'We're not racist', says Prince William after Meghan and Harry interview

LONDON - Prince William said on Thursday that Britain's royals were not racist after Meghan, wife of his younger brother Harry, said one unnamed member of the family had asked how dark their son Archie's skin might be.

The revelation emerged during an explosive tell-all interview Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, gave to Oprah Winfrey which was aired on Sunday, plunging the British monarchy into its biggest crisis since the 1997 death of Princess Diana, William and Harry's mother.

On a visit to a school in east London, William said he had not talked to Harry since the interview was broadcast just over three days ago.

"I haven't spoken to him yet but I will do," William, 38, said.

Asked by a reporter if the royal family was racist, William said: "We're very much not a racist family."

In the two-hour show, Meghan also said the royals had ignored her pleas for help while she felt suicidal, while Harry said his father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, had let him down and that he had felt trapped.

On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace issued a statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, the princes' grandmother, in which she said the family were saddened by how challenging the couple had found the last few years.

The statement added the issues of race were concerning and would be treated very seriously, but pointedly stated "some recollections may vary".

The Palace have said that it was a family matter that should be dealt with privately.

During the interview, Harry laid bare how distant he had come from the other members of his family, saying his father had stopped taking his calls at one point, and saying there was "space" in his relationship with William.

"Much will continue to be said about that ... as I said before, you know, I love William to bits, he's my brother, we've been through hell together and we have a shared experience," he said. "But we're on different paths."

The interview was watched by 12.4 million viewers in Britain and 17.1 million in the United States.

It has proved divisive among the British public: some believe it showed how outdated and intolerant the institution was, while others decried it as a self-serving assault that neither Elizabeth nor her family deserved.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

-reuters-

Queen admits 'bumpy' year in Christmas message

LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II will describe 2019 as "quite bumpy" in her traditional Christmas Day message, after a year of crises which saw Britain divided over its impending exit from the European Union and her son Prince Andrew forced to withdraw from public life.

The 93-year-old monarch, whose husband Philip is receiving treatment in hospital, will use her televised address on Wednesday to reflect on the need for reconciliation.


The royal family was swept up in scandals that included a calamitous BBC interview with the queen's second son who tried to distance himself from American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The interview in which Andrew denied having sex with one of Epstein's alleged victims was widely ridiculed and reportedly criticized within Buckingham Palace, forcing him to "step back from public duties".

In a portion of her Christmas speech released in advance, the queen says the life of Jesus shows the importance of reconciliation.

It teaches "how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding," she says.

"The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference."

'HE'S ALRIGHT'

Britain endured a year of political drama linked to its delayed withdrawal from the European Union.

The queen was dragged into the saga when she approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson's request to suspend parliament in August -- with opponents accusing him of trying to close down debate on Brexit.

The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that Johnson's request had been unlawful. 

The monarch has only symbolic power -- by convention, she always follows the advice of her ministers and Johnson was widely criticized for having put her in an impossible position.

The queen's grandson Prince Harry and his American former actress wife Meghan Markle were also in the news, speaking about their struggles living in the public eye.

Prince Harry took legal action against two tabloids in October accusing them of intercepting voicemail messages.

Meghan filed a separate case against a newspaper that published excerpts of a letter her estranged father wrote to her.

Prince Philip's difficult year began with a car accident in which two women were injured. The police found the 98-year-old responsible but brought no charges.

Buckingham Palace has released little information about Philip's condition since his hospitalization on Friday for "treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition".

"He's alright," Philip's son Charles told a reporter during a visit in northern England on Monday.

"Once you get to that age things don't work as well."

'SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION'

The queen has remained one of Britain's most popular figures despite the royal family's travails.

A poll by YouGov in November showed 72 percent of respondents had a positive opinion of the monarch.

Prince Charles's approval was just 46 percent.

The queen's Christmas Day message reflects on the heroism of British forces during the D-Day landings in Normandy that turned the course of World War II in 1944.

In June she made an increasingly rare trip to abroad to attend the 75th anniversary commemorations in France.

"For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formerly been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them," the queen says in her message.

"By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honor the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost."

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Prince Harry admits he and Prince William are 'on different paths'

LONDON- Prince Harry has admitted he and his brother are now "on different paths" and have "good days" and "bad days" in their relationship.

