Month: November 2014

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WHAT WILL KATE AND WILLIAM NAME THEIR SECOND CHILD?

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Royal biographer Andrew Morton—who wrote a much-publicized biography of Princess Diana, revealing details of her private life, as well as biographies of Monica Lewinsky and Tom Cruise—told The Sun on Sunday that he believes Kate and William will name their child, if it’s a girl, Elizabeth Diana Windsor, honoring William’s late mother, of course, with that middle name.

“Close friends to William and Kate have told me that if it is a girl they want to name the baby after Diana,” he said. “They discussed girls’ names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honour William’s mother. They’re not too thrilled at the thought it will be shortened to Princess Di. But it won’t change their minds.” Morton noted that, if “Diana” was given to the child as a name, William and Kate would no doubt have to deal with agitated family members, considering the “hostility” between Diana and the royals (don’t fret, Will and Kate: we recommend responding to any passive-aggressive texts from family members with a solitary “k”—after a while, they’ll get fatigued and stop).

Now, who exactly are these “close friends”? Would any close friends be privy to such coveted information?! Unclear on both fronts! But it certainly doesn’t seem a completely illogical possibility. Since Morton’s interview, Coral, the “MailOnline’s betting partner,” has seen Elizabeth become the front-runner for the name of the child (at 10:1 odds), with James second (11:1), and Victoria third (12:1).

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19 YEARS AGO TODAY DIANA GAVE FAMOUS TV PANORAMA INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN BASHIR

The Princess of Wales is interviewed by

Nov. 20, 1995: Princess Diana admits, during a TV interview, that she had an affair with her riding instructor.

The infidelity itself was hardly news, but when Princess Diana admitted on British TV that she had been unfaithful to Prince Charles, it “plunged the monarchy into the greatest crisis since the Abdication,” the Daily Mail said, referencing King Edward VIII’s 1936 abandonment of his throne to marry a divorced American socialite.

On this day, Nov. 20, in 1995, the BBC aired Diana’s first solo press interview — a stroke of independence made possible by keeping her meeting with BBC’s Martin Bashir secret from Buckingham Palace. She took the opportunity to address the tensions within her marriage, her struggles with postpartum depression and bulimia, and the fact that she had been intimately involved with a man other than the Prince.

Charles had admitted to his own infidelity on a TV documentary the previous year. His longtime affair with Camilla Parker Bowles was no secret when Diana told Bashir, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

Rumors of her five-year affair with cavalry officer James Hewitt, whom she’d hired as a riding instructor, had already made news as well, partly because he’d profited from the story by collaborating on a tell-all book, Princess in Love. In the interview, Diana said, “Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down.”

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRINCESS-DIANA-THE-PANORAMA-INTERVIEW-NEWSPAPER-COMPLETE-TRANSCRIPT-/221450871917?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338f80246d

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PRINCESS DIANA & JAMES HEWITT ROMANTIC TRYST COTTAGE UP FOR SALE

Cottage where Diana and James Hewitt ‘met for trysts’ up for sale

THE COTTAGE where Princess Diana is said to have carried out her affair with James Hewitt is up for sale.

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Ebford Cottage is a Grade II listed building

The 17th century Ebford Cottage in Devon was owned by Hewitt’s mother Shirley at the time that the couple were engaged in their five-year affair, and it has been claimed they used to meet there in secret.

The Grade II listed cottage, which has changed hands since then, is now on the market again for £700,000.

Current owner Emma Nicholls said: “We did not know about the history of the house when we looked at it.

“We had already fallen in love with it when we back for another viewing and the owner dropped the Diana link into conversation.

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Princess Diana had a five-year affair with James Hewitt

“It cannot have made any difference to us because we loved the house but it added some interest.”It makes for an interesting point in conversation.

“There are photos around of Hewitt in the old bathroom but nobody really knows which room Diana stayed in.”

Mum of two Emma, 38, said the history of Diana, Hewitt and the cottage have been well documented in books and the media.

She said: “No-one says much about Hewitt, no-one likes the guy around here but people in Ebford know that Diana definitely came here.”

James HewittJOHN DOWNING

James Hewitt pictured in his home

People in Ebford know that Diana definitely came here

Local residents say the cottage has a certain notoriety because of its Royal link.One neighbour said: “It does come up in conversation that it was the house where the affair took place.

“Some people say they carried on in the barn but all that has been developed now with houses.”

Author Anna Pasternak in her book Princess in Love said Diana called the cottage her “haven in Devon”.

And Royal commentator Ingrid Seward said: “One of her favourite things was to do the washing up in her marigolds, jeans and jumper – a boring thing for us but she was very meticulous and loved to play house.

“His mother was often at home so I’m not sure how romantic it was with her there.”

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PRINCESS DIANA’S DRESSES GO TO AUCTION IN DECEMBER AT JULIEN’S AUCTION HOUSE

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Royal fashion enthusiasts will have the chance to bid on several of the late Princess Diana‘s gowns when they go to auction this December at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills. And if that slice isn’t enough for you, then maybe a piece of Kate Middleton and Prince William‘s wedding cake—also for sale—will satisfy your appetite. But first, the regal designs (and 3-year-old cake) hit the Today show to offer viewers a quick preview of the drool-worthy duds.

Diana’s beaded, off-the-shoulder Catherine Walker design is expected to fetch a healthy $60,000 to $80,000 during auction. Worn by the princess on two occasions, the delicate blush gown embodies all the elegance that defined Diana’s iconic style.

Also on the market is an ivory Zandra Rhodes dress with a delicate, lacy bodice and beaded embellishments that Di wore back in 1987. A chic color-blocked, black-and-white number will also be up for grabs, along with a merlot Caroline Charles coat-dress with classic ’80s puffed sleeves.

Rounding out the enviable dresses, Diana’s emerald, silk georgette Catherine Walker gown from a 1993 state dinner is expected to bring in a pretty penny for the auctioneers.

And that’s not all, folks—a slice from Will and Kate’s exquisite wedding cake will go to the highest bidder for an estimated $1,000 to $2,000. Crafted for the royal couple’s nuptials back in 2011, the slice may actually be more delectable than ever according to Martin Nolan, executive director for Julien’s Auctions, who weighed in that fruit cakes taste best at around 30-months-old (we’ll just have to take his word for it). Nolan also explained that Kate kept the top three tiers of the cake for herself, serving the top layer during Prince George‘s christening. And now, it seems the second tier will soon be served after royal baby number two arrives!

Last up, bidders will have the chance to take home a blank invitation to Will and Kate’s wedding, printed on Queen Elizabeth II‘s personal stationary.

If you’ve got a spare $1,000 (or $80,000), head down to Julien’s Auctions on Dec. 5 and 6 to get in on the royal goods!  EONLINE