Prince Harry and William’s cousin, Peter Phillips, 30, married his Canadian fiancée Autumn Kelly at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle Satuday. Phillips is the only son of Princess Anne, who is the daughter of England’s ruling queen, Queen Elizabeth II, and the sister of Prince Charles. Kelly, 30, converted from Catholicism to the Church of England in order to marry into the royal family. Phillips is 11th in line to the throne.

Prince William was not in attendance as he was at another wedding in Kenya for Batian Craig, the brother of his ex-girlfriend Jecca Craig. William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton, attended the Philips wedding in his stead.

Prince Harry was at his cousin’s wedding with his girlfriend Chelsy Davy. (He is shown talking to his cousin, Zara Phillips, a bridesmaid.) Also at the ceremony were the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla. There were 300 guests at the service including 70 friends and family of the bride who came from Canada.

The six bridesmaids wore Vera Wang gowns and the bride wore a dress by London designer Sassi Holford and a tiara from her mother-in-law.

The story of Phillip’s courtship of Autumn Kelly is romantic. She didn’t know he was a royal until she saw him on television:

The newlywed couple first met in 2003 at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, where Mr Phillips was working for Formula One racing team BMW Williams and Miss Kelly was employed in the main BMW hospitality suite.

When Mr Phillips kept his Royal connections quiet as the fledgling relationship continued to blossom, until Miss Kelly spotted him on a TV programme on the lead up to his cousin Prince William’s 21st birthday later in 2003, and the truth was revealed.

The couple have spent the last two years splitting their time between a west London flat and Aston Farm, a cottage on the Gloucestershire estate of Peter’s father, Captain Mark Phillips.

Mr Phillips, who graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in Sports Science, now looks after the Royal Bank of Scotland’s motor racing sponsorship.

His new wife, a graduate of Canada’s McGill University where she studied East Asian Studies, is now personal assistant to veteran broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson.

[From Timeonline.co.uk]

Congratulations to the new couple. They look so happy and their wedding was beautiful. May they have a lifetime of happiness together.

It’s incredible how much Peter looks like his cousins Harry and William. Thanks to WENN for these photos.

On Thursday the Drudge Report leaked information that Brittan’s Prince Harry, 23, has been serving with his military unit in Afghanistan since December. The media had agreed to keep his deployment private, since knowledge of his whereabouts would endanger his life. Harry is a cornet, which is the equivalent to a second lieutenant in the U.S. He was in Afghanistan as a forward air controller with the Joint Tactical Air Control. Not too shabby for a guy who used to be most known for little more than his hard partying. Harry said that he was glad the British press had stuck to their end of the bargain, but was pretty disappointed that the foreign press had given up his whereabouts. Within an hour of the leak, Harry was on his way back to England – four weeks shy of the end of his deployment.

“I didn’t see it coming, obviously it’s a shame,” the 23-year-old said. ” I am so disappointed, I thought I could see it through to the end and come back with our guys and the colonel himself.”

He added, “I suppose I think deep down inside it would be quite nice to have a bath … but, no, I’d like to still be out there with the guys … I would love to go back out. I want to go out very very soon.”

On Saturday, Harry said he was “surprised by the way the British media kept to their side of the bargain and … I am very grateful to that.” He added, “At the same time it doesn’t surprise me that once again it came down to media, foreign media, that’s once again spilled the beans.”

[From CNN]

Prince Charles said he gained new respect for how hard it is for families to have children serving overseas. He said he was glad to have Harry home, but also disappointed that his tour had been cut short. CNN reports that within a short time of the news leak, messages were posted on several Islamist Web sites “alerting their “brethren” in Afghanistan to be on the lookout for the royal soldier.”

The prince is apparently back with his girlfriend, Zimbabean student Chelsy Davy, 22. She left school in Leeds to join Prince Harry and his family for a celebration on Saturday evening. Harry has gotten a lot of positive press for going to Afghanistan – he certainly could easily have gotten out of it if he wanted to. It took a lot more effort for him to make it work. He was not allowed to go with Iraq, as it was deemed too dangerous. As a result, most people assumed he wouldn’t be allowed to serve anywhere in the Middle East. Both he and the army obviously went to great lengths to get it to work. Prince Harry has said he hopes to be able to go back, and plans to continue his military career. He’s certainly turned into a man his mother would be proud of.

Here’s Prince Harry patrolling the deserted town of Garmisir close to FOB (forward operating base) Delhi in Helmand Province on January 2nd, eating a a boil-in-the-bag lunch in the desert in Helmand Province on February 19th, and returning home at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England on March 1st. Images thanks to WENN.

