Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Christmas party with palace staff STV 3 December 2012 11:50 GMT (STV)

Kate Middleton and Prince William are to let their hair down and party with their royal staff at a super special Christmas party this festive season.

The couple – now officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – will sip champagne and nibble on canapés alongside some 2,000 guests, who are to be invited to the legendary seasonal bash in one of the state apartments at Buckingham Palace.

The famous 'do' was cancelled back in 2010 because of the tough economic conditions the country found itself in during the recession.

But the Queen has decided to reinstate the festive soiree this year, in what has been a fantastic 12 months for the monarchy in her Diamond Jubilee year.

A source is quoted telling Showbiz Spy: “Everyone is delighted it is back. It is a rare opportunity for everyone to let their hair down and have a great night.”

As well as getting a chance to chat to the staff, the royals will also get up close and personal with those who work so hard for them all year round.

The source continued: “All the royals are there, they dance with the servants and it will be extra special because of the queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the fantastic year she has had.

“Everyone will want to dance with her and congratulate her and all the younger male staff will want to dance with Kate.”

READ MORE:http://entertainment.stv.tv/royals/203902-kate-middleton-and-prince-williams-christmas-party-with-palace-staff/

Twenty Twelve Recap: ‘Clarence House’ (Season 2, Episode 3) By Jem Bloomfield July 15th, 2012 at 2:38 pm (CALIFORNIA LITERARY REVIEW)

The Olympic Deliverance Team are drifting into the office, arguing with people on their phones. Here in the real world, the security company G4S has announced that it may have problems supplying the staff it had intended to work the Olympics, leading the British government to draft in an extra three thousand troops from the Army to make up the shortfall. Still, jokes about the various abilities of London football clubs must be made, and thank heaven Twenty Twelve is here to make them.

In comes Hugh Bonneville and the terrible truth dawns, only half hinted at the end of the last episode. Olivia Colman’s character thought Hugh Bonneville’s character had got back together with his wife, just as she (Colman’s character) was about to reveal her deep and abiding love for him (Bonneville’s character). Without staying to have her heart trampled on any further, or indeed clear up the misunderstanding, she disappears from the show, leaving a new PA in her place, the cheery and to Bonneville’s character faintly unnerving young man Daniel Stroud (Samuel Barnett). He is very definitely New Style – breezy, familiar with the team and slightly irksomely gets on better with most of them than the boss. He’s winsomely hard on himself when he brings a muffin rather than a Danish pastry, showing a proper regard for the niceties of baked goods protocol.

The plot of this episode revolves around a call they have received from Clarence House. Siobhan (Jessica Hynes) is sure this is one of the guys who do that jumping thing (cheap but brilliant joke), but in fact it is the residence of the Prince of Wales. Shelving the royals for the moment, and paying due attention to Jessica Hynes, she has continued to develop Siobhan along increasingly annoying lines. The flattening out of the character I noticed last week has (I think) gone even further, and there’s an entertaining little scene in which Ian (Hugh Bonneville) wants her to stop mucking about on her Blackberry whilst talking to him. It’s not epoch-making, but does capture the slight awkwardness of feeling that someone is being rude to you, but that drawing it to their attention would probably make you ruder than they are being, so you resent them without feeling able to do anything about it. That’s either emotional truth, or it’s one of the really screwed-up things about being from a certain slice of the British middle class and their allied brethren…

READ MORE: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-hobbit-movie-news-may-be-a-trilogy-third-film-from-jrr-tolkien-s-notes

Mirren is fit for a queen Last Updated: 12:19 AM, June 21, 2012 Posted: 10:31 PM, June 19, 2012 Michael Riedel (NEW YORK POST)

Helen Mirren won an Oscar as Elizabeth II in “The Queen.”
So why not wear the crown again?

Mirren’s doing readings in London this week of a new play called “The Audience,” which chronicles Elizabeth II’s reign from 1952 to this month’s Diamond Jubilee.

“The Audience” is by Peter Morgan, who wrote “The Queen” as well as the hit Broadway play “Frost/Nixon.”

Morgan’s top choice for director, I hear, is Stephen Daldry, who staged “Billy Elliot.”

