Divorce begins
IF anyone is going to nail a $ 10,000 dress, it’s the Duchess of Cambridge.
She sported a lace frock by designer Temperley to a fundraising gala at the National Portrait Gallery.
The designer outfit was a far cry from the Duchess’s tendency to wear more affordable brands.
Kate flew solo without her husband, Prince William, for the exclusive party also attended by British ‘ it’ girl Alexa Chung and model and presenter Donna Air, who is dating Kate’s younger brother James Middleton.
Gone Girl star Rosamund Pike also attended. BRITAIN will take the first step on its “momentous journey” to a future outside the European Union when Theresa May launches divorce proceedings that will bring to an end a relationship of more than 40 years.
The British Prime Minister has signed the letter that starts the formal exit process, and the historic document will be hand- delivered by a senior diplomat to EU chiefs in the next day.
It will mark the start of complex and contentious negotiations that put the UK on course to break its ties with Brussels by the end of March 2019.
In Brussels, British ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow will deliver the document to European Council president Donald Tusk.
Once it has been accepted, Article 50 will be officially launched.
Key EU figures agreed to enter into Brexit talks in a “positive spirit” during a series of telephone calls with Mrs May on Tuesday evening.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Tusk and European Commission president Jean- Claude Juncker said the UK would remain a “close and committed ally”.
Within 48 hours, the European Commission is expected to issue “draft negotiation guidelines”, which will be sent to the 27 remaining states for consultation.
Their leaders will meet on April 29 at an extraordinary European Council summit to agree on a mandate for chief negotiator Michel Barnier and clear the way for talks to begin in earnest in May.
The key point of contention as soon as Article 50 is triggered is the order in which different aspects of Brexit are approached. There are two issues to be settled – the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU and arrangements for future trade relations.