Elspeth A. Lodge

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Elspeth Lodge Mar 31, 2011 – 2:13 PM ET | Last Updated: Mar 31, 2011 2:16 PM ET

A palace representative told the media that Prince William will not wear a wedding band upon his marriage to Kate Middleton, an announcement that will undoubtedly raise eyebrows around the world.

A display of his lack of commitment to his new bride, perhaps?

Well, possibly not. While we can’t pinpoint the reason Prince William won’t wear a wedding band, it’s not as unheard of, or as scandalous as one might think.

A fairly recent tradition…

 

Michael Buholzer / Reuters

A groom slips a wedding ring on his brides finger.

The male wedding band is a fairly recent tradition that gained popularity during the Second World War. “The use of rings as a symbol of everlasting love enshrined in marriage can be traced back thousands of years. But not so much for men,” says Peter Crump on Greatbritishwedding.co.uk. The custom became popular when U.S. soldiers began to wear them:”They were happy to make public their commitment to their wife by the wearing of a public symbol that declared that commitment to all,” Mr. Crump says.

What are the reasons a modern man wears a wedding band?

“The modern man may consider it his duty to choose to make the same public marital statement as his wife will,” says Mr. Crump.”And his wife may well consider it a condition of the marriage that he do so. After all, in these days of equality, if she is prepared to make a statement then should he not do so as well?”

 

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Kate Middleton in Wales.

So, why must Kate wear a ring even if William does not?

“Despite the fact that the wearing of a ring by a woman is a matter of choice, it is in fact almost obligatory due to the fact that it is so common,”says Peter Crump on Greatbritishwedding.co.uk. ” Many women do not even consider the possibility of not wearing one. Often, however, a man usually considers the wearing of a man wedding ring very carefully.”

What about other royal couples? Did the men wear rings?

Prince Charles did not wear a wedding band when he wed Princess Diana, though he began wearing one after marrying Camilla. Prince Edward and Prince Andrew wear a signet rings bearing their coat of arms instead of a wedding band, reports Us Magazine.

Posted in: Posted, World Tags: Buckingham Palace, Kate Middleton, marriage, Prince William, Prince William of Wales, royal wedding, Second World War, World War II

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Prince Harry‘s best man’s speech to his brother: What it will be? Selective. What it won’t be? Dull. 

“We’ll make sure that we dig him in the ribs a bit and embarrass him — make him lose a bit of hair,” Prince Harry said during some recent television interviews, reports the Telegraph.

The Prince plans to write the speech with some friends.”The speech will be like any best man’s speech, between the three of us we will make sure people know the good times and bad times since he was a nipper.”

“I will have a few stories,” he said “but my grandmother will be there so I will have to, er, be selective.”

He described Miss Middleton as a “fantastic girl”: “My brother is very lucky and she is very lucky to find my brother. The two are a perfect match.”

He said Prince Charles is “over the moon” about the upcoming nuptials.

Posted in: Posted, World Tags: Groomsman, North Pole, Polar ice cap, Prince Harry, Prince Harry of Wales, royal wedding, Royals

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Elspeth Lodge Mar 29, 2011 – 3:07 PM ET | Last Updated: Mar 29, 2011 3:56 PM ET

Kate keeps hen party a secret

Kate Middleton, like Prince William, has managed to outfox the press. She held her hen party with her closest gal pals totally under the radar. The party was so well handled  it’s thought the event occurred even before prince William’s stag over the weekend. It’s likely the event occurred when he was away in Australia or New Zealand earlier in the month.

The event was allegedly held at a friends house and organized by her sister Pippa.

“She has already had her hen night, but it was certainly very low-key,” a close friend of Kate’s told the Daily Telegraph. “There isn’t such a tradition attached to hen nights as there is to stag parties. It was done privately. Not all of Kate’s friends were there, and she will be catching up with other friends over the coming weeks.”

A spokesman for St. James’s Palace confirmed that the party has been held, though would would not disclose any details of the event, saying it was a “private” affair.”

“It has taken place. We are not saying when, or where,” a spokesman told AFP.

Rose Astor and William’s god daughter Grace Van Cutsem

Guests probably included Olivia Bleasdale, a flat mate of with Kate and William’s at St. Andrews University; socialite Astrid Harbord (once romantically linked to Prince Harry) ; Alicia Fox-Pitt, a schoolfriend of Kate’s from Marlborough (and a fellow member of the Sisterhood dragon boat crew); Rose Astor, the wife of Prince William’s close friend Hugh van Cutsem (father of William’s god daughter); and Alice Hadden-Paton, married to Mr van Cutsem’s younger brother, Nicholas.

