Kate Middleton: Britain's most influential fashion icon [Slideshow]

 Kate Middleton: Britain's most influential fashion icon [Slideshow]

Please click here to see slideshow

Kate Middleton (Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge) is a photographer's dream. Like Princess Diana, everywhere she goes she steals the spotlight with her elegant style and fashion sense as paparazzi and onlookers clamor to get a picture of her. Although her sister Pippa has received a considerable amount of media attention since the Royal wedding, it's Kate who has become a fashion icon.

On Sunday, Duchess Kate attended Prince Philip's birthday party where she dazzled in a patter coat and matching hat. Kate captivated audiences around the world with her dream-like wedding and gown, and some would argue she upstaged the Obama's when the President and First Lady Michelle visited Buckingham Palace.  

It seems Kate is also mixing and matching as some of the outfits she was seen wearing over the weekend have been seen before. The dress Kate was wearing at Prince Philip's birthday was the same dress she wore the day after her wedding. The coat she donned, she also wore to a wedding in 2009. It seems the Duchess is both fashion savvy and thrifty. 

But Kate wasn't alone in creating her iconic image. Over the years, she has had some assistance with her fashion sense. It was Irish-born image consultant Leesa Whisker who turned Kate's look from college girl to royal fashionista. Whisker was reportedly responsible for the turquoise BCBG Max Azria dress that Kate wore to a charity boxing event in 2006. Two years later, at the same event, Kate wore a pink Issa London dress. 

On the day of her wedding to Prince William, Kate's dress was all anyone could talk about. The elegant white gown with lace arms was designed by Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton. The dress was not only iconic because it was worn by Kate during the Royal Wedding, but also because the style represented timelessness as it channeled Cinderella and 1940's Hollywood with its classic, subtle, yet intricate design.

Even though the dress was a hot topic for weeks before and after the event, the dress was simple enough that it did not outshine Kate. There has been speculation that Kate and Burton worked closely on the dress to keep with Kate's modest yet fresh style.

Kate's hold on the fashion world is so strong that after she wore a blue Issa London wrap dress, the $535 dress sold out in all stores. It wasn't long before an imitation of the dress quickly came to stores for a more affordable price. It seems Issa is one of Kate's preferred designers as Kate often wears her dresses to public events. The UK based designer has also dressed Scarlett Johansson and Madonna, but it's Kate who has made a name for the designer.

Kate's celebrity status even inspired Katherine Elizabeth, a London-based milliner, to design a Limited Edition Princess Catherine Engagement Doll accompanied by a "Bucklebury Fascinator" hat. The doll, made to resemble Kate Middleton, was dressed and accessorized by seven award-winning British designers, with £1 from each purchase going to the Help For Heroes charity.

It seems that Kate is truly living in a modern day fairytale, and the commoner turned Royal Duchess will surely be at the top of most designers 'must dress' list.

The ibtimes, June 15, 2011

The Royal Wedding : William and Kate leave for private weekend in UK, honeymoon saved for later

 William and Kate leave for private weekend in UK, honeymoon saved for later

William and Catherine walk from Buckingham Palace to a waiting helicopter as they leave for a secret honeymoon location, on April 30, 2011. (John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Newlyweds William and Kate flew out of Buckingham Palace this morning to spend the weekend together at a private location in the UK.

The couple – whose official title is now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – will not go on honeymoon this weekend, and Prince William will be back at work on Monday.

After spending their first night as a married couple together at the Palace, Kate and William emerged hand in hand from the palace's garden entrance, and strolled to where the helicopter was waiting for them.

Kate was dressed in a light blue dress, dark jacket and platform shoes, while he had on a pale blue shirt and navy jacket - a casual look compared to yesterday’s formal affair.

They are expected to go on a two-week honeymoon to an undisclosed foreign location at a later date.

William has a fortnight's leave from his job as an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter pilot and has reportedly not even told his new wife where they are going.

On Friday night William and Kate and 300 close family and friends partied until the early hours at Buckingham Palace to celebrate their marriage. Guests included the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and even the Duke's uncle Earl Spencer was said to have been there for part of the event.
Kate changed for the evening dinner and dance from her stunning wedding gown by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen into another stylish dress by the same designer. The royal looked glamorous in a strapless white satin gazar evening gown with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist. She also wore a white angora bolero cardigan.

Likely honeymoon destinations for the newlyweds could include Africa - a continent the Duke has a deep affection for. The second in line to the throne could take his wife to countries like Botswana, or Kenya where he proposed to Kate.

There has been speculation that a secluded Caribbean island may be another option.

Yahoo News
Saturday, 30 April 2011 at 1:32 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : Prince William, Kate Middleton: Which Historic Palace Will They Choose to Live In?

Prince William, Kate Middleton: Which Historic Palace Will They Choose to Live In?

Prince William and Kate Middleton have the task of deciding where they want to live following their April 29 nuptials at Westminster Abbey. At the head of their list is Kensington Palace, but St. James and Buckingham Palaces are also possibilities. All three locations have long histories dating back centuries.

