Tag Archives: Royal Wedding

Happy Royalversary!

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Happy Second Anniversary William and Catherine!????????

Now, hit play and let’s celebrate The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!

Last year I asked my Twitter followers to share their wishes for William & Kate’s second year of marriage; not surprisingly, most of those tweets involved a royal scone in the oven.  At the end of the year, our wish for them came true! Side note: completely forgot I dubbed the future royal baby a “scone,” so from now on that’s what I’m going with.

I also encouraged my readers to share the traditional first anniversary gift of paper with the royal couple and since money is the most important form of paper (kidding..kind of), I challenged everyone to donate to the couple’s patronages.

Sadly, the year of money is over, but if you would like to continue dishing out dough, head on over to the newly launched Royal Fundraiser to raise funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices in honor of the royal scone in the oven. @RoyalFundraiser was started by @WhatKateWore, @HRHDuchessKate, @BritishRoyals, @KatePippaStyle and @APP_Editor to gather the royal watching community to help out one of Kate’s patronages. In fact, the mum-to-be will celebrate her wedding anniversary by visiting Naomi House in support of Children’s Hospice Week.

A continued lifetime of happiness to one of the world’s most adorable couples!

Happy Anniversary to Prince Charles & The Duchess of Cornwall!

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Today marks Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwalls eight year of wedded bliss! The Prince of Wales married then Camilla Parker Bowles on April 9, 2005. From a civil ceremony to a celebration at Windsor Castle it was a beautiful spring day for the royal family.

Here’s hoping their day is filled with gifts of bronze, pottery, linen, lace and appliances – appropriate eighth wedding anniversary gifts. Perhaps a bronzed toaster oven with lace lace applique oven mits?

Happy Anniversary and a lifetime of happiness to the future king and his bride!

An Interview with Max Foster

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Anyone who has followed royal news since that little wedding they hosted back in 2010 knows who Max Foster is. You also know that this CNN International Anchor and Royal Correspondent needs no introduction – but I will give him one anyway. Max, aka @MaxFosterCNN, is one of the guys that makes royal watching so enjoyable. He is always responsive to his intrigued Twitter followers (myself included) and is constantly approaching the news from a unqiue angle. But before he was hanging out with Prince Harry in Jamaican beach bars and filming world leaders at Buckingham Palace he was interviewing the likes of Anthony Hopkins and covering Pope John Paul II’s final days.  Max was kind enough to let me badger him with questions about the day in the life of a top royal reporter.

If you think you were impressed with Max before, you’re in for a treat – especially if you’re a Harry fan. Lots of secrets and insider knowledge to be had with this one..

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Many people reading this might only know you as a royal reporter, but you have covered incredible events and spoken with fascinating people throughout your career, who has been your favorite interview?

The greatest thing about journalism is the access it gives you to people, places and moments in history. Just meeting the likes of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Julie Andrews is a privilege and I was glad I listened to a friend in publishing years ago who suggested I interview Stephanie Meyer as an author with potential. But one interview means a lot to me and that was with Anthony Hopkins. I was at University in Cardiff and a friend and I spotted him in a hotel. I was freelancing at Radio Wales and we left a note for him at reception asking for an interview. He replied with a letter a few weeks later saying he would be back in Cardiffand would do an interview. He spoke to me about not wanting to do a follow-up to Silence of the Lambs and about receiving a knighthood. They were both exclusive lines (at the time) and were picked up by the papers. The buzz of getting a story inspired me to go in to journalism.

Among those incredible global events, you have reported on some truly difficult topics – war, Pope John Paul II, natural disasters – what has been your most challenging assignment?

The Pope’s final days was definitely the most challenging. I had never anchored rolling coverage before and had only been at CNN a few months. There weren’t many scripts – only information about interviews and pictures that may or may not be coming in. The rest was ad libbing around a complex story that had huge significance to a lot of people. I got through it and have been lucky to be involved in all sorts of breaking news since then. It’s what CNN excels at and is the most exciting part of the job.

You have traveled around the globe covering a wide range of topics – what has been your favorite destination? If your reporting could take you anywhere in the world in 2013, where would you like to go?

