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By Daily Mail Reporter


-The Duke and Duchess' entourage will include Kate's hairdresser, James Pryce, but no 'dresser'
-William will give a number of speeches and addresses but his wife will not be speaking publicly
-The couple will be in Canada from June 30 to July 8 and will then spend two days in Los Angeles

Scroll down for the Royal Tour itinerary...

On duty: The Duke and Duchess will take just seven members of the royal household with them when they visit Canada and the US at the end of the month


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have an entourage of just seven people for their tour of Canada and the US, St James's Palace said today.

Seven may seem like quite a lot of support for two people. But the entourage includes two press secretaries and a couple of private secretaries to ensure that royal protocol is followed.


Catherine - who is fast becoming a fashion icon - has broken with tradition by asking not asked to be accompanied by a dresser.

But she will be taking her hairdresser, James Pryce, to help style her look for the many engagements on her itinerary.

William and Catherine will fly out to North America with the small group of Royal Household staff to help them during the 11-day trip, which begins at the end of the month.

Royal officials said they have tried to keep the entourage as small as possible while still providing enough support for the Duchess, who will be making her first official overseas trip as a member of the monarchy.


Sunshine state: The Royal couple's Canadian tour will be followed by a three day trip to California this July


Outlining the reason for the US trip, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, their private secretary said: 'The visit will support the interests of the United Kingdom through the prism of the royal couple's interests.

'The Unites States' West Coast is a tremendously important market for British business.

'The Duke and Duchess will support UK technology investment as well as the creative industries through Bafta.

'They will highlight the bond between the US and UK's armed forces, particularly focusing now on the next step of re-integration of service men and women into civilian life once they have finished active service.'

The highlight of the US leg of the visit, details of which were released today, will be a glitzy Bafta black-tie reception where the Duke and Duchess will promote British creative talent from the worlds of film, television and video games.

From the royal couple's household will be Mr Lowther-Pinkerton, whose 10-year-old son, William, was one of the pageboys at the April wedding, Chris Keeley, assistant private secretary, Miguel Head, press secretary, and the Prince of Wales's press secretary, Patrick Harrison.


Sir David Manning, who is an adviser and aide to William and Kate, will be part of the team and a secretary will take up the final place.

But the Duchess will not have a lady-in-waiting, an official female companion, so the private secretaries are likely to take on some of the duties of this role such as collecting gifts or flowers.

Catherine will also be assisted by staff from the official buildings where she is staying.

Mr Lowther-Pinkerton said: 'The entourage is designed, whoever it is, according to requirements of the tour and we've just followed that principle really.

'In that, actually having done a pretty careful analysis, we've kept it as tight as we possibly can.

'But we've been minded of the fact (this is) the Duchess's first tour and she needs to be properly supported so she doesn't have to worry about stuff other than core matters.'

During the visit to North America, William will give a number of speeches and addresses but his wife will not be speaking publicly.

Mr Lowther-Pinkerton stressed the trip would be a double act, with the Duke and Duchess taking part in engagements together.

He said the Duchess had made 'incredible leaps and bounds' but 'there is a time and a place to introduce yourself to the world of speaking'.

Canadian officials are already gearing up for the visit.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: 'Canadians hold the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in very high esteem and look forward to welcoming them as they embark on their first official Royal Tour as newlyweds.'

He told The Calgary Herald: 'The couple’s decision to visit Canada first is a testament to our country’s close relationship with the Crown and the Royal Family, and an opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in our traditions, history, and institutions.'





source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter



Looking lean: Prince Harry turns heads at Ascot for a charity polo match on Sunday


Prince Harry showed off his rippling torso as he braved torrential rain yesterday to take on the Duke of Cambridge in a charity polo tournament.

While William has been the centre of attention following his wedding in April, the newly single Harry has clearly been busy working out - turning heads at the Sentebale Polo Cup when he removed his short-sleeved top to reveal a tighter one underneath.

Harry, 26, has always been popular with the ladies but his rumoured split with on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davies has once again placed him top of the eligible Singles list.

Check me out: The Prince gets ready to compete against brother William, left, who he lives with in London

Brotherly love: Harry sensibly put his top back on ahead of the charity game


The royal brothers were deluged by the downpours and buffeted by strong winds as they led their opposing teams in the Sentebale Polo Cup.

The event was due to be held in the sultry setting of Dubai but unrest across the Middle East prompted Harry earlier this year to postpone the annual event - staged to raise funds for his charity Sentebale.

It was relocated to the beautiful setting of Coworth Park near Ascot in Berkshire.

