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King Charles unveils first post-coronation portrait

<p>King Charles has unveiled his first post-coronation portrait in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. </p> <p>The painting by Jonathan Yeo - known for portraits of celebrities including Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton and Grayson Perry - was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’ 50 years as a member of charitable institution The Drapers’ Company. </p> <p>Yeo had four sittings with the King, with the first sitting when Charles was still Prince of Wales in June 2021 at his country home in Highgrove, and the last sitting in November 2023 at Clarence house. </p> <p>The portrait – approximately 2.6 metres by 2 metres framed – depicts King Charles wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guard. </p> <p>“It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers’ Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his Coronation,” the artist said.</p> <p>“When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I’ve painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject’s role in our public life has transformed.</p> <p>“I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitter’s face.</p> <p>“In this case, my aim was also to make reference to the traditions of Royal portraiture but in a way that reflects a 21st century monarchy and, above all else, to communicate the subject’s deep humanity,” said Mr Yeo.</p> <p>“I’m unimaginably grateful for the opportunity to capture such an extraordinary and unique person, especially at the historic moment of becoming King.”</p> <p>The King and Queen met The Master of The Drapers’ Company, Tom Harris and Past Master, William Charnley on Tuesday at Buckingham Palace. </p> <p>The portrait will go on public display for a month at the Philip Mould Gallery in London, from May 16 until June 14 and will be displayed at Drapers’ Hall from the end of August.</p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p> <p> </p>

Art

Mother of the groom slammed for unacceptable wedding outfit

<p dir="ltr">A mother of the groom has been slammed online for wearing a white dress to her son’s wedding: committing a major wedding faux pas. </p> <p dir="ltr">The family photo, which has gone viral, shows the mother wearing “a dress even whiter than the bride’s”, complete with a sheet cape train, a cream hat and corsage. </p> <p dir="ltr">The mum's behaviour was criticised by thousands in a wedding-shaming Facebook group, while others defended the woman, saying she may have had permission for the look beforehand.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Really makes you wonder what in god's name happened with all these mothers-in-law to make them act like their son's wedding is her own wedding,” one person commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many claimed the older woman's dress was a clear attempt to upstage the bride, with many saying her outfit was simply unacceptable. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Makes me vomit when I see mothers like this,” a woman said.</p> <p dir="ltr">A second person added, “The cape, the gown, the fascinator... oh, my god. It would have been over the top, but fine if in any other colour. I hope to be as patient as this bride one day.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I cannot imagine doing this to any woman who decides to marry my son. Like, hon, I of all people know how difficult he can be to live with, may the old gods and the new bless you for your sacrifice,” another joked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm 99 percent sure this wasn't bride-approved as it's white and the bride's dress is ever so slightly off-white. And the bride looks perfect!” a fourth added.</p> <p dir="ltr">A few even claimed someone should have “accidentally” spilled a glass of red wine on the mother's dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No way she should have made it to the pictures without someone spilling [wine]. That poor girl,” a woman said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Coroner finally reveals Sinead O’Connor’s cause of death

