• They gave what? Politicians go rogue with royal wedding gifts

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    Prince William and Kate Middleton said they didn’t want wedding gifts; instead, the couple kindly requested guests make charity donations.

    Now we know why: The presents? They ain’t all that spectacular.

    While sweet and thoughtful, London mayor’s gift of a twin bicycle seems a bit comical. Boris Johnson said he thought his contribution would help the couple get around – chauffeur-free – when they get back to their home in Anglesey, Wales.


    “It is only fitting that we thank the happy couple for shining such a glorious light on our capital with a bespoke gift,” Johnson said when he addressed the crowds gathered at Trafalgar Square on Friday. “'I look forward to seeing the newlyweds on tandem wheels as they start their new life.” (This isn’t Johnson’s first semi-awkward gift: In 2008, he was criticized for giving New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg a London Undergound T-shirt.)  

    Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper decided to promote his country’s landscape in his gift of wilderness gear. The newlyweds are expected to visit Canada in late June, and Harper thought they could use a few tools to  better "experience Canada's natural splendor."

    Meanwhile, British prime minister David Cameron acknowledged that William and Kate have “probably got everything,” so he bestowed them with a coffee table book featuring photos of the Welsh Island of Anglesey.

    All these gifts likely weren't easy decisions, because really, what does one get the couple that does indeed has it all, including a custom wedding song from George Michael?

    Related: Charles’ reception speech included balding jokes, Kate appreciation
    Kisses seal marriage of William and Kate

    Show more
  • Royal wedding style: Get the shoes, dresses, nail polish and more

    Kate Middleton was radiant, classy and elegant. Now that the royal wedding is over, we're faced with a pressing question: How can we get her look? While you may not have the luxury of top fashion designers at your Buckingham beck and call, there are a few items you can snag:

    So perhaps it wasn't Kate's stunning wedding dress, but her day-after attire was certainly lovely – and now, attainable. The new royal celebrated her new status with a $89 polyester frock from Zara as she left Buckingham Palace. [via]

    Zara; John Stillwell / Pool via EPA

    A fan of the simple and natural (she does her own makeup), Kate opted for a soft blush color on her manicured hands – Essie nail polish in “Allure” ($8) mixed with Bourjois Rose Lounge no. 28, (£5.99). “Nothing is more classic or elegant than a perfectly flawless pale pink manicure,” said Essie Weingarten, Founder and President of Essie Cosmetics, in a news release. 

    Essie


    On the pricier side are the ivory duchesse satin with lace heels Kate wore down the aisle at Wesminster Abbey. The bride’s pair was hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen, but you can order a nearly identical style from designer shopping site Net-a-porter. The price of walking in a princess’ shoes? A cool $995. [via]

    net-a-porter.com

    Oh wait, Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton isn't designing your wedding gown? How very plebian of you. If you want Kate's wedding dress without the hassle of assigning a designer the task, companies have already begun re-creating the magic of Middleton's dress: ABS and Faviana have already started the production process the minute Middleton revealed her gown.

    Bruce Adams / Zuma Press

    And if emulating the newly-dubbed Duchess of Cambridge is too intimidating, you can steal wedding guests' fashion instead. U.K. first lady Samantha Cameron pulled a Michelle Obama by showing up to the royal festivities in affordable “Samella” nude stilletos by Aldo. The chic high-heeled sandals were just recently reduced  from $90 to $59.98 – a far more affordable acessory than say,  a ridiculous cthulhu (anyone figure out how to pronounce that yet?) fascinator, as demonstrated by Princess Beatrice. [via]

    Aldo

    Related: Kate Middleton’s royal style
    Finally, Kate's wedding gown revealed!

  • Royal wedding's hidden star? Pippa Middleton

    Paul Rogers / AFP - Getty Images

    Kate's sister Pippa Middleton, arriving at the royal wedding, has become a celebrity in her own right.

    Three days after the royal wedding it’s not the bride and groom that are on the minds of royal wedding watchers everywhere – it’s Pippa Middleton, Kate’s sister and maid of honor.

    Philippa, or Pippa as she is known, has captured the attention and admiration of men and women from around the world after appearing at Westminster Abbey in a figure-hugging ivory dress. After Will and Kate – now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – left Buckingham Palace for their weekend mini-moon, the British tabloids turned their attention to Kate’s younger sister, labeling her the world’s most eligible woman, and proclaiming “Pippa goes global.” One newspaper even had a how-to guide on getting a bum like Pippa’s.

    Ian Gavan / Getty Images

    Pippa Middleton departs the Goring Hotel in London on Saturday after the wedding of her sister to Prince William.

    Several Facebook groups admiring her, um, “assets,” sprouted up within hours of the wedding, including the “Pippa Middleton **s Appreciation Society” with nearly 140,000 likes, and the “Pippa Middleton is single - Prince Harry likes this” with more than 91,000 likes. In the days since the wedding, her name has also lit up Twitter, with boys admiring her derriere and girls expressing their hopes of looking like her.  

    Pippa, who works at her family’s company Party Pieces as well as at the event planning firm Table Talk, has long been on the London social scene – in 2008, Tatler magazine named her the nation’s most eligible singleton and the papers have long chronicled her comings and goings on the party circuit.

