The Royal Family — including Queen Elizabeth II, Princes Charles, William, Harry and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall — were on hand to attend Xmas day services at Sandringham Church in the UK yesterday after Her Majesty delivered her annual Xmas Day address to the United Kingdom earlier in the day. Calling this Xmas a “somber” one, Queen Elizabeth talked at length about the year that was and the challenges to come in 2009. Here are a few pics of the Royals as they arrived for church services yesterday and a portion of her Xmas Day address delivered via radio, TV and Interweb:

Worries about the global economy and violence across the world have turned the celebration of Christmas into a more somber affair this year, Queen Elizabeth said on Thursday. Britain, like many other developed nations, is facing the risk of a prolonged recession. Unemployment is rising fast, household high street firms are collapsing and several big banks are only able to stay in business with government help. There has also been an increase in the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan in recent weeks, just as troops in Iraq prepare to come home next year. “Christmas is a time for celebration, but this year it is a more somber occasion for many,” the Queen said. “People are touched by events which have their roots far across the world. Whether it is the global economy or violence in a distant land, the effects can be keenly felt at home.” But, in her annual Christmas broadcast which dates back to 1957 and is watched by millions across Britain and the Commonwealth, the 82-year-old said those with courage would work hard to survive and improve their lot. “When life seems hard the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future,” she said, standing by a piano adorned with pictures of her family. This year has been eventful for the royal family, with Prince Harry — third in line to the throne — fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan for 10 weeks, an inquest into the death of Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ 60th birthday. The Queen paid tribute to Britain’s armed forces but also singled out for praise her eldest son and heir, Charles, accompanied by previously unseen footage of the prince playing with his mother as a small child. “We feel great pride in seeing our family make their own unique contributions to society,” she said. “Through his charities, the Prince of Wales has worked to support young people and other causes for the benefit of the wider community.”

While it may not want to be the message that folks want to hear on an occasion like Xmas, I think it was prudent for the Queen to address the issues of the day in the manner in which she did. The prospects are gloomy for everyone in the world, none of us are untouched by the degrading state of the economy, and violence still threatens us at almost every turn. Queen Elizabeth has a way of delivering this sort of serious message with a resoluteness that instills confidence in people. After the jump, watch her Xmas Address in full for yourselves … (more…)

Earlier this week we saw a few photos of Prince William rockin’ a newly grown beard as he hunted pheasants with his younger brother Prince Harry and his girlfriend Kate Middleton … well, last night Wills and Kate stepped out on the town together, partying into the wee hours of the morning, and Willy’s chin pubes were in full effect:

Nights on the town have been a rarity for Kate Middleton and Prince William in recent months, but the couple made up for lost time with a visit to London’s Whisky Mist. The pair were spotted arriving at the bar - a popular royal haunt - at 12.30am where they partied until the early hours of this morning. And while Kate, who enjoyed dinner at Eight Over Eight restaurant in Chelsea with sister Pippa earlier in the evening, was dressed to the nines in an electric blue dress, it was her boyfriend’s facial hair that was attracting all the attention. It seems the prince, who is said to have stopped shaving while on a recent anti-drug smuggling exercise with the Special Boat Service in the Caribbean, has become rather attached to the rugged look. It is believed that he grew the beard in an attempt to disguise his identity during the 10-day mission. It’s something of a family tradition - his father, the Prince of Wales, sported facial hair while serving in Alaska in 1975, as did William’s grandfather Prince Philip during his own wartime service aboard HMS Valiant. However the look will be short lived - next year he joins the RAF, where beards are banned. ‘Waity Katie’, as she has become known because of her apparent willingness to wait around until William proposes, is said to have been unimpressed with his decision to commit to the RAF for the next seven years. But there was no signs of strain as they enjoyed their evening on the town. William and Kate, both 26, recently returned from holiday with friends at Wood Farm on the Queen’s 20,000-acre Norfolk estate where they went on a pheasant shoot with Prince Harry and friends. It was the first time the couple had been photographed together since September, when they attended a friend’s wedding in Austria.

