British Royals

Posts Tagged middletons

Media Spotlight on the Middletons, Fergie

May 19

Posted by britishroyals in Carole & Mike Middleton, Pippa & James Middleton, Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of Cambridge | 2 Comments

Just catching up with the post-Royal Wedding craze that has continued to engulf the media…  With Prince William & Princess Catherine — formally known as the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge — away on honeymoon in private Seychelles, the press spotlight continues to shine on the Middletons, particularly Kate’s little sister Pippa (now known as her “Royal Hotness” or “P-Middy”).

And Andrew Morton, who’s currently promoting his book William & Catherine: Their Story , gave an interview saying Kate and Pippa are “very competitive,” and that Kate would be a little bit surprised of Pippa’s new fame.  Moreover, he goes on to say that he thinks Princess Diana would have been jealous of Kate.  Yah, right…

And if you think that’s silly, wait till you see the cover of America’s In Touch Weekly… according to “sources close to Camilla,” William and Kate may not be able to conceive due to problems stemming from her adolescence.  I was totally expecting tabloid trash like this, but couldn’t quite believe they’d emerge only 3 weeks into the marriage.

Sarah Ferguson News

She’s not done yet!

Memoir to be launched. On top of her 6-part reality show Finding Sarah airing on Oprah’s network in June, the Duchess of York is writing a “very personal” memoir entitled Finding Sarah: A Duchess’s Journey to Find Herself.  It comes out on June 28.

Interview with Harper’s Bazaar.  Fergie gives an interview, talks about the wedding snub once again, says she’s “the best mom” she knows, praises Prince Andrew and talks a bit about her embroiled scandals.

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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:


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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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What’s Next for William & Kate?

May 3

Posted by britishroyals in Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge | No Comments

The Middletons

The dust is settling; Bin Laden has taken over the news; Prince William is back to work in Anglesey; And Prince Charles is on his way to Washington to meet Obama… We’re now scraping the bottom of the barrel for royal news…  So, a bit of a rant…

Ink on the Middletons

After the media gold that was the Royal Wedding — and with William & Kate keeping a low profile — the papers are finding anything to fill their papers. Seriously, the Daily Mail has to leave Pippa and the Middletons alone! Digging up Facebook pictures of Pippa… prying on Uncle Gary’s private life… criticising the family for buying new jewelry… I find this incredibly silly, honestly. I personally thought the Middletons exhibited utmost class during the wedding — with gracious parents, a perfect maid of honour and a wonderful lesson from James. Now it’s time to leave them alone!

 

What’s Next for Kate?

William & Kate the day after their wedding. Getty Images.

We all know William will continue his role as a full-time RAF pilot, but what about Kate? As previously reported, she’ll live in Anglesey with her new husband, accompany him on official duties, but will not be a full-time working royal. Does it mean she’ll disappear? Of course not! It simply means she won’t be like Prince Charles or Princess Anne who have 500+ engagements per year. More concretely, just like the Queen during her early marriage, Kate main role will be an officer’s wife.

Article: Kate Middleton will be a housewife for now

Smart and brilliant move!  Happy to see William and the Royal Family protecting their newest recruit, because the last thing we want is a repeat of the unsupported beginnings of Diana. And of course the papers are making snarky reports once again. Having Kate — undoubtedly their royal cash cow — keeping a low profile in the middle of nowhere would mean less papers to sell. Not to worry, we’ll see William & Kate every once in a while, but for now, while William is a full-time RAF pilot, they deserve the little bit of privacy and normality they crave for. Good on them!

For now, we expect to see William & Kate on June 11 and 12, for the Trooping of the Colour (Queen’s official birthday) and the Duke of Edinburgh’s 90th birthday celebration. Not sure about the Royal Ascot. Then there’s the real test — an 8-day overseas tour of Canada in July.

Falklands and more overseas tours

The guessing game continues. Robert Jobson reports that the new Duke & Duchess of Cambridge will go on a 2-day visit to Los Angeles after their Canada trip this July. Duncan Larcombe says they’re bound for a Commonwealth tour — including Australia,  New Zealand and the Caribbean — next year as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  But some say they’re going Down Under as early as September or October this year to coincide with the Rugby World Cup.

