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Tourist accused of causing over $8,000 in damages to iconic Roman statue

A 22-year-old German tourist has been accused of causing around €5,000 (A$8,400) in damages to the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune in the Piazza della Signoria, Italy. Surveillance footage obtained by the police allegedly show the tourist - who has not been named - climbing over the protective barrier around the monument in the early hours of Monday morning as he posed for a photo on the statue. His two friends, who stood outside of the barrier, took the photos of him and they all fled the scene when the alarm went off, according to city authorities. "According to the investigators' reconstruction, after 1 o'clock this morning the tourist, in Piazza della Signoria with two other friends, climbed over the fence of the Neptune Fountain and climbed onto the edge of the pool," the statement read. "With a jump he then climbed onto the horse's leg, reaching the base of the carriage and, after having some photos taken by his friends, he climbed down," they added. "During the descent he placed his foot again on the hoof, damaging it. As soon as the alarm went off, however, the young man had already managed to escape with the two others." The tourist will be charged under the city penal code that prohibits the "destruction, dispersion, deterioration, disfigurement, soiling or illicit use of cultural or landscape assets." He has been detained in Florence and could be fined and banned from entering the city if convicted. Image: X (formerly Twitter)

Travel Trouble

“Most reviewed bucket in bucket history”: Bizarre Bunnings buy achieves legendary status

Everyone knows that a good review can make or break a product, but for Bunnings, some particularly enthusiastic reviewers have done more than just get their bucket’s name out there - they’ve established a new legend. The Bunnings-branded 20L Pail Bucket, which sells for $8, is now even considered to be the “most reviewed bucket in bucket history”. And if the feedback from its top fans is anything to go by, it’s all for good reason. “Wow. The legends are true,” one declared. “This bucket does far more than just bucket. Paired together with a set of drumsticks, these make fantastic drums … Do yourself a favour and buy a whole set so you can have drumming parties with a group of friends out the back with a few beers and some snags on the barbie.” And as another wrote, “attention, fellow bucket enthusiasts! Feast your eyes upon the legendary Bunnings 20L Bucket, a miraculous marvel that puts all other buckets to shame … Prepare for bucket greatness, my friends. The Bunnings 20L Bucket is here to show you what a real bucket is capable of. Bow down to the bucket supremacy and embrace the bucket revolution! Your world will never be the same again. Bucket on, my comrades!” One wrote up their success using the bucket in a practical manner, titling their take as “the bucket to end all buckets”. One proud bucket owner took a slightly different approach, sharing the tale of their noble pail when they wrote that “once upon a time, there was a humble bucket named Bertie. Bertie the Bunnings Bucket, lived in a small shed in the backyard of a cosy cottage. Every day, Bertie eagerly awaited his owner, a retired landscaper named Gus, to fill him with water. Bertie took pride in nourishing the vibrant flowers and lush plants in the garden. “Over time, Bertie became more than just a vessel; he became a symbol of growth and the beauty that can bloom with a little care.” Another wrote a poem that went a little something like “oh Bunnings buckets, sturdy and strong. So useful for tasks all day long. For gardening, cleaning, and DIY too. There's nothing these buckets can't do … Oh Bunnings buckets, you're the best. Easy to use and always impressed. With you by my side, I can't go wrong. My go-to tool, all day long!” “I purchased this because it was on my bucket list,” shared one fan of puns and buckets alike. “I was so excited I couldn’t keep a lid on it.” And even for those who couldn’t yet fork out the $8 to take the life-changing item home, respect was in the air, with one writing that they would keep saving because “this is THE Bunnings bucket. The bucket. All my mates have one, even my flash neighbours have one. It's a statement bucket.” A labrador, who goes by Tim Tam, even had their humans leave a positive message on their behalf, declaring that “my hoo mans took me to Bunnings and brought me 2 of these buckets, they are my favourite … every day I am excited to see the bucket!” And as one shopper put it quite simply, “it’s a bucket that buckets”. Images: Bunnings

