Happy birthday Kate! As the Duchess of Cambridge turns 30, FEMAIL brings you 30 facts about our future queen

... And Kate gets a birthday message from reality TV royalty Kim Kardashian


By Deborah Arthurs


Kate, wearing lace Alice Temperley, spent the eve of her 30th birthday at the War Horse premiere in London

1 Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born to parents Michael and Carole Middleton at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on January 9 1982.

2 Kate was christened at the parish church of St Andrew's Bradfield in Berkshire on June 20 1982.

3 Aged eight, she became a brownie with the 1st St Andrews pack in Pangbourne, Berkshire.

4 At the age of 13, she went to the £15,000-a-year Marlborough College in Wiltshire.
5 During her time there she represented the college at tennis, hockey and netball. She became captain of the college's hockey team and played in the first pair at tennis.

6 Kate is a keen photographer and took pictures for her parents' mail order business Party Pieces.

7 Amman, the capital of Jordan, was home to Kate and her family for a few years in the mid 1980s.

8 The Duchess has completed her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

9 Hobbies she enjoys include walking, tennis, swimming, sailing, and painting.

10 It was rumoured that at Marlborough College Kate had a poster of her future husband William on her wall. But she has quashed speculation by revealing it was in fact the "Levi's guy" who adorned her bedroom.
11 Kate spent time studying at the British Institute in Florence during a gap year.

12 She also crewed on Round the World Challenge boats in the Solent while taking a break from studies.

13 In 2001, the Duchess enrolled at the University of St Andrews, Fife, from where she graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 in history of art.

14 When an undergraduate she continued playing sports and turned out for the university's hockey team.

15 Kate met her future husband at St Andrews - a university where graduates have around a one in 10 chance of meeting their perfect partner and getting married.

16 The Duchess worked in London as a part-time buyer for the clothing company Jigsaw Junior. When she left without finding a new job, she earned the nickname 'Waity Katie' - despite the fact she was known to help her parents with their party supplies business.

17 Kate and William's first official event together after they got engaged was at Anglesey last February - dedicating a new RNLI lifeboat.

18 Kate followed wedding tradition, and for 'something blue' had a blue ribbon sewn into the interior of her dress.

19 After the wedding ceremony, on April 29 last year, her bouquet was placed on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey after the service, continuing a tradition started by the late Queen Mother.

20 The see-through dress which sparked William's interest in Kate when she wore it at a university fashion show in 2002 was auctioned in 2011 for £78,000.

21 The Duchess is descended from a family of solicitors and landed gentry on her father's side and butchers, plasterers, road sweepers and domestic servants on her mother's.

22 During her tour of California and Canada during the summer of 2011 she wore more than 25 outfits, winning her accolades from the world's fashion press.

Kate's first public appearance as a working royal after becoming engaged to William was for the naming of a new Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) vessel in Anglesey, in February last year

23 Whenever she is photographed wearing high street fashion the garment quickly sells out - one Reiss dress, the Shola bandage dress, sold at a rate of one a minute after Kate was pictured wearing it. As such, Kate has widely been credited with reviving flagging interest in the British high street, transforming the fortunes of her favoured brands such as Zara and Reiss.

24 The Duchess is an official ambassador for Team GB and Paralympic GB.

25 With her husband William she will travel to Malaysia, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year.

26 When in the capital Kate sometimes uses the London bike hire scheme - and London Mayor Boris Johnson gave Kate and William a tandem Boris bike as a wedding present.

27 She is patron of Action on Addiction and the National Portrait Gallery, and royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices and The Art Room. She is also a volunteer with the Scout Association and in the future will join activities privately with groups in north Wales and other areas.

Traditional bride Kate wore something blue on her wedding day - a small piece of ribbon stitched on the underside of her Sarah Burton wedding gown


28 Although Kate could have a private chef at her disposal, she prefers to do the majority of the cooking for herself and William, and is often spotted shopping at Waitrose on Anglesely and, when she is at Kensington Palace, at the Waitrose on Kensington High Street. Kate even surprised shoppers at Tesco last month when she shopped at the supermarket, stocking up on essentials including Kellogg's Special K.

29 Kate is not allergic to horses, as has been widely reported. At last night's War Horse premiere she steered clear of the horse on the red carpet - but only to protect her Alice Temperley gown. 'The horse was leaving piles of manure everywhere,' an onlooker said.

30 Contrary to previous reports, Kate will not move in with Camilla and Charles when William is posted to the Falklands next month. Instead, Kate plans to use the time to embark upon her charity work.


Aged 29, Kate had blossomed into a confident duchess. Right, aged just eight, Kate enrolled as a brownie with the 1st St Andrews pack in Pangbourne, Berkshire






source:dailymail

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So alike yet so different: Kate and Diana share the same style, says designer Elizabeth Emanuel, but the two young royals are very contrasting women

By Elizabeth Emanuel


Daring: Diana (left) dazzles the world in a plunging dress at her first public event after her engagement. Double take: Kate (right) wears a similar black gown to an awards ceremony earlier this week

What could be more appropriate? The Duchess of Cambridge causes a stir on Monday night by appearing in a daring, strapless black dress at an awards ceremony with Prince William.

