British Royals

Archive for The York Family

The Queen is the Second Longest Reigning Monarch

May 12

Posted by britishroyals in HM The Queen & Duke, Pippa & James Middleton, Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of Cambridge | 3 Comments

Long to Reign Over Us

Queen Elizabeth II is now officially the 2nd longest reigning monarch in British history, surpassing George III.  Her Majesty has reigned for a total of 59 years and 110 days – or 21,645 days. She now ranks second only to Queen Victoria, who died in 1901 after 63 years and 7 months on the throne.

The Queen, who celebrates her Diamond Jubilee next year, is set to overtake even Victoria’s record in September 2015. She will then be 89.

Still healthy and active, we think and hope she’ll break that record, too. Remember that the Queen Mother lived till the age of 101.

Article: Telegraph
Pictures: Queen Elizabeth II over the years

How did the Queen celebrate?  By engaging in her favourite pastime — horse racing!

She spent the last two days at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, an equestrian event held annually at Windsor Home Park.  And to Her Majesty’s delight, her horse won a few events.

The Queen also toured the events with daughter-in-law Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.  Lovely and rare pictures of them smiling and interacting have been snapped.

Article: Daily Mail
Pictures: The Queen & Camilla, Royal Windsor Horse Show

Also released recently was a wonderful picture of Her Majesty riding with Prince Edward’s children — Lady Louise (a recent bridesmaid at William & Kate’s wedding) and James, Viscount Severn.

Stories about the Royal Wedding just won’t end…

Prince William & Princess Catherine — Duke & Duchess of Cambridge — are on their honeymoon, reportedly in the Seychelles.  No updates or pictures of their whereabouts so far, as Seychelles police vow to protect the royal newlyweds.

Pippa Updates!

Pippa Middleton was spotted leaving Richard Ward’s hair salon a few days ago, quenching the media thirst of photo updates for her.  Here’s another picture from the same day.

With much ado about nothing, the press reports that internet fans are already worried that like her sister, Pippa’s shedding weight, which will endanger losing her famous backside.  The first Pippa Middleton A** Appreciation Day is scheduled for September 9.

And the proof that Pippa has truly gone global?  She’s currently on the cover of People Magazine.  Kate and Pippa are also on the cover of Us Magazine, citing a friendly sisterly rivalry, where they reportedly fight over weird things like “who had the worst headache or period pain.”  Right…

Fergie on Oprah

And I leave you with a video of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who did an interview with Oprah to promote her upcoming reality segment Finding Sarah.  In it she revealed that she wasn’t invited to the Royal Wedding, and it was “difficult.”


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Pippa Dominates Media as William & Kate Settle Into Married Life

May 8

Posted by britishroyals in Pippa & James Middleton, Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of Cambridge | 4 Comments

Kate shopping at Waitrose

After their weekend mini-moon, Prince William and Princess Catherine — officially the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — are back in their remote North Wales hideaway.  William has gone back to work, and has scored 3 rescues thus far in the week after his wedding. (Read about his first double rescue, & third rescue).

New wife Kate, meanwhile, was spotted grocery shopping in Waitrose in Menai Bridge near Anglesey.  Pictures of the future queen pushing her own trolley left people gobsmacked, making it to the front page of at least four major newspapers.  Kate had 3 bodyguards with her, but did her own shopping.  She was seen examining packs of chocolate biscuits, bottles of cordial, washing powder, bags of pasta and browsing the fruit and vegetable section, and hovering over a pizza section. She left with 5 bags of groceries.  It has been known that William & Kate refuse to have servants while in Anglesey and want to live as normal a life as possible.  Hopefully after the Royal Wedding frenzy has died down, the photographers can leave them alone.  Articles: Daily Mail | The Mirror

Read more about Anglesey and why it’s the royal couple’s perfect little hideaway.

Prince William & Princess Catherine are expected to head out for their honeymoon very soon.  A secret destination, but most bets are on the Seychelles, where they allegedly made a pact to marry 4 years go.

