Parents of Prince Williams’ girlfriend ‘cash in on X Factor’

LONDON - Parents of Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton have allegedly been using X Factor’s red and white “X” logo to promote parties on their website.

Party Pieces, run by Kate’s millionaire parents Michael and Carole, asks customers if they have “got the X-Factor” and uses the icon to promote parties based on the smash ITV1 show.

However, a show source insisted boss Simon Cowell had not licensed the use of the image to the mail-order party accessories firm.

“They definitely don’t have permission to do this. It’s odd a firm this established wouldn’t check with us first,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

The plug on the firm’s site The Party Times also makes errors in spelling the show’s name - once with a hyphen and repeatedly with a lower case “f”.

It says, “Calling all X-Factor fans! Pump up the volume, rock the mike and organise an X Factor extravaganza for friends and family.”

Customers are then tempted into buying items such as plates and bowls. nd the site cheekily suggests filling party bags with items cheaper than the show’s official merchandise.

Last night the section was quickly removed from the site.

“This has just been drawn to our attention. The team are looking into it,” an X Factor spokesman said. (ANI)