Early Diana photos

Kate’s page boys and bridesmaids

THE PAGEBOYS

The pageboys were dressed in the Regency-style red tunic of a Foot Guards officer, echoing William’s formal Irish Guards attire.

Tom Pettifer, eight, and Billy Lowther-Pinkerton, ten, wore red jackets with gold braiding with buttons arranged in fours, representing the Irish – or Fourth – Regiment of Foot Guards.

They have Irish shamrocks on the collars and the buttons feature the Harp of Ireland surmounted by the Crown Imperial.

The boys wore ivory breeches with white stockings and black buckle shoes in accordance with tradition.

The look is completed by a gold and crimson tasselled sash around the waist, usually worn by officers in the Irish Guards when in the presence of a Member of the Royal Family.

The collars and cuffs were created by the Royal School of Needlework.

THE BRIDESMAIDS

As a special memento, each of the four girls have had their name and the date of the wedding hand-embroidered on to the lining of their dresses.

Echoing Kate’s dress, they were made using the same fabrics.

The full, box-pleated skirt was used to add a sculptural quality, with the layering of ivory over white satin gazar adding depth of colour.

The dresses were hand-finished with delicate English Cluny lace, visible under the skirts, and four layers of net underskirt.

The puff sleeves and neckline were trimmed with the same English lace as the bride’s underskirt, while the backs were finished with the same button detail.

The sashes were made of pale gold wild silk, tucked at the front and tied at the back in a sumptuous bow.

 

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Kate goes grocery shopping

 

 At the supermarket: Duchess

 proves she has the common touch

 as she pushes her own trolley

 By Fay Schlesinger and Rebecca English

 A week ago she was walking up the aisle in front of a global audience of billions.

Now, a dressed-down Duchess of Cambridge is strolling down aisles of a more mundane kind as she does the weekly shop like any other housewife.

In a loose-fitting green poncho and white V-neck sweatshirt worn with skinny jeans and ballet pumps, Kate pushed a trolley among dozens of shoppers at Waitrose on the island of Anglesey.

 

Down the aisle again: Kate stops to chat with a supermarket worker as she shops at Waitrose in Anglesey

Onlookers said she had a spring in her step as she filled several carrier bags and loaded them into the boot of her Audi A3.

No doubt her already buoyant mood was lifted further with the news that she and Prince William are to take America by storm with a whirlwind visit to Hollywood this summer. There, no doubt, they will receive the full celebrity treatment.

Unlike yesterday, when Kate smiled at locals as well as the photographer as she ‘skipped’ across the car park to return her empty trolley before driving back to the remote farmhouse that she shares with her new husband.

 

 

Doing the weekly shop, Duchess? Kate joins the rest of the supermarket shoppers by grabbing a trolley

For anyone who has remained oblivious to months of build-up to their wedding, the only clues to Kate’s royal status were three police bodyguards, a back-up car and the jewellery on her wedding finger.

Tucked behind her sapphire engagement ring was the plain Welsh gold band that marked her transformation from a commoner into Her Royal Highness on Friday – and will eventually guarantee her a seat on the throne.

Around the wrist of her other hand, she appeared to be wearing an elastic hair band, though yesterday afternoon she let her blow-dried locks hang loose.

 

No ordinary RAF wife: Appearing to skip while pushing her trolley, down-to-earth Kate looks as though she just might take off on the wheeled device

Kate, 29, is likely to have been preparing a special dinner for her new husband, who returned yesterday morning from a busy 24-hour shift as a search and rescue pilot.  

One onlooker said: ‘It looked like she was stocking up on the basics, but she also bought a few special items, so perhaps she was preparing their first romantic meal as a married couple.

‘She loaded all the shopping into her car on her own, then skipped as she ran the trolley back to the park. She looked very happy and was smiling at people.

‘Most people didn’t even spot who it was, despite her being probably the most famous person in the world at the moment.’  It is the first time Kate has been out and about in public since she and William departed for a weekend break on Saturday, the day after marrying at Westminster Abbey.

 

Happy shopper: The new Duchess of Cambridge looks relaxed at the supermarket with her protection officer

 

Don’t forget the keys: Kate hands over the car keys to her protection officer, and then it was in to the supermarket to bag some bargains

It was only after the couple flew off in the Queen’s helicopter that St James’s Palace revealed their surprise decision to forego an immediate honeymoon. They spent the bank holiday weekend at a secret location in the UK and are expected to take an extended break at a later date.

It was announced yesterday that they will stop off in Los Angeles during a three-day official stay in California in July following their inaugural foreign tour to Canada.

Palace officials decided to extend their original nine-day tour as the reaction in the U.S. to the couple’s engagement and wedding last week has been so phenomenal.

 

And……the ring

Charles toasts new “Daughter-in-Law”

 ‘We are so lucky to have her’: Prince Charles’s moving speech to the daughter he never had

 By Rebecca English

www.dailymail.co.uk

Prince Charles movingly described Kate Middleton as the daughter he had never had yesterday and admitted: ‘We are lucky to have her.’

In a touching speech, the clearly emotional prince paid tribute to his new daughter-in-law – but still found time to crack jokes about his eldest son and his famously thinning hairline.

Charles chose to say a few off-the-cuff words as he toasted the newlyweds at a Buckingham Palace champagne reception thrown by the Queen for 650 guests and wished the couple a long and happy life together.

 

Part of the firm: Prince Charles, seen with William and Kate at the Buckingham Palace reception, made a toast to the happy couple and welcomed his new daughter-in-law to the Royal family

 

We are family: Charles displayed obvious pride as he stood beside his new daughter-in-law on the balcony

Kate’s former primary school headmaster Dr Robert Acheson, who is also a friend of the Middleton family, said as he left the Palace: ‘William spoke very well but it was Charles who really gave high praise to his daughter-in-law. He said they were really lucky to have a daughter like her.’

The retired headmaster of St Andrews preparatory school in Pangbourne, Berkshire, added: ‘I think Kate will be a wonderful role model.   

‘She’s an exceptionally nice person and she’s no fool. She will make a very good queen. She brings a lot to the party and I think they recognise that.

‘The speech really brought a tear to the eye. She was a delightful child and is now a delightful young woman.’

Susie Lea, a friend of the Middleton family, described the moment that Charles brought the house down.

 

Meeting of the matriarchs: Kate’s mother Carole Middleton with the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles in a carriage on the way to Buckingham Palace

 

Spot of fun: Prince Charles also mocked William’s thinning hair, seen while the couple were at the altar

‘The Prince of Wales made a few jokes about his bald patch and his son’s bald patch, saying it must be hereditary,’ she said.

‘He was stood slightly up on a small stand so he was looking down on William to his left. William smiled, he was amused. Kate looked amused as well.’

The couple walked into the Palace’s historic picture gallery shortly after 1.30pm following their balcony appearance, serenaded by a golden harp played by Charles’s official musician, Claire Jones.

After meeting and greeting their guests, the newlyweds cut their cake to the whoops and cheers of their friends.

One attendee who said his son was a schoolfriend of Prince William said: ‘Kate looked immaculate, she was beaming the whole time.

 

Fairytale moment: Princess Catherine – only an hour earlier a commoner – arrives at Buckingham Palace as royalty

 

Sealed with a kiss: The couple, who have been given the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

‘It was a fantastic reception, everyone was very relaxed. William thanked everyone involved in the organisation of the wedding.’

An astonishing 10,000 canapes were served during the two-hour reception, prepared by Buckingham Palace’s 21-strong team of kitchen staff.

Guests toasted the happy couple with a £200 Pol Roger NV brut reserve champagne and a selection of other soft and alcoholic drinks.