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace (originally known as Nottingham House) was built in 1605 and purchased by King William III from the Earl of Nottingham in 1689. Work began immediately to make improvements on the palace. It was during this time that three State rooms, the Cupola, the Privy Chamber, the Withdrawing Room, and the King's staircase was built.

The King's staircase, in all its grand glory, was used by the King and visitors to the palace. The staircase led to the King's State Apartments. Paintings by William Kent of King George I's 18th century court, including the Polish page Ulric and "the wild boy" Peter (among others), are painted on the walls along the stairwell and the ceilings above.

Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales lived at Kensington Palace following their wedding. The Princess of Wales lived there following her divorce from Charles in 1996 and a memorial made of a large granite block structure is located at the palace.

With its long passageways and numerous gardens, Kensington Palace is said to be "a paradise for children."

The Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester currently live at Kensington Palace.

St. James Palace

Kings and Queens called St. James Palace home for more than 300 years and, prior to 1837 when Queen Victoria made the move to Buckingham Palace, was the official residence of the Sovereign. The historic palace was built by King Henry VIII and to this day, the gatehouse at the southern end of St. James Street bears his royal cypher, HR, and is surmounted by his crown.

Queen Anne (Boleyn) stayed at the palace the night of her coronation and Henry VIII's illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy died at the palace in 1536. It was at St. James Palace that Henry VIII's daughter Mary signed the treaty surrendering Calais in 1558.

In 1809, fire destroyed much of the east and south ranges of the palace and the State rooms were restored by 1813.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, with its 775 rooms, sounds quite roomy; however, of those rooms, 19 are State rooms, 188 bedrooms are for staff, there are 92 offices in the palace, 78 bathrooms, and just 52 bedrooms for the Royal Family and guests. Royal ceremonies, Investitures, and State visits are held at the palace.

The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke of York, and Prince William were christened in the palace's Music Room.

Following their marriage, Prince William and his bride will most likely reside with Prince Harry at Clarence House.

Clarence House was built in 1837 for then-Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence (later King William IV) and was the home of The Queen Mother from 1953 until her death in 2002. Currently, The Prince of Wales, his wife The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, and Prince Harry live there.

The newlyweds will most likely continue dividing their time between London and Anglesey where they have a cottage for the first two years of their marriage.

Yahoo News
Posted at 9:40 PM EDT on Saturday, Apr. 23, 2011

The Royal Wedding : Who Wore the Hat Best: Kate Middleton vs. The Queen

Who Wore the Hat Best: Kate Middleton vs. The Queen

 Rumors are flying  that Kate Middleton will wear a Philip Treacy hat at her upcoming wedding. But will her designer headgear hold a feather to the famous collection of her future grandmother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II? Cast your vote!

Gallery: Kate and Queen Elizabeth's Hats

Plus: Check out more of the latest entertainment, fashion, and culture coverage on Sexy Beast—photos, videos, features, and Tweets.

Like The Daily Beast on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates all day long.

For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.


Yahoo News
Posted at 9:40 PM EDT on Saturday, Apr. 23, 2011

The Royal Wedding : Best bets: Here comes the royal bride

Best bets: Here comes the royal bride

  
TV

Hey, have you heard anything about some big wedding? You'd think someone somewhere would have reported on it. Yes, Diana and Charles' eldest, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are tying the knot in a simple ceremony before a few billion of their closest friends. The Royal Wedding airs Friday, April 29, freakishly early by most Americans' standards. But if you're not awake, never fear. You won't be able to escape the reruns all day. Congratulations, you crazy kids! (April 29, 4 a.m., NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox BBCA, streamed online)


MSNBC
Posted at 4:31:23 PM ET on Saturday, Apr. 23, 2011

The Royal Wedding : Prince Harry will be best man and Kate Middleton chooses bridesmaids and page boys

Prince Harry will be best man and Kate Middleton chooses bridesmaids and page boys

William has chosen to have his brother at his side on April 29.

Kate's maid of honour will be her sister, Philippa Middleton, the spokesman added.

The couple have chosen four bridesmaids and two page boys - two of whom are the Prince's godchildren.

The bridesmaids are Lady Louise Windsor, seven, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, eight, Eliza Lopes, three, and three-year-old Grace van Cutsem - Prince William's goddaughter.

The page boys are William Lowther-Pinkerton, 10, and eight-year-old Tom Pettifer. Tom is the godson of Prince William.

The St James's Palace spokesman said details of the bridesmaids' dresses and the page boys' uniforms will be made available on the wedding day.

Bridegrooms in royal weddings traditionally chose a "supporter" instead of a best man.

The Prince of Wales chose his brother Prince Andrew to be his supporter when he married Diana at St Paul's Cathedral in 1981.

Prince William has opted to call his brother his "best man", rather than a supporter.

The wedding details were revealed on the same day that it was announced that the couple would be paying an official visit together later this month to the university where they met.

Prince William is also to take on the role of patron of St Andrews University's 600th Anniversary appeal.

The couple will return to the Fife university on Friday February 25 to launch its 600th Anniversary programme.

On the Thursday, February 24, the couple will attend a naming ceremony and service of dedication of the Hereford Endeavour lifeboat at Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station on Anglesey, where RAF rescue helicopter pilot William is based.

