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Showing posts with label News Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News Update. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Victory for the brunette brigade as Duchess of Cambridge and Pippa Middleton are named top beauty icons of 2011

By Deborah Arthurs


Kate Middleton has been voted the top beauty icon of 2011 - beating sister Pippa into second place.

Kate, who became the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William in April, came out top in a poll of 3,000 women.

The 29-year-old Duchess has become recognised as increasingly style savvy throughout the year, appearing impeccably turned-out at various public occasions over the year.

Brunette brigade: Kate won over the 3,000 women polled with her trademark glossy brown locks and heavy eyeliner, while Pippa's perfect tan and natural make up earned her second place


Always immaculately groomed, Kate has remained true to the make up and hair style she has always favoured - albeit with a little more polish as her profile grows.

Her glossy brunette locks - tended to until recently by stylists from the Richard Ward salon in London - tumble about her shoulders with a subtle curl to the ends, and her dark eyeliner, which the Duchess famously applies with her own confident hand, completes her trademark look.

In second place was Kate's younger sister Pippa, 28, who shot to worldwide fame after images of her derriere in her Sarah Burton maid-of-honour dress were circulated globally in the days following her sister's nuptials.

Like Kate, she was hailed for her signature look of dark tan, glossy lips with fresh faced make-up.

Third place in the Superdrug poll went to last year's winner Cheryl Cole, who continues to win admirers despite having kept a low profile since her departure from American X Factor.

Sara Wolverson, Superdrug Director of beauty, who commissioned the research, said: 'What is fascinating is that four of the five celebrity women to appear in the top five are brunettes, which would indicate that while blondes may have more fun, brunettes are seen to be more beautiful.

Topping the polls: Last year's winner Cheryl Cole came in third place, while Rihanna's exotic beauty won her fourth place


'Everyone in the list has a distinct look, whether it's natural beauty, full octane glamour or a love of beauty trend-hopping.

'While the majority of ladies in the list are natural beauties, we also see the TOWIE effect with Amy Childs appearing on the list for the first time with her Essex tan, hair extensions, and false nails.'

The study also found Cheryl managed to nudge her replacement on the UK X Factor, judge Tulisa Contostavlos, down into sixth place.

Pop princess Rihanna and This Morning television presenter Holly Willoughby completed the top five beauty icons of 2011.

Seventh in the list is mother-to-be Beyonce who appears on the list for the first time, while Harry Potter's Emma Watson appears at number eight on the list.

With her pixie haircut, the young actress is the only woman in the top ten with short hair.

American singer and Mrs Russell Brand Katy Perry takes the number nine spot, cited for her quirky style, while mother-of-four and fashion icon Victoria Beckham completes the top ten.

New entries for 2011 include singers Lady Gaga at 12, Katherine Jenkins at 14 and Vogue cover girl Adele at 16.

Some who appeared in last year's list failed to appear this year, with Kylie Minogue, Fearne Cotton, Leona Lewis, Michelle Obama and Gemma Arterton all falling out of the top 20.

Sara Wolverson added: 'As always our Beauty Icons survey gives a snapshot of the changing face of British beauty.

'A key change for us is the continued rise of the brunette with three quarters of the top 20 sporting brown hair.

'We can see directly how changing celebrity trends affect our sales, from the 'Duchess effect' on sales of black eyeliner, to the 'Gaga effect' causing crazy nail art and our brightest cosmetics being a huge hit all year long, and Rihanna and Cheryl Cole's flirtation with vibrant red hair causing sales to rocket.'



source:dailymail

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Royal Family attend Christmas Day service at Sandringham as Duke of Edinburgh recovers in hospital from heart operation

-Stunning Duchess of Cambridge joins Royals for Christmas service
-Family join community for mass and pray for Prince Philip's recovery
-Duke is in 'good spirits' but 'eager to leave' hospital to join Royal family
-Tube was placed into his heart to keep artery open and reduce the pain
-Duke was 'likely' to have been suffering from a heart attack, doctor says

By Anna Edwards


Christmas tradition: The Royal Family put on a brave face for the festivities, despite Prince Philip's recent heart scare


The Royal Family have attended Christmas Day service at their private Norfolk estate while the Duke of Edinburgh recovers in hospital.

