The royal baby is due to make its first appearance on July 13. That due date for Kate Middleton and Prince William’s baby would fall right in the middle of the queen’s coronation festivities.

Would the newest royal really be this gouche? Of course, this is all really just a rumor because the family has not actually announced the due date.

Still, July 13 is the day that many UK residents are circling as their chance to finally see the new addition’s entrance into the world.

A friend of the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, the official titles for William and Kate told British newspapers that the middle of July is the official time for the new baby to arrive.

The couple has been preparing as if the birth is imminent. The two have even poached a couple of the house staff from the queen herself in order to prepare for their little bundle of joy.

The royal baby would be arriving right in the middle of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Festival which begins on July 11 and ends on July 14.

While the July 13 date might be just a rumor at this point, the palace has allowed that the infant will be arriving sometime in July. The family and the palace will not, at this point say what day they are circling on their own calendars.

The fervor surrounding anything that has to do with the couple and their potential offspring has gripped the country and parts of the world for months.

At times, that fervor has even led to tragedy, such as the suicide of the nurse who let it slip that Kate was in her hospital to a couple of radio DJs who tricked the nurse.

Most of the excitement over the royal baby does seem to be generally good hearted.

[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Royal Baby Expected To Make First Appearance July 13 is a post from: The Inquisitr

While Kim Kardashian was showing off her bikini baby bump on a vacation in Greece, fellow pregnant celebrity Kate Middleton has kept her baby bump under tight wraps.

The pregnancies, and baby bumps, of both Kate and Kim point to vastly different personalities. Kim Kardashian is the fame-friendly reality television star whose life plays out before the world in a series of Instgram and Twitter photos and television shows. Kate Middleton is the button-down Duchess of Cambridge, one whose personal style tends toward the conservative.

Kim Kardashian regularly shares pictures baring a lot of skin, and in fact her career was kick-started by a conveniently leaked sex tape with a former boyfriend. For Kate Middleton, when topless photos surfaced last summer from a vacation both she and the entire royal family rallied against what was seen as a gross invasion of privacy.

Kate Middleton has kept her baby bump under wraps, making few public appearances and dressing conservatively when she does.

The oddest part is that Kim Kardashian idolizes Kate Middleton. The reality star reached out to Middleton in an attempt to start a friendship, sending a baby gift and a warm note, but Kate hasn’t responded.

It seems that if Kim holds Kate in such high regard, she may try to emulate a bit more of the reservedness shown by the Duchess. Instead, Kim Kardashian is showing off her bikini bump and using the details of her personal life for more more publicity.

For Kim Kardashian, the bikini baby bump seems to be a source of pride. A source told Us Weekly that the reality star has been working with a personal trainer to keep her body toned.

“Once the bump started to show she got more confidence,” the insider told the magazine. “Kim is feeling very confident in her body. She had no second thoughts about wearing bikinis on the trip.”

You can see more Kim Kardashian bikini baby bump pics in this week’s issue of US Magazine, which hits news stands on Friday. Kate Middleton’s baby bump won’t be so easy to find.

Kim Kardashian showed off her pregnancy curves in Greece, revealing her bare baby bump in a bikini! Us Weekly has the photos and the latest on the mom-to-be.

Kim Kardashian Bikini Bump Vs. Kate Middleton: A Study In Opposites is a post from: The Inquisitr

Duchess Kate is expecting a boy, according to a new rumor making its way across the internet. British tabloids claim that Prince Harry recently spilled the beans about the baby’s gender to a source close to the royal family.

“Harry has been telling everyone Will and Kate are having a boy and how thrilled he is at the prospect of having a little nephew,” the unnamed source apparently revealed to The Sunday People. “He said the whole family were excited about it. Apparently Kate has always wanted a boy.”

Rumors about William and Kate’s unborn child have continuously circulated since the couple announced they were expecting.

The eagerly awaiting masses have endlessly speculated on the baby’s gender, grasping for any hints or clues dropped by the new parents, or anyone associated with the royal family.

A recent comment from Kate Middleton sent rumors of a baby girl swirling across the globe. While greeting a group of well-wishers in Grimsby, Kate accepted a small gift from someone in the crowd.

While expressing gratitude for the token, Kate reportedly remarked, “I will take that for my d…” — quickly stopping short before the sentence was completed.

When someone nearby asked the duchess if she meant to say “daughter,” Kate promptly assured the crowd that the royal couple does not know if they are expecting a baby boy or girl.

However, The Sunday People quotes their unnamed source as follows: “The close inner circle all know that it’s a boy and they’re busily buying gifts with a boy theme. There will be an awful lot if blue in their house.”

The color blue was at the heart of another recent rumor that suggested Duchess Kate is expecting a baby boy. While speaking with a group of women in March, the mother-to-be reportedly mentioned that she was the proud new owner of a light blue Bugaboo stroller. The color choice ignited speculation that a male heir to the throne was on the way.

Despite the multiple rumors being tossed about, Prince William and Kate have no apparent plans to officially announce their baby’s gender prior to the birth. Their royal bundle of joy is expected to arrive in July, and, until then, the public can only guess if Duchess Kate is expecting a baby boy or girl.

[Top image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Is Duchess Kate Expecting A Boy? New Rumor Surfaces is a post from: The Inquisitr

Three people responsible for publishing the topless Kate Middleton photos last year could soon face breach of privacy charges.

According to News.au, Ernesto Mauri, the chief executive of the Mondadori Group, which publishes Closer magazine, has been placed under formal investigation for “breach of privacy.” La Provence newspaper’s general director Marc Auburtin as well as his photographer Valerie Suau have also been placed under investigation.

La Provence, a regional daily paper, said that is being unfairly lumped in with Closer Magazine. The paper said in a statement today that it did not publish topless photos of Kate Middleton. The magazine did admit, however, to taking pictures of the Duchess in her bikini.

The paper said: “La Provence maintains that the photos it published (by Valerie Suau) … show Kate Middleton and her husband in bathing suits and are not topless on the terrace of the Château d’Autet … These photos are not indecent at all and do not invade the privacy of the prince and his wife.”

The photos published in Closer were definitely indecent. The photos show Kate and Prince William on holiday at a French beach. The magazine claimed to have more than 200 photos of Middleton in various states of undress and sunbathing topless on the beach.

The royal family, and most of Britain, was outraged when they learned that topless photos of the duchess would be made public. The photos were published by several international magazines but they originally appeared in Closer.

After the photos were published, St James’s Palace filed a complaint against the magazine. The complaint sparked a formal investigation into Closer and the paparazzi photographer responsible for taking the photos.

Today reports that French officials will now be able to interrogate Mauri, Suau, and Auburtin about the photos. French judges will then decide whether or not to call a trial. If there is not enough evidence the charged will be dropped.

Middleton and the royal family sued the magazine last year. The Duchess won the case and Closer was ordered to turn over all of the topless Kate Middleton photos to the royal family.

The judge wrote: “These snapshots which showed the intimacy of a couple, partially naked on the terrace of a private home, surrounded by a park several hundred meters from a public road, and being able to legitimately assume that they are protected from passers-by, are by nature particularly intrusive. (They) were thus subjected to this brutal display the moment the cover appeared.”

It was a big victory for the royal family but it didn’t deliver much of a punishment to the magazine. It could be a different story, however, now that charges have been brought against the magazine for publishing Kate Middleton’s topless photos.

Topless Kate Middleton Photos Lead To Charges Against Magazine Publisher is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton’s baby bump has not been seen all that much, but the Duchess of Cambridge is starting to really show six months into her pregnancy, and her belly was on full display this weekend.

Middleton attended the annual National Review of Queen’s Scouts at Windsor Castle on Sunday, and Kate’s baby bump was visible for all to see. Looking stylish in a mint-green Mulberry cotton-tweed coat and pill box hat, the 31-year-old first-time mom was looking quite healthy, Us Weekly noted.

At the event Kate met with the thousands of guests on hand and watched the parade, which honored Scouts for their accomplishments. It’s a cause that’s close to Kate Middleton’s heart, as she volunteers with the Scout Association and recently took part in a training day for Scouts outside London.

“She’s also such a generous volunteer and everyone is so excited to have her in the Scouting family,” said Chief Scout Bear Grylls, star of the show Man vs. Wild. “Many people have followed her lead and are getting involved and enjoying the adventure.”

As Kate’s baby bump grows and her due date nears, she and husband Prince William are busy getting ready for their little one. The couple is reportedly spending $1.5 million in renovations to prepare the interior of their Kensington Palace apartment for the arrival of their baby.

The plans for the nursery weren’t announced, but it’s likely they’re keeping it simple. The couple is known for being easygoing and will likely spend a lot of time at home with their now-growing family.

“Some might say it’s a little dull,” a friend told of the royal couple Vanity Fair, “but they love it. I saw William recently and he is so happy. They’ve grown out of clubbing and have no interest in parties. They just enjoy being together at home. No one bothers them in Anglesey, there are few paparazzi, and they love the countryside.”

More pictures of Kate and her baby bump can be found here.

Kate Middleton Offers Rare Baby Bump Glimpse is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton are both due with their first baby in mid-July, and both are in the public eye for nearly every move they make.

Now, Kardashian hopes those commonalities bring the two together, reaching out to the Duchess of Cambridge in an attempt to start a friendship. So far, Kate Middleton hasn’t reciprocated.

Kim has reportedly sent a baby gift and and a warm note to Kate Middleton and also revealed to the duchess that she hired a top astrologer to learn all about a baby born under the Cancer sign.

Kate still hasn’t responded.

It could be that Kate Middleton is too busy preparing for her royal family. She and husband Prince William are in the middle of a $1.5 million renovation at the palace apartment where their baby will be born. Kate also has been busy with charity appearances including a recent trip to a home for women recovering from addiction.

Kim Kardashian has been busy as well. She’s still working on her reality show and promoting her clothing line with her sisters.

Kim has plenty publicity surrounding the baby for her and Kanye West too. She recently appeared on the Tonight Show to talk to host Jay Leno about baby names. A rumor had started that the couple would name their baby North (making his full name North West), and Kim played around with this a bit.

“You know what name I do like but it probably won’t be on? I like Easton. Easton West? I think that’s cute,” Kardashian said

This wouldn’t be the first time that Kate Middleton has snubbed Kim Kardashian. When the reality star was in London last fall to promote her clothing line, she reached out to the duchess for tea and heard nothing.

Kim Kardashian also sent some clothes from her fashion line, but Kate Middleton reportedly sent them back, unopened.

Kim Kardashian Wants Kate Middleton To Be Her Best Friend, But Duchess Doesn’t Care is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton is becoming a Godmother, though not in a way you might expect.

Rather than Godmothering a living, breathing little human, the Duchess will be serving as Godmother to a cruise ship. No, I didn’t know that was a thing either.

Apparently, Kate will be Godmother to the newest ship in the Princess Cruises fleet. Some pretty big names have performed the duty including Princess Diana, Sophia Loren, Margaret Thatcher, and Audrey Hepburn.

