Stuff's top 10 lifestyle stories

This year wedding fever swept the globe. The fairytale came to life when Prince William wed Kate Middleton - now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge - on April 29 in a glittering ceremony.

Two billion viewers worldwide were swept up in the royal magic, making this Life & Style's most viewed story of the year.

The royal wedding also launched Kate's sister Pippa Middleton into the limelight after she wore "that" bridesmaid's dress. In fact, Pippa's curvaceous derriere was one of the most-searched subjects on the internet this year.

Image via WikipediaMonaco also hosted a royal wedding in July, when Prince Albert II married South African former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock.

And while Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's wedding wasn't quite on the same scale, the queen's granddaughter wed her own Prince Charming in July.

Here are the ten most popular Life & Style stories of 2011.

1. WILLS AND KATE

It should come as no surprise that Stuff readers devoured anything to do with Prince William and his wife Catherine this year.

Prince Harry's best man speech for the "Dude and Duchess" tops the list as the most-read Life & Style story of 2011.

The Prince donned a fez and had some 300 close friends and family in stitches at the wedding reception at Buckingam Palace.

Prince William's James Bond moment, when he drove a vintage Aston Martin convertible after the wedding reception, and his tribute to his mother, Princess Diana, were also click magnets.

And people wanted to read anything to do with the beautiful Duchess of Cambridge, from her similarities to William's mother to her secret scar from a childhood operation.

2. PIPPA MIDDLETON

The royal wedding also introduced Kate's little sister, Pippa Middleton, to the world stage.

From her love life to what she was wearing to her relationship with Prince Harry, millions couldn't stop reading about "the other people's princess".

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3. MONACO WEDDING

One Royal Wedding that didn't end in happily ever after was that of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco. The couple made headlines for all the wrong reasons: he faced a third paternity suit while she allegedly ran away several times only to be dragged back with financial inducements.

They reportedly spent their honeymoon in separate hotels 16 kilometres apart and left early so Prince Albert could undergo DNA tests to counter claims by at least one woman that he had fathered his third illegitimate child.

4. MIRANDA KERR'S WELLINGTON SHOOT

Stuff readers were keen to check out Miranda Kerr's New Zealand photo shoot.

The supermodel sizzled in a series of shots taken by her husband Orlando Bloom on Wellington's Miramar Peninsula. The couple were in town in October for filming of The Hobbit.

5. WHY I WORE NO PANTS ON TV

High-waisted knickers would be confined to the bedroom for most woman, but not for Stuff blogger Bronwyn Williams.She donned a pair on TV to prove that Paris Fashion Week had gone a step too far.

6. NEWSWEEK'S DIANA AT 50 COVER

The front cover of Newsweek featuring a computer-generated picture of Princess Diana at age 50 sparked outrage around the world, with one writer calling it "beyond tacky".

The magazine speculated that, had she lived to see 50, Diana would have twice remarried, used Botox, and been slightly jealous of daughter-in-law Kate Middleton.

7. NEW ZEALAND'S NEXT TOP MODEL

Showing she's not above school balls, New Zealand's Next Top Model winner Danielle Hayes went back to high school with her cousin Joel Claydon.

The 19-year-old is now based in Sydney, and is signed with modelling agency Chic.

8. PARALYSED BRIDE

A tragic accident didn't stop a bride from marrying the man of her dreams.

A year after she was paralysed in poolside horseplay at her bachelorette party, Rachelle Friedman finally make it down the aisle with her partner, who had been waiting to exchange vows with her since the accident.

The bridesmaid who changed her life by shoving her into the shallow end of the pool was also at the wedding. Friedman, a Beatles fan from North Carolina, got a tattoo on her neck after the wedding with the words "let it be".

"It symbolises that I'm at peace with it," she said.

9. ZARA PHILLIPS

Eager to avoid the fuss of her cousin William's wedding, world champion eventer Zara Phillips and rugby star Mike Tindall had a low-key ceremony in a small Edinburgh church.

The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, Prince William and Catherine were amongst the guests. One advantage of your granny being the Queen - the reception was at Holyroodhouse, the monarch's official residence in Scotland.

The England player later embarrassed his bride during the Rugby World Cup when he was seen embracing a woman later revealed to be ex-girlfriend Jessica Palmer.

10. WIFE SUES OVER LACK OF WEDDING BLISS

Rounding out the top ten, a wedding story with a twist.

A 51-year-old Frenchman was sued by his ex-wife for not having sex with her enough during their 21 years of marriage.

The couple were granted divorce in Nice, southern France, two years ago. The 47-year-old women later took the matter back to court to seek 10,000 euros (NZ$17,000) in damages for the inactive sex life.

The woman was successful under France's civil code, which states that a married couple must share a communal life.

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Major Blair-Louis Scene Ahead on Gossip Girl, But ...

