Celeb Best Blog

By Daily Mail Reporter


Prince William returning to his RAF Valley in Anglesey today, days after his wedding was watched by two billion around the world


A few days ago his every move was watched by an estimated two billion people.

But today it was back to more familiar territory as Prince William returned to work at his RAF base in Anglesey.

Wearing sunglasses he was behind the steering wheel of an Audi seen arriving at the Air and Sea Rescue HQ.

Wearing sunglasses, Prince William drove into the Air and Sea Rescue HQ at RAF Valley


It was thought Prince William and his bride would honeymoon this week until it emerged that the new Duke of Cambridge had to return to work.

Despite his status as second in line to the throne he, like his colleagues, had to apply for leave like his colleagues.

He was given a week off for the wedding but was told that he would have to split any further holiday requests – hence the delayed departure date.

The Mail revealed this week that the couple are due to fly out by private jet in mid-May before being taken by helicopter from the mainland to a tropical retreat.

Two Scotland Yard protection officers checked the destination a fortnight ago to ensure it would give the couple the privacy they crave.

As her son-in-law returned to work, Carole Middleton and daughter Pippa were seen arriving back at their Berkshire home

Prince William had to delay his honeymoon as he was ordered to split his leave requests with colleagues


The Mail is not publishing details of the location, and it is understood that not even Kate is aware of the exact destination.

The Prince is not the only wedding guest who returned to their everyday life just days after the global event of the Royal Wedding.

Five days ago the Queen was the proud grandmother overseeing a wedding watched by two billion people.

But after the bank holiday it was back to the daily routine for the monarch yesterday as she visited Newmarket, Cambridge.


Refreshed: Five days after the wedding the Queen met children at Newmarket Day Centre


source:dailymail

Prince William and Duchess Kate's royal reception at Buckingham Palace was truly a night to remember. According to insider, his brother, Prince Harry, 26, jokes and make fun of William during his speech. The newlyweds had their first dance to Your Song by Ellie Goulding. Towards the end of the song, William looked over to Charles, who stood up and danced with Duchess Camilla for a verse. Harry whistled loudly towards the end and everyone cheered. At the end of the night, fireworks went off; the newlyweds shouted "Thank you, guys" to their remaining guests.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have attended a private wedding rehearsal at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday night to complete a final run-through of Friday's wedding ceremony. The twosome arrived in a chauffeur-driven car around 7:30 p.m. with their wedding party, which included Prince Harry, 26, and Pippa Middleton, 27. The rest of Kate's immediate family including her parents, Michael and Carole, and brother James were also in attendance.

By Fay Schlesinger and Richard Simpson


Easy rider: William roars out of Clarence House on his beloved Ducati as he went to spend one of his last nights as a bachelor by playing five-a-side football with the boys


Prince William has already confessed that his knees are ‘tapping quite nervously’ as his wedding day approaches.

But nerves did not stop the 28-year-old jumping on his motorbike to spend one of his last nights as a bachelor by playing five-a-side football with the boys.

During a kick-about in a South London park at 10pm on Tuesday, one of William’s friends was overheard referring to his ‘last day of freedom’.


At one point, a team-mate wearing a baseball cap and blue shirt grabbed his arm and bounced the football off the back of his head while the others laughed and jeered.

A second friend then took over, throwing the ball at William’s growing bald patch.

The prince seemed embarrassed by the spectacle and bowed his head in an attempt to shrug off the attention.

Wearing England shorts, a black shirt and socks in the colour of his favourite team, Aston Villa, he sprinted around the park playing central defence to shouts of ‘William’ and ‘Wills’.

Playing with the boys: William looks exhausted as he's flanked by friends after the kick-about in a South London park. One of William's friends was overheard referring to his 'last day of freedom'


Four royal protection officers stood on the sidelines – and even ran off to collect the ball when it soared over a fence.

The 45-minute kickabout is a regular fixture for William whenever he has time off from working as a search and rescue pilot in Anglesey, North Wales.

If his bride-to-be had grumbled about how a sliding tackle could ruin the wedding by leaving him with grazes or even a broken leg, the prince did not let it affect his evening.

But he decided to forgo the usual trip to a pub in Battersea following the game.