The official visits are not the first the couple have made together since their wedding announcement.

They attended a Teenage Cancer Trust concert in Norfolk in December.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton has been Prince William's private secretary since 2005 and is very close to him. Mr Lowther-Pinkerton's son William, also known as Billy, will be a page boy.

Tom Pettifer is Prince William's godson and will be his second page boy. The eight-year-old's mother, Tiggy Pettifer, was personal assistant to the Prince of Wales during the 1990s.

She became a close companion of Prince William and Prince Harry following the separation of their parents, once describing them as "my babies", and helped them adjust after the death of their mother in 1997.

The bridesmaids include Lady Louise Windsor, who is the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and is Prince William's cousin, and the Hon Margarita Armstrong-Jones, who is the daughter of Viscount and Viscountess Linley. She is the second cousin of the Prince.

The van Cutsems are close family friends from Norfolk who have known the Prince since childhood. Their daughter Grace will also be a bridesmaid.

The Duchess of Cornwall's granddaughter Eliza Lopes will be a bridesmaid. The three-year-old is the daughter of Harry and Laura Lopes.

Prince Harry said he was "delighted" about the engagement following the announcement.

In a statement, Harry said: "I am delighted that my brother has popped the question!

"It means I get a sister, which I have always wanted."

The brothers are only two years apart and have been close since their mother died in 1997.

Harry, who is training to fly Apache attack helicopters, will have the role of planning William's stag do.

On the wedding day he is likely to be tasked with looking after the wedding ring.


The Mirror
Posted at 09:58 AM on Saturday, Apr. 23, 2011

The Royal Wedding : Watch Live The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton

Watch Live The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton

The wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton will be available to watch on the Royal Channel Live Stream, accompanied by a live multi-media blog put together by St. James's Palace.

To Watch Live The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton. Click Here

Official Royal Wedding 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 2:19 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : Watch Live The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton, Friday 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey

Watch Live The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton

The wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton will be available to watch on the Royal Channel Live Stream, accompanied by a live multi-media blog put together by St. James's Palace.

To Watch Live The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton. Click Here

Official Royal Wedding 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 2:19 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : Beckham, Elton, Mr. Bean to attend royal wedding

Beckham, Elton, Mr. Bean to attend royal wedding

David Beckham, Elton John and Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson will mingle with dozens of royal guests at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, according to an official guest list released Saturday that includes one uncomfortable presence — the Bahraini crown prince accused of a brutal crackdown on protesters.

St. James's Palace also released the seating plan at Westminster Abbey,
which showed that relatives of William's mother Princess Diana are sitting across the aisle from the royal family, joining the Middletons in an exception to the traditional division of a church into a bride's side and groom's side.

There was no explanation of the seating arrangement, but the Spencers have not had a good relationship with the royal family, especially after Diana's brother Charles Spencer attacked the royals during a speech at her 1997 funeral.

More than 46 foreign royals are seated behind the British royals. They include Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, an invitation that could prove awkward in light of his government's rough treatment of mainly Shiite pro-democracy protesters.

Some human rights campaigners have started to petition Foreign Secretary William Hague to revoke the invitation, saying the prince should not be allowed to attend the occasion. At least 30 people have died in Bahrain since mid-February, including four who died while in official custody, and many well-known activists and lawyers have been imprisoned.

Other foreign royals who are attending include those from Denmark,
Norway, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Morocco. Only a handful of celebrities are invited, including the Beckhams, director Guy Ritchie, soul singer Joss Stone, and Atkinson — a close friend of William's father Prince Charles.

Although about 1,900 guests have been invited to the couple's wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey, half of them will sit in the section of the abbey where views of the altar are restricted, and they will have to rely upon video screens to follow the service.

Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members will sit in the front row across the aisle from Middleton's parents and brother James. They will be closest to the abbey's sanctuary, where William and his bride will stand.

Foreign dignitaries, the Middletons' family friends, British government and defense officials, families of British soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, William's army colleagues, and people who work for William's charities will be seated around the abbey.

Palace officials said that only crowned heads of states are traditionally invited to royal weddings, and that political leaders who are not from the 54-member Commonwealth of nations, such as President Barack Obama or French President Nicolas Sarkozy, weren't sent invitations.






About 600 of the guests will then attend a champagne and canapes reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by the queen.


Online: The guest list and seating plan at

http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/blog/2011/April/23/Latest-Royal-Wedding-media-briefing-download-now-available


Yahoo News
Saturday, April 21, 2011 at 2011 5:29 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : Top 10 Richest royal wedding guests

 Top 10 Richest royal wedding guests

On April 29, 2011, millions of people across the world will watch Prince William wed his long term girlfriend and college sweetheart, Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London.

William and Catherine (as she will be known officially) have urged that the ceremony reflects these recessionary times and avoids being overly "lavish," but with a guest list boasting royalty, oligarchs and celebrities, their nuptials will be celebrated by some of the wealthiest people in the world -- for whom being "lavish" is a way of life.

Although the official guest list has not been made public and will remain a secret until the big day, the guests listed here are the richest that are expected to be in attendance, according to a number of British publications and websites.

1. Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Status: Sultan of Brunei
Fortune: $20 billion

The British Royal Family might be the most famous in the world, but the House of Windsor’s matriarch, the Queen, lags far behind her counterpart in the oil-rich kingdom of Brunei in wealth.

The 29th Sultan of the former British protectorate, once the richest man in the world, has a fortune of $20 billion according to Forbes.com. It is not yet clear whether the Sultan will attend the wedding, but he is believed to have been invited, according to British publications.

Sources: Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times, Forbes.com

 2. King Abdullah bin Abul Aziz

 Status: King of Saudi Arabia
Fortune: $18 billion

The Saudi Royals owe their vast wealth to the desert kingdom's oil reserves, Saudi Arabia being responsible for one- fifth of the entire world's supply. The Saudi King Abdullah bin Abul Aziz has been invited to the wedding, according to the UK’s Daily Telegraph, and with an estimated fortune of $18 billion, William and Kate can expect quite a wedding gift.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, Forbes.com

 3. Sir Richard Branson

Status: Virgin Entrepreneur
Fortune: $2.8 billion

Sir Richard Branson, his wife, and daughter Holly (once tipped as a potential love interest for Prince William) have been invited to the Royal nuptials, according to several British newspaper reports. Sir Richard’s son Sam hinted in the British Daily Mail that his parents have been invited, but he added he was “not going . ”The Daily Telegraph reports Holly Branson will be at the wedding and the evening reception as a close friend of Kate Middleton’s.

Sir Richard, who started Virgin as a record label in the 1970s, now boasts ownership of planes, trains, internet services, wine, health clubs and even space travel, with Virgin Galactic taking passengers beyond the earth's atmosphere for a fee of $200,000.

Source: The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times

 4. Prince Albert

Status: Prince of Monaco
Fortune: $1 billion

At 52, the former 'playboy' Prince will marry South African ex-Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock on July 9, 2011 , and they are both invited to Prince William’s wedding, Forbes.com reports.

With an estimated $1 billion dollars in the Grimaldi family coffers and a very long wait for the residents of the tiny principality to see Albert tie the knot, the Monaco head of state's nuptials may well outdo those of the future British King.
Source: The Daily Telegraph, Forbes.com

5. Sultan Qaboos bin Said

 Status: Sultan of Oman
Fortune: $700 million

Sultan Qaboos bin Said — who served in the British army and trained at British military academy Sandhurst (also attended by Princes William and Harry) — is invited to the big day, reports the Daily Mail of London.

Childless and divorced, there is much speculation over who will inherit his wealth, but the Sultan has dedicated his resources to reducing Oman's GDP dependence on oil, currently responsible for 40 percent of the nation's wealth.
Sources: The Sunday Times, The Daily Mail

 6. Queen Elizabeth II

Status: Queen of England
Estimated fortune: $450 million

William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, married the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in 1947. The UK taxpayer spent $67 million maintaining the Royal household in 2010, according to the Sunday Times of London.

British blue-chip firms dominate the monarch's investment portfolio, worth an estimated $147 million, and the Queen's wealth is topped up with jewelry, cars, horses and the legacy left to her by the Queen Mother.

However, the extensive royal art collection and property portfolio, The Crown Estate, is excluded from the Sunday Times estimate, which could add another $10.8 billion to the Queen's fortune based on the value of the estate in 2010.
Source: The Sunday Times, The Crown Estate, Forbes.com 

 7. David and Victoria Beckham

 Status: International Celebrities
Estimated fortune: $237 million

Long before David Beckham became Major League Soccer's highest-paid player, the Beckhams lived in a house in Hertfordshire nicknamed "Beckingham Palace." Prince William and the former England soccer captain hit it off last year, when they joined British Prime Minister David Cameron in an unsuccessful bid to host the 2018 soccer World Cup. Forbes estimates David Beckham earned $44 million last year, and the Sunday Times values Victoria's dress sales at $7.5 million in 2010. Together, Britain's other "royal" couple are valued at $237 million.
Source: The Sunday Times, Forbes.com

8. Prince Willem-Alexander

 Status: Crown Prince of the Netherlands
Estimated fortune: $200 million

The Dutch Queen Beatrix won't be attending the royal wedding, but her eldest son and heir-apparent, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, is expected to be at the ceremony accompanied by his Argentine wife, Princess Maxima, Forbes reports.

Source: Forbes.com

9. Joe Allbritton

Status: Former CEO
Fortune: Unknown

The former CEO and Chairman of Riggs Bank in Washington DC, will be at the wedding as a guest of William's father, Prince Charles, according to The Daily Mail. Once known as the "President’s bank," Riggs, under Allbritton's leadership was hit with a series of damaging scandals.

In 2004, the bank was fined $25 million by U.S. authorities for violating money laundering laws , and less than a year later, the bank and the Allbritton family agreed to pay $9 million in compensation to victims of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for concealing and facilitating the movement of Pinochet's assets.

