Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Royal tent city: If you were hoping for a spot near the Abbey... you're too late!

By MATT BLAKE

Royal fever: People camping in tents opposite Westminster Abbey have assured themselves a good view


Anyone still hoping they can get close to the action outside Westminster Abbey better think again because the area opposite the historic church has turned into a camp site full of Royal fans desperate for the best spot for tomorrow's wedding.

The run-up to the nuptials, which are set to be watched by billions worldwide, has proved a quintessentially English affair - with tea, cakes, tiaras, bunting and flags all on show in and around Parliament Square.


Right royal celebration: Tents lining the cobbled pavement as the world's press do their rounds


Thousands of diehard Royalists from across the world have descended on the patch of central London outside the Abbey as they vie to secure the best viewing position before Kate and Prince William marry.

Many have already camped out for several nights and have come with their tents, sleeping bags and even gazebos as they attempt to cater for all potential turns in the weather.


One girl takes a load off on an inflated pink sofa as they camp out in Parliament Square and (right) Royal fans wrapped up in sleeping bags to keep the cold out


Huddling together for warmth overnight, they passed around flasks of tea, shared crosswords and pinned reels of bunting to any surface available as they prepared for the Royal event of the decade.

As dawn broke over the historic church, a sea of red, white and blue emerged as hundreds of tents lined the cobbled pavement.

Bewildered tourists were left little space to squeeze past on their way to London's other sights, which have paled into insignificance by the most anticipated Royal wedding since Prince Charles married Lady Diana in 1981.

Some onlookers even wrapped themselves in their Union Flags to beat the brisk morning air, which they will soon unfurl when Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive tomorrow.


Britain's got passion: Amanda Holden quizzes campers outside Westminster Abbey today


Tight squeeze: Some 24 hours before the ceremony, the pavement is already packed


Christopher Farrow, 50, was propping himself up on the barricade, wearing a William and Kate tea towel and a Union flag round his waist, with two flags on sticks tucked into his waistband.

Mr Farrow, from Nottingham, said: 'I can't wait. This is what makes Britain great.
Because of people like us camping out, everybody else wants to get involved.'

'There will be billions of people watching -- and I will be seeing it with my own eyes. I'm going to go absolutely mad -- cheer, shout and wave my flags.'


A long night: Diehards stir as the sun rises with 24 hours to go before the Royal event of the decade



Royal watchers wearing tiaras talk amongst the tents outside the entrance the historic church


Nice lie in: A man sleeps in his open tent covered in a Union Flag duvet


Some fans pitched camp as early as two days ago in a bid to get as close to the action as possible.

John Loughrey, 56, was the first to arrive last night with only a sleeping bag and two carrier bags at the start of a week-long vigil to ensure a prime position for the event.

He was dressed in a Kate and William T-shirt, emblazoned with the words 'Diana Would Be Proud' with the images of Kate and William tied round his waist and a Union flag hat.


Cold time: The royal watchers had camped out all night in a bid to get the best spot to see the event


Carnival: Campers set up trellis tables and passed round sandwiches to get through the cold night


Tornado GR4 aircraft take off from RAF Coningsby station in Lincolnshire for a fly-past rehearsal


Union Flag and George Cross flag bunting hangs outside the Lamb and Flag pub in central London


source: dailymail

Kate arrives to cheers from thousands camped outside Abbey

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

New picture: This portrait of the Prince William and Kate Middleton by celebrated photographer Mario Testino was published in the official programme


Couple trying to 'block out terror' of wedding watched by two billion

Kate will vow to 'love, comfort, honour and keep' William

Royal pair broke with tradition by writing own message in official programme

150,000 souvenir copies of A5 guide available tomorrow for £2 each


Kate Middleton and Prince Harry at the Abbey this morning for the last run-through. Two billion people are expected to watch the ceremony tomorrow


Kate Middleton arrived at Westminster Abbey today where she was cheered by crowds of wellwishers just 24 hours before she marries Prince William.

She was joined by best man Prince Harry, as well as the bridesmaids and pageboys and members of her family for one final rehearsal of the big day which will be watched by two billion people round the globe.

The last run-through was taking place as it was revealed Miss Middleton will not promise to 'obey' Prince William in her vows.


Last practice: Kate Middleton, with her mother Carole and Prince Harry, gets into a Jaguar and leaves Westminster Abbey this morning after a final run through. The next time she will be back there will be for the wedding


Today thousands of royal fans had set up tents outside the Abbey where there was a carnival atmosphere.

As Kate arrived this morning a huge cheer went up from the royal fans who had arriving from round the globe.

Waving their Union flags, the crowds were up only to wave to the passing Household Cavalry this morning before the bride-to-be arrived for a last run through.