I don’t actually travel nearly as much as my colleagues, some of whom literally live on the road, but travelling can be fun. The royal trips are always something to look forward to. Who can argue with hanging out with Prince Harry at a Jamaican beach bar?! Or sitting amongst vast crowds of cheering Canadians waiting to meet the new Duchess of Cambridge? Its hard work but gets you to places you would never expect to see.

While the royal wedding gave Kate a new title, it also brought a new one to you as well – CNN’s official Royal Correspondent. Did you ever envision your career taking this turn when you started at CNN years earlier?

I never set out to be a royal correspondent. My specialism was always business, but I was asked to report on the preparations for the royal wedding and I just through myself into it. We got some great access and the interest in the story just grew and grew. I interviewed everyone from the royal chef to the florist to the coachmen. And on the day itself, I anchored morning and evening shows from a spectacular purpose built and reported in between. It was the most amazing day. London had never felt so alive and for whatever reason this was one of the biggest stories of modern times, certainly the biggest outside broadcast. There are moments when you know you are witnessing history, or at least lasting moments, and this was one of those occasions. CNN’s coverage was phenomenal and a lot of people tuned in so, when I suggested making the royal correspondent role permanent, I was probably knocking against an open door. I felt that interest was going to grow in the royal family and I wanted to understand why there was that interest. What I do know is that The Queen, The Cambridge’s and Prince Harry are amongst the top ten stars in the world – I mean truly global stars, resonating everywhere.

What is your favorite story since covering the royal family? A moment or memory that stands out more than the rest?

Particular ‘moments’ were speaking to the crowds in the Mall the night before the wedding, Canada Day in Ottawa, Prince Harry deciding to race Usain Bolt in Jamaica, sitting in on a cabinet meeting in the Solomon Islands with the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a necklace emblazoned with ‘Princess Kate’… But filming arrivals at the back steps of Buckingham Palace at a reception for heads of state during the Olympics was one of the most powerful moments for me. The President of Russia, Secretary General of the United Nations, The First Lady of the United States, all tentatively making their way up the steps into the grand state rooms at the invitation of an octogenarian Queen. It was a reminder to me how powerful she is, despite just having a ceremonial role. She had this ability to create history and it’s because of history, but she’s just such a natural and so is The Duchess of Cambridge which is good news for the institution.

With the title of this blog I can’t not ask this question – can you share your favorite moment from Prince Harry’s tour?

It would be a day… in Jamaica. When he raced Usain Bolt, we already had our story, then he hugged the (republican) PM, reggae danced in blue swede shoes and impersonated Bob Marley during a state banquet. Every event became a story. It was exhausting keeping up with him but made for great coverage.

Earlier this year, you wrote what might be my favorite article on The Duchess of Cambridge yet – Kate Inc: A Corporate Approach to Royal Success – what inspired you to tell this story? What are your predictions for how “Kate Inc” will continue in the coming year?

Very kind. I was just discussing things with a palace source and it was an interesting line. A lot of people assume the royals are told what to do but that certainly isn’t the case at St James’ Palace. Kate, William and Harry make their own decisions and the people around them are there to advise and support them. I think that authenticity to what they do comes across and will be their best hope of ongoing success. They are modernising the ways things are done already and as long as they stay true to themselves, I think they will continue to do well. They do genuinely seem to be motivated by doing the best for Queen and country

Pretend someone reading this knows absolutely nothing about the royal family – what is the one thing you think they should know? Perhaps a secret you’ve picked up on over the years..

Being a royal isn’t as easy as it looks. Most events are very carefully planned and The Duchess of Cambridge for example will be thinking about everything she does. She just makes it look easy.

To say this has been exciting year for the royals would be a severe understatement, what is your favorite event you have covered this year?

My best event was Prince Harry’s tour. He was a great subject to cover, there was a lot of interest in the story and here’s another secret – the royal pack are a smart, fun bunch to work with and make travelling a pleasure. We like the bloggers too…

Choose one word to describe this past year in royal news.

Eventful

Many thanks to Max for not only the interview, but his constant support of the royal bloggers and tweeters out there. We couldn’t keep up without him!

