Meghan and Harry: we are in love

Meghan and Harry: we are in love

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''We're two people who are really happy and in love''. Meghan Markle has been speaking to Vanity Fair magazine and, boy, is the world taking notice. Almost a year on from the confirmation of her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan has been talking about their relationship and everything in this regal garden is looking really rather rosy. Do the ironing now, 2018 looks set to be a really busy royal year.

In Vanity Fair's October cover story, @MeghanMarkle opens up about living in the spotlight, starring on @Suits_USA, and her whirlwind royal romance: "I think it’s really simple. We're two people who are really happy and in love." Photograph by @therealpeterlindbergh.

A post shared by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on Sep 5, 2017 at 4:00am PDT

Meghan is featured in the October edition of the magazine under the headline ''She's Just Wild About Harry'' and she really is. As well as declaring their love for each other, Meghan confirms that the couple started dating in July 2016 and that the first few months of their relationship were pretty hectic as she was working non stop while the couple hopped across oceans to see each other. But she is very clear of where they are now. Harry is called her boyfriend in no uncertain terms and she tells the magazine that this is ''our time, this is for us'' before adding ''it's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours''.

And Meghan also drops the biggest hint yet that you need to get that bunting ready for 2018. She says ''I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell...''. Yep, I'm taking that as a preview of an engagement press interview, too. 

October cover star Meghan Markle may be just the perfect woman for Britain’s iconoclastic royal family https://t.co/5EYLUBhCLG pic.twitter.com/xhBcc39uil

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) September 5, 2017

The interview is accompanied by some gorgeous photos by Peter Lindbergh and there's plenty of chat, too, about Meghan's career and her charity work. She's also quite frank about the issues, including racism and sexism, that she's faced. The whole piece leaves the reader in no doubt of two things. Meghan is very much her own person with strong opinions and a streak of diplomacy that even that most matriarchal of Windsors, Queen Mary, would find deeply appealing. And she and her prince are very much a couple who will make the future their own when they're ready. But no one can read this and not decide that that future is definitely together.

Photo: Vanity Fair Instagram

5 things we already know about #RoyalBaby Cambridge no 3

5 things we already know about #RoyalBaby Cambridge no 3

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The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant  with her third child and the royal guessing games have begun. Gender, weight, name and hair colour are all already topics of discussion with bookies offering odds on all sorts of royal baby guesses. Like the previous Cambridge pregnancies, the information we have right now is rather limited but we can start to put together a picture of Kate's latest great expectations. Here are five things we already know about #RoyalBabyCambridge number three...

1. Fifth in line to the throne

This one is set in stone. Baby Cambridge number three will be fifth in line to the throne from birth. New succession laws which do away with gender preference were brought in before the arrival of Prince George and it means that William and Kate's third child will follow their grandad Prince Charles then dad, big brother, George and big sister, Charlotte, in the succession regardless of whether they are a boy or a girl. The birth of a boy would mean Charlotte becoming the most senior royal yet to benefit from the changes, writing her name in the history books as the first princess in direct line to the throne not to be automatically overtaken by a boy. 

2. A spring baby

We don't yet know the Duchess of Cambridge's due date and we will probably never find out as Kensington Palace didn't announce exactly when George or Charlotte was expected and there's no reason to change third time round. But we can do some sums here. Kate has, once again, begun experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness, which has made her so ill she has had to announce her pregnancy well before the 12 week date usually chosen as she has been forced to cancel engagements. But it also gives us a clue or two. Clarence House confirmed Kate was expecting for the first time on December 3rd 2012 and George was born on July 22nd 2013, a gap of eight months. Her second pregnancy was confirmed on September 4th 2014 and Charlotte was born on May 2nd 2015, another eight month gap. So September 4th 2017 means we'll likely meet baby Cambridge number three around the end of April 2018. 

3. An eight pounder

The Duchess of Cambridge has really upped the Royal Family's average when it comes to birth weights. Prince George weighed in at 8lbs 6oz while Princess Charlotte tipped the scales at 8lbs 3oz, both big babies for the House of Windsor which has seen several seven pounders in its day. It makes it extremely likely that baby Cambridge number three will be over eight pounds and we can be all but sure the scales that weigh them will be at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington where Kate had George and Charlotte. 

4. Three names for a prince or princess

William and Kate chose three names for their first two children making it all but confirmed that their third baby will also get a trio of monikers to carry through life. The latest baby expected at Kensington Palace will definitely be an HRH (again, thanks to a law change brought in before the birth of Prince George) and they will be known as Prince X or Princess X of Cambridge.

5. Sixth great grandchild for the Queen

Unless Kate is expecting twins or triplets, we also know for sure that the Queen will become a great grandmother for the sixth time in 2018. Baby Cambridge number three will be her sixth great grandchild. She has four great granddaughters (Savannah Phillips, 6, Isla Phillips, 5, Mia Tindall, 3 and Princess Charlotte, 2) and just the one great grandson (you already know this bit, it's four year old Prince George) right now but will see her considerable dynasty stretch just a little bit further into the future when Royal Baby Cambridge number three arrives. 

