Happy Anniversary to…Me!

Happy New Year royal watching friends! In addition to being the first day of 2013, today is also the one year anniversary of my first blog post! It has been such an incredible year putting my royal thoughts to paper (well, wordpress) and getting to know all of you. The best part of this whole blogging thing has been the Twitter conversations and relationships developed – us royal watchers have to stick together! I can’t thank you all enough for reading, posting and tweeting along with me.

So, in honor of this special occasion I’m taking a different approach to the typical “royal year in review” posts. I present to you, my top ten favorite blog posts from 2012. In chronological order – I don’t want to play favorites with my favorites!

1. Prince Harry’s Tour – Top Moments

2. An Interview with Victoria Arbiter

3. Happy Anniversary William and Catherine!

4. Hey Harry, Call Me..Maybe?

5. Keep Calm and Float On

6. Today’s News: Kate Looks Great, Harry Has Date

7. America for the Win!

8. Confession: I Miss Prince Harry

9. Christmas Gifts for the Royals

10. A Chat with Kelly Lynch

It was difficult to pick just ten..but there you have it! What were your favorite royal moments of 2012?

Prince Harry’s Tour – Top Moments

Prince Harry’s first overseas tour on behlaf of his grandmother has come to a close, and what a journey it has been! If you enjoyed daily Harry updates over the past week and a half as much as I have, you’re most likely very sad right now. Doesn’t it feel like something is missing? I’ve got that taken care of! After four countries, some rum, blue suede dancing shoes and countless beauty queens and models, I’ve compiled my top five favorite moments from Prince Harry’s big tour. Trust me, it was tough to pick just five..

5) Diplomat in the making – Harry meets Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller

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It is no secret that Harry’s visit to Jamaica would be the greatest political test of the tour, as Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller talked of leaving the Queen’s jurisdiction. The meeting had every potential to go less than perfect, but I believe Her Majesty was pleased with the results; she definitely knew what she was doing when she sent Prince Harry there! 

4) Tan Linen Suit

Harry stepped out in this tan linen suit for a youth rally at Thomas A Robinson stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. I don’t think I need to elaborate on this one..

3) Harry drives a horse-drawn carriage to the Sentebale charity polo match in Brazil

He really has that whole ‘prince charming’ thing going on, huh? As if playing polo was not prince-like enough, Harry arrived at a charity polo match in Brazil at the reigns of a horse-drawn carriage. Harry played on behalf of his charity, Sentebale.

 2) Don’t you step on my blue suede shoes! Harry dances reggae in Jamaica

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Harry broke out his blue suede dancing shoes on a visit to Rise Life in an impoverished area of Kingston, Jamaica where met Rita Marley, wife of the late, great Bob Marley. No meeting with a Marley can be complete without good old fashioned reggae dancing, and please, if you know what’s good for you, you will watch this video.

1) Harry Can Bolt!

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Come on, how could this not be my favorite moment of the tour? Prince Harry took to the track at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica to race the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt. This meeting has been talked about for months, and although Usain Bolt claimed he would not let Harry win, the comical prince left Bolt in the dust as he false started his way to victory. The BBC has full video of this hilarious encounter, an absolute must see. Major credit has to be given to Chris Jackson for his outstanding photography skills, capturing the mood of the day perfectly with one incredible shot.

Many, many thanks to a top team of royal correspondents, photographers and watchers, without whom this blog would not exist. @MaxFosterCNN, @SkyNewsRoyal, @ChrisJack_Getty, @RE_DailyMail, @RegalEyes, @ArthurJEdwards, @JulesSkyNews, @BobWoodruff, @bvitag, @Georginaitv, @BBCPeterHunt and @HWalesWatch. Thank you all for such outstanding tour coverage.. now, go have a drink and a take a nap!

What was your favorite moment of the tour? Do you think Harry has cemented his title as the world’s most eligible bachelor? Did he make Queen Elizabeth II proud? Leave some comments!

Prince Harry: the Real Sporty Spice

All good things must come to an end. Why that is, I’m not totally sure.. but Harry’s overseas tour coming to a close is certainly proof of that. After charming his way through the Caribbean, Prince Harry brought his talents to Brazil on the final leg of the tour. Not only did the 27-year-old grandson to Queen Elizabeth II make a lasting impression on the South American nation, but something (a kiss with a Brazilian model) tells me he quite enjoyed his time there as well. Let’s take a look!

