advice…” Kate was really enjoying the moment. I did hear talk of trumpets and someone said “we can’t have trumpets, the ceiling is too high’’, which may have been a reference to Westminster Abbey.”

‘There was one moment which was clearly meant to be amusing when Kate said “what happens if William doesn’t turn up?’’ Someone else then asked “is it going to be a sit-down lunch? They followed that with talk of menus. I heard chipolatas, sausages on sticks and mini pizzas, but I don’t know whether it was ironic or not.”

“The Duchess is giving her some advice before the wedding and will help her prepare for her future role, along with other people,” a senior royal aide said. The pair drove off together after lunch and are thought to have headed back to Clarence House.

Article with pictures: Daily Mail | The Express

And where’s Prince Charles while all this was happening?  In Brussels attending the European Parliament climate change conference.  Here’s a video of his speech challenging politicians to break the link between growth and the production of high-carbon goods.

Royal Wedding will NOT be filmed in 3D

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding will not become the latest 3D TV phenomenon after Buckingham Palace ruled it out.

Sky, which launched a 3D television channel last October, went to great lengths to try to persuade the royal family of the possibilities afforded by the new technology, filming a mock wedding with the two leads played by stand-ins at a church in Eastbourne, Sussex, two weeks ago.

Patrick Harrison, press secretary to the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, said there were a “number of reasons for the decision” but did not rule out a 3D royal event in the future. He added that the decision had been taken in consultation with the royal couple themselves, William’s private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and Westminster Abbey officials.

“I’m afraid I have to say that we have decided not to progress with 3D coverage of the service on this occasion,” Harrison said in an email. “There are a number of reasons for this, most notably the additional camera footprint in the abbey, the relatively small (albeit growing) audience for 3D, and our desire to not be distracted away from negotiating and facilitating the optimal 2D, radio, photographic and online coverage of the day. I know you have all become increasingly enthusiastic about 3D and I’m sorry that this will come as a disappointment. I hope you feel the process we have gone through will be helpful for other live events and of course we do not rule out facilitating 3D at some point in the future.

“That said, I do hope we can now move forward on working through all the many other media logistics for the royal wedding so that we can all, together, ensure that this joyous event can be shared across the world.”

While Tuesday’s decision rules out 3D coverage of the service in Westminster Abbey, it remains to be seen whether Sky will attempt to incorporate some kind of 3D coverage into other elements of the couple’s big day.

Article: The Guardian

Other William & Kate News:

• ABC: Michelle Obama hasn’t been invited to the Royal Wedding (yet), but will go if she receives invitation
• London Evening Standard: £6?billion privatisation of Search and Rescue helicopter services cancelled
• Daily Mail: Kate Middleton is to receive Princess training lessons
• Daily Mail: Kate’s Reiss engagement photo dress available in US; sold out in Britain
• Mirror: Helen Mirren thinks Kate Middleton is great

Harry & Chelsy Tidbits

• People: Inside Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy’s cozy dinner
• Express: Harry turns on charm for Chelsy Davy
• Telegraph: Everyone cheer for Chelsy (tongue-in-cheek article)

Tags: camilla, chelsy, harry, kate, pippa, wedding