Kate Middleton’s spell as Godmother will begin on June 13 when she’s due to attend a naming ceremony in Southampton. There, she’ll “christen” the ship with a few words before smashing a bottle of expensive champagne against the vessel’s hull (using some sort of lever mechanism, I’d imagine; I can’t picture a heavily pregnant Kate personally bottling a boat). Beyond that, we’re not sure what Godmother duties Kate will be expected to perform.

By June 13, Kate will be around eight months pregnant, so this may be one of her last public appearances for a while.

The ship she’ll be proudly Godmothering is called “Royal Princess.” The vessel offers an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway that extends more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship, private poolside cabanas made to appear as if they’re floating on water, and, yes, the largest pastry shop at sea.

Alan Buckelew, president and CEO of the line, simpered:

“It is a great honor for Princess Cruises that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has accepted our invitation to become the Godmother to Royal Princess. We are delighted that the Duchess will launch our new ship and can think of no better way to celebrate our company’s British heritage and our commitment to the country.”

Just for fun, here are some shots of (clockwise from top left) Audrey Hepburn (1989), Sophia Loren (1990), Margaret Thatcher (1991), and Princess Diana (1984) at their christening ceremonies for Princess Cruises ships.

[Top image via Shutterstock]

Kate Middleton Now Godmother … To A Cruise Ship is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton’s due date was the topic of discussion as she continued her royal tour of Scotland with a stop Thursday at a homeless shelter in Glasgow with hubby Prince William. Apparently, it’s mandatory to wear a costume when touring Scotland, so the Duchess turned up in a blue tartan with big silver buttons that did a decent job of concealing her baby bump.

If that isn’t cutesy-wootsy enough for you, then we’re told that Kate Middleton has now taken up knitting to while away the time until she delivers the baby. Not that I think a Duchess would fib, but since she pretends not to know whether it’s going to be a boy or a girl, I have a question: What color are the booties that she’s presumably knitting…or not knitting, as the case may be?

She also treated the shelter crowd to the no doubt awesomely ridiculous sight of herself in high-heeled black boots playing ping pong with the prince.

When asked about her due date, Kate Middleton was pretty cagey, saying that she expected to have the baby in mid-July “but apparently babies have their own agenda.”

Now you or I might interpret that to mean “no comment,” but several reporters around the world have read it to mean July 15. In fact, Vanity Fair is now running a Kate Middleton pregnancy countdown which ends on that date. As I write, there are 100 days and 10 hours left until the baby pops out of the oven, ready or not.

Maybe so, but she’ll probably need all 100 of those days to get ready. As a member of the royal family, the Duchess will not be receiving a baby shower, since she can undoubtedly afford anything you could possibly want for a child. In fact, she’s reportedly spending $1.5 million to renovate Kensington Palace for the upcoming arrival.

What odds would you give that Kate Middleton’s due date is exactly July 15?

[Kate Middleton photo by Nick Warner via Wikipedia Commons]

Kate Middleton Due Date Revealed, Kinda is a post from: The Inquisitr

Prince William got dissed today by a shy little girl during a trip to Scotland.

The Duke and the Duchess were greeting people in Glasgow today when Prince William noticed a cute little girl in the crowd. Shona Ritchie, 4, was dressed up as a princess and was holding a pretty flower.

The Daily Mail reports that Prince William thought that the flower was a gift and tried to take it from the little girl. But Ritchie wasn’t having it. She was dressed up as a princess, after all, and wanted to give the flower to Kate Middleton.

William said: “Ooh, is that for me? No, you want to give it to Kate. Quite right.”

Shona wouldn’t give William the flower, but she did want to give him a little kiss. Prince William ducked down to give the little girl a peck on the cheek, but the 4-year-old got nervous at the last second and gave the prince the cold shoulder.

Shona’s mother said: “She’s been dressed up like that since 6 am today and we’ve been here waiting since nine. But when she finally plucked up the courage to ask him, she got really shy and pulled away.”

But Shona’s encounter with royalty wasn’t a complete disaster. She did get to meet Kate Middleton, who complimented the little girl on her beautiful dress.

Mrs. Ritchie said: “(Kate Middleton) said Shona looked very pretty and asked her if she had picked the flower from her garden, but Shona told her she got it from my vase in the house and she thought that was very funny.”

Here’s the video of Prince William getting turned down by a little girl.

Prince William Dissed By Shy Little Girl [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton is trademarking her name, cementing the fact that she has become more than just the Duchess of Cambridge but an entire brand.

The effort to trademark her name is meant to benefit a good cause. The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge applied to the UK’s Intellectual Property Office to trademark a number of goods in Kate Middleton’s name, ensuring that its use will only benefit the charity.

Efforts to brand the duchess started shortly after her wedding to Prince William in an effort to protect her name for use on merchandise.

“Since the name change of the foundation last year, we have been registering our new name and logo in different territories around the world,” a royal spokesman told E! News. “As part of that process, we have to choose any categories under which we might conceivably operate in the future. This also protects the foundation against other people using its name illegally. We included clothing in case we choose, for example, to make t-shirts in years to come for marathon runners, etc.”

The foundation raises money for military veterans, disadvantaged children, and wildlife.

The trademarking effort comes after the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess saw its revenue take a dramatic jump. After raising £629,000 in 2010, the year before William and Kate announced their engagement, the foundation raised £4.8million in 2011.

“Since the name change of the foundation last year, we have been registering our new name and logo in different territories around the world,” said a palace spokesman.

“As part of that process, we have to choose any categories under which we might conceivably operate in the future. This also protects the foundation against other people using its name illegally. We included clothing in case we choose, for example, to make T-shirts in years to come, for marathon runners, etc.”

When Kate Middleton trademarked her name, it ensured that any retail products with her likeness or name would also feature the charity’s name on it.

Kate Middleton Trademarks Her Name To Benefit Palace Charity is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton may be working hard to get her home ready for the new baby but it isn’t likely that she’ll have a baby shower.

Why? Well, it’s pretty safe to say that the Duchess of Cambridge will be able to afford her own strollers and onesies. According to ABC, royal experts say that it would be bad form for Kate to accept presents for the baby.

The Hollywood Life reports that Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria didn’t have baby showers and that it wouldn’t be very royal of Kate to accept presents.

Victoria Arbiter, ABC News’ Royal Expert, said: “(Kate won’t have a baby shower because) there’s the added pressure that they are clearly very wealthy, and a lavish baby shower would be seen as highly inappropriate … There’s nothing they can’t go out and buy themselves.”

If Kate does end up getting gifts she’ll probably end up donating them to charity. Middleton and Prince William did the same thing for their wedding registry. Instead of having people buy them presents they asked for people to make a charitable donation.

Turning down a baby shower will also give Kate the opportunity to do some baby shopping on her own. According to Arbiter, Middleton will probably head to local British shops like Mamas and Papas for her newborn needs because she wants to help the British economy.

Buying a stroller may not sound like a big contribution but Middleton knows that whatever she buys is going to fly off the shelves.

Arbiter said: “They don’t necessarily buy the top of the line products. They’ll buy something practical and useful … Kate will likely shop for British products. She’s well aware of the ‘Kate effect’ and knows whatever she buys will sell out. If a product does sell out from a British store, it’s good for the economy.”

A Middleton baby shower isn’t likely but it still could happen. Pippa was reportedly planning a small gathering for her sister last week. If Pippa does throw a little party, it will most likely be a small affair with close family and friends.

Kate Middleton Doesn’t Have Baby Shower Plans is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton will have only the best for her royal baby, and the Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly spending $1.5 million to make sure the little one gets those things.

Kate and husband Prince William have been preparing the interior of Kensington Palace in anticipation of their baby in July. The baby will be growing up in Kensington Palace’s Apartment 1A, and to get ready Kate Middleton is spending $1.5 million in renovations to build the nursery and get the rest of the place set.

Whatever the renovations might bring, it’s likely that Kate Middleton and Prince William will be keeping it simple. The couple has a reputation for being easygoing and will likely spend a lot of time at home with their now-growing family.

“Some might say it’s a little dull,” a friend told Vanity Fair, “but they love it. I saw William recently and he is so happy. They’ve grown out of clubbing and have no interest in parties. They just enjoy being together at home. No one bothers them in Anglesey, there are few paparazzi, and they love the countryside.”

The renovated $1.5 million home will also give Kate Middleton a base of operations for motherhood.

“Kate was on the King’s Road not so long ago carrying a shopping bag with a chicken in it that she was taking home to cook for William’s supper,” another insider told Vanity Fair. “That’s their idea of the perfect night.”

Kate Middleton has been modest in her dress as well during the pregnancy. While the world tries to catch a glimpse of her growing figure, Kate has been careful to keep her baby bump covered.

The home being renovated for $1.5 million was reportedly given to Prince William and Kate Middleton by Queen Elizabeth. Still, the couple had to ask permission for the latest round of renovations.

Kate Middleton Spending $1.5 Million To Renovate Apartment In Preparation For Baby is a post from: The Inquisitr

Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton’s “Baby on Board” badge is a London Underground thing for commoners — allowing pregnant women to be offered seats without confusion — but the now-royal assured those at a celebratory event that she was well familiar with the Tube itself from her pre-fame days.

Kate’s “Baby on Board” badge was received today as she, the Queen, and Prince Phillip visited at Baker Street Underground station to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the London Underground.

The UK’s Mirror liveblogged Kate’s Tube visit, where the three royals met with Sir Peter Hendy, commissioner of Transport for London, the London Underground’s managing director Mike Brown, and Chief Operating Officer Howard Collins.

According to the paper, Kate’s “Baby on Board” badge initially perplexed the young Duchess — she asked Collins what the purpose of the badge was, and he explained.

The exchange seems to have jogged her memory, and she recalled her pre-royalty days Tube traveling. Collins said after the visit: ”Kate said ‘Oh yes, I’ve seen this before’. She used to travel on the Tube so she probably saw them then … She asked me ‘How do they work?’ and I said they’re fantastic, they really do make a difference – saves men the embarrassment of having to guess if a woman is pregnant.”

Collins added: ”She asked so many great questions of the staff and seemed really interested in our work.”

The royal trio did not only discuss Kate’s “Baby on Board” badge — the Duchess, Queen and Prince Philip also toured a restored London Underground carriage from 1892, before viewing the new S7 car.

Kate’s “Baby on Board” badge didn’t become part of her ensemble during the visit, but wouldn’t you feel a bit silly wearing it, potential queen or no?

Duchess Kate Gets ‘Baby on Board’ Badge For Pregnant Tube Riders is a post from: The Inquisitr

A five-months pregnant Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, joined the Queen at a London event today that marked the 150th anniversary of the city’s underground transportation system.

The Queen’s husband, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was also at the event.

The anniversary ceremony, held at London’s Baker Street underground station, also marks the first time the monarch has been seen out at a public engagement since pulling out of a number of scheduled dates following her hospitalization for gastroenteritis on Sunday, March 3.

The last time the 86-year-old ruler was seen at an engagement was on March 11 when she signed the Commonwealth’s new equal rights charter, although she pulled out of a Westminster Abbey service concert beforehand.

Both the Queen and Kate dressed for a brisk, London morning. Kate, in a short, teal Malene Birger overcoat, while her grandmother-in-law wore a beige Karl Ludwig coat with an Angela Kelly hat.

