Flour power! Mother's hilarious video of moment she found her toddlers had turned the living room rather white

By Ted Thornhill


The ingredients sounded innocent enough – two boys aged one and three and a bag of flour. But it was a recipe for disaster.

A mother in the U.S. emerged from a visit to the bathroom to find her entire living room covered in flour, with the guilty culprits – her two young boys – happily playing in the mess even as she expressed her shock.

She uploaded a film of the scene to YouTube and it’s already been watched 120,000 times.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO


Not all white on the night: The two toddlers are oblivious to the carnage they've caused


Quick work: The mother had only been for a visit to the bathroom, but that was enough time for the toddlers to cover the room in flour

Hair we go: The two toddlers are covered head to toe in the flour


‘Oh my gosh’ she says repeatedly as she pans the camera around the room to find that the flour has been dispersed by the boys - called Andrew and Jack - all over the furniture, on pictures and even along the top of the door.

‘Did you boys get in the flour?’ she asks them.

She makes a brief horrifying tour before finally concluding that it ‘looks like a snowman has puked all over my living room’.


'Oh my gosh': The boys carry on playing even as the mother expresses her shock


Fun: The boys frolic to their hearts content


Face of innocence: The boys seemingly have no idea they've misbehaved


A one point one of the boys shows her the empty bag of flour and says ‘see?’ before throwing it on the floor.

Mother replies: ‘Yeah, you emptied the whole thing!’

She adds: ‘I don’t know what to do. I think I’m going to throw up.’

The accompanying description on the YouTube video reads: ‘Mommy was not feeling well and had to stay in the bathroom longer than usual during which my two boys, ages 1 and 3 took my new bag of flour out of the cupboard and destroyed my house.

‘This is from ONE 5lb bag. Don't believe me? Hand a full bag to a 3 year old and see what happens.'

NOW WATCH THE VIDEO




source:dailymail

Couple spend £2,000 flying stray dog to Britain after falling in love with her on Caribbean holiday

By Emily Allen


A dog's life: Lorraine Booth, 36, with her dog Weber who she paid £2,000 to have flown back to her home in Bristol


When they met on a Caribbean beach it was love at first sight - and when the holiday was over, nothing was going to keep them apart.

And finally Weber the black Labrador cross has been reunited with her loving new owners, 4,000 miles from his old home.

Paul Booth, 43, and wife Lorraine, 36, rescued the dog after spotting her wandering across a beach in Antigua as it hunted for scraps.

They decided to adopt the malnourished animal and give her a permanent home back in Britain.


Now after paying £2,000 and waiting for vet checks to be completed and the six-month quarantine period to be over, the couple have been reunited with their dog.

She bounded into their arms after stepping off a long-haul flight from the Caribbean island to Gatwick Airport last week.

Mrs Booth said: 'It feels great to finally have her here. She looks exactly the same as before, but is now super-healthy.

'We fell in love with her after she started following us around. In the end we just could not leave her there.

'I think it is fate that led us to her and now she is settling in so well here.'

The couple, from Cotham, Bristol, headed to Antigua's idyllic Cocobay resort for a two-week holiday in January this year.

Love at first sight: Lorraine Booth when she met the malnourished dog on holiday in Antigua in January this year


They were living in a hut on a stretch of the island's scenic beach when they first noticed the black dog wandering the sands.

Mrs Booth, who owns retro sweet shop Fizzy Lips in Bristol's Broadmead shopping centre with her husband, said: 'We were in a resort where we had a hut on the beach.

'My husband went running on the beach in the morning, near an unpopulated wasteland, and this little dog came out and ran over to him.

'He stopped and rubbed its nose and patted it, and she was all patchy and malnourished, and she had mange.

'But she followed him up the beach and ran with him and when he got back to the hut he said to me, 'you have got to come and see this dog'.'

The couple befriended the her and she began follow them around and they in turn would feed her.

Woman's best friend: The couple waited for 10 months while the pet was in quarantine and had all the relevent vet checks before flying to England


Mrs Booth said: 'We were there two weeks and we went to see her every day.

'She would come to see us and sit outside our hut to wait for us, and she had such a lovely personality.

'She was so thin and slept on the beach with no food, water or companions, either canine or human. It was very sad.

'How she got there no one will ever know, but she was not likely to survive for long.
'Despite, this she seemed so delighted to have any attention.

'The problem in Antigua with stray dogs is very bad, and the few people over there who are trying to educate people, rescue and re-home dogs are fighting an uphill battle.'


After two-weeks of bonding, the pair got in contact with the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society and persuaded owner Karen Corbin to take the dog in.

