w magazine: 2011

kate middleton are simplicity.... is reflected through his clothing style

Kate Middleton's knee-high boot

Prince William and Kate Middleton Photos Released

There is nothing more beautiful and cute then an awesome photographs of newly engaged HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton.

This weekend on saturday Prince William and Kate Middleton released their first two official engagement portrait taken by photographer Mario Testino in the Council Chamber in the State Apartment at St James’s Palace in London on November 25, 2010. Couple Got engaged in October.

In the couple’s official portraits Kate — who will now be known as Catherine — puts her 18-carat sparkler on display. The platinum ring, which features an oval blue sapphire surrounded by 14 smaller white diamonds, is the same engagement ring that belonged to William’s late mother, Princess Diana.

About his feeling Mario Testino said: “I am very happy to have been asked to cover this historic moment that the whole world was waiting for. They are in their prime and brimming with happiness.”

Mario Testino is the same photographer who took iconic pictures of Princess Diana shortly before her 1997 death. “I have never felt so much joy as when I see them together.” Mario added.

Its been told that the pair’s April 29, 2011 wedding should be the biggest royal event since Prince Charles married Diana in 1981.

Royal Wedding Sick Bags are a Big Hit

If you’re finding the British royal wedding too much to stomach and are fed up of Prince William and Kate Middleton being rammed down your throat, then a souvenir sick bag could be just to your taste. A 24-year-old UK-based graphic artist, Lydia Leith has produced the special item with a picture of the happy couple, topped off with a crown and the words “Throne up”, to help those who risk being nauseated by all the pomp and ceremony surrounding William’s marriage to Kate at Westminster Abbey on April 29. Leith, who hopes her brainchild will be taken in the light-hearted manner she intended, had the idea of producing a Valentine’s Day sick bag but then turned her attention to the wedding.

“I keep getting so many nice emails from people saying thank you for coming up with this idea, it’s just what we need,” she told the media.

They are the latest whacky item among the wave of royal wedding souvenirs, which also include novelty condoms whose box urges lovers to “lie back and think of England”.

william kate wedding - sweet bridal moment.........

Now that everyone has had a chance to watch, rewatch, and digest the royal wedding (and nap), what did everyone think? I thought it was so so lovely and just perfect for a princess. Kate's gown might not have been my style or very favorite, but ON HER it was perfection. And how about her sister Pippa's gown?! To die for, right? The whole affair was just so exciting and it was nice to see people celebrating what is, deep down, a wonderful moment for others. Because although they may be royal, they are also just a couple in love who just committed to a life together. I wish them all the best!

Here are some of my favorite pics from the day:

{photos via msnbc and stylemepretty}

William and Kate in a final Royal Wedding rehearsal at Westminster Abbey

As predicted Prince William and Kate Middleton were ushered into a side entrance of Westminster Abbey last night to complete a final run-through of Friday's Royal Wedding ceremony.

The couple arrived in a chauffeur-driven car around 7:30 p.m. (GMT) with their wedding party, which included Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton and the rest of Kate's immediate family including her parents, Michael and Carole, and brother James.

Kate Middleton Hair in Chignon

Hmm. I had good money on her hair being down for the ceremony. Maybe I need to rethink.

With speculation continuing to mount about every detail of the upcoming royal wedding, how Kate will wear her hair is no exception.

And, because the princess-to-be was seen leaving her family home on Tuesday wearing a perfectly put-together chignon as she drove a car headed for London, it seems I might be wrong.

This marks the second time recently that Middleton has been seen sporting the swept-back style, sparking rumors that she could possibly wear the look on Friday for her walk down the aisle. Crowns do look best when the hair is pulled back, don't they?

But from feather fascinators to wind-blown ponytails – and that signature perfectly-styled blowout – Middleton will no doubt wow us with her wedding coif, no matter which she chooses. We'll just have to wait and see.

36 hours to go....

