Kate Middleton Page 8

‘Peaky Blinders' actress Charlotte Riley has been cast as Kate Middleton in a new BBC drama which imagines Prince Charles as King.

‘King Charles III’, written by Mike Bartlett, started off as a 2014 stage play, but is now being adapted as a 90-minute one-off drama for the BBC.

Charlotte Riley has been cast as Kate Middleton

Continue reading: 'Peaky Blinder's' Charlotte Riley To Play Kate Middleton In BBC Drama

The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton has followed in the footsteps of her late mother-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales and graced the cover of fashion magazine Vogue. The special royal cover, which will hit newsstands in June, celebrates the magazine’s 100th anniversary.

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Covers Vogue For Magazine's 100th Anniversary

Prince William has admitted he used to be a fan of MTV reality show ‘Pimp My Ride’. The series, which began on MTV in the UK in 2005, was hosted by DJ Tim Westwood and was a spin-off of the US show of the same name. The Duke of Cambridge made the revelation while visiting the XLP centre, a charity which offers a mentoring service to at-risk young people in London.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the XLP center in London.

During the visit the charity’s founder and chief executive officer Patrick Regan told the audience that William had visited some of their projects last year and seen their mobile recording studio which had been set-up in a former police van.

Continue reading: Prince William Admits He Used To Watch 'Pimp My Ride'

The Royal Princess has been named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace announced on Monday (4th May). Charlotte, who is fourth in line to the throne, will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte outside the Lindon Wing on Saturday (2nd May).

See More Pictures Of Prince William, Kate Middleton And Baby Charlotte.

Continue reading: Royal Princess Named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace Announces

Monika Tano from Birmingham gave birth to her daughter Liliana on 22 July, 2013 - the same day Prince George was born - and now she's celebrating the coincidence again, reports ITV News. Her second daughter Aurelia arrived at 1.47am this morning (Saturday 2 May) at Birmingham Women's Hospital - just under eight hours before The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a girl. 

Monika said, "It feels amazing to have two children who share royal births. It is such a fantastic coincidence."

The proud parents present royal baby No 2

Continue reading: Woman's Children Both Share Birthdays With Royal Babies

A Diane Von Furstenberg dress worn by The Duchess of Cambridge on her tour of Australia has sold out in just 8 minutes. The $325 dress is currently available “for preorder” after fans of the Duchess’ style immediately rushed to the designer’s site to order the same dress that Kate had donned in Winmalee, Australia on Thursday.

The Duchess of Cambridge has come to be considered as a style icon

The “Patrice Printed Cotton Wrap Dress” joins the long list of dresses made famous by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The $645 blue Issa dress worn by the Duchess for her engagement announcement sold out within 24 hours in both the United States and in the UK.

Continue reading: Diane Von Furstenberg Dress Worn By Kate Middleton Sells Out In 8 Minutes

Just three days ago, Simon Cowell’s girlfriend, Lauren Silverman gave birth to their son, Eric. You’d think that the 36 year old new mum would have been bed bound for a few days to recover from the birth, but Lauren was out and about in New York yesterday and you wouldn’t even be able to tell that she’d just had a baby. Sporting a pair of slim leg leather trousers, Lauren looked in fabulous shape and even better spirits as she shopped for baby clothes.

Lauren gave birth to her and Simon's baby son just three days ago

Celebrity mums seem almost super human in their ability to bounce back into shape immediately after giving birth. While us laypeople struggle to lose the pregnancy pounds, the celebs are back in phenomenal shape within just a few weeks of popping out their little ones.

Continue reading: Lauren Silverman Looks Svelte 3 Days After Birth, Other Celeb Mums Who Bounced Back Into Shape

Is Pippa Middleton engaged? Well, rumours are running amok that Pippa Middleton and her boyfriend Nico Jackson are set to marry after a proposal in India. Though socialite Pippa and her banker beau have not confirmed or denied any of the rumours, a source speaking to Us Weekly seems to have caught wind of some exciting news.

Are Pippa and Nico Engaged?

Pippa and Nico have been dating for around 15 months and were first rumoured to be engaged in September. However, rumours were soon proved false and the speculation calmed a little until now. Nico is said to have made his move whilst the pair holidayed at India's five star Oberoi Amarvilas resort overlooking the Taj Mahal. "It was exactly how he planned it," one source tells Us Weekly of the proposal. "Very romantic and grand!"

Continue reading: Pippa Middleton Engaged? Not So Fast!

Pop star Justin Bieber has been named as the most searched for individual this year on Microsoft's Bing search service. The 'Baby' singer beat an otherwise entirely female top ten to become the celebrity the United Kingdom is apparently most interested in.

Justin Bieber Is This Year's Most Searched Celeb On Twitter.

2013 will be quite possibly be seen as the year when the once-angelic pop singer went off the rails with a serious of unsavoury incidents garnering the 20 year-old star a great deal of media attention.

Continue reading: Justin Bieber Is Bing's Most Searched For Person In UK, Beating Royalty

Kate Middleton can't help but do things that make us mere peons feel more in awe at her every deed, and as if attending a charity function yesterday wasn't good enough, the fact that she recycled an old outfit for the occasion has done nothing but endear the royal to us even more. Kate and Prince William were at London’s King’s Cross to attend a function put on by Only Connect, a charity organisation that tries to help ex-offenders from returning to a life of crime.

Kate and Wills as they arrived at King's Cross

Whilst there the royals spoke with the organisers behind the charity, and to some of the volunteers who work without pay for the charity, but it wasn't what they did or said that has gathered wider attention, but the clothes that Kate wore.

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Is The Queen Of Thrift: Royal Recycles Old Clothes

'Fifty Shades' Saved: The movie adaptation of the bestselling erotic trilogy has been beset by issues, not least the walk-out of frontman Charlie Hunnam. After plenty of speculation in the media, Irish The Fall actor  has stepped in and it looks as though the movie's ready to begin filming with Dornan and Dakota Johnson from November. Learn more about Jamie Dornan.

A Future King Christened: All eyes were on the UK's royal family once again for the christening of Prince William and Duchess Catherine's three month old baby, Prince George. The tiny ceremony was attended by just 22 guests, which included the highest members of the royal family, Kate's family and George's 7 godparents. Find out who was picked.

Continue reading: A Week In News: Jamie Dornan To '50 Shades' Rescue, A Royal Baptism & Pearl Jam Rock To Top Of Charts

Britain's most famous baby, Prince George of Cambridge, has been christened at a private ceremony the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace in London. The third in line to the British throne, after his grandfather Charles and his father William, was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

George Was Welcomed Into The World On The 22nd July.

A total of seven godparents were selected for the young prince, including family members and friends of his parents, William and Kate. The godparents, announced earlier via BBC News, are Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and Zara Tindall. Tindall, the wife of former rugby player Mike Tindall, is Prince William's cousin whilst the other six are friends of Will and Kate.

Continue reading: Prince George Christened, Army Of Godparents Appointed

Prince William and Catherine Middleton shared the first photos of baby Prince George; their four-week-old son and the one-day King of the United Kingdom and head of the Commonwealth of Nations. The proud father wasn't justs sharing pictures of his newborn child either, as the second in line for the throne spoke at length about his love and admiration for the little one, even if he is giving them a few sleepless nights.

The royal couple first posed with their newborn baby days after his birth.

Wills was speaking with CNN, without Kate, in his first official interview since the birth of their son on July 22, during which he discussed his newfound joy towards being a father, even though his new duties include a lack of sleep now. He referred to his son as "a bit of a rascal" during the interview with CNN's Max Foster, adding that he has already caused himself and Catherine their fair share of sleepless nights. He told Foster that George is "growing quite quickly actually," adding, "he's a little fighter - he wriggles around quite a lot and he doesn't want to go to sleep that much."

Continue reading: Prince William Shares His Love Of His Son, The "Little Rascal" [Video]

Prince William’s push present to Kate Middleton might be a pink diamond ring, according to the Daily Express. For those not entirely “in the know” on the royals and celebrity culture in general, a push present is something a brand new dad gives his ladylove as a token of appreciation for, well, pushing. Think Kanye West giving Kim Kardashian a tiger diamond, except the Duke of Edinburgh’s rumoured choice of present sounds quite a bit more regal. Whether or not the rumors about the pink diamond turn out to be true, one thing is clear: the prince has invested a lot of thought and effort into the special present.

The birth of Prince Edward was one of the most anticipated events of the year.

“William has been giving this a lot of thought for a long time,” confided a member of his inner circle. “He’s got lots of ideas from studying history of art at university and decided on a pink diamond as a centrepiece because it is pretty and feminine. It will be a thank you present to Kate.”

