Wednesday, 13 September 2017

Prince William says how Prince George would love a life-size Lego car

Prince William says how Prince George would love a life-size Lego car

He may be the future king, but Prince George is just like every other four-year-old.

On Tuesday, the Duke of Cambridge toured McLaren's design and production centres in Woking, Surrey where he got an up close view of the 280,000 Lego-brick version of the 720s road car. Upon viewing it, Prince William exclaimed: "Wow! My son would love this!"

Adding on: "My son's very into Lego, and he'd love this: it's incredible!"

For the ‘big kids', Prince William got to take a seat in the real version of the car.

"I am a car enthusiast," the Duke of Cambridge said. "I don't know very much about cars, but I like speed."

Although, despite his modesty, he did understand one of the biggest selling features of any car- cup holders.

"The key question is: does it have a coffee cup holder? It's a fast car, but does it have a coffee cup holder?"

In a comprehensive tour of the site's innovative design area and production floor, the Duke was also given the opportunity to put the finishing touches on another model of the £210,000 720s, fitting its iconic badge to the front bonnet.

A former Air Ambulance pilot, Prince William was able to draw on his past experience from flying to the supercars.

Chief executive Mike Flewitt gave the Duke his tour of their facilities. Speaking to the Evening Standard, he said: "A lot of his knowledge is actually from aircraft, and he was drawing parallels with what he knows from helicopters, aeroplanes and that side of the world."

One future owner of the £210,000 720s will have an extra special feature as Prince Wiliam fitted the badge to the front bonnet.
Prince William says how Prince George would love a life-size Lego car
@KensingtonRoyal/Twitter
From the glamour of the showroom, Prince William spoke to the assembly staff and McLaren's star Alex Machin.

At only 17-years-old, Machin is the Manufacturing Magazine Awards apprentice of the year.
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Saturday, 9 September 2017

Prince Charles comments on Prince George's first day of school

Prince Charles comments on Prince George's first day of school

Prince Charles has commented on Prince George’s first day at school.

Prince George started at his new school on Thursday.

While speaking to ITV News about Prince George’s first day at school, Prince Charles joked when asked if he had any advice for the young prince. He said “Course not! He wouldn’t take it from me at that age.”

Prince Charles said that at “that age you don’t worry quite so much about going to school than when you get a bit older.”

Prince George looked nervous as he walked into the grounds of his new school. The Duchess of Cambridge wasn’t there to be with him as she is suffering from morning sickness. This follows the announcement that the Duke and Duchess are expecting their third child.

Prince Charles, talking about Prince George, said: “Poor old thing. He’s been left there to have to get on with it. When the parents go away is always the problem.”

He said that he would be “interested to hear how he get on.”

He also added “It’s good for you, in the end, I suppose. It’s character building.”

Speaking later on in the day, the Duke of Cambridge said that Prince George had a “good day” and that it was a “nice school”, Prince William joked that he was pleased that another parent had problems and that it was not just him.

Prince George is attending Thomas’s Battersea, a private school which is just a 30-minute drive from Kensington Palace.

The school costs a massive £17,604 a year. However, this is likely to come out of the Duchy of Cornwall rather than from the tax payer.

The Duchy of Cornwall is a collection of investments of land. Prince Charles voluntarily pays tax on the Duchy income which in turns supports the Prince of Wales and his family.
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Thursday, 7 September 2017

Prince George wasn't the only royal starting at Thomas's Battersea

Maud Windsor with her father Lord  Frederick Windsor
Maud Windsor with her father Lord  Frederick Windsor
While the eyes were all on the future king starting his education at Thomas's Battersea, another member of the royal family went mostly unnoticed starting her year off at the same school.

Maud Windsor, daughter of Lord Fredrick Windsor and Lady Sophie of Windsor, was all smiles as she entered the school with her father.

The four-year-old was dressed in the same smart uniform as Prince George, only swapped out with a skirt rather than shorts and a red ribbon in her hair. Maud will be in the same class as Prince George.
Maud Windsor was dropped off by her father Lord  Frederick Windsor
Maud Windsor was dropped off by her father Lord  Frederick Windsor
Maud's mother was likely at home with her one-year-old sister, Isabella.

Born on the 15th of August 2013 to Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor, Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina is the first grandchild of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, first cousin twice removed of Her Majesty the Queen. She was born at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles. Her parents were based in Los Angles at the time, so Lady Sophie was able to pursue a career in acting.

If it weren't for her distant cousin, Prince George, her attendance at the school would have likely gone by without a blink of an eye.

Prince George was dropped off by his father, the Duke of Cambridge, and looked rather nervous as most four-year-olds are on the first day of school.
Prince George was dropped off by his father the Duke of Cambridge
Prince George was dropped off by his father the Duke of Cambridge
His mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, was unable to join him as she is suffering from the crippling morning sickness that plagued her first two pregnancies. Kensington Palace announced that Catherine was expecting her and William's third child on 4 September. She was forced to pull out of a planned engagement that afternoon and a joint appearance the next day with Princes William and Harry due to the morning sickness.
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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge release photo of Prince George's first day at school

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge release photo of Prince George's first day at school
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge release photo of Prince George's first day at school
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a released a new photograph to mark Prince George's first day at school.

In the photo, Prince George is stood beside his father outside the doors of Kensington Palace.

The two princes are holding hands, as they were early on Thursday morning when William dropped his son off at school for the first time.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share a photograph of The Duke and Prince George at Kensington Palace this morning. The image was taken shortly before Prince George left for his first day of school at Thomas's Battersea.

