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

Seems like only yesterday, dear: The Queen and Duchess of Cambridge relive glorious royal wedding day with private viewing of THAT dress

By Daily Mail Reporter


Admiration: The Queen talks with the Duchess of Cambridge as they view the wedding dress the Duchess wore during her April marriage to Prince William


The Queen today enjoyed a private viewing of the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown with Kate ahead of a public showing of the dress at Buckingham Palace.

More than half a million people are expected to view the dress as part of the Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, but her Majesty was give her own tour by the Duchess.

The pair chatted as they admired the £250,000 Alexander McQueen dress which had the world enthralled when Kate married Prince William in April.

Viewing: The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty, The Queen, to see the wedding dress and cake before both go on public display


Amid the pomp and splendour of a truly unforgettable day, The Dress was undoubtedly the star of the show.

But the ghost-like appearance of the headless mannequin used to exhibit the gown prompted her to describe it as 'horrible' during a private tour with Kate of a new Buckingham Palace exhibition.

The Queen and the Duchess were given a sneak preview of the exhibition, which opens
to the public tomorrow.

The monarch led the way and, with her hands clasped behind her back, strode into the Ballroom and stopped about 10 feet from the dress with Kate standing beside her.

As the pair chatted, the pitch of the Queen's voice raised and she said 'horrible' and then 'horrid'.

It appeared the mannequin's lack of a head may have perturbed the Queen, who added: 'It's made to look very creepy.'

Kate countered with her own view and said it had a '3D effect'.

And just like the most gracious stars, the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown is returning for an encore.

Those of us who admired it from the comfort of our sofas at home, can now see the Alexander McQueen dress right up close – if we can get our hands on what is rapidly becoming the hottest ticket in town.

The dress is to take pride of place at Buckingham Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, ensuring we can bask in the afterglow of Kate and William’s wedding day just that little bit longer.

Exhibition: The monarch, her hands clasped behind her back, led the way as she and Kate toured the displays in Buckingham Palace


Style queen: The Duchess of Cambridge exuded elegance and poise as she walked around Buckingham Palace today

While most brides carefully wrap their bridal gowns in tissue paper and store them away with their memories, Kate’s will be shared with the nation all over again.

In fact visitors can relive every joyful moment of the day, with everything from the Duchess’s veil to her shoes and even the royal wedding cake on display.

Record demand means advance ticket sales are more than double on last year’s summer opening, with 600,000 people paying £17.50 per ticket to troop through the doors over the next ten weeks.

That would comfortably beat the palace’s previous highest attendance of 420,000 in 1994.

Here, the Daily Mail, which was offered an exclusive tour yesterday, can reveal the treasures in store for the first visitors this Saturday.

Ahead of the public viewing, Sarah Burton explained what she had hoped to achieve in designing what has since become one of the world's most famous dresses.

She said: 'We wanted to look to the past, yet look to the future as well.

'There were a lot of references to Victorian corsetry, the padded hip, the tiny cinched-in waist, and also to the arts and crafts movement with all of the hand-work on the lace of the dress and also the bustle inside to create the shape of the back of the dress.

'It has an essence of Victorian but we cut the dress in a very modern way, it is in a very light fabric, also the pleats and the folds create a modern feel rather than a historical piece.

'I think what we wanted to achieve was something that was incredibly beautiful and intricately worked.

'A lot of it is in the subtlety of the detail, the handcrafted lace, and the cuts and the shapes and the folds involved in the construction of the dress, yet we still had to remember it was in Westminster Abbey so it still had to have a presence.

'It was this idea of having a dress with a presence and of historical importance yet being modern at the same time.'

Ms Burton goes into detail about the inspiration behind the dress, the material used - including six different types of lace - and the techniques employed to create the gown.

'The Duchess wanted to make sure everything was completely thought out,' she added.
She also calls the dress a 'real feat of engineering'.

Fit for a Duchess: Kate Middleton's stunning wedding gown is going on display at the weekend, alongside other items from the big day

Beauty in the detail: 58 gazar buttons run from the collar to the waist on the gown, while Kate's veil is made of soft ivory silk tulle and stitched with flowers


The Duchess herself was treated to a sneak preview on Wednesday night when she stole another look at the dress that featured an intricate Grace Kelly-inspired lace bodice hand-stitched by the world’s best seamstresses at the Royal School of Needlework.