Astrid Harbord

The night isn’t expected to have included much alcohol, as Kate isn’t a big drinker.

Want a good look at Kate as she arrives and leaves the abbey? Have a spare $160,000?

 

Ben Stansall / AFP / Getty Images

Westminster Abbey (L) is pictured in central London, on November 23, 2010. Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton are to marry on April 29, 2011.

Property owners, businesses, religious groups, and Government departments, are all making a profit by offering spaces along the wedding route, reports the Express. If you have an extra £100,000 ($159,884.35) floating around, consider renting out one of the nine rooms and four balconies in a 19th century building looking out over Westminster Abbey‘s west entrance; among the best views are from the second and third floors of NIOC House, at 4 Victoria Street.

From four Victoria street venues, looking down you will get a birds-eye view of Kate Middleton arriving at the abbey via motorcade and stepping out of her Rolls and into the abbey.The West entrance is also where the newlyweds will emerge together after the ceremony and get into their carriage for the procession to Buckingham palace, where they will step out on the balcony, as is customary, before continuing to the wedding breakfast (reception).

“Spectator spots on the balcony of The Sanctuary building, another that overlooks the West Entrance, were also up for sale for around the same price,” reports news.com.au.

The reception

 

Nick Ansell / Reuters/ Pool

MARCH 28, 2011: The State Dining Room which will be used for the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, is seen at Buckingham Palace in London March 25, 2011. Staff at Buckingham Palace have lifted the lid on preparations for Prince William’s wedding next month, giving an insight into what guests can expect and the amount of work they have put in to make the event a success.

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images

Royal staff prepare a drinks table in the Blue Drawing Room, which will be used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, at Buckingham Palace in London on March 25, 2011.

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images

A general view of the White Drawing Room, which will be used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, at Buckingham Palace in London on March 25, 2011.

The food

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images

Sous chef Mark Stewart, prepares a tray of Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Roast Beef and Horse Radish Cream canapes in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace, London on March 25, 2011, as preparetions for the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton are underway.

So, how are the reception preparations progressing behind the scenes? “We are used to doing large events, and obviously, there is a lot of excitement about things coming up,” Mark Flanagan, a royal chef in the pastry kitchen, told “GMA.”It’s about double-checking, triple checking and making sure we got everything in the right place,” said Flanagan, “and nothing has been left to chance.”

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images

Royal Chef, Mark Flanagan, Head of Kitchens at Buckingham Palace, arranges a tray of Bubble and Squeak Confit with Shoulder of Lamb canapes in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace, London on March 25, 2011, as preparations for the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton are underway.

“We start planning as much as six months in advance, so there is an awful lot of details to go into,” said Edward Griffiths, deputy master of the royal household,” talking about the drinks and how people will move about the rooms.

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images)

A chef of the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, London, holds a tray of canapes akin to that which is usually served at receptions held at the palace, in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace, London on March 25, 2011, as preparations for the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton are underway.

The Art

 

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images

Jennifer Scott, Assistant Curator of Paintings, sits underneath a Peter Paul Rubens (bottom centre) Winter (1617-18) in the Picture Gallery, which will be used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, at Buckingham Palace in London on March 25, 2011.

It is expected that guests at the reception will want to look at the royal family’s art collection that dates back to 1837.”When you come into the state rooms,” said Jennifer Scott, the assistant curator of paintings to GMA, “the works of art you see beside you are really wonderful.”

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images

Jennifer Scott, Assistant Curator of Paintings, looks up at her favourite painting as she walks past a Canaletto, Venice towards Santa Maria Della Salute (1723), in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, London, which will be one of the rooms used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton London on March 25, 2011.

 

Nick Ansell / AFP / Getty Images

Edward Griffiths, Deputy Master of the Household looks at a painting of Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII, by Francois Flameng, in the White Drawing Room, which will be used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, at Buckingham Palace, Londonon March 25, 2011

The security

“Police have announced they are considering using stop-and-search orders, which would enable them to stop anyone on their way to central London,” reports ABC.

Posted in: World Tags: hen party, Kate Middleton, Pippa Middleton, Prince William, reception, royal wedding, Westminster Abbey

REUTERS/Fiona Hanson/PA/WPA Pool (BRITAIN)

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Elspeth Lodge Mar 28, 2011 – 1:04 PM ET | Last Updated: Mar 28, 2011 1:30 PM ET

It’s not shocking that after plans for Prince William’s wild water sporting stag party were leaked to the press Prince Harry and friend, nightclub owner Guy Pelly, decided a plan B must take effect.