The high energy three-day tour kicked off Friday in Rio de Janeiro; in a banner year for his country, the prince was on a mission from the British government to promote all things British – from sports to the economy. Of the trip, his private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, remarked: “The itinerary of the three-day official tour will reflect the vibrancy and diversity of Brazil, and its growing, strong relationship with the United Kingdom, especially in a year when we will hand over the Olympic baton to Rio de Janeiro.”

Upon arrival, Prince Harry stole some much needed rest after his overnight journey from Jamaica and took in a scenic helicopter ride; then it was time to samba! Did a dance school in England endorse Harry’s tour? Harry stepped out on the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain to launch the GREAT campaign; a Government initiative focused on reaching full economic potential of the 2012 Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Showcasing the best of Brtain, the red carpet affair had all the makings of a top Harry evening – dancing, music, food, drinks and  models. Harry’s really had a rough time of it hasn’t he? 😉

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After a night of Britain in Brazil Harry continued his athletic journey, hitting the Copacabana for a beach volleyball match. Prior to hitting the sand, Harry took tips from Olympian Adriana Behar and shared that he’s already bought tickets to take in the matches during the London Olympics this summer. Even though he was up against some of Brazil’s top players, Harry held his own and of course, looked stylish while doing so.

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Because he didn’t get enough of a work out running around the beach in 88 degree heat, Harry participated in The Sport Relief Mile, which he completed in 8 minutes and 32 seconds, further cementing his new title as the world’s fastest prince. Move over, Usain Bolt! Adding the classic Harry comedic touch to the run, he sported a cardboard mask of his brother Prince William. You’re not fooling anyone Harry! From there, his love for children was on display once again as he taught local children to play rugby on the beach. I hope he had time for a nap after this day..

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You can watch video from The Sport Relief Mile on The Royal Channel.

Finally, Prince Harry returned to his roots and played in a charity polo match for his organization, Sentebale. Harry arrived in true prince charming fashion – taking the reigns of a horse-drawn carriage. After his team’s victory over Argentina, Brazilian swimwear model Fernanda Motta presented Harry and his teammates with the trophy. Let’s just say Harry was truly in his element, sealing the final tour activity with a kiss. Some models have all the luck..

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, more men should take up polo.

After the match, Harry reflected on his tour, describing it as emotional, exhausting and most of all, an amazing trip. Sky News’ Paul Harrison, @SkyNewsRoyal, delivers a wonderful final correspondence – includes interview with Prince Harry.

Well Harry, it’s been real. Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on the tour. I need some time to reflect!

Sorry to Say..

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a relaxing weekend before the royal storm of events ahead at the end of this week – especially all of you royal correspondents we adore so much..something tells me you won’t be sleeping for a while! Speaking of, this post is to give a heads up and my apologies that I will not be live tweeting, blogging and following along with the first few days of Harry’s tour and Catherine’s tea time with the women of the family. As of today, I am out of commission until Sunday, possibly even Monday. I will do my best to check in randomly throughout the week because let’s face it, when Prince Harry is involved it is difficult for me to be completely in the dark. I can’t wait to catch up with everyone’s tweets, photos and blog posts upon my return to the royal watching world! In the meantime, if you can find a way for me to make a living off tweeting and blogging about Prince Harry all day long.. I’m all ears. Enjoy the whirlwind, and please feel free to tweet me photos and videos that you come across – it will make my day!

In case you have somehow forgotten what’s going on this week (i don’t know how you could, I’ve been counting down for months), Prince Harry will embark on his first official overseas tour on behlalf of his grandmother for the Diamond Jubilee. Catherine will continue her introduction to my favorite family, having tea with Queen Elizabeth II and The Duchess of Cornwall this Thursday, March 1 at  Fortnum and Mason’s in Piccadilly.

I will leave you with one of my favorite photos of Prince Harry. Yes, I know it’s a completely random photo..don’t know why it’s so high on my list, just is. Maybe it is the color of the suit? Suits him well..

Week in Review: Jan. 30 – Feb. 4, 2012

I think I spoke too soon when I said there was a lull in royal news as there was no shortage of stories this past week! With the very special occasion happening on Monday, wanted to recap the week’s happenings. I, for one, was thrilled with the endless stories on Prince Harry in the last few days..so let’s get to it!

The Diamond Jubilee

This Monday, February 6, marks the date that Princess Elizabeth officially became Queen Elizabeth. As you can imagine, there are endless articles, photo galleries and videos being released leading up to the big day; will post more on that later, but for now here are some headlines surrounding the celebrations..

