Guaranteed growth of your money every year. This will be interest-rate-driven based on the economy, but your account will move forward every year regardless of what the market does. This is compound tax-free growth and not the “average rate of return” you get with mutual funds. To be fair, in our current low-interest-rate environment, the growth rates are only in the 2 percent to 4 percent.
Last month, we learned the Duchess of Cambridge had privately spent two days with Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit in London. It was very much under wraps, though we knew it was in connection with her early years work and role as patron of the global campaign, Nursing Now. The three-year initiative is aimed at raising the profile and status of nursing worldwide, so that nurses can make an even greater contribution at the heart of efforts to tackle the rising burdens of disease. Tonight, we learned more about Kate's time at Kingston Hospital with the release of photographs and an open letter to midwives across the country ahead of 2020's 'Year of the Nurse and Midwife'.
From time spent at the hospital to accompanying midwives and nurses on home visits, Kate's letter praises the efforts of people in these essential professions, whose tireless work often goes under the radar. I'm handing the mic over to the Duchess herself by sharing extracts from her letter which accompany the images perfectly...
"Dear Midwives, Next year the world turns its attention to the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and recognising and celebrating the humbling work that you and your colleagues do day in, day out, to improve the lives of others. You are there for women at their most vulnerable; you witness strength, pain and unimaginable joy on a daily basis. Your work often goes on behind the scenes, and away from the spotlight. Recently however, I was privileged enough to witness a small section of it first hand, spending several days at Kingston Hospital's Maternity Unit. Although this was not my first encounter with the care and kindness provided by midwives across the country, it gave me a broader insight into the true impact you have on everybody you help."
"Over the last few years, I've dedicated a significant amount of my work to the Early Years - the pivotal period of development between pregnancy and the age of 5 where children build crucial .foundations for life. Your role in supporting this critical phase of development extends far beyond the complicated task of delivering a baby successfully. The help and reassurance you provide for parents to be and parents of newborns is just as crucial. It goes a long way in building parents' confidence from the start, with lifelong impact on the future happiness of their children. The Early Years are more critical for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime. Even before we are born, our mother's emotional and physical health directly influences our development and by the age of 5 a child's brain has developed to 90 per cent of its adult size. Your role at the very start of this period is therefore of fundamental importance."
"During my time at Kingston I accompanied community midwives on their daily rounds and was welcomed in to people's homes. I was truly touched by the trust that people placed in me, sharing their experiences and voicing their fears openly. I also spent time in hospital clinics and on post-natal wards. No matter the setting, I was continually struck by the compassion that those of you I spent time with showed, and the incredible work ethic you demonstrated on behalf of your entire profession - not only performing your rounds but working tirelessly through the night to support people that were at their most vulnerable. The founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale - whose 200th anniversary we celebrate next year, once said: "I attribute my success to this: I never have or took an excuse" and it is that mantra that I have seen time and time again in all of my encounters with you. You don’t ask for praise or for recognition but instead unwaveringly continue your amazing work bringing new life into our world. You continue to demonstrate that despite your technical mastery and the advancement of modern medicine, it is the human to human relationships and simple acts of kindness that sometimes mean the most.
"So as we look ahead to next year, I want to thank you for all that you do. It has been a real privilege learning from you so far, and I look forward to meeting and learning from even more of you in the coming years and decades - Catherine".
The Duchess wore a pink geometric dress from Michael Michael Kors (with thanks to Heaven) The sold out dress is described as a "multicoloured printed midi dress featuring a v-neck, an all-over print, a belted waist, long sleeves, a mid-length and a straight hem."
I expect there's a good possibility we'll see the Cambridges attending Sunday service at Sandringham either this coming weekend or next. I hope you're all enjoying a festive break; I'm working on the annual Year in Review post and hope to have it published around New Year's Day :)
If you're visiting 'Duchess Kate' today, checking in on the royals' annual appearance at Sandringham must be a fixture in your Christmas morning too. I've been thinking quite a bit about traditions this year; 2019 marks the ninth time I've covered the Cambridges' festive plans. This post is written following Christmas service and a bracing morning walk in the chilly air, amid a sea of unwrapping and preparations for a (always late) traditional turkey lunch with a gingerbread latte in hand. I adore Christmas and the opportunity for family to come together and switch off. I imagine your mornings have been similar, and I think it quite special, after all these years so many of you pop in here to see the royals arriving for church. It's a tradition we share.