Kate, reportedly laughed when she was presented with a “Baby on Board” badge by staff at the station. Typically worn by expectant mothers (families) when they travel, according to The Mirror, Kate said: “I’ll make sure I wear it at home.”

The mother-to-be added: “I used to travel on the tube on a regular basis.”

The royal trio were guided around a restored 1892 carriage, which was part of the first stretch of the network when it opened in January 1863.

Sir Peter Hendy, Transport for London Commissioner, managing director Mike Brown, the London Underground’s CEO Howard Collins greeted the royal party at the morning event.

Today’s surprise appearance by Kate was second official engagement for the Duchess in a week. Yesterday she joined Prince William on a visit to a Child Bereavement center in Buckinghamshire, for a charity that William patrons.

Speaking to parents who had suffered a bereavement, the young Royals broke with royal tradition and embraced the grieving parents.

How do you think Kate looks in her developing pregnancy?

[Image via piotr adamski / Shutterstock.com]

Queen Up And About At Last, Joined By Pregnant Kate Middleton At London Anniversary Event is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton and Prince William will soon welcome a baby into the world. While they have agreed on where they want to live and how they want to raise their child, the couple hasn’t agreed on what sex they are hoping for come delivery time.

The Duchess of Cambridge met with the Irish Guards, for which her husband is a ceremonial colonel, and revealed that she was hopping for a boy. Middleton then told the regiment that Prince William was hoping for a girl.

Speaking to reporters Sergeant Thomas Laven, a father of a 7-year-old son, said, “I congratulated her on the impending birth and said you’ve got sleepless nights to come.” Sergeant Laven then added, “She said she was prepared for it.”

Guardsman Lee Wheeler who also spoke with Kate, 31, said:

“I asked her do you know if it’s a girl or a boy and she said not yet. She said ‘I’d like to have a boy and William would like a girl.’ I asked her if she had any names and she said no.”

The congratulations continued throughout the event.

Kate Middleton, in the meantime, has managed to hide her growing figure. Middleton showed up to the event wearing the same green Emilia Wiskstead coat she wore one year earlier.

Middleton was wearing her green coat in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. As she met with members of the regiment and others, she handed out sprigs of shamrock.

Prince William missed the St. Patrick’s Day event last year because he was serving in the Falkland Islands.

In the meantime, citizens in Britain will be waiting patiently to see if the couple deliver a future king or a future queen for the British monarchy.

As we reported earlier in the day, Kate Middleton has been covering up her baby bump and is opting for a “modest approach” for dealing with her pregnancy.

Kate Middleton Tells St. Patrick’s Day Revelers She Wants A Boy, Reveals Prince William Wants A Girl is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton may be covering her baby bump and opting for modesty while she’s carrying the royal baby, but the Duchess can’t hide the unmistakable glow that comes with pregnancy.

The wife of Prince William has attracted a large and dedicated following in the years before and after joining the royal family, and with her pregnancy the coverage of her every move has intensified.

One of the most popular topics — what she’s wearing during her pregnancy — has led many people to realize that Kate Middleton has been keeping the baby bump largely under wraps.

Case in point — the couple’s recent trip to the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse in the English countryside on Friday. At the event, Kate Middleton had her baby bump hidden underneath a salmon-colored Joseph coat.

While she may have been keeping the progress of her pregnancy private (or maybe she was just cold), the Duchess wasn’t ashamed of showing her affection for William.

“Kate walked close to him,” says an onlooker told Us Weekly of the royal couple. “They both look really great.”

Onlookers also noted that Kate had a glow about her, even with the baby bump covered. At her other appearances, like an outing in London last month, Kate Middleton also kept herself strategically covered.

When Kate Middleton has showed off her baby bump, it didn’t appear to be by design. Photographers did catch some snapshots of her in a blue bikini while she and William were on a romantic vacation on the island of Mustique last month, but that was by no means a planned appearance for Middleton. And at that point in early February the Duchess wasn’t showing very much anyway.

So what is the reason for Kate Middleton to cover the baby bump? Some media followers speculate that she’s been extra guarded after topless pictures were taken of her last summer while she was on vacation. The Duchess has also been known for her modesty, and keeping the baby bump under wraps would seem to fall under this behavior.

Kate Middleton Covering Up Baby Bump, Opting For Modest Approach During Pregnancy is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and her husband Prince William stepped out for a day at the races today for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in Britain.

Kate Middleton Is ‘My Fair Lady’ For A Day At The Cheltenham Races is a post from: The Inquisitr

It was only a matter of time until Kate Middleton’s nose swept the globe.

Woman in England have already started to adorn their faces with the Duchess of Cambridge’s nose and now the trend has come to America. A report in the NY Daily News today claims that Kate Middleton’s nose has become the “spring’s hottest accessory” for women in New York.

Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, a Manhattan plastic surgeon, said: “A couple of months ago, these women started coming into my office and asking for Kate Middleton’s nose. It has become so popular that we have made a file of a dozen Kate Middleton pictures to show patients when they come in for their consultation.”

Greenberg said that the cost of having Kate’s nose surgically implanted on someone’s face is about $7000 to $12000. According to the surgeon, more than 20 women have currently scheduled to have the procedure done at his office.

One of those women, Johanna Ricardi, said: “I want a change and that’s an adorable nose on a very pretty woman … I’ve been looking around at different actresses and people like that and there was all this buzz about Kate’s nose. I had a look at it and I said, you know what, that is like the cutest thing ever. And who wouldn’t want to look like a princess?”

So what makes Kate Middleton’s nose so perfect?

Brianna Diaz, a 26-year-old who is scheduled to have a rhinoplasty this year, said that it was “the size and shape” of the nose that made it so appealing. Jessica Blaier, a 22-year-old NYU student, added some more detail saying that “Kate’s nose has it all. The bridge swoops. The tip doesn’t fall when she smiles. And it’s feminine.”

Kate Middleton’s nose may be in fashion at the moment but it hasn’t always been that way. According to Dr. Thomas Romo III at the Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, popular plastic surgery items change with the year. Romo said that Jennifer Aniston used to have the most requested nose.

Romo said: “They are looking for a natural nose on a beautiful woman and the Duchess is in the news all the time. Before her, we used to get a lot of people wanting Jennifer Aniston’s nose, but now Kate Middleton is everywhere and everyone admires her nose.”

But just because Kate Middleton’s nose looks good on her doesn’t mean that it’s going to look good on you. According to Fox 10, surgeons have told potential patients that additional surgery to the chin, cheeks, or lips may be required to make Middleton’s nose look natural.

Do you like Kate Middleton’s nose?

Kate Middleton’s Nose Is A Hot Item For Plastic Surgery is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton accidentally let slip that she and Prince William are having a daughter. Now we know the name, and it’s a perfect tribute to the three women who were most important in their lives growing up.

The future potential queen will be called Elizabeth Diana Carole Mountbatten-Windsor.

The three names honor Prince William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II; his mother Princess Diana; and Kate’s mother Carol. Hollywood Life notes Carol is also the Latin variation of Charles, so William’s father gets some respect too, either on purpose or by serendipity. Kate’s mother’s middle name is also Elizabeth.

It would have been a bolder choice if the couple had chosen to put Diana’s name first in the sequence, given Diana’s unfortunate death. Since the girl very well may be crowned queen one day, giving her the name Elizabeth honors the royal family’s history.

The most popular name given to British princesses by birth is Mary, followed by Louise and then Victoria. William and Kate’s daughter, if she ascends to the throne, will be crowned Elizabeth III.

According to the British Royal Family’s website, in 1960, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, decided their direct descendants would have the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Windsor is the name of the Royal Family, and Mountbatten is the surname assumed by Prince Philip of Greece in 1947 when he became naturalized as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

Prince Charles or Prince William, if one of them becomes king, does not have to respect Elizabeth’s declaration about the surname. They might decide to just go with Windsor: “A proclamation on the Royal Family name by the reigning monarch is not statutory; unlike an Act of Parliament, it does not pass into the law of the land. Such a proclamation is not binding on succeeding reigning sovereigns, nor does it set a precedent which must be followed by reigning sovereigns who come after.”

Prince William and Kate‘s baby is due in July 2013, which turns out to be a beautiful coincidence. Prince Diana’s birthday was also in July.

Prince William And Kate Middleton’s Daughter Gets A Name is a post from: The Inquisitr

Prince William And Kate Middleton have been given the green light for renovations to their country home. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge requested the renovations so they could ensure greater privacy while expanding the home’s accommodations.

The Royals are renovating Anmer Hall, a Georgian mansion and one of more than 100 properties located on Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham estate in north Norfolk. The home sits on a swatch of Royal land that includes more than 20,000 acres.

Anmer Hall also happens to be the same residence where Prince Charles conducted his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.

While plans for the renovation have been approved, the Royal family has not yet confirmed that Prince William And Kate Middleton will be moving into the home. Anmer Hall is currently being rented to tenants. Rumors circulated in January that Queen Elizabeth gave the home to her grandson and his wife. It is believed that Kate and William were seeking a home for their growing family.

Among the homes new additions is a garden room that will take advantage of the homes amazing views.

Already under renovation is the couple’s London home, Apartment 1a at Kensington Palace. William and Kate are modernizing their London home.

Now is the perfect time for the couple to get their home affairs in order. Prince William is expected to announce his plans for the future in the coming months. Some observers believe he will continue his work with the British military; others believe he may take on royal duties in some type of capacity.

Amner Hall was likely chosen because of its already decent privacy. Kate Middleton was the victim of a topless and bottomless photo scandal in 2012, which explains why the already private estate will receive even more privacy renovations.

Are you surprised by the couple’s decision to move into and renovate the home where Prince Charles had his affair?

Prince William And Kate Middleton Given Permission To Renovate Country Home is a post from: The Inquisitr

Author Hilary Mantel has hit back at the widespread criticism she received after describing Kate Middleton as a “shop-window mannequin” who was “designed to breed.”

Mantel, an award-winning novelist who until now has not addressed the row, insists she has nothing to apologize for.

The double Booker Prize winner touched off a storm of protest in the UK last month after making the comments about the Duchess of Cambridge during a lecture at the British Museum. In that lecture, Mantel said:

“Kate seems to have been selected for her role of princess because she was irreproachable: as painfully thin as anyone could wish, without quirks, without oddities, without the risk of the emergence of character.

“She appears precision-made, machine-made: so different from Diana, whose human awkwardness and emotional incontinence showed in her every gesture.”

At the time, Mantel’s comments sparked outraged defenses of Kate by public figures and members of the British public, many of whom see the duchess and her husband, Prince William, as the new, modern face of the British monarchy.

Even David Cameron, the British prime minister, weighed in on the row. During a recent official visit to India, he said:

“I think she [Mantel] writes great books, but I think what she’s said about Kate Middleton is completely misguided and completely wrong. What I’ve seen of Princess Kate at public events, at the Olympics and elsewhere is this is someone who’s bright, who’s engaging, who’s a fantastic ambassador for Britain. We should be proud of that, rather than make these rather misguided remarks.”

Newspapers such as Daily Mail called Mantel’s comments “an astonishing and venomous attack,” while the Guardian said they were a “damning” take. The Independent and The Spectator, however, were supportive of the author.

