THE QUEEN WILL VISIT THE KING GEORGE VI DAY CENTRE

Windsor

Thursday 12th April 2018

Her Majesty The Queen will visit the King George VI Day Centre in Windsor, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Centre’s opening and the 70th anniversary of the Windsor Old People’s Welfare Association. The Queen will tour the facility and meet some of the local residents who use it.

The Windsor Old People’s Welfare Association (WOPWA), a registered charity, was formed in 1948 to help the widows, widowers, and elderly relatives of Windsor residents who lost their lives during the two World Wars. The aim was to build a day centre on land purchased in Clarence Road, Windsor. One of the first financial donations was made by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

In 1958 the building was completed and Her Majesty granted permission for the hall to be named after her father, the late King George VI. The Queen opened the premises in July 1958 and subsequently returned to mark WOPWA’s 25th and 50th anniversaries.

Today, the Centre operates as a lunch and social club, providing a safe and friendly environment for older Windsor residents. Members are encouraged to maintain their independence and wellbeing through activities and social interaction.

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THE KENSINGTON LAUNCHES ‘ROYAL INSPIRED MASTERCLASSES’ TO COMMEMORATE & CELEBRATE THE ROYAL WEDDING

• Celebrating the hotel’s prime location in London’s Royal Borough
• Fun, interactive masterclasses inspired by Meghan’s journey
  
• Masterclasses will include learning to ‘Write like a Royal’, becoming ‘The Hostess with the Mostess’ and tips on ‘Regal Floristry’

In order to celebrate the upcoming nuptials between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 19^th May, The Kensington has announced a series of Royal Inspired Masterclasses in the lead up to the big day. Thanks to its prime location in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, just a stone’s throw away from Kensington Palace, The Kensington is the perfect place to kick off the royal revelries. Each of the three masterclasses have been inspired by Meghan, designed to prepare ‘for life in the Palace’ – featuring fun, interactive evening activities for hotel guests and the public alike. Led by hand-picked experts in their fields, each Masterclass will be accompanied by bubbly and delicious canapes, created by the hotel’s renowned restaurant, Town House.

Become ‘The Hostess with the Mostess’ with Dani Tucker, Founder of The Social Kitchen

Hosting a dinner party is stressful enough, without the added pressure of the guests being the British Royal Family…This masterclass has been designed to teach guests everything from crafting the perfect dinner party menu to dressing a table which is bound to impress even HRH. Dani Tucker, Founder of The Social Kitchen is an author, chef, supper club host and expert on creating beautiful and inspiring dinner parties – perfect for any royal get-together. During the session, participants will learn how to set the perfect dinner table, personalise their own table setting as well as teach participants how to keep their cool throughout the planning process and share some of her most successful recipes to enable them to host their own ‘Instagram Worthy Supper Club’. We all know that Harry popped the question whilst they were roasting a chicken, so guests will go home with Dani’s famous roast chicken recipe so they can recreate the moment at home.

‘Write Like A Royal’ – Calligraphy masterclass with Suzie Dicker, Founder of A L’Aise

Calligraphy is a skill Meghan perfected long before she met Harry and she used it to pay her way through university. The ‘Write Like a Royal’ masterclass with expert calligrapher and founder of bespoke stationary brand A L’Aise, Suzie Dicker, will teach participants how to pen perfectly. Suzie aims to bring each pupil’s individual style and personality into the writing and guests will go home with their own calligraphy guide book, Royal Wedding inspiration sheet, calligraphy pen and pot of ink so they can continue to practice at home.

‘Furnish Your Palace’ with Rockett St George & Saint Floral

With Meghan’s modern, trendy and eclectic style, there is no doubt she will be putting her own touch on the interiors of Kensington Palace. Interior design aficionados Jane Rockett & Lucy St George of Rockett St George and floral stylist Hannah Agnes Antmann of Saint Floral, will share their predictions and latest style trends, as well as guide guests through top tips and help them dress their homes for special occasions ‘fit for a Princess’. They will chat thorough styling techniques, working with colour palettes and interior decoration, all of which can be adopted in the home as well as stylish hired spaces. Saint Floral will teach participants how to curate charmingly wild and experimental arrangements and create the perfect backdrop, bound to impress any guest, Royal or not!

