Was a 3am balcony leap the reason Prince Harry looked a tad under par at the Abbey?

By CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

Best foot forward: Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey... but is said to have hurt his ankle eight hours earlier after leaping from the Goring Hotel veranda


As he stood at his brother’s side in Westminster Abbey waiting for the bride to arrive, Prince Harry drew more than a few questioning glances.

Despite his smart military uniform, the young Royal appeared a little jaded, with his hair askew and a definite look of someone who had not had enough sleep.

Now a possible answer to the question of why Harry seemed a touch under par on Royal Wedding day has emerged.


Unusual exit: How Harry is said to have left the Goring Hotel hours before his appearance as best man at his brother's wedding


Sources have revealed that the best man was out socialising until 3am – eight hours before the wedding.

And he is said to have left the party venue with an athletic leap from a balcony which saw him land awkwardly on one ankle.

The scene of the raucous goings-on was The Goring, the hotel which the Middleton family had taken over in the days before the wedding on Friday, April 29.

On the Thursday evening, a group of the young Royal circle had congregated in a bar there and were enjoying themselves heartily.

The festivities came to an end only at 3am when a young copper-haired reveller casually jumped off a veranda balcony, landing with a clumsy thump on a lawn 6ft below – to roars of laughter from his friends.


Proud moment: Prince Harry accompanies his big brother down the aisle for the wedding


According to sources, that reveller was the athletic Harry, whose looming day of duty had not stopped him sharing a few drinks with friends.

An onlooker said: ‘Harry was with Pippa Middleton and Chelsy Davy among other friends for some pre-wedding drinks.

'He was the life and soul of the party until the early hours.

‘People were surprised to see him there so late before one of the biggest wedding days of the decade, and even more surprised when he jumped off the balcony – and landed with a thump.

'He had struggled to climb up the railings to get into position, so when he jumped over the edge he did so rather unsteadily and landed awkwardly next to a flower bed.

‘He flinched for just a moment before he stood up, rubbing his ankle. Then he looked up, smiled and waved to a roar of cheers before disappearing on to the lawn where there was a secret exit.

‘People were laughing and joking that his fall could have seen him walking through Westminster Abbey the following morning with a broken leg. At one point it was thought he’d twisted his ankle.

A spokesman said: ‘Prince Harry had a private dinner with his brother, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. What he did after that is a private matter.’


source :dailymail

Was a 3am balcony leap the reason Prince Harry looked a tad under par at the Abbey?

By CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS

Best foot forward: Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey... but is said to have hurt his ankle eight hours earlier after leaping from the Goring Hotel veranda


As he stood at his brother’s side in Westminster Abbey waiting for the bride to arrive, Prince Harry drew more than a few questioning glances.

Despite his smart military uniform, the young Royal appeared a little jaded, with his hair askew and a definite look of someone who had not had enough sleep.

Now a possible answer to the question of why Harry seemed a touch under par on Royal Wedding day has emerged.


Unusual exit: How Harry is said to have left the Goring Hotel hours before his appearance as best man at his brother's wedding


Sources have revealed that the best man was out socialising until 3am – eight hours before the wedding.

And he is said to have left the party venue with an athletic leap from a balcony which saw him land awkwardly on one ankle.

The scene of the raucous goings-on was The Goring, the hotel which the Middleton family had taken over in the days before the wedding on Friday, April 29.

On the Thursday evening, a group of the young Royal circle had congregated in a bar there and were enjoying themselves heartily.

The festivities came to an end only at 3am when a young copper-haired reveller casually jumped off a veranda balcony, landing with a clumsy thump on a lawn 6ft below – to roars of laughter from his friends.


Proud moment: Prince Harry accompanies his big brother down the aisle for the wedding


According to sources, that reveller was the athletic Harry, whose looming day of duty had not stopped him sharing a few drinks with friends.

An onlooker said: ‘Harry was with Pippa Middleton and Chelsy Davy among other friends for some pre-wedding drinks.

'He was the life and soul of the party until the early hours.

‘People were surprised to see him there so late before one of the biggest wedding days of the decade, and even more surprised when he jumped off the balcony – and landed with a thump.

'He had struggled to climb up the railings to get into position, so when he jumped over the edge he did so rather unsteadily and landed awkwardly next to a flower bed.

‘He flinched for just a moment before he stood up, rubbing his ankle. Then he looked up, smiled and waved to a roar of cheers before disappearing on to the lawn where there was a secret exit.