The Duke of Sussex has been plagued by rumors in recent months of a rift between him and Prince William, and in an interview with ITV, he acknowledged that "inevitably stuff happens" given their high-profile role and the pressure the family faces.

Speaking during his recent tour of southern Africa with his wife Meghan Markle, he said: "We are brothers. We will always be brothers.

"We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him as I know he will always be there for me.

"We don't see each other as much as we used to because we are so busy but I love him dearly.

"The majority of the stuff is created out of nothing but as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days."

Meghan, who has also been rumored to have feuded with Kate Middleton, described the past year as "hard" and said her British friends warned her not to marry Harry.

Meghan, 38, has had to face an increasingly hostile press since she married into the Royal Family last year, with the tabloids luxuriating in stories about her fractured American family and the rumors of palace rifts. 

The couple launched legal action this month against British tabloid the Mail on Sunday for invasion of privacy.

The US-born former actress said she had tried to cope by putting on a "stiff upper lip" but she was not prepared for the intensity of tabloid interest.

Meghan said: "When I first met my now-husband, my friends were really happy because I was so happy, but my British friends said to me, 'I'm sure he's great but you shouldn't do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life'."

Asked whether she can cope, Meghan said: "In all honesty, I have said for a long time to H -- that is what I call him -- it's not enough to just survive something, that's not the point of life. You have got to thrive."

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Queen Elizabeth extols goodwill and respect in Christmas message

LONDON -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth will say in her Christmas message that the festival's message of peace and goodwill needs to be heeded as much as ever, and people should respect each other even when they harbor the most deeply held differences.

According to excerpts released by Buckingham Palace on Monday, the 92-year-old monarch will also speak of family and friendship following a year in which her grandson Prince Harry married US-born actress Meghan Markle.

Throughout her record 66 years on the throne, the queen has avoided commenting in public on contentious international affairs or party political issues, and the excerpts make no mention of the visit in July by US President Donald Trump or the turmoil over Britain's departure from the European Union.

But speaking about the birth of Jesus, she will say: "I believe his message of peace on earth and goodwill to all is never out of date. It can be heeded by everyone; it's needed as much as ever."

"Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good step towards greater understanding."

Before leaving Britain for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump breached British royal protocol by publicly disclosing the details of a conversation he had with the queen about the complexities of Brexit, an issue that has divided the nation.

Trump's trip to Britain was marked by public protests and downgraded from a full state visit that Prime Minister Theresa May had originally proposed.

However, he took tea with the queen at Windsor Castle. Trump later described the monarch, who has met 12 US presidents, as an "incredible woman" who was both "sharp" and "beautiful."

She has shown little sign of slowing down in the last year, during which Harry and Meghan's wedding marked another royal step towards modernity, with a ceremony that blended ancient English ritual with African American culture.

"Through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance," she will say.

Another grandchild, Princess Eugenie, also married this year and the queen's sixth and seventh great grandchildren were born, while she made her debut appearance on the front row of a fashion show.

She also led British and Commonwealth tributes to the soldiers of World War 1 on the centenary of the signing of the Armistice that ended it in 1918.

The queen wore a cocktail dress in ivory silk with pastel blue, white and gold lame overlay designed by Angela Kelly for the broadcast, which was recorded in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.

She is spending Christmas as usual at her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where she will be joined by other members of the Royal family.

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UK's biggest royal fan set for summer of babies and weddings

LONDON - Festooned with bunting and guarded by a stained-glass sentry, the eccentric London home of retired charity worker Margaret Tyler is already bursting with souvenirs, but it is getting fuller by the day ahead of a busy summer for royal fans.

The "loyalist royalist" has been collecting souvenirs for four decades, amassing over 10,000 mugs, life-size cutouts, effigies, tapestries, books, posters, toilet seats, nodding corgis, tea-sets, and countless other nick-nacks in her London home.

But with Prince Harry's wedding to former US actress Meghan Markle and another baby for Prince William and his wife Kate on the horizon, Tyler is having to find more space for the glut of new merchandise, including plates, tea-towels and cups.

"I can't resist it," the 74-year-old told AFP.