In the same week, it’s revealed another black dress worn by another beautiful royal bride, which caused an even greater sensation, will go on display at Kensington Palace for the first time next year.

I’m talking about the strapless floor-length black gown which the late Princess of Wales wore on her first-ever public engagement in March 1981 with her new fiance, Prince Charles.


It was daring. It was sexy. It showcased her slender figure and, in the flash of a hundred camera bulbs, it catapulted the timid 19-year-old nursery school teacher into the limelight.

I recall that moment well. Diana stepped out of the car, the camera lights exploded, there was an almost audible gasp and, in that moment, Diana became a star.

Within months, she was the most photographed woman in the world.

That grown-up dress, that bashful pose in the spotlight as the world became aware of a budding fashion icon — that moment changed Diana’s life, for ever.

Before then, she had only ever been seen in clothes that were either girly or a little boring — definitely nothing sexy.

Lovely in lace: Diana in 1995 at the Beaufort Hunt and Kate during June's tour of Canada

I designed that dress with my then husband, David. And looking at photos of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, this week, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by memories of the young woman I knew all those years ago — the woman who would have been Kate’s mother-in-law.

Did Kate — who happily wears Diana’s engagement ring — pick that particular dress to draw comparisons? I’m certain not. But many of us who recall that earlier dress can’t help but make them.

Two royal women, two unwitting fashion leaders, two daring black dresses. The parallels are uncanny. Yet, the two women have led two very different lives.

Back to black: Diana at a London Fashion event in 1994 and Kate shopping before her April wedding

Diana at 19 was shy, barely on the cusp of womanhood.

Remembering her in that dress, I see a girl at the start of a huge adventure. She was nervous about getting things wrong. She wanted to appear mature and womanly, but — although she looked beautiful — she wasn’t confident.

Kate, on the other hand, is 29. She is at ease with who she is and what’s expected of her. She is relaxed, self-assured and totally happy with her style.

Monochrome magic: Diana in 1991 at a concert in Salisbury and Kate at an event last Christmas

She's been schooled in a way Diana never was. She wore that wonderful figure-hugging black Alexander McQueen dress with total confidence.

I vividly recall the day Diana chose her dress. She had come into our lives entirely by accident.

David and I were just starting out and had a little studio in London’s Mayfair, around the corner from Vogue magazine.

Because our studio was so close, we often got asked at the last minute to provide clothes for photographic shoots.

Smart-casual: Diana in 1997 during a tour of Bosnia and Kate last July in Canada

One day Anna Harvey, the fashion editor, rang to ask if we could get some clothes over to her for a top-secret celebrity shoot.

Lord Snowdon was photographing a famous woman for the magazine but, of course, we didn’t know who. She needed a high-necked top. We happened to have a pink blouse which sounded as though it might do. So off it went.

The next thing we knew was when we saw the photo: Lord Snowdon’s official engagement photograph. And there was Diana in our blouse. We were thrilled.

Ladies in red: Diana at an event in Whitehall and Kate at a charity engagement in October

A week later, Diana arrived in our studio. I hadn’t recognised her voice when she’d made an appointment. It was a shock when Charles’s fiancee arrived with only a single detective.

We went on to design several dresses before the wedding.

On one visit, she explained that she was attending an evening function with Charles and needed a dress.

She was excited. She knew it was a big deal, as it would be the first time she and Charles were to attend a public function together since their engagement. She was nervous but excited. For Diana it was all terrifyingly new.


Nautical but nice: Diana at the Guards polo club in 1987 and Kate in Canada in July

Silk wonder: Diana in 1985 on a tour of Florida and Kate dining with the in-laws in July

Our small studio meant all our stock was on display. We happened to have just finished designing a collection of black dresses. Diana picked one right off the rail. It was silk taffeta with sequins and sparkly frill at the bust. It didn’t have a name. We just called it ‘the one with the plunge neckline.’

She disappeared into the changing room and, when she re-emerged, we knew it was the one. She looked so elegant.

As she posed in front of the mirror, she announced: ‘It’s perfect.’

It honestly never occurred to any of us that it was very low-cut. It was a sample size 12 and we didn’t need to alter it. We just sent it off to Buckingham Palace.

As for the colour, we didn’t know the royal family traditionally only wear black in mourning. Neither did she.

She had moved into Buckingham Palace after the engagement, but she had no stylist, no one to advise her.

What could be more different than Kate’s life? She had a decade in which to prepare for her place in the spotlight; to learn the ropes and discover the protocols of royal life.

We knew that Diana would be photographed. But none of us realised she would be snapped from every angle — coming out of the car, walking up the steps and bending forward.

Setting the tone: Diana at Ascot in 1988 and Kate at Windsor in June

It’s commonplace now. Kate is schooled in the pitfalls to avoid whenever she is pictured.

