Green Gables: Kate's Must Visit Location in Canada this Summer!

The Toronto Star has reported that Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, has made a request to include a visit to Canada's own Prince Edward Island this summer, when she and Prince William are here on their Canadian tour!

The Star goes on to mention that "Anne of Green Gables", by Lucy Maud Montgomery, was one of Kate's favourite books growing up, and so she wants to visit the various locations that inspired the text.

It's really neat to think that Kate grew up reading and loving the same book that most Canadian girls grow up reading too! It's also interesting to think about her reading an arguably canonical piece of Canadian fiction across the pond in England, when here as children we were immersed in British fiction. It's pleasently surprising to know that people outside of Canada are interested in our country. Usually it's us looking out at the rest of the world and admiring their achievements and contributions to, in this case, the literary world.

"The house that is said to have inspired the setting for 'Anne of Green Gables'"

To read more about the article sited, click here: http://thestar.blogs.com/royals/

The English Garden Part One: Lawn Care

Have you ever seen pictures (or maybe you have in person) of the gorgeous lawns that seem to be one of the trademarks of an English garden? Well here are some tips on how to emulate this look in your own back garden that will get you one step closer to achieving the whole English garden look.

All the information below has been taken from http://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/

For many gardeners the perfect lawn is the ultimate goal. While there's nothing like that immaculate green velvet carpet, a lawn can be whatever you want it to be. It could be highly formal, a flower filled meadow, dotted with daisies, or even a place to kick a ball. The beauty of a lawn is that it's soft and friendly, yet durable and hardwearing. It invites a mood of relaxation and acts as a constant foil for the more showy elements to star.

Lawns are made up of millions of tiny grass plants, like all plants they need light, air and moisture to live. We want our lawns not just to survive but thrive; find out all you need to know about keeping your lawn looking good all year.

Basics

From May onwards most plants including grass will begin to romp away. It is important to establish a mowing routine, at this time of year every five days is about right for most lawns.

• At the start and tail of the season however, (March/April - October/ November) the interval between cuts should be greater.
• Before the first cut, ensure that all debris is cleared from the lawn, a gentle rake is also a good idea to lift the grass blades.
• The first few cuts of the year should only remove the tips of the grass. As the season progresses you can gradually lower the cutting height.
• You are aiming to remove about a third of the growth. For formal lawns a height of 13-20mm should be maintained through the summer, at either end of the season set the mower on a slightly higher setting.
• Less formal lawns should be cut to a height of about 30mm.

Mowing techniques

Mowing is one of the most frequent tasks carried out on your lawn, and therefore it is vital to get it right. The quality of the cut will depend, not only on your turf type, but also your choice of mower.

• A cylinder mower is fitted with several blades arranged in a spiral located on a front cylinder. The cutting action is similar to that of a pair of scissors, and the more blades fitted, the finer the cut. These mowers are used where an immaculate sward is required.
• A rotary mower on the other hand is more suitable for general mowing of most turf areas. These are fitted with a horizontal blade that spins at high speed and cuts with a similar action to a scythe.
• Both cylinder and rotary mowers are available as either petrol driven or electric models. Your choice will come down to budget and suitability.
• A hover mower is a rotary mower that floats on a cushion of air and is useful for cutting slopes or even steep banks.

It is best to collect lawn clippings, either during cutting using a box fitted to the mower, or after, by raking the surface of the lawn. Over time, if these clippings were left on the lawn they would cause a build up of thatch leading to drainage problems.

If you only have a narrow width mower make two adjacent passes in the same direction so that the stripes are not too small in proportion to the area and other elements.

With electric mowers make sure a RCD (Residual Current Device) is fitted. If you should accidentally cut through the cable, then the RCD will turn off the power.

Don't add grass clippings all in one go to the compost heap; instead, mix them with coarse plant material and leaves.

Watering

• During dry weather you should raise the height of the cut, so that only the tips of the grass are clipped. Allow these clippings to remain on the lawn to help reduce evaporation.
• Most lawns will recover quite quickly from a period of drought, so only start watering the lawn when absolutely necessary, once you begin you will need to continue at weekly intervals until sufficient rain has fallen.
• Use a sprinkler and water in the evening to minimise evaporation.
• Be sure to apply the right amount of water: too much water is wasteful and too little will cause the roots to come to the surface. Aim to allow the water to soak into a depth of about 10cm.
• Following a dry spell you may need to make minor repairs to the lawn. A good way to fill small bare patches is to insert plugs or hair transplants grown in plastic propagation cells.