The so-called "Heritage House" also doubles as a B&B for royal enthusiasts looking for a quirky place to stay, with some even mistaking it for a museum. "A lady knocked on my door the other day and said 'what time do you open?'"

Tyler, who used to work for a Down Syndrome charity, began collecting after giving birth to her four children.

"That's when I started collecting stuff and the room downstairs was called the 'Royal Room' and everything royal went in there," recalled Tyler, dressed in a Union Jack blazer.

"The children were not allowed in there, but they were not that interested really. Now all the children have left home, I've got more room. I've filled it up."

Her collection has become so vast that her children have banned her from using the Internet, with a whole new treasure trove available online.

'LABOR OF LOVE'

With every surface already packed full of merchandise, taking care of the collection has now become a full-time occupation.

"It's a labor of love," she said, sitting on a red, white and blue bedspread in the "Royal Bedroom." "If anyone moves a cup, I know it's been moved".

Unsurprisingly, her family know what gifts to buy.

"I don't get ordinary presents at all, which I don't really want," she said.

Tyler even had a "Diana Room" built, a shrine to Harry and William's mother Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

On one wall hangs an oil painting of Diana and her two children, which Tyler calls the pride of her collection.

'WE ARE THE AUDIENCE'

The royalist plans to set up camp outside the central London hospital where Kate is due to give birth to her third child later this month.

Tyler spent 11 days outside the same venue when Kate's second child, Charlotte, was born.

"I don't have holidays, I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't drive a car. I just concentrate on the royal family," she explained.

William's cousin Zara is also due to give birth over the summer, while another cousin Eugenie is to marry in October.

Tyler hopes to be invited into the grounds of the church in nearby Windsor for Harry and Meghan's wedding on May 19.

"I won't know till the end of April," she explained. "I'll still get there, if I need to swim!"

Tyler believes that Markle will be a "great asset to the royal family."

"Kate is the typical English rose," she added. "Meghan is more into helping people, and is a great Diana fan."

"Harry is obviously besotted with her."

Her experience as an actress could also stand her in good stead, she said.

"If you look at the royal family, they are the main players in a show, in a spectacle. They've got the clothes to go with it and we are the audience."

Tyler still holds out that she may one day get a private performance.

"I'd love one of the royal family to come," she said. "I'd love to have tea with the Queen, but it would have to be bone china cups."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Meghan Markle joins Royal family for Christmas church service

The Royal family arrived on Monday (December 25) at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandrigham to attend the traditional Christmas Day church service.

Prince Harry's fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle, joined Queen Elizabeth and other senior Windsors for their family Christmas celebrations, in what commentators said was a break with royal protocol that royal partners must wait until they are married before being invited.

The queen and her close family usually spend the festive season at her Sandringham estate in eastern England and Buckingham Palace said she and the other senior royals would attend the service at the local church on Christmas Day as they have done for many years.

Last month, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, the fifth-in-line to the British throne, and Markle, who stars in the U.S. TV legal drama "Suits", announced their engagement with the marriage to take place at Windsor Castle in May next year.


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William, Kate pose with children for ski holiday photos

Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and his wife Catherine, have taken their children on their first skiing holiday in France.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to share new photos of their family enjoying a short ski break pic.twitter.com/p9WU0h2H8E

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 7, 2016

This was their first holiday as a family of four and the first time either of the children have played in the snow pic.twitter.com/BXYjM0bdXs

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 7, 2016

PA Royal Photographer John Stillwell was invited to take the photographs of this happy family moment. pic.twitter.com/lLWONup8Wy

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 7, 2016

The trip to an undisclosed location was shrouded in secrecy, with only one photographer invited to take pictures of William and Kate with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The photos were taken on March 3, but only released on Monday (March 7) once the couple had returned to the U.K.

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Royals William and Kate release new photos of baby Charlotte

Kensington Palace has just released new photos of Princess Charlotte, the daughter of Britian's Prince William and his wife Kate.

Here's a new photo of 6-month-old Princess Charlotte, taken by her mother, The Duchess of Cambridge, in early Nov. pic.twitter.com/sgfYOj6fAQ

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 29, 2015

This photo of Princess Charlotte was also taken by The Duchess of Cambridge at home in Norfolk earlier this month. pic.twitter.com/YHeJ5ItPmi

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 29, 2015

The two pictures were taken earlier in November by mom -- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge -- and they come six months after the princess' much-anticipated birth in May.