Royal Wedding: Kate Middleton Hair in Chignon : People.com

No Tweeting from Westminster Abbey

Any 140-character loving guests attending the April 29 wedding William and Kate will be sorely disappointed, as signal-blocking technology will be installed at Westminster Abbey to nix cellphone use.

According to Yahoo, the idea was suggested by members of the royal family and confirmed by police and security. They hope nixing phones and tweeting will cut down on news photos and videos featuring cellphone-toting guests, distracting ringtones and info about the wedding getting out ahead of the ceremony.

The absence of Twitter at the actual event doesn’t mean the web will go silent, obviously — in fact, talk of the Royal Wedding is growing rapidly on Facebook and Twitter.

And, hey, at least no one will be fired during the event — a Buckingham Palace guard was already sacked from his royal wedding day duties after calling the bride-to-be a “stuck up cow” and “posh bitch” on Facebook.

No Tweets Allowed at the Royal Wedding

10 Interesting Royal Wedding Facts

Think you know everything there is about the Royal Wedding?

At this point, the impending wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton (soon to be Princess Catherine) has been covered in such exhaustive detail that we know what kind of ring she'll be wearing, who will be filling the seats of Westminster Abbey, and even what the guests will be chowing down on before and after the ceremony.

Yet, there are still one or two (or 10) things you might not know about the big event, or royal weddings in general. To make sure you approach this heavily-anticipated worldwide event adequately prepared, we've outlined some facts and figures that will make you the ruler of your own personal royal wedding party.

Read on my friends: 10 Royal Wedding Facts

Who is Prince Harry?

First thing - did you know Harry is actually Henry?!

Harry is Prince Henry of Wales, born15 September 1984, is the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

He is third in the line of succession to the thrones of 16 independent countries, but mostly the UK.

He turned his back on a university education to pursue a military career, and as such served for 77 days in Afghanistan.

Prince Harry will be William's closest aide and confidante before, during and after the Royal Wedding. Harry orchestrated the stag party, which reportedly involved a chest wig and a clay pigeon shoot at an estate in Devon, and Harry will look after the Page Boys on the big day.

He told the German newspaper "Bild": It's great that Kate is becoming part of the family. I always wished for a sister, and now I have one."

The Prince has recently rekindled his relationship with Miss Chelsy Davy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Harry_of_Wales

Prince Harry taking Chelsy Davy to the Royal Wedding

It seems that Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy are back in each other’s arms.

This was the conclusion made by observers after Davy was invited by Prince Harry to the wedding of his older brother Prince William and Kate Middleton this Friday.

British newspapers reported that the 25-year old Davy was on the list of guests attending the royal couple’s wedding at Westminster Abbey.

The blonde Zimbabwean will not only be at the church service but will most likely provide support to the 26-year old Harry as he delivers the best man’s speech at the private reception late in the evening.

Davy and Prince Harry reportedly went separate ways after a five-year relationship in 2009. However, there were reports that the relationship of the couple was rekindled late last year as they started to see each other again. The two were spotted in February as they were having dinner in London.

However, many are predicting that the rekindling of the relationship may be affected by the recent developments in Prince Harry’s military career. He is now enabled to fly Apache attack helicopters after he passed the latest stage of his military training and will soon be based in Suffolk which is 80 miles from London while Davy will start her law job in London this September.

Prince Harry taking Chelsy Davy to the Royal Wedding | Golf Talk

Pippa has balls...Disco Balls!

Officials are apparently not happy with the disco balls produced by Pippa Middleton, sister of the bride and Maid of Honour.

We've all been to dull wedding receptions. The food stinks. The lights are too bright. A four-piece band is playing "The Girl from Ipanema," and nobody's dancing. According to the rumor mill, Kate Middleton's sister, Pippa, wants to avoid those all-too-common problems at the royal wedding reception with the help of some disco balls.