If Mirren commits to “The Audience,” the plan is to produce it in London this fall and then move it to Broadway, possibly by spring 2013.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/mirren_is_fit_for_queen_670kx2yXn9M19O2lvlVxEO#ixzz1ycVhTrwp

Sir Kenneth Branagh reveals why he is ready to graciously accept his knighthood By LIZ THOMAS (MAIL ON LINE)

Humbled: Kenneth and his wife, pictured last week at the Cartier Polo

Sir Kenneth Branagh has revealed age and experience are behind his decisions to embrace his Knighthood after declining his CBE.

The actor declined the Commander of the British Empire honour in 1994 when he was in his mid-thirties.

This week the 51-year-old was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, and he admitted he now felt it would be churlish to turn down one of the highest accolades in British society.

He said: ‘I was genuinely shocked when I got it. I didn’t know what it was all about. I had to consider it. I rejected the CBE.

'But at this stage in my life, my practise is, if people are kind enough to acknowledge what you do it seems polite not to say, “Thank you very much”.

‘The business I am in, we are very lucky. At the end of every stage performance the audience all applaud me for doing my job, but I have friends who work in offices who don’t get that.

Sir Kenneth added that he had been sworn to secrecy and had only told his wife, Lindsay, and admitted he even worried his response had got lost in the post.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2163452/Sir-Kenneth-Branagh-reveals-ready-graciously-accept-knighthood.html#ixzz1ycTcfE5F

Hugh Laurie Gives Benaroya the New Orleans Blues by Michael van Baker on June 7, 2012 (THE SUN BREAK)

From the moment he strolled out onstage–no cane, unlike his House, M.D., character–Hugh Laurie had the Benaroya Hall audience firmly on his side, so it wasn’t really necessary, in a burst of Englishness, for him to soft-shoe over having the temerity to come before us to play music out of New Orleans’s history. (In another burst of Englishness, Laurie made this the first New Orleans blues concert I’d attended with a toast to the Queen in advance of her Diamond Jubilee.)

Laurie plays piano and guitar, but, he instructed the audience, the real musical thrills were going to come from the other musicians onstage: the Copper Bottom Band. They were the gleaming Rolls Royce and its throaty purr, he said, he was merely the hood ornament–throwing his arms back in the classic Spirit of Ecstasy pose.

If you missed the evening, Laurie’s New Orleans songbook can be found on CD; Let Them Talk contains many of the songs performed. I have to confess to rating his piano playing higher than his guitar, and both higher than his singing. It’s not that he has a terrible voice, but it isn’t suited to every one of these songs he clearly loves, and which often have been sung by the best.


READ MORE:  http://thesunbreak.com/2012/06/07/hugh-laurie-gives-benaroya-the-new-orleans-blues/

Kate Middleton, Prince William & Prince Harry Rock Out—Royal Style Mon., Jun. 4, 2012 4:42 PM PDT by BRUNA NESSIF (E ON LINE)

The royals know how to have a good time.

It's not as crazy as some of their other outings, but Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry still enjoyed themselves during a pop concert at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee today—just look at those faces!

So who did they jam out to?


Robbie Williams opened the show with his version of "Let Me Entertain You," which the three musketeers seemed to enjoy—how thrilled does Kate look waving her flag in the air?! Will.i.am and Jessie J followed up with the Black Eyed Peas hit "I Gotta Feeling."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and company also enjoyed the sounds of Paul McCartney, Tom Jones and Stevie Wonder.

Later on, comedian Lenny Henry and the crowd welcomed the queen—who strutted a gold cocktail dress with Swarovski crystals—to the royal box. She was escorted to her seat by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla.



Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/kate_middleton_prince_william_prince/321091

Crowds jam London for Queen Elizabeth's jubilee finale By Michael Holden and Mike Collett-White LONDON | Tue Jun 5, 2012 7:35am EDT (REUTERS)

(Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth began the fourth and final day of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Tuesday with a solo appearance at a thanksgiving service in St. Paul's Cathedral ahead of a horse-drawn procession and a wave from Buckingham Palace.

People thronged the streets as the 86-year-old monarch cut a somber figure in church, attending one of the few grand state occasions in her life without her husband of 64 years, after Prince Philip was taken ill with a bladder infection on Monday.

"The Queen will today face one of the crowning moments of her reign without the presence by her side of the man who for more than six decades has been her unfailing support," said the Times newspaper.