Charlotte is fourth in line to the throne but for fans of the British Royals, the little princess is Number 1.

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How cute! British Royal Family celebrates Princess Charlotte's christening

Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are no longer the biggest newsmakers from the Royal Family. Here comes adorable Prince George and cutie pie Princess Charlotte! See the adorable babies who will someday lead the United Kingdom.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

Britain's Prince William and his Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, bend down to their son Prince George as they leave after the christening of their daughter Princess Charlotte, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate in King's Lynn July 5, 2015.

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LOOK: Kiss from big brother in pics of Britain's royal baby

LONDON, United Kingdom - The first photos of Britain's Princess Charlotte together with Prince George, who is pictured giving his baby sister a kiss, were released by Kensington Palace on Saturday.

The four photographs, taken by their mother Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, show 21-month-old George sitting on a sofa holding Charlotte.

The portraits were taken when Charlotte, born on May 2, was around two weeks old.

They were taken at Anmer Hall, Prince William and his wife Kate's country mansion on his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England.

Propped up by two white cushions, Charlotte appears to be wearing a white romper suit with a matching jumper.

Her brother is dressed in a white shirt with blue piping detail around the collar, cuffs and front, and matching blue socks and shorts.

One picture shows George planting a kiss on his sister's forehead, another shows him tenderly looking down at her, a third shows him looking up and a fourth shows him smiling.

"Prince George and Princess Charlotte together at home #WelcomeToTheFamily," Kensington Palace, William and Kate's official residence in London, said as they released the image on social media.

"We're delighted to share the first photo of Prince George with his little sister Princess Charlotte.

"The photo of Prince George and Princess Charlotte was taken by The Duchess of Cambridge in mid-May."

Pictures of George have been rare. Only a handful of sets have been released, while he has rarely been seen in public.

The first pictures released of George at home after his birth were taken by Kate's father Michael Middleton.

George, who is directly in line to inherit the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles and then William, was last seen when his father took him to hospital to see his newborn sister.

Earlier, Kensington Palace released pictures of the multitudes of gifts, cards and toys the family received after Charlotte's birth, sent from all around the world.

They showed bundles of mail stacked up on filing cabinets, knitted dolls, slippers and bonnets and hand-written cards from schoolchildren.

"Thank you to everyone who took the time to make handmade gifts," the palace said.

It was announced Friday that Charlotte will be christened on July 5 at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, where William's late mother Diana was baptized.

Charlotte will be christened as a member of the Church of England by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church.

William and Kate have been staying at Anmer Hall in Sandringham since Charlotte's birth at St Mary's Hospital in London.

In tribute to his grandmother and mother, William and Kate gave Charlotte the middle names Elizabeth and Diana.

The princess is fourth in line to the throne after her brother Prince George, who was born on July 22, 2013. He was baptized at St James's Palace in London.

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Name of new British princess is...

LONDON - Britain's new princess has been named as Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace said on its Twitter account on Monday.

The daughter of Prince William and his wife Kate will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, the palace said.

(Writing by Robin Pomeroy)

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Prince William's wife Kate in labour

LONDON, United Kingdom – Prince William's wife Kate was admitted to hospital on Saturday in the early stages of labour with the couple's eagerly-awaited second child, Kensington Palace said.

"The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted at 6.00 hours to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London and is in the early stages of labour," the palace press office said in a statement.

"The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge," it said.

This will be the couple's second child after Prince George, born in 2013.

He or she will be the fourth in line to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son Prince Charles, his eldest son William, and George, the new arrival's big brother.

William was expected to stay by his wife's side throughout the labour, as he did at George's birth in July 2013.

Queen Elizabeth, senior royals and Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, will be the first to be informed of the news.

It will then be announced both on the official Kensington Palace Twitter account and in the traditional way -- with a royal bulletin displayed on an ornate easel in Buckingham Palace's forecourt.

Guy Thorpe-Beeston, surgeon-gynaecologist to the royal household and a specialist in high-risk pregnancies, is leading the delivery team.

The world's press quickly gathered outside St Mary's in anticipation of the birth.