The Daily Mail reports that "Pip" wants to hang disco balls in the throne room of Buckingham Palace for the postwedding celebration. So, what's the big whoop? Pippa, who is Kate's chief bridesmaid as well as a professional event organizer, has apparently rubbed some officials the wrong way. Her glittery plans to bring "a younger atmosphere to the royal couple's evening reception" are indeed a stark contrast to the traditions of Buckingham Palace.

Officials were said to have been none too pleased with Pippa's plan to transform the royal residence to Studio 54, but the 27-year-old won the standoff. Her victory was no doubt in large thanks to her future brother-in-law. Again according to sources William stepped in and "insisted that the couple be allowed to properly let their hair down at night."

It's not just the disco balls that will encourage a party atmosphere. On Saturday morning, Prince Harry has planned an epic "survivor's breakfast" for those who partied all through the night. According to Martin Rogers of Yahoo!, the breakfast will include "bacon sandwiches and fry-ups -- an artery-clogging concoction of eggs, sausages, and other fried treats - traditional British hangover busters." Good thing. Because Harry plans to serve cocktails called "treasure chests" at the reception.

Pippa Middleton Hangs Disco Balls in Buckingham Palace - Yahoo! Buzz Log

Royal wedding guests to face security checks at the Abbey

Not really suprising...but will still be frustrating for guests, VIPs and dignitaries who are "dolled up to the nines"...to be body swept and scanned by some sweaty security guard!

It's not the type of welcome most wedding guests expect - ID checks and a tough security sweep before entering the church.

But then again, Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on Friday is no ordinary affair.

Britain hasn't seen a royal wedding of this size since Prince Charles married Diana in 1981 -- there were actually 200 more police on duty for that wedding, which had a longer procession route and a guest list of some 3,500 people, including foreign royals and heads of state.

Friday's wedding will offer much of the same pomp and circumstance with its 1,900 invited guests. Still, it presents a modern security nightmare for the 5,000 U.K. police officers on duty, who will be on the lookout for Irish dissident terrorists, Muslim extremists, anti-monarchists, protesters and ordinary riffraff who might blight the royal spectacle.

William & Kate: The Royal Wedding - Royal wedding guests to face security checks at the Abbey

Royal wedding buzz stirs monarchy debate in Canada

Whether it's about the cake, the kiss or the constant coverage, comments or complaints over the royal wedding are bound to slip into Canadian conversation on the eve of the big day.

But regardless of if they're rooting for the royals or nauseated by the blow-by-blow coverage, monarchists and republicans agree that Friday's grand event is getting Canadians thinking about their country's link to the monarchy, and whether it will endure.

"We relish the chance of having the monarchy in the news," says Tom Freda, co-founder and director of the Citizens for a Canadian Republic. "Apathy is the biggest problem we have in this debate."

Freda's non-profit group wishes Prince William and Kate Middleton well, but ultimately wants the country's head of state to be an elected governor general from Canada instead of a "non-resident monarch. "

"Simply being a celebrity is not enough to warrant being at the core of the Canadian state," he says.

"Especially when these people aren't Canadian and they don't live here."

William & Kate: The Royal Wedding - Royal wedding buzz stirs monarchy debate in Canada

Kate and Wills "calling the shots"!

Do you believe it or not? I'm not sure. Could just be good PR.

Apparently Prince William and Kate Middleton are “calling the shots” over every aspect of their wedding as they refuse to allow courtiers or politicians to dictate to them.

The couple ignored warnings that a spring ceremony could be a washout, choosing Friday, April 29 as their big day, and will not allow protocol to get in the way of who they invite or who presides over the service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, traditionally conducts major ceremonies at Westminster Abbey, the couple’s chosen venue, but he still has no idea whether he will be overlooked in favour of a minister with a closer personal relationship with the Prince.

A senior royal source Prince William and Catherine Middleton also have the last word on who is invited, and could veto some VIPs to make way for personal friends or deserving members of the public.

Read the rest of the Telegraph article here:

Prince William and Kate Middleton 'calling the shots' over every aspect of their wedding, aides reveal - Telegraph

Who is Prince Charles?