"Using his connections to Princes Harry and William, Guy Pelly has poured young, rich, reckless blue blood into the nightclub scene"

A low key party reportedly, a “men only bash,” was held at a friend’s country estate this weekend, just outside London, reports the Telegraph.”I can confirm that Prince William’s stag party has taken place” said the princes’ office to People magazine. But, said it was “an entirely private event” and they will not comment further.

William and around twenty of his closest friends allegedly gathered on Friday night. The Van Cutsem family owns an estate in Norfolk and the Telegraph speculates this was the venue of the event. Hugh Van Cutsem is the father of William’s god daughter Grace.

Everyone at the party was reportedly sworn to secrecy and no one is sure what took place inside. Some of Prince William’s friends in attendance, allegedly, were James Meade, who William met at Eton, Thomas van Straubenzee who went to Ludgrove Prep School with William in Berkshire and a few or all of the Van Cutsem brothers.

Hugh Van Cutsem, father of William's god daughter

Posted in: Posted, World Tags: Bachelor Party, Berkshire, James Meade, London, Norfolk, Prince Harry, Prince Harry of Wales, Prince William of Wales

Rui Vieira / WPA Pool / Getty Images

FLECKNEY, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 24: Cake designer Fiona Cairns, who has been commissioned by Prince William and Kate Middleton to create a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake for their wedding, mixes ingredients, on March 24, 2011

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Elspeth Lodge Mar 28, 2011 – 2:30 PM ET | Last Updated: Mar 28, 2011 3:01 PM ET

Many people don’t realize the royal couple are following tradition, not adding a modern twist to their wedding, by having two wedding cakes instead of one.The first cake, a three tiered fruit cake is traditional to English weddings; the top tier is known as “the christening cake,” which the couple will likely save in a tin to eat at the baptism of their first child.The second cake will be the “groom’s cake,” a less formal cake, a tradition that originated in the Tudor period but isn’t often bothered with today.

The groom’s cake

Prince William has chosen a chocolate rich biscuit cake for his grooms cake. A simple unbaked cake of crushed McVities rich tea biscuits and dark chocolate, reports the Telegraph.

“It was once English custom for this [the groom's cake] to be a fruitcake as well,” reports worldweddingtraditions.com, but today the groom’s cake is likely to be chocolate.”

Buckingham palace has sent a special “secret” recipe to McVities that William used to enjoy at tea time as a child.

The cake will be baked in a factory test kitchen by Paul Courtney, the firm’s cake design and development head chef.”It has a couple of secret ingredients we can’t tell you about but it will have dark chocolate, to give it a really nice flavour, and use rich tea biscuits that will be broken up,” Mr. Courtney told the Telegraph. “It will be decorated with chocolate display work which will be contemporary, modern and elegant.” Also, it will include no less than 1,700 biscuits and nearly 40 lb of dark chocolate, says the Mail.

As a plus, the company has made many royal wedding and christening cakes since the marriage of George V to Queen Mary in 1893, says the Telegraph, adding another level of tradition to the wedding.

Dave Thompson / WPA Pool / Getty Images

STOCKPORT, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 25: Cake Design and Development Head Chef Paul Courtney tastes a piece of a trial biscuit cake after making it at the McVitie’s factory March 25, 2011 in Stockport, England.

Another tradition? “Legend has it that if single females take a slice of the cake home and sleep with it under their pillow they will dream of their groom-to-be,” says the Telegraph of the grooms cake.

The fruit cake

The fruit cake is served at the wedding reception (or the “wedding breakfast”) along with  the groom’s cake.

Rui Vieira / WPA Pool / Getty Images

FLECKNEY, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 24: A decorative rose for the royal wedding cake is made on March 24, 2011 in Fleckney, Leicestershire, England.

In creation of the wedding fruit cake, Kate Middleton has worked closely with popular Leicestershire-based cake-designer Fiona Cairns, who supplies cakes to swanky department stores like Harrods.

The cake will be covered in edible flowers and fruit.

Rui Vieira / WPA Pool / Getty Images

FLECKNEY, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 24: Cake designer Fiona Cairns, who has been commissioned by Prince William and Kate Middleton to create a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake for their wedding, poses with a Victorian recipe book, on March 24, 2011 .

“I can’t tell you exactly the recipe, but the brandy is very important,” says Cairns to the Mail. “We always soak our fruits overnight to plump them up.” She says ingredients in the cake include dried fruits such as raisins and sultanas, walnuts, cherries, grated oranges and lemon, French brandy, free range eggs and flour, says BBC.