Making new lawns using seed or turf

When sowing a lawn from seed, the intended use and desired look of the lawn will determine the most appropriate seed mix to use. A lawn that needs to withstand heavy wear and some neglect should contain a high proportion of the tough broad bladed ryegrass. For a finer more refined lawn use a seed mix without ryegrass.

• The ideal time to sow seed is September when the soil is still warm, yet moist.
• Choose a calm day with light rain forecasted.
• When sowing, make sure the surface is weeded, raked and level, this is the only opportunity to get it right.
• The best time to lay turf is September/October. A dry spell followed by rain would be ideal.
• When laying a lawn using turves, make sure you get the soil preparation right. It should be cleared of weeds, then forked, raked, firmed and levelled.
• Buy the best quality turf. Reject dry edged, yellow or weedy turf.

Seed Mixes

For a formal lawn

80% Chewings fescue, 20% Browntop bent

For a utility lawn

40% Smooth stalked meadow grass, 30% Chewings fescue, 20% Creeping red fescue, 10% Browntop bent

For a tough, hardwearing lawn

35% Perennial ryegrass, 30% Chewings fescue, 25% Smooth stalked meadow grass, 10% Browntop bent

Weed and feed

The spring feed should be applied just as the grass is starting to grow in March. The fertilizer should contain nitrogen, which encourages strong healthy growth, as well as potassium, potash and trace elements.

Many brands are available, mostly as resin coated granules, which are easy to apply. The granule coat breaks down gradually, providing the lawn with a constant supply of nutrients without the risk of burning or scorching.

One application should be enough to see the lawn through to the autumn. If during the summer, however, your lawn shows signs of slight yellowing or a loss of vigour, then an application of an organic liquid fertilizer based on seaweed can be applied.

Along with grass, the weeds will also be growing quickly. Individual weeds can be dealt with easily by an application of a selective weed killer or alternatively removed using a narrow trowel.

If using liquid chemicals diluted with water be sure to apply at the recommended dose and always read the label.

In essence, apply early in the morning on a calm and moist day. After six weeks, a repeat application may be necessary, particularly for established weeds or those with a creeping habit such as clover.

Remember to wash the watering can thoroughly or better still have two cans and use one only for chemical application.

With the recent withdrawal of many garden chemicals, it can be worth checking with the Royal Horticultural Society for guidelines on chemical use. Log on to http://www.rhs.org.uk/

Autumn work

• It is important to remove the build up of dead grass or thatch using a metal tined rake. The removal of this thatch will reinvigorate the grass minimising the risk of fungal disease in warm, damp autumns.
• Aerating the lawn is equally important, use a border fork to push down into the lawn about 6cm and wiggle it about, repeat this action moving backwards at 15cm intervals over the entire lawn.
• Creating these slots will enable air to get in, relieving compaction and improving drainage
• Areas of bare lawn can be top dressed with old potting compost mixed with grass seed. Brush this in with a stiff birch besom or other broom so that some of the seed is worked into the soil surface.
• Unlike the spring feed, which was high in nitrogen, the autumn fertilizer should be high in potash
• Instead of raking up the fallen leaves on your lawn, raise the height on your rotary mower and use it to suck them up. The collected mixture of chopped leaves and grass clippings will be great for the compost heap.

Source: http://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/advice-on/lawn-care

Riding in Windsor Great Park

The Daily Mail reports that "the Queen was so taken by the picture, taken on Easter Monday amid the bluebells in Windsor Great Park, that she agreed to publish it to highlight the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which starts today."

They go on to write in the same article that "the Queen is leading casually-dressed three year-old James on a rein but Louise has clearly inherited her grandmother’s confidence and looks more than in control of her own white steed."

"The children live only a short drive from Windsor and stable their ponies at the royal mews, as does their mother. As revealed by the Mail, the Countess suffered a broken rib following a nasty fall from her own horse while riding in the Great Park just days before the royal wedding.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said last night: ‘The Queen thought it was a particularly lovely photograph and gave her permission for it to be released.’

The Royal Windsor Horse Show is the largest outdoor equestrian Show in the UK, with over 3,000 horses and ponies taking part in more than 250 jumping, showing, and carriage driving classes. The event has been running for over 65 years and takes place in Her Majesty’s private grounds at Windsor Castle."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385730/Queen-Elizabeth-goes-riding-Prince-Edwards-children.html#ixzz1M45sgvhP

The Next Bride-to-be: Zara Phillips

"They call it the ‘girls in pearls’ page. And while the young aristocratic women who grace Country Life’s ‘posh page three’ don’t wear many pearls these days, they certainly tend to dress up.