William's office announced on April 21 that he had gone on leave from his job as an air ambulance pilot after completing his training ahead of the birth.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace, William's official residence, said he would not return to work until June 1.

- Gun salutes in celebration -

He and Kate are planning to spend the first few days after the birth at Kensington Palace, their London residence.

They will then travel to Anmer Hall, a country mansion on Queen Elizabeth's privately-owned Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where they have set up home.

Cannons will be fired across London to celebrate the birth -- 62 shots from the Tower of London and 41 from Green Park -- and the British flag will be flown from government buildings.

The baby's name may not be revealed for several days -- William's name was not announced for a week, while the world had to wait one month after his father Charles was born.

George was named two days after his birth.

The baby will be known as His/Her Royal Highness Prince/Princess (name) of Cambridge.

The baby will be christened as a member of the Church of England, wearing a replica of the intricate lace and satin gown made for queen Victoria's eldest daughter in 1841.

Experts say the royal birth could inject tens of millions of pounds (euros, dollars) into the British economy, with a baby princess particularly lucrative because she could become a fashion trendsetter.

George's birth gave Britain a £390 million (544 million euros, $592 million) boost and the new baby is expected to generate approximately £300 million, according to figures from the London School of Marketing.

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LOOK: Britain's Prince George in new Christmas photos

LONDON, United Kingdom - Three Christmas photos of a rosy-cheeked Prince George were released by Britain's royal family Saturday, offering a festive glimpse of the future king.

The pictures show 17-month-old George in a courtyard at Kensington Palace, where his parents, Prince William and Kate, have a London apartment.

George is wearing a jumper depicting the soldiers who guard his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace, complete with red tunics and bearskin hats.

The royal couple guard their child's privacy closely and have requested that the press let him grow up without intrusion.

While George is often photographed during official engagements, royal lawyers sent a legal warning in October to a photographer who was reportedly trying to take pictures of him with his nanny in a London park.

George is due to be joined by a brother or sister in 2015 as Kate is pregnant with the couple's second child and expected to give birth in April.

She has been suffering from the same acute morning sickness she had while pregnant with George.

However, she did accompany Prince William on a whirlwind trip to New York this week, where the couple visited the 9/11 memorial and met music stars Beyonce and Jay-Z.

 source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

William, Kate pose with basketball royalty

Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate attended their first National Basketball Association game on Monday in Brooklyn, New York.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as they have been officially known since their 2011 wedding, were on hand at the Barclays Center to see the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Brooklyn Nets.

The Royal couple met with LeBron James, commonly known as "King James" before the game.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player gave the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a jersey for Prince George with the number 1 and another jersey with Cambridge and the number seven written on it.

On Tuesday, the royals, who are expecting a second child in April, will tour the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, including its reflecting pools.

Dignitaries including former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and daughter Chelsea, a new mother herself, are expected to meet the couple.

They will cap their visit by attending a fundraising dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday night to benefit the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where the couple met and earned their college degrees.

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'King' James to play Monday before Prince William

NEW YORK -- Prince William and his pregnant wife Kate will attend their first NBA game Monday during a three-day US visit when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Brooklyn Nets.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player nicknamed "King James" said it would be a "huge honor" to play before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when he leads the Cavaliers in search of their seventh win in a row at the Barclays Center.

"You read about people like them only in books growing up," James said. "To hear that they're coming to town to see me play and they want to see me do what I do best, it's a huge honor."

The NBA said Sunday the royal couple will attend the game as part of a new partnership between the league and the Royal Foundation, a project linking the league's NBA Cares program with the foundation's United for Wildlife and Coach Core programs.

The projects will unite NBA players and England's royalty to stress global wildlife conservation, develop a new generation of conservation leaders and boost the sport of basketball.

"I think it's great different people from different parts of the world want to come see great stars like LeBron and want to see the great game of basketball here in the United States," Cavaliers coach David Blatt said.

"That's a blessing for all of us."

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony will take part in a Coach Core graduation event to develop new basketball coaches when his team visits London to play the Milwaukee Bucks on January 14 in a regular-season matchup.

United for Wildlife efforts, led by Prince William, will receive a boost from NBA stars as Spanish Olympian Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder, retired African NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo and two-time NBA All-Star Al Horford of Atlanta.