The craftswomen had no idea what their commission was for, such was the secrecy surrounding the design.

The bodice was cinched into a tiny waist above the full silk skirt.

The exhibition’s curator Caroline de Guitaut would not be drawn on what size it was, saying only: ‘Small.’

Something borrowed: This 1936 Cartier tiara was loaned to Kate by the Queen and contains 1,000 glittering diamonds

Icing on the cake: The top three layers of the cake are replicas, with two saved for the couple's first child's Christening, as tradition dictates

The first cut: The mark made by the couple using a ceremonial sword is clearly visible on the bottom tier of the cake


Then there are the shoes, barely noticed in the excitement of the day, which are worth a look in their full glory.

If you stoop beside the glass case, the tiny letters that reveal Kate’s shoe size, five and a half, are just visible. At a willowy 5’10”, she certainly has a dainty pair of feet.

Also created by the McQueen creative director Sarah Burton and her team, the shoes feature yet more impressive lace detailing hand-stitched over ivory duchess satin.

Twinkle toes: The duchess's hand-stitched shoes were designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen and are size five-and-a-half

Bouquet of memories: A silk replica of Kate's flowers include sweet william, myrtle, lily of the valley and hyacinth

Little acorns: The Duchess's diamond earrings were a present from her parents for the wedding, and bear acorns as a nod to her family's new coat of arms


They appear to have been barely worn as, apart from stepping outside the Goring Hotel into her waiting car as a single woman, Kate spent most of the day walking on carpet.

Then there are the diamond earrings given to the bride by her parents, bearing a diamond acorn to show the Middleton family’s new coat of arms.

And in the Ballroom, where the couple’s reception was held, visitors can see the 1936 Cartier tiara, glittering with 1,000 diamonds, that the Queen lent to Kate as her ‘something borrowed’ item.

The Duchess will join Her Majesty to formally open the exhibition this afternoon.

It also includes a short video, featuring Sarah Burton talking about her inspiration for the dress and Kate’s ‘hands-on’ involvement in the design process.

She explains that the Duchess had hands on involvement and wanted to create a gown with "presence and of historical importance" but one that had a contemporary feel.

‘We wanted to look to the past, yet look to the future as well,’ she says.

Finally to the State Dining Room, where visitors can see some of the eight-tiered wedding cake designed by Fiona Cairns.

Sadly, the top three levels on display are not the originals.

The uppermost two were kept by the newlyweds, in line with tradition which says you should keep them to serve at your first child’s christening, while the third was served to guests.

However, look closely among the sugary flowers on the bottom tier and you can see the mark left by the ceremonial sword the couple used to cut it – an unbroken link to a magical day.

Showstopper: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the dress in all its glory, emerge from Westminster Abbey on their wedding day

Spectacular: Pippa Middleton carries the train of her sister's gown, which was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen and described as being sized 'small' by the exhibition's curator


source:dailymail

Ready for its encore: Kate's wedding gown we all fell in love with goes on display

By REBECCA ENGLISH and TAMARA COHEN

Showstopper: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the dress in all its glory, emerge from Westminster Abbey on their wedding day

Amid the pomp and splendour of a truly unforgettable day, The Dress was undoubtedly the star of the show.

And just like the most gracious stars, the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown is returning for an encore.

Those of us who admired it from the comfort of our sofas at home, can now see the £250,000 Alexander McQueen dress right up close – if we can get our hands on what is rapidly becoming the hottest ticket in town.


Fit for a Duchess: Kate Middleton's stunning wedding gown is going on display at the weekend, alongside other items from the big day


The dress is to take pride of place at Buckingham Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, ensuring we can bask in the afterglow of Kate and William’s wedding day just that little bit longer.

While most brides carefully wrap their bridal gowns in tissue paper and store them away with their memories, Kate’s will be shared with the nation all over again.


Beauty in the detail: 58 gazar buttons run from the collar to the waist on the gown, while Kate's veil is made of soft ivory silk tulle and stitched with flowers


In fact visitors can relive every joyful moment of the day, with everything from the Duchess’s veil to her shoes and even the royal wedding cake on display.

Record demand means advance ticket sales are more than double on last year’s summer opening, with 600,000 people paying £17.50 per ticket to troop through the doors over the next ten weeks.