The 90-year-old royal consort will be kept under observation for a few days in a move the palace said was "precautionary", but takes some of the gloss of what is widely seen as a triumphant jubilee that has cemented the queen's popularity.

Millions have attended street parties and festivities, watched a spectacular 1,000-vessel pageant on the River Thames in London on Sunday and a concert in front of Buckingham Palace on Monday, all held in honor of Elizabeth II, the only British monarch other than Queen Victoria to have reigned for 60 years.

In a rare move, the queen, who usually only appears on TV screens for a short message on Christmas Day, will deliver a special broadcast be aired at 1700 GMT to thank the nation.

Crowds began massing in huge numbers on the wide Mall avenue towards Buckingham Palace, turning the famous road into a sea of red, white and blue, for the jubilee finale when the royal family will appear on the balcony, with a fly-past by modern and former Royal Air Force aircraft.

"Some may think this is all a bit frivolous, but it's all about spreading the love," said Aba Shanti, 41, who was wearing a red, white and blue "Union Jack" flag dress.

READ MORE:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/05/us-britain-queen-idUSBRE85101220120605

Benedict Cumberbatch Is "Very Flattered and Slightly Bemused" About His Heartthrob Status - POP SUGAR (OH NO THEY DIDN'T)

Benedict Cumberbatch was one of the celeb guests at Saturday's Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic at New Jersey's Liberty State Park. He mingled with his Star Trek 2 costar Zoe Saldana, as well as fellow Brits like Matthew Rhys and Clive Owen, who cohosted the challenge with Argentine polo star Nacho Figueras. We snagged a couple minutes at the VIP tent with Benedict, who was flying somewhat under the radar. The much-hyped star of BBC hit Sherlock was happy to talk about the ongoing Diamond Jubilee in his native London, and what it was like joining the Star Trek family. Benedict also touched on what life is like as a newly-minted heartthrob.

Benedict said:


PopSugar: We're here celebrating a very English sport, polo, while back in London, the Diamond Jubilee is going on! Are you excited for the queen's 60th anniversary?

Benedict Cumberbatch: I am exited for the Jubilee. I feel a bit of a treason-worthy abscondee. I planned to have a holiday here a long while after I finished shooting a film I've just done. I guess that's why I am here rather than over there. It's very exciting. We've got three huge events, really, in this next couple of months, this being a kickoff for it. I think, like lots of places in Europe, we need all the home-spun joy and festivities and celebrations we can get at the moment.

PopSugar: Does that mean you're attending the Olympics?


Benedict: I am as much as anyone who doesn't have a ticket can go to the Olympics. I'm going to avoid all the traffic and maybe see the best events at home, I think. But we'll see, hopefully. I haven't really made any plans, to be honest, to go, but I'm really, really excited about hosting it.

PopSugar: You're obviously talking about Star Trek 2. How was it joining that cast to make the movie?

Benedict: Fantastic. Zoe's just my amazing, good friend. The whole thing was just an absolute blast. I mean really, really good fun. I had a terrific time doing it.


Read more at ONTD: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/69477292.html

The Queen's Jubille Pageant in all its glory - Love her outfit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dVPTVGyl4s&feature=relmfu

Paul McCartney: What did Bono say to make the Queen giggle? (THE DIAMOND JUBILEE)

It was the biggest gathering ever seen of the UK's most glittering members of the music and arts world.

Sir Paul McCartney rubbed shoulders with Bono and Vivienne Westwood, while Kenneth Branagh chatted to Dame Shirley Bassey – and they were all gathered together in London's Royal Academy, to pay tribute to the Queen.


Bono made the 86-year-old laugh when he praised her trip to the Republic of Ireland last year.

He joked: "And the Queen spoke Gaelic, I can't even speak Gaelic."

There were 850 leading cultural figures at the reception to mark the monarch's Diamond Jubilee, and the number included newcomers like model Agyness Deyn and rapper Tinie Tempah.

Dame Vivienne said she had changed her opinion about the monarchy since the Seventies era of punk, when her design career took off.

"At one time I thought the Queen represented all the political hypocrisy of England," she said.

"I realised they're above politics. I think they are a social cement and the job she does is incredible."