Home & Garden

School principal forced out after parents complain statue of David is too rude

Hope Carrasquilla, a US charter school principal, has been forced to resign from her position after a parent decreed an art lesson to be “pornographic”. Carrasquilla was given an ultimatum - either she stepped down, or she would face termination from the Tallahassee Classical School - according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “It saddens me that my time here had to end this way,” she told the publication. Carrasquilla also explained that she had been informed of her options by the school’s board chair, Barney Bishop. While Bishop has confirmed that he did hand down the ultimatum, he did not expand on why. However, Carrasquilla believes a Renaissance art lesson to be the main contributing factor. The lesson in question saw students study Michelgangelo’s classic David, as well as his Creation of Adam fresco painting, and Boticelli’s Birth of Venus. Apparently, the school is required to educate students about Renaissance art in their 6th grade. But for three parents this wasn’t reason enough, with each of them voicing their concerns about the lesson plan, while claiming that it had caused their children upset. Two of the parents simply wanted to have been notified about the content before it reached their children, but one had stronger feelings, branding the situation “pornographic”. Carrasquilla said that one of them was “point-blank upset”, and “felt her child should not be viewing those pieces.” But as she informed HuffPost, things were “a little more complicated than that”, before sharing that the school’s usual protocol would be to inform parents before their children are presented with classical art, such as David. According to the now-former principal, a “breakdown in communication” between herself, the direction of operations, and the art teacher has brought upon a kind of administrative oversight, and the parents had never received a letter about the lesson. This came after a new rule was passed in February, with the school board mandating that parents must be notified a fortnight before any “potentially controversial” was taught to students. Parents would also be presented with the option to review their child’s curriculum, as well as any related media, with a reminder to be sent a week ahead. “Parental rights are supreme,” Bishop explained, “and that means protecting the interests of all parents, whether it’s one, 10, 20, or 50.” As her story began to circulate around the globe, Carrasquilla went on to explain in a statement that for a year, Bishop had “expressed his displeasure with my leadership when parents became upset about policies or procedures not being followed to the T. “He was more concerned about litigation and appeasing a small minority of parents, rather than trusting my expertise as an educator for more than 25 years.” Images: Getty

Art

Statues found in Italy could “rewrite” history

The discovery of a cache of ancient bronze statues in Tuscany has been dubbed one of the most significant finds in the whole Mediterranean and could “rewrite” history in the region. Archaeologists working in the small hilltop town of San Casciano dei Bagni outside Siena, Italy, have uncovered 24 perfectly preserved bronze statues in the mud and water of ancient thermal baths. Excavation leader Jacopo Tabolli, a historian at the University for Foreigners in Siena, said they found “the largest deposit of bronze states of the Etruscan and Roman age ever discovered in Italy and one of the most significant in the whole Mediterranean”. The statues include a sleeping ephebe (an adolescent male aged between 17-18) lying next to Hygeia, the goddess of health, with a snake wrapped around her arm, as well as a statue of Apollo and figures representing matrons, children and emperors. Along with the statues, some of which date back 2300 years and stand at almost a metre tall, the researchers found thousands of coins and other artefacts, including relics that may have belonged to wealthy Etruscan and Roman families, landowners, lords and Roman emperors. The statues date back to between the second century BCE and first century CE, which was a time of major upheaval in Tuscan history, with the transition from Etruscan to Roman rule achieved through hard-fought battles that were followed by the destruction of Etruscan cultural items. Some bear inscriptions in both Latin and Etruscan with the names of prominent Etruscan families, suggesting the two cultures experienced some kind of harmony during this period. “This discovery rewrites the history of ancient art,” Tabolli said. “Here, Etruscans and Romans prayed together. “Even in historical epochs in which the most awful conflicts were raging outside, inside these pools and on these altars the two worlds, the Etruscan and Roman ones, appear to have coexisted without problems.” With the statues submerged in the mineral-rich waters of the hot springs, they were kept perfectly preserved until their recent discovery. Helga Maiorano, an archaeologist at the University of Pisa, told La Republica that the mud they were in created an atmosphere without oxygen, which is ideal for protecting bronze from bacteria. “One of the last ones [of the statues] particularly struck me for the quality of the details,” Chiara Fermo, an archaeologist at the University of Siena, told La Repubblica. “It is a female statue, entirely bejewelled, with very detailed necklaces and earrings. An example of what a woman of the time must have been like.” The baths are believed to have been built by the Etruscans during the third century and made more opulent under Roman rule. Tabolli told Ansa that the hot springs remained active until the fifth century, before being closed and the pools sealed with heavy stone pillars during Christian times. The find was made when archaeologists removed the covering to the spa. “It is the greatest store of statues from ancient Italy and is the only one whose context we can wholly reconstruct,” said Tabolli. Since their discovery, the statues have been taken to a restoration lab and will eventually go on display in the town of San Casciano. The site of the ancient baths, located nearby to a modern-day spa that is one of Italy’s most popular spa spots, is also due to be developed into an archaeological park. Images: The Italian Ministry of Culture

International Travel

How your status, where you live and your family background affect your risk of dementia