They left money for her to be looked after when they returned home.

But when they got back to Bristol they realised they wanted the dog to be with them permanently.

Mrs Booth said: 'I just couldn't bear to go home and not find out what happened to her.

'It seemed so sad that she would probably end up getting hit by a car or just dying of starvation.

'We had two other dogs and when we got back from holiday we found out our black labrador Merlin had a cancerous tumour and later died.'

After persuading Ms Corbin to let them apply to bring Weber home, the young dog was put in quarantine at the Humane Society in Antigua for six months.

The Booths also paid hundreds of pounds for her to be cleaned up and given its rabies jabs. Her flight to Gatwick cost £1,000.

Weber has now settled in to her home in the city and is already best friends with the Booths' other dog - six-year-old Labrador Cosmo.

Mrs Booth said: 'She was a bit timid to start with but now is just racing around everywhere.

'We take her up to the park and she absolutely loves it. She always comes back to me too.

'We could not be happier.'



source:dailymail

Lesser spotted siblings: Their looks are familiar but their lives are VERY different

By Claire Cisotti


'Do you know who you look a bit like...' might be a question these celebrity siblings hear often. But while their brother or sisters are earning millions and travelling the globe these lesser spotted siblings have very different lives.

Here we show how similar (and strikingly different) these celebrity families really are...

There but by the grace of God... They may seem worlds apart, but Cheryl Cole and half sister Gillian Tweedy are both knockouts when crossed. Cheryl was convicted of assault in 2003 and Gillian was bound over for a 2002 pub brawl

In the money: While Christine Bleakley earns a fortune on ITV1's Daybreak, little sister Nicole is a bank manager and lost 7st to become Slimmer Of The Year in 2004

Jolie different: Former photo-journalist Doug Pitt, eight years Brad's senior, devotes himself to higher causes than Hollywood by helping underprivileged U.S. schoolchildren

Double trouble? There's a striking resemblance between John Rooney, 20, and Wayne, 26, but after being released by Everton as a youngster, John plays soccer for the New York Red Bulls

Lo-profile: Lynda Lopez, 40, is not as instantly recognisable as older popstar sister J-Lo, 42, but she has built a successful career as an Emmy Award-winning U.S. TV journalist

Bo-Jo's bro Jo: Same blonde hair, same toothy grin - and same line of work. Jo Johnson, sibling No 4 in the Johnson family, was elected Conservative MP for Orpington in 2010

Big bruisers: When Lord Prescott failed his 11-plus, he also lost the reward of a bicycle from his father. Little brother Ray passed the exam a year later, got the bike and joined the RAF

Millers’ tale: While sister Sienna, 29, is a screen star, mum-of-two Savannah, 32, has designs on a low-key approach, working on the family Twenty8Twelve label

Mismatch of the day: Two years younger than football's Gary, 50, Wayne runs Lineker's bars in Spain, which shamelessly trade on his elder brother's fame

Talent contest: Big sister Amanda, 40, made her TV debut on Blind Date (she wasn't picked). Model Debbie Holden forged a more low-key career, featuring in shampoo ads

Close bond: Property millionaire Nick Cowell had a lavish 007-themed party for his 50th this year: And what did big brother Simon come as? Blofeld of course



source:dailymail

After World Cup shame, a £25,000 fine and humiliation for Tindall (and Zara's face says it all)

-Tindall's dropping from the squad spells the end of his international career
-'He's been made a scapegoat' says father of Gloucester star
-Star will appeal against the decision
-Flanker James Haskell and fullback Chris Ashton handed £5,000 fines
-Hooker Dylan Hartley is cleared of wrongdoing over incident at team's hotel
-Rugby director Rob Andrew said there had been a 'very serious breach’ of the players' code of conduct


By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent


On the way out: Former England Rugby captain Mike Tindall leaves his Cheltenham home with wife Zara Phillips today


Mike Tindall’s England rugby career is effectively over after he was dropped from the national team for his off- field antics during a disastrous World Cup campaign.

The husband of the Queen’s grand-daughter was also fined £25,000 for his role in the team’s infamous night out in New Zealand on September 11.

Smarting over their poor performance in the opening match, the players downed cut-price shots at a ‘dwarf-tossing’ competition while the newly married Tindall drunkenly cavorted with a glamorous former girlfriend.

Footage of Tindall kissing his ex Jessica Palmer was released by a doorman at Altitude bar


That raucous night and the recriminations that followed overshadowed the competition and set the tone for England’s appallingly poor show.

While the former England captain remained silent yesterday, his father insisted he had been made a ‘scapegoat’ because of his connection to the Royal Family.

