The princess of partywear!

 Her embrace of dark partywear that has garnered the Duchess the highest number of headlines, beginning with the stunning Diane von Furstenburg gown worn to meet stars - among them One Direction's Harry Styles - at the Royal Variety Performance late last month.

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Dazzle like the Duchess in a deep blue chiffon dress

Second time around: The gown was on its second outing this year, having been worn to the Portrait Gala in London in February

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Stay spot on like the Duchess in a sheer top from Hobbs

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Good look: The Duchess began her tour of New York in black Beuhlah (right) but chose Hobbs and Jenny Packham for a reception last month

With its pretty lace sleeves and sweetheart neckline, the dramatic number added a shot of demure glamour to the night - and eclipsed the more colourfully dressed A-listers who also attended.

A day later and Kate was back in black, this time for a Kensington Palace reception. This time though, the Duchess dispensed with designer in favour of High Street staple Hobbs, teaming a sheer polka dot blouse by the brand with a skirt by Jenny Packham.

And the Duchess certainly isn't alone in her love of an LDD. Both Little Dark Dresses and the classic LBD have long been a party season staple, with sales of the dresses increasing by 29 per cent as December approaches, according to department store Debenhams.

'The garment that the majority of clients have said they want is that elusive little black dress,' commented a spokesperson for the store. 'The perfect one will take you from a cocktail party to an opera, from a Michelin starred restaurant to a night club, without missing a beat. A dress that can do that is certainly worth the effort.' 

Look chic like Kate in a Diane Von Furstenberg lace gown

Glamorous: The Duchess concealed her tiny bump in a gorgeous Diane von Furstenburg gown for the Royal Variety Performance in November

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Stunning: Kate's love of black lace reappeared once more at last year's SportsAid ball when she chose a Temperley cocktail dress

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Dazzling: Kate opted for Jenny Packham on her final night in New Zealand and picked black for a London charity gala earlier this year

Dramatic: The Duchess loves a black lace gown for evening and opted for this show-stopping number at the War Horse premiere in 2012

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Early outing: Despite her youthful penchant for brights and whites, the Duchess did occasionally embrace black in her pre-royal days

 THE SECRET OF THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE'S MATERNITY STYLE 

It isn't only her clever way with LDDs that has made the Duchess a sartorial sensation during her tour of the Big Apple - her chic maternity style has made headlines as well.

This, says style expert Lisa Haynes, is all down to her embrace of the coat-dress which manages to combine formal glamour with space for the royal bump.

'The Duchess of Cambridge has toured the world's style capital wearing a succession of winter dress coats,' she explains. 'It's clever one-piece dressing that doesn't overtly draw attention to her bump. 

'Note that we've barely caught a glimpse of the outfit underneath - Kate's chic coat choices do all the work. She's even kept accessories to a minimum.'

But it's not only pregnant women who can benefit from a tailored coat. 'As Kate demonstrates, these tailored coats are surprisingly versatile whether you're pregnant or not,' adds Haynes.

'For a formal vibe, she teamed her monochrome Goat crepe coat with black opaques and heels but gave her Tory Burch bouclé coat a more relaxed spin for the basketball layering it over a pair of skinny trousers.

'Her overcoat collection struck the perfect balance for the couple's royal tour duties. Floaty maternitywear and stretch waistbands could have looked too casual, while clingy bodycon would have been inappropriate.' 

From: the Mail

Millionaire homeowners at exclusive Sandbanks resort

Houses in Sandbanks (pictured from above), a tiny sandy peninsula at the mouth of Poole Harbour, can sell for as much as £10million

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Two football managers own property in the Sandbanks area  - QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who owns a harbour-front mansion, and former Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis

Millionaire homeowners at the exclusive Sandbanks resort say rowdy stag and hen parties renting luxury mansions are making their lives a 'misery'.

Angry residents launched a campaign after several multi-million pounds holiday homes in the exclusive beach-side destination in Dorset became popular as weekend 'party houses'.

Some of the properties were being rented out for up to £1,000 a night - and because they are so big, groups of up to 30 partygoers were staying in them for nights out in nearby Bournemouth.

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Millionaire homeowners at the exclusive Sandbanks resort say rowdy stag and hen parties renting luxury mansions are making their lives a 'misery'. The property above is one of those listed for rent in the area by Deluxe Holiday Homes

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A judge has upheld a noise abatement notice handed to letting agent Michele King by Poole Council following a string of complaints from residents. Pictured is one of the properties offered for rent by Deluxe Holiday Homes

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Some of the properties are rented out for up to £1,000 a night. Pictured is an example of a home available for rent near the coast

Source: the Mail

Royal couple visit New York & Washington (Part A)

House of cards: Prince William flew to Washington D.C. on Monday morning for a meeting with President Barack Obama where they talked about the special relationship between the United States and Great Britain 

William meanwhile was in Washington with President Barack Obama, as the two talked about the special relationship between the United States and Great Britain. The Duke also revealed to President Obama that after the birth of Prince George, he forgot to ask if it was a boy or a girl. 

Future leaders: The Duke and Duchess were reunited Monday night at an event recognizing the work of The Tusk Trust, where they met with Hillary Clinton, her daughter Chelsea and Chelsea's husband Marc Mezvinsky 

AND WILLS' FULL ITINERARY

Sunday, December 7

- Arrive in New York at 5pm

- Attend a private fundraiser at 7.30pm hosted by Sir Martin Sorrell at his midtown apartment

Monday, December 8 

William

- Travel to Washington, D.C.