By the year 2050, the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">World Health Organization</a> estimates one in five people will be aged 60 years and above. In Australia, our rapidly ageing population means that without a substantial medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is expected to <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/statistics">double</a> from 487,600 in 2022 to 1.1 million by 2058. Significant effort has gone into understanding what increases the risk of dementia. Here, we consider research into three factors – your socioeconomic status, where you live, and your background – and how they may influence dementia risk. <h2>How your socioeconomic status affects your dementia risk</h2> When assessing socioeconomic status, researchers typically look at a combination of your income, years of education and occupation. Socioeconomic status refers to your ability to access resources such as health, information and services. Socioeconomic status has been closely linked to a range of health disorders, and dementia is no exception. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34388948/">Studies</a> across <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35561537/">multiple countries</a> have shown people with higher socioeconomic status are less likely to develop dementia. This is unsurprising. People with high socioeconomic status are more likely to have the financial resources to access better healthcare, better education and better nutrition. They are also more likely to live in areas with more services that enable a healthy lifestyle. <h2>Where you live</h2> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35333361/">My research team</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32067489/">others</a> have shown neighbourhood socioeconomic status – an index that integrates a neighbourhood’s average household income, unemployment rates, occupational skills and housing arrangements, among others, is associated with poorer memory and higher dementia risk. Understanding this is complex. A wide range of economic, social and environmental factors can influence the way we behave, which can influence our health. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gps.5626">Studies</a> suggest communities can support dementia risk reduction in three main ways. The first is through encouraging social participation and inclusion. This can be achieved through programs that increase digital and technological literacy, social housing (which offers greater opportunity for socialisation) and neighbourhood assistance. The second is through increasing proximity and access, particularly to health care, and social and cultural events. The third is through improving recreational and well-being facilities, including emphasising traffic safety and increasing walkability and access to urban green spaces to encourage outdoor physical activity. <h2>Your background</h2> <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0891988708328220">Several studies</a> suggest parental education is related to an individual’s dementia risk. Specifically, low maternal education is associated with poorer memory performance, and higher dementia risk. However, these effects <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/175/8/750/203299?login=true%20g">are small</a>, and adult education and socioeconomic status may overcome these disadvantages. <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/migration-and-dementia-a-metaanalysis-of-epidemiological-studies-in-europe/E665862E6FED368AAB72E5B323E29D05">Current evidence</a> also suggests migrants from Africa and Asia (into Europe) have higher dementia risk compared with native Europeans. However, the prevalence of dementia in African and Asian countries is not higher than in European countries. Rather, we do see similarly elevated risk of dementia in culturally and linguistically diverse groups of people who are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1064748118305712">non-migrants</a>. Part of this is due to the reduced access to high-quality education, healthcare, and health information in these groups. For migrants, there is the additional challenge of navigating health systems in their non-native language. Another important part to consider is the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1064748118305712">potential bias</a> in the tools we have to assess memory and thinking abilities. These tests have been developed primarily in English, for use in European countries. Being tested in a second language may lead to poorer performance that is not a reflection of true cognitive ability, but rather a reflection of a reduced mastery of English. This is why it is so important we conduct more research to understand dementia and its risk factors in culturally and linguistically diverse populations, using tools that are appropriate and validated for these groups. <h2>Addressing dementia needs a life-long approach</h2> Undoubtedly, your pay, postcode and parents are highly interrelated. Your future income is highly related to your parents’ level of income. Your postcode can be determined by your pay. The cyclical nature of wealth – or rather, inequality – is part of the reason why addressing health disparities is so challenging. Studies on <a href="https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/76/Supplement_1/S51/6295120?login=true">social mobility</a> – the ability of individuals to move from one socioeconomic class to another – have shown that upward mobility may only partially compensate for disadvantage earlier in life. This really brings home the message that addressing dementia risk requires a lifelong approach. And that intervention is needed at an individual and a broader societal level. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-your-status-where-you-live-and-your-family-background-affect-your-risk-of-dementia-183922" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Mind

Vaccine status no longer required

International travellers to Australia will no longer be required to submit their covid vaccine status. Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly amended the Biosecurity Act 2015 which will come into effect from July 6. “The Australian Government makes decisions on COVID related issues after considering the latest medical advice,” Health Minister Mark Butler said. “The Chief Medical Officer has advised it is no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccine status as part of our management of COVID. “Unvaccinated Australians, as well as certain groups of visa holders, have been able to travel to Australia for some time. “We will continue to act on the medical advice as needed.” Travellers however must still comply with the Covid-19 rules of airlines, including states and territories, and other countries. This currently includes wearing masks on inbound international flights. State and territory orders mandating masks on domestic flights also remain in place. Image: Shutterstock