The dress caused such an impact it even knocked the Budget off the newspaper front pages. David and I received postbags full of letters and Prudence Glynn, the fashion editor of The Times, wrote a scathing attack, slamming us for designing something so unsuitable for our future queen. We were gutted.

But Diana loved the dress, and the fuss it caused. We had a giggle about it, too. She said Prince Charles had liked it.

Flower power: Diana on a hospital visit in 1991 and Kate on an evening out in 2006

By then she had already chosen us to make her wedding dress.

Over the coming months, we watched her mature and develop her own style — all in the media spotlight of course. And it is with considerable interest that I now watch Kate’s style blossom.

For Diana, it was a steep learning curve. She was developing her style and, at first, everything she wore caused a stir. She loved making a statement.


Suitably dressed: Diana at a 1995 London charity and Kate in Lancashire last April

With Diana, you never knew what to expect. With Kate, you know there isn’t going to be anything controversial.

So yes, Diana was a trailblazer. Her appearance in that dress heralded the start of an incredible journey.

Diana did it first — and in the process she became a unique role model.


source:dailymail

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Lustrous locks: Kate and the secrets of a glossy Chelsea blow-dry

By Nicole Mowbray


Glowing: Kate's lustrous locks this week on a visit to a shelter for homeless young people in South London


The big question all Kate-watchers are asking is: what has the Duchess of Cambridge done to her hair — and, more importantly, how can we get the look ourselves?

This week, visiting a London homeless shelter with Prince William, she wore a daringly figure-hugging Ralph Lauren sweater dress — but all eyes were on her luxuriant chestnut locks, cascading into big, shiny, bouncy curls worthy of a L’Oreal advert.

The polished style Kate favours, with its loose, subtle movement, even has its own nickname. It’s become known as the Chelsea Blow Dry because it’s the brainchild of Chelsea-based hairdresser Richard Ward, and is favoured by other glossy celebrities such as Elle Macpherson and Kelly Brook.


But Kate’s well-tended locks have been transformed over the years from the pleasant mousey tresses she sported at university to a lustrous mane that is the envy of women the world over. So how has she done it?

The Richard Ward team has tended the locks of not only Kate but the entire Middleton family, including Pippa and Carole, for years. Here, he tells us how you can recreate the look yourself.

The Cut

The bad news is that unless you have shoulder-blade length hair to begin with, copying the Duchess will take patience.

Richard advises that it is likely to take someone with shoulder-length hair at least five or six months to grow theirs to Kate’s length — shorter layers should also be grown out because the hair needs to be at one length in order to cut in those expensive-looking layers.

‘Long layers are the key to this look,’ he says. ‘They give free-flowing hair lots of movement — if the layers are too short you don’t get that kind of fluidity throughout the cut. Aim for a side-swept, chin-length fringe and then ask your hairdresser to gently graduate longer layers down from there.’

Once you’ve achieved the ‘Kate’, it doesn’t need to be re-cut as often as other styles. ‘It’s proving popular with so many people because you don’t have to cut every six weeks as usual, you can actually get 12 weeks out of this cut,’ says Richard.

Who said gentlemen prefer blondes? Kate's glossy chestnut glow is the shade women want to emulate

‘Ideally you might want a trim every eight weeks — but a word of warning, anything longer than 12 weeks and it will have grown out so much that your hairdresser will have to re-style your hair each time, too.’

The Colour

Gentlemen prefer blondes? Not now it seems, as Kate’s glossy chestnut glow is the shade everyone wants to emulate.

In order to recreate a similar colour to Kate’s natural tone, Richard suggests an organic vegetable colour to give gloss and shine which will gradually fade over time. ‘At the salon we use L’Oreal Symbio and Fuente Organic colour.

These salon professional colours are ultra conditioning and give richness and intensity. The colour ebbs away naturally and you only need to have it re-done every few months,’ he says.

Richard suggests opting for a dark brunette shade with mahogany tones to emulate Kate’s shade. For fuller depth, Richard advises combining a colour gloss treatment with lowlights.

‘Ask your stylist for three different shades of lowlights, one lighter than your natural base colour, one about the same and one slightly darker to create a multi-tonal affect in the same hues. Dying just a few strands of hair in each shade, as opposed to large sections, achieves a more natural look.’

Richard Ward's salon in London's Chelsea

While at 29, the Duchess has youth on her side, Richard says that her signature shade is just as flattering on a more mature woman too, as the combination of semi-permanent colour and lowlights is clever way to hide the impending grey.

Treatments

How does she get that healthy frizz-free sheen? Keratin treatments have long been the secret of well-groomed women who spend serious money on their image. Although the Duchess has never confirmed she’s had one, this intensive treatment totally transforms unruly or frizzy hair.

The procedure has a few different brand names including the ‘permanent blow dry’, but all work on the same principle of restoring sleekness by infusing it with keratin — a natural protein found in the hair.