Happy Anniversary to…Me!

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Happy New Year royal watching friends! In addition to being the first day of 2013, today is also the one year anniversary of my first blog post! It has been such an incredible year putting my royal thoughts to paper (well, wordpress) and getting to know all of you. The best part of this whole blogging thing has been the Twitter conversations and relationships developed – us royal watchers have to stick together! I can’t thank you all enough for reading, posting and tweeting along with me.

So, in honor of this special occasion I’m taking a different approach to the typical “royal year in review” posts. I present to you, my top ten favorite blog posts from 2012. In chronological order – I don’t want to play favorites with my favorites!

1. Prince Harry’s Tour – Top Moments

2. An Interview with Victoria Arbiter

3. Happy Anniversary William and Catherine!

4. Hey Harry, Call Me..Maybe?

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5. Keep Calm and Float On

6. Today’s News: Kate Looks Great, Harry Has Date

7. America for the Win!

8. Confession: I Miss Prince Harry

9. Christmas Gifts for the Royals

10. A Chat with Kelly Lynch

It was difficult to pick just ten..but there you have it! What were your favorite royal moments of 2012?

A Chat with Kelly Lynch

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This year brought countless royal headlines and exciting events that have left us all buzzing about what the hottest moments were and what’s to come in 2013. For me, this reflection period mostly meant looking back at all of the new friendships made in our cozy little royal watching bubble. One of the ladies who made my first year tweeting and blogging so fun was Kelly Lynch, who quickly proved to me that great minds don’t only think alike, but they share the same name. For those of you who may not know (and to that I say – shame on you), Kelly is the Editor at Socialite Life and the brains behind The Duchess Diary. This year, Kelly saw something she wanted and she went after it, and every Thursday we are thankful for that. Kelly and I  could spend forever discussing The Duchess of Cambridge – Kate is to McQueen as peanut butter is to jelly – so what better way to recap the year in Kate and speculate about the year to come than to put those chats in blog form?
Let’s start with The Duchess Diary – brilliant idea, I love it. What inspired you to start that and how did it all come about? 
Socialite Life’s parent company (Buzz Media) had just built a gorgeous state-of-the-art studio, and were looking for original content pitches.  Since I was always reporting on the royals, I suggested we do something about Kate Middleton and the rest of the royal family.  A few weeks later, the VP of video and one of the senior producers approached me about ‘The Duchess Diary.’  It was a little weird to think that I would have my own show about Kate Middleton.  I don’t think it’s sunk in yet how lucky I am to be a part of such a phenomenon.
What’s your dream for TDD in 2013? 
Great question.  You and I both know that part of the fun of being a royal reporter is learning from those who have been in the game a long time, and trading information with one another.  I had the Daily Express’s Richard Palmer on once, and his experience on the South East Asia tour was something you just don’t hear every day.  Getting the story first hand from someone like Palmer was a real treat.  Another little dream would be to partner with a fashion mag on Kate’s looks; perhaps be a royal guest editor for a day!
If you could have one guest on the show – not a member of Kate’s family (royal or Middleton) – who would it be? 
I am always entertained by the subjects interviewed for top notch royal documentaries, like the Hon. Margaret Rhodes and Lady Pamela Hicks, people who were right beside the Queen in her most significant moments.  These women have seen a lot, and the way they tell a story makes you sit and listen.  I also wouldn’t mind having a chat with Angela Kelly.  Oh, to be a fly on the wall when she and the Queen are clucking together.