International Travel

Woman claims Shakespeare's Juliet statue is being sexually harassed

A woman has gone viral on TikTok for claiming a statue of Shakespeare's Juliet is being "sexually harassed". The woman said tourists has been behaving inappropriately towards the statue, which stands in a courtyard in Verona and is a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. Those who visit the courtyard often rub the bosom of the statue, believing it will bring good luck and prosperity. The TikTok user was ridiculed over the video, with people pointing out the statue is "not a real woman" and that she should save her energy for actual cases of sexual harassment. She was also accused of being insensitive to people's superstitions, who often visit the statue for spiritual guidance. The TikTok video, which is captioned '#JusticeForJuliet', has racked up over 1 million views. Speaking in the clip, the poster said, "Juliet's statue has been sexually harassed so often that her dress literally faded." A tourist can be seen eagerly taking a photo of themselves touching Juliet's breast in the hopes of getting lucky in the short video. The video was quickly flooded with comments from people who were baffled by her point of view. One person said, "That is literally a statue of a fictional character go worry about real women with actual emotions." Another commented, "Y'all... it's an inanimate object... it doesn't need to consent." While most people agreed that the woman's point of view was misguided, there were a handful of comments that agreed the touching of the statue was wrong. One person said, "Yeah when I went none of my fam was comfortable, we were like no thanks we will not be groping the child statue." Image credits: TikTok / Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Shark House owner not happy about protected status

A whopping 7.6-metre sculpture of a shark diving through the roof of a house in Oxford, England has been made a protected landmark - but the man who lives there isn’t pleased by the news. Magnus Hanson-Heine loves the sculpture, which his father, Bill Heine, erected with the help of a local sculptor, but says making it protected as a “special contribution” to the community ignores some key messages his father was trying to make. Mr Heine first installed the unusual sculpture in 1986 as an anti-war, anti-nuke protest, after he heard US warplanes fly over his house and discovered they were going to bomb Tripoli in retaliation for Libyan sponsorship of terrorist attacks on US troops. The image of a shark crashing through the roof captured the shock that would have been felt when the bombs dropped on people’s homes, Mr Hanson-Heine said. But, Mr Hanson-Heine’s issue with the protection of the sculpture comes after it was installed without the approval of local council officials, with his father arguing that he didn’t think they should be able to decide what art people see. Mr Hanson-Heine said that the decision was “absurd” after the council had spent years trying to remove it. “Using the planning apparatus to preserve a historical symbol of planning law defiance is absurd on the face of it,” Mr Hanson-Heine told <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-oddities-oxford-nuclear-weapons-a6b004db12f62eac6fa3efdd2e962757?utm_medium=AP_Europe&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Associated Press</a>. Mr Heine, who passed away in 2019, built the great white shark out of fibreglass with his friend, sculptor John Buckley in April. They installed it on August 9, the 41st anniversary of the day the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki during World War II. Mr Hanson-Heine said the sculpture’s anti-war message is just as relevant today, with Russian bombs falling on Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin delivering thinly veiled threats of nuclear war. “That’s obviously something that the people in Ukraine are experiencing right now in very real time,” the quantum chemist said. “But certainly when there’s nuclear weapons on the stage, which has been through my entire life, that’s always a very real threat.” Despite its serious message, the shark is also the subject of some more light-hearted content, with photos on its very own <a href="https://www.headingtonshark.com/Home/Gallery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> including one of Mr Heine sharing a glass of wine with the shark and another of a passer-by posed to look as if she’s eating it. When asked whether the shark's head can be found inside the home, Mr Hanson-Heine laughed. “I believe it was an urban myth for a while that it was poking above the toilet,” he said. “But no.” Images: The Shark House

