Latest news with #Kate:TheFutureQueen
Edinburgh Live
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Prince George given unusual present which Prince William and Kate Middleton could benefit from
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Prince George reportedly once landed an enviable gift from a low-cost airline, one that his royal parents could also enjoy. The young prince, 11, who is second in line to the throne after his father, Prince William, received the "unusual" gift as a christening present, an occasion marked at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in 2013. At the time, Buckingham Palace issued a statement revealing how a private tea was held at Clarence House after the ceremony. Guests enjoyed slices of christening cake, which came from the couple's wedding cake. Kate and William's firstborn was baptised using the Lily Font, which was commissioned by 19th-century monarch Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the christening of their own daughter, Princess Victoria. (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Yet, as steeped in tradition as George's ceremony undoubtedly was, including the use of water from the River Jordan, one christening present was slightly more unorthodox, according to the Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column. The columnist wrote: "When will Prince George, 12 in two months, start availing of his christening present, free flights for life to Ibiza? The unusual gift, courtesy of Jet2, extends to his parents, who have enjoyed student holidays to the hedonistic island." He added, however, that these days, the Prince and Princess of Wales are more likely to be spotted on the island of Mustique, located in the sun-drenched St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean. In 2006, Kate's uncle, Gary Goldsmith, invited her, William, her siblings, Pippa and James, and Prince Harry to his £3.6million villa in Ibiza, reportedly known as 'La Maison de Bang Bang', writes the Mail. The couple, who were just 24 at the time, could "explore the island in relative anonymity" and enjoyed a night out at the Pacha nightclub, royal author Katie Nicholl wrote in her book, 'Kate: The Future Queen'. (Image: Getty Images) In other news, William recently revealed that George might learn sign language. The future king, also father to Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, spoke to a teacher named Wendy Daunt at Windsor Castle during an investiture ceremony. Speaking to the BBC, Wendy said William had told her that George could be eager to learn sign language and shared a touching anecdote about William's late mother, Princess Diana. She said Diana once attended a British Deaf Association conference in Blackpool, but when she went on stage to receive a book, she used sign language, leaving people "so amazed and in awe". Wendy explained that she wanted to tell William about the impact his mother had on the deaf community and suggested that his three children learn sign language. She said: "So I said, 'Why don't your three children learn to sign?', and his face said, 'I'm not sure', but then he said, 'Maybe Prince George would like to.'"
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How Diana Spencer and Kate Middleton were 'very different' on their wedding days, according to royal biographer
On this day in 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot at Westminster Abbey. And 30 years earlier, Prince Charles and Diana Spencer exchanged vows and rings at St Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. But despite both marrying future kings, Kate and Diana could not have been more different as royal brides, according to a royal biographer. As Kate made her way into the Abbey in a £250,000 Alexander McQueen gown, she paused to wave to the crowds - some of whom had camped out overnight to wish her well on her big day. 'One day the British people would be her subjects,' Katie Nicholl wrote in the book Kate: The Future Queen. 'It was the same thought that had struck Diana, who had paused and waved to the nation, as was expected of royal brides, before she climbed the stairs of St Paul's Cathedral. 'But, while Diana had seemed full of trepidation, Kate, who was older and more experienced in her role as royal consort, exuded an amazing sense of confidence and purpose.' 'They were both royal brides, but Kate and Diana, for all the comparisons, were two very different women.' By the time she walked down the aisle towards a beaming Prince William, Kate was 29 years old and already had practice as a royal consort. In 2008, the future princess joined Prince Harry and other senior royals on Garter Day to watch William became the 1000th Royal Knight of the Order of the Garter. A month after announcing their engagement, Kate attended a Teenage Cancer Trust Christmas charity gala with William in December 2010. And in the lead up to their fairytale wedding in 2011, William and Kate completed a tour of the UK including a romantic trip to the University of St Andrews in Scotland where they first met. Nearly two billion people tuned in to watch the ceremony, so Kate would have been forgiven for stumbling over her words or struggling to calm a tremble in her hand. But, she proved herself as a future queen by not only remaining calm as she walked down the aisle with her father Michael Middleton but by also offering her husband-to-be William a reassuring smile as he struggled to get the wedding ring on her finger. In a stand out moment from the ceremony, Kate delivered her vows in 'crystal-clear tones', wrote Nicholl. 