William and Kate arrive in Canada to a warm welcome

The duke and duchess of Cambridge have landed! William and Catherine, that is, have arrived in Canada, beginning their much-hyped North American tour with welcome remarks at Ottawa's Rideau Hall.

"Catherine and I are so delighted to be here in Canada. Instilled in us by our parents and grandparents, who love this country, we have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time," William told the throng of Canadians who came for a glimpse of the newlyweds.

"Before we were married," he added, "we had a longing to come here together."

The duchess, in a navy-and-cream lace number, got a rock-star reception.

"We want Kate!" crowds chanted as the bride greeted fans on the opposite side of metal barriers, accepting roses and bending gracefully to meet a few lucky kids. While Kate's lovely voice was barely heard in her single days -- she participated in only one post-engagement interview, then recited her vows before a global audience in April -- she piped up after Will spoke.

"Thank you so much. We are so delighted to be here," she said.

We'll take it! Keep checking back for all the details on the royal tour -- which will eventually stop right here in the Ministry's hometown.

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Photo: Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at a welcome reception in Ottawa on a tour of Canada. Credit: Reuters

 

Newsweek's 'Diana at 50' cover: Shocking, brilliant or just plain cheap? [Poll]

Had she lived, Princess Diana would have celebrated her 50th birthday this coming Friday. Ever ponder how things might have turned out for the people's princess had that fatal 1997 car crash never happened? Newsweek's Tina Brown has ever-so-kindly tried her hand at taking some of the guesswork out of that equation. 

The rather jarring cover features an imaginary present-day Diana strolling with the daughter-in-law she never knew: An age-projected photo illustration of Di is digitally superimposed at the side of the former Kate Middleton, the commoner who married Prince William, emerging from Westminster Abbey in April as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

While many fans were imagining the high glamour and higher emotion Diana's presence would've brought to the royal wedding, the cover and accompanying story takes it bigger, imagining one version of where she would be today.

"Gliding sleekly into her 40s, her romantic taste would have moved to men of power over boys of play," she writes, saying Diana's entire life would be about philanthropy and dizzying power circles, in addition to sons William and Prince Harry.

Daily Beast founder and Diana expert Brown has a rather dramatic vision of a modern Di, tweeting at the Dalai Lama and owning a deliriously designed Facebook page (featuring another age projection of Diana clutching an iPhone).

Imaginary Diana has a lofty apartment in New York, a strange but comforting friendship with ex-husband Charles, Prince of Wales, and naturally a front-row next to Victoria Beckham at Fashion Week.

Possible, yes — but it is plausible? And is the cover all sorts of right, or all sorts of wrong? Let us know.

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Photo: On its "Diana at 50" cover, Newsweek has digitally engineered a photo illustration of an age-projected Princess Diana strolling with the former Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, the daughter-in-law Di never met. Credit: Newsweek.

William and Kate step out to a glamorous London fundraiser

William and Catherine, the duke and duchess of Cambridge, seem to be taking quite nicely to married life -- and though Kate may fetch her own groceries, she also cleans up well, as evidenced by a glamorous showing with her husband on Thursday night.

Attending the Absolute Return for Kids Gala, the former Kate Middleton stunned in a pale pink Jenny Packham number. The gala, a fundraiser for health and education for kids worldwide, attracted celebs including Elton John's partner David Furnish and actress Elizabeth Hurley.

The newlyweds arrived in a blue Jaguar and beamed on purple-colored carpet, according to People.

"We need to get young philanthropists involved with us," charity founder Arpad Busson said of the two. "They could not have been a better choice."

The event took place on a party site constructed at London's Perks Field, proximate to the couple's future city home: a humble cottage called Kensington Palace. 

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William and Catherine, duke and duchess of Cambridge, head to the races at Epsom Derby

-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos: William and Catherine, the duke and duchess of Cambridge, attend the 10th annual ARK Gala. Credits:  Toby Melville / Reuters

William and Catherine, duke and duchess of Cambridge, head to the races at the Epsom Derby

It's off to the races for royal couple William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Will and Kate made a public showing at the Derby Festival, a prestigious U.K. horse race where William's grandmother the Queen had a trusty steed in competition. 

At Epsom Downs Racecourse, in a suburb southwest of London, the newlyweds caused a stir, with Will in traditional top hat and tails. Kate opted for a cream-colored outfit with a metallic woven fascinator headpiece. 

Prince Harry kept the pair company in the royal box, looking upon their grandmother's horse Carlton House. Though Carlton House came in third place, the group was all smiles, including their cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

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Left photo: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Catherine attend the Derby Festival at Epsom Downs outside of London. Credit: Steve Parsons / Associated Press

Right photo: Catherine chats with Princess Eugenie. Credit: Adrian Dennis / Getty Images 

Royal couple Kate and William reveal U.S. plans -- but how should one address them?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge show no signs of slowing in popularity since their April wedding, and a few new details are available on the exploits of hot young royals Kate and William.