Continue reading: Prince William's Push Present To Kate Middleton - A Pink Diamond Sounds Like An Elegant, Modern Choice

The coverage of the royal birth has been extensive, with multiple channels clawing at ratings. The winner was somewhat unexpected though – ITV reeled over 7 million people into their baby broadcast, more than twice the numbers, tuning in to the BBC – 3.3 million, according to the Guardian. The early morning ITV news, which was extended from 30 to 60 minutes, to catch the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leaving St. Mary’s hospital, averaged 5.4 million viewers and a 28.6% audience share – a staggering number for the time slot.

Footage of the royal couple continues to flood most news channels.

The BBC were a bit less flexible with scheduling, resulting in a half hour royal baby news block inserted right into The One Show: Best of Britain (with an average of 2.8% million viewers.) Umfortunately, the switch did nothing to improve ratings and the broadcast averaged just 3.3 million or 16.7% over the following 15 minutes.

Continue reading: News Channels Go Head To Head In Royal Birth Coverage

Baby names are usually a big decision, but few infants can boast that the eyes of a nation (much less the world) were on them, while it was made. The wait is now over and the royal family has proudly announced that baby will henceforth be called George Alexander Louis or, if you want that shortened for easier memory – Prince George of Cambridge.

In the early days after the birth, the news just keep on coming.

People all over the country are also ecstatic, although for less noble reasons – the name George was a favorite with betting companies Coral and William Hill among others. Although, with odds of 8/1, it doesn’t look like the gamblers will be making any fortunes from the event. The names – all three of them, in fact, are all keeping with royal family tradition. George is particularly popular – the prince has five historical namesakes, including the Queen’s own father, George VI. Louis is also a prominent name in the family and was the name of Lord Mountbatten, the uncle of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Continue reading: Welcome, Prince George - The Youngest Royal Finally Has A Name

King George? Of course, we had to start with the birth of the future King, the son of Kate Middleton and Prince William. The world's cameras were focused squarely on a hospital in London this week, where the royal couple gave the first glimpse of their baby son. But is he called George? Check out our list of possibilities!

Amanda, Sectioned:  Fears continue to grow for the Hollywood actress Amanda Bynes after she was taken in on an involuntary psychiatric hold following a bizarre incident in which she started a fire in the driveway of a complete stranger. Hopefully, the television star can find help, and get better. Read more Bynes' story here.

Continue reading: A Week In News: Kate Middleton Gives Birth, Batman Battles Superman And Beyonce's Crazy Fans

The Muppets have congratulated Kate Middleton and Prince William on the birth of the royal baby. Miss Piggy and Kermit The Frog star in a video that hit the web on Tuesday (July 23, 2013), with the former hinting that she may be ready for a little royal sprog of her own.

"Oh Kermie! Isn't it exciting Kate is a mummy, Prince William is a daddy - and there's a new baby boy!" says Miss Piggy, "Kind of makes you want to have a Royal child of your own. oh come on, can't you just hear the little pitter patter of tadpole feet?" she asks.

"Tadpoles don't have feet," comes Kermit's blunt reply, before he runs off screen for no apparent reason. 

Continue reading: The Muppets' Miss Piggy, Kermit, Congratulate Kate Middleton, Prince William

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are parents at last! Yes it's been a long week for everyone (Kate Middleton more than others of course), but after being over-due for a number of days and spending an arduous, almost day-long struggle in labour, Kate and William are parents at last.

Congratulations to the new parents

The official word from the palace is that Kate has indeed given birth to a healthy boy, with the child arriving at 4.24 pm GMT and weighing 8lb 6oz. A statement form the palace states that the Duchess and her child are "doing well" and will be staying in hospital overnight before returning to the royal residence.

Continue reading: The Royal Baby Is Here! Kate Middleton Gives Birth To A Healthy Baby Boy!

Kate Middleton is ready to pop any minute now! At least that's what an official source from Kensington Palace told the BBC on Monday (July 22) morning as the big baby day draws nearer and nearer. There were few other details about exactly how far along the Duchess of Cambridge is in her contractions and other such pregnancy matters, but chances are we won't hear anything else about the birth until the future king or queen of the United Kingdom is actually born.

Kate is due to give birth any minute now

Kate travelled to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London with her husband the Duke of Cambridge Prince William late last week and has been it was finally confirmed that she has indeed gone into labour this morning. When the child is born it will become the third in line for the British throne, behind it's father Prince William and his father Prince Charles before him. This will apply even if their child is a daughter (but given how far overdue it is we're banking on a future king), after Queen Elizabeth II passed a groundbreaking piece of monarchical legislation last year that guaranteed any future first born the British throne regardless of gender.

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Is In Labour, Kensington Palace Confirms

Kate Middleton still hasn't given birth yet, but when she does finally give birth to the future King or Queen of the United Kingdom, she and William will be more than ready. At least that's what their very own pregnancy guru, Christine Hill, says about the two after sitting with them on two separate sessions - Hill revealed during an interview with the UK's The Telegraph newspaper, published Friday (19 July).

Kate is due any minute now

The pregnancy expert, who authored two successful pregnancy guides and has parted wisdom with some of the UK's most famous mothers-in-waiting as well as discussing her techniques with the most famous mother-in-waiting in the UK today too, said that during her time with the royals she felt as though the Duke and Duchess would be model parents.

Continue reading: Kate Middleton And Prince William Thoroughly Prepared For Parenthood, Says Their Pregnancy Guru

The child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will certainly be born with a silver spoon, but the Royal Mint plans to extend that luck (more or less) to all babies born on the same day. The Mint has issued a special batch of commemorative pennies to gift to babies, who share the birthday of the third in line. The 2,013 (see what they did there?) 1p coins have been stamped with the current year and each one is worth £28.

The lucky day is approaching for the Duchess, as well as thousands of other families across the nation

Shane Bissett, director of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, commented for the BBC: "The birth of the royal baby will be a joyous occasion not just for Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge but also for the whole nation, as we prepare to celebrate another remarkable milestone in their life journey together.

Continue reading: In Lieu Of Spoons, Babies Sharing The Birthday Of The Royal Heir, Will Be Given Commemorative Silver Pennies

Prince William “could not resist the chance” to take a seat on Batman’s bike in a recent visit to the Warner Bros studios near Watford, The Telegraph reports today (April 26, 2013). Accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, the royal couple were inaugurating the studio and getting a privileged behind the scenes tour of how movies such as the Batman trilogy have been made in the UK.

The £100 million studio reportedly accounts for one third of all movies made in the UK. Star Wars Episode One, The Phantom Menace and the James Bond movie Goldeneye are all amongst the studio’s success list. After a presentation on the history of Warner Bros in the UK, William and Kate – along with William’s younger brother Prince Harry - met some of the company’s staff in the huge studios, as well being presented with an array of mannequins adorned with some of the Batman movies’ iconic costumes, including Christian Bale’s Dar Knight costume, Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman costume and Tom Hardy’s Bane outfit. There were several props also on display and William took a seat on the Bat-bike. Looking at the legendary Batmobile, William joked to Harry “We'll have to borrow that for the weekend.” He even sat inside and revved its 5.7 litre engine loudly, clearly taken with the exclusive vehicle.

After leaving the studios, they were scheduled to visit the Making of Harry Potter tourist attraction, where author JK Rowling was expected to be amongst the 500 guests. 

Continue reading: Bat-Fanatic: Prince William Revs Batmobile On Royal Visit To Warner Bros Studios

Topless Kate photos have landed a French magazine publisher in a world of trouble. Kate as in Kate Middleton. As in the Dutchess of Cambridge. You can see how it’s not an ideal situation for anyone involved. The shots of the Duchess sunbathing on holiday in southern France and taking her bikini top off first made their way to the pages of the celebrity magazine last September, Reuters reports. Apparently the paparazzo snuck up on the royal couple during a private moment. 

Since then, there has been a massive public outcry and of course, considerable backlash from the royal family against the blatant invasion of privacy. Not only have the publisher - the French branch of Italy's Mondadori - and the paparazzi who snapped the photos come under fire for them, they are also now the targets of a formal investigation, which can and probably lead to charges for everyone, who participated in the creation and publication of the photos.

Buckingham Palace has labeled the tabloid’s actions as a a "grotesque" invasion of the royal couple's privacy. Now it appears that both sides – the magazine publishers and the royals are in damage control mode. All that’s left is to see whether the publisher will be officially charged and tried for the violation.

Continue reading: Topless Kate Photos Branded A "Grotesque" Invasion Of The Duchess Of Cambrige's Privacy

The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton says she is ready for sleepless nights after the birth of her first child, though has revealed her gender preference for the first time.

