'They've lost control': French claim Japan is hiding full scale of nuclear disaster as emergency teams desperately fire water cannon at reactors from

By David Derbyshire


-Workers battling nuclear meltdown evacuated today after radiation levels increased
-Police water cannon commandeered to spray complex
-Attempts to dump water on reactors by helicopter fail
-6.0 magnitude aftershock off Chiba, east of Tokyo, causes further tremors today
-In Europe, 500 bone marrow transplant centres put on standby to treat victims from Japan
-The plant rocked by second fire in No 4 unit and two more explosions, bringing the total to four
-France’s Nuclear Safety Authority ranks crisis second only in gravity to Chernobyl in 1986

Damaged: This dramatic pictures shows for the first time the damage wreaked upon the Fukushima plant which was today shrouded in smoke and steam bellowing from the damaged third and fourth reactors


Japan's stricken nuclear power plant was abandoned today, as soaring radiation forced emergency workers to flee for their lives and authorities were reduced to spraying reactors with water cannon from afar.

All 50 emergency workers who had been fighting to keep overheating reactors cool were pulled back 500 yards from the complex as radiation levels became too dangerous.

And in an extraordinary attack, the French government accused the Japanese of losing control of the situation and hiding the full scale of the disaster.

Military helicopters made a failed attempt to drop water on the reactors from above, amid desperate efforts to cool nuclear fuel. Police water cannons usually used in riot control were even requested to spray the site from long range.

The emergency teams had been pumping sea water into reactors using fire engines, but those efforts are thought to have stopped as the workers were pulled out.

Fears of 'an apocalypse' were raised by European officials as radiation levels soared . In another attack, French Industry Minister Eric Besson said:'Let's not beat about the bush. They have visibly lost the essential of control (of the situation). That is our analysis, in any case, it's not what they are saying.'

In a sign of mounting panic, Cabinet Secretary Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano has already warned that the long-range cooling efforts may not work.

He said: 'It's not so simple that everything will be resolved by pouring in water. We are trying to avoid creating other problems.' The emergency workers are reportedly preparing to return to the complex.

Destroyed: Damage after an earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo, is seen in this satellite image taken 9:35 am local time (0035 GMT)

Crisis: A cloud of white smoke can be seen rising from the nuclear power plant today as workers battling to control the chaos were evacuated after soaring radiation levels

Desperate measures: A Japanese military helicopter scoops water from the Pacific, which it later attempted to drop on overheating reactors


More than 140,000 residents within 19 miles of the plant were ordered to stay indoors - in addition to the 180,000 already evacuated from the immediate area. Terrified families clogged roads as they tried to flee.

And The French government urged its nationals living in Tokyo to leave the country or head to southern Japan due to the risk of radiation from an earthquake-crippled nuclear power plant to the north of the capital.

The French embassy in Tokyo said in a statement that its advisory applied with immediate effect to those French nationals who were not obliged to remain in the city. It added that it had asked Air France to mobilise planes currently in Asia to evacuate French citizens, and two were already on their way.

On Tuesday, a fire broke out in the same reactor's fuel storage pond - an area where used nuclear fuel is kept cool - causing radioactivity to be released into the atmosphere. TEPCO said the new blaze erupted because the initial fire had not been fully extinguished.

The turn of events caused European energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger to warn that Tokyo had almost lost control of events. ‘There is talk of an apocalypse and I think the word is particularly well chosen,’ he told the European Parliament.

But just before 4am this morning the Japanese government said that the fire which had raged for around seven hours had been brought under control.

The Japanese government later ordered emergency workers to withdraw from its stricken nuclear power complex today amid a surge in radiation.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the workers, who have been dousing the reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant with seawater in a frantic effort to stabilise their temperatures, had no choice but to pull back from the most dangerous areas.

Screening: A woman is checked with a Geiger counter at a public welfare centre in Hitachi City, Ibaraki

Extreme measures: There are temporaryradiation cleaning shelter, set up by across the affected area including Nihonmatsu city in Fukushima

Potentially exposed: Women, one holding her dog, are scanned for radiation at a temporary evacuation centre for residents living near the Fukushima plant


'The workers cannot carry out even minimal work at the plant now,' Mr Edano said, as smoke billowed above the crippled complex. 'Because of the radiation risk we are on stand-by.'

Mr Edano warned that helicopters drafted in to tackle the nuclear spills may not work. He said: 'It's not so simple that everything will be resolved by pouring in water. We are trying to avoid creating other problems,' he said.