‘The attraction of Kate’s style is how healthy her hair looks,’ says Richard. ‘It’s also beautifully blow-dried and to recreate this at home would take lots of time. Many people whose hair takes a long time to dry would find a keratin treatment good because it can halve the time it takes to dry and increases the hair’s shine and smoothness.’

A salon-based keratin treatment costs upwards of £150 and takes about two-and-a-half hours depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

It begins with a wash using a special shampoo to open up the hair follicles. The hair is then rough-dried by a stylist and when completely dry, a keratin mixture is applied to the entire head with a small brush and combed through to ensure complete coverage.

About 30 minutes later, the stylist will begin blow-drying the mixture to make it bond with your hair.

When the hair is dried into your usual style with the hairdryer, it is divided into sections and a pair of ultra-hot miniature straighteners are used to seal the product into the hair shaft.

Hair must then be left for three days. It cannot be tied back, got wet or tucked behind your ears as this can ‘kink’ it. After washing at home, three days later, unmanageable hair is transformed into glossy tameable locks with no frizz. The treatment lasts for four months before it washes out.

‘Treatment masks are a good option to keep hair healthy, too,’ says Richard, who advises using an intensive conditioning product every other week.

‘Try a silk protein or overnight mask treatment — damaged hair, split ends or dry-looking hair won’t work for this look.’

Richard Ward makes an overnight treatment mask called Seasons Winter Hydrate Kit (£22) which is applied to dry hair 15 minutes before you go to bed and hydrates hair while you sleep without leaving a residue on the pillow.

Maintenance

Another of Kate’s secrets is consistency — at every event she’s appeared at over the past few months her gleaming hair has looked identical. The Duchess has regular visits to the salon and a hair-care routine aimed at maintaining optimum condition.

Want to steal some of Kate’s shine? Obviously the first place to start is a good quality shampoo and conditioner.

‘I recommend that my clients use Kerastase Satin Range or my own Richard Ward Couture Hair HydraSlim range,’ says Richard. ‘It uses technology which repairs damage in hair so, if you use it regularly, you’ll have healthy shiny hair. Damaged hair is frizzy while Kate’s signature look is smooth.’

And how often should we be washing our locks? ‘Generally fine hair might need washing every day, while thicker hair like Kate’s should be washed every other day,’ says Richard.

‘This look is all about being polished and your hair will not shine and gleam on day three.’

Richard says the most crucial part of Kate’s glossy look is the finishing touch - the blow dry

The blow dry

Perhaps the most crucial part of Kate’s glossy look is the finishing touch — the blow dry. ‘The Chelsea Blow Dry is a free-flowing sophisticated way to wear long hair,’ says Richard.

And the good news is, while Kate makes an appointment with the professionals before a public appearance, you can recreate Kate’s mane at home. Richard guides us through the steps:

1. Make sure you leave yourself enough time, it should take about 45 minutes.

First, thoroughly cleanse and condition your hair. ‘Use the flats of your fingers not your fingertips or nails to massage in the product and encourage increased circulation to the scalp,’ says Richard.

Rinse your hair for two minutes to ensure any product residue is removed — hair will shine if rinsed really well. Lightly towel dry.

2. Now apply styling products. Use some blow dry oil or serum (a blob about the size of a five pence piece) and smooth from mid-length to the ends to give lovely sheen. Spritz a root boosting product evenly on the first two inches of hair only.

3. For the shiniest finish, hair shouldn’t be dripping, but 80 per cent wet when you start blowdrying — you’ll get the best results when you still have moisture in your hair.
‘The main mistake people make is waving a hair dryer at it to rough dry it,’ says Richard. ‘It becomes over-dried and hard to style.’

4. ‘Start blow-drying at the front if you’re doing it at home — that’s the bit others will see,’ he says.

It also means that this most visible part will be wet enough to get the best styling results. If you start at the back, by the time you reach the front, your hair may be dry and more difficult to manage.

5. Dry each section using a round brush, pointing downwards — use the nozzle of the dryer to concentrate heat on the section, but make sure you hold it at least five inches away from the hair.

Don’t wiggle the brush around too much — move the hairdryer and brush down the hair shaft at the same speed and smooth downward. Once each section is dry, roll it up in a medium sized Velcro roller (available from Boots or any salon) and pin to your head.

6. Keep the rollers in while you get dressed (ideally for half an hour) and remove just before you leave the house. Once you’ve taken the rollers out, turn your head upside down and run your fingers through your hair to separate out the curls.

Finishing Touches

To help keep your blow- dried tresses in shape, apply a tiny bit of serum to give shine and define layers, then a light mist of hairspray.

‘Whatever you do, don’t brush your hair!’ says Richard. ‘Simply toss your head the right way again and you’re good to go.’



source:dailymail

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I’ll wear FIVE outfits in one day, reveals style-icon Kate as she prepares for first Christmas at Sandringham

By Maysa Rawi


Dressed up and dressed down: This week alone, the Duchess has shown she can dress well for any occasion


Spending your first Christmas with the in-laws can be a daunting experience.

But when the occasion involves the Royal family, nerve-wracking is a more fitting description.