<p>The cause of Sinead O'Connor's unexpected death in July 2023 has been officially disclosed by a coroner, initiating a global response of grief for the renowned Irish music icon known as the "Daughter of Ireland".</p> <p>According to British authorities, the 56-year-old singer died of natural causes, a revelation that has led to an extensive outpouring of condolences and remembrance from her admirers worldwide.</p> <p><a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/sin-ad-o-connor-passes-away-at-just-56" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Discovered unresponsive in her London home last July</a>, the sudden passing of O'Connor prompted an emotional worldwide reaction. John Thompson, a clerk of Southwark Coroners Court in London, confirmed the natural cause of death, leading to the cessation of the coroner's involvement in the case.</p> <p>A prior statement on the Coroner's website had indicated that a decision regarding the need for an inquest would be made once the cause of death was determined. O'Connor was pronounced dead at the scene in her Herne Hill penthouse in South London, with no immediate disclosure of the medical cause of death. The Coroner opted not to provide additional details regarding the specific circumstances of her passing following the autopsy.</p> <p>In the period leading up to her death, O'Connor had taken to social media to share personal updates, expressing a newfound sense of happiness after moving back to London. This phase marked a fresh start for the singer following the tragic loss of her son Shane, who, at the age of 17, took his own life in January 2022 after escaping hospital while under suicide watch.</p> <p>A year later, in January, O'Connor was admitted to the hospital after revealing on social media that she had decided to follow her son's path. The singer had been open about her mental health struggles, using platforms like Twitter to convey the depth of her grief, referring to herself as an "undead night creature" since the loss of her beloved son, whom she described as "the love of my life, the lamp of my soul".</p> <p>A funeral procession for O'Connor through her hometown in Bray, Ireland, witnessed a gathering of thousands of mourners. Draped in blue, white and pink flowers, her coffin rolled through the streets after a private memorial service attended by family, friends and fellow musicians such as Bono and Bob Geldof, the latter observed riding behind the cortege.</p> <p>Geldof, reflecting on O'Connor's tumultuous life, spoke of the "terrible loneliness and terrible despair" that had haunted her many times. The procession, passing along the seafront south of Dublin, where O'Connor had lived for 15 years, marked the final chapter in the life of a music legend whose legacy will forever be intertwined with the pain and beauty she brought to the world.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Beloved Coronation Street star dies aged 89

<p><em>Coronation Street</em> star Joan Savage has passed away at 89. </p> <p>The actress, known for her role as Celeste Pickersgill in the ITV soap series, was reported to have passed away peacefully in her home in Twickenham earlier this month. </p> <p>Her cause of death has not been revealed. </p> <p>Tributes have poured in from the star's friends and family. </p> <p>In a touching tribute, her daughter Kelly wrote: "Mum always used to say 'I'd like to go with my tap shoes on' so the last few years have been extremely difficult for her and us as a family.</p> <p>"I hope she's reunited with her show biz contemporaries and putting on a show up there!" she added.</p> <p>Her friend, Cheryl Forbes paid tribute to the actress on X. </p> <p>"Our dear friend, the remarkable Joan Savage, passed away recently," she tweeted. </p> <p>"She was a real star and absolutely brilliant at everything she did," she continued. "An actress, comedienne, singer, impressionist and dancer.</p> <p>"She was truly a very special talent."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Our dear friend, the remarkable Joan Savage, passed away recently. She was a real star and absolutely brilliant at everything she did. An actress, comedienne, singer, impressionist and dancer. She was truly a very special talent 💔 <a href="https://t.co/mDtL2YTeX6">https://t.co/mDtL2YTeX6</a></p> <p>— Cheryl Forbes (@mezzocheryl) <a href="https://twitter.com/mezzocheryl/status/1724507318316859598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Savage has spent over six decades in the show biz industry. She starred in an episode of <em>Dad's Army</em> in 1972, and made multiple appearances in <em>The Arthur Haynes Show</em> between 1956 and 1962. </p> <p>Aside from her glittering career on the screen, she also ventured out into music, theatre and entertainment.</p> <p>She toured as the leading lady in a George and Alfred Black revue called <em>Music and Madness, </em>where she met performer Ken Morris - who she later on married in 1955 - and the pair performed as a double act. </p> <p>The duo appeared in multiple big shows and advertisements at the time including <em>Hi Summer, The Black and White Minstrel Show, The Jack Jackson Show</em> and <em>The Arthur Haynes Show.</em></p> <p>In 1960, they welcomed daughter Kelly, but their love story was cut short when Morris tragically passed away on July 3, 1968 following a brain tumour. </p> <p>Four years later, Savage remarried, and tied the knot with husband Bryan on November 1972.</p> <p>She continued performing and had also established herself as a solo artist, creating popular love songs, comedies and even went on to win the Nordring Radio Prize for her singing in 1974. </p> <p>Savage is survived by her husband Bryan, her daughter Kelly and her two grandkids.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty/ Youtube</em></p>