Grinning bride: A smiling Kate Middleton, right, arrives at Westminster Abbey for the last run through. Left, her sister Pippa enters with bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem


It is the last time Miss Middleton or a member of the Royal Family will be at the abbey before the service gets under way tomorrow, St James's Palace said.

Today the journalist who carried out the couple's engagement interview said they were attempting to 'block out the terror of having two billion people' watching them tomorrow.


Last hours: Kate Middleton and Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey with family and friends this morning just a day before the ceremony after the final run through


Official programme: William and Kate said in their message at the start of the keepsake that they would like 'to thank everyone most sincerely for their kindness'



Wellwishers: Susanna Buckman, from Maryland, U.S. and Jessica and Chelsea Spence from Zimbabwe in the tented village outside Westminster Abbey this morning


Royal father: Prince Charles arrives at Clarence House this morning hours before his son marries Kate Middleton tomorrow


Wedding guide: Kate will not vow to 'obey' William it was revealed in vows printed in the official guide this morning. Pictured right, Kate Middleton leaves the final rehearsal last night ahead of the big day


Final preparations: The household cavalry ride past Westminster Abbey early this morning on the day before the Royal Wedding


Clock ticking: Kate Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey with Prince Harry for today's rehearsal ahead of the wedding tomorrow



Final rehearsal: Prince William and fiancee Kate Middleton leave Westminster Abbey together last night after a last wedding run through


Catering staff are scanned as they enter Westminster Abbey this morning


Beaming: Bride-to-be Kate Middleton as she leaves Westminster Abbey this morning


By Royal Appointment: Page boy Tom Pettifer, eight, and Lady Louise Windsor arrive for the rehearsals this morning






Final countdown: Tents line the street outside Westminster Abbey this morning where William and Kate will wed in a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury


Run-through: Sophie Wessex, left, arrives at Clarence House this morning and, right, Kate Middleton's mother Carole leaves for Westminster Abbey


Official programme: 150,000 copies have been printed of the A5 booklet, costing £2 each, which will be made available along the route on the wedding day by a team of military cadets and Explorer Scouts


Royal fans: Enthusiasts sleep on the streets - one of them in a tent adorned with a Union Jack - outside Westminster Abbey as they guarantee themselves the best spots for tomorrow's ceremony


Tent city: Hundreds of campers were set up outside Westminster Abbey this morning and cheered as Kate Middleton and senior members of the Royal family arrived for a run through


Exclusive entrance: Workmen erect a screen at the front of The Goring hotel which Kate Middleton has chosen as a base for herself and her closest family ahead of the royal wedding




Royal pizza unveiled



source: dailymail

Very subtle! Kate Garraway shows her support for the Royal Wedding

By SARAH BULL

Patriotic: Kate Garraway wore a Union Jack printed dress as she arrived at the ITV studios this morning


She's not a celebrity usually known for her sense of style.

And today Daybreak presenter Kate Garraway made something of a fashion blunder as she decided to show her support for the Royal Wedding by stepping out in a plunging Union Jack maxi dress.

The 43-year-old presenter looked delighted with her patriotic outfit as she arrived at the ITV studios this morning.


Dramatic: But ITV bosses later ruled it was 'too much' for her to wear on air


However, Daybreak's Entertainment Editor Garraway later tweeted that ITV bosses had ruled the dress was 'too much' for her to wear on air.

She wrote on her Twitter page: 'Gettin in the mood 4 the RW - " powers that be" say " too much" for on air - what u think??!!'

An ITV source later said that Garraway's outfit for Friday is already planned and the presenter was being tongue in cheek with her comments.


Delighted: Kate looked delighted with her outfit, chosen especially ahead of Friday's Royal Wedding


source: dailymail

Monday, March 28, 2011

Meet Aiden, Rod Stewart's eighth baby and, he says, his last

By LIZ THOMAS

Happy Family: Rod Stewart with Penny Lancaster and their second - his eighth - baby


It looks like a photo of a family spanning three generations. Of course, in fact it shows only two.

Rod Stewart poses with wife Penny Lancaster and son Aiden after becoming a father for the eighth time, aged 66.

The couple, who have another son, five-year-old Alistair, spent two years trying to conceive and Miss Lancaster, 39, underwent three rounds of IVF.


This week's Hello! magazine


They said they were so nervous that they kept news of the pregnancy secret for as long as possible.

Stewart said: 'Aiden truly is a miracle. In the beginning we took it for granted that our second child would be as easy to conceive as Alistair was, but the long journey was more than worth it.'

The singer said that Aide, born on February 16, looks like him.

And he told this week's Hello! magazine: 'My way of settling him when he's crying from colic is to carry him around, singing to him.'

