Royal ex-factor at society wedding: Harry's 3 blondes and Wills' SIX beauties who Kate Middleton saw off

By Natalie Clarke

PUBLISHED: 22:12 GMT, 23 June 2013 | UPDATED: 10:54 GMT, 24 June 2013

It’s embarrassing enough to run into an ex at a wedding, but on Saturday no fewer than nine women who have been linked to Princes William and Harry were at the nuptials of their friends Thomas van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

And if that wasn’t drama enough, the first Royal Baby false alarm was sounded by crowds gathered outside when an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter flew overhead, sparking speculation that the Duke of Cambridge was being rushed back to London to be at the bedside of his heavily pregnant wife.

It flew low and circled the castle for several minutes, according to other witnesses who thought it had been planned as a wedding surprise. But a St James’s Palace spokesman denied that the Prince had arranged it.

William, who shared best-man duties at the wedding, attended the occasion without Kate who at the last minute decided not to attend in case she went into early labour. 

Here, NATALIE CLARKE examines the William and Harry Ex-files...

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Fancy seeing you here! Prince Harry having fun at the wedding (left) and Prince William greets his six-pack of exes (right)

Kiss for the bride: Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee kiss following their wedding at St Michael's Parish Church

Astrid Harbord, 31
Not considered princess material, party-loving Astrid and her sister Davina have been dubbed ‘the hardcore sisters’. In 2009, Astrid and Harry were seen in a car entering Clarence House by a rear gate at 1.30am. 

Family is descended from landowner Harbord Harbord, who was made Baron Suffield by Prime Minister William Pitt in 1786. Last year, her father, Charles, committed suicide after being forced to sell the family home.

Astrid, who runs her own PR company, attended the wedding with Davina. 

Hard to miss in red and pink teamed with  Lulu Guinness clutch, ?295, and Jimmy Choo wedges, ?325.

Astrid Harbord was not considered princess material due to her party-loving ways

After six years with Prince Harry Chelsy Davy decided that the royal life was not for her

Last week Cressdia Bonas was spotted flirting with a different Harry at a party in London

Chelsy Davy, 27
Her six years with Harry were turbulent and ultimately painful when they split in 2010 after she decided: ‘It’s not a life for me.’

She is the daughter of multi-millionaire Charles, who ran a game reserve in Zimbabwe, and Beverley, a former Miss Coca-Cola Rhodesia. Chelsy is single after splitting from boyfriend Matthew Mills and is working as a trainee solicitor  at respected London law firm Allen  & Overy. 

Maid of honour Chelsy wore an ?8,000, figure-hugging Bruce Oldfield dress, with champagne silk shoes.

Cressida Bonas, 23
Began dating Prince Harry last year and was seen in a clinch with him on the ski slopes in February. But last week fun-loving Cressida was seen ‘flirting’ at a party in London with another Harry — Harry Wentworth-Stanley, an old flame from Leeds University. 

Aspiring actress Cressy’s half-sister Isabella has just married Sam Branson. 

Her mother is renowned Sixties It-Girl Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon.

Cressida dresses up her Heidi Klein boho maxi dress, ?430, with a vintage blue sequin jacket and glitter heels recycled from the
pre-Wimbledon dinner. 

Jecca Craig, 31
In 2003, it was reported that a besotted William had a fling with Jecca during a visit to her family’s wildlife reserve in Kenya. It was even rumoured that they carried out a pretend engagement.

Jecca’s family are part of Kenya’s so-called Happy Valley set — white Kenyan aristocracy. Last year, it was reported she had got back with on-off boyfriend, venture capitalist Hugh Crossley. She now works as a London literary agent.

She wore a  Reiss Nerissa dress, ?189, M&S heels, ?49, and added a little glamour with an Alex Monroe bumblebee necklace, ?150.

Davina Duckworth-Chad, 34
Once accompanied William on a cruise of the Aegean Sea in 1999 with Prince Charles and Camilla. Rumoured that having his father on board gave Wills a perfect ‘cover’ for inviting lots of pretty girls on his ‘love boat’.

Davina comes from old money, being the daughter of Norfolk landowner Old Etonian Anthony Duckworth-Chad. Her brother, James, was equerry to the Queen. She married baronet’s son Tom Barber in 2004 and has twin daughters.

Her black Marzi hat, ?209, is quite funereal, but Davina adds a pop of colour in a coral Reiss ruffle-hem dress, ?179.

Jecca Craig is rumoured to have carried out a pretend engagement with Prince William

Davina Duckworth-Chad comes from old money and once accompanied William to the Aegean Sea

Natalie Hicks Lobbecke is too serious and clever to have been a princess

Natalie Hicks-Lobbecke, 33
An Army officer’s daughter from Warminster, Wiltshire, she used to flirt with William at the Beaufort Polo Club.

Too serious and clever to have been a princess, the Bristol University graduate has worked as a security consultant in Iraq for a London-based company.

She is married to property entrepreneur Ed Milbank (son of baronet Sir Anthony Milbank), with whom she has a son, Harry.

Showing off her legs in a silk taffeta bespoke skirt and jacket, Natalie accessorises with a Sylvia Fletcher for Lock and Co hat, ?865.

Rosie van Cutsem, 29
William reportedly dated Rosie briefly after he split from Kate Middleton in 2007.

Aristocratic with a hint of the bohemian, she is a passionate equestrienne and a headhunter in the City. Last month, Rosie (nee Ruck Keene) married William van Cutsem, with Wills and Kate among the guests.

With hints of the Great Gatsby, on Saturday she went for a jewelled floral hair slide and mint green flapper-style dress.

Rosie Van Cutsem and Will dated briefly when he split from Kate Middleton

Olivia Hunt had a flirtation with the Prince while she was at university in Edinburgh

Rose Farquhar was William's first love when they met at Beaufort Polo Club

Olivia Hunt, 31
She had a flirtation with Wills when she was at Edinburgh University.

An aspiring literary agent, she and William have many posh mutual friends, such as the van Cutsems. And her best friend Mary Douglas-Home’s father is close to the Queen.

Here Olivia is wearing the same style of Whiteley hat, ?119, that Kate is so keen on.

Rose Farquhar, 29
Ravishing Rose was William’s ‘first love’, when they met at Gloucestershire’s Beaufort Polo Club. Youngest daughter of Captain Ian Farquhar, master of the Beaufort Hunt.

Rose attended theatre school in New York and is now a singer. Friends say she has a serious new boyfriend, but is keeping it secret.

Her Peony print maxi dress, ?575, from Beulah London must have seen a party or two as we spotted a gaping hole!

Bride and breezy: A gust of wind blows Lady Melissa Percy's veil into the air as Chelsy Davy (seen left) and her fellow bridesmaid attempt to keep the bride's gown under control

Big day: Bride Lady Melissa is accompanied by her father the Duke of Northumberland and two bridesmaids - including Prince Harry's ex Chelsy Davy (right) - as she makes her way into St Mary's Church in Alnwick

Bridesmaid Chelsy Davy looked delighted as she walked into the church - despite having to face her ex-boyfriend Prince Harry and his new girlfriend, Cressida Bonas

Don't upstage the bride! The high society wedding was eagerly watched by many Alnwick residents, who turned out in their droves to watch the lavish ceremony

Just get me to the church on time! Lady Melissa Percy makes her way to the church with her father Ralph Percy, the 12th Duke of Northumberland

Beaming: The bride looked ecstatic as she arrived at the church gates and gave enthusiastic hugs to those waiting

Rain can't dampen their spirits! The bride's mother said that the miserable weather had not troubled the couple, who were too excited about their wedding to care

Prince Harry braves the rain, while his girlfriend Cressida Bonas seemed in a sunny mood, laughing out loud after the service

Who has he spotted? Prince Harry, who was among ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy and current love Cressida Bonas, was pictured with raised eyebrows - but who or what had prompted his reaction is unknown

Royal approval: Prince William and his brother's ex-girlfriend, graduate Chelsy Davy, gathered together to applaud the newly weds

Looking dapper: Prince Harry and Prince William are seen arriving for the wedding of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee

Pippa's heavily pregnant sister the Duchess of Cambridge was unable to attend - but the younger Middleton still managed to turn heads with a monochrome outfit and hat

Finery: Prince Harry's girlfriend Cressida Bonas, left, wearing a blue and white maxi dress and a sequinned blue jacket, walked into the church with Princess Eugenie, right, who chose a green dress and co-ordinating jacket

Princess Eugenie of York (centre) and Princess Beatrice of York (right) arrive alongside Cressida Bonas, the girlfriend of Prince Harry, for the high society wedding

Support: The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry could be seen among the party of dapper gents behind groom Thomas van Straubenzee (left) as he arrived

Dressed in their finest: Pippa Middleton, centre, leaves after attending the wedding, accompanied by other glamorous-looking guests

Father-to-be Prince William seemed in high spirits as he waved to the crowds and beamed at other guests, while his pregnant wife stayed at home

Guests: Holly Branson was spring like in a dove-grey and coral combination, while a cheery Tara Palmer Tomkinson chose a striped outfit to attend the big day

Venue: The couple married at St Mary's Church in Alnwick ahead of a lavish reception at the bride's sprawling ancestral home - which has doubled for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter movies

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War of words erupts after wedding guests gift bride 'cheap and embarrassing' food hamper containing marshmallow fluff and croutons

By Sadie Whitelocks

PUBLISHED: 22:06 GMT, 20 June 2013 | UPDATED: 22:46 GMT, 20 June 2013

Talking point: One bride was insulted when a guest gifted her a food hamper and said money would have been more appropriate (stock picture)

A war of words between a pair of disgruntled brides and two guests who brought them a 'cheap and embarrassing' gift, has sparked a debate over wedding etiquette.

Kathy Mason from Hamilton, Ontario, and her boyfriend, who wished to remain anonymous, decided to create a food hamper for their friends' same-sex marriage and packed it with a mix of 'fun' treats including pasta, olive oil, croutons, biscuits, Marshmallow Fluff and Sour Patch Kids.

They attached a carefully worded card to the parcel which read: 'Enjoy . . . Life is delicious.'

However, the European newlyweds were less than impressed with the gesture and contacted the couple the next day via text message to ask if they had the receipt so they could get the money back instead.

An insulted Ms Mason decided to reveal the ensuing back-and-forth exchanges to The Hamilton Spectator in a bid to prove that what she and her partner had done was 'thoughtful and not out of place.' 

In the conversation trail, conducted via text and Facebook, the unnamed brides argued that it cost $200 to have Ms Mason and her plus one at their big day.

They pointed out that booking a lakeside venue in Stoney Creek, Ontario, and providing catering for 210 guests had bumped their budget up to $34,000.

Apparently Ms Mason was one of only two invitees who didn't gift at least $150 cash - the other gave a present in addition to money.

'You ate steak, chicken, booze, and a beautiful venue . . . If anything you should be embarrassed for being so cheap and embarrassing,' the brides said in one message.

The bitchy spat, published on The Hamilton Spectator's site on June 11, has attracted widespread interest.

One commentator named Vince sided with the brides, agreeing that dollars would have been more appropriate.

'As a person who has been invited to numerous weddings [and] a firm believer of the saying "do unto others." I am always sensitive when it comes to giving a gift,' he wrote.

'If I knew the couple is spending $100/plate, I make sure to give $250 or more not only to cover my and fiancees dinner but to give the newlyweds a gift as well. I am getting married in September and would be furious if this happened to me.'

'You should never host a party that you cannot afford, or expect your guests to pay for it'

And Victoria agreed, writing: 'I have never received a hamper as a gift, again I'm European and we are bred to be very generous.

'Gift baskets are appropriate for showers, birthdays...etc but in my culture anything less than a $100 per person monetary gift is insulting. I have Greek, Portuguese and other European friends who would wholeheartedly agree.'

However, Laura supported Ms Mason and her boyfriend, deeming the brides' reaction 'rude'.

'I am so disappointed in society,' she explained. 'We have truly lost the meaning of weddings. It’s a ceremony to celebrate your love and to bring together the people who will support you through your marriage.

'It’s not profit oriented business venture. I personally think the gift had an element of fun in it.'

And Louise Fox, a Toronto-based etiquette coach who has appeared on shows including Slice TV's Rich Bride, Poor Bride, says even requesting the receipt was out of order.

Controversial: A picture of the food hamper created by Ms Mason and her boyfriend for their friends' wedding

She suggests the just-wed couple should have 'offered the basket to family, friends or a food bank, then written a thank-you note that focused on the thought behind the act of gift-giving.'

The first message Ms Mason received the day after her friends' wedding read: 'Heyyy I just wanna say thanks for the gift but unfortunately I can't eat any of it lol I'm gluten intolerant. Do u maybe have a receipt [?]'

She said she was surprised by the mention of a gluten allergy, as the brides had recently been to eat at the Italian restaurant where her boyfriend works and both ate whole wheat pasta.

As a result, she failed to respond directly to the question. This triggered a follow-up text 24 hours later. In the second note she was bluntly told that a financial contribution would have been preferred.

'Thanks again for the $30 gift basket . . . you should be embarrassed for being so cheap'

[Instead we just] got fluffy whip and sour patch kids in return. Just a heads up for the future :),' the bride sniped.

An infuriated Ms Mason then told the happy couple 'you should never host a party that you cannot afford, or expect your guests to pay for it.'

She also stressed that she had done a lot of research on wedding etiquette.

But the angry brides did little to settle her temper. 'Weddings are to make money for your future. Not to pay for peoples meals,' they said.

'Do more research. People haven't gave [sic] gifts since like 50 years ago! But thanks again for the $30 gift basket.'

Speaking to The Hamilton Spectator after the incident the brides, who are of Italian and Croatian descent, put it down to cultural differences.

'I don't know what day or century they're living in,' one concluded.

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Pippa Middleton steps out in the same arty monochrome dress for society wedding Kelly Brook wore last month

By Deni Kirkova

PUBLISHED: 14:37 GMT, 23 June 2013 | UPDATED: 16:28 GMT, 23 June 2013

They're both long-standing fans of fashion brand Tabitha Webb yet had so far avoided being spotted in the same design.

But yesterday was the day that Pippa Middleton, 29, stepped out in the same dress Kelly Brook wore last month.

The slender Royal relative wore the Thorn Print AW13 frock to the wedding of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee at St Mary's Church, Alnwick, Northumberland.

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Pippa Middleton was pictured yesterday in the same Tabitha Webb Thorn Print dress that Kelly Brook wore

Meanwhile curvy Kelly Brook, 33, was seen in exactly the same ensemble on 8 May as she headed to the Riverside Studios for her appearance on Celebrity Juice.

But the television presenter and model wore the dress quite differently to the Duchess of Cambridge's sister.

Kelly paired her elegant peplum number with platform heels, a small chain strap bag and voluminous flowing hair while Pippa, a lifestyle writer, accessorised it with a black spiked headpiece, clutch bag and pointed patent courts.

The speckled monochrome design - reminiscent of Jackson Pollock's Number 19 masterpiece - is not the first time these two have been spotted in Webb's clothes.

A glamorous Pippa walks with other guests as they depart the society wedding yesterday

The Tabitha Webb team posted this picture on their Facebook with the caption: We've been revealing some of our favourite AW13 prints over on Instagram... How do you like the Thorn Print for next season?

The jury is out as to who wore it better but Kelly is certainly the curvier model

The younger Middleton sister wore a light peach ?285 Tabitha Webb dress to the Waitrose summer party in May, which sold out just days after she was pictured wearing it, also opting for a sexy black number by the designer to attend the launch of new Mayfair bar Mr Fogg's.

The Waitrose columnist was accompanied by stockbroker boyfriend Nico Jackson, her brother James and Donna Air, as she paired her side split Tasman ensemble with a pair of tan high heels and kinnari.com earrings in 14ct yellow gold vermeil.

Ms Brook meanwhile wore the another arty Tabitha Webb dress on 9 May, this time the Monet inspired Narcissus number, and she later opted for the Bali dress in a berry shade for the Celebrity Juice wrap party on 19 May.

Tabitha Webb, the British talent behind the dresses, has already seen great success with the label on which she has been focussing full-time since folding Project D London, the company she ran with Dannii Minogue.

Pippa's ?285 peach Webb dress later sold out (l) and in thigh split Tasman dress for outing with boyfriend (r)

Brook in the maroon Tabitha Webb dress (l) and (r) in a blue and green patterned ensemble on 9 May

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