The pressure on Prince William to pop the question to girlfriend of eight years Kate Middleton is greater than ever. The couple were dressed in their finest for the wedding of close friends Nicholas van Cutsem and Alice Hadden-Paton who became engaged after only one and a half years together. And perhaps Kate is hoping William gets the hint. She has been dubbed ‘Waity Katie’ for her staying power in the long-running royal romance which friends are convinced will eventually end in marriage. Today at the Wellington Barracks in London, patient Kate looked stunning in a cornflower blue brocade coat over an oyster white dress, finished with a delicate fascinator. William and Prince Harry, who was also a guest at the wedding in the Guards Chapel, were just as smart in their three-piece morning suits. The 31-year-old groom is a life guard in the Household Cavalry, while his new wife Alice, 25, works as an events manager. Her brother Harry Hadden-Paton has made a name for himself as a West End actor. The wedding of Nicholas and Alice is thought to have caught William off guard. But despite rumours of an impending engagement to Kate, sources say the Prince is too busy to get married. He is training to become an RAF search and rescue pilot, and has tours of Australia and South Africa planned. It may not be until Kate and William turn 30 that they tie the knot. They are both 27.

LOL. This Nicholas dude and his new bride Alice got themselves hitched after such a short time together, compared to how long Wills has been with Kate. If she’s hoping to land her prince, she’s still got some time to wait. Truth be told, I’m certain that Willy and Katie will end up married … they seem well-suited for one another. Mark my words, they will tie the knot some day … just not today. I must say, the young princes looked very handsome in their finery today. I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. van Cutsem were most appreciative that the young royals deigned to attend their nuptials. Congrats to the happy couple!

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

Prince William battled torrential rain to trek up a Cumbrian mountain with a group of young homeless people today. The royal completed the two-hour fell walk with youngsters from Centrepoint in Newcastle, which supports young people living on the streets. William, who is patron of the charity, said it was a great opportunity to provide them with a different perspective on life. “A lot of these guys have never done anything like this so it is a real challenge for them and I have really enjoyed meeting them,” he said. He spent much of the Ullswater Valley trek with 18-year-old Jonny Glendinning, who has 19 piercings on his face and body. Their unlikely friendship began when William joked that his facial piercings might freeze in the inclement conditions. Mr Glendinning, who was made homeless last year when his mother threw him out, said: “We were chatting about my piercings and he joked they would freeze up in this weather. I think he was a bit surprised when I said they have done before. I didn’t know he was coming until last night but he was a lot more down-to-earth than I expected, he was canny.” William supported the group throughout the trek and, when they reached the summit, he told 19-year-old Rebecca Burden: “See, I told you that you would make it, it was easy wasn’t it?” The prince wore a Patterdale Mountain Rescue jacket for the walk from Greenside Mines to Helvellyn mountain. Team leaders from the Mountain Rescue England and Wales charity, for which William is also patron, arranged the expedition. Staffed by 3,000 volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, the charity makes more than 900 rescues a year, half of which are carried out by the 12 Lake District teams. William said: ‘These men and women are unsung heroes. They are up and down these mountains rescuing people with broken legs every day.’ He also helped the youngsters from Centrepoint to raise a London 2012 flag to mark three years until the start of the Olympics. Later Prince William, a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF, will board a steam boat with families who are looked after by WellChild, the national charity for sick children.

Balding or not, I still love Prince William. He seems like such a stand-up guy, I’ve been quite impressed with pretty much every interview of him I’ve ever seen or read. He is a shining example of the best the British Royal Family has to offer. It’s such a bummer that the poor guy is losing his hair at such a young age tho :( Mebbe he can put in a call to Beyoncé’s people and mebbe she can hook him up with a righteous weave or something? In any event, I’m sure Wills will continue his hard work for the people of Great Britain … but I’d suggest he wear more hats, we wouldn’t want him catching his death with that much exposed scalp.

