Zara And Mike To Marry?

Speculation is rife that Zara Phillips, daughter of H.R.H Anne, The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips will marry her rugby playing boyfriend, Mike Tindall. According to the Daily Mail Zara has been advised by her father to temporarily hold off from announcing their engagement so she can concentrate on her equestrian responsibilities.

Only last month Zara's brother, Peter, married his wife Autumn Phillips at St Georges Chapel, Windsor and it's said that Zara is keen to use the chapel for her wedding. She also wants a small wedding like her brother had although she will not be selling photographic rights to Hello! magazine.

A formal announcement has yet to be made but according to the Daily Mail a wedding date could be as early as next May.

Queen 'Baffled' As To Why Kate Middleton Doesn't Work

Although she does not speak publicly about her feelings and opinions it was reported earlier this week that HM The Queen has privately admitted that she is 'baffled' as to why Prince William's girlfriend, Kate Middleton does not work.

After a short spell working for Topshop (her parents friendship with those high up in Topshop circles is rumoured to be down to her working there) Kate has now announced she wants to be a photographer and is training to become one. However, the Queen is said to be 'baffled' because Kate, who is now in her mid twenties has yet to have a 'proper job'.

Indeed Ms Middleton has come under attack because of her lack of employment history. Many feel that if she does marry Prince William, and along with that will bring the title Princess Of Wales and later on Queen of England, she will be expected to take on a hefty share of Royal engagements and many doubt she will be committed to doing that.

If Ms Middleton was still in her early twenties I think it would be passable that she is trying to find her feet and find out what she wants to do with her life. However she is now approaching her mid twenties, and her lack of any real job is rather worrying.

The previous owner of the title Princess of Wales, Diana, worked in several jobs before at the age of nineteen she became engaged to the Prince of Wales. And in her royal life took on hundreds of engagements a year.

It's very rare that HM The Queen makes comments such as this. It means their is some concern about Kate and her abilities to work hard. And I feel if she doesn't get a job shortly she'll loose some of that popularity she has.

HM The Queen Knights Autumn Phillips Boss

Last week HM The Queen knighted television presenter, Michael Parkinson at Buckingham Palace.
Sir Parkinson has employed Autumn Phillips, the new wife of grandson Peter Phillips as his personal assistant. He attended the wedding of Autumn and Peter last month and was said 'HM asked me if I enjoyed the wedding'. He also added 'she left early at 10.30pm and I left not much later.'

Sir Michael Parkinson's wife, Mary, now Lady Parkinson attended the ceremony with her husband.

Princess Beatrice Has It Easy

Her mother hyped it as Princess Beatrice's first step in the real world. (At nineteen she has left it a bit late!). HRH Princess Beatrice Of York was going to be working in top London store, Selfridges as a personal shopper to some of it's most prestigious customers.

However, the truth does appear to be very different to what has been allowed to leak out via the newspapers. The Princess only works three hours a day and is only an assistant to the personal shoppers.

Three hours? How is that a step into reality? When I was FIFTEEN a mere four years younger then Beatrice I did all sorts of work experience, most of them being at least six hours a day.

And the fact that she was 'dressing' the customers is also tosh. She deals with a very select circle of customers and is in fact helped by store workers so not to alienate these customers. That is fair enough. You can't expect someone who dresses like Beatrice to be able to choose clothes for other people. That would at least be cruel, at worst idiotic.

What seems even more absurd also is the fact that her private detective has to follow her everywhere. So if she is looking for lingerie to suit a outfit, he goes with her. If she has to dash off to find accessories, he is in tow.

It all seems a very weird situation and one that Fergie, who has been keen to boast about Beatrice's achievement of getting a placement at Selfridges knows very little. It's designed to give Beatrice an idea of real life, but how can that be? Who is followed around by security men, how is that 'real'?

Personally I would of preferred it, and if would be more honest and far less patronising if Beatrice took a job in a exclusive boutique or in a big company where she can be locked away from the public and seen only by those in the right circles.

Saying that working three hours a day and being shadowed by a detective is giving her a sense of 'normal' life is ridiculous. And if it's true then her day to day 'royal' life must be very strange indeed.

Prince Andrew Sells Marital Home

The Duke of York has sold his marital home, Sunninghill Park to a private company.

The house which was completed in 1990 (the Yorks only lived in it for two years as a married couple) was a wedding gift to the couple from HM The Queen. Sarah Ferguson looked for two years for a suitable property and couldn't find one and it was decided that one be designed and built for them. The Duchess used it as her British base till it was sold.

When it was first built the house was derided. Some claimed it looked like a branch of supermarket, Tesco's. Others called it 'South York' saying it looked like something out of Dallas, the popular US soap opera. The Yorks caused further furore after selling pictures of them enjoying the house to Hello! magazine in August 1990.

The house has been empty for some time and was on the market for five years before it was sold. Sarah Ferguson now resides in the US in a Manhattan Penthouse and the Duke of York resides mainly at Buckingham Palace.

Call me Catherine

Prince William's girlfriend, Kate Middleton has reportedly told friends that they are now to use her real name, Catherine, instead of the more relaxed and informal Kate which we all know her as. Rumors are circulating in her social circle that the two are on the point of announcing their engagement and this being the reason that Kate wants a more formal and official name.

Naturally some members of the media are saying that the woman has now become haughty and snobbish. I don't agree. When a reporter referred to the then Lady Diana Spencer as 'Di' the fiance of the Prince of Wales said 'it's Diana, actually'.

Personally I don't care what we call her, whether it's Catherine or Kate. I still like Ms Middleton and think she is a beautiful, discreet woman who Prince William should be proud to have on his arm.

The Duchess Of Hull - Why Does She Want To Come Back To Britain

When Sarah Ferguson, previously Duchess of York left the UK behind to live and work in the USA she made a comment on American television. The Brits, she said, were cold hearted and accepting. The Americans on the other hand were warm, open hearted and loved her. Since then in the USA she has advertised Ocean Spray, has been a spokesman for Weightwatchers and has launched a range of candles embossed with a 'S' with a crown above it.

Now, she wants to return to Britain. For what reason I'm not sure. The start of her new Britishishness aired on TV this week when she tried to help a family living on benefits loose weight, and get fitter and healthier. The programme was said to be appalling and Sarah got bashed for her patronising attitude. Also this week she has been engaged in a very public war with journalist Alison Pearson over a comment Ms Pearson made over Princess Beatrice's weight.

I think it's too late for Fergie. A lot of the UK have almost forgotten about her. She long ago isolated loyal Monarchy fans with her vulgar behaviour. Yes, she has loyal fans but they are not huge in quantity.

Also, how can she expect to be welcomed open armed back into her country of birth when she has spent so many years bad mouthing us in the USA?

Personally I think it would be better for us and her huge and easily bruised ego if she stayed in the States. She has a lot of fan's there apparently who are willing to kill the once royal ass. Most British people couldn't give a toss about her, no matter how much she tells us she hates herself. Most of us hate her too so nothing new there then.