I get the whole Royal “tradition” thing about growing a beard before entering military service but I think the new facial hair is also a sign that Wills, bless his heart, is trying to offset the hair that is thinning on top of his head by letting the hair on the bottom of his head grow as much as it can. I, for one, really like the more rugged look on him. Even tho the lad is a tall drink of water, I think he still has a bit of a baby face … the hair mans him up a bit, I think. I say we enjoy the beard for as long as we can … soon enough, it’ll be snipped off and all but a memory.

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Princes William and Harry of Wales ventured out this weekend for a little pheasant hunting excursion and brought along some ladies to join in on the “fun”. While I am not a big fan of hunting, I can understand how the “sport” is one that is enjoyed by many folks, the Royal family included. Wills and Harry brought along Kate Middleton and a new mystery chick (respectively) on their hunting trip … which was also Wills’s first opportunity to show off his new facial hair:

If racing is the sport of kings, then it looks as if shooting is rapidly becoming the sport of the future king’s girlfriend. Kate Middleton deployed her pheasant-blasting skills at the weekend alongside a bearded Prince William at Sandringham. Kate, dressed in a dark jacket, scarf and warm hat, beamed broadly as her Royal boyfriend concentrated on taking aim at their feathered quarry above. The prince is said to have stopped shaving while on a recent anti-drug smuggling exercise with the Special Boat Service in the Caribbean. His father, the Prince of Wales, followed the same naval tradition while serving in Alaska in 1975, as did William’s grandfather Prince Philip during his own wartime service aboard HMS Valiant. Prince Andrew has also experimented with a full set of facial hair. If William is hoping to retain the hirsute look, however, he will be disappointed. Next year he joins the RAF, where beards are banned. The prince and Kate, both 26, were staying with friends at Wood Farm on the Queen’s 20,000-acre Norfolk estate. Also among the group was William’s brother Harry, accompanied by his girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, and her best friend Olivia Perry. Chelsy, 23, opted out of the shooting, not because she objects to blood sports but because it was raining and she didn’t want to get wet.

This was the first time Kate and William had been photographed together since September, when they attended a friend’s wedding in Austria. Kate, who has been dubbed “Waity Katie” because she is apparently happy to hang on until he proposes, is said to have had a ‘minor wobble’ about their relationship when William decided to commit the next seven years to the RAF. But they looked relaxed and happy as they tramped around the Royal estate in the rain, accompanied by Prince Harry, who was with a mystery blonde female friend. Whether Kate approves of her boyfriend’s newly acquired beard is something Royal watchers will have to wait to find out. Yesterday, one onlooker said: “It was a real shock to see William with a beard. It looked as if he had not shaved for a couple of weeks at least. Whether Kate approves is another matter entirely. But she was laughing and joking during the shoot so maybe she does like it.” Kate’s obvious enthusiasm for blood sports, however, infuriated animal rights campaigners. Andrew Tyler, director of the Animal Aid charity, said: “It’s depressing that Kate should be drawn into the Royal habit of killing for fun. There is no tradition of shooting in her family, yet she is now senselessly taking the lives of birds. It seems that you cannot enter the Royal Family’s inner circle without spilling blood for pleasure.” This is not the first time Ms Middleton has been dragged into a row about hunting. Last year, she was bitterly criticised by the League Against Cruel Sports after she joined a deer-shooting party on the Queen’s Scottish estate at Balmoral. Wearing camouflage gear, she was seen being coached by two ghillies on how to use a bolt-action rifle fitted with telescopic sights and silencer - a weapon capable of killing an animal at a mile. William and Harry regularly enjoy a weekend break at Sandringham with friends before Christmas. They always stay at Wood Farm, a secluded retreat on the 20,000-acre estate. William and Harry are expected to return to Sandringham later this month for the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas break. Harry missed the festivities last year because he was serving with the Army in Afghanistan.

