HM The Queen And The Duke Of Edinburgh To Tour Slovenia And Slovakia

HM the Queen and Prince Phillip will tour Slovenia and Slovakia for the first time. There are not many places the royal couple haven't toured, but this part of Europe is new to them.

The couple will tour Slovenia from October 21-22 and Slovakia from October 23-24. The Queen was formally invited by the Presidents of each country. Dr Danilo Tuerk is President of Slovenia and Mr Ivan Gasparovic is president of Slovakia.

Information on the tours can be found at http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page6108.asp

HM Has 'No Concerns' Regarding Kate Middleton

The Sunday Express revealed today that HM The Queen has 'no concerns' over Kate Middleton and her employment status.

A royal source said that the Queen harbours no doubts at all about Kate Middleton and in fact Kate works for her parents company, Party Pieces, and has been seen loading and unloading cars with boxes of stock on company property. The source also added the role within her parents company allows her the chance to be with the Prince but is a private role and keeps her out of the daily public eye while William is away with his naval duties.

The Sunday Express report is in direct contrast to the Sunday Mail who has recently claimed that HM The Queen is deeply concerned about Kate Middleton seemily not having a job and the fact that 'Waity Katy' is happy to sit back and wait for William to propose marriage.

What It's Like To Visit The Royal Palaces.

Within the last few years I've been incredibly lucky to have visited three of the major Royal residences, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace. Also I've visited the grounds of Sandringham and of course Diana's ancestral home, Althorp House, in Northamptonshire.

Initially Buckingham Palace was first opened to help fund the renovation of Windsor Castle after part of it burnt down in a fire. Only a few rooms were open then and numbers were limited, but it seems now that a bigger part of Buckingham Palace is open and you can either pre-book or pay on the gate.

What interested me the most about visiting Buckingham Palace is you can see it from the inside out and the view is very different. Instead of having your nose up against the fence trying to peer inside, you can stand the other way and look out towards the crowds, St James's Park and down the Mall. On the royal wedding videos I have, for instance, you see the newlyweds arriving at the Palace and disappearing through a door and that's it. But when you visit the Palace you can see through that door and see what the Royal's see.

In a strange way, visiting a Royal residence is not unlike visiting a old relative. You get to see the best and worst. In Buckingham Palace I was surprised to see some really truly wonderful furniture that you'd be scared to sit on. And funnily, in the next room you may come across a tatty old chair, it's fabric fraying at the edges. And you realise that chair is worth thousands and yet, could do with a decent clean.

A lot of royal residences are cluttered, with the state apartments (the apartments that are open to the public) having ornaments and other things crammed on every service. In Kensington Palace recently I noticed that some room's had copious amounts of blue and white pottery on every surface, over every fire place and on every table available. I smiled to myself that this indeed, was the wishes of the former residence, Queen Mary and yes, she did clutter her state rooms with china almost everywhere.

There is something magical about visiting a residence. Buckingham Palace has wonderful grounds, and seeing the steps and grass that Charles and Diana walked on when their engagement was announced was excellent. At Windsor Castle you get to see views of some of the finest golf courses in Windsor, at Kensington Palace, on a sunny day, you get wonderful lighting, the red brick palace coming alive in the sunshine.

To walk where your hero's have walked is something else. To see what Diana saw with her own eyes stuns you. On the day Paul and I visited Windsor Castle Prince Edward and Sophie's youngest child, their son, James was being christened. You had a eerie feeling that maybe you were not that far from a royal. Looking out of a window to the grounds, I noticed expensive looking luggage being delivered to a small door. I wondered whose it was. Those moments are priceless.

When you visit these buildings that are hundreds of years old you can't fail to appreciate the history. These buildings were alive and bustling with people hundreds of years before I was born and hopefully will continue to thrive hundreds of years after I've gone. Buckingham Palace was a pensive place. I recall the glorious royal weddings of the 1980's and the now famous appearances on the balcony. But also, you can't help but remember the funeral of Diana, her coffin passing by Buckingham Palace and HM bowing her head in respect. I recall the days after Diana's death, when the row over whether the flag would fly half-mast, people angry with the media and shouting at reporters by the famous iron gates. Those gates alone could tell many a story.

It's nice that HM the Queen has opened up the gates to her residences, giving us the chance to look inside and appreciate our history. Those iconic buildings somehow change from the grey buildings on postcards to a real house where people work and live.

Understandably the palace that moves me the most is Kensington Palace, the residence of my idol, Diana, Princess of Wales. To look through the windows out onto the park and the lake you get to see the views that Diana saw day in, day out. The hustle of staff, the bustle of chauffeurs cleaning cars. Has Diana seen this part of the palace, you ask yourself constantly. Did she have any need to go here, or there. Is that where she parked her car? Was that her private garden? By opening up the doors and allowing us in HM The Queen has given us the chance to ask these questions. To feel close to those we admire.

