All Eyes On........

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are currently visiting New Zealand, and this trip brings the added bonus of baby Prince George. Always generous with the crowds, William and Catherine haven't disappointed and offered more than just a quick peek at their young son. Prince George thrilled New Zealanders as he clung to his mother's hip when they descended the plane at Wellington Airport.

Comparisons were made about who George resembles the most. I think that he has the best of two attractive parents.

Catherine - George - William

Baby Prince William in the arms of his nanny and Baby Prince George with Catherine and William

I'm sure that even Prince William is accustomed to most of the attention being directed to his wife Catherine, but during this trip all eyes were on George.

Catherine's Tory Burch dress is already sold out.

It's easy to see why Kate is slim and has toned arms - George is a healthy boy to carry around.

Much of our fascination with the Duke and Duchess is with Kate's 'look' - her wardrobe choices, her hairstyle, the accessories she wears. This trip brought attention to what several media sources reported as a 'wardrobe malfunction'. The beautiful line of the red dress and coat by designer Catherine Walker was perhaps a bit too flowing in the skirt line. There have been several near mishaps with Kate's skirts,  I'm wondering when someone in the Royal circle will advise that in future the skirts include hem weights. I'm going to skip showing that picture - it gained more attention than necessary.

Catherine in Alexander McQueen coat

The cornflower blue Alexander McQueen belted coat was modified for the Duchess,  and Catherine showed that the design is both elegant and fun all in the same breath. The coat features box pleats at the back which ensures you will be as memorable leaving as arriving {not that Catherine needs assistance}.

via Chris Jackson - Getty Images

The young royals in New Zealand, and all eyes are on........ Catherine and Prince George. This doesn't come as a surprise to Prince William who is frequently giving his own admiring glances.

And Baby makes three

photo's by Michael Middleton - a'ka the proud Grandfather.

I just couldn't resist - and in case you haven't seen the newly released photo's of little Prince George with his adoring parents. I love that the first photo's released were taken by Prince George's Grandfather, Michael Middleton. It speaks volumes about the traditions that William and Catherine plan to inject into their new family life.

William sits with his arms wrapped around Kate and their dog Lupo, while the Middleton family dog lays in behind them rather unimpressed.

Photo by Michael Middleton

What a cute family. They look relaxed and comfortable in the new role as parents and not at all worn out from the demands of a new baby. William shared in a recent interview that he changed the first 'nappy' and had every midwife staring at him - no pressure.

Lullaby and Goodnight

 

The littlest British Royal bundle of joy will make his or her debut at the beginning of the summer. Like every expectant couple, William and Kate are redecorating the house in anticipation of the arrival of their first baby; the difference is that the nursery will be in their new apartment in Kensington Palace. Kate and William have a young and easy style, but the nursery will have the help of a decorator who created the sanctuaries for other royal babies and there will likely be some regal standard to the design.

There will be a bevy of suggestions for the nursery suite of the future Prince or Princess, so let's get the cradle rocking with some worthy suggestions..........

A small bassinet is usually the baby's first bed. This antique iron bassinet in a warm shade of gold brings a soft mix of old and new together.

 This change table by Savio Firmino ensures everything is at your fingertips - drawers underneath for storage and pull-out shelves wing at each side to provide a helping hand for the diaper brigade essentials.

Shelves over the change table offers much more than just additional storage. It's important to have a teddy or toy at arms reach to occupy a fussy baby.

savio firmino

Savio Firmino creates some of the most elegant bed ensembles and they have paid special attention to the nursery. Soft neutral tones of creamy white and beige linen are sure to lull anyone to sleep.  

savio firmino

The French Provincial style upholstered headboard of the crib could double as a headboard for a single bed - perfect for your own little princess. 

Albeit that the new little prince or princess will have a more spacious nursery than this one above, the teddy bear tones of soft neutrals and white will bring a softness to any size nursery.

Continue with tranquil neutral shades by injecting soft grey and white to the nursery.

Add soft elements in pink or blue to a neutral nursery with linen. The beautiful linen collection below is from Belle Notte Linen.

Restoration Hardware has a full line of furnishings for the littlest member of your family.

Jennifer Lopez' designer created an opulent nursery for the twin's. Comfortable chairs and ottoman allow mommy or daddy to put their feet up at feeding time, a side table provides a space for everything needed in arms reach and a lamp on a dimmer switch is perfect for those late night cuddle times with baby. The ultimate nursery would have an ensuite bath.

Kensington Rocking Horses

A vintage rocking horse, teddy bears and various memorabilia add a whimsical finish to a nursery.

nicespace.me

Kya's nursery - image: my own

I think it's unlikely that Kate and William will have a miniature castle built in the nursery, but if that is part of your dream nursery it is available.

Savio Firmino - for the princess in your life.

And would better way to take the royal bundle out for a walk than in a Silver Cross Surf Pram - Aston Martin edition, which is described as 'the ultimate in comfort for your baby and style for the owner'.

The options on designing a gender neutral nursery are endless. But if you are left wondering will the blankets be pink or blue, you may want to try the Chinese gender chart - here .

