#with harry as the son of prime minister anne

[kellyvela]

Sophie's Hon 💋

If you want to know more about the guy Sophie Turner is smooching lately, you know, that very tall, very very rich, British aristocrat with a fantasy novel name, this post is for you . . . . lol

His full name is The Hon Peregrine John Dickinson Pearson, but he goes by “Perry.” And the photo above is his company profile picture.

Born on October 27th, 1994, he's 29 years old and the future 5th Viscount Cowdray.

Perry is from Midhurst, West Sussex, and now lives in a £5million house in Chelsea, West London.

The Hon before his name means The Honourable, a title used for all sons and daughters of viscounts and barons. Hon also works for 'honey' and 'sweetheart', hence this post's title.

Peregrine may come from Henry Winston Peregrine Spencer-Churchill, nephew of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Winston (Leonard Spencer) Churchill.

Yes, Churchill, you read it right! Perry's grandfather Weetman John Churchill Pearson, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, was the son of Agnes Beryl Spencer-Churchill, who was the granddaughter of George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough.

So Perry is distant related to Winston Churchill and Diana Spencer, The Lady D . . . . In fact, he has already introduced Sophie to some of the current Spencer-Churchills (they are cousins with Perry, I guess 🤷‍♀️).

Now, I have no idea why his parents opted to name him Peregrine over Weetman, since each of the four former Viscounts Cowdray were all named Weetman; but his peculiar fantasy novel/bird-like name inmmediately made me think of House Arryn and Harry Hardyng. More on this later.

But since he's not named Weetman, he fixed that by naming his own property investment and development company 'Weetman'.

John is for both grandfathers: Weetman John Churchill Pearson, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, and John Howard Cordle. 

Dickinson is for his great-great-grandfather: Weetman Dickinson Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray.

~~~

Family

The seat of the Pearson Family is Cowdray Estate, Cowdray Park, Midhurst, West Sussex. The picture of the family above was taken at Buck Hall, the atrium of Cowdray House.

The name Cowdray comes from Coudreye, the Norman word for the nearby hazel woods.

Perry is the son and heir of Michael Orlando Weetman Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray, and Marina Rose Cordle.

His dad produced the documentary "Sympathy for the Devil," directed and written by Jean-Luc Godard, documenting the creative evolution of the song "Sympathy for the Devil" as the Rolling Stones developed it during recording sessions at Olympic Studios in London.

His mom is an artist, sculptress, interior designer and mindfulness coach, she's keenly interested in spiritual matters, she practises Transcendental Meditation (a form of silent meditation) and Qigong.

His parents separated in August 2023, after 36 years of marriage.

Perry has three older sisters and a younger brother:

Eliza Anne Venetia Pearson (born 31 May 1988). She married her first husband at 21. Later he left her for the Kate Winslet . . . . She remarried, had children and lives in Ibiza now.

Emily Jane Marina Pearson (born 13 December 1989). Tatler Magazine included her as one of the 10 perfect potential brides for Prince Harry . . . . She she studied Plant-based Nutrition and is one of the founders of the vegan restaurant "Farmacy" in Notting Hill.

Catrina Sophie Lavinia Pearson (born 13 March 1991). She goes by "Catty." She's a musician and a film-school graduate.

Montague Orlando William Pearson (born 17 May 1997). He goes by "Monty". Wee brother is 6'4. He's a helicopter pilot, enjoys flying drones and studied film production and graphic design. He was named after the former owners of Cowdray Estate, the Viscounts of Montague.

Perry also has an older half brother:

Sebastian William Orlando Pearson (born 1970).

As you can see, Perry is privileged to be the heir above his older half brother Sebastian, since he was born out of wedlock, and above his older sisters: Eliza, Emily and Catrina, since they were born women . . . . Where have I heard this before???

Sometimes I'm glad I'm an only child . . . .

As any other younger brother of three older sisters, he was annoying. According to Tatler Magazine, Perry liked to wind up his sisters (then vegan) by scoffing meat.

Perry is also an uncle, his sisters Eliza and Emily are mothers of cute babies, but sadly I can't show you pictures. He looks cute holding a baby tho.

Talking about cute babies, that little curly blonde boy sat in a chair next to his standing father in one of the portraits in the picture above, is Perry. His portrait was painted by Chinese artist Chen Yanning, who also painted Queen Elizabeth II's portrait:

Here a few more childhood pics:

That picture of of him as a baby peeing on a plant, is his Instagram profile picture . . . .

~~~

Education

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services at the University of West London, UK.

Not Oxford or Cambridge? Shocking!

UX Desing at General Assembly in New York, NY, US.

Dear Perry, you can improve my user experience by making your instagram account public. That would do!

~~~

Occupation

In January 2015, it was reported by Tatler Magazine that he was working for Aylesford International Estate Agents in London.

He also worked as an assistant site manager for Cordles, a London based contractor company founded by his maternal uncle Rupert Cordle.

He started working at Cowdray Estate in West Sussex, his family estate and heirdom, since 2016 to this day.

He's also the founder, partner and director of Weetman Developments, his own property investment and development company in London, since 2019 to this day.

Perry is also a Le Chameau – the wellington boot brand – ambassador.

As you can see, Perry is basically a nepo baby lol

But that doesn't mean he doesn't work, Cowdray Estate is huge (16,500 acre), and offers a vast variety of activities like golf, clay-pigeon shooting, fly fishing on the river Rother, walking, cycling, riding, polo, truffle hunting, hospitality at the farm shop & café, holiday cottages, tree houses, wedding venues, private stays and events at Cowdray House, filming locations (the Cowdray Ruins were used during the filming of Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan’s film, "Mary Queen of Scots"), among others, and Perry is/will be in charge of all of that.

According to his mom, back in 2019 he was pioneering aquaponic farming on a commercial scale [The Telegraph - June, 2019].

In an interview for The Gentleman's Journal, Perry said that he's working to pass the estate on to his heir in better conditions: “But the dream is to pass it on to my son or daughter in better nick than it’s in now. That’s the mentality when it comes to estates,” “You’re so grateful that you’ve been given this opportunity, you want others to have the same opportunity that you had.”

I don't know if Perry will try to change the primogeniture rules, but it was really nice to read that he thinks his heir could be a son or a daughter.

Perry's family was always wealthy (construction and petroleum in the past, publishing nowadays); but not always aristocrats.

His great-great-grandfather, Weetman Dickinson Pearson, was made a Baronet of Paddockhurst in 1894, then he purchased Cowdray Estate in 1909. Later he was made Baron Cowdray first, in 1910, and then the 1st Viscount Cowdray in 1917.

Viscount, is a European title of nobility, ranking immediately below a count, or earl. It is one of the five ranks of British nobility and peerage, which, in descending order, are duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.

So, when Perry becomes the 5th Viscount Cowdray, he won't be on top of the british nobility; but he will be richer. At present, Perry's family is thought to be worth £224million, and one day, he will inherit all of that.

~~~

Hobbies

Riding (Not Polo)

His family estate includes Cowdray Park Polo Club, dubbed The Home of British Polo, but Perry doesn't play Polo.

His parents never pushed him to, perhaps fearing that he could get hurt by falling from a horse. "Michael (Perry's father) never sought polo glory after a fall from a horse at the age of 13" [standard.co.uk - 2010].

In 2018 he said: “Cowdray is to polo what Goodwood is to racing and Glyndebourne to opera.” “I’m getting lessons.” “I grew up riding and over the next few years it’s something I can see myself doing a lot more” [The Telegraph - August, 2018].

Later, in an interview for The Gentleman's Journal, he joked by saying that "he’s not particularly good at it".

So far, I only saw him presenting Polo trophies and congratulating the champions, so I guess the lessons didn't work . . . . lol

Maybe is better that way, if he doesn't play polo he wont smell of horses. Sophie is asthmatic and allergic to horses.

Golf

He plays golf for some charity and corporate events. No idea if he's good at it.

Clay-pigeon shooting

Not sure if he really shoots at flying clay targets or he only modeled to promote the shooting school at his family estate.

Huntings

He likes to attend posh huntings wearing tweed, baker boy caps and suspenders.

He already took Sophie to one of those last December, but she didn't wear tweed, she defied the rules by wearing a Zara black jacket and a pair of acid washed jeans. . . . She would look great wearing tweed, tho . . . .

(There have been hunters in my family, so I can't judge much)

Here some pics:

Skiing

He seems very skilled at it.

Meribel in France seems to be his family favorite destination to enjoy the snow.

He already took Sophie to ski & “après ski” there, and they were having the time of their lives!

Going to the beach

Yeah!

Ibiza is a favorite destination for his family, his dad used to live there, and now his eldest sister established there with her own family.

Can't wait to see Sophie enjoying the sun in Ibiza next . . . .

Enjoy some pics:

Partying

Fuck yeah!

"Like all the Cowdrays, he loves a party" [Tatler Magazine, January 2015].

"(...) the Hon Peregrine Pearson (the Cowdray heir), known for throwing ‘wild afterparties’ at his house in Chelsea, which he shares with Ella (Richards)’s boyfriend, Sascha von Bismarck" [Tatler Magazine, March 2023]. 

Here abundant evidence:

Pottery

Perry enjoyed spending time in his mom's pottery studio in the garden: “We were brought up being quite creative – spending time in her studio was very bonding” [The Telegraph - August, 2018].

I would love to see one of those creative pieces made by Perry 👀

Meditation

Like his mom, Perry practises meditation as well. [The Telegraph - June, 2019].

From pictures, it seems he usually wears a silver Meditator pendant. The Meditator is a seated figure, with a pointed head, a heart and a hole in its middle. His mom designed it herself, as a reminder to live in the present moment, rather than fretting about the past or future.

~~~

Previous relationships

His only known/famous relationship was with Princess Maria Olympia of Greece and Denmark.

He dated Olympia for three years, since 2020 to 2023.

She seemed really into Perry during the relationship:

But shortly after their break up was official, she was reported being in a relationship with an older, married with children man . . . .

His wife kicked him out of the house after the news. Good for her! [Read more about it here]

~~~

So far, this is all I learnt about Sophie's Hon Perry Pearson. I love that he's so tall and the way he can hug her being so tall, I bet Sophie loves it too.

But I kinda hate that the press only uses his most unflattering pictures, when is easy to find public pictures where he actually looks good.

Also, my friend told me that he reminds her a bit of Paul Mescal, and now I can't unsee it . . . .

What more can I say about him after my research? Oh, maybe that he has met the Dalai Lama and sat next to Kim Kardashian and Kimora Lee Simmons at Paris Hilton's wedding lol

He also loves to wear sunglasses, even indoors . . . .

Anyways, now to the point of this post!

~~~

Romance with Sophie Turner

Perry is a Scorpio and Sophie is a Pisces, like Scorpio Ryan Gosling and Pisces Eva Mendes . . . .

I have no idea how they met, where they met, or when they met, but we have evidence that they spent the last part of October 2023 together.

2023 was a rough year for both of them, with her divorce and custody battle, and with his own break up with his ex, and the separation of his parents after 36 years of marriage.

The first time we saw him next to Sophie, we have no idea who he was. It was during the Rugby World Cup final on October 28th 2023, just before Sophie unveiled the trophy:

Perry was there with Sophie, but we had no idea they were together until October 31th 2023, when a couple of pictures of them sharing a kiss outside Paris’s Gare du Nord train station were made public and got viral:

The pictures were taken on the same day as the Rugby World Cup final. It was reported that they arrived together in Paris from London via the Eurostar, and said goodbye with a kiss before meeting again later at the Stade de France.

When their Paris kiss pictures were all over the press, someone claimed that their friend had seen them together the week before:

So, if the Rugby World Cup final was on October 28th 2023 and Perry's 29th birthday was the day before, I bet the lovebirds spent his birthday together in London.

I wonder what Sophie got Perry for his birthday??? An appointment with a fashion stylist, I hope!

(Perry, honey, burn those double breasted suits in your closet, please! They don't fit your large body 🙏 King Felipe II of Spain, has a similar body and his tailoring is👌)

I also believe they spent the last days of October together in Paris, since they were seen all cozy during a romantic dinner at some fancy Parisian restaurant:

After that Sophie was seen back in New York on November 3th 2023. We don't know if Perry travelled with her to New York, but some anon claims he saw them holding hands in West Village:

Back in London, they were seen making out in a famous spot on November 2023 . . . .

. . . . And having dinner with friends on early December 2023:

Later, we have graphic evidence of them spending time together from the 7th to the 10th of December 2023, at least.

December 7th 2023:

They went to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland at night, where they walked around, hugged and kissed:

December 8th 2023:

They had brunch in West London and walked around hand in hand, eventually stopping so Perry could gently caress Sophie's face and kiss her:

That day, this also happened . . . . 🤨

December 9th 2023:

They attended a posh hunting weekend at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, held by some of the current Spencer-Churchills: George Spencer-Churchill and his wife Camilla Thorp, Marquess and Marchioness of Blandford (they will be Duke and Duchess of Marlborough one day).

The event was full of Perry's aristocrat friends like Alexander Spencer-Churchill, Lady Jemima Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke’s daughter, and Eleanor Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington’s niece, among others.

So, Perry has basically already introduced Sophie to some relative and close friends:

Can someone please explain to me why is Perry wearing a pink ribbon around his neck in the last picture? Is a mystery I need to resolve in this lifetime.

Here a few more pics:

After that, I suspect they spent the holidays together in London, or, at least, that they saw each other for a few hours during those days. I'm not saying she introduced him to her family and daughters, but it's obvious that they are dating and Christmas and the New Year are festivities you want to share with the people you care for.

I wonder what Perry got Sophie for Christmas? A handmade ceramic vase? A basket full of hydroponic vegetables that he grew himself?Diamonds?

And most recently, on January 17, 2024, they were seen walking around London at night all cozied up:

I want her UGGS!!!

Also, are those really mini liquor bottles at Perry's hand??? At first I thought they were Sophie's nail polish bottles 💅🏼

Someone spotted them skiing in Meribel, France. It was reported on January 28th, 2024, but it was probably before that date. Deuixmoi titled the stories as "let's see what your fave celebs have been up to the past week"

She's having the time of her life with Perry? GOOD FOR HER!

OK, today January 29th 2024, Sophie herself posted pics of them skiing in Meribel together with a couple of Perry's friends:

Lol at Perry not looking at the camera in the first pic 🤭

So, I suppose they are official now, right? Maybe it's time to post this post . . . .

~~~

Now, in the beginning of this post I said that after knowing Perry's fantasy novel/bird-like name, I immediately thought about ASOIAF's House Arryn and Harry Hardyng, you know, since House Arryn's sigil is a falcon, Harry Hardyng is dubbed the Young Falcon, and the peregrine is literally a species of falcon.

And since Harry Hardyng is the current Sansa's suitor in the ASOIAF incomplete series, I joked with my friends by saying that Sophie has entered his Harry Hardyng era . . . .

Perry also made me remember that passage in A Storm of Swords where Margaery's peregrine took a heron in full flight the day she and Sansa went hawking.

Peregrine is also the name of a ship that Arianne Martell boards in one of the few chapters of The Winds of Winter that GRRM released in advance.

Perry's name also reminds me of Pippin from The Lord of the Rings, since his full name is Peregrin Tuk, but this is a story for another day.

But if the Pearsons of Cowdray were a House from Westeros, they would be the Arryns enemies, since the Pearson's sigil is a gryphon:

And thanks to Sansa/Alayne we all know that the Winged Knight and the Griffin King were mortal enemies:

The Winged Knight was Ser Artys Arryn. Legend said that he had driven the First Men from the Vale and flown to the top of the Giant's Lance on a huge falcon to slay the Griffin King.  —A Feast for Crows - Alayne II

You know, in some ancient mythologies, the creature known as gryphon is depicted as fire-belching: "winged, tailed, and taloned dragon which spat fire." 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Just saying . . . .

House Pearson motto is:

'Do it with thy might'

These words are carved on the stone fireplace in Buck Hall, the atrium at the heart of Cowdray House.

