Prince William and Catherine

[Guest Fabiola]

The Victorian splendour of Sandringham House in Norfolk this Christmas weekend

Sandringham House

"Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere in the world." (King George V)

Built in 1870 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, Sandringham was once described as 'The most comfortable house in England'. It has been passed down as a private home through four generations of British monarchs and is now the country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

[Guest Fabiola]

Christmas tradition: The Royal Family put on a brave face for the festivities,

despite Prince Philip's recent heart scare

Catherine Middleton looked elegant in a simple maroon outfit

(L-R) Autumn Philips, Peter Philips, Princess Beatrice and Viscount

Linley

Family gathering: Catherine Middleton, seen here with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, is

spending her first Christmas with the Royals

[Guest Fabiola]

Kate's £1900 Kiki McDonough earrings

green amethysts and diamonds hanging from a diamond-covered hoop

Reportedly a gift from Prince William for Christmas.

[Guest Fabiola]

On show at the Palace, a dazzling collection of jubilee jewels

Treasure: This snuff box made for King Frederick the Great of Prussia, c.1770-75 will be among the

attractions

The Russian Fringe, a diamond tiara has been worn by Queen Mary,

the Queen Mother, the Queen and the Princess Royal

[Guest Fabiola]

Kate's Eighties-themed bash: Pippa and Harry plan cocktails and karaoke party for Duchess of Cambridge's 30th

By Deborah Arthurs

Last updated at 10:04 PM on 3rd January 2012

With a party-planning socialite for a sister and a brother-in-law as well-connected as Prince Harry, the Duchess of Cambridge's 30th birthday was never going to be allowed to pass without fanfare.

Sure enough, when Kate enters her fourth decade on 9 January next week, Pippa and Harry will be on hand to ensure proceedings go off with a bang.

According to Grazia magazine who names a 'royal source' as their mole, the fun-loving two have planned an Eighties-themed birthday party for Kate complete with cocktails and karaoke.

The magazine revealed that Pippa and Harry have been organising a 'secretly arranged party' to be thrown in her honour this weekend.

On the eve of her 30th, Kate is said to be making her movie premiere debut with William at Odeon Leicester Square for Stephen Spielberg's film War Horse. She and William are to attend a £10,000 a ticket charity dinner afterwards.

After that, Kate and William will be free to party.

Grazia's royal source said: 'In many ways, this is going to be Kate's last chance to let go like she did back in the old days when she and William first met.

'The party has been months in the planning. Pippa and Harry have been in the thick of it, and have recruited a bunch of friends to help.

'The guests have been sent "save the date" cards, and told that it will probably be in London.

'Given the people organising it, you can be sure it will be brilliant.'

Grazia goes on to say that the party, which will have an 80s theme to mark the decade in which Kate was born - will be an intimate affair for 'close friends and family.'

With David and Victoria now considered close pals of the two young royals, the guest list is likely to be stellar.

Where the party is to be held is yet to be confirmed, though it is said to be a secret 'pop-up' venue. The report suggests that cocktails will be organised by Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Sterling, friends of Kate and William who own Maggie's Bar and Bunga Bunga in Chelsea.

Friends will no doubt be wondering what they could possibly buy the future Queen.

Grazia's sources close to Kate have said she has asked guests to donate to charity in place of buying her gifts.

For his part though, William is understood to be keen to mark the occasion with a thoughtful present, and has been looking to buy his new wife a watch.

The young prince is also said to be commissioning an oil portrait of the Kate to celebrate her 30th birthday and her first year as a member of the royal family.

The Queen is said to be giving Kate a tiara from the royal collection.

Grazia's royal source says the party will be a good way for Kate to let off steam ahead of what will be a tough year.

Next month, William is to be posted to the Falklands for six weeks as part of his role as Royal Navy helicopter pilot. Privately, Kate is said to be 'dreading' his absence.

'It's going to be a party of clashes in every way, says the source. 'On the one hand there are all these exquisite royal trappings, and on the other, Pippa is planning to top off the party with a karaoke session. Kate needs to enjoy herself while she can, though, so she can be forgiven for belting out a few Duran Duran and Madonna numbers on her birthday.

'It's all going to get pretty serious soon afterwards. Kate's understandably nervous and is giong to miss William desperately.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2081766/Kate-Middleton-birthday-Pippa-Prince-Harry-plan-party-Duchess-Cambridges-30th.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Guest Fabiola]

So how does she compare to the other royals at the Big Three-0?