The event raises funds and awareness for the charity that Harry co-founded in 2006 to help disadvantaged youngsters in the Southern African country of Lesotho.

Sibling rivalry: The princes battle it out during the match which raised funds and awareness for the charity that Harry co-founded in 2006 to help disadvantaged youngsters in the Southern African country of Lesotho

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, shows his bald patch in the rain whilst mud-spattered Harry looks on


Skillful: Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, remained focused throughout the game. The three teams played in a round-robin tournament

The prince joined forces with Prince Seeiso from Lesotho to establish Sentebale which has launched a new five-year plan to extend its efforts helping Aids orphans and other vulnerable African youngsters.

Talking about the polo tournament held for the second year Seeiso said: 'The Cup is being staged again to raise the profile of the charity and to increase our network of friends.

'Because what is increasingly important about Sentebale's work is to maintain the levels of funds and finance so whatever programmes we have in place can be properly funded.

'Not just for the next year but to do a proper programme of events for the next two, three years.'

When the event was postponed earlier this year, a St James's Palace spokesman said the third-in-line to the throne felt it was insensitive to stage the Cup in Dubai when there were 'matters of greater priority to focus on in the region'.

During the polo tournament Harry played for Sentebale against William, 28, who turned out for a Tusk Trust team, a conservation charity of which he is royal patron.

A third group of players sponsored by Bin Drai Enterprises - a Dubai-based family office - were the final opponents.

The three teams played in a round-robin tournament with Harry's group of players taking on Tusk Trust in the final match of the day.

When the two brothers met on the polo field there was friendly rivalry with Harry joking with his older sibling when the action on the pitch brought them together.

The invited guests barely left a marquee to watch the sporting spectacle as there was little let up in the wintry conditions.
Tusk Trust won the tournament and William - whose bald patch was exposed by the torrential rain - accepted the trophy on behalf of his team as his brother looked on.

After the polo Harry hosted a fundraising dinner where a charity auction was held to raise funds for his organisation while William left to join his wife Kate at a private royal family function.

After the polo Harry hosted a fundraising dinner where a charity auction was held to raise funds for his organisation while William left to join his wife Kate at a private royal family function

During the polo tournament Harry, 26, played for Sentebale against William, 28, who turned out for a Tusk Trust team, a conservation charity of which he is royal patron


The guests dined on a starter of potted salmon, a main course of cottage pie and a summer pudding for dessert washed down with wine.

Harry summed up the aims of his charity in a speech to guests telling them how his organisation would help a young Lesotho 'herd boy' who, determined to better himself, made great sacrifices in an attempt to become a doctor.

The Prince took William to Lesotho last year to see the work of his organisation and the royals travelled to a remote area of the mountainous country to meet herd boys who work in harsh conditions looking after cattle in attempt to provide money for their families.

Harry told the guests: 'Talk of orphans and vulnerable children seems a million miles away from where we are tonight, in the glorious setting of Coworth Park.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge laughs with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho as the game comes to an end


'But, even now, just talking about this, I have the clearest picture in my mind of a young herd boy called Tholo.

'William and I met him one night last summer when we were in Lesotho together. He was seven-years-old. He had walked on his own through the cold and darkness for five miles.'

Harry told the guests that the boy made the long trek simply to learn to read and write because he wanted to become a doctor and help his people.


source:dailymail

By Lydia Warren


Relaxed and looking forward to their big day, the Mario Testino portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton, as she was then


With wide smiles, they can barely conceal the excitement of their newly-announced engagement.

In this never-before-seen photograph, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appear close and relaxed – thrilled by thoughts of their impending big day.

The photograph, taken by Mario Testino, graces the July cover of Vanity Fair.


It includes further portraits by Testino, such as the iconic picture of Princess Diana in 1997.

The Peruvian photographer took William and Kate’s engagement pictures at St James’ Palace last November.

Though William, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales have all turned to Testino for pictures to commemorate milestones, the celebrated fashion photographer had never before captured Miss Middleton.

But speaking the Mail On Sunday's Katie Nicholl for the accompany interview in U.S. Vogue, he said he already felt ‘very confident’ she would be an ‘easy sitter’ because of her natural grace.

And last week, speaking at a gala in his honour in New York, the 56-year-old said he understood why he was chosen to take the photographs.

Testino, a close friend of Diana’s, said: ‘I guess it was a way for them to keep William’s mother in the whole process of it.’

Despite the pressure of the shoot, Testino said the Duchess ‘looked fabulous’ and that the couple exuded ‘sheer happiness’.

He added: ‘They are a young couple in love.’