Caring

"Not my King": Second coronation marred by protestors

<p>King Charles has celebrated his coronation a second time during a ceremony in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, just two months after being crowned King in London. </p> <p>The monarch was joined by Queen Camilla, and Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, for a Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication held in his honour. </p> <p>During the service inside St Giles Cathedral, the monarch was presented with the symbols of his authority in Scotland – the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State.</p> <p>The new Elizabeth Sword, named in honour of the late monarch, was commissioned to replace the previous Sword of State as it had become too fragile, having been given to James IV by Pope Julius in 1507.</p> <p>The sword was carried into the cathedral by Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger.</p> <p>Despite the grand and emotional service, the ceremony was slightly marred by anti-monarch protestors outside.</p> <p>The protestors stood chanting "not my King" for hours on end so loudly, that the voices could be heard from inside the church during the quieter moments of the ceremony. </p> <p>Four protestors were later arrested for their disruption. </p> <p>Prior to the ceremony, Grant McKenzie from the Republic anti-monarchy pressure group, told the BBC's <em>Good Morning Scotland</em> programme that his group would be vocal at the event.</p> <p>"It's being forced upon us," McKenzie said. "We've got an unprecedented cost of living crisis. I don't think the public in the UK are particularly interested in their tax payer money being put towards a parade up and down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh - it's tone deaf.</p> <p>"Of course people are going to be able to enjoy it if that's what they want to do. Protests by their very nature are disruptive, we will be making ourselves visible and heard."</p> <p>The King and Queen didn't let the demonstrators get in the way of the proceedings, which was strengthened by the thousands of crowds who lined the streets of Edinburgh in support of the royal family. </p> <p>The tradition of a second coronation taking place in Scotland dates back over 400 years, with the late Queen Elizabeth also celebrating the event just weeks after her coronation in 1953. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

Royal family celebrates Prince William’s birthday with unseen photo

<p dir="ltr">The Royal family have shared a never-before-seen candid snap of King Charles and Prince William to celebrate the Prince’s 41st birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The picture, which was posted to Instagram on Wednesday, showed a candid moment between the two royals who shared a laugh as the Prince struggled to fasten an ancient Imperial Mantle over his dad's shoulders.</p> <p dir="ltr">The sweet father and son moment was captured inside Westminster Abbey during the coronation rehearsals last month.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair were dressed in their suits, with the intimate moment captured just days before the big ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wishing The Prince of Wales a very happy birthday today! 🎈” the caption read.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtvkOxIMFN2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtvkOxIMFN2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The photo comes just days after Prince William and Princess Kate shared <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/prince-william-shares-sweet-father-s-day-photo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new family photos </a>in celebration of Father’s Day.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans have shared their birthday wishes to Prince William and their praise for the beautiful photo.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This photo isn’t about being royal…This photo is depicting the love between a son and his father… ❤️” wrote one fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy birthday to The Prince of Wales. Keep on shining William! 💕” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What a lovely picture! Happy Birthday your Royal Highness! 👑🥳” wrote a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Lovely photo! Happy Birthday to Prince William!” commented a fourth.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Bride and groom follow hilarious family tradition by swapping wedding outfits