In this case, Charles, Prince of Wales, is FOTG - Father of the Groom!

Charles was born on 14 November 1948, and is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II. Since 1958, his major title has been HRH The Prince of Wales. He is now the longest serving heir apparent in British history...i.e. he has been WAITING ages to become King!

Charles was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun Schools, which is father, Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, had attended as a child. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, and he served a tour of duty with the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976.

He married Lady Diana Spencer before an enormous television audience of 750 million (to be eclipsed on Friday!) and they had two sons, Prince William of Wales born in 1982, and Prince Harry of Wales, in 1984.

Charles and Diana separated in 1992 following tabloid allegations concering their relationship, and they divorced in 1996 after Diana publicly accused Charles of having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles (now his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall). Charles did himself admit adultery on television.

As the word knows, Diana tragically died in a car accident in Paris in 1997, leaving Charles to raise the two sons.

The Prince is well known for his cahrity work and sponsors the Prince's Trust among other cahrities, He is outspoken on the environment and architecture, and produced a book on the conservation of buildings called A Vision of Britain in 1989.

The produ father played down his enthusiasm to see his elder son, William, marrying, by joking, "They've been practising long enough". His comment was thought to lack sentiment and was a reminder of his aloof response in 1981 when he and Diana Spencer were asked if they were in love. He replied, "Whatever love is"....and the rest as they say is history.

With less than 2 days to go until the Royal Wedding...

What's the latest news?

At around 2am (GMT) this morning approximately 1000 British soldiers from the RAF, Navy, Household Cavalry, and the Army (some of whom have served with Prince William) took part in a dress rehearsal.

The rehearsal followed the planned Royal procession route culminating at 5am with the Rolls Royce phantom in which Kate Middleton is expected to travel in on her way to the ceremony, pulling up outside Westminster Abbey. Later on, seven RAF pilots rehearsed the fly-past in the sky above London.

There is a full dress rehearsal expected tomorrow, the day before the Royal Wedding, which will take place in Westminster Abbey and involve the whole of the wedding party except Kate, William and the Royal Family.

A music rehearsal is taking place in the Abbey today, which has been closed off now to the public. And, Kate and William are expected to run through a dress rehearsal at Westminster Abbey later on today but it is not yet confirmed.

The public have already started pitching their tents along the main procession route with some of the people having camped out since Tuesday just to ensure they secure one of the best viewing positions.

Elsewhere, it has been rumoured that Alexander McQueen maybe the designer behind the Royal Wedding dress (we'll update you further on this). Whilst others have been more concerned with Kate's hairdo, with speculation that she will be wearing it up instead of down after she was spotted today with it uncharacteristically tied up.

Finally, there has been some speculation that Prince William personally snubbed Tony Blair and Gordon Brown by ensuring they both were not invited to the Royal Wedding. In contrast two past Tory leaders, Sir John Major and Lady Thatcher were invited.

It is no secret that Prince William is not a big fan of Tony Blair after he made political capital out of the death of his mother and Gordon Brown may have just been a victim of convenience as the Palace's official line on it is that neither Tony Blair nor Gordon Brown are Knights of the Realm. They could hardly invite one without the other, could they?

The Royal Wedding flowers

Prince William and Miss Catherine (Kate) Middleton have chosen London-based floral designer Shane Connolly to create the floral displays for their Royal Wedding in 2 days time on 29th April 2011.

Mr. Connolly has directed a team of florists, including Westminster Abbey's and Buckingham Palace's florists, and florists individually chosen by the Couple, to create the floral displays at the Abbey and for Buckingham Palace.

Mr. Connolly was chosen by the couple owing to his reputation for producing elegant and unique displays, and for his creative approach which focuses on using seasonal, natural and organic flowers. Mr. Connolly is also well known for his sustainable approach to floristry, which incorporates as much as possible the use of growing, rather than cut, plants and trees.

The Couple have taken a close interest in the designs, which follows a theme that pays tribute to the Language of Flowers.

