Elspeth A. Lodge

A look back at the royal week:

First royal engagement inspired art installation
Recently, a horde of  women dressing up like Kate Middleton have taken streets of London by storm— many, are having their significant others dress-up like Prince William to join the fun.

But, what about the Ms. Middleton who has yet to find her Prince charming to play-along? American artist, Jennifer Rubell, has solved this dilemma with her new art instillation, known, simply, as “Engagement.”

The piece is a life-size wax statue of  Prince William, posed as he was for his engagement photos with Ms. Middleton at James’s Palace—and, the statue is “complete” with a replica of Ms.Middleton’s sparkling sapphire engagement ring.

Princess hopefuls, do you want to grab the ring? Put it on? Well, you can, UKPA reports. Anyone envious of Ms. Middleton can slip the sparkling stone on her third-finger and strike and pose.

“The royal wedding is a Prince Charming fantasy that still seems to speak to women so I wanted to offer those women a chance to stand in Kate’s place. I hope it’s not just women who step up, though,” says Ms. Rubell.

Another unique, fun feature—there will be five blank pictures called “Drinking Paintings” with taps protruding out of them, set to offer guests cocktails associated with the royal family. Guests can sample rum, gin, Madeira wine, whiskey and sloe gin, says UKPA.

The model of the Prince was sculpted by French artist, Daniel Druet, and will be displayed in the front window of the gallery to entice in people into the gallery.

The installation is, allegedly, the first piece of art inspired by the royal engagement and will be open to the public next month at the Stephen Friedman Gallery in central London.

“When you turn the tap, alcohol comes out and you’re invited to help yourself to a drink and raise a glass to the happy couple. The idea is as people begin to use it, you will get leaks on the canvas and drips,” said a spokeswoman for the gallery to UKPA.

Casting call: one lucky Kate impostor can now impersonate Kate Middleton on live Television
Lifetime has announced that a royal love story is in the works, entitled, originally, Will and Kate.

The film is slated to “heir” the week before the April 29th wedding date.

” It [the film] chronicles the history of William and Kate, from the moment the two students met at Scotland’s prestigious University of St. Andrews, through the ups and downs of their nine-year courtship.” It will also chart the complications created “by social and Royal Family pressures, and intense global media attention surrounding their storybook nuptials,” said the movies makers in a statement, reports Time.

What do we know about the films cast?

• The studio has already cast new-comer Nico’s Evers Swindell as Prince William, who is known for his few appearances on television shows like NCIS: Los Angeles and Law & Order.
• Prince Charles to be played by Star Trek‘s Ben Cross.
• No one knows who will play Kate, but the rumour-mill is spreading around the little-known name Kate Bevan.

Kate Middleton gets voice over offer for London 2012 Cultural Olympiad’s Tate Movie Project
Now that Kate Middleton is officially engaged to Prince William all sorts of odd business offers are coming her way— the latest? Ms. Middleton has been asked by officials from the Tate Movie Project to “voice’ a cartoon character as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad— a festival of the arts that coincides with the Olympic Games in London in 2012, reports the Telegraph.

The Tate Project is a 27 minute film, entirely composed and drawn by 16,000 primary school children.

The children have compiled a short-list of celebrities who they want to take part in the film and now officials are extending the offers.

The Telegraph reports the project’s organizer, Jane Burton said 10 celebrities have been approached and all have accepted the offer to do voice overs for various characters.

Mario Testino

Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton pose in one of two official engagement portraits.

Government officials in Iran are less-than-tickled that their young are taking an interest in Valentine’s Day, viewing the new found observation of a holiday named after a Christian saint as a severe threat to traditional cultural practices.

“The authorities in Iran resist Western influence and blame many of Iran’s social ills on a ‘cultural assault’ from the West. Although the population is predominantly Muslim, many people, particularly the younger generation born after the revolution, have liberal attitudes and follow the same trends in music, film and fashion as people of their age would do in Europe,” reports euronews.

Iran’s printing works owners’ union says that the country has it own days to honour kindness, love and affection, reports Reuters.

While the holiday has not been officially banned, traditional Valentine’s gifts can no longer be sold in stores, including themed cards, red roses, teddy bears,  candies and anything that comes in a heart-shaped box.

The printers’ union has taken legal action to ensure Valentine’s products are not created and therefore the holiday not promoted:

“Printing and producing any products related to Valentine’s Day, including posters, brochures, advertising cards, boxes with the symbols of hearts, half-hearts, red roses and any activities promoting this day are banned, said authorities, who threaten they will take “legal” action against those who ignore the ban,” reports Reuters.

According to Reuters, some nationalists have proposed filling the Valentine’s Day gap with “Mehregan,” a Iranian festival in existence since the pre-Islamic era (Mehr means ‘friendship,’ ‘affection’ or ‘love.’)

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) Sasha Obama (L), the younger daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama (R), greets Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) during a state arrival ceremony at the South Lawn of the White House January 19, 2011 in Washington, DC. Hu and President Obama will hold a press conference at the White House later today. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

AFP photo/ Patrik Stollarz / Getty Images

A golden urn, containing the ashes of Paul the octopus, is diplayed on January 20, 2011 at the sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen, western Germany. The tentacled tipster was honoured with a “Paul Corner” at his former home 3 months after his death, containing his ashes and a “huge memorial”. Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa for his flawless record in predicting game outcomes, died in October 2010.

Alina Kabayeva, Russian PM Putin’s alleged mistress, is stressing that she is a good role model for young athletes everywhere. Fresh off the creation of a new doll, Radio Free Europe is reporting that the the 27 year-old Duma deputy, and former Olympic rhythmic gymnast, has released a single — complete with a music video of herself twirling ribbons and singing.

So why is Ms. Kabayeva drawing so much attention to herself?

Ms. Kabayeva’s representatives deny that she plans to make a career in show business.

The music video and the single, called “Believe in Yourself,” are an attempt to inspire young athletes, say Ms. Kabayeva’s reps.

She performs in the video with a tricolor ribbons in the colors of the Russian flag.

The lyrics go something like this: you can achieve anything you want “if you work hard and believe in yourself, your dreams, and your work.”