Speaking in an interview on BBC Radio 3′s Night Waves program on Thursday, Mantel said she had been “set up” and that her words had been taken out of context.

“My lecture and the subsequent essay was actually supportive of the royal family and when I used those words about the Duchess of Cambridge, I was describing the perception of her which has been set up in the tabloid press, ” said Mantel.

She added:

“My speech ended with a plea to the press and to the media in general. I said ‘back off and don’t be brutes. Don’t do to this young woman what you did to Diana.’ My whole theme was the way we maltreat royal persons, making them one superhuman and yet less than human.”

Of the press, Mantel was adamant that they twisted her words intentionally and knew she wasn’t criticizing the duchess personally.

“I don’t believe for one moment that there was any lack of clarity, after all, I have been practising my trade for a number of years now,” she told the radio program.

“It was a matter of taking the words completely out of context – twisting the context – and setting me up as a hate figure. I have absolutely no regrets. What I said was crystal clear.”

During the controversial lecture, which was organised by London Review of Books, Mantel more or less suggested Kate had been chosen for her Royal role because of her seemingly demure personality.

The author did have one message for the duchess, though, telling BBC 3′s Anne McElvoy, “I do think that the Duchess of Cambridge is an intelligent young woman who, if she cares to read my essay, will see that I meant nothing but good to her.”

Kate Middleton Critic Says She Was ‘Set Up,’ Author Hilary Mantel Bites Back is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton didn’t say that she was having a baby girl… but she almost did.

The Duchess of Cambridge was at an event in England this week when a member of the public gave her a teddy bear.

Kate smiled, thanked the commoner, and told the audience that she couldn’t wait to give the bear to her daughter.

Well, Kate didn’t quite say daughter.

According to Yahoo News, Middleton stopped just short of revealing that she was having a baby girl.
Sandra Cook, who was in the audience at the time, said that she heard Middleton start to say daughter.

Cook said:

“I distinctly heard her say ‘thank you, I’ll take that for my d …’ then she stopped herself. I said to her: ‘You were going to say daughter weren’t you?’ and she said ‘No, we don’t know.’ I said, ‘Oh I think you do,’ to which she said: ‘We’re not telling.’”

Most parents would be happy to have a boy or a girl but there’s a little extra pressure on the sex of the royal baby. Up until this year, the first born son was considered to be next in line for the throne. Kate Middleton and Prince William had this rule changed, however, so that their first born child (girl or boy) will be the next in line to rule over England.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“People across the realms of the Commonwealth will be celebrating the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first child. We can also all celebrate that whether the baby is a boy or a girl, they will have an equal claim to the throne. (The new law will write down) what we agreed back in 2011 – that if the Duke and Duchess Cambridge have a baby girl, she can one day be our Queen even if she later has younger brothers.”

Middleton may, or may not, know the sex of the baby but she does know that the future ruler of England is starting to move around a lot. When asked if she could feel the baby moving, Middleton said: “Yes, it is. Very much so.”

Do you think Kate Middleton accidentally revealed the sex of the baby? Is she going to have a baby girl?

Kate Middleton Having Baby Girl? Slip Of The Tongue Hints At Sex Of Baby is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pregnant Kate Middleton can finally feel her baby moving, a sentiment she proudly announced to more than 1,000 cheering fans on Tuesday.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, stepped out in foggy Grimsby wearing a brown coat by Hobbs, which more than aptly hid her royal baby bump, reports The Daily Beast. Kate was greeted by dignitaries at the National Heritage Fishing Center, but took some time to interact with her fans. The bustling crowd gathered there cried out to the 31-year-old mother-to-be “We want Kate!”

Middleton obliged, offering the crowd a wave.

Fans gathered weren’t shy about asking Kate Middleton about her condition. One asked her if she could feel her baby moving yet, and Kate responded “Yes, it is. Very much so.”

“She’s beautiful, much better than in the pictures,” said 74-year-old Dorothy Garland, who waited for roughly three hours to catch a glimpse of the Duchess. “She looks so well.”

Once she was inside the Fishing Center, Middleton ran into a woman who was shopping at the same time as the Duchess last week on London’s Oxford Street.

“I said to her, ‘We met in TopShop last Wednesday,’ and she said yes,” Linda Mitchell, wife of a local Member of Parliament, told People. “I asked her if she bought anything, and she said, ‘A few bits.’ I told her I was going to say ‘hello’ but that would have been difficult. She said it would have been wonderful.”

After her visit to the Fishing Center, Kate made her very first visit to the Prince’s Trust, the children’s charity that was set up by her father-in-law Prince Charles to help disadvantaged youth find gainful employment, training and continuing education.

Obsession with Kate Middleton’s pregnancy is at an all-time high right now. You can hardly find a headline concerning the Duchess that doesn’t include the words “baby bump” or “royal pregnancy” these days. At least the public at large seems to be over her tasteless “nudes,” and her pregnancy is apparently going well, despite her efforts to remain discreet on the matter.

Are you a fan of Kate Middleton?

Kate Middleton Says She Can Feel Her Baby Moving is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pregnant Kate Middleton isn’t letting her second trimester slow her down.

After a rocky start to her pregnancy that included morning sickness so severe she needed to be hospitalized, Middleton has recovered well enough to hit up a ski vacation. Kate and husband Prince William were seen at a ski resort in Arosa, Switzerland, where they were attending the wedding of  friends Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mark Tomlinson.

While Prince William and his brother Prince Harry were seen hitting the ski slopes, a very pregnant Kate Middleton was spotted taking a walk in the snow, jacket in hand, E! News reported. But though skiing is not recommended for those who are pregnant, it wasn’t all taking it easy for the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate was later seen winding her way down a winding slope on a wooden toboggan.

At the getaway, the royal couple stayed at a five-star hotel owned by the billionaire grandfather of the bride, Hello! reported. William and Kate stayed in a suite that’s normally close to $5,000 per night, and the wedding hosts were sensitive to her condition — while the other guests got ski passes, they provided the traditional wooden toboggan so Kate could have some fun as well.

That wasn’t all for Middleton, either. She joined William and other guests for a pre-wedding celebration at a mountainside restaurant where they all dined on a traditional Swiss cheese dish, a party that cost a reported $20,000.

In February, Kate made just her second “official” appearance since she announced her pregnancy last year. Middleton appeared at a South London center for women who were recovering from alcohol and drug addictions. While it may have been her second time appearing in official duties, just about every outing during Kate’s pregnancy has been documented by photographers.

Pictures of the ski trip for pregnant Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William can be found here.

Pregnant Kate Middleton Hits Up Swiss Ski Resort, But Avoids The Slopes is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Queen is spending a second day in hospital where she will be examined for gastroenteritis symptoms, commonly known as a stomach bug.

The 86-year-old British monarch was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital on Sunday after traveling from Windsor Castle where she had been resting in what is her first hospital stay in 10 years.

Situated in Marylebone, the private hospital is the Royal Family’s medical facility of choice and is where Kate Middleton was treated for acute morning sickness last December.

During Kate’s stay two radio presenters from Australian radio station 2Day FM prank called the hospital while impersonating the Queen and Prince Charles.

The pair spoke to a reception nurse before being transferred to a nurse on the Duchess’ ward. Three days later the first nurse, Jacintha Saldana, was found hanged at her accommodation. A full inquest into the mother-of-two’s death is expected to reopen later this month.

Although Buckingham Palace have described the Queen as being “in good health” and in “good spirits,” she is expected to remain in the King Edward VII hospital for a further two days, said BBC News.

In a statement, the Palace said:

“The Queen is being assessed at the King Edward VII hospital, London, after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis. As a precaution, all official engagements for this week will regrettably be either postponed or canceled.”

One of those trips was a scheduled trip by the Queen and her husband Prince Phillip to Rome to visit the Italian president, Giorgio Napolitano. The Royals were due to receive a ceremonial welcome and attend a private lunch as well as visit the Pantheon, the ancient Roman monument where two Italian kings are buried.

Other engagements included a reception for lawmakers at Buckingham Palace this week. It will now go ahead with other members of the royal family standing in.

Apart from the fact that it’s the Queen, huge media interest has greeted news of her condition because she is so rarely ill. Last hospitalized 10 years ago for a minor knee operation, surgeons removed non-cancerous lesions from the Queen’s face at the same time.

According to The Guardian, doctors treating the Queen will be keen to ensure that she is properly hydrated while suffering from the infection, which causes vomiting, fever, and intermittent bouts of diarrhea.

Gastroenteritis causes inflammation of the stomach lining and intestines and can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or contaminated food and drink.

Television crews and photographers were last night gathering outside the hospital and more are outside the hospital today. Inevitably, security is tight.

Queen Elizabeth II Spends Second Day In Hospital For Stomach Bug, All Official Trips Canceled is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is related to “Lady in Red” singer Chris de Burgh and Irish aristocracy, so says the Irish Tourism Board.

The alleged connections have been backed up by genealogists working for the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? television program, which traces celebrities — and, occasionally — ordinary people’s family trees.

According to Mail Online, experts investigated Kate’s ancestry all the way back to King Edward III. Historically, in 1352 his son Lionel of Antwerp married the Countess of Ulster Elizabeth de Burgh, who Chris De Burgh is descended from.

Kate’s connection to Irish nobility and De Burgh — a singer who is looked on with affection by the Irish — may be way back in the 14th century, but apparently its good enough to get Irish tourism officials very excited.

Niall Gibbons, the chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said that the duchess’s links to Ireland had been authenticated, although details have yet to be made public by the Irish board.

De Burgh, who has sold 45 million records in a career that spans 40 years, and who was born in Argentina to a British father and and an Irish mother, jokingly told The Telegraph:

“I was unaware that there is a distant connection between the de Burgh family and the Middletons. At least that will give us something to talk about should we ever have a cup of tea together.”

The singer added: “There are probably many others also connected to both families.”

De Burgh’s observation is a astute one. Reportedly, the duchess can claim film director Guy Ritchie, actor Sir John Gielgud and authors Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome, among her relatives.

Although much was made of Kate’s “commoner” ancestry before her April 2011 wedding to Prince William — on her mother’s side she’s related to a coal miner, a road sweeper, and a prisoner — on her father’s side the family tree is stuffed with Prime Ministers, nobility, and people of note.

After recently returning from a holiday with Prince William in Mustique, a five months pregnant Kate attended the Swiss alps wedding of Mark Tomlinson and dressage Olympic gold medalist Laura Bechtolsheimer this weekend along with her husband and Prince Harry.

What do you think of Kate’s links to Irish nobility and Chris De Burgh, does it kill the fairytale rags to riches story, or make absolutely no difference?

Kate Middleton Is Related To Chris De Burgh And Irish Royalty, Claim Tourism Officials is a post from: The Inquisitr

Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly been hospitalized this weekend due to symptoms of gastroenteritis. This marks the second royal who has had to see hospital time over the last few months. Dutchess Kate Middleton had to be taken to the hospital in December after complications arose during her pregnancy.

CNN reports that the queen was admitted more as a precautionary move, more than something that was of pressing concern. In general, gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines.