Portraits: Mario Testino (left) took Prince William and the then Kate Milddleton's official engagement picture (right) in 2010


The edition will lift the lid on the couple’s house-hunting and who does the chores around their Anglesey home.

It describes the pair’s giggles as they watched their nuptials back on television, and recounts the moment Michael Middleton realised the relationship was serious – when Prince William arrived at his Berkshire home by helicopter.

It also recalls the rather surprising requests the pair had for their honeymoon suite – including Philadelphia cream cheese and Brussel sprouts.

The July issue of Vanity Fair will be on news-stands on June 3, ahead of the newly-weds’ trip to Canada and California in July.



source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


Prince William returning to his RAF Valley in Anglesey today, days after his wedding was watched by two billion around the world


A few days ago his every move was watched by an estimated two billion people.

But today it was back to more familiar territory as Prince William returned to work at his RAF base in Anglesey.

Wearing sunglasses he was behind the steering wheel of an Audi seen arriving at the Air and Sea Rescue HQ.

Wearing sunglasses, Prince William drove into the Air and Sea Rescue HQ at RAF Valley


It was thought Prince William and his bride would honeymoon this week until it emerged that the new Duke of Cambridge had to return to work.

Despite his status as second in line to the throne he, like his colleagues, had to apply for leave like his colleagues.

He was given a week off for the wedding but was told that he would have to split any further holiday requests – hence the delayed departure date.

The Mail revealed this week that the couple are due to fly out by private jet in mid-May before being taken by helicopter from the mainland to a tropical retreat.

Two Scotland Yard protection officers checked the destination a fortnight ago to ensure it would give the couple the privacy they crave.

As her son-in-law returned to work, Carole Middleton and daughter Pippa were seen arriving back at their Berkshire home

Prince William had to delay his honeymoon as he was ordered to split his leave requests with colleagues


The Mail is not publishing details of the location, and it is understood that not even Kate is aware of the exact destination.

The Prince is not the only wedding guest who returned to their everyday life just days after the global event of the Royal Wedding.

Five days ago the Queen was the proud grandmother overseeing a wedding watched by two billion people.

But after the bank holiday it was back to the daily routine for the monarch yesterday as she visited Newmarket, Cambridge.


Refreshed: Five days after the wedding the Queen met children at Newmarket Day Centre


source:dailymail

By Fay Schlesinger and Richard Simpson


Easy rider: William roars out of Clarence House on his beloved Ducati as he went to spend one of his last nights as a bachelor by playing five-a-side football with the boys


Prince William has already confessed that his knees are ‘tapping quite nervously’ as his wedding day approaches.

But nerves did not stop the 28-year-old jumping on his motorbike to spend one of his last nights as a bachelor by playing five-a-side football with the boys.

During a kick-about in a South London park at 10pm on Tuesday, one of William’s friends was overheard referring to his ‘last day of freedom’.


At one point, a team-mate wearing a baseball cap and blue shirt grabbed his arm and bounced the football off the back of his head while the others laughed and jeered.

A second friend then took over, throwing the ball at William’s growing bald patch.

The prince seemed embarrassed by the spectacle and bowed his head in an attempt to shrug off the attention.

Wearing England shorts, a black shirt and socks in the colour of his favourite team, Aston Villa, he sprinted around the park playing central defence to shouts of ‘William’ and ‘Wills’.

Playing with the boys: William looks exhausted as he's flanked by friends after the kick-about in a South London park. One of William's friends was overheard referring to his 'last day of freedom'


Four royal protection officers stood on the sidelines – and even ran off to collect the ball when it soared over a fence.

The 45-minute kickabout is a regular fixture for William whenever he has time off from working as a search and rescue pilot in Anglesey, North Wales.

If his bride-to-be had grumbled about how a sliding tackle could ruin the wedding by leaving him with grazes or even a broken leg, the prince did not let it affect his evening.

But he decided to forgo the usual trip to a pub in Battersea following the game.

Instead, he returned to St James’s Palace on the black £15,000, 180mph Ducati superbike which is his pride and joy.

Pensive: William looked thoughtful as he played football with a group of friends. Perhaps he was having some last-minute jitters


The prince is often spotted zooming around the country roads of Anglesey with Kate riding pillion.

He even has patriotic knee protectors decorated with the England flag.

But last year his father Prince Charles told of his fears about the dangers of the high-powered machines, which are also popular with Prince Harry.

At a reception in December, Charles said: ‘I always worry about them. It’s about other cars not being able to see you. I’m always telling my sons that.’


source:dailymail