According to The Gentleman's Journal, Perry translates his family motto to simpler words: “Just do it — that might be a more modern approximation.”

But he's more into Adidas and North Star. Sorry Nike . . . . lol

Anyways, GRRM has the opportunity to do the funniest thing . . . .

~~~

And talking about GRRM, it's time to tell you that Perry's family are the founders and large share holders of Pearson plc, a British multinational publishing and education company headquartered in London.

Pearson plc owns Penguin Random House, you know, GRRM's publishers, the ones that publish the ASOIAF series . . . .

And I recently came to know that Penguin Random House is going to republish Joan Hannington’s autobiography “I Am What I Am” under the title ‘Joan.’ And, you know, Sophie's upcoming project is precisely a tv series called ‘Joan,’ with Sophie taking the role of Joan Hannington . . . .

Some will say that this is part of the j word agenda, lol

Again, GRRM has the opportunity to do the funniest thing . . . .

~~~

Finally, we need to answer an important question!

~~~

So . . . .

A match made in heaven? Or maybe we won't see his face again?

Only time will tell. I only hope that he makes Sophie super happy as long as they are together.

I will probably update this post with time or make a part 2, because Tumblr doesn't let me add more pictures 😢

Thanks for reading!

[celticcrossanon]

Celta, my apologies if I’m overstepping “Tumblr protocol,” but here’s an excellent anon submission from another Tumblr blog that addresses the issue of who has authority (the Crown or Parliament?) to issue/remove UK royal and peerage titles. This was submitted to cat-with-the-emerald-tiara tumblr. (I don’t have an active tumblr…hope it’s ok to submit this to you this way…)

Anon Submission

A rebuttal to defence of Charles. 

The matter of titles has been a very curious one to investigate. Parliament has repeatedly rejected all attempts to discuss the titles, nevermind doing anything about them whether at public request via petitions or private members bills. At the height of title stripping fervour by petitions, parliament famously requested legal council and paperwork on the matter. 

Each time, they send out the same response: Royal titles are a matter for the monarch NOT parliament. 

This goes against the accepted understanding that titles are the purview of parliament so what gives?

Constitutional / legal experts have began to discuss the matter. The most recent published opinion from such a scholar was illuminating.

Here is link to read for yourself:

https://middletemplar.org.uk/to-strip-or-not-to-strip-prince-harrys-titles/

To summarise his opinion:

ALL titles held by members of the royal family are the gift of the monarch and given by royal perogative without oversight of parliament, privy council, Prime Minister or UK government. 

This includes birthright titles. 

To be clear: HRH, Prince, Duke, Earl, Baron, Knight. 

Since they are given without parliament, privy council, Prime Minister or UK government oversight, they are are NOT in the purview  of parliament, privy council, Prime Minister or UK government and therefore can’t be removed by those bodies. This explains parliament’s repeated response to all those petitions and private members’ bills. 

The Scholar goes on to explain that ALL titles held by members of the royal family are granted by LP. Whether this is the famous 1917 LP or a more recent LP eg the one written to grant William and Edward their titles of Wales and Edinburgh. 

Any title granted by LP can be removed by LP. No need to check with parliament. 

He doesn’t mention it, but we have a historic example of HRH Princess Patricia of Connaught ( Queen Victoria’s granddaughter from one of her sons) who was stripped by LP in 1919. 

Scholar explains removal by LP point by explaining a fundamental misunderstanding of the 1917 LP. 

It famously sets out the criteria of who can hold the HRH/ Prince titles, but in doing so it also stripped many, many Princes of both UK and Germany of HRH/ HSH/ HH Princes titles that they already had. 

If Queen Mary wasn’t already Queen and married to George V, she would have been stripped because her maiden title was HSH Princess Mary of Teck. Her claim to the UK throne came via her mother who was a first cousin to Queen Victoria. Under the new 1917 LP rules, Queen Mary had no right to Prince of the UK or any Highness style and would be stripped of it by the 1917 LP. 

However, the scholar reiterates that the only thing Charles has no power to effect is the Line of Succession and the Counsellors of State because these have parliament, privy council, Prime Minister or UK government oversight. He can make suggestions as he fid to add Anne and Edward, but it is not in his purview to remove or block anyone from these 2 bodies. Only Parliament can do that. 

Finally, anon mentions that Harold sued or threatened to sue Charles to get Prince titles for the Sussex children. 

Without researching this, i can tell you categorically that this did not happen. Charles as Monarch is literally above the law. His royal perogative is both un-justiceable and un-reviewable as the scholar reminds us. In regular language that means Charles can not be sued. Nor can he be arrested. No subjected to the law of the land. There is no lawyer who would attempt to try because of this ironclad law. And no judge or court will take the case. 

All lawyers and courts act on behalf of the Monarch and justice is carried out in his name so how can he sue himself?!

What is more likely to have happened is that the Sussexes grabbed the titles, and Charles allowed it to keep the peace which is a frequent excuse given by the Palace for their inaction when the Sussexes step over the line. 

Notice that unlike William and Edward, there was no acknowledgement, BP announcement or publication in the London Gazette which are 3 required formal processes for new titles. Instead BP just updated website. 

With their ingrained victimhood, it’s curious that the Sussexes didn’t dare grab or complain about their kids’ HRH styles. No one is at war with the kids so if they are Prince then they are also HRH, but the Sussexes only grabbed Prince. 

In conclusion, Charles as monarch absolutely had the power to strip Harold completely to become plain Mr Henry Mountbatten-Windsor, but he chooses not to do it. Just like he allowed the Sussexes to grab Prince titles for their kids without objection when he knows that they can’t sue him if he withheld said titles. 

*

Hi Nonny,

Thank you for sending this in.

This is the link to the post: https://the-cat-with-the-emerald-tiara-1.tumblr.com/post/749747114107600897/anon-submission

Cat’s blog is discussing the topic right now and there have been various posts on it, all of which are illuminating.

My understanding is that parliament can not remove royal titles. I believe they have said this when they rejected a petition to remove Harry’s titles.

I also think that parliament can remove normal peerage titles, but only for cases where it is specified in the law.

Harry’s Duke title is, I think, classed as a royal title and as such can only be removed by the King. 

I appreciate the link to the scholar in the post above. I like to see what other people who know more than I do think about this.

The hard thing for me is to remember that there are two tiers of titles in the UK, the peerage (normal duke, earl, baron etc) and the royals (HRH, Prince, Princess but also royal Duke, royal Earl, royal Baron etc - titles with the normal names but which are held by royals.).

[grandmaster-anne]

Gyles Brandreth's Exclusive Extract Part 1

The Mail Plus | Published 25 November 2022

SATURDAY and Sunday, ­September 3 and 4. It is the weekend before the Queen’s death. The Right Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields — who is staying with her at Balmoral — finds her ‘in fantastic form’.

He has dinner with her on Saturday evening, gives the sermon at Braemar and Crathie ­Parish Church on Sunday morning, then has lunch with her on Sunday afternoon. They talk about the Queen’s childhood, her horses, church affairs (she is ‘well up to speed’) and her sadness at what is happening in Ukraine.  

This is quite typical. The Queen is good at living in the present but often draws on her memories of the past, grateful for the lessons it has taught her.  

‘She was so alive and so engaging,’ recalled Dr Greenshields later.

Tuesday, September 6. Clive Cox, one of Her Majesty’s favourite racehorse trainers, gets a call from the Queen at 10 am. She wants to chat to him about the prospects for her two-year-old, Love Affairs, who is running in the two o’clock at Goodwood.

‘We talked about the filly,’ he said, ‘how the race might pan out, how another horse of hers was doing in my stable, and about a couple of other things. She was sharp as a tack.’

It is a busy day. Not only does the Queen present her outgoing Communications ­Secretary with an honour, but she also spends time with her fourteenth and fifteenth prime ministers.

Boris Johnson said: ‘She could not have been kinder, more sympathetic or personally ­encouraging.’ Moreover, she was full of ­‘characteristic humour and wisdom’.

Wednesday September 7. Every newspaper is carrying pictures of the Queen at Balmoral yesterday. She appears old, yes — she is 96 — and frail. There is a dark bruise mark on the back of her right hand but she looks alert and very much alive.

She is smiling, looking over the tops of her spectacles at the camera. There is a definite, mischievous twinkle in her eye.

For other royals, today is business as usual. Prince Charles spends the day doing good works in Lanarkshire. Tonight, he is hosting a dinner at Dumfries House in Ayrshire.

Edward and Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, are at events across Lancashire. Princess Anne is visiting the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Ramsay.

By late afternoon, however, rumour is rife. I have a call from my son-in-law (a former Coldstream Guards officer) to say that he is at the Cavalry and Guards Club in Piccadilly, where groups are gathering to discuss the detail of Operation London Bridge — the codename for the action-plan that comes into being the moment the sovereign dies. What has ­happened? Has she had a fall? Has she had a stroke?

Thursday September 8. Rumour had swirled all morning. At 12:32 p.m. Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying the Queen’s doctors were concerned for her health and, though she was ‘comfortable’, recommended she remain under medical supervision while family members were informed. The Queen’s helicopter left Windsor Castle at 6:48 a.m. to collect Prince Charles from Dumfries House where he had spent the night. He reached Balmoral at 10:27 a.m. Camilla had spent the night at Birkhall on the Balmoral Estate and was driven by car to join him.

Charles leaving Dumfries house to rush to the Queen's bedside

The Princess Royal was already there — at her mother’s side to the end. Andrew and Edward, the Queen’s younger sons, and Sophie, Edward’s wife, and Prince William and Prince Harry were reported to be on their way.

There was confusion about whether or not Harry’s wife, Meghan, would go up to Scotland with him. When it became clear that Catherine was not going because she would be collecting her children from school, it emerged that Meghan was not going, either.

Andrew, Edward and Sophie, and Prince William arrived at Aberdeen airport in an RAF executive jet at 3:50 p.m. and William drove the four of them to Balmoral, 45 miles away. They arrived at 5:06 p.m. Queen Eli

The formal announcement of her death came from Buckingham Palace at 6:30 p.m. while Prince Harry was still in the air. His flight from Luton airport to Aberdeen was delayed. He was the last of the family to arrive at Balmoral, and the first to leave. Travelling to a BBC studio in London in the early evening, I saw a double rainbow in the sky above Buckingham Palace.

And I found out from a friend in the racing world that the Queen’s horse, Love Affairs, comfortably won the two o’clock at Goodwood on Tuesday: ‘led field centre, made all, ridden and stayed on gamely final furlong, unchallenged’.

The truth is that Her Majesty always knew that her remaining time was limited. She accepted this with all the grace you’d expect. 

‘Her faith was everything to her.  She told me she had no regrets,’ said Dr Greenshields, referring to the last weekend he spent with her at Balmoral.

I had heard that the Queen had a form of myeloma — bone marrow cancer — which would explain her tiredness and weight loss and those ‘mobility issues’ we were often told about during the last year or so of her life. The most common symptom of myeloma is bone pain, especially in the pelvis and lower back, and multiple myeloma is a disease that often affects the elderly.  

Currently, there is no known cure, but treatment — including medicines to help regulate the immune system and drugs that help prevent the weakening of the bones — can reduce the severity of its symptoms and extend the patient’s survival by months or two to three years.   

Was the Queen given steroids to help get her through that important final day of duty two weeks ago? Was that bruise on the back of her hand that we saw in the photographs of her with Liz Truss the mark left by an intravenous cannula? Or was it simply the kind of accidental bruise that comes with old age?  

All I do know is that ‘cause of death’ on her death certificate will be given simply as ‘old age’ — just as it was for the Duke of Edinburgh last year.  

‘Old age’ is a quite commonly listed cause of death when a patient is over 80 and their doctor has cared for them over time and seen their gradual decline.

(When the Queen’s death was registered on 16 September my prediction proved accurate. The death was certified by Dr Douglas James Allan Glass, a local GP and official apothecary to the Queen who had been looking after her in Scotland for more than 30 years and who was with her when she died. Dr Glass said: ‘We have been concerned about the Queen’s health for several months. It was expected and we were quite aware of what was going to happen.’)

When Prince Philip retired in 2019, the Queen very deliberately left him to it. She carried on with her royal duties at Buckingham Palace or at Windsor Castle while he lived out his days at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate.

They would speak regularly on the phone, but weeks could go by without them seeing one another. That shocked some people, though not those who appreciated how well the Queen understood her husband — understood his wish to be left to his own devices, ‘not to be fussed over’, to be allowed, after more than 70 years of duty, to see out his days in his own way.

When the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world in 2020, however, Prince Philip decided to spend ‘lockdown’ with the Queen, and a small retinue of staff, at Windsor Castle.

And when lockdown was lifted, Philip and Elizabeth, having spent more time close together than they had done in years, decided it rather suited them. They left Windsor together and travelled up to Balmoral together for their traditional summer break.

When that was over, they went back to Sandringham — but not to the big house. Instead, together they went to live at Wood Farm, Philip’s bolthole, the un-grand, unpretentious place he regarded as his home on the estate.

It’s where he wanted to end his days, and the Queen wanted to be with him to the end. But on February 16, 2021, the Duke was admitted to hospital in London as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell.

On March 3, he underwent a successful procedure for an existing heart condition. He was discharged 13 days later and returned to Windsor Castle.

Three weeks later, his death was announced at noon, April 9, with the release of a statement saying he had ‘died peacefully’ that morning at Windsor Castle.

His daughter-in-law, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, described his death as ‘so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went’.

The Queen was reported to have been at her husband’s bedside when he died on the morning of April 9, 2021. In fact, I don’t believe she was.   

The Duke of Edinburgh had been in a hospital bed, set up in his dressing room at Windsor Castle. That morning, he went to the bathroom, helped by a nurse.  

When he came back, he said he felt a little faint and wanted help getting back into bed.  The nurse called the Duke’s valet and the Queen’s page, Paul Whybrew, for help — and he died before the Queen could be called.

The Queen wasn’t yet up. And she wasn’t called until after a doctor had come and pronounced the Duke dead.   

He was being laid out when the Prince of Wales arrived. Charles waited and had a cup of tea, but went away without seeing his father.

Prince Edward did see him and then, gradually, the rest of the family began to arrive. As they tried to comfort the Queen, the Queen was comforting them.

It helped that Elizabeth was accustomed to her own company. Even when her husband was alive, she had so often spent evenings on her own.

Immediately after Prince Philip’s funeral, she returned to her apartment in Windsor Castle in silence.

‘I helped her off with her coat and hat,’ her dresser, Angela Kelly, remembered, ‘and no words were spoken. The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her thoughts.’ When Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria retreated from the world. When Prince Philip died, Queen Elizabeth II went towards it.

She knew it was her Christian duty to carry on as best as she could. ‘There is no magic formula that will transform sorrow into happiness,’ she said, ‘but being busy helps.’

In the immediate aftermath of Prince Philip’s death, Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, the cheery Master of the Household, told me: ‘My principal duty with HM has been to keep her spirits up — so I’ve been watching Line of Duty with her . . . I’m “the Explainer”! It’s very funny.’

The 95-year-old widow of Windsor laughed as she struggled to understand the convoluted plotting and sometimes incomprehensible dialogue in the popular ‘police procedural’ television series.

She enjoyed watching television, she told me: ‘It keeps me in touch — when I can understand what’s being said. There’s an awful lot of mumbling on television now. It’s not my hearing. They just don’t seem to speak as clearly as they used to do.’

Her grieving was private, but in public the Queen was determined to carry on as normal. ‘Life goes on,’ she said. ‘It has to.’

That first summer after Philip’s death, she chose to dress — as she herself put it — ‘as cheerfully as possible.’ With the help of Angela Kelly, she opted for yellow and pink and powder blue, in summery dresses with pretty floral designs.

Her closeness to Kelly, the daughter of a Liverpool dockworker, did not always go down well; the ladies-in-waiting found her a nuisance at times. The dresser was from a quite different background to theirs, and irritated some at court with her no-nonsense Northern manner, her easy access to the Queen and her effortless familiarity with her.

They particularly resented the way Kelly felt able to step out of line to adjust the Queen’s clothes or drop a word in her ear at what they considered to be inappropriate moments. But they could do nothing about it because the Queen regarded Kelly as one of her true friends.