Source: The Daily Mail, BBC
 
 10. Michael and Carole Middleton

Status: Parents of Kate Middleton
Fortune: Unknown

In a country where exclusive private schools are known as "public schools" and a "commoner" is pretty much anyone with a single last name, the excitement of the future King of England taking an "ordinary" girl for his wife doesn't quite tell the whole story.

The future Queen Catherine attended one of England's top schools, Marlborough College, where boarding fees are $47,957 a year, and her former flight dispatcher father and air hostess mother have made millions running a party accessories business.

While the details of their precise wealth are unknown, the Daily Mail speculates that they could be worth as much $49 million. In 2002 they apparently spent $1.3 million in cash on a London flat for Kate. With that sort of money, they should easily be able to cover their contribution to the cost of the wedding – expected to be around $160,000.

Source: The Daily Mail, Sunday Times

Click here to see more of Richest Royal Wedding Guests

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Favorite Brands of the Royals 

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Heirs to Billionaires

The Royal Wedding : What Prince William and the royals earn

Charles and Camilla dine with the Norwegian royal family at Buckingham palace in 2005 (Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage.com)

What Prince William and the royals earn:

LONDON – Prince William’s grandmother, the queen, can be thanked for the grandeur of next Friday’s big occasion at Westminster Abbey and the surrounding hoopla. She’s paying for most of it, with the Middleton family kicking in an undisclosed amount too.

Though the royal family has an enviable portfolio of holdings that include property, stocks, and even the sea bed around the United Kingdom coastline (yes, really), less is known about how the Windsors maintain their lifestyles and pay for travel, upkeep, and related expenses.

So what do the royals earn?

In conventional terms, not as much as you think. Prince William’s base salary in his Air Force career is $61,388, which doesn’t go particularly far in super-expensive modern Britain.  Currently, that is the only wage he receives, although his wealth and spending power is boosted by the dividends on his inheritance from his late mother, Princess Diana.

When William and his brother Prince Harry turned 21, they had access to the investment profits of the $10 million Diana left them, and they now rake in around $450,000 per year. When they reach the age of 30, they will be able to access the entire amount. Harry also draws a paycheck from the military, making around $60,000 a year as a captain flying Army attack helicopters.

Anti-monarchists regularly complain about how much money the royal family costs the nation, yet those arguments are not hard to counter. Each year, the royals receive around $60 million from the British taxpayer, primarily for the upkeep of historic buildings such as Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, plus security arrangements and associated costs.

However, that equates to around one dollar per citizen per year, even disregarding the positive economic effect the royal family generates through tourism, and the various charitable endeavors of its members.

Contrary to what many believe, William and Kate will not draw a salary for their royal duties, although they may be reimbursed for any expenses incurred while on ambassadorial duties or appearances.

William’s father Prince Charles makes his money from the Duchy of Cornwall, a vast collection of lands and holdings owned by his family and the profits of which are designed for the heir to the throne. Assuming Charles becomes monarch at some point in the future, William would then begin to receive the Duchy’s revenues, which currently stand at close to $28 million per year.

Charles and his wife Camilla routinely hand back half their annual stipend to the general tax fund, and they give away millions more in philanthropic and charitable contributions.

Yet it is the queen, naturally, who carries the real financial clout in her family. The Sunday Times’ “Rich List” estimated her net worth at close to $500 million last year, much of it in classic property, horse racing stud farms, and fine art handed down to her from previous regal generations.

On top of this are the assets which she is entitled to use and benefit from as queen, but is not permitted to sell, including real estate valued by Forbes at $10 billion and a cozy little cottage in central London known as Buckingham Palace.

As Britain continues to suffer tough economic times, the queen has been careful to exercise financial restraint in order to set an example to her subjects. She has committed to a 14 percent drop in royal household spending for the next two years, has frozen the $12.9 million a year she receives from the state in return for the regal duties and costs since 1990 (meaning a real money drop of 76 percent due to inflation) and even cancelled last year’s Buckingham Palace staff Christmas party.

When it comes to her grandson’s wedding, though, the monetary shackles have been removed, and William and Kate will get to celebrate their big day in fitting style.




Yahoo News
Friday, April 22, 2011 at  7:55 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : Royals will serve low-budget celebratory champagne

Photo: REUTERS/Alastair Grant/Pool

Royals will serve low-budget celebratory champagne:

LONDON--Next Friday's royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton will be a lavish and glittering occasion with no expense spared--except for the celebratory champagne.

While the cost of Britain's big day runs into the millions, to be shared among the taxpayer, the royal family, and Kate's wealthy parents, the pair has opted for a classic, yet low-budget option for the post-marital bubbly.

Instead of choosing a high-brow brand such as Cristal, which can cost hundreds of dollars per bottle, William and Kate have instead chosen to serve the far more modestly priced Pol Roger at their evening party.

Pol Roger, a French brand, costs $45 a pop and will be served to 300 of the couple's family and friends before they have dinner at Buckingham Palace on April 29. However, despite its reasonable price, Pol Roger has an esteemed history and was known to be the favorite champagne of legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

London newspaper the Daily Express reported that the champagne has a "patisserie and bakery spice character and tasted of biscuit with an aroma of pencil shavings which turns to honey, malt, flowers, and vanilla--all rounded off by a citrus acidity."