The Duchess of Cambridge has admitted that she faces the ultimate wardrobe dilemma for her stay at Sandringham - where she will be expected to change outfits a staggering five times on Christmas day.


Kate confided in a fellow guest at A Night of Heroes at the Imperial War Museum on Sunday night. Saying that she would not be able to repeat an outfit.

Sheridan Bowler, 19, told The Sun: 'She said she was looking forward to Christmas with Prince William's family, and said she had to change dress five times on Christmas Day. I couldn't believe it.'

It's no wonder Kate has been spotted shopping on the King's Road recently, probably in search of suitable pieces for her upcoming trip.

Thankfully the Duchess has a natural instinct for appropriate attire - as she demonstrated in her £350 Ralph Lauren dress at last night's visit to a homeless shelter.

Wardrobe dilemma: The Duchess of Cambridge will need an outfit for church, including a hat, a long dress for dinner and at least one other for lunch


She will no doubt look near perfect for every event.

Royal etiquette expert Jean Broke-Smith told Grazia magazine: 'Kate will need a casual outfit for breakfast, a smart outfit - and a hat - for the morning church service, a dress for lunch, a cocktail dress for early evening drinks and a full-length dress for the evening meal.

'The golden rule is nothing too short, too revealing or too gaudy.'

Pressure: Kate will spend the Christmas with the Royal family at Sandringham


Kate has been seen shopping at Zara, LK Bennett where she has reportedly picked up a black sheath dress and two cashmere cardigans.

For a more high-end look, she is said to have ordered two evening dresses from Alexander McQueen - the label she chose for her wedding gown to marry Prince William.

If the heavy sartorial pace isn't enough pressure, imagine having to pick a Christmas gift for the Queen...


source:dailymail

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Copy Kate! Has the thrifty duchess been raiding mother's wardrobe?

By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent


Suits you: Carole Middleton wears the £650 Collette Dinnigan design in 2009 (left) while her daughter the duchess donned the same frock for a friend’s wedding in September


Dressing like your mother is usually a fashion no-no. But when that mother is the elegant Carole Middleton, it’s a little hard to resist.

The Duchess of Cambridge, however, doesn’t just share Mummy’s sense of style. She apparently shares her clothes as well.

According to well-placed sources, the thrifty Kate frequently raids her 56-year-old mother’s wardrobe when she needs a special little something.


Last time she rifled though the rails, she came up with this raspberry lace dress.
The £650 Collette Dinnigan design was just perfect for the friend’s wedding the new duchess, 29, attended in September.

She added a pillbox hat and black 4in Prada heels to make the look her own.
Carole Middleton had looked equally stunning when she wore the dress her own way in 2009 for the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. A jaunty blue Jane Corbett fascinator is another winner with both mother and daughter.

Kate wore it to the wedding of Nicholas van Cutsem, one of William’s closest friends, while Carole tried it on for size at Royal Ascot.

When off-duty, the duchess and her mother are also cut from the same cloth. Skinny jeans tucked into knee-high leather boots and billowy white shirts are family favourites for casual days.

It is not the first time, however, that Kate has been seen wearing her mother’s cast offs.

The pair also shared an eye-catching fur hat in 2006 - seen first on Carole when she was a surprise guest at Prince William’s passing out parade from Sandhurst in February 2006, then borrowed by Kate for a visit to the Cheltenham races the following month.

Mum knows best: Carol and Kate both wore the same jaunty blue Jane Corbett fascinator hat


They also swopped a jaunty Jane Corbett blue fascinator which Kate wore to the wedding of Nicholas van Cutsem, one of William’s closest pals, and Carole to Royal Ascot.

Casually, Kate and her stylish mother also have remarkably similar tastes – skinny-legged jeans tucked into knee high leather boots, Stetson style hats and billowing white linen shirts.

Flirty skater-style skirts, knee high suede boots and tightly-fitted jackets are another favourite.

Carole has also introduced her daughter to one of her favourite out-of-the-way boutiques, Moda Rosa in rural Hampshire.

he small, but well-stocked, store has fast become what friends describe as the Duchess’s ‘fashion secret’.

Kate is such a frequent visitor to the shop in the market town of Alresford that she even invited its owner, Rosie Wild, to her wedding and bought from her a number of outfits for her honeymoon and first official tour to Canada over the summer.

Kate’s influence on fashion is soaring but she is keen not to be seen as simply a clothes horse. So keen, in fact, that she has barred staff from releasing details of her outfits.

Could it be she just doesn’t want the world to know her real style secret? Don’t worry Kate, mum’s the word!



source:dailymail

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I'm all white with it: Kate dazzles in Grecian gown at St James's Palace dinner after Wills gets six-week Falklands posting

By Rebecca English


Putting on a brave face: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appear relaxed as they attend an event with the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal


If she felt down at just hearing her husband is to undertake a six-week posting to the Falkland Islands, she was not letting on.

Instead the Duchess of Cambridge looked every inch the glamorous hostess as she and Prince William hosted a charity dinner last night.