They join a lineup of conversation boosters that includes English football icon David Beckham, Scottish tennis star Andy Murray, Formula One star Lewis Hamilton and retired Chinese NBA star Yao Ming.

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Prince William wants you to play Angry Birds

Prince William teamed up with the makers of Angry Birds to release a new game on Monday that will highlight the dangers of illegal poaching for animal species from elephants to anteaters.

The British royal warned about the "illegal slaughter or tens of thousands of animals" and said the trade in animal parts was helping to fund criminal gangs and even extremist groups.

"These species are being pushed to the brink of extinction due to poaching. These magnificent creatures will die out in the wild during my lifetime if we do not take notice now," he said in a recorded message.

The game is called "Roll with the Pangolins" -- anteaters that are hunted for their meat and their scales which are used in traditional medicines.

It will be available to an estimated 200 million Angry Birds players worldwide and Monday marks the start of a week-long tournament in the game.

The prince, whose charity United for Wildlife is organizing the initiative along with Angry Birds makers Rovio Entertainment, urged players to come together to "save magnificent creatures,"

Despite a ban on the trade of pangolins caught in the wild, United for Wildlife said more than one million of them have been traded in the last decade and the animal is at risk of becoming extinct.

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Prince William, Kate to make maiden trip to New York

LONDON - Prince William and his wife Kate will travel to New York for the first time next month for a mix of charity events, business meetings and parties, as well as a visit to the World Trade Center memorial.

The trip will be the first time that Kate travels abroad since the announcement that she was pregnant with the couple's second son, who will be fourth in line to the throne after toddler Prince George.

Neither royal has ever been to New York and Prince William will also be going to Washington, DC, on a solo daytrip.

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the US between 7th and 9th December 2014," said a statement issued by the couple's official London residence, Clarence House.

The programme begins on December 8 when William travels to Washington to speak at a World Bank conference to combat the illegal trade in wildlife, while his wife visits a child development centre with New York mayor Bill de Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray.

The two will then go to an NBA basketball game in New York in the evening.

On December 9, they will visit an inner city youth development charity and meet with "British talent in the creative industries in New York".

The couple, who met when they were students at St Andrew's University in Scotland, will round off their trip with a gala dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to mark their alma mater's 600th anniversary.

The duke and duchess last travelled to the United States in 2011 when they went to California.

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Chubby Prince George shown off at royal christening

LONDON - Britain's baby Prince George was christened in a private ceremony on Wednesday, with his proud parents Prince William and Kate giving the world a rare glimpse of the chubby three-month-old boy.

Wearing a frilly cream lace gown, the third in line to the throne was carried into the Chapel Royal of St James's palace by his father, his mother Kate close by, elegant in a cream Alexander McQueen outfit.

Queen Elizabeth II and the couple's parents and siblings, including William's younger brother Prince Harry, were among just 22 guests at the ceremony, including seven newly-named godparents.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual head of the world's Anglicans, performed the baptism, which involves pouring holy water from the River Jordan on the baby's head.

Television pictures showed the light-haired George Alexander Louis appearing wide awake and calm. He even gave the semblance of waving at the 87-year-old queen, his great-grandmother, when his father moved his arm up and down.

"He's all ready," William, 31, told the assembled party, which included his father Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, adding: "So far so good."

The low-key ceremony reflects the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want their son to have a relatively normal upbringing and have closely guarded his privacy. He has only appeared in public once before, when they left hospital after his birth on July 22.

The couple broke with tradition by naming only one royal, William's cousin and champion horse-rider Zara Philips, among the godparents, with the others being childhood, university and work friends.

The ceremony welcomes Prince George into the Church of England, which he is destined to lead as future king and "Defender of the Faith".

During his address, Welby spelt out George's responsibilities as a Christian, saying he "is to share the life of Christ".

"That sharing may be in words, or generous actions -- most likely both -- but it will be both very costly and infinitely rewarding," he added.

Harry and Kate's sister Pippa Middleton, who had both been wrongly tipped as potential godparents, both read passages from the Bible.

Each of the godparents was asked to commit to providing Prince George with guidance as he grew up.

They include Zara Phillips, pregnant with her first child with rugby player husband Mike Tindall; William's childhood friends William van Cutsem and Earl Hugh Grosvenor; Julia Samuel, who was close to William's mother Diana; and Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to the private Marlborough College with Kate.