Attending the annual St Patrick's Day ceremony in Aldershot, Kate revealed to a guardsman that she wanted a baby boy, while the Duke Of Cambridge William wanted a little girl.

Sergeant Thomas Laven told Middleton he had a 7-month-old son, Theo. "I congratulated her on the impending birth and said you've got sleepless nights to come," he told reporters. "She said she was prepared for it," he added. Inside the Mons Barracks, Kate, 31, spoke to guardsman Lee Wheeler. "I asked her do you know if it's a girl or a boy and she said not yet," Wheeler, 29, said. "She said 'I'd like to have a boy and William would like a girl.' I asked her if she had any names and she said no." Another guardsman, Jason Perry, said, "I wished her congratulations and said I hope all is fine and well. She said yes it is. I asked is she excited to have her first child and she said very," he said.

Continue reading: Duchess Of Cambridge Kate Middleton Tells Guardsman, "I Want A Baby Boy!"

An almighty blue-blooded argument is forming among the Royals; Kate Middleton is hoping for a wee lad, while Prince William wants a little girl to protect. Fortunately, the winner of this argument has no cards to play – biology will decide.

The news has come about after Middleton was handing out symbolic shamrocks to members of the Irish Guards. Sergeant Thomas Laven, one of the many receivers of said Shamrock, spoke to the duchess. "I congratulated her on the impending birth and said you've got sleepless nights to come," he told reporters. "She said she was prepared for it," he added. And inside, she spoke with guardsman Lee Wheeler. "I asked her do you know if it's a girl or a boy and she said not yet," Wheeler, 29, said. "She said 'I'd like to have a boy and William would like a girl.' I asked her if she had any names and she said no." Another guardsman, Jason Perry, said, "I wished her congratulations and said I hope all is fine and well. She said yes it is,” adding: "I asked is she excited to have her first child and she said very."

Middleton arrives in Grimsby

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Wants A Boy, Prince William Wants A Little Girl

It’s a girl! Or is it? There have been rumors flying around about the potential sex of the royal baby ever since the news that the Dutchess of Cambridge was pregnant first spread. But Kate herself has unintentionally added fuel to the fire recently, by dropping what may be a hint about the baby’s gender. Ok, it wasn’t a hint, so much as a slip, but when have tabloids ever needed concrete information after all?

It all went down during Catherine’s visit to Grimsby recently, The Daily Telegraph reports. While she was talking to a member of the public, she was given a teddy bear, to which she reportedly responded with the words: “Thank you, I’ll take that for my d...”

Continue reading: Is The Duchess Of Cambridge Having A Daughter?

If anyone’s going to get an answer out of you as to whether you’re baby’s going to be a boy or a girl, you can trust a nagging old woman to be up there as one of the most likely, and so it proved as it appears that Kate Middleton has apparently blurted out the sex of her forthcoming child while visiting the National Fishing Heritage Centre in Lincolnshire.

Big props to the meddling Sandra Cook for potentially finding out what Middleton and her husband, Prince William, had been hoping to keep a secret until the baby had actually been born. The 67 year-old told the Daily Telegraph “I distinctly heard her say 'thank you, I’ll take that for my d ...’ then she stopped herself. I said to her: 'You were going to say daughter weren’t you?’ and she said 'No, we don’t know’. I said 'Oh I think you do’, to which she said: 'We’re not telling’.”

Continue reading: Is Kate Middleton's Baby's Sex A Girl?

Carrie Strikes Back: Great news for Star Wars fans this week, with Carrie Fisher confirming that she'll reprise her role as Princess Leia in J.J. Abrams' forthcoming movie Star Wars Episode 7. Fisher, 56, joked that her age might make things a little tricky this time around.

It's A Girl! Or Is It? Did Kate Middleton inadvertently give away the gender of her baby this week? During a public appearance in the UK, the Duchess of Cambridge told one well-wisher that she would give a gift to her d..before stopping short. 

Continue reading: A Week In News: Carrie Fisher Is Princess Leia, Kate Middleton Having A Girl, Harrison Ford Joins Anchorman 2!

The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was back in the wedding mood over the weekend, attending the nuptials of close friend and polo player Mark Tomlinson and Olympic equestrian Laura Bechtolsheimer in Swiss town of Arosa. The Duchess, her brother-in-law Prince Harry and group of friends were spotted hopping off a bus in the Swiss mountains, reports People magazine.

Dressed in a pale coat with brown fur trim, an expectant Kate was seen walking "gingerly up the steps to the church," according to one onlooker, who added "She was being very careful in her heels." The Duchess wore a familiar James Lock hat and a Max Mara dress that she's previously worn to another engagement. Husband Prince William was not required to travel on the bus, given he had already arrived at the ceremony in traditional tailcoat, as an usher. 

Police had cordoned off an area so locals could catch a glimpse of the Royals and take photographs. "There was a big crowd there, and the police closed the street," one onlooker adds. The British couple were among 250 guests including their royals' close friends James Meade and fiancee Laura Marsham as well as Guy Pelly and Olivia Hunt. 

Continue reading: Duchess Of Cambridge Kate Middleton Catches The Bus To Swiss Wedding

Kate Middleton has been at the centre of a lot of negative stories during her pregnancy; the topless photo scandal, that prank call while she was in hospital, so it’s nice to hear of Prince Charles' excitement at becoming a grandfather.

"It's a lovely thought and I look forward enormously to that relationship," said Prince Charles, who’s also wary about the world that the royal sprog will grow up in. "We need to think about the future, we need to think what kind of world we're handing on to our successors," Charles explained on a special, 25th anniversary edition of Countryfile, which he is guest editing. "If you think of it in those terms it should make us reflect on the way we do things so we don't ruin it for them." He went on to warn: "That's why it's so important to work in harmony with nature rather than thinking we can somehow ignore, dominate, separate ourselves from nature, because unless we pay our respect to nature, she's a great deal more powerful than we are."

Continue reading: Prince Charles On Kate Middleton’s Pregnancy And Becoming A Grandfather – “It’s A Lovely Thought”

Waitrose has already made one high profile change to its celebrity staff this year, axing Delia Smith from its television commercials, though it seems the chain has moved quickly to ensure it doesn't lose ground on its rivals. On Monday, it announced the sister of The Duchess of Cambridge, Pippa Middleton, will be joining the company to give out cooking tips to the middle-class masses.

Though her party planning book didn't exactly go to plan, Waitrose seem confident enough for the young socialite to churn out similar stuff for its magazine. In a statement, the company said she will be dishing up "casual dining ideas and recipes" in a column titled 'Pippa's Friday Night Feasts.' Middleton herself insists the magazine has "always been a source of inspiration to me, for its extensive spectrum of food and beautiful style."

There is a problem here.

Continue reading: Food Writers Incensed As Pippa Middleton Lands Waitrose Job

Kate Middleton may have been accused by novelist Hilary Mantel of being a ‘plastic princess,’ but yesterday, she showed a side of herself that suggests otherwise. The Mirror reports that the Duchess of Cambridge chaired a meeting at St. James’ Palace, discussing the work of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice charity, of which she became a patron last January. There were also representatives from other organisations present.

The last few weeks have been a troublesome time for Kate Middleton, as photos of herself in swimwear, revealing her pregnant belly, whilst she was holidaying with Prince William were published in an Italian gossip magazine. Add to this the furore, as she unwittingly got caught up in the Hilary Mantel controversy and it really hasn’t been an easy few weeks for the Duchess. However, she appears to be focusing on her charitable work, which will serve as a welcome and rewarding distraction from the tabloid gossip.

Kate first made a speech about the East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH) last March, in which she described the charity as a “lifeline.” Addressing the hospice workers, she said “The feelings you inspire - feelings of love and of hope - offer a chance to families to live a life they never thought could be possible.” In her first tour of the Far East, Kate chose the subject of palliative care for the young in Malaysia, where she spoke at Hospice Malaysia. It is expected that the Duchess will take on three or four further patronages, which will shortly be announced. 

Continue reading: Plastic Princess Or Caring Duchess? Kate Middleton Chairs Hospice Charity Meeting

Ten Thousand Angels: This week, we reported on the tragic news regarding country singer , who passed away at the age of just 39. Mindy will be remembered for her debut album - which was certified twice Platinum by the RIAA - as well as 1997's If I Don't Stay The Night and 1990's I'm Not So Tough.

Her Lovely Baby Bump: Great news for Black Eyed Peas fans this week, after singer Fergie announced she is pregnant with her and Josh Duhamel's first child! Fergie announced the news on Twitter, tweeting, "Josh & Me & BABY makes three! #mylovelybabybump."