The Royal family's traditions run like clockwork and each December one is guaranteed the Queen will travel to Sandringham to welcome family for the seasonal period. As Her Majesty arrived on Friday, Prince Philip, who spends most of his time in retirement on the Norfolk estate, travelled to London where he was treated at King Edward VII hospital for several days for a pre-existing condition. He was released yesterday morning and will be looking forward to enjoying the festivities with family.
This year there were two very adorable additions in the form of Prince George and Princess Charlotte who made their debut for the church appearance. I've spoken to people over the years who travel to Norfolk to see the royals on Christmas morning and they always speak of the warm atmosphere. George and Charlotte would have heard plenty of cheers and good wishes for the day. When the photos of four generations were released last week, I mentioned George's future role and the very beginnings of the responsibilities in his life we're seeing just glimpses of now. I was delighted he was able to share this "first" with his sister this morning. A new tradition for both of them which will now be a part of their lives after opening gifts and breakfast at Anmer Hall. In a couple of years, Louis will join his older siblings.
George and Charlotte's appearance follows the release of a very sweet photo of William with the children in Norfolk over the summer. It was taken by Kate after they went swimming. Look at little Louis getting a kiss from dad. He's grown quite a bit since then :)
The Queen arrived by car with the Duchess of Cornwall. They chose vibrant coats in red and royal purple.
Members in attendance included Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Wessexes, the Yorks, and the Princess Royal and her husband Timothy Lawrence.
The parish church of St Mary Magdalene is one of exceptional historic interest, with memorials to many members and relations of the Royal family, from Queen Victoria onward. It is considered one of the finest carrstone buildings in existence, and dates back in its present form to the 16th century.
The sumptuously decorated chancel with its carved angels frames the silver altar and reredos presented to Queen Alexandra by the American Rodman Wanamaker as a tribute to King Edward VII. He also presented her with the silver pulpit and a silver 17th century Spanish processional cross. Other notable features include a Florentine marble font, a Greek 9th century font and stained glass from the 16th century onward. Aside from Christmas celebrations, Princess Diana and Princess Eugenie were baptised there, and William and Kate chose it as the venue for Princess Charlotte's christening.
Kate and Charlotte departing after the service.
Charlotte followed her mum with a very cute curtsy :)
From there, it was time to meet well-wishers. To say there was excitement in the crowd when the children walked over with their parents would be an understatement.
Kate introduced her daughter to familiar faces who gather every year.
'Fans praised Charlotte's 'impeccable' manners and 'cheeky' persona as they gifted her presents including a teddy and a pink flamingo toy.
Karen Anvil, who famously took a picture of the 'Fab Four' - the Cambridges and Sussexes two years ago - gifted Charlotte a doll this morning.
Ms Anvil then captured a photo of the four-year-old. Ms Anvil told Sky News: 'She came over with her mum, she liked the doll. Her manners are outstanding - but she's cheeky, she wasn't at all scared.' She said Prince George's manners were also 'perfect'.'
A terrific video with great footage of the royals chatting after the service and meeting well-wishers.
Upon return to the main house, the family will enjoy lunch at 1.15 pm. Norfolk turkey accompanied by a selection of cold meats and a variety of side dishes is served.
At precisely 3 pm the family gathers round to watch the Queen's Christmas message.
This year, The Queen recalled D-Day and spoke of the path to reconciliation. "This year we marked another important anniversary: D-Day. On 6th June 1944, some 156,000 British, Canadian and American forces landed in northern France. It was the largest ever seabourne invasion and was delayed due to bad weather. I well remember the look of concern on my father's face. He knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no one. For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formally been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them. Such reconciliation seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps. The Queen was "struck" by the efforts of those tackling the climate emergency. She also referenced the arrival of the newest addition to the family Archie. "Two hundred years on from the birth of my great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, Prince Philip and I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great grandchild into our family. Of course, at the heart of the Christmas story lies the birth of a child: a seemingly small and insignificant step overlooked by many in Bethlehem." Her Majesty concluded: "as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it's worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change." You'll notice the Cambridges Christmas card is featured alongside images of Charles and Camilla, a young Prince Philip and the Queen's father.
The Duchess looked festive in a bespoke version of Catherine Walker's Larissa coat (with thanks to Gabi) styled with green accessories.
The original style is a much shorter piece described as: "Luxurious, mocha mohair and faux fur lends a distinctly wintry Russian aesthetic to this beautiful tailored coatdress. The pleated faux fur skirt, nipped at the waist and sumptuous collar will keep winter at bay."