Prince Louis is just not that popular with Gossip Girl fans.

The Dair and Chair 'ship wars aren't likely to end anytime soon, but if there's anything they can agree on, it's that Blair should not marry into Monaco's royal family. Case in point: The survey results below.

With the royal wedding set for January 30, is there hope?

For either Dan or Chuck, that is? Well, E! Online says ...

There is more than hope, according to show insiders. There will be a "pretty epic scene" involving Dan and Blair in one of the upcoming episodes that shows he's still very much an important part of her life.

Whether that means romantically remains to be seen.

Also, it looks like there will be a Blair and Louis scene that proves critical ... because it shows Chuck may be even more important to Blair than anyone. Make of that what you will, and hit the comments!

Who does Blair belong with?

	Dan
	Chuck
	Louis

View Poll »

Read more: http://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/12/major-blair-louis-scene-ahead-on-gossip-girl/#ixzz1h6M2gZZ2

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Number 3: The Royal Wedding

The whole world watched the wedding — and is still watching every move, fashion and otherwise, of Kate Middleton, who became the Duchess of Cambridge in tying the knot with Prince William. Every outfit she wears is scrutinized and when replicas hit the high street, they’re instant sellouts. Has a style icon been born?

The jury’s still out on whether her fashion persona can live up to the likes of Diana or Jackie. Her style is chic but understated. While she’s made no major faux pas so far, nor has she ventured into the vulgar, she hasn’t exactly pushed the envelope, either. In choosing Alexander McQueen for her wedding gown, she catapulted the house into nearly “household-name” status. Kate mixes it up when it comes to her fashion choices, wearing high street labels like Reiss, Zara, LK Bennett and Whistles, while for designer, she’s worn McQueen, Erdem, Diane von Furstenberg, Amanda Wakeley, Jenny Packham, Issa and Roksanda Ilincic. She picks lots of strong solids, more or less conservative silhouettes, and seems to be on a one-woman quest to bring back hosiery.
Image via WikipediaWith the eyes of an estimated 2.5 billion around the world trained on the nuptial festivities, the dress in question made its first appearance when the bride stepped out of the Rolls-Royce at Westminster Abbey. Middleton surprised with her choice of a label known for its beautiful yet directional designs. But designer Sarah Burton’s vision trod an appropriately elegant line. She created a corseted dress with a cinched waist and full skirts in ivory and white satin, with modest, long lace sleeves and a high lace collar, worn with an ivory tulle veil.

Clarence House said Middleton chose McQueen “for the beauty of its craftsmanship.”

“Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen’s work,” the palace said. And in a nod to England’s heritage, Burton had worked with London’s Royal School of Needlework to create the delicate lace that adorned the dress’ bodice, sleeves and skirts. The designer — who had endeavored to keep her work on the dress a secret — also created the slinky, figure-skimming white bridesmaid’s dress that Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, wore as maid of honor.

Just as fascinating were the getups that the 600 guests chose for their trip to Westminster Abbey. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie took an adventurous turn with their Philip Treacy headpieces, which took on something of a life of their own, with Internet spoofs likening Beatrice’s hat to everything from an octopus to a pretzel. But Beatrice saw the funny side, and wound up auctioning the hat on eBay to raise money for children’s charities, fetching about $126,000.

Aside from Kate and William’s ceremony, 2011 proved to be a major year for weddings, royal and otherwise. In July, Prince Albert of Monaco married Charlene Wittstock, who walked down the aisle in Monaco in a Swarovski-studded Giorgio Armani silk gown, complete with a 65-foot train.

Later in the summer, Kate Moss got hitched to musician Jamie Hince in a laid-back, quintessentially English ceremony in the Cotswolds, for which the bride wore a custom John Galliano bias-cut gown, inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald. Fittingly for a supermodel, Moss managed another two outfit changes on the night — Stella McCartney designed an oyster silk chiffon dress for the model’s first dance with Hince, and a gold beaded minidress for the evening party, which stretched into the early hours.

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The Year That Was: Famous Royal Weddings of 2011 [PHOTOS]

As we reflect back on the year 2011, glimpses of some of the most famous royal weddings ought to sweep across our memories. From Britain’s royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton that appeared to herald the season of royal weddings to Bhutan’s royal wedding of the “Will and Kate” of the Himalayan kingdom, here are the top pictures of royal weddings that happened in 2011:

1. UK Royal Wedding: Prince William

Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, walk up the aisle after their wedding ceremony in Westminster Abbey, in central London on April 29. Photo: REUTERS

Prince William and Kate Middleton inaugurated the year of royal weddings as they walked the aisle to be pronounced husband and wife at London’s Westminster Abbey on April 29. The royal couple turned their courtship of nearly a decade into marriage, bringing cheer across the world. The ceremony was watched online by 72 million viewers, earning the title for "Most Live Streams for a Single Event" from Guinness World Records.

