Chateau La Rocque

source: DailyMail

It has emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their
children George and Charlotte stayed at a chateau owned by Michael Green- previous employer of ex P.M. David Cameron. 

A quote from the Daily Mail:

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have holidayed in a stunning French chateau owned by the media boss who first employed David Cameron.

Prince William and Kate spent part of their recent summer break in the 16th-century holiday home of Michael Green, who has a £103million fortune. 

The couple, along with their children Prince George, three, and one-year-old Princess Charlotte, enjoyed a ten-day break at Chateau La Rocque, in the village of Pouydraguin, west of Toulouse.

It is not clear whether the couple paid to stay in the chateau or whether they were lent it." 

Vale Duke Of Westminster

The Cambridge family have returned from their French holiday. 

As mentioned in my previous article, the family used the Duke of Westminster's jet to fly to France. It has emerged that Gerald Grosvenor died suddenly yesterday at the age of 64. 

Hugh Grosvenor, aged 25 will assume the Dukedom. He is one of Prince George's godfathers. Further family connections can be found in last blog post.

No doubt royal tributes will flow and I extend my sympathies to the Grosvenor family.

Additional information of the Grosvenor Estate can be found here:
http://www.grosvenorestate.com/

Cambridge Family Holidaying In France

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George and  Princess Charlotte have headed to France for a family holiday on Tuesday.

The family of four and staff were seen arriving at Pau-Pyrenees airport in the Duke of Westminster's Cessna Citation X jet. They party then left in two Range Rovers for an unknown destination. 

The Cambridge's have used the Duke of Westminster's aircraft several times in the past. The Duke, Gerald Grosvenor is one of Britain's richest men and owns large parts of London. 

The Grosvenors are great friends of the royals and have many connections.Here is an excerpt from a blog post I wrote on 17th September 2015:

• Natalia, Duchess of Westminster is one of Prince William's godmothers

• Diana, Princess of Wales was godmother to Natalia and Gerald's daughter Lady Edwina Grosvenor

• Hugh, Earl Grosvenor is a godfather to Prince George.

• Lady Tamara Grosvenor married Edward van Cutsem whose family has a long standing friendship with the Prince of Wales and family:

  *the van Cutsem's previously lived at Amner Hall which is now home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 
  *Prince Charles has been a friend of the late Hugh van Cutsem senior since university 
  *Edward van Cutsem is godson of Prince Charles and was pageboy at Charles' marriage to Lady Diana Spencer
  *Hugh ( brother of Edward) van Cutsem's daughter Grace was flower girl at William and Catherine's wedding.
  *William van Cutsem ( like Hugh Grosvenor) is a godfather to Prince George"

It is not known at this stage where the Cambridge's will stay or for how long.  

New George Portraits

Kensington Palace has released four new portraits of future king Prince George on his 3rd birthday.

The photos were all taken in the gardens at the family home Anmer Hall in Norfolk. Photographer Matt Porteous was given the honour of capturing George to mark the young prince's birthday.

Enjoy looking at these beautiful new portraits.

Happy 3rd Birthday Prince George

On Friday 22nd July, Prince George of Cambridge turns 3 years old. He was born at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington where his father William was born.

George was quite a difficult infant and has become an energetic and curious young boy. He loves anything with wheels or wings and took delight in joining his parents only two weeks ago at the Royal
International Air Tattoo. 
 
Climbing in and out of helicopters and fighter aircraft was a real treat for George, who can often be seen watching helicopters come and go from the lawns behind his London home Kensington Palace.

In January George started at a local Montessori nursery school close to Amner Hall, the main Cambridge family home on the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. 

He attends the school a few mornings a week and no doubt some of George's new chums will be invited to join the family for George's birthday party. 

Catherine recently revealed George visits the Natural History Museum where he particularly enjoys seeing the 3D sculptures and displays. 

George and young sister Charlotte share family pets Lupo the cocker spaniel and Marvin the hamster. George is also learning to play tennis on the Anmer Hall tennis court.

Catherine and William are doing their best to balance a normal upbringing at a local school whilst growing up in stately homes and relatives who are anything but normal. 

Happy Birthday Prince George of Cambridge!

George Goes off To Work Again

Prince George of Cambridge will turn three on 22nd July. For the
second time this month ( and second time ever in the U.K.), the young royal has been taken on an engagement by his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The royal trio left little Princess Charlotte at home and attended the 
Special Air Service 75th Anniversary at Credenhill.

The Cambridges unveiled a statue at the SAS Base before meeting serving and retired members of the regiment. No doubt aviation buff George revelled in a Red Arrow display and a Spitfire flypast. 
 
No photos are available of the event due to the secrecy and security surrounding the SAS.

Last week at the Royal International Air Tattoo, George was able to sit in a Red Arrow and other helicopters and aircraft.

What we are witnessing is William and Catherine gently introducing George to the life of public duty that lies ahead of him. Becoming used to crowds of people and large numbers of the media is also a factor. 


I have included a photo of George aged just 9 months attending his first ever engagement- a Plunket playdate with other babies and their parents  in Wellington, New Zealand.

Flashback

The cute photos of young Prince George of Cambridge at the RAF Fairford Air Tattoo brought back memories of his father Prince William of Wales at a similar age.

In 1985, at the age of three, William joined his father Charles to see the Red Devils parachute team land in the garden behind Kensington Place. 

George At RAF Fairford Airshow

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took Prince George to his first official engagement in the U.K. yesterday. The threesome attended the world’s largest military airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. 

The Duchess is Patron of the Air Cadets and the Air Tattoo was staging events to celebrate the Cadets 75th anniversary.

George will turn 3 years old on the 22nd of July and his parents have often spoken of his love of planes, trucks and helicopters. So the young royal was able to sit in all sorts of fixed wing fighters, transport aircraft as well as helicopters.

Prince William was a RAF search and rescue pilot until Prince George was just a few months old. He has since taken up a role as a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance. He combines this with his royal duties and time with his young family. 

Prince Harry was an Apache helicopter pilot and served in an active war zone.

George seemed to love all that was on offer but had a tantrum that his mum and dad sorted out with a cuddle and distraction. I hope you enjoy the photos of gorgeous George!

More Trooping the Colour Photos

More wonderful photos of yesterday's Trooping the Colour balcony appearance by Charlotte and George.

Charlotte's Trooping Debut

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge made her Trooping the Colour debut today.
 
The official festivities were in honour of The Queen's 90th birthday.

Princess Charlotte was held by her mother the Duchess of Cambridge whilst big brother George was busy looking at the crowds and trying to take in the sights and sounds around him.

Prince George who will be 3 next month, was wearing the same outfit his father William wore to Prince Harry's Christening in December 1984. 

At last year's Trooping, George wore his father's outfit from William's own Trooping debut back in June1984. It seems the Wales children's clothing has been well stored and cared for over the decades.