Despite the fact that I’m not at all too keen on shooting birds for sport, I hope at least that they ate the animals that they killed. In any event, the real draw for me is the mature look that Prince Wills is rockin’ with this new facial hair. I think it suits him very well. He is growing into a fine chap. Do y’all think he looks good with the beard … or not?

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Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench and more came out for the world premiere of the latest 007 film Quantum of Solace in London, England last night. Held at the Odeon Leicester Square, this “Royal World Premiere” was attended, not only by a who’s who of British celebs but also by the young Princes of Wales William and Harry. Here are a few pics from the red carpet arrivals last night:

The new James Bond Daniel Craig was lookin’ quite dapper in his swanky tuxedo, even if that arm sling kinda clashed with the look a bit. It turns out that Craig essentially dislocated his shoulder while working on Quantum and had to undergo shoulder surgery to correct the problem. No word on how long he’ll have to wear the sling but hopefully it won’t be for much longer. The ladies at last night’s premiere looked lovely, Jack White (of Detroit’s White Stripes) looked frightfully awful but I think it was a look he was going for. As for the princes? Well they were there last night too. After the jump, check out a few pics of the dapper Royals as they made their grand arrival last night … (more…)

Last weekend we learned that the young Princes of Wales, William and Harry, embarked on a 1,000-mile motorbike trek across the South African wilderness (with other riders) to help raise funds for various charities that benefit the area. At about the midway point last Wednesday, we learned that the Princes paused to play a friendly soccer match with a local team and ended up getting trounced on the fields of play. Undaunted, tho, the Royals pressed on and I am happy to report that they successfully completed their week-long journey yesterday:

Princes William and Harry yesterday drove into the port city bearing their grandmother’s name after an arduous eight-day motorcycle trek across some of South Africa’s most inhospitable landscapes. Looking well-tanned if not a little saddle sore, the duo reportedly said the 1,000-mile journey from near Durban had been a ‘blast’. They pulled into the windy Bluewater Bay on the edge of Port Elizabeth dressed in red motor cycle jumpsuits which their 10-strong team had donned. They rode with six Metropolitan Police protection officers, Shaun Davy – brother of Harry’s girlfriend Chelsy – and the younger prince’s friend Tom Inskip. After reaching the waterfront venue, all the teams rode through Port Elizabeth resplendent in different coloured jumpsuits. They then reached a hotel where local people and a local Xhosa band danced and sang a welcome. The pair stood and talked to fellow riders, but declined to speak to the media or local onlookers before entering the hotel for an informal dinner last night. Trip organiser Simon Smith from Global Euro said the royal duo were “outstanding” riders. “They were both fantastic riders and didn’t run from anything. They asked us to treat them as one of the group and that’s what we did. They mucked in chores and shared a beer and food round the BBQ. They were outstanding companions.” He said keeping their involvement had been hard. “Only a few of us on this side knew about it. We’ve kept it secret for 12 months – not even telling our nearest and dearest.” He said the princes both paid the £5,000 fee … During the trip they rode through mountains, gorges, scrubland, dry river beds and coastline in a journey across the Eastern Cape, South Africa’s poorest province. The trip raised money for three charities, Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund, UNICEF and Harry’s Sentebale charity in Lesotho which helps orphaned children. Around £1,500 of the fee was divided between the charities which organiser hoped would amount to £310,000. Mr Smith said the duo had been ‘great sports’. At the end of each day, the organisers handed out a ‘dick of the day’ award and a ’spirit of the day’ award. Mr Smith added: “Harry did get the spirit of the day award on day three after pulling one of the riders out of a river after he fell in and became waste deep in the river. He didn’t think twice and just yanked him out. “The ‘dick of the day’ award went to someone who was a right wally,” laughed Mr Smith who said the princes did not get voted for that gong Along the route, riders helped local charity Touch Africa, in Morgan Bay, near East London, to decorate a creche on their day off last Wednesday. They also played a game of football against a local team. Harry, 24, and William, 26, both played and refereed a half but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 6-2 defeat. Spokeswoman Elise Fish said: “Both of them were really generous with their time, playing football with local kids in the rain. They didn’t ask to be omitted from anything … The princes suffered from “Transkei tummy” during the trip, but their team leader on the trip, Mike Glover, said there few serious accidents. “I’d welcome them back next year, or any other royals. They’re tough guys and you can tell they’ve been in the military,” he added.