For starters, a new Mario Testino photograph is in the mix, landing on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. The new issue claims that William is so popular in his homeland at the moment -- so utterly relatable -- that he's being referred to as the "Dude of Cambridge." 

Though his subjects may have fun with Will's official title, the cover story reveals something important about the way his bride Kate (a.k.a. Catherine) is to be addressed: The report says the late Diana Spencer's son still wishes to be called Prince William. This would make his bride Princess Catherine. 

Many royal enthusiasts were disappointed that the pair were given the titles of Duke and Duchess on their wedding day, but it looks as though Kate is a princess bride after all -- and one who'd better pack her sunscreen, as she'll make her first U.S. visit  with her husband in July. 

After an official visit to Canada, the pair will arrive in California on July 8. But don't expect any Robertson Boulevard shopping stints with Victoria Beckham.

"The couple view this as a working visit, not as an opportunity for them to meet celebrities," a palace source told People magazine, adding that they will focus on the promotion of Britain through "the prism of their own interests."

A full American itinerary is to be released in June.

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Photo: Prince William and Princess Catherine, as he would have us call them, on Vanity Fair's cover. Credit: Mario Testino

Mario Testino talks photographing royal couple Kate and William

Famous fashion photographer Mario Testino is breaking his silence on a recent -- and extremely high-profile -- gig shooting royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the couple had their official engagement portraits taken by Testino at Buckingham Palace. 

The images published worldwide show a glowing Kate and Wills in an official portrait and a more intimate hug shot. Though the photos are serene, the shoot was quite hectic, Testino told People magazine.

"Everything is compacted into a very short time because we have to produce these pictures. It's more like me screaming and trying to get everything to go," Testino said in a recent interview.

"Well, not screaming, but getting in a fluster, I guess you say."

We can't imagine our Kate and Wills getting in a tizzy over a photo shoot, but it shouldn't suggest they're not excited about each other.

"They are a young couple in love," Testino surmised. 

He also indicated Kate helped doing her own makeup for the famous photos. Testino has a long-respected fashion and editorial portfolio; he was a favorite of William's late mother, Princess Diana. 

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Photo: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in their official engagement photos. Credit: Mario Testino 

The Obamas meet Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate

Power couple alert! President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met newlywed royals William and Catherine on Tuesday.

Now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the royal pair met America's first couple at Buckingham Palace, where the Obamas visited Queen Elizabeth II as part of a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom.

In an ornate sitting room, Michelle, in a bright bolero, chatted up Catherine, clad in a nude Reiss bandage dress. Kate didn't miss a few opportunities to whip that long brown hair, flashing her epic wedding ring.

The president and the duke exchanged their own words before Obama headed outdoors for a photo op with the queen. Although the glamorous intro was surely a highlight of his trip, the president acknowledged his sadness over issues happening stateside.

The president said he was heartbroken about the devastation in the Midwest, after Sunday's devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo.

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Photo: Newlyweds the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace. Credit: Toby Melville / AFP / Getty Images

Princess Beatrice’s royal wedding hat sells for more than $130,000 on EBay

Princess Beatrice’s fashion-forward hat –- that pink pretzel she wore to the royal wedding -- has sold on EBay for more than $130,000.

The princess plans to give the money (final bid: 81,100.01 pounds, which is around $131,134) from the 10-day auction to UNICEF UK and Children in Crisis via her Little Bee Initiative campaign.

"I've been amazed by the amount of attention the hat has attracted," she states on the auction posting. "It's a wonderful opportunity to raise as much money as possible for two fantastic charities. I hope whoever wins the auction has as much fun with the hat as I have."

The winner doesn’t get to have all the fun. Fans and haters all over the Web can’t stop blogging, tweeting or editing silly photos of the gravity defying headgear. The hat even has its own Facebook page called "Princess Beatrice's ridiculous Royal Wedding hat” -- with an impressive 143,000 “likes” and counting.

The royal 22-year-old, daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, wore the piece to her cousin Prince William’s April 29 wedding to Catherine Middleton. Despite the mixed reaction, the hat’s creator, Phillip Treacy, couldn’t be happier about the way things have worked out. 