Continue reading: A Week In News: Fans Mourn Mindy McCready, Fergie Pregnant, Britney Has A New Man

When the double Man Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel delivered her hour-long essay on the way in which royal women are viewed, she most probably was not expecting the media furore that she sparked. Her comments about Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, ignited a wave of fury and even prompted condemnation from the Prime Minister David Cameron, as she described Kate as having “no personality of her own” and being “entirely defined by what she wore,” The Telegraph reports.

It’s unclear whether or not David Cameron had been a party to the entire lecture before dismissing Mantel’s observations as “completely misguided and completely wrong” but Mantel can at least enjoy one positive outcome that the furore has had. Sales of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall (the first of her trilogy of books about Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII) reportedly doubled in the last 24 hours, since news of her comments broke. The book has risen from 15th to 7th in Amazon’s book charts and the sequel, Bring Up The Bodies has seen a rise of 69 per cent.

Hilary Mantel compared Kate Middleton to other female royals, including Princess Diana and described her as having a “perfect plastic smile.” In defence of Mantel’s essay, Professor Mary Beard urged people not to take the comments out of context and insisted that the negative reaction to Mantel’s lecture was “completely misguided and completely wrong.” 

Continue reading: Wolf Hall Sales Sky-Rocket For Hilary Mantel After Kate Middleton "Plastic Smile" Comments

Hilary Mantel swiftly became the darling of the literary world late last year as she won her second Booker Prize with Bring Up the Bodies, the second in a historical trilogy about Thomas Cromwell and the Tudor family, But her popularity on a broad scale has been knocked today as the comments she made about Kate Middleton being 'plastic and 'machine made' for breeding came to light, the BBC reports.  

Mantel's speech, at a lecture last month, was if nothing else, delightfully eloquent. Perhaps her greatest downfall was to compare her in so biased a manner to Prince William's mother, Princess Diana. "[Kate] appears precision-made, machine-made, so different from Diana whose human awkwardness and emotional incontinence showed in her every gesture," the author said. 

Jumping to Kate's defence, Prime Minister David Cameron spoke on the matter: "What I've seen of Princess Kate at public events, at the Olympics and elsewhere is this is someone who's bright, who's engaging, who's a fantastic ambassador for Britain. We should be proud of that, rather than make these rather misguided remarks."

Continue reading: Did Kate Middleton Need David Cameron To Defend Her Against Hilary Mantel's Remarks?

Kate Middleton has been verbally attack by the Booker Prize winning novelist Hilary Mantel, who described the Duchess of Cambridge as a "shop-window mannequin" with absolutely no personality, whose only purpose in life is to breed. Wowzers, pretty heavy going stuff huh? During a lecture at the British Museum, Mantel - author of the classic novel Wolf Hall - said Kate appeared "gloss-varnished," with a perfect plastic smile.

Kate Middleton [L] Has Come Under Fire From Award Winning Novelist Hilary Mantel [R]

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Attacked, But Is She Really A 'Plastic Princess'?

The editor of an Italian magazine that ignored protests from the royal family and published Kate Middleton's 'pregnant bikini pictures' has defended his actions, claiming gossip rag Chi had every right to print the photographs of the Duchess walking along a Mustique beach while showing her baby bump. St James' Palace was outraged by the publication, though editor Alfonso Signorini says he sees no harm.

"It is not possible to talk about a breach of privacy when public personalities are photographed in a public, open place such as (a) beach, attended by bathers," Signorini said in an emailed statement to Reuters. Wednesday's six-page spread came with the headline 'Kate & William - Honeymoon for three,' and showed Kate and Prince William happily walking along a beach together during their holiday earlier this year. The royals claimed the images were "a clear breach of the couple's right to privacy," though Signorini said, "The reportage portrays a couple in love in a happy moment as they walk on the seashore...Where is the scandal?"

Mustique - a destination favoured by the British royals - is an entirely private island and is extremely secluded with palm-fringed shores. Some reports suggested the pictures might have been taken by a holiday maker and sold to 'Chi' or taken from a boat using a long-lens camera. "A rounded belly can now be seen and the princess has a softer silhouette compared to how she was during their honeymoon in the Seychelles in 2011," one of the captions read.

Continue reading: Editor On Kate Middleton Pregnant Bikini Pictures: "Where's The Scandal?"

The Black Keys Rub Bieber Up The Wrong Way, Katy Perry 'Hangs Out' At The Grammys And Steve Martin Becomes A Dad At 67

Bieber Rattles The Keys! In perhaps the most bizarre celebrity feud of recent times, Patrick Carney of award-winning group The Black Keys has rubbed Justin Bieber up the wrong way. Asked about the possible reasons for Bieber's Grammys snub, Carney suggested the 18-year-old is rich, so doesn't need prestigious awards. Bieber's response? "The black keys drummer should be slapped around haha."

Continue reading: A Week In News: Bieber Slams The Black Keys, Chris Brown Stays Seated, Alec Baldwin To Become A Father!

The British Royal Family has condemned an Italian gossip magazine for threatening to publish paparazzi photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton as she walked on a secluded beach in a bikini while holidaying in Mustique earlier this week. The photographs - which show Middleton with a small baby-bump - are to be published in the Italian magazine 'Chi.'

St James's Palace has attacked the mag for breaching the Duchess' privacy, saying in a statement, "We are disappointed that photographs of the Duke and Duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas.This is a clear breach of the couple's right to privacy." Chi has a notorious track record when it comes to upsetting the Royal Family. The magazine was heavily criticized for being one of the first tabloids to publish pictures of Princess Diana as she lay dying in Paris following her fatal car crash. It also published paparazzi photos showing Kate Middleton sunbathing topless during a French holiday with her husband last year. The magazine, based in Segrate, Milan, is published by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, the biggest publishing company in Italy. 

The Duchess of Cambridge is currently five-months pregnant with her first child. She hit the headlines in December after being admitted to hospital with severe morning sickness. A nurse working at the facility committed suicide after putting through a call from two Australian radio DJ's, falsely believing one of them to be The Queen. 

An Irreplaceable Super Bowl For Beyonce As She Reaches Her Performing Destiny, Yoda The Movie Anyone? And, The Duchess of Cambridge Debuting Her Baby-Bump

Irreplaceable: Beyonce showed over 100 million television viewers why she's the biggest R&B star on the planet at the Super Bowl on Sunday. Her rip-roaring LIVE set was very much the talking point after the game (won by the Baltimore Ravens, by the way).

Yoda The Movie? Hot on the heels of news that J.J. Abrams will helm Star Wars Episode 7, Disney has announced its intention to make several Star Wars spin-off movies over the coming years. Speculation that Jabba The Hut, Darth Vader and - lord forbid - Jar Jar Binks could helm the films is rife, though good old Yoda is the big favourite for the first movie.

Continue reading: A Week In News: Beyonce Nails Super Bowl, Yoda Set For The Big Screen, Kate Debuts Bump

Mother-to-be, Kate Middleton - the Duchess of Cambridge - jetted off to the Caribbean for a holiday with Prince William this week. The couple are staying at £19,000-a-week villa on the island of Mustique, though there's just one catch for the Prince - Kate's parents are staying just down the road!

According to the Sun newspaper, Kate and Will's luxury pad boasts a pool, games room and stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. Last night, a source revealed, "The Duke and Duchess have joined the Middletons for a winter break. Both William and Kate were hoping her condition would not stop her from making the eight-hour flight to Barbados and the connection to Mustique." The Duchess had suffered from severe morning sickness in December, and the insider added, "A month ago such a journey would have been unthinkable for her, so this is a clear sign she has made a virtual recovery."

The royal couple - who married at Westminster Abbey in 2011 - have actually enjoyed six holidays on Mustique since they began dating after meeting at St Andrews University. It was also a favourite hideaway for William's great aunt Princess Margaret.

Continue reading: Meet The Parents: Kate Middleton And Prince William Jet Off With The In-Laws

The Australian DJ's responsible for the prank call which precluded nurse Jacintha Saldanha's suicide will not face charges. But what exactly could they have been charged for?

The Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement "that there is no evidence to support a charge of manslaughter and that although there is some evidence to warrant further investigation under the Data Protection Act and the Malicious Communications Act ... any potential prosecution would not be in the public interest." So, a potential manslaughter charge was facing the two radio presenters, who can't have known how far their 'harmless' prank would go. It would have been a highly controversial charge, though, considering how many prank calls go viral and aren't subjected to a criminal investigation. Ill-advised as it may be, their prank call was desperately unfortunate, not predicated and malicious.

The pair, of course, rang the hospital in which a pregnant Kate Middleton was visiting due to a serious bout of morning sickness. "The consequences of that hoax call are well known, and tragic," John Lofthouse, the hospital's chief executive, said in a statement. "We will continue to support the family of much-loved nurse Jacintha Saldanha during what continues to be a very sad time."