Tindall, who married world champion eventer Zara Phillips in July, had heaped embarrassment on his bride after he was seen embracing the woman later revealed as his ex-girlfriend Jessica Palmer.

All smiles: Zara Phillips pictured today at Cheltenham races where she did a raffle draw for the Countryside Alliance


And while Zara stood by her new husband and flew half way round the world to support him, the damage was done. Yesterday, she was once again by Tindall’s side as they left their £800,000 home in Cheltenham, stony-faced and silent.

At his home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Tindall’s father Phil was visibly upset at the rugby authority’s verdict on his son. He insisted the scandal had only been whipped up because of Tindall’s marriage to Zara and said he had the support of his squad.


Tindall's antics with teammates Dylan Hartley and Chris Ashton were widely criticised within the sport

Mike Tindall has been sacked from the England team after his drunken antics in New Zealand while his wife was back home in the UK


‘Mike is being used as a scapegoat for the poor performance of the team,’ Mr Tindall said. ‘It seems unfair. I feel there is only this scandal because of who Mike is linked to.

‘It happened the day after a game, they didn’t have another game for a week. Mike was always fit for the matches.’

His antics in New Zealand while the England rugby team were playing in the World Cup received widespread criticism


But the Rugby Football Union statement was uncompromising, accusing Tindall of breaching the England Elite Player Squad Agreement.

The RFU’s professional rugby director Rob Andrew was even more scathing.

‘Mike Tindall’s actions reached a level of misconduct that was unacceptable in a senior England player,’ he said.

‘Whilst we acknowledge his previous good character it needs to be made clear that what he did will not be tolerated.’

He added that today’s ruling should stand as a reminder to others that the highest standards of personal conduct are expected from any England player on and off the field’.

At a press conference after the debacle came to the world’s attention, Tindall looked decidedly sheepish despite claiming the week after had ‘not really’ been a difficult time for him.

Once he had been reunited in Dunedin with Zara Phillips, however, he quickly fell into line.

Tindall - who has been named in the Cloucester team for Sunday's Heineken Cup away clash against Toulouse - was among a group of players who headed for the Altitude bar in Queenstown, despite only having scraped a 13-9 win over unfancied Argentina the previous day.

The nightspot, which was hosting a decidedly politically incorrect ‘Mad Midget Weekender’, was packed with rugby fans who flocked to party with the team.

Today’s developments would appear to spell the end of Tindall’s England career.

The 33-year-old Yorkshireman has won more than 70 caps, captained his country and featured in the 2003 World Cup-winning squad.

England manager Martin Johnson had to reprimand three players - Haskell, Ashton and Hartley - later in the trip for making inappropriate comments to a female hotel worker in Dunedin. The trio were forced to formally apologise.

The players appeared before the RFU’s professional rugby director Rob Andrew and legal and governance director Karena Vleck.

In a statement, the RFU said: ‘The Rugby Football Union has taken the following disciplinary action regarding breaches of the England elite player squad agreement during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

‘Mike Tindall has been removed from the England elite player squad with immediate effect and fined £25,000 for his conduct around the events that took place in Queenstown on the night of Sunday, September 11, 2011.

‘Chris Ashton has been fined £5,000 (fine suspended until December 31, 2012), for his part in the events in Dunedin on Friday, September 9, 2011 and warned as to his future conduct.


A second screen grab shows him being kissed on the head by Miss Plamer at the Queenstown bar

Flying in the face of the outrage meted out to Tindall over his kiss at the Altitude bar, Manu Tiulagi re-enacted the kiss as the team - beaten by France - checked in for their flight home


‘James Haskell has been fined £5,000 (fine suspended until December 31, 2012), for his part in the events in Dunedin on Friday, September 9, 2011 and warned as to his future conduct.

‘Dylan Hartley has been cleared of being involved in the exchange of inappropriate language which led to allegations of wrongdoing against himself, Chris Ashton and James Haskell, in Dunedin on Friday, September 9, 2011.’

Andrew said Tindall's actions had 'reached a level of misconduct that was unacceptable in a senior England player'.

There were those who felt Johnson should have made an example of the Gloucester player and sent him ho me early from New Zealand.

Andrew said: 'We have considered all the evidence carefully and interviewed the players at length.

'These actions have not been taken lightly, but we believe that in all these cases the sanctions are commensurate with the level of seriousness of what occurred.

'Mike Tindall's actions reached a level of misconduct that was unacceptable in a senior England player and amounted to a very serious breach of the EPS (elite player squad) code of conduct.'

