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Saturday, April 30, 2011

How the world saw the Royal Wedding...

Royal wedding round the world

How the world's media reacted to the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The royal wedding round the world
The morning newspapers in Australia show the keen interest shown by Australia's media in the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES
FRANCE
An estimated two million viewers tuned in to television coverage of theroyal wedding in France, where presenters described it as "the marriage of the century".
The main evening news programme on France's most watched television station TF1 opened, not with the terrorist bomb blast in Marrakesh which killed 16 people, including six French citizens, but the wedding across the Channel. The leading report included coverage from London, reports from British expatriates living in France and even a dispatch from the factory in the north of France that made the lace for Catherine Middleton's wedding dress.
State television started broadcasting live from the UK early in the morning and the French equivalent of Radio 4, France-Inter, carried regular reports from what it kept referring to as "crisis-hit" Britain. At the British Embassy in Paris, which hosted a champagne buffet lunch for around 300 mostly French guests, there were frequent, almost wistful sighs of "the British always do this sort of thing so well". A couple of well-heeled, haute-couture clad ladies, citizens of the French Republic, were spotted stuffing wads of Union flag paper serviettes and plastic flags into their designer handbags as souvenirs.
Designer Christian Lacroix told Le Figaro magazine that perhaps France was trying to adopt the British royal family "because our neighbours' happiness is a curiosity that we would like to share".
ITALY
Italians were entranced by the royal wedding. The event was splashed across news websites, broadcast live by half a dozen television networks and dominated front pages on Saturday.
"The wedding of the century was a perfect show with more than two billion spectators," La Stampa proclaimed on its front page, above a picture of Prince William and Kate Middleton leaving Buckingham Palace in Prince Charles's Aston Martin.
The surprise appearance of the classic car leant "a touch of James Bond," Corriere della Sera said on its front page. Much was made by the Italians of Kate Middleton's "bourgeois" background and her coal miner ancestors. "In these times of crisis the message of hope, the moral of the fairy tale wedding of Will and Kate, is that whoever you are, from whatever social background, you too can become a millionaire and marry a prince," said La Stampa. Only the British could put on such a display of pomp and ceremony, Italian commentators said.
"No one knows how to do this better than the English," said La Repubblica. The event was run with "exemplary British punctuality". "It was almost as if the British Empire had been resurrected," said Paolo Filo Della Torre, one of a handful of Italians to be invited to the wedding, looking around Westminster Abbey at the assembled guests. "All the countries of the Commonwealth were represented." Italians found the romance of the whole thing irresistible. Miss Middleton was compared endlessly to Princess Diana, Grace Kelly and Cinderella.
One newspaper gave its readers a handy A to Z guide on the event, from Amore (love) to Zara Phillips, making much of her pierced tongue.
Italy's throne was abolished after World War Two but there are still claimants to it - Prince Victor Emmanuel and his cousin and arch-rival, Duke Amedeo of Aosta. It was a good thing neither was invited to Friday's nuptials, Italians noted – the last time they went to a royal wedding, in Spain in 2004, they got into a punch-up with each other. Italy will now turn its attention to a massive event of its own – today's ceremony at the Vatican to beatify Pope John Paul II, for which an estimated one million people have descended on Rome.
JAPAN
Many Japanese treated the royal wedding as a chance to take their minds off the March 11 earthquake, tsumami and nuclear disaster which devastated the north of their country. National broadcaster NHK made much of the pomp of the occasion and commented on how relaxed the bride appeared as she drove to Westminster Abbey and then later when she emerged in front of the crowds. The Nihon TV coverage was interspersed with footage of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana introducing Prince William to the British press shortly after his birth. The Nihon TV set for the coverage of the event was designed to look like an English garden, with red and pink roses woven around a huge television screen.
The Kyodo News agency said the union was "injecting new life into the monarchy before a huge global audience." Japanese people hold their own imperial family in high esteem and have similar feelings for the British royal family, so there has been great interest in the royal wedding. The Emperor and Empress had been invited to London for the wedding, as had their oldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, and his wife, Princess Masako, but all decided against making the journey because of the suffering at home in the aftermath of the disasters.
AUSTRALIA