Rounding out the list are Oliver Baker, a friend from St Andrew's University in Scotland, where the royal couple met, and William's long-time aide Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former soldier in the elite SAS army unit.

'A very special moment'

A handful of royal fans camped overnight outside the palace hoping for a glimpse of the queen and her three direct heirs -- Prince Charles, his son Prince William and baby George, who is third in line to the throne.

"This is a very special moment. We will see three kings in the making," said John Loughrey, a 58-year-old fan wearing a raincoat bearing the pattern of the Union Jack flag.

He slept out overnight in the rain, but told AFP it did not bother him, adding: "This is a unique, historic moment."

In the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron urged lawmakers to "join me in celebrating" the event.

The christening was sharp contrast to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's lavish 2011 wedding, which was broadcast live on televisions across the world, and to the media frenzy surrounding the birth of their first child.

Just six members of the royal family attended, along with Kate's parents Michael and Carole Middleton and her siblings James and Pippa.

The service was conducted behind closed doors although an official photograph by celebrity snapper Jason Bell will be released to the public on Thursday.

Afterwards the guests were invited for tea at Charles's official London residence, Clarence House, where, following British tradition, a portion of William and Kate's wedding cake was to be served.

The official photos are expected to gain iconic status, the first time four generations of monarchs have been pictured together since 1894, at the christening of the future king Edward VIII.

Patrick Jephson, Diana's former private secretary, said the christening sent a strong message about the royal family's durability as a dynasty.

"It reinforces the public perception that the British royal family is going to be around for a long time to come," he told AFP.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Prince George makes second outing for christening of the year

LONDON - After arriving to a global media frenzy, Britain's Prince George will make his second official appearance this week at a christening designed to be as low-key as possible for the world's most-hyped baby.

Prince George, third-in-line to the British throne, will be christened on October 23 in a private, 45-minute ceremony in the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace by the spiritual leader of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

George will become the formal head of the Church of England himself if he accedes to the throne.

Few were surprised by Prince William and his wife Kate's decision to break with tradition and not hold the service in Buckingham Palace as is typical for royal christenings.

The royal couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge since their 2011 wedding, have made it clear they are not sticklers for tradition and their informality has helped portray a more modern, relevant royal family in austerity-hit Britain.

So far the only official photographs of Prince George are family snapshots taken by Kate's father Michael Middleton.

The christening will be the first time in over 100 years that four generations of royals are photographed together, with a picture of Queen Elizabeth, her son and heir Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George to be released after the event.

Although the christening will be held behind closed doors, tourists and well-wishers have already flocked to the 16th century St James' Palace built by Henry VIII in central London.

"In the States, the royals fascinate people, especially William and Kate who are young and approachable," said Sean Tyrrell, 44, a policeman from Manteca, California, outside the palace gate flanked by guards in red tunics and bearskin hats.

Style icon

German students Julia Magrian and Anne Krause, both aged 17, said they would be following the christening closely, keen to see what Kate wears. The "Kate-effect" is well-known, with anything the duchess wears prompting a sales rush.

"We like Kate because she is a link between royalty and the common people and she has great style," said Magrian.

Royal officials have released few details before the christening, allowing only one photographer and one TV crew inside the palace - unlike Prince George's birth when an army of cameramen camped outside St. Mary's Hospital for three weeks.

Millions of people around the world watched live coverage of the duke and duchess, both aged 31, leave the hospital with their sleeping son, the only public sighting of George to date.

His birth on July 22, along with a run of sporting success for Britain during an unusually good summer, was credited with boosting consumer spending in July and bolstering the popularity of Britain's royal family at home and abroad.

William and his party-loving brother Harry have been at the forefront of the modernization of the monarchy whose popularity suffered after the 1997 death of their mother Princess Diana.

British media have speculated on the guest list and whether Prince George will wear a replica of the gown used by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter in 1841 and worn by many royals since.

Bookmaker William Hill expected Prince William and Kate to opt for friends as the godparents for their first child and skip the royal tradition of choosing family or other royals.

Shopkeepers said the christening was unlikely to boost sales since little was available in terms of baby memorabilia.