The Queen and senior Royals will celebrate Christmas Day without Prince Philip as he continues to recover from emergency heart surgery to treat a blocked coronary artery.

The Duke, 90, remains in Papworth Hospital in Cambridge following the procedure to insert a stent into his heart to keep an artery open and relieve his chest pain.


Dressed to impress: At her first Royal Christmas the Duchess of Cambridge looked elegant in a simple maroon outfit by a British designer, while the Queen wore a lavender coat with a glittering diamond and pearl brooch


Festive tradition: Prince Charles led his family to the second service with a smiling Camilla, while Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed close behind

Meeting Catherine at Christmas: The crowds were thrilled to greet the Duchess


The Royal family will visit him at the specialist heart hospital this afternoon after he has spent two nights under doctors' observation.

The Duke missed the private Christmas morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham which has become an annual tradition for the Royal family since the early 1990s.

The Royals returned to the church for a second mass, which is a community service.

During the service, rector of Sandringham the Rev Jonathan Riviere asked the congregation to join him in a prayer for the Duke of Edinburgh's health.

He said: 'We pray for the Queen and the Royal Family, especially today we pray for Prince Philip and his continued recovery.'


Delighting the crowds: Catherine accepts some flowers from a young girl


Festive gift: Her Majesty receives flowers from well-wishers following the Christmas Day church service


Merry Christmas! Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge greets members of the public as she leaves the traditional Christmas Day service at Sandringham


First Christmas as a married couple: Prince William escorted his stunning wife to the church

Family occasion: Prince William and Prince Harry were greeted by well-wishers who joined them in the community service

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said the Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a hat by Jane Corbett.

Her coat was created by an independent British dressmaker, he added, but declined to reveal the designer's identity.

'The Duchess is keen to use independent British dressmakers, whose skills and craftsmanship she admires,' he said.

Corbett, who is based in Hungerford, Berkshire, describes herself as a 'couture milliner and artist' on her website.

She has been creating bespoke hats for more than 15 years and was trained by Rose Cory, the late Queen Mother's milliner.

Corbett designed the pale blue hat that mother Carole Middleton wore to Catherine's wedding in April.

Every piece is hand-crafted to suit each client, their outfit and occasion, her website says.

The Queen wore a dress in lavender Armani wool gabardine and a coat in lavender wool boucle, both by Karl Ludwig.

Her ivory hat with lavender wool boucle detail at the base was created by Angela Kelly.

She wore a diamond shell brooch with a pearl at the centre.

Hundreds of people queued at the gates today to see the Queen and her family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Zara Phillips and husband Mike Tindall, make the short journey to the royal estate's church.

England rugby player Mike Tindall and the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, who married in the summer, also attended the service.

The royals traditionally gather at Sandringham for Christmas. Philip normally walks the few hundred yards from the main house to the church and is not thought to have missed a Christmas Day service before.

Well-wishers called out with questions about the Duke, but members of the family did not respond.

The royals traditionally gather at Sandringham for Christmas. Prince Philip normally walks the few hundred yards from the main house to the church and is not thought to have missed a Christmas Day service before.

Well-wishers called out with questions about the Duke, but members of the family did not respond.

The Duchess of Cambridge is spending her first Christmas as part of the Royal Family following her marriage to Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, in April.


Smart: Princess Beatrice wore a simple and stylish navy coat and hat for the Christmas service


Festive day: Catherine and Prince William, with Prince Harry, led members of the Royal Family to church on Christmas morning for the private early service


Christmas morning: Members of The Royal family, including Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, arrive at church today for the private mass where they received communion

Family gathering: Catherine, seen here with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, is spending her first Christmas with the Royals

If Prince Philip makes good progress he could be back among them for the Boxing Day shoot, which he was reportedly supposed to be leading.