She was dazzling in green when she opened the Scottish Parliament on October 2, 2021. A few days later, all in pink this time, she opened the Welsh Senedd in Cardiff.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were also on parade for both visits. ‘We weren’t required,’ the Duchess said to me soon afterwards, laughing. ‘We were there to help out if necessary. It wasn’t necessary. The Queen did it all. She wanted to. She’s unstoppable.’

For six months following Prince Philip’s death, the Queen did so much, so purposefully and with such a determination not to give way to any form of self-pity (which, she said, ‘My husband would certainly not have approved of’), that she probably did too much.

In the autumn of 2021, she had a sudden ‘energy low’. She felt exhausted. Her ­doctors ordered her to ‘rest a bit, not to push herself so much, to take it easy.’

She had planned to attend ‘COP’, the climate change conference in Glasgow, in person on November 1 but, in the event, had to record a video message instead.

She had also hoped to attend the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph — fixtures in her calendar — but was persuaded not to. ‘I’ve got to be sensible,’ she said. Until then, her energy had been little short of astonishing. Over her final decade, she’d not only continued her work as monarch but actively engaged with modern life.

She had her own mobile phone, and obliging grandchildren ready to show her how it worked. She understood ‘texting’ though was rather defeated by ‘apps’. And she did not allow her grandchildren to bring their ‘devices’ to the dining table, under any circumstances.   

Believe it or not, I think I once heard Her Majesty refer to the lavatory as ‘the toilet’ — in a concession to the vocabulary of the younger generation.  

She had loved the early James Bond films — ‘before they got so loud’, she said.

And it was thanks to Bond that she famously made a truly dramatic entrance when the 2012 Olympics were staged in London, in a filmed sketch with Daniel Craig. Craig was seen running up the red-carpeted stairs at Buckingham Palace, meeting two of the royal corgis, being greeted by the Queen’s page and ushered into the royal presence.

It was the Queen’s own idea to keep Bond waiting a moment as she signed off a letter, before turning around to say: ‘Good evening, Mr Bond.’

Her line delivered, the Queen, accompanied by Bond and her page and her corgis, walked with purpose to the waiting helicopter that transported her past the statue of Winston Churchill in ­Parliament Square (Churchill looked up and gave Her Majesty a wave —she especially liked that touch), along the course of the river Thames, to the Olympic park in East London.

 ‘She was a natural,’ said Daniel Craig. ‘I was definitely more ­nervous than she was.’

Lord Janvrin, the Queen’s former private secretary, told me he was sure the Queen wouldn’t have done the stunt during the Queen Mother’s lifetime. ‘Why?’ I asked him.

‘Simply because she would have felt her mother wouldn’t have approved — that it would have been a bit undignified.

The Queen became less inhibited in several ways after her mother’s death [in 2002], less constrained, more relaxed.’

There was a different Bond connection when it came to the Queen’s next dramatic outing. In 2022, for the Platinum Jubilee long weekend of celebrations marking her 70 years on the throne, the Queen played herself in a delightful sketch with Paddington Bear, the creation of author Michael Bond.

In the scene, Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is taking tea with Her Majesty at Buckingham ­Palace and offers her one of his marmalade sandwiches — which it turns out the Queen doesn’t need because she already has her own marmalade sandwich, hidden in her handbag.

This time, much more in terms of acting was asked of the Queen than had been at the time of the Olympics — and she delivered in full measure. I happened to be working with Britain’s most honoured film and stage actress at the time, Dame Judi Dench, and she said to me the day after she had seen it, ‘Wasn’t she good? I mean, really, really good.

‘Her timing was perfect. Every look, every line was just right. It was completely on the money — none of it over-stated. Just wonderful.’

She added, laughing: ‘I’m quite worried. She’s going to be offered all my work now.’

What did the Queen make of it? ‘Great fun,’ she said. She marvelled that such a large crew had appeared at the palace to film such a short sequence, and she was truly amazed that word of it didn’t leak out before the day of transmission.

‘Everyone kept the secret,’ she said, delighted. ‘That was lovely.’

IN ROYAL circles the Duke of York is now someone — like Harry and Meghan —whom it’s better not to talk about.

There is no doubt, however, that the Queen loved her second son to the last. When she died, each of her children published a personal statement about her. Part of Prince Andrew’s read: ‘Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your confidence I will treasure forever. I have found your knowledge and wisdom infinite, with no boundary or containment. 

‘I will miss your insights, advice and humour. As our book of experiences closes, another opens, and I will forever hold you close to my heart with my deepest love and gratitude, and I will tread gladly into the next with you as my guide.’

Some of the turns of phrase could have been written by his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who still shares a home with the prince, but the part of the message he very much wanted the rest of us to take note of was where he spoke of the ‘confidence’ the Queen had shown in him. 

Prince Andrew stepped down from public life in 2019 over his friendship with the ‘billionaire paedophile’ ­Jeffrey  Epstein. He was stripped of his honorary military roles, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and obliged to give up his HRH style in public. But his mother stood by him. She loved her boy. She retained her ‘confidence’ in him. 

That said, there had been a cloud hanging over his reputation, and the Queen was a realist. She essentially fired her own son. A senior courtier said to me, ‘There was a lot of nonsense talked about no one being at the helm, but the Queen took a firm grip of things. To use the military jargon, there was only a few days between flash and bang. Action was called for and the Queen took it.’

The day after firing Andrew, however, she showed us how much she loved him by taking him riding with her through Windsor Great Park in the rain and ensuring that there were photographers on hand to capture the shot. She was also glad to have him at her side as she travelled to her husband’s memorial service.   

The rest of the Royal Family was less happy to see Prince Andrew taking centre stage — not because of any personal hostility, but because they feared the pictures of him side by side with Her Majesty would dominate press coverage of the memorial service. And so it proved.The Duke of York, of course, told his mother the whole story of his long relationship with Epstein, all the ins and outs of it, and the details of the accusations made against him.

The first time he gave her the full account of the whole sorry saga, she listened carefully. Then the Queen, who never said more than was necessary, responded with just one word: ‘Intriguing.’

I chair ‘The Oldie of the Year Awards’ where we honour people of a certain age who still have what might be described as ‘snap in their celery’. So last year, post the pandemic lockdown, I wrote to the Queen’s private secretary to ask whether Her ­Majesty might consider accepting the Oldie of the Year Award.  

A witty reply was sent to me from ­Balmoral Castle on August 21, 2021: ‘Her ­Majesty believes you are only as old as you feel. As such The Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient. 

‘This message comes to you with Her ­Majesty’s warmest best wishes.’

After the birth of Prince Andrew, the Queen — according to one of her ladies-in-waiting — ­suffered ‘post-natal side effects’ because the baby had been born using the now-discredited method of ‘twilight sleep’. 

‘Dammerschlaf’ was a form of childbirth ­pioneered in Germany in the early twentieth century in which the adminstration of drugs (morphine and scopolamine) puts the patient into an amnesic state during labour. The mother remains semi-conscious but apparently pain-free and has no subsequent recollection of the experience. The baby is delivered by forceps. 

In fact, Charles and Anne were also delivered via the ‘twilight sleep’ method — and Prince Edward’s was the first birth not to involve it. The difficult aftermath of Andrew’s birth may possibly have put the Queen off that delivery method for good.

2ND EXTRACT

[mrepstein]

New Musical Express - Friday June 18, 1965

Salute to the MBEatles!

BY THE EDITOR

Dear John, Paul, George and Ringo:

Congratulations from all NME readers on the honour bestowed on you by the Queen, who saw fit to make you Members of the British Empire for your unprecedented achievement in the history of world show business and winning for Britain the interest of millions of teenagers all over the world.

As always, there have been the knockers who say this award to you is ridiculous. A “Daily Mirror” writer attacked the whole thing and others made sarcastic asides about it. On the other hand, the serious-minded “Daily Telegraph,” in its leader, suggested the honour was not sufficient and you should have received a more generous award, such as a Knighthood.

The Prime Minister, the Member of Parliament for Huyton, Liverpool, recommended you for this honour. And as you admitted on television, you were sent the forms to fill in six weeks ago to say if you wanted an honour.

We’re glad you accepted it. This means that your teenage fans, who made you, can share in the honour. And these days, when teenagers seem only to get bad publicity, how pleasant to have something good happen.

Your ladies will be going with you to Buckingham Palace to the investiture - there are two in July, and others later in the year - and let us hope “baby” lets Maureen go. You’ll be decked out in your finest attire and you’ll have a very happy day. Myra Secombe, wife of Harry, recalled that she was “scared stiff” before the investiture, but after it she felt exhilarated, having seen her husband receive his OBE.

You will come away with silver medals on a pink ribbon, each with a pin to attach it to the left side of your dinner jackets on formal occasions. You may have your medals before the premiers of “Help!”

One final suggestion - if the Queen could not make the presentation personally, wouldn’t it be a fine thing for her teenage son or daughter, Prince Charles or Princess Anne, to do it? That would make it a complete teenage triumph.

AND THE DAY OF THE AWARD THRU’ THE EYES OF Mr. Brian Epstein

NMExclusive

By CHRIS HUTCHINS

The news that the Queen had approved Premier Harold Wilson’s selection of the Beatles for MBEs in her Birthday Honours List was supposedly one of the world’s best-kept secrets. But what a pantomime for Fleet Street, which was told a couple of days before so that Saturday's headlines could be polished up in advance!

And what a night of excitement Friday was as last-minute touches were being added to the stories, pictures were being chosen and Donald Zec of the “Daily Mirror” was sitting back waiting for the reaction to his silly piece decrying the awards.

Brian Epstein flew to Blackpool that night to see Billy J. Kramer and to make the last-minute preparations for the fuss that was about to put the Beatles and himself back on the front pages.

I went with him and this was the schedule: 9 pm: Our aircraft touched down virtually a sword’s touch from Blackpool Tower and we drove to the North Pier theatre. Quipped Epstein on the way: “I wonder if somebody will start a group called the MBEs now?”

10:30: With Billy J. and his Dakotas, we took a cab to our seaside hotel. Passing crowds of holidaymakers, Epstein observed: “It’s so exciting nursing a secret they’ll all be talking about tomorrow.” And then he deliberated on what sort of a spread it would make in the morning papers.

At the hotel he took phone call after phone call from newspapers and news agencies and it was soon obvious that the Beatles were THE news of the night.

10:50: Epstein ordered flowers to be delivered to each of the Beatles’ parents first thing in the morning, with congratulatory notes from himself.

11:20: Phone rang again. It was Paul McCartney from a call box at London airport. He had arrived back from Portugal minutes before the news became official and a day earlier than planned (at the request of his manager). The conversation between the two millionaires was brought to an abrupt end when Paul ran out of change!

Released

12:20 AM: The news had been released and the Fleet Street presses were rolling. Another call - this time from the BBC programme “Light Night Extra” whose listeners learned of the MBE awards first. They also heard Brian say: “It is a tremendous thrill to know that the Queen has honoured the Beatles. It is the first official recognition they have had of the nation’s appreciation.”

8:00 AM: We flew back to London. Dark glasses could not conceal the famous manager’s identity as people before and after the flight grabbed Epstein’s arm and asked him to pass on their congratulations.

The Beatles had agreed to meet the world’s press at Twickenham film studios at lunchtime. The conference was arranged for 1:30 - 2½ hours after the start of their first viewing of the “Help!” film. John Lennon missed the screening and arrived 70 minutes late for the conference, after being fetched from home by his manager.

As the crowd of reporters, photographers and TV men waited and waited, one of them called out “MBEs and they still treat US as suckers!”

At the conference itself the Beatles were frequently asked if being honoured would change their way of life. But if Paul’s unshaven arrival wasn’t enough to convince all concerned, he added: “It doesn’t make me feel any more respectable. I’m still a scruff.”

I asked George how they had first learned they were getting the awards: “Paul was looking through the pile of fan mail in our dressing room a few weeks ago when he came across this envelope that said From the Prime Minister on it. It must have been there at least a couple of days. He opened it and the letter said he was being considered for an award and would he sign the enclosed form. We all said ‘wish we had one,’ dived through the rest of the mail and found we did - one each!”

Asked what they would do with the medals, John said: “I think I’ll have mine made into a bell push so that people have to press it when they come to the house.”

Somebody asked if the Beatles thought Cliff Richard should have got a medal, too. “Yes, a leather one with wooden strings,” quipped George.

And as the bright remarks continued to fly as fast as at any Beatle press conference I have witnessed, their manager stood at the back, arms folded, and beamed as Paul said he thought MBE stood for Mr. Brian Epstein.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 5.19

639 – Ashina Jiesheshuai and his tribesmen assaulted Emperor Taizong at Jiucheng Palace. 715 – Pope Gregory II is elected. 1051 – Henry I of France marries the Rus' princess, Anne of Kiev. 1445 – John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo. 1499 – Catherine of Aragon is married by proxy to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Catherine is 13 and Arthur is 12. 1535 – French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships, 110 men, and Chief Donnacona's two sons (whom Cartier had kidnapped during his first voyage). 1536 – Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, is beheaded for adultery, treason, and incest. 1542 – The Prome Kingdom falls to the Taungoo Dynasty in present-day Myanmar. 1568 – Queen Elizabeth I of England orders the arrest of Mary, Queen of Scots. 1643 – Thirty Years' War: French forces under the duc d'Enghien decisively defeat Spanish forces at the Battle of Rocroi, marking the symbolic end of Spain as a dominant land power. 1649 – An Act of Parliament declaring England a Commonwealth is passed by the Long Parliament. England would be a republic for the next eleven years. 1655 – The Invasion of Jamaica begins during the Anglo-Spanish War. 1743 – Jean-Pierre Christin developed the centigrade temperature scale. 1749 – King George II of Great Britain grants the Ohio Company a charter of land around the forks of the Ohio River. 1776 – American Revolutionary War: A Continental Army garrison surrenders in the Battle of The Cedars. 1780 – New England's Dark Day, an unusual darkening of the day sky, was observed over the New England states and parts of Canada. 1802 – Napoleon Bonaparte founds the Legion of Honour. 1828 – U.S. President John Quincy Adams signs the Tariff of 1828 into law, protecting wool manufacturers in the United States. 1845 – Captain Sir John Franklin and his ill-fated Arctic expedition depart from Greenhithe, England. 1848 – Mexican–American War: Mexico ratifies the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo thus ending the war and ceding California, Nevada, Utah and parts of four other modern-day U.S. states to the United States for US$15 million. 1911 – Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, is established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department of the Interior. 1917 – The Norwegian football club Rosenborg BK is founded. 1919 – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk lands at Samsun on the Anatolian Black Sea coast, initiating what is later termed the Turkish War of Independence. 1921 – The United States Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act establishing national quotas on immigration. 1922 – The Young Pioneer Organization of the Soviet Union is established. 1933 – Finnish cavalry general C. G. E. Mannerheim was appointed the field marshal. 1934 – Zveno and the Bulgarian Army engineer a coup d'état and install Kimon Georgiev as the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria. 1942 – World War II: In the aftermath of the Battle of the Coral Sea, Task Force 16 heads to Pearl Harbor. 1950 – A barge containing munitions destined for Pakistan explodes in the harbor at South Amboy, New Jersey, devastating the city. 1950 – Egypt announces that the Suez Canal is closed to Israeli ships and commerce. 1959 – The North Vietnamese Army establishes Group 559, whose responsibility is to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam; the resulting route is the Ho Chi Minh trail. 1961 – Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost contact with Earth a month earlier and did not send back any data). 1961 – At Silchar Railway Station, Assam, 11 Bengalis die when police open fire on protesters demanding state recognition of Bengali language in the Bengali Language Movement. 1962 – A birthday salute to U.S. President John F. Kennedy takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York City. The highlight is Marilyn Monroe's rendition of "Happy Birthday". 1963 – The New York Post Sunday Magazine publishes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail. 1971 – Mars probe program: Mars 2 is launched by the Soviet Union. 1986 – The Firearm Owners Protection Act is signed into law by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. 1991 – Croatians vote for independence in a referendum. 1993 – SAM Colombia Flight 501 crashes on approach to José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín, Colombia, killing 132. 1996 – Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on mission STS-77. 1997 – The Sierra Gorda biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, is established as a result of grassroots efforts 2000 – Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-101 to resupply the International Space Station. 2007 – President of Romania Traian Băsescu survives an impeachment referendum and returns to office from suspension. 2010 – The Royal Thai Armed Forces concludes its crackdown on protests by forcing the surrender of United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship leaders. 2012 – Three gas cylinder bombs explode in front of a vocational school in the Italian city of Brindisi, killing one person and injuring five others. 2012 – A car bomb explodes near a military complex in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor, killing nine people. 2015 – The Refugio oil spill deposited 142,800 U.S. gallons (3,400 barrels) of crude oil onto an area in California considered one of the most biologically diverse coastlines of the west coast. 2016 – EgyptAir Flight 804 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea while traveling from Paris to Cairo, killing all on board. 2018 – The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion.