Photo credit: Kensington Palace Twitter/ Wiki Commons/ Royal Family Instagram

Autumn inspired wedding bouquets

Autumn inspired wedding bouquets

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As the weather has taken an autumnal turn, I thought we would continue our look at seasonal bouquets. You can see spring flowers here and summer bouquets here.

Lots of flowers are available all year but these ideas are to give you inspiration for each season.

This gorgeous teardrop bouquet would be perfect for an autumn wedding, beautiful lilies, mango calla lily, roses and seasonal berries. The colours were to go with a gold styled wedding, perfect for autumn.

If you love roses, this small posy of dusky lilac and ivory roses with gold carnations, gyp and foliage imperfect for the relaxed country bride or her maids.

A more vibrant wedding could have a mix of seasonal anemone, mostly available in jewel colours.

This bouquet I made for an autumn wedding fair and it received lots of attention. Coral and ivory roses with peach carnations, calla lily and dusky hydrangea.

Our most popular bouquet is perfect for autumn roses, brunia, seeded eucalyptus, senecio and this time with added thistle.

Maybe you want seasonal colours too. These bouquets were from a late autumn wedding and were stunning against the wine coloured dresses.

Large overarm bridal bouquet with dahlia, lily, orchids, roses and loads and lots of scented eucalyptus.

The bridesmaids carried posies of calla lily, roses, thistle, dahlia and eucalyptus.

Another vibrant wedding of cerise and orange gerbera with red spray roses

or roses and gerbera and lots of grasses, ting ting and corn for an autumn country wedding.

Callas come in many gorgeous colours and are stunning in autumn. From dark purple flowers teamed with white ostrich feathers and silver ting ting for a glitzy day

to dark purple, and two toned flowers with foliage for a more relaxed day.

Are you a foliage lover like me? These bouquets were for a styled shoot and the brief was foliage with a hint of colour.

I loved this day, the setting was stunning and the whole set up was my kind of day.

A bridal bouquet of lashing of eucalyptus, with a few amaranthus, and roses. Makes a lovely swishing sound when you walk and the movement means the scent really comes out of the foliage, win win!!

A rose lover? Roses come in hundreds of shades, these are some of the gorgeous autumnal ones. Bright coral, coral and cream all look stunning together, but there are so many more.

An autumn come winter style, roses, cyclamen (highly scented) and thistles for a blue themed day.

Or perhaps you love gerbera? Again lots of colour choice, and many two toned varieties now available.

Another favourite bouquet of mine, lots of foliage with seasonal coloured gerbera and berries.

Back to call lily, Mango callas with feathers and dark foliage loops perfect for your maids to carry

and perhaps you want a more traditional style bouquet?

A shower design using calla, roses, eustoma and agapanthus.

A beautiful bouquet for a gold themed wedding.

Or if you prefer your colours a little brighter

All white weddings can look stunning against the darker days. The gorgeous bloom incurved chrysants are surrounded by lots of small headed roses and then with a collar of feathers.

Too white? Roses with Rosemary, cones and teasels, keeping the colour white but adding in seasonal flavour.

Or for a late summer/autumn wedding go bright and bold with the lovely sunflower.

I hope these have inspired your flower choices and what you may like to carry down the aisle.

There are many many more choices and flowers so to talk through your options please get in touch with your wedding date and book a consultation today.

Fill in the form here and let me know a convenient day and time and I will get back to you.

Sandra x

The new Swedish line of succession

The new Swedish line of succession

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We have a name, let's give him his place. The latest addition to the Swedish Royal Family has been announced as Prince Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna and he comes in as number six in the line to the throne. To celebrate his arrival, here's a rundown of how the Swedish succession looks now little Gabe has made his debut. Don't get too comfy, Madeleine has another to add come March 2018....

First in line

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree

Duchess of Vastergotland

Born July 14th 1977

Second in line

Princess Estelle of Sweden

Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary

Duchess of Ostergotland

Born February 23rd 2012

Third in line

Prince Oscar of Sweden

Oscar Carl Olof

Duke of Skane

Born March 2nd 2016

Fourth in line

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden

Carl Philip Edmund Bertil

Duke of Varmland

Born May 13th 1979

Fifth in line

Prince Alexander of Sweden

Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil

Duke of Sodermanland

Born April 19th 2016

Sixth in line

Prince Gabriel of Sweden

Gabriel Carl Walther

Duke of Dalarna

Born August 31st 2017

Seventh in line

Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Madeleine Therese Amelie Josephine

Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland

Born June 10th 1982

Eighth in line

Princess Leonore of Sweden

Leonore Lilian Maria 

Duchess of Gotland

Born February 20th 2014

Ninth in line

Prince Nicolas of Sweden

Nicolas Paul Gustaf

Duke of Angermanland

Born June 15th 2015

Photos: kungahuset.se