Let’s talk fashion, if you could own one item from her wardrobe what would it be? 
Oh my goodness, Kelly.  What an unfair question!  The wedding dress.  Of all Kate’s gorgeous attire, none was more breathtaking than the Sarah Burton for Alexander Mcqueen wedding gown.  That day felt like a fairy tale due largely in part to the princess dress.  It made everyone stop dead in their tracks.  
Kate Middleton reveals her McQueen gown as she arrives with sister Pippa at Westminster Abbey for the Royal Wedding
Hate to say this, but she disappointed us a few times this year..one item from her closet you would throw out? 
I think you and I were talking about the lilac Erdem dress she wore to this year’s Trooping of The Colour.  That look was at the bottom of my list until I saw Kate in the bell-sleeve Temperley dress while at a Buckingham Palace reception for Team GB Athletes.  It was far too busy and – I hate to say it – cheesy for Kate.
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We often debate on what colors she looks best in and what we would like to see her in, pick one color she has to wear for all of 2013.
I love seeing Kate in green, and most of her wardrobe (at least until summer) will be maternity.  The royals are all about color so as to make people smile, so I say that whatever color Kate selects, she’s going to look great in it.  I do love it when she goes bold more than if she chose a pastel.
We are always on the edge of our Twitter timelines waiting too see what designer she’ll step out in next, who would you love to see her in that she has not worn yet? 
The Duchess does a wonderful job of promoting British labels, but what if she were to done something from Burberry for an outing?  Part of me would love to see Kate sport Dior, but it would have be very ladylike.  I do, however, feel that Dior belongs to Princess Charlene, the same with Chanel.  I appreciate that Kate sticks to tried and true British designers. 
It’s Monday, December 3, 2012.. you find out Kate is pregnant. Your reaction – go! 
A silent cheer ran from my stomach up through my throat, and I just let it take me over.  My friend texted me from DC, and since I’m on the west coast, I’m always the last to know about these things.  It’s something that Kate and William have talked about for ages, and I couldn’t be happier for those two.  Some of us feel as if they are our friends since we watch their every move.  I do wish, though, that they would have been able to announce the pregnancy on their own terms, rather than having their hand pushed because of media speculation.
Baby predictions? Boy? Girl? Both? Names? And most importantly, will it wear McQueen to the christening?
I had my mother on the show a few weeks ago because she chewed my ear off about her own morning sickness.  So, my mother strongly believes that Kate is going to have a girl (mom had three gals).  The color is gone from Kate’s face and she looks fatigued, so perhaps this might just be the future queen who is kicking around in there!
Some speculate that if it is a girl, William and Kate will name her Diana.  No shot!  They would never put their daughter through that kind of scrutiny.  If she is a girl, I guarantee that Diana will be one of the middle names, as will Elizabeth and Frances.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Margaret was thrown in there too (Margaret is the Queen’s late sister).  As for a Christian name, my guesses are: Victoria, Mary, Charlotte or Anne.  Something traditional and strong.  If the blessed child is a boy: My middle name guesses are: Philip, Henry, Charles, George.  First name?  James, George (I think it could be one or the other), or Edward. 
Oh, Kelly.  Imagine what Kate’s McQueen christening outfit will look like?  It’s safe to assume that the child will be christened in the gown that’s been passed down through the ages from Queen Victoria’s first daughter.  So now at least we can focus more on mom and how fantastic she’ll look.
 