Zara Phillips, however, is not one for conformity.

When she agreed to pose for a photograph to formally announce her engagement to England rugby star Mike Tindall, tradition flew out of the window.

The Queen’s granddaughter chose to wear jeans and a casual fleece standing beside her black labrador, Storm. The magazine confirmed that Zara selected her own outfit to fit her ‘comfortable’ and ‘natural’ lifestyle as an equestrian champion.

But on close inspection, the 29-year-old’s choice of attire may not have been as spontaneous as it first appears. The eventing rider, who is a shrewd businesswoman making hundreds of thousands through commercial tie-ups, did not miss the chance to plug her sponsors.

Zara is wearing a £60 microfleece from her own Musto fashion range – with the label’s name and the fabric make Polartec clearly on display. A £6,000 watch by Rolex – one of her sponsors – is on her wrist.
And with her sleeve pulled up it gets a more prominent show than her diamond engagement ring.

 

Well-bred:The latest edition of Country Life, which features Zara Phillips' portrait

Unlike in December when Zara posed for her first engagement photos in jeans, cap and bodywarmer, she appears to have scrubbed the dirt from beneath her finger nails.
The caption underneath the picture reads: ‘Zara, daughter of the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, is engaged to be married to Michael Tindall, younger son of Mr and Mrs Philip Tindall of the West Riding, Yorkshire. ‘They will be married on July 30 at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.’

The ‘girls in pearls’ frontispiece was established by Country Life in 1897 and has boasted a line of royals including Zara’s mother Princess Anne. Instead of engagement announcements, single girls increasingly feature these days. Their pictures often appear alongside a resume of their public school education and wishes for the future – making a discreet CV for potential suitors.

A magazine spokesman said Zara was not the first to wear jeans for the page, but said the decision was ‘very rare’. He added: ‘She hasn’t got to prove anything and that comes across.’"


Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1385723/Forget-girls-pearls--Zaras-thoroughly-modern-bride-follows-mother-poses-country-life.html#ixzz1M0Kj5dTc

The Honeymoon Location is Revealed!

The Daily Mail has reported that "the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the Seychelles yesterday for a romantic Indian Ocean honeymoon."

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1385435/Seychelles-Prince-William-Kate-Middletons-4k-night-royal-honeymoon.html

Kate Grocery Shopping

What a gal! We just saw watched her wed Prince William on April 29th, and not two weeks later Kate, now the Duchess of Cambridge, resumes "normal" life. Here are some pictures of her grocery shopping in Wales.

Looking as natural and effortless as ever Kate is wearing black skinny "Hudson" jeans, a white v-neck sweater, a green poncho-style cardigan and basic black flats.

Read the full article at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1384127/Kate-Middleton-pushes-trolley-grocery-shopping-Waitrose.html

Etiquette for Everyone

We may not need to bow or curtsy in our every day lives, but basic manners are very important, no matter who you are or where you are in the world.

One article on acceptable behaviour in England says that "the English are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech... (and) they are famous for their politeness and self-discipline." Another article on this same topic notes that "manners are arguably the cornerstone of British society."

Here are some tips that might help you brush up on your own early-learned set of manners, and add to your general body of knowledge in how to handle yourself when you're out and about!

General (Taken from http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/behaviour.html)

1) When being entertained at someones home it is nice to take a gift for the host and hostess. A bottle of wine, bunch of flowers or chocolates are all acceptable (Sending a thank you note is also considered appropriate).

2) Men should never wear hats inside buildings

3) a. British people place considerable value on punctuality. If you agree to meet friends at three o'clock, you can bet that they'll be there just after three. Since Britons are so time conscious, the pace of life may seem very rushed. In Britain, people make great effort to arrive on time. It is often considered impolite to arrive even a few minutes late. If you are unable to keep an appointment, it is expected that you call the person you are meeting. Some general tips follow.
     b. If you are invited to someones house for dinner at half past seven, they will expect you to be there on the dot. An invitation might state "7.30 for 8", in which case you should arrive no later than 7.50. However, if an invitation says "sharp", you must arrive in plenty of time.)

4) It is proper to shake hands with everyone to whom you are introduced, both men and women. An appropriate response to an introduction is "Pleased to meet you". If you want to introduce yourself to someone, extend you hand for a handshake and say "Hello, I am....". Hugging is only for friends.

5) When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.

Eating

1) The British generally pay a lot of attention to good table manners. Even young children are expected to eat properly with knife and fork. We eat most of our food with cutlery. The foods we don't eat with a knife, fork or spoon include sandwiches, crisps, corn on the cob, and fruit.