Their Royal Highnesses are delighted to share this lovely picture as Prince George starts school, and would like to thank everyone for all of the kind messages they have received."
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Prince George begins first day of school

Prince George begins first day of school
Prince George begins first day of school
Prince George has started his first day of school this morning at Thomas’s Battersea dressed in his school uniform of a navy v-neck jumper, matching shorts, and long red socks with his black shoes. His father, the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied his nervous looking son as he arrived.

His mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, was unable to join him as she is suffering from the crippling morning sickness that plagued her first two pregnancies. Kensington Palace announced that Catherine was expecting her and William’s third child on 4 September. She was forced to pull out of a planned engagement that afternoon and a joint appearance the next day with Princes William and Harry due to the morning sickness.

Kensington Palace confirmed this morning that Her Royal Highness would not accompany her husband and son to Thomas’s Battersea saying, “Unfortunately The Duchess of Cambridge remains unwell, and will not be able to accompany Prince George on his first day of school.

“The Duke of Cambridge will drop off Prince George this morning as planned.”

The four-year-old royal greeted the Head of Lower School, Helen Haslem, with a handshake while his father held onto his backpack. She then grabbed George’s left hand and walked him into the school with Prince William. William then stayed with George for around 40 minutes while he got settled into his classroom.

Prince George will be known as George Cambridge to his classmates. Thomas’s Battersea’s motto is “be kind” and requires that students “not just to tolerate but to celebrate difference, including faith, beliefs and culture.”

In addition to traditional subjects, George will be taught French, ballet, drama, art, and physical education at the fee-paying independent school.

Catherine has said in the past that she does not think her son “has any idea what’s going to hit him” as he begins school.

Ben Thomas, the principal of the group of Thomas’s London Day Schools, said today that “there won’t be any special treatment at all” for Prince George. He added, “In fact what his parents would like for him, as any parent would like for their child, is they have a wonderful, fulfilling and private childhood in a place which is secure.”

Thomas explained, “Our aim for him, as well as for all of our pupils, is to provide a safe and secure and happy environment where he feels supported by a kind and loving community. That’s all we will be trying to achieve for him.”

Maud Windsor, the daughter of Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor, also began today at Thomas’s Battersea. She is the granddaughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
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Thursday, 30 March 2017

The Duke Of Cambridge Lays Wreath In Memory Of PC Keith Palmer, Who Was Killed In Terror Attack

The Duke Of Cambridge Lays Wreath In Memory Of PC Keith Palmer

The Duke of Cambridge laid a wreath in the Police Memorial Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum on Wednesday in memory of the police officer killed in the London terror attack.

PC Keith Palmer was stabbed by a terrorist last week as he was guarding the Palace of Westminster.

On the wreath, Prince William left a message which reads: “For PC Keith Palmer, and all those who have served our community so valiantly, your legacy is our way of life.”

The second-in-line to the throne signed the message off with his signature.

The Duke of Cambridge was at the National Memorial Arboretum to officially open the new Remembrance Centre.

When opening the centre, he was acting in the capacity of Patron of the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal.

Forming part of The Royal British Legion, the National Memorial Arboretum has fostered pride in the UK year round since 1997 when it became the nation's centre of Remembrance. The 'living and lasting memorial' stands proudly as a place to honour the fallen and recognise the service and sacrifice of every man and woman who devotes their lives to the defence of UK freedom.

The 'living and lasting memorial' stands proudly as a place to honour the fallen and recognise the service and sacrifice of every man and woman who devotes their lives to the defence of UK freedom.

The Remembrance Centre project received support from many individuals and organisations including lead supporters The Royal British Legion, Staffordshire County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Rolls Royce and the Westminster Foundation. The new Centre features a cloistered courtyard garden, three new exhibition galleries and a larger restaurant and

The new Centre features a cloistered courtyard garden, three new exhibition galleries and a larger restaurant and a shop for visitors.
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Tuesday, 28 March 2017

Duchess Of Cambridge To Conduct Solo Visit To Luxembourg In May

Duchess Of Cambridge To Conduct Solo Visit To Luxembourg In May

The Duchess of Cambridge will visit Luxembourg on 11 May at the request of the Foreign Office, Kensington Palace has announced.

She will attend the commemoration of the 1867 Treaty of London (also called the Second Treaty of London), which reaffirmed the personal union between the Netherlands and Luxembourg under the House of Orange-Nassau and reaffirmed the neutrality of Luxembourg, which was established by the First Treaty of London.

To ensure Luxembourg's neutrality the westward fortifications of Luxembourg City were to be demolished and never to be rebuilt. Their neutrality was especially important after the Luxembourg crisis erupted when French Emperor Napoleon III attempted to buy Luxembourg from King William III.

An independent Luxembourg was of paramount importance to Prussia. The personal union between the Netherlands and Luxembourg ended in 1890 when Queen Wilhelmina ascended the Dutch throne. Luxembourg still knew, which barred women from the throne and as such, Queen Wilhelmina could not become Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. An older branch of the House of Nassau inherited Luxembourg.

The personal union between the Netherlands and Luxembourg ended in 1890 when Queen Wilhelmina ascended the Dutch throne. Luxembourg still knew salic law, which barred women from the throne and as such, Queen Wilhelmina could not become Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. An older branch of the House of Nassau inherited Luxembourg.

The Duchess of Cambridge's visit to Luxembourg is added to a schedule of other European engagements, including an official visit to Poland and Germany in July, which she will visit with her husband, the Duke of Cambridge,  at the specific request of the Foreign Office. The couple recently returned from a two-day visit to Paris. They are not the only British to visit Europe, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are visiting Romania, The Papal See and Austria.
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