Style and sports on menu as royal grandkids gather for holidays

Autumn Phillips had a starring role in the royals' Christmas line-up at the Queen's Norfolk estate of Sandringham, where she and her sister-in-law Zara charmed thousands of well-wishers with their panache at a church service. The pretty Canadian, who wed Zara's brother Peter in May, caught the eye in an on-trend military coat-and-beret ensemble. Meanwhile, a striking Philip Treacy magenta titfer worn by Princess Anne's daughter showed why she's worthy of the title conferred on her by millinery experts as 2008's top Celebrity Hat Wearer. With each passing year the younger members of the Windsor clan are developing something of a reputation for high fashion, with Eugenie and Beatrice part of the style vanguard. This year the sisters stood out from their well-dressed relatives in towering heels, smart coats and natty headgear. And the monarch echoed her granddaughters' stylish approach in a jaunty wide-brimmed hat, featuring red and grey feathers, as she received flowers from local children. Sport of various kinds is also an important part of the clan's tradition. Two days after the turkey and pudding feast, wrapped up in winter weather gear of hats and boots, the whole party headed out for a pheasant shoot. And in the run-up to the festivities, Princes William and Harry took part in a traditional football match, involving friends and Sandringham workers. The lads were on opposing teams, with Harry's side scoring a 4-3 win.

Queen emphasizes role of family during economic downturn in Christmas speech

In this year's Christmas broadcast, the Queen will express the importance of family in the current economic downturn, pointing specifically to the support that she and Prince Philip have received from their loved ones. The Christmas message, which will be screened at 3pm on ITV1 and BBC One, is a rare chance for the monarch to express her own views without consulting the government. This year's speech – written with input from the Duke of Edinburgh, also pays tribute those who've led unselfish lives in the service of others, and finds time to mention Prince Charles' 60th birthday. For the first time ever the addresss will include personal archive footage - a never seen before clip of the Queen as a Princess playing with a one-year-old Prince Charles at Clarence house in 1949. Eagle-eyed viewers may notice the pearls she wears in the clip are same as the one she wears to read the message. Given to her by her grandfather George V when she was a girl, they have remained her favourites to this day. Like last year the speech will also be viewable on the Queen's YouTube Royal Channel at the time of broadcast and thereafter. And among viewers will be the British sovereign herself, who - as revealed by Prince Andrew last year – worries about how it has come across. "Sometimes the Queen watches it and sometimes she sits in another room thinking, 'Has it come across in the right way?' he said. "It's always been a part of the family tradition."

Kate pulls out all the stops on a date with her Prince

It was one of those nights when a girl is inclined to look her fabulous best. Royal sweetheart Kate Middleton had evidently dressed with care as she headed out with Prince William to one of their favourite nightspots. She looked gorgeous in the fashionable electric blue mini dress she'd picked out. Her tiny waist was accentuated with a belt and she wore her glossy brunette locks loose about her shoulders. Between William's military career and his royal commitments, the couple have rarely been able to snatch any quality time together. He recently took part in an anti-drug smuggling exercise with the Special Boat Service in the Caribbean. And in the New Year, the Prince - who's currently taking advantage of time off to grow a beard - starts a tough new challenge training as an RAF search and rescue pilot. So not surprisingly the duo were in the mood to have some fun as they pulled up at London's Whisky Mist club, where they partied with her little sister Pippa into the early hours.

Dutch royals release charming portrait to mark Amalia's fifth

As Catharina-Amalia, the future queen of the Netherlands, celebrated her fifth birthday this weekend her parents Maxima and Willem-Alexander must have been thinking ahead to another milestone. In January, the little girl, known to her family simply as Amalia, starts school. And in pictures taken during their summer vacation, and recently released to mark her birthday, the cute blonde youngster certainly looked grown up in comparison to siblings Alexia, three, and five-month-old Ariane. The change will mean that from now on vacations, such as those the crown prince and his wife take in the Austrian ski resort of Lech or to visit the girls' maternal grandparents in Argentina, will have to fit in around the school timetable. For now, though, the family, who threw a private party for Amalia's birthday, are focused on the current holidays.

A placement with royal solicitors boosts Chelsy's career prospects

Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davy has won a prestigious work placement at the Queen's solicitors, Farrer & Co. A former economics student who excelled at Cape Town University before starting her postgraduate legal degree in Leeds, the Zimbabwean-born blonde is working at the firm's offices in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, over Christmas. The plum contract will mean the 23-year-old can spend plenty of time with her royal beau, as the offices are near Clarence House, Harry's base in the capital. She won the £250-a-week placement in the face of stiff competition from hundreds of other legal eagles. "Vacation placements are more competitive than the company's two-year training contracts," a recently qualified solicitor told the Daily Mail.Chelsy, a regular on the London party scene, is said to have cut down on socialising recently as her two-year law degree reaches its conclusion. In the final months her course at Leeds will focus on criminal law, equity law and land law, with the students also required to hand in a 15,000-word dissertation.

