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Prince William and Catherine’s Courchevel trip


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took their children skiing in Courchevel in France last week.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine flew to the French Alps for a mini vacation with Prince George, two and Princess Charlotte, 10 months, on Thursday (03.03.16) but refused to say exactly where they stayed.
However, the Daily Mail reports that the family of four stayed in the upmarket village in the Les Trois Vallées ski region which is popular with celebrities.
A source told the newspaper: "'I saw a beautiful picture on a mobile phone of them enjoying lunch.
"They were just eating, that's it. It was in a mountain restaurant. I am from Courchevel and I know the mountain behind."
They were also spotted dining at Le Pilatus restaurant, with an employee saying: "They were here Saturday or Sunday, I can't remember exactly. They had a small table, just for four or five people. No one bothered them."
It is likely that their children's nanny Maria Borrallo joined the family on their trip as both William and Catherine are experienced skiers and were no doubt keen to get on the slopes.
A message on the Kensington Palace Twitter page read: "This was their first holiday as a family of four and the first time either of the children have played in the snow."

Prince Harry praised


Britain's Prince Harry has been praised for his work with wounded veterans.
The 31-year-old royal will bring his Paralympic-style Invictus Games to the US in May and Invictus CEO Ken Fisher is impressed with Harry's dedication to the cause.
He told PEOPLE: "When he sits in the room, he sits there as a two-time combat veteran. He's been a great partner, as has the United Kingdom. It's a camaraderie that only our two countries can understand. Especially those who have served together.
"As the Prince said when he announced it, we'd better be ready, because they're going to bring it. I went to my guys and said, 'You're not going to take that, are you?' "
Meanwhile, it was recently claimed that Harry is being given a "more relaxed" schedule at the moment as he quietly prepares for the next Invictus Games, which will take place in Florida in May.
A source said: "Nearer to the event in May, Harry and the rest of the team will be working flat-out. When events are a way off the schedule is more relaxed."
Whilst a spokesperson for the Invictus Games added: "As our founding patron, Prince Harry takes a hands-on role in the direction of our work. He attends meetings and is heavily involved in the preparation for the forthcoming Invictus Games in Orlando."

Geri Horner praises Prince Charles


Geri Horner has paid tribute to Prince Charles for his charity work.
The Spice Girls singer attended the Prince's Trust and Samsung Celebrate Success Awards, hosted by Ant and Dec at the London Palladium on Monday (07.03.16), where she praised the royal for his work with young people.
She said: "I remember singing with the Spice Girls 20 years ago for the Prince's Trust back in 1996 and I've followed this amazing charity ever since.
"When you're the boss of a business you never get a pat on your back and everyone else gets the 'well done'.
"I just want to say, I think I can say it on behalf of every single person in this room, every person that's benefited from the Prince's Trust, a thank you to the man that actually 40 years ago had the energy, the drive, the vision, to start the Prince's Trust - and that is His Royal Highness."
Actor Kevin Whately also showed his support, saying: "Congratulations sir on 40 years of this fantastic organisation.
"At the time I became involved with the charity it seemed a very important thing to do, and now it's even more important.
"There's less opportunity for young people and it's much more difficult to get a going, to get financial backing and realise their dreams."
Stars including Tom Hardy, Rita Ora, David Haye and Alesha Dixon also attended the event.

Prince William’s accommodation dilemma


A French hotel has turned down a booking from the British royal family.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will travel to France for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme this summer but they were left with an accommodation dilemma after the Foreign Ministry's request for four suites at the Hotel Marotte was rejected.
Manager Olivier Walti told the Courier Picard newspaper: "We would not tell people who have booked with us for months and who have already paid for their stay, 'Sorry, but the royal family is coming, we will have to cancel'. It's just ethically unthinkable."
The royals had attempted to book four suites at £350 per night for June 30 and July 1.
Kensington Palace has not commented on the royals' accommodation issues but said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will attend commemorative events in France on June 30 and July 1.
"This is an important commemoration and they are honoured to be taking part on behalf of The Queen and the Government."

Ascot Gold Cup renamed to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s birthday


This year's Ascot Gold Cup will be renamed to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's birthday.
The royal will turn 90 on April 21 and to mark the milestone event, the prestigious prize for the two-and-a-half mile horse race on June 16 will now be called the 'Gold Cup in Honour of The Queen's 90th birthday'.
The Queen's representative at Ascot, Johnny Weatherby, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday in the race title of the Gold Cup.
"The Gold Cup, recently won of course by the Queen herself, is the historic centrepiece of Royal Ascot, and is very much the race which resonates most with the public."
The Queen's horse Estimate won the race in 2013.
Meanwhile, the Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday will also be marked with a new TV special.
ITV will air a special tribute to her live from Windsor Castle and hosted by presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who recently worked on a documentary with her son Prince Charles.
A source said: "Ant and Dec's names were in the frame before the Prince's Trust documentary but I imagine it has helped that they have a good relationship with Charles.
"It's going to be a similar format to the Diamond Jubilee Pageant but with even bigger performers and performances. This night has been two years in the planning."