The two Australian DJs who made a hoax phone call to the London hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton last year will not face any legal action, the Crown Prosecution Service said today (Feb 1).

The DJs, Michael Christian and Mel Greig, made a prank phone call to the King Edward VII hospital in London late last year pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Phillp, with their call being answered by nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who then put the two through to one of her superiors. The mother and wife was later found dead near the hospital after taking her own life following the furore over the on-air prank in December.

Prosecutors had at first considered charging the pair with manslaughter but a lack of evidence linking the two directly to Saldanha's death made the case a non-mover. Any further prosecution has also been ruled out after prosecutors also ruled that no public interest would arise from it. In an official statement released today, Malcolm McHaffie, the CPS’s deputy head of special crime, said: "It is not possible to extradite individuals from Australia in respect of the potential offences in question. However misguided, the telephone call was intended as a harmless prank."

Continue reading: Australian DJs Behind The Kate Middleton Hoax Phone Call Will Not Face Legal Action For The Aftermath Of Their Call

Following the drama that occurred when a pregnant Kate Middleton visited a London hospital with severe morning sickness, we haven't heard a lot about the Royal baby, but now, while serving in the British army, Prince Harry has expressed his delight at the pending blue blooded offspring. 

He was quoted by the The Telegraph as being "thrilled" for the couple and "can't wait to be an uncle", adding: "It's about time."

"Obviously I'm thrilled for both of them," he said during an interview in Helmand Province "It's about time," he joked. "I can't wait to be an uncle." And when asked if he had telephoned the Duke and Duchess to congratulate them from Afghanistan, he said: "Of course I have. I had a chat to them. I spoke to my brother and her, and they're both very well and both very happy obviously. I didn't send a letter of congratulation like most of the papers said."

Continue reading: Prince Harry On The Royal Baby: "It's About Time"

Pregnant ladies have a new uniform, it seems, inspired by Kate Middleton. Kate got her hair cut back in November, which in retrospect was when she was probably around one month pregnant. Now, Kim Kardashian has had bangs cut into her hair, just two weeks after the news that she's pregnant. Coincidence? Perhaps not.

Kim posted a photo of herself with the new bangs, softly cut and swept to one side, along with a message saying ""I cut my bangs for real! What do you guys think of my new look? Xo." The bangs are good, they soften her and in a strange way she looks more like Jessica Alba, which will forever be a good thing. Earlier in 2012 for some reason she tried out the blonde look, which wasn't terrible - she looked a lot like Holly Valance - but was also not a patch on her naturally dark locks. 

Now that she's going to be a baby-mamma, she and Kanye have apparently been discussing marriage. Sadly for them both, Kim is still married to Kris Humphries because they can't decide over a divorce settlement. "Kanye is very traditional. He'd have liked to marry Kim now they are having a baby," a source told the Sun. To compromise of the situation, she and Kanye will be exchanging vows and rings instead in a commitment ceremony, at a $7m Malibu beach mansion of one of Kim's friends.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have announced that their royal baby is expected to arrive this July, in a short statement via St. James’ Palace.

Whilst the USA might be eagerly anticipating the birth of their next superstar baby in the form of whatever it is that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have contrived to create, for the Brits there’s only one birth they’ll be keeping an eye on and that’s the delivery of a new royal baby. USA Today reports that a statement released today (January 14, 2013) read "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July." The message went on to say "The Duchess's condition continues to improve since her stay in hospital last month."

That trip to the hospital unfortunately attracted headlines for all the wrong reasons after one of the nurses looking after Middleton at the King Edward VII Hospital, Jacintha Saldanha, committed suicide after being fooled into almost giving away personal details about Middleton to an Australian radio station. Middleton was there for extreme morning sickness, but has since recovered enough to unveil a new – a first ever royal – portrait of her at the National Portrait Gallery in London. All was not well there either, with the picture receiving mixed reviews.

By now, just about everyone has seen the first official portrait of future Queen Kate Middleton, and just about all of those who have seen it agree that it really doesn't do the duchess any favours at all. Enter the internet, and the masses of people offering their own take on the picture.

Catherine herself is said to be "thrilled" with the results and has praised both the portrait and artist, Paul Emsley, but few others have been quite so kind about the depiction of the royal. As such, people have given their own take on the controversial picture, with varying degrees of hilarity and perhaps a few potential follow-ups.

One such adaption has taken inspiration from the famed altercation to a painting of Jesus, which was damaged, and then re-painted in a style befitting the Mr Bean Movie.

Continue reading: Fans Give Their Own Spin On The Kate Middleton Portrait Saga

Royal portraits have historically been stuffy affairs. Rigid and stoic, their faces over the centuries have glared out at us with glazed eyes. Sadly, the first portrait of the Duchess, Kate Middleton, despite having a contemporary composition, and despite her being one of the most lively members of the royal family, Kate's portrait is not unlike the ones that have preceded it, and most reviews agree.

Artist Paul Elmsley has given her lifeless eyes and skin that is almost grey in hue. "Fortunately," the Daily Mail writes, "the Duchess of Cambridge looks nothing like this in real life. I'm really sad to say this is a rotten portrait."

"Paul Emsley has managed quite a feat making the future Queen look like a dowdy 45-year-old." The Mirror said, "This horrible, soft-lens style painting - which the Duchess emerges from in an almost ghostly way - robs her of any of the sparkle and life she is loved for."

Continue reading: Kate Middleton On Canvas- What's The Verdict? 'Unimpressive'

The Kate Middleton portrait is being quickly and aggressively pulled apart by art critics and amateur reviewers on Twitter. The portrait - by artist Paul Emsley - was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery on Friday (January 11, 2013), though attracted scrutiny for its soft focus and lack of warmth. Critics say the Duchess' national beauty is almost entirely absent. 

Mr Emsley himself has spoken of the difficulty of painting one of Britain's most elegant women, admitting to the Daily Mirror, "The fact she is a beautiful woman is for an artist difficult. In the end I think what I tried to do really was to convey something about her warmth and her smile." Middleton, who has a degree in the history of art, was apparently "amazed" after seeing the finished painting during a tour of the gallery in London. "I think, from what I can see this morning, she's delighted with it. I'm very happy about that," said Emsley. The Glasgow-born artist appears to have used similar techniques to those apparent in his portrait of Nelson Mandela, and his latest work took him three and a half months. "A person whose image is so pervasive, for an artist it is really difficult to go beyond that and find something which is original - you have to rely on your technique and your artistic instincts to do that and I hope I've succeeded," he added.

The art critics were presumably sharpening their knives before seeing the portrait, and, as expected, gave Emsley a massive thumbs down early on Friday. Mark Hudson of The Telegraph said, "What is it about the conjunction of the Royal Family, oil paint and official commissions that seems to lead inevitably to aesthetic disaster? Even Lucien Freud made a fudge job of his portrait of the Queen." Charlotte Higgins of The Guardian asked, "How is it that she has been transformed into something unpleasant from the Twilight franchise?" adding, "The first thing that strikes you about Middleton's visage as it looms from the sepulchral gloom of her first official portrait is the dead eyes." 

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Portrait Resembles Creepy Painting From Ghostbusters 2

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is the epitome of class, so not much else would be expected of her than for her 31st Birthday to be a toned down affair; St James Palace confirms that celebrations will be 'private' and 'quiet', reports Entertainment Wise.

At an estimated 12 weeks pregnant drinking and dancing the night away was certainly never on the cards. Last year she spent her birthday evening attending the premier of War Horse along with Prince William, but hasn't made a public appearance since appearing at BBC Sports Personality of The Year awards on December 17th last month. That is the only time she has made an appearance since her stint in hospital for severe travel sickness, which isn't surprising given the tragic aftermath of a prank call made to the hospital she was staying at, which sadly culminated in the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha. Recovering from both traumatic parts of the month, she and William spent Christmas with her family rather than at Sandringham.

It's not just her birthday which is staying low key. She wore a Roland Mouret dress earlier last year, but requested that it be cut looser than the sample dress because "she doesn't want a bottom situation like Pippa had", according to the Telegraph. After the wedding Pippa Middleton was praised for her great bum, but Kate didn't want such attention to be brought to her own behind. 

Continue reading: Kate Middleton: Low Key Birthday, Low Key Bum

When the two Australian DJ's responsible for that now-infamous prank call picked up the phone, they would have had no idea how powerful their actions could be. 

The full extent of their influence on the suicide of Jacintha Saldanha - who was found dead three days after taking the call - is unknown, and is likely never to be ascertained, but the implications on their personal lives will be huge.