He continued: 'Regarding the events in Dunedin, it should be stressed that the allegations of very serious wrong-doing made against Chris Ashton, Dylan Hartley and James Haskell by Annabel Newton, a member of staff at the team hotel, were entirely false.

'We do not believe the players had any intention to sexually harass or intimidate Ms Newton.

'However, the incident is precisely the kind of dangerous, compromising situation the players were warned about prior to departure for New Zealand and that they were specifically told to avoid in the EPS code of conduct.

'While we found that Dylan Hartley played no part in the ill-considered exchange with Annabel Newton, Chris Ashton and James Haskell's behaviour on September 9 did breach the EPS code of conduct and they have each been given suspended fines of £5,000.

'If they commit any further breaches of the code before December 31, 2012 the fines will become due.

'Finally, these episodes and the subsequent disciplinary action should stand as a strong reminder that the highest standards of personal conduct are expected from any England player on and off the field.'

The players have a right of appeal within three working days from today.

Flanker James Haskell and fullback Chris Ashton were also given £5,000 suspended fines. Last night the Rugby Players’ Association said: ‘Mike will be appealing this unprecedented fine.’


James Haskell, who was criticised for going bungee jump during the tournament, has been handed a suspended fine for his part in a drunken incident involving a hotel maid



source: dailymail

The anorexic mother who weighs less than her daughter, 7

By JAMES TOZER

Anorexic mother Rebecca Jones, right, who weighs less than her seven year old daughter Maisy, left

At first glance they might be sisters, but look again at this startling picture.
They are, in fact, a 26-year-old mother and her daughter.
After suffering from anorexia for half her life, Rebecca Jones weighs five stone – less than her seven-year-old daughter, Maisy.
And her terrifyingly thin frame is exacerbated by the contrast when they wear identical clothes.

The medical secretary survives on soup, toast and energy drinks – even though doctors have warned her the lack of nutrients could kill her. At the same time she encourages 5st 9lb Maisy to enjoy chocolate and cupcakes.
Miss Jones, who at 5ft 1in is eight inches taller than her daughter, said: ‘Wearing the same clothes as Maisy gives me a sense of pride. It’s wrong, but it makes me feel good. I don’t think I’m thin – I always see myself as bigger.’

Shockingly thin: After splitting with her partner, Miss Jones went on to a virtually liquid diet which took her weight down to five stone

Her eating disorder began following her parents’ divorce when she was 11.
Comfort eating caused her to balloon to 15st, and she was teased at school and lost confidence in herself.
At 13, she says, ‘I pretty much stopped eating’. After a drastic weight loss, friends began complimenting her size ten figure and her family did not spot the dangers.
Miss Jones said: ‘Mum just thought I’d lost my puppy fat. I was happier.’
But within two years her weight was down to eight stone and her periods stopped.

‘I was often so frail, I couldn’t get out of bed,’ she said.
She met Maisy’s father when she was 19 and studying at Manchester University. She had assumed her anorexia had left her infertile and had no idea she was expecting until she felt a kick. A scan revealed she was 26 weeks pregnant.
‘I had no idea,’ she told Closer magazine. ‘I was still in a size six, hadn’t put on weight and my stomach was flat.’
Doctors urged her to eat chicken for protein and take vitamin pills to help her baby, but her stomach wasn’t used to them. ‘My boyfriend tried to tempt me to eat, but my stomach was so used to eating tiny amounts, proper food made me feel sick,’ Miss Jones said.

The full story of Rebecca Jones appears in Closer magazine

As a result she survived on a diet of bread and beetroot during pregnancy and put on only 7lb during that time.
Nevertheless, Maisy was born healthy, but small at 5lb 7oz, and her mother couldn’t produce milk to feed her.
After splitting with her partner, Miss Jones went on to a virtually liquid diet which took her weight down to five stone.
‘I picked up one of Maisy’s skirts and it fitted perfectly,’ she said. ‘Maisy is 4ft 5in and wears 9-11 clothes. We share tops and jeans.’

Now her daughter’s weight has overtaken her as she enjoys cakes, chips and pizza. ‘It’s wonderful to see her enjoying cakes,’ said Miss Jones, who lives in Manchester. ‘I’ve told her I have an eating disorder and she knows it’s a bad thing.
‘And if she wants chocolate, I say yes – I don’t want to deny her food.’
She admitted that Maisy worried about her mother’s weight and would try unsuccessfully to get her to share portions of cake.
Earlier this year, blood tests revealed Miss Jones had dangerously low potassium levels – a condition known as hypokalemia, which causes extreme muscle weakness. She now has her potassium levels and heart rate monitored at regular check-ups.
Doctors have warned her she is at risk of a fatal heart attack if she does not put on weight.
‘I’m terrified I won’t see Maisy grow up,’ she said. ‘I’d love to eat – I can think of nothing nicer than going out for lunch with Maisy, but I can’t.’


source: dailymail

£1m refit for WillKate Palace: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will move in to Princess Margaret's former apartment

By Katie Nicholl


Family home: The Duke and Duchess will be moving into Kensington Palace

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to make Kensington Palace their family home after the Queen personally intervened to enable them to live in Princess Margaret’s former apartment.

