Cuteness Alert

I can't resist this picture of Prince George hanging on for dear life to his mother. Kate wears the glow that most mother's would feel when those chubby little arms embrace you a bit tighter. There is no better feeling in the world.

Tomorrow marks the first birthday of little Prince George, who along with his parents have caught the attention of the world. In an interview with Max Foster {CNN} Prince William said he and Catherine are excited, as most new parents are, to show their new son to the world. People can't help but compare as we do with most new additions to the family - 'he looks like his dad.... he has his mother's grin....'. Baby George is a pretty cute combination of both his attractive smiling parents.

The 'news' question this week has been 'what do you get a Prince for his first birthday?'  It's reported that his parents are giving him a wooden train set {ok, so pretty average like most of us}. There will be a discreet family celebration at Kensington Palace with his Great Grandmother noted as the guest of honour.
But the crew at Hangar8 {a UK private jet company} have a different idea on the celebration and repainted a Bombardier Challenger aircraft with a giant birthday wish. The aircraft was morphed into the largest greeting card by the design studio Andrew Winch. The price tag ? approximately $220,000 Cdn. Excessive? - think of it as a marketing campaign and the attention they will receive from the efforts. Pretty good value.

Here are a few of my favourite images of baby Prince George.

 

And the official first birthday portrait taken by John Stillwell, who was surprised at just how quick the new toddler was on his feet.
"He was walking towards me – I was kneeling down to take the picture and he was on top of me as soon as he started walking."

 Ready to explore..............

Happy First Birthday Prince George.

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.

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 .

Olympic Cheerleaders

I can't resist these pictures from the stands at the Olympics. The young royals choosing to sit in the stands rather than the royal box to watch the competitions.  Cheering on the athletes and participating in the wave...........

source Getty

source Getty

 

Getty

The Olympic sport of Royal watching is hot in London.

Royal Olympic Style

Before I share the latest images of fashions that the Duchess of Cambridge wore to the Olympic events, I want to start with this picture of the Queen at the Olympic Park. As the lens looks over the Queen's shoulder, she is shown experiencing a more pensive moment as she absorbs the massive undertaking of the Olympic events and reflects back on the history.

At a reception prior to the opening ceremonies the Queen said:
"This is the third London Olympiad. My great-Grandfather opened the 1908 games in White City; my Father opened the 1948 games in Wembley Stadium, and later this evening I will take pleasure in opening the 2012 Olympic Games at Stratford, in the east of London".

Reflecting Pool                                            source martin rickett/getty

The Queen took the world on by storm in her mock portrayal as a Bond Girl for the opening ceremony and has shown the world that she does have spunk. She thought her cameo appearance was 'a bit of a laugh', and we had to agree.

The Royal family has been involved in the opening events and was especially proud today when the Queen's Granddaughter, Zara Phillips made her equestrian debut on her horse High Kingdom. It's all a good reason to smile.


Now on to some of the Olympic Styles sported by Catherine........

Prince Harry, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed the Olympic flame onto the grounds at Buckingham Palace. The Royal trio wore Team Great Britain shirts, but it was once again Kate who put the best fashion foot forward.

William, Kate and Harry wear the Great Britain Olympic shirts. Kate sports her look with royal-blue coloured jeans from ZARA and Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon Wedges.

Looking great leaving as well as arriving is never a problem for Kate.

During a visit to St Beacons College for the Coach Core program, which is a partnership program with The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry; Prince William explained the athletic expertise of the trio:

" Watching me on the football field is never a pretty site.... the expression giraffe on ice springs to mind. However it is marginally less embarrassing than seeing my Brother cheat his way to becoming the fastest man on the planet"

{in reference to Prince Harry's false start sprint against Olympia Usain Bolt during a visit to Jamaica}

And with pride William spoke about his wife's sporting talent:

"Catherine on the other hand, with a tennis racket or hockey stick, is something to behold and be aware of."

Kate wore these red skinny jeans and grey hoodie to play with the Great Britain Women's Olympic Hockey team during media scrim last March. She paired the jeans with heels, a classic navy blazer and the official GB Olympic scarf proving once again that she knows how to extend her wardrobe.

The scarf at only $15 was already a sure fire seller, but the Kate style-train would make grabbing the Olympic scarf enormously popular.

When the Royal trio visited St Beacons College Kate wore a Hobbs Check Wessix dress in soft grey and cream which proved comfortable enough to play ping-pong in. She kicked off her Pied a Terre Imperia wedges to participate with the karate team.

At the reception for the opening ceremonies the Duchess wore an ice blue coat ensemble by Christopher Kane. Simple lines fitted well to her slender figure in an elegant shade that brought a defined sophistication. Kate looked stunning - again!

The Duchess in a Christopher Kane design.

I couldn't locate a full body image to show the hem and her shoes; but I love the lines of the jacket, the flat pocket placket and simple belt.

...... and William looking handsome !

Kate's blue topaz and diamond earrings by KiKi McDonough sparkle with a nod to the Olympic ring.

Wishing all the extraordinary athletes the best of show in their categories.

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!