2) If you are a guest, it is polite to wait until your host starts eating or indicates you should do so. It shows consideration.

3) Follow the host's lead to determine when to eat after being served. When the host eats or gives the guests permission, you can eat.

4) You may eat chicken and pizza with your fingers if you are at a barbecue, finger buffet or very informal setting. Otherwise always use a knife and fork.

5) When eating rolls, break off a piece of bread before buttering. Eating it whole looks tacky.

6) On formal dining occasions it is good manners to take some butter from the butter dish with your bread knife and put it on your side plate (for the roll). Then butter pieces of the roll using this butter. This prevents the butter in the dish getting full of bread crumbs as it is passed around.

7) When you have finished eating, and to let others know that you have, place your knife and folk together, with the prongs (tines) on the fork facing upwards, on your plate.

8) When eating soup, tip the bowl away from you and scoop the soup up with your spoon.

Soup should always be taken (without slurping of course) from the side of the spoon, and not from the 'end' as in most of the rest of Europe.

9) To be very polite, peas should be crushed onto the fork - a fork with the prongs pointing down. The best way is to have load the fork with something to which they will stick, such as potato or a soft vegetable that squashes easily onto the fork. It's sometimes easier to put down your knife and then switch your fork to the other hand, so you can shovel the peas against something else on the plate, thus ensuring they end up on your fork. The fork should not be used as a scoop but held so that the points of the tines face.

10) To eat dessert, break the dessert with the spoon, one bite at a time. Push the food with the fork (optional) into the spoon. Eat from the spoon. (Fork in left hand; spoon in right).

11) Napkins should be placed across the lap - tucking them into your clothing may be considered 'common'.

12) Always chew and swallow all the food in your mouth before taking more or taking a drink. Always say thank you when served something. It shows appreciation.

13) Hold stemware by the stem rather than by the glass.

14) Keep your elbows off the table.

15) Bring the food to you rather than leaning forward toward the food. Always maintain an upright posture at the table.

16) Avoid reaching over another person's plate for a serving dish.

17) Ask for dishes to be passed to you if they are not directly in front of you. If you are asked to pass something, always pass to the right unless the person is to your immediate left. If the dish you are passing has a handle, pass the dish so as to offer the handle to the recipient.

18) Keep utensils on your plate and off the table after they have been used. When not in use, the fork should be at 8 o'clock and the knife should be at 4 o'clock.

Things you should not do:

1) Never lick or put your knife in your mouth.

2) It is impolite to start eating before everyone has been served unless your host says that you don't need to wait.

3) Never chew with your mouth open. No one wants to see food being chewed or hearing it being chomped on.

4) It is impolite to have your elbows on the table while you are eating.

5) Don't reach over someones plate for something, ask for the item to be passed.

6) Never talk with food in your mouth.

7) It is impolite to put too much food in your mouth.

8) Never use your fingers to push food onto your spoon or fork.

9) It is impolite to slurp your food or eat noisily.

10) Never blow your nose on a napkin (serviette). Napkins are for dabbing your lips and only for that.

11) Never take food from your neighbours plate.

12) Never pick food out of your teeth with your fingernails (or at all when in company. Excuse yourself)


You might also like to read: "Mind Your Manners - British Etiquette"

Click here: http://ezinearticles.com/?Mind-Your-Manners---British-Etiquette&id=974900

Sources:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/behaviour.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2228053_follow-british-table-manners.html

Royal Etiquette

"The first thing the new Duchess of Cambridge will have noticed about her altered status is that the Palace policemen have started saluting her.

In the state rooms of Buckingham Palace on Friday afternoon, female servants began to curtsey and grizzled retainers in their 100-year-old livery bowed their heads low.

One former courtier said: ‘At first she’ll be embarrassed by all this courtly attention from people she barely knows. But she’ll soon come to realise that it’s not what she wants, but what everybody else wants that matters when it comes to people showing their respect.’

As a brand new royal duchess, and wife of the second in line to the throne, Kate will need to bone up on who curtseys to whom.

In case nobody’s told her yet, here’s a rough guide to how things work.

If the Queen comes into the room, it’s simple enough – Kate should curtsey to her.

If Camilla appears and is with Charles, William’s wife should also curtsey to her.

But if Charles is absent but William is present, then Kate outranks Camilla, who should – in theory – curtsey to Kate. This is because William outranks Camilla in terms of the lineage, which means that effectively so does his wife while he is present

If neither William nor Charles is there, then Kate curtseys to Camilla because – woman to woman – Camilla is her senior in the Firm.