'William Arthur Philip Louis,' she delivered clearly and audibly at the altar. Charles and Diana sit at the altar during their marriage ceremony Diana, on the other hand, was just 20 years old when she married Charles and had limited experience with royal engagements. So as the world watched her exchange vows, it is no wonder nerves got the better of her and she muddled Charles's names. 'I, Diana Francis,' a meek voice came from underneath her veil. 'Take thee Phillip Charles Arthur George, to my wedded husband.' The future king was baptised Charles Philip Arthur George. Although there may have been a marked difference in delivery, both Kate and Diana decided to break royal tradition with their vows. As Diana had done so many years before her, Kate wanted her vows to be 'equal' to that of her husband's and chose to 'love, comfort, honour and keep' him instead of 'obey'. As both brides said 'I will', a cheer erupted up and down the country - but decades apart. To show their respect to the reigning monarch, Kate and Diana curtsied deeply to Queen Elizabeth II who was sitting in the front row at their respective ceremonies. Newlyweds Diana and Charles stand on the steps of St Paul's in front of the roaring crowds Kate and William emerged from Westminster Abbey to a roar of approval from the crowds. Even the British weather seem to agree with the matrimony as the clouds parted to bathe the new husband and wife in golden spring sunshine. Similarly, Diana and Charles left St Paul's Cathedral hand-in-hand in the summer sun to be greeted by adoring fans. Both couples rode through the streets of London in the 1902 State Landau, which is the largest and most splendid horse-drawn carriage used by the sovereign. Built by Messrs Hooper for the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, it is drawn by six horses and has no coachman. It is upholstered in crimson satin and laces, and its back and front door panels bear the Royal Arms. The carriage has a flexible leather hood, making it perfect for warm weather, as it gives the crowds a clear view of the people inside. It was in the luxuriant carriage that lip readers caught a buzzing William saying: 'I hope I remember… It's mad, it's mad! Oh my goodness it's really loud here - these people are clapping.' He later reportedly turns to his new wife and tells her: 'You look happy'. She smiles and replies, 'Yes! Are you happy?' to which he says, 'Yes. Very!' By the time the couple reached Buckingham Palace and the glass doors of its famous balcony swung open, the playful crowds below were already chanting: 'Kiss, kiss, kiss.' The onlookers may have had to wait a few minutes, but when the time came they were doubly rewarded. 'Wow, that's amazing,' exclaimed Kate, confronted by the spectacle below: a forest of up-raised flags, periscopes and mobile phones stretching from the gates of the Palace all the way along The Mall to Admiralty Arch in the distance. And then Prince William, half-turning to his bride, said: 'Go on, a little kiss, go on.' A little kiss was exactly what he got. In fact it was scarcely more than a peck and brought to mind Prince Charles's rather stilted kiss with Princess Diana on the same spot 30 years earlier. But high on an enormous blast of goodwill, William, normally averse to public displays of affection, wanted more – and so, of course, did the multitude standing before him. Diana and Charles greet well wishers from the Buckingham Palace balcony 'Let's give them another one. I love you,' said William, as a spectacular flypast of Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft swept into view. 'One more kiss, one more kiss. OK?' After greeting wedding guests and dignitaries at Buckingham Palace, Kate was so eager to relive the fairytale wedding that she changed into a fluffy robe and rewatched the ceremony on the bed with William. Harry also joined the watch party, according to Nicholl. 'The three of them sat watching together,' the royal author penned. 'Kate was still wearing the Queen's priceless tiara.' After a tough year of cancer treatment for Kate, there is no doubt that the couple, now the Prince and Princess of Wales, will look back fondly on their wedding day as they celebrate their 14th anniversary. Sadly this was not the case for Diana who would tell her biographer Andrew Morton that she felt like a 'lamb to the slaughter' on her wedding day. 'Got out [of St Paul's], was a wonderful feeling , everybody hurraying, everybody happy because they thought we were happy,' Morton penned on behalf of the princess in his book Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words. 'There was the big question mark in my mind.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside Prince William and Kate Middleton's private wedding reception - including Prince Harry's unforgettable throne room party
