Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, gave her first public speech as a member of the royal family on Monday. The three-minute address, which she wrote herself, was made in Ipswitch at the opening of The Treehouse, a hospice facility for children. The program is operated by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, of which the Duchess is a patron.

She was clearly nervous as she spoke to hospice employees, checking her notes after nearly every sentence. Poised and well-spoken nonetheless, she congratulated the staff and reflected on what she has learned about children’s hospice care.

“When I first visited the hospice in Milton, I had a pre-conceived idea as to what to expect. Far from being a clinical, depressing place for sick children, it was a home. Most importantly, it was a family home, a happy place of stability, support and care. It was a place of fun.

What you have all achieved here is extraordinary. You as a community have built the Treehouse; a group of people who have made every effort to support and help each other.

What you do is inspirational, it is a shining example of the support and the care that is delivered, not just here, but in the children’s hospice movement at large, up and down the country.”

The Duchess wore a blue dress by Reiss, borrowed from her mother Carole Middleton, for the occasion.

Video Source: HuffPostUK

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Three Royals walk into a tea shop…

Fortnum and Mason in London was the center of a ‘Royal Family Ladies’ Day Out’ as The Queen, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge visited the food emporium for an afternoon tour.

The three women all chose outfits in various shades of blue: Kate wore a coat from M by Missoni with two daffodils pinned to the lapel in honor of St. David’s Day. Queen Elizabeth’s robin’s egg blue suit was from Angela Kelley and Camilla sported a navy dress with white stripes at the collar.

The royals sampled the store’s sweet confections and teas, checked out the wares in celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and received picnic baskets with special goodies for themselves and their dogs inside.

The hampers included venison-flavored dog biscuits called Hearty Treats for Happy Hounds. The Queen’s corgis, Kate and Prince William‘s cocker spaniel and Camilla’s Jack Russell terrier should be happy with the pet snacks.

London Mayor Boris Johnson met the trio at the Piccadilly store. He told reporters that Kate thanked him for the wedding gift he gave her and William – a tandem ‘Boris Bike’ – the informal name of publicly shared bikes stationed around the city.

PETA protestors also met the group and picketed the store for selling foie gras.

More photos are under.  (Read the article)

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Prince William and Kate Middleton are settling nicely into married life, and what better way to get domestic than to add a loyal canine friend to your life?   The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have adopted a cocker spaniel puppy.

A source at Buckingham Palace told Us Magazine how Wills and Kate decided to become puppy parents.

“He belongs to a litter of cocker spaniels from one of [Kate's mom] Carole Middleton’s friends near home.  At first, they had just taken it  home for a short period of time to see how they adapt.

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All eyes were on Prince William and Kate Middleton as they walked the red carpet for the London premiere of director Steven Spielberg‘s latest film War Horse.

The Duke of Cambridge was the perfect gentleman as he held an umbrella over his wife’s head when it started to rain as the couple was heading inside.

The Duchess wore a lovely, three-quarter length sleeve cream dress with black lace overlay from British designer Alice Temperley. Kate paired it with a black velvet belt and matching clutch for her first movie premiere as a member of the royal family.

The premiere was also a benefit for the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

“War Horse encapsulates for me a timeless personal story of courage,” Spielberg said at the premiere. “The movie, which I am proud to say was filmed here in Great Britain, deals with the discovery of humanity against conflict, and celebrates bravery, loyalty, tenacity and hope.”

“We are honoured to dedicate this event in aid of the Foundation which recognises the welfare of those who serve their country in the British Armed Forces.”

More photos of the couple are below.  (Read the article)

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Vogue has compiled its Best Dressed Women list for 2011.  This year they’ve gone with a sibling theme, and the two who rose to the top of the list might surprise you:  Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.    But these sisters have really transformed their sense of style in the last couple of years, rising from the ranks of the blandly safe (Ashley) and the truly disastrous (Mary-Kate, over and over again) to fashion mavens in their own right.  They have two fashion lines (The Row and Elizabeth and James) recently launched a T-shirt style website (StyleMint), and in 2009, they were admitted to the CDFA.   And they’ve proven that they are actually capable of going out in public looking pretty good.