Art

Status Quo baffled by popularity of classic hit

Status Quo are completely baffled by the enduring popularity of their hit track Rockin’ All Over The World. The band covered John Fogerty’s track in 1977, and despite the song also being covered by legends such as Bon Jovi, Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen, Status Quo’s version is viewed as the ultimate cover. The song has also become known as one of the band’s most popular anthems, which has long confused the British rockers. Singer and guitarist Francis Rossi said, “I don’t know why ours has become this classic ‘raaaawk’ song. We played [a] Sweden Rock festival and all these people dressed head to toe in black were in front of the stage going, ‘This is great!’ I’m looking at them going, ‘What the f*** are you thinking?’…”“F**k me, even my dental hygienist sent me something the other day to say they were all singing it at some wedding reception.”The band’s late guitarist Rick Parfitt originally brought the track to their bandmates, who were sceptical at the idea of a cover song. Francis recalled, “It sounded a bit piddly, to be honest."“But me and Rick used to joke that we could Quo-up anything with a guitar on it. So that’s what we did…”“Our old fans hated it. We had so much mail going, ‘What the f*** is this?’ But that song brought in loads more new fans.”Despite the song seemingly dividing fans, Francis said he has fond memories of kicking off Live Aid in 1985 with the track.He told Classic Rock magazine, “Nobody wanted to go on first, so we went, ‘F*** it, we’ll do it.”“But when we started playing that song, there was a total sense of euphoria. Everything slotted in. The sense of love from the audience was something else.”Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Vandals of the UK’s Edward Colston statue learn their fate in court

At the height of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, that were sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a US police officer, protestors all around the world took it upon themselves to remove commemorative statues of slave traders. In the UK city of Bristol, four people removed a monument of Edward Colston from a town square, before pushing the statue into the nearby harbour. Many protestors joined the four in spray-painting and destroying the statue, with many onlookers filming the destruction on their phones. Edward Colston was a member of the Royal African Company, and was responsible for transporting thousands of slaves from Africa during the mid 17th century. The four protestors - Rhian Graham, Jake Skuse, Sage Willoughby, and Milo Ponsford - were all charged with criminal damage when they removed the statue without permission. According to the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/05/four-cleared-of-toppling-edward-colston-statute">Guardian</a>, the protestors did not deny that they had toppled the monument, but maintained their innocence over the charges. Despite admitting their involvement, the four protestors were found not guilty and set free. The graffitied monument of Colston has since gone back on view in view in Bristol in a museum, with historian David Olusoga saying that it is “the most important artifact you could select in Britain if you wanted to tell the story of Britain’s tortuous relationship with its role in the Atlantic slave trade.” Image credits: Getty Images

Art

Berlin music campaigners fight for Unesco world heritage status

Ever since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, music fans from across the world have flocked to the German capital for the world-famous techno culture. But now, like a lot of global businesses and institutions, Berlin’s renowned clubs such as Tresor and Berghain are in danger of financial ruin as a result of the pandemic. As a result, DJs and music enthusiasts are campaigning to secure Unesco world heritage status to protect the countercultural genre. Berlin-based DJ Alan Oldham said recognition from Unesco would help to protect key venues and boost tourism for the city. He told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/05/beat-that-berlins-techno-djs-seek-unesco-world-heritage-status">The Observer</a>, "Unesco protection would go a long way towards maintaining that old spirit. "Legacy venues like Tresor and Berghain for example would be protected as cultural landmarks. So many venues have closed in just the seven years I've lived here full-time.” "In other cities, it would be the natural club cycle at work, but Berlin is a different kind of place, where the club and creative scenes are the currency of the city." Support has been growing for the campaign, which was spearheaded by berlin-based organisation <a href="https://www.ravetheplanet.com/">Rave The Planet</a>, who say the techno scene should be protected “as an intangible cultural heritage.” If Unesco status is granted to the clubs, they would get extra protection under city planning laws, as well as access to government subsidies and other funding. Image credits: Getty Images

Music

$1 million Cleo Smith reward status

Image: Facebook Western Australia Police have said they do not anticipate the state’s landmark $1 million reward for information about Cleo Smith to be paid out. WA Premier Mark McGowan offered the hefty reward for information leading to Cleo’s location, or to the arrest and conviction of those involved in her disappearance. The reward was announced just six days after Cleo was abducted from her family tent at the remote Blowholes campsite on October 16th. While police remain tight-lipped about what prompted them to search the locked Carnarvon home where Cleo was found, they did credit the hard work of a 140-strong police taskforce. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia told ABC on Thursday morning: “It wasn’t a random tip off or clairvoyant or any of those sorts of things you might hear. “It was just a hard police grind,” he said. WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch previously said he doesn’t expect the $1 million reward to be claimed, but he told Channel Seven’s Sunrise on Thursday he’s not completely ruling out the possibility. “Look, the police collected so much information from day one for those 18 days that they were able to trawl through and put that jigsaw puzzle together,” Comm Blanch said. “Now part of that jigsaw puzzle was information from the community, but it all contributed to the outcome. “Look, we’re not going to discount that it’s not going to be paid out, but certainly the information that I have from the police is that really it was good, hard detective and analyst work." Criteria for police paying reward Associate Professor of Criminology and forensic anthropologist Dr Xanthé Mallet from the University of Newcastle told Yahoo News Australia there are specific rules around rewards regarding what they will be paid out for. Cleo’s reward was offered for location information, or details that could lead to an arrest and conviction. “Each reward has its own structure for what it will be paid out for,” she said. “If there was a genuine call on this reward I’m sure they’d be very happy to pay it,” she added. Speaking with the ABC, Dr Mallet said the Carnarvon community and the whole of Australia just really “wanted to see Cleo found alive and unharmed”. “…at the end of the day Cleo is home, and for most people the reward is seeing her in her parents’ arms in the hospital safe and unharmed.”

