prince william

England Prepares For Royal Wedding

Let the royal wedding frenzy begin. Prince William and Kate Middleton are finally making it legal. Prince Charles announced that Prince William and Catherine Middleton got engaged last month during a holiday to Kenya. They plan to marry next spring or summer in London. The pair met while in school at St Andrews eight years ago and have had an on-again, off-again relationship since then including a breakup in 2007. Some British tabloids have given her the nickname "waity Katie" as the relationship lingered on without any engagement announcement. The Prince proposed using the diamond and sapphire ring that his father had given to his mother. The ring cost £28,000 back in 1981 when Princess Diana chose it from a selection presented to her by Garrard jewelers.

No details have been released about the wedding but after the marriage the couple will live in north Wales where William is based with the Royal Air Force. Prince William will become the Prince of Wales after Prince Charles ascends to the throne and at that point Middleton would become the Princess of Wales, a title also given to his mother Princess Diana. Middleton will become a duchess when she marries the Prince. She has already spent the last few years in the spotlight because of her relationship with Prince William and has made several best dressed lists.

Tags: kate middleton, Prince William, royal wedding, royalty

Kate Middleton's Dog Swallows Expensive Gift from Prince William

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Celebrity Shopping

Prince William gave Kate Middleton a pretty pair of expensive antique pearl earrings for her birthday this year but she didn't get to wear them for long before her black cocker spaniel Otto decided to eat them for dinner. Just days after receiving them, Kate noticed the earrings were suddenly missing from the bedside table where she kept them. After much frantic searching she realized that Otto (who was on the bed licking his paws) had eaten them. Kate was horrified but apparently Prince William thought the whole thing was hilarious, laughing and telling her she'd just have to wait for them 'to come out the other end.'

And they did, in fact, come out the other end eventually but unfortunately they were chewed and damaged beyond repair. Prince William had originally found the earrings through a private dealer he'd tracked down personally, so no word yet on whether he'll be able to replace them (but I bet if/when he does Kate will find a new place to keep them!).

Via LuxuryLaunches

Source
Source

Tags: antique earrings, kate middleton, KateMiddleton, pearl earrings, prince william, PrinceWilliam

EXCLUSIVE: Polo Star Nacho Figueras' Ten Essential Luxuries

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Sports, Men's Style, 10 Luxuries

Click above to see Nacho Figueras' 10 Luxuries

Welcome to the second installment of our new feature, "10 Luxuries", wherein a notable figure in the world of luxury, tastemaker or stylish personality tells about the 10 necessary luxuries they simply cannot do without. Related quotes and images of each item can be found in the gallery.

World-class professional polo champion Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras is the face of The World of Polo. Already the face of Polo Black, Nacho was recently chosen to represent all of Ralph Lauren's Polo fragrances, including Polo Modern Reserve and Polo Blue, in print and advertising campaigns because he embodies the many facets of today's modern Polo man. Born in Argentina in 1977, Nacho developed a love for horses and the game of polo by the age of nine. By the time he was 17, Figueras began his professional polo career. Nacho's name has become so synonymous with the sport of polo that the American Museum of Natural History looked to Figueras to donate his polo equipment to their 2008-2009 exhibit, "The Horse", and he has been matched against England's Prince William and Prince Harry in the UK's Sandhurst Tournament.

Figueras, who divides his time between the United States and Argentina, is currently playing for Neil Hirsch's Black Watch Polo team in Bridgehampton, New York in the summer and in Palm Beach, Florida during the winter season. He returns to his ranch in Argentina for the spring and fall. Off the field, Nacho's natural charisma made him the face of Ralph Lauren Black Label clothing and the Polo Black fragrance in 2005. In 2007, Polo Ralph Lauren began sponsoring his Black Watch team and debuted a line of Black Watch clothing. "Nacho personifies The World of Polo by living the lifestyle represented by each of the fragrances," says Guillaume de Lesquen, President, Worldwide, Ralph Lauren Fragrances. "When he isn't playing polo in the world's most prestigious tournaments and promoting its heritage as an ambassador, he is sailing with his young family off the coast of Punta del Este, Uruguay and breeding horses on his ranch outside of Buenos Aires."

Previously: Vertu President Perry Oosting's Ten Essential Luxuries
Related: The Classicist: Exploring the Wide World of Polo

Gallery: Polo Star Nacho Figueras' 10 Luxuries

Art Collection, featuring works by Steven Klein (pictured)

Tags: ad campaign, AdCampaign, Argentina, equestrian, fragrance, Hamptons, horses, model, Nacho Figueras, NachoFigueras, polo, Prince William, PrinceWilliam, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, sporting, UK

Ski in Royal Style in Courchevel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping, Sports

When Prince William took his girlfriend Kate Middleton on a skiing vacation last winter, there was little doubt about where they would go; Courchevel in the French Alps has a fair claim to the title of world's most exclusive ski destination, and it's become increasingly popular with Russian oligarchs looking to rub elbows with royalty as well. The luxe five-star Hotel de Charme Les Airelles (above), which recently unveiled a $50 million renovation, is the place to stay for those who don't have private villas. The elite resort has only 37 guestrooms and 14 suites, as well as a 7,000-sq.-ft. spa, an exclusive Valentino boutique, and three eateries including the sumptuous Pierre Gagnaire Restaurant. For the ultimate in luxury, the 5,900-sq.-ft. Apartment Suite on the stop floor features four bedrooms all with private baths, a private spa, screening room and a 1,600-sq.-ft. terrace with an outdoor Jacuzzi and a view of the coveted Courchevel 1850 (referring to the elevation) slopes.