Some people dismiss this ailment as having the stomach flu, but there is no evidence that a flu virus actually causes the condition. The 86-year-old monarch has already canceled quite a few travel plans in order to make the time to rest and recuperate.

The Washington Post points out that among the plans that have been canceled was a trip to Rome that was scheduled to begin Wednesday. While plans have been canceled, a spokesman for the queen said that the plans could be reinstated later.

Queen Elizabeth II has been the queen of the United Kingdom since 1952 and it appears that age might be catching up to her. A few months back Elizabeth had to cancel another overseas trip because she was having some severe back problems.

Despite being one of Europe’s longest ruling monarchs, she has managed to avoid letting ilnees interrupt he busy schedule very often. One source at the palace pointed out that the queen has not had to be hospitalized since 2003.

While gastroenteritis is typically not a very serious affliction, vomiting and diarhea can be quite severe. Because of this a patient can become quite dehydrated. Illnesses like this are generally harder on the older generation.

Queen Elizabeth II has long kept a very bust schedule and there doesn’t appear to be any indication that once she gets over this bout of illness that she won’t be back on the trail quite quickly.

Queen Elizabeth II Hospitalized For Apparent Stomach Infection is a post from: The Inquisitr

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s baby still has at least four months to go until it makes its insanely anticipated appearance this summer. But that hasn’t stopped a South African geneticist from creating a set of images projecting what the Royal baby will look like.

Even though the Royal couple haven’t solicited the advice of Suretha Erasmus, a geneticist who co-owns a private practice in Johannesburg, South Africa, her work with families “to help them understand and make decisions about genetic conditions” apparently extends to peeking into the future, Mail Online reports.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby due date is July, so we can probably expect a lot more of this kind of thing between now and then. Such is the frenzied level of interest in the state of Kate’s pregnancy.

According to Erasmus, who put together a set of images showing the royal heir from early childhood right up to his or her adolescent years, a female heir will inherit Kate’s eyelashes and shapely brows but will get her blue eyes from her father (and, also her grandmother the late Princess Diana).

Allowing for both sets of genes inheritance other images also show the Royal child with red hair and dark hair, although weirdly all of them seem to have Prince William’s smile.

Click here to see ‘baby’ images.

Meanwhile, back in Blighty, mother-to-be Kate has returned from her holiday in Mustique and is making sure she stays healthy. Seen out walking her dog Lupo, a black Cocker Spaniel, in London’s Hyde Park on Monday, the duchess looked extremely slender considering she’s over 20 weeks into her pregnancy, Hello magazine notes.

Clearly putting the upsetting business of being called a princess with a “plastic smile” behind her, Kate is pictured smiling in black skinny jeans as she strolled with a friend.

Along with Prince William —who recently rescued a stranded couple as part of his work as a helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force, Kate currently lives in a cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace. The pair are due to to move into Apartment 1A of the palace this year once renovations have been completed and will reside in the opulent six-bedroom flat that the late Princess Margaret once occupied.

Last week Kate visited an all-female South London rehabilitation center of which she is a patron under her Action on Addiction charity. Asked by one of the residents if she was nervous about giving birth to her child, the 31-year-old said it would be “unnatural” if she wasn’t.

Are you keeping tabs on Kate’s baby bumb, and are you excited about the impending event?

Kate Middleton Royal Baby Bump Watch And A Peek Into the Future is a post from: The Inquisitr

An investigation has revealed the multi-million dollar Middleton family business has been selling products produced by the hands of children as young as four. Party Pieces is accused of selling goods made by impoverished adult and child laborers from Mexican ghettos. Some workers were allegedly earning 10 pence (close to 15 cents US) an hour.

Kate Middleton’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, founded Party Pieces in 1987.

Carole Middleton told The Party Times:

“I came up with the idea for Party Pieces when I was looking for party paraphernalia for my own children’s parties. It was impossible to find anything easily in the shops and trying to find value for money … was a complete nightmare!”

The company is an online retailer of any-occasion party supplies. The firm offers 40 varieties of colorful piñatas for about £12.99; a popular piece often found at children’s parties. Piñatas house candy and small toys which are released when partygoers cheerfully pummel the cardboard figure with a stick in an effort to get to the goods inside.

The assemblage of the piñatas and other products is allegedly done within the homes of shanty towns surrounding the Mexican border city of Tijuana, where the region’s minimum wage laws do not apply.

Minimum wage in Mexico is around 49 pence (about 75 cents) an hour, reports The Mirror. However because the work is done within private family homes laborers make less. In addition, workers are responsible for purchasing the materials to make the piñatas from a company called Baja Pacific Paper, cutting into their already meager earnings.

The operator of Baja Pacific Paper, Javier Perez Quintero (aka Piñata King), supposedly runs operations for Amscan in Tijuana. Amscan is an American party goods company. They supply a lion’s share of goods to the British company Party Pieces, according to the Daily Mail. The association of Amscan and Baja Pacific Paper is suspicious and unclear.

Joseph Zepf, Amscan vice-president, said the company “endeavors to comply with all laws and regulations, especially those relating to wage requirements and working conditions, and categorically denies any inference or allegation to the contrary,” quotes the Telegraph. The company does acknowledge that many of its products are made outside of the United States.

A labor family of eight relatives described working like slaves. They recently toiled for 12 hours a day and earned less than 19 pence an hour between all of them. Although aware that the amount they receive is so little, there are not a lot of employment options in the area.

Representatives for Party Pieces has since responded to the serious allegations and are moving to thoroughly examine the roots of the claims as well as their suppliers.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Middleton Family Business ‘Party Pieces’ Offers Products Made By Children In Mexican Ghettos is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, showed off her growing baby bump during a visit to a treatment center to meet women recovering from drug and drink addiction.

Her pregnancy was clearly visible under her $525 MaxMara studio wrap dress, which she complemented with an Asprey London diamond pendant necklace worth $3,800 and a gold ring.

During her appearance at the South London center, which is run by the Action on Addiction charity, Kate appeared unfazed by recent attacks from an award winning UK author who called her a “shop window mannequin” with a “plastic smile” chosen by the Royal family for no other purpose but to breed.

The author, Hilary Mantel, a double Man Booker prize winner, made the controversial comments during a lecture at the British museum two weeks ago.

The Guardian reports that Mantel said:

“Kate seems to have been selected for her role of princess because she was irreproachable: as painfully thin as anyone could wish, without quirks, without oddities, without the risk of the emergence of character.”

“She appears precision-made, machine-made: so different from Diana, whose human awkwardness and emotional incontinence showed in her every gesture.”

Mantel’s comments have sparked robust defenses of Kate by public figures and members of the British public.

Geraldine McArdel, 50, a Middleton fan who traveled from Ireland to get a glimpse of Kate at the treatment center on Tuesday told The Guardian Mantel was “obviously jealous.”

Even the UK’s prime minister, David Cameron, weighed in on the row. During a recent official visit to India, he told the BBC:

“I think she [Mantel] writes great books, but I think what she’s said about Kate Middleton is completely misguided and completely wrong. What I’ve seen of Princess Kate at public events, at the Olympics and elsewhere is this is someone who’s bright, who’s engaging, who’s a fantastic ambassador for Britain. We should be proud of that, rather than make these rather misguided remarks.”

Opposition Labor leader, Ed Miliband, also waded into the fray, saying:

“These are pretty offensive remarks, I don’t agree with them. Kate Middleton is doing a brilliant job in a difficult role. She’s a huge asset to the country. She deserves our support.”

However, some like The Spectator, have defended Mantel, saying her attack was on the UK monarchy’s, arguable, history of preferring its Royal brides as demure and pliable.

According to The Sun, Kate intermittently cupped her hands under her baby bump as she chatted to women at the Hope House center. The Duchess is halfway through her pregnancy and is due to give birth in July.

During the visit, Kate also sat in on an art therapy class and was asked by a recovering alcoholic named Lisa asked if she was nervous about giving birth to what is her her first child.

Lisa, 34, a mom of three, said afterwards: “She said it would be unnatural if she wasn’t. It was nice she just chatted to us.”

The Sun also reports that Kate told one of the women, “Well done for getting sober.”

What do you think of Mantel’s remarks, do you agree with them or do you think the duchess is a great ambassador for Britain?

You can watch a video of Kate’s visit to the treatment center below.

Kate Middleton Shows Off Baby Bump On Royal Visit, Defended After Author’s ‘Plastic Smile’ Criticism [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

COMMENTARY | There were outraged gasps and shaken fists aplenty this week after double Booker Award-winning author Hilary Mantel made apparently disparaging remarks about Kate Middleton.

True to depressing form, most of the coverage has spectacularly missed the point, casting Mantel as a bitter woman conducting an unwarranted attack on her undeserving target.

For those arriving late, let me explain. In a lecture organised by The London Review of Books earlier this month, Mantel described the Duchess of Cambridge as “plastic”, “gloss-varnished” and “painfully thin”. She added that Kate was “without quirks, without oddities, without the risk of the emergence of character.” Middleton’s public image, said the author, “appeared to have been designed by a committee and built by craftsmen, with a perfect plastic smile and the spindles of her limbs hand-turned and gloss-varnished.”

Duchess Kate, opined Mantel, was in the process of becoming a “jointed doll on which certain rags are hung”.

Right on cue (well, two weeks after the lecture was actually delivered), the media pounced. Mantel’s “tirade” (Metro) was “scathing” (The Daily Telegraph) and “vicious” (The Daily Mail). Politicans joined in as well. UK Prime Minister David Cameron described Mantel’s words as “completely misguided and completely wrong.” All the while, a number of oblivious commenters on newspaper websites took it upon themselves to criticize Mantel’s own looks.

Some outlets developed the narrative more insidiously, framing the story as an attack on a pretty princess by a jealous older woman. As part of its reporting, The Daily Mail wrote:

“Ms Mantel’s comments on the Duchess of Cambridge’s appearance comes [sic] shortly after she spoke about having body issues of her own. Ms Mantel went from a size ten to a size 20 in nine months after she was diagnosed with severe endometrosis at the age of 27. The treatment, which included surgery removing her womb leaving her infertile, caused her to gain four stone. The 60-year-old author said she sometimes dream of being thin again.”

(Thank goodness details of Ms Mantel’s infertility have been publicly shared! That’s now made it all clear: this bitter woman is envious of Kate Middleton’s figure and fertility. Because obviously, what else would women have to be concerned about?)

Dragged wildly out of context as they were, Mantel’s remarks obviously seem insulting. Yet the words “out of context” are key here. Any journalist or blogger who could be bothered to look up Mantel’s full speech (it’s available on the London Review of Books site) will understand that this was no attack on Kate Middleton, Duchess of Our Hearts, but a sympathetic take on the unusual pressures endured by the newest royal.

Read in its entirety, it becomes obvious that Mantel’s lecture was an attack on modern media attitudes towards royal females.