Many thanks to “The Other Kelly” for taking time out of her Christmas holiday to rehash some of our favorite (and least favorite) Kate moments and dream of the year ahead. Be sure to follow Kelly on Twitter @HRH_KLynch and over @TheDuchessDiary for a cheeky look at what’s new with The Duchess of Cambridge! She may even surprise you with some Made in Chelsea talk here and there.

Confession: I Miss Prince Harry

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Prince Harry is not even halfway through his deployment yet and I am already missing regular updates from @HWalesWatch. And no, I am not counting the stories on his Vegas party companion getting thrown in jail or Harry’s Pippa filled storytime at Camp Bastion as news.

Okay, if I’m being honest I mostly miss the white pants and sharp navy blue suits..

To cope with Prince Hottie withdrawals, I decided to reflect on the top ten reasons to love the 28-year-old royal…in no particular order.

1. He is currently fighting for his country in Afghanistan..flying deadly helicopters. He could have used his title to get thrown on a desk job back in the UK, but no.. Captain Wales wanted to be out on the front lines with his men, shooting down bad guys. HOT.

2. Not only is he good with kids, but he devotes a lot of his time to being there for children in need. Oh, and let’s not forget looking after the bridesmaids and page boys during the royal wedding – don’t forget to wave kids!

3. He is charitable. Not just sit behind a desk and donate tons of money charitable – he gets out there and he fights for the causes he believes in. He trekked to the North Pole with Walking With The Wounded. He established his own charity, Sentebale, aiming to positively change the the lives of vulnerable children in Lesotho.

4. He knows how to have a good time. Don’t think this one needs further explanation.

5. Harry has an edge. Motorcycles, breaking the royal rules of engagement, partying like there’s no tomorrow..c’mon ladies, you all know you like a bad boy.

6. In case you needed a reminder – he is a PRINCE. Of course that is not a reason to love someone, but let’s be honest.. it’s a factor.

7. The name ‘Prince Hottie’ did not appear out of thin air.. he’s the best looking redhead on the planet.

8. His sporting prowess is not limited to rocking white pants on the polo field. Aside from being an all-star polo player, he enjoys rugby, futbol..he’s even gotten down and dirty on the volleyball court. Although he could use some help with basketball.

9. The “H” in Harry probably stands for hysterical. From messing with the paparazzi on his first day of kindergarten “Dude of Cambridge” joke at his brother’s wedding, H could double for a stand-up comedian.

10. The youngest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana is a family man. His bond with brother, Prince William, is beyond adorable and he immediately accepted Kate as if she were his actual sister.

Here’s hoping Captain Wales is off kicking some serious Taliban tail in Afghanistan.. we all look forward to an influx of white pants and parties upon his return.
Do you miss your daily dose of Harry? What do you love most about the prince? Leave some comments!

Happy Anniversary William and Catherine!

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I know everyone is saying this today, but wow..can you believe it has been a year?! It feels like yesterday I was up at 3:00 am, crying my eyes out. Yes, I cried – don’t tell me you didn’t too! And then I went to work with puffy eyes; I may have been a little late that day (don’t worry, i was given the ok to watch the kiss before heading in).

Today, William and Catherine, now known as The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, celebrate their first year of marriage..after nearly a decade of dating. I don’t think anyone ever had any doubts that they would coast through their first year, happier than ever. To honor the special day, I am taking a “Will & Kate” approach to this blog post – simple. Word around town is that the young royal couple will be keeping it low key and carefree today – very true to form. I am sure many bloggers/royal watchers will be commemorating the day with lists of favorite moments and such, so I would like to share with you my top William and Catherine moment from their first year of wedded bliss..

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The above picture, taken after the dragon boat races Dalvay-by-the-Sea on Prince Edward Island, completely captures the essence of William and Catherine’s relationship – and the reason why we all adore them. During their first royal tour together just a few months into their marriage, the competitive lovebirds showed their skills in a friendly race, followed by this absolutely adorable moment. This photo embodies the playfulness, compassion, adoration and total love these two have for each other. I also think it displays what a seemingly normal couple they are; a trait that royal fans everywhere admire and can relate to. Sure, she wears tiaras, he will one day be a king and they save the save the world in their spare time..but deep down they are just a regular, married couple – right?

Anniversary Gifts…

The customary first wedding anniversary gift is paper, so why not give William and Kate the best kind of paper…MONEY! As most of you know, in lieu of wedding gifts the philanthropic duo asked guests to donate to The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund, which raised approximately $1.7 million for 26 charitable organizations that are special to The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

As I did for Catherine’s 30th birthday this past January, I encourage those who would like to give the couple who has everything an anniversary gift, to donate to one of their many chosen charities, including:

Tusk Trust, Centre Point UK, The Art Room, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, Action on Addiction,  The National Portrait Gallery and The Scout Association. To learn about other causes close to the couple’s hearts you can visit The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Best Wishes from the Fans..

Two nights before the big day I had an idea.. wouldn’t it be nice to have William and Catherine supporters share their hopes for their favorite couple? Yes, the chances of Will and Kate actually seeing these thoughts are one in a million, but is always nice to put good vibes out into the universe and dream that they come true. So, I posed the following question to my royal Twitter family – “What is your wish for Will & Kate during their second year of marriage?“

@jennkamienski – a happy marriage like mine

@thecambridges - Happy Anniversary, Will and Kate. May the second year (and many those to come) bring just as much love, warmth and success as the first.