That would comfortably beat the palace’s previous highest attendance of 420,000 in 1994.

Here, the Daily Mail, which was offered an exclusive tour yesterday, can reveal the treasures in store for the first visitors this Saturday.


Something borrowed: This 1936 Cartier tiara was loaned to Kate by Queen and contains 1,000 glittering diamonds


Icing on the cake: The top three layers of the cake are replicas, with two saved for the couple's first child's Christening, as tradition dictates


The first cut: The mark made by the couple using a ceremonial sword is clearly visible on the bottom tier of the cake


Twinkle toes: The duchess's hand-stitched shoes were designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen and are size five-and-a-half


Bouquet of memories: A silk replica of Kate's flowers include sweet william, myrtle, lily of the valley and hyacinth


Little acorns: The Duchess's diamond earrings were a present from her parents for the wedding, and bare acorns as a nod to her family's new coat of arms


Spectacular: Pippa Middleton carries the train of her sister's gown, which was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen and described as being sized 'small' by the exhibition's curator


However, look closely among the sugary flowers on the bottom tier and you can see the mark left by the ceremonial sword the couple used to cut it – an unbroken link to a magical day.

The Royal Wedding Dress: A Story of Great British Design runs until October 3 at Buckingham Palace. Tickets are priced at £17.50 and can be obtained from www.royalcollection.org.uk or 0207 766 7300.


source: dailymail

Half a million people expected to visit Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress as it goes on show at Buckingham Palace

By Daily Mail Reporter


Frock star: The wedding dress of Duchess of Cambridge is to go on show this
Saturday at Buckingham Palace, with more than half a million people expected to visit the exhibition throughout the summer


Buckingham Palace is facing record demand for tickets for its summer opening — thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress.

The gown, by Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton, will take centre stage when the palace opens for the summer this weekend.

It will be the first time the ivory and white satin gown and 9ft train will have been seen in public since Kate Middleton married Prince William at Westminster Abbey on April 29.


Visitors are being urged to book in advance to avoid lengthy queues. The exhibition will be open seven days a week but many weekend slots are already taken.

More than half a million people are expected to visit, paying £17.50 a ticket, breaking the previous highest attendance figure of 420,000 in 1994.

Impressive: The dress will be on show in the state ballroom, where William and Catherine's wedding reception was held


This year’s exhibition also includes the royal family’s collection of Fabergé eggs and jewellery.

The Duchess’s dress will be displayed from July 23 until October 3 in the palace ballroom — the grand room that was used for their wedding reception and which is the setting for investitures.

Her handmade shoes, diamond earrings - a present from her parents - and the Halo Tiara she was loaned by the Queen will also be on show.

Visitors will be able to watch a video recording of Burton explaining how she made the dress.

Historic: Visitors will be able to view the 1902 State Landau carriage used to carry the Royal newly-weds to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony


One of the couple’s wedding cakes, a fruit cake by Fiona Cairns, will be displayed in the State dining room.

The other cake — a chocolate biscuit cake made by McVitie’s to a special recipe from Prince William — was believed to have been eaten on the wedding day.

However, those hoping to see the maid of honour’s dress, also designed by Burton, will be disappointed. That belongs to Pippa Middleton and will not be on show.

Neither will the dresses of the four bridesmaids or the uniforms worn by the two page boys.

Let them see cake! The eight-tiered wedding cake made by Fiona Cairns will be on display in the impressive rooms at Buckingham Palace


The Duchess’s dress is said to epitomise 'timeless British craftsmanship'.

Members of the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace, hand-made the lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt.

Visitors can also view the 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI used by Miss Middleton and her father Michael to travel from the Goring Hotel to Westminster Abbey, and the 1902 State Landau carriage in which the new bride and groom returned to Buckingham Palace.

The self-guided audio tours run from 9.30am to 6.30pm and take about two-and-a-half hours. Visitors have fixed start times — the last entry is 4.15pm — to prevent overcrowding.


Crown jewels: Catherine's Robinson Pelham diamond earrings, a gift from her parents, and the Halo tiara loaned to her by the Queen, will also star in the exhibit


Chancellor George Osborne told Parliament last week that Buckingham Palace would be open for longer than in previous years 'as the palace is looking for additional sources of income'.