    But after her world-wide coming out party at the royal wedding, and as the sister to the Duchess of Cambridge, Pippa's star has risen to a new level. And with Kate now tucked securely away inside the royal palaces and unlikely to head out on any unannounced London shopping sprees, Pippa will probably keep her place at the top of the tabloids.

    But sorry boys, it looks like Pippa may be off the market. She's in a relationship with banker and former cricket player Alex Loudon, and the couple is rumored to soon be announcing their engagement.

    Pippa Middleton, Kate's maid of honor, arrives at Westminster Abbey with a bevy of young bridesmaids and page boys. 

    NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports on the post-royal wedding festivities and talks about the postponed honeymoon and the buzz surrounding maid of honor Pippa Middleton.

  • Report: Charles' reception speech included balding jokes

    John Stillwell / PA / Pool via EPA

    Prince Charles walks with Prince William, followed by the Catherine and Camilla as they leave Clarence House to travel to Buckingham Palace for the evening celebrations in central London, Britain.

    How did Prince Charles honor his son Prince William at the royal wedding reception? Only with just a few jabs at the groom's receding hairline.

    According to the Daily Mail, the elder prince toasted the newlyweds at Buckingham Palace – and managed to poke a little fun before 650 guests.

     “The Prince of Wales made a few jokes about his bald patch and his son’s bald patch, saying it must be hereditary,” said  guest Susie Lea, a friend of the Middleton family, in an  interview with the Daily Mail. “He was stood slightly up on a small stand so he was looking down on William to his left. William smiled, he was amused. Kate looked amused as well.”


    But it reportedly wasn’t all just humor and royal family hair jokes. Another attendee described how Charles also spoke of his great appreciation for the newly-dubbed Duchess of Cambridge and wished the young couple a happy, healthy marriage.

    “William spoke very well but it was Charles who really gave high praise to his daughter-in-law,” said guest Dr. Robert Acheson , a Middleton family and friend Kate’s former primary school headmaster. “He said they were really lucky to have a daughter like her... The speech really brought a tear to the eye.”

    Prince William to return to work before honeymoon abroad http://bit.ly/mx7jHE

    Finally, Kate's royal wedding gown revealed! http://bit.ly/jrh2u8



  • Prince William to return to work before honeymoon abroad

    That was fun. Now back to work.

    Prince William may have spent Friday exchanging historic vows and driving a decked-out Aston Martin, but come next week, he’ll be reporting back to duty. (It’s all fun and palace games till one's back to being a search-and-rescue pilot.)

    The bikinis and bubbly will have to wait as royal officials announced that the newlywed will postpone a honeymoon abroad with his new wife.


    "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen not to depart for a honeymoon immediately," St James's Palace said in a statement, referring to the couple by their new titles bestowed by Queen Elizabeth.

    "The locations of both their private weekend before The Duke returns to work and their future honeymoon, which will be overseas, will not be disclosed in advance," it said, adding that the couple will spend the weekend in Britain, although not at their Welsh home.

    Looks like the royal couple are keeping with tradition: Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent the first part of their honeymoon at the royal family's home in Hampshire, England.

    John Stillwell / Pool via Reuters

    Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, walk together in Buckingham Palace, following their wedding on Friday. (John Stillwell / Pool via Reuters)

    Spotted: Relaxed royal couple leaving Buckingham Palace http://bit.ly/l0pTY2
    Will and Kate leave the palace in style http://tinyurl.com/3k4egd4

    Historian Andrew Roberts discusses the reason for postponed honeymoon.

    With reporting from the Associated Press

  • Spotted: Relaxed royal couple leaving Buckingham Palace

    They might not be on their honeymoon yet, but the newly anointed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked pretty happy and calm as they walked hand in hand from Buckingham Palace — the day after their wedding — to a waiting helicopter.

    John Stillwell/PA

    John Stillwell/PA

    John Stillwell / Pool via Reuters

    John Stillwell / Pool via Reuters

    Will and Kate leave the palace in style http://bit.ly/kUSe3p
    Finally, Kate's royal wedding gown revealed! http://bit.ly/jrh2u8

    The gown heard 'round the world http://on.today.com/mytL5C

  • Kate's McQueen evening gown revealed

    John Stillwell / AP

    Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, left, leaves Clarence House, London, with Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall to travel to Buckingham Palace for the evening celebrations following her wedding to Britain's Prince William, Friday April 29, 2011.

    Kate changes her dress for dinner, wearing a strapless white satin gown and angora cardigan to the black tie reception this evening at Buckingham Palace after today's wedding festivities. This gown, along with her stunning wedding dress, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, and features diamante detailing at the waist.

    Tell us what you think about the dress!
    Finally, Kate's royal wedding gown revealed! http://bit.ly/jrh2u8
    Slideshow: Kate Middleton’s royal style 
    Slideshow:
    Flashy fashion from the royal wedding

  • Regal recaps: The royal wedding in 3 minutes (or 150 plus)

    Across America, people arose before dawn Friday to witness the first royal wedding in a generation. Some donned tiaras and quaffed champagne to celebrate the occasion, while others opted for strong coffee and watched what they could before embarking on their busy days.