More about William & Kate’s Canada / California Tour

As you now know, Prince William & Princess Catherine are heading to California on July 8-10, right after completing the official tour of Canada.  What will they do in California?  Despite the Palace not announcing their itinerary yet, America is abuzz that the couple will hit Los Angeles and meet former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  The visit will be connected with William’s charities, it seems.  One article says they’ll stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  And others speculate that they could be the first visitors of David & Victoria Beckham’s new baby, due in July.

As for their Canada tour (June 30 – July 8), the couple is speculated to visit a Calgary airfield which was once where Kate’s late RAF hero grandfather, Peter, was stationed to train wartime pilots.  Peter Middleton died shortly before William & Kate announced their engagement last year.

William & Kate Tidbits:

New Emerging Star: Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton

The world can’t seem to get enough of Kate’s younger sister Pippa.  After she performed her maid-of-honour duties to perfection (not to mention showcasing her similarly perfect backside in a Sarah Burton dress), foreign media, particularly the US, have been featuring her nonstop.

After having Facebook fan sites and webpages launched to hail Pippa’s perfect bottom, out came old pictures of partying Pippa — one with her dancing in a purple bra, another with her making a dress out of toilet paper.  The latest: 2006 pics of Pippa, Kate and William on holiday in Ibiza, with Pippa watering down her bikini top.  These are NOT new pictures, by the way.  Royal watchers and the British press have known them for years.  The world is simply catching up.

Latest news suggest that the Middleton family are taking action over the supposedly private photos and have successfully had them withdrawn from circulation.

Related Middleton Articles:


Other Royals:

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to be stripped of 24-hour protection. Can this be true? Prince Andrew’s daughters are to be stripped of their 24-hour police protection after a growing row over the £500,000 annual cost. The York sisters are the biggest losers of a Scotland Yard review of security for the Royal Family. As 5th and 6th in line to the throne, will be given protection only when they attend official events on behalf of the Royal Family. Prince Andrew’s wish that his daughters follow him into public life has also been thwarted with his family’s recent scandals.  According to the Express, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward may also lose 24-hour protection.

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James Blunt, Band of Welsh Guards to Perform on Royal Wedding

Mar 14

Posted by britishroyals in Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of Cambridge, Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall | 1 Comment

James Blunt to play the organ for William & Kate

The musical selection to the Royal Wedding is slowly revealing itself.

Today award-winning British singer James Blunt said in an interview broadcast on Italian news channel SkyTG24 that he will be playing the organ for Prince William & Kate Middleton’s wedding. “I’m actually playing. I’m not singing, I’m playing the church organ there.” Article: AFP

At the same time, the Band of the Welsh Guards will perform a series of classical anthems as William and Kate are driven on a carriage along The Mall after the Westminster Abbey ceremony.  Article: London Evening Standard

A Giant Campsite for the Royal Wedding

One of London’s most famous parks is being turned into a giant campsite for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s big day. Clapham Common in south London will be transformed into a sea of tents, union flags and bunting for three days, providing a base for 10,000 campers.

“Camp Royale” will provide the setting for loyal subjects to soak up the quintessentially British atmosphere, with events unfolding on a giant screen as they sip free Yorkshire Tea.

The pop-up campsite will run from Thursday April 28 – the day before the wedding – to Sunday May 1, at a price of £75 per person for the three nights.

Article: Sky News

From the Official Royal Wedding Website: The Dean of Westminster Abbey talks about the history of the church and his role on April 29.


Other William & Kate News:

Other Royal News:

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Prince Andrew Controversy Overshadowing Royal Wedding

Mar 13

Posted by britishroyals in Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge | 4 Comments

The press has been following two main royal stories — Prince William’s upcoming wedding to Kate Middleton, and Prince Andrew’s controversial friendships as UK trade envoy.

Naturally, the Palace wants the world to focus on the happy event and the promise of a shining young couple.  It’s an opportunity to bring positive PR to a family long been plagued with scandals and divorces.  Ironically, just over a month before William & Kate’s wedding, Prince Andrew is in hot water.   And the press is digging deep to find more dirt on his suitability as UK’s trade envoy.

The Duke of York has met with the Queen, and apparently has been warned that he’s one scandal away from losing his trade job.  His official visit to Saudi Arabia has been canceled amidst security fears.  The Palace says its due to local unrest and has nothing to do with the recent allegations against Andrew.