• Church of England: Prayers and Liturgical Resources – the official prayer to be used in the Church of England during the Diamond Jubilee year was released.
• The Daily Express: The Queen’s 60 Glorious Years in Pictures to be Celebrated in Public Display – photos of The Queen’s 60 years on the throne are now on display at Windsor Castle. Entrance to the exhibit entitled: The Queen: 60 Photographs for 60 Years, is included in the price of general admission to Windsor Castle.
• The Telegraph: The Queen plants Diamond Jubilee tree in Sandringham – earlier this week, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne planted an oak tree at Sandringham Estate, which will be at the center of the new 20-acre Jubilee Wood, honoring the milestone.
• ABC News: Spice Girls Reuniting for Queen Elizabeth II Celebration? – one of my favorite stories surrounding the Diamond Jubilee this week; there is talks of the Spice Girls reuniting for the June 4 celebrations. What better time to reunite the leaders of the “Girl Power” movement than for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee? That has girl power written all over it..

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh

• The Today Show: Harry: Queen’s Secret to Success is Husband – segment surrounding comments from Prince Harry on what keeps The Queen going at her age. His answer? The support of her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh. Commentary from Camilla Tominey.
• CBS This Morning: British princes open up about their grandparents – further praise from Prince Harry and Prince William on their grandmother’s relationship with her husband and the major milestone she is approaching. Commentary from Victoria Arbiter.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

After a quiet holiday in the Caribbean with Catherine’s family, the dynamic duo took the media by storm this week with announcements and their general fabulousness. We are happy to have them back!

• People: William & Kate’s Patter of Little Feet: A Cocker Spaniel – after several weeks of speculation, it was confirmed that William & Kate have adopted a puppy. The Duke and Duchess welcomed a Cocker Spaniel to their growing family, despite rumors it was a Labrador. The media had a field day headlines alluding to a “new addition” and as above, “little feet” joining the household. Not just yet everyone!
• CNN: Tension Over Prince William in Falklands – After a relaxing getaway with the in-laws, Prince William departed for his six-week stint in the Falkland Islands. As reported by Max Foster, the deployment came with no shortage of tension, as Argentina cranks up the heat on future discussions regarding the territory.
• The Associated Foreign Press: With William abroad, Kate plans first solo engagement – finally, the announcement observers have been waiting for – no, not the pregnancy..the other announcement – The Duchess of Cambridge has made official plans on her solo charitable engagements. Catherine will visit The National Portrait Gallery on Feb. 8, followed by a Valentine’s Day visit to Liverpool to tour the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Action on Addiction. 
• The Telegraph: Duchess of Cambridge meets recovering addicts on secret visit to treatment centre – In order to spend quality time learning about her chosen patronage, Catherine paid a secret visit to Action on Addiction on Thursday.

Prince Harry

My favorite royal was out and about this week; from news on his Diamond Jubilee tour itinerary and his participation in the Walking with the Wound organization. 

• CBS News: Prince Harry to play beach volleyball during overseas trip, reportedly wants to race Usain Bolt – Harry’s Caribbean and South American tour is heating up – and getting athletic. The Prince is looking to challenge Olympian Usain Bolt to a race while he visits the runner’s home country of Jamaica. Harry is never one to a shy away from a challenge – or a silly moment – and a race against the fastest man in the world would certainly be a sight to see. In keeping with the Olympic spirit, Harry will also participate in a beach volleyball match in Brazil. The Palace said that Harry’s first solo tour will “combine sports, military exercises and meetings with school children and locals.”
• The Telegraph: Prince Harry walks away from Everest expedition – as suspected, Prince Harry’s familial and military obligations will keep him from joining the Walking with the Wounded on their expedition to climb Mount Everest.
• Sentebale: Prince Harry to play in the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup 2012 – Harry will join Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in the third Sentebale Polo Cup match in support of the Princes’ charity.
• The Daily Mail: Prince Harry hooded and ‘beaten’ in hostage training exercise ahead of Afghanistan helicopter deployment – Prince Harry underwent brutal training exercises as part of his Apache helicopter duties in preparation for a possible deployment to Afghanistan.

Additional Dates: Prince Harry supported Walking with the Wounded on Feb. 3 as they launched their Everest expedition. On Feb. 10 & 11, Harry will be at the Newbury Racecourse.