About £1 million will now be spent renovating the lavish four-storey, 20-room Apartment 1A – which comes complete with its own private walled garden – to make it fit for William and Kate.

The couple are not expected to move in until 2013, when the extensive work will be completed.

Many of the rooms are still painted in pink and turquoise, Princess Margaret’s favourite colours, but as well as redecorating, work will also have to be done to install new plumbing, rewire the electrics and remove asbestos.

The cost of the renovations will be met by a mix of public grants and contributions from the Royal Family’s own fortune.

The accommodation, which has been uninhabited since the death of the Queen’s sister in 2002, includes a dining room, drawing room, Lord Snowdon’s former study, Princess Margaret’s garden room, extensive staff quarters and a nursery – which might prove important if the current speculation that Kate might be pregnant turns out to be true.

William and Kate – collectively nicknamed WillKat – currently divide their time between Nottingham Cottage, a two-bedroom home in the grounds of Kensington Palace, and their Anglesey residence.

However, they have been looking for a more permanent base since announcing their engagement in November 2010.

A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘William and Kate visited Apartment 1A and loved it.

‘Kate particularly adored the private walled garden because she loves gardening, and she just thought the house has so much potential. She also liked the fact it was so close to Kensington High Street.

Fond memories: Prince William grew up in Kensington Palace but will be living on the opposite end to his mother's apartment with his new wife

‘They had seen a state apartment at St James’s Palace, which they also rather liked, but they both agreed they wanted to live at Kensington Palace.’

William had initially proposed living at Apartment 8, Princess Diana’s old home, where he and Prince Harry lived from their births until 1998, and which is currently used as offices for Prince Charles.

‘They did look around Diana’s home where William grew up, but they both felt there were too many memories there,’ said the source. ‘Kate thought it would be too creepy.

‘But she absolutely adored Princess Margaret’s house and thought it had a lot of potential. It hasn’t been an easy process, though, and there was a degree of difficulty getting the apartment back to the Royal Household so that it could be given to William and Kate.’

The apartment is currently managed by Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity that looks after several important buildings, including the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace.

But the Queen intervened to persuade the organisation to hand the apartment back to the Royal Household. Historic Royal Palaces uses the apartment for offices, classrooms, storage and exhibitions. Earlier this year when The Mail on Sunday first reported that the couple hoped to move to Kensington Palace, the charity insisted there were no plans to hand Apartment 1A back to the Royal Household.

A senior aide revealed: ‘It has been a long process. There have been months of discussions and a lot of legal work in order for Princess Margaret’s apartment to be transferred back to the Royal Household.

‘This has been to make it fair to the Historic Royal Palaces, which has invested a five-figure sum into making the apartment safe to work in. This financial investment will be compensated.

Historic Royal Palaces also realise that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge residing at Kensington Palace will make it a more attractive tourist destination. Ultimately it was the Queen’s decision and she would have approved it.’ Apartment 1A was opened to the public in 2004, for the first time in the palace’s 300-year history.

An exhibition has been planned for the apartment next year, which will still go ahead – but once it is over, in September, the home will be handed over to the Royal couple. The offices of Historic Royal Palaces will be relocated to new accommodation at Kensington Palace.

It is also expected that Prince Harry, who currently lives in Clarence House, the Prince of Wales’s London residence, will move into Nottingham Cottage.

William and Kate’s private offices will also move from St James’s Palace to Kensington Palace in mid 2012.

The Queen intervened and asked for her sister Princess Margaret's, left, apartment to be handed back to the Royal Household


A spokesman for the Palace said: ‘The extent of the work needed to turn the apartment back into a home is not yet known, but it is expected that it will not be ready for occupation until at least the middle of 2013.’

A spokesman for Historic Royal Palaces said they were ‘delighted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen Kensington Palace as their permanent home’.

He added: ‘There is no doubt that their presence will put the Palace more in the public eye and, we hope, encourage more people to come and explore its history.’

It was always the intention that William and Kate would move into a bigger house.

‘Nott Cott’, as their current home is known, is tiny compared with Apartment 1A, with just two small reception rooms, one guest bedroom and a small front garden.