Money & Banking

Proud and resolute": Queen’s new statue design FINALLY revealed

Royal fans have been given a first look at a statue of Queen Elizabeth that's currently under construction – and strictly under wraps. The statue is set to be uncovered just in time for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and is being created by artist Richard Bossons, who is part of York Minster cathedral's masonry team. It will stand two metres tall and will weigh out to about two tonnes. Bossons admitted to the BBC that the sculpture had been challenging to design. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843321/queen-statue-rare-photos-5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bce3f9bd79454d17bacca654fd4f9e51" /> Image: Twitter @York_Minster "The statue needs to be part of the fabric, not a distraction from it, yet it also has to have the poise and presence befitting of the Queen's unique role," he said. "She will stand proud and resolute in her niche, welcoming worshippers and visitors alike," Bossons added. The statue will show the Queen dressed in Garter robes and the George IV State Diadem. She will also be holding an orb and sceptre, to symbolise her 70-year reign on the British throne. The Twitter York Minster took to Twitter to share more information on the design: "We're delighted to be able to share some images showing the on-going work behind the creation of the new statue of Her Majesty The Queen, set to be installed in summer '22. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843320/queen-statue-rare-photos-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/67c5d35a2b1f4be9af2ddf767804f5cb" /> Image: Twitter @York_Minster "Designer & carver Richard Bossons showcasing his incredible skill." The 2022 Jubilee is set to take place from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5 in 2022. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We’re delighted to be able to share some images showing the on-going work behind the creation of the new statue of Her Majesty The Queen, set to be installed in summer '22. Designer & carver Richard Bossons showcasing his incredible skill 👏 Read more > <a href="https://t.co/E0Y8gaUNNj">https://t.co/E0Y8gaUNNj</a> <a href="https://t.co/hq5Dn4MQ4P">pic.twitter.com/hq5Dn4MQ4P</a> — York Minster (@York_Minster) <a href="https://twitter.com/York_Minster/status/1427954810381377541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2021</a></blockquote> "Throughout the year, Her Majesty and Members of the Royal Family will travel around the country to undertake a variety of engagements to mark this historic occasion culminating with the focal point of the Platinum Jubilee Weekend in June - one year from today," Buckingham Palace revealed. Trooping the Colour will take place on Thursday, June 2, instead of its usual Saturday date.

Beauty & Style

The biggest question surrounding Diana's new statue

Brothers Prince William and Harry met on Thursday to unveil the statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday. The artwork of their late mother, which depicts her alongside two children, received international attention from fans. However, many wondered why the children in the statue were not her sons, William and Harry. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I would’ve really liked if Diana’s statue included her own kids — SL (@WorldWarShemII) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldWarShemII/status/1410605073990778886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Who are those two random kids with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DianaStatue?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DianaStatue</a> — Sarah (@idlewildgirl) <a href="https://twitter.com/idlewildgirl/status/1410601073987911691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The new Diana statue well, I'm not impressed, them kids look nothing like William & Harry. <a href="https://t.co/ZLoDvKNo7P">pic.twitter.com/ZLoDvKNo7P</a> — Sammy Tuck (@TheOriginalTuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOriginalTuck/status/1410616404236144648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote> Why weren’t William and Harry in the statue? Kensington Palace spoke out about the unveiling, revealing the children, who aren’t named, were included to represent Diana’s remarkable gift to connect with people and also signified her passion for children-focused organisations. The statement said the three kids in the statue represent the “universality and generational impact” of her work. Kensington Palace went on to say Diana “gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes” and that the statue “aims to convey her character and compassion”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I think the statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, is very appropriate.❤️✨ If the two princes want the world to remember their mother, they must remember her for her humanitarian work. Diana loved the kids so I loved the idea of them being there. <a href="https://t.co/lrAt5dcnAE">pic.twitter.com/lrAt5dcnAE</a> — WALAA🌿📚 (@Walaa_writing) <a href="https://twitter.com/Walaa_writing/status/1410613459771817994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote> Prince William and Harry have been working on the commissioned piece since 2017, and below the incredible statue, there is a plaque that reads: “These are the units to measure the worth of this woman as a woman regardless of birth. Not what was her station? But had she a heart? How did she play her God-given part?” Harry and William reunited without cameras in the gardens of Kensington Palace after they’d allegedly shared text messages days ahead of the event. The duo were seen happily speaking to one another, reminding royal onlookers of the special bond they once undeniably shared in their younger years. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842191/diana-statue-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6442b170e8d7448c972134829f0ba314" /> Sadly, it seems their close relationship came to a fiery halt after Harry and his wife, Meghan Marlow, made the decision to step down as senior royals members back in 2020. The pair moved to the US – a move they said was made to get away from The Firm and the British media. Shortly after the intimate reunion, William and Harry released a joint statement via the Kensington Royal Twitter page. “Today, on what would have been our Mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength and character – qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better,” it read. “Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy. “Thank you to Ian Rank-Broadley, Pip Morrison and their teams for their outstanding work, to the friends and donors who helped make this happen, and to all those around the world who keep our mother’s memory alive,” they concluded, before signing off from “Prince William and Prince Harry.” The Queen, Prince Charles and Kate Middleton were not present for the unveiling. Duchess Meghan remained in the US with her two children Archie and Lilibet. Images: Getty