'We are actually supplying water from the ground, but supplying water from above involves pumping lots of water and that involves risk. We also have to consider the safety of the helicopters above,' he said.


Testing: Workers in protective white suits screen worried evacuees at a radiation contamination centre yesterday


Life and death: A woman reacts to news that a relative has died, left, and a baby is checked for signs of radiation, right


The alarm spread worldwide. In Europe, some 500 bone marrow transplant centres were put on standby to treat any victims from Japan. And in India, officials demanded that imported Japanese goods be screened for radiation contamination.

The plant was yesterday rocked by a fire and two more explosions - bringing the total to four. One damaged the concrete and steel walls protecting reactor 2 – as concerns grew that the casing could split and potentially send out a cloud of dangerous radiation.

Aftershocks continue to hit the country, and a 6.0 magnitude tremor struck in the Pacific just off Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, today, raised concerns that further damage would be caused to the already-weakened container walls of four reactors at the Fukushima plant.

Hajimi Motujuku, a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), said the outer housing of the containment vessel at the No 4 unit at the complex caught fire.

Bustle: Passengers wait to leave at the Tokyo International Airport, some on any plane they can

Chaos: Smoke and steam billows from the damaged third and fourth reactors at the Fukushima plant, while right, hundreds of drivers desperate to flee the region pile on to the roads

At risk: Evacuees from the 18-mile radius around the plant are screened for radiation exposure at a testing centre yesterday


Efforts to cool overheating reactors were temporarily suspended after the levels were deemed dangerous to human health.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the workers, who were dousing the reactors with seawater in a frantic effort to stabilize their temperatures, had no choice except to withdraw.

'The workers cannot carry out even minimal work at the plant now,' Edano said. 'Because of the radiation risk we are on standby.' Radiation levels had gone down later in the day but it was not immediately clear if the workers had been allowed back in.

Meanwhile, France’s Nuclear Safety Authority said the disaster now equated to a six on the seven-point international scale for nuclear accidents, ranking the crisis second only in gravity to Chernobyl in 1986.


The authority’s chief Andre-Claude Lacoste said: ‘It is very clear that we are at a level six. We are clearly in a catastrophe.’

In desperation, Tokyo Electric Power, which is responsible for the Fukushima plant, asked U.S. helicopters to drop water on to the building in an attempt to cool a reactor, as radiation levels are too high for people to approach it.

Levels at the site peaked at a dangerous 400 millisieverts yesterday – four times the level that can trigger cancer. However, they had fallen again by the end of the day. Japan ordered a 30-mile no fly zone over the exclusion zone to stop the spread of radiation.


Source:dailymail

A right Royal day out! Take the Kate Middleton tour to the church

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON


Introducing your host: Charmian Griffiths shows clippings of Will and Kate as the bus sits in a car park opposite the Old Boot Inn


It was supposed to be a one-off event, but the organisers of a tour of Kate Middleton country said it was so popular they wanted to keep on doing it and they are now taking bookings for more trips. In fact, they have even more than trebeled the price.

Mortons coaches in Berkshire carries out a whistle-stop tour of 'Kate Middleton Country' with highlights of her early life being pointed out.

For the prince(ss)ly sum of £35 each, tourists can converge on the banks of the River Thames in central London before being whisked off on an hour and a half drive to the countryside of Berkshire.


The different locations on the tour of Kate Middleton Country


n February the tours on the 33-seater coach were on offer for £10 with commentary from their 'Blue Badge' guide, Charmain Griffiths who insists on referring to Kate as Catherine.

Now they are three and a half times as much, but that has done little to stop its popularity.

A spokesman at Morton's Coaches said: 'It's proving popular. We have got one more booked for March 26, but no more as of yet, it all depends on how popular that is and how much demand there is.'

Since the first trip back in February, the company has had numerous requests from as far away as America and Japan. Admittedly most (if not all) of the trips have been from the press, but Mortons remain hopeful that things will pick up with tourists as Kate and Will's big day gets closer.


Since their engagement Kate's sleepy home village of Bucklebury has become very popular with outside


Tour guide Charmian Griffiths holds up a magazine clipping of Britain's Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton during a bus tour highlighting areas of Berkshire where Middleton grew up.

The first stop is at Kate's first school, St Andrew's Prep School - a private school set well back off the road and behind bushes and trees so that it isn't even possible to get a photograph. Tourists instead leave with a picture of the sign.

Her secondary school, Marlborough College, is miles away in Wiltshire so probably even more expensive than the £35 for the Berkshire trip.