The Duchess oversaw a minor refurbishment to the property this summer, and the couple moved in when they returned from their official overseas trip to Canada and Los Angeles in July.

HIP PARTIES WITH THE BEATLES, THE STONES AND NUREYES IN SKIN-TIGHT BLACK LEATHER

Throughout the Sixties, London’s smartest, most eclectic social set would often gather at Apartment 1A, Kensington Palace.

Then the home of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, it epitomised modish sophistication and buzzed with chatter from the icons of the era.

The four-storey, 20-room apartment had been occupied by the Royal Family for centuries.

At its heart was the large drawing room with its grand piano and kingfisher-blue walls, where some nights it was possible to encounter The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Mary Quant, Vidal Sassoon, Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland. Rudolf Nureyev would arrive dressed head to toe in skintight black leather, or wrapped in an ankle-length fur coat.

Regarded as Britain’s most stylish couple and the focus of international attention, Margaret and Lord Snowdon, as he became, were, in many ways, the William and Kate of their day. The couple, whose style was described as ‘hip-plush’, moved into the apartment after their wedding in 1960.

It had been empty since its previous occupant, Princess Louise, the daughter of Queen Victoria, died in 1939. And it hadn’t been decorated since 1891. ‘It was bombed, falling down, empty and totally uninhabitable,’ said Lord Snowdon. ‘It had to be gutted. The building suffered extensive damage during the war from an incendiary bomb.’


Happy: Princess Margaret in a drawing room in Kensington Palace which is painted in one of her favourite colours


The refurbishment cost about £85,000 – more than £1 million in today’s money – and caused grumbling at Westminster and in the media. The couple spent £10,000 on a modern kitchen, whose central feature was a giant aluminium cooker hood – designed by Lord Snowdon – that was likened to a spaceship.

In 2003, Lord Snowdon denied claims in Government records that his wife had been lavish. ‘I remember vividly that she and I made all the doors together,’ he recalled. ‘She did the veneering and we did them in the workshop.’

The residence was, as one design writer observed, ‘transformed with 20th Century English verve’. But it was not all hip modernity, with the apartment in many ways resembling an elegant 18th Century country house.

There was a spacious hallway with a tiled floor leading to the drawing room, dining room, garden room and study. The reception rooms could accommodate 100 people. The couple had separate bedrooms with a shared bathroom on the first floor. There were more bedrooms on this and the second floor, with staff sleeping-quarters on the third floor and in the basement.

As well as parties, the couple also enjoyed the ‘wonderful peace’ of Apartment 1A, which has its own garden and, beyond it, Kensington Gardens. Margaret once remarked: ‘It’s hard to believe that one’s in the middle of London.’

Later, as the couple’s marriage fell apart, the apartment was associated with much sadness and for many years Margaret lived there alone, until her death in 2002.

Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, described Kensington Palace – most famously the home of Princess Diana, who lived at Apartment 8 – as ‘curiously feminine’. She added: ‘Many of the princesses who’ve lived here have been mad, sad and sometimes bad. I’m fascinated by the job of princess: duty and pleasure in constant conflict.’

Like his late great-aunt, Prince William will be able to move in only after lengthy refurbishment work as the rooms, stripped of Margaret’s possessions, are once again ‘uninhabitable’.

Whether the nation will begrudge the young couple the money needed to restore 1A to their satisfaction remains to be seen.



source:dailymail

Kate's childhood ordeal: Palace reveals Duchess's serious childhood operation that left her with huge scar on her head

By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent


Composed: Attending a private charity dinner last night, Kate looked glamorous in a pale aqua Amanda Wakeley dress, while her hair was pulled up in a natural half up, half down style


Shimmering in silver, the Duchess of Cambridge conducted her first solo engagement as a royal yesterday – and displayed a hitherto unknown childhood secret.

Underneath Kate’s stylish half-up, half-down hairstyle a prominent three-inch scar could be seen on the side of her left temple.

A spokesman for the Duchess at St James’s Palace confirmed last night that it was the result of surgery as a young child. ‘The scar related to a childhood operation,’ they said.

The palace declined to discuss what kind of operation because it was, they said, a private matter.

Senior royal sources also confirmed that it had been ‘a very serious operation’ but declined to comment further.


John Scurr, consultant surgeon at the Lister Hospital in London, said it was unlikely to have been the result of a tumour.

‘I really doubt it was any serious medical condition and I would say it is as a result of an arteriovenous malformation – a birthmark – being removed, ‘ he said.

‘It is remarkable, given the measurement, that no-one has noticed before.’