Australia was well and truly swept up with royal wedding fever. After a night of breathless rolling live television coverage on four out of the nation's five main free-to-air channels, the front pages of morning newspapers were adorned with large colour pictures of the happy couple and glowing reviews of the big occasion.
The Australian, the country's only national newspaper, dedicated six of its 13 news pages to the event. The theme of coverage was renewal of the monarchy, with the paper declaring that the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton marked a major milestone in the monarchy's "long effort to repair the family business - and a step towards a different and uncertain future for the world's most prominent royal clan."
The fact that the wedding was broadcast on YouTube by Clarence House showed that the Windsors had "taken cues from corporate and celebrity image makers in a bid to more carefully craft its future," the paper said. The result was a "perfect start to a royal union".
Taking an equally reverent approach, Sydney's tabloid The Daily Telegraph kicked off its 16-page souvenir lift out - complete with double page poster of the newly wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - with a full page photograph of "the kiss" above the headline "Love is in the heir".
But not all the coverage was gushing. There was slightly more cynicism in Melbourne's The Age newspaper, which put its republican credentials on display with this sombre warning to the Windsors: "It would be a mistake to read the enthusiasm for the spectacle as any indicator of enthusiasm for constitutional monarchy, any more than audience figures for the last Olympic Games opening ceremony could be used to measure approval of Chinese foreign policies."
The popularity of the royal wedding could be explained not by a renewed affection for the monarchy, but because it represented "a chance to tune in live to a once-in-a-generation event, something that could be shared simultaneously with the biggest, most interconnected mass audience in history."
THE MIDDLE EAST
Newspapers in the Gulf featured the royal wedding heavily — but omitted photographs of the kiss on the balcony, the picture that was shown on hundreds of front pages around the world. The Dubai-based Arabic-language Al-Bayan instead showed a large photograph of the newlyweds riding in a carriage.
Iran’s PressTV was one of the few media outlets to feature remorselessly negative coverage of the event. One of its internet stories read: “Analysts are questioning the ‘fairness’ of imposing the astronomical costs of the royal wedding on British taxpayers amid growing public weariness of the wide coverage given to the ‘unpleasant’ event.”
Another PressTV expert opined that the wedding was turning Britain into a Medieval “fantasy island” for foreign tourists to escape to from their humdrum lives. The channel’s website did not carry any photographs of the wedding or the happy couple, although it did give prominence to a republican “Not the royal wedding” party in a London pub. It also highlighted the number of arrests made by police on the lookout for troublemakers.
CHINA
The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist party, decided the royal wedding did not merit a single word of coverage.
In Shanghai, the main evening newspaper, the Xinmin Evening News, also decided not to cover the wedding. In the last week, there has been sustained criticism from Chinese internet users of media outlets for paying so much attention to a wedding that few Chinese felt any connection to.
However, some of China’s livelier newspapers did cover the wedding, although they stuck very close to the party line espoused by Xinhua, the government news agency.
“This wedding of the century lacked a sense of nobility and holiness,” commented the Oriental Morning Post in a page six article. “The use of Twitter by the global audience to comment on Prince William’s baldness and the wedding dress, while they were watching on YouTube, succeeded in bringing the royal family close to ordinary people,” it added. Both Twitter and YouTube are banned in China.
In a page 11 article, the Yangtse Evening News commented on the economy of the wedding. “Kate Middleton’s dress was much cheaper than Princess Diana’s,” it said.
On its front page, the Qianjiang Evening News said: “The British royal family is hoping for a renaissance with the wedding.”
THE UNITED STATES
The kiss on the balcony dominated front pages in a United States that was enthralled with the royal wedding. A headline on the Washington Post under a photograph of the kiss on the balcony read: “That second kiss sealed it: Prince William and Kate grant the people’s wish with a celebration of youth, royalty and all things British.” Many newspapers featured the wedding more prominently than the tornados which have torn across southern states killing more than 300.
Millions of Americans watched live on the internet as the wedding took place, early in the morning in most places in the US. There was some evidence that it may have been live-streamed in record numbers, although it was hard to establish figures because it was being streamed by so many outlets.
Yahoo said it had broken its record for a live video event, surpassing its audience for Michael Jackson’s funeral by 21 per cent.