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Call them brothers in arms: Prince William gave his strongest hint yet that he would like to follow his brother Prince Harry and go to war. “In my eyes, if Harry can do it then I can do it,” William said Thursday. “I didn’t join the forces to be mollycoddled or treated any differently.” And, he added that while others think it “impossible” for him to take a front line role, “I still remain hopeful there’s a chance.” Harry, 24, fulfilled a 10-week tour in Afghanistan, in March 2008 and is now learning to fly helicopters because, he says, it’s his “easiest way of getting to the front lines.” He joined his brother at a special media day to talk about their training and living together while they are both based at RAF Shawbury, in Shropshire, England. William is undergoing tuition to be a pilot in Royal Air Force Search and Rescue crews, while Harry is in the early stages of learning to fly army helicopters. The younger prince appears to have given up on the dream of flying high-tech Apache attack helicopters – opting for the more supportive roles of the utility chopper, the Lynx. “Brain capacity? I don’t know if I’ve got it for the Apache,” he told the media frankly. “I will fly what I am told to fly and wherever I’m told to fly.” If all goes to plan, Harry might get his chance to fly back into Afghanistan in early 2011. The brothers, who lodge together in a house off the base, also joked about what it was like to be under the same roof. “This is the first time and the last time we will be living together,” Harry said. “It’s been an emotional experience,” his older brother shot back. And he says he does all the work. “Bearing in mind I cook, I feed him every day – I think he’s done very well.” But Harry – speaking in New York recently – said he did the dishes, so what gives? “Yes, Harry does do the washing up but then he leave most of it in the sink and then I come back in the morning and I have to wash it up,” William explained, adding, “I do a fair bit of tidying up after him. He snores a lot too. He keeps me up all night long.” “Oh God, now they will think we are sharing a bed!” Harry replied, calling the claims “lies.” Despite all the banter, William, who turns 27 Sunday, might not get a birthday present from his brother. When reminded of the date, Harry said, “Oh God, it isn’t is it?” William added, “He has just realized it now and he hasn’t got my present. But I would not expect it now. I will be lucky if I get a card.” Next up for the birthday boy is a month’s training in north Wales at RAF Valley in Angelsey in the fall. His course ends at RAF Shawbury in early 2010.

While I suppose it’s admirable that Prince William wants to go to war, I don’t know that it really is feasible at all. I love the prince, I really do, but I think talking about his intense desire to go to war might be more for publicity rather than a genuine desire to put his life in harm’s way. I absolutely believe that he honestly wants to fight for his country/kingdom but if he is truly serious about going to war he shouldn’t talk about it so much. Talking about it publicly is the surest way to make sure it never happens. On a wholly different matter, doesn’t Prince Harry look better in those horrible jumpsuits than does Wills? Mebbe the elder prince just wasn’t born to be a military man.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Pomp and pageantry was on full show Saturday as Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her official birthday with the traditional Trooping the Colour parade in London. Wearing a blue coat and matching hat, Queen Elizabeth, 83, took the salute during the military spectacle, as senior royals and thousands of well-wishers looked on. Later, the royal family watched from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as 29 aircraft, from vintage planes to modern fighters, took part in the traditional flypast, with the Red Arrows air acrobatics jets trailing red, white and blue smoke. Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip travelled to the Horse Guards parade ground in Queen Victoria’s 1842 ivory-mounted phaeton carriage. Her eldest children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, followed on horseback. Charles’s wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, plus his sons Princes William and Harry — who both wore military uniform — watched from a building that was once military hero the Duke of Wellington’s office. The queen has taken the salute every year bar one since her accession to the throne in 1952. The Colour being paraded on Horse Guards this year was the flag of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. The pomp and ceremony of Trooping the Colour — a hangover from preparations for battle when colours or flags were “trooped” down the rank so soldiers could recognise them — marks the queen’s official birthday. Her actual birthday is on April 21 but historically the monarch has another in the summer months, because the weather is supposed to be better for open-air celebrations.

Birthday lurve goes out to Her Majesty this weekend as she officially celebrates her 83rd. It’s so good to see her lookin’ so spry and lively. Queen Elizabeth II looks like she’s got the fortitude to reign for a very long time to come. As an American, I find it very neat and interesting to see the regalness of Royal celebrations like this. We, too, have our pomp and circumstance here in the US but there seems to be something special about Royal ceremonies. So nice to see the Royals all celebrating together.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton may have managed to keep the lowest of low profiles throughout the winter, but on Sunday they were out for all to see – and to be caught in a rare moment of public affection as they walked from a post-polo match party near Windsor, England. “William spent about 40 minutes at the party after his match, and then picked up Kate and they wandered back to the car,” says an onlooker. “He put his left arm around her back and there was plenty of smiling between them.” During the match, Kate sat with her sister Pippa and one of William’s best friends, Tom van Staubenzee – whose family charity was one of the beneficiaries of the afternoon. Middleton, 27, didn’t show much reaction during the match – which William and Prince Harry’s team, Umbogo, won by four goals to three. “She was just enjoying the sunshine and the game,” says the bystander. Sunday’s event, sponsored by Audi, raised money for three of the princes’ pet causes: Harry’s Sentebale charity for the African nation of Lesotho; the Child Bereavement Charity, of which William, 26, is a patron; and the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, of which both princes are patrons.