[gstqaobc]

The Royal Fascinator Friday, May 07, 2021

Janet DavisonRoyal Expert Hello, royal watchers and all those intrigued by what’s going on inside the House of Windsor. This is your biweekly dose of royal news and analysis.

A fleeting glimpse of family life

(Chris Floyd/Camera Press/Press Association via The Associated Press)

Glimpses of what family life is like for Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, are fleeting at best. The couple, who marked their 10th wedding anniversary the other day, are well-known for the priority they place on their three young children and protecting their privacy. But they opened up — a bit — on April 29, a decade to the day since their marriage at Westminster Abbey, posting a short video full of family fun at the beach, roasting marshmallows and taking a turn on the teeter-totter. “We are enormously grateful for the 10 years of support we have received in our lives as a family,” they wrote on Twitter in setting up the 39-second video, which has been viewed 1.2 million times. While the video focused on their family — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — there is also the sense that William, 38, and Kate, 39, could be increasing the time they spend on royal work. That seems particularly possible given the fact that other senior members of the Royal Family — notably Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as well as Prince Andrew — have stepped back from official duties. Royal author and biographer Penny Junor suspects William and Kate will try to balance the two. “Family is hugely important to them both — they know that security in a child’s early years is crucial — but they also recognize that royal work is important, particularly when the family is short of some key players,” Junor said via email. “So [it's] a difficult juggling act, but they seem a very secure couple with a very happy family life and an exceptionally good work ethic.” That work ethic has been questioned at times over the past decade, with media murmurings now and then about just how hard they were really working. But those questions have faded. For Kate in particular, there is an increased emphasis on issues she has made a priority, especially early child development. There is also a sense that Kate’s transition into the Royal Family has been a careful, gradual one, and stands in some contrast to how William’s mother, Diana, found the experience of joining the family. She later complained that she received little guidance or praise as she settled into her role. “Kate has grown in confidence over the last 10 years since she married William,” said Junor. “She has really settled into her role and established herself as a role model as a mother and royal wife.” As much as the video posted for their anniversary offers glimpses of their family enjoying time at play, there is also a sense that it was a carefully crafted impression they chose to share. “In publicising their happy family life, William and Kate follow a well-trodden royal path,” author Matthew Dennison wrote in The Telegraph. Dennison takes that path back two centuries, to public portrayals of family life for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who would go on to have nine children. “The vignettes of their life off-duty that the Cambridges do share with the public invariably depict them as a loving couple and devoted parents, casually dressed, without the trappings of royal status,” said Dennison. In that, Dennison sees “a new embodiment of a concept Victoria and Albert embraced with zeal 200 years ago, that led to [political analyst] Walter Bagehot’s well-known reflection: ‘A family on the throne is an interesting idea. It brings down the pride of sovereignty to the level of petty life.'" The happy family times weren’t the only video offering from William and Kate in recent days. They also launched a YouTube channel this week, with the first video focusing mainly on multiple glimpses of them on official duties over the years. That 25-second clip has garnered more than 2.4 million views since going live on Wednesday.

More of Mike

For a while now, there’s been a sense the Royal Family is undergoing a streamlining in its upper echelons when it comes to official duties. Some of it is thought to be part of a broader view of the future — and the idea that Prince Charles is ultimately looking to a smaller core group of royals to carry the House of Windsor forward when his time comes to follow his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on the throne. Some of it is a function of circumstance — Prince Harry and Meghan have stepped away from official duties, as has Prince Andrew, in the fallout from his disastrous interview with the BBC regarding his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. When it comes to considering which members of the family might step up and do more, the list has become relatively short: along with Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, there is Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, along with William and Kate. Nowhere on the list is Mike Tindall. And while there is nothing official to suggest the husband of Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara, is assuming a specific roster of new duties, it has been interesting to see him pop up more often recently. Tindall, 42, took part in an online chat regarding Parkinson’s disease with the Duchess of Gloucester that was posted the other day. Tindall’s father has Parkinson’s, and he’s been a longtime supporter of efforts to help those with the disease. In a recent interview with the BBC, where Tindall also spoke about the impact of Parkinson’s, he offered some family perspective on the recent death of Zara’s grandfather, Prince Philip. Tindall said Queen Elizabeth mourned her husband with bravery and was "amazing" at his funeral. A former England rugby player, Tindall is no stranger to media chatter. He’s part of a laddish podcast — The Good, the Bad & the Rugby — that has also become an unexpected source of some royal news in recent months. Word broke on the podcast late last year that he and Zara were expecting their third child. A few months later, Tindall shared the happy news that son Lucas had arrived, albeit not quite as they were expecting — with Zara giving birth on their bathroom floor. Happy birthday — to Louis, Charlotte and Archie

(Kate, Duchess of Cambridge via The Associated Press)

Royal social media channels have offered up a number of photos of late to mark the cluster of birthdays among younger members of the Royal Family in late April and early May. Public glimpses of the children are relatively rare, so the photos sometimes become news stories in and of themselves. Prince Louis turned three on April 23, and his elder sister, Charlotte, turned six on May 2. In both instances, and following what has become a tradition in their family, the birthdays were marked with photos taken by their mother, Kate. Louis was captured on his bike as he headed off for his first day of nursery school, and Charlotte’s photo was a close-up. Their cousin, Archie, turned two on May 6. His parents, Prince Harry and Meghan, posted a sepia-toned photo on their website of Archie shot from behind and holding a bunch of balloons. In a message on the website, Harry and Meghan urged people to “join us in advocating for vaccine equity on Archie’s birthday.”

Royally quotable

"It is clear that reconciliation, equality and mutual understanding cannot be taken for granted, and will require sustained fortitude and commitment."  

— Queen Elizabeth, in a

message marking the centenary of Northern Ireland.  

Royal reads

1.Prince Charles says the Royal Family was

“deeply moved”

by the way the military carried out their duties at the funeral for his father, Prince Philip. [ITV]

2. The Duke of Edinburgh’s death certificate recorded his cause of death as

“old age.”

[The Independent]

3. Prince Harry called for COVID-19 vaccines to be

"distributed to everyone everywhere"

at a star-studded charity concert in Los Angeles. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also appeared via video during the event. [BBC]

4. Meghan is publishing her first children’s picture book,

The Bench

, which is inspired by Harry and Archie. She also

won the remainder of her privacy claim

against a British newspaper group. [CBC, BBC]

5. Christopher Geidt served as Queen Elizabeth’s private secretary for a decade. Now the former army intelligence officer, who has been described as charming and suave,

has a new role

: adviser on ethical standards for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. [The Guardian]

Cheers!

I’m always happy to hear from you. Send your ideas, comments, feedback and notes to

royalfascinator@cbc.ca

. Problems with the newsletter? Please let me know about any typos, errors or glitches.

💜🙏🏻🙂✝️💟PG💟✝️🙂🙏🏻💜

GSTQAOBC 🇨🇦🇬🇧🇦🇺🇳🇿

[thecrownnet]

“RadioTimes.com currently predicts that The Crown season four will be released in November or December 2020, approximately one year after the most recent outing of the show.”

*Radio Times May 14, 2020 article contains spoilers.

The Crown season 4: When’s it released on Netflix? What’s going to happen?

Olivia Colman will return as Queen Elizabeth II as we head into the Margaret Thatcher years for the fourth instalment of Peter Morgan's royal epic

With filming on season four of The Crown having wrapped juuuust in time before the coronavirus shut down the entire country, Netflix’s flagship royal drama is hopefully still on track to hit our screens ASAP.

Although the main characters were all replaced in a major reset at the beginning of season three, we know that Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth II) and Tobias Menzies (The Duke of Edinburgh) will both be reprising their roles for the fourth season of the show, along with the likes of Helena Bonham Carter (Princess Margaret).

For season four of the show we expect much of the story to centre on the late 1970s and the 1980s, with will mean the introduction of important new characters including Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana. We’ll then get a total cast switch-over ahead of the fifth and final season.

Here’s everything we know so far about season four of The Crown…

When is The Crown season 4 released on Netflix? Netflix has yet to confirm an exact air date for the fourth season – and although there was a two-year gap between seasons two and three, we’re unlikely to have to wait quite so long for season four.

RadioTimes.com currently predicts that The Crown season four will be released in November or December 2020, approximately one year after the most recent outing of the show.

Filming for seasons three and four was scheduled to take place back-to-back, before another total cast changeover as Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies step aside in favour of older actors.

Shooting on the fourth season finished in mid-March 2020, with the final days of filming brought forward owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

With the shots in the can, it gives Netflix the flexibility to move one of their biggest and most popular shows around the year should they so choose – but still it’s likely to come at the end of 2020.

Who will be in the cast for The Crown season 4? All the main cast from season three will be back for season four – including Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles, Erin Doherty as Princess Anne, and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret.

However, they will be joined by a number of new cast members playing some very famous characters from history…

Is Margaret Thatcher in season 4?

Gillian Anderson is set to star as Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, and it’s likely that her leadership and her relationship with the Queen will be central to season four.

Season three finishes in 1977, so we’ve almost hit the year Thatcher was elected: 1979. She then remained in office until 1990, so we should expect to see a lot of Gillian Anderson’s Thatcher throughout the new season of the show as it has always focussed heavily on the relationship between the monarch and her Prime Ministers.

Is Princess Diana in season 4?

Emma Corrin has been cast to play Lady Diana Spencer (the future Princess of Wales) in The Crown.“I have been glued to the show and to think I’m now joining this incredibly talented acting family is surreal,” Corrin said when the casting was announced. “Princess Diana was an icon and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To explore her through Peter Morgan’s writing is the most exceptional opportunity and I will strive to do her justice!”Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor) married Diana in 1981 after a brief courtship. Their eldest son Prince William came along in 1982, with Prince Harry arriving in 1984 – events which will all fall within the time period covered by season four.Peter Morgan is also likely to cover the difficulties within the royal marriage which led to their 1992 separation and subsequent divorce.As Princess Diana became such an international icon during her time in the royal family, we’d predict that her character will be a very substantial part of the new season as one of the most famous marriages in the world plays out on screen.

What will happen in season 4 of The Crown?

The fourth season should take us from 1977 up to about 1990, though the exact timespan is yest to be confirmed by the creator of the show, Peter Morgan, or Netflix, who make the show.

The Times reports that episodes will feature the Queen and Margaret Thatcher’s disagreements over Apartheid in South Africa, the 1984-5 miners’ strike and the 1982 Falklands War. All major incidents during the period, so it’s likely at least some of these events will feature in the ten episodes.

This is just speculation, but The Crown season four could also cover the 1981 incident where six shots were fired at the Queen during the Trooping of the Colour. It could also include the Buckingham House intruder, Michael Fagan, who made it into the Queen’s bedroom after a serious lapse in security.

It’s likely we’ll meet US President Ronald Reagan in season four, and explore his relationship with the Queen, as we have seen most of the US Presidents at some point during the first three seasons of The Crown.

If you enjoyed the 1969 Royal Family documentary episode in season three, cross your fingers that It’s a Royal Knockout will get its own episode as we cringe our way through the much-ridiculed 1987 charity game show.

Meanwhile Josh O’Connor, who plays Prince Charles on the show, has said that his character will be portrayed in a harsher light in season four, with one episode set to focus on the beginnings of the love triangle between Charles, his future wife Camilla Shand and her boyfriend Andrew Parker-Bowles.

He told the PA news agency, “Well, it’s the Diana years so we know that period so well. And in terms of Charles himself, if series three was to make people feel empathy and sorry for him, I guess we’re going to pull the rug from under him in the next series.”

And we’ll be waiting to find out who plays an adult Prince Andrew as he goes off to the Falklands War… perhaps not an enviable role to play on-screen right now.

Who will star in The Crown season 5?

We’ll get one last re-casting ahead of season five, which is now confirmed as the final season on Netflix.

And while we’re still waiting for news about most of the cast, we have had confirmation for one key character: Imelda Staunton will play Queen Elizabeth II herself.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to confirm Imelda Staunton as Her Majesty The Queen for the fifth and final season, taking The Crown into the 21st century,” The Crown’s creator Peter Morgan told Deadline. “Imelda is an astonishing talent and will be a fantastic successor to Claire Foy and Olivia Colman.”

He added: “At the outset I had imagined The Crown running for six seasons but now that we have begun work on the stories for season five it has become clear to me that this is the perfect time and place to stop. I’m grateful to Netflix and Sony for supporting me in this decision.”

When will season 5 begin filming?

Imelda Staunton told Entertainment Weekly that her research for the role is “ongoing” – but she anticipates filming on season five being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that so many TV productions have been on pause.

“I think everything in the world is going to get pushed on, isn’t it?” she said. “So who knows? I’ve been chipping away at it quietly.”

Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle be featured on The Crown?

The royal couple made major headlines in January 2020 when they announced they would be stepping down as senior royals to become financially independent.

However, these events won’t be covered in the fourth season of The Crown, as it will be set decades earlier.

In addition, it currently seems unlikely that the series will ever make it to present day royal life, as creator Peter Morgan told Entertainment Weekly he prefers to keep the focus on historical topics.

“I feel uncomfortable writing about events within a certain time period. I think there’s a certain amount of time within which, if you write about it, what you do instantly becomes journalistic. Because it’s too close to the moment.

“If you wait a certain amount of time, if you allow fifteen or twenty years, basically a generation, between you and [the events] then you can write about it somewhat freely as drama,” he said.

You can watch seasons 1-3 of The Crown right now on Netflix

[ingek73]

WORLD NEWS 08/01/2020 06:00 am ET

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Fans Hatch ‘Unforgettable’ Plan To Mark Royals’ Birthdays

The Sussex Squad is at it again — this time with a scholarship #InspiredByMeghan.

By Carly Ledbetter

The Sussex Squad has something special in mind for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s birthdays.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry both have birthdays coming up, which means one thing: the Sussex Squad has a plan.

The Sussex Squad is a group of supporters of the royal couple who regularly join forces around major holidays and birthdays to celebrate Meghan and Harry through charitable endeavors. Generally, organizers pick causes to contribute to, alert the rest of the Sussex Squad via social media of the effort and begin fundraising and donating in the days leading up to their deadline.