In the case of Princess Anne – born a princess – and Princess Alexandra (the Queen’s cousin and granddaughter of George V), both these women have royal blood in their veins and therefore are more important than Kate – unless William happens to be around, in which case she’s more important than them. (Sophie Wessex, being married to a royal junior in rank to William, just has to curtsey to them all).

As for Prince Andrew’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, they out-rank Kate – but again not when William’s in the room.

Fortunately, Kate has had a long time to absorb what might politely be called the ‘ancient traditions’ of monarchy.

Those privy to the plans she and William are laying down for when they are King and Queen, believe that much of this ancient courtesy – well-meaning though it may be – will be swept away as the Cambridges seek to rejuvenate the monarchy."


Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382563/ROYAL-WEDDING-Kates-lesson-Who-curtsey-whom.html

The costs of marrying into the Royal Family

"After the party comes the hangover – and the bill might cause a slight headache, too.

It is thought the cost to the Middletons of making sure their eldest daughter Kate had a wedding day to remember may top £250,000. And the bill is not the only thing to bring them back down to earth – yesterday, dad Michael, 61, was seen on his ride-on mower trimming the lawns of their extensive property.

Although he and wife Carole, 55, are millionaires, shelling out a quarter of a million pounds on one day might still make them wince.

They booked the whole of the plush Goring hotel in London’s Belgravia for two days for family and friends, at an estimated £85,000. They then spent £25,000 on two parties – including a buffet for 120 family and friends on the night before Kate and Wills’ April 29 wedding. And after the reception at Buckingham Palace finished in the early hours of Saturday morning, friends and relatives – including best man Prince Harry – continued the revelries back at The Goring, where Beluga caviar is £400 for 100g and a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne can command an eye-watering £1,530.

As well as picking up the hotel tab, the Middletons also paid a premium to look good on their daughter’s big day. Kate’s bridal gown, designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, cost them around £40,000 while her Robinson Pelham diamond earrings cost another £15,000. The rest of the family also had to look the part. Carole’s outfit by Catherine Walker cost an estimated £10,000, while maid of honour Pippa’s stunning floor-length gown, also by Sarah Burton, cost around £20,000.

The family are also going to make a contribution to the couple’s postponed honeymoon with Prince Charles paying the remainder.

The large bill adds to the mystery of the Middleton finances. The family’s firm, Party Pieces, was formed in 1981 as a hobby when flight attendant Carole was pregnant with Kate. What started as a small-scale venture to make some pin money soon grew. Packages and themes for parties took off and in 1987, now working with husband Michael, Party Pieces became a full-time business. Before Kate and Wills got engaged it was worth around £8million. It is now thought to be worth £30million thanks to its new royal connections.

The company employs 30 people and, in recent weeks, did a roaring trade in street party packs while traffic to its website jumped 25-fold. But as it is a partnership between the couple, details of its finances remain secret. Its success meant the Middletons could move from their modest semi in Bradfield Southend, Reading, to a five bedroom, £1.5million mansion in the tiny village of Bucklebury, near Newbury.

They sent their children to the best schools, including £29,000 a year Marlborough College, Wilts.

They also bought an apartment in Chelsea in 2002 at a cost of £795,000 (which is now worth £1.2million) without the need of a mortgage. It became the family base first for Kate and now for James and Pippa, 27.

And when several acres of land near their home came up for sale in 2005 they couple paid the £295,000 asking price in cash. The Middletons drive top of the range Range Rovers and are said to enjoy the finer things of life now their business is a success.

There are also rumours that with their new social station, they will now want to upgrade their home and have looked at Bolehyde Manor near Chippenham in Wiltshire – the 14th-century home of Earl and Countess Cairns. The extensive property is on the market for almost £5million.

If they do sell up and move, at least whoever buys their home in Bucklebury knows the lawns are well looked after – thanks to Michael and his mower."

You might also like to read: "From faux chav to green goddess... a shake of a tail feather and Pippa goes global (and becomes the world's most eligible woman)"

Click here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382606/Royal-Wedding-A-shake-tail-feather-Pippa-Middleton-goes-global.html

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/05/02/royal-wedding-bill-of-250-000-for-kate-middleton-s-parents-115875-23101464/

Dress (literally) like Kate Middleton!

Truly a princess of the people! Now you too can dress like Kate!

"They have multi-millionaire parents and royal relations. But as they stepped out in their Zara outfits the day after the royal wedding, it was clear that Kate and Pippa STILL can't get enough of the High Street.

Eschewing the designer labels both could no doubt afford thanks to their moneyed background, the Duchess of Cambridge and her younger sister proved they remain decent, down-to-earth girls with an eye for a bargain.