The Royal Collection ploughs the proceeds back into the upkeep of the royal palaces.

The Queen’s financiers this month admitted they faced an increasing multi-million-pound backlog of work to maintain the palaces, with Buckingham Palace one of the worst affected.


source:dailymail

William and Kate move into a 'modest' Kensington Palace flat

By Rebecca English


Will the Prince carry Kate over the threshold? The Royal couple finally move in to their starter home


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have finally moved into Kensington Palace, their first official royal residence as a married couple.

They have chosen to embark on married life in a ‘modest’ apartment in the palace where William once lived with his late mother.

Although their home boasts one of the most exclusive postcodes in the country, it is a fraction of the size of the five-bedroom, five-reception-room suite occupied by new neighbours, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.


And when the couple got the builders in to add a few basic mod-cons, they discovered the place was riddled with asbestos and had wiring so archaic that it was considered too dangerous to inhabit.

Until now, William and Kate have used the Clarence House apartment that the prince shared with his brother, Prince Harry, when in London.

But senior royal sources confirmed the Cambridges had moved all their furniture into the renovated Palace apartment and stayed there for a couple of nights last week.

Home sweet home: Kensington Palace, where the couple have moved into an apartment


Aides stress the move is only a temporary measure because the apartment is considered too small for long-term use – including bringing up a family.

The couple, both 29, consider their rented farmhouse on the island of Anglesey as their main home.

Like all senior royals, William and Kate will not be charged rent for their flat.


source:dailymail

Will and Kate are 'huge Downton Abbey fans and can't wait for second series'

-Royal couple tell actress they watched the hit ITV show


By Daily Mail Reporter


Despite having one of the busiest year's of their lives, it appears the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge still manage to relax in front of the television from time to time.

The royal couple - who recently returned from their first official overseas trip to Canada and America - have admitted to enjoying the hit ITV period drama Downton Abbey.

The pair made the confession to talented actress Jessica Brown-Findlay - who plays Lady Sybil Crawley in the show - while at a party in Los Angeles.

TV fans: Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have revealed they enjoy watching Downton Abbey


The 21-year-old star told the Sunday Express: 'They said they'd watched the show and were excited to see the second series.

'Prince William is very handsome and Kate is a gorgeous girl. They make a perfect couple. They seemed really at ease and so in love.

'I didn’t think when I was watching the wedding at home on TV that I’d get to meet them. I was nervous the whole night, but what an honour! I’ll never forget that.'

The first series of Downton Abbey hit the TV screens last year.

It was watched by 13 million viewers and sold around the world, transforming Miss Brown-Findlay from an unknown actress into a global star.

Hit show: Jessica Brown-Findlay, left, with fellow Downton Abbey actresses Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael


The show has received 11 Emmy nominations and the second series - which is set during the First World War - will return to the screens in September.

Miss Brown-Findlay's character is the youngest daughter of Lord Grantham, who is played by actor Hugh Bonneville in the show.

And she gave some revealing insights into how Lady Sybil's character will develop during the new series.

'She’s still got that rebellious streak in her,' Miss Brown-Findlay told the paper. 'That doesn’t disappear. But with the weight of the First World War comes a lot more responsibility.

'The biggest change in Sybil is in that young naivety of ‘surely everything could change’. She’s forced through her own will and by circumstance to see and experience the real world outside the house.

'It’s great that my character is developing like that. You don’t often get the chance to do that.'

Meanwhile, this year's Emmy Awards promise to be fascinating as two great dames go head to head in a clash of the costume dramas.

Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Eileen Atkins are both nominated in the category for supporting actress in a mini-series or movie for their roles in Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs respectively.

Veteran actress Jean Marsh is nominated for lead actress in a mini-series or movie after she reprised her role as Rose Buck in the BBC1 remake of the hit show and is up against London-based American actress Elizabeth McGovern, who plays the Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.


source:dailymail

Work of art or a pervert's paradise? Risqué 26ft statue of Marilyn Monroe is unveiled in the Windy City

By Amy Oliver


That pose, that dress, the blonde hair, the luscious lips ...

A 26-foot tall statue of Marilyn Monroe towering above tourists in the middle of Chicago was unveiled on Friday to much applause.

Bemused shoppers stopped and stared, a boy tried to crawl up her leg and the men from a wedding party could not resist taking a few photos from all angles.