‘People were laughing and joking that his fall could have seen him walking through Westminster Abbey the following morning with a broken leg. At one point it was thought he’d twisted his ankle.

A spokesman said: ‘Prince Harry had a private dinner with his brother, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. What he did after that is a private matter.’


source :dailymail

William larks around on a boat in Ibiza with Kate and the Middleton clan in never-before-seen pictures

By MAIL ON SUNDAY REPORTER

Athletic in Ibiza: Pippa Middleton performs a flawless backflip in to the warm waters of the Mediterranean as an admiring Kate looks on from the stern of the motor yacht


They were carefree days before the world became entranced by their every movement.

This is Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa as they've never been seen before, enjoying an exuberant holiday in Ibiza with their family and Prince William.

Taken in 2006, these previously unseen pictures capture a fleeting moment in the lives of the couple when they could behave like ordinary twentysomethings, unencumbered by the responsibilities they now carry as the new stars of the Royal Family.



Playful: Pippa climbs back aboard as William jokingly grabs Kate; right, the sisters relax on deck, with Kate using her camera


Sunshine days: William, in red shorts, with Pippa (left), Carole, in green bikini, and other holiday guests


They show the Prince larking around with Kate and Pippa, the girls' mother Carole and their brother James on a boat belonging to Carole's brother Gary Goldsmith during a week-long sunshine holiday to Ibiza.

Pippa shows off her athletic prowess -- and her enviably toned physique -- performing a backwards dive into the sea.

Kate, who also looks stunning in her white bikini, is content to stand back and watch.


Heir in the air: Watched by Carole, Kate, James (in the patterned shorts) and Pippa, William attempts a backflip from the boat...


... but the young royal finishes with an ungainly belly-flop into the water


Making waves: The Prince failed to match Pippa's graceful aquatic display


Carole, who won admiration at the wedding for her elegant appearance, also reveals a youthfully trim figure in an emerald green bikini.

Meanwhile, in his red swimming shorts, William could be any young man eager to impress his girlfriend by performing a backflip -- which somehow turns into a belly-flop by the time he hits the water.


Her Royal Hotness: Pippa in her bridesmaid's dress at her sister's wedding


The pictures reveal the extent to which the Middletons invited William into the heart of their family.

During their week in Ibiza, they stayed at Gary's £5million villa, dubbed 'La Maison de Bang Bang'.


source: dailymail

Beatrice and Eugenie are stripped of their 24-hour protection after row over £50,000 annual cost

By ANDREW PIERCE

VIPs: Princesses Eugenie, left, and Beatrice could lose their police protection after a row over the £500,000 annual cost


Prince Andrew’s daughters are to be stripped of their 24-hour police protection after a growing row over the £500,000 annual cost.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are the biggest losers of a Scotland Yard review of security for the Royal Family.

The princesses, fifth and sixth in line to the throne, will be given protection only when they attend official events on behalf of the Royal Family.


Safe: The Princesses are driven away from Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding reception by a protection officer


Prince Andrew had fought ferociously for the protection officers to stay. He argued his daughters should be treated differently from other minor royals because they enjoy HRH status.

But his argument failed because their cousin Zara Phillips, the daughter of Princess Anne, has no protection – even though she has a higher public profile.


Furious: Prince Andrew is said to have fought to keep the protection officers as he feels they are different to other minor Royals because of their HRH status


The cost of guarding Eugenie, 21, in her first year at Newcastle University has been estimated at £250,000 a year. It includes salaries, accommodation and living and travel expenses of two full-time bodyguards.

Beatrice, 22, studying at the University of London, enjoys the same level of protection.

Prince Andrew insisted his daughters have full-time protection despite private police assessments that they were low-risk targets.


No protection: The Duchess of Gloucester will no longer have security unless on official business, while Zara Philips has no cover despite her high profile


The Home Office is determined to prune the estimated £50million security bill for the Royal Family.

Other minor royals such as the Duchess of Gloucester who, unlike princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, performs official engagements, will also have their protection withdrawn when not on official duty.


source: dailymail

The world record for biggest human smiley

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Come on, now, smile: The 768 people's efforts have been approved by the Guinness World Records as the largest ever human smiley face


They may all be dressed in waterproofs - but they're plainly happy.

This crowd of up to 768 people grouped together to dress in black and yellow to create the biggest human smiley in the world on Zagreb's main square.

Their efforts today were said to have broken the Guinness World Record, smashing the previous record, which involved 551 participants and was reached in the Latvian capital of Riga.