@RoyallyKate - Happy one year anniversary, Will and Kate! You’ve all brightened the lives and opened the hearts of many this past year. I wish you so many more years to come, and endless and indefatigable amounts of love and support to come your way in the future. Here’s to a successful year for a beautiful couple! We love you!

@FabulousKate13 - I wish them another enchanting, amazing, and successful year. May the years to come only bring them happiness and joy. Xx

@Kates_Wardrobe – 4 Kate : an outfit by unexpected designer Ford, Westwood, Saab

@RoyalKateDebate - Congratulation Will and Kate on a wonderful first year of marriage. Your love for each other has captured the world’s imagination. Thank you for sharing your day with us. My wish is that you continue to have the strength in your relationship that you have shown in the past 10 years.

@HRH_KLynch - I wish happiness for the both bc will deserves it. And healthy babies!

@allthingsregal - Hmmmm… dare I say a baby willkat?

@nina_lux - Besides happiness, more time together, a bb and world domination? Not much

@ARightRoyalBlog - Wish people would stop clicking on pap shots of them.

@Royaljournalist - Hoping for twinsc called prince George and princess Victoria.

@MPHenriksen - Wills stays in the military. They have a baby or at least Kate is preggers by the end of yr two.

@HuffPostStyle – Kate to take more fashion risks!

 @Kimmi1287 - I’m thinking the one with the real love and respect not for money and tv

@RoyallyObsessed - BBBBAAAAABBBBBIIIIEEEESSSSS

@shan_harrison - I wish for William and Kate to have another year of wedded bliss… And to get another puppy

My wish for William & Catherine’s second year of marriage – that the guiding hand doesn’t fade away and they continue to look as happy as they do in the above photo. Oh, and I wouldn’t mind a royal bun in the oven (would that be considered a scone ;) ?!). And for Kate to add some bright colors to her wardrobe. And Will should find some new suits. But mostly, keep doing what you’re doing young, beloved royals! xoxo

Happy Anniversary William and Catherine! Thanks for being so fabulous and sharing your love story with the world. 

An Interview with Victoria Arbiter

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Last week, I had the honor of conducting a special interview with royal expert Victoria Arbiter. After chatting on Twitter for some time, I was curious to learn more about this CBS News royal contributor; Victoria quickly agreed to let me pick her brain on all things royal. Victoria is a true veteran; growing up a stone’s throw from our favorite family (her father Dickie Arbiter is a broadcaster, journalist and former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II), Victoria has done everything from go-carting with Princess Diana to sitting alongside Katie Couric for last year’s royal wedding.

Aside from touching stories about Her Majesty and the family, Victoria opened up about how she got to where she is today and what her dream royal assignment would be. In accordance with recent news, Victoria provides her thoughts on Prince Harry’s tour, America’s fascination with the royals and who she owes a huge thank you to (hint: they have a big anniversary coming up). She even offers up advice for the newest generation of royal watchers, so pay attention! If you are not following Victoria on Twitter, please do so @VictoriaArbiter.

You have worked with everyone from Perez Hilton to Oprah – what has it been like to truly run the gamut of reporting?

In a word it’s been a tremendous privilege. Thanks to my job I have been fortunate enough to have the chance to see and do so many different things. I never thought I would be standing on stage next to Oprah or kayaking across a bio-luminescent bay in Puerto Rico. Work has made me push the envelope and often times I have had to step out of my comfort zone and do things that have been utterly terrifying, but I’m always glad I had a go. It really does prove that anything’s possible and I’m excited to see what the future holds in store.

To date, what do you see as the greatest highlight of your career?

While it may seem like an obvious choice in terms of career highlights, it would be pretty hard to beat covering last year’s Royal Wedding for CBS News. It was an enormous privilege to have a front row seat to such a historic event but also to work alongside people like Katie Couric and Erica Hill. They are among the best in their field and I had many a pinch me moment throughout the three months I reported on the wedding. It was a thrilling time to be in London and on a personal note it was wonderful to be able to share the experience with my father.Aside from the wedding another huge career high was finding myself on the set of CBS This Morning for the premiere show. As we were chatting I suddenly had a moment when I thought I’m the one doing all the talking and here we have Charlie Rose, Erica Hill and Gayle King listening to what I have to say. It had been a long road to that point and my gratitude at being there was overwhelming. I so admire Charlie Rose. He really makes you raise your game and I absolutely love the challenge of having an answer for even his trickiest questions.