Though the royals may seem to live pretty charmed lives, they’re just like the rest of us – in that even they are not immune from heartbreak. Prince Harry, generally seen as the wild and reckless of prince, had managed to stay with his longtime girlfriend Chelsy Davy, for three years. That’s no small feat for any 21-year-old, and certainly for someone who could date nearly any girl in world. However it appears that Chelsy has dumped Harry after he chose to spend her birthday at the rugby world cup final in Paris.

Prince Harry and his girlfriend of more than three years, Chelsy Davy, have split, London newspapers are reporting. A spokeswoman at the palace declined to comment on the widespread reports – some of which claimed Davy, 22, was upset with the prince’s playboy lifestyle, including his attending the rugby world cup final in Paris in October instead of celebrating her birthday with her. The couple met during Harry’s gap year between school and joining the army. They shared a love of Africa, where Davy, the daughter of a safari company owner in Zimbabwe, grew up. And they have spent many vacations there, camping out and watching the wildlife on exotic safaris in countries like Botswana.

In July, Davy, who recently started a post-graduate degree course at Leeds University in northern England, took a front row seat next to her prince in the stands of Wembley Stadium during the Concert for Diana. The couple were openly affectionate that day and, in the evening, they were seen hugging and kissing at the afterparty.

[From People]

It’s probably good for both of them that Chelsy had enough respect for herself not to tolerate anymore of Harry’s inconsiderate behavior. It’s good for her because she’s not so desperate to be with him that she’ll suffer through anything. It’s good for Harry because hopefully he’s learned that if he treats someone poorly, he’ll lose them. The other advantages his life has given him might have made him feel he could treat a girlfriend disrespectfully. Hopefully he’ll learn from this and be more considerate to his future partners. Yes that sounds naïve, but we never know just how much he loved Chelsy: there’s a chance Harry’s as distraught right now as any of the rest of us would be. There’s also a chance he’s got three strippers wrapped around him as we speak. It could go either way.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Prince Harry visiting Wembley Arena before the Diana Memorial Concert. Images thanks to PR Photos. Header image of Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy together at the Diana Memorial Concert on July 1st, 2007.

Those young royals are always getting themselves into trouble. Whether it’s Prince Harry snorting alcohol, feeling up random girls’ boobs (alright I guess I should correct that based on the picture: feeling up random girls’ implants), or injecting the blood of kittens directly into his veins, there’s always something raunchy going on. Okay I’m not sure you can inject the blood of kittens into your veins – or that it would do anything if you did – but I also didn’t know you could snort alcohol, and Prince Harry definitely did that. So he’s probably up on some other things I don’t know about too.

The latest royal debacle takes it up a notch: one of the younger royals has been blackmailed over a sex tape. Well, a tape that discusses sex. But the press is calling it a sex tape because that’s more sensational, so I’m going to follow their blatantly irresponsible lead. The tape involves an aid to one of the young royals, who discusses having sex with said royal, and then does a line of coke. The coke was supposedly supplied by the royal. The police won’t say which kid it is, though the coke makes one think of Prince Harry. However an article mentions both the princes and their cousin, Zara Phillips as well as Lord Frederick Windsor. Then it goes on to say it’s definitely not either of the princes. I don’t really buy that, but I’m not going to piss off the royal family by claiming otherwise.

Two men, were arrested and charged with blackmail over the incident. Socialite Ian Strachan and Sean McGuigan were charged at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Strachan claims to be somewhat connected to the royal family.

On September 11, the two men arranged to meet their source at London’s Hilton Hotel to negotiate the sale of the material, but were instead met by undercover police who promptly arrested them. A police source said: “We were contacted by the staff of a member of the royal family who said they were being targeted by extortionists. “After discussions with the royal and staff we began a covert operation. Phone calls involving the alleged blackmailers were recorded. It culminated last month in the alleged extortionists attending a meeting at a Mayfair hotel with an undercover officer. The meeting was recorded on audio tape and film.

“After a discussion between the police officer and the men, a pre-arranged signal was given and other officers moved in to arrest them. A mobile phone containing images was seized. Several addresses in west London were searched.” Strachan told his lawyers he has met Princes William and Harry twice, as well as Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Phillips and Lord Frederick Windsor.

Stachan’s lawyer denies his client has ever blackmailed a royal family member. He said: “At no time did my client call the royal household. He in fact called the private business office of the individual concerned. My client denies that he asked for any money and that it was in fact the office of the individual concerned who first offered money.” The alleged royal is not a senior member of the family, is yet to perform royal duties and is definitely not William or Harry.

[From Monsters & Critics]

My money’s still on Harry, regardless of the denials. Though I don’t know a thing about the characters of Zara Phillips or Lord Frederick Windsor. Zara Phillips is Princess Anne’s (Prince Charles’s sister) daughter, an acclaimed equestrian, and involved with multiple charities. According to Wikipedia, Frederick Windsor is an “English financial analyst who is the only son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. In 1999, Lord Frederick admitted experimenting with cocaine. ‘I admit it is true,’ he said. ‘It is very difficult to avoid getting into this sort of thing when you move in these circles, but I don’t blame anyone else for the incident.’” So that makes him a likely candidate, but I’m still putting my money on Harry. If it were Lord Frederick, I really doubt it would have gotten so much attention. But I guess time will tell.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Zara Phillips at the 2012 Olympic Site in East London on September 25th. Image thanks to PR Photos.

