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Duchess Catherine does fewest duties


Duchess Catherine attended the fewest official engagements of the British royal family this year.
The 32-year-old royal - who is expecting her second child with husband Prince William, a sibling for 17-month-old Prince George - undertook 76 visits, meetings and receptions, less than any of the other 14 royals whose activities are listed daily on the Court Circular.
However, insiders insist Queen Elizabeth - who conducted around 375 engagements this year - is not concerned as she and her family support Catherine's wish to enjoy her first few years as a wife and mother before fully immersing herself in public life, while for the first time in over 100 years, there are three living generations of heirs to the throne, as well as members of the extended family.
A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "There are more than enough senior members of the Royal Family to undertake the annual number of public duties required."
Heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles was the hardest-working royal, undertaking over 450 public duties.
The number of appointments was much fewer than in recent years but this is attributed to the fact he now takes on longer foreign trips on behalf of his mother.
A Clarence House spokesman said: "In 2014, in addition to his public engagements in the UK, the prince undertook seven international visits at the request of Her Majesty's Government including attending the D-Day commemorations in Normandy.
"The prince continues to do all he can to make a difference for the better in the UK and internationally through his charitable work."
Elsewhere, 93-year-old Prince Philip undertook over 300 duties, while his daughter Princess Anne undertook around 419.
Prince Andrew saw a drop in duties to 297 over the year, with a number of trips abroad to countries including China and his younger brother, Prince Edward, undertook 348 appointments.
Catherine's husband Prince William undertook 111 engagements - almost double that of the previous year.
It is less than other senior royals because of his full-time military commitments.

MPs slam documentary axe


MPs have blasted the BBC's decision to shelve a documentary about Britain's Princess Diana.
The programme, entitled 'Reinventing the Royals', was reportedly pulled from the publicly-funded broadcaster's new year schedule after lawyers who represent senior royals including Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, intervened, and government officials have warned a "dangerous precedent" has been set.
Jim Sheridan, a member of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, said the BBC had "questions to answer".
He added: "We cannot now have the Royal Family deciding what can and cannot be shown on our national broadcaster. That is a dangerous ­precedent to set.
"The BBC is a publicly-funded broadcaster and if this programme is in the public interest then it must be shown."
Labour MP Paul Flynn added: "The BBC should have held firm. We are not being treated like adults when it comes to the royals.
"The BBC has no right to censor the truth about what is one of the most sophisticated PR operations in the country - and one we are paying for."
The two-part documentary, which was due to air its first part on Sunday (04.01.15) on BBC Two, was reportedly set to claim that "spin" was used to boost Charles and the royal family's public appeal following the death of the Princess of Wales in 1997, while looking at the tactics used by his former spin doctor Mark Bolland and the prince's advisers are said to have been concerned they had no input into the programme, sparking the legal intervention.
Though the documentary has been postponed, Mr. Flynn warned the actions could backfire on Charles.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "All this will do is whet the public's appetite. This will greatly increase the amount of interest and coverage this story will get."
A spokeswoman for Clarence House didn't comment on whether or not lawyers had been in touch with the BBC, saying: "Scheduling is a matter for the broadcaster."

Kristin Scott Thomas’ award astonishment


Kristin Scott Thomas thought someone was "playing a trick" on her when she was told she would receive a damehood.
The 54-year-old actress - who received an OBE in 2003 - is "thrilled" to be recognised in Britain's Queen Elizabeth's annual New Year's honours list.
She said: "I thought someone was playing a trick. But it's true apparently and I am thrilled, astonished and worried that I might suddenly wake up."
Kristen isn't the only actress to be receiving a prestigious honour, as both Sheridan Smith and 'Appropriate Adult' star Emily Watson are being awarded OBEs.
Sheridan's former Boyfriend James Corden will also receive an OBE, while veteran actor John Hurt is knighted, and Joan Collins, presenter and charity campaigner Esther Rantzen and fashion designer Mary Quant all receive damehoods.
In the world of sport, Dame Mary Peters was made a Companion of Honour for services to sport and the community in Northern Ireland, 3,000-metre Olympian Wendy Sly - who took silver at the 1984 Olympics - was awarded an MBE and Steve Cram is honoured with a CBE for his work for the English Institute of Sport.
He said: "It's really fantastic to have this recognition."
Elsewhere, Viagra creator Simon Campbell is recognised with a knighthood, lawyer Fiona Woolf is being made a dame and business moguls James Caan - best known for being a former investor on 'Dragons' Den' - and Brent Hoberman receive OBEs.

Princess Madeleine returning to Europe


Sweden's Princess Madeleine wants to move back to Europe.
The 32-year-old royal has lived in New York for the last four years but she and her husband, British-American financier Christopher O'Neill, want to be closer to their families.
Speaking to Sveriges Television programme 'A year with the Royal Family 2014', Madeleine said: "In the near future we will move to Europe. That's where we have our families."
The news comes just two weeks after the couple - who married in June 2013 and welcomed daughter Princess Leonore into the world in February - announced they are expecting their second child together.
A statement on the family's official Facebook page said: "Princess Madeleine and Mr. Christopher O'Neill are delighted to announce that The Princess is expecting their second child."
Within minutes of the social media announcement, the post had attracted over 5,000 likes from well-wishers.
Madeleine has previously spoken of how much she enjoys being married to 40-year-old Chris.
She has said: "The sweetest feeling now that we are married is that we really are a team. It really brings a special bond."