The Kensington is London’s finest townhouse hotel, sitting in the heart of South Kensington, where Queen’s Gate meets the Old Brompton Road and comprises four traditional white Victorian townhouses. Set amongst the leafy squares, museums and parks of the Royal borough, The Kensington feels more like a beautiful private residence than traditional hotel. Town House is the fabulous hotel restaurant, which is interconnected with The Drawing Rooms on the ground floor, ideal for elegant afternoon tea in front of the open fire or a relaxed meeting, while K Bar is their glamorous bar, a perfect hotspot for delicious cocktails and snacks. It comprises of 126 rooms and 24 suites, all of which are individually designed with elegant fabrics and hand-picked furniture to compliment the hotel’s period architecture. Kensington is one of London’s most affluent and exclusive neighbourhoods – home to the monarchy at Kensington Palace since 1689 and the official ‘royal borough’ since 1901.

The Royal Masterclasses at The Kensington will take place on select dates in April and May running from 7pm – 8:30pm and prices start from £35.00 per person.

To book, please visit:

• The Hostess with the Mostess
• Write Like A Royal
• Furnish Your Palace

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL VISIT AUSTRALIA

Brisbane, Australia

4th – 10th April 2018

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will visit Australia, beginning their engagements in Brisbane on Wednesday 4th April. His Royal Highness, accompanied by The Duchess, will represent Her Majesty The Queen at the opening of the XXI Commonwealth Games, reading out Her Majesty’s customary message, calling on athletes to come together in the spirit of friendly competition. Their Royal Highnesses will visit Brisbane & the Gold Coast together; before His Royal Highness continues his visit to Queensland and the Northern Territory, concluding on Tuesday 10th April.

The Prince of Wales will visit Vanuatu on Saturday 7th April, where his programme will include learning more about the reconstruction which has taken place following the devastating impact of Cyclone Pam. His Royal Highness will highlight the challenges faced by Island States vulnerable to the growing threat of climate change, as has been most recently demonstrated by the dreadful effects of Cyclone Gita in Tonga.

In addition to the theme of Commonwealth, the tour will include engagements which focus on the themes of community, sustainability and disaster recovery and resilience; as well as visits which highlight The Prince’s connections to the Australian Armed Forces. The Tour will include visits to Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Bundaberg and Cairns in Queensland, and the Gove Peninsula and Darwin in the Northern Territory. In Vanuatu, The Prince will visit Port Vila on Efate.

Commonwealth Highlights

• The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and will tour the Athletes Village, before His Royal Highness presents medals during the Swimming Finals. In Cairns, The Prince will watch the Women’s Basketball, and will meet the teams after the game.
• Their Royal Highnesses will visit also Commonwealth House on the Gold Coast, a trade and investment hub.
• The Duchess of Cornwall, President of the Women of the World WOW Festival, will host a tea for festival supporters. This year, WOW Brisbane will celebrate the Women of the Commonwealth.

Community Highlights

• The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and will learn about the work of Juiced TV, an entertainment initiative which allows TV programmes to be made by children, for children, ultimately benefitting their health.
• His Royal Highness will tour the Bundaberg Rum distillery, before attending a community event with local residents. During this event, His Royal Highness, President of The Prince’s Trust Australia, will hear more about the work his charity has been doing to partner with local community members to help threatened loggerhead turtles.
• His Royal Highness will attend a reception at Government House in Brisbane hosted by His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey, Governor of Queensland, to celebrate The Prince’s relationship with Australia over 70 years, attended by guests who are also turning 70 this year and some of the inspirational Australians he has met on previous visits to the country.
• In Cairns, The Prince will visit the Royal Flying Doctors Service, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, where he will tour the base, meeting staff, viewing RFDS aircraft and naming a Beechcraft Super King Air 350.
• His Royal Highness will visit Nhulunbuy, on the Gove Peninsula, where he will learn about the work of Dhimurru Rangers who protect and preserve the land, meet the Gumatj Aboriginal Traditional Owners and view the work of local artists at the Yirrkala Arts Centre.

Sustainability engagements include:

• The Prince of Wales will visit a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. 2018 is the International Year of the Reef, and The Prince has been at the forefront of efforts to improve coral reef health and resilience in light of the threats these valuable eco-systems face from climate change, over fishing, land based pollution and direct physical damage. His Royal Highness will be joined during this visit by Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin, and will attend a Roundtable on Coral Resilience.
• The Prince will visit the Daintree Rainforest, where he will attend a Roundtable on Sustainable Forestry and learn about more about the unique ecosystem of the rainforest.