Kate's scar, the result of a childhood operation, was clearly visible on her temple, while right, William has what he calls his Harry Potter scar on his forehead, the result of being hit with a golf club when he was 13

Kate's scar was clearly visible on the side of her head in a photo taken earlier this year

Kate is not alone in having a prominent childhood scar on her head. Her husband, William, bears a large zig-zag mark on his forehead as a result of being hit with a golf club when he was 13. He calls it his ‘Harry Potter scar’.

The duchess was conducting her first solo engagement as a member of the Royal Family, standing in for her father-in-law, Prince Charles.

The prince had been due to host a glitzy black-tie private dinner at Clarence House, his London residence, in aid of In Kind Direct, a charity he set up in 1996.

Unfortunately Charles was suddenly required to fly to Riyadh to present condolences to the Saudi Royal Family following the death of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

So he called his new daughter-in-law and asked if she would step in.

Apparently Kate was ‘delighted’ to have been asked and spent the previous day mugging up on the charity, which redistributes surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers to UK charities working at home and abroad.

She even apparently ‘tapped’ up her mother, Carole Middleton, to see if she had any spare stock at Party Pieces, the family firm which sells children’s party goods over the internet.

A St James's Palace spokesman said: ‘The Duchess of Cambridge was delighted to be able to step in for her father-in-law, The Prince of Wales.’

Kate looked slender in her beaded gown - which, unusually for the Duchess, who tends to cover up with either sleeves or small bolero, showed off her shoulders - as she chatted with the 30 guests at Clarence House

Kate, 29, looked stunning – if a little slender – in an unusually sexy vintage silver evening gown with a delicately beaded halter neck that extended round her bust. The dress was designed by one of her favourite couturiers, Amanda Wakeley, and was from her Winter 2006 collection.

At last night’s event Kate chatted knowledgeably about the charity’s work at a 45-minute champagne reception in the Garden Room before leading the 30 guests through to the dining room for dinner.

An apologetic message from the prince was then read out in which he referred to ‘darling daughter-in-law’.

A palace aide revealed: ‘The Duchess had a little bit of time beforehand to prepare for the engagement - it all went very well.

Kate looked comfortable in her role as she greeted guests at the reception, held in aid of charity In Kind Direct

‘She was so pleased that her first solo engagement was for the Prince of Wales, who has shown her so much support over the years.

‘The soiree was designed to thank existing supporters and introduce new ones to In Kind Direct as well as asking them to continue to support the charity’s work.

Robin Boles, the charity’s chief executive, said: ‘This event was a unique opportunity for In Kind Direct to thank generous supporters who have helped us over the years to deliver so much benefit for UK charities and the millions of people they serve.

‘We were delighted that the Duchess was able to step in at such short notice after our founder was unexpectedly called away.

‘The Duchess hosted a very special evening with absolute professionalism and charm.

‘You would never know it was her first solo engagement. It was as if she had been trained by the Prince of Wales.

‘She was completely natural, professional and charmed everyone. She spoke to every single guest and was genuinely interested, and interested in continuing to help.

‘She said she had already called her mum to tell her about us in case Party Pieces had surplus products.

The Duchess of Cambridge - head and shoulders above the guests at the event - was totally at ease as she chatted to the patrons of the charity


source:dailymail

Oz PM couldn't stoop to a Royal curtsey: Gillard under fire for ignoring protocol (and not bothering to wear a hat)

-Julia Gillard, a self-confessed republican, chose to bow instead
-She was greeting the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on their 11-day tour
-Monarchist describes Gillard's actions as 'churlish' and lacking respect


By Richard Shears


Scroll down to see a video of the Queen's arrival

Look, no hat: Julia Gillard fails to curtsey and shakes the Queen's hand as the monarch arrives in Canberra at the start of her 11-day tour


The British-born prime minister of Australia has been accused of disrespect over her failure to curtsey to the Queen.

Julia Gillard, who is in favour of Australia becoming a republic, said curtseying is ‘just not me’.

Instead she shook the Queen’s hand when the monarch arrived in Canberra at the start of a demanding ten-day tour. She also drew criticism for not wearing a hat.

Welcome: Miss Gillard, left, a staunch republican, greets the Queen and Prince Philip. Australian Governor General Quentin Bryce, in pink, who was also there to greet the monarch, did curtsey

Show of respect: Governor General Bryce curtseyed to both the Queen and Prince Philip at a later meeting

By contrast Australia’s governor general, Quentin Bryce – who was born in Brisbane – curtseyed to both the Queen and Prince Philip.