It was an historic royal wedding, watched by an estimated one billion people around the world. On April 29, 2011, Prince William married his university sweetheart, Kate Middleton, in a traditional ceremony at Westminster Abbey. While the main event was broadcast across the globe, details of their receptions remain largely undisclosed. However, in her book Kate: The Future Queen, Katie Nicholl reveals what happened behind the scenes. The couple celebrated with two receptions after their nuptials: the first, a grand affair at Buckingham Palace for 600 guests, hosted by Queen Elizabeth, and the second, a more intimate dinner and dance organised by Prince Charles. In the evening, Kate swapped her iconic ivory lace gown for a sleek silk A-line dress paired with a delicate bolero, both designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, while William opted for a classic tuxedo. Ms Nicholl describes how supper was served for 300 guests at 8pm, with the room illuminated by hundreds of candles at Kate's request. Each table was named after a place special to the couple, such as St Andrews, Lewa Downs and Tetbury, and elegantly set with 19th-century solid gold plates and cutlery dating back to the reign of King George III. To encourage mingling, William and Kate mixed their guests, ensuring friends and family had the chance to get to know one another. Their favourite chef, Anton Mosimann, prepared a menu featuring organically sourced Welsh crab and lamb from Highgrove, followed by a trio of miniature trifle, chocolate fondant and homemade ice cream. Afterwards, Prince Harry, serving as master of ceremonies, delivered a 'hilarious' speech. 'There were jokes about William's bald patch and his long-standing inability to keep up with Harry during drinking games,' Ms Nicholl writes. He affectionately referred to the couple as the 'dude and the duchess' and even imitated his brother, calling Kate 'baby' to the amusement of guests. However, the speech took a heartfelt turn when Harry 'spoke movingly of his love for his sister-in-law and how lucky his brother was to have found a woman who loved him unconditionally'. Emotions ran high again as William, in his own speech, described Kate as his 'rock' and shared 'how much his mother would have loved her'. Laughter soon replaced tears when Michael Middleton, the father of the bride, recounted the moment he realised William's affection for Kate - when the Prince landed his Chinook helicopter in their back garden. William and Kate's favourite chef, Anton Mosimann, prepared a menu featuring organically sourced Welsh crab and lamb from Highgrove, followed by a trio of miniature trifle, chocolate fondant and homemade ice cream According to Ms Nicholl, he said: 'I knew things were getting serious when I found a helicopter in my garden. 'I thought, "Gosh, he must like my daughter". I did wonder how William was ever going to top this if they ever got engaged. 'I just thought, "What will he do? You can't get much better than that", and we are certainly not used to princes landing helicopters in the garden!' Michael went on to express his admiration for his 'beautiful daughter' and her composure as they walked down the aisle. He also thanked the Royal Family for their warm welcome. The final speech of the evening, given by William's friends Thomas van Straubenzee and James Meade, included a humorous anecdote about a night out when William ended up wearing a ladies' thong. Following the speeches, guests were ushered into the throne room for a surprise arranged by Harry and Kate's sister, Pippa. 'The priceless chandeliers had been covered up and in their place were strobe lights, glitter balls, and a giant dance floor, which dominated the 120ft-long room,' Ms Nicholl says. 'The dais, where the thrones usually had pride of place, had been replaced by a disco booth and a cocktail bar.' To add a personal touch, Pippa arranged for the space to be scented with Kate's favourite candles and placed bowls of Haribo sweets on the tables. For their first dance, William and Kate asked Ellie Goulding to perform. The British singer sang her hit Starry Eyed, and also covered Elton John's Your Song, prompting Charles and Camilla to take to the dance floor. As the DJ took over, Kate's mother Carole Middleton requested the 1986 hit We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart, before she and Michael called it a night. Dancing continued until 2.30am, when guests were invited outside for a fireworks display. 'Catherine wheels had been pinned to the trees, and the 20-second-long burst of red and white sparks could be seen from over the palace walls, although the crowds had long since dispersed,' Ms Nicholl describes. William and Kate then left in an open-topped RAF-personalised Fiat 500, crossing the courtyard to Buckingham Palace's Belgian Suite, where they spent their wedding night. But for Harry, the party wasn't over yet. Back in the throne room, he announced it was 'time for some serious partying' and the music was turned up for one last song. Ms Nicholl writes: 'Merry from the Crack Baby cocktails, Harry suddenly launched himself into the crowd.
