You'll Never Guess Princess Kate's Favorite Room on the Downton Abbey Set

PEOPLE MAGAZINE
BY SIMON PERRY @SPerryPeoplemag UPDATED 03/12/2015 AT 12:10 PM EDT •ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 03/12/2015 AT 10:50 AM EDT


Princess Kate (far right) with Penelope Wilton, Hugh Bonneville and Laura Carmichael of Downton Abbey
CHRIS JACKSON/WPA POOL/GETTY

Princess Kate meeting the cast of Downton Abbey is the most English thing to happen since tea met crumpets.

After touring the set of the smash Masterpiece drama on Thursday, the expectant royal, 33, sat down for a photo with the ensemble.

Anglophiles, you're going to want to pour yourself a cuppa and spend a long moment with this glorious picture.


Princess Kate (front row, center) with the cast of Downton Abbey
CHRIS JACKSON / WPA POOL / GETTY

Most of the cast is assembled, with an amusing mix of contemporary and period clothes – a distinction highlighted in the front row, with Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) in her '20s garb and Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith) in a current look.

"It was a surreal and exciting experience to be at work and be visited by a member of the royal family," Carmichael told PEOPLE. "She has watched the show and loves it and that's really lovely."

Princess Kate with Brendan Coyle (right) of Downton Abbey
CHRIS JACKSON / WPA POOL / GETTY

"She spent the longest time in the kitchen, so me and Lesley [Nicol, who plays head cook Mrs. Patmore] are taking that as a compliment," says Sophie McShera, who plays assistant cook Daisy.

"We told her that two of the hobs work – because we like having steaming pans," Nicol shared.

And though Kate appeared to observers to be a little starstruck, McShera says, "Everyone around her was more starstruck."

Of course, the visit wouldn't be complete without some playful upstairs-downstairs rivalry – in this case, between Brendan Coyle (valet John Bates) and Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham).

Princess Kate (right) with Rob James-Collier of Downton Abbey CHRIS JACKSON / WPA POOL / GETTY

Kate ended up spending an hour longer than she had planned. Now, the cast hopes the eight-months pregnant royal is resting.

"I think she should go and have a sit down and take her shoes off," says Nicol. "It's quite hard work on those heels."

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE:  http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20395222_20907433,00.html

Prince William and Kate Middleton Attacked and Silenced by Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
BY CATE MEIGHAN ON JANUARY 23, 2014



I’ve always said that the royal family is just as dysfunctional as the Kardashian’s, they just have better taste and manners. Make no mistake, there is a whole lot of drama going on behind closed doors as Queen Elizabeth’s health fails. It is Prince Charles’ birthright to be crowned the next King and Camilla Parker-Bowles thinks she is owed her crown because she suffered as Charles’ side chick for 3 decades before being made an honest (if strongly disliked) woman.



Everyone, including Queen Elizabeth prefers Prince William and Kate Middleton as the next rulers as they are both well-respected and in touch with the real needs of the British people. William is prepared to be a good example and take on the cares of his people while Charles has a history of writing rambling letters about his pet peeves and focusing on flowers or obscure environmental problems – he is considered out of touch and arrogant.

This week Charles stepped up to take over more of Elizabeth’s duties and in his lust for power he opted to make serious changes to the Queen’s press office. Sally Osman who heads Prince Charles’ communications team is now in charge of both Queen Elizabeth’s and Charles’ media affairs. So the voice of The Crown is now under Prince Charles’ control. But even worse, Charles has now moved his people in to silence Kate and Will! It was announced this week that the Kensington Palace Press Office (Kate and William’s media voice) will cease operations shortly. Supposedly he wants everything funneled through one office for the sake of royal continuity.  That kind of makes sense, right?  WRONG!

There is a whole lot more going on here than meets the eye! Kensington Palace has handled everything connected to Prince William, Kate, Prince George and Prince Harry and the office has done a fantastic job of promoting the younger royals. It has added to their popularity with the commoners and has proven that it can handle huge announcements, such as the birth of Prince George with great ease. In shutting down this office Charles will now control what is said to the press regarding William and Kate! Rest assured good old Cami is sick to death of hearing about how stunning or fun Kate is and so those blips will be a thing of the past. It’s a clear cut power struggle. Until now William and Kate have been able to control to a great degree how they are represented in the press and that has worked to their advantage.