Disaster Recovery & Resilience engagements include:   

• The Prince of Wales will tour the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in Darwin. Teams based at the centre are trained to deal with natural disasters and terrorist attacks. In 2015, following the devastating Cyclone Pam, members of the Australian Medical Assistance Team deployed to Vanuatu, providing treatment to 1341 patients.
• In Vanuatu, The Prince will visit the Chief’s Nakamal and Port Vila Central Hospital, both of which were severely damaged by Cyclone Pam and have subsequently been restored.

Military Highlights

• During a visit to HMAS Cairns, The Prince of Wales will tour HMAS Leeuwin and will present the ship’s company with the Gloucester Cup, an award for the unit of the Australian Navy which displays the highest level of overall proficiency.
• His Royal Highness will also tour Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin, home to the North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE), meeting soldiers and their families. In 2015, Prince Harry was based at the barracks during a secondment to the Australian Defence Force.

The Prince and Duchess will also meet the Governor General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove. In addition, His Royal Highness will meet the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull and the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten. In Vanuatu, The Prince of Wales will meet the President of Vanuatu, His Excellency Obed Moses Tallis, and the Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas.

THE PRINCE OF WALES WILL ATTEND COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE BATTLE OF VILLERS-BRETONNEUX CENTENARY

Wednesday 25th April

On behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, the Prince of Wales will attend commemorations marking the centenary of the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. The event will be held at the Australian National Memorial, near Villers-Bretonneux in France, on Anzac Day, Wednesday 25th April. His Royal Highness will join the Prime Ministers of Australia and France at this commemoration.

His Royal Highness will observe the Spirit of Place ceremony, which will include a reading of the roll of honour of soldiers who died in 1918 and an indigenous musical performance. A Dawn Service will follow, during which His Royal Highness will deliver a reading and lay the first wreath of the official wreath laying ceremony.

THE WEDDING OF HRH PRINCE HENRY OF WALES AND MS. MEGHAN MARKLE

AN UPDATE

WEDDING FLOWERS

Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have chosen floral designer Philippa Craddock to create the church flowers for their wedding. Philippa will direct a team, including florists from St George’s Chapel and Buckingham Palace, to create the displays at St George’s Chapel and for St George’s Hall.

The floral displays in St George’s Chapel will be created using locally sourced foliage, much of which will be taken from the gardens and parkland of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park. Where possible, Philippa will use flowers and plants that are in season and blooming naturally in May. These will include branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves. The designs will reflect the wild and natural landscapes from which many of the plants will be drawn.

The Royal Parks will also supply some pollinator-friendly plants from their wildflower meadows, which will be incorporated into the floral designs. These plants provide a great habitat for bees and help to nurture and sustain entire ecosystems by promoting a healthy and biodiverse environment.

After the wedding, the couple have arranged for the flowers to be distributed to charitable organisations.

Philippa Craddock said:

“I am excited and honoured to have been chosen by Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle to design and create their wedding flowers. Working with them has been an absolute pleasure. The process has been highly collaborative, free-flowing, creative and fun. The final designs will represent them as a couple, which I always aim to achieve in my work, with local sourcing, seasonality and sustainability being at the forefront.”

For everything you need to know about the Royal Event of the year, our Royal Wedding Exclusive Collectors’ Edition Part 1 is now available!

Dazzling Display of Historic Royal Jewels go on Show at Kensington Palace

Opens 30 March 2018

As Kensington Palace’s Victoria Revealed exhibition reopens to visitors, a glittering suite
of gems specially commissioned for Victoria by her beloved Albert is set to join the display at her childhood home.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are famed – even among royal collectors – for their
love of fine craftsmanship, together commissioning and purchasing some of the
nineteenth century’s finest artworks, porcelains and objects d’art to fill their homes.

Among the most personal of these treasures were the spectacular gifts the couple
exchanged, from the moment of their engagement in 1839 and throughout their 21-year marriage. Now, as part of Victoria Revealed, a dazzling display of gifts given by Albert to Victoria go on show at Kensington Palace for the first time.