Rui Vierira / WPA Pool / Getty Images

FLECKNEY, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 24: Cake designer Fiona Cairns, who has been commissioned by Prince William and Kate Middleton to create a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake for their wedding, holds a tray of decorations for the cake March 24, 2011 in Fleckney, Leicestershire, England.

In terms of decoration “She [Kate] has guided us right from the beginning and has quite strong ideas,” said Ms. Cairns.”She knew very much what she wanted and she brought us mood boards and told us what influences she would like us to use on the cake. The cake is multi-tiered, doesn’t have colour – it’s cream and white [icing] – and it’s a traditional cake but also quite delicate and modern.

All the tiers will have a different theme.’  The edible flowers will include an English rose, a Scottish thistle, a Welsh daffodil and an Irish shamrock, says BBC and “The cake will feature William and Kate’s new cipher — thought to feature the couple’s entwined initials — which will be officially released on their wedding day on 29 April.”

The Palace has said to the Mail “the cake will have ‘a strong British floral theme” and “will be decorated using intricate piping to create flowers, leaves and scrollwork, and accompanied with fresh fruit and flowers.”

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Elspeth Lodge Mar 25, 2011 – 5:19 PM ET

So, you’ve been invited to the royal wedding, now what? The impression you make on the blue-blooded crowd will have everything to do with your knowledge of proper royal wedding etiquette. Many guides say if you aren’t British the traditional greeting decorum does not apply, but if you want to fit into the upper echelon of society, following tradition will ensure your social success.

How to interact with the Queen

Reuters / Suzanne Plunkett

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth leaves Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage to attend the State Opening of Parliament, London May 25, 2010

Perhaps the most important sign of your pedigree will be how you greet the Queen, there are different rules for men and women.

How should a man greet the Queen? A man should give a swift bow of the head, not a bow from the waist when meeting the Queen.”Men should also briefly lower their eyes during their greeting, and bow again when the Royal family member leaves,” said Jo Bryant, etiquette adviser for Debrett’s to the Telegraph.

How should a Woman greet the Queen? A woman should give a small, dignified curtsey upon meeting the Queen:” The move should create a distinct bobbing movement, with the upper body kept straight and should be repeated when the member of the Royal family leaves,” said Ms. Bryant to the Telegraph.

Will the Queen shake hands? It is rare, but not unheard of, for the Queen to extend a hand. Always let the Queen initiate a hand shake, never stick out your hand first. Men should never kiss the Queens hand nor give her a firm handshake; simply extend the hand and shake lightly, women do the same.

How do you address the Queen?

1. First address The Queen as ‘Your Majesty’, suggests Debrett’s, subsequently call her ‘Ma’am’.
2. In conversation substitute ‘Your Majesty’ for ‘you’.
3. Wait for the Queen to initiate conversation and never speak first or ask any personal questions.
4. Always give the queen space. “… the sight of anyone apparently touching the Queen with anything more than a limp handshake is enough to send the British (or traditionalists in the old Commonwealth) twittering,” reported the Times in 2009.

So, you have a date or a friend by your side, how do you introduce them to The Queen?

Suppose a friend was introducing you, he would simply state your name using the following phrasing: “May I present [substitute date/friend's name here], Your Majesty?”

How do you enter and leave the Abbey in style?

The Queen is always supposed to enter the abbey last and be the first to depart, so make sure a) you arrive early b) you don’t rush out of the abbey before the Queen.

How would you greet other members of the royal family? How would you act when you meet Prince William, for example?

How you greet or are greeted by a royal will likely depend upon their age. Older royals will be conservative; in this case men should bow from the head only and women should make a small curtsy. “Neither movement should be prolonged or exaggerated,” says Debrett’s online. Some guides say it is acceptable albeit less usual to shake hands. Debrett’s online suggests “If you are expecting to be introduced to one of the young Princes, or Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, for example, it might be helpful to speak to their private secretary or equerry for guidance.” Also, “… anyone bearing the style and title of His or Her Royal Highness should be addressed as ‘Your Royal Highness’ for the first time, and subsequently ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’ (to rhyme with Pam),” the site says.

How do you dress for a royal wedding? The invitation for a royal will state the dress code, which must be strictly adhered to if you want to fit in like a pro. In the case of Prince William and Kate’s wedding, the invitation states a traditional wedding dress code called “morning dress.”

John Stillwell / Reuters / Pool

An invitation card for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

John Stillwell / Reuters / Pool

The bottom right-hand corner of the invitation to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding indicates traditional morning dress will be the dress code.