They will, however, not be subject to prosecution, The BBC reports. Scotland Yard said before Christmas that it had submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service on 19 December "for them to consider whether any potential offences may have been committed by making the hoax call".

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Prank Call DJ's Won't Face Prosecution

Given Kate Middleton's current situation - growing another human being in her womb - we doubt she'll be donning the sparkly leotards, pulling on the skates and pulling shapes on the ice. In fact, we can't think of any situation in which she'd do that.

Regardless of that fact, Phillip Schofield - the presenter of the popular Dancing on Ice show - has plucked Middleton's name out of the air as his ideal hypothetical partner. "If I was a contestant on the show, the Duchess of Cambridge would be my perfect partner because I suspect she's very light on her feet," he explained. Schofield also hosts another show, ITV's The Cube, which sees contestants complete difficult tasks for incremental amounts of money. "There is no question I would perform better on The Cube than Dancing On Ice," he said, according to The Sun. "You can't underestimate how difficult Dancing On Ice is for the contestants. It is a gruelling schedule then there is the ever-present possibility you'll smash your teeth in," he added, before confirmed that, "Of all the reality shows, this is the toughest." 

Now, we'll say this again, Kate Middleton - The Duchess of Cambridge - WILL NOT be appearing on the show, but here are the real Dancing on Ice contestants:

Continue reading: Phillip Schofield Picks Kate Middleton As Hypothetical Dancing On Ice Partner

In the wake of the tragic death of Jacintha Saldanha, there was a frantic search for a place to lay blame. As the BBC now reports, the two Australian DJs who made a prank call to Kate Middleton's hospital- where Ms. Saldanha picked up the phone- are 'unlikely to be prosecuted'. 

Speaking to the BBC, Sydney's Deputy Police Commissioner, Nick Kaldas said that he thought it unlikely that they would be prosecuted because UK authorities hadn't asked them for any formal interviews or for more information. 

Nurse Saldanha killed herself three days after the pair made a prank call to her, pretending to be the Queen and Prince Philip, which - once broadcast - sparked international interest. According to the company that own the radio station, 2Day, they didn't break any laws, however the station is under investigation from Australian Communications and Media Authority, which serves a similar purpose to Ofcom, and their broadcasting a private conversation could see them end up in court.

Continue reading: Nurse Jacintha Saldanha Australian Prank DJs 'Unlikely To Be Prosecuted' But Station Under Investigation

Kate Middleton and Prince William’s baby looks like it will be getting its fair share of attention from both of the couple’s families, if their Christmas plans are anything to go by.

Indicative of how close the Prince Of Wales has got to in-laws has been served by the fact that the couple will be having a major break from tradition and spending the festive break at the Middletons, and not, as is custom, with the Royal Family. People’s report suggests that Middleton wants to be with her family after suffering in recent weeks from extreme morning sickness, with William keen to be there with her.

The Middletons live in Bucklebury, though the couple will be visiting the Prince’s grandparents, The Queen and Prince Phillip, at their gathering at Sandringham, Norfolk. It’s in keeping with the perception that William has appeared eager to endorse since the pair got together, in that they are a modern couple who won’t be bowing to tradition because of the weight of history behind them – swapping between families during the holiday period is one such way of expressing it, and it appears that the decision has been done with the blessing of Buckingham Palace, the statement revealing the couple’s festive intent coming from the palace itself.

Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who killed herself after being fooled by a hoax call to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, had attempted suicide twice before, it was reported yesterday. The 46-year-old was also prescribed anti-depressants by doctors, according to The Sun.

A hoax call made by an Australian radio station initially became the talk of the internet, though in a tragic turn of events, Saldanha was found dead at her home three days later. However, it has now emerged that she first attempted suicide by taking an overdose of pills during a family holiday last December, and was rushed to hospital days later after throwing herself off a building. She was treated for depression and admitted to a psychiatric ward at Father Muller Medical College Hospital in Mangalore, India. Her brother Saveen, 42, said, "We didn't know about the first incident, but we knew about the second."

Two DJ's pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles called the hospital where Kate Middleton was being treated for severe morning sickness following the announcement that she is expecting her first child. Jacintha put them through to another nurse, who revealed confidential medical details about the Duchess' condition. Prosecutors were last week handed a police file and will decide whether anyone should face charges over the incident. 

Continue reading: Jacintha Saldanha Attempted Suicide Twice Before Hoax Call

Prince William will be enjoying his roast turkey and pigs in blankets without the grandeur of Sandringham Estate surrounding him, because this year he will be enjoying his Christmas dinner with the in-laws.

This means that pregnant Kate Middleton will be able to enjoy a family Christmas this year, as the royal couple will be heading to the small village of Bucklebury in West Berkshire for the day. The news was announced yesterday via a royal statement, although it failed to go into too much detail over what the pair will be expecting.

A statement from St. James' Palace, William's official residence, said only that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be spending their festive time in Bucklebury "privately." However Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, has given us some insight into what a Bucklebury holiday might be like, following an article she wrote for Britain's Spectator magazine. She wrote: "The Middletons' Christmas should be blissfully calm. We're good at keeping each other's spirits up," adding, in reference to her father's tradition of wearing a new costume each year, "He buys a new costume each year and typically gets a bit carried away — a couple of Christmases ago, he appeared in an inflatable sumo outfit."

Continue reading: Prince William To Spend Christmas With The In-Laws

According to geneticists, Kate Middleton's bun in the oven has around a 52% chance of being ginger, should she and Prince William both carry the red-haired gene.

Since the news broke that the royal pair are expecting, rounds of people have been predicting what the future heir to the throne may look like, and it turns out the future third in line for the throne may end up looking like the current third in line, Uncle Harry - that's Prince Harry!

Despite both sporting a much darker head of hair, the odds of having a red-headed child are actually quite high for the royal couple. In fact, scientists found that the chances of any couple in Britain giving birth to a red-head may be higher than expected, as a study of ancestral DNA of more 5,000 people in the UK showed that a whopping 38.3% had the red-haired gene. With a ginger brother, there is a more than likely chance that Wills carries the gene, as for Kate, Alistair Moffat - director of BritainsDNA - told the Daily Mail: “As a result of our study, we can say she has a 38.3 per cent chance of being one."

Continue reading: Kate And Wills Have A 50/50 Chance Of Having A Red-Headed Baby

In her first appearance since her now infamous hospital visit, where a prank call spiralled into tragic consequences, Kate Middleton attended another British institution: the BBC’s Sports Personality of The Year awards.

She appeared on stage to present the prize to this year’s winner: Bradley Wiggins – the British cyclist that broke into the realms of fame on this Summer’s 2012 Olympic games. Jessica Ennis, who enjoyed a similar fate, came second, while Scottish tennis star, who failed at Wimbledon, but prevailed with a gold medal, beating Roger Federer in the Olympic final, came third. Lord Coe, the chairman of London 2012 organisers Locog, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Duchess. Earlier the BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt tweeted: "Kate, according to her office, is keen to show her support to UK sportsmen and women at 'this prestigious event which caps a momentous year'."

Picking up his award, Wiggins said, “I’m not going to swear tonight so I’m just going to say, ‘Thank you very much for the people who picked the phone up and voted. We’ve had all that jungle stuff and the X Factor the last couple of weeks so for people in half an hour to pick up and pay £1.50 to vote thank you very much. And, my nan - the cheque’s in the post because you pushed redial god knows how many times.”

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Attends Sports Personality Awards

A further development has been reported in the suicide of Jacintha Saldanha; the Kate Middleton prank call nurse left a suicide note for her family, Yahoo reports.

While several British media outlets have reported the existence of a suicide note, the exact content is unknown, and due to the sensitive nature; common decency would suggest that it never should. The news comes soon after Southern Cross media yesterday decided it will donate all profits from 2Day FM advertising from now until the end of the year to a fund that will directly benefit the family of Jacintha Saldanha."We are very sorry for what has happened. It is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts continue to be with the (Saldanha) family," Southern Cross Austero CEO Rhys Holleran said in the statement. "We hope that by contributing to a memorial fund we can help to provide the Saldanha family with the support they need at this very difficult time."

The 2Day FM Christmas Party has been called off following the death of UK nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who died on Friday after she was fooled by the prank call. "This is no time for celebration at Southern Cross Austereo Sydney," a spokesperson explained. The $13,000 bar tab will be donated to Beyond Blue and Lifeline. While the recent donations in light of this tragedy may be extrapolated by some as an admission of guilt, one wonders what the company could do in the situation without upsetting someone else. 

While a 'suicide note' has been reported by the Evening Standard, and the family of Jacintha Saldanha are looking and asking for answers from the hospital where she worked, the radio station from which the hoax call was broadcast has pledged a minimum of £326,000 to the family, as well as cancelling their Christmas party in a gesture of respect, according to The Telegraph.

