BUCKINGHAM PALACE JOINS TWITTER

BUCKINGHAM PALACE RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITSELF AS A TWEETER, AS USERS OF THE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE ARE KNOWN, AND IS PROMISING REGULAR UPDATES ON WHAT SENIOR ROYALS ARE GETTING UP TO. A QUICK LOOK AT THE SITE REVEALS ANNOUNCEMENTS OF RECENT ROYAL'S EVENTS SUCH AS THE QUEEN HAVING RECEIVED THE INCOMING POET LAUREATE, PROFESSOR CAROL ANN DUFFY,AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND A LINK TO THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD. BY THIS MORNING ITS HAD 566 POSTINGS AND ALREADY ATTRACTED 5,288 FOLLOWERS (WHICH I AM ONE, NOW) EAGER TO LEARN ABOUT THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF THE QUEEN, PRINCE PHILLIP, PRINCE ANDREW, CHARLES AND CAMILLA. A SPOKESMAN FOR BUCKINGHAM PALACE SAID: 'THE QUEEN HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT IT'S UP AND RUNNING BUT THERE WON'T BE ANY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TWEETING. THE PAGE WILL BE RUN AS A NEWS AND INFORMATION SERVICE WITH LISTINGS OF ENGAGEMENTS AND UPDATES TO ROYAL WEBSITES.' DESPITE RECENTLY CELEBRATING HER 83rd BIRTHDAY, THE QUEEN IS REMARKABLY COMPUTER LITERATE. SHE FREQUENTLY USES THE INTERNET, TEXTS HER GRAND-CHILDREN AND EVEN HAS AN I-POD. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, MEANWHILE, IS A PROLIFIC 'GOOGLER'.
SEE THE ROYALS FAMILY'S TWEETS ON: twitter.com/BritishMonarchy. THE QUEEN ALSO HAS HER OWN WEBSITE www.royal.gov.uk

PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA VISIT MARKS & SPENCER

YESTERDAY MARKS & SPENCER RECEIVED THE ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL WHEN THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL REVEALED THAT SHE BUYS ALL HER SWIMWEAR THERE. CAMILLA AND PRINCE CHARLES WERE VISITING THE STORE IN LONDON'S WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE TO MARK THE COMPANY'S 125th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS. THE DAY STARTED OFF IN THE FOOD HALL WHERE CAMILLA, WHO DIDN'T NEED TO BE ASKED TWICE TO TRY A £7.99 BOTTLE OF M'HUDI SOUTH AFRICAN RED. CHARLES, WHO HAD BEEN CHATTING INTENTLY WITH THE FIRM'S FOOD DIRECTOR, TURNED AROUND, ROLLED HIS EYES AND SAID: 'OH, YOU'VE GOT A GLASS ALREADY. I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T TAKE LONG', HE TURNED TO THE STAFF AND JOKED, 'YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH THAT ONE, YOU KNOW.' CAMILLA, WHO WAS WEARING A PURPLE PATTERNED SKIRT AND BLOUSE SET FROM THE RETAILER'S PER UNA RANGE WHICH SHE PICKED UP LAST YEAR FOR £99, LAUGHED AND HELPED HERSELF TO CORNISH CRUNCHER CHEESE AS WELL, BEFORE POINTING OUT A PARTICULARLY NICE PIECE OF 59p CHUNK SHORTBREAD, WHICH WAS DULLY BAGGED UP AND POPPED IN A POSH DOGGY BAG. IT WAS UPSTAIRS, HOWEVER, THAT THE DUCHESS MOVED INTO HER STRIDE. LUCKILY, THE PRINCE WAS TAKEN BY COMPANY CHAIRMAN SIR STUART ROSE TO THE RELATIVE CALM OF THE MENSWEAR DEPARTMENT WHILE CAMILLA DECLARED: "OOH, GOOD, I CAN DO MY SHOPPING NOW." WHEN IT CAME TO THE HIGH STREET FAVORITE, THE DUCHESS REALLY KNEW HER STUFF AND ADMITTED THAT SHE BUYS A LOT OF HER PERSONAL CLOTHING IN THE FIRM'S FLAGSHIP MARBLE ARCH STORE. "I ALWAYS BUY MY SWIMWEAR IN M&S . IT'S REALLY GOOD QUALITY AND IT FITS WELL. I WISH I WASN'T WORKING OR I'D HAVE A REALLY GOOD ROOT AROUND." AFTER THEIR INDIVIDUAL GUIDED TOURS THE COUPLE MET UP TO JOIN A STAFF PARTY WHERE THEY WERE GIVEN GIFTS: A ZANDRA RHODES SCARF FOR HER AND A SPECIALLY-BOUND BOOK ABOUT M&S'S HISTORY FOR HIM. CAMILLA WAS LEFT IN FITS WHEN SIR STUART TOLD HIS AUDIENCE HOW PROUD HE WAS TO HAVE SUCH A PAIR OF 'BOGOFS' PRESENT. THE JOKE SAILED OVER CHARLES' HEAD BUT HIS WIFE PATIENTLY EXPLAINED THAT IT MEANT 'BUY ONE GET ONE FREE', PROMPTING THE PRINCE TO SMILE INDULGENTLY. IN TURN CHARLES TOLD HIS AUDIENCE HOW HIS GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, QUEEN MARY, BECAME THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO SHOP IN M&S, PROMPTING THE STORE MANAGER TO GO ROUND THE NEXT DAY PUTTING STICKERS ON EACH ITEM READING, 'AS BOUGHT BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'. HE ALSO PRAISED THE STORE FOR BEING ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S 'MOST RESPECTED RETAILERS' AND TRAILBLAZING MARKETING AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY. M&S WAS STARTED IN 1884 BY POLISH REFUGEE MICHAEL MARKS AS A PENNY BAZAAR IN LEEDS MARKET AND WHEN ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES ON HIGH STREET.

'REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY' APARTMENT FOR SALE

JILL ZARIN ONE OF BRAVO'S 'REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY' HAS RECENTLY PUT HER, 1,956 SQUARE FOOT, THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT ON 401 EAST 60th STREET ON THE MARKET. DURING LAST SEASON'S EPISODES THE UPPER EAST SIDE RESIDENCE WAS CHRONICLED FROM START TO BRILLIANT FINISH, WITH A FOLLOW UP PHOTO SPREAD SHOWING THE NEW DECOR IN TRADITIONAL HOME MAGAZINE. DESIGNER BRAD BOLES TOLD TRADITIONAL HOME THAT THE APARTMENT WAS PARTLY DONE IN TONES OF BLUES AND TEALS TO FLATTER THE REDHEAD JILL'S SKIN TONES. THE HOME HAS OVER-SIZED WINDOWS, WHICH OVERLOOK THE CITY, TEN FOOT CEILINGS, SHAGREEN INSPIRED WALLS, CHANDELIERS AND MORE. THE BUILDING ALSO INCLUDES A HEALTH CLUB AND A ROOF-TOP DECK. THE LISTING IS THROUGH PRUDENTIAL DOUGLAS ELLIMAN'S CALLAE BROWNSTEIN AND HOWARD MARGOLIS FOR A PRICE OF $3.2 MILLION.

THE QUEEN'S SILVER IS STOLEN DURING ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY

ONCE UPON A TIME AN INVITATION TO THE QUEENS GARDEN PARTY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE WAS THE IMPRIMATUR OF RESPECTABILITY. BUT NOT ANYMORE. PROOF OF THIS? THE QUEEN'S SADNESS AND DISMAY AT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SEVERAL IRREPLACEABLE PIECES OF HER PERSONAL CROCKERY AND CUTLERY FROM HER PRIVATE TENT WHICH FOLLOWED THE TORRENTIAL DELUGE THAT WASHED OUT TUESDAY'S ANNUAL TEA PARTY. AT THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM, ABOUT 60 GARDEN PARTY GUESTS HUDDLED UNDER THE AWNING AFTER THE QUEEN BECKONED THEM IN TO GIVE THEM SHELTER. ONLY WHEN PALACE STAFF WERE CLEARING UP AFTER THE PARTY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT GUESTS HAD RESPONDED TO THE UNPRECEDENTED ACT OF ROYAL KINDNESS AND HOSPITALITY BY STEALING THE QUEEN'S PRIZED POSSESSIONS. "IT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE ABUSE OF WHAT WAS A GESTURE OF KINDNESS", SAYS A PALACE AIDE. STAFF BELIEVE AT LEAST EIGHT PIECES OF SILVER CUTLERY FROM KING GEORGE III's REIGN, EIGHT SIDE PLATES AND CUPS MARKED 'EIIR', AND PIECES FROM QUEEN VICTORIA'S TIME WERE TAKEN.
MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE WERE STROLLING THROUGH THE QUEEN'S GARDENS WHEN THE FLASH THUNDERSTORMS STRUCK BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WITH HAILSTONES THE SIZE OF 20p PIECES RAINING DOWN ON THEM, FORCING THE GUESTS TO SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES AND IN THE PUBLIC TENTS. MANY MORE COWERED UNDER UMBRELLAS CLOSE TO THE QUEEN'S PRIVATE TENT, WHERE SHE WAS HAVING TEA WITH PRINCE PHILIP, PRINCE ANDREW AND THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER -- THE QUEEN'S TENT IS STRICTLY INVITATION ONLY TO FRIENDS, SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD AND HEADS OF CHARITIES. "THE RAIN WAS HAMMERING DOWN. THE QUEEN COULD SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE GETTING SOAKED, SO SHE SIGNALED TO THEM TO COME INSIDE. THERE WERE 50 TO 60", SAYS AN AIDE, "IT SEEMS PEOPLE SLIPPED ITEMS INTO COATS OR BAGS, BECAUSE WHEN STAFF CAME TO CLEAR UP THEY DISCOVERED NOT EVERYTHING COULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR. IT'S VERY SAD THAT AN ACT OF KINDNESS COULD BE TREATED WITH WHAT REALLY WAS TWO FINGERS. WE CAN'T BELIEVE IT. IT'S THE TALK OF THE PALACE."
A BUCKINGHAM PALACE SPOKESMAN DECLINED ANY FORMAL COMMENT ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

RIJKSMUSEUM ACQUIRES COFFERS BY ANDRE-CHARLES BOULLE AT CHRISTIE'S AUCTION

CHRISTIE'S IMPORTANT EUROPEAN FURNITURE, SCULPTURE & CLOCKS SALE REALIZED £7,012,750 AND WAS 79% SOLD BY VALUE AND 65% BY LOT. THE HIGHLIGHT TOP LOT WAS A PAIR OF LOUIS XIV ORMOLU-MOUNTED BOULLE MARQUETRY COFFRES EN TOMBEAU (COFFERS ON STANDS), BY ANDRE-CHARLES BOULLE, CIRCA 1688, WHICH WAS BOUGHT BY THE RIJKSMUSEUM AMSTERDAM AND REALIZED £2,617,250. "WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT THE MUSEUM QUALITY PAIR OF LOUIS XIV COFFERS BY BOULLE HAVE FOUND A MOST APPROPRIATE NEW HOME, HAVING BEEN BOUGHT BY THE RIJKSMUSEUM, WHERE THEY WILL BE ON PUBLIC VIEW TO BE ENJOYED BY MANY. DURING THE PRE-SALE EXHIBITION THESE PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED MASTERPIECES WERE GREATLY ADMIRED BY INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ACADEMICS AND PRIVATE COLLECTORS. WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOWCASE THEM ON A GLOBAL PLATFORM", SAID CHARLES CATOR, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL. "THIS SALE MARKS THE STELLAR END TO A SEASON WHICH HAS POWERFULLY DEMONSTRATED THE TIMELESS VIGOR OF APPRECIATION AND DEMAND FOR THE DECORATIVE ARTS", SAID MARCUS RADECKE, DIRECTOR OF EUROPEAN FURNITURE.