“A lounge suit is what the Brits call a coat and tie. As for the morning coat, that’s a coat with a front cut away, so that the back is longer, which Americans would recognize as a tailcoat, or “tails.” The outfit is topped off with a hat, which comes from the days when men rode horses and wore top hats. And, last but not least, the final touch for a gentleman royal-wedding goer is an umbrella. This is London after all, and the chances are that April Showers will appear at some point April 29,” says ABC news. Generally, a female dress code is not stated on the invitation but deduced from the male dress code.”

ABC news took a trip to Selfridges, one of London top stores, to get some guidance on the female dress code: “Sophie, a stylist from Selfridges, said that because the wedding’s taking place at Westminster Abbey, sleeves are a must. It’s a delicate line between looking “proper” but not “stuffy.” Gloves, for women, are also essential, Sophie said. Dents gloves are the brand de jour, favored by the royal family, hand stitched in Wiltshire for three centuries, and worn at many a royal wedding in bygone days.”

Morning Dress is all about the details, so the former advice alone will not get you far…

About morning dress for men:

The Black Tie Guide defines “morning dress” as “the traditional term for formal day wear.”Those unfamiliar with the term should be aware there are many different forms of morning dress. When meeting the royal family, the “formal” version of morning dress is usually the norm. Below are some excellent guides to consult on details of morning dress…

Website

Debretts website

Andrews and Pygott

Black Tie Guide website

Black Tie website

Black Tie website

Now, women. What does morning dress mean for you?

Debrett’s is a great resource for women as well as men in this department, actually, in all etiquette departments. Below are some helpful hints about woman’s dress code for the royal wedding:

Debrett’s website

Paul Ellis / AFP / Getty Images

Pippa Middleton, the sister of Kate Middleton, arrives for the wedding service of Lady Katie Percy adhering to the proper dress code.

Reuters / Toby Melville

Britain’s Kate Middleton leaves following the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles and Harry Lopes at St Cyriac’s Church in Lacock, in Wiltshire, west England.

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Elspeth Lodge Mar 24, 2011 – 1:57 PM ET

I take thee, William Pinkerton-Smith

Prince William has further endeared himself to New Zealand — a country he visited last week — by allegedly sitting in economy class (avec security team, however) on an Air New Zealand flight from from Auckland to the earthquake-stricken city of Christchurch, reports the Telegraph. Predictably, the airline isn’t talking. Our favourite part of the story? William’s alleged alias: Mr. Pinkerton-Smith.

Kiwis, for their part, were already won over. An earlier New Zealand Herald editorial raved:

“The day has long gone when a royal visitor can win affection in this corner of the realm simply by coming here, though even that was becoming a rare gesture until Prince William came of age. In him we have met a future king who knows when he should be here and, even more important, seems comfortable when he is here.”

Arthur Edwards / WPA Pool / Getty Images

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 18: Prince William meets Sumner residents on March 18, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Chris Jackson / WPA Pool / Getty Images

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

The public hearts Prince Charles (or possibly hearts Prince William so much they’re trying to spare him)

For the first time in six years, polls show that the public would like the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, to become king before William. Of respondents, 45% said they would prefer Charles against 37% in support of William.  “Experts have speculated that the reason behind the change is that the public want to allow Prince William to enjoy his life as a newlywed before assuming a more responsible role,” the Telegraph reported Wednesday. No word who the remaining 18% supported (no one? Harry?).

Ian Gavan / Getty Images

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla hearts Kate Middleton

The 63-year-old Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, spoke publicly Wednesday for the first time about her relationship with her soon-to-be step-daughter-in-law Kate Middleton, reports the Express, the Daily Mail and People.

“Kate’s a lovely girl. We’re very lucky. I’m very much looking forward to the wedding,” she said at a a visit to a floral design school in London. “One of my granddaughters is a bridesmaid,” she told students at the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers as she tried her hand at flower arranging. “She’s only three and it will be quite nerve-wracking for a little one. But she will enjoy it.”

Camilla has been acting as a mentor towards Kate and they have become close, reports say.The two have been seen out twice in public, just recently, once to have lunch and discuss the wedding.

Recent reports are in contrast to a strange article that appeared Wednesday in the U.K.’s Independent, which claims, with little in the way of evidence, that while the royal family might look gloriously happy in the wake of Kate and William’s engagement, actually, Camilla and Zara Phillips are harbouring resentment and jealousy of Kate’s new-found celebrity.

National Post

elodge@nationalpost.com