Wearing a silver Grecian-style gown, believed to be by designer Alice Temperley, draped over one shoulder and gently gathered in at the waist and featuring a bright red poppy, Kate dazzled as they entertained 120 guests in the Picture Gallery at St James’s Palace.


The couple were holding a dinner at St James’s Palace for the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal, of which the Duke is patron.

The fund hopes to raise £12 million to turn the Arboretum, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, which honours all those who have sacrificed their lives for their country, into a world-renowned centre for Remembrance.

More than 300,000 families, servicemen, veterans and members of the public visit the 150-acre site each year.

In 2006 the Daily Mail was instrumental in helping to raise funds to build the breathtaking Armed Forces Memorial, which stands at the centre of the site and pays tribute to the 16,000 British servicemen and women who have died since the Second World War, after the British Legion was refused lottery funding.

The Duchess wore a Temperley creation which skimmed over one shoulder and tied around the waist. Her height and slim figure carried off the Grecian style dress which were coupled with shoes of the same colour


The monument has been designed so that at exactly 11am on November 11 – Armistice Day – a slit in one wall will let a ray of sunshine light the central plaque.

Shortly before last night’s dinner, the Duke – who has himself lost two close friends in Iraq and Afghanistan - gave a short speech.

In it he described how in just a few years the Arboretum had become an ‘iconic focal point’ for the nation’s remembrance of ‘British heroes’.


All smiles: Kate Middleton showed now signs of sadness at the news of William's posting to the Falklands

The Duchess looks glamorous in her Grecian style dress, coupled with the all important poppy. She also added some sparkle with some bold earrings


William continued: ‘For Britons today, and for generations of Britons to come, the example of dedicating one’s life to helping and protecting others and to the service of our Country remains core to our values as a Nation. Nowhere is this lesson better taught than through contemplation of the names inscribed on the memorials in Staffordshire.‪‪

‘It is a place of sanctuary for those who come to remember and a place of quiet pride in the selflessness and sacrifice of those who have gone before. It is also a place of education. ‪’‪

The guests, which included actresses Penelope Keith and Susan Hampshire, then heard from Jacqui Thompson, the widow of Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson of 3 Squadron RAF Regiment, who was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in April 2008.

At 51, Mr Thompson is the oldest member of the UK Armed Forces to have been killed during the 10 year conflict.

All eyes on Kate: The couple were holding a dinner at St James's Palace for the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal, of which the Duke is patron


His wife, an inspiring mother of five daughters, explained to guests the personal significance the Arboretum has for her family.

Afterwards she said: ‘It was fab to meet them. They said they were sorry to hear about Gary and they were so sincere and interested. I felt they could have been my son and daughter.

‘The arboretum is such an incredible place and William's interest in the appeal means such a lot. The older generation will always have respect for the armed forces and what it means to put your life on the line but some of the younger generation who haven't experienced war might not appreciate this.

‘Through his interest he is making sure the younger generation are kept aware.

‘When I heard he was going to the Falklands I felt for his wife and the worry she must have. When you love someone you're going to miss them terribly.’

Kate also bumped into old acquaintance Georgina Wessels at the reception who she recognised from her days at St Andrews University.

The Duke of Cambridge and his wife entertained 120 guests in the Picture Gallery at St James's Palace


Georgina, who is pregnant with a baby due in March, said: ‘We used to live on the same street at university.

‘We've bumped into each other a few times over the years but it's all a bit more formal now.

‘She was very excited for us about the baby. She's just very lovely and genuine and sweet.’

Kate, who has been plagued by rumours she is pregnant herself, gave no indication as to whether the growing baby talk is true.

The guests then assembled for a three course dinner, sitting at tables decorated with tiny trees which will be planted in the 150-acre Staffordshire arboretum.


Keen to go: Prince William at the controls of a Sea King helicopter, which he will be co-piloting on a six-week tour of the Falklands early next year


source:dailymail

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'If I had that job I would only wear a dress once': Now Kelly Osbourne takes a swipe at Kate Middleton

By Daily Mail Reporter


Outspoken: Kelly Osbourne appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno yesterday


Kelly Osbourne has turned her critical eye onto Kate Middleton.

Days after slamming Christina Aguilera's fuller figure and calling her a 'fat b****' the star of E!'s Fashion Police has taken a swipe Duchess of Cambridge.

She appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and told him she thinks Kate shouldn't recycle her wardrobe.


'In England they are like look how thrifty she's being, showing the British public that the Royals are in a recession as well,' she said.

'Only in this country they call it a faux pas.'

Kelly said Kate's duties should entitle her to throw or give away her clothes at the end of every day.

She fumed: 'Well I'm sorry but if I had that job I would only wear it once.

'If I am going to be the future bloody Queen of England I'm going to wear that dress once because I'm giving up the rest of my life, all of my privacy, at least I can get a new dress every day.'