Star attraction: One of the highlights of the £35 trip is St Andrews Church where Kate was baptised


The historic church where Kate was baptised, just down the road from her parents' house in Bucklebury


Following the visit to the sign in a bush, the royal tourists are taken to the church where Kate was Baptised.

Those disappointed that the school was out of bounds will hopefully feel that St Andrews Church in Bradfield is a bit more of a success. If you are lucky the church will be open and you can get pictures of yourself at the font, or even walking down the aisle.

With the morning out of the way and Kate's early years covered, the trip then fast forwards to lunch at the local pub where she has been known to drink with William.

The Old Boot Inn, in the deliciously named Stanford Dingley is a regular, unassuming village pub that might be threatened with closure if it didn't have this sudden international interest.


Royal education: As Kate's prep school is out of bounds, the first stop on the tour can only get as far as the sign at the end of the drive while the sign on the right is the after lunch treat


Bradfield School: The unassuming CofE primary that is now the focus of 'international tourism'


Lunch stop at the Old Boot Inn in the deliciously named village of Stanford Dingley


Outsiders aren't as welcome as you might expect, what with all the extra cash coming into the community, but the food and drink are good enough.

The landlord, along with many other people in the village, has received an invite to the royal wedding.

After lunch there is more excitement with a quick trip to stand outside Bradfield Primary School where she was a pupil. Then it's back on the road, heading to a house in the same village that she is thought to have lived in early in her life.

Up the road is Bucklebury, the home of Kate's parents, Carole and Michael.


Royal household: A house where it is believed Kate lived when she was much younger


Since their engagement press interest at the Middleton's house is only sporadic compared to the constant watch that was from across the road after the initial excitement.

Kate's Country Tour barely even stops outside their five-bedroom house before speeding off again to the next and final stop. A Spar.

Hash and Chan, the owners of the shop, are among the lucky few to be on the guest list at the wedding. They will pose for photographs, only too aware of the financial capital that having a royal in their midst will bring.


Welcome news: Carole and Michael Middleton outside their home in Bucklebury, Berks, which is the penultimate 'stop' on the tour before heading to the Spar shop in nearby Bradfield


Not everyone is enjoying the attention being turned on Bucklebury, however.

Wynne Frankum, chair of Bucklebury Parish Council, told the BBC: 'This is her home. Her family have been in the village and the parish all her life. We are privately proud.

People have been very protective of Kate for a long time and we respect her privacy'.

Frankum did concede though that tours through this 'quiet little backwater' would be good for local businesses.

Mortons also has a London-bound Royal Wedding tour, which promises to 'rejoice in the spectacle, pageantry and celebration' of April 29th by offering the 'best possible location to glimpse the Royal couple'.


Is Kate Middleton Too Skinny?



source: dailymail

Only he could get away with it! Prince William sports scruffy old trainers for fine dining with fiancée Kate Middleton

By Georgina Littlejohn


Don't you own any shoes, William? The young Royal kept it casual in scruffy trainers as he dined at private club Mosimann's in London last week


It prides itself on being one of the world's most prestigious private dining clubs that probably wouldn't hesitate to refuse entry to a less-than smartly dressed patron.

But if you're the future King of England, clearly these things are overlooked, as Prince William has proved.

The young Royal was snapped leaving Mosimann's in London today in a scruffy pair of old trainers, which we suspect wouldn't have got past the front step on anyone else.


He teamed the battered footwear with creased beige chinos and a blue sweater over an open-necked blue shirt.

The dress code at the club, which is run by Swiss chef and restaurateur Anton Mosimann, requires a jacket and tie for dinner.

But maybe the rules are slightly more relaxed for a lunch date, although trainers would definitely be frowned upon.

The Prince, 28, went for lunch at the Belgravia restaurant with fiancée Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa to finalise wedding plans.

Contrasting: Kate Middleton adhered to the dress code as she wore a smart brown jacket and elegant brown kitten heels


In contrast, Kate, 29, looked elegant and smart in fitted brown jacket over a black skirt and shirt and brown kitten-heeled shoes.

The trio dined in one of the club's seven private dining rooms so they could talk in private and spent 90 minutes talking about next month's nuptials.

Although according to a source, it was mostly Kate and Pippa who were making last minute arrangements.

Speaking to the News of the World, the source said: 'Kate and Pippa did most of the talking.'