Jacintha Saldanha was the nurse who died in a suspected suicide after answering the hoax call made by an Australian radio station, asking to speak to Kate Middleton and claiming to be the queen. However, while it seems that the radio station's act is one of goodwill, it could also be read as an admission of responsibility, which is risky business given the current climate of suing anyone and everyone for the smallest of misdemeanours (a judge in the US is suing a launderers for $65m for losing his trousers). 

The family are naturally distressed and looking for answers. At the moment, however, they're looking to the hospital to give them the information and reason that they feel they need. The chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said: "What the family need are the full facts... The chairman of the hospital said... that there are inquiries going on in the hospital." Adding, however, "That is not sufficient for the family. There are unexplained circumstances. The family want to know everything. All the facts, fully and clearly. The hospital needs to be more proactive, a full inquiry is needed and the family need to be included in that." 

Continue reading: Radio Station Of Kate Middleton Prank DJs Pledge At Least £326,000 To Nurse's Family

While the notion of prank calling a hospital to inquire about the wellbeing of an ill pregnant woman might seem repugnant and ill-considered to many, the tragic news that followed - the suspected suicide of Jacintha Saldanha - was something no one considered. And indeed, no one considers it to be the fault of Mel Greig or Michael Christian, the radio DJ's who instigated the prank. 

"I have thought about this a million times in my head, that I just wanted to reach out to (Saldanha's family) and just give them a big hug and say sorry," Greig told Australia's Nine News on Monday. "The thought we may have played a part in (Saldhana's death) is gut-wrenching." Christian went on to that he was "shattered, heartbroken" and that "The joke 100% was on us. The idea was never, 'Let's call up and get through to Kate,' or 'Let's speak to a nurse.' The joke was our accents are horrible, they don't sound anything like who they're intended to be."

The British press took the news as an opportunity to scapegoat the radio DJ's, as they so often do when Royal affairs are at hand. But, even though the prank may have been a bad idea, regardless of the sad and as of yet fully explained outcome, it would seem unfair to blame them fully for the death of another human being. 

The tragic events that followed an ill-advised prank call regarding the pregnant and ill Kate Middleton have been followed by an emotional tribute to the late Jacintha Saldanha, who was found dead on Friday 7th after a suspected suicide.

Her family described Mrs Saldanha as a "loving mother and a loving wife," via Keith Vaz MP, report Sky News. "This is a close family, they are devastated by what has happened, they miss her every moment of every day," he said. "They are really grateful for the support of the British public and the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness," he added.

Prime Minister David Cameron spoke of his "shock" at Mrs Saldanha's death. He said: "I thought it was completely shocking ... I heard about the suicide of this nurse, who worked incredibly hard and obviously was incredibly dedicated. I feel incredibly sorry for her and her family. It is an absolute tragedy that this has happened and I am sure everyone will want to reflect on how it was allowed to happen."

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Hospital Prank Call Saga: Family Of Jacintha Saldanha Pay Tribute

The two DJ’s, who pranked a nurse into revealing details about Kate Middleton’s condition have been sanctioned and Southern Cross Austereo, the company behind the offending radio show, has reported that it is taking comprehensive action to prevent anything like this from happening again. The sanctions include the termination of 2Day FM’s Hot 30 show, the suspension of all advertising on 2Day FM, a company-wide suspension of prank calls, as well as a review of company policies. Whether that will be enough to clear SCA’s reputation remains to be seen.

SCA have also expressed their condolences for those affected by Jacintha Saldanha’s death. The nurse committed suicide shortly after the scandal broke and, regardless of whether the tragedy had anything to do with the nurse being fooled by the DJ’s, her death sheds an eerie light over the entire scandal and the fallout might be hard for the company to control.

According to a statement issued by Rhys Holleran, the CEO of Southern Cross Austereo, has stated that the company is “providing support to our people who are deeply saddened by this tragic and unforseen event”. Exactly who those people are is unclear, since, according to TMZ, before the suspension, the DJs were heard bragging about the prank.

Her Majesty the Queen is set to have her upcoming 2012 Christmas speech broadcast in 3D for the very first time after the Royal family made the special agreement.

This year has been a special year for both Britain and the Royal family themselves what with the thrilling events of the 2012 London Olympics, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrating her 60 year reign and, of course, the truly wonderful news of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (formerly Prince William and Kate Middleton) expecting their first child who will be third in line for the throne. Though the news of the pregnancy will not be mentioned by Her Majesty, she will no doubt have much to say for our country this year and what better way to experience her heartfelt annual message than in fantastic phenomenon that is 3D TV. The speech, which has been recorded by BskyB at Buckingham Palace, will be available to view on BBC and ITV but you will need a 3D television and box for the full experience.

Last year, Prince William chose against allowing his wedding to be filmed in 3D at Westminster Abbey so this marks a new step in technology for our Royals after already signing up for a Twitter and YouTube account.

The two Australian DJs involved in the prank call to Kate Middleton’s hospital have finally spoken in response to the news that one of the nurses who answered the call has committed suicide.

The prank call involved Aussie DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian calling the London hospital and pretending to be the Queen of England, complete with corgis barking in the background. The pair maintain that they had not expected to be put through and that the joke was supposed to be on them, not on any of the hospital workers.

Both DJs told of their distress at hearing the news of nurse Jacintha Saldanha’s death. The phone call that delivered the news to Mel Greig was described as “the worst phone call I’ve ever had in my life,” by the DJ. She was asked if she had a message for Saldanha’s family and replied “[I] have wanted to reach out to them and just give them a big hug. I hope they're OK, I really do.” Christian also extended his sympathies to the family of the nurse, saying “our deepest sympathies go out to the family… We just hope that her family and friends are being as good as they can be and are giving [them] the love and support they need. We are shattered.”

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Prank Call DJs “Shattered” About London Nurse Suicide

In tragic news, Duchess Kate Middleton’s nurse, who took a phone call from two Australian DJs pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince of Wales, has been found dead from suspected suicide.

Sky News reports that Jacintha Saldanha had been looking after the Duchess of Cambridge after she was admitted to the King Edward VII hospital complaining of severe morning sickness in light of her pregnancy. Earlier in the week the two DJs had called up Saldanha under the guise of the royal family members and had asked questions about the well-being of Middleton, who is still short of being 12 weeks pregnant. 46 year-old Saldanha was found at an address near the hospital this morning (December 7), with suicide being the expected cause of death.

Her family said that they were “deeply saddened by the death” of the nurse, whilst the Australian DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig have been suspended from their station, 2DayFM, until further notice. The hospital said that, contrary to rumors, Saldanha had not been disciplined for falling victim to the hoax call and that they’d been supportive of her throughout the period. Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said: "This is tragic news, and the thoughts of all at the Royal College of Nursing go to the family of Jacintha Saldanha. It is deeply saddening that a simple human error due to a cruel hoax could lead to the death of a dedicated and caring member of the nursing profession."

The receptionist who put through a prank phone call from an Australian DJ asking of Kate Middleton's condition in hospital, has committed suicide. Two Australian DJ's pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles with comedy accents were put through to the nurse caring for the Duchess at the King Edward VII hospital this week.

The woman was the first to pick up the call and happily transferred the call through to nurses. Sky News' Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "It does appear that the receptionist who put the original call through has been found dead, thought to be suicide." The 30-year-old Duchess of Cambridge was being treated at the hospital for severe morning sickness, though the DJ's managed to gain details of her condition. "She's sleeping at the moment and she has had an uneventful night. She's been given some fluids. She's stable at the moment," the nurse informed the supposed Queen and Prince, according to the Associated Press. The hospital staff became a subject of mockery, with a spokesperson saying it's telephone protocols were being reviewed. 

The Australian station 2DayFM placed the recording of the conversation on its website, though DJ's Mel Greig and Michael Christian later apologized. "We were very surprised that our call was put through. We thought we'd be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents," they said in a joint statement, "We're very sorry if we've caused any issues and we're glad to hear that Kate is doing well."

Continue reading: Report: Kate Middleton Prank Call Receptionist Commits Suicide

Picture Perfect: Kate Middleton Beams After Leaving Hospital In London

Kate Middleton left the King Edward VII Hospital in central London early on Thursday (December 4, 2012) after spending four days being treated for hyperemesis gravidarum (or, severe morning sickness). The Duchess of Cambridge looked fit as a fiddle upon checking out, holding a bouquet of flowers and smiling for the cameras with husband Prince William by her side. "The Duchess of Cambridge has been discharged from the King Edward VII Hospital and will now head to Kensington Palace for a period of rest," Nick Loughran, the assistant press secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, said in a statement. "Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank the staff at the hospital for the care and treatment The Duchess has received."