Underneath, Kate wore her Michael Kors peacock print dress.
Kate brought back her rich green Lock & Co. hat for the service.
The Duchess debuted the piece on Christmas Day four years ago.
Kate's new block heel shoes are the Emmy London Josie style in 'greenery' (another great ID this morning by Gabi). They are described as: "An elegant pointed court shoe with a modern block heel. Thanks to the luxuriously padded insole, these gorgeous courts are so comfortable. Lined in leather with a natural nubuck sole. The rich greenery shade is a perfect autumn/winter shade."
And accessorised with Green Amethyst smooth cut stone earrings set in 18ct gold with dazzling diamonds from Kiki McDonough's Candy collection.
I leave you with the Choir of St George’s Chapel singing “Bogoroditse Devo” ("Rejoice, O virgin").
With just four days until Christmas, the Palace shared three new photos of the Queen with heirs Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George. The Cambridges' separate arrivals for the pre-Christmas luncheon made headlines all over earlier this week. It turns out William and George arrived first to participated in the photoshoot in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace.
Kensington Palace
The royals were photographed preparing Christmas puddings as part of the launch of the Royal British Legions' Together at Christmas initiative. I think George is at the age where he's very much aware aspects of his life are different to his school friends. There's a marked difference in the fun and playful little boy we see through Kate's photos of her children or shots from the polo to posed photo opportunities where he appears much more shy and a little anxious. Since he was a boisterous baby, he's always been a delightful child, and at 6 years old moments like photos with Dad, Grandpa, and Gan Gan (as Charlotte affectionately calls the Queen) at the Palace will serve as some of his earliest memories as a future king.
Kensington Palace
Majesty Magazine's Joe Little reports: "HM and TRH are pictured preparing Christmas puddings in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The four generations represent a cross-section of those supported by the Legion, from the children of service personnel to Second World War veterans. The puddings will become the centrepieces of next year’s get togethers, and form part of 99 puddings distributed across the charity’s network in the UK and Commonwealth, also marking the Poppy Legion's 99th year."
Kensington Palace
Footage of the pudding preparation will feature during the Queen's Christmas day speech.
More on the Legion's plans for next year from Emily Nash:
“Bringing people, families and communities together lies at the heart of the Legion’s work and has done since we were founded in 1921," says Charles Byrne, The Royal British Legion’s Director General.
"As we head towards our centenary in 2021, we are proud to start a new tradition for our community with the support of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and three generations of her family. We are keen that the people we support and the wider public understand that the Legion is not only here for older veterans, but all ages of the Armed Forces community.
"As the Monarch and next three generations, Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses represent a cross-section of those supported by the Legion, from the children of service personnel, to Second World War veterans.
“Christmas can be a time when people’s troubles and worries are exacerbated by the financial pressures of the season or feelings of loneliness and isolation. The extra support the Legion can give, and the camaraderie of our get togethers can make a big difference to our community’s well-being.
"Making and eating Christmas puddings has traditionally been a shared family activity, and we look forward to sharing these special puddings made with the help of The Royal Family.”
It's the third time we've seen photos of Her Majesty and her heirs. The first was one of the official portraits for George's christening.
In 2016, a new image of the foursome was released to mark a new set of stamps by Royal Mail in celebration of the Queen's 90th birthday. Just months from his third birthday, cherubic George was smiling as he held William's hand. He looked quite a bit like Louis does now.
During a media briefing at Kensington Palace over the week, members of the press were told we'll hear several announcements regarding the Cambridges, including a new initiative for William, over Christmas break. There's also speculation another Cambridge family photo will be released in the coming days.
The Queen hosted her annual pre-Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace this afternoon. The calendar staple is an opportunity for the family to spend time together before they disperse for Christmas break. The Duchess of Cambridge arrived with Charlotte and Louis. The baby of the Cambridge family is growing so quickly, his hair looks darker since we last saw him. His resemblance to his mum remains unchanged though, the older Louis gets, the more he favours Kate.
I expect the Cambridges will travel to their country home Anmer Hall before the weekend. They will join the royal family at Sandringham once again this year. It's not confirmed, however there's growing speculation we may see George and Charlotte join their parents on the walk to church Christmas morning.
William and George arrived just before Kate, Charlotte and Louis.