Hahaha … imagine that! The team with the two princes on it won the match. I love it! Actually, I love anytime that either prince participates in a polo match like this … something about the bright white pants and those leather boots … it’s a good look, I think :) I’m also happy that Kate and Wills are back to PDAing it. I love them together and I hope we get to see more of them together in the future. Long live Wills and Kate!

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin; Source]

Prince William today revealed that he was left with a ‘Harry Potter scar’ after being hit around the head with a golf club when he was a boy. The Prince said the scar ‘glows sometimes’ – like that of the boy wizard – and had been caused by a friend wielding a seven iron while on a putting green. The 26-year-old also revealed an unlikely childhood dream of becoming a policeman, during an exclusive interview conducted by a 10-year-old cancer patient for CBBC’s Newsround. The aspiring Royal correspondent, named Alice, is a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital, where Prince william is lending his support for a new cancer centre for children and teenagers. During the interview William explained how he got a scar on his head, which has been photographed looking inflamed after he plays sport. Pointing to his forehead, he told Alice: “That was for my Harry Potter scar, as I call it, just here. I call it that because it glows sometimes and some people notice it – other times they don’t notice it at all. I got hit by a golf club when I was playing golf with a friend of mine. Yeah, we were on a putting green and the next thing you know there was a seven-iron and it came out of nowhere and it hit me in the head. So, yeah, I was in hospital for that, but that was very minor compared to how many times you’ve been into hospital.” When aspiring reporter Alice quizzed him on his ambitions as a boy, he revealed he had aspired to join the constabulary – but eventually settled on Army. He said: “A long time ago I wanted to be a policeman, when I was younger. I soon learnt that probably wasn’t a good idea. At the moment I’m still doing some sort of helicopter flying, doing search and rescue. It’s going very well. My instructors would probably say, ‘Not so well’, but I think it’s going not too badly. I haven’t managed to dent any of the aircraft, I haven’t flown into any trees yet, so, it’s going okay.” During his the interview, conducted at Clarence House, William said he was following in his mother’s footsteps by lending support to the Royal Marsden Hospital … The Prince was also clear on who would win an arm wrestle between himself and Prince Harry. “You know the answer to that. It’s not even a contest. Obviously I’d win. Obviously. As the bigger brother you have that psychological power over your brother, you see,” he told Alice. Revealing what he would do if he were invisible for a day, he said: “I’d probably get myself in a lot of trouble. I’d probably go into the newspaper office, and I’d hide in the background and listen to all the stories they talk about me.”

See, you do learn something new every day. I cannot believe that I’ve never seen this huge scar on Wills’s head before. I really love that he did this interview with young Miss Alice. What a thrill to be able to interview the prince. Concerning his comments about who would win in an arm wrestling match, I say we put the two princes to the test … have them strip down to the waist and arm wrestle. That way, we’d know for sure :)

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Despite rumors that the royal couple were having problems, it would appear that things are still very much on track between these two. I am utterly convinced that Wills and Kate will one day be married. They’ve weathered so much together, I’d bet money that they’re in it for the long haul. They make a great couple, I’m just glad to see them pop up in one another’s company from time to time.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

They”re probably not the sort of eyewear that a fashionable young prince about town would choose for himself. But when you’ve got problems with your eyesight, the RAF insists you wear its regulation glasses while flying, even if you’re Prince William. The specs fit under a pilot’s helmet and night vision goggles and give them the best possible field of vision. The Ministry of Defence said: “Admittedly they are not the trendiest piece of eyewear going, but they do the job.” William, 26, was pictured in the glasses as he took his first training flight with the Defense Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Some might be surprised to see a would-be RAF pilot in glasses in the first place, but in fact only those who are colour blind or have chronic eye conditions are unlikely to be able to qualify for the job. Applicants must, however, have perfect 20/20 vision when wearing glasses. RAF pilots are not permitted to wear their own specs when flying, however, hence the regulation glasses. William, who is believed to be short sighted, has needed glasses for several years. He owns a pair of trendy metalrimmed spectacles, but prefers not to wear them in public. The prince – whose codename at the air base is ‘Golden Osprey’ – took off in a Squirrel, the MoD’s elementary flying training helicopter, with an instructor at his side for a successful hour-long ‘ sortie’ on Wednesday afternoon. On his return he puffed his cheeks out and smiled with relief that all had gone well. He looked equally delighted at the opportunity to take off his unflattering eyewear. If he passes the intensive 12-month course, William hopes to go on and qualify as a Search and Rescue pilot, which could see him taking on his first ’shout’ in early 2011.