Dani Trin, a recent college graduate based in Portugal, helped create and oversee the latest campaign for Meghan’s birthday on Aug. 4 and Harry’s on Sept. 15.

Last week, she announced the “unforgettable” initiative on Twitter: scholarships for women’s education in partnership with the Campaign for Female Education, also known as Camfed. The non-profit organization works to eradicate poverty by educating African women.

The scholarships, dedicated to Meghan, is appropriately called the #InspiredByMeghan Scholarship. Donations from Sussex Squad members will support young African women through a year of technical and vocational training, specifically in the areas of nursing, engineering and journalism. As of Friday evening, the squad had raised more than $45,700.

HuffPost contacted Trin via email about the Sussex Squad’s history of charitable campaigns for their faves, how the most recent fundraising efforts came to be and what it’s been like getting recognition from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The Squad first began organizing charitable efforts for the couple in 2018, when Meghan was pregnant with their son, Archie. The subsequent online movement was called the #GlobalSussexBabyShower and raised thousands of dollars for charities including Camfed, WellChild, which aids seriously ill children and Mayhew, an animal welfare group for which Meghan is a patron.

The Squad has since celebrated other major milestones in the couple’s life, leading a #HappyFathersDayPrinceHarry, which raised thousands for charities supported by Harry, and #ArchieDay, a celebration of Archie’s first birthday.

For the latter occasion, fans raised over $40,000 for coronavirus relief and, through the efforts of a separate group, planted over 111,500 trees in honor of the little one, along with donating to six charities focused on conservation.

This latest initiative is different, as all of the efforts are focused on one single charity, instead of three or four.

Trin wasn’t originally planning to do something for Meghan’s birthday, telling HuffPost she was burnt out from the organizing surrounding #ArchieDay. She’d also been focusing on graduating amid the worldwide pandemic.

But after someone asked her what she on tap as the next fundraising project on behalf of Harry and Meghan, she decided to do something for the duchesses’ birthday. She said that she’d been considering setting up a scholarship in Meghan’s name for some time and decided to go through with it.

“We were researching on how to set up scholarship funds and realized that it could get complicated having to deal with taxes and other people’s money,” she said. “So the best way to do it, it would be to have a non-profit organization to do it for us.”

Trin and fellow Squad member Elle Harris, who lives in New York and helped organize both the Global Sussex Baby Shower campaign and #ArchieDay, decided to partner with Camfed ― not only because of the work it does, but also due to the organization’s previous involvement with the duke and duchess and the Sussex squad. Harris told HuffPost that their last fundraising effort for Camfed led to 118 scholarships for young women.

WPA POOL VIA GETTY IMAGES

Journalist Anne McElvoy, Camfed Regional Director Zimbabwe’s Angeline Murimirwa, British campaigner Chrisann Jarrett, the Duchess of Sussex, Annie Lennox, Adwoa Aboah and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard attend a panel discussion convened by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019 in London.

Together, the two organized the new scholarship effort, communicating over the phone, Twitter and email, while Trin organized Zoom calls to coordinate with the non-profit. Over 100 members of the Squad knew about the project, but they were able to keep things under wraps until their chosen launch date ― a date chosen based on previous virtual fundraisers and the estimated length of time to run the campaign.

A Camfed spokeswoman told HuffPost by email on Wednesday that this sort of activism from fans of celebrities is “absolutely unique” in the group’s experience

“We are uplifted by, and in awe of what they are doing,” the spokeswoman said. “The Sussex Squad has turned its inspiration into concrete action to make the world a better place.”

Calling the scholarships “empowering,” she added, “With this #InspiredByMeghan fundraiser, the Squad has created a really purposeful movement for good on Twitter. It’s not only about being inspired, but also being inspiring. You can feel the passion, momentum, and the belonging this engenders, and we are really proud and energized to be part of it.”

Trin said she chose the hashtag #inspiredbyMeghan “because, for me personally, it is thanks to Meghan that I realized how female education is one of the most single important areas to work on to better society.” She added that she wants to bring awareness to the cause and help as many girls as possible to continue their education.

Harris echoed Trin’s thoughts and said the group is continually “inspired by the example set by Meghan and Harry in their humanitarian work.”

“We’ve always operated as more than the common fan group. We’ve strived to make our admiration for Meghan and Harry mean more than tweets and Instagram posts,” she said. “We hope to make a difference in the lived lives of promising girls and young women.”

The Camfed account has been tweeting updates on money raised and scholarships earned.

Trin’s fundraising efforts and online support of the Sussexes have earned her a call in the past from none other than the duke and duchess. She said they called to express their thanks for the fundraiser in honor of Archie’s birthday and the continued online support.

“I think I might have rambled a bit, I’m not sure, but I remember telling her how proud of them we all are and that we’ll be here supporting,” Trin said. “I’m surprised I was able to form coherent sentences.”

While the call was unexpected, Trin added that she didn’t consider it completely surprising. “Before she joined the royal family, Meghan was into connecting with people through her social media and blog,” she said.

After keeping the news to herself for a bit, Trin tweeted about the call and Sussex Squad members responded with glee.

“I feel like everyone was pretty excited. It’s always nice to get recognition from Harry and Meghan,” she said.

“I think Meghan will absolutely love this birthday gift. I would even go as far as to say we are giving her the best birthday gift this year,” she said, before quipping that the latest birthday fundraising efforts are going to put a little bit of pressure on the duke. “Tell Harry to step it up.”

[madamlaydebug]

GESARA IS IN FULL EFFECT, THE EA VIA KING JOHN III & TRUMP NOW OWN THE COMMONWEALTH, ALL ITS STATES, INCLUDING CANADA, USA, AUSTRAILIA, ETC.

March 2019 Royal Powers were stripped. Exactly as of late Nov. 2019 all Royal Assets were seized.

On May 16, 2020 the seal at Buckingham Palace was removed the first time ever and the new King will live there soon. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bA5A5Ie0V4 and www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-klsnS6_X847NydCRG4lQ/videos.

GESARA is in full effect. The EA via King John III and Trump now own the Commonwealth, all Its states, including Canada, USA, Austrailia, etc.

The Aramic Christian Prayer for the New Golden Age

To That Which Gave Birth to the Cosmos,

Immerse Me in Your Fire of Creation

Render Me Wise, with Love and Equity to Share,

Free Me From Karma,

Those Around Me From Debt.

And Ensure I Have Enough to Live On,

My Hands and Heart Are Ready.

Animate the Earth Beneath My Feet,

And Set My Heart Free.

Let Your Harmony Vibrate My Will.

Immerse Me In Sound and Light,

So That I May Experience Your Breath of Life.

Let My Will Be A Fractal of Your Harmony Vibration.

Give Lively Strength To My (Your) True Purpose.

And Renew Me As A Song Of Beauty From Age to Age.

I Return My Vibrating Light and Sound Into Your Astonishing Cosmic Fire.

* * * * * * *

by Joseph Gregory Hallet, KING JOHN III.

BREAKING NEWS

WE HAVE A NEW KING. THE ENTIRE VATICAN ARE ARRESTED. THE POPE HAS ABDICATED AND IS UNDER ARMED GUARD.

ELIZABETH II IS IN PRISON.

SATAN HAS BEEN TOPPLED ALONG WITH THE NAZI, ROTTEN ROYALS. BRITAIN WILL BE RESTORED TO GREATNESS UNDER GOOD KING JOHN III

JOSEPH GREGORY HALLETT. ARMA CHRISTI. UNVEILING THE ROSE.

The rightful King of England is King John III. He previously sent his claim to 10 Downing Street who always pretended not to receive it. David Cameron came up with a plan to prevent King John claiming his rightful title. He told the queen that William must marry in order for them to have an opportunity to change the rights of succession. William swiftly chose out of his girlfriends (he had more than one).

The rights of succession were changed to allow only heirs of William and Harry. They hid this between two other changes--allowing either gender and also allowing Catholics.

David Cameron--knowing too much by that time - had to resign.

However as neither William or Harry are legitimate heirs (they are not Charles' sons) they cannot inherit and as the royal family shot themself in the foot by stating only William and Harry's children could inherit--they cannot make a claim using either Charles and Camilla's hidden child or Charles' other hidden child.

The queen herself is not the legitimate queen as her true father is Tsar Alexander of Russia. This is because the royal family by rule never have legitimate children. Diana's sons do not belong to Charles biologically. The queens' children are not biologically Philips', queen Victoria's children were not Alberts biological children, Kate Middleton's children are not prince William's biological children and so on. This rule is imposed on them by an agreement they have with the Rothschilds family.

The royal family are the mafia. They are partners in crime with the Rothschild's family--a partnership which is very lucrative for them. The queen is the worlds largest heroin trafficker. They pay for this by ensuring all heirs are illegitimate--this gives the Rothschild's control over them--they can blackmail them. So when the Rothschilds want there to be a war the queen will willingly sign off and agree to those wars, etc. All royal children are fathered by leading members of the Rothschild family.

Hitler was himself a Rothschild. The Nazis actually won the war, it's still going on and is only now ending. They then dispersed around the globe to positions of power. Hitler went to Argentina with Eva Braun and their baby Ann. In Argentina he had a further 3 daughters. His daughters are: Angela Merkel, Theresa May, Obama's mother Ann and the Prime Minister of Lithuania. As a child Merkel was sent to Europe to live with an adoptive family to enable her to attend the best schools and prepare for her future role. The 4th Reich began on Nov 22. 2005. Hitler's first daughter, Ann, gave birth to Barack Obama's baby 'Barry' when she was 19. This baby was president Barack Obama.

Closely related to these people are: the Clintons, the Bush's, Epstein, Gates, prince Andrew, the queen, Trudeau, Weinstein, Soros, LadyGaga, Comey, Podesta, Abramovic, Pelosi, Oprah, Affleck.

These people are CLOSELY related. They are all the same bloodline and near family members.

They have been hiding a lot from us.

One thing they were hiding is that we have a King:

King John III of Scotland, of all Ireland, England, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the titular Prince Regent Duke Govenor of North America.

Our history is simply a narrative dispensed by the corrupt media and invented by the winner WWII- the nazis.

Ann Boleyn was never executed. She lived and her grandson was Walter Raleigh. Joseph Gregory Hallett is her direct descendent. He was born with the title of Christ, which he inherited from his ancestor Walter Raleigh who earned it on July 16, 1596.

He is a direct descendent of Eleanor of Acquitaine, Queen consort of France, who instigated the Christian Ministries for the Holy Grail Lineage.

The queen and the pope have certified that Ann Boleyn's 'execution' was faked.

To carry the title of King John of England you have to have be the 'Sangreal' or the 'Christ'.

Only the sangreal can carry the title: 'King John of England'.

Joseph Gregory Hallet posted his claim to the President of the US and Elizabeth II. POTUS contacted the queen throuugh diplomatic channels and said 'Is this true? Is there anything you want to deny?' The queen couldn't deny any of it. She then went in to hiding.

POTUS then took over the British Empire until King John III enters Buckingham Palace. King John III submitted his official claim in early Nov. 2019.

This put the world in a precarious position. We were at grave risk of war or terrorism. We are now in a spiritual war. The Cabal are being brought down. King John III was certified and crowned on April 6, 2020.

Buckingham Palace is currently being renovated and repainted in preparation for his arrival. This is partly because the activites within the Palace have been so monstrous that one would want to clean and repaint before living there.

The patriots and the white hats are working together to tear themselves away from the association with the treaties signed in 1720 which enslaved the American nation into slavery under the monarchy to the point where all the taxes from America were being sent to the city of London and siphoned from there to the Vatican.

Because King John III has the title of 'Christ' under the holy grail lineage he was able to execute the Nights of Malta out of the Vatican--where they were in charge of the world's money supply.

He informed Pres. Trump of this, who took note of it. This allowed Pres. Trump to absorb the Fed into the US Treasury, with him as the Head of the Treasury.

The Vatican is now no longer in control of the money supply. King John III is now confirmed and certified as the Pope of Christ by the (now ex) pope who did this in action on Easter Friday, after having closed down the whole world for Lent.

King John III is now the Pope and owns everything the Vatican does. The pope (ex) has now abdicated his title 'the vicar of Christ'.

The ex-Pope and 350 members of the Vatican staff have been arrested and charged and are currently all under licence.

The ex-pope is under house arrest at his holiday residence and is not in the Vatican. He is under armed guard.

It is no wonder Donald Trump wants to 'Drain The Swamp'.

The Royal Navy said to King John III that they're absolutely sick of transporting the queens heroin around' saying, 'it's all we do'.

The emblem has been removed from Buckingham Palace and also 10 Downing Street. New seals have been designed for 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. These events will soon be made public.

[wikipediaredoengl199fa20]

Kyleigh Burns

Prof. Audrey Golden

ENGL 199

8 December 2020

Wikipedia REDO! Diana, Princess of Wales

Their engagement became official on 24 February 1981.[19] Diana was able to select her own engagement ring.[19] Following the engagement, Diana left her occupation as a nursery teacher's assistant and lived for a short period at Clarence House, which was the home of the Queen Mother.[37] She then lived at Buckingham Palace until the wedding.[37] Ingrid Seward, who wrote a biography on Diana, described the time before the wedding as “lonely” for the princess.[38] Diana was the first Englishwoman to marry the first in line to the throne since Anne Hyde married the future James II over 300 years earlier, and she was also the first royal bride to have a paying job before her engagement.[22][19] She made her first public appearance with Prince Charles in a charity ball in March 1981 at Goldsmiths' Hall, where she met Grace, Princess of Monaco.[37]

Twenty-year-old Diana became Princess of Wales when she married Charles on 29 July 1981. The wedding was held at St Paul's Cathedral, which offered more seating than Westminster Abbey, a church that was generally used for royal nuptials.[22][19] The service was widely described as a "fairytale wedding" and was watched by a global television audience of 750 million people while 600,000 spectators lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the couple en route to the ceremony.[19][39] They had notable vows, as Diana swapped Charles’ middle names and they has requested that they would not say they would obey each other.[39] .[40] Diana wore a dress valued at £9,000 (equivalent to £34,750 in 2019) with a 25-foot (7.62-metre) train.[41]

The couple had residences at Kensington Palace and Highgrove House, near Tetbury. On 5 November 1981, Diana's pregnancy was announced.[45] In January 1982 — 12 weeks into the pregnancy — Diana fell down a staircase at Sandringham, and the royal gynaecologistSir George Pinker was summoned from London. He found that although she had suffered severe bruising, the foetus was uninjured.[46]Diana later confessed that she had intentionally thrown herself down the stairs because she was feeling "so inadequate".[47] In February 1982, pictures of a pregnant Diana in bikini while holidaying was published in the media. The Queen subsequently released a statement and called it "the blackest day in the history of British journalism."[48] On 21 June 1982, Diana gave birth to the couple's first son, Prince William.[49] She subsequently suffered from postpartum depression after her first pregnancy and[50]  decided to take William on her first major tours of Australia and New Zealand. By her own admission, Diana had not initially intended to take William until Malcolm Fraser, the Australian prime minister, made the suggestion.[51]

A second son, Prince Harry, was born on 15 September 1984.[52] The Princess said she and Charles were closest during her pregnancy with Harry. She was aware their second child was a boy, but did not share the knowledge with anyone else, including Charles.[53]

Diana was an involved mother and gave her children a variety of different experiences while they were growing up. She was firm in her beliefs around parenting and was strong in her role as a mother to William and Harry. Her and Charles worked together to raise them, along with nannies their family hired. Like most parents, she was very interested in their schooling and social lives. She would dress and drive them to school and often scheduled her work in order to spend the most time with them. 

//

Public Image

Diana remains one of the most popular members of the royal family throughout history, and she continues to influence the principles of the royal family and its younger generations.[301][302] She was a major presence on the world stage from her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 until her death in 1997, and was often described as the "world's most photographed woman".[19][303] She was noted for her compassion,[304] style, charisma, and high-profile charity work, as well as her ill-fated marriage.[157][305] Diana's former private secretary, Patrick Jephson described her as an organised and hardworking person, and pointed out Charles was not able to "reconcile with his wife's extraordinary popularity",[306] a viewpoint supported by biographer Tina Brown.[307] He also said she was a tough boss who was "equally quick to appreciate hard work", but could also be defiant "if she felt she had been the victim of injustice".[306] Diana's mother also defined her as a "loving" figure who could occasionally be "tempestuous".[240] Paul Burrell, who worked as a butler for Diana, remembered her as a "deep thinker" capable of "introspective analysis".[308] She was often described as a devoted mother to her children,[19][309] who are believed to be influenced by her personality and way of life.[310] In the early years, Diana was often noted for her shy nature.[301][311] Journalist Michael Whiteperceived her as being "smart", "shrewd and funny".[302] Those who communicated with her closely describe her as a person who was led by "her heart".[19] In an article for The Guardian, Monica Ali described Diana as a woman with a strong character, who entered the royal family as an inexperienced girl with little education, but could handle their expectations, and overcome the difficulties and sufferings of her marital life. Ali also believed that she "had a lasting influence on the public discourse, particularly in matters of mental health" by discussing her eating disorder publicly.[157] According to Tina Brown, in her early years Diana possessed a "passive power", a quality that in her opinion she shared with the Queen Mother and a trait that would enable her to instinctively use her appeal to achieve her goals.[312] Brown also believed that Diana was capable of charming people with a single glance.[307]