OK, LOL at the “dick of the day” award! While I’m sure the awarding of such an award is not meant to be cheeky by any stretch of the imagination … I can’t help but let my mind go the way of the cheek. Hahahaha. I had no doubt that the Princes would successfully complete the journey and it sounds like they had a really fun time along the way. I imagine it was quite a treat for the other riders to get to know the Princes in such an intimate way (no cheekiness implied). Kudos to the young Royals for taking part in such an arduous trek. While some may scoff that the riders were not forced to ride thru “rough terrain” I contend that a week-long motorbike trek thru even the most civil, paved areas is very trying. Well done and much congrats again!!

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Last Saturday we learned that Princes William and Harry of Wales had embarked on a 1,000 mile motorbike trek across the South African wilderness in order to raise money for various charities, including Prince Harry’s own Sentebale organization. The lads have already reached the half-way point in their journey and decided to pause in order to enjoy a friendly game of soccer with a team of locals … which resulted in a bit of a thrashing on the soccer field. Here are a few pics of Wills and Harry doing their thing on in soccer play yesterday:

PRINCE William was at the receiving end of a sound thrashing - from an African village XI. The 26-year-old royal may be president of the Football Association, but his credentials seemed wasted on the players from the Igxarho Location. Even the efforts of soccer-mad brother Prince Harry failed to stop the blushes as the famous visitors lost 6-2. At times Wills looked decidedly uncomfortable as he and his posh chums were given a lesson in the beautiful game. Wills, who played left back, took tumble after tumble as he tried in vain to block a flood of attacks. Jeered on by the spectators William looked more than a little flat-footed. And when Harry joined the team things went from bad to worse. The afternoon came during a rest day for the boys as they reached the halfway stage of their 1,000 mile African motorbike trek. William and Harry are taking part in the Enduro Challenge along with 80 other riders. Their efforts have already raised more than £300,000 for people living in communities just like the Igxarho Location. One onlooker said: “William looked very clumsy out there. Every time the ball came near him he either fell over or appeared frightened. Harry came on towards the end but things didn’t really improve much. I don’t think any of the village side realised they were playing a game against the president of the FA. If they had known perhaps the score-line would have been even more embarrassing.” The match took place in the small community in the heart of South Africa’s Wild Coast. Earlier in the day William and Harry had joined the other riders and rolled up their sleeves to paint a community building as they took a welcome break from their motorbike challenge. But if William looked determined to avoid any danger on the pitch, he seemed fearless on his way back to the hotel. Both the boys jumped on their 250 horsepower Honda machines and sped away down a dirt track without any helmets or protective clothing. They are staying in nearby Morgan Bay as they prepare for the next leg of their trip. They are due to cross the finish line in Port Elizabeth on Saturday before heading back to the UK.

Aww … poor Princes. Honestly, I suspect the British newspaper may be exaggerating how poorly Wills and Harry did in this match. Even the best players can’t win all the time. If you consider that the Princes have been traveling by motorbike since last Saturday I think it’s impressive that they were even interested in playing a match with the locals at all. In the end, it doesn’t really matter if they win or lose friendly soccer games … they are involved in a very worthwhile and important endeavor and I just love talking about their charitable contributions. Princes who are not content with merely donating money but with getting involved in this way to help raise funds is very admirable. Go, Princes, go … you guys rock.

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