Queen Mother, 1930: Married to Bertie with daughters Elizabeth and Margaret, she became Queen in 1937

Queen, 1956: Four years into her reign as sovereign, she'd already given birth to Charles and Anne

Princess Margaret, 1960: With one unhappy love affair behind her, she was nearly 30 when she wed Antony Armstrong-Jones

Princess Anne, 1980: She was 23 when she married first husband Mark Phillips in 1973. At 30, she was mother to Peter, three

Princess Diana, 1991: Married to Charles for ten years, with two young sons, but a year later the couple split

Duchess of York, 1989: Mother to Beatrice and pregnant with Eugenie, the toe-sucking scandal unfolded three years later

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2083319/Kate-Middleton-As-hits-30-Catherine-coming-age.html

[Guest Fabiola]

Gala premiere, then quiet 30th for Kate Middleton

By GREGORY KATZ and SYLVIA HUI | AP – 10 minutes ago

LONDON (AP) — After attending a gala film premiere in a full-length lacy evening gown, Kate Middleton stepped out of the public gaze Monday to celebrate her milestone 30th birthday in private.

She turned heads — and dominated Britain's Monday morning front pages — by attending the London opening of Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" wearing a striking design by Alice Temperley. Her husband, Prince William, used an umbrella to keep her glossy brown hair drizzle-free.

It was another star turn for Middleton, who has appeared ever more comfortable in public since joining the royal family in April.

Palace officials said the Duchess of Cambridge's birthday celebration will be a "low-key and private" affair. The choice of a muted event seems appropriate: After all, the duchess is not just starting the fourth decade of her life — she is also embarking on her career as a future queen, charged with renovating a monarchy that has become somewhat creaky with age.

"She's done very well, playing a very good supporting role to Prince William and complementing him as part of a team," said Robert Jobson, author of "William and Kate: The Love Story." ''We've not seen much of her, but when she's in public she has performed with aplomb."

The past year has seen momentous changes for Kate, with a fairytale wedding to Prince William, travels around the world and glamorous appearances that marked her transition from commoner to the world's most talked-about princess and style icon. She has won rave reviews for her sparkle, her elegant sense of style, and her common touch with the public.

But now that the excitement around her grand wedding has subsided, she is expected to quietly settle down into her royal duties — and for much of this year, that means helping Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, without upstaging the monarch in her moment of glory, and also playing a supporting role at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Until recently, palace officials have been quiet about what exactly her role will be, keen to protect her transition into a fully fledged royal from the glare of the media limelight. The newlyweds, who live in a remote corner of north Wales, were said to favor a "quieter life" after the massive global media coverage of their April wedding.

The former Middleton ventured out on her first solo engagement in October — a private charity dinner for about 30 guests — but is yet to make a public speech on her own.

That is set to change. This week, royal officials finally gave the first insight into her new role when they announced which charities she's supporting, including the Scouts and a group that helps drug addicts. More organizations will follow later, officials said.

She has already taken on an unofficial role as a champion of the British fashion industry, wearing the creations of British designers at home and abroad, showcasing their work in the best possible light.

On top of such duties, the duchess also has a busy year ahead with the queen's jubilee, a major celebration of the monarch's 60 years on the throne that will see numerous celebrations throughout Britain and the Commonwealth, peaking in a major celebration in London in early June.

The royals are expected to play a supporting role by traveling overseas to represent the queen. William and Kate are due to journey to Malaysia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands and the tiny Pacific island of Tuvalu as part of the festivities.

Inevitably, much of the speculation about the duchess' future has centered on royal lineage — Is she going to start a family soon? That, however, is anyone's guess, and despite incessant tabloid baby chatter, there doesn't yet appear to be great pressure on the newlyweds to produce an heir.

"It's early days yet, and they're both getting used to their roles," said Jobson, adding that the presence of other young members of the royal household, such as Prince Harry, helps to ease the pressure on William and Kate.

Many of the more senior women in the royal family were mothers in their 20s, but times and expectations have changed — both inside and outside the royal household.

The Duchess of Cambridge opted for a creation by Alice Temperley

[Guest Fabiola]

Kate Middleton Birthday: The Duchess Turns 30, Plus Other Royals At Age 30

The Huffington Post Marielle Bingham

First Posted: 1/9/12 06:29 AM ET Updated: 1/9/12 06:49 AM ET

Major royal celebrations are in order, because (believe it or not) Kate Middleton is turning the big 3-0!

At 30 years young, the Duchess of Cambridge has a lot to be celebrating. This past year was a major one, what with becoming a British royal as well as a fashion obsession and one of the most buzzed-about people of the year.