"I've been surprised by the overwhelming response to 'the hat!' I'm delighted, flattered and touched by HRH Princess Beatrice's decision to donate the hat to charity," Treacy writes on the posting. "I hope that people all over the world will be generous and that this hat will benefit many. 'A hat is a symbol of positivity.' "

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Photo: Princess Eugenie of York, left, and Princess Beatrice of York arrive at Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding. Credit: Ian Langsdon / European Pressphoto Agency

Princess Beatrice's wedding hat for sale on EBay; minimum bid more than $8,200

Princess Beatrice's royal wedding hat is officially going once, going twice on EBay. The terrible topper she wore to her cousin Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton landed on the auction block Thursday.

The starting bid: 5,000 British pounds -- that's about $8,229, with only one bidder so far in the 10-day auction. We'll try not to pass too much judgment on this person's fashion sense (or common sense) since the sale is benefiting a good cause.

"I'm amazed by the amount of attention the hat has attracted," the princess said in a statement. "It's a wonderful opportunity to raise as much money as possible for two fantastic charities. I hope whoever wins the auction has as much fun with the hat as I have."

The proceeds on the world-famous, custom-made Philip Treacy hat, which has its very own Facebook page, will go to UNICEF and the British charity Children in Crisis, Buckingham Palace said.

"I've been surprised by the overwhelming response to 'the hat!' I'm delighted, flattered and touched by HRH Princess Beatrice's decision to donate the hat to charity," said designer Treacy. "I hope that people all over the world will be generous and that this hat will benefit many. 'A hat is a symbol of positivity.' "

Beatrice's mother, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and ex-wife of Queen Elizabeth II's son Prince Andrew, also made the announcement on Wednesday's Oprah Winfrey show.

The heinous headpiece is, of course, preowned. But shipping is free (probably because the flesh-toned beast is capable of sprouting wings and flying to its new owner) and will arrive within 10 days after the buyer's payment clears. 

But buyers, beware: "No returns accepted." Drat. There's also no word on whether the atrocious eyesore will give the wearer mystical powers of a bovine nature.

Bidders who really want the cockamamie concoction, er, festive fascinator, must e-mail the seller in order to be placed on a pre-approved list. Bidders have only until May 22 before it's going, going, gone.

Would you buy this hat? Would you even want this hat if it were free? Let us know in comments, which as of today we are handling with a little help from Facebook. Just click on the gray talk-bubble button at the top right of this post to get started.

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Photo: Princess Beatrice wearing her Philip Treacy antlers, er, fascinator, at the April 29 royal wedding. Credit: Gero Breloer / Associated Press

Princess Beatrice to auction royal wedding hat; mom Fergie talks about snub

Princess Beatrice's hat will probably go down in history as one of the hallmarks of the royal wedding of Prince William and the former Kate Middleton -- and now it may go down as the most serious bit of royal wedding memorabilia available for purchase.

"She's putting it up on EBay to auction it for UNICEF and for children in crisis," her mother Sarah Ferguson told Oprah Winfrey in an interview that aired Wednesday.

The fascinator, custom-made by London-based milliner Philip Treacy, apparently pushed the 22-year-old's en vogue button, but Ministry commenters and the 136,000 members of "Princess Beatrice's Ridiculous Royal Wedding Hat" Facebook page did not agree.

The stiff-ribboned topper with a confounding hole at the center will go to the highest bidder -- likely someone who is either an avid royal memorabilia collector or as absurdly clueless as Bea's stylist.

No word yet on when it'll go up for auction or what the asking price will be, but the Treacy monstrosity's contemporaries can sell new for $3,300 a pop, so those who are interested might start saving up immediately.

Photos: Festive royal wedding hats

Aside from discussing Beatrice's hideous headgear, the Duchess of York opened up to the queen of daytime about her royal wedding snub. The original Fergie -- no Black Eyed Peas attached -- was married to Prince Andrew for 10 years before a scandalous divorce resulted in her becoming a persona non grata. She was also plugging "Finding Sarah," her new reality series that will air in June on OWN, Winfrey's new network.

"I was not invited," she told Winfrey about the snub, which made her miss the festivities with daughters Eugenie and Beatrice. 

"It was so difficult because I wanted to be there with my girls ... to be getting them dressed and to go as a family," she said. (And maybe to tell Beatrice not to wear antlers?) 

"I went through the phase of feeling so totally worthless and that [it] was quite right they didn't invite me," she said. "Why would they, why would they invite me?"

"In fact, when Andrew went with the girls, we were talking all morning and he was saying, it's OK. Just remember we had such a good day. Our wedding was so perfect."

Before April's big event, Ferguson's 1986 ceremony was the most recent royal wedding to take place at Westminster Abbey.

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Top photo: Princess Beatrice in her infamous Philip Treacy hat. Credit: European Pressphoto Agency

Bottom photo: Sarah Ferguson with her daughters, Princess Beatrice, left, and Princess Eugenie in 2009. Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images