<p>A newly married bride has decided to follow in her parents' hilarious footsteps by swapping her wedding day outfit with her new husband. </p> <p>Rosie Joyce, a fashion and lifestyle influencer, documented her special day online, with her picturesque wedding drawing in thousands of views. </p> <p>However, the picture perfect wedding took a jovial turn when Rosie and her husband Justin emerged in each others' wedding attire.</p> <p>Rosie drew inspiration from her parents, who started the tradition on their wedding recovery day, with Rosie's dad coming out in her mother's white wedding dress, while her mum donned Rosie's father's tux. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7234723167137205522&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40rosiewheeler92%2Fvideo%2F7234723167137205522%3Fembed_source%3D71223855%252C121331973%252C120811592%252C120810756%253Bnull%253Bembed_masking%26refer%3Dembed%26referer_url%3Ddk79lclgtez2i.cloudfront.net%252FGVtpj6u%253Fapp%253D1%26referer_video_id%3D7234723167137205522&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FoAoQgDkDRYdIkAzbNowZzuM8FpKnEB8VQTfBsf%3Fx-expires%3D1684998000%26x-signature%3DwPzyFwqR8d1f6xQ5i%252F8OdYfm2f4%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>“I grew up obsessed with these photos! How did we do?” Rosie wrote in her video. “We wanted to recreate the photos and surprise everyone on our recovery day.”</p> <p>In their recreation, Justin wore Rosie's white strapless gown and Rosie dressed in Justin's wedding day suit as they snapped some adorable photos. </p> <p>The big reveal went viral online, with Rosie documenting their story in a TikTok which has over 10 million views. </p> <p>One viewer said they were "Obsessed!" with the photos, while another praised Rosie's new look, saying “You absolutely ate it up in that suit, my god.”</p> <p>And while many commenters pointed out that as darling as Rosie and her hubby looked, the real stars of this TikTok show were her parents.</p> <p>“Your parents hair?? The drinks?? The cig?? Perfection” wrote one.</p> <p>“Your Dad looks like Neil Diamond in his early years,” pointed out another, while another viewer thought "it was a deleted scene from <em>Parent Trap</em>,” noting her father's resemblance to Dennis Quaid. </p> <p>Other viewers were quick to comment on how reflective and sweet the recreation photos were, with one person writing, "This is such a cool tradition to carry on!! Absolutely love this."</p> <p>Another viewer summed up Rosie and Justin's adorable relationship, writing, "The fact that your new hubby loved the idea shows you found the one."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

Why King Charles III arrived late to his coronation

<p>The reason why King Charles III was late to his own coronation has been revealed, with a military source attributing His Majesty’s tardiness to horse troubles.</p> <p>Six Windsor Greys were carefully selected to pull the Diamond Jubilee State Coach to transport King Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on May 6.</p> <p>Their names are Echo, Haven, Knightsbridge, Milford, Shadow and Tyrone.</p> <p>The source told The Telegraph in the UK that the dress rehearsal for the journey took place in the middle of the night when the horses were "quite sleepy and took their time.”</p> <p>"But on the day of the Coronation, they were wide awake and consequently went a lot faster than they had in the practice. That's what threw the timings out," they continued.</p> <p>As the royals arrived at the Abbey, viewers saw a visibly irritated Charles demanding an explanation.</p> <p>Initially, the delay was blamed on the Prince and Princess of Wales who were scheduled to arrive at Westminster Abbey before the monarch but rather arrived a few minutes after.</p> <p>A lip reader told The Guardian that the King muttered, "we can never be on time" and "there's always something”.</p> <p>The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived with their children Princess Charlotte, eight and Prince Louis, five.</p> <p>They were left to join the back of the procession to the altar of the abbey.</p> <p>There had been suggestions they were delayed by filming behind-the-scenes footage of their preparations, which was later posted on social media, but that is allegedly false.</p> <p>Prince George, nine, acted as Page of Honour for his grandfather at the coronation and performed his duties diligently.</p> <p>King Charles, Prince William and Prince George later posed for a “line of succession” portrait.</p> <p>Prince Harry was spotted at the ceremony, taking his seat in the third row with his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.</p> <p>His visit was short-lived as he flew home to the US for his son Archie’s fourth birthday later that day.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