The two picked out perfectly pitched outfits for their first public appearance. Kate looked radiant in the £49.99 cornflower blue £49.99 dress, pairing it with £129.99 black LK Bennett patent pumps (the same pair she wore on the eve of her wedding as she arrived at The Goring hotel), and a simple black jacket."

Pleated Dress from Zara: $99.90 CAD (Ref. 2400/042)

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1382748/Kate-Pippa-Middleton-choose-Zara-step-royal-wedding.html

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/ca/en/zara-S2011/61137/198243/PLEATED%2BDRESS

Harry pays tribute to William 'the dude'... but ditches his comments about Kate's killer legs in speech that left her 'touched'

Prince Harry paid a moving tribute to his brother ‘The Dude’ and his new sister-in-law ‘The Duchess’ during a heartfelt speech at their evening wedding reception on Friday.

Harry also told the couple’s friends and family that he loved Kate ‘like a sister’ and how the story of the couple’s long romance ‘inspires’ him. According to several guests, Kate was ‘very emotional and touched’ by Harry’s tribute and even shed a tear during the evening’s festivities.

Harry delivered his best man’s speech, which he had been working on for the past fortnight, at 9.30pm after 300 of the couple’s close family and friends had enjoyed a three-course meal with vintage champagne.

Kate's second dress was a strapless white satin gazar evening dress with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist. William stuck to the safe bet of a dinner jacket and bow tie

He had asked his best friends Thomas Van Straubenzee and Guy Pelly to be a sounding board ahead of the speech and is understood to have dropped a reference to ‘Kate’s killer legs’ from the final edit.

‘Harry had some joke in about how he had immediately given Kate the thumbs up when William first brought her home because she had such a great pair of pins, but he didn’t want to embarrass her,’ said a friend.

According to sources inside the evening reception, Harry’s speech was ‘warm and affectionate’ and peppered with good humour and jokes.

One partygoer leaving Buckingham Palace event in the early hours of Saturday told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Harry said William was the perfect brother. It was exactly how you would expect a best man’s speech to be. He cracked loads of jokes about William. He called him a “dude” several times. He kept coming back to it, saying “What a dude”.’

Harry described his brother’s relationship with Kate as ‘inspirational’ and to much applause added: ‘William didn’t have a romantic bone in his body before he met Kate, so I knew it was serious when William suddenly started cooing down the phone at Kate.’

Harry, famous for his impersonations, then did a high-pitched impression of Kate calling William ‘Billy’ and of his brother calling Kate ‘baby’, to much hilarity from the guests.

Earlier in the day it was the Prince of Wales who had been playing the joker, making a comment about his son’s thinning hair during the wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace.

‘The thing about growing older is that your children get taller than you so they can see your bald spots. Now in my case, I can see his,’ Prince Charles remarked, to which William retorted: ‘You got there before Harry!’ to much laughter.

William delivered a brief speech at the wedding breakfast where he proudly introduced his wife as ‘Mrs Wales’ even though the couple will be formally known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

A heartfelt Prince William declared his new wife 'my rock' in the emotional speech, given to guests at the intimate reception.

In what was a tribute to the normality and security Kate provides him, William's words revealed just how indebted he is to Kate for her support.

‘It was received with cheers and shouts of hoorah,’ said one guest. ‘William and Catherine were amazingly relaxed, and although it was a formal affair, it felt very relaxed and intimate. Catherine was amazingly calm and said how thrilled she was with the day. She and William didn’t leave one another’s side. They said it was the happiest day of their lives.

‘William was very gracious and thanked absolutely everyone for making the day come together. He thanked everyone from the florist to the chef.’

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382098/Royal-wedding-speech-Prince-Harry-pays-tribute-Prince-William.html

Elsa McAlonan on Kate's make-up look for the Royal Wedding

"Fresh, modern and natural — three words that sum up our newest princess and which sum up the make-up look she chose for her wedding day.

It’s a brave move to decide to do your own bridal beauty, especially when there are two billion people scrutinising your every move. This was not the time for experimenting. But she is very good at her own make-up, and it was revealed this week that she has been taking lessons from Arabella Preston, who specialises in bridal makeovers.

The result? Yes, there was a touch more make-up than usual. Many wouldn’t have expected a heavy hand on such an important day. Kate, after all, is a sporty, outdoorsy girl who radiates health and happiness from within.

But she got the look she wanted — which is to say, one she felt confident and comfortable with and one which her Prince would love.

Her eye make-up, in particular, was slightly stronger than she usually wears, with a grey taupe shadow in the socket and her favourite black eyeliner under and above the eye.