READ MORE:  http://diamondjubilee.hellomagazine.com/queens-jubilee/news/galeria/201205241016/queen-royal-academy-of-arts/1/#10

BBC America to show raft of Brit shows for Summer of London (TELEVISUAL)

BBC America is running a season of British programming this Summer, from The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June through the London Olympics in August, live event coverage will be accompanied by a raft of comedies, documentaries, dramas and special features across all of BBC America’s branded platforms under the umbrella - BBC America’s Summer of London.

Programming will include live coverage of both the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant for Her Majesty The Queen and Jubilee Day, including Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

As a tribute to the London Olympics, the channel will air the long-awaited Olympic themed Absolutely Fabulous special starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley and Doctor Who’s Matt Smith stars in the drama Going for Gold – The ’48 Games.

The channel will premiere The Brit List, a series of specials hosted by BBC America’s pop culture correspondent Asha Leo, as well as a series of Asha Leo hosted short-form pieces featuring insider highlights of the upcoming summer activities.

The last great British culture invasion will be celebrated with a slate of Beatles programming, including the premiere of the documentary Discovering Lennon and the entire series of The Tudors.

Perry Simon, general manager of BBC America, said, “It feels like we’re in the midst of a new British cultural invasion and this coming summer offers a non-stop series of events and stories that will put London front and centre on the world stage.  If you can’t experience it in person, we want to make BBC America the next best place for Americans to celebrate this historic Summer of London.”

On Sunday, June 3, in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign on the throne, BBC America will present an entire day of specials and documentaries including the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant live. The channel will show the US premiere of The Diamond Queen, written and presented by Andrew Marr and executive produced by Nick Vaughn-Barratt.

On June 5th, the celebration carries on with live Jubilee Day coverage including the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, together with other members of the Royal family, will attend a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage procession.

READ MORE:  http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/BBC-America-to-show-raft-of-Brit-shows-for-Summer-of-London_nid-1611.html

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant: Dame Helen Mirren, Martin Clunes, Susan Boyle Perform (HUFF POST)

Dame Helen Mirren, Martin Clunes, Susan Boyle and Joss Stone were some of the stars invited to help celebrate the 250 State and Commonwealth visits the Queen has made during her reign, at Windsor Castle on Sunday.

Singers SuBo, II Divo and Joss Stone all sang for the Queen as hundreds of horses and performers from across the world also came together for the special pageant.

Dressed in a shimmering cream coat, the Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at the event in a horse-drawn Landau carriage pulled by four Windsor Greys.

Four Canadian Mounties saluted her as she left her carriage and made her way to the royal box to watch the proceedings.

The Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Cornwall joined the couple as they watched the Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

READ MORE:  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/14/diamond-jubilee-pageant-helen-mirren_n_1513894.html?ref=uk&just_reloaded=1

If Helen Mirren were Queen... Last Updated: 1:16 PM, May 4, 2012 Posted: 1:15 PM, May 4, 2012 NEW YORK POST

Dame Helen Mirren won an Oscar for playing Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film "The Queen." But if she were really a royal, the actress says that she would have "a glass of Champagne while sitting on the throne."
Mirren talked about the both the Queen and her upcoming Diamond Jubilee celebration in the new issue of the UK's Woman & Home magazine.

"I couldn't handle the rules the Queen has to live by at all and very few of us could. It's a golden cage really. You're never alone in that role – you are always surrounded by security," she said. "If I were Queen for a day, I would like breakfast in bed and then I'd sneak out incognito and go shopping in Zara. At the end of the day, I'd have a glass of Champagne while sitting on the throne."


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/if_helen_mirren_were_queen_3jPfuChMXBBZPK79V9M4dM

Charlie Watts Upset At Missing Diamond Jubilee Gig (CONTACT MUSIC)

Rocker Charlie Watts is disappointed the Rolling Stones weren't invited to perform at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee concert, insisting he would have been honoured to join the line-up.

The drummer admits he would have loved for the Brown Sugar hitmakers to be included in the special gig being held in the summer (12) to mark the monarch's 60-year reign. Beatles legend Sir Paul MCCartney, Sir Elton John and Sir Cliff Richard are among the headlining acts, but Watts reveals he and his bandmates are too busy to play the show.


READ MORE CONTACT MUSIC:  http://www.contactmusic.com/news/charlie-watts-upset-at-missing-diamond-jubilee-gig_1303295