Prince Harry has some serious party issues. He sounds like that guy everyone knew in college who was totally cool to get plastered with, but you’d never really want to know outside of that context. Except Prince Harry is third in line to the throne, so you’d probably deal with knowing him sober, just because it’d be cool. News of the World, admittedly not the most reliable source, has some pretty clear pictures of Prince Harry snorting alcohol while on vacation in Namibia last November. I thought Namibia was just a place celebrities went to when they wanted to have fancy babies in private. I didn’t realize it’s also a good place to snort alcohol. Though to be fair, I also didn’t realize a person could snort alcohol. But apparently it can be done, and like much of anything else you snort, it gets the item into your bloodstream a lot faster. Heaven forbid we have to drink an extra shot or two of tequila, when you can just inhale it up your nostrils. Lovely.

“These are the shocking pictures that show Prince Harry inhaling vodka through his nose in a drinking game medical experts warn could KILL. Our exclusive shots—taken from a video of Harry’s holiday in Namibia—will bring fresh shame on the boozed-up royal. In the video, pals cheer loudly as Harry slugs a bottle cap of vodka, swills it around his mouth, spits it back into the cap and then snorts it up his nose. Seconds later, Harry—a 2nd Lieutenant in the Blue and Royals —closes his eyes and shakes his head as the alcohol, shooting straight into his bloodstream, takes effect.”

[From News of the World]

So why shouldn’t Prince Harry just booze it up all the hell he wants because he’s young and who the hell cares? Well some experts have some pretty compelling reasons. But again, I’m not judging, just passing along the information so the rest of you don’t start snorting alcohol, thinking “If Prince Harry does it, it MUST be a smart idea!”

“Experts on drink abuse have warned that the game is potentially deadly. Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: ‘There are all sorts of additives that could cause an allergic reaction which could damage the lungs, mucus membranes of the nose and trachea. It could kill.’ David Nott, who runs the Manor Clinic rehab centre and is a member of the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals, said: ‘Anybody acting in this manner continually will do severe damage, which could be deadly.’ Frank Soodeen from Alcohol Concern added: ‘By by-passing the liver, you run the risk of inflaming the brain and possibly causing long-term damage. It’s a practice to be avoided at all costs. It’s very irresponsible.’”

[From News of the World]

So those seem like pretty compelling reason to me to avoid being a total moron. Again, not judging. I don’t really think Prince Harry is under any obligation to set a good example to the rest of the world – he didn’t choose his fame in any way (though he’s certainly not running from it). But it’s not like he’s a pop singer who’s trying to be a teen idol, he’s someone who was born into his celebrity and can’t exactly walk away from it. But I think it might be a good idea not to stick random stuff up your nose, just as a general principle. When my mom was six, she put a button up her nose, to see if it would fit. Turns out it did, just barely, and she had to go to the hospital to get it out. Though she did get rewarded with a new doll to make up for her suffering. See what I’m saying here Prince Harry? Stop putting crap up your nose. It’s exit only. If you don’t listen, you might end up in the hospital with a new doll too. And of all the embarrassing stuff you’ve done, getting your photo taken with a Kewpie doll probably isn’t the quickest route to dignity.

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.

Just when you think life couldn’t suck for Michael Jackson anymore than it already does: surprise! He’s being sued again! In fact two completely separate lawsuits involved completely unrelated issues were filed within two days of each other. Several years ago I remember reading that at any one point, Michael Jackson has three lawsuits pending against him. This was during his molestation trial, and I remember thinking that number was an exaggeration – but now I’m pretty sure it’s dead on. First up to bat this time around are a team of Michael’s former lawyers… you know, the very guys that have to deal with his constant lawsuits. Turns out, the Gloved One doesn’t really think he needs to pay for things, including legal services. Besides Jesus Juice, I can’t think of anything Michael goes through more of than lawyers. The Los Angeles law firm of Lavely & Singer has sued Michael for $113,000 the singer has failed to pay. The firm had sent up a payment plan to help Jackson settle up his bill of $540,000, but even then he failed to make the last payment.

“Several lawyers who worked for Michael Jackson claim “Jacko” hasn’t paid the money he owes them.

“A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court claims Jackson owes the law firm of Lavely & Singer $113,750, the Web site tmz.com reported. Even after setting up a payment plan to pay off the debts, Jackson failed to do so, according to the lawsuit.