Impressive: The aerial photograph shows the smiling face in all its glory


The Croatian city has also been the setting for another unusual record - the most socks worn on one foot.

The number of 150 achieved by Krunoslav Budiselic (Croatia) at City Centar One in Zagreb, Croatia, on 13 November 2010.

Budiselic needed 45 minutes to apply the 150 socks on his right foot.


Close up: The participants dressed in wet weather gear to create the smiley - but the sun shone on their efforts

source: dailymail

The world record for biggest human smiley

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Come on, now, smile: The 768 people's efforts have been approved by the Guinness World Records as the largest ever human smiley face


They may all be dressed in waterproofs - but they're plainly happy.

This crowd of up to 768 people grouped together to dress in black and yellow to create the biggest human smiley in the world on Zagreb's main square.

Their efforts today were said to have broken the Guinness World Record, smashing the previous record, which involved 551 participants and was reached in the Latvian capital of Riga.


Impressive: The aerial photograph shows the smiling face in all its glory


The Croatian city has also been the setting for another unusual record - the most socks worn on one foot.

The number of 150 achieved by Krunoslav Budiselic (Croatia) at City Centar One in Zagreb, Croatia, on 13 November 2010.

Budiselic needed 45 minutes to apply the 150 socks on his right foot.


Close up: The participants dressed in wet weather gear to create the smiley - but the sun shone on their efforts

source: dailymail

Forget Kate! The dressmakers working overtime on copycat gowns for brides-to-be...

By TAMARA ABRAHAM

The Pippa effect: Many women in the U.S. are demanding copies of the maid-of-honour's dress from the Royal Wedding, rather than the bride's


Bridesmaids' dresses are typically unattractive creations in saccharine peach or mint green. But Pippa Middleton's slinky white gown for her sister's wedding last week was such a knockout, fashion houses are working overtime to get copies in store.

While many had already been planning to replicate the new Duchess of Cambridge's bridal gown, designers admit they didn't anticipate the success of the maid-of-honour's.

Now several companies are responding to demand from brides-to-be, keen to channel 27-year-old Pippa's look for their own big day.


Meeting demand: Dan Rentillo, design director at David's Bridal, will be ordering as many copies of Pippa's dress as he will of Catherine's


Design director Dan Rentillo told the New York Times: 'There was really no anticipation about Pippa’s dress. I can’t think of one where there was such a fuss over the bridesmaid’s dress.'

Andrew Hops, vice president for JS Collections, added: 'She wore it so well, so we said, "We’ll do that dress right away."'


Unexpected trend: Mr Rentillo said that he couldn't think of a time when so much fuss was made over the bridesmaid's dress


Sketch in time: All three companies already have samples made up, and expect to get dresses on sale within six to eight weeks


source: dailymail

Revealed: How Prince William ensured he kept his cool on the big day... thanks to his tailor

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Specially made: Prince William's wedding outfit was customised from a heat-absorbent material to prevent him passing out in the Abbey


Prince's wedding outfit was made of special heat-absorbing material so he didn't faint at the Abbey


Prince William had his wedding uniform made of special heat-absorbing material, to prevent him passing out at Westminster Abbey.

And his brother Harry had a tiny Velcro compartment sewn into his wedding uniform to keep the ring safe.

Tailor Russell Kashket, who was responsible for making 2,000 royal wedding uniforms, has spoken for the first time since a confidentiality agreement lapsed after the nuptials.


Hands-on approach: The Prince worked closely with the tailors to get the look he wanted for the wedding


More than 350 members of the Kashket military tailoring staff in north London made the outfits, which also included the drum majors' gold state coats, Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment dress, and uniforms for all five Footguards regiments.

'It was difficult to make it all without anyone knowing what it was for,' Mr Kashket said. "We had to use a pseudonym.'

Prince William met with Mr Kashket several times to discuss the design. 'He was very concerned about the heat because he knew all the cameras and lights would make it very hot in the Abbey,' Mr Kashket said.

'We worked together to get the look he wanted while using material to absorb the heat and make sure he didn't pass out in front of two billion people across the world.'


Cunning: Prince Harry kept the ring in this secret compartment sewn into his wedding uniform


Marlon Kashket said: 'The prince has an excellent physique so he really did justice to our tailoring skill. We had a last-minute rush when the palace asked us if we could incorporate some device that would hold the ring.'