Recycling her wardrobe: Kate Middleton at Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's wedding this month and right, in 2006

Being thrifty or a fashion faux pas? The Duchess at a pre-wedding party for Zara and Mike and right, on her visit to LA last month


Leno chimed in: 'How about underpants? Would you throw them away?'
Kelly replied: 'Well, if I could I would.

'That's a really good idea actually.'

During the interview Kelly had to confront some of her own faux pas when Leno produced a picture of the last time she had been on the show when The Osbounes was on air and she refused to sit on the seat and instead slouched on the couch.

Having a laugh: The blonde was on the show to promote E!'s Fashion Police

Flashback: Kelly was mortified when Leno showed her a clip of the last time she was on his show


'That's hilarious,' Leno said in a sarcastic tone.

'It's not,' said Kelly. 'Its disrespectful and I look like a little s**t.'

Kelly was then quizzed whether her own weight loss since appearing on Dancing With The Stars had enabled her to become a fashionista.

Kelly said: 'No one takes fashion advice from a fat person - they don't.

'Unfortunately that's the world we live in.

'I've always had this little fashion voice inside me but nobody would pay attention and that's fine - I understand that's the way the world works.'


source:dailymail

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Haven't we seen that outfit somewhere before? Kate turns up to Zara's wedding in a coat she last wore in 2006

By Sarah Bull


Kate Middleton arriving at Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's wedding, left, wearing a coat she also wore in 2006, right, at the nuptials of Laura Parker Bowles at St Cyriac's Church in Lacock, Wiltshire


As the Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of the future King of England, Kate has the world at her feet.

After establishing herself as a fashion icon, designers are constantly falling over themselves in a bid to dress the world's most famous royal.

But as she arrived at Canonbury Kirk for Zara Phillips' wedding this afternoon wearing a dress that has rested in her wardrobe for more than five years, it sent out the clear message that Kate has no desire to act as Royal clothes horse - nor did she wish to turn Zara's big day into a fashion parade.

Hat's amazing: The key difference between the 2006 ensemble and that of 2011 was Kate's strikingly large headgear

Royal recycler: Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, opted for a green Diane Von Furstenberg dress for Zara Phillips' pre-wedding party last night which she had previously worn to an event in Los Angeles this month

Stylish: The green silk 'Maja' dress featured a low V back and brushed gold buttons along the seam


Eschewing expensive new couture, Catherine dipped into her closet to find an old favourite, a chic embroidered coat she last wore in 2006 at the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles. It was a simple look, perhaps chosen deliberately so as to avoid any possibility of upstaging the bride.

She gave the pale gold outfit an update with an oversized tilted hat, lined on the underside with a bow and giant bloom. On her feet, her trademark nude pumps.

Five years ago when she wore the outfit last, Catherine chose a beige and black feathered hat and nude kitten heels.

Something blue: Kate at The Duke of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday service in June, and, right, wearing the same coat dress in 2009


It is the second time this weekend that Kate has broken out a trusty favourite. At the pre-wedding cocktail party yesterday, Kate chose to wear a green Diane Von Furstenberg dress she had worn previously at a reception during her and William, the Duke of Cambridge's, tour of Los Angeles earlier this month.

In an attempt to make the outfit look different, Kate teamed it with a pair of black patent heels - in contrast to the nude court shoes she accessorised it with last time.

The $398 silk 'Maja' dress, from the designer's new collection, featured a green sash belt and a deep V back, complete with brushed gold buttons running down the seam.

You can't have too much of a good thing: The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in Ottawa on her Canadian royal tour in the same white Reiss dress that she wore for her official engagement portrait in November (right)


Kate has decided to recycle outfits for other royal engagements too.

Earlier this year, she was seen wearing the same blue jacquard coat dress to the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday party, after previously breaking it out back in 2009.

Kate also wore the same black and white dress she had previously worn to a nightclub back in 2007 as she attended a friend's wedding in June.

And, as she began her royal tour of Canada with William earlier this month, Kate made the decision to wear the white Reiss dress she had donned for one of her official engagement photographs ahead of the pair's wedding in April.

It was reported earlier this year that the Duchess had told a friend she didn't want to be a 'clothes horse', and was intending to wear her outfits more than once.

She was quoted as telling a friend: 'Times are tough; I cannot be expected to wear a new outfit for every royal engagement. I am not a fashion model.'

The friend also apparently said: 'The Duchess is aware that people are struggling in the current economic climate.

'Changing outfits for every engagement is simply not practical nor affordable and would send out the wrong message.'

Monochrome: Kate wore this black and white dress to a friend's wedding in June, after wearing it previously on a night out at a London nightclub back in 2007


source:dailymail

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The intelligent, efficient perfectionist: Kate Middleton would have made a 'great teacher' says leading handwriting expert

By Daily Mail Reporter


'Punctual, open, good at explaining things clearly': A handwriting expert claims the right-slanting cursive of the then Catherine Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, means she would make an excellent teacher


The Duchess of Cambridge certainly earned top marks on her recent royal tour, but according to one character analysis expert, Miss Middleton may have missed her vocation.