Prince William and Duchess Catherine’s secret ski holiday


Prince William and Duchess Catherine took their children skiing in the French Alps over the weekend.
The royals enjoyed a getaway with Prince George, two, and Princess Charlotte, 10 months, their first holiday as a family of four, where the kids enjoyed playing in the snow.
A message on the Kensington Palace Twitter page read: "This was their first holiday as a family of four and the first time either of the children have played in the snow."
The ski trip coincided with the nuptials of the couple's friends Olivia Hunt and Nicholas Wilkinson at Temple Church in London, which Prince Harry attended.
William and Olivia dated during his first year at the University of St Andrews and remained good friends after their split, with Olivia even attending his own nuptials to Catherine in 2011.
Friends were puzzled by William and Catherine's missing the wedding, with a source telling the Daily Mail: "Prince Harry was there, along with most of William and Kate's friends. Their absence was really striking."
However, their absence can now be explained by their secret ski holiday.

Princess Victoria’s daughter ‘disappointed’ by sleeping brother


The daughter of Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria was "disappointed" when she met her new baby brother.
The 38-year-old princess and husband Prince Daniel welcomed their second child, Prince Oscar, into the world last week but their four-year-old daughter Princess Estelle was upset that he had his eyes closed when she went to visit him at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
Urban Ahlin, the Swedish parliamentarian told Svenskedam: "Princess Estelle was incredibly proud and excited about her new brother but she was a little disappointed that he had his eyes closed all the time, and couldn't see the drawings she had made."
Victoria and Daniel, who got married in 2010, were initially planning to welcome their little one at Hala Palace via a home birth, but they seemingly changed their minds.
Nevertheless, Prince Daniel witnessed his little son being born and later left the hospital to address the press.
The couple announced they were expecting their second child back in September, but decided to remain tight-lipped on the tot's sex until the birth.
However, the princess joked Estelle wasn't interested in having either a little brother or a younger sister to play with.
She quipped recently: "What she really wants is a hamster!"

Military regiments battle over Prince Harry


Two military regiments are battling over having Prince Harry as their honorary colonel.
The 31-year-old royal - who retired from the British Army in 2015 after 10 years - is being sought by both the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Marines to act as a ceremonial figurehead.
A source told the Sunday Express: "At the end of the day the Board can only present options to HRH. The decision ultimately rests with him."
Meanwhile, it has been claimed that there is concern that the prince has not yet "decided what he is to do with the rest of his life following his retirement from the military.
The insider said: "Prince Harry has done brilliantly with the Invictus Games and raising awareness of veterans' issues, but there is concern that he hasn't decided what he is to do with the rest of his life."
However, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: "Prince Harry's voluntary work at London District's Personnel Recovery Unit is ongoing.
"Supporting the military community will be a permanent feature of Prince Harry's royal and charitable duties for the rest of his life."

Queen Elizabeth praises Princess Diana’s influence


Princes William and Harry remind Queen Elizabeth of Princess Diana.
Although the late Princess had a strained relationship with her former mother-in-law during her life, the Queen believes that Diana's influence on her sons William and Harry has been overwhelmingly positive for the monarchy.
A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "She sees how much Diana radiates out of William and Harry and the effect they have on ordinary people. It is Diana that they see. That sense of fun, that easy way with people."
Diana divorced Queen Elizabeth's son Prince Charles in 1996 and most of the royal family took his side.
Lady Anne Glenconner, a close friend and lady-in-waiting to the Queen's sister Princess Margaret, said: "I think rather rightly they took Prince Charles's side, like you would in any family. You would take the side of your own relation, that's quite natural."
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth, who is married to Prince Philip, is more popular than ever with the British public and her cousin Margaret Rhodes says she deserves her "happy ending".
Speaking about the monarch ahead of her 90th birthday in April, Margaret said: "I think the Queen's earned a happy ending, don't you?
"My goodness, with the break-up of Charles's marriage and those of the other children Andrew and Anne, she's had a bit of a basinful. No wonder she's so close to Edward's lovely wife, Sophie. It upset her terribly that the others made such a mess of their marriages."

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