Diana was known for visiting sick and dying patients, and people poor and unwanted who were often seen as outcasts of society. The attention she gave these people increased her popularity with the people, as she was see as being kind and empathetic. [313] She was often thought of as mindful of other people's thoughts and feelings, and later revealed her wish to become a beloved figure among the people, saying in her 1995 interview, that "[She would] like to be a queen of people's hearts, in people's hearts."[311] Known for her easygoing attitude, she reportedly hated formality in her inner circle, asking "people not to jump up every time she enters the room".[314] Diana is often credited with widening the range of charity works carried out by the royal family in a more modern style.[157]Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post wrote in an article that "Diana imbued her role as royal princess with vitality, activism and, above all, glamour."[19] Alicia Carroll of The New York Times described Diana as "a breath of fresh air" who was the main reason the royal family was known in the United States.[315] Anthony Holden, a journalist and fan of  Diana, wrote about the ways he thought the period after her divorce was one of  relief and growth in a new, more independent life .[147] Despite all the marital issues and scandals, Diana continued to enjoy a high level of popularity in the polls while her husband was suffering from low levels of public approval.[19] Her peak popularity rate in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 2012 was 47%.[316] In Theodore Dalrymple's opinion, her popularity stemmed from "both her extreme difference from common people and her similarity to them". He believed that by going public about her marital issues and bulimia she won the admiration of "of all those who have been unhappy in their marriages" as well as people who suffered from psychological problems.[317]

Diana had become what Prime Minister Tony Blair called the "People's Princess", an iconic national figure. He had reportedly said that she had shown the nation "a new way to be British".[308] Her sudden death brought an unprecedented spasm of grief and mourning,[318] and subsequently a crisis arose in the Royal Household.[319][320][321] Andrew Marr said that by her death she "revived the culture of public sentiment",[157] while The Guardian's Matthew d'Ancona dubbed Diana "the queen of the realm of feeling" and said that "the impassioned aftermath of her death was a bold punctuation mark in a new national narrative that favoured disinhibition, empathy and personal candour."[322] Her brother, the Earl Spencer, captured her role:

Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality. Someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic.[323]

In 1997, Diana was one of the runners-up for Time magazine's person of the Year.[324] In 1999, Time magazine named Diana one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.[325] In 2002, Diana ranked third on the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, above the Queen and other British monarchs.[326] In 2003, VH1 ranked her at number nine on its 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons list, which recognises "the folks that have significantly inspired and impacted American society".[327] In 2006, the Japanese public ranked Diana twelfth in The Top 100 Historical Persons in Japan.[328] In 2018, Diana ranked fifteenth on the BBC History's poll of 100 Women Who Changed the World.[329][330]In 2020, Time magazine included Diana's name on its list of 100 Women of the Year. She was chosen as the Woman of the Year 1987 for her efforts in de-stigmatising the conditions surrounding HIV/AIDS patients.[331]

Despite being regarded as an iconic figure and a popular member of the royal family, Diana was subject to criticism during her life. Patrick Jephson, her private secretary of eight years, wrote in an article in The Daily Telegraph that "[Diana] had an extra quality that frustrated her critics during her lifetime and has done little to soften their disdain since her death".[301] Diana was criticised by philosophy professor Anthony O'Hear who in his notes argued that she was unable to fulfill her duties, her reckless behaviour was damaging the monarchy, and she was "self-indulgent" in her philanthropic efforts.[224] Due to these remarks, the charity organisations that Diana had worked with countered O’Hear’s narrative about her charity work. [224] Further criticism surfaced as she was accused of using her public profile to benefit herself,[107] which in return "demeaned her royal office".[301] Diana's unique type of charity work, which sometimes included physical contact with people affected by serious diseases occasionally had a negative reaction in the media.[301]

Diana's relationship with the press and the paparazzi has been described as "ambivalent". On different occasions she would complain about the way she was being treated by the media, mentioning that their connstant presence in her proximity had made life impossible for her, whereas at other times she would seek their attention and hand information to reporters herself.[332][333] Writing for The Guardian, Journalists like Peter Conrad and Christopher Hitchens analyzed the situation and surmised that Diana was cognizant of the influence the press had on her public standing. She therefore involved herself in public activities, perhaps to her own detriment, and often used them to show her philanthropic work.  

//

Essay

The culture and lore around Princess Diana has been ever evolving despite her death over twenty years ago. Although she remains a steadfast, beloved figure in Western celebrity culture, the narratives and bias surrounding her have shifted her memory farther and farther away from the woman herself. This is understandable and in some ways how the human brain responds to loss - by filling in memories or ideas of who the person might be instead of who they were. Lauded as the “queen of people’s hearts”, she became idolized to the extreme in death by the press, who were once her biggest critics. Thought of as endlessly kind, beautiful, and just an ordinary girl who fell victim to the malicious royal family, much of the dialogue around Diana reflects her idolization and serves to inform it even further. This  rhetoric can become harmful because it conflates the idea of a person with who they actually are, which creates false images and unattainable standards.

Throughout her wikipedia entry, the author(s) bias towards Diana as a selfless saint is seen in both explicit and implicit ways. Selective wording and the inclusion of quotes by many different supporters which describe Diana in loving ways, the author paints the same portrait of Diana painted by pop culture. An example of this would be in the section on Diana’s Public Image, when the Wikipedia article quotes Peter Conrad, who wrote an article on Diana for the Guardian, as saying that she “overburdened herself” with the press. The connotations of “overburdened” imply that she didn’t realize what she was doing, and once she did she was unable to escape. The inclusion of this quote paints Diana as unwitting and innocent to the power of the press, even when she was an accomplished public figure who understood how to manipulate the press.

In order to try and reconcile with the bias shown in Princess Diana’s wikipedia article, I rewrote portions of the text to include less biased language and present a clearer image of the person, not the persona. I used more neutral language which carried less implication and connotation in order to paint a more balanced picture of who Diana really was. Through careful diction and paraphrasing instead of direct quotes, I was able to include the same information but presented in a way which allows the reader to draw their own conclusions about the subject. For example, in the passages discussing the way she chose to parent William and Harry, I tried to make the language less aggressive. To think of and speak about Diana in a way that only describes her as a victim or as someone who could do no wrong is not only inaccurate but implies that who she actually was was not enough. The bias’ weaved in throughout the wikipedia article reflects the cultural thought surrounding female celebrities and specifically Diana - although the author(s) are providing an accurate portrayal of her life, they’re approaching the article with pre-formed conclusions in their mind. These conclusions present in the form of bias and influence the reader to think about the subject in a certain tone or light. By approaching this piece with the knowledge that it contained bias language, I was able to identify and correct it in the selected passages.

Bibliography

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Diana, Princess of Wales.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 August 2020, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Diana-princess-of-Wales. Accessed 8 December 2020.

Harris, Daniel. “The Kitschification of Princess Diana.” Salmagundi, no. 118/119, 1998, pp.

279–291. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40549319. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.

Hobbes, Micheal and Marshall, Sarah. “Princess Diana Part 2: The Wedding”, You’re Wrong About, 5 October 2020, https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Ty4blFiX86hMybf1QSkd9?si=vPAtvf1VSAqizSeVh0frLQ.

Mantel, Hilary. “The Princess Myth: Hilary Mantel on Diana.” The Guardian, 26 August 2017,

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/aug/26/the-princess-myth-hilary-mantel-on-diana

. Accessed 8 December 2020.

Saukko, Paula. “Rereading Media and Eating Disorders: Karen Carpenter, Princess Diana, and the Healthy Female Self.” Critical Studies in Media Communication, vol. 23, no. 2, 2006, pp. 152-169. Simmons Library, https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.simmons.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=dde5e9f9-537c-4c92-b738-fa172ed177d8%40pdc-v-sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=ufh&AN=21783111&anchor=AN0021783111-8.

[westofessos]

Happy Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day!

“I’m running for President, because that’s what girls do.” - Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Here are the women I’ve included, though god knows there’s so many more:

Politicians:

Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, Rep. Val Demings, Senator Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, First Lady and Secretary of State AND Democratic Nominee for President Hillary Clinton, Rep. Jackie Speier, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Mazie Hirono, First Lady Michelle Obama, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Madeleine Dean, Rep. Katie Porter, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland, Senator Amy Klobuchar

Fictional Characters:

Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn Nine Nine), Connie (The Walking Dead), Michonne (The Walking Dead), Darlene Conner (Roseanne), Donna Troy (Titans), Tahani al-Jamil (The Good Place), Leia Organa (Star Wars), Padmé Amidala (Star Wars), Rey (Star Wars), Eleanor Shellstrop (The Good Place), Peggy Carter (MCU), Juliet Burke (Lost), Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones), Lagertha (Vikings), Allison Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy), Eurydice (Hadestown, the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice), Jessica Jones (Netflix MCU), Natasha Romanoff (MCU), Carol Danvers (MCU), Diana Prince (DC), Monica Geller (Friends), Rachel Green (Friends), Phoebe Buffay (Friends), Valkyrie (MCU), Gemma Teller-Morrow (Sons of Anarchy)

In the News:

Gloria Borger, Christine Romans, Brianna Keilar, Brooke Baldwin, Sara Murray, Christiane Amanpour, Abby Phillip, Pamela Brown, Maggie Haberman, Poppy Harlow, Angela Rye, Alisyn Camerota, Laura Coates, Dana Bash, Sara Sidner, Ana Navarro, Kirsten Powers, Clarissa Ward, Catherine Rampell, Tara Setmayer, Laura Jarrett, Asha Rangappa, Kaitlan Collins, Bianna Golodryga, Symone Sanders

Musicians:

The Supremes, Pat Benatar, Alicia Keys, Cher, Linda Ronstadt, Janis Joplin, Alanis Morrissette, Heart, Stevie Nicks, Mama Cass Elliot, The Bangles, The Dixie Chicks, Joan Jett, Salt n Pepa, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Tyler, Dusty Springfield, Patsy Cline, Halsey, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Debby Harry, Etta James, Carole King

Activists/Historical Figures:

Malala, Joan of Arc, Amelia Earhart, Diana Spencer, Queen Mary Stuart of Scots, Greta Thunberg, Queen Elizabeth i, Sally Ride, Maya Angelou, Emma Gonzalez, Shirley Chisholm, Queen Elizabeth ii, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman-Hughes, Anne Frank, Rosa Parks, Queen Victoria, Jane Austen, Serena Williams, Hedy Lamarr, Audrey Hepburn, Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace, Harriet Tubman, Sonia Sotomayor

Actresses:

Julia Roberts, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Saorise Ronan, Lupita N’yongo, Helena Bonham Carter, Meg Ryan, Bryce Dallas Howard, Katherine Hepburn, Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, Jennifer Grey, Whoopi Goldberg, Molly Ringwald, Regina King, Meryl Streep, Carrie Fisher, Julie Andrews, Natasha Lyonne, Marilyn Monroe, Scarlett Johansson, Mary Tyler Moore, Keira Knightley, Ingrid Bergman, Danai Gurira

“Nevertheless, she persisted.”

[hrhduchessoflancaster]

Chapter Ninety: Uncharted Territory

Disclaimer: see Prologue.

A/N: I know it’s been a very long time since I posted anything but here it is.Thank you so much for all your comments!! The story is almost over. Only a few more chapter to go. xx Bea.

 ___________________________________________________________________

             The Invictus Games held in Toronto that year game Harry a purpose and a new sense of accomplishment. After all the turmoil that he and Elle had been through the last months, being able to be a part of something he was so proud of and really make a difference, shone in him a new light and perspective on what he could do now that he had more influence and power on his hands. Elle had stayed behind since Arthur was still too young to travel and needed his mother. 

        When he arrived in Canada, he once again met with the Trudeaus. The trio exchanged pleasantries before proceeding to the Prime Minister's home, where Harry would be a guest until they flew to Toronto on the following day.

" I'm very happy to be able to congratulate you in person on the birth of your son. We are all thrilled for you and Eleanor.", said Justin.

" Thank you. We're both very happy. Arthur really is an incredible child and truly a blessing to us both.", said Harry smiling.

"And... we've all been shocked to hear of the recent changes as well. I'm sorry if that is a sensitive topic, but I wanted to talk to you about some bilateral projects, if I may.", said Justin.

" It's somewhat delicate but I'm happy to talk about improving the relationship between the UK and Canada.", said Harry, giving a brief smile. " But for now, let's focus on the task in hand. This year's Invictus Games.", he continued and the Prime Minister nodded his head, not touching on the subject any longer.

    On the following morning, Harry flew to Toronto with the Prime Minister and his wife. He was taken in a black SUV to the Air Canada Center, where the opening and closing ceremony would held. As the car approached the venue, he could hear the music and cheer growing louder and louder. Stepping out of the car, Harry waved his hand at the public gathered. He walked backstage, alongside the Justin Trudeau and waited for his queue. As the teams filled the arena one by one, Harry watched as the speeches were made, getting emotional after each story of endurance and hardships that was shared. 

" Your Royal Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to stand before you tonight and welcome our competitors to this year's Invictus Games. But before we can declare this games officially opened I'd like to say a few words. Your Royal Highness, thank you so much for your leadership, vision and strength in realising and guiding  this project, which will allow so many of our brave veterans to keep moving forward and us, the opportunity to cheer them on.", said Justin and loud cheers and claps were heard from the audience.

"... and without further ado, here, to declare the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 opened, our patron and founder, Prince Harry.". Harry was then welcomed onstage and smiled at the audience. 

" Hello Toronto! Merci beaucoup pour votre hospitalité. And thank you Prime Minister for this warm welcome. Invictus is about the dedication of the men and women who served their countries, confronted hardship, and refused to be defined by their injuries. Invictus is about the families and friends who faced the shock of learning that their loved ones had been injured or fallen ill - and then rallied to support them on their journey of recovery. And above all, Invictus is about the example to the world that all service men and women - injured or not - provide about the importance of service and duty. I wanted to find a way for veterans to be a beacon of light, and show us all that we have a role to play; that we all win when we respect our friends, neighbours, and communities. That's why we created Invictus. Not only to help veterans recover from their physical and mental wounds; but also to inspire people to follow their example of resilience, optimism, and service in their own lives.", said Harry.

" Sadly, my wife could not join us here since she's at home with our little one...", he said and cheers erupted from the crowd. "... but she too wanted to pass along the message of hope we all share today.", he continued and a video appeared on the screen behind him. In it, Elle was dressed in her Invictus Toronto 2017 shirt and had a little Arthur, napping on her arms, dressed in the Invictus baby grow they had been gifted a few months ago.

" Hello Toronto! Hello competitors! It saddens me not to be able to see you compete fiercely in these coming days and cheer you on as I did last year in Florida. But as you can see, I have a very small person that needs my full attention.", she joked and there was a sound of laughter from the crowd. " These games were created so that each an every one of you can see and experience change and teamwork. You are all winners for having reached this far. For cheating death and overcome emotional and physical challenges. I hope you embody the spirit of this games by showing courage and determination that will inspire generations to come. You are proving to the world that everything is possible, even under the most impossible situations. Good luck to you all!", said Elle. As the video ended, another cheer and applauses were heard and Harry grinned. 