SOTHEBY'S TO OFFER LOST PAINTING BY WILLIAM DYCE

A STUNNING PAINTING BY WILLIAM DYCE THAT HAS BEEN LOST FOR OVER A CENTURY IS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE AT SOTHEBY'S 15.JULY VICTORIAN & EDWARDIAN ART SALE. LOT #5, THE MEETING OF JACOB AND RACHEL IS EXPECTED TO FETCH BETWEEN £100,000 – 150,000 WHEN IT COMES UP FOR BID. THE PAINTING ILLUSTRATES THE BIBLICAL TEXT 'JACOB KISSED RAHEL AND LIFTED UP HIS VOICE, AND WEPT' -- RACHEL'S FATHER HAD TRICKED JACOB INTO WORKING FOR HIM WITHOUT PAYMENT ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT HE COULD MARRY RACHEL. THE AMAZING WORK HAD GONE UNTRACED SINCE IT WAS EXHIBITED IN THE 1850s, FIRST AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY IN 1850 AND LATER AT THE MANCHESTER ART TREASURES EXHIBITION IN 1857. THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE WHEN AN IMAGE OF THE WORK WAS SENT TO SOTHEBY'S SPECIALISTS WHO WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IT AS THE ORIGINAL BY A SMALL PART OF A TORN LABEL ON THE REVERSE THAT IDENTIFIED IT AS HAVING BEEN IN THE MANCHESTER EXHIBITION.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VICTORIAN & EDWARDIAN ART SALE INCLUDE LIVERPOOL DOCKS, BY JOHN ATKINSON GRIMSHAW, AN ATMOSPHERIC NIGHT-TIME DEPICTION OF THE 19th CENTURY LIVERPOOL ESTIMATED AT £250,000-350,000, AND WIND AND SUN BY DAME LAURA KNIGHT, WHICH SHOWS A LIGHT FILLED COASTAL SCENE PAINTED IN CORNWALL ESTIMATED AT £200,000-300,000.

CHRISTIAN LACROIX'S FINAL COUTURE COLLECTION

LAST FRIDAY, EMPLOYEES AT THE 22 YEAR OLD FASHION HOUSE CHRISTIAN LACROIX WERE INFORMED THAT THE WORKFORCE WOULD BE DRASTICALLY CUT FROM 124 TO 12, AND THE HOUSE WOULD CLOSE AT THE END OF JULY, EFFECTIVELY REDUCING IT TO A LICENSING OPERATION, UNLESS A BUYER COULD BE FOUND. AND WHAT MAY BE HIS LAST COUTURE COLLECTION WAS SHOWN YESTERDAY TO JUST OVER 280 SELECT GUESTS, WHICH HAD BEEN CUT DOWN FROM 900, AT THE ARTS DECORATIFS, PARIS. SUMPTUOUS SWAGS OF SILK CREPE AND TAFFETA, ORNATE PRECIOUS METAL BUTTONS AND ANTIQUE LACE WERE SHOWCASED IN 24 LOOKS ENTIRELY PRIVATELY FINANCED, WHICH THE DESIGNER DESCRIBED AS: "A COLLECTION WHICH IS FINISHED, BUT WHICH WAS NOT COMPLETED UNDER THE USUAL CONDITIONS. IT IS LIKE A SKETCH, A DRAWING FOR A PAINTING . . . THE CLASSIC REPERTORY OF THE HOUSE, WHAT IS LEFT, THE HARD DISK." THE MOOD WAS SOBER, BUT STAID, BADGES DECLARING "CHRISTIAN LACROIX FOREVER" WERE HANDED OUT AND A SIGN READING SIMILAR SENTIMENTS WAS HELD ACROSS THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE TEARS APLENTY AS THE DESIGNER TOOK HIS WALK WITH 'BRIDE' VLADE ROSLYAKOVA, AND THERE WERE NO RED CARNATIONS LAID UPON THE SEATS, READY TO TOSS IN THE FINALE AS HAD BEEN THE CUSTOM AT LACROIX'S COUTURE SHOWS SINCE HE STARTED IN 1987. THIS WAS A SHOW OF PRIDE AS MUCH AS IT WAS A FASHION SHOW, LACROIX WAS CLEARLY DETERMINED THAT IF HE GOES, IT WAS WITH A BANG RATHER THAN A WHIMPER.