British Royal Wedding

The voice on the phone was polite and well-mannered. It was also one of the least demanding bookings for a restaurant table – no special requests for an out-of-the-way corner, just a table for two at 8pm.

But when the couple, who had booked under the name of Goldsmith, arrived at Gilmour’s in Chelsea, staff were taken aback. For the guests were Prince William and Kate Middleton and their table was in the middle of the busy restaurant in full view of other diners.

William and Kate, however, took their seats without demur while the Prince’s bodyguards, for whom no table had been reserved, sat at the bar.

‘They seemed just like any other young couple out on a date holding hands and leaning across the table to whisper to each other,’ says a fellow diner. ‘One might have expected them to want to sit somewhere more discreet. In fact, they had the most visible spot in the place. But, perhaps because they were so ordinary, no one paid them a blind bit of notice.’

Read the entire story at the Daily Mail… | Related Story: Mr & Mrs Smith

Prince William the would-be rescue pilot lands in a mess – Daily Mail
Prince William has shared an impressive farmhouse with brother Harry at RAF Shawbury for several months – but he will soon be downgrading to more modest accommodation. His girlfriend Kate Middleton will be allowed to visit, but she has to ask for permission if she wants to stay over…

William Wins his Wings – Daily Express
Flight Lieutenant William Wales, as he is known at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, where  he has been grappling with his helicopter joystick since January, already holds his provisional wings and is about to undergo crucial tests that will lead to him finally being awarded his full wings…

The girl who inspired Prince Harry’s charity – Daily Mail
It was the moment that inspired Prince Harry to follow in his mother’s footsteps and help Africa’s forgotten Aids victims. Cradling ten-month-old Keke in his arms, the 19-year-old prince appeared close to tears as he was told of the dreadful ordeal she had suffered…

Prince Harry’s electric autograph – Monsters & Critics
The owner of a guitar signed by Britain’s Prince Harry is desperate to find out its worth. “I have great memories about the night we played when Prince Harry turned up. He was really pleasant and chatty and just like one of the lads.”

Prince William wants to score winning goal for England – Telegraph
Concerned by claims that the Football Association is not making great enough use of the Royal family in its efforts to bring the World Cup to England in 2018, Prince William has let it be known that he is keen to take on a more prominent role…

Photos: Prince William, Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince Edward at Iraq Service Of Commemoration – Getty Images

The Age reports that Prince William could make his first official tour to Australia and New Zealand as early as January next year…

The second in line to the throne is expected to take the Queen’s place on a trip to Australia and possibly New Zealand as the British monarch scales back her overseas travel, The Mail on Sunday reported.

A senior aide told the newspaper: “The Duke is 88 and he and the Queen have decided that travelling long-haul is too much for them. It is hard work and the thought is that the younger royals should be carrying out more duties.”

A source at the prince’s Clarence House office said: “William sees it as an honour to be asked to carry out an official duty on behalf of the Queen.

He sees himself as stepping up to his role as shadow King. He has put off official visits for long enough and is ready to embrace his duty.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been dining at a restaurant where the food is served in complete darkness – so says The Sun …

The lovebirds have become huge fans of the wacky London eaterie, a source close to them revealed yesterday.

Diners at Dans Le Noir? in Clerkenwell are told their tastebuds are heightened when they can’t see.

But the insider said: “William can take Kate along and know no one will see him. He’s actually very shy. He feels uncomfortable when people stare.”

There was no special treatment for Prince William and Kate Middleton when they flew home from Marseilles to Gatwick in economy with their two plain-clothes protection officers after enjoying the sunshine in the South of France.

‘They were very sweet and very normal,’ says my source. ‘They were casually dressed and boarded the plane with the rest of the passengers. They were very smiley to anyone who recognised them and spent most of the flight chatting away. At one point William leaned over and gave Kate a cuddle.’

Kate is hosting a table at London’s Saatchi Gallery tonight at an auction to raise money for the charity Starlight, which grants wishes for terminally ill children. ‘She has invited her whole family and William,’ I’m told. ‘And her parents will host a party for 20 children as one of the prizes.’ (via Daily Mail)

Photos of William, Kate and other guests at the Starlight dinner – 1 | 2| 3 | 4

Prince William will keep his sweetheart Kate Middleton waiting for a wedding until June 2012 – when he turns 30.

Royal-watchers had expected the couple, who have been dating on and off for eight years, to tie the knot next summer.

But Prince Charles’ 27-year-old son has told Kate he wants to focus on his RAF duties before they wed. The postponement was revealed by close pal and singer Jules Knight, whose classical music boyband Blake are set to perform at the wedding.

Jules – a university friend of the couple – said: “They’ve decided not to marry just yet. William wants to wait until he is 30 and Kate is fine with that.” Jules added: “She’s mentioned Blake might be able to perform at the wedding, which would be brilliant for us.”

A pal said: “He is very careerminded and wants to get as high up as he can in the force. Kate knows he loves her and wants to marry her but also understands what it means to be the girlfriend of the future king.” (via People.co.uk)

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been spotted out in public on a rare date together.

Kate, wearing a stunning figure-hugging dress, joked with photographers as she came out of the exclusive Locanda-Ottoemezzo Italian restaurant in Kensington, London, with Wills. As they left the posh eaterie on Friday night – where dinner for two costs £200 – William laughed at Kate’s attempts to shield her eyes from flashbulbs.

‘They both seemed in a really good mood and looked like they were having a great night out” said one observer.

The couple later partied at Kitts nightclub until the early hours.

“They don’t enjoy the long breaks but they make the most of all the time they get together” said one friend. (via Daily Star)

Many thanks to dagsi for supplying links to scans of the articles!

Britain needs a royal wedding to help cheer up the nation but Prince William and Kate Middleton may have to wait to wed.

Nobody who knows the second in line to the throne and his long-term girlfriend seriously doubts they will get married. After eight years together and a much publicised short split and then reunion two years ago, it would look awful if they broke up now.

So when is this wedding likely to happen? Well, they might surprise us with an imminent announcement of a winter wedding but the royals, like most people in Britain, tend to get married in the summer and announce their engagement in the spring.

The Royal Family’s advisers, however, are alive to one factor that may make it difficult for a marriage to go ahead next summer too: a General Election, which must be held in the UK before June 3, 2010. Under the unwritten rules of our constitutional monarchy, the Royal Family must never do anything to detract attention away from an election.

Read the full story at the Daily Express…

Prince William has been spotted on a cinema date watching a film about getting hitched. The prince and Kate Middleton went to see The Hangover, a comedy about a group of friends who lose the groom on a stag night.

Wills and Kate, both 27, snuck into the west London cinema in jeans, T-shirts and baseball caps.

A source at Cineworld in South Kensington said: “No-one expected royalty but they acted like normal people off the street. It was dark so not many people had any idea who they were. I think they liked the anonymity.” (via Daily Express)