Prince William’s team is also said to be furious that Prince Andrew’s controversy is threatening to overshadow preparations for the Royal Wedding.  Not wanting the “Kate & William brand” to be contaminated by the Duke, they are keen to make sure that the couple be kept away from Andrew until April 29.  Of course, Prince Andrew is expected to attend the wedding.

Meanwhile, the situation is getting worse for Andrew as the press digs up years of dirt to fuel the controversy..

  1. He is accused by News of the World of lying about knowing a woman who set up Fergie’s cash-for-access deal.
  2. Another shady businessman friend – David Rowland – was revealed to have secretly helped ex-wife Sarah Ferguson clear her debts (read article here).
  3. He may have used tax avoidance scheme to avoid paying £6 million tax bill after selling his home (read article here)

All these new allegations go beyond unfortunate friendships for the Duke — they show conflict of interest in his current job.

Meet the team behind Princess Catherine

Unlike the late Princess Diana, Kate Middleton is getting a lot of help in her transition to royalty.  From family (sister Pippa and mum Carole) to political experts (Sir David Manning), from fashion gurus to party planners, the future princess has a team behind her making.

Article: The Express

Other William & Kate News:

Some interesting reads: Where there’s a Will, there’s a better way: opinion on why William is better than Charles… The rise of the middle-class monarchies: read about other princesses that come from ordinary backgrounds.

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Prince Harry Set for Afghanistan Return as Apache Helicopter Pilot

Mar 11

Posted by britishroyals in Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, The Duchess of Cambridge | 8 Comments

Congratulations to Prince Harry for completing a grueling 10-month training course to learn how to pilot one of the fearsome gunships. A spokesman for the prince – whose official military title is Lieutenant Wales of the Army Air Corps – was said to be “delighted” to have qualified as an elite pilot.

It means Harry could be sent to the warzone in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban as early as spring 2012.

Prince Harry is said to have astonished his instructors with his natural aptitude for flying helicopters and the determination to succeed in the prestigious role.

A source said: “Only the top two per cent of military helicopter pilots make it to the Apaches and Harry has had to work extremely hard. There is no way his status as a Royal could have got him this far.”

Harry will now undertake a period of further intensive training to make sure he is fit for the task of flying perilous battlefield missions in the £46million chopper. This will include an advanced mountain flying to prepare him for Afghanistan, where much fighting takes place at high altitude. He must also learn how to operate the Apache’s devastating weaponry, including deadly laser-guided cannons and Hellfire missiles, before he is deemed ‘combat ready’.

In the last two weeks, Harry and three other pilots on the course have been flying sorties through the French Alps – the most dangerous part of their training so far.

Article: Daily Mail

Kate Middleton, Fashion and Weight

Photo:Getty Images

The blue Issa engagement dress sold out.  The white Reiss dress from Mario Testino’s engagement portraits sold out several times.  Even the black velvet coat she wore to a friend’s wedding sold out.  So as predicted, the Burberry trenchcoat Kate wore to her Northern Ireland visit with Prince William is also fast selling out.

Sales of the trend-setter’s sleek, double-breasted beige wool model with a frilled, flared hem sold out online in sizes four, six, eight and 10 within a day of Kate stepping out in the coat.  A £22 Asda imitation saw sales soar by 300 per cent over the same period and Burberry’s grey version of the coat has also sold out in sizes four, six and 10.  Article: Daily Mail

And what about Kate’s weight?  Lately, many articles have pointed out on Kate Middleton’s weight loss leading to her wedding.  Let me say that those who claim extreme weight loss haven’t known Kate for very long.  If you’ve followed her through the last few years, you’ll know that she has always been very, very slender.  I personally thought she looked slightly thinner during the friends’ wedding they attended in Aldborough.  But the recent official appearances she had with William showed that the weight loss, if any, isn’t at all as dramatic as the press points out.  Certainly not this ridiculous article from Amanda Platell that not only pretends to give good advice, but compares it with Princess Diana’s bulimia.  Seriously!

Royal Wedding & Related Articles:

Other Royal News:

 

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