As for William, he is likely to go for training in the Falklands — a 10-week stint which will see him separated from Kate. The Sun says it can be as early as September, although the Telegraph contradicted that, saying it will most likely be early in 2012. A tour of the Falklands has been reported since last year. Some reports even used this as a reason on why the couple couldn’t marry in 2011. Look how that turned out! Until the Palace makes an announcement, we will never know for sure…

Other Royal News:

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Kate Middleton Has Picked Her Wedding Dress Designer

Jan 16

Posted by britishroyals in Carole & Mike Middleton, Pippa & James Middleton, Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge, Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall | 4 Comments

From News of the World

It appears that princess-to-be Kate Middleton has picked the designer who will make her wedding dress, People Magazine reveals. The bad news is the identity of the couturier remains a secret — as is the couple’s wish.

But signs are pointing to Bruce Oldfield. Kate’s mum Carole and her sister Pippa were spotted heading to his store in the swanky Knightsbridge area of London. Photos published in the U.K.’s News of the World show mother and daughter strolling in the street and visiting Oldfield’s store after lunching at San Lorenzo restaurant.  They spent an hour and 20 minutes in the back of his shop.  Since it’s particularly difficult for Kate to arrange things publicly, it could be that her mum and sister and doing the running for her.

But no one is confirming.  A palace spokesman says, “It’s Miss Middleton’s intention to keep the dress a secret for her bridegroom on their wedding day, as is every bride’s prerogative.” Oldfield, a favorite of Princess Diana, has not commented on making a wedding gown for Middleton, but he said in a statement in December, “Kate has such a gorgeous figure that she would look stunning in anything.”

Article: People Magazine
Pics & Article: News of the World (paid site)

Charity Donations instead of Wedding Gifts for William & Kate

For the guests at Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton, it is something of a dilemma: what to buy the couple, who are likely to have everything they might ever need?

In a lovely and generous gesture, William and Kate will likely ask their wedding guests to donate to their favourite charities rather than buy them wedding presents.

“When the invitations are issued, they will have some kind of instruction on how to make a donation to a charity chosen by the couple,” says a senior royal aide. “They are still considering whether it will be just the foundation, or whether they will also pick individual charities and projects which they are linked with.”

The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, which was established by the brothers in 2009 to help young people in society and raise awareness and support for servicemen and women, will be one of the charities listed in the couple’s invitations. Starlight, a charity supported by the Middletons which grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children, is believed to be another organisation likely to benefit from the generous gesture.

Articles: The Telegraph | Daily  Mail

Other Royal Wedding News/Gossip:

Loved Up Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall

Newly engaged Zara Phillips and her rugby player fiancé Mike Tindall kissed and cuddled and appeared to be more in love than ever as they watched a steeplechase race in Gloucestershire. In addition, in a move which may be met by disapproval by the rest of the royal family, Tindall took the pair’s affection to the next level when he gave his wife-to-be’s bottom a cheeky squeeze.

They appeared excited about their impending nuptials, barely leaving each others’ sides during the race day, which Zara had been invited to start and later present the prizes. She also got stuck in to some of the local cuisine, trying a bacon sandwich in between her race duties

Zara and Mike, who dressed similarly in blue jeans, jackets, hats and matching brown boots, announced their engagement last December and are expected to wed in July.

Article: Daily Mail
Pictures: Getty Images

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Who Will Officiate at Royal Wedding?

Dec 5

Posted by britishroyals in Carole & Mike Middleton, Pippa & James Middleton, Prince William, Prince William & Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge | No Comments

The Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

There had been mounting speculation that Dr Rowan Williams would be overlooked for the role in favour of Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London. It would have represented a major snub to the archbishop as it would have been the first time the Church of England’s most senior cleric had not presided over the wedding of a future monarch.

Instead, Bishop Chartres will deliver the sermon after it was decided to share responsibilities between the two clerics by giving them both prominent roles.

Although the key roles have been decided, royal aides said that no formal announcement was imminent. Officials at the Abbey have begun planning arrangements for the service to be held next April 29. It is understood that the Very Rev John Hall, the dean of the Abbey, will read the prayers.

Articles: The Telegraph | Daily Mail

‘Ordinary’ Kate Middleton Reflects Class Divide

A middle-class girl studied hard, got good grades, went to university, fell in love, became a princess.

A fairy tale? An aspirational dream? A snob’s nightmare? Kate Middleton’s story is all these — and a window on the intricacies of Britain’s complex, inescapable class system.

For some, the fiancee of Prince William is an ordinary woman from a hardworking family whose acceptance into the royal “firm” shows a monarchy embracing modernity in a country where class is no longer a barrier. For others, media obsession with Kate’s class background shows a country still ossified by status envy.

Read the rest: MSNBC

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