Family & Pets

Where we've seen Diana's statue outfit before

The Princess of Wales will stand forever in the gardens of Kensington Palace, as a sculpture meticulously curated over several years with painstaking detail, which has finally been presented to the world. Prince William and Prince Harry have been central in the making of their mother’s statue, having commissioned the project in 2017. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842203/diana-statue-5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/66534784c7e54484b2d1748636ccb1d9" /> Diana’s face, along with the three children depicted with her, "will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy", her sons said in a joint statement. The brothers reunited on July 1, in honour of Diana’s 60th birthday, to unveil the statue in the Sunken Garden. The clothing in the statue is likely to have been inspired by the Princess of Wales' 1993 Christmas card. In that photo Diana is adorned in a blue collared shirt with a high neck, the buttons undone, a black belt with a large golden buckle and a black pencil skirt. While it is not confirmed, the statue of Diana bears a striking similarity to the outfit. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842202/diana-statue-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fca45f498461428e9e501e8cbdd95367" /> The 1993 Christmas card came at a pivotal time in Diana's life, just one year before she separated from Prince Charles. In 1993 Diana and Charles chose to send out separate Christmas cards – a public display to signify that their marriage had well and truly come to an end. The royal used the separation to her advantage, however, and carved out a new role for herself by throwing her energy into her charities. In a statement Kensington Palace said that “the statue aims to reflect the warmth, elegance and energy of Diana, Princess of Wales, in addition to her work and the impact she had on so many people. "The portrait and style of dress was based on the final period of her life as she gained confidence in her role as an ambassador for humanitarian causes and aims to convey her character and compassion." Diana is surrounded by three children "who represent the universality and generational impact of The Princess' work". Prince William and Prince Harry wanted the statue to recognise their mother's positive impact across the world.

Beauty & Style

Lip reader reveals exactly what William said to Harry during statue unveiling

The unveiling of a statue to commemorate what would have been Princess Diana's 60th birthday took place this week, with all eyes on the feuding royal brothers, Prince William and Prince Harry. Now, a professional lip reader has revealed the 'word of warning' the Duke of Cambridge said to his younger brother. Moments before the ceremony took place at Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace, lip reader Jeremy Freeman told the Daily Star, William gave a stern warning to Harry, telling him "I didn't want anything to go wrong. It's important we unveil it right." The pair commissioned the statue to honour their late mother four years ago, and appeared to stare fondly at it during the ceremony. Over 4,000 flowers were planted in the princess's favourite garden, taking 1,000 hours to complete. The brothers haven't been spotted together since the funeral of their great-grandfather, Prince Philip, in April. John Cassidy, another lip reader told The Sun, the brothers appeared to be quite jovial in their exchange, claiming the older prince marvelled at the touching tribute, saying "Great isn't it? Amazing little place." However, body language expert Judi James says the brothers united front appeared to be "overworked." "Emerging side-by-side their smiles did appear slightly over-worked at first but one very telling trait was how their body language was mirrored," she told The Sun. "This kind of mimicry suggests strong subliminal bonds, hinting that old ties still bind them despite their current rifts," she continued. During the ceremony, the brothers released a poignant statement, celebrating their mother's legacy. "Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy," they said. The statue will be open to the public to visit in line with Kensington Palace's opening hours.

