British Royal Wedding

Princes William and Harry threw themselves into a polo match yesterday, Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy sat side-by-side sipping their drinks and chatting.

The pair stayed in the shade of a marquee at Coworth Park, near Ascot in Berkshire, while watching the Princes compete.

While Chelsy was casual in her blue jeans and double-breasted plaid jacket, Kate looked a little smarter in a fitted cropped jacket and dark jeans.

The girls were inseparable for much of the time. But although Kate sat back and watched William on the field, Chelsy, a student at Leeds University, seemed preoccupied with a stack of papers she had with her, which she looked to be studying.

William and Harry were competing in the Audi polo match for the Um Bongo team. After the match they collected medals from a tent, although their girlfriends remained in the neighbouring marquee. (via Daily Mail)

Clarence House was put on red alert after Fox News, the excitable American TV channel, broadcast claims that Prince Harry had become engaged to his soignee girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

According to Wednesday’s bulletin, the Prince had told Chelsy’s parents that he was going to ask the Queen for permission to marry. As the U.S. networks waded in, a royal aide urged caution. “I’m 95 per cent certain it isn’t true, but give me ten minutes.”

Order was restored. “It wouldn’t do if the Yankees were to break such an event,” murmurs a courtier. (via Daily Mail)

Prince William’s heir sea rescue - The Sun
Prince William has applied to fly air sea rescue helicopters with the RAF. He is desperate to see live action and wants to go on dangerous missions at sea and in mountain terrain. The 25-year-old has submitted a request to join the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre, based at RAF Kinloss in Scotland…

Prince William daren’t look down as Carol Vorderman dons revealing dress - Daily Mail
When Countdown host Carol Vorderman agreed to attend a charity event which would host Prince William, it’s fair to say that she may have wanted to make an impression. And judging from her revealing gold dress, with its plunging neckline, it’s fair to say she achieved her objective. Leaving the Prince to do his best to avoid looking down, as Carol’s cleavage was left vastly exposed…

It’s selfless of Autumn Kelly to convert religion for Peter Phillips’ sake - but does it make any sense? - The Guardian
Terrible things do happen, but it would have to be something very terrible indeed to hoist Peter Phillips to the throne. He is 11th in line, with lots of young and healthy relatives ahead of him in the succession. Even if Princes William and Harry were to come a cropper in one of their dashing helicopter jaunts, his expectations would remain exceedingly dim…

Prince William showed his support for British soldiers wounded fighting for their country as he attended a fundraising dinner in aid of health charities.

The young Royal was seen wearing a Help The Heroes coloured wristband as he mingled with guests at the black-tie event in aid of this year’s Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

The £2 wristbands were launched last October to raise £5m to help build a much needed swimming pool and gym complex at Headley Court, the tri-service rehabilitation centre in Surrey.

At the event held at the Guild Hall in central London, the second in line to the throne looked smart in a black bow tie and matching dinner jacket, at a pre-dinner reception attended by celebrities like Sir David Frost, Carol Vorderman and Henry Kelly.

William, 25, is patron of the appeal launched by the current Mayor of the City of London, David Lewis, who has chosen health charity Wellbeing of Women and Orbis, an international sight-saving organisation to benefit from his appeal.

The Prince said he was delighted to become patron of the initiative and added: “Becoming involved in this way is particularly special for me because of the past association and commitment of my mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to Wellbeing of Women. (via The Press Association)

Who said there’s a lack of genetic diversity among Britain’s upper class?

More charitable observers might conclude that Kate Middleton put an advert in the paper for a Prince William lookalike to accompany her to Boujis last night.

Either way, her mystery date bore a striking resemblance to her royal boyfriend, who is away training with the RAF.

Tousled dark blonde hair? Check. Doe eyes? Check. Obligatory Sloaney shirt and crisp trouser combination? Check.

The pair climbed into a taxi together after the night out at the exclusive Kensington nightclub, which has become a firm favourite with the younger royals.

Read entire article at The Daily Mail…

Zara Phillips has given her biggest hint yet that she wants to marry the England rugby player Mike Tindall.

The Queen’s granddaughter said that the pair exchanged vows of love every day, adding that she was waiting for Tindall to pop the question.

“I’m old-fashioned. I think they should ask you,” she said. “Everyone at the [Gloucester] rugby club seems to be getting married and having babies so they keep asking me, ‘What about you?’ We tell each other we love each other every day.”