King Charles’ grimmest guest exposed

<p dir="ltr">In the months leading up to King Charles III’s extravagant coronation, the guest list was a hot topic. </p> <p dir="ltr">From “will she or won’t she?” discussions surrounding Meghan Markle to the “who’s who?” of British high society, there was always something on hand to pick apart. But one guest that no-one had seen coming - except perhaps in some of the internet’s darkest jokes - was the Grim Reaper.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cloaked figure was spotted during Charles’ May 6 coronation at Westminster Abbey, scurrying past a doorway with a long thin staff in hand, reminiscent of the reaper’s scythe or Charon’s ferry oar.</p> <p dir="ltr">Those determined to see some Harry and Meghan drama transpire joked that it may have been the prince’s wife in disguise, or even the late Diana back for “revenge”, and social media was rife with jokes, though most were of the opinion that the mysterious guest was none other than the fabled Grim Reaper. </p> <p dir="ltr">One Twitter user wasted no time in sharing a clip of the figure’s appearance at the abbey, asking if anyone else was seeing the same thing. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anyone else just notice the Grim Reaper at Westminster Abbey? 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coronation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coronation</a> <a href="https://t.co/77s4XIY17i">pic.twitter.com/77s4XIY17i</a></p> <p>— Joe (@realjoegreeeen) <a href="https://twitter.com/realjoegreeeen/status/1654774890237394945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Yep, had to pause & rewind to get a pic,” one like-minded soul wrote in response, “couldn't decide if it was Death (Pratchett would be proud) or maybe Darth Vader!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“High security should allow the identity of the grim reaper to be revealed. No doubt this is an official walk-in,” another said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought I was seeing things when this happened,” one user admitted, “would love to know who it was.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Diana getting her revenge,” another decided. </p> <p dir="ltr">There was, of course, another possibility, as someone pointed out when they wrote “Charles got pranked.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When footage was uploaded to TikTok, alongside the caption “NAH IT CANT JUST BE ME THAT SAW IT”, the response was similar, with the video collecting over 31k comments, and 21 million views. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Grim reaper Casually invited to the coronation as a security guard,” one user said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That is Diana,” another declared.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, someone was simply of the opinion that “Lizzy [was] coming back for her crown”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, they weren’t left to ponder it for long, with a Westminster Abbey spokesperson putting the grim theories to rest, confirming the figure’s identity as a member of the abbey community. More specifically, as a verger, an individual who assists with religious services but who is not actually a member of the clergy itself.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

International Travel

Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh responds to backlash for “terribly white” coronation comment

<p dir="ltr">A star of the stage and screen, Adjoa Andoh HonFRSL, made waves around the world with her comments on the royal family’s post-coronation balcony appearance. </p> <p dir="ltr">Coverage of King Charles III’s coronation was available around the world from numerous providers, but it was the comments <em>Bridgerton </em>star Adjoa Andoh made during ITV’s extensive coverage in the UK that set the internet ablaze. </p> <p dir="ltr">To kick off their day, the network broadcast a special edition of their <em>Good Morning Britain</em> show, with a programme hosted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham to follow. </p> <p dir="ltr">Their show saw them welcome a whole host of guests - including but not limited to reporters out on The Mall for the day’s festivities. Their coverage was going as planned until they cut to their temporary studio for the royals stepping out onto Buckingham Palace’s balcony.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bradby and Etchingham asked for thoughts from their guests, and it was then that Andoh shared her take, noting that “we have gone from the rich diversity of the Abbey to a terribly white balcony. I am very struck by that.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am also looking at those younger generations and thinking ‘what are the nuances that they will inhabit when they grow?’”</p> <p dir="ltr">A clip from the show went viral on Twitter soon after it was uploaded, where it was met with mixed - and loud - response. </p> <p dir="ltr">The comment stunned the ITV presenters, and Myleene Klass was seen staring at the actor as she spoke.</p> <p dir="ltr">The clip was later shared on Twitter, where it received a mixed response. Some people criticised Andoh for her words, while others applauded her for speaking out.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dozens raced to submit complaints to OFCOM, claiming that Andoh’s take had stemmed from racist ideals, while others rose to her defence, thanking her for speaking out. </p> <p dir="ltr">As author and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu wrote, Andoh “told no lies in factual observation of ‘terribly White’ (literal & symbolic) Buckingham palace balcony at #Coronation in contrast to tokenism of race diversity at Westminster Abbey & got branded ‘racist’”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, conservative commentator Darren Grimes demanded to know “why is it ok to dismiss a white family for being white?”</p> <p dir="ltr">They were only two of such comments flooding social media, and were the exact kind Andoh addressed in her next public appearance, when she joined Paddy O’Connnell on <em>BBC Radio 4</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I think I upset a few people yesterday,” she noted. “I was talking about the day and how marvellous it was, and then looking at the balcony at the end and suddenly going ‘oh, it’s so white!’ because the day had been so mixed, and I didn’t mean to upset anybody.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, it wasn’t quite enough to stem the tide of feedback, while users all across Twitter taking sides, and sharing their opinion on the latest round of comment. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There's an old saying: "Think before you speak". Andoh thought about it and said it anyway,” one said. “Spare us the crocodile tears. You knew exactly what you meant.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“She said the right thing they didn’t want to hear instead of the white thing they did want to hear,” another wrote. “The firm had an extraordinary opportunity to show progress and inclusion, not to mention the perfect ambassadors for the Commonwealth - and they ran them out of town.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