The floral displays in Westminster Abbey feature a variety of seasonal growing and cut British flowers and trees sourced from Royal Estates and other growers around the country. The flowers and plants include blossoms, azaleas, rhododendron, euphorbias, beech, wisteria and lilac.

The floral displays in the Abbey will include eight 20 feet-high trees: six English Field Maple and two Hornbeam. All the trees will be growing in planters, which have also been designed by Mr. Connolly and which were made by craftsmen at Highgrove, The Prince of Wales's Residence in Gloucestershire.

After the wedding, the flowers and plants will be left in position in Westminster Abbey for the public to view until Friday 6th May 2011. Following this, many of the trees will be taken to Highgrove Gardens, where they will be planted. The Couple's intention is that many of the cut plants and flowers and all the growing plants will be donated to charities or re-planted.

The Metropolitan Police talk about Royal Wedding security

Anyone attempting to disrupt the royal wedding on Friday will face a "robust" response, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Some 5,000 officers will be on duty to ensure the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is a "safe, secure and happy event".

Commander Christine Jones, who will be overseeing the police operation, said there was no specific known threat. However 60 known troublemakers have been banned from London on the day.

"We would be wrong not to consider spontaneous protest as part of our contingency planning. But let us make it absolutely clear - this is a day of celebration, joy and pageantry. It is a fantastic day for Britain," she said.

"Any criminals attempting to disrupt it, be that in the guise of protest or otherwise, will be met by a robust, decisive, flexible and proportionate policing response."

Assistant Commander Lynne Owens added that although plans were in place to deal with any disruptions, police cannot ban demonstrations from taking place in the capital.

She confirmed that Muslims Against Crusades had planned to protest outside Westminster Abbey and were due to meet with police last week to discuss conditions but had failed to turn up.

The radical cleric Anjem Choudary is apparently still planning a protest on the day of the Royal Wedding, despite being banned from demonstrating near Westminster Abbey.

But now the cleric has confirmed two of his group's supporters plan to meet police on Thursday to renew efforts to conduct a protest as close to the Royal procession route as possible.

Although senior officers denied permission for a demonstration near the Abbey, they have little in the way of powers to stop protests elsewhere London.

Police fear the possibility of disorder, as rival protest group the English Defence League has already warned it will hold a counter-demonstration should the Muslims Against Crusades protest go ahead.

As well as the Royal Family, 50 heads of state are attending the ceremony, which it is anticipated will be watched by up to two billion people on television. There will be 70-80 close protection teams for VIPs on the day.

Kate Middleton tipped to borrow Queen's tiara for wedding

A gambler stands to win £72,000 after betting that Kate Middleton will become the first 'commoner' to wear the Queen's tiara as she weds.

The bet that Miss Middleton will wear the diamond George III tiara was placed by a well-spoken middle-aged woman in Egham, Berkshire, according to the Sun.

The Russian fringe tiara is part of the crown jewels and was made in 1919 for Queen Mary. It has since been worn by the Queen mother, the Queen and Princess Anne at their weddings.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1380592/Kate-Middleton-tipped-borrow-Queens-tiara-wedding-72-000-bet.html#ixzz1KbyMcVRe

Who is Pippa Middleton?

Pippa Middleton, aged 27, will be Kate's Maid of Honour.

A glamourous younger sister, she has a pretty hard role for the Royal Wedding - preparing her big sis for the most nerve-wracking moment of her life thus far, marrying a Prince in front of what, 2 billion people?

She will be in charge of the bridesmaids, some of whom are quite young and in the excitement of the moment could well run around Westminster Abbey with their skirts pulled over their heads shouting "See my Bum-Bum"...so she has her work cut out for her.

She was baptised Philippa Charlotte Middleton, is commonly known as Pippa and to her family simply "Pip". She was educated at the very posh Marlborough College in Wiltshire before going to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland to study English.

She spends two days a week working for "Table Talk", an events company, and the balance of her working week at the family firm "Party Pieces". She has a reputation for being able to organise a great party!