The evening party is primarily targeted toward William and Kate's closest personal friends and will feature a younger crowd than the wedding itself, which will be packed with international dignitaries and royalty.

William's brother, Prince Harry, who has made his name as the hardest-partying member of the royal family, has taken a prominent role in preparations and is said to be determined to ensure he gives the future king and his new bride a fitting sendoff before they embark upon their honeymoon.

Meanwhile, the soon-to-be newlyweds received official royal consent to marry on Thursday, with the queen issuing a lavish document giving her agreement to the wedding.

Under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, heirs to the throne must be granted the permission of the reigning monarch before they can wed. The consent was a mere formality but a vital part of royal protocol and the final official procedure to be undertaken before the wedding--and consumption of the much-talked-about champagne--can take place.


Yahoo News
Friday, April 22, 2011 at   3:05 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : Prince William takes Kate Middleton to visit Diana’s grave

Princess Diana at the Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth for the terminally ill, during her visit on October 9, 1986 (REUTERS/Peter Skingley)

The Royal Wedding : Prince William takes Kate Middleton to visit Diana’s grave:

As a married couple they will share everything - including memories of William's mother.

It emerged today that William and Kate made the journey to Althorp, Diana's ancestral home and final resting place, on April 20. Once on the 14,000-acre estate, they took a boat to The Oval, an island which functions as a permanent memorial to the late princess. The pair also visited an ancient arboretum where William and Prince Harry planted trees as children. (See pictures of Kate Middleton's style evolution.)

"It was very important for William to take Kate to visit his mum just before their wedding day," a source told the Daily Mirror. "Diana is still a huge part of her boys' everyday life and always will be."

William made that clear in an interview held the day of his engagement announcement when he explained why he gave his future wife Diana's blue sapphire engagement ring. "It's my mother's engagement ring, so I thought it was quite nice because obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all - this was my way of keeping her close to it all."

For Kate and Wills, integrating their families appears to be at the top of their agenda the week before their April 29 wedding. As NewsFeed reported earlier today, Kate's parents Michael and Carole met Queen Elizabeth for the first time yesterday while their daughter paid her respects to Diana.


Yahoo News
Friday, April 22, 2011 at  7:34 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : 10 Most beautiful royals Women and Men in history

Top 10 most beautiful Royal women

Dating website BeautifulPeople.com surveyed over 127,000 responders to judge the most attractive royals of all time. Click through the gallery to see photos of the top 5 men and women.

1. Grace Kelly of Monaco

Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress of Irish and German heritage and Princess consort of Monaco. In April 1956 Kelly married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and became styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and was commonly referred to as Princess Grace.

Click here to see Biography of Grace Kelly of Monaco









2. Queen Rania of Jordan

Rania Al Abdullah (Arabic: الملكة رانيا العبد الله‎ Rānyā al-‘abdu l-Lāh) (born Rania al Yassin on 31 August 1970) is the current Queen consort of Jordan as the wife of King Abdullah II of Jordan. In a 2009 list of the 100 most powerfully influential women in the world, Queen Rania ranked 76th.

Click here to see Biography of Queen Rania of Jordan









3. Kate Middleton, United Kingdom

Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton (born 9 January 1982) is the fiancée of Prince William of Wales. Their wedding is to take place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey with the day declared a bank holiday in the United Kingdom. Middleton grew up in Chapel Row at Bucklebury, Berkshire, and after attending Marlborough College, studied at the University of St Andrews, where she met Prince William in 2001. They started a relationship, followed by media attention, triggering complaints by Middleton that the media were harassing her. In April 2007, the press reported that William and Middleton had split up.

Click here to see Biography of Kate Middleton




4. Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances; née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family and an international personality of the late 20th century as the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981. The wedding, which was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, was televised and watched by a global audience of over 750 million people. The marriage produced two sons: Princes William and Harry, currently second and third in line to the thrones of the 16 Commonwealth realms, respectively.

Click here to see Biography of Diana, Princess of Wales






5. Princess Charlotte of Monaco

Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi (born 3 August 1986, Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo, Monaco) is the second child of Caroline, Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco, and the late Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian industrialist. She is fourth in line to the throne of Monaco. Her maternal grandmother was Grace Kelly. She is named after her paternal great-grandmother, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois.

Click here to see Biography of Princess Charlotte of Monaco







6. Princess Gayatri Devi

Gayatri Devi(Bengali: গায়ত্রী দেবী) (23 May 1919 – 29 July 2009), often styled as Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur, was born as Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar. She was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 through her marriage to HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II.

Click here to see Biography of Princess Gayatri Devi



7. Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (Madeleine Thérèse Amélie Joséphine; born Drottningholm, 10 June 1982) is the youngest child and second daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.In 2008 she was included as 12th on the list of the "20 Hottest Young Royals" as compiled by Forbes Magazine.

Click here to see Biography of Princess Madeleine of Sweden









8. Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark

Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, RE (née Mary Elizabeth Donaldson; born 5 February 1972) is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.