Queen Elizabeth advertises for cleaner


Britain's Queen Elizabeth is looking for a £7.65-an-hour cleaner.
The 88-year-old monarch is on the hunt for someone to keep Windsor Castle in Berkshire, south east England, in tip-top condition six days a week from 7am to 11am and for that she is willing to pay £1.15 above the minimum wage.
The successful candidate would, however, be earning 20p less than the living wage, should they agree to the position on the £9,547.20 a year financial package advertised.
Elizabeth has put up a notice on the official British Monarchy website and it states that those interested in the position must be "reliable", "punctual" and take pride in their work.
An extract from the advert reads: "As a Daily Cleaner, you will join the team responsible for cleaning both public and staff areas at Windsor Castle. You will assist with the upkeep of bedrooms, general housekeeping duties and cleaning of works of art.
"You will: Be punctual with good time management skills;
Be reliable and able to work independently, as well as within a team, willing to support and contribute to the wider tasks of your team;
Take pride in the exceptional standard of your work.
"Experience in a similar role is desirable, though not essential, as training will be provided.
"In return you will receive a 15% non-contribution employer pension plus benefits. You will join an organisation committed to the training and development of employees."
Those interested in the job must apply by tomorrow (31.12.14).

Princess Diana documentary shelved


A controversial Princess Diana documentary has been shelved.
According to the Radio Times magazine, the BBC pulled the programme, entitled 'Reinventing the Royals', from its new year schedule after lawyers, who represent senior royals including Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, intervened.
The two-part documentary, which was due to air its first part on Sunday (04.01.15) on BBC Two, was reportedly set to claim that "spin" was used to boost Charles and the royal family's public appeal following the death of the Princess of Wales in 1997, while looking at the tactics used by his former spin doctor Mark Bolland.
A BBC spokeswoman said: "The BBC is delaying broadcast of the documentary 'Reinventing The Royals', due to be shown on BBC Two on January 4, until later in the New Year while a number of issues including the use of archive footage are resolved."
The publication also believes BBC Two senior executives saw and approved the programme, which was presented by former 'Panorama' editor Steve Hewlett.
However, neither Buckingham Palace nor Clarence House were thought to have been involved in the making of the documentary.
James Harding, head of BBC news and current affairs, is said to have made the decision to postpone the programme until later in the new year.
A spokeswoman for Clarence House didn't comment on whether or not lawyers had been in touch with the BBC, saying: "Scheduling is a matter for the broadcaster."

Royal Mint unveils £100 Elizabeth Tower coin


The Royal Mint has unveiled a new £100 coin featuring London's Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben.
The UK coin manufacturing body has produced 50,000 of the pieces which will be legal tender but are designed to be collectors items rather than to be used to pay for goods.
A street view of London's Elizabeth Tower, which was renamed after Britain's Queen Elizabeth to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, features on one side of the coin, and Big Ben, the great bell of the clock housed inside the tower, is also visible from the same angle.
Shane Bissett, the Royal Mint's director of commemorative coin, bullion and medals, said: "The sound of Big Ben chiming in the Elizabeth Tower is one that will have become synonymous with Britain for millions of British citizens and tourists alike, particularly on New Year's Eve when the world listens for Big Ben, which marks Greenwich Mean Time, to chime in the New Year.
"So it is a fitting choice for the nation's first £100 coin, and this is a fitting time for us to reveal it."
The item is Britain's first ever £100 coin at face value and is one of the last to feature the queen's fourth main coinage portrait, which appears on the flip side to the Elizabeth Tower image.

Prince Harry enjoys night at darts


Britain's Prince Harry enjoyed an evening out watching darts last night (29.12.14).
The 30-year-old royal looked on from the VIP section at Alexandra Palace, north London, as Stephen Bunting produced a performance fit for a king to knock out James Wade in the William Hill PDC World Darts Championship.
The flame-haired royal was all smiles as the camera focused on him on several occasions and he looked to be getting into the spirit of things as he laughed and joked around with other attendees.
Harry also watched on as Dutch master Michael van Gerwen saw off Terry 'The Bull' Jenkins in another match, and his appearance at the darts prompted a positive reaction on Twitter.
One social networking user wrote: "Prince Harry is at the darts? Let's just cut to the chase and make him King immediately."
It was not Harry's first appearance at the event in recent years as in 2011 he attended the same competition and received an impromptu kiss from darts player Adrian Lewis.
Harry broke royal protocol to go and congratulate Lewis with a hug after his victory over Mark Webster, to which the match winner responded by giving the fourth inline to the throne a sneaky smooch on the cheek.

Royal guards moved amid security fears


Royal guards have been removed from public streets outside famous British landmarks over terrorism fears.
The Queen's Guard have been repositioned on account of suggestions that a terrorism attack could be imminent.
Sally Leivesley, a police counter-terrorism adviser, observed that an attack on the Queen's Guard would be "a hugely powerful signal".
She told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "As a target it is incredibly significant for these groups to kill a British soldier in their home country."
As part of the process, two guard posts at Clarence House - the official home of Prince Charles - have been moved, while posts at St James's Palace have moved from the front gates to within the palace.
This means the guards are now only visible to tourists from a distance.
A spokesperson for Clarence House has refused to comment on the issue of royal security, but an insider has told the newspaper that the changes were made following an "acute" threat.
The source said: "Intelligence picked up (internet) chatter which is being taken seriously.
"Isis know it would be very difficult to attack a member of the Royal family, but one of the Queen's Guard would be a huge target for them."

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