Home, please: William looked as though he'd had enough wedding talk for one day as he got in his car


Source:dailymail

'It's phenomenal': Tiger Woods set to move into new $60m den that boasts a running track and four-hole golf course

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

New home: Tiger Woods is preparing to move into this new mansion in Jupiter, Florida
'I'm excited about that and I'm even more excited about my new practice facility. It's phenomenal.'


Tiger Woods is preparing to move into his $60 million Florida mansion - which comes complete with a running track and four-hole golf course.

The golfer, whose marriage to Elin Nordegren ended in a hugely expensive divorce last year, posted photos of his new pad on his blog and said he was 'excited' about making it his home.

'Pretty soon, I'll be moving into my new home in Jupiter, Florida,' he wrote.


'Excited': The golfer is eager to move into hjs new luxury residence


Before their split, Woods and Nordegren had spent months planning every last detail of the 10,000 square foot home on ultra-exclusive Jupiter Island.

But dreams of turning it into the perfect family home came crashing down after it emerged the golfer had cheated on his wife in a string of seedy affairs.

Following their divorce - which is rumoured to have cost Woods $100 million - the former World Number One took over the planning and has transformed the property into a state of the art bachelor pad.

The mansion, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, boasts huge windows for incredible sea views and has a glass-fronted lift for anyone too tired to take the stairs.

As well as a gigantic master bedroom - with, a little ironically, his-and-hers bathrooms - there are three further bedroom suites.

According to his architects' plans, the basement also houses a large wine cellar and possibly a cinema and games area with the best equipment for Woods' children Sam and Charlie.

Scores of tall trees and high boundary walls surround the plot, ensuring the privacy the golfer craves.

Another four buildings adjoin the main house, including a boathouse, golf training studio, a stand-alone garage and a huge guesthouse.


Luxury living: The property features a tennis court, gym, diving pool, lap lane, 100-foot running track and small golf course


Bachelor pad: The mansion was initially intended to be a family home prior to Tiger's split


Outside, there is a tennis court, gym, diving pool, lap lane, 100-foot running track and small golf course. A pair of boat docks will provide a berth for Woods' 155 ft yacht, aptly named Privacy.


Separate lives: Elin Nordegren with the couple's daughter in New York last week


Writing on his blog, Woods said he was particularly excited about using his new 3.5-acre back yard golf course.

'Working with my team, I designed the short-game facility and oversaw its construction,' he revealed.

'It features four greens, six bunkers with different depths and kinds of sand, a video center and a putting studio.

'If no wind is blowing, the longest club I can hit is a 7-iron. It's also set up so I can hit shots out of my second-storey studio.'

Woods' five-year marriage was left in tatters in 2009, exposed after a bizarre November 27 car crash outside his mansion in Windermere, Orlando.

Former swimwear model Nordegren quickly ditched her wedding ring - and later filed for divorce.

Speaking about her relationship with the golfer, she said she felt 'blindsided' and 'embarrassed' when she found out about his multiple infidelities.

She said: 'I never suspected. For the last three-and-a-half years, when all this was going on, I was home a lot more with pregnancies, then the children and my school.'

Nordegren added that she and Woods tried to work through their marital problems, but in the end they had to agree to split.


source: dailymail

So, is this what you'll be wearing to the wedding, Kate? Sarah Burton unveils new bridal collection for Alexander McQueen

By Maysa Rawi


Fit for a McQueen: Sarah Burton, rumoured to be designing Kate Middleton's wedding dress, unveiled the Alexander McQueen ready-to-wear collection at Paris Fashion Week yesterday


As the fashion industry is awash with reports that Kate Middleton's wedding dress will be made by Sarah Burton, the Alexander McQueen designer kept the rumour mill running when she unveiled a very bridal collection in Paris yesterday.

Although Burton dismissed claims after the show, the speculation continues and there is no doubt the stunning pieces are fit for a queen.

Kate's gown will be bespoke, but the Winter 2011 ready-to-wear line provides exciting insight into what to expect on the big day should the news turn out to be true.

Ice Queen: Romantic, long white designs with beaded and feather detailing featured high neck-lines


Romantic, long white designs with beaded and feather detailing featured high neck-lines, but no sleeves in the collection that was aptly named 'Ice Queen'.

Kate will no doubt follow in the traditional footsteps of her predecessors and eschew spaghetti straps or bustier designs in favour of a more demure look.

The odds so far have been on Kate choosing veteran designer Bruce Oldfield or Phillipa Lepley.