Mantel was arguing that Kate has been narrowly cast by the media as little more than a mannequin and a broodmare. For those who sell newspapers and produce TV news, her role is to be looked at, cooed over, and to produce an attractive royal babe. Beyond that, she serves no other purpose to the media. As Mantel said in her full speech (I don’t expect you’ll see this extract being widely reproduced):

“When [Kate's] pregnancy became public she had been visiting her old school, and had picked up a hockey stick and run a few paces for the camera. BBC News devoted a discussion to whether a pregnant woman could safely put on a turn of speed while wearing high heels. It is sad to think that intelligent people could devote themselves to this topic with earnest furrowings of the brow, but that’s what discourse about royals comes to: a compulsion to comment, a discourse empty of content, mouthed rather than spoken. And in the same way one is compelled to look at them: to ask what they are made of, and is their substance the same as ours.”

And:

“In those days [Kate] was a shop-window mannequin, with no personality of her own, entirely defined by what she wore. These days, she is a mother-to-be, and draped in another set of threadbare attributions. Once she gets over being sick, the press will find that she is radiant. They will find that this young woman’s life until now was nothing, her only point and purpose being to give birth.”

Though you’d never guess it from the lunk-headed coverage, Mantel’s full speech is an elegant and graceful critique of the media’s misogynistic treatment of women and the monarchy’s antiquated view of females in general.

Furthermore, it was subtle. Yet with much of the media all too happy to resort to easy outrage (because, hey, when did subtlety sell newspapers?), it seems Mantel’s true point will remain missed by most.

Hilary Mantel On Kate Middleton: How Idle Journalism Created A Royal Fuss That Misses The Point is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Kate Middleton attacks by Hilary Mantel have the media abuzz, with Duchess defenders everywhere rising to Kate’s defense. The Royals themselves have no comment, and Kate Middleton is apparently ignoring the vicious verbal barbs. Instead, Kate Middle is visiting a charity for women addicts.

The Kate Middleton baby bump is on the move as paparazzi try to get another photograph of Kate Middleton’s slowly rising belly. The Kate Middleton baby bump is only at four months, but her pregnancy has slowed down her public engagements since late last year when she was hospitalized for acute morning sickness. After finishing a sunny beach vacation, Kate Middleton left a somber mission to meet young mothers being treated for addiction at a rehab center in London.

According to USA Today, Hope House is a a 23-bed treatment clinic for women that is part of the Action of Addiction charity. Kate Middleton is a patron of that charity and she was all smiles as she tried to encourage the women suffering from addiction.

According to Hello Magazine, Manager Suzanne Hakimi was waiting to greet Kate at the doors of Hope House and accompanied her as she spent the morning meeting clients and staff at the 22-bed residential treatment centre:

“It’s incredibly brave for someone who’s new in the royal family to take on a charity that works with the darker side of life, and also the lighter side of life.”

The Hope House is Kate Middleont’s first public engagement since Book Prize winning novelist Hilary Mantel delivered a lecture at the British Museum in which she attacked Kate Middleton as a “bland,” “plastic princess” who is “painfully thin,” with “dead eyes” and appears to be a “shop-window mannequin with no personality of her own” but is “born to breed.”

Press officials for the royals announced Monday that on March 5 Kate Middleton’s itinerary will include traveling to the fishing port of Grimsby, the busiest fish-processing center in England. Kate Middleton will tour the National Fishing Heritage Center, meet fire-and-rescue personnel in town and open a school.

Kate Middleton Attacked: Duchess Ignores Barbs, Visits Women Addicts Charity is a post from: The Inquisitr

J.K. Rowling beat out the Queen and Kate Middleton as the most inspiring British woman — at least among one subset of voters.

The Harry Potter author tied Olympic champion Jessica Ennis with 56 percent of Manchester respondents finding them inspirational, while the Queen earned the vote of two-fifths of UK women voters in the Oxfam survey. Dame Hellen Mirren came in third on the list.

Among all British respondents, J.K. Rowling finished third with 39 percent of voters fining her inspiring, Look to the Stars found. The Queen and Ennis topped that list with 42 percent of the vote, while Kate Middleton finished seventh with 25 percent.

The Manchester vote was set up by Oxfam’s Get Together fundraiser, which is the largest celebration in the UK of International Women’s day, on March 8.

The fact that J.K. Rowling topped the list shows that respondents recognized the author’s achievement in creating a universe of wizards and sorcery.

“Following on from the Woman’s Hour Power List, it is clear that British women strongly value personal dedication and achievement, whether they are looking up to high profile figures or family members,” Harriett Roberts, Oxfam community fundraising manager for Oxfam in Manchester told Mancurian Matter.

“This is what Oxfam Get Together is all about. It is about celebrating and supporting women around the world who are working hard with passion and dedication to get themselves out of poverty.”

The report noted that Manchester residents may have looked closer to home in selecting J.K. Rowling and Jessica Ennis over members of the royal family.

Though the Harry Potter series has concluded, J.K. Rowling has said she may revisit the Potter universe in future books. This fall she released an adult fiction book, The Casual Vacancy.

J.K. Rowling Listed Among Queen, Kate Middleton As Most Inspiring British Woman is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton was attacked by Hilary Mantel, a Booker Prize author. Hilary Mantel attacked Kate Middleton by calling her a “shop-window mannequin” and says the duchess is “plastic with no personality.” In response to the Kate Middleton attack, some in the British media and even Prime Minister David Cameron have rushed to the Duchess’ defense.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Hilary Mantel attacked Kate Middleton in a speech that was reprinted in The London Review of Books:

“It’s not that I think we’re heading for a revolution. It’s rather that I saw Kate becoming a jointed doll on which certain rags are hung. In those days she was a shop-window mannequin, with no personality of her own, entirely defined by what she wore. These days she is a mother-to-be, and draped in another set of threadbare attributions. Once she gets over being sick, the press will find that she is radiant. They will find that this young woman’s life until now was nothing, her only point and purpose being to give birth.”

While this Kate Middleton attack trashes the personality of the Duchess, Hilary Mantel is not the only one to point out that Kate Middleton seems way too absorbed with buying clothing all the time. A fashion designer named Dame Vivienne Westwood pointed out that she could stop buying so much clothing and try to support the environment:

“I think it would be great if she wore the same clothes over and again, because that’s very good for the environment and it would send out a very nice message.”

Salon reports that the Kate Middleton attack has caused many British to leap to the Kate’s defense:

“Though her message is meant to inspire the media to stop behaving ‘like spectators at Bedlam’ when it comes to affairs of the royal family, Mantel makes her point at the risk of sounding like one of the brutes she condemns. Mantel’s snark (‘What does Kate read? It’s a question’) has caught the attention of the British media, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the remarks ’completely misguided.’ Said Cameron, ‘What I’ve seen of Princess Kate at public events, at the Olympics and elsewhere is this is someone who’s bright, who’s engaging, who’s a fantastic ambassador for Britain.’ Even British tabloid The Daily Mail called Mantel’s speech ‘an astonishing and venomous attack on the Duchess of Cambridge.’”

Do you agree with Hilary Mantel’s attack of Kate Middleton, or do you think she’s too harsh with her choice of words?

Kate Middleton Attacked: Hilary Mantel Criticized By Duchess Defenders is a post from: The Inquisitr

British author Hilary Mantel attacked Kate Middleton during a recent lecture in England.

Mantel apparently isn’t a fan of the princess, going as far as to describe her smile as “plastic.” The writer also stated that it appeared Kate Middleton had been pieced together in a factory.

The Man Booker award-winner had plenty of unpleasant things to say about Prince William’s wife during her appearance at the British Museum earlier this month. According to Reuters, Hilary Mantel’s lecture included a bevy of attacks against Middleton.

The author said:

“I saw Kate becoming a jointed doll on which certain rags are hung. She was a shop-window mannequin, with no personality of her own, entirely defined by what she wore. These days she is a mother-to-be, and draped in another set of threadbare attributions.”

The Telegraph explains that Hilary Mantel’s hour-long engagement for the London Review of Books included an assessment of Kate Middleton’s appearance and how she is perceived by the public. She added that Middleton’s official portrait gave the princess “dead eyes” and a “strained smile.”

It hasn’t taken long for the backlash against Hilary Mantel to ensue. Majesty editor Joe Little said he didn’t understand why the author decided to attack Middleton in such a manner.

He explained:

“Not a lot of us do know very much about the Duchess of Cambridge, but in those circumstances there is a lot to be said for maintaining a dignified silence. This does seem to have come out of the blue. It seems incredibly unkind.”

The author also compared Kate Middleton to Princess Diana during her lecture. Mantel said:

“As painfully thin as anyone could wish, without quirks, without oddities, without the risk of the emergence of character. She appears precision-made, machine-made, so different from Diana.”

What do you think about Hilary Mantel’s attack on Kate Middleton?

Hilary Mantel Criticizes Kate Middleton is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, widely admired for her poise and sense of style, got an unexpected message from fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood today. According to Ben Rankin at popular UK tabloid, The Daily Mirror, Westwood said, “I think it would be great if she wore the same clothes over and again, because that’s very good for the environment and it would send out a very nice message.”

Sarah Karmali, reporting from London Fashion Week for Vogue UK, noted that the eccentric 71-year-old designer certainly presented a “striking” collection today. Asked about the closing model who came out holding a most decidedly unglamorous clipboard, Westwood told Karmali, “It’s always about being informed.”

Most people would say that stylish Kate Middleton has gotten into trouble only when she takes off her clothes. The Duchess was forced to file a lawsuit against French magazine Closer, which published grainy photographs of a topless Kate taken without her knowledge when she was sunning on vacation.

Italian magazine Chi quickly followed suit by publishing 26 pages of similar low quality photos of the blushing Kate Middleton.

When Kate first married Prince William, son of popular icon Princess Diana, there was a fair amount of speculation that she would find it hard to live up to her late mother-in-law’s sense of style. However, it soon became apparent that Kate — as well as her sister, Pippa — possess a sense of style and grace all their own.

Rankin reports that when Westwood made the suggestion that Kate stop buying clothes, she herself was dressed in a “wacky” outfit complete with a T-shirt featuring the face of Julian Assange. Karmali points out that Westwood is committed to the support of environmental causes and fighting climate change — and thus she is a strong supporter of recycling and re-using high quality clothes.

The designer’s heart may be in the right place, even though the startling pronouncement looks like an attempt to use the Kate Middleton name to draw attention to her own causes.

Kate Middleton: Stop Buying Clothes! is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton may be blushing again after an extensive report by Paul Scott for the UK-based Daily Mail. According to Scott, her normally flamboyant uncle Gary Goldsmith has quietly married Julie-Ann Brown, 43, who pleaded guilty to embezzling £275,000 from her employer in 1996.

It has been an up-and-down few months for the Duchess of Cambridge, who announced last December that she is expecting a baby in July. Prince William and Kate Middleton were recently voted 2013′s most inspiring romantic couple.

There have also been several photo scandals including a lawsuit sparked when French magazine Closer published topless photos of the Duchess sunbathing in what she thought was a secluded location.

Carole Middleton, the 58-year-old mother of the Duchess, is 47-year-old Goldsmith’s older sister. “The wedding was a very quiet affair. Carole and Kate were not there. There were just four very close, dear friends,” Goldsmith confessed to Scott.

Goldsmith has been on the outs with the royal couple for some time ever since he was caught on tape using cocaine. As an ABC News report by Simone Swink noted, he was once considered the biggest embarrassment attached to the royal family.

