Children’s hospice hears from Duchess

Tue., March 20, 2012

From Wire Reports

The Duchess of Cambridge has delivered her first public address, giving a confident albeit brief speech at a children’s hospice in eastern England.

The former Kate Middleton spoke clearly and deliberately as she addressed staff and volunteers at East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice in the English port town of Ipswich.

She glanced frequently at her notes at first but seemed to make a good impression Monday, drawing chuckles when she said she was sorry that her husband, Prince William, could not join her. He is on military assignment in the Falkland Islands.

Public engagements are a huge part of royal life and Kate’s address will be closely scrutinized by royal-watchers for signs of how easily she is adapting to her new role.

‘Housewives’ case ends in mistrial

A judge has declared a mistrial in Nicollette Sheridan’s wrongful termination case after jurors could not reach a verdict on the claims of the former star of “Desperate Housewives.”

Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Allen White released the panel Monday after they reported they were deadlocked.

The group deliberated for more than two days on Sheridan’s claim that her Edie Britt character was killed off in retaliation for her complaints that series creator Marc Cherry struck her on the show’s set in September 2008.

Cherry and ABC, which airs “Housewives” have denied wrongdoing. The veteran TV writer testified he had authority to kill off Sheridan’s role four months before their dustup.

The jury heard conflicting testimony and evidence throughout the two-week trial.

Sheridan was seeking roughly $6 million in damages.

Houston’s daughter not engaged

Bobbi Kristina Brown has been spotted wearing a sparkly bauble on her ring finger, but she’s not planning on getting married anytime soon.

A rep for Brown’s mother, the late Whitney Houston, says the 19-year-old is “simply wearing her mother’s ring” and that she’s not engaged.

Rumors about a possible engagement flew after Brown was spotted snuggling with friend Nick Gordon while wearing the ring.

The birthday bunch

Actor Hal Linden is 81. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bobby Orr is 64. Blues singer-musician Marcia Ball is 63. Actor William Hurt is 62. Movie director Spike Lee is 55. Actress Holly Hunter is 54. Actor Michael Rapaport is 42. Actress Bianca Lawson is 33. Actress-singer Christy Carlson Romano is 28.

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