King's-eye-view: Story behind incredibly rare shot from palace balcony

<p>Getty photographer Chris Jackson has shared insight into what it was like to capture the coronation, and watch the moment King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla walked out onto Buckingham Palace balcony from a unique perspective.</p> <p>Taking to Instagram, Jackson shared a rare image that gave the public a small sense of what Charles and Camilla would see from the balcony.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6FZQwtiE6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6FZQwtiE6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chris Jackson (@chrisjacksongetty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"An honour to shoot 'behind the scenes' and a never seen before angle from today's historic Coronation, what a day!!!!!! Save a 🥂 for me!", he captioned the post.</p> <p>That wasn’t the only ‘behind-the-scenes' look at the King and Queen’s time on the Palace balcony. Jackson also shared a photo of the pair watching the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force doing a flypast.</p> <p>The image shows the aircraft leaving a trail of red, white and blue exhaust as they flew over the proceedings.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6M3BDNoYw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6M3BDNoYw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chris Jackson (@chrisjacksongetty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"What a view! What a day!" Jackson captioned the post.</p> <p>King Charles and Queen Camilla were captured waving to the crowd from the Palace balcony following his coronation at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p>The pair travelled to the infamous site in a royal carriage for the long-lived tradition.</p> <p>Charles and Camilla were joined on the balcony by their royal pages and members of the British royal family.</p> <p>Prince William and Princess Katie appeared on the balcony with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.</p> <p>There were two noticeable absences from the balcony, although neither were expected to be there as only working royals are given the honour of making an appearance on the balcony.</p> <p>Although Prince Harry did attend the coronation, he left shortly afterwards to travel back to the US for his son Archie’s fourth birthday celebrations.</p> <p>Prince Andrew was also present at the coronation but not on the balcony as Charles looks to “slim down” the monarchy.</p> <p>The day marked the first time the royal family appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.</p> <p>The late Queen waved to the crowd from the balcony, accompanied by Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and their children during Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.</p> <p>She passed away three months later on September 8, 2022, with Prince Charles immediately anointed as King.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty/Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

What does a king actually do?