News

Will and Harry set to reunite at Diana statue unveiling

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Prince Harry and Prince William are set to reunite on July 1st at an unveiling of a statue dedicated to their mother, Princess Diana. Although tensions between the couple and the royal family are reportedly at an all-time high, the event is said to be going ahead despite any possible fallout from Meghan and Harry's 90-minute tell-all interview with Oprah about the royal family. Oprah spruiked the interview to viewers as being a "nothing off-limits" conversation between herself, Harry and Meghan. Prince Harry has spoken about the impact of the negative British press on his mother and his wife, as Meghan has been hounded since 2018. Speaking about his mother during the Oprah interview, Harry said: "You know, for me, I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side. "Because I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago." The unveiling of the statue will take place on what would have been Diana's 60th birthday in the Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace. The statue was commissioned by the brothers in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of their mother's death and to recognise her "positive impact" on the world. </div> </div> </div>

Relationships

"Quite alarming!": Queen cracks joke about new statue

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> The Queen has made her audience laugh after cracking a joke about a new statue unveiled in her honour. Her Majesty spoke to South Australian Premier Steven Marshall, Governor Hieu Van Le and sculptor Robert Hannaford to view the statue that has been installed in the grounds of the government house in Adelaide. Video footage of the conversation released by Buckingham Palace shows that the sudden unveiling surprised the Queen, who made a quick joke. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CL46ghGH_tC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CL46ghGH_tC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a> </div> </blockquote> After seeing the statue so suddenly, she joked that “it must be quite alarming to suddenly see it out of the window - you’d think, gracious, has she arrived unexpectedly!” She was also presented with a scale model of the statue, which she thanked the sculptor for and said "I'm glad it's not quite as big as the original statue!". A palace statement said Her Majesty was also “briefed by the Governor and Premier on developments in the region, including the vaccination rollout to key workers, the response to Covid-19 and the lifting of restrictions in South Australia. “The Queen also heard from the Governor about the recovery from drought and bushfires in the area at the start of 2020, and from the Premier about how cooperation between health services, police, government - and the resilience of the Australian people - has been instrumental in their frontline response to the pandemic." </div> </div> </div>

International Travel

Dolly Parton turns down offer of statue

Dolly Parton took to social media on Thursday (3 am Friday AEDT) to declare that she does not want the Tennessee legislature to approve putting up a statue of her at the state capitol. "I want to thank the Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds," she wrote. "I am honoured and humbled by their intention," she continued — but not that humbled, necessarily, by the governing body's attempt to come up with some feel-good legislation amid all of its famously divisive and controversial bills. The country-pop superstar said that she has "asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration. With all that is going on in the world, I don't think that putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time." <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLcIEhsjBDP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLcIEhsjBDP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton)</a> </div> </blockquote> Enshrining Parton at the Capitol had been in the talks for years and the suggestion especially picked up steam when there was increasing pressure to remove statues of famous Confederates from the Capitol, with some saying the biggest star from Tennessee would be a good replacement instead. In January, Rep. John Windle (D-Livingston) introduced a bill that would create a "Dolly Parton fund" and entrust the State Capitol Commission with developing a plan for placing a Parton statue. The bill was scheduled to go up for consideration Tuesday before the House state government committee. Parton has however left the door open for a statue of herself at some point in the future - when she doesn't have to show up for it. "I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I'm gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I'm certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean. In the meantime, I'll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud."

Beauty & Style

King Carl of Sweden strips five grandchildren of royal status

The King of Sweden has stripped five of his grandchildren of their royal status as the monarchy faces increasing amounts of pressure to cut back on annual bills. The children, aged between one and five, are the offspring of two of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s younger children – Prince Carl and his wife Sofia, and US-based Princess Madeleine and her husband Christopher O’Neill. The children will still be a part of the royal family, but will be forced to drop their titles of His and Her Royal Highness. They will also not be able to use taxpayer’s money. Princess Madeleine said that the change “has been planned for a long time” and it would allow her three children a “greater opportunity to shape their own lives”. Carl and Sofia were also thrilled with the decision, saying: “We see this as positive as Alexander and Gabriel will have freer choices in life”. The family has come under fire as of late after their expenditure was reaching enormous amounts. Currently, taxpayers are forking out $21 million annually to help the monarchy fund their lifestyles. According to the Swedish royal court’s top official, Frederik Wersall, the royal family understood and had accepted the need for change. “We have a large royal family. If you include the next generation, there are currently 10 people in the line of succession,” he told Swedish media. Scroll through the gallery above to see Sweden’s royal family.

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