Since the death of Princess Diana the British royal family have been trying to make themselves a little more hip. Prince Charles got his act together and married Camilla, Princes William and Harry party like the most common of frat boys, and Queen Elizabeth II has become more stylish in her dress. But what she hasn’t particularly publicised is her apparent love of technology.

Prince William got a Wii over the holidays. His girlfriend was nice enough to pick it up for him. He was having a lot of fun with it, that is, while he had the chance to play. Now the console is being hogged by none other than the Queen! Apparently she is a natural at Wii Sports Bowling. Apparently, the Queen has become a bit of a technophile in recent years. Now she’s added the Wii to her list of must-have gadgets.

GoNintendo

Now, I would have been pretty sceptical about the Queen being so tech savvy, but she does have her own YouTube channel. She also has a Blackberry and and MP3 player, and has had a personal email address since 2001.

Do you think she’s got the best internet connection in Britain? Do you think she does internet searches for herself? Finds fan sites? Does she read gossip sites to see what her naughty grandsons are up to?

Note by Celebitchy: We have the Wii sports pack and the thing is so much fun for everyone in the family. I’m also amazed by how much you actually have to exercise to play some of the games, particularly tennis and boxing, although golf is my favorite. Why does golf only have one course though? That seems like a major oversight.

Are Prince William and Kate Middleton officially an item again? Or is he just sick of the rumors and taking her out hunting to get rid of her permanently? They are said to have split in April, but earlier this month they were seen leaving a nightclub together, and this weekend she’s joined the family hunting at their property in Balmoral, Scotland.

Miss Middleton and Prince William, both 25, are spending a long weekend at Birkhall, Prince Charles’s home on the Scottish estate which he took over five years ago when the Queen Mother died.

The couple are the guests of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall - thereby fuelling speculation of a possible engagement.

The couple visited Balmoral when they were both students at St Andrews University - where they met - but this is the first time they have returned to the estate since they renewed their romance.

Prince Charles’s decision to invite Miss Middleton to Balmoral for a family weekend marks a significant progression in the young couple’s relationship.

Telegraph

According to The Times, it is serious in the royal family when you take the missus deer hunting. How romantic. And I thought, I dunno, a big fat sparkler would be a sign of serious things to come. I really thought going out and killing wildlife was more a male bonding experience.

Rather surprisingly, Kate and Wills flew commercially to Balmoral, although I can only assume it was first class. Other passengers reported to the Scotsman they required no special treatment, which is nice I think.

So, is this the future queen of my country? Maybe, although my country needs to remain a monarchy through the reign of Prince Charles, which might seem unlikely, but Aussies are pretty lazy when it comes to politics. Personally, I know that even though I’m married to someone just lovely, mum is still kind of sad I’m not marrying Prince William. I was born just a few months after him, and i think that was what she planned for me in my cradle. Perhaps relocating to England might have helped my chances a bit, though.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Prince William and Kate Middleton are shown outside of Boujis Nightclub in Kensington on 10/4/07. Thanks to WENN.

Much as I don’t feel that badly for celebrities who have to deal with the paparazzi, I do feel badly for people born into it. Prince William and on-again, off-again girlfriend Kate Middleton have had a lot of problems with the paparazzi aggressively chasing them during the last six months or so. Considering the paparazzi contributed to his mother’s death (in most people’s opinions) this is a special concern for William, who was chased aggressively in London last night.

“Paparazzi aggressively pursued Prince William and his girlfriend early Friday as they left a nightclub, following them by car through the streets of London after photographing the couple, the prince’s spokesman said. The chase came just days after the start of an inquiry into his mother’s death in a 1997 car crash after being pursued by photographers. British newspapers on Friday ran pictures of William and Kate Middleton, both 25, in a car after leaving a London nightclub in the early hours. ‘Threatening’ paparazzi then chased the couple in their car, Paddy Harverson said.

“‘Having already been photographed leaving the club, he and Kate Middleton were then pursued in his car by photographers on motorcycles, in vehicles and on foot. The aggressive pursuit was potentially dangerous and worrying for them,’ Harverson said. The photos of the couple were published in the same week as pictures of William’s mother, Princess Diana, leaving the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1997, as part of the inquest into her death. The inquiry is charged with determining how Diana came to die with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed in a car crash while being pursued by paparazzi.

“Harverson said it ‘seems incomprehensible, particularly at this time, that this behavior is still going on.’ The matter has been raised with the Press Complaints Commission, Harverson said. In a statement, the commission reminded editors that it was ‘of the utmost importance not to use photographs which have been taken in a manner that may have compromised the safety of individuals, which may include pursuit in vehicles.’”