Her Majesty visited her stricken husband at Papworth Hospital near Cambridge yesterday morning along with other members of the Royal family.

The Queen was flown to Papworth from Sandringham in the royal helicopter and was then driven to the hospital in a Range Rover.

She was accompanied by the Earl of Wessex, The Princess Royal and the Duke of York as they visited the Duke's bedside.

The Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were seen arriving by car.

The Duke, 90, was 'in good spirits' and had spent a 'good night' following the coronary stent procedure on Friday, Buckingham Palace said.

But a Palace spokesman said it was not known when the Duke will be discharged from hospital.

'He is being kept in under observation for a short time but we don't have a release date yet,' the spokesman told MailOnline.

Earlier, the Palace said: 'The Queen, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal arrived from Sandringham to Papworth by helicopter before 11am and were flown away shortly before midday.

High spirits: Prince Andrew beams on Christmas morning while Princess Anne wraps up warmly for the service


'They were met by Mr Stephen Bridge, chief executive of Papworth, and Professor John Cunningham, physician to the Queen.

'The visit lasted 45 minutes. Prince Philip is in good spirits.

'The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall also arrived by car 45 minutes later.'

Prince Philip was taken to the specialist heart hospital after complaining of chest pains. Following tests, a blocked artery was discovered by doctors.


Family affair: The Queen was seen at the site with her son, the Earl of Wessex Prince Edward


Concern: Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrive at Papworth by car

Support: The Queen was also accompanied by her daughter, Princess Anne


He underwent an 'invasive procedure of coronary stenting', which was declared a success.

As details of Prince Phillip's health scare emerged, one senior doctor said it 'was likely' the Duke of Edinburgh had suffered a heart attack which was stopped in its tracks by the emergency surgery.

Dr Iqbal Malik, a consultant at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph: 'It seems that he probably was having a heart attack that Papworth have successfully aborted.

'Hopefully he will make a great recovery from this. Despite the fact he is 90 the chance of him getting on with his life is optimised by having that blocked vessel open.'

It is not known when he will be discharged, but medical experts have said that many patients can leave hospital a day after undergoing the procedure, providing there are no complications.

Dr Simon Davies, a cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, said: ‘The pain was from the heart. It means that one or more of the coronary arteries was badly narrowed or perhaps blocked.

‘That meant that the blood was not passing through that artery so the muscle was starving of oxygen and in danger of dying, in other words a heart attack, or was on the verge of one.’

The Duke would normally have been welcoming guests to Sandringham, which is set in 60 acres of gardens, offering the perfect sanctuary for the family's break.


Departure: The Queen prepares to board the royal helicopter with the Princess Royal (second left) and Earl of Wessex (third left)

In flight: Members of the royal family left by helicopter 45 minutes after their visit to Prince Philip


Today the Queen and her family will make the short journey to St Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate.

Buckingham Palace has said the Christmas service will go ahead as planned and no changes to the family's celebrations are expected.

The royals will wake today to find stockings filled with small gifts and fruit at the foot of their beds, as they usually open their presents on Christmas Eve.

Back at the house after the church service, their festive lunch is served at 1pm and the family enjoys a giant turkey, reared at Sandringham.

One of the highlights of the day is undoubtedly when the royals gather around a television to watch the monarch's traditional Christmas broadcast.

This year, the monarch is expected to talk about the importance of family in the message which was recorded on December 9, two weeks before her husband was taken ill.

The Queen leaves the room and lets her family watches the national address without her.

The festive weekend will also see the Duchess of Cambridge spending her first Christmas as a member of the Royal Family.


Prince Philip, with the Queen, was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, according to Buckingham Palace


Prince Philip has been taken to Papworth Hospital rather than a local cottage hospital

Concern: Well-wishers gathered at the hospital's gates yesterday to catch a glimpse of Prince Philip's visitors and to show support to the family

It is believed the Queen has been reassured her husband’s health is improving and he is receiving the very best care.

Last night the Duke's wife and children were being kept updated on his condition.