If ever you have the chance to visit one, or all of these places then do so. You feel royal yourself if even for a few hours. And it gives you a chance for tranquility in an otherwise havoc filled, busy city.

Prince Phillip Says No To A State Funeral

HM's husband, Prince Phillip has refused a state funeral and instead has opted for a private service at St George's Chapel, Windsor and then will be buried at Frogmore alongside Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.

The Prince's funeral plan, named 'Forth Bridge' says that he has requested his coffin be placed on the same gun carriage as Queen Victoria's coffin.

As a naval man it's claimed that a hymn of his choice is 'For Those On Peril On The Sea'.

Prince Phillip is the longest serving consort.

The Queen is said to want a state funeral for her husband to be held at Westminster Abbey but he has refused opting for a private one instead.

All major Royals have plans drawn up for their funerals. The person involved is involved with the planning of the funeral. The state funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales used the plan for the Queen Mothers funeral which caused distress to the Queen Mother. However, due to the suddenness of Diana's death, there was no other option but to use it.

Happy Birthday, Phillip!

I wish to send a belated birthday congratulations to Prince Phillip.

The Prince celebrated his 87th birthday by attending a joint engagement with his wife, HM The Queen.

His birthday celebrations remained private.

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.

Prince Charles Has Minor Surgery

The Prince of Wales has undergone minor surgery to remove non-cancerous growths from his face. A Clarence House spokesman said it was a 'routine and minor matter'. The Prince's mother, HM The Queen underwent similar surgery to remove non-cancerous facial growths in 2003.

I wish Prince Charles a speedy recovery.

HM The Queen Bans Royals From Selling Out

It has been reported today that HM The Queen has banned some members of her family from selling exclusive rights to magazines such as Hello! for occasions such as weddings and christenings.

As the furore over the £500,000 sale of Peter and Autumn Phillips wedding to Hello! continues HM has insisted that no more members of her immediate family copy the actions of the newlyweds.

HM is said to be fuming that she is pictured in the magazine despite strict instructions that no immediate family members were shown. The Queens daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex is featured dancing and HM herself is present in several shots. Also cross are Princes's Harry and William who realised that over the 1oo pages the wedding was featured on their girlfriends, Chelsy Davy and Kate Middleton appeared on twenty of them, despite the girls entering the church privately as not to take the spotlight off the newlyweds.

Peter, who is popular with William and Harry is claimed to have personally assured the Princes that neither girl would be featured.

However, it seems that minor royals such as Lady Helen Windsor and Viscount Linley would still be able to sell to the magazine as in past editions anything concerning them features solely on them and not on any other member of the family.

Chelsy Meets Granny

Prince Harry's girlfriend, Chelsy Davy attended the wedding of Peter and Autumn Phillips at the weekend. According to Royal sources it was the first time she was introduced to HM The Queen. By all reports the meeting went well.

Harry seems enamoured with Chelsy though the relationship hasn't been without it's troubles. Like most young couples they have broken up briefly after stories of Harry cheating on his drunken nights out. However he must be serious about her to introduce her to the Queen.

In 1987 I brought a book called 'Diana Vs Sarah: The Royal Fashion Wars'. This picture of Kate and Chelsy brought back memories of that book. Perhaps one day in the not so distant future it will be 'Kate Vs Chelsy: The New Royal Fashion War'.

Zara And Mike Tindall: A Too Modern Royal Couple?

Mike Tindall, boyfriend of Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Phillips has been arrested for drink driving while driving to Twickenham to watch a game of rugby.

The previous day both Mike and Zara were seen drinking copious amounts of champagne at the Cheltenham races. Mr Tindall was so drunk that he was seen vomiting on himself and Miss Phillip' was said to have been so drunk that she fell of her chair and hit her head on a table. Miss Phillips private detective took them both back to her house on her mothers Gatcombe estate.

The couple, who have been dating since they met at a rugby game in Sydney in 2003 seem to be solid. There are no rumours of relationship difficulties and adultery. However, the amount the two drink is said to be worrying.

I appreciate that Mr Tindall and Miss Phillips are still young. But being born royal (even if you don't have a royal title) does come with responsibility as much as the person may not like it. She may not be as much a public figure as her more media friendly cousins, but, she is still representing the most powerful family in Britain.

I shall imagine that HM will not be too pleased to see such stories about her granddaughter become public. I'm sure she also feels as though she has had more then enough of the drinking culture around William, Harry and Princess Beatrice.

I am slightly disappointed. I thought that Zara was more grounded then this. Having a drink is fine, every one does at the races, but drinking to excess is not appealing and when your a royal, even a minor one, it will always make the papers.

I admire Zara. Her achievements in her chosen sport are inspiring. Please don't go down the route that your cousin Harry has Zara, where every good act, every achievement drowns amongst the negative stories of drunken behaviour. Your better then that.