So how will Catherine and her new high-profile family be marking her milestone today? Rumor had it that Kate's birthday bash was planned by Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry, who certainly know a thing or two about partying -- word on the street was that the extravagant party would be "'80s-themed."

Alas, actual reports say the party will in fact be a "low-key and private" event. So instead, we've decided to celebrate the duchess' big day in our own way: by taking a look back at other lovely royals back when they were in their young thirties.

Check out these lovely duchesses, princesses and queens the way they were.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Princess Mary of Denmark, 2004

Princess Grace Kelly, 1959

Princess Margaret, 1960

Queen Elizabeth, 1956

Princess Anne, 1980

Princess Diana, 1991

Queen Sofia of Spain, 1968

Princess Letizia, 2004

Queen Rania of Jordan, 2000

Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, 2003

Charlene Wittstock, 2008

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/06/kate-middleton-birthday_n_1189526.html#s596662

[Guest Fabiola]

Visiting the National Portrait Gallery as its patron,

the Duchess of Cambridge in a coat dress by high street label

Jesire and an Asprey pendant

Lucian Freud painting

[Guest Char27]

its kinda sad but we dont see anything much on will and kate now adays...

thought there would be lots of royal "work" to do really? well here's hoping to seeing the both of them in good light :)

[Guest ladyhotary]

mervellous jewels, Katherine is so elegant and pretty in every pictures

[leslie_lei]

she's so elegant!!!! ♥

[Guest arg23]

Thanks for this awesome post based on the Royal Family,the pics are nice.......

[Guest Fabiola]

Royal tea party: Girls’ day out for Kate, the Queen and Duchess of Cornwall

on official visit to Fortnum & Mason

Sporting two daffodils on her lapel in honour of St Davids day, Kate wore a blue coat by Italian

label Missoni and shoes by Rupert Sanderson

[Guest itrayya]

*sigh*

i think she is the only lady that i am totally envious and jealous of. not of what she has but of who she is.

she's beautiful, she's social, and she's smart. total package.

the royal family is totally lucky to have her.

she's the kinda lady i want to be when i grow up.

[Guest Fabiola]

The Duchess Of Cambridge at Rose Hill Primary School

Oxford, UK

[Guest Fabiola]

[Guest Fabiola]

Inheriting Granny's multi-million pound jewellery collection

01 FEBRUARY 2012

The majority of jewels the Queen wears are a legacy from two formidable royal matriarchs – her grandmother Queen Mary and great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.

Her personal collection is separate from the British Crown Jewels which are housed in the Tower of London.

These include St Edward's Crown, the glittering centrepiece of her outfit at the coronation and the Imperial State Crown, worn for the state opening of Parliament.

Some 40 feet under Buckingham Palace in a converted air raid shelter are the pieces Her Majestry describes as her 'best diamonds'.

In this personal treasure trove are gems dating from Queen Victoria's days as Empress of India – uncut emeralds, tiaras, Faberge trinkets, even an elephant with eyes made of rubies and real ivory tusks.

Said to be worth around £35 million, the collection consists of diamonds to the value of £22 million, emeralds worth £5.75 million, pearls to the value of £3 million, and rubies and sapphires valued at £2.7 million.

Her favourite tiara is the delicate, diamond-encrusted “Girls of Great Britain” piece.

A wedding gift from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who was given it on her marriage in 1893, the tiara got the spirited name from the committee of young British women who rallied round to fund it.

One of the most stunning pieces of royal jewellery is the most valuable brooch in the world, affectionately dubbed "Granny's Chips" after Queen Mary. The dazzling pin consists of a pear-shaped 92-carat gem hanging from a square-cut, 62-carat stone.

Another beloved trinket is the Jubilee Necklace. Originally presented to her great-great grandmother, Victoria, to mark the 50th anniversary of her accession, it is an intricate mix of diamonds and pearls.

The diamonds, on display with 80 evening gowns worn on state occasions, will be the highlight of the annual opening of Buckingham Palace to the public from July 26 to September 24.

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/201202017129/Queen-elizabeth-II-crown-jewels/

[Guest Fabiola]

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Tour Begins

Kate looked to the 1940's for inspiration, wearing an elegant teal peplum suit by L.K. Bennett which

consisted of the £395 'Jude' jacket and £225 'Davina' dress. She wore a pillbox hat by James Lock hat.

[Guest sprinkle_kitty]

Where's William?? I remember he had to go somewhere but I forgot where O.o