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Alexander McQueen ‘haunting’ friends

Alexander McQueen 'haunting' friends

Left: Alexander McQueen; right: Sarah Burton

The woman behind Catherine Middleton’s wedding dress reportedly believes her late mentor Alexander McQueen is speaking to her from beyond the grave.

Sarah Burton was McQueen’s protégé, and took over his fashion house after his suicide in February, 2010. Sarah, who designed both of Catherine’s wedding dresses and Pippa’s much-admired bridesmaid gown, is one of several people who reportedly believe McQueen is still communicating with them.

In pictures: Prince William and Catherine Middleton wed

Kristin Knox, author of Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation, has detailed the eerie occurrences many of McQueen’s friends reportedly attribute to his spirit trying to contact them.

Knox says Sarah Burton believes McQueen contacted her last year, several months after his death. She was working in her London studio when a crow flew into the window, killing itself. Knox claims Burton and her team are convinced it was a message from McQueen, who loved using feathers in his designs.

Knox also reports that people have felt McQueen’s presence in the last two Alexander McQueen fashion shows.

“I do think fashion people are naturally superstitious and definitely very spiritual, much more so than any other industry,” Knox told the New York Post.

“Any time someone in the innermost recesses of the fashion world passes away, especially someone with a godlike status and where the death concerned is a tragic one, will spawn tales of his followers, co-workers and friends claiming his spirit remains with him.”

Pop star Lady Gaga was very close to McQueen, and has frequently claimed he is communicating with her from beyond the grave. She says he “wrote” her latest single ‘Born This Way’ through her.

“I think he’s up in heaven with fashion strings in his hands, ‘marionetting’ away, planning this whole thing,” Gaga told the UK’s Harper’s Bazaar last month.

Even Knox has experienced an eerie incident relating to McQueen. She believes he ‘approved’ her book about him even before she started writing it.

“I was in New York for Fashion Week in February,” she said. “When I heard the news about his passing, I felt strangely compelled to visit his store and pay my final respects.

“The atmosphere in the shop was beyond eerie, it was more like a tomb or a shrine than a store, which was deadly silent, with only 10 people allowed in at once. Candles were burning and people were weeping.”

Related: Catherine Middleton chooses an Alexander McQueen dress

The next morning, Knox received an email from a publishing house, asking if she wanted to write a book in tribute to the designer.

“I couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow he had chosen, or at least approved, me to pen his tribute,” she said.

Your say: Have you had any eerie experiences with ghosts or spirits?

Video: Catherine Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey

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Scarlett Johansson ditches blonde for fiery red

Scarlett Johansson ditches blonde for fiery red

Scarlett Johansson is now scarlet in more ways than one — the actress showed off her new bright red hair at an event over the weekend.

The 26-year-old actress is normally blonde, but has dyed her tresses a fiery red. She debuted her new look at the White House Correspondents’ party in Washington DC on Saturday night.

In pictures: Million dollar bodies

Scarlett seemed proud of her new locks, spending longer than average on the red carpet outside the event, posing for photographers.

The last time Scarlett had red hair was in 2009, when she dyed it for her role as the Black Widow in Iron Man 2. She is reprising the role in 2011 film The Avengers, which is the reason she has dyed her hair red again.

In pictures: Guess the celebrity tattoo

Scarlett separated from her husband Ryan Reynolds last year and is currently dating Sean Penn, 50.

Your say: Do you think Scarlett looks better as a blonde or a redhead?

Video: Scarlett Johansson moves in with Sean Penn?

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The Weekly’s royal wedding issue

The Weekly's royal wedding commemorative issue

The Weekly's royal wedding commemorative issue

Continuing a long tradition of providing unrivalled coverage of royal weddings through the decades, this special edition of The Weekly will be a collector’s item not to be missed.

Featuring more than 50 pages of photos and reports direct from London plus all the behind-the-scenes stories from William and Catherine’s big day, the commemorative issue will be on sale around the nation at all the usual outlets.

The Weekly team has been working tirelessly to get the best possible royal wedding souvenir issue out as quickly as possible, and while we are running ahead of schedule, the quick turnaround could still bring some delays.

The royal wedding commemorative issue will be available in the Eastern states on Wednesday but there may be delays in South Australia and Western Australia with deliveries expected to arrive between Wednesday and Friday May 6 at the latest.

For our loyal subscribers, magazines will be in the post on Wednesday, causing a slightly late arrival, but rest assured there has been no compromise in quality and the best possible royal wedding coverage will arrive in your mailbox as soon as possible.

To complete your collection and to ensure you have a Royal Wedding memento worthy of a king, a sumptuous, 116-page Australian Women’s Weekly commemorative royal wedding book goes on sale on May 20.

Video: Putting together The Weekly’s royal issue

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A fairytale: Woman’s Day’s Judy Wade was in the Abbey!

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Woman’s Day royal correspondent Judy Wade was in Westminster Abbey.

As the commoner bride transformed into a fairytale princess right before our very eyes, it was Kate and William’s personal touch that ensured this much-hyped affair felt very much like a laid-back, friendly, family gathering.

The bride was not the only one transformed. Filled with lush blossoms and towering maple trees, historic Westminster Abbey took on a woodland atmosphere. We might as well have been at a country wedding in Kate’s home village of Berkely, where the Middleton house sits surrounded by oak trees.

As the guests entered, a wonderful and up-beat party vibe unfolded. Greeting each other with hugs and air-kisses, people mingled and filled the air with lively chatter. You could say we were all swept up in the heady atmosphere of wedding fever.

Read more of Judy’s beautiful story and see the stunning pictures in the special royal issue of Woman’s Day on sale Sunday May 1.