Middleton, 30, is less than 12 weeks pregnant, though was suffering from a serious bout of morning sickness earlier this week. The acute nausea is usually diagnosed around 12 weeks into a pregnancy and in most cases resolves itself by 20 weeks, according to Dr Ashley Roman, who spoke with The Independent. In rare cases, it can last the whole pregnancy, though Middleton looked pretty healthy as she posed on the steps of the hospital this morning, before departing in a black car. The Duke and Duchess were spending time with her parents in Bucklebury when she became nauseas. Ever the reliable husband, Prince William sprung into the action and drove his wife 50 miles in their Range Rover to the hospital, where Kate was placed on an IV drip. Such was the nature of the hospitalization, the royal family were only notified of Kate's pregnancy a couple of hours before the rest of the world. 

Continue reading: Pictures: Kate Middleton Leaves Hospital (A Nation Lets Out Sigh Of Relief)

Kate Middleton pregnancy has only just been announced, but the world's media have already descended on London, probably for the entirety of the nine months. You see, there's plenty of things we can speculate on before the future King or Queen arrives: gender, weight, hair color, eye color, and of course that all important name.

With Middleton's penchant for fashion and contemporary trends, perhaps she and William will opt against a traditional royal name? The bookmakers are playing it safe for the time being, offering George and Victoria as the favorites at 10/1, with Ann, Charles, Edward and Elizabeth available at around 12/1. Ambitious punters can have 20/1 on Diana, while there are big odds available for those with a little more imagination. How about Kate to name her son after the late designer Alexander McQueen? The name is currently around 33/1 and certainly retains a regal edge to it. For a girl, Sophie and Florence are 66/1, while Chardonnay is 1000/1. Tulisa is 500/1, as is Wayne, Rafa, Peaches, Hashtag, Gavin, Frogmella, Dawn, Britney, Arsene and Apple. Any takers?

Extra TV's royal family insider Sam Haskell said, "As a royal heir, there will be four names. I would guess Diana could be in there," also noting Elizabeth and Mary as possibilities. 

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Pregnancy Sparks Baby Name Speculation: Chardonnay!?

Is Kate Middleton pregnant with twins? After the royal family announced her pregnancy, the Duchess of Cambridge remains in hospital with acute morning sickness known as hyperemesis gravidarum. The rare condition results in weight loss and is often associated with having twins.

Women diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum typically lose 5 per cent of their pre-pregnancy weight, says Dr Ashley Roman, a professor at the New York University Langone Medical Center. "It's traditionally thought that nausea and vomiting is a sign of a healthy pregnancy." Dr Nancy Cossler at University Hospitals in Ohio said the Duchess and her family should not be worried, "The biggest problem with this is how it interferes with your life.Constantly feeling sick and puking is difficult." Cossler explains that the condition is thought to be caused by higher levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG, which can often mean that the woman is carrying more than one foetus. Though there's very little data on twins and hyperemesis gravidarum, one study shows that women carrying twins had a 7.5 per cent higher risk of experiencing the acute morning sickness - a considerable increase in the grand scheme of things. According to The Independent newspaper, there is evidence that mothers-to-be who suffer from the condition are three times more likely to have a multiple birth than other woman. 

The severe type of morning sickness is usually diagnosed about nine weeks into the pregnancy, however, in rare cases it can last the whole pregnancy. "As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter," read a statement from St. James Palace. Middleton's husband Prince William is currently by his wife's side at a private hospital in central London. 

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Pregnant With Twins? Experts Certainly Think So

Kate Middleton At The Newcastle Civic Centre in November

Kate Middleton is pregnant with her and Prince William's first child. The news was announced by St James Palace today on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who married in 2011.

According to ABC News, the child - whether a girl or boy - will eventually be heir to the British throne, according to new legislation awaiting final approval. The Duchess was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital on Monday (December 3, 2012) with hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute morning sickness that requires supplementary hydration and nutrients. "As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter. Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby," the palace said in a statement today. "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news." The couple have made no secret of their desire to have children, though 'Kate Middleton pregnant' headlines have been cropping up on a weekly basis since the couple married. 

Continue reading: Kate Middleton Pregnant With Future King Or Queen Of England

You know those rumours about Kate Middleton's pregnancy? The ones that emerge every couple of months or so? Well, it looks as though the latest batch of speculation could have some truth to it. In recent weeks, gossip sites have reported that the Duchess of Cambridge may well be expecting her first child and husband Prince William fuelled the fire this week.

The royal couple were in Cambridge this week - their first visit to the city that bears their name - and met hundreds of well-wishers along the way. During a walkabout, Prince William was handed a baby romper suit from a woman, telling her "I'll keep that." The handmade baby-grow, given to the Prince by new mum Samantha Hill, bore the image of a helicopter with the words "Daddy's little co-pilot." Samantha, 27, later told the Daily Mirror, "I made it for when his little one comes along, he's a helicopter pilot so his baby will think his daddy is cool. When I gave it to him he said 'I'll keep that' and handed it to his aide." William - a search and rescue pilot - seemed pretty thrilled with the present and thanked Samantha before moving on to meet other revellers. 

The couple have made no secret of their desire to begin a family in the near future, with William telling well-wishers in Singapore that he hoped to have two children. 

Continue reading: Aha! Did Prince William Just Confirm Kate Middleton's Pregnancy?

Kate Middleton has awkwardly recalled the see-through dress she wore at a student fashion show while visiting her and her husband Prince William's former university St Andrews. 

While attending a dinner at London's Middle Temple, she told one student from the university, 'I hope you weren't involved in the fashion show. You never know what you are going to be asked to wear!' She was, of course, referring to the flimsy see-through number (that was actually a skirt) that she donned over a simple black strapless bra and briefs during a fashion show in 2002 when she and William were students together. It wasn't all an embarrassing memory though, as that was the very outfit that made the royal heir fall for her. After seeing her sashay down the catwalk, his apparent reaction was to say, 'Wow, Kate's hot!' and the rest is history. Despite his approval, however, the new Duchess of Cambridge has not been seen in anything as risque since and is best known for her iconic blue dress that she wore for the official announcement of her engagement.

The London dinner was to celebrate the 600th anniversary charity appeal of the university where £100 million was raised in their student fund campaign.

Kate Middleton has, of course, been in the public eye for many years now, having dated the King-to-be for a decade. It was last year, during the run up and aftermath of her wedding that turned Kate from a part-time interest into a full-time obsession for the world's media. The day of the wedding also thrust Pippa Middleton, and particularly her bum, into public attention. However, over a year after the exciting event and both sisters are still constantly in the headlines.

This week Pippa Middleton furthered her career in the release of her first book, called 'Celebrate: A year of British Festivities for Families and Friends' and is published by a Penguin subsidiary, for a reported £400,000. As the Telegraph says, the reviews have been distinctly varied, some describing it as vapid, while others consider it "charming". However, due to the sensitive nature of the family which Pippa is now a part of, she will not be doing much publicity or one-to-one interviews about it, in attempts to avoid probing questions about the royals- notably that small faut pas of Kate's topless photo. 

Both sisters this week have also been included in the top ten of Britain's Most Natural Beauty poll, reports the Daily Mail, with Kate sitting right at the top- a position she needs to get used to before Queendom 50 years down the line. Although the accolades Kate has received so far are vanity based, at best, and vacuous at worst, there is plenty of time for her hard work and philanthropy to break through. This year she has also been included in Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World list, which is far more an indication of her future power than her existing effects, and one that we hope she will settle into with ease.

It looks like Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, will have to attend some royal engagements alone, as Prince William attends a funeral, reports The Telegraph.

Even the royals are using twitter as a mode of communication now: “Just announced - The Duke of Cambridge will not join his wife as planned on royal engagements in Tyne and Wear and Stockton-on-Tees (Wed).” the official Clarence House Twitter feed stated. “The Duke of Cambridge will instead attend the funeral of Olga Powell, who was his and Prince Harry’s nanny for much of their childhood.” This means Kate will have to attend separate engagements in Newcastle, Gateshead and Stockton-on-Tees on Wednesday without Prince William; the first time she will have done such a thing without the Duke of Cambridge on her arm. Instead, William and his brother Harry will attend the funeral of Olga Powell, a former nanny of theirs. In an interview with The Mirror before the royal wedding, she said the boys had been “like my grandsons.”

This, perhaps, would not be such a daunting task for Mrs. Middleton, as we’re sure she’s fully capable of handling such an occasion, even without her man by her side, but given that it’s the first public outing since the topless scandal that engulfed her recently, there’s more pressure on here to present an amicable public face for the British Royal Family.