Comprising a magnificent diamond and emerald diadem, emerald necklace, earrings
and brooch, this parure – or matching suite of jewels – showcases both the exquisite workmanship of nineteenth century goldsmiths, and Prince Albert’s own flair for design. Albert was fascinated by jewellery, and personally designed this dazzling headpiece for his wife. Created by the Queen’s Jeweller, Joseph Kitching, the tiara is set with cushion-shaped diamonds and step-cut emeralds, and surmounted by a graduated row of 19 inverted pear-shaped emeralds, the largest of which weighs an astonishing 15 carats. As a testament to Albert’s own creative talents, the pieces he designed for Victoria now constitute the only known examples of a tiara design by a consort for his Queen. Victoria, clearly delighted with the gift, wrote in her journal of her husband’s ‘wonderful taste’, and her delight at wearing this ‘lovely Diadem of diamonds and emeralds designed by my beloved Albert”.

Presented to Victoria in 1845, the tiara provided both the centrepiece and finishing touch
to an existing emerald suite. It was created to complement a necklace formed of 9 oval
emerald clusters, each set within a border of cushion-shaped diamonds, its
accompanying pendant earrings and an impressive 20ct emerald and diamond brooch,
all of which were gifts from Albert, and also go on display at Kensington Palace. Victoria
would select these gems for Franz Xavier Winterhalter’s intimate 1846 painting of the royal family, for her son Prince Alfred’s christening (when she paired them with the lace from her wedding dress) and again for a striking Winterhalter portrait of 1859, which depicts the pieces in stunning detail.

Touchingly, Victoria and Albert’s children and grandchildren continued the tradition of
giving gifts of jewels to mark significant events, and a number of other glittering royal
gifts join the display. The majestic Fife tiara, given to Queen Victoria’s granddaughter
Princess Louise on her wedding day, is today considered one of the finest works
produced by celebrated Parisian jeweller Oscar Massin, and represents the very zenith
of tiara design. A gift from Louise’s husband the Duke of Fife, it comprises hundreds of diamonds ranging in weight from one to ten carats, and features a spectacular row of pear shaped ‘swing set’ diamonds, which would have dazzled onlookers when worn.

Another of Louise’s jewels, a remarkable kokoshnik style tiara with graduated pavé-set
rays of diamonds in white and yellow gold, takes inspiration from the cockscomb style
headdresses of the Romanov court, and reflects the familial web created by Queen
Victoria’s descendants throughout Europe; Louise could count the Emperor and
Empress of Russia as cousins, while among her aunts were both the Dowager Empress
and a Grand Duchess. A gift from her parents the Prince and Princess of Wales (later
King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra), its clever construction means it could be worn
as a tiara or converted into a necklace, and it became one of Louise’s favourite pieces of
jewellery. As with Queen Victoria’s diamond and emerald parure, the kokosnhik tiara
goes on display at Kensington Palace on long-term loan from the estate of the 3 rd Duke
of Fife. Alongside the Fife tiara – accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax
and allocated to Historic Royal Palaces – these exquisite pieces will form part of the
Victoria Revealed exhibition from 30 March.

Tickets:
Peak: Adult: £19.50 / Concession: £15.50 / Child: £9.70 / Family: £48.80
Off-peak: Adult: £16.00 / Concession: £12.70 / Child: £8.00 / Family £40.60

Click here to book your place.

INVOLVEMENT OF HM ARMED FORCES IN THE ROYAL WEDDING

28 March 2018

The Ministry of Defence is pleased to confirm details of the contribution of members of the Armed Forces to the wedding of HRH Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018.

Regiments and units that hold a special relationship with Prince Harry will provide ceremonial support at the wedding and during the carriage procession at the request of Kensington Palace. More than 250 members of the Armed Forces will perform ceremonial duties at the wedding.

Members of the Household Cavalry will form a staircase party at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle as part of the wedding. The State Trumpeters and a Captain’s Escort from the Household Cavalry will also provide ceremonial support.

Prince Harry joined The Blues and Royals in April 2006 and served with the Household Cavalry Regiment, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan and rising to the rank of Captain.

Streets within the precincts of Windsor Castle will be lined by members of the Windsor Castle Guard from 1^st Battalion Irish Guards, and by Armed Forces personnel from the following units:

Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving
Prince Harry is Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving.

Royal Marines
Prince Harry is Captain General Royal Marines, after succeeding the Duke of Edinburgh in the role in December 2017.

3 Regiment Army Air Corps
Prince Harry served as an Apache Pilot in Helmand Province, Afghanistan with 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps. 