In an interview with the Sunday Times she says she takes her love of writing from her degree, and as the interviewer reveals she has startlingly white teeth and expensive highlights (from Richard Ward in Chelsea).

She is attached - to a chap called Alex Loudon, an Old Etonian and a former cricketer.

The Royal Family's modern new couple

In terms of a romance, Prince William and Catherine Middleton's decade-long courtship has been thoroughly modern. A fairytale, no. Romeo and Juliet, definitely not.

With the Queen having watched the marriages of three of her four children disintegrate, there was never going to be overt pressure placed on Prince William to rush into wedlock.

So he was allowed to live with his future wife, from the middle class no less, not only as a flat mate at university, but as a couple in northern Wales.

Considering that Diana called Prince Charles 'Sir' up until their engagement, these were serious concessions for a family so entrenched in tradition.

Like many young couples, William and Catherine have had their bumps along the way.

They split up briefly in 2007 before reuniting and deciding to marry nearly a decade after their first meeting.
'That is what people do, the global western middle class experience, the gap year, university, cohabitation.

Previous royal people that were part of a generation that could have done those things did not do those things,' British social commentator Peter York said.

'William and Kate are like their peers in that sense. It is not a classic royal marriage.'

Read the rest of this interesting article from Sky here: Sky News: The royal family's modern new couple

Harry to spend time with William on April 28th

William has already had his stag party out of the way -- so what will England's future King be doing on April 28?

Bro time!

"William asked Harry to spend the night at Clarence House, the night before the wedding," a palace source tells US Weekly of William, 28, and brother Prince Harry.

"It'll be great for the two brothers to be together before the big day. I'm sure Harry can help William with any last-minute nerves."

Prince William to Hang With Prince Harry on Wedding Eve - omg! news on Yahoo!

The Royal Wedding could be a right Royal washout

Will Kate Middleton and Prince William be swapping a horse drawn carriage for an inflatable raft? Probably not but weather forecast reports for Friday 29th April, the day of the Royal Wedding are not looking too good.

The weather reports are varying in terms of how bad the weather will be on the Royal Wedding day but most of them are reporting some degree of rain.

Of course weather patterns are constantly changing so hopefully with a few days left until the big day the weather situation will improve.

Fascinators are a hit in the US

Prince William's bride-to-be Kate Middleton, whose sartorial style will be closely scrutinized by fashionistas once she's officially a princess, is already getting credit for bringing one style stateside -- the precariously-perched feathered "fascinator."

The fascinator is a particularly ornate hair accessory that can feature feathers, beads, flowers and other fancy trimmings.

Fascination over the Fascinator is growing in the United States, with Google searches up 50% for this style of hat since January.

Fascinator sales have soared recently at Cedar Park, Texas-based Serendipity Tiaras, an online seller and supplier of bridal accessories such as veils, broaches, tiaras and fascinators to bridal boutiques.

Kate Middleton's "Fascinator" hats - Apr. 25, 2011

How to plan your day on April 29th!

Are you ready for April 29th? Want to know what's happening when? Pay attention...(all times GMT)

6.00am - Behind the scenes workers have been awake for hours, all through the night in fact, ensuring that the day will run smoothly. Police will be amongst the earliest risers, checking security is tight around the royal venues and routes, closing down the area within and around the processional route. Gardeners, street cleaners and city workers are preparing thr route for the Royal Wedding.

9.00am to 10.00am - Guests will start arriving from 9am. This will mean an array of royal dignitaries, heads of state, politicians, friend and family and the all-important celebrities!! In total the guest list is around 1900.

10.10am - Wills and Harry leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey. They are followed at a respectful distance by the remainder of the Royal Family, who themselves depart from Buckingham Palace. All travel in state cars.

10.50am - Kate, with her father Michael, set off in the Queen's Rolls-Royce Phantom VI (the car attacked by protesters in London in December, as it happens).