The OFFICIAL wedding photos....


Happy and glorious: OFFICIAL Royal Wedding album is released

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 2:36 PM on 30th April 2011
Clarence House today released the official Royal Wedding album that shows the beaming bride and groom in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.
Prince William and Kate posed for the stunning photographs shortly after getting married in a moving ceremony that captivated the world yesterday. 
The newly-titled Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appeared to be lost in matrimonial bliss as they smiled for the traditional wedding day photo album taken by Hugo Burnand. He said the scenes clearly reveal the couple's love for each other.
Full over joy: William and Kate smile broadly in the official wedding album
Full over joy and not a care in the world: William and Kate smile broadly as they stand arm-in-arm in the official wedding album
No sooner had they arrived at Buckingham Palace from the service at Westminster Abbey did the rapturous family assume their positions for the pictures.
In the first photograph the couple stand arm-in-arm together against a stunning rich red velvet backdrop trimmed with gold.
The second official photograph shows William and Kate sat more informally on a step. Kate's wonderful dress flows onto the floor around them as she clutches her bouquet.
Sitting around the newlyweds are two pageboys and four bridesmaids. They are from clockwise from the bottom right The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton. 
Mr Burnand said he hoped his photos looked 'effortless, relaxed and friendly'.
He said his favourite photograph was one of the newlyweds with the bridesmaids and page boys, but there were only seconds to set it up and the children were coaxed with promises of jelly beans and sweets.
Happy: William and Kate surrounded by, clockwise bottom right, The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton
Happy: William and Kate surrounded by, clockwise bottom right, The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton
In the third photograph, the newlyweds pose for the traditional wedding photograph flanked by their families.
To the left of Kate stands her father Michael Middleton, mother Carole Middleton, brother James Middleton and sister Philipa Middleton.
Standing by William's side is Prince Harry, followed by Prince Charles,Camilla and Master Tom Pettifer.
 
    The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sit on the front way with Miss Grace van Cutsem and Miss Eliza Lopes to their right.
    One the other side of the front row in front of the Middleton family is the Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Lady Louise Windsor, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton.
    The official pictures of William and Kate's wedding were shot to show two families coming together, according to Mr Burnand.
    Amazingly it was a family wedding,' he said.
    'From where I was and from their point of view it was two families coming together and that was the feeling, the sense of family and love going between everyone.
    'They had their own buzz. Everyone had their own buzz. It was that excitement that I hope you feel at most weddings.'
    Enlarge Royal Wedding official photo album
    The family photo: Front row left to right is Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Louise Windsor, William Lowther-Pinkerton. Back Row left to right is Tom Pettifer, Camilla, Charles, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Michael Middleton, Carole Middleton, James Middleton and Philippa Middleton
    Asked about his technique, he said: 'I hope it looks effortless and relaxed and friendly and smiley because that is how it was.
    'But that comes from months of preparation, hours of setting up, and being so organised that you are sort of in control at the time.'
    Mr Burnand had only a short period of time between the couple's arrival at Buckingham Palace and their appearance on the balcony to take the official photographs.
    He said: 'I hope when you look at the picture you feel, as a viewer, that you're engaged with the people in the picture. The only way to do that is to be engaged as a photographer.'
    Married life began for newlyweds William and Kate today when they left London for a mystery destination.
    The couple spent last night partying at Buckingham Palace with their close family and friends in celebration of their wedding.
    At the black-tie do, which started with dinner in the palace's lavish ballroom and ended with dancing into the small hours, Prince Harry gave his best man's speech.
    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as the couple are now known after the Queen bestowed the title on her grandson, are expected to travel abroad for their honeymoon sometime in the next two weeks.
    But this morning they left Buckingham Palace by helicopter for an undisclosed destination.
    William and Kate began their journey by emerging hand in hand from the palace's garden entrance, located at the side of the imposing building.
    First day as husband and wife: Newlyweds William and Kate emerged holding hands into the morning sunshine at Buckingham Palace before they left by helicopter for their honeymoon at a mystery location
    First day as husband and wife: Newlyweds William and Kate emerged holding hands into the morning sunshine at Buckingham Palace before they left by helicopter for their honeymoon at a mystery location
    Up, up and away: The couple walked across a gravel path in the palace gardens to a waiting maroon helicopter which whisked them away for their honeymoon
    Up, up and away: The couple walked across a gravel path in the palace gardens to a waiting maroon helicopter which whisked them away for their honeymoon
    In bright sunshine, they strolled along the gravel path and out into the open space where the maroon helicopter was waiting.
    The Duke's new wife wore a light blue dress, dark jacket and platform shoes, while he was dressed in his trademark chinos with a pale blue shirt and navy jacket - a casual look in complete contrast to yesterday.
    The couple, who spent the night at the Queen's official London home, stopped briefly to chat to two Royal Household footmen and appeared to be thanking for them after their stay.
    When they finished, William put his hand on the small of his wife's back and they went over to talk to the helicopter pilot before climbing on board.
    Before they boarded the aircraft, palace staff had carried out some of their luggage, which included a bouquet of white blooms.
    The couple are said to still be on a high after their wedding day which was both an intimate family affair and a global event televised across the world.
    Speculation has been mounting about where the couple could spend their time away together. Likely honeymoon destinations could include Africa - a continent for which William has a deep affection. He could take his wife to countries like Botswana, or Kenya, where he proposed.
    There has been speculation that a secluded Caribbean island may be another option.
    The couple could continue their wedding theme of championing the UK and spend part of their break in Scotland, where both the Queen and the Prince of Wales have private homes they could use.
     


