Rounding off what has been a glorious year for the British Royal family and their PR machine there has been an announcement today that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant. It is one of those news items that the media love. In the UK currently the news is full of Kate's pregnancy. To think we will have months more of this to endure.
Kate is less than 12 weeks pregnant and today she has been hospitalised. She is said to be suffering from Hyperemisis Gravidarum which is acute morning sickness, As an already thin young woman doctors are taking a cautious approach.
She has been admitted to the King Edward VII hospital for treatment and is expected to be there for a day or two at least. It could be that Kate will have this acute morning sickness during her pregnancy so it will not be completely resolved in hospital. Medical professionals will be making sure that both mother and baby to be are well. Various treatments are possible and we should remember that the pregnancy is in its early stages.
Crowds have gathered outside of the hospital, mainly made up of media representatives hoping for a "snap" of William or other members of the Royal Family. In turn a heavy security presences is now there.
One interesting point is that should William and Kate's first born be a girl she will ascend to the throne of England even if sons follow.
OPINION
Whilst no-one would wish any harm to those involved it is rather sickening to keep hearing how the whole of the country will be so happy with the news of another royal mouth. Treason? No just an honest assessment which will be hard to find for the next 7 or 8 months. No waiting for a hospital bed for this young lady.
Good lcuk to the couple, is sent as it would be to any young couple.
As Brits experience typical winter weather, notably rain, cold, wind and more the heir to throne and his wife have been at the other side of the World visitng the Antipodes. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have been visitng as part of the Queen's Diamond JubileeTour.
This year it was 60 glorious years since Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne. A series of celebrations cost the British taxpayer a great deal. Add to this the Jubilee tour and you are looking at ever escalating costs.
Australia and New Zealand were part of the old British Empire but times change. Many Australians these days are Republicans and want true independence for their country. The Australian PM has said that the tour went "delightfully well" whatever that means.
It ended last week with the royal couple getting caught in a downpour on Bondi beach. In some ways it will get the couple climatised for their return to the UK. The difference was though that it is warm in Australia right now and any such thunderstorms will be short lived.
It had been so hot and humid during their visit that one military policeman fainted as a parade took place. The Royal pair are now in New Zealnad for the last lap of this Antipodean tour.
Nice work if you can get it, say we!
Another scandal involving members of the British Royal Family and their privacy. When it was amnnounced early today that a French Magazine had decided to publish photographs showing the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless William and Kate were said to be saddened. As the day has progressed their reaction has turned to anger.
Both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now furious. They and others have remarked on the way that William's late mother Diana was hounded by the media. William is determined that he and his wife will not be exposed in such a way.
Recently his brother Price Harry was caught on camera during a naked escapade. He had compromised his privacy which is not the case for Kate.
William and Kate were at a private residence belonging to a family member The area was secluded and so in order to get the "money shot" the paparrazi involved must have gone to some lengths.
Whilst it isj ust another storm in a teacup it could send a signal to other paparazzi. This is why it will be important that British Royals react in the best way for them.
Royals are well known for courting the media when it suits but when it turns nasty screaming press intrusion. There is no doubt in this case that the paparrazi have overstepped the mark. What the Royals do about it remains to be seen.
The French Magazine at the centre of this row, Closer, must have thought the revenue they might earn would outweigh the potential legal damages, should the Duke and Duchess take them to court. They maintain that they have done nothing wrong and that the images are not shocking in the least.
The public must take some blame. As the people's fascination with William and Kate continues to grow the press will keep trying to get a story or an unusual image. They know there is a market for such images and tales. However a twitter backlash following the publication of the images may indicate that Closer is not on to a money spinner with this one.
In light of current World events though this story is mere stuff and nonsense but it could become much more for the paparrazi and those involved.
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, is in hot water, not for the first time Married to the Queen's youngest child Prince Edward, the pair have faced controversy before. The British Royal family are hoping for a bumper 2012, what with the Olympics and the Queen's jubilee, so bad publicity is bad news.
The latest furore surrounds a gift given to Sophie last December by the Royal family of Bahrain and that country's Prime Minister.
Bahrain is far from a free country and it has a terrible track record of human rights. Women who desire any sort of freedom fair badly in this middle eastern Kingdom. When the country experienced civil unrest on the back of the Arab Spring in 2011 the insurgents were dealt with swiftly and brutally. Whilst the West criticised the regime's actions briefly, on the whole a blind eye was turned on Bahrain by the West.
A useful country to the West not least for its location, the West wants a relationship with the Bahrain and its leaders.
However, Sophie has received a huge amount of criticism over today's news. A former UK foreign minister said, "Given the appalling suffering and repression of the Bahraini people, it would be a fitting gesture for the Countess of Wessex to auction these trinkets and distribute the proceeds to the victims of the regime."
Sounds a sensible solution but one she may not want to follow. The items are listed on the official Royal list of gifts received. It is worth noting that official gifts are not usually the personal property of the royal family. They are more often looked after by the Royal Collection.
That should simplify the matter then. Sell them asap and get the money raised sent to deserving people pronto.
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