Stewart has previously said Aiden will be his last child, adding: 'I can't have any more kids, otherwise I'll be touring until I'm 90.'

But he admitted he would to 'pretty much anything' to keep Miss Lancaster happy - so the final decision could be down to her.


He admitted that he would do 'pretty much anything' to keep Miss Lancaster happy

source: dailymail

Make-up free Lindsay Lohan channels Native America look

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

New look: Lindsay Lohan pictured out for lunch with a friend in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles yesterday


Lindsay Lohan opted for an eye-catching new look as she ventured out in Los Angeles yesterday.

The troubled actress, who was wearing barely a scrap of make-up, channelled the Native American look by wearing her hair in plaits.

She was joined by a male friend as they dined at The Otherroom in Venice Beach - just down the road from the jewellery store where she allegedly stole a $2,500 necklace.


Trendy: The actress teamed her Pocahontas-style hair with a below-the-knee tribal-inspired sweater


Lindsay teamed her Pocahontas-style hair with a below-the-knee tribal-inspired sweater.

The 24-year-old has now dropped her surname and wants to be known as just Lindsay.
Her reasoning is not to create a stronger showbiz brand, according to her mother Dina, however.

The 48-year-old, who also revealed that she and daughter Ali, 17, will be losing the name too - said the decision was taken to distance herself from disgraced father Michael.


ut and about: The actress dined at The Otherroom, just down the road from the jewellery store where she allegedly stole a $2,500 necklace


TMZ reports today that Major has got a protective order from a judge in Florida ordering Michael to stay 500 feet away from her and have no other contact.

According to the website, she is afraid of Michael coming after her from coast-to-coast, prompting her to ask a judge 2,500 away in Sarasota County to protect her from him.


Family feud: The actress and her mother Dina don't want to be associated with Michael Lohan and dropping their last name


Michael was charged last week with assaulting her. In court documents she claims 'he took a wet towel over my mouth + nose + was strangling me' before throwing her against the footrest of the bed.

She further claimed he sliced himself with a razor blade and said if she went to police 'he would say I injured him. He is insane'.

Michael claims Major assaulted him.

While his daughter might be dropping her surname, her mother Dina and sister Ali will use the maiden name Sullivan.

However, it's believed that her brother, Michael Lohan, Jnr, 22, will keep his father's name.


Lindsay Lohan is changing her name



source: dailymail

Vanessa Hudgens celebrates Sucker Punch release by hosting Las Vegas party in snakeskin jumpsuit

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Party girl: Vanessa hosted Pure nightclub in Las Vegas as her film Sucker Punch was released in the U.S


Her latest action film has just been released in the U.S and to celebrate Vanessa Hudgens hosted Pure nightclub in Las Vegas last night.

The Sucker Punch star partied in a beige snakeskin jumpsuit with an Indian-inspired jewelled head piece to garnish the ensemble.

The 22-year-old appeared to be enjoying herself at the club inside Caesars Hotel and was joined by her mother Gina at the party.


Family celebrations: Vanessa's mother Gina joined her at the club to give praise to her daughter's succesfull film


And she had plenty to celebrate, as the film wound up in the second spot at the weekend Box Office, raking in $20million (£12million).

The Zack Snyder directed film was beaten to the top spot by Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 2, which brought in approximately $24million (£15million).


Goofing around: Vanessa posed for photographers in her snakeskin jumpsuit and Indian-inspired jewelled headpiece


Vanessa plays Blondie in the thriller, which sees her co-star Baby Doll, played by Emily Browning, locked away in a mental asylum by her wicked stepfather where she will undergo a lobotomy in five days time.

Blondie is a fictitious character made up in Baby Doll's mind, along with three other imaginary female inmates, that she creates as part of a fantasy world to retreat from her doom.


Box office hit: The film wound up in the second spot at the weekend Box Office, raking in $20million (£12million

Role play: Vanessa plays Blondie in the thriller, which is a fictitious character created by her co-star Baby Doll


Just beaten: The Zack Snyder directed film was beaten to the top spot at the U.S Box Office by Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 2



Worse for wear: The night before Vanessa was seen looking worse for wear and took a tumble when her Chanel quilted handbag slipped off her shoulder and landed on the ground


The night before heading to Vegas, the actress was partying at the Trousdale nightclub in West Hollywood.

Vanessa was seen looking worse for wear and took a tumble when her Chanel quilted handbag slipped off her shoulder and landed on the ground – sending the contents flying across the street.

But as her mobile phone and red lip gloss fell to the ground, she saw the funny side of the embarrassing mishap and just giggled about it.


Sucker Punch trailer Painter US 2011


source: dailymail