I actually like the glasses on Prince Wills … they give him an air of sophistication, I think. The whole military outfit is what looks a bit strange on His Royalness. Even still, I think it’s very commendable that he is taking on this military training in order to prepare himself for the throne when the time comes. It seems pretty clear that rather than feeling the “need for speed”, Prince Wills most likely feels the “need to lead”. It is much nicer to hear and see stories like this coming from the Royal family rather than stories of the other ilk. I’m looking forward to seeing more photos of the young Prince engaged in further military training … watching him play dress-up is fun!

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Worries about the global economy and violence across the world have turned the celebration of Christmas into a more somber affair this year, Queen Elizabeth said on Thursday. Britain, like many other developed nations, is facing the risk of a prolonged recession. Unemployment is rising fast, household high street firms are collapsing and several big banks are only able to stay in business with government help. There has also been an increase in the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan in recent weeks, just as troops in Iraq prepare to come home next year. “Christmas is a time for celebration, but this year it is a more somber occasion for many,” the Queen said. “People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world. Whether it is the global economy or violence in a distant land, the effects can be keenly felt at home.” But, in her annual Christmas broadcast which dates back to 1957 and is watched by millions across Britain and the Commonwealth, the 82-year-old said those with courage would work hard to survive and improve their lot. “When life seems hard the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future,” she said, standing by a piano adorned with pictures of her family. This year has been eventful for the royal family, with Prince Harry — third in line to the throne — fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan for 10 weeks, an inquest into the death of Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ 60th birthday. The Queen paid tribute to Britain’s armed forces but also singled out for praise her eldest son and heir, Charles, accompanied by previously unseen footage of the prince playing with his mother as a small child. “We feel great pride in seeing our family make their own unique contributions to society,” she said. “Through his charities, the Prince of Wales has worked to support young people and other causes for the benefit of the wider community.”

While it may not want to be the message that folks want to hear on an occasion like Xmas, I think it was prudent for the Queen to address the issues of the day in the manner in which she did. The prospects are gloomy for everyone in the world, none of us are untouched by the degrading state of the economy, and violence still threatens us at almost every turn. Queen Elizabeth has a way of delivering this sort of serious message with a resoluteness that instills confidence in people. After the jump, watch her Xmas Address in full for yourselves …

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source, Source]

Nights on the town have been a rarity for Kate Middleton and Prince William in recent months, but the couple made up for lost time with a visit to London’s Whisky Mist. The pair were spotted arriving at the bar – a popular royal haunt – at 12.30am where they partied until the early hours of this morning. And while Kate, who enjoyed dinner at Eight Over Eight restaurant in Chelsea with sister Pippa earlier in the evening, was dressed to the nines in an electric blue dress, it was her boyfriend’s facial hair that was attracting all the attention. It seems the prince, who is said to have stopped shaving while on a recent anti-drug smuggling exercise with the Special Boat Service in the Caribbean, has become rather attached to the rugged look. It is believed that he grew the beard in an attempt to disguise his identity during the 10-day mission. It’s something of a family tradition – his father, the Prince of Wales, sported facial hair while serving in Alaska in 1975, as did William’s grandfather Prince Philip during his own wartime service aboard HMS Valiant. However the look will be short lived – next year he joins the RAF, where beards are banned. ‘Waity Katie’, as she has become known because of her apparent willingness to wait around until William proposes, is said to have been unimpressed with his decision to commit to the RAF for the next seven years. But there was no signs of strain as they enjoyed their evening on the town. William and Kate, both 26, recently returned from holiday with friends at Wood Farm on the Queen’s 20,000-acre Norfolk estate where they went on a pheasant shoot with Prince Harry and friends. It was the first time the couple had been photographed together since September, when they attended a friend’s wedding in Austria.

I get the whole Royal “tradition” thing about growing a beard before entering military service but I think the new facial hair is also a sign that Wills, bless his heart, is trying to offset the hair that is thinning on top of his head by letting the hair on the bottom of his head grow as much as it can. I, for one, really like the more rugged look on him. Even tho the lad is a tall drink of water, I think he still has a bit of a baby face … the hair mans him up a bit, I think. I say we enjoy the beard for as long as we can … soon enough, it’ll be snipped off and all but a memory.

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