Innovative: Burton retained McQueen's signature look but introduced new elements, including a dress with a bodice made of chipped porcelain with a 6ft long train, which took two weeks to make

Short 'n' sweet: The collection won among the strongest reactions of any of this season's Paris shows, with the audience hooting, cheering and whistling its enthusiastic approval as Burton ducked out for a bow


But it seems fashion experts are now desperately hoping Burton will be the chosen one.

Asked whether he thought the rumours would prove true, Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley, replied 'I hope so.'

'If she were dressed by Ms Burton, she'd make a beautiful bride.'

Black Beauty: The Gothic-inspired designs were a tribute to the late Alexander McQueen

Hardcore: The collection also included a fair share of black, not to mention plentiful hardcore bondage touches

Either way, Burton won among the strongest reactions of any of this season's Paris shows, with the audience hooting, cheering and whistling its enthusiastic approval as she ducked out for a bow as the front row exchanged knowing glances.

But although white dresses dotted the collection, all the McQueen signature detailing was visible including chunky platform heels, black and Gothic accessories.

Only 35 pieces were made, giving the designer a chance to hone her expertise and concentrate on every little detail - including an intricate dress with a bodice made of chipped porcelain and a 6ft train.

It was Burton's second since she stepped into McQueen's immense shoes about a year ago following his suicide.

Burton, 36, had worked closely with McQueen for years, and her debut collection, shown last October, was lauded by the press for managing the tricky task of tapping into the late designer's creative genius, while softening McQueen's signature hard edges and letting out his painfully nipped-in waists.

And if she really is tasked with the Royal wedding dress, then her efforts have clearly paid off.


Recognition: Naomi Campbell, left, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington

Turning out to support her were supermodel Naomi Campbell - a longstanding fan of McQueen - Vogue editor Anna Wintour and creative director Grace Coddington.

Burton joined the label in 1996, where she grew to become his loyal sidekick and eventually became creative director when McQueen died last year.

After the announcement was made, she said: 'The creation of modern, beautifully crafted clothes was at the heart of Lee's vision.

'I intend to stay true to his legacy.'

Jonathan Akeroyd, president and CEO of Alexander McQueen said: 'We are delighted that Sarah has agreed to take on the role of creative director.

'Having worked alongside Lee McQueen for more than 14 years, she has a deep understanding of his vision, which will allow the company to stay true to its core values.'

Kate's choice and any details will of course not be revealed until April 29, but after yesterday's collection proved to be such a hit - and arguably the highlight of Fashion Week, the verdict is unanimous.

It would be a great shame not to see the future Princess in a McQueen dress on her big day.



Source:dailymail

Princess Anne tells Zara's fiance Mike Tindall: 'Get your nose sorted before the wedding'

By Daily Mail Reporter


Zara Phillips and her fiance Mike Tindall outside their Gloucestershire home as they announced their engagement recently


It even has its own profile on Facebook - but Mike Tindall has revealed Princess Anne has asked him to get his nose straightened before his wedding.

Tindall told producers and crew on the set of Sky 1 sports quiz A League Of Their Own that his Royal mother-in-law-to-be had expressed her fears about how the wedding photographs might look.

'Princess Anne asked me if I'd have the surgery,' he admitted. But he says that after corrective nasal surgery earlier in his career he is unlikely to go under the knife again.


Tindall is set to marry 29-year-old Zara Phillips in July and while she may be trying out new looks for the wedding with a new haircut, he says he is 'not keen' to repeat his first experience of nose surgery.

The rugby ace has broken his nose eight times so far in his 12-year career, and his olfactory organ has been the subject of many a light-hearted discussion among his team mates.

They have a nickname for the hefty Lancashire player which is reputedly unprintable, and once Tindall's nose was described as 'a relief map of the Pennines'

The news that Princess Anne had asked him to have corrective surgery so he would look better at the wedding was picked up Twitter, with one fan of the player tweeting, 'Couldn't his nose just be airbrushed in the Wedding photos?'

Princess Anne with her daughter Zara and Mike Tindall... before she asked him to get a nose job


Zara, 29, is clearly not bothered about her fiance's nose. The couple announced their engagement in January, two months after Prince William announced his engagement to Kate Middleton.

Zara and Tindall were introduced to each other by her cousin Harry at a bar in Sydney, Australia in 2002.

Last year, the couple bought a £800,000 house together in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, which is where Tindall proposed.

Opposites attract: Rugged Mike Tindall gears up for Twickenham next Sunday, while Zara shows off her sleek new 'do at a charity function last week


Posing together in casual attire outside their house in deep snow, she said: ‘I was really shocked when Mike proposed but I am very happy.'