Scroll down for videos

High and mighty: The curious gather around Seward Johnson's 26ft sculpture of Marilyn Monroe in Chicago


Desperate to keep her identity a secret until Friday, workers who put the statue in place on Thursday had to put a rather unsightly cloth bag over the poor girl's head, albeit it one in red, white and blue.

The statue, by artist Seward Johnson, replicates the actress's famous subway scene in 1955 film The Seven Year Itch and was unveiled on Chicago's Pioneer Court.

In the scene Monroe stands over a subway grate as a breeze from a train passing below blows her skirt over her panties.

It was shot in New York but as the Windy City, Chicago seems like the second best location for such an art work.

Cameras at the ready: While their wives and girlfriends were not there, the men from a wedding party took scores of photos from all different angles

Now THAT'S a Kodak moment! Or at least an iPhone moment

Simply irresistible: A cheeky boy tries to scale her leg while some really enjoy the rear views


It will be on show through the Spring of 2012.

The stainless steel and aluminium sculpture, which weighs a whopping 34,000lbs, has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Not least because visitors to the plaza are at once confronted with Monroe's pert bottom in gleaming white panties and her perfect pins bedecked in white, open-toe kitten heels.

Covered up: A worker puts the finishing touches to the statue on Thursday

What did you do at work today darling? One man touches up the statue's under carriage with paint

Breathtaking views: A worker is seen spraying the statue's panties before the great unveiling on Friday

You missed a bit: Well, Monroe always did have men at her feet


Men have been spotted gawping while their wives get cross and attempt to shield their eyes and lots of people have stopped to take a quick snap of the giantess before she goes public tomorrow.

Not all are happy of course. Abraham Ritchie wrote on Art Chicago Blog the statue was a 'creepy schlock from a fifth-rate sculptor that blights a first-rate public art collection.'

But the Zeller Realty Group, which owns the plaza and now its statue, wants Marilyn to make people think.

...And the real thing: Monroe cools off via the subway in front of Tom Ewell in The Seven Year Itch


'(Paul Zeller) likes to bring in things that cause a conversation,' said a spokesman from the company. 'They might be controversial, but he likes art that makes people think.'

And if that fails at least her skirt will be a good place to shelter from the rain.

Watch the statue midway through construction






source:dailymail

Royal crumpet! Artist creates collage of Pippa Middleton using 15,000 breakfast snacks

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Tasty: Pippa Middleton's bottom and face made from a staggering 15,000 crumpets


It took 15,000 crumpets and 24-hours of work from more than a dozen tireless workers.

But this ingenious tribute to arguably Britain's most famous face and bottom using one of the UK's favourite breakfasts is complete.

Cheeky artist Laura Hadland has proved Royal bridesmaid Pippa Middleton really is a tasty bit of crumpet, using more than 100 jars of spreads, including butter, jam and Marmite to create the shading on the 13 metre by 20 metre giant mosaics.


Working up an appetite: A team of 15 helpers spent over 24 hours designing creating the collages of Pippa's face and bottom


The crumpets themselves weighed more than a ton.

Laura, 28, recreated the iconic wedding day picture after Pippa topped a Beefeater Grill poll to find the female celebrity Britons would most like to 'wake up to breakfast with'.

She secured 21 per cent of the vote in the survey of 2,000 people.


Famous: Workers put the finishing touches to the collage, based in part on the iconic image of Pippa entering Westminster Abbey behind her sister (right)


David Murdin, from Beefeater Grill, said: 'It's no surprise that someone as striking as Pippa has ranked as the country's top bit of crumpet.

'Sadly we may not be able to guarantee Pippa as part of our breakfast offering to guests but feel confident they'll enjoy our very own tasty crumpets and spreads, none-the-less.'

Fearne Cotton came second in the poll ,with 17 per cent of the vote, and Cheryl Cole came third, with 15 per cent.

The least favoured breakfast guests were reality TV star Katie Price and newlywed Kate Moss, both 3 per cent, and Caggie Dunlop, of Made In Chelsea fame, with two per cent.


Pretty: Pippa rides in the carriage from Westminster Abbey towards Buckingham Palace with bridesmaid Margarita Armstrong-Jones on her sister's wedding day


source: dailymail