Although it may be viewed by some as uncaring, this is normal procedure within the Royal Family – and the Duke would have it no other way.

When he was in hospital for four days with a chest infection in 2008 he refused to receive any visitors and spent his time catching up on his paperwork.

The Duke’s heart scare will come as a terrible blow to his wife of 64 years, who is due to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee next year with a nationwide tour with her husband by her side.

A source claimed that although the Queen is ostensibly the ‘senior partner’ in their relationship, she relies on her husband ‘utterly’.

‘It may be a clich? but he truly is the power behind the throne,’ said a source. ‘He is her rock.’

Philip is already the longest-serving consort in British history and the oldest serving partner of a reigning monarch.

His duties as consort began on February 6, 1952, when his young wife, then Princess Elizabeth, succeeded her father, George VI.


The Queen and Prince Philip's Golden wedding portrait in 1997, left, and the Duke at a review of the Trooping the Colour

The Queen wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Duke of Edinburgh in uniform of Admiral of the Fleet wave from Buckingham Palace after the Coronation in 1953


Earlier this year the Duke announced plans to scale back on all but his most important duties

In June, in an interview to mark his 90th birthday with the BBC, the outspoken Duke admitted he was reducing his workload before he reached his ‘sell-by date’.

He said: ‘I reckon I’ve done my bit, I want to enjoy myself for a bit now. With less responsibility, less rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say.’

He is one of the most active members of the Royal family and has only recently started showing signs of slowing down.

The Queen and Prince Philip chose not to attend Royal Variety Performance amid rumours that the Duke was beginning to tire of the annual extravaganza.

It is believed he was not keen on the tiring trip to Salford, the controversial location of a huge new home for the BBC, and the monarch did not want to attend without him.

Next year Prince Philip will accompany the Queen to ten regions of the UK between March and July to mark Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

The Royals have gathered for their annual Christmas celebration at Sandringham House


Papworth describes itself as the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country's main heart and lung transplant centre.

It treats more than 22,800 inpatient and day cases and 53,400 outpatients each year.

Its services include cardiology, respiratory medicine, and cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation.


The Duke of Edinburgh with a young Princess Elizabeth, Prince Charles, aged three and one-year-old Princess Anne at Clarence House in 1951


The Queen and Prince Philip with their children, the Princess Royal, Prince Charles, Prince Edward (seated) and Prince Andrew



source: dailymail

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Duke of Edinburgh taken to hospital with chest pains and treated for a blocked coronary artery

By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent


The Duke of Edinburgh was last night under surveillance in the world-famous Papworth Hospital after emergency surgery for a blocked coronary artery.

The 90-year-old royal was flown to the specialist cardiothoracic unit, near Cambridge, in a RAF search and rescue helicopter after being taken ill at Sandringham with serious chest pains.

After ‘precautionary’ tests, Philip underwent what was described as a ‘minimally invasive procedure’ known as coronary stenting.

This involves placing a tube in the coronary arteries that supply the heart, to keep them open in the treatment of heart disease. Stents reduce chest pain and have been shown to improve survival rates in the event of an acute heart problem.

Dr Simon Davies, a cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, said: ‘It meant that the pain was from the heart. It means that one or more of the coronary arteries was badly narrowed or perhaps blocked.

‘That meant that the blood was not passing through that artery so the muscle was starving of oxygen and in danger of dying, in other words a heart attack, or was on the verge of one.’

In view of his age, the Queen’s husband, who still conducts more than 350 engagements each year, will remain in hospital for a day or so for further monitoring.

Sources said it was unlikely that members of the Royal Family would be visiting him in the coming hours but confirmed that his wife and children were being kept updated on his condition back at the Queen’s private Norfolk estate, where they are gathered for Christmas.

Although it may be viewed by some as uncaring, this is normal procedure within the Royal Family – and the Duke would have it no other way.

When he was in hospital for four days with a chest infection in 2008 he refused to receive any visitors and spent his time catching up on his paperwork.