Other famous sisters who made the list include Beyonce and Solange Knowles,  Elle and Dakota Fanning, and, of course, Pippa Middleton and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.   Visit Vogue for the complete list, or pick up a copy of the 2011 Best Dressed Special Edition on November 15th.

See more photos of best dressed sisters after the jump!

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Prince William is heading to the South Atlantic for the next step in his military training.

The Duke of Cambridge and future King will spend 6 weeks in February and March of 2012 stationed in the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory, as part of a routine deployment as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement: “This deployment forms part of a normal squadron crew rotation and will form part of Flt Lt Wales’ [as William is known in the military] training and career progression as a search and rescue pilot within the RAF.”

Have Prince William in the Falkland Islands is a sensitive political situation. 2012 will mark 30 years since the 1982 war between Argentina and England over the territories. William’s uncle, Prince Andrew, flew helicopters for the RAF during the battle.

William will be posted along with other members of his squadron and like the others, family members do not travel with them.

His wife, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, should be announcing which charities she will become patron of by that time next year. Palace officials have said Middleton is waiting until 2012 so she can take her time deciding which organizations she will take on.

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They’re moving on up!

Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton are planning to move into a much larger apartment in Kensington Palace after some serious updating and renovations take place. The move is anticipated to happen somewhere between late 2012 or mid 2013.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will leave their two-bedroom apartment and move to the 20 room dwelling which was the late Princess Margaret‘s until her death in 2002.

The home will need new plumbing, electrical and asbestos removal before being ready for the couple to take occupancy.

Apartment 1A (as it’s known) is managed by the Historic Royal Palaces and is used as offices, although there is a small area currently housing a public exhibition until September 2012.

The move was approved by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. William and Kate, along with Prince Harry‘s staff will move their offices from St. James Palace to Kensington.

Harry is expected to relocate to the apartment that William and Kate vacate as well.

William and Harry grew up at Kensington Palace with their mother, Princess Diana, who lived their until her death in 1997.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton toured a UN aid depot in Copenhagen where they helped pack boxes headed to drought ravaged East Africa.

The food shortage is affecting an estimated 13 million people. Middleton called the crisis “shocking.”

The British royal couple were guests of Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederick and his wife, Australian-born Crown Prince Mary and the Danish hosts accompanied them as they visited a UNICEF emergency supply center.

“The rains have come now and … that doesn’t necessarily mean things are going to get better at all,” William said. “In fact, disease becomes a huge issue. And so it’s very much a case of anyone who can do anything to help, please do.”

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, donned a hard hat along with the other royals and packed boxes for the humanitarian organization’s effort. Prince William tasted the high-protein peanut paste that is sent in the relief packages. Kate declined a sample of the food.

The fashionable Duchess of Cambridge wore a beautiful long red coat cinched at the waist with a belt by L.K. Bennett.

Lots of photos below.  (Read the article)

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Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and the folks at The Today Show have a pretty good time every year choosing a costume theme for all the personalities on the show and this Halloween was no exception.

The Royal Wedding was on tap for the NBC show stars and anchors with Lauer and Curry taking the lead roles of Prince William and Kate Middleton as they donned their wedding outfits for the broadcast.

Others joining in - Al Roker opted for a Prince Harry red wig and military suit (I’m sure his military comrades are having a go at him over that!), Natalie Morales was Pippa Middleton, Savannah Guthrie checked in as father-of-the-groom Prince Charles and Kathie Lee Gifford and Hota Kotb came as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – hats and all.

The best was the (brief) return of Meredith Viera as The Queen.

Watch the video below.  (Read the article)

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Another day in London, another day where Pippa Middleton manages to look incredible just walking down the street on her way to work.   She accented a basic black outfit – fitted dress and short boots – with an animal print scarf and red purse.   Great style, as always.

I wonder what Pippa thinks of all the paparazzi attention?  (And yes, I know I’m not helping, what with publishing this story and all.)  She’s probably talking to her sister Kate Middleton on the phone, saying, “Oh hey Kate… yeah, did it ever occur to you that if you married a prince, I’d be stalked by photographers every day as I head to the office?  Just wanted to say thanks.  Thanks a lot.  You enjoy your solitude in Anglesey while I’m here in London trying to make sure I don’t get snapped picking my nose?  Kthxbye.”

See more Pippa pics after the jump.

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