Tindall added: 'I am delighted that Zara has agreed to marry me. We are both very excited about the next stage in our lives together.’

It's safe to say that in the days leading up to the couple's wedding in July, all eyes will be on that famous conk.



Source:dailymail

12mph step-on-and-go unicycle you can take anywhere

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Balancing act: A user test out the Solowheel, which has a top speed of 12mph and can travel for two hours on a single 45-minute charge


A designer has reinvented the wheel - with the world's smallest self-balancing unicycle.

Suitable for the daily commute or for weekend leisure, the one-wheel machine is powered by a 1,000-watt electric motor that generates a top speed of 12mph.

Users place their feet on a foldable platform either side of the wheel and simply lean forward to move, back to stop and left and right to turn.

The further forward you lean, the faster it goes, and a series of gyroscopes inside ensure the wheel remains perfectly balanced.

The Solowheel can travel for two hours on a single 45-minute charge and can climb hills with an incline of up to 15 per cent.

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery even recaptures energy when going downhill or slowing down.


The one-wheel machine will retail at £975


It was designed and created by Shane Chen, 54, who has created over 30 sports-related products for his company, Inventist.

A spokesman for the firm, based in Washington, U.S., said: 'The Solowheel is the smallest, greenest, most convenient people-mover ever invented.

'Our new self-balancing electric unicycle is more compact and fun to ride than any folding electric bike.

'Because of the gyro-sensors and left and right steering capability, you can literally step on and go - it is easy to learn.

'The Solowheel is very portable and weighs only 20lbs. This allows you to carry your wheel with you into a shop or restaurant, on an elevator, into work, to the cinema, onto a bus or train or into your classroom.

'It eliminates chaining your electric bike up to a bike rack along with others where it may get damaged or even stolen.

'Solowheel provides users with an easy, uncomplicated, straightforward ride.'
The unicycle costs £975 and will be available in the UK from next month.





source: dailymail

Kate Middleton lookalike Camilla Luddington recreates famous moment when she trained for Dragon Boat rowing race

By JESSICA SATHERLEY

Kate lookalike: Camilla Luddington plays Miss Middleton in the made-for-TV movie and recreates her rowing training session from 2007


They met while studying at St Andrews and actors Camilla Luddington and Nico Evers-Swindell were busy recreating the scenes of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s romance on-set yesterday.

Camilla looked the spitting image Kate with her long brunette locks as she joined her female rowing team during the scene.

And her skin-tight rowing gear obviously caught the attention of a certain prince, who was seen sitting in his navy blue Nike jacket making glances over at his fellow university student.


The real deal: The real Kate Middleton was training for the charity race in 2007 alongside her 20 all-female team


Camilla and Nico were creating the upcoming film William and Kate, which is set to air on U.S. television network Lifetime one week before their actual wedding
The actors were playing out the scene of Kate Middleton’s Dragon Boating training session in 2007, where she joined her all-women team The Sisterhood on the river Thames.

Kate and her 20 girls hit the water to train for a charity race that would see the first all-female crew cross the English Channel in a traditional Chinese Dragon Boat.

The ladies were getting set to compete against an all-male team in the 20-mile race to raise money for two children’s charities.


Recreating romance: Camilla and Nico Evers-Swindell are filming the relationship of Kate and William in the US


Kate’s character relived the moment by steering the 40-foot boat and shouting orders at her teammates.

At the time of this training session, Kate and William had recently rekindled their romance after a short break-up period of a few months.

Kate, who is a qualified sailor, ended up pulling out of the Dover to Calais Dragon Boat race though, following security concerns.

A spokesperson at the time said that Miss Middleton had withdrawn from the race due to security issues surrounding the media circus that followed her.


Rowing champ: During the scene, the actors train for the charity race which was meant to see Kate Middleton row from Dover to Calais in 2007


The then 25-year-old had been hounded by press after resuming her relationship with William after their split.

The actors have been busy filming the romantic love affair over the recent months, starting from the moment the two students met at Scotland’s prestigious University of St. Andrews, through the ups and downs of their nine-year courtship.

Despite the couple meeting in the UK, the relatively unknown actors have been filming the made-for-TV movie in Bel Air, California

Also starring in the film is Chariots Of Fire star Ben Cross, who is playing Prince Charles, while American Mary Elise Haydon will play Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton.



Pull out: Kate had to pull out of the charity race after training so hard, due to security issues because she had rekindled her relationship with Prince William

source: dailymail