Adding personal touches to a nursery like Mommy & Daddy's baby pictures, a family heirloom Christening gown hung in a frame, or a favourite quote on the wall make the space special. One thing is certain, it is always amazing how such a little person needs so many things.

'Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,

For babies grow up as we've learned to our sorrow.

So settle down cob webs, and dust go to sleep,

I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.'

** if you tried the Chinese gender chart for your own pregnancy drop a note and let me know how accurate it was.

Kate & William visit Singapore

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are in the South Pacific as representatives of the Queen for the Jubilee celebrations. As always, all eyes are on the young royals and in particular on Kate. What the Duchess wore - her shoes, her handbag, her hairstyle. We are obsessed with Kate and it's understandable, she has a classic elegance and beauty.

Theirs is a love story that the world wants to read about.

The media is constantly querying her appearance suggesting that Kate is pregnant. They flip from one side of the coin saying she is too thin, to the other pointing out a possible baby bump. Don't we all have great 'skinny' pictures of ourselves and a few pictures that make us cry out 'I look so fat'. It is all about the angle of the shot and our posture.

The Duke and Duchess arrived in Singapore and went straight from their flight to begin the personal appearances. The temperatures and humidity is almost unbearable, with reports of local residents fainting while waiting to see the royal procession.

The media rolled with speculations that Kate was expecting because she drank water at a reception rather than wine. Seasoned travelers know that increasing your consumption of water while flying helps to keep you hydrated and eases the jet lag conditions. Imagine stepping off a thirteen hour flight with a seven hour time difference to immediately greet crowds of people. Add the overwhelming temperatures and a humidity level of 70%, I know I would seem a bit weary.

 

 I applaud Demi Lovato for voicing her opinion on the 'media's consistent need to fuel the pregnancy rumours' {read it here}. Miss Lovato makes the valid point that this is why men and women {in particular} have body image issues. 

Below is a picture that fueled speculation with comments about Kate's 'expanding waistline' {seriously ?}. Any woman who has worn pantyhose in ultra hot weather will attest that the number one feeling is bloating - the waistband is binding your midsection and your body is screaming to take the hose off.
Even William, who mentioned during the state dinner that 'the jet lag is the hardest', looked a bit uncomfortable at times with the overwhelming humidity.

I encourage the media to forget about a potential 'baby announcement', if and when it happens the world will know at the same time with a news release from the palace.

The Queen couldn't have better representatives for her jubilee celebrations than William and Catherine.  At times I have to remind myself how young they are, their level of maturity and poise is well beyond their age. From the emotional presentation of the orchid named in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, to touring memorial gardens and glittering at a state dinner; the young royals shine. 

Here are some pictures of the happy couple as they tour the South Pacific.

Touring the memorial gardens.

 

Signing the guest registry.

The Duchess of Cambridge wearing a gown from the house of Alexander McQueen .

William and Catherine's First Anniversary

William and Catherine's story book romance that flourished into a fairytale wedding, has developed into a high-wattage royal couple who have extraordinary roles. Yet despite the public's constant search for dish on the young royals, they remain private and very ordinary in so many ways.

This Sunday marks the first wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess. The media is filled with intense interest in the couple providing a royal heir, and the bold mention that the Duchess is 'bucking the trend' of announcing a royal pregnancy within the year and a half of walking down the aisle.  
Unauthorized royal biographer Andrew Morton claimed, that "if Kate is not pregnant in the next nine months, she will be defying 200 years of royal tradition" - {sound the trumpets, it just may be that a new tradition is about to be revealed}.

I applaud William and Catherine for respectfully following the power of family traditions, and for taking a quiet stand on some decisions that have brought on new traditions. The young couple has revived the image of the royal family and brought to it a fresh face, and it is a face that is wearing a generous smile. They are the future of the Monarchy and will help shape it with new traditions.

In observing what the young royal couple does best, let's keep it simple........ After all, it's really about a boy and a girl falling in love.

Happy First Anniversary.

Prince Charming

There has been a flood of images and stories about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge this past year. The media follows with much enthusiasm the style of Kate; and images of her latest dress, shoes, and hairstyle fill the pages of glossy magazines on every news stand.

But let's not forget how we came to know Kate in the first place, long before she became the Duchess of Cambridge.  William captured many hearts when he flashed his dimple smile as a little Prince, and now it is Kate's heart that has melted for her Prince Charming.

I thought it was time to feature a handsome man; one who has a killer smile that would make any girl sing, 'Someday My Prince Will Come'. Snow White isn't the only girl batting her eyelashes at this dashing Prince Charming.

The Duke of Cambridge, William

Young, sophisticated, and stylish......................and an active sportsman.

 

William has worn many uniforms throughout his service career.

 

William is blessed with his Mother's generous smile. He is at ease with a crowd and warmly welcomes the general public, never shying away from the tough task of small talk.

 

No - this is not William, it's Paul Newman. When I look at this image,I can picture William in his mature years. I think he will evoke the same easy charm.

Hello Handsome.

If there is one man who could steal some of the glances away from the beautiful Duchess of Cambridge, it is her husband William . William is handsome and stately in his presentation, a winning combination. There is one lady who enhances his already generous smile........ his lovely bride, Kate. They both shine when they look at each other.

 Cheers to all the Handsome and Glamourous Men!