The Royal Gurkha Rifles
Prince Harry served with the 1^st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles in Afghanistan in 2007.

RAF Honington
Prince Harry is Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington.

Musical support to the street liners will be provided by the Band of the Irish Guards.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Chief of the Defence Staff, said: “I am proud that members of the Armed Forces have been asked to take part in the ceremonial celebrations taking place on the royal couple’s wedding day. It is a happy occasion for the whole country and reminds us of the role the Armed Forces play in marking important events in the life of the nation.

“I am particularly pleased to hear that members of the Armed Forces who have a close relationship with Prince Harry will be taking part. Servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will all be honoured to offer their support.”

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are pleased that members of the Armed Forces will play such a special role in their Wedding. The Military, and these units in particular, hold a great significance for Prince Harry and the couple are incredibly grateful for their support.”

For everything you need to know about the Royal Event of the year, our Royal Wedding Exclusive Collectors’ Edition Part 1 is now available!

The Duchess of Cambridge to Become Patron of The Victoria and Albert Museum

The Duchess of Cambridge will become the first Royal Patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

Furthering Her Royal Highness’s interest in the visual arts, photography and design, she will formally take up the Patronage from today.

The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art, design, education and performance with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. It was established to make works of art available to all and to inspire British designers and manufacturers. Today, the V&A’s collection spans more than 5000 years of human creativity, showcasing work in virtually every medium and from many parts of the world.

Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, said:

“From its foundation by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, the V&A has enjoyed a proud history of Royal support. We are delighted that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has agreed to serve as Royal Patron of the museum.

“The Duchess’s personal interest in photography, textiles and the visual arts, alongside her support for the role of art in supporting mental health and nurturing young people’s creative talent, fits naturally with the collections and civic purpose of the V&A.

“The Trustees, staff and members of the V&A look forward to working with Her Royal Highness across our museums in South Kensington, Bethnal Green and Dundee.”

The Duchess previously visited the V&A in June 2017 to officially open the Museum’s new entrance, courtyard and exhibition gallery on Exhibition Road.

PRINCE HARRY AND MS. MEGHAN MARKLE VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND

Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are visiting Belfast today for their first official joint visit to Northern Ireland. Throughout the day, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will have the opportunity to meet members of the public, to learn how young people are shaping the future of Northern Ireland, and to visit some of the city’s most loved sites.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle’s first stop will be the Eikon Centre in Lisburn, where they will attend an event to mark the second year of youth-led peace-building initiative Amazing the Space. Funded by the Northern Ireland Executive Office and organised by Co-operation Ireland, Amazing the Space was launched by Prince Harry in September 2017 and empowers young people across Northern Ireland to become ambassadors for peace within their communities.

The event will see young people sharing their aspirations for a peaceful future, not just at home, but on a worldwide basis, and will showcase the ground-breaking cross community and reconciliation work from young people across Northern Ireland. The couple will watch the performances and meet young people to hear about their ‘Peace Pledges’.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will then travel to one of Belfast’s most historic buildings, The Crown Liquor Saloon. Owned by the National Trust, the atmospheric former Victorian gin palace is bursting with character, including period gas lighting and private snugs, featuring the original metal plates for striking matches and an antique bell system for alerting staff. Here, the couple will learn from staff and National Trust representatives about the pub’s heritage.

In the afternoon, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will depart the pub after lunch and look forward to meeting members of the public gathered on Great Victoria Street.

Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will then travel to the Belfast campus of Northern Ireland’s next generation science park, Catalyst Inc, to meet some of Northern Ireland’s brightest young entrepreneurs and innovators.

An independent, not for profit organisation, Catalyst Inc is on a mission to build a community of innovators in Northern Ireland, providing the home, support and networks to nurture innovators and entrepreneurs to aim higher and succeed faster. In a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship these talented young people will showcase their products and inventions to the couple, talking them through the entrepreneurial journey, from the original idea through to development of the product and onto successful, growing companies.

Finally, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will visit the iconic Titanic Belfast. Voted the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the prestigious World Travel Awards, Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to its maiden voyage and subsequent place in history. The couple will be guided through the interactive galleries, which explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of RMS Titanic, as well as the city and people who made her. During the visit, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will also hear about how the regeneration of the Titanic Quarter has provided Belfast with an exciting new urban space.