11.00am - The Wedding Ceremony!! The Westminster Abbey Service begins with the bride and her father walking down the aisle, and William will be waiting by the altar for her.

12.15pm - If it is sunny and dry weather, the 1902 State Landau carriage will transport the newlyweds to Buckingham Palace. If it is raining, the Glass Coach (used by Diana 30 years ago) will be used instead. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will escort the Queen and Prince Philip, and two separate Ascot Landau carriages will take Harry and Pippa, Best Man and Maid of Honour, as well as the young page boys and bridesmaids.

12.40pm - just 600 guests are inivted to Buckingham Palace for a Champagne reception hosted by the Queen. 10,000 canapés will be prepared.

1.30pm - Wills and Kate - now married - will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, with hopefully a public kiss. This will be followed by a flypast of RAF airfraft.

2pm - Roads in London are reopened to civilian traffic.

3.30pm - Kate and Wills spend time with their guests - away from the paparazzi!

7.00pm - 300 of the couple's friends and family will attend a dinner hosted by Charles, Prince of Wales.

....and they lived Happy Ever After...?

British Cabinet Ministers have applied austerity measures to their Royal Wedding gifts

British Cabinet Ministers were accused of being 'Scrooges' after they gave just £35 each towards a group wedding present for Prince William and Kate Middleton. Together the 23 Ministers raised £805.

The 23 Ministers, who each earn about £135,000 a year, received letters from Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell telling them £35 was ‘an appropriate sum’.

The £805 will be given to Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding charity, which supports 26 charities chosen by them. The amount and the decision to give it to charity was agreed by Sir Gus and David Cameron after fears it would be embarrassing if some bought lavish gifts while others gave nothing.

The decision was approved after a Cabinet discussion. Ministers then privately agreed they would all give exactly £35 to avoid one-upmanship. One said: ‘You can imagine the kind of media frenzy there would be if everyone gave different amounts. It may not be very romantic but it is best if we all do the same.’

Labour MP Tom Watson said: ‘Most people will think £35 is pretty mean-minded coming from well-paid Ministers who can afford to give a lot more, especially when it is going to such good causes. You would raise more money at a jumble sale.’ Nick Clegg and Mr Cameron will also buy the Royal couple separate presents.

Bahrain's Royal Prince has had to decline his Royal Wedding invite

Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Bahrain's crown prince has declined an invitation to attend Britain's royal wedding at the 11th hour because of ongoing unrest in that Gulf nation.

The Prince sent his regrets to Prince Charles on Sunday stating that he will not be attending the wedding of Charles' son Prince William to Kate Middleton.

British media have criticised the wedding invitation to Bahrain's crown prince because of the violent reaction in his country against protesters calling for more freedoms.

The crown prince of Bahrain said in his letter to Prince Charles that he delayed sending his regrets in hopes that the situation in the Gulf nation would improve and leave him able to attend.

The Bahraini government has imposed martial law and invited troops from mainly Sunni-led neighboring states to help quell the uprising by mostly Shi'ite protesters.

Bahraini officials said earlier this month that 24 people have died in the unrest. Amnesty International said last week that the government had arrested more than 500 people over the last month.

During the 2011 pro-democracy revolution, the Crown Prince, in public statements aimed at the western media (and in in talks with the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, William Hague) claimed to have made contact with representatives of all of the country's political parties, including the main Shia opposition parties. As the deputy commander of the defense forces, he claimed to have ordered the army off the streets.

As events transpired, however, the Crown Prince either directly ordered or was unable to prevent the army from taking over a hospital, destroying the symbolic Pearl Roundabout, and implementing a violent crackdown on essentially non-violent pro-democracy protesters. These actions have earned the Crown Prince a series of condemnations ranging from those of Amnesty International through The Obama Administration.

Rather than actually address the legitimate democratic aspirations of those living in Bahrain, the Crown Prince, in concert with the Royal Family, have reaffirmed their hard-line commitment to a monarchical system, and have declared a three month "state of emergency" intended to undermine and stifle the popular opposition.

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