[United Kingdom] The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge both in military style for first military role as husband and wife

The Duchess of Cambridge will take on her first military role as a royal today as she hands out operational medals to members of the Irish Guards.

Alongside the Duke of Cambridge, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, Kate will present medals to soldiers who have recently returned from serving in Afghanistan.

A royal aide said the Duchess was very pleased to be undertaking the role for a regiment 'so close to her husband's heart'.

The 1st Battalion Irish Guards returned in April from a six-month tour in Afghanistan where they were deployed to 22 different locations in Helmand Province, tasked with developing the Afghan Army.

Six soldiers returned home two weeks before the royal couple's wedding day and had ceremonial duties to perform in London on the day.

Before the medal parade, at Victoria Barracks in Windsor, William and Kate will meet privately with the families of three fallen servicemen and William will present them with posthumous Elizabeth Cross medals.

It is the first time that the couple have visited the regiment since William became Colonel of the Irish Guards in February.

He also wore the regiment's striking red uniform on his wedding day. William is the Irish Guards' first royal colonel and its Colonel-in-Chief is the Queen. The regiment was formed on April 1, 1900, by order of Queen Victoria is response to the courageous actions of Irish regiments in the Second Boer War.

The unit was heavily involved in the ceremonial duties but its servicemen are also fighting soldiers.

She seems to be wearing a military coated, very similar to this one found on Net-a-porter.

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[United Kingdom] Prince Philip and the Queen join PM David Cameron and wife Samantha for Downing Street lunch

For the first time in nine years, the Queen and Prince Philip paid a visit to 10 Downing Street. Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha invited the Duke of Edinburgh for a special 90th birthday lunch of stilton and watercress tarts, roast Scottish beef, and peaches with ice cream. Samantha encouraged the ever modest Philip to step out from the background and pose for a photo on the doorstep of their London residence. There was no discussion of politics and the lunch remained a light-hearted celebration of the Prince's landmark birthday.

The PM recently displayed his affection for the Duke in a House of Commons speech describing him as a man with a "down-to-earth, no nonsense approach that the British people often find enduring."

After listing his many humanitarian and military acheivments, Mr Cameron cut the speech short because, quoting Philip, "the mind cannot absorb what the backside cannot endure." The royal family gathered for the official celebration at Windsor castle earlier this month

The welcoming party

David Cameron greeting the Queen

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[Luxembourg] National Day Celebrations for 2011

Sébastien, Alexandra, Guillaume, Maria-Teresa, Henri, Louis and Tessy. But where is Félix?

June 23rd is Luxembourg’s National Day and the official birthday of the Grand Duke. The day also commemorates the birth of the greatest ruler of Luxembourg, the Grand Duchess Charlotte. She was actually born on January 23, 1896, but the celebrations were shifted to June for more favorable weather.

On the eve of the National Day, a torchlight procession lights the streets starting at 10 in the evening. A spectacular fireworks display is held in the Petrusse Valley. A mass is often held at the cathedral as well. After the fireworks, the city of Luxembourg City turns into a massive party with waffles, sausages, beer, music, and dancing in the streets. On the actual National Day itself, official ceremonies, military parades, and a 101 canon salute are held.

Princess Alexandra

Hands-on Grand Duke and Duchess

The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume

As Guillaume is still unmarried, we often see his sister with him.

Tessy and Louis in a first outing.

Princess Tessy and Prince Louis in a second outing.

The youngest of the bunch, Prince Sébastien

I love the Grand-Duke and the Grand-Duchess together. They still got "the loves"!

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[Nathalie Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Alexander Johannsmann's wedding] Last (yet so nice) photos!

 

 

The couple in the center with their son, soon to be one, Konstantin

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[Nathalie Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Alexander Johannsmann's wedding] The Johannsmanns!

The groom arriving to church

The parents of the groom, Ann-Katrin & Michael Adolph Johannsmann - the weather was unforgiving! 

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[Nathalie Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Alexander Johannsmann's wedding] Nikolaos and Tatiana of Greece

We saw them in the background of a few pictures in previous posts, while they were arriving. What a nice dress and big smiles they had!

Love to see it's real colour. I read on twitter that lighting changes everything with these nude dresses!

[Nathalie Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Alexander Johannsmann's wedding] CP Frederik and Mary of Denmark

Guys, I know it's been a week since the wedding but I have been a bit busy and can't update the blog all the time as before. Hope to resume to our activities shortly ;) And let's continue with the wedding guests: the bride's cousin, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his wife, Princess Mary.

They seemed to be in a terrific spirit and good mood. I like Mary's dress but God, I hate her hair-do, it looks like she shaved it on the sides :( I like her tiara hair better!

So nice to see this couple laughing. I am always looking for "connection" and "complicity" signs in royal couples!

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