Instead, he returned to St James’s Palace on the black £15,000, 180mph Ducati superbike which is his pride and joy.

Pensive: William looked thoughtful as he played football with a group of friends. Perhaps he was having some last-minute jitters


The prince is often spotted zooming around the country roads of Anglesey with Kate riding pillion.

He even has patriotic knee protectors decorated with the England flag.

But last year his father Prince Charles told of his fears about the dangers of the high-powered machines, which are also popular with Prince Harry.

At a reception in December, Charles said: ‘I always worry about them. It’s about other cars not being able to see you. I’m always telling my sons that.’


source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


Her royal dryness: Kate Middleton braves the rain on a trip to Darwen, Lancashire today


Like any bride wanting to look her best, Kate Middleton appears to have shed a few pounds ahead of her big day.

Looking more slimline than ever, the future Royal was joined by Prince William on their last official engagement together before the royal wedding, braving the rain to attend the opening of a school in Darwen, Lancashire.

Kate, holding her own oversized black umbrella, opted for a subtle but notable sartorial transformation.

Joining the ranks of predecessors including Diana and Jackie O, she wore a smart navy blue fitted jacket, matching skirt and high heels - a look that cements her status as style queen.


Gone is the floaty, A-line silhouette she has come to favour and its place a streamlined shape suit.

Her hair was styled half up half down amid recent speculation that this could be the look she chooses on her wedding day.

Miss Middleton has yet to invest in the see-through umbrellas used by the Queen, which allow her to be easily seen.

Getting in shape: Kate has lost weight as last-minute nerves kick in ahead of the big day and is certainly thinner than she was back in 2005


Instead Kate carried a very large black one, lifting it higher up so she could be seen by the crowds outside the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy.

The Queen's distinctive Fulton birdcage design umbrellas feature a coloured rim which the company produces in exclusive colours for her so she can match them exactly to her outfit.

Union and St George Cross flags flew outside many shops and pubs in the east Lancashire town of Darwen to greet the couple.

William and Kate arrived at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy on the first leg of their day-long visit to the area as hundreds of well-wishers lined outside in the heavy rain


William and Kate arrived at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy on the first leg of their day-long visit to the area as hundreds of well-wishers lined outside in the heavy rain.

They are expected to be met by crowds of thousands on their second and final engagement at nearby Witton Country Park in Blackburn.

William will officially open the academy where he will also launch an award scheme and later observe a sports display in the park with his fiancee

At the academy in the heart of the town, the couple were welcomed by the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Sheila Williams, the chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Graham Burgess, and Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry.

They were then greeted by the principal of the independent non-fee-paying school, Brendan Loughran, and its sponsor Rod Aldridge, former executive chairman of Capita.

William will officially open the academy where he will also launch an award scheme and later observe a sports display in the park with his fiancee


A tour of the academy followed to highlight its focus on entrepreneurial skills which are embedded in its curriculum.

William will launch the SkillForce Prince's Award and give a short address on the scheme and the work of the academy to students, parents, governors and staff.

SkillForce is an education charity which has William as its patron and from summer 2012 it will present the new honour to teenagers who show significant character or make a major contribution to their community.

Hair apparent: Kate's hair was styled half up half down amid recent speculation that this could be the look she chooses on her wedding day


More than 100 accredited newspaper, TV and radio journalists were covering the academy visit including representatives from the United States, Australia, France, Germany and Norway.

Later, William and Miss Middleton will visit Witton Country Park as part of the Prince's role as patron of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge.

The initiative aims to protect permanently 2,012 outdoor recreational spaces across the UK and demonstrate the importance of green spaces for sport.

The couple will meet local civic dignitaries, view sports activities on the athletics field and see youngsters taking part in a football skills session.

Anticipation: Crowds line up outside Darwen Community Academy ahead of the couple's visit


Miss Middleton will also be invited to start a 100 metres race and meet a group of athletes and coaches.

The couple will also see some young people participating in disabled cycling activities.

Recently the pair have met well-wishers in Anglesey in Wales, visited their former university St Andrews in Scotland and flown to Belfast in Northern Ireland.

The Prince, 28, who is based at RAF Valley, Anglesey, in his role as a full-time RAF Search and Rescue Pilot, and Miss Middleton, 29, will marry on April 29.