- Attend an anti-corruption conference at the World Bank to discuss a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the transportation across borders of illegal wildlife.

- Attend a working lunch at the World Bank to discuss a number of programs in support of the fight against the illegal trade in ivory.

- Meet with President Obama at the White House, then separately with VP Joe Biden

- Travel back to New York City

- Join Hillary and Chelsea Clinton for a reception at the British Consul General's Residence in New York City. It will recognize the work done by The Tusk Trust and other partners of William's charity United for Wildlife.

Kate

- Visit the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem with First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray to see its mental health and fostering services.

- Attend a lunch, hosted by the British Consul General in New York, to celebrate the achievements of a successful British community in New York.

Together

- Attend an NBA Basketball game (Nets v Cavaliers in Brooklyn) to help launch a new collaboration between The Royal Foundation, United for Wildlife and the NBA.

Tuesday December 9th

Together

- Visit the National September 11 Memorial Museum and the Memorial Reflection Pools.

- Visit The Door in NYC and the CityKids Foundation, to learn about their work on positive youth development and social learning using art.

- Attend the Creativity is GREAT Reception at NeueHouse celebrating the British talent in the creative industries of New York, in association with the UK Government's GREAT campaign.

William

- Attend the Innovation is GREAT Reception hosted by Shutterstock at the Empire State Building, accompanied by the Mayor of New York to celebrate US and UK entrepreneurs.

Together

- Finally, that evening William and Kate will attend the University of St. Andrews 600th Anniversary Dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Mingling: During the reception in the Velez Blanco patio, the couple mingled with the other 450 guests - who had paid between $2,500 and $10,000 to attend the dinner - surrounded by 16th century marble statues brought over wholesale from a castle in Spain

Prior visit: Shortly before the gala, William was pictured touring the Empire State Building, which has been lit red, white and blue

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Observing the view: During the tour, the future British King was able to look out over the city via the landmark's observation deck

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Tour: William tours the observation deck with Anthony Malkin , Chairman, President and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust

T

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British colors: The Prince waves at fans as he arrives at the Empire State building tonight (left). Right, the building's current lights

Royal couple complete New York tour with glitzy Manhattan fundraiser for Scottish university where they fell in love (Part B)

Black-tie event: Although actor Tom Hanks - whose daughter went to St. Andrews - was due to the after-dinner toast at the black-tie event, he was forced to pull out. Above, Kate and Wills are accompanied up the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art last night

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Elegant: Meanwhile, big business will be represented by the CEOs of Citigroup, Cartier and Bank of America. William’s cousin, Princess Eugenie, who is currently working at an auction house in New York, also attended the 600th anniversary dinner

Mingling: During the reception in the Velez Blanco patio, the couple mingled with the other 450 guests - who had paid between $2,500 and $10,000 to attend the dinner - surrounded by 16th century marble statues brought over wholesale from a castle in Spain

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Another royal: Guests at the event included Princess Eugenie (pictured being greeted, left, and kissed on the cheek, right, by Kate)

The event, which closed last night with a charity auction, aimed to fund scholarships and bursaries for St Andrews students from under-privileged communities, as well as new sports and media facilities at the university.

The Duke and Duchess met in St. Andrews as students. Although they were initially just friends, their relationship quickly blossomed into an on-again, off-again romance on campus. It later developed into a full blown love affair that saw them wed at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011.

And during last night's dinner, William told guests that the university still has a special place in his and his wife's hearts, saying: 'I don't need to tell you how much St Andrews means to me and Catherine.' He added: 'By joining us here this evening you are supporting a remarkable independent institution.'

They met there. And later fell in love. 

And last night, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a glitzy gala dinner to raise money for their alma mater: St Andrews University in Scotland.

Prince William and his wife Kate - who both earned degrees at the university - were the guests of honour at the lavish $10,000-a-head 600th anniversary event at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the couple's final engagement of their three-day visit to America. 

Tradition: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shake hands with St Andrews alumni dressed in the university's traditional red gowns

Speech: William is pictured speaking at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the St Andrews 600th anniversary dinner in New York

From: the Mail

Princess Alexandra Marries Danish Photographer

                                                                                                       Mar 04 2007

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Princess Alexandra, the former wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark, married royal photographer Martin Joergensen in a private ceremony in Copenhagen on Saturday, the Danish press reported.

Hong Kong-born Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who divorced from a Danish prince, married her boyfriend Martin Joergensen and gave up her royal title during a private ceremony on Saturday, March 3, 2007 in Oester Egede Church near Fakse in Denmark. [AP Photo / Polfoto]

The 42-year-old married Joergensen, a Dane 15 years her junior, at the Oester Egede church wearing a champagne-coloured dress designed by Danish designer Henrik Hviid, agency and press reports said.

The Hong Kong-born princess, who divorced Prince Joachim in 2005 after almost ten years of marriage and after having two children, is now no longer a member of the royal family and will be known as the Countess of Frederiksborg.

In 2004 the Danish parliament awarded the princess an annual 1.5 million Danish kroner (200,000 euros) index-linked tax-free allowance after her divorce, but this is due to be reviewed following her second marriage. 

Source:lifeofguangzhou