<p>The coronation ceremony formally invests the monarch with their regnal powers – but King Charles III has been doing the job since he was proclaimed king in September 2022. So what does a monarch actually do?</p> <p>Historically, the role of the monarch was to maintain the peace of the realm, oversee the administration of justice, and to upload the rule of law in the land. While the king still represented the nation symbolically, it was a far more hands-on, practical role than monarchs of today.</p> <h2>Roles and responsibilities</h2> <p>The monarch’s position description, so to speak, includes the roles of head of state, head of nation, head of the Church of England, head of the Armed Forces, and head of the Commonwealth. These are largely ceremonial and symbolic roles – the king does not intervene in the day-to-day running of these institutions.</p> <p>As head of state, the king performs certain constitutional duties. These include appointing a prime minister and inviting them to form a government, forming and dissolving parliament, opening and closing parliament each year, and signing legislation.</p> <p>Upon election, the prime minister meets with the king, who formally invites them to form a government. While monarchs are expected to remain non-partisan and apolitical, they are kept informed on state matters daily and meet with the prime minister each week. These meetings are private and no record is kept of what is discussed – so, yes, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/16/john-major-dismisses-the-crown-as-a-barrel-load-of-nonsense">those scenes in The Crown are complete fiction</a>. The king can consult and advise, but the prime minister is under no obligation to follow any advice he provides.</p> <p>The king’s parliamentary roles are largely ceremonial, with one exception. The king can dissolve parliament. The last king to do this was William IV in 1831 during the Reform Crisis.</p> <p>Throughout the Commonwealth, such as Australia, the king is represented by governors-general. They perform for these nations the same constitutional duties performed by the king for the UK. Governor-General Sir John Kerr famously dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and dissolved Australian parliament in 1975. After decades of speculation about the role of the Queen in the dismissal, the so-called <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-14/what-palace-letters-say-about-queen-role-in-whitlam-dismissal/12454430">Palace Papers</a> revealed that while the Palace was interested in the matter, Kerr had acted independently.</p> <p>In international affairs, the king can act as a representative of the United Kingdom, such as meeting political leaders and hosting state functions, but cannot act politically on its behalf.</p> <p>As head of nation, the king is a “<a href="https://www.royal.uk/role-monarchy">focus for national identity</a>”, symbolising its unity and continuity. In this role, the king recognises citizen achievements, attends events, and broadcasts special messages to the nation. This may include annual messages, such as the Christmas message, or special broadcasts, such as the Queen’s address at the height of the pandemic.</p> <p>The king is also the head of the Church of England and <a href="https://theconversation.com/king-charles-defender-of-faith-what-the-monarchys-long-relationship-with-religion-may-look-like-under-the-new-sovereign-190766">Defender of the Faith</a>. However, prior to his ascension to the throne, Charles expressed a more inclusive desire to be the defender of faiths, reflecting the multicultural and multi-faith reality of the UK and the Commonwealth.</p> <p>Although the king served in all three arms of the British forces and still maintains several ceremonial rankings, the role of Head of Armed Forces is also symbolic. Should the UK go to war, the king won’t determine its defence strategy, but he will officially declare both when the country is at war and when it is over.</p> <p>During the second world war, the royal family played an important role in fostering national and military morale. Then-<a href="https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/queen-elizabeth-ii-during-world-war-ii">Princess Elizabeth famously joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service</a> when she turned 18, and trained as a mechanic.</p> <p>In addition to these roles, the king also holds various <a href="https://www.royal.uk/charities-and-patronages-1">royal patronages</a>. This involves providing support to his chosen organisations by attending events and bringing publicity to the causes. </p> <p>As the Prince of Wales, <a href="https://theconversation.com/king-charles-will-redistribute-hundreds-of-charity-patronages-heres-why-they-are-such-an-important-part-of-royal-life-190810">Charles held over 420 patronages</a>. He inherited a further 600 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Some patronages were associated with the rank of Prince of Wales, so have been passed on to Prince William. Others may be redistributed amongst the senior royals in order to ensure a manageable royal workload.</p> <h2>Senior royals and Counsellors of State</h2> <p>Although there is only one monarch (it’s in the name, after all), the king does not work alone. He is often assisted in his representational duties by a group of family members referred to as the “senior” or “working royals”. These are members of the royal family who carries out duties on behalf of the Crown. Traditionally, the <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a30447347/who-are-senior-members-of-royal-family/">senior royals</a> comprise the monarch’s consort, the heir and the heir’s spouse and children, and other children and their spouses. However, the current list of senior royals includes the king’s brother, Prince Edward, and his wife, Countess Sophie, and the king’s sister, Princess Anne.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Harry and Meghan) famously resigned from their role as senior royals in early 2020. Prince Andrew has been removed from public duties due to <a href="https://theconversation.com/prince-andrew-a-legal-expert-explains-the-settlement-with-virginia-giuffre-177255">allegