Knight to see you, to see you, knight: Bruce Forsyth becomes a Sir at last as he is honoured by the Queen at the age of 83

By Georgina Littlejohn and Rebecca English

Last updated at 10:37 PM on 12th October 2011


It may have taken 70 years in the business, but didn’t he do well?

Bruce Forsyth received his long-awaited knighthood yesterday – and managed to surprise the Queen in the process.

After the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, the 83-year-old said: ‘The Queen told me: “Thank you for entertaining the country for so long.”

Didn't he do well? Bruce Forsyth receives his knighthood from the Queen Buckingham Palace

‘I told her that I will have been in the business for 70 years next year. She looked at me in astonishment and said: “Seventy?! Goodness, how old were you when you started?”

‘I was 14, Ma’am, I told her. Been in the business since the war. I think she was rather taken aback, to be honest.’


But there were no other shocks as the 85-year-old monarch – a fan of Strictly Come Dancing, which the entertainer hosts – awarded him the title of Sir Bruce Forsyth-Johnson, Knight Bachelor for services to entertainment and charity.

And Sir Bruce looked only ever so slightly creaky as he got down on one knee while the Queen touched him on each shoulder with her father’s sword and placed the insignia around his neck. Afterwards, he blew a kiss in the direction of his wife of 29 years, Puerto Rican beauty queen Wilnelia.

Thank you: Sir Bruce looked delighted as the Queen placed the honour round his neck

A long time coming: Sir Bruce shakes her Majesty's hand after being given the knighthood which was awarded after years of campaigning by his fans

Lady Forsyth, who turned 54 yesterday, said: ‘I could not be more proud of him.’

Sir Bruce, who already has both a CBE and an OBE, said his knighthood felt ‘completely marvellous’ after years of campaigning by newspapers and the public. Some 73 MPs even signed an Early Day Motion in parliament calling for him to be honoured.

Looking ecstatic after the ceremony, he said: 'It's absolutely wonderful to get the knighthood.

'It's been a thing that's been going on for a long time but it's not often one can say the press has been right behind you in my business - but they have been.

'Entertaining - it's been the only thing I've ever wanted to do and I've done it for many, many years. Who feels like quitting? I want to go on.'

I did it! Sir Bruce shows off his honour as he posed for the cameras after he was knighted

He was dubbed a knight by the Queen, who lightly touched him on the shoulder with a sword that belonged to her father, George VI.

The king used the ceremonial weapon when he was colonel of the Scots Guards while Duke of York, before being crowned.

As he emerged from the ballroom, Sir Bruce called out 'Good luck' to honours recipients on their way to receive their awards.

One joked: 'We were impressed to see you get off your knees', to which the entertainer replied: 'That was an effort, I can tell you.'

Proud: Sir Bruce posed for a snap with his wife of almost 30 years, former Miss World Wilnelia, after the ceremony

Joined by his Puerto Rico-born former Miss World wife, their 24-year-old son Jonathan Joseph, known as JJ, and his daughters from previous marriages Charlotte, 34, and Laura, 48, were also there to witness the proud day.

The award also marks his charity work, something the star does privately.

Admitting he feared he might never receive the honour, when the knighthood was announced in the summer, a delighted Sir Bruce said he could not wait to call his wife 'my lady'

The knight and his brood: Sir Bruce and Wilnelia pose for a family portrait with their son Jonathan and his daughters Charlotte and Louisa from his second marriage to Anthea Redfern

And he told the BBC that the honour 'means everything' to him, and added: 'When I got the CBE there'd been speculation every year and I think there's been too much talk about it, so I'm thrilled at last it has happened.'

'I feel very proud that my career hasn't been in vain. I just love getting out there and performing and this is a reward that I never expected and hope I'm worthy of.'

As a 14-year-old, he began working on the variety circuit where he danced, sang, cracked jokes and waited for his big break.

He got it in 1958 when he became host of Sunday Night At The London Palladium and he never looked back, hosting The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right and Bruce's Price Is Right.

He also became known for his catchphrase, 'nice to see you, to see you, nice'.

In 2004, when in effective semi-retirement, he was brought back to host a new version of an old programme, Strictly Come Dancing, and scored another massive hit.