The Queen hosts the fifty-strong luncheon on a Tuesday or Wednesday in December for the entire extended family, many of whom are spending Christmas with their own children and grandchildren rather than joining the annual gathering at Sandringham. I imagine the Queen is looking forward to departing for the estate this year. Since Prince Philip's retirement, he spends a great deal of his time on the royal estate in Norfolk. With the Queen's schedule, it means they don't spend as much time together. This year marked Kate's tenth consecutive appearance at the luncheon.
The Cambridges all left the event together after the traditional meal.
A great shot of the Cambridge children leaving with their parents.
Louis was cute as a button in the Parsnip Fairisle Jumper by Amaia Kids (with thanks to Bojana). It's described as: "Cosy and beautiful forest green unisex cardigan with a stylish Fairisle ivory pattern around the neck, sleeve cuffs and waist. With round collar and crafted from warm cashmere, wool and merino blend, this piece is ideal for the festive season in style or any winter outing of your child. Mother of pearl buttons fastening down the front to finish off a polished both little boy's and girl's outfits."
Caroline Parr identified Charlotte's fabulous festive dress as the Little Alice London Nutcracker dress. We know the Princess adores ballet and last year Kate brought her to the Royal Opera House to watch a rehearsal of The Nutcracker.
Prince George wore a white shirt with blue trim, it looks very similar to the one he wore for Trooping The Colour.
The Duchess was festive in red tartan.
From what we can see, it appears Kate wore Emilia Wickstead's Anni Tartan dress. Due to limited photos, it may be a custom version of the piece (Kate's garment doesn't appear to have the wispy sleeves).
Elizabeth from Kate's Closet suggests it may be a custom blouse, designed to match the Pris Skirt Kate wore for an RAF Christmas party last year.
And accessorised with her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore Pearl Stud Earrings. By the time they left the luncheon, Kate had removed them.
We also saw the much anticipated Cambridge Christmas card thanks to the RAF Air Cadets. Kate sent a card to Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty who shared it on social media.
The family posed on a vintage motorcycle with a sidecar. Similar to last years card, we see them outdoors in their country home. It was more than likely taken over the summer. It's a darling photo and great to see the tradition of a new family photo continuing. We should see it released via Kensington Palace shortly. I'll update the moment we have a high-res version.
Caroline identified Kate's dress as the sold out Boden Aurora Midi Wrap Dress. The blue print dress is described as: "This wrap midi dress is all about boho luxe, right down to the floaty tiered skirt, three-quarter-length sleeves and crinkle viscose fabric."
Are your plans for the festivities coming together? I'm very much looking forward to spending next week with family and hurriedly doing last minute shopping and wrapping in preparation. It's all part of the fun, right? :)
It's nine more sleeps until Christmas! If you're not quite in the festive spirit yet, the perfect tonic for that came in the form of A Berry Royal Christmas which aired on BBC One earlier tonight. The one hour programme saw the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge team up with the Queen of Baking and national treasure Mary Berry for seasonal fun, visits to charities close to their hearts, and of course the obligatory spot of baking.
The documentary has been uploaded to YouTube (It may not be left up long though).
When the special was confirmed, several outlets reported it would offer Kate's "most substantial" television appearance to date and I very much agree with that. We saw a plethora of quotes, discussion about the children, Kate's early years work and plenty of banter between the couple. It's without doubt the most informal and relaxed we've seen them. William and Kate have met Mary on multiple occasions, particularly through her support of William's patronage Child Bereavement UK (Mary sadly lost her son William when he was 19). Some months ago the Prince asked Mary if she would be interesting in teaming up and A Berry Royal Christmas was born.
The programme opened with footage of Kate and Mary chatting at RHS Wisley about the inspiration behind the project and encouraging children to spend more time outdoors. "Being outside and being in nature is such a great environment for children to learn lifelong skills." Kate told Mary one of Louis' first words was "his version of Mary" because her cookbooks are at his eyeline at home. She added: "He would definitely recognise you if he saw you." Kate talked about growing their own vegetables and how much Louis loves beetroot and Charlotte is particularly fond of 'Charlotte' potatoes.
"Being outside and being in nature is such a great environment for children to learn lifelong skills." — The Duchess of Cambridge on her work in the Early Years sector. #ABerryRoyalChristmaspic.twitter.com/HEFGCrBNhb
As Kate and Mary iced cakes, Kate said she believes in the old saying, "it takes a village to raise a child". Parents, grandparents, the community as a whole and many others. The Duchess talked about making birthday cakes for the children. More from Hello!
"I love making the cake," she shared. "It's become a bit of a tradition that I stay up till midnight with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing and I make far too much. But I love it."
