Country Living

Horses are wonderful animals. I love them and I love to ride. There's a particular feeling one can only have on a horse and it is a supremely good thing. This photograph of the Queen with her grandchildren, shows that good feeling very well. Don't they look happy? So sweet.

James, Viscount Severn, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Lady Louise Windsor 

Speaking of  favorite royals - Zara Phillips is currently featured on the "girls in pearls" page of Country Life. 

Wonderfully  accomplished and independent, Zara has eschewed pearls for a fleece jacket from her ZP176 line of Musto clothing. The handsome fellow next to the bride-to-be is her dog, Storm. He looks very noble, doesn't he?

You can read more here and here.

Off and Away

According to the Daily Mail, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left for their honeymoon (maybe) on a remote island in the Seychelles (perhaps).

They report the prince leaving Anglesey in Wales followed by a police car piled with luggage and that he has taken two weeks leave from his job as a search and rescue pilot.  "We are not confirming and we are not commenting on speculation on where they may be going on their private honeymoon, we are just confirming that they have gone," said a spokesman from St. James Palace.

When they return the prince will be going to the Falkland Islands for ten weeks of additional flight training without his new wife, "Partners are banned from joining those serving in the South Atlantic, so Kate is unable to travel with William to the remote post." 


I hope they have the private honeymoon they are hoping for - bon voyage, be safe.

New Film, Old Story - Update

The Daily Mail has published an article with more information about the film, Unlawful Killing. The film is set to screen this Friday, May 13, in Cannes.


This whole thing is dreadfully misguided.  

Similar But Not the Same

While we're on the subject of coincidence (please see the previous post) - there's this poor lass, Clare Cushman. Clare is up in arms because "Waity Katie stole [her] dress!". Really? Really.

At least this explains how of the Duchess of Cambridge kept the highly prized details of her wedding gown top secret: she cleverly sought out and copied an off-the-rack dress from Kleinfeld's Bridal shop in Brooklyn, NY, bought in 1991, on sale. Yes, that sounds highly likely, doesn't it? 

As I mentioned to Mr. Fizz when he sent me this item, both women also have brown hair. And Clare's husband and Prince William are both men... Perhaps we've found the topic for Keith Allen's next film- Unlawful Copy.

New Film, Old Story

Poor Mr. Al Fayed.

Keith Allen's new film, Unlawful Death is set to premiere in Cannes this week. The film attempts to expose a conspiracy surrounding the inquest of Diana, Princess of Wales and is funded, in part, by Mohammed Al Fayed. 

Oh dear. 

The inquest, which ended in 2008, concluded that: "Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed were unlawfully killed due to the "gross negligence" of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi, an inquest has found. The inquest jury also specified that Mr Paul's drink-driving and a lack of seat belts contributed to their deaths"
Read more here.

Apparently, Mr. Allen and Mr. Al Fayed don't agree with the findings - to say the least.

I feel dreadfully sorry for Mr. Al Fayed, who lost his son Dodi in the accident, but I do wish he'd please, please, PLEASE let it go. I can't imagine how painful it is for Diana's boys, the rest of her family, and her friends to have anything related to this tragic accident dragged before the public once again.

Mr. Allen claims the film will not be shown in the UK which is, among other things, a great promotional tool. I can find no other reference to the film being banned anywhere. I include a clip below for the sake of interest, not because I support any part of the argument.  

Trailer for Unlawful Death, 2011

Tough Love

There's an article in the Daily Mail about how Prince Andrew's daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been stripped of their round-the-clock protection detail. Following so soon after their appearance at their cousin's wedding, one is tempted to think this move might have something to do with their, how shall I put it, fashion faux pas. After all, Her Majesty has also made it clear the girls will not be joining their father on the Civil List and will have to pursue their own careers. Is concern for the maturity and quality of their judgement at the root of the the Queen's decision?

Whether HM has made her decision based on the girls' and/or their parents' sometimes questionable choices, it is my hope that they will grow into women that realize that their grandmother did them the greatest of favours. If they're not sure, they can look to their cousin Zara, a successful, high profile member of the equestrian sports world and, despite her lineage, neither HRH nor Princess. While they're at it, they might also look to her for a little fashion advice before the next big family wedding, this July.

What About the Groom?

When it comes to the Royal Wedding (it now seems weeks ago) we've all had a lovely time discussing the ladies: The Dress; how graceful and beautiful Catherine was on her wedding day; the unexpected elegance of Pippa Middleton; and how wonderful and happy Her Majesty looked in yellow. (And I had been betting on blue...)

Her Majesty The Queen is wearing an Angela Kelly designed single crepe wool primrose dress with hand sown beading at the neck in the shape of sunrays. Matching double crepe wool tailored primrose coat.

An Angela Kelly designed matching crepe hat with hand made silk roses and matching apricot coloured leaves.

Jewellery:  Queen Mary’s True Lovers Knot broach

Although there were other royal guests that chose poorly (perhaps there are no mirrors in the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park?) there are several that also deserve mention, namely, The Duchess of Cornwall who always looks very stately (in a good way) but at the wedding wore sumptuous and beautifully cut embroidered silk:

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is wearing an outfit designed by Anna Valentine to the wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton.

The outfit consists of a champagne silk dress and a duck egg blue and champagne coat, which is hand-embroidered. The dress and coat are both designed by Anna Valentine.

The Duchess of Cornwall is wearing a Philip Treacy hat and shoes made by Jimmy Choo. The clutch bag is by Anna Valentine

Read more: http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/tag/homepage/page/1

Zara Philips chose a wonderful grey-blue that fitted perfectly and she is a model of how to really wear a dramatic hat.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex also made an excellent choice in hats - elegant, subdued, but still very striking.

And Letizia, Princess of Asturias, stunning as always.

But it is time to pay tribute to the men, in particular His Royal Highness Prince William. The Daily Mail has an interesting piece about the gorgeous Irish Guards uniform Prince William wore on his wedding day, technical information about the material, etc.as well as the charming detail of the special pocket sewn into the cuff or Prince Henry's uniform to hold the ring he was apparently nervous of misplacing. Worth reading but it doesn't capture how handsome and regal the prince (and his brother) looked. Imagine what it was like for both members of this darling young couple to behold each other at the altar. I'm just a terrible romantic with a mile-wide soft spot for a military uniform - especially worn by a handsome prince on his wedding day.