Bruce as a young entertainer pictured playing the accordion. As a 14-year-old he began working on the variety circuit where he danced, sang, cracked jokes and waited for his big break

Times gone by: A 1962 London Palladium poster advertising Bruce Forsyth as the compare. Also on the bill was Morecambe and Wise and Eve Boswell

Saturday night favourite: Sir Bruce drew in millions of viewers every weekend during the 80s as the host of the Price Is Right

No plans to retire: Even at the age of 83, Sir Bruce doesn't intend to stop working and is currently the host of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing alongside Tess Daly

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2048206/Sir-Bruce-Forsyth-receives-knighthood-Queen-Buckingham-Palace.html#ixzz1acEnkXzy

The Queen and Duchess of Cambridge relive glorious royal wedding day with private viewing of THAT dress

Seems like only yesterday, dear: The Queen and Duchess of Cambridge relive glorious royal wedding day with private viewing of THAT dress

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 8:07 PM on 22nd July 2011

The Queen today enjoyed a private viewing of the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown with Kate ahead of a public showing of the dress at Buckingham Palace.
More than half a million people are expected to view the dress as part of the Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, but her Majesty was give her own tour by the Duchess.

The pair chatted as they admired the £250,000 Alexander McQueen dress which had the world enthralled when Kate married Prince William in April.

Admiration: The Queen talks with the Duchess of Cambridge as they view the wedding dress the Duchess wore during her April marriage to Prince William

Enlarge

Enlarge

Viewing: The Duchess of Cambridge, in a Joseph dress, arrives at Buckingham Palace with the Queen, to see the wedding dress and cake before both go on public display

Amid the pomp and splendour of a truly unforgettable day, The Dress was undoubtedly the star of the show.

But the ghost-like appearance of the headless mannequin used to exhibit the gown prompted her to describe it as 'horrible' during a private tour with Kate of a new Buckingham Palace exhibition.

The Queen and the Duchess were given a sneak preview of the exhibition, which opens to the public tomorrow.

The monarch led the way and, with her hands clasped behind her back, strode into the Ballroom and stopped about 10 feet from the dress with Kate standing beside her.

Enlarge

Enlarge

Animated: The Queen appears to be deep in conversation with Kate at Buckingham Palace today

As the pair chatted, the pitch of the Queen's voice raised and she said 'horrible' and then 'horrid'.

It appeared the mannequin's lack of a head may have perturbed the Queen, who added: 'It's made to look very creepy.'

Kate, who wore a cream cross-front Joseph dress, countered with her own view and said it had a '3D effect'.

And just like the most gracious stars, the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown is returning for an encore.

Those of us who admired it from the comfort of our sofas at home, can now see the Alexander McQueen dress right up close – if we can get our hands on what is rapidly becoming the hottest ticket in town.

The dress is to take pride of place at Buckingham Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, ensuring we can bask in the afterglow of Kate and William’s wedding day just that little bit longer.

Enlarge

Exhibition: The monarch, her hands clasped behind her back, led the way as she and Kate toured the displays in Buckingham Palace

Style queen: The Duchess of Cambridge exuded elegance and poise as she walked around Buckingham Palace today

While most brides carefully wrap their bridal gowns in tissue paper and store them away with their memories, Kate’s will be shared with the nation all over again.

In fact visitors can relive every joyful moment of the day, with everything from the Duchess’s veil to her shoes and even the royal wedding cake on display.

Record demand means advance ticket sales are more than double on last year’s summer opening, with 600,000 people paying £17.50 per ticket to troop through the doors over the next ten weeks.

That would comfortably beat the palace’s previous highest attendance of 420,000 in 1994.

Here, the Daily Mail, which was offered an exclusive tour yesterday, can reveal the treasures in store for the first visitors this Saturday.

Ahead of the public viewing, Sarah Burton explained what she had hoped to achieve in designing what has since become one of the world's most famous dresses.

She said: 'We wanted to look to the past, yet look to the future as well.

'There were a lot of references to Victorian corsetry, the padded hip, the tiny cinched-in waist, and also to the arts and crafts movement with all of the hand-work on the lace of the dress and also the bustle inside to create the shape of the back of the dress.

'It has an essence of Victorian but we cut the dress in a very modern way, it is in a very light fabric, also the pleats and the folds create a modern feel rather than a historical piece.

'I think what we wanted to achieve was something that was incredibly beautiful and intricately worked.

'A lot of it is in the subtlety of the detail, the handcrafted lace, and the cuts and the shapes and the folds involved in the construction of the dress, yet we still had to remember it was in Westminster Abbey so it still had to have a presence.

'It was this idea of having a dress with a presence and of historical importance yet being modern at the same time.'

Ms Burton goes into detail about the inspiration behind the dress, the material used - including six different types of lace - and the techniques employed to create the gown.

'The Duchess wanted to make sure everything was completely thought out,' she added.
She also calls the dress a 'real feat of engineering'.

Fit for a Duchess: Kate Middleton's stunning wedding gown is going on display at the weekend, alongside other items from the big day

Beauty in the detail: 58 gazar buttons run from the collar to the waist on the gown, while Kate's veil is made of soft ivory silk tulle and stitched with flowers

The Duchess herself was treated to a sneak preview on Wednesday night when she stole another look at the dress that featured an intricate Grace Kelly-inspired lace bodice hand-stitched by the world’s best seamstresses at the Royal School of Needlework.

The craftswomen had no idea what their commission was for, such was the secrecy surrounding the design.

The bodice was cinched into a tiny waist above the full silk skirt.

The exhibition’s curator Caroline de Guitaut would not be drawn on what size it was, saying only: ‘Small.’

Something borrowed: This 1936 Cartier tiara was loaned to Kate by the Queen and contains 1,000 glittering diamonds

Icing on the cake: The top three layers of the cake are replicas, with two saved for the couple's first child's Christening, as tradition dictates

The first cut: The mark made by the couple using a ceremonial sword is clearly visible on the bottom tier of the cake

Then there are the shoes, barely noticed in the excitement of the day, which are worth a look in their full glory.

If you stoop beside the glass case, the tiny letters that reveal Kate’s shoe size, five and a half, are just visible. At a willowy 5’10”, she certainly has a dainty pair of feet.

Also created by the McQueen creative director Sarah Burton and her team, the shoes feature yet more impressive lace detailing hand-stitched over ivory duchess satin.

Twinkle toes: The duchess's hand-stitched shoes were designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen and are size five-and-a-half

Bouquet of memories: A silk replica of Kate's flowers include sweet william, myrtle, lily of the valley and hyacinth

Little acorns: The Duchess's diamond earrings were a present from her parents for the wedding, and bear acorns as a nod to her family's new coat of arms

They appear to have been barely worn as, apart from stepping outside the Goring Hotel into her waiting car as a single woman, Kate spent most of the day walking on carpet.

SARAH BURTON ON THE DRESS

We wanted to look to the past, yet look to the future as well.
There were a lot of references to Victorian corsetry, the padded hip, the tiny cinched-in waist, and also to the arts and crafts movement with all of the hand-work on the lace of the dress and also the bustle inside to create the shape of the back of the dress.
It has an essence of Victorian but we cut the dress in a very modern way, it is in a very light fabric, also the pleats and the folds create a modern feel rather than a historical piece.
I think what we wanted to achieve was something that was incredibly beautiful and intricately worked.
A lot of it is in the subtlety of the detail, the handcrafted lace, and the cuts and the shapes and the folds involved in the construction of the dress, yet we still had to remember it was in Westminster Abbey so it still had to have a presence.
It was this idea of having a dress with a presence and of historical importance yet being modern at the same time.

Then there are the diamond earrings given to the bride by her parents, bearing a diamond acorn to show the Middleton family’s new coat of arms.

And in the Ballroom, where the couple’s reception was held, visitors can see the 1936 Cartier tiara, glittering with 1,000 diamonds, that the Queen lent to Kate as her ‘something borrowed’ item.

The Duchess will join Her Majesty to formally open the exhibition this afternoon.

It also includes a short video, featuring Sarah Burton talking about her inspiration for the dress and Kate’s ‘hands-on’ involvement in the design process.

She explains that the Duchess had hands on involvement and wanted to create a gown with "presence and of historical importance" but one that had a contemporary feel.

‘We wanted to look to the past, yet look to the future as well,’ she says.

Finally to the State Dining Room, where visitors can see some of the eight-tiered wedding cake designed by Fiona Cairns.

Sadly, the top three levels on display are not the originals.

The uppermost two were kept by the newlyweds, in line with tradition which says you should keep them to serve at your first child’s christening, while the third was served to guests.

However, look closely among the sugary flowers on the bottom tier and you can see the mark left by the ceremonial sword the couple used to cut it – an unbroken link to a magical day.

The Royal Wedding Dress: A Story of Great British Design runs until October 3 at Buckingham Palace. Tickets are priced at £17.50 and can be obtained from www.royalcollection.org.uk or 0207 766 7300.

Showstopper: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the dress in all its glory, emerge from Westminster Abbey on their wedding day

Spectacular: Pippa Middleton carries the train of her sister's gown, which was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen and described as being sized 'small' by the exhibition's curator

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2017716/Buckingham-Palace-Duchess-Cambridge-Queen-view-Kate-Middleton-wedding-dress.html#ixzz1SrfUxUif

Ladies Day reign at Royal Ascot

She really HAS made it! Carole Middleton arrives by carriage in Royal procession with the Queen as she attends Ladies' Day

By Maysa Rawi

Last updated at 8:46 PM on 16th June 2011


Carole Middleton was lying low while the Royal Family have had a busy couple of weeks attending official engagements.

But not one to be left out, she stole the limelight when she arrived at Ascot today in a horse-drawn carriage as part of the Royal procession, for Ladies' Day.

Carole may have started out her career as an air hostess but it appears life for the now party planner has gone from strength to strength as she beamed during the open-air ride with her husband Michael.

All smiles: Carole Middleton arrives with Fitri Hay, wife of horse owner Jim Hay, as part of the royal carriage procession for Ladies' Day at Ascot

The Queen looked pretty in pink, left, while Beatrice played it safe in a sombre blue

Royal attendance: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip wave to racegoers

Kate's mother, 56, wore a champagne-coloured suit, teamed with a relatively demure hat given the occasion.

The Queen attended for the third day in a row,wearing a colourful pink coat and matching hat.

She was joined by Beatrice and Princess Anne, who took cover under umbrellas.

The happy couple: Michael Middleton, left, and wife Carole are all dressed up at Royal Ascot

The cat that got the Queen: Carole, the Queen and Princess Anne brave the rain

Beatrice, who played it safe with a nude hat on Monday, wore a stunning blue head piece.

Celebrities attending included footballer Michael Owen, Dragons' Den star Peter Jones and Boyzone singer Shane Lynch.

Newly-knighted entertainer Bruce Forsyth was cheered as he arrived at Ascot with his wife, Wilnelia Merced, who wore a chic white skirt suit by Puerto Rican designer Harry Robles and a hat by Deida Acero.

Sir Bruce, who had to fight his way through dozens of photographers and fans to get to the racetrack, joked that he liked to come to Ascot for the peace and quiet.

Kisses: Carole Middleton gestures to the friend as she gets into the spirit of Ladies' Day

Flower power: Liz Hurley wears a flower-themed hat and a Versace suit

Nice to see you: Bruce Forsyth, left, and Gabby Logan, right, arrived with their other halves

He said: 'I love the crowds. It's so restful. I come here for a restful day.'

He said how proud he was of his recent honour, adding: 'It's been very busy. It hasn't stopped.'

Actress Liz Hurley said she was going to wear a thermal vest under her Versace outfit because of the weather.

Writing on Twitter, she added: 'Trying on hats; which one will sulk the least in the rain a big consideration.'

Despite painstaking efforts though, racegoers spent the majority of the morning hiding their heads.

Parade: The Royal carriages make their way along the course at the beginning of the day

High drama: One racegoer wears a 1920s inspired dress while another opts for a more modern serpent theme

 

Super injunction chic: A hat puns on the latest cheating footballer scandal

But the pouring rain saw colourful umbrellas come out in full force, as the event continued for the third day.