READ MORE HERE: http://www.celebdirtylaundry.com/2014/prince-william-kate-middleton-charles-camilla-parker-bowles-queen-elizabeth-power-struggle-0123/

The Royal Baby Shower: BORN TO RULE - Royal-Spoof Photographer Alison Jackson Already Has Multiple Infants to Play Kate Middleton’s Baby by Bridget Arsenault (VANITY FAIR)

And in the practitioners-of-art department, celebrity-spoof photographer Alison Jackson told us she already has a “royal baby” lined up and ready to go. “We’ve got one with dark hair and one without any hair.” Not too worried about the baby’s gender? “Just a baby in a nappy is quite nice.”

Until the mini-monarch arrives, her focus remains on Kate: “I have about three [Duchess of Cambridge] lookalikes, and one is pregnant. Otherwise we use a silicon pregnant belly. A portable one,” she says. “People are dying to see pictures. I’ve just done one of William trying to keep Kate cool, so he’s spraying her bump with water.” Chic!

READ MORE; http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2013/06/royal-spoof-photo-kate-middletons-baby

Kate Middleton: No shame for Kate Middleton – only for her stalkers (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER)

By Gina Barreca

Hartford Courant

Posted: Monday, Sep. 24, 2012

You’d think that being a gorgeous, charming, sophisticated young princess fully accessorized right down to having an adoring, healthy and attentive young king-to-be at one’s side would have solved most problems, wouldn’t you?

But we learned last week that even Kate Middleton isn’t enviable – at least not all the time.

Last week’s collective cultural copping of a feel has transformed the Duchess of Cambridge into merely a pair of breasts. Gone from sight and sound are the young woman’s good works and bon mots; eclipsed are the dazzling smiles and apparently affectionate interactions with her delighted audiences in Britain and abroad.

She’s been reduced to a just another girl gone wild, a young woman without a bathing suit top sunning herself on a deck. The paparazzi wanted to get those photographs of Middleton because she’s “somebody.”

Yet the effect of being photographed in such a way is to be cut down to size: to be made into “any body,” to be made into an object. Finally, it is to be treated like nobody at all: just a pair of breasts and a behind.


Some of Middleton’s critics argue that, as a royal supported by the state, she should have known better than to reveal her naughty bits except indoors with the blackout curtains drawn, as if she were living during the Blitz. Or under Shariah law, perhaps.

But of what, exactly, is Middleton meant to be ashamed? Is she being punished for making us want to look at her? C’mon, she’s one of the most photographed women in the world. She’s not some poor girl with low self-esteem who misjudged how to become popular and removed her top for Twitter.





READ MORE: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/24/3547157/no-shame-for-kate-middleton-only.html

Kate Middleton Finally Pregnant, Says New Report Wed, September 5, 2012 9:22am EDT by Christopher Rogers (HOLLYWOOD LIFE)

A new report out this morning says it’s official at last — Kate and William are expecting. 
Read on for the latest ‘evidence.’ Could it finally be happening?

A new report on Sept. 5 suggests that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton are expecting their first baby together! “Friends say Kate is convinced it’s happened, and while she and William are keeping the news close to the vest, they’re delirious with joy,” an insider confirms to Star magazine. “A woman can always tell when the earliest signs appear, and it’s believe that a passionate night together at their rented country house on an estate in Wales, just after the end of the London Olympics, did the trick.”

We knew that William and Kate, both 30, were ecstatic at the Olympics, but who knew it would translate into conceiving a baby! Perhaps that reported second honeymoon did the trick? “William sits in a very open position. Both she and her Prince have genuine smiles as they gaze at each other. Even after a year, it appears the honeymoon is still on,” body language expert Linda Talley tells HollywoodLife.com of their time at the Olympics.

Read More at: http://hollywoodlife.com/2012/09/05/kate-middleton-pregnant-baby-bump/

Kate Middleton Makes an Appearance in Blue at the London Olympics (DAILY GLOW)

When she appeared on Thursday at London's "Road to 2012: Aiming High" exhibition, Kate Middleton made sure to look her best.

According to Us Magazine, 30-year-old Middleton attended the exhibition without her husband, Prince William, but looked fabulous going solo as she walked around in a lively blue dress, black Prada high heels, and a gold necklace from that represented the Olympics. Her blue dress, which showed off her slender physique and famous legs, was designed by Stella McCartney, the designer of the official uniforms of Great Britain's 2012 Olympic team.