Ceremonial military garments such as these do not have pockets and there was concern that, if Prince Harry waved to the crowd on his way to the Abbey, then the ring might be lost.

'To solve the problem we decided to sew a tiny secret compartment into the scarlet cuff sealed with Velcro. This kept Catherine's ring safe.'



Smart: The wedding ring remained safe as Prince Harry - also in military uniform - walked Pippa Middleton up the aisle at Westminster Abbey


source: dailymail

The terrifying moment a riderless horse

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Leap of faith: Seven people have been taken to hospital after a riderless horse jumped over a fence and into a crowd of around 50 spectators at a popular carnival in Australia


Two-year-old girl suffered fractured collarbone in incident in Australia
Seven people were injured when a horse jumped over a fence and into a crowd of spectators at a popular carnival in Australia.

Riderless Banna Strand veered off course during the race and jumped into watching spectators at the Grand Annual Steeplechase at the race in Victoria state yesterday.

A two-year-old girl suffered a fractured collarbone and an 80-year-old woman was said to be in a stable condition in hospital overnight following the incident.


Crash: After veering off course during the race, Banna Strand ploughed into a crowd of spectators, including a two-year-old girl who fractured her collar bone and an 80-year-old woman who remains in a stable condition in hospital


Nowhere to run: Some members of the crowd seem oblivious to the horse crashing into people standing next to them during the race at the Grand Annual Steeplechase in Victoria state yesterday


Australia Seven Injured, Including Child Of Two, After Racehorse Jumps Into Crowd In Warrnambool



source: dailymail

The terrifying moment a riderless horse

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Leap of faith: Seven people have been taken to hospital after a riderless horse jumped over a fence and into a crowd of around 50 spectators at a popular carnival in Australia


Two-year-old girl suffered fractured collarbone in incident in Australia
Seven people were injured when a horse jumped over a fence and into a crowd of spectators at a popular carnival in Australia.

Riderless Banna Strand veered off course during the race and jumped into watching spectators at the Grand Annual Steeplechase at the race in Victoria state yesterday.

A two-year-old girl suffered a fractured collarbone and an 80-year-old woman was said to be in a stable condition in hospital overnight following the incident.


Crash: After veering off course during the race, Banna Strand ploughed into a crowd of spectators, including a two-year-old girl who fractured her collar bone and an 80-year-old woman who remains in a stable condition in hospital


Nowhere to run: Some members of the crowd seem oblivious to the horse crashing into people standing next to them during the race at the Grand Annual Steeplechase in Victoria state yesterday


Australia Seven Injured, Including Child Of Two, After Racehorse Jumps Into Crowd In Warrnambool



source: dailymail

Can you spot the motorcycle? Incredible footage shows

By PAUL BENTLEY

Can you spot him? Chilean parachutist Julio Munoz makes a 4,000 metre high jump on his motorcycle in Loma Rabona, Chile


This is the moment a fearless Chilean stuntman flings himself off a 4,000 metre high mountain edge in the name of extreme motorcycling.

Breathtaking video footage shows Julio Muñoz, 37, speeding his bike onto a ramp positioned on the cliff-edge before soaring above a distant valley in the Chilean Andes.

He holds tight to his motorcycle before releasing himself thousands of metres in the air and freefalling until the last possible moment, when he finally opens his parachute 200ft from the ground.



Fearless: Chilean parachutist Julio Munoz flings himself off the 4,000 metre high cliff-edge


Last Saturday's terrifying stunt was captured by a series of cleverly positioned cameras, at the expense of more than $100,000.

Cameras attached to Muñoz's helmet and shoes show the breathtaking feat from the riders perspective, while a helicopter passes overhead to capture the stunning bigger picture.


Launched: Munoz flies off the ramp and clings tight to his motorbike


The stunt, which was videoed using twelve digital cameras and involved positioning a half-ton ramp and Muñoz's 450cc bike at 4,000 metres, took months to arrange.

Three helicopters were used to transport all the equipment to the location in the Loma Rabona region of the Andes and to help video the huge jump.

Paratrooper Muñoz said the extraordinary stunt was just an 'everyday' experience for him and that the logistics involved in financing the stunt, known as 'BASE Project Los Andes', were far more stressful than the jump itself.


Release: Munoz flings himself from his motorbike after making the jump 4,000 metres in the air


Freefall: The camera on Munoz's shoe shows the moment his bike flies away from beneath him


Relief: Munoz finally releases his parachute at the last minute, just 200ft from the ground


'On the way to the ramp, I was focused on adjusting the speed on the bike. When I left the ramp and I'm flying, when I'm in the middle, that's where I really feel comfortable - in the air. Exiting the ramp was natural, and the flight was an everyday thing for me,' he said.