" Well, as my wife has said, I hope you are ready to inspire, to challenge, to work together, and to change your lives in the next coming days. You are Invictus! Let's get started!", he concluded, to a resounding cheer. 

    When Harry came back from Canada, he felt invigorated. He was ready to resume his public activities with full force. And so was Elle. With them both back at work, which had had some new additions to their normal workload since the singing of the Abdication document, Harry and Elle spent a lot of time on their engagements around London and the UK as well as working on their side projects. Elle had once again started writing her book, meeting every now and then with Melissa and Trevor to catch up and talk about academia. As for Harry, he was working on expanding Sentebale's work across other African countries.

A new Royal Tour was set for next year, on the Caribbean, which they hoped to bring their son along. Most of the times, if they’d be staying for more than a day, they’d bring Arthur with them. But he did spend a good deal of time with his grandparents, who, on both parts, doted on the little boy, dearly. Even though Charles and Camilla were estranged from Harry, Elle made a point to take baby Arthur to see them from time to time. As for her own parents, Victoria and Rupert adored babysitting their grandson and were completely at his mercy. Elle once caught her father bouncing the infant on his knee as he did with her when she was a child and it warmed her heart to see how much her son was loved by her family.

     Not to mention the staff. The entire McClaire gang doted on the little boy. Brandon and Olivia were delighted to have a child on the home again and usually commented on how much they had missed the joy of children whenever Elle was around. Jane and Gregory took upon themselves to play with Arthur whenever they could. As for Margaret and Thomas, they’d school the little boy about everything around the kitchen and garden, respectively. Now that he was starting to eat solids, Maggie was particularly fond of cooking small portions of baby food for Elle to take home with her to see if Arthur would enjoy it. And it had never failed to please the infant, to the chef’s delight. 

        Once winter arrived, and Elle’s birthday came to pass, she received the best gift she could ever wish for: hearing Arthur properly say his first couple of words, such as mama, dada and lan, which, of course, translated to the three most import things in his life: his parents and Lancelot. He had also mastered his tummy time and could roll on it and then upwards again, as well as sitting without either Harry or Elle helping him. They had a good routine going on of naps, playtime and feeds, with now a few solids introduced as well. The new parents quickly discovered Arthur’s fondness for bananas but his distaste for papaya. Little by little, the three of them were entering new territories. 

    On the second week of November, Elle and Harry prepared for Remembrance Sunday, as many other members of the Royal Family. That’d be the first big and meaningful event without William and Catherine. They had moved back to Anglesey with the children and Elle had heard weekly from Kate. Dressed in a black dress and matching black hat, she stood beside Camilla,  Anne, and Sophie on the balcony and watched as Her Majesty, Charles, Harry, Andrew and Edward all placed the red poppies wreath on the Cenotaph. A tear or two fell down her cheeks as she thought about all the suffering that still went on around the world; about the fight and the people, military and civilians alike that were caught in the numerous conflicts. 

     That day at the Cenotaph had been the first interaction Harry had had with his father since the Abdication. After the ceremony, once they were all inside, she saw them talking in hushed tones and Harry, although stone faced, was talking back to Charles and even gave a small, tight smile to his father when he showed his phone to him. Elle imagined they were talking about Arthur. On the mend… slowly, but surely., she thought observing father and son. 

 “ I’m so glad to see them taking again.”, said Camilla, coming to stand beside Elle. The young duchess nodded her head, agreeing with the older woman.

“ Indeed. There’s much work to be done, but the first steps have been taken.”, said Elle. 

 “ I hope he can do the same with his brother.”, commented Camilla. “… William… it’s been hard on him too. He misses Harry. They all do. Will you talk to him, Eleanor? See if he can, maybe, call him again?”, she asked.

 “ I’ll try. I promise. I don’t like this situation anymore than you do, but Harry needs to be allowed to get over the anger and resentment he’s still feeling before he can forgive both his father and his brother.”, said Elle.

 ************

     Long before the whole ordeal with the Abdication had come to pass, it had been decided that Harry, Elle, Arthur and Sir Lancelot would spend Christmas with her family that year, stopping by at Sandringham, to make a quick visit to the Queen and other members of the family, on Boxing Day. So when December came, Elle was more than happy to take all of the Christmas decorations from storage and start giving their apartment the very best of seasonal cheer. 

As this was Arthur’s first Christmas, she had outdone herself by making sure he was featured every step of the way, dressing him in the cutest outfits: from little Elf to Rudolf, a Snowman and Father Christmas himself. Harry would often sneak on her and take several pictures of her and of Arthur and sometimes he too would get into them. The album Elle had given him years ago was filling up quickly. Soon another one would have to be bought so they could be cataloging their lives together. 

When he went to their bedroom that evening to shower and change while Elle fed Arthur downstairs, he opened one of his drawers to look for that particular photo album when he saw the binder Elle had given him on their first anniversary, a few months ago. In it, there were the unopened letters she had written to him, each for a different occasion. Going through them, he found the one he was looking for: for when you feel lost. Carefully detaching it from the binder, Harry took the small envelope in his hands and opened it. Elle’s elegant penmanship came into view.

 My love, my darling Harry,

If you’re reading this letter, then it means something horrible has happened in yours or our lives and you need to keep yourself grounded, to find a path to keep going forward. I may not know what it is since I’m writing this in the past with no hindsight whatsoever about the future. But, I do know that you’ll always find a way to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. You are one of the strongest, most kind, good-hearted and positive people I know. You’ll find a way to see past whatever is troubling you because you know, deep down, that it’s not the edge of a cliff, or the end of journey. There’s so much more to be lived! You may be at a crossroads or maybe a very big challenge is what you’re facing… and although it seems like a big deal now, it will be nothing more than a little bump on your path towards a great and happy future. You can do it, Harry. You can face whatever challenge is put in front of you and you can find your path again. I hope I’m there by your side, through thick and thin, as we have vowed to each other. I hope you don’t need to read this letter because I’m going to be there by your side telling everything that is written here. But, in the case that I’m not for whatever reason or that you need to hear it again, and again, again… You can and you will be found. You will see clearer. You will overcome the darkness and the desolation you might have been feeling. Take a deep breath, focus on the good parts of your life, on the people who love and support you no matter what, find your inner strength to battle the urge to 

shut everyone out… forgiven and forget, my darling. The storm is scary but it always ends. And the result is a beautiful and clear sky. You may be lost in the middle of a storm right now, but it will end. I’m sure of it.

All my love, 

Elle.

Harry eyes were glossy and unshed tears threatened to fall down his cheeks as he read the letter another time. He let her words sink in his brain and heart, reassuring him yet again, that he could do the task that was set for him and that she, his wonderful wife, his marvellous Elle, would be with him, beside him, every step of the way. Sighing, Harry folded the letter and put it on his nightstand. A hot shower was in need. 

    He was mid shower when he heard the bathroom door open. Harry didn’t turn his back for he knew who was it. Soon, a chilly air invaded the box and a pair of arm encircled his waist. He felt Elle’s breathe on his back, her lips gently kissing his warm skin.

“ Arthur is asleep.”, she said in between pecks. He placed his hands over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze before turning his body to face her. Looking deeply into her eyes, Harry cupped her cheek and lowered his head, molding his lips against hers. They pulled each other closer, basking in the passion of the moment, as the hot water fell on their bodies. Kissing turned into touching, pressing and gasping and soon, Elle had her back against the tiles, moaning. Their love making became more and more intense, the shower long forgotten. Panting, the entangled their bodies and leaned their foreheads together, faintly smiling. 

" It's been a while since we've done that, hasn't it?", said Harry, giving her his signature smirk.

" In the shower? Most definitely.", she replied chuckling. Pecking his lips, she reached for the towel and draped around her body before exiting the bathroom. Harry remained there for a few more minutes then joined an already dressed Elle in bed. He got under the covers and pulled her against him, nesting her in his arms. Gently, he began running his fingers through her hair, which earned him soft moans of content from her. In a matter of minutes, Elle was fast asleep. Harry smiled at the sight before him and placed a peck on her temple before closing his own eyes and drifting off into sleep.

************

    As Christmas week came, Harry, Elle, Arthur, Lancelot, and their RPO's made their way to Woodenford Castle. Passing through the snowy fields of Wiltshire, they drove during late morning arriving at the familiar majestic site of the 13th century stone castle on early afternoon, just in time for a healthy lunch provided by Ms. Martin, the fabulous chef. As soon as they were past the gates, Elle could see her family eagerly waiting at the front door. Once the car was pulled into a stop, they jumped out of the Range Rover, took Lancelot out and pulled Arthur from his car seat, who greeted his parents with a bubbly smile. The family was soon engulfed in warm hugs and kisses on the cheek offered by Victoria, Rupert and Edward, who soon whisked his nephew away, whispering promises of fun and mischief in his ear, while Logan helped with their luggage.

" I'm so glad you're here!", said Victoria, still holding Elle's shoulders. 

"We are very glad to be here.", said Elle. " Specially since it's Arthur's first Christmas. And nothing can compare to our Christmas tree...", she continued as they stepped inside. Warmth and the smell of pine and spices filled her senses, making her instantly more relaxed and happy. As they too off their coats and headed to the Drawing Room, she held her breath in excitement. And she wasn't disappointed. The 25ft Norway spruce was up, its ornaments glistening under the lights.

" Oh wow...", said Elle in wonder.

" We haven't finished decorating it yet. We know how much you love doing it.", said her father smiling. She smiled back at him and nodded her head with enthusiasm. She walked over to the with Arthur in her arms and browsed over the many different ornaments, their shapes and colours twinkling in the light, catching the infant's eyes and sparkling his curiosity. The family around them smiled lovingly at the scene and Harry even snapped a few pictures of mother and son, who seemed to be immersed in their own little bubble of Christmas cheer. They all joined in to decorated the tree. Little by little, the magnificent decor was complete. Harry snuck behind Elle and warped his arms around her, pulling her and Arthur close to him. 

" Now this... is what I call a proper Christmas tree.", he said in her ear.

" Couldn't agree more.", she replied, turning her head to the side and pecking his lips. They smiled to each other then looked down at Arthur who was looking amazed at every little thing around him. Elle kissed his chubby cheeks and Harry tickled his belly, earning them both a giggle from the toddler. His smile, a toothy one now, lit up the room. It was contagious and made everyone else smile too.

    For the next few days, Elle and Harry took the time away from the city to decompress and have a few dates, just the two of them. Since the snow wasn't deep and they decided to take the horses for a small walk near the river. Bundled up in puffer jackets and very warm mittens and caps, they walked over to the stables, greeting the familiar faces they saw on their way.

" Ahh Lionheart.", said Elle stepping close to her horse's stall. He neighed and threw his mane around, reaching for her hand. She chuckled and caressed his nose. "I've missed you too, buddy.", she said to him. Harry was given Percival to ride, just like on the first time he had been to Woodenford, all those years ago when they reconnected. 

    They saddled up their horses and slowly trotted side by side, the chilly breeze cutting through their skin, making theirs cheeks red. "Race you to the river.",  he said to her and galloped past her. Elle chuckled, remembering how she was the one to do the same last time they did that. She soon caught up with him and they laughed to each other as they reached the riverbank together. 

" Even with a head start, you can't seem to beat me, Major.", she said, winking and grinning at him. 

" What can I say, you've always been better at it than me...", he replied. Harry then got off his horse, tying him to a nearby tree. He then helped Elle out of her horse and did the same. Elle then picked up the the small basket with water and sandwiches she had brought and hand in hand, they walked to a stone bench that overlooked the river. Sipping on their bottles and nibbling on their snacks, they quietly observed the flow of the water and the breeze on the pine trees, listening to the sounds of the nature around them. Snuggling up to him, Elle sighed happily. 

" Feels so good to be here, in the peace and quiet after the months we've had, doesn't it?", she said.

" It really does.", replied Harry. " Sometimes I can't believe all that has happened to us...", he continued, holding her close, playing with her wedding ring. 

" I know, darling. It's been a crazy couple of year, filled with good and bad things, and we've faced them all together.", said Elle, looking up at him. 

" I have no idea what I'd have done without you by my side, Elle.", he said cupping her cheek. "You bring out the best in me. You're my saving grace and shining light at the end of a dark and rocky road.", he finished. 

" Oh Harry...", she whispered, smiling gently at him, teary eyed after his declaration. Leaning in, she pulled him closer and brought his lips towards hers. They kissed slowly, savouring the moment, but eagerness and passion flowed through their mouths and soon they were feeling much hotter than before. Once they finally pulled away from each other in need of breath, they rested their foreheads together, breathing in and out, eyes closed, feeling the heat coming from one another's bodies. 

************

    On Christmas Eve, the family gathered in the Great Hall of the castle for the Foundation brunch. A tradition that her parents had started as a way of thanking the staff and key members of the community who are a part of the Duke and Duchess' foundation. Cassandra was there and was delighted into meeting the new addition to the family. As were a few other staff members, coordinators and representatives of the small associations connected to the Foundation. Harry was soon whisked away by some veterans that he had met before while Elle was engrossed in talking to new mothers and their children about the literacy projects she had been developing and the work that had been done in the county. At dusk, they took part in a soup kitchen, delivering food and blankets to the homeless and less fortunate of Salisbury.

" I think that doing this, helping other people, really shows what Christmas is all about.", commented Elle as they gave out blankets to the people. Harry smiled at her and placed a kiss on her temple. 

    When finally came time for dinner, they returned to the castle for the much anticipated festivities. Dressed in a burgundy red dress and black pumps Elle patiently fed Arthur while Harry took shower. With only a towel around his waist, he come out of the shower and gave her a peck on the lips, walking towards the closet to get dressed. Smirking, Elle bit her lips and settled Arthur on his Moses basket. She tiptoed to the closet, finding her husband wearing only his underwear. Sneakily encircled her arms around his waist, running her hands up and down his torso, leaving a trail of kisses along his back and neck. Harry groaned and she smirked to herself, nibbling his earlobe. 

" Someone's in a mood...", he said huskily. 

" Oh darling... you have no idea what awaits you later tonight...", she whispered back, before leaving him alone in the closet.

" Looking forward to it... you tease!", he said, catching sight of her wink and smirk towards him just as she exited the room. Shaking his head, Harry dressed quietly, feeling a little discomfort on his trousers. That little temptress..., he thought. He heard her talking to Arthur and soon he was all alone in their room, which gave him plenty of time to get her gift from his suitcase. Smiling to himself as he looked at it, he pocked it and left the room as well, rushing down the stairs to meet the rest of the family. 

    The McClaire family was gathered in the Hall, the Christmas tree sparkling bright and under it, a selection of different sized boxes, mostly filled with toys and clothes for Arthur no doubt. The table was set with candlelight and ornaments along its length; a selection of roasts and mashes filled them all and warmed their bodies. At the stroke of midnight, the clinked their glasses in cheerful and joyful harmony, wishing each other a very happy Christmas. Once dinner was over, they pulled crackers and in a selections of colourful paper crowns, gave each other their gifts. As predicted, Arthur was spoiled to bits by their grandparents and uncle. Her parents exchanged comical gifts such as a new pair of glasses for her father and a new crocheting kit for her mother. Her brother gave everyone gift cards to Waterstones, which pleased most of them. Elle and Harry gave them framed pictures of Arthur with each family member, which brought her mother to tears. Finally, it was their time to exchange gifts. 

