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Princess Diana Gown Auction

December 4, 2013 by · Comments Off on Princess Diana Gown Auction 

Princess Diana Gown Auction, This lavish white and gold ball gown that Princess Diana wore at a banquet at the German Ambassador’s residence in July 1986 sold for $167,000 at a London auction.
A lavish white and gold ballet-inspired ball gown worn by Princess Diana has fetched 102,000 pounds ($167,000) at a London auction.

Kerry Taylor Auction said the strapless gown, which features gold sequins, rhinestones and pearl beads, was not designed for Diana – but the royal chose it herself from a collection by her favorite designers, the Emanuels.

The auction house said Diana wore the dress, which came with a matching headband and optional sleeves, on various occasions.

It said the dress’ auction price exceeded initial estimates and went to an unidentified museum abroad.

Ellen De Generes Kate Middleton 15th Cousins

March 10, 2012 by · Comments Off on Ellen De Generes Kate Middleton 15th Cousins 

Ellen De Generes Kate Middleton 15th Cousins, Will Ellen DeGeneres be able to break out her dance moves at the royal wedding? The Emmy-Award winner, 53, revealed on her show Thursday that she got a letter from the New England Genealogical society explaining she and princess-to-be Kate Middleton, 29, are 15th cousins. A man named Sir Thomas Fairfax is their common ancestor.

“I’m definitely invited to the wedding now!” DeGeneres said. “Between the Packers winning the Super Bowl and this, I’m having a good week.”
Asking her “cuz” where she’s registered, the daytime talker explained she lives near a Pier 1 and a Target.

And as for a potential ladies night out? “Let me know if you need me to plan the bachelorette party,” DeGeneres joked. “Because I found some straws that are shaped like. . . well never mind.”

Celebrity Genealogy

March 10, 2012 by · Comments Off on Celebrity Genealogy 

Celebrity Genealogy, With genealogy often cited as the second most popular hobby, I’ve never understood why it’s been largely ignored on TV. We’ve got channels dedicated to everything from golf to going green, but aside from shows such as History Detectives and Antiques Roadshow that occasionally incorporate a dash of family history, genealogy has been badly neglected. Finally, that’s about to change.

Active and armchair genealogists across the country — not to mention those who can’t know enough about their favorite celebrities — will soon be treated to two shows offering a combined 11 episodes of prime time programming. Starting on February 10th and running 8:00-9:00 p.m. for four Wednesdays will be Faces of America, the latest PBS series by Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr. Just two days after this series winds down, Who Do You Think You Are? (WDYTYA) will ramp up for seven episodes (Fridays, 8:00-9:00 p.m.) on NBC.

I suppose now might be an appropriate time to confess that I’m not a disinterested party as I conducted research for both of these series and had the opportunity to write the companion book, Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, for one. Still, I can honestly say that my excitement would be as high even if I had had nothing to do with them. Genealogy will make for great TV for one simple reason: there’s no such thing as a boring family. This is reality television that was scripted before TV existed.

Both shows offer considerable, multicultural star power that will appeal even to those who have never looked up a census record or interviewed an older relative. The PBS line-up includes Yo-Yo Ma, Queen Noor, Malcolm Gladwell, Eva Longoria Parker, Mike Nichols, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Meryl Streep, Stephen Colbert, Louise Erdrich, Kristi Yamaguchi, Elizabeth Alexander and Mario Batali, while the NBC one includes Lisa Kudrow (who also happens to be the show’s executive producer), Susan Sarandon, Sarah Jessica Parker, Spike Lee, Brooke Shields, Emmitt Smith and Matthew Broderick.

Though both are celebrity roots shows, their formats are quite different. Both are participatory in nature with celebrities traveling to learn about their heritage, but Faces of America will feature Dr. Gates revealing many findings with his guests (much as he did in African American Lives I & II and Oprah’s Roots), while WDYTYA — a wildly popular import from the U.K. — follows celebs on journeys of self-discovery.

As a life-long and hard-core genealogist, I see this as reason to celebrate. Anyone who’s ever dabbled in family history knows how addicting it swiftly becomes, and if WDYTYA’s success in other countries is any measure, many non-genealogists will suddenly find themselves pulled in by the undertow. So now’s the time for current and budding roots-enthusiasts to start planning their weekly soirees (two shows in the week of March 1st!) to gather with friends, down some popcorn, swap tales of DNA testing Grandpa and purposely getting locked into libraries overnight, and most of all, enjoying these long overdue shows.

Duchess Of Cambridge

January 23, 2012 by · Comments Off on Duchess Of Cambridge 

Duchess Of Cambridge, In his engagement interview, Prince William said he and Kate Middleton would soon “have to start thinking” about children. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have, though, been beaten to it by their friends Harry and Rosie Meade.

Rosie, whose wedding was attended by the royal couple in 2010, has given birth to their first child, Lily.

Harry, 28, an event rider, who hopes to compete at the London Olympics, says of his daughter: “She is at home and getting on well.”

The equestrian adds: “She is looking forward to getting out eventing when the weather gets nice in the spring and making some friends!”

Harry’s father, the celebrated event rider Richard Meade, a former beau of the Princess Royal, is said to be equally thrilled.

William And Kate Interview

November 17, 2010 by · Comments Off on William And Kate Interview 

William And Kate Interview, (UKPA) – The impact of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding on “brand Britain” will outweigh the costs to the country, a friend of the couple has said.

Broadcaster Tom Bradby, who was the first journalist to interview the Prince and his fiancee, highlighted how the big event would boost UK tourism.

William and his bride-to-be are now sitting down with royal advisers to begin planning their wedding day, expected to be in March, according to Mr Bradby, ITV News’ political editor.

Both the bride and groom have wealthy parents so the cost of the wedding is not the issue but the amount to be spent. The pair are conscious of this according to a St James’ Palace spokesman, who said they were “mindful of the economic situation”.

But the policing bill for the wedding, to provide security for the public and guests who could include world leaders and royalty from across the globe, could run into tens of millions of pounds.

Speaking on This Morning, Mr Bradby said: “We’ve got to understand this is a massive global (event), it’s playing enormously all over the world. I would imagine there will be many many tourists from America and places like that who will want to come here and be in London during the event.

“The costs, if we split it up amongst us, will be so infinitesimally small and the impact on brand Britain and just the impact from say tourism (will be big). We’ve now got this next year and then the (Queen’s) Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics (in 2012).”

The broadcaster said the couple have a preferred month in which to tie the knot.

He said: “I think they want to have it in March … their people have now got to go down to (Buckingham) Palace and sit around and go ‘right, now who do we invite? Do we invite the Obamas, do we invite the Sarkozys?'”

Bradby praised Miss Middleton’s performance during his television interview which followed the couple’s much anticipated announcement of their engagement. He added: “I thought she did pretty well, she was very nervous. I think one of the things people have to understand is she’s not a massive showboater.”

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

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