How fast can you copy a royal dress?

Well, how fast do you think anyone could produce a replica of Princess Catherine’s wedding dress? I’d say five hours… give or take.

In fact, the moment Kate Middleton appeared out of the Goring Hotel in London to step into the Rolls-Royce that would take her to Westminster Abbey, the copying process started.

“As soon as she was in the car, we started to identify what the lace was like and try to find as close a copy as possible,” said Raul Echeverria, owner of Alterations Boutique in Marylebone was quoted as saying by agencies.

When Middleton actually stepped out of the car a few minutes later, the team zoomed in on their television sets (probably HD), and figured out the fabric and contacted their suppliers.

They ordered the lining, tulle, netting and lace, and started off. Apparently, they’ve started receiving inquiries already.

‘Mule’ 20 Pence Coin Sends Britons Scrambling

A specialist British firm has offered to buy faulty 20 pence pieces for 50 pounds, sending Britons scrambling in search of one of the approximately 50,000 undated coins.

So what’s faulty? These coins have no date on them.

The Royal Mint has admitted it made a rare error, producing coins without a date on them for the first time in centuries.

The latest error happened when the Royal Mint issued a new design of the coin that moved the year from the back side to the one that bears the head of Queen Elizabeth II. But mint spokesman Jadon Raj said one batch that didn’t add “2008″ to the head’s side got through quality control.

The letters “F.D.” have been printed where the date “2008″ should have been. A coin with mismatched sides is known as a “mule” and they are extremely rare. The last time one appeared in circulation was during the reign of Charles II more than 300 years ago.

Raj said the mint couldn’t issue a recall because the coins are legal to use.

“As far as were concerned their face value is 20 pence, so there isn’t an issue for us,” he said.

The mint said Monday that at least 100,000 of the year-less 20-pence coins, normally worth 33 US cents at face value, slipped into circulation at the end of last year.

The coins first appeared at the end of 2008, after a batch which included between 50,000 and 200,000 of the faulty 20-pence entered circulation. The last time a mistake was made on the casting of a coin was in 1983, when a batch of 2-pence coins went into circulation with the words “New Pence” rather than “Two Pence” on the reverse side. These coins fetched up to 650 pounds in top condition.

Some numismatists say the last time the Royal Mint accidentally left out the year on a coin was in 1672.

The mint admitted the mistake after a private British company called the London Mint Office launched a promotion Monday offering to pay 50 pounds ($83) per coin. Market experts noted that the coins already have been quietly selling to online collectors for up to six times higher.

World’s Most Expensive…

World’s Most Expensive Diamond Handbag: $1.9 million

World’s Most Expensive Blue Diamond: $7.98 million

World’s Most Expensive Diamond Sandals: $2 million

World’s Most Expensive Diamond Tie: $220,000

World’s Most Expensive Dog Collar: $1.8 million

World’s Most Expensive Remote Control (Gold): $55,000

World’s Most Expensive Lipstick KissKiss: $62,000

World’s Most Expensive Bath at Hotel Victor: $11,000

World’s Most Expensive Perrier-Jouet Champagne: Euros 50,000

World’s Most Expensive Credit Card Royal Legend Adorned with 333 Diamonds

Why the Tourist Numbers Fell at Beijing Olympics

The Olympics Games, while being the ultimate picture of grandiosity in sports, is also seen as a source of major spike in tourism to the host country. However, not so for China.

The Chinese had a program and the works needed to inflate tourism — the theme itineraries of “Beijing Historic and Cultural Heritages”, scenic spots like the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, mega projects as the Bird’s Nest, the Water Cube, and the Olympic Park. Yet, far from causing a tourist boom, the 2008 Olympic Games actually caused a drastic fall in the numbers of visitors to the Chinese capital.

In August 2008:

Beijing hotels received a total of 708,000 guests from other areas in China, 47% less than last year.

The number of foreign visitors was only 389,000 arrived, a 7.2% decrease from last year.

Visitors from Hong Kong (the richest city in China) to Beijing dropped by 16.5%, while those from Taiwan (nearest foreign country) dropped by 57.3%.

And the eight months in 2008 prior to the Olympics? Not really a pretty picture, either:

Beijing saw 3.8% less internal tourists and 8.9% less foreign visitors.

The media has not come out explicitly with any explanation for this disappointing performance, but insiders put the blame on several factors including strict security, asphyxiating controls, heavy restrictions on movement and the strong police presence. Do you think these ‘reasons’ were powerful enough to override the passion to watch any sport or the Olympics?

Well, the media, the Chinese government and the organizers might have their own theories, but I believe that the following images from Beijing may have had something to keep the tourists at bay:

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Six-Year-Old Knighted

What do Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Vivian Richards and Sir Nils Olav have in common? Okay, they’ve all been knighted. And who’s the odd man out? Sir Nils Olav is a penguin–well, the odd penguin out, if you may.

Three-foot high and six-year-old Nils Olav was granted a knighthood and the title of “Sir” last week, on behalf of Norway’s King Harald V. Loudon at a special ceremony held at his home in Edinburgh Zoo. Nils waddled out to “inspect” the 130 Royal Guardsmen on parade before being dubbed on each side of his head, which officially confirmed his knighthood. A medal was also attached to his flipper.

King Harald of Norway demonstrated how he rewards good service by honoring Nils, one of his most faithful servants. Calling him “our trusty and well-beloved” Nils, he declared the penguin to be “in every way qualified to receive the honor and dignity of knighthood.”

“It [the event] went extremely well and we are delighted that the Norwegian Guard honoured Nils Olav with a knighthood,” said Darren McGarry, a zoo manager. “We all enjoyed the occasion and Nils was a perfect penguin throughout.”

“Nils always recognizes the Norwegian guardsmen when they come to visit him,” he added. “He loves the attention he receives at the ceremony and takes his time inspecting the troops.”