" Mine is a little bit late, but with everything that has been going on, I thought it was actually fitting to give it to you now.", said Harry handing Elle a small, squared package. She tore the paper and inside she found the familiar red box with the logo of the House of Garrard in golden letters. She carefully opened it, finding an eternity band ring, surrounded by tiny diamonds. Picking it up, she noticed that on the inside that was something engraved: Little Bear it read and she looked up at her husband with misty eyes.

" I wanted to give you that for a long time but...", said Harry. Elle smiled and shook her head.  "No, no... it's perfect timing... oh Harry... it's beautiful. Thank you.", she said, pecking his lips. She then reached to her side to give him his present. Similar to her own, it was wrapped in a square brown paper. He, like her, tore it to pieced and found a small circular container. 

Opening the lid, he chuckled and looked at her. Elle smiled and waited for his reaction. He took the silver and leather bracelet from it and payed closer attention to the marks on it: 

51°31'02.0"N  0°10'23.0"W, 19.04.17. Harry instantly knew what it meant. 

" It seems I'm gonna start a collection with these ones...", he joked, pointing out to the bracelet. Elle chuckled and smiled. 

" Well... it's only fitting since you have one for every part place in our shared history.", said Elle. 

" I love it. Thank you, my love.", he said, kissing her cheek. 

        That night, once everyone was asleep and Arthur was properly placed on her old bedroom which had been converted into a nursery, Elle kept her promise to Harry. She teased him, and toyed with him until he had enough of it and pushed her against the wall, on the bed, in the shower, and on the floor. They released all their bottled up tension making passionate love to each other again and again.

************

        On the very early ours of Boxing Day, they made the four-hour journey from Salisbury to Sandringham. With a sleepy Arthur in the back and Ingrid beside him, they drove to the familiar red bricked estate. 

" Are you ready to see them?", asked Elle.

" I am. Do I still feel hurt? Yes. Am I going to wallow in it? No. I think I should, no, need to move forward. For my own sake.", replied Harry. Nodding her head, Elle smiled and took her hand in hers, joining their fingers. 

" It will be great. And we'll start mending bridges by greeting them properly, alright?", said Elle, and Harry nodded his head in agreement. They parked outside and were greeted by William, Catherine and a very sleepy looking George. Taking a step forward, Harry smiled gently and embraced his brother.

" Hi Will. Happy Christmas.", he said. William, who was a little shocked, embraced his brother back and smiled widely at him.

" Happy Christmas, Harry.", he replied then hugged Elle as well. 

" Hello all. Merry Christmas!", said Kate, hugging them. " Had a pleasant trip?", she asked.

" It was pleasant enough. Not much traffic at this hour.", replied Harry.

" How was Christmas at Woodenford? I don't think I've been there since we were teenagers.", said William.

" Oh it was great. You know hoe my mother is with decorations... Arthur was delighted to see everything.", said Elle smiling at her brother-in-law. 

" I wonder where Elle gets the crazy Christmas fever from...", said Harry and the adults chuckled. The light atmosphere was enough to settle the animosities and bring back, a little of he camaraderie and love that was severed between the brothers. The sleeping toddler on her arms twitched a bit and they rushed inside, to warm themselves up. Once there, they were greeted by the rest of the family who were about to get breakfast. Charles and Camilla were among the first ones to greet them. Cautiously, Charles approached Harry.

" Son... Merry Christmas.", said Charles, smiling faintly. Harry smiled back and took a step forward to hug his father. Elle could see that Charles was visibly relieved to be hugged by his younger son. 

" We're delighted that you've come here.", said Camilla, greeting them with hugs and kisses. " Would you like to have breakfast with us?", she asked. Famished as they were, they joined in and Arthur was soon whisked away from Elle's arms and passed along cousins and doting family members.

" Oh he's so big!", commented Anne smiling. 

" He's gonna be a tall lad!", said Edward. 

" I reckon he's gonna go into the family tradition and join the military.", said Andrew.

" Now now, he's not even a year old. Let the poor baby be.", said Bea.

    The banter and conversation flew joyously and Elle took the time to look around the room. Elizabeth and Philip were still absent but, considering the time, she thought they would both be changing for church. Soon enough, they appeared on the doorstep and smiled at the sight of the new arrivals.

" About time you got here, boy. Lost your way, ye?", joked Philip. 

" Let us see the baby...", said Elizabeth, taking Arthur into her arms. The baby cooed and smiled at his great grandmother. "Oh he's just as adorable as I remembered.", she said., making his parents beam with pride. " Oh, that reminds me... I have something for him. Come with me you two.", she said pointing to Harry and Elle. Following her into the living room where the Christmas tree was, she handed them a rectangular box. Opening it, they found a glass bobble with Arthur's name in it, surrounded by glittering green specks. 

" Now he has one too.", said the monarch. " We've hanged yours now you can put his next to them.", she continued. Smiling to the older woman, Elle took the ornament and looked around the tree to find hers and Harry's names, placing his it just under theirs.

" Now the tree is complete.", said Elizabeth.

" Indeed, it is. Family should stick together... and I'm happier than I can possibly say to have you here, my dears.", she continued looking at the small family in front of her.

[mediawhorefics]

For the fic ask thingy, 13, 18 and 19 please! :)

13) Who is your least favourite character to write for? Why?

hummmmmmmmmm.  i really struggle writing liam ? i wouldn’t say i don’t like writing him but i just always really struggle to pin him down. it feels like out of all the boys, he’s the one i can’t fully grasp. i don’t know why. 

18) Do you have any abandoned WIP’s? What made you abandon them?

omg LOADS. it takes me a really really long time to properly settle into an idea and actually commit to it. sometimes it’s just lack of time, or the passion dies down. or i get another idea that’s better. there’s rarely a very deep reason for me abandoning a wip, it’s most just that it doesn’t work out. here’s a few examples of abandoned projects: 

the treasure hunter au : ex raf pilot turned treasure hunter louis/old english expert harry team up to find the tomb of an anglo saxon king. 

the chasing liberty au: harry is the son of prime minister anne and wants to take a gap year to go travel. during his travels he meets louis and ends up adventuring with him through europe, not knowing louis is actually the son of one of his mother’s bodyguard and has been hired to keep an eye on him/protect him. 

a star wars au: i honestly don’t remember much about this one except it was set in the sequels era and louis was a hotshot resistance pilot needing the help of smuggler harry ??? something like that ??? i can’t remember. i’d love to revisit a star wars au actually since i’m in such a star wars mood atm, but not that plot tbh. 

the american diner 6th form au: it was set in the uk, but harry worked in a cheesy american style diner in the middle of nowhere in between their two towns and louis was a nervous mess who had a MAJOR crush on him. it was mostly just cute virgin louis finally having the guts to ask the boy he likes out and them doing cute date stuff together. no plot whatsever. 

king speech au: once upon a time i REALLY wanted to write a king speech au with harry as the future king with a speech impediment and louis as an actor/speech therapist hired to help him out. i don’t know either tbh. i like weird aus i guess. 

19) Are there any stories that you’ve written that you’d really love to do a sequel to?

hummmm. not particularly? at least not formal sequels. i’m always open to writing drabbles set after the stories to give people a glimpse of what lies beyond the main narrative but tbh there’s always a reason why my fics end where they end yk. 

fanfiction writer asks

[201840225caic1920]

Wife of US Diplomat kills 19-year-old motorcyclist then fleas UK.

Harry Dunn, 19-year-old killed by the hands of a US Diplomat’s wife. August 27th, 2019 the tragedy happened which left Dunn’s family heartbroken. It has been proven by CCTV that Anne Sacoolas, who was visiting her family in the UK, was driving on the wrong side of the road.

The family of the victim said the CCTV evident of the horrifying ordeal made it “a clear-cut case” the right thing to do is for Ms Sacoolas to return to the UK and face justice. In a interview with BBC Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “I do not think that it can be right to use the process of diplomatic immunity for this type of purpose”.

Due to her granting Diplomatic Immunity, which is a form of legal immunity that ensures diplomats are given safe passage and considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution. Sacoolas was able to leave the country after the accident even though she assured British police she would stay.

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn visited the US to publicly make the case that Sacoolas should return to the UK and take responsibility of what she has done. Donald Trump met the parents of Harry Dunn and told them they could face their son’s killer which was in the next room. They denied seeing her as they wanted her to face justice in the UK.

Should Diplomatic immunity be reconsidered? This is one of the questions Harry Dunn’s parents want answering and have UK and US citizen questioning the same thing.

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US Diplomats Wife uses Diplomatic Immunity to flee hit and run

Harry Dunn, aged 19, tragically died in hospital after his motorbike was involved in a collision with a Volvo in Northampton-shire on the 27th August 2019. The US diplomats wife, Anne Sacoolas, who was driving the vehicle, fled the UK after telling the police she has no plans of leaving. According to the BBC News, the parents of the victim claimed they are ‘’appalled and devastated’’ with what has happened. They have been given support from the likes of the Prime Minister, Borris Johnson, who has urgently pleaded to the US to reconsider its decision to allow Sacoolas her immunity. Harry Dunn’s parents are now calling on President Trump to waive Ms Sacoolas diplomatic immunity.  Furthermore, Harry Dunn’s parents and other citizens of the US and the UK are also urging the President to look at the laws around Diplomatic Immunity. Therefore, this particular case has not only raised heads amongst those in the UK, but it has also tugged chords with the US, because people see that in the middle of this debate about whether or not Diplomatic Immunity is right, you have 2 loving parents grieving the loss of their son. The public have come to realise that because of ‘’so called Diplomatic Immunity’’ there is nobody paying the consequences for the life that has been lost. To the public's astonishment, US President Donald Trump, defends Sacoolas wife according to The Sun when he claimed ‘‘It happens a lot’‘. The President has used the ‘‘sorry’‘ excuse for defending Sacoolas because Europe drive on the opposite side of the road.

[theromcomcatalog]

Love Actually

It’s been a few years since I’ve sat down and watched this, and with so many ‘Love Actually is actually problematic’ discussions going around lately, I decided to give it another watch with a “fresh set of eyes” to see if the current social climate would somehow diminish my enjoyment of Richard Curtis’s 2003 holiday rom-com.

It didn’t. Are there some issues with this movie? Of course there are. Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) is called chubby and comments are made about her butt and her thighs, although… Natalie is not fat. Not even close. The fat jokes simply made no sense and had no point other than to draw laughs. The majority of storylines focus on men getting their happy ever after (Mark is the exception, although he still gets an uplifting, favorable send off) while the two storylines centering around women (Emma Thompson’s Karen and Laura Linney’s Sarah) end in infidelity and heartbreak.

There is also a distinct lack of diversity and LGBT representation. I’m pretty sure the movie could have ditched the Creepy Colin Goes to America to Get Laid storyline and reinserted the deleted scenes featuring Frances de la Tour and Anne Reid as a lesbian couple dealing with terminal illness. Of course, had that happened we would have probably been talking about the 'Bury Your Gays’ trope that has plagued television and cinema, where the already sparse representation of the LGBT community gets killed off (most notably queer women).

So does Love Actually have problems? Yes, it does. But despite these issues, I was still able to love and appreciate Love Actually for what it is. A movie that shows us what love is 'all around us’, whether it’s romantic, platonic or unrequited. It’s complicated and messy. Awkward and charming. Heartbreaking and painful. Problematic!

There are some hits and misses in the movie. Some of the stories suffer from a lack of adequate screen time to develop the relationships, so to believe in some sudden, all-encompassing love is difficult. But some are a couple of well developed, emotionally nuanced plots that make the movie worth a watch. I’ve ranked my favorite Love Actually storylines from worst to best below:

- Colin’s desperate need to get laid - Decides he’s the god of sex stuck on the wrong continent so he goes to America to pick up hot women and succeeds. Meh. His accent isn’t cute enough to dismiss his obnoxious behavior.

- Juliet, Mark and Peter - 'Self-preservation’ is no excuse for being a jerk to someone you’re supposedly in love with, even if that someone is your best friend’s new wife. Also, don’t confess said love on Christmas Eve while your best friend watches television upstairs. It’s creepy.

- Sarah and Karl - Sarah feels like she can’t follow through on a relationship with a man at work whom she’s been in love with for a couple of years because of her mentally ill brother, who has come to depend on her, even though he lives in a facility. If Karl knew what was good for him, he would be willing to give a try anyway, despite the constant phone calls. Boo on Karl.

- David and Natalie - There is an instant spark between the Prime Minister and his new employee, Natalie. She curses a lot, which is cute. He’s Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister, also cute. He decides to change his stance on foreign policy with the President of the United States (a smarmy Billy Bob Thornton) when he catches the President hitting on Natalie. Then he “redistributes” Natalie because of his attraction to her. Also, there are the fat jokes. The saving grace to this story is when David goes door to door to find out where Natalie lives and ends up singing a carol for three adorable little girls with one of his security guards.

- Jamie and Aurelia - Jamie’s brother is having an affair with his girlfriend, so he goes to France for a while to write a crime novel. There he meets Aurelia, a Portuguese woman who cleans his villa and cannot speak English. Jamie can’t speak Portuguese, so they learn to communicate in other ways. This is a cute story and honestly, the only one I feel could have been its own movie. I wanted to see them get past the language barrier and cultural differences on their way to love. But we don’t get a lot of development here, so the proposal at the end, while adorable, is insanely unrealistic. But… Colin Firth, so I’m willing to let it go.

- Billy Mack and Joe - Billy Mack is by far the most entertaining part of Love Actually. An aging rock star who records a horrible Christmas song only to find it becoming a surprise hit thanks to his No F*cks Given attitude while promoting the single, Billy is soon back on top and invited to Elton John’s Christmas bash. Turns out he would rather spend the holiday with his manager than a bunch of scantily clad women. “You turned out to be the fucking love of my life.”

- Harry and Karen (and Mia) - Okay, yes we know Mia is a tart. They’re sure to overplay just how much of a tart she is, with her overt flirtations with Harry, asking him for a pretty present in exchange for 'everything’. She wears devil horns to the Christmas party and wears racy red lingerie while Karen (a devastatingly good Emma Thompson) laments that she feels like Pavarotti in her frumpier wardrobe. We get it. Mia bad. But as usual, Harry’s role in this extramarital flirtation/affair is sometimes lost in the Mia hate. As painful as this storyline is, it’s also one of the more believable ones. Harry and Karen have a home, and two kids and a relationship that feels comfortable, though not overly passionate. Harry’s attention is caught by his attractive assistant and he buys her a gold necklace while gifting his wife a CD she probably already owns. The brilliance of Love Actually is captured in only one scene, where Karen discovers Harry’s infidelity and stands alone in their bedroom while Joni Mitchell plays. She’s not allowed to lose control or release her heartbreak. She has to keep it together as not to spoil her family’s Christmas. Emma Thompson is truly the movie’s MVP.

- John and Judy - This story doesn’t get enough credit when people discuss Love Actually. We get to witness their cute, awkward courtship as they simulate fake sex as stand-ins on a porno. Perfectly normal and charming, this is by far one of the best stories in Love Actually. I wish they’d had more screentime.

- Daniel, Sam and Joanna - Heartfelt and pure, this was much more about Daniel and Sam’s relationship as stepfather and son after a tragic loss than it is about Sam’s crush on Joanna. This is one of the only storylines we get a true conclusion to, and is it a rom-com if there’s not an airport chase scene?

Love Actually is not in my yearly Christmas rotation, but I do consider it an above average holiday film and rom-com. It’s not perfect, but it’s a warm, feel-good movie with some wonderful performances, and the end montage of friends and family greeting each other at the airport will surely tug at your heartstrings.

Fun Facts:

Kris Marshall (Colin) allegedly returned his paycheck for the scene where the three American girls undress him. He said he had such a great time having three girls undress him for twenty-one takes, that he was willing to do it for free, and thus returned his check for that day.

The airport greeting footage at the beginning and end of the film is real. Richard Curtis had a team of cameramen film at Heathrow airport for a week, and whenever they saw something that would fit in they asked the people involved for permission to use the footage.

According to Richard Curtis they had to put Emma Thompson in a “fat suit” to make her appear heavier because she is actually a very thin woman.

Keira Knightley was only 17 when she filmed Love Actually. Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Sam) was 13.

Richard Curtis had been working on two separate scripts when he decided to merge them and create Love Actually. The two scripts were the Prime Minister’s story and Jamie’s trip to Frane where he meets Aurelia. 

Notable Song: Christmas Is All Around by Billy Mack

Rating: 💍💍💍.5