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Prince William and Harry: Brothers in arms

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There’s no doubt William and Harry’s mother, Diana, would have been proud of her boys.

But as his big brother William took his last walk as a single man down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, it was Harry, not the groom, who seemed overwhelmed by the pomp and pageantry of the occasion.

While William smiled and chatted to Middleton family members as he waited for his bride to arrive, Harry tugged at the collar of his Captain of the Household Cavalry uniform and nervously fidgeted in his spurred shoes.

As Kate made her way to the altar, fanfared by a choir and trumpeters, the red-headed larrikin returned to form, wise-cracking, “There’s no backing out now” to his beloved big brother.

Read more and see all of the stunning pictures in the special royal issue of Woman’s Day on sale Sunday May 1.

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Send your message to Prince William and Kate Middleton!

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Do you have a message of congratulations for the newly wed Prince William and Kate Middleton? Send it to us and we will pass it on directly to the couple!

The entire Woman’s Day team have gone to great lengths to bring you a beautiful royal wedding album, so that it can become a gorgeous keepsake in your family for years to come.

Along with your messages of congratulations, we will also be sending the newly titled couple a copy of our special royal Woman’s Day issue to add to the memories of their special day!

Write your messages to Prince William and Kate Middleton in the comments space below.

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Middleton sisters usher in new age of royal style

Middleton sisters usher in new age of royal style

Catherine and Phillipa Middleton preparing to enter Westminster Abbey

As if marking a new era of British royalty wasn’t enough, Catherine Middleton and her sister Phillipa are also redefining British style.

The Middleton sisters have shirked the “commoner” stereotypes previously bestowed on them, impressing fashion critics worldwide with their stylish and chic royal wear.

In pictures: William and Catherine celebrate their marriage

Both in Alexander McQueen gowns, designed by Briton Sarah Burton, Catherine and Phillipa embraced equally chic styles of modern British fashion, opting for stylish and sexy respectively during the royal wedding proceedings.

Catherine’s long-awaited wedding dress was a throwback to Grace Kelly’s bridal gown, a modest and classic long sleeved lace dress with an ivory satin bodice.

Her choice for the after party was just as fitting. Also a Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen design, Catherine donned a white satin evening dress with full skirt and embellished waist.

Phillipa, or ‘Pippa’, as she is known, opted for a plunging neckline for the royal reception, a long emerald green sleeveless dress with jewelled embellishment from Temperley London.

Her McQueen bridesmaid gown was also a sexy choice, featuring a plunging neckline and figure-hugging silhouette, complimenting her sister’s more demure gown beautifully.

Like Lady Diana before her, Catherine is set to become a national fashion icon. She is already making her mark displaying a signature classic style with the frocks she has debuted in her new royal role.

Related: Get the latest royal wedding news here

The special royal wedding commemorative issue of the magazine will be on sale Wednesday, May 4, featuring all the photos and unrivalled coverage.

Your say: What do think about Catherine and Phillipa’s style?

Video: Catherine Middleton’s royal wedding gown

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William and Catherine let their hair down

William and Catherine let their hair down

Prince William and Catherine arrive at Buckingham Palace for dinner and dancing

After the procession through London, the fairytale wedding and TWO balcony kisses, crowds watching the royal wedding weren’t expecting another glimpse of the new royal couple for a few days.

But after greeting dignitaries and cutting their spectacular cake, Prince William and Catherine took to the streets again, this time in a vintage convertible Aston Martin decked out in ‘L’ plates and other ‘just married’ decorations.

In pictures: William and Catherine celebrate their marriage

William grinned broadly as he drove his bride from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House, and Catherine waved madly to the crowds.

Once back at their London home, the newlyweds enjoyed a couple of quiet hours together before changing for the dinner and dancing part of their wedding celebrations.

Catherine donned a white satin evening dress with a full skirt and embellished waist. Like her wedding gown, the dress was designed by Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen. The new princess teamed the dress with a white angora bolero cardigan. William kept it simple in a black tuxedo.

Prince Charles and Camilla accompanied the couple back to Buckingham Palace, where they are thought to have danced the night away with 300 of their closest friends. They spent their first night as a married couple at Buckingham Palace and are expected to jet off to a mystery location for their honeymoon later today.

Related: Get the latest royal wedding news here

William and Catherine are now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, after Queen Elizabeth granted them the titles on their wedding day.

The special royal wedding commemorative issue of the magazine will be on sale Wednesday, May 4, featuring all the photos and unrivalled coverage.

Your say: Do you have any messages of congratulations for William and Catherine?

Video: Catherine Middleton’s dress details

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William and Catherine celebrate their marriage

Prince William and Catherine Middleton put their own special stamp on their wedding celebrations yesterday. See pictures of the groom driving his bride through London and Catherine’s second dress here.

William and Catherine let their hair down

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard waits to meet Catherine Middleton

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard waits to meet Prince William

William and Catherine’s spectacular wedding cake

William drove his bride back to Clarence House in this decked-out Aston Martin

William and Catherine leave Buckingham Palace

Catherine changed into this dress for dinner and dancing

Catherine and Camilla arrive at the dinner and dancing portion of the day

Prince William and Prince Charles

William and Catherine’s balcony kiss did not impress flower girl Grace van Cutsem

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Royal Wedding official portraits

The official royal wedding portraits of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have been issued by St James Palace.

The newlyweds posed with their bridal party, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Camilla and the Middleton family in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.

Following their wedding William and Kate have set off on a weekend away together before William returns to work on Tuesday.

Don’t miss the special Woman’s Day royal issue on sale Sunday May 1, 2011!

Royal wedding official portrait

Royal wedding official portrait

Royal wedding official portrait

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