Their wedding day will be an official public holiday across the UK.

Little princesses: Two young fans hold Union Jacks of the Royal couple


source:dailymail

By Paul Revoir


The big day: The BBC are expected to be dedicating up to 1,000 members of staff to cover the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William


The BBC is to dedicate the best part of a thousand staff to covering the Royal Wedding, it has emerged.

The corporation's bill for broadcasting the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton will run into excess of a £1million, with a sizeable chunk of that going on the army of staff it will be using.

Once again it will dwarf the numbers of workers being used by rivals ITV and Sky News who will have a fraction of the staff on the day.


In total there is expected to be 850 BBC workers covering the event, many in London along the route, but also some getting reaction from other locations in the UK. This includes staff for TV, radio and online.

The BBC has defended the numbers claiming that as host broadcaster it will be responsible for beaming images out around the globe and that the wedding is likely to be the most viewed event of the century.

There will be 550 BBC workers covering the actual event, following the route and the ceremony, with Huw Edwards as the corporation's main presenter.

There is expected to be a further 300 news staff who will be providing separate reports from around Britain.

This includes staff from BBC Breakfast, the Today programme and Radio 5 Live.

Commentators: DJ Fearne Cotton and The One Show host Alex Jones will be covering the Royal Wedding


This compares with 437 staff the BBC sent to the 2008 Olympics in BeiJing and the 295 sent to last year's football World Cup in South Africa.

As well as Edwards, Fiona Bruce and Sophie Raworth will be at the heart of the BBC's coverage, which will also see Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton and One Show presenter Alex Jones given presenting roles.

The wedding is expected to be watched by a global audience of two billion.

A BBC spokesman said: 'The Royal Wedding is likely to be the most watched event of the century so far and the BBC is proud to be the host broadcaster.

'Final numbers have yet to be confirmed, but we expect to have 550 people working on the day to bring high quality and distinctive coverage of this special event to a wide audience at home and abroad across TV, Radio and Online.

'In addition BBC News will provide separate reports across the UK and numbers for this are yet to be finalised.'

The venue: Hundreds of BBC staff will be covering the wedding route up to Westminster Abbey


source:dailymail

By DAILY MAIL

Come on, Granny, get out your needles and start knitting royal dolls - or even your very own miniature corgi, £9.99, ivypress.co.uk


From cufflinks to condoms, no Royal wedding would be complete without a collection of souvenirs even the most ardent royalist would do well to love.

Here the Mail outlines some of the very best (or worse)... and where you can get them.



Throw salt over your shoulder to bring the lovebirds luck with this cruet set, £6.99, ebay.co.uk





Gentlemen, these gold-effect cufflinks, with images of the happy couple, guarantee a classy wedding-day look, £9.99, cuffsncollars.co.uk


If the fawning wedding coverage doesn't satiate your sweet tooth, this fudge will hit the spot, £1.50, ebay.co.uk


The royal couple will want an heir and a spare. For the rest of us, there are souvenir condoms. £5, crownjewelscondoms.com





These teabags put Wills and Kate into hot water, but let's hope their relationship never is, £4.30, donkey-products.com


Stub out your wedding fever altogether with this ashtray, £3.99, gift-flair.co.uk


So dim you need a book to explain the wedding? This is for you... £6, dummies.com


Nail the royal wedding look with these works of art, £6.99, eBay.co.uk


Even the youngest patriots can join the celebrations with this Happyland Royal Wedding set, £15, Early Learning Centre





What cake lover could say no to this sponge creation? Even if it does look nothing like Wills. Or Kate. Price varies, michellesugarart.co.uk





source: dailymail

An American channel called Lifetime has commissioned a made-for-telly movie about Kate Middleton and Prince William, following their lives from when they first met at university through to their wedding day as played by actors Nico Evers-Swindell and Camilla Luddington. The film chronicles the eight-year romance for Prince William, 28, and fiancé Kate Middleton, 29, who met while attending Scotland's University of St. Andrews. The couple is set to wed April 29 at England's Westminster Abbey in the most anticipated wedding of the decade. William and Kate premieres April 19 on Lifetime.