Ladies Day is the highlight of the week and luckily the weather didn't seem to dampen punters' spirits as they attempted to enjoy the afternoon, come rain or shine.

Bird-brained: A group of friends all model matching bird hats

Washout: Racegoer Jenny Munklik wears a black swan style hat and a positive umbrella at Ascot today

Brolly follie: Punters wore their brightest umbrellas as one Japanese punter wore traditional dress for Ladies' Day on day three of the Berkshire event

Opened in 1711,Queen Anne first spotted its potential when riding in the forest near Windsor Castle.

Long gone are the days when the Royal enclosure at Ascot was so exclusive that divorcees were banned from its sacred lawns and women had to wear gloves.

Aristocrats once reigned supreme but now X-Factor supremo Simon Cowell has a box.

Soggy morning: Guests head into the Royal Enclosure

Singers Shirley Bassey and Bryan Ferry are handing out racing trophies this year although the honour of giving the prize to the winner of Thursday's Ascot Gold Cup always goes to the Queen.

And paparazzi on the hunt for the most outrageous hats on Ladies Day will not have to look far.

Publicity seekers sashay about in over-the-top concoctions in the daily fashion parade that was immortalised by flower girl Eliza Dolittle in the musical "My Fair Lady.

Never off duty: Model Aimee Nazroo poses in a Modern Milk hat and another model raises awareness for Malaria with a mosquito-themed hat

Cacophony: Racegoers are determined not to let the weather dampen their spirits

'You cannot think of Ascot without thinking fashion in the same sentence' said designer Amanda Whateley who is showing her collection once more at Royal Ascot 2011.

The ever elegant Bryan Ferry, lead singer of Roxy Music, sported top hat and tails to present one of the trophies.

'Fashion has always been a great interest for me. It is nice to see people dressing up. The British do it very well. Just look at the royal wedding,' he said.

Colour blocking: The fashion paraded included floral prints and this season's hottest colour combination, orange and purple

Exuberant Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, known as 'Mr Ascot' for his many triumphs on the great course, leapt from the saddle in his trademark flying dismount after landing the Prince of Wales's Stakes on Rewilding on Wednesday.

He had no doubt about the thrill of riding here.

'I'm overwhelmed. It doesn't get better than this.'

But a look into the Ascot archives shows that racing at the big meeting has been distinctly racey at times over the past three centuries.

In 1777, a boxing bout was held on the course with a giant prize presented to a winner who beat his opponent so badly that he lost an eye.

Life is rosy: A teal hat made with yellow and red roses

Birds of a feather: A monochrome head piece, left, and bird creation

Artistic license: Ladies Day always sees racegoers go to great and creative efforts with fashion

Today, racegoers congregate for a communal singalong around the bandstand after racing. It's a far cry from the days when cockfights were staged and 10 marquees set up for card games and EO, a forerunner of roulette.

In 1799, a full-scale riot erupted over accusations of fixing in a card game. The Light Brigade had to be summoned from Windsor Castle to quell the chaos.

Highwaymen preying on wealthy racegoers also held up coaches on the way to Ascot.

Colour coordinated: Women even matched their umbrellas to their outfits

Snobbishness abounded when the introduction of a rail line to Ascot meant that the masses could now enjoy a day at the races.

Nineteenth century reporter Pierce Egan feared Ascot could no longer be protected from 'the pollution of sheer cockneyism,' a blunt dig at working-class racegoers from the East End of London.

Ascot racecourse manager Charles Barnett, who welcomes 300,000 fans to the course over the five-day racing extravaganza, clearly revels in the rich history of the picturesque track.

'It is as stylish and elegant as it has ever been. It is only our first 300 years and hopefully we will go on as long as that again,' he said.

Calling time: Empty tables and chairs sit on the lawn as the rain continues

Happy birthday Ascot: Course officials with 300th anniversary umbrellas

One is not amused: Escort Helen Wood, known for her affair with Wayne Rooney, enjoys a glass of Champagne, left, and tattoo fan takes in the view

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2004264/Royal-Ascot-2011-Carole-Middleton-arrives-Queen-Ladies-Day.html#ixzz1PTVdtBDA