Prince Philip, with the Queen, was taken tonight to hospital as a precautionary measure, according to Buckingham Palace


Buckingham Palace said in a statement last night: ‘His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was taken to Papworth Cardiothoracic Centre this evening from Sandringham House for precautionary tests after experiencing chest pain.

‘Following tests at Papworth the Duke of Edinburgh was found to have a blocked coronary artery which had caused his chest pains. This was treated successfully by the minimally invasive procedure of coronary stenting. Prince Philip will remain in hospital for observation for a short period.’

It is believed the Duke was flown to the hospital, which is around 60 miles away from the Sandringham estate, by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Wattisham, near Stowmarket in Suffolk, where Prince Harry is based.

Prince Philip has been taken to Papworth Hospital rather than a local cottage hospital


The Duke’s illness comes at the start of the royal Christmas gathering at Sandringham in Norfolk.

Every senior member of the Royal Family was at the estate yesterday, including Prince Charles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke of York, Princess Anne and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The Duke’s heart scare will come as a terrible blow to his wife of 64 years, who is due to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee next year with a nationwide tour with her husband by her side.

A source claimed that although the Queen is ostensibly the ‘senior partner’ in their relationship, she relies on her husband ‘utterly’.

‘It may be a cliché but he truly is the power behind the throne,’ said a source. ‘He is her rock.’

Philip is already the longest-serving consort in British history and the oldest serving partner of a reigning monarch.

His duties as consort began on February 6, 1952, when his young wife, then Princess Elizabeth, succeeded her father, George VI.

The Duke plays a major role in the Sandringham Christmas festivities. The Royal Family traditionally exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.


The Queen and Prince Philip's Golden wedding portrait in 1997, left, and the Duke at a review of the Trooping the Colour

The Queen wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Duke of Edinburgh in uniform of Admiral of the Fleet wave from Buckingham Palace after the Coronation in 1953

Later on, the Queen and other women adjourn, leaving Philip to serve port or brandy to the Prince of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry and the rest of the royal men.

On Christmas morning the family go to church. In recent years Philip has continued to make the mile-long walk from the house, unlike the Queen, who is chauffeur-driven. And Philip always organises the Boxing Day shoot at Sandringham.

Earlier this year the Duke announced plans to scale back on all but his most important duties.

In June, in an interview to mark his 90th birthday with the BBC, the outspoken Duke admitted he was reducing his workload before he reached his ‘sell-by date’.

He said: ‘I reckon I’ve done my bit, I want to enjoy myself for a bit now. With less responsibility, less rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say.’

Papworth describes itself as the UK's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and the country's main heart and lung transplant centre.

The Royals have gathered for their annual Christmas celebration at Sandringham House

It treats more than 22,800 inpatient and day cases and 53,400 outpatients each year.

Its services include cardiology, respiratory medicine, and cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation.

Dickie Arbiter, a former press secretary to the Queen, said: 'The Duke of Edinburgh's health is actually pretty good given that he is 90.'

Mr Arbiter, who is Sky's royal commentator, told the broadcaster: 'He has had these chest pains before and I don't think it's anything untoward, but given his age they are being safe rather than sorry.

'I am sure we are going to see him on Christmas Day and he can look forward to accompanying the Queen in the new year.'

Margaret Holder, a royal commentator, told the BBC: 'It's obviously very worrying for the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family who are gathering at Sandringham for Christmas.

'It might not be as serious as it sounds, it's possible it could be a bit of indigestion and they are just checking it over, let's hope it's something simple like that.

'But he is 90, he has been in remarkable health. For somebody who has just done an 11-day tour of Australia at 90, that's amazing in itself as it is.

'A lot of people that age could not even manage to deal with the long flights there and back.

'I think it might have taken something out of him, I think they are pushing him to the limits doing that.'

In 2008, the Duke was also admitted to hospital for 'assessment and treatment' for a chest infection.

He is one of the most active members of the Royal family and has only recently started showing signs of slowing down.