“This is not the first time Jackson has been accused of not paying his legal bills. The same Web site reported in June that a Delaware-based law firm sued Jackson. Lawyers claimed he owed them nearly $110,000. The Web site reported that the Delaware firm acted as general counsel for Jackson in a lawsuit where a concert promoter sued Jackson, saying he backed out of two New Year’s Eve concerts in 2000.

“On July 17, 2007, the Web site showbizspy.com reported that Jackson was ordered to pay more than $256,000 in outstanding legal bills associated with part of his defense in the child molestation charges in 2005. The Web site reported that Jackson’s attorney agreed in principle to the judgment because going to trial would be costly for his client.”

[From NBC affiliate wyff4.com]

Has Michael Jackson paid for anything since around 1992? I think he’s just relied on the kindness of others, and people’s assumptions that he’ll pay them back. Look, a guy with his own Tilt-a-Whirl is not reliable folks. Even Michael’s former friends are suing him. Remember how he escaped to Bahrain after he was acquitted of child molestation? Well the Prince Abdullah - who so generously put him up – has filed a lawsuit against Jacko as well. Abdullah showered Jackson with gifts during his stay. According to Fox News, “He housed him, fed him, chauffeured him and even imported Jacko’s friends to Bahrain for a special Christmas in 2005.” What did the Sheik want in turn for is kindness? To make a record – and Jackson agreed.

“All the prince wanted in return was to make a CD and start a record company with Michael. Jackson agreed, as usual signed agreements he had no intention of keeping and then did no work. You may recall Two Seas Records, the joint venture that Jackson agreed to, for example.

“Now the prince is demanding in his lawsuit that Michael go to work for him as agreed. Abdullah expects Jackson to make his record and put it out so the prince can begin to recoup the millions he invested in Michael during their friendship. Fat chance.

“Jackson hasn’t worked at anything in years — no performing, no recording. Occasionally, he announces that he is making some kind of record, but so far there’s no evidence of this.

“That Jackson is now being sued — in London, no less — by his former benefactor is a bad sign for the singer. He has depended on the kindness of Arab billionaires for some time now, but between this and what seems to be his current nomad status, he may have exhausted his credit in the last place where it still existed.”

[From Fox News]

I guess there’s no point in commenting on the crazy that is Michael Jackson. It’s all been said. I think the guy has pretty much burned all his bridges. For years Michael’s family and lawyers have talked about how often people try to take advantage of him. It seems he’s pretty good at taking advantage of everyone else, too.

Thanks to SplashNews for this picture.

Apparently the BBC can be guilty of a little yellow journalism, according to an article by Reuters. On Thursday, the UK television giant apologized to Queen Elizabeth for the way they edited a trailer for their upcoming documentary “A year with the Queen.” The trailer shows a scene between famed photographer Annie Leibovitz and Queen Elizabeth for a Vanity Fair shoot. Annie Leibovitz says to the queen, “I think it will look better without the crown because the garter robe is so…” to which the queen responds, “Less dressy, what do you think this is?” Then appears to storm off. She is then shown walking through a hallway saying, “I’m not changing anything. I’ve had enough dressing like this thank you very much.”

In this trailer there is a sequence that implies that the Queen left a sitting prematurely. This was not the case and the actual sequence of events was misrepresented,” it said in a statement.

“The BBC would like to apologize to both the Queen and Annie Leibovitz for any upset this may have caused.”

[From the BBC]

Apparently Annie Leibovitz was about to say that the robe was so extraordinary – though how anyone knows what she was about to say I have no clue. The point being that it was not meant as an insult, or to make the queen look less formal. It was simply a suggestion that she take off the crown so the focus would be on the robe. While she did respond frostily, Queen Elizabeth did not storm out of the room as the footage suggests. The scene were she comments on refusing to change again took place before the shoot, while she was walking to meet Annie Leibovitz. She’d obviously just tried on several outfits. However it was cropped to make it appear that her comments came after the altercation. Either way, Leibovitz clearly won, as in the layout Queen Elizabeth appears both with and without her crown.

Either way it sounds like the queen was being uptight… it’s just the level of uptightness that we’re debating here. Not that she’s known for being a particularly relaxed sort. The story was erroneously reported all over the place on Tuesday and Wednesday, making the queen sound pretty high strung. The BBC issued its correction on Thursday.

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]

Teen Princesses Beatrice, 17, and Eugenie of York, Sarah Ferguson’s daughters, held a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed party for Eugenie’s 16th birthday* that soon went wild. Guests got wasted and trashed the house, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage:

[via]

The article states that the party ended up costing the Fergusons nearly $50,000. The royal family denies the account of the chaos, saying that “up to 10 adults were present” and that no alcohol was served after 11.

It looks like the British princesses are ready to make their mark on the world. We look forward to more stories of their debauchery.

*The source article states it was Eugenie’s 17th birthday, but Wikipedia and another source say she was born in 1990.