    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1382178/Royal-Wedding-pictures-The-official-Royal-Wedding-album-released.html#ixzz1L0tmZHCG

    Friday, April 29, 2011

    Pippa Middleton's derriere has its own Facebook page....


    How Pippa Middleton's derriere already has its own Facebook fan sites (and much of the praise is from other women)

    By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
    Last updated at 2:37 AM on 30th April 2011
    It's been mere hours since she followed her sister up the aisle at Westminster Abbey. But the dramatic back views of Philippa Middleton have already inspired a number of online fan sites paying tribute to her derriere.
    There are already three Facebook pages in praise of the 27-year-old maid-of-honour's behind, one of which, the Pippa Middleton Ass Appreciation Society, has nearly 9,000 fans. 
    By contrast, the Philippa (Pippa) Middleton fan page, has around 5,000 followers.
    Back story: Pippa Middleton's high-profile role in the Royal Wedding has inspired many online fan sites - with the most popular paying tribute to her behind
    Back story: Pippa Middleton's high-profile role in the Royal Wedding has inspired many online fan sites - with the most popular paying tribute to her behind
    Pippa MiddletonPippa Middleton
    A dress to impress: Miss Middleton's Alexander McQueen gown made the most of her enviable figure, and the high-profile occasion ensured plenty noticed
    But it is not men as much as women who are buzzing about Miss Middleton's bottom. Particularly the fashion pack, who are as besotted with her enviable figure as they are with her Alexander McQueen dress.
    U.S. style blog Fashionista.com published an article entitled In Praise Of Pippa (Especially Her Bum), while fashion blogger Susie Bubble tweeted: 'It has to be said... I’m a tad jels over the pertness of Pip Middleton’s arse…' 
     
      Fashion editor and author Derek Blasberg also took to Twitter, writing: 'Unexpected #RoyalWedding facts: Pippa's bum was apparently the center piece of the nuptials.'
      His opinion was echoed by many others on the site. Cosmetic_candy said: 'Pippa's bum. Pippa's bum. This wedding is about Pippa's bum.'
      Pippa Middleton
      Maid of the moment: Miss Middleton, 27, seemed to relish the attention
      MeaganR wrote: 'I want a bum like Pippa Middleton- anyone else agree after seeing her in that dress!?'
      PercyVarco added: 'Amazing, stunning, beautiful, it made me proud to be British and I just couldn’t take my eyes off it. But enough about Pippa's bum...'
      Though Pippa, a party planner, has been dating boyfriend Alex Loudon for a year now, the other unlikely excitement surrounding Prince William and Katherine's nuptials was the suggestion of chemistry between Prince Harry and the maid-of-honour.
      The speculation comes despite the fact that Harry's on-off girlfriend Chelsy Davy was very much a part of the wedding, making a statement in a vibrant turquoise Alberta Ferretti ensemble.
      Pippa Middleton Ass Appreciation Society
      The bottom line: The bride's sister already has almost 9,000 followers on a Facebook fan page titled: 'Pippa Middleton Ass Appreciation Society'
      Miss Middleton is the Duchess of Cambridge's only sister. They have one younger brother, James, 23, who did the only reading at the wedding ceremony.
      She was named Tatler magazine's number one society singleton in 2008, beating Prince William's cousin Princess Eugenie to the title.
      She has since become something of a socialite and is known for her love of partying.
      In a daily Mail article earlier this year, writer Plum Sykes said of Miss Middleton:     'Pippa is the luckiest one of all. She gets all the right sort of attention from men, fashion designers, hostesses and things, and doesn’t have any of the duties. 
      'She’s become a Princess without the bad bits.'


      Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1382042/How-Pippa-Middletons-derriere-Facebook-fan-sites-praise-women.html#ixzz1KyJWjmLk

      The kiss...


      Kiss me Kate! William and his new bride show their love for each other on Palace balcony as TWO BILLION watch Royal Wedding

      By ROB COOPER
      Last updated at 1:38 PM on 29th April 2011
      • William tells Kate 'You look beautiful' as she arrives at the altar
      • Then he jokes with Kate's father 'we're supposed to have just a small family affair'
      • Two BILLION people watch couple tie the knot
      • 5,000 royals enthusiasts camped out overnight at the Mall
      • Prince struggles to get ring on Kate's finger
      • One million well-wishers line the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple
      • Prince William takes the title Duke of Cambridge and Kate becomes Duchess
      Kate and William shared a brief kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace today after their wedding at Westminster Abbey.
      Egged on by thousands of well-wishers who had crammed into The Mall to see them, the newlyweds lent towards each other for a royal peck on the lips.
      After months of waiting, Kate Middleton and Prince William today tied the knot at Westminster Abbey.
      Wearing a flowing wedding dress with a long train and lace sleeves, Kate clutched a bunch of white flowers as she embarked on the short drive to Westminster Abbey, before starting her three-minute walk up the aisle to be with her groom.
      As the happy couple exchanged vows, William appeared to have trouble slipping the ring onto Kate's finger.

      Double kiss... Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, share their first public kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace
      Double kiss... Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, share their first public kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace

      Meet my Princess! Jubilation at Royal Wedding...


      Meet my Princess! William and his new bride Kate head for the Palace in open top carriage after a fairytale wedding at the Abbey

      By ROB COOPER
      Last updated at 12:51 PM on 29th April 2011
      • Couple will travel from Abbey to the Palace in an open-topped carriage
      • Two BILLION people watch couple tie the knot
      • 5,000 royals enthusiasts camped out overnight at the Mall
      • One million well-wishers line the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple
      After months of waiting, Kate Middleton and Prince William today tied the knot at Westminster Abbey.
      Wearing a flowing wedding dress with a long train and lace sleeves, Kate clutched a bunch of white flowers as she embarked on the short drive to Westminster Abbey, before starting her three-minute walk up the aisle to be with her groom.
      As the happy couple exchanged vows, William appeared to have trouble slipping the ring onto Kate's finger.
      Newly wed: Prince William and his new wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, wave as they travel in the 1902 State Landau carriage along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace
      Newly wed: Prince William and his new wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, wave as they travel in the 1902 State Landau carriage along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace
      'You look beautiful': Prince William speaks to his bride Kate as she holds her father's hand at the altar
      'You look beautiful': Prince William speaks to his bride Kate as she holds her father's hand at the altar
      Newly-wed: Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge leave Westminster Abbey with her sister Pippa supporting her dress
      Newly-wed: Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge leave Westminster Abbey with her sister Pippa supporting her dress
      Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange rings in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury during the ceremony
      Prince William and Kate Middleton exchange rings in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury during the ceremony


      Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1381795/ROYAL-WEDDING-2011-Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-say-I-WILL-Westminster-Abbey.html#ixzz1KudugWTQ

      Thursday, April 28, 2011

      What is a tornado?

      What is a tornado?

      Tornadoes come in many shapes and sizes, but typically form a condensation funnel, with its narrow end touching the ground.

      A huge tornado funnel cloud touches down in Orchard, Iowa
      A huge tornado funnel cloud touches down in Orchard, Iowa Photo: AP
      Most have a wind speed of less than 110 mph and are around 250 feet across, travelling a few miles before dissipating. The most extreme however can attain wind speeds of more than 300mph and stretch more than two miles across. In the case of the Alabama tornado, it stretched a mile across, 20 times larger than the typical tornado. About one in every three is classified as "strong". About 30 per cent of all tornado deaths result from this category, while nearly 70 per cent result from "violent" tornadoes. "Violent" ones however are very rare - only about two per cent.
      It was also the deadliest tornado system since the "super outbreak" of April 1974, when 310 people were killed in 148 twisters across 13 states.
      Tornadoes can be found on every continent except Antarctica. But the vast majority occur in Tornado Alley in the US.
      Tornado Alley covers an area between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, and consists of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and the Colorado Eastern Plains.