Austrian archduchess weds her count in fairytale ceremony

Archdukes, princesses and even a queen featured on the illustrious guest list when Archduchess Marie-Christine wed Count Rodolphe of Limburg-Stirum on December 6. The Belgian town of Mechelen came to a standstill as the bluebloods and aristocrats, including the heir to the country's throne, Prince Philippe, and his 80-year-old aunt, Queen Fabiola, arrived to see two of Europe's most noble families united. As the bride swept up the steps of 15th-century Saint-Rombout Cathedral on the arm of her father Archduke Carl Christian of Austria, liveried guards stood to attention on either side of her. Marie-Christine - whose mother Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg is the sister of ruling Grand Duke Henri - looked radiant in an ivory lace affair, featuring a satin overlay and fur-edged sleeves, with an antique lace veil. Completing her look was a jewel-encrusted tiara lent to her by the groom's family, and diamond drop earrings. The attractive English boarding school-educated bride also carried a bouquet of pale yellow roses interspersed with white and blue blossoms.After the joyous Catholic ceremony, which was preceded by a civil service in the town hall, the handsome couple delighted by onlookers by sharing their first married kiss.

William and Harry join London-based private gentlemen's club

Members of the capital's exclusive Turf Club received a letter this week informing them they are to be joined by a couple of high-profile new recruits – Princes William and Harry. The siblings are taking up honorary membership of the venerable £1,000-a-year establishment, which club secretary Lt Col Oliver Breakwell describes as "very dyed in the wool, old fashioned"."Our members come to enjoy a decent glass of wine and a good lunch or dinner," he explains.And Lt Col Breakwell is confident the young royals will find the establishment - founded in 1861 - has plenty to offer them, though. "We pride ourselves on having some young chaps around here," he adds. "We have a nucleus of good young men they can come and join in with."The club, which is located at Carlton House, features quiet, traditional rooms furnished with leather chairs, and offers scions of the upper echelon a place to privately relax and unwind.

Frederik hears from soldiers serving their country in the Afghan conflict

Eating field rations and getting his shut-eye in a military-issue sleeping bag, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik experienced for himself how his country's troops are faring in Afghanistan. On a secret visit to soldiers in the southern province of Helmand, the royal fulfilled a long-standing wish to see conditions in the war zone. With his wife Mary at home in Copenhagen caring for their two small children, the heir to the Danish throne toured two bases where he heard from some of the 690 soldiers the Scandinavian country has stationed on the front line. A trained officer, who spent much of his early career in the military, Frederik could empathise more than most with the men's situation. He served in the infantry regiment of the Royal Life Guards and the Royal Frogmen Corps, an elite special forces unit within the Danish navy.

Princess Marie and Prince Joachim are expecting first child together

Denmark's Amalienborg Palace has revealed Prince Joachim and his beautiful 32-year-old second wife Marie are expecting their first baby together. The princess is due to give birth at the capital's university hospital in May.
Paris-born Marie and her husband, who is the Danish monarch's younger son, tied the knot on May 24. The new arrival is Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik's fifth grandchild.
The little girl or boy will be a sibling to Prince Joachim's two sons from his marriage to Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg - nine-year-old Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, six.

Rania and Abdullah of Jordan take elder daughter to Bond screening

Fans who braved the chilly temperatures to catch a glimpse of Daniel Craig and his Quantum Of Solace co-stars at the film's Paris premiere on Thursday night were in for a royal treat. Queen Rania and her husband King Abdullah joined the film stars on the red carpet with their daughter Princess Iman.
Rarely seen in public, petite, blonde Iman is couple's second child and elder daughter. Now 12, she's blossoming into a pretty youngster and, if her chic champagne gown and white coat are anything to go by, she's inherited her mum's renowned sense of style as well as the 38-year-old's stunning looks.
At the French premiere the royal trio mingled with Daniel, his striking fiancée Satsuki Mitchell, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko and new Bond nemesis Mathieu Amalric.

