The Duchess Diary

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Princess Margaret: The Court Jeweller Highlights Her Most Captivating Jewelry

Princess Margaret was Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister and the second daughter of King George VI. Her Royal Highness’ presence was arguably as commanding  (and intimidating) as Her Majesty’s. Margaret’s life was filled with flash and excitement, and she ran with a very trendy set of people.  The stories of her jewelry are almost as interesting as the life she led.

I’ve asked my favorite jewelry blogger, The Court Jeweller, to explain the stories behind some of Princess Margaret’s jewelry [Read more…]

The Queen Mentions Princess Charlotte In her 2015 Christmas Message

queen elizabeth buckingham palace christmas message 2015.

YouTube/The British Monarchy

Sitting at a desk in the 18th Century Room inside Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty gave her annual Christmas broadcast, a tradition started by her grandfather, George V at the family’s Sandringham home in 1932.

Family portraits including Princess Charlotte’s christening and Prince Charles’ wedding photo are on display in the background as Her Majesty spoke of the year that has past, and what lies ahead.

“I am looking forward to a busy 2016, though I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice,” the Queen, who will turn 90 on April 21st, said. [Read more…]

Royal Ascot 2015: A Recap of Hats, Bea’s Fashion and Fergie

The Brits really love horse racing.  Like, a lot.

The five days of Royal Ascot are over, but it was a parade of jaunty hats, royals working themselves up into a horse tizzy.

fergie princess beatrice royal box ascot day 4

Ben Stevens/i-Images

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have yet to make an appearance at Royal Ascot, but did attend Epsom Downs in 2011 about a month after their wedding. [Read more…]

Why Zara Phillips’ Latest Interview Made Me Like Her Even More

Zara Phillips Pregnant Cheltenham Steeple Chase 2013

Splash News

I’ve always admired Zara Phillips as much as I do her mother, The Princess Royal, who refused titles for both her children when they were born so that they could live as normal lives as possible.

Because of that, both Phillips and her older brother, Peter, have carved out lucrative careers as private citizens.  They are, however, still in line to the throne as grandchildren of the Queen; Peter is 12th and Zara is 15th.

[Read more…]

12 Times The Duchess Of York Made Us Roll Our Eyes

Fergie Khaki Jacket Holds Golden Retriever Pupples

Splash News

If there’s one person I don’t want to hear from, especially regarding Prince Andrew‘s character, it’s the Duchess of York.  Even after their divorce in 1996, the Duke and Duchess of York remain close.  So close that Sarah still lives at Royal Lodge with Andrew (formerly the Queen Mother‘s home).

In the wake of underage sex allegations against the Queen’s third child, Sarah has decided to kill two birds with one stone and do some damage control via the press.  Coincidentally, she’s down 55 pounds and recently launched a new endeavor, so the timing couldn’t have been better for Fergie to tell Matt Lauer how thin she is, and how wonderfully her ex-husband is handling these rather serious reports.

During her Today appearance on Monday, Fergie called Andrew a “humongously good man,” adding that she “will have not one word said about him on any level, any level.”  [Read more…]

The History Behind the British Royal Collection’s Most Famous Jewelry

Hello, Duchess Diary readers! I’m Ella Kay, the writer and editor of The Court Jeweller, a blog about royal and noble jewels from around the world.

Kelly has graciously asked me to step in this afternoon to talk about my very favorite subject: royal jewelry. She challenged me to share five of my favorite items of jewelry from the British royal collection. With so many amazing, sparkly pieces to choose from, it was a tough job, but here are five of the best pieces in the Windsor vaults. (And — significantly for a blog about the Duchess of Cambridge — these are all pieces that are very likely to be worn one day by a future royal consort: Queen Catherine!)  [Read more…]

Ellie Goulding Already Congratulated Kate Middleton on Royal Baby No. 2

I knew that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge loved her rendition of “Your Song” so much that they asked her to perform it for their first dance, but I had no clue that Ellie Goulding was buds with Prince Harry.  She’s like the Joanna Lumley to his Prince Charles.

“I sent my congratulations already because I’m friends with Harry,” Goulding, 27, told Us Magazine. “I think I may be seeing them all this week pending on how Kate is feeling.”

Goulding, who will perform at the Invictus Games closing ceremony on Sunday, added that news of a sibling for Prince George is “just beautiful.” [Read more…]

A Few Favorites: Kate Middleton’s 2013 Maternity Looks

As it was in December 2012, so it is now.  The Duchess of Cambridge has been struck with acute morning sickness, which forced her to sit out the first few days of the Invictus Games (from the stands, not the field), and the palace may well cancel her scheduled visit to Malta.

What does this mean for the rest of us, aside from wishing Kate a pregnancy free from severe illness?  Why, throw a throwback feast for the eyes, that’s what!

[Read more…]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Consider Anmer Hall Their “Family Home”

Kate Middleton Jeans Big Weekend Bag Umbrella

Image via Splash News

In the wake of today’s royal baby news (thank you to everyone who called, texted and tweeted your well wishes. We’re all thrilled), people are searching high and low for the next related headline.

While I wouldn’t call this bit of news surprising, I do find it interesting. According to the Daily Mail, renovations are just about done on Anmer Hall, the Georgian mansion gifted to the Duke of Cambridge by Queen Elizabeth. The Cambridges, it appears, are looking to make it their home base.

[Read more…]