Also in attendance were several VIP guests, including Jeremy Hunt, Ruth Mackenzie, Baroness Grey-Thompson, and more.

"Road to 2012: Aiming High," an annual exhibition of artwork and photography of the 2012 London Olympics preparations, is something for which Kate Middleton has a soft spot and keen interest. While studying for her degree at St. Andrew's University, she prepared her thesis on the photographic works of Lewis Carroll.

READ MORE: http://www.dailyglow.com/kate-middleton-makes-an-appearance-in-blue-at-the-london-olympics-0720.html

Kate Middleton proves she’s a-head of the crowds yet again The Duchess of Cambridge has been credited with influencing Royal Ascot’s rules women’s headwear… Find out more below. 17 May 2012 15:00 GMT(STV)

Hat's the way to do it: Kate Middleton has been spotted in stylish headwear Pic: ©Ikon Pictures Ltd/Rex Features

Kate Middleton is undeniably a woman of style, and now the Duchess of Cambridge has been credited with smartening up one of the dress code for prestigious sporting event Royal Ascot.

Ladies attending this year’s event will need to adhere to newly introduced guidelines that ban fascinators and insist on all female visitors wearing hats instead.

And milliner Stephen Jones thinks it’s the example that the super-groomed Duchess set which has had influence on organisers.

Speaking to The Telegraph’s Mandrake column, the milliner said: “The Duchess is so well dressed, and I think that has helped to push things in that direction.

Another fine hat.  Audrey Hepburn's costume for the Royal Ascot scene in My Fair Lady

READ MORE:  http://entertainment.stv.tv/showbiz/306823-kate-middleton-proves-shes-a-head-of-the-crowds-yet-again/

Sheer beauty: The Duchess of Cambridge looks stunning in daring teal dress gown and elaborate updo at London Olympic gala concert By REBECCA ENGLISH (MAIL ON LINE)

On an evening out, she usually likes to let her hair down. But the Duchess of Cambridge raised the style stakes last night – opting for an intricate chignon instead.

The elegant knotted bun, put in place by a team from the Richard Ward salon in Chelsea, showed off the elaborate design of her teal Jenny Packham dress to full effect.

The tiny gems in the delicate lace across her back and shoulders shimmered as she arrived at a gala at the Royal Albert Hall to mark the countdown to the London Olympic Games.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2143134/Kate-Middleton-Duchess-Cambridge-stunning-teal-dress-London-Olympic-gala-concert.html#ixzz1ufSU3osO

How did Kate’s first royal year compare to Diana’s? One year into Kate and William's marriage, a look at how the two women forged their paths By Rachel Elbaum TODAY.com contributor updated 4/27/2012 3:55:35 PM ET

Separated by a generation, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, have traveled many of the same paths and faced many of the same challenges.

And even without Diana’s engagement ring on her finger, Kate would inevitably have faced comparisons to her mother in-law. But they share as many differences as they do similarities. “It is almost unfair to compare the two women because of the different roles that they are playing in the royal family,” said Marlene Eilers Koenig, author of “Queen Victoria’s Descendants” and writer of the blog Royal Musings.

“Not only was Diana marrying a man, she was marrying a country. The pressure on Catherine is very different because she is not the wife of the heir to the throne, which comes with its own set of responsibilities.”

After Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles in July 1981, she was given little time to settle down and get used to her new role. Royal duties and appearances piled up immediately. And with little training, the new princess was ill-prepared for the frenzy that awaited her. She made her public speaking debut in October, three months after her wedding. The speech, given at Cardiff City Hall, was written by others and included a few sentences in Welsh. Prince Charles was there.

Kate’s podium debut in March revealed a poised and confident woman : The speech was short, and she wrote it herself. She delivered it solo, as William was deployed in the Falklands, and barely wavered. And though both women wore blue, that's where the similarities ended.


READ MORE:  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47186958/ns/today-today_news/#.T5yc9atSTiY

Bits and Pieces: Is this the ultimate woman? Technology merges best parts of some of the world's most beautiful celebrities (Mail On line)

By Liz Thomas

Last updated at 11:56 PM on 4th January 2012



Each stands alone as one of the world’s most beautiful women.

So put them all together and the result would surely be the ultimate head-turner. Or would it?

Well now, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can judge for yourself.

After a poll to discover which parts of female stars women most admired


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2082407/Is-ultimate-woman-Technology-merges-best-parts-worlds-beautiful-celebs.html#ixzz1iXXzDGvU