However, that honor passed to Prince Andrew, an uncle on Prince William’s side, and Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, when it was revealed that Fergie had accepted loans from billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was convicted of sex offenses involving underage prostitutes in 2008.

After claims that he’d cleaned up his act, Goldsmith was ultimately included in the guest list. Recently divorced from his third wife and not yet married to Julie-Ann, he chose to attend with his second wife, Luan, and his daughter, Tallulah.

Despite the coveted invitation to one of the world’s highest profile weddings, Goldsmith may have given Kate Middleton another reason to avoid her colorful uncle. In addition to marrying a convicted embezzler, he has just announced plans to write a tell-all book.

Kate Middleton’s Uncle: More Embarrassment For Royal Couple is a post from: The Inquisitr

London, England – According to a rather cheeky poll of 2,000 British travelers conducted by Travelodge, Kate Middleton and Prince William have been voted 2013′s most inspiring “romantic couple.” Only fourth on the list in 2012, the charismatic duo has been in the news because Kate is expecting a baby in July.

Not all of the attention has been welcome. According to Christopher Wilson at Yahoo News, the Duchess of Cambridge was forced to file a lawsuit against French magazine Closer, which published decidedly un-inspiring photos of the topless Kate Middleton sunbathing in a supposedly secluded vacation spot.

As Nathan Francis previously reported, there are also rumors that Kate Middleton bottomless photos could be floating around.

However, the romantic British travelers polled by Travelodge are willing to overlook any attempt to soil the popular Kate’s reputation. The top pick for 2012, Romeo and Juliet, were the fictional couple who died for love created by William Shakespeare. They only ranked fifth in this year’s poll, a distant rival to the popular real-life Kate and William.

The world’s most powerful couple, US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michele Obama, were ranked only sixth as the world’s most romantic. Number two were David and Victoria Beckham, married for 14 years, while number three were Queen Elizabeth II and her consort Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who have been married a stunning 66 years.

Star-crossed couples like Edward and Bella, the fictional hero and heroine of the Twilight series who appear number eight on the list, don’t seem to be grabbing the attention enjoyed by long-time loving romantic unions in this year’s poll. Travelodge spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed has noticed some trends in the years since she’s been conducting the survey:

“It’s the first time we have seen three generations of royal couples make the top ten listing of most inspiring romantic couples. This year’s listing reveals that Britons are looking up to established couples in a solid relationship as role models, for inspiration to enhance their romantic relationship.”

With monogamy and togetherness the watchwords for romance in 2013, Kate Middleton and Prince William may enjoy a long reign as Britain’s — and the world’s — most romantic couple.

Kate Middleton And Prince William: Voted Most Inspiring Couple is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pictures of a pregnant, bikini-clad Kate Middleton were mistakenly shown on UK television show This Morning on Wednesday when the front cover of a  magazine that had printed the photos flashed up on millions of viewers’ screens.

The revealing pictures were published yesterday by Chi, an Italian magazine owned by disgraced former Italian former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who previously republished topless holiday snaps of the Duchess of Cambridge  last September after they were first published by France’s Closer magazine.

The new photographs, which have been condemned by St James’ Palace, show Kate wearing a blue bikini and walking with William on a beach on the island of Mustique where they are enjoying a private break staying in one of the island’s luxury villas.

Ironically, the blunder happened when the show’s two presenters — Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford — were reviewing morning newspaper headlines and criticizing the Chi magazine cover.

While they did so, pictures of the Royal couple on the front cover of the gossip magazine flashed up on viewers’ screens for three seconds.

Millions of viewers were able to take a good look at the controversial snaps because they were not blacked out.

One of the presenters, Holmes, was forced to apologize on air later in the show, saying:

“Earlier during today’s news review we were discussing photographs of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a beach in Mustique published in an Italian magazine. Unfortunately we accidentally showed an unblurred image of the magazine cover, which briefly showed the photographs. This was a deeply regrettable error and we are very sorry. We apologize unreservedly to the Duke and the Duchess.”

Today’s fracas comes on the heels of Royal family’s anger yesterday after Chi magazine published shots of the expectant couple. In a statement, St. James Palace said:

“We are disappointed that photographs of the duke and duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas. This is a clear breach of the couple’s right to privacy.”

It’s unclear whether the photographer was actually on the isle of Mustique or whether the shots were taken via long lens cameras from a boat offshore.

However, just like last year when topless pictures of Kate vacationing at the Chateau d’Autet in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur were published by several European gossip outlets, most if not all British newspapers have refused to follow suit and print the new photographs.

The row echoes a similar incident involving Prince William’s mother, the late Princess Diana, who was photographed on a Caribbean island while she was pregnant with William in 1982, The Guardian reports.

The editor of Italian gossip magazine Chi has defended publishing the photos of  the pregnant Duchess, saying they are “photos of a young couple in love.”

Today, there has been no further comment from the Palace as to whether they will proceed with legal action against the magazine’s publishers.

Kate Middleton Pregnant Bikini Pictures Mistakenly Shown To Millions Of UK Television Viewers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton and her baby bump will make the second official appearance since the royal announced her pregnancy last year.

The Duchess of Cambridge and husband Prince William will appear at Hope House, a women’s rehabilitation facility in London on February 19, the Los Angeles Times noted. There she and Prince William will meet with women recovering from substance abuse and compulsive disorders.

It’s been nearly a month since Kate Middleton’s first official appearance. at the National Portrait Gallery in London. There her controversial official portrait was unveiled on January 11.With the Duchess stricken with severe morning sickness, her public appearances have been few, though the UK’s Mirror said she’s still been busy working behind the scenes with her charities.

While the next official appearance is still two weeks away, those itching to get a glimpse of Kate Middleton’s growing baby bump can turn to one of those few “unofficial” appearances. Middleton was spotted recently while on a shopping trip, with her baby bump growing more noticeable.

That appearance also led to reports that Middleton may be getting over the severe morning sickness that led to her hospitalization back in the fall.

People noted:

“With her hair back in a ponytail, the Duchess of Cambridge, 30, pulled her look together with a black scarf, black leggings and riding boots … The mother-to-be was also recently spotted in London’s Chelsea neighborhood shopping for jeggings at the Gap.”

Kate Middleton And Her Baby Bump To Make Second Official Appearance Since Pregnancy Announcement is a post from: The Inquisitr

After the newest young royal announced her pregnancy, Kate’s baby bump watch began — despite the fact that the Duchess of Cambridge was forced to reveal her condition far earlier than she had expected due to a bout of hyperemesis gravidarum.

But as Middleton enters her second trimester, Kate’s baby bump has been sighted as the worldwide sensation begins to shake off her severe illness and get out and about while she can.

Out maternity clothes-shopping in London, Kate’s baby bump remained hidden under a plaid parka as she flitted about looking well and healthy in skinny leggings and boots.

People reports that Kate’s condition was quietly evident as she bounced around the city, describing the recovering Duchess of Cambridge and her renewed health:

“With her hair back in a ponytail, the Duchess of Cambridge, 30, pulled her look together with a black scarf, black leggings and riding boots … The mother-to-be was also recently spotted in London’s Chelsea neighborhood shopping for jeggings at the Gap.”

Us Magazine was lucky enough to get the Kate’s baby bump scoop from a “royal insider,” and the mag says Middleton is trying to get things done lest she have another HG bout before the baby comes in the summer:

“Due in July, the Duchess, now fully recovered from the acute morning sickness that plagued the early days of her pregnancy, is now ‘arranging meetings with the charities she is involved with and planning future engagements before the baby is born,’ a royal source told Us Weekly. ‘She wants to keep herself busy now that she is feeling better.’”

Have you seen the new pics of Kate’s baby bump yet?

Kate’s Baby Bump Watch: First Look At Pregnant Princess! is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton’s nose has become a popular item for plastic surgery enthusiasts.

The Daily Mail reports that cosmetic surgeons have seen a surge in requests for Middleton’s nose since she married Prince William in 2011.

Plastic surgeon Maurizio Persico, who has placed the royal nose on several faces, believes that Middleton’s confidence makes her nose even more cute.

Persico said:

“Her nose is straight with a cute, rounded tip and is perfectly in proportion to her face. This gives Kate an attractive and striking profile. Plus, she always looks happy and confident in photos, which is especially appealing to women whose own appearance makes them unhappy – those who feel self-conscious about larger or crooked noses, which they believe dominate their faces.”

Middleton has become a bit of a fashion icon since joining the royal family. Her dresses, shoes and shirts are frequently copied and apparently so are her facial features.

Sarah Hattley, 31, had surgery to make her nose more royal.

Hattley said:

“I’ve admired Kate since she first got engaged to William. I’ve tried to copy her natural make-up and long, glossy hair style; she always looks so effortlessly groomed. But it was her perfect nose — narrow and petite, with a subtle upturn — that always caught my eye in pictures.”

Danielle Murray, a 24-year-old who has also had her nose reshaped to look like Kate’s, said:

“When I look in the mirror, I no longer see the hooked Roman nose I’d hated for years. I see a cute, slightly upturned nose just like the Duchess of Cambridge’s, and it makes me incredibly happy.”

Here’s a before and after photo of Murray’s nose.

What do you think of Kate Middleton’s nose? Are you surprised that people are requesting to have the royal nose bestowed upon their faces?

[Image Via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Kate Middleton’s Nose A Hot Item For Plastic Surgery is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and wife of Prince William, is reportedly using hypnotherapy her pregnancy-related aversion to food.

The duchess, who recently turned 31, is now around 15 weeks pregnant and is due to give birth this July.

In December last year, Kate spent three days in London’s King Edward VII hospital to treat her for hyperemesis gravidarum, the formal name for acute morning sickness.

Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, tiredness and light-headness. Typically it leads to more than 5 percent weight loss and is usually remedied by fluid and nutritional supplements, and rest.

According to Fox News, even though Kate was quickly discharged from the hospital, a friend of the Duchess has since spoken to Australia’s New Idea magazine about Kate’s condition and how she is dealing with it.

“Kate still looks at food and feels nauseous,” Jessica Hay told the magazine. “She’s been plagued with that feeling you have when you’ve had food poisoning, and your stomach’s shrunk.”

Hay added:

“She finds it very hard to eat a full meal and gets full very quickly. The hypnotherapy is taking away any negative thoughts connected with food from the morning sickness, and replacing them with cravings for healthy, nutritious food.”

Hay revealed that Kate’s recovery regime now includes hypnotherapy, a diet rich in avocados, berries, oatmeal, and broccoli — and lots of doctor-ordered rest.

For extra good measure, Kate has also begun attending Pilates sessions three times a week, What To Expect reports.

It certainly sounds like the duchess is doing all the right things to get and stay healthy.

Kate Middleton Reportedly Using Hypnotherapy To Treat Food Aversion is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton’s portrait painter has seen his work reacted to worldwide — but the notoriety hasn’t been completely positive for 71-year-old artist Paul Emsley.

Middleton’s portrait painter, by merit of depicting the Duchess of Cambridge in a modern era with internet critique, has experienced the kind of celebrity not unlike that experienced by that woman who “restored” the Jesus fresco last year.

As an artist, Middleton’s portrait painter would certainly come up from some criticism, but, given an age of anonymous and widespread vitriol with a stage, he admits it’s been a bit rough, alright.