Although you grew up around journalism, accompanying your father to important state occasions, you turned to acting and dance. What has brought you back full circle to where you are today? 

To be honest where I am today has all happened completely by accident. As a child I dreamed of being a ballet dancer and I went to a full time ballet school from the age of 12. A back injury at 18 resulted in me having to stop dancing so drama school seemed like the obvious next choice. In a quest for a change of scenery I decided to move to New York to attend The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. When I finished school I got a “survival” job working for a web TV company and within 6 weeks I had moved from answering the phones on reception to working as the Senior Entertainment Correspondent. From there I continued in the broadcast world but really I had to wait for a job to open up that would best suit my area of expertise. I honestly don’t remember a time when the royal family didn’t serve as a backdrop to my life. I grew up in Windsor, opposite the castle. We lived at Kensington Palace for a time where I met Diana on several occasions and sadly I attended her funeral. When William and Kate got engaged it was finally a big enough event for networks to start seeking experts and that’s when the call from CBS came in. It was a tremendous honor and I feel like I owe William and Kate a huge thank you letter. In hindsight I can see that all roads were leading to this one opportunity. My childhood gave me a look at life both in front and behind palace walls and no doubt much of my knowledge was picked up by osmosis simply from tagging along with my Dad, but finally I feel at home in my career and I hope to have this job for many years to come. 

As Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee year, what is your favorite memory of Her Majesty?

Oh, I just adore the Queen and my husband teases me relentlessly…..apparently whenever I see her I say, “Doesn’t the Queen look lovely today.” It makes him laugh every time but I am immensely proud of her and I believe our country is better for having her. There are so many moments in time when I have admired her, but I suppose the time she broke my heart really stands out the most. The Queen has only been seen to cry in public once and it was when HMY Britannia was decommissioned in 1997. It was a devastating blow to her due to all the personal moments and family history that had been shared while on board. It was a floating sanctuary of privacy for her and had meant a great deal to her. She’s so admired for her stoicism but that day we saw her vulnerability which was a stark reminder that she too is only human and yet she has dedicated her life to her country. She’s there no matter what and we could all stand to learn from her strength, dedication and determination.

Prince Harry just wrapped up is first overseas tour on behalf of his grandmother; there has been praise on how he handled himself and questions raised as to how the family will leverage him in the future – what is your take on this? Many are beginning to compare him more to Princess Diana..

There’s no question Harry has done a spectacular job and I have always said that he embodies the very best qualities of both his parents. He’s kind, compassionate, funny and game for anything which makes him instantly likable and accessible. The Queen knew what she was doing in choosing to send Harry in particular to Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica. He has won over the old and young alike and he has clearly risen to the ranks of rock star status which in turn has done wonders in terms of sentiment towards Britain. While Harry will continue to take part in public engagements once he’s home his first responsibility will be to his military career. He will be redeployed to Afghanistan later this year as well as serve as an official ambassador for the Olympics so the remainder of his year promises to be very busy. We will see great things from Harry as his royal career continues and he has made no secret of his desire to continue the work of his mother. I think she would be very proud of the man he has become.    

What is your favorite story since covering the royal family? A moment or memory that stands out more than the rest?

Bizarrely my most memorable moment since covering the royal family doesn’t directly involve one of the royals. A couple of weeks before the wedding the press had been given access to the Household Cavalry Barracks in Knightsbridge to see a demonstration of what they would be doing come wedding day. I have always been a bit of a geek when it comes to pomp and pageantry and so as far as I was concerned this was going to be a plum assignment. Little did I know however, that they were planning on pulling out all the stops. It was 7:30am on a grey and rainy morning and we were all tired. We had been gallivanting up and down the country trying to cover every little detail in the final days leading up to the wedding and this was just another early start. As we were all standing around having a moan I suddenly heard the thud, thud, thud of what sounded like an approaching drum. Just then through the trees in Hype Park came 200 Cavalry Officers on horseback playing the most beautiful piece of music. It was so breathtaking to see and it was a private display just for the assembled press. I was completely out of my mind with excitement and equally heartbroken that my little boy wasn’t there to see it. Following the display we were given a tour of the barracks, shown the exact uniform Harry would be wearing on wedding day and then treated to a fanfare by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry who would be inside Westminster Abbey on the big day. Simply amazing and a memory that I will cherish forever.