Her long lashes looked fuller, but it looked like this was down to a couple of coats of mascara and not extensions. Kate stocked up with Lancome’s Hypnose Mascara last week — which can be layered for thicker, fuller lashes.

We never see Kate without eyeliner but thank goodness she softened it for the wedding and didn't end up looking like Victoria Beckham

As for the eyeliner, we never see Kate without it. It has become her trademark — but thank goodness she softened it for the wedding and didn’t end up looking like Victoria Beckham, whose blacker-than-black smoky eyes made her look like a Posh panda.

Kate looked like she had a professional eyebrow shape a few days before the wedding. Her brows looked more defined, darker than usual and she probably used a fine pencil to draw in a little more shape.

Her skin was glowing — possibly thanks to the Crystal Clear Oxygen Therapy facial she had a few days ago — but the natural radiance could be enhanced by a sheer base (such as the new Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation), which is one notch above a tinted moisturiser and perfect for even the most foundation-phobic.

Her blusher, a proper bridal rose shade, looked more obvious than we’ve seen on her before, but was perfect for the cameras and will look great in the millions of pictures. Kay Montano said she would have used Chanel’s Rose Temptation, a deep pink, to get exactly the same effect.

Loose powder is a bride’s best friend and, according to Barbara Daly, who did Princess Diana’s wedding day make-up, it’s the most important item in the beauty kit.

Kate’s skin had just enough gleam under the bright lights in Westminster Abbey, with no hint of shimmer or shine, and that’s probably down to a light dusting of the finest powder applied to the bits most prone to oiliness (forehead, nose and chin).

She kept licking her lips (perhaps the only sign of nerves), but her pink toned nude lipstick stayed put throughout. It was a good choice of lip colour and won’t date in pictures.

Her nails had to be ready for the mother of all close-ups. Celebrity manicurist Marina Sandoval (who counts The Duchess of Cornwall among her clients) did Kate’s manicure the day before the wedding. She chose a natural look — short, beautifully shaped nails with a couple of coats of the palest pink.

When I got married, I remembered good advice from the top make-up artist Mario De Luigi, who said: ‘On your wedding day, you want to look like yourself, only better.’

We’ve come to love our natural, fresh-faced Kate and on the most important day of her life, she got it right, ready to face the future with her brilliant, beautiful smile."

 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1382109/Royal-wedding-Kate-Middleton-wore-just-tad-mascara.html

160th Anniversary of the First World's Fair: The Crystal Palace

In 1851 Great Britain was arguably the leader of the  industrial revolution and feeling very secure in that ideal. The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London was conceived to symbolize this industrial, military and economic superiority of Great Britain.  Just representing the feats of Britain itself would have excluded many of the technological achievements pioneered by the British in its many colonies and protectorates, so it was decided to make the exhibit truly international with invitations being extended to almost all of the colonized world. The British also felt that it was important to show their achievements right alongside those of "less civilized" countries. The prevailing attitude in England at the time was ripe for the somewhat arrogant parading of accomplishments. Many felt secure, economically and politically, and Queen Victoria was eager to reinforce the feeling of contentment with her reign. It was during the mid-1850s that the word "Victorian" began to be employed to express a new self-consciousness, both in relation to the nation and to the period through which it was passing.

The exhibition was also a  triumph for Victoria's German husband, Albert, whom she had married in 1840. Despite outbursts of opposition to Albert by the press the family life of the Victorian court began to be considered increasingly as a model for the whole country. Albert had appreciated the achievements of Prime Minister Robert Peel's political and military advances and publicly advocated the advancement of industry and science. These facts began to sway opinion in his favor as respectable foundations of family life and industrial supremacy were becoming rapidly acquainted with the monarchy of Victoria and Albert.  Conceived by prince Albert, the Great Exhibition was held in Hyde Park in London in the specially constructed Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace was originally designed by Sir Joseph Paxton in only 10 days and was a huge iron goliath with over a million feet of glass. It was important that the building used to showcase these achievements be grandiose and innovative.  Over 13,000 exhibits were displayed and viewed by over 6,200,000 visitors to the exhibition. The millions of visitors that journeyed to the Great Exhibition of 1851 marveled at the industrial revolution that was propelling Britain into the greatest power of the time. Among the 13,000 exhibits from all around the world were the Jacquard loom, an envelope machine, tools, kitchen appliances, steel-making displays and a reaping machine from the United States. The objects on display came from all parts of the world, including India and the countries with recent white settlements, such as Australia and New Zealand, that constituted the new empire. Many of the visitors who flocked to London came from European cities. The profits from the event allowed for the foundation of public works such as the Albert Hall, the Science Museum, the National History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