Sofia and Juan Carlos of Spain visit magnificent ruins in Peru

Living life to the full seems to be a personal motto for Spain's Queen Sofia. Amid preparations back home for her 70th birthday on November 2, the royal accompanied her husband King Juan Carlos on an official visit to Peru this week, and has been taking a keen interest in the ancient sites they have been exploring.
The most impressive stop-off on their tour was undoubtedly South America's largest pre-Colombian community, Chan Chan, which dates from the first-century, and Huaca de la Luna, the final resting place of warriors from the Moche civilisation.
As archaeologists guided the royal couple around the adobe ruins the cultured multi-lingual queen - she speaks five languages, including English - listened intently.
She could have been forgiven, however, if her mind occasionally turned to her upcoming birthday celebrations, which coincide with those of Leonor, one of her eight grandchildren. The daughter of her son Felipe and his wife Letizia, Leonor turns three on October 31.
Commenting on her approaching milestone the royal matriarch said: "It's one more stage. Every era has its joys and is special. The most important thing is to have your health and enjoy your family. What has always made me happy is family."

Princess Anne adds modern touches to royal outing

Like her royal mum Princess Anne has maintained the same trusty hairstyle over the decades, and is a stickler for respecting tradition. Yet the Princess Royal also has her pulse on the finger of modern living, as she proved on an engagement this week.
Anne made quite an impression as she touched down at the Berkshire headquarters of the St John Ambulance service in a transport more usually associated with Bond heroines. Arriving for a tree-planting ceremony in a gleaming helicopter.
And while she remained as true as ever to her classic style approach, onlookers noted that the 58-year-old royal had added an uber-trendy pair of sunglasses to her customary skirt, jacket and-gloves ensemble. Shades that wouldn't have looked amiss on one of her young nephews, William and Harry or daughter Zara.

Eugenie gets introduction to royal duties abroad from dad Andrew

Princess Eugenie is having a unique gap-year experience as she accompanies her dad Andrew on a two-week tour of former Soviet states. Starting in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, father and daughter will also visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as Mongolia and China.
Though Andrew, the UK's Special Representative For International Trade And Investment, must be eager to introduce the 18-year-old to his work, Eugenie's participation will be limited to evening receptions.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for the Princess to meet the Chinese vice-premier Wang Qishan, so she will be doing touristy things (during the day)," a source told the Daily Mail.
Also on the agenda for the pair is an official visit to the earthquake-hit Chinese town of Dujiangyan, where they will be shown re-settlement centres and meet with British aid workers.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Prince is covering the cost of his daughter's flights, food and accommodation. Eugenie's eye-opening tour comes nine months after big sister Beatrice accompanied their dad on a similar trip to Egypt.

Harry shows he has a knack with children as he honours brave kids

Following in the footsteps of his late mother Princess Diana with his involvement in children's charities, Prince Harry was guest of honour this week at an awards ceremony recognising Britain's bravest youngsters.
The 24-year-old royal soldier, who's freshly returned from a fundraising bike trip across South Africa with brother William, delighted the seriously ill children when he went along to Lord's Cricket Ground to present the awards for the Wellchild children's charity, of which he is patron.
Laughing and chatting before the ceremony to the children who scrambled to sit on his knee, Harry certainly proved a big hit with both them and their families.
He proved a natural as he joked with five-year-old Harvey Fleming, teasingly trying to get him to part with his glowing toy, and persuaded little Lily Slater, four, to come and sit on his lap.
Lily's mum Shirley, who'd taken her daughter to see Harry's waxwork at Madam Tussauds before the meeting, was impressed by the young royal. "He was just how I imagined him to be," she said. "He was lovely."
Eight-year-old Lizzie Lansley, who has not only overcome the odds to walk again but has also succeeded in becoming a judo yellow belt, had an equally memorable encounter with the caring young royal after he quipped: "I think I'll have to keep away from you, you're dangerous!"

Enthusiastic scenes as British royals touch down in the Far East

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall could not have wished for a warmer welcome as they kicked off a ten-day Asian tour in Japan. Students at Tokyo's Keio University were beside themselves with excitement, holding out their hands in the hope of a royal handshake and snapping photos of the couple on mobile phones and cameras.
Earlier in the day, at the city's Haneda airport, the red carpet was rolled out as Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan received the British royals.
The heir to the Chrysanthemum throne was not accompanied by his wife Masako, who has largely stayed out of the public spotlight since her diagnosis with a nervous illness.
An imperial reception is planned, however, as Naruhito's parents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, have invited Charles and his wife to dinner.
The five-day visit – the Prince's third – also includes an expedition to Nara, an ancient city in the west of the country where some of Japan's most famous Buddhist temples are located, as well as to the central mountain town of Nagano.
Charles will then travel to Brunei and Indonesia, while the Duchess returns to the UK after the Brunei leg of the trip, thus avoiding the stifling heat in Jakarta.