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2. Monaco Royal Wedding

Prince Albert II of Monaco reaches out for Princess Charlene's hand during their wedding ceremony at the Palace in Monaco on July 2. Photo: REUTERS/Bruno Bebert/Pool

Britain’s royal wedding was followed by the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene on July 2. Princess Grace’s son, Prince Albert II, married Princess Charlene, a former Olympic Games swimmer for South Africa, in a lavish ceremony at the Palace in Monaco.

3. UK Royal Wedding: Zara Phillips

Britain's Zara Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, poses for a photograph with her husband, England rugby captain Mike Tindall, after their marriage at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland July 3. Photo: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Britain's Zara Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, married England rugby captain Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 30.

4. German Royal Wedding

Prince Georg Frederich of Prussia and Princess Sophie von Isenburg pose after their wedding ceremony in Potsdam, Germany, on Aug. 27. Photo: REUTERS

Prince Georg Frederich of Prussia and Princess Sophie von Isenburg got married at the Church of Peace on the grounds of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany, on Aug. 27. The 35-year-old head of the House of Hohenzollern and great-great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II married Princess Sophie, 33, in a civil ceremony.

5. Bhutanese Royal Wedding

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck kisses Queen Jetsun Pema in front of thousands of well-wishers gathered for the third day of their wedding ceremony at the Changlimithang stadium in Bhutan's capital of Thimphu on Oct. 15. Photo: REUTERS

Bhutan's fifth “Dragon King,” Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, married his longtime girlfriend, Jetsun Pema, in Bhutan's ancient capital of Punakha on Oct. 13. Wangchuck, often called "Prince Charming" because of his Elvis Presley looks, married a commoner. The couple has been dubbed the "Will and Kate" of the Himalayan kingdom.

6. Indonesian Royal Wedding

Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo Yudanegara, center right, and his wife, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Bendara, center left, walk to their horse-drawn carriage after their wedding in Yogyakarta on Oct. 18. Photo: REUTERS/Beawiharta Beawiharta

Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Bendara, the youngest daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, monarch of the historic Yogyakarta Sultanate in Indonesia, married Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo Yudanegara at the palace in Yogyakarta, Java, on Oct. 18.

7. Spanish Royal Wedding

Spain's Duchess of Alba Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva and her husband, Alfonso Diez, walk to the entrance of Las Duenas Palace after their wedding in Seville on Oct. 5. Photo: REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo

Spain's 85-year-old Duchess of Alba, Maria del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, married civil servant Alfonso Diez at Sevilla's Palacio de las Duenas on Oct. 5.

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Monaco royal couple shoots down 'runaway bride' rumors

Charlene Wittstock looked serene at her July 1 wedding to billionaire Prince Albert II of Monaco. But up until the day she said “I do,” she was dogged by reports she had tried to run away from her opulent nuptials.

In an exclusive interview with Matt Lauer on TODAY Wednesday, the 33-year-old former Olympian from South Africa said that she was a victim of the press’s overactive imagination in the hoopla leading up to a royal wedding.

Why would you go through all this effort to have this fantastic, you know, couple of days and have our most intimate, dearest friends come and join us for us to be reluctant?” Princess Charlene said as she sat alongside her new husband. “You know, for me, it just sounded hilarious.”

Days before the wedding, the French weekly paper Le Journal du Dimanche reported Whittstock made up to three attempts to flee Monaco in advance of her wedding to Prince Albert. The paper reported she sought refuge at the South African embassy in Paris when she was being fitted for her wedding dress in May, tried to leave the country again at the Formula 1 Grand Prix race and then, just days before the wedding, was stopped from boarding a helicopter flying from Monaco to Nice, France as officials persuaded her to stay and go through with the wedding.

Princess Charlene told Lauer she understands the European media was latching onto a story of royal magnitude — even if it was imagined. “It was a wonderful opportunity for them to ride on something, you know, (a) negative spin, because people would buy the magazines or listen to all the negativity,” she said.

Prince Albert may understand the story even better — the only son of the late Prince Rainier III and the late American actress Grace Kelly, Albert had generated headlines all his adult life for his rich and varied dating life, during which he fathered two children born out of wedlock. That the lifelong bachelor was finally marrying at age 53 may have signaled an end to the press’s obsession with his personal life.

Still, Prince Albert faced even more scrutiny for allegedly looking more serious than blissful at the Catholic wedding ceremony before 800 onlookers at the royal palace in Monaco.
“It is unfair,” he said, turning to Princess Charlene. “I thought I paid attention to you and smiled at you many times.” Laughing, he added, “Maybe that’s not enough for some people.”
Now, media types are on a royal baby watch as they wonder when Prince Albert, who ascended to the throne with his father’s passing in 2005, will produce a legitimate heir. The 19-year-old daughter he fathered with a California woman and the 8-year-old son he fathered from a relationship with a flight attendant from Togo are not, per Monaco’s Princely Law, considered heirs.