The couple met at the Slip Inn, a pub in Sydney, when the Crown Prince was visiting Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics. Their official engagement in 2003 and their marriage the following year were the subject of extensive attention from Australian and European news media, which portrayed the marriage as a modern fairytale romance between a prince and a commoner.

Click here to see Biography of Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark





9. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger sister of Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth.

Margaret spent much of her childhood years in the company of her older sister and parents. Her life changed dramatically in 1936, when her paternal uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry the divorced American Wallis Simpson. Margaret's father became King in Edward's place, and her older sister became heiress presumptive with Margaret second in line to the throne. During World War II, the two sisters stayed at Windsor Castle, despite government pressure to evacuate to Canada. During the war years, Margaret was not expected to perform any public or official duties, and instead continued her education. After the war, she fell in love with a divorced older man, Group Captain Peter Townsend, her father's equerry. Her father died at around the same time, and her sister became Queen. Many in the government felt that Townsend was an unsuitable husband for the Queen's sister, and the Church of England refused to countenance the marriage. Under pressure, Margaret chose to abandon her plans, and instead accepted the proposal of the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was created Earl of Snowdon by Elizabeth II. The marriage, despite an auspicious start, soon became unhappy; the couple divorced in 1978.

Margaret was often viewed as a controversial member of the royal family. Her divorce earned her negative publicity, and she was romantically linked with several men. Her health gradually deteriorated for the final two decades of her life; a heavy smoker all her adult life, she had a lung operation in 1985, a bout of pneumonia in 1993, and at least three strokes between 1998 and 2001. Margaret died at King Edward VII Hospital, London, on 9 February 2002. After a private funeral, her body was cremated. Two months later, after the death of her mother, Margaret's ashes were interred beside the bodies of her parents in the George VI Memorial Chapel at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Click here to see Biography of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

10. Crown Princess Masako of Japan

Crown Princess Masako (皇太子妃雅子, Kōtaishihi Masako, the Crown Princess Masako) (born 9 December 1963) is the wife of Crown Prince Naruhito, the first son of the Emperor Akihito and the Empress Michiko, and a member of the Imperial House of Japan through marriage.

Click here to see Biography of Crown Princess Masako of Japan

Top 10 most beautiful Royal men

1. Prince Carl Philip of Sweden

Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland (Carl Philip Edmund Bertil; born Stockholm, 13 May 1979), is the second child of three children and only son of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Born Crown Prince of Sweden, he retained his title and first place in succession for seven months until 1 January 1980. On that date, he was stripped of both by a change in the Act of Succession to introduce equal primogeniture. Since then, Prince Carl Philip has been second in the line of succession, after his older sister, Crown Princess Victoria. However, in the line of succession to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms, Prince Carl Philip is ahead of his older sister since those countries all observe male-preference primogeniture.He was christened at the Royal Palace Church on 31 August 1979. His godparents are Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, Prince Leopold of Bavaria, the Queen of Denmark, and Princess Birgitta of Sweden.

Click here to see Biography of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden

2. Prince Andrea of Monaco

Andrea Albert Pierre Casiraghi (born 8 June 1984) is the first of three children born to Caroline, Princess of Hanover and her second husband, the late Stefano Casiraghi, an heir to an Italian oil fortune. His maternal grandparents were Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and Grace Kelly. He is currently second-in-line to the Monégasque throne after his mother, meaning that if the currently reigning Prince Albert II dies without legitimate children, then Casiraghi is likely to adopt the surname Grimaldi and someday become the Prince of Monaco.

Click here to see Biography of Prince Andrea of Monaco






3. Prince Frederik of Denmark

Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, RE, SKmd (Danish: Frederik André Henrik Christian, Kronprins til Danmark, Greve af Monpezat; born: Copenhagen, 26 May 1968) is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.

Click here to see Biography of Prince Frederik of Denmark











4. Prince Harry of Wales

Prince Henry of Wales (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984), commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As such, he is third in the line of succession to the thrones of 16 independent countries, though he is resident in and most directly involved with the United Kingdom.

Click here to see Biography of Prince Harry of Wales





5. Prince William of Wales

Prince William of Wales KG FRS (born William Arthur Philip Louis on 21 June 1982) is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, and second eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is second in the line of succession, behind his father, to the thrones of 16 independent states, while he resides mostly in, and is more directly involved with, the United Kingdom, the oldest of these realms.

Click here to see Biography of Prince William of Wales







6. Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark

Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark (born 26 April 1986 in London) is the youngest child of King Constantine II of Greece and Anne-Marie of Denmark, the youngest daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark. He was born thirteen years after his father was deposed and twelve years after the monarchy was officially abolished.

Click here to see Biography of Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark








7. Felipe, Prince of Asturias

Felipe, Prince of Asturias (baptised as Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos (et omnes sancti) de Borbón y de Grecia; born 30 January 1968), is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain. As the Prince of Asturias he is the heir apparent to the Spanish throne.

As heir to the Spanish throne he bears the official titles of Prince of Asturias, Prince of Viana, Prince of Girona, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer.


Click here to see Biography of Felipe, Prince of Asturias





8. Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (Given names: Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie; born 11 November 1981) has been Heir Apparent to the crown of Luxembourg since his father's accession in 2000. He is also a descendant of the House of Nassau, founded in 1093, which has ruled Luxembourg since 1890.