[From the Washington Post]

I really think the paparazzi should cut them some slack. It’s one thing when you’re Britney Spears and practically whoring yourself out to the paps, but it’s totally different when being chased through the streets seems to be your birthright. I doubt it would be possible for the next king of England to live below the radar, but I don’t think he’s courting the attention either. I hope he manages to force the paparazzi to lay off him a bit, if for absolutely nothing else than his own safety and those around him.

Picture Note by Jaybird: Here’s Kate Middleton and Prince William leaving Boujis Nightclub in Kensington in London on October 4th. Images thanks to WENN.

Prince Harry’s girlfriend (or is she his fiancé?) has topped pizza maker Goodfellas list of sexiest summer celebrities.

She was followed by Hollywood beauties Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson and Cameron Diaz.

Sienna Miller was fourth, just ahead of chart star Rihanna and Girls Aloud’s Cheryl Cole. Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Prince William, was in seventh place.

Paris Hilton and Big Brother’s Chanelle completed the top 10.

The boys of Britain weren’t left out of the competition.

The X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary was a surprise choice at number one. He was followed by T4 hunk Steve Jones. Johnny Depp, Justin Timberlake and Orlando Bloom came next.

Prince Harry appeared in the list at number six - three places ahead of brother William.

The top 10 also included Jude Law, David Beckham and Liam from Big Brother.

thisisnottingham.co.uk

Rumours are hitting the tabloids again that Harry and Chelsy are engaged, but she isn’t going to be attending the Princess Diana Memorial service. Neither is Kate Middleton, or Camilla.

In a statement, Camilla said she had been “touched” to be invited to the event by Charles and Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, but had decided to stay away.

“I accepted and wanted to support them,” she said. “However, on reflection, I believe my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion which is to focus on the life and service of Diana.”

New Zealand Herald

I can only imagine that Diana, who hated Camilla her entire marriage, who blamed her for it’s ultimate break-up, would hate that smirking woman (why does she smirk all the time? Is it requirement of royalty when appearing in public to smile?) sitting next to her ex-husband in the front row of her memorial service. I must add a clause to my will instructing my husband that I don’t want his new wife anywhere near my grave, my funeral or my memorial. Except unlike Diana, if I knew my husband was cheating, I wouldn’t be the first to die…tee hee.

Picture note by celebitchy: Chelsy Davy is shown on a girl’s night out on 7/11/07, thanks to Splash News. Camilla Parker Bowles is shown at the Brit Awards on 5/3/07. Thanks to PRPhotos.

The United Kingdom issue of Cosmopolitan magazine has issued a list of eleven eligible, desirable men.

Why eleven? And who are they?

1. Orlando Bloom –Actor from Pirates of the Caribbean.
2. Wentworth Miller – That guy from Prison Break.
3. Prince Harry – British prince, not the one who’s going to be king.
4. Prince William – The other British prince who will be king of England.
5. Jude Law – If you don’t know who Jude Law is, rent Alfie and Closer.
6. Lewis Hamilton – Formula one driver
7. Robbie Williams – British pop star. Very tattooed and sexy.
8. Jason Orange – Used to be in a band with Robbie Williams. Who picked him?
9. Alex Zane – English actor.
10. Sam Branson – Richard Branson’s son.
11. David Gandy – Model.

For your viewing pleasure, click here to check them out.

Orlando Bloom secured 21% of the vote, and I’m guessing a lot of it is based on his Prince Charming role as Will turner in Pirates of the Caribbean, and less for his role as a long haired elf in Lord of the Rings.

If only the real princes, William and Harry, could be as attractive as Orlando. Every time a poll comes out of Britain those two seem to feature highly, but I wouldn’t describe them as sexy at all. Then again, the Cosmopolitan survey was ranking them on desirability, and royalty is perhaps desirable. I’m a little unsure about the family as a package though.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Pictures via the OMG, Orlando Bloom is hoooooot! thread on the JJB board, which has over 110 pages of people agreeing that Bloom is indeed hoooooot and posting picture proof.

Hunky Prince William, 24, is in training to join his brother Harry’s unit in the British Cavalry. He went through a difficult endurance test with other cadets on Monday in which he walked 8 miles with a rifle and a backpack weighing 50 pounds. He did so well that’s he’s a contender for the top cadet award, to be given out when he completes his course:

Second in line to the throne behind his father, Prince Charles, William is being groomed for a life of public service. On 9/19 he visited the hospital nursery where his mother Diana did charity work, and charmed parents and staff alike:

Here is Prince William at St. Mary’s Hospital with little Sina Naru. [via]