Miss Gillard, 50, was born in Wales and moved to Australia with her parents when she was four.
Asked on Melbourne radio whether she believed curtseying was demeaning, she said: ‘Some things are you, some things aren’t. I made a choice and I thought I would feel most comfortable with bowing my head. The advice was to do what comes most comfortably and naturally.’

FROM THE LIZARD OF OZ TO MICHELLE OBAMA... JULIA GILLARD ISN'T THE FIRST TO BREAK ROYAL PROTOCOL

Miss Gillard is far from being the first public figure to have breached protocol with respect to the Queen.

A rule concerning the sovereign has been set in stone for generations. 'Whatever you do, don't touch the Queen,' courtiers are apt to warn.

But during a G20 reception at Buckingham Palace in 2009, Michelle Obama put her hand around the Queen for about 10 seconds

Finding herself next to Mrs Obama, the Queen had remarked on their height difference. As she did so, her hand edged towards the small of Mrs Obama's back. Mrs Obama responded - and even rubbed the Queen's shoulder - before both women moved gently apart.

The Queen and Michelle Obama put their arms around one another during a G20 meeting at Buckingham Palace

In May, during the Queen's first official visit to the Republic of Ireland, Irish president Mary McAleese, like Miss Gillard, greeted the Queen with a simple handshake.

Miss Gillard, however, is not even the first Australian prime minister to have breached royal protocol.

In 1992 Paul Keating was given the nickname of 'Lizard of Oz' after he touched the Queen's lower back with his arm as he guided her through a crowd of people.

In 2000 another Australian premier, John Howard, denied touching the monarch as he introduced her to MPs at a VIP reception.

Last year, while visiting Canada, racehorse owner Don Romeo put his hand on her back as she handed a trophy to the owner of the winning horse at the Queen's Plate Stakes in Toronto.

His breach of protocol was swiftly corrected, however, when his Jockey, Eurico Da Silva, executed two bows so low that his head was level with the Queen's waist.

So how should one behave?

There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting the Queen or members of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe tradition.

For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women execute a small curtsey.

For those who prefer, it is in fact perfectly acceptable simply to shake hands.

On presentation to the Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am'. For male royals the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir'.

For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally 'Your Royal Highness' followed by 'Ma'am'.

Source: www.royal.gov.uk

Mr Romeo's actions were swiftly forgotten about when his jockey performed an elaborate bow

In the pink: The Queen smiles in the sunshine with Floriade head gardener Andrew Forster at the flower festival in Canberra today, the second day of the royal visit to Australia

Flower girl: The Queen meets six-year-old Lilly Haskins, whose elder sister saved her life. Right, the Queen radiant in the sunshine with the Duke of Edinburgh

Royal voyage: The crew of the royal barge salute as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh disembark for their visit to the Floriade Festival

On the water: The Queen and Prince Philip are ferried across Lake Burley Griffin to the Floriade festival

The royal couple were ferried across the laike aboard the Admiral's Barge, built in Brisbane in 1993 to the design of the official royal barge

The royal website, which gives official advice on how to behave when meeting the Queen, states that there are ‘no obligatory codes of behaviour – just courtesy’.

It does say that many people wish to observe the traditional forms of greeting and suggests curtseying for women and bowing for men as appropriate.

Republicans have pointed out that other prominent women have also decided that a handshake is more appropriate. Cherie Blair declined to curtsey to the Queen and wore trousers on a visit to Balmoral in 1997.

William Hanson, a British etiquette and protocol expert, told Sydney’s 3AW radio that Miss Gillard should have curtseyed and worn a hat.

‘She is your prime minister, she is representing the people, but the Queen tops her, so as a sign of respect, whatever her opinion on the monarchy is, she should have curtseyed.

‘Whatever you believe about the monarchy, if you don’t curtsey, you don’t bow, it’s not going to bring down the monarchy. You’re not making some grand gesture that’s going to shake it to its core. It’s just a bit churlish not to do it.’

Matthew Archer, deputy chairman of the Victoria branch of the Australian Monarchist League, described Miss Gillard’s choice of a handshake as ‘rude and impolite’.

As the controversy took over social websites, prominent Australian TV host Lisa Wilkinson tweeted: ‘Small thing: saw GG [governor general] curtsey to Queen but not the PM. Anyone know background to that?’

Crowds of well wishers wait for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Floriade wharf for the flower show

But Miss Gillard insisted she had done nothing wrong, pointing out that she was an admirer of the Queen and believed many Australians held her with a great deal of affection and respect – ‘and so do I’.

She added: ‘I mean, what a life, what an incredible life she’s lived over so many generations of change and to see someone play such a steadfast role over so much change, I think, is remarkable.’




source:dailymail