With Prince Rainier in failing health in 2002 — and his only son still not married — the Monaco constitution was amended to include females in the line of succession. It means that if Prince Albert II passes before producing an heir, the throne would fall to either of his sisters, Caroline or Stephanie.
“I think there were, you know, part jealousy, part, people that were envious or did not like the fact that we were finally coming together and marrying,” Prince Albert told Lauer.

“What it means is that it can go through the other siblings in the family,” Prince Albert told Lauer. But Albert also noted that should his marriage to Whittstock produce a daughter but not a son, she would be first in line for the throne.
But for now, the royal couple seems to be reveling in their first year as a married couple. Princess Charlene joked that her training as a world-class competitive swimmer has come in handy.
“I think I kind of went into Olympic mode, really,” she said of the spotlight that shone on her nuptials. “I was in the zone, and I don’t think anything was affecting me at that time.”

Prince Albert also said he is ever mindful of his family’s American connection via his mother, the Philadelphia, Pa., native who rose to big screen stardom before retiring from acting to marry Prince Rainier in 1956. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene attended the 29th Annual Princess Grace Awards benefit in New York City on Tuesday.
He said it warms his heart at how warmly his mother, who died in a car crash in 1982 after suffering a stroke, is remembered.
“I’m still amazed at how many people not only remember her, but look up to her as a model and as an icon,” he told Lauer.

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Who should play Grace Kelly in new biopic?

Grace Kelly is heading back to the big screen.

The Oscar-winning actress who became Princess of Monaco will be the subject of an upcoming biopic, and movie buffs are speculating about which actress should play her.

Pictures: The prince and the movie star

The project, IndieWire reports, will focus on a six-month period in 1962, when France and Monaco were at odds over the city-state's standing as a tax haven and Kelly, then 33, worked behind the scenes to save Monaco from a coup.

Image via WikipediaKelly retired from acting at 26, when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. Before that, her Hollywood career included roles in "High Noon," "Dial M for Murder," "Rear Window" and "To Catch a Thief." She died in a car crash in 1982.

The announcement comes as two other films about famous faces are set to hit theaters: Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn" and Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

So, who should play the movie star-turned-princess? We placed some of our own suggestions in the poll above - Kate Winslet, Williams, Carey Mulligan, Gwyneth Paltrow, January Jones, Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively.

Vote for who you think should play Kelly, and explain your pick - or add a new choice - in the comments.

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Royals coming to Toronto for Grace Kelly exhibit

Image via WikipediaThey are no Will and Kate, but Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene are coming to Toronto next month.

Albert is the son of Grace Kelly.

Officials say the royal couple will attend a grand opening event for the exhibit, titled "Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess", on November 2nd.

They will also attend a private reception.

The exhibit features rarely-displayed items and artifacts from Kelly's days as a leading lady in Hollywood and as princess of one of Europe's oldest royal families.

It includes many of Kelly's original dresses, a replica of her wedding gown, her signature "Kelly bag" and tiara.

There are also telegrams from Prince Rainier and her Academy Award for "The Country Girl."

The exhibit opens to the public on November 4th and runs until January 22nd.



Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainment/20111018/prince-albert-monaco-in-toronto-111018/#ixzz1b8VtIPD3

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I'll carry out royal role my way, says Monaco's troubled princess

Princess Charlene of Monaco has spoken publicly for the first time since her wedding to Prince Albert, saying that she will approach her new royal role "my way".

The South African-born princess, who married Prince Albert of Monaco in July, said she was "independent" and refused to accept excessive security, adding: "I don't like that. I'm quite independent. I will do it my way."

The former Olympic swimmer, 33, has rarely been seen in public since the wedding. However, she said in an interview today that she expects to take on a more official role soon.

"I think that would be expected of me in the near future. But I have just taken a bit of a break. I need time to adjust. I just got married."

Image via WikipediaPrincess Charlene admitted she was struggling to learn French, saying that she was going "step by step". However, she insisted she did not want to be "too cut off". She added: "I think for anyone living in a new country and adapting to a new lifestyle, it's a different role. I was an Olympic swimmer, I lived in a swimsuit, I lived on tour."

Her comments to the Daily Telegraph follow speculation after reports that the princess had attempted to leave Monaco two days before her wedding because of allegations her husband-to-be had had a third love child. There were also reports that the newlywed couple slept in separate hotels one night on their honeymoon in South Africa.

Her husband has since denied rumours of a rift. The 53-year-old ruler told Monaco reporters: "My family have long been the subject of rumours born out of jealousy. The media pick up these rumours without verifying the information. I find that unworthy," he said.

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