The royal family seems to be gaining more support and interest on a daily basis – a great deal of which has come from the United States. What is your take on the sudden boom from “across the pond?” Do you see if continuing to grow as the younger royals take the stage, or fall off as the wedding becomes a more distant memory?

Americans have always loved the British Royal Family but it has been a long time since the glory days of Charles and Diana so I think last year’s royal wedding really reignited the public’s fascination. I think they look to William and Kate as the happy ending Diana never had and they’re thrilled to see the couple so clearly in love. Interest has continued to grow since the I do’s from endless talk of fashion to when there will be baby so I don’t expect the fervor to die down anytime soon. Add to that the fact that Harry has risen to the ranks of the world’s most eligible bachelor, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations are coming up and London will be hosting the Olympics and you have plenty to keep people chatting for the foreseeable future. 

What advice do you have for new “royal watchers?” It appears most new followers are of the younger generation. Any words of wisdom?

The best piece of advice I could give to anyone starting out is KNOW YOUR STUFF. I can’t even begin to tell you how many inaccuracies are reported and to me it just shows sloppy work. I saw one journalist refer to Harry as the Prince of Wales this morning which I find unforgivable. Some might say that’s silly and it’s just a title but it’s flat out wrong and we look to reporters to bring us factually correct information. So many stories seem to be pulled out the sky these days in an effort to sell newspapers and I find it incredibly irritating. Before reporting anything it is your responsibility to fact check and then cross fact check. Of course errors will be made but take responsibility for them and get back to the business of reporting correct information. Otherwise you just end up with egg on your face. Do your research and learn who the reliable sources are. If in doubt don’t put the story out as once it’s in the public domain you lose all control over it. I suppose the rules would be…

 1. Know your stuff

2. Show up on time/meet your deadline on time

3. Be nice to everybody as you never know who is connected to who

4. Keep out of other people’s business – show up, do your job and do it to the best of your ability while letting others handle their own jobs.

Is there something you have observed about the royal family that would surprise people?

The one trait people never seem to give members of the Royal Family is a sense of humor. They are all blessed with a very quick wit and you’d better be on your toes when the cracks start flying. You see a little more of it shine through with William and Harry but it really is across the board.

Traveling all over the globe, what has been your favorite destination? If royal correspondence could take you anywhere, what would your dream location be?

Ah, this is a tricky one as I truly do love an adventure! If I could travel to any location of my choosing with a royal of my choosing then I would relish the opportunity to take in Kenya with either William or Harry. I was born in Zimbabwe and I have a deep love for Africa so I think it would be fascinating to see the entire continent through their eyes. Knowing Harry he’d probably want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, but how fun would that be?!

Outside of the royal family, who has been your most interesting interview? Most exciting assignment?

Another tricky one…..I suppose the interviewees from the celebrity world who have surprised me the most would be Nicole Kidman and Uma Thurman. It was still quite early in my career when I had the chance to chat to them and I have to say both were extraordinarily kind and gracious. In terms of exciting it would have to be the Bee Gees. They were in New York to promote their one night only by request concert and were giving interviews at The Russian Tea Room. I’m a bit of a granny when it comes to music so it’s pretty safe to say that I have always loved the Bee Gees. All three of them had a wicked sense of humor and they were utterly charming, but what makes that memory especially poignant for me is that it was the last time that they were altogether for an interview in NY as Maurice died a couple of years later.

Many, many thanks to the lovely Victoria for taking time out of her busy schedule to give me such heartfelt, thought out answers to my questions. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know her a little bit better and I hope we cross paths on the streets of New York one day!