Duchess of Cambridge Dish: Best Dressed List Kate Gets SAS Training and Flies Budget

Kate Mania is in full effect so it's not surprising that the newly minted Duchess of Cambridge has found a place on Vanity Fair's 2011 Best Dressed List--her first time doing so as a royal. VF says that Catherine (who made her first list appearance in 2008)has "captivated the world with her signature mix of high and low fashion," thereby earning her spot.  Others named include Carla Bruni and Charlene of Monaco, the Obamas on the couple list, and Mario D'Urso, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Colin Firth, Jenson Button and Stavros Niarchos. We'd wager that Kate will make it to the Hall of Fame quite soon.

And while Kate can do glamour with the best of them--always with her trademark simple elegance--she can also rough it. If flying budget airlines qualifies as roughing it (we'd say so.) In a case of royals being just like the rest of us, William, Kate and Harry all saved their pennies getting to and from Zara's Scottish wedding. William and Kate went through normal security and everything when boarding a Flybe jet in Edinburgh, destined for Manchester. According to the Daily Mail, Prince Harry flew EasyJet both ways "checking in his green army-issue bag for £10."

Perhaps worried about all of KMidd's "normal girl" activities like grocery shopping and flying commercial, the royals have seen to it that the Duchess got some intensive anti-kidnapping training from the SAS. Sure, Kate always travels with a bodyguard but her new found visibility means that she needs to be prepared were the unthinkable to happen.

The Daily Mail reports that "the course, described as 'very tough,' teaches survival skills including how to react when attacked and how to build a relationship in the event of a hostage situation." According to a source, "'The VIP kidnap protection training teaches how to cope both mentally and physically. The mental element involves reacting to unusual situations, such as when there was a stranger in the Queen's bedroom--and she just started talking to him...It also teaches how to become more aware of anything 'unusual' in routine situations, driving under pressure and coded messages."

While we hope that no member of the royal family--or anyone for that matter--has to use such training it sounds like some great James Bond-ish fun to us. Coded messages? Sign us up!


Photo: Mark Large/Getty Images

Duchess of Cambridge Dish: Best Dressed List Kate Gets SAS Training and Flies Budget

Kate Mania is in full effect so it's not surprising that the newly minted Duchess of Cambridge has found a place on Vanity Fair's 2011 Best Dressed List--her first time doing so as a royal. VF says that Catherine (who made her first list appearance in 2008)has "captivated the world with her signature mix of high and low fashion," thereby earning her spot.  Others named include Carla Bruni and Charlene of Monaco, the Obamas on the couple list, and Mario D'Urso, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Colin Firth, Jenson Button and Stavros Niarchos. We'd wager that Kate will make it to the Hall of Fame quite soon.

And while Kate can do glamour with the best of them--always with her trademark simple elegance--she can also rough it. If flying budget airlines qualifies as roughing it (we'd say so.) In a case of royals being just like the rest of us, William, Kate and Harry all saved their pennies getting to and from Zara's Scottish wedding. William and Kate went through normal security and everything when boarding a Flybe jet in Edinburgh, destined for Manchester. According to the Daily Mail, Prince Harry flew EasyJet both ways "checking in his green army-issue bag for £10."

Perhaps worried about all of KMidd's "normal girl" activities like grocery shopping and flying commercial, the royals have seen to it that the Duchess got some intensive anti-kidnapping training from the SAS. Sure, Kate always travels with a bodyguard but her new found visibility means that she needs to be prepared were the unthinkable to happen.

The Daily Mail reports that "the course, described as 'very tough,' teaches survival skills including how to react when attacked and how to build a relationship in the event of a hostage situation." According to a source, "'The VIP kidnap protection training teaches how to cope both mentally and physically. The mental element involves reacting to unusual situations, such as when there was a stranger in the Queen's bedroom--and she just started talking to him...It also teaches how to become more aware of anything 'unusual' in routine situations, driving under pressure and coded messages."

While we hope that no member of the royal family--or anyone for that matter--has to use such training it sounds like some great James Bond-ish fun to us. Coded messages? Sign us up!


Photo: Mark Large/Getty Images

Kate Middleton News: Moving in to Kensington, Summer in Balmoral, Becoming a British Business Ambassador and Movie Night

William and Kate are movin' on up! While the newlyweds consider their farmhouse in Wales as their main home base, they have also secured a new post in London. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have now moved all their things into their newly renovated flat in Kensington Palace.

"Although their home boasts one of the most exclusive postcodes in the country, it is a fraction of the size of the five-bedroom, five-reception-room suite occupied by new neighbours, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent," says the Daily Mail. According to the newspapers aides stress that this apartment is only temporary as its much too small for continued use by Will and Kate, especially once they--ahem--start a family.

We're not sure how much time Will and Kate will spend in their new digs considering his job and Kate's invitation to join the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland this summer. According to another Daily Mail article there are quite a few rules that have to be followed by Balmoral guests--including formal attire for all meals except the Saturday night BBQs where the royals cook and the Queen washes up. That's definitely worth the price of admission!

There are also reports that William and Catherine are considering the possibility of becoming British business ambassadors. After their successful work on behalf of British trade and film in Los Angeles the couple seems to be considering the idea of continuing such work on an ongoing basis. While we feel for anyone who has to sit through conferences and luncheons we're all for it as we figure that will mean more Kate outfits to sift through.

And ever wonder what a future king and his bride do on their nights off? Well, if you're the Cambridges you head down to your local cinema to catch a flick. What were William and Kate spotted watching? Bridesmaids. We knew we liked these two.

Kate Middleton News: Moving in to Kensington, Summer in Balmoral, Becoming a British Business Ambassador and Movie Night

William and Kate are movin' on up! While the newlyweds consider their farmhouse in Wales as their main home base, they have also secured a new post in London. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have now moved all their things into their newly renovated flat in Kensington Palace.

"Although their home boasts one of the most exclusive postcodes in the country, it is a fraction of the size of the five-bedroom, five-reception-room suite occupied by new neighbours, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent," says the Daily Mail. According to the newspapers aides stress that this apartment is only temporary as its much too small for continued use by Will and Kate, especially once they--ahem--start a family.

We're not sure how much time Will and Kate will spend in their new digs considering his job and Kate's invitation to join the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland this summer. According to another Daily Mail article there are quite a few rules that have to be followed by Balmoral guests--including formal attire for all meals except the Saturday night BBQs where the royals cook and the Queen washes up. That's definitely worth the price of admission!

There are also reports that William and Catherine are considering the possibility of becoming British business ambassadors. After their successful work on behalf of British trade and film in Los Angeles the couple seems to be considering the idea of continuing such work on an ongoing basis. While we feel for anyone who has to sit through conferences and luncheons we're all for it as we figure that will mean more Kate outfits to sift through.

And ever wonder what a future king and his bride do on their nights off? Well, if you're the Cambridges you head down to your local cinema to catch a flick. What were William and Kate spotted watching? Bridesmaids. We knew we liked these two.