"There's always demand for anything royal but licensing rules mean we're very limited in what we can provide," said Younes Nokra of the Crest of London store in Leicester Square.

Despite the christening being held behind locked gates, royal fans were still planning to descend on St. James' Palace to soak up the atmosphere and look out for Prince George.

"He will have a lovely christening dress on and I want to see him with his eyes open," Margaret Tyler, a royal enthusiast and memorabilia collector, told Reuters.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Prince George: Britain's royal baby boy named at last

Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate on Wednesday named their baby boy George Alexander Louis, sticking firmly to royal tradition with a first name used by six previous monarchs.

George was the bookmakers' clear favourite for the third-in-line to the throne as it pays apparent tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's father King George VI, the infant's great-great-grandfather, who died in 1952.

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis. The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge," Kensington Palace said in a statement.

The baby will not automatically be King George VII whenever he comes to the throne, however, as there have been reports that William's father Prince Charles may take that title when he becomes king.

The announcement came just hours after the queen visited William and Kate at Kensington Palace, their London residence, and met her newborn great-grandson for the first time.

The 87-year-old monarch would have given final clearance for the name to ensure that it was in keeping with the traditions of the House of Windsor and a monarchy that has lasted more than 1,000 years.

Louis is one of William's middle names and was also the first name of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India and a mentor to Prince Charles. Mountbatten was killed in an IRA bombing in the 1970s.

Bookmakers had George and James as the favourites.

The naming was relatively quick by royal standards. Charles and his first wife Diana took a week to announce William's name in 1982, while the world had to wait a month after Charles was born in 1948.

Under British law, parents have 42 days to register the birth -- and the name -- of their child. It is not clear whether William and Kate have officially done so yet.

The queen earlier spent just over half an hour at the palace, where the young couple spent the first night after leaving hospital with the baby, before she was driven away in a green Bentley limousine.

She has said she is "thrilled" about the latest addition to the family, who will one day succeed her as head of state of Britain and monarch of 15 Commonwealth realms around the globe.

A few hours later, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took the little prince to stay with his maternal grandparents in the village of Bucklebury west of London, arriving in a convoy of four-by-four vehicles with police outriders.

Carole and Michael Middleton, self-made millionaires from a party goods business, visited the baby in hospital on Tuesday, where Kate's mother pronounced her first grandson "absolutely beautiful".

Prince George's uncle Prince Harry -- William's younger brother, who has been knocked down to fourth in line to the throne -- and Kate's sister Pippa Middleton made separate visits to the couple at the palace.

William is taking two weeks of paternity leave from his job as a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue pilot, and the couple, both 31, are expected to take some time away from the cameras.

"This is now private and quiet time for them to get to know their son," a palace spokesman said.

Royal aides said the couple had no immediate plans to hire a nanny, and Kate is expected to rely on her mother for support in the early weeks.

Echoes of William's own birth

The new baby was revealed to the world when the royal couple left St Mary's Hospital in London on Tuesday evening to huge cheers from the international media massed outside.

When the queen met her new heir on Wednesday, she became the first British monarch to meet a third-generation direct heir since Queen Victoria a century ago.

The monarch, wearing a turquoise floral outfit, made the visit without her husband Prince Philip, 92, who is convalescing after exploratory surgery on his abdomen last month.

The queen's private visit -- she was quickly whisked in and out of the palace -- contrasted with William and Kate's highly public outing on Tuesday.

Wearing a cornflower-blue polka-dot dress as she emerged from the private Lindo wing of the hospital, a beaming Kate said the couple were feeling "very emotional" and that it was a "special time".

The baby behaved impeccably, raising a tiny hand above his white blankets -- his first royal wave of a lifetime that will be spent in the public eye.

"He's got a good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure," William joked, adding: "We are still working on a name so we will have that as soon as we can."

British newspapers noted the similarities between William and Kate's appearance and that of Charles and Diana following William's birth at the same hospital.

Kate was wearing the sapphire engagement ring that belonged to Diana, while her empire-line dress, a bespoke design by Jenny Packham, also drew strong comparisons with that worn three decades ago by the late princess, which also had a polka-dot pattern.

Congratulations have poured in from around the world, while Chinese fortune tellers predicted the baby will grow up to be determined but introverted -- and a big hit with the ladies.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com