Asked in an interview for GQ Sport magazine if she thought she had sown her wild oats she said: “Yes – I think I have . . . ”

Ahead of her appearance at the Badminton Horse Trials this Thursday, Ms Phillips also said in the interview that she preferred being known as a horse rider rather than as a royal.

When asked if she would have done anything differently in her life if she were not a member of the Royal Family, she replied: “Yes . . . because I could have got away with more things. So it’s probably a good thing I am.”

She also praised her family members, adding that she and her brother Peter had been brought up “quite normally”. She added: “I think it’s better to be known as a horse rider than a royal. They are my family but it’s nice to be known for something else.” (via Times Online)

Prince William flies back with dead soldier amid criticism over ‘PR exercise’ - The Times Online

Prince William flew back from his brief visit to Afghanistan with the body of a soldier killed in action, it was revealed today. He then privately met members of the family of Trooper Robert Pearson, who died on April 21 when the soldier’s vehicle hit a mine. Clarence House said William was “honoured” to be a member of the air crew that repatriated Trooper Pearson’s body. But the Prince faced criticism from soldiers that his secret visit to the war torn country was nothing more than a public relations exercise…

Princess Beatrice struggles to rule the waves on jet ski jaunt - Daily Mail

She’s a qualified diver, an accomplished skier and, rumour has it, no slouch on the dancefloor. She even considered putting her skates on to appear on Dancing On Ice. However, it seems that riding a jet ski was a challenge too far for Princess Beatrice - at least at first. After attempting a tricky manoeuvre, the young Royal ended up with a faceful of surf…

Mark Phillips firm in dock over quad bike death - The Telegraph
A company run by Capt Mark Phillips, the former husband of the Princess Royal and the father of Zara and Peter Phillips, faces a health and safety prosecution today over the death of a 19-year-old in a quad bike accident on the Gatcombe Park estate. Daniel Brookman, a friend of Peter Phillips, died in 2005 when the quad bike on which he was a passenger flipped over and landed on his chest…

The girlfriend of Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips has dramatically changed her religion, it was revealed last night — weeks before they wed.

It means Peter, 30, will now not lose his position as an heir to the throne.

The 11th in line would have had to give up his royal standing when he marries Autumn Kelly, 31, in three weeks if she had remained a Catholic.

But she has now become a member of the Church of England — of which the Queen is Defender of the Faith. Under the Act of Settlement of 1701, royals who marry Catholics are removed from the line of succession, like Prince Michael of Kent.

Buckingham Palace insisted that the decision to convert was Autumn’s alone - and took place several months ago. A spokeswoman said last night: “Autumn has been welcomed into the Church of England.”

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be the chief guests at the couple’s May 17 wedding in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. (via The Sun)

When her mother Fergie was in a similar situation, she notoriously ended up having her toes sucked.

But sunbathing with her own American boyfriend, Princess Beatrice contented herself with merely wiggling those little piggies.

The 19-year-old, currently on her gap year, is enjoying a sunshine break on the Caribbean island of St Barts with Dave Clark, 25.

Happy to indulge in a public display of affection, she leaned over to kiss him while at one stage he wrapped his arms around his beaming girlfriend and lifted her out of the water.

Later, the red-headed princess was spotted rubbing sunscreen into Mr Clark’s back.

St Barts is the latest in a string of gap-year destinations for Beatrice, who is fifth in line to the throne.

She has taken in Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Belgium, not to mention two skiing trips to Switzerland.

She has also been spotted in Los Angeles. In January, she joined her father on an official visit to Egypt and Abu Dhabi. Read entire Daily Mail article here…

Prince William flew into Afghanistan to meet frontline troops, Clarence House confirmed tonight.

The Prince met service personnel at Kandahar airfield for three hours on Monday before returning to the UK. The Prince of Wales and the Queen gave their consent to the trip, a Clarence House spokesman said.

The Clarence House spokesman described the trip as a “success”, saying that “it had passed without a hitch”.

Secrecy had surrounded Prince William’s visit, which was classified as confidential.

The whole trip took around 30 hours in total, the spokesman added. William’s trip follows the deployment of his younger brother to southern Afghanistan.

Prince Harry recently returned from Helmand province after his presence there was leaked by the media. He worked as a forward air controller, a post responsible for directing air support for ground troops. (via The Guardian)