Autumn Royal Roundup September 9
William and Kate at Austrian wedding
Although Kate Middleton has attended two Royal weddings alone this year, it’s nearly three years since Prince William joined her.
For more than a year, the couple appear to have had a marked reluctance to be seen together at formal occasions. That has changed in recent months and they are now regularly, if sparingly, spotted at functions in Britain and abroad.
On Saturday both were in Saltzburg, Austria, for the nuptials of their mutual friend Chiara Hunt, sister of Olivia Hunt who went to St Andrew’s University with them.
Kate was svelte in a knee-length dress and fitted jacket. The golden couple seemed happy to be photographed together and were thoroughly relaxed on one of their rare public outings together.
Singer James Blunt and TV presenter Ben Fogle, who is married to the bride’s other sister Marina, were also guests.
BBC pulls Diana documentary
After spending £200,000 ($350,000) on a new documentary about Diana, Princess of Wales, the BBC has decided to cancel it a year after the project began.
The film was presumably intended to update her biography in the light of the many new revelations arising out of the long and exhaustive inquest held by Lord Justice Scott Baker.
Both the BBC and Buckingham Palace denied that any pressure had been applied.
BBC produces exclusive Prince Charles 60th film
The BBC has been granted exclusive access to the Prince of Wales for a film marking his 60th birthday in November.
The event is being celebrated in style. Both Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy, girlfriends of Prince William and Prince Harry, have been invited to a party and ball at Buckingham Palace — the first time either has attended such an event.
We must hope the BBC is careful with its editing this time around. Another bad splice of intimate footage and it could lose its Royal franchise forever.
Prince Harry gets motorbike licence
It is being reported that Prince Harry has obtained a full motorbiking licence and intends following his brother William into the superbike league.
The Prince was shown messing about on an old Army bike in a recent film shot when he was deployed to Afghanistan last winter.
As yet he has not bought a machine, but has access to William’s bike, which he rarely uses now.
William’s daredevil antics on two wheels brought protests from his protection team who found it difficult to keep up with him. He finally agreed to give it up when worries about his safety went all the way up to the Prince of Wales.
Harry is said to be even more expert than his brother and much more daring. How long before he faces a similar injunction, we wonder?


Some Royal observers are claiming that there appears to be another “turf war” between the rival courts and press offices of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House. This is an old story tracing back to the time of Diana, Princess of Wales, when the rival court was St James’s Palace.
It’s good to see the Daily Mail threading a little light into the “Waity Katie” obsessions of some commentators and newspapers, including its sister paper, The Mail on Sunday.
In an article in today’s Mail on Sunday, Katie Nicholl reports that friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton believe that an engagement announcement is planned for “just before or just after Christmas,” and that a wedding could be in May or June.