'It took two months to prepare and assemble it all - to develop the ramp, to have the parachute with the logos. It was good preparation. I always felt very comfortable with the people I worked with,' the stuntman added.

The paratrooper said he now intends to keep pushing the barriers of his extreme sport. He intends to try to clear the 'Colt barrel' in Peru, one of the deepest in the world.


On top of the world: Munoz on the edge of the ramp, thousands of metres high in the Andes


He also wants to keep jumping in Chile, to draw worldwide attention to his country's natural beauty.

'The idea is that Chile is known, because behind this sport there are great natural scenes. I want to show Chile is a good place for base jumping,' he said.

While Muñoz played down the fear involved in jumping off cliffs on a motorbike, he admitted that this jump in the Andes was pretty extraordinary.

'Among the spectacular things I have done, this was without doubt the most spectacular,' he said.





source: dailymail

Revealed: How Prince William ensured he kept his cool on the big day... thanks to his tailor

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Specially made: Prince William's wedding outfit was customised from a heat-absorbent material to prevent him passing out in the Abbey


Prince's wedding outfit was made of special heat-absorbing material so he didn't faint at the Abbey


Prince William had his wedding uniform made of special heat-absorbing material, to prevent him passing out at Westminster Abbey.

And his brother Harry had a tiny Velcro compartment sewn into his wedding uniform to keep the ring safe.

Tailor Russell Kashket, who was responsible for making 2,000 royal wedding uniforms, has spoken for the first time since a confidentiality agreement lapsed after the nuptials.


Hands-on approach: The Prince worked closely with the tailors to get the look he wanted for the wedding


More than 350 members of the Kashket military tailoring staff in north London made the outfits, which also included the drum majors' gold state coats, Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment dress, and uniforms for all five Footguards regiments.

'It was difficult to make it all without anyone knowing what it was for,' Mr Kashket said. "We had to use a pseudonym.'

Prince William met with Mr Kashket several times to discuss the design. 'He was very concerned about the heat because he knew all the cameras and lights would make it very hot in the Abbey,' Mr Kashket said.

'We worked together to get the look he wanted while using material to absorb the heat and make sure he didn't pass out in front of two billion people across the world.'


Cunning: Prince Harry kept the ring in this secret compartment sewn into his wedding uniform


Marlon Kashket said: 'The prince has an excellent physique so he really did justice to our tailoring skill. We had a last-minute rush when the palace asked us if we could incorporate some device that would hold the ring.'

Ceremonial military garments such as these do not have pockets and there was concern that, if Prince Harry waved to the crowd on his way to the Abbey, then the ring might be lost.

'To solve the problem we decided to sew a tiny secret compartment into the scarlet cuff sealed with Velcro. This kept Catherine's ring safe.'



Smart: The wedding ring remained safe as Prince Harry - also in military uniform - walked Pippa Middleton up the aisle at Westminster Abbey

source: dailymail

'I thought I was dying!' Size 8 beauty therapist stunned when she went to the bathroom... and gave BIRTH

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Surprise birth: Lauren Peberdy had no idea she was pregnant when she gave birth to baby Dylan-James


Lauren Peberdy was stunned when she gave birth to an 8lb 7oz baby – as she had no idea she was pregnant.

In fact she'd been to the doctor for a contraceptive pill check-up just a fortnight earlier, and the doctor had said her weight and blood pressure were fine.

Lauren, a size 8 beauty therapist, was using the lavatory at her boyfriend’s house when her water broke and little Dylan-James made his surprise arrival.


Five months pregnant: Lauren shows no signs of a bump


‘I didn’t know what was happening at first. I thought I was dying’, said Lauren, 20, from Connah’s Quay, in Deeside, North Wales.

‘By the time the paramedics arrived five minutes later I had given birth on the bathroom floor,’ she said.

It was an even bigger surprise for Gavin Jones, 21, who had seen no weight gain or unusual cravings from his girlfriend of two years, who was on the pill.

A picture of Lauren, taken when she was five-and-a-half months pregnant - but had no idea - shows her looking amazingly thin.

Dylan-James, now three months old, lives with Lauren at her parents' home in Shotton, and visits Gavin regularly at his parents' home in Flintshire, North Wales.


source: dailymail