The Duke of Edinburgh with a young Princess Elizabeth, Prince Charles, aged three and one-year-old Princess Anne at Clarence House in 1951

Next year Prince Philip will accompany the Queen to ten regions of the UK between March and July to mark Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

Other senior members of the Royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will be tasked with travelling abroad, sparking speculation the Queen and Prince Philip are tiring of travelling long distances.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will travel to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Charles will make additional trips to the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Prince William and Kate will travel to once of the smallest and most remote nations in the world, Tuvalu, as well as Malaysia, Singapore and the Solomon Islands.

Prince Harry will undertake his first solo tour on behalf of the Queen, taking in Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas probably in early March.

The Queen and Prince Philip with their children, the Princess Royal, Prince Charles, Prince Edward (seated) and Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew will visit India; Princess Anne Mozambique and Zambia; the Duke of Gloucester the British Virgin Islands and Malta; and the Duke of Kent the Falkland Islands and Uganda.

Prince Edward and his wife, the Countess of Wessex, have bagged what is considered to be one of the ‘plum’ trips – touring the Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, with an extra visit to Gibraltar.

The Queen and Prince Philip also chose not to attend Royal Variety Performance amid rumours that the Duke was beginning to tire of the annual extravaganza.

It is believed he was not keen on the tiring trip to Salford, the controversial location of a huge new home for the BBC, and the monarch did not want to attend without him.

At the time Royal commentator Jennie Bond said the decision was 'a very understandable concession to their age'.

STENTS, THE SCAFFOLDING THAT OPENS NARROW BLOOD VESSELS


By John Stevens

Stents are small metal tubes that are put into the arteries to help blood flow.

They are used to treat the type of coronary artery blockage that the Duke of Edinburgh suffered.

Every year, around 85,000 Britons are fitted with the devices, which look like small pieces of scaffolding.

They are inserted into the artery during keyhole surgery and then expanded to widen the artery.

During the procedure a hollow tube containing the stent along with a small inflatable balloon is passed into an artery through the groin or arm.

The operator then uses X-ray screening to direct it into a coronary artery until it reaches the narrow or blocked section. The balloon is then gently inflated expanding the stent so it holds the narrowed blood vessel open.

When it is fully expanded the balloon is let down and removed, leaving the stent in place.

Most people can go home the same day or next day, but if it has been an emergency procedure, stays in hospital are usually longer. Sometimes there is a small amount of bleeding after the procedure.

In the majority of cases, people find that they feel back to normal after just a few days, but if the stent has been put in after a heart attack the recovery takes longer.However, in some cases the rigid metal can cause the walls of the artery to become inflamed or damaged, and scar.

In recent years, drug-eluting stents have been developed. These are coated with a tiny amount of a drug which is delivered to the area around the stent to prevent the scarring process and thus stop the artery from narrowing.

A new type of stent, called bioresorbable vascular scaffold, is currently being developed that is made of corn starch rather than metal. It gradually disappears over two to three years, so once the artery has been able to return to normal, the stent is metabolised by the body.

Stents cost up to £900 each, depending on the type used.


The Duke of Edinburgh talks to Aboriginal performers after watching a culture show in Australia in 2002



Taoiseach Enda Kenny saying goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh as they depart from Cork Airport after the four day State Visit to Ireland in May



source:dailymail

Thursday, December 15, 2011

'She has an inner calm': New documentary reveals how confident Kate charmed America - and royal insiders - on her first tour with William

By Lauren Paxman


The Duchess of Cambridge charmed the world on her wedding day, from smiling at the world's cameras as she arrived at Westminster Abbey, to her confident 'I will' during the vows.

But even so, one can understand why royal insiders might have been concerned about how she would cope with the pressures of a ten-day tour of Canada and the U.S.

A new documentary, which aired on NBC last night shows why they needn't have worried.

Charming the world: An NBC documentary, which aired last night, has revealed how a poised Duchess of Cambridge won over Royal insiders on her first tour to Canada and the U.S. with William


William And Kate: Inside The Royal Marriage takes a close look at the couple's first six months of marriage.