According to Emsley, despite being selected for the honor of painting the young royal, intense heat from armchair critics made him doubt his own ability. He admits to Hello:

“At first the attacks were so vicious that there was a point where I myself doubted that the portrait of the Duchess was any good … But now I’ve had time to reflect, I am still happy with it and am getting on with my life. There is nothing I would have changed.”

While artists are used to critique, the man who painted Middleton’s portrait says it did really bug him for a while, and explains:

“Some of the words written about it were so personal … I’d be inhuman if I said it didn’t affect me. When you take on commissions like this it is hazardous and you expect a bit of flak, but I expected nothing like the criticism I received.”

“It felt like a bit of a witch-hunt and people who had not even seen my portrait joined in.”

Middleton’s portrait painter says in the end, he had to “[cope] with the criticism by going back into [his] studio and getting on with it.”

Kate Middleton Portrait Painter Strikes Back At Critics is a post from: The Inquisitr

After the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy was announced, Kate’s due date was a detail that somewhat fell to the wayside when concern turned to her health after a sudden hospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum — and after a subsequent media scandal when a nurse attending to Middleton took her own life following a cruel prank by Australian radio DJs.

But now Kate’s due date has been revealed after the young royal has moved past the traditional danger zone of the first few months of pregnancy, and the Royal Family confirmed in a statement that the tiny monarch would be joining the young branch of the family’s tree in July.

In keeping with a tradition of scant details, Kate’s due date was hinted at but not fully disclosed by the spokesman for the royals, and the short statement read:

“Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July … The Duchess’s condition continues to improve since her stay in hospital last month.”

A report out of the UK indicates that, while it’s not clear what gender the baby will be, the young royals have already acted to ensure his or her future within the monarchy, reading:

“The Queen has already acted to ensure the new baby – a future monarch – will be entitled to be a Princess if William and Kate have a daughter.”

“She has issued a Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm declaring: ‘all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of royal highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour.’ “

Kate’s due date was clarified as being in “mid-July.”

Kate’s Due Date Announced, Royal Baby Will Arrive In July is a post from: The Inquisitr

When Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge’s portrait was unveiled last Friday, it received harsh criticism in some quarters.

Even though Kate declared the portrait — currently hanging in London’s National Portrait Gallery — as “amazing” while husband Prince William called it “absolutely beautiful,” some critics had far less complimentary words.

Many thought the oil painting made the pregnant, recently turned 31-year-old look older, while others said the portrait by Scottish artist Paul Emsley made Kate look like she was grimacing rather than smiling.

Robin Simon, editor of the British Art Journal dubbed it, “ghastly … rotten … an out and out disaster.”

“It’s only saving grace is that it’s not by Rolf Harris,” was the verdict of David Lee, editor of The Jackdaw.

Waldemar Januszczak, art critic for the Sunday Times, told BBC News:

“I have been waiting for it, like everybody else, with great expectation because the Duchess of Cambridge is someone who we know likes art … But I think she’s been let down really by the picture. In the end it’s yet another pretty ordinary painting of a royal of the sort that we’ve been really churning out for the last few hundred years in Britain.”

Even more damningly, renowned art history critic Brian Sewell judged the official portrait as ‘sickening.’

Now it appears some British subjects have taken matters into their hands.

Using Photoshop and a fair amount of tongue-in-cheek, a slew of spoof makeovers of the portrait by members of the public have now surfaced, the Daily Mail reports.

In one, Kate is given The Twilight Saga treatment and called the “Grandmother of the Vampires.” In another, a superimposed image of the Ghostbuster villain Vigo is substituted for the duchess’ face.

In another Kate is super-sized — a lot — while one image transposes the face of fictional idiot character Mr Bean, played by British actor and comedian, Rowan Atkinson, Daily News And Analysis notes.

The ‘comedy’ pictures are have now reportedly gone viral online, but whatever will Kate, Prince William and the Queen think of it all?

You can see more the portrait ‘makeovers ‘ here but here’s a selection below. Thoughts?

Kate Middleton Portrait Gets Comical Makeovers: But Will The Queen Be Amused? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Take a look at the first official painting of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, more usually known as Kate Middleton.

Simply called [Her Royal Higness] HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, the first commissioned public portrait of Kate will be displayed as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s Contemporary Collections in central London.

Painted by Scottish artist Paul Emsley — a previous winner of the BP Portrait Award — the portrait was three and a half months in the making and used a technique of building thin layers of oil and glazes on canvas.

Past celebrity subjects of Emsley include Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, and the author V S Naipaul. The duchess sat for the artist twice, once in May 2012 and again in June at Kensington Palace.

Emsley also worked from photographs that he took of Catherine and says it was easier to work from these after his initial meeting with Kate, BBC News reports.

“I’m always worried about the sitter – are they cold, are they hot, are they comfortable? Photography today is so accurate and so good that it’s really so much easier just to take photographs and work from them,” he said.

Emsley was chosen to paint the portrait jointly by the National Portrait gallery’s director, Sandy Nairne, and by Kate herself.

This may be due to the fact that Kate studied history of art at St. Andrews University, which, incidentally, was where she met her now husband, Prince William. The couple are expecting their first child, which is due in the summer.

According to BBC News, Emsley originally planned to produce an unsmiling portrait. But, apparently, after meeting the duchess he changed his mind. “I think it was the right choice in the end to have her smiling. That’s really who she is, I think,” he said.

As well as revealing that Kate asked to be portrayed as naturally as possible rather than a more formal pose, the 66-year-old artist said of the simple blue-black background color:

“I don’t have lots of things in the background. I do like large faces, I find them strong and contemporary. I’m interested in the landscape of the face, the way in which light and shadow fall across the forms. That’s really my subject matter.To have anything else in there is really just an interference.”

Emsley says he was keen to highlight what he considers Kate’s best known feature.”Everyone, I think, recognizes her partly through her lovely hair,” he said. “I’ve altered the color of the eyes slightly to match the colour of the blouse and the blue background.”

So, the big question is, what did Kate think of the finished portrait?

Well, this morning, ahead of the the portrait going on show to the public this afternoon, Kate and Prince William saw the portrait in a private viewing for the first time.

The royal couple  spent about 10 minutes looking at the portrait then met up with Emsley and his wife Susanne and their daughter Marie.

Kate’s verdict? “It’s just amazing, I thought it was brilliant.”

William also praised the portrait, saying:  ”It’s beautiful, it’s absolutely beautiful.”

The pair were then joined at a private breakfast reception at the gallery to mark the unveiling by Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton and her brother and sister, James and Pippa, the Huffington Post notes.

It certainly beats the Lego version.

Kate Middleton First Portrait Unveiled: ‘It’s Just Amazing,’ Says The Duchess is a post from: The Inquisitr

Want Kate Middleton’s nose? You’re not alone. The Duchess of Cambridge possesses a profile so striking that it has inspired a plastic surgery trend among women who wish to emulate the famous and fashionable royal princess.

There’s definitely something about Kate that makes everyone want to be like her. “Kate Middleton fashion” is an always-trending term. Google it and you’ll be inundated with images and articles recording every style she’s ever tried and every thread she’s ever worn. But now, Kate Middleton’s nose is apparently a thing, and women will pay to get it.

According to data released by the Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group, Kate Middleton’s nose was the most-requested plastic surgery (to help one look like a celebrity) of 2012 in the UK.

“People are choosing celebrities who are sophisticated and naturally beautiful,” a spokesman from the Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group told The Daily Mail. The spokesperson also reported a rise in requests for celebrity-esque plastic surgeries, with Kate Middleton’s nose being the most requested of all.

Other celebrity-inspired plastic surgery requests include Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’​s sexy eyes, and Nicole Scherzinger’s full lips.

It’s not just women, by the way. No, men aren’t asking for Kate Middleton’s nose (so far as we know). But men are asking for Robert Pattinson’s jaw, Ashton Kutcher’s cheeks (?), and Zac Efron’s hair and eyes.

What about you? Would you go for any of the celebrity-inspired plastic surgeries above, particularly Kate Middleton’s nose? Sound off in the comments below!

Kate Middleton’s Nose: The Most-Requested Plastic Surgery is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kate Middleton craves sweet foods and is reportedly eating lavender shortbread by the boxful during the early months of her pregnancy.

The Duchess has been suffering acute morning sickness throughout her pregnancy, a condition that caused her to stay in the hospital for a few days last month. But now that she’s able to be up and about, Kate Middleton craves high caloric sweets, which are seen as a traditional anti-morning sickness remedy.

“A lot of women develop cravings during pregnancy and Kate is no exception. She has got a real taste for these biscuits,” a source told Showbiz Spy. “Lavender is said to have healing properties, so it is not such a wacky food to nibble on when you’re pregnant.”

To accommodate Kate Middleton’s cravings, the royal family has reportedly been sending boxes of shortbread, which just so happen to come from her father-in-law Prince Charles’ Duchy Originals organic food brand.

“Kate has been craving scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream,” said another source.“She can’t get enough of it. And she washes it down with a cup of old-fashioned English-breakfast tea.

“Some women eat raw onions when they’re pregnant, but Kate’s joked that she’s keeping it classy. It’s just a shame she can’t keep her food down for long!”

Though many people think that lavender is dangerous to pregnant women, the food that Kate Middleton craves is actually used as a morning sickness treatment at times, Cafe Mom reported. Lavender has been used to treat vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, and upset stomach. It’s also used to treat flatulence.

Kate Middleton Craves Sweets, Eats Shortbread By The Boxful During Pregnancy is a post from: The Inquisitr

Prince William and his in-laws will get to spend some quality time this Christmas.

The prince and wife Kate Middleton have decided to forgo the royal Christmas celebration and spend time with the in-laws in the southern England village of Bucklebury.

After Kate was hospitalized for suffering from severe morning sickness, Queen Elizabeth broke royal protocol and invited Prince William’s in-laws to the royal family’s annual gathering at Sandringham Estate,  Yahoo! News reported. The Queen had hoped it would encourage Kate to attend despite the difficulties she’s faced early in her pregnancy.

Kate Middleton had been hospitalized earlier this month, and the severity of the condition left her unable to make any definite Christmas plans until close to the holiday,United Press International noted.

The report predicted a Christmas with Prince William and his in-laws.

“It depends on how she feels,” a source said. “And if Catherine doesn’t go, William probably won’t either.”

The statement from St. James’ Palace, Prince William’s officials residence, didn’t go into too many details, The Associated Press noted. But an article written Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa gave some insight into Prince William’s holiday with his in-laws.

“The Middletons’ Christmas should be blissfully calm. We’re good at keeping each other’s spirits up,” Pippa wrote in the most recent edition of Britain’s Spectator magazine.

Prince William can expect Kate and Pippa’s father, Michael, to surprise the family with a bizarre costume.

“He buys a new costume each year and typically gets a bit carried away — a couple of Christmases ago, he appeared in an inflatable sumo outfit,” Pippa wrote.

Though the royals traditionally spend the holidays together at Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, gave Prince William permission to say with his in-laws.

Prince William Spending Christmas With In-Laws As Kate Middleton Battles Illness is a post from: The Inquisitr