By Katie Nicholl


The heat is clearly getting to Prince William as sweat pours from his brow during his tour of Queensland


With his mind very much on his impending wedding, Prince William could perhaps be excused for occasionally feeling a little warm under the collar.

But on a tour of Queensland, Australia, yesterday his normal healthy glow turned to a Royal flush as he struggled to cope in 95F heat.

Visibly wilting with sweat pouring from his forehead, the Prince managed to hold on to his sense of humour and quipped: ‘I’m from England. I’m far too pasty. I need some sunshine.’


The Prince, on a five-day tour of Australia and New Zealand, has been dubbed ‘the Prince of Hearts’ in the north-east of Queensland, which in February was devastated by some of the worst cyclones and flooding in Australia’s history.

He struggled to cope with the heat during a walkabout in Cairns, but told admirers: ‘It’s much nicer down here. The weather at home is dreadful.’

He has wowed the Australians by dressing casually for most of the trip in lightweight trousers and an open- necked pale blue shirt, and insisting on being addressed by his first name.

Unlike his father, who often travels with an extensive team of aides, William has only a small entourage.

An aide said: ‘William likes to keep things simple. He doesn’t want to wear a suit unless he has to and he likes to keep things relaxed. That’s his own way and how he likes things.’

Jim Nicholson, 68, president of the Cardwell Lions community group, said: ‘He’s a really normal, casual chap. He calls you by your first name just like his mother used to do. Diana would have been the proudest woman in the world if she’d been here today.’

Martin Taylor, 40, officer in charge of the Queensland Ambulance service, said: ‘He’s a leader, you can tell by his stature. We chatted about the recovery stage and he was very understanding.’

Earlier he spoke to people who lost their homes and livelihoods and chatted with the emergency services as he visited the ravaged towns of Cardwell and Tully.

His second port of call was to the Royal Flying Doctor service in Cairns. Then his whistlestop tour took him on to a reception with volunteers from the Red Cross and the emergency services who helped during the disaster.

William has wowed the Australians by dressing casually for most of the trip in lightweight trousers and an open- necked pale blue shirt, and insisting on being addressed by his first name

The Prince is warmly received in the flood ravaged town of Cardwell and chatted with residents who lost their homes and livelihoods


Prince William sparked excitement earlier in the day when he mentioned returning to the country for his honeymoon.

He made the comment on a visit to Cairns' cruise ship terminal during what some people have dubbed his 'disaster tour'.

After visiting Christchurch, New Zealand, the prince arrived in Queensland, Australia, today where he visited people affected by Cyclone Yasi.

He went to the coastal towns of Cardwell and Tully, before meeting excited locals at the cruise ship terminal, where he sparked hysteria.

William, who is to marry fiancee Kate Middleton on April 29, met Briton Tania Moore, 39, who moved to the area 10 years ago from Winchester.

She said: 'He asked me what I'd be up to today and I said, 'Oh I've been up to the Great Barrier Reef with my kids. It's just stunning - you should go there. Will you get to see it?.'

He reaches out to shake hands with Jane Machin, five, as he leaves the community hall in the town of Cardwell. The youngster had written a sign reading 'Welcome William Our Shining Prince'

Proud Jane shows off the sign she made to welcome the town's royal visitor


Ms Moore, who met the prince with her son Alex, seven, and five-year-old daughter Jessica, said he replied: 'No I wanted too, but I won't have time.'

'Then he was asking about the visibility under water, what type of fish we saw on the reef,' she said.

'This man will be king one day and there he was asking about my day at the beach.

'I asked him when he was going to come back and he said, 'well we might have to come back for our honeymoon!' Everyone started shrieking and applauding.'

The Prince promised wellwishers he would return, and told them: ‘I love scuba-diving. I have always wanted to dive the Barrier Reef. I will have to come back and maybe honeymoon in Cairns. You are all invited to the wedding. I expect to see you all there. I want to see lots of Aussie flags outside the Abbey.

‘I’ve missed all the preparations in the past week.’

Despite flagging in the heat, the Prince told The Mail on Sunday he was coping well.

He said: ‘I’m doing really well and feeling great. Not too much jet-lag, thank goodness.’

Yesterday’s visit was 28 years to the day since Prince Charles and Diana visited Australia with William as a nine-month-old baby.