    And there was a lot to see: the cheering crowds, the arriving celebrities and royalty, the exchange of vows, the first glimpse of Kate's dress, the first (and second!) wedded kiss, and more. Fortunately, you can enjoy all of it at your leisure with a special, one-of-a-kind commemorative DVD from NBC News that includes all of those highlights, as well as the entire wedding ceremony -- uninterrupted. With more than two and a half hours of in-depth coverage, it's a perfect memento of a momentous event. To purchase your copy for only $19.98 (and see more royal wedding keepsakes), go to NBCstore.com/RoyalWedding.

    But even if you have only mere moments to spare, you can still get you fair share of pomp and circumstance -- by viewing this three-miute recap of the wedding of Will and Kate:

    From Princess Catherine's walk down the aisle to her kiss with Prince William, TODAY relives the fairy-tale wedding of the royals.

     

  • Beckham prompts debate: Why did he wear medal incorrectly?

    Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

    David and Victoria Beckham arrive at the royal wedding on April 29.

    The royal wedding may be over, but a number of questions remain unanswered: Where will William and Kate honeymoon? Did Lady Gaga design Princess Beatrice’s hat? Has Grace Van Cutsem already used up her allotted 15 minutes of fame?

    While most of the sleepy-eyed world ponders these questions, soccer fans – who for the most part, can only be roused from bed before sun up for early kick-offs – are also getting in on the fun: Did David Beckham knowingly wear his Office of the British Empire medal on the wrong lapel?


    Take a peek at the photo above. The England star is wearing his medal on the right lapel. The award, which according to the monarchy’s official website, “recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds,” is intended to be worn on the left side, according to various reports.

    Some have speculated that the former Manchester United star wore the medal incorrectly as a tribute to his father, while others point to Becks’ history of pushing style boundaries.

    Others – including yours truly – thinks that after this showing, the man has taken one too many soccer balls to the head.

    More coverage from The Windsor Knot:
    Beckhams, Elton John among many celebrities crowding into abbey
    Slideshow: Royal wedding's flashy fashion

  • Will and Kate leave the palace in style

    Sean Gallup / Getty Images

    NBC News

    Christopher Furlong / Getty Images

    To top off their morning of matrimony, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hopped into a stunning Seychelles blue convertible Aston Martin DB6 for a quick, regal  and unprecedented spin around the ceremonial approach route of Buckingham Palace, much to the rapturous surprise of the lingering assemblage of well-wishers.

    The royal wheels – owned by Prince William’s father, The Prince of Wales – runs on the sustainable fuel E85 bioethanol, made from English wine wastage. The eco-friendly auto boasted a trail of decorations, balloons and a license plate bearing the legend JU5T WED. 

    Many have speculated that the bright red L plate on the grill of the James Bond-style vehicle signified that the Prince was still a rookie behind the wheel. But fret not, motorists! It’s probably just a royal inside jape, as Prince William successfully passed his drivers’ test in 1999.

     

    Prince William and Princess Catherine surprise fans with a drive-by in Prince Charles' Aston Martin Volante DB6, with license plate JU5T WED.

  • Now THAT'S a fruitcake! Palace reveals pix of the giant pastry

    Wpa Pool / Getty Images

    Bakers from Fiona Cairns Ltd of Leicestershire put the finishing touches on the royal fruitcake at the queen's luncheon reception.

    By Amy DiLuna

    Buckingham Palace just released details of the queen's lunchtime reception.

    And in addition to nearly 10,000 sweet and savory canapes in 22 varieties, 650 guests will get a piece of the most hotly anticipated item on the menu: That wedding fruitcake we've been hearing all about.

    Video: make your own royal treats!

    Wpa Pool / Getty Images

    The eight-tiered confection features almost 900 frosting flowers.

     

    Made of 17 individual cakes that make up eight tiers, it's decorated with "up to 900 individually iced flowers" and a garland design that matches the architecture of Buckingham Palace's Picture Gallery, the room in which 650 lucky guests will get a piece.

    The towering dessert is "the wedding cake of choice for anyone who wants a traditional looking, elegant wedding cake."

    And Prince William did get that chocolate biscuit cake he'd been craving. So everyone's happy -- and full.

     

  • Nice wedding and all, but can you please keep it down?

    Matt Dunham / AP

    Please, I'm trying to think here!

    It's destined to become an iconic image: Newlyweds William and Kate share a sweet kiss on a Buckingham Palace balcony, as the adoring crowds gathered below roared their approval.

    Well, almost everyone approved. If you're 3, apparently, it was all just a bit too LOUD.


     Who is this little scene-stealer?

    She's bridesmaid Grace Van Cutsem, the goddaughter of Prince William, the daughter of Lady Rose Astor and Hugh Van Cutsem -- close family friends who have known the prince since childhood. Grace's uncle, Edward Van Cutsem, was a pageboy at Prince Charles and Lady Diana's wedding. And we have a suspicion there's a royal nap in her near future.