This "bigger and better" building was divided into a series of courts depicting the history of art and architecture from ancient Egypt through  the Renaissance, as well as exhibits from industry and the natural world. Major concerts were held in the Palace's huge arched Centre Transept, which also contained the world's largest organ. The Centre Transept also housed a circus and was the scene of daring feats by world famous acts such as the tightrope walker Blondin. National exhibitions were also staged within its glass and iron walls, including the world's first aeronautical exhibition (held in 1868) and the first national motor show, plus cat shows, dog shows, pigeon shows, honey, flower and other shows.

The Crystal Palace itself was almost outshone by the park in which it stood, which contained a magnificent series of fountains, comprising almost 12,000 individual jets. The largest of these threw water to a height of 250ft. Some 120,000 gallons of water flowed through the system when it was in full play.

The park also contained unrivaled collections of statues, many of which were copies of great works from around the world, and a geological display which included a replica lead mine and the first attempts anywhere in the world to portray life-size restorations of extinct animals, including dinosaurs. Crystal Palace park was also the scene of spectacular Brock's fireworks displays.

After the Great Exhibition closed, the Crystal Palace was moved to Sydenham Hill in South London and reconstructed in what was, in effect, a 200 acre Victorian theme park. The new Crystal Palace park at Sydenham was opened by Queen Victoria on June 10th, 1854.

In 1911, the year of King George V's coronation, the Crystal Palace was home to the Festival of Empire. Three-quarter size models of the parliament buildings of Empire and Commonwealth countries were erected in the grounds to contain exhibits of each country's products.

In later years, the Crystal Palace became very closely associated with the development of television when John Logie Baird established his television company here. Based in the south tower (which also served as an aerial), the Palace itself and other buildings in the grounds, from June 1934 the Baird Television Company had 4 fully equipped studios at Crystal Palace. In 1935 transmission of 120 line pictures were demonstrated and a high definition picture of 500 lines was also shown. In 1937 Baird even demonstrated the color television, using a radio link from the south tower to the Dominion Theatre in London. The picture was clear on a 12ft by 9ft screen.

Today it is sport with which the name of Crystal Palace is most closely connected, but this is not a modern development. Important sporting events were staged there from the Palace's very early days. The Crystal Palace was built at a time when sporting activity was becoming more popular and more formally organized. Though Paxton's original design did not include any accommodation for sports, it was not long before all kinds of sports were being played in the name of Crystal Palace. As early as 1857 an area in the lower park had been designated as the cricket ground.

The first Crystal Palace football team was reportedly formed in 1861 and a representative from Crystal Palace was present at the meeting which formed the Football Association in 1863. Crystal Palace were among the 15 teams which took part in the first FA Challenge Cup competition in 1872. The highlight of Crystal Palace football history was the 20 FA Cup finals which were played in the grounds between 1895 and 1914. Crowds in excess of 100,000 watch teams such as Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham.

A motor racing circuit was laid down in the park in 1936-37 and the first race meeting saw cars circulating at the fastest speed of 57 m.p.h. Race meetings were halted by the War and did not restart until May 1953, from when they continued until 1972. In modern times, it is athletics with which the name Crystal Palace is probably most widely associated throughout the world, but the Crystal Palace Athletics Club was formed as long ago as 1868, its members contributing to the purchase of dumbbells and other gymnastic equipment. Numerous other sports, such as polo, rugby, cycling, archery, fishing, croquet, quoits, ice skating, gridiron and even roller hockey have taken place at Crystal Palace over the last 140 years and continue to do so today, with the National Sports Centre being a key element of the modern Crystal Palace Park.

The Crystal Palace itself was destroyed by fire on  November 30th 1936, following which the area lost much of its focus and began to decline. But many of the most important events in the history of the Crystal Palace took place in the grounds, which retain much of their original overall layout today and are a Grade II listed historic park. Thus, for 140 years, Crystal Palace park has been the scene of innumerable contributions to the nation's social, scientific and sporting history.

The London Borough of Bromley, who own the park today, together with the Crystal Palace Foundation, have recently submitted an outline proposal the National Heritage Lottery Fund to restore much of the park to its former glory. The proposals covered by this application aim not only to improve the park as an amenity, but also to restore a number of its major heritage features. This will include restoration of the Grand Central Walkway, which originally ran the length of the park, the preservation and restoration of the terraces, and the restoration of the geological islands.

Source: http://www.victorianstation.com/palace.html