A leading graphologist's study of the Duchess' handwriting has shown that her pedantry for time keeping, intelligence and efficiency would make her the perfect school teacher.

Former chairman of the British Institute for Graphologist, Elaine Quigley, studied a letter penned by Kate over a year before she became a member of the Royal Family in April.

She said the characteristics of Kate's cursive script is helpful in shedding light on her private persona and, in particular, her natural aptitude for academia.


Quigley said: 'The flow of Kate's script with rightward slant and joined letters, shows a writer who reaches out towards others.

'Looking at the letter, the endings of words are rather short, it shows her use of time is efficient. She doesn't prolong something that can be dealt with promptly.

'It is clear that she likes to move to the next thing without a lot of fuss or extended leave taking.

'She clearly believes time-keeping should be taken seriously and, as a bit of a perfectionist, she will prefer to be ready early rather than rushing at the last minute.

'Judging by the characteristics of her writing, Kate would make a great teacher, she has the ability to explain things clearly and sensibly.'

The Duchess lived up to her billing as the new people's princess on the tour of Canada with Prince William, where she effortlessly interacted with the public.

In the most touching picture moment of the tour Kate embraced a young cancer-sufferer - a show of Diana-like humility.

Upfront: Catherine's signature is readable and flowing, which denotes the fact that she is a natural in her way of dealing with people, says the expert


Quigley said the ease with which Kate interacts with normal people is not surprising given the clues in her script.

She said: 'Her signature is readable and flowing, which denotes the fact that she is up-front and natural in her way of dealing with people.

'It is clear that she is intelligent and uses both logic and sensory judgement in her appraisal of people and their needs. She is sensitive to how people respond to her.

'Looking at the writing itself, with the close line-spacing, it would seem that once she has embarked upon a social activity, she gives it her full commitment.

'She has a sense of justice and also of responsibility to those who need her support and she really does enjoy meeting people.'


Compassionate: Graphologist Elaine Quigley, one of the leading handwriting analysts in the country, says Catherine is an honest, strong person with a talent for 'reaching out' to others


Despite being the new darling of the Royal Family however, Quigley warned of a serious and businesslike edge to Kate's writing, something she said will stand her in good stead for her life of duty alongside William.

On the Canadian tour, the eldest Middleton showed her competitive spirit by taking on the future king in a Canadian Dragon boat race.

Despite coming in second best, Quigley said that fierce independence and a determination to do well is something we can expect to see more of from Kate.

She said: 'Kate is strong enough to evaluate a situation and, when able to follow her own judgement, she usually gets things right.

'Firmness and an inky pen trace shows a sensory personality attracted to what is useful and satisfying.

'She needs to be active, efficient and maintain high standards and likes to prepare for what she has to do, rather than rushing in and hoping for the best.

'I have no doubt that public office will be taken seriously and never seen as a chore.

'The combination of smooth but slightly angular writing shows an easy manner with a sharp mind.

'She recognises that privilege brings with it responsibility and she will be conscious of always carrying herself with dignity, pleasant receptivity and warmth'.


source:dailymail

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Diana's diamonds: William gives Kate his mother's favourite earrings

By Daily Mail Reporter


Prince William has given a pair of his mother's earrings to new wife Kate.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore the diamond and sapphire gems during the couple's official visit to Canada and America.

Kate, 29, had Diana's heavy studs remodelled into drop earrings and wore them for the first time when she watched Andy Murray from the Royal Box at Wimbledon last month.

Favourite: Kate wore the remodelled earrings on tour in Canada and Diana was regularly spotted wearing the jewellery


The earrings were thought to be among Diana's most precious jewels and she was spotted wearing them at dozens of events during the 1980s and 1990s.

A courtier told the Sunday Mirror: 'Now they're married William wanted her to have some of his mother's favourite pieces.'

It is not the first time the Duchess' style has been compared with the late Princess Diana's.

Comparisons: From the Duchess' wedding day commentators were already comparing the couple to Princess Diana and Prince Charles

Kate wore a similar outfit to that of Princess Diana when she visited Canada by donning a maple leaf hat.

Both sported red hats with white dresses during their official visits but Princess Diana made a slightly bolder statement by wearing a matching red scarf.

Crowds across the globe were eager to make comparisons as Diana and Charles made a similar tour in 1983.

The People's Princess: Diana devoted her time to charity work..

And Kate was seen to be equally interested in speaking to people on the official Canada tour, doing impromptu walkabouts


Princess Diana was the main attraction with thousands of people waved flags and shouted the slogan 'We Want Di'.

And Prince William's new wife was also a real crowd pleaser and her wardrobe had been one of the main topics of discussion.

The couple are currently deciding on a permanent London base, and are tipped to take Apartment 1a in Kensington Palace, a lavish 19-room suite that was once the home of the late Princess Margaret.

It was reported the couple also considered Apartments 8 and 9, the former marital home of Charles and Diana where William grew up, but Kate is said to have been uncomfortable with the idea.

'They have been to look around Margaret's apartment and like it very much,' said a source.


source:dailymail

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