Source:dailymail

By Maysa Rawi


Flipped out: Kate Middleton concentrates on pancake-tossing as Prince William looks on during their trip to Belfast on Shrove Tuesday


Kate Middleton added another talent to the list as she showed off her pancake-tossing skills today in Belfast.

The future Princess celebrated Shrove Tuesday by mastering the art of the flip, impressing the crowds - and Prince William - with her culinary trick.

The Royal couple are touring the UK ahead of the wedding in April and by the looks of things, there is little doubt that she is settling into her new role with confidence and ease.

Mastering the art: Kate looked even more relaxed and at ease as she settles into her new role


And for a refreshing change, Kate opted to wear an on-trend £650 Burberry trench coat with skirt detailing, a notable contrast to the more formal attire we have seen over the last two weeks - swapping her flat boots for high-heel courts.

Perhaps Kate, 29, has been taking note of the fashion critics who have called for the future Princess to adopt an edgier, younger look.

There have already been reports that Kate has decided to have her wedding dress designed by Alexander McQueen's avant-garde protegee Sarah Burton - a welcome choice in the fashion world.

Greetings: The couple meet Lord Mayor Pat Convery and Dame Mary Peters, right, a former Olympic pentathlon athletics champion who is now the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast


And although the rumours have been heavily denied, it seems Kate's slight but bold sartorial adjustment today is a statement that she intends to make conscious fashion decisions when it comes to her wardrobe.

Either way, she looked stunning in the neutral piece, teamed with opaque tights and sapphire engagement ring as the couple brought the centre of Belfast to a standstill.

A small crowd gathered in the bright sunshine inside the grounds of City Hall in the hope of a walkabout after police sealed off streets and diverted traffic as part of a huge security operation for the couple's first visit to Northern Ireland.

Sartorial hit: Kate looked stylish and on-trend in a £650 belted Burberry trench coat with skirt detailing


They arrived at the George Best City Airport at Sydenham, east Belfast.

The couple were met by Lord Mayor Pat Convery and Dame Mary Peters, a former Olympic pentathlon athletics champion who is now the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast.

It was the first in a series of engagements planned for the couple, who are to marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29.

People person: The future Princess hugs a newborn, and shows off her sapphire engagement ring

Fans: The crowds gathering in the city centre after word leaked out because of the heavy security presence


The couple accepted a framed photograph of City Hall and a book on the building's architectural history.

They arrived in an eight-car cavalcade, with William and Miss Middleton in the second.

They paused for a time on the steps of the front door, acknowledging the cheering crowd, some of whom waved miniature Union Flags.

The look of love: Kate shoots an admiring glance at her future husband


Heavily-armed police patrolled adjoining and nearby streets, and at one stage used steel rods to check litter bins close to the City Hall gates and grounds.

One officer using binoculars kept watch from the rooftop of the Robinson & Cleaver building directly opposite, and at least two others, also using binoculars, positioned themselves on the top of City Hall, just few away from the Union Flag which fluttered in a gentle breeze.


Surprise: Senior officials at the Northern Ireland Office who were involved in organising the trip did not confirm William and Kate even planned to make the visit until their aircraft landed in east Belfast

Senior officials at the Northern Ireland Office who were heavily involved with Buckingham Palace in organising the trip did not confirm William and Kate even planned to make the visit until their aircraft landed in east Belfast.

But by the time the entourage pulled up in front of City Hall, word had already leaked out because of the heavy security presence.


WATCH VIDEO OF KATE'S PANCAKE-TOSS...




Source:dailymail

David and Victoria Beckham are believed to be among the 1,900 people invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Although 1,900 people will attend the wedding ceremony, only 650 have also been invited to the formal reception at Buckingham Palace. Formal invitations to the April 29th ceremony at Westminster Abbey were dispatched earlier in the week.




They should already have received a brief note reading: 'The Lord Chamberlain is commanded by the Queen to invite [name] to the marriage of his Royal Highness Prince William of Wales KG with Miss Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29 April 2011 at 11.00am.' The rest of the congregation will consist of people from a wide variety of backgrounds. No political heads of state have been invited, but around 40 foreign royals will attend. The celebrations will end with a smaller party for around 300 close friends of the happy couple.