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, Courchevel, French alps, FrenchAlps, Hotel de Charme Les Airelles, HotelDeCharmeLesAirelles, Prince William, PrinceWilliam, skiing, Valentino

Prince William Spotted House Shopping in Malibu

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Last month Britain's Prince Harry made his first official visit to the U.S. and kicked our asses at polo. Now his brother Prince William is reportedly house shopping in Malibu. Looks like we're in for another invasion of British royals.

The dashing Prince and his girlfriend, party favor heiress Kate Middleton, toured a privately-sited $8 million 4-bed, 4.5-bath compound with a detached guest house, 4-car garage and beautiful ocean view.

As it turns out, that house had been sold (to someone else) but no doubt the broker, Malibu's Bentzen Levin Real Estate, had plenty of other equally luxe listings to tempt his royal highness; there are several in the $6 - $16 million range.

Source

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, California, Malibu, Prince Harry, Prince William, PrinceHarry, PrinceWilliam

Prince William Plans Ski Holiday In Switzerland

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

Prince William's plans for the Easter holiday have been revealed in the Daily Mail. The Prince is going to the Swiss ski resort Klosters but this year he doesn't have his father and Camilla along for the ride. Usually he stays with family at the five-star Walserhof Hotel. This time he's booking a trip through tour operator Descent and renting a ski chalet with his girlfriend Kate Middleton and some friends.

Descent has two villas at Klosters each suitable for 12 guests. Chesa Falcun has four floors with large outdoor terraces, a sauna, steam shower and massage room and a partially covered outdoor hot tub. Chalet Eugenia has oak-beamed ceilings, antique furniture, large balconies and the master suite takes up a whole floor. To rent either property costs around $55,000 a week. The Daily Mail reports that William's friends are chipping in for the trip but that he is treating his girlfriend.

Prince Charles decided not to go skiing because he has a bad back and he is also reportedly worried about his carbon footprint. He has been touring South America speaking about climate change.

Source

Tags: klosters, prince william, PrinceWilliam

Prince Harry Prepares For South Africa Motorcycle Trip

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping, Charity

Prince Harry is one step closer to the motorcycle tour of Africa that he and his brother Prince William are planning; he has gotten his motor cycle license. He reportedly borrowed Prince William's Honda Blackbird to complete the test.

The brothers will make a 1,000-mile journey through South Africa and Lesotho similar to the trip by Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman, in their television series Long Way Down. The off-road adventure will take one week and will raise money for orphans and victims of AIDS. The route and travel dates are being kept secret to protect the young princes.

Gallery: Celebrity Motorcycle Riders

Source

Tags: motorcycles, prince harry, prince william, PrinceHarry, PrinceWilliam

The Need for Speed: A Look at Motorcycle-Loving Celebrities

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

Celebrities and their motorcycles have had a long and enduring affair. From before the iconic movie, Easy Rider, celebrities, mostly men, have taken to the open road. Why the link between the famous and the fast? Certainly wherever there is money there are toys to spend it on but could there be more to the lure. I asked Mike Werner, the man behind Bikes in the Fast Lane Motorcycle News for his take on the link between the two. Mike has an interesting theory. He says there are three basic types of celebrity motorcycle riders: the ones who are riding to look cool and may have many bikes but not so many miles on the bikes, the "real biker" celebs who were into biking before they became famous and now have the money and time to indulge their passion and the ones who started off riding as a fashion statement but then found themselves getting really into motorcycles. Mike Werner cited Robert M. Pirsig, the author of the much-loved book Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance who said that the allure of riding a motorcycle is that you are one with the road in a way you cannot be in a car, you are exposed to the weather and the air and the smell of the road.

Motorcycles also offer an escape from the world of celebrity, the chance to feel free and slip away from the world. It's no surprise that many of the celebrity motorcycle riders are also pilots. Each offers both the exhilaration of potential danger as well as the feeling of mastery, to be both in control and yet aware that you are not completely in control, that the environment you are in also controls you. I suspect that being famous can be similar in some ways, a odd juxtaposition of power and powerlessness.

Paris Hilton, to my knowledge, has never been seen, outside of the red carpet of course, on the $250,000 custom motorcycle she is shown riding in the picture above. The gallery below includes just some of the celebrities famous for loving and riding (at least to premieres) their motorcycles.

Gallery: Celebrity Motorcycle Riders

Source

Tags: bono, brad pitt, BradPitt, ewan mcgregor, expire-images:2009-2-13, katie holmes, lauren hutton, matthew mcconaughey, peter fonda, prince harry, prince william, steve mcqueen, SteveMcqueen, steven tyler, StevenTyler, tom cruise, TomCruise