Click here to see Biography of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg








9. Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) as of 2011[update] is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly. His sisters are Caroline, The Princess of Hanover, and Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.

Click here to see Biography of Albert II, Prince of Monaco








10. Charles, Prince of Wales

Charles, Prince of Wales, KG KT GCB OM AK QSO CD SOM PC AdC(P) FRS (Charles Philip Arthur George;[fn 2] born 14 November 1948) is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II. Since 1958, his major title has been HRH The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay. He is the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.

Charles was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun Schools, which his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had attended as a child. After earning a bachelor of arts degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, Charles served a tour of duty with the Royal Navy in 1971–76. He married Lady Diana Spencer before an enormous worldwide television audience in 1981. They had two sons, Prince William of Wales in 1982 and Prince Harry of Wales in 1984. The couple separated in 1992 following tabloid allegations concerning their relationship. They divorced in 1996 after Diana publicly accused Charles of having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, and Charles admitted adultery on television. Diana died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. In 2005, after a lengthy continued association, the Prince married Camilla, who uses the title Duchess of Cornwall.

The prince is well-known for his charity work and sponsors The Prince's Trust, The Prince's Regeneration Trust, and the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, among other charities. He has been outspoken concerning architecture and the conservation of old buildings and has produced a book on the subject called A Vision of Britain (1989). He has also promoted herbal and other alternative medical treatment.

Click here to see Biography of Charles, Prince of Wales



Beautiful People
Friday, April 22, 2011 at 12:59 PM GMT+00:00

The Royal Wedding : Kate Middleton and Princess Diana – worlds apart

Kate Middleton visits Witton Country Park on April 11, 2011 in Darwen, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Keate Middleton and Princss Diana – worlds apart:

LONDON (AFP) – From the moment Prince William put his mother's sapphire and diamond ring on Kate Middleton's finger, comparisons between his wife-to-be and the late princess Diana became inevitable.

More than a decade after Diana's death, the "People's Princess" remains adored and the new royal bride will be measured against the young, shy blonde who captivated the world at her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981.

The royals are understandably wary of comparisons between the two women, and William himself insisted soon after the engagement that "no one is trying to fill my mother's shoes".

Diana's marriage was a famously unhappy union which broke down amid infidelity on both sides, ending in a bitter divorce and then tragedy, when the princess died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

It is not a tale to comfort a nervous bride, but fortunately, commentators see more differences than similarities between the two women.

Despite her lack of aristocratic blood, Kate will be far better prepared than Diana ever was for royal life when she walks down the aisle of Westminster Abbey on April 29.

"Kate's been very carefully groomed, it's been a long process over a period of time and she's got people around her who understand the modern media.

"She knows exactly what she's getting," said Max Clifford, a top British PR man who has represented many celebrities.

Kate and William have been together for eight years, whereas Diana was courted for just six months. In fact, Kate has been waiting so long for her boyfriend to pop the question that the press dubbed her "Waity Katy".

But Clifford says the length of time puts their relationship on a strong footing, saying "William seems to be totally in love with her and vice versa".

The young couple have had a very modern courtship.

They lived together while at St Andrews University in Scotland, where they met, and in recent months Kate has stayed with William on the island of Anglesey in Wales, where he works as a helicopter search and rescue pilot.

At the age of 29, Kate also has considerable life experience compared to Diana, who was only 20 on her wedding day, 12 years younger than Charles. Just five months separate Kate and William, who is 28.

Diana had left school before finishing her studies and her work experience was limited to a stint at a nursery.

By contrast, Kate graduated with a degree in art history from a top university, although her jobs as an accessories buyer for a clothing brand and then for her family's party goods firm have been criticised as lightweight.

Kate also had a happier and more stable childhood than Diana, whose parents divorced when she was young. Kate is close to her mother Carole and sister Pippa, her maid of honour, and says her family is a major source of support.

Up to now, William's bride has also had a better relationship with the press, which hounded the late princess right up to the moment of her death.

Despite a rocky start following Kate's move to London after graduation, when photographers mobbed her every time she left the house, warning letters from lawyers and the palace have caused the media to back off.

Kate "is an intelligent girl. She has a good head on her shoulders and is so much older than Diana was and she knows William," said royal historian Hugo Vickers.

The royal family "must be delighted. She's cautious. She's very measured -- confidence is not quite the right word, but she is assured," he added.

Diana was beautiful, charismatic and almost universally loved, but she was also unstable and the explosive fallout of her split with Charles cast a pall over the royal family that is only now starting to lift.

She also overshadowed the other royals, staying firmly in the limelight even after the divorce through her charitable causes.

"Diana became far more popular worldwide than the royal family, and in this country -- she was the one everyone wanted to see, wanted to hear, wanted to be around," said Clifford.

The royals "would have learned from that", he said.

Kate has shown no sign of Diana's love of publicity, although only time will tell how far her careful plans survive the pressure of being a fully paid-up member of the royal family.


Yahoo News
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 at 10:18 PM GMT+00:00