The film includes interviews with those closest to the couple, including William's friend Ben Fogle, the Queen's cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, and photographer Hugo Burnand, who was chosen to take their official wedding portraits.

Lady Elizabeth, also a party planner, recalls the hectic build up to the tour - and how the Duchess' behaviour reassured her aides.

'When everyone was worrying about how difficult Canada would be, they realised she had this inner calm, and yet was completely alert to the moment.'


'Inner calm': The documentary described how Catherine's ease with the public, and poise under pressure, proved she has what it takes to represent the Royals

Star-struck: At a BAFTA event, even Hollywood's A-list were in awe of the Royal couple - especially Catherine


Getty Royal photographer Chris Jackson, who has long worked alongside the couple, added: 'I was really immediately struck by how confident she was.'

He revealed that she was a joy to shoot, and that her behaviour in front of the camera was different from other members of the Royal family.

'She looked towards the cameras, but not in the same way as the Duchess of Cornwall, for example, constantly aware of where the media are - she's always flashing a smile,' he said.

'Catherine did it more occasionally, and you almost felt, as a photographer, more rewarded by that, because you had to really concentrate and wait till it came.'

Royal insiders: Lady Elizabeth Anson (left) and Getty photographer Chris Jackson (right) talked of their experiences with William and Catherine in last night's documentary


During the ten-day trip, The Duchess charmed people all over Canada and California with her sartorial choices and ability to interact with every person she met.

The documentary includes a rare example of Kate's voice. Talking to a war veteran, she is heard saying in a cut-glass accent: 'You've got a very impressive selection of medals.'

Even Hollywood's A-list, all desperate to meet the Royal couple, were put at ease by William and Catherine's down-to-earth manner.

Trendsetter: The Duchess does not follow what magazines tell people to wear, says James Sherwood, Royal fashion historian. She carves her own fashion path, and others are desperate to follow it


Nigel Lythgoe, who organised the BAFTA Brits To Watch gala at the Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles told how 'everybody rushed towards them' when they arrived'.

Mr Jackson, one of the few to attend the Tusk Trust reception the following day, added: 'For me it really summed up how royalty transcends celebrity.

'A top Hollywood celebrity, such as Reese Witherspoon a bit nervous and very excited to meet Catherine... All these guys were really excited to meet the Duchess.'

With such attention following them wherever they go, what better respite than the remote cottage in Anglesey, Wales, where they have made their home.

Lady Elizabeth believes they successfully live under the radar of the media spotlight there.

'I think they've proved a Royal can lead a normal life by the little publicity that's been in Anglesey,' she said. 'I mean, bar the fact they photographed her at Waitrose... I mean, she must go to Waitrose hundreds of times and not be photographed.'

Mr Jackson continued: 'They really do enjoy what could be considered a normal life. You hear stories about Catherine and William going off to see The Inbetweeners at the cinema and visiting restaurants... I think that's an agreement between the Press and Clarence House that they will be left alone.'

And in any case, as Ben Fogle points out, 'paparazzi photographers have to really go out of their way to get to Anglesey... It definitely suits someone that likes the great outdoors, or that wants that kind of isolation or seclusion.'

But such a rural escape will be short-lived, given that the couple are due to move to an apartment at Kensington Palace in 2013.

Remote: The couple will not be able to enjoy their Anglesey hideaway for much longer - in 2013, they will move to an apartment at Kensington Palace - a sign that the Queen expects to step up their Royal duties


Ken Wharfe, former protection officer to Diana explained that the move is indicative of a growing role for the couple.

'To live in Anglesey, to plan Royal tours from there, to plan everyday events as a member of the Royal Family, would logistically be difficult, geographically almost impossible,' he said. 'And of course it would pose tremendous cost on the taxpayer in transport and providing security.

'So I think that the fact that Kensington Palace is soon to become their London home is a clear sign that the Queen herself is expecting William and Kate to play a major role in Royal duties.'


source:dailymail

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