From there, Mary spent time with William at his patronage the Passage. The homeless charity supports 130,000 people through it's resource centre, homelessness prevention projects and two innovative accommodation services. William first visited the Passage with Diana as a child and became patron earlier this year. During a chat he credited Kate with steering their work towards mental health: "We share ideas, but she was the one who linked all the mental health stuff together. She realised that my work, her work and Harry's work were all headed in different directions, but all dealing with mental health."
William spoke about the Queen carving her path as a young monarch, Charles' work with the Prince's Trust, and charity visits with Diana which influenced him. People reports:
'The royal dad said that when he drives Prince George and Princess Charlotte to school, they’ll notice people who are homeless on the street and ask questions.
“On the school run – I know it sounds a little bit contrite – but on the school run already, bear in mind 6 and 4, whenever we see someone who is sleeping rough on the street I talk about it and I point it out and I explain,” said William, who is patron of the homelessness charity Centrepoint. “And they are all very interested,” he added. “They are like: ‘Why can’t they go home?’”
William also praised his late mother Princess Diana for immersing him and his brother Prince Harry into the world of those who are less fortunate. Speaking during a visit to The Passage homelessness he told Berry, “It was one of the first places I came to actually. I must have been between 8 and 10, something like that. It had a profound impact on me.”
“My mother knew what she was doing with it. She realized that it was very important when you grow up – especially in the life that we grew up – that you realize that life happens beyond palace walls, and that you see real people struggling with real issues.”
Despite Prince George's enthusiastic cheers supporting Aston Villa, William revealed he is a Chelsea supporter. He revealed George wrote his Christmas list for Santa early: "He's a very good drawer. We might get him something for drawing or football."
Kate invited Mary to visit the Brink, a dry bar run her patronage Action on Addiction in Liverpool. They spoke to a group supported by the charity who openly discussed addiction issues and the journey to recovery. The Duchess talked about how difficult this time of year can be, with Mary opening up about losing her son. Kate added: "One of the things that really struck me was the inter-generational cycle", adding it's so important to include children in the recovery process. The pair made non-alcoholic drinks before departing. Kate shared memories from St Andrews as she served refreshments: "Reminds me of my university days when I did a bit of waitressing." "Were you good?" asked Mary, at which the Duchess laughed and replied: "No, I was terrible!"
Many of you asked about Kate's outfit when the above photo was released. Palace Avenue via Twitter identified it as the sold out Massimo Dutti High Neck Dress.
Mary asked Kate about the impact of working with organisations dealing with issues such as addiction:
"You've taken on so much interesting stories, quite traumatic stories. You have to allow yourself time to reflect and really take in what you've learned before you sort of dive into your own life and get into the school pick ups".
Then it was time for a very special Christmas party at the Rosewood Hotel, celebrating those helping people in need over Christmas and representatives from William and Kate's charities. Nadiya Hussain was crowned winner of the 2015 Great British Bake Off , which mary judged. Nadiya is a lovely lady who has bravely spoken of her own mental health struggles. Following introductions it was time for competition as Kate and Mary went up against William and Nadiya to prepare a roulade. There was a bit of bending the roles on both sides before Mary declared a draw after which Kate turned to William and said: "I think you're going to have to produce one of these at home now."
'Kate opened up about the couple's home life to Mary Berry during the upcoming Christmas TV special, A Berry Royal Christmas, with Mary asking if the Prince ever cooks for his wife. "He sometimes does actually," Kate revealed. "He's very good at breakfast." The royal then reflected on the early days of her romance with William, when they were both studying together at St Andrews. "In [our] university days he used to cook all sorts of meals," Kate revealed. "I think that was when he was trying to impress me, Mary. Things like Bolognese sauces and things like that."
Joined by the Irish Guards, Child Bereavement UK and volunteers from helpline Shout, they worked on a selection of roulades before sitting down for a chat.
The party concluded with a lovely performance of 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' by actor and singer Luke Evans. It was a heartwarming watch and a very timely reminder to remember all those giving up Christmas with their families and friends to look after others. I watched the programme live and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fascinating to go behind-the-scenes with amazing organisations and hear Kate and William's personal takes on their work and of course to hear more about the children. I see requests for a Kate and Mary spin off already :)
Munere veritus fierent cu sed, congue altera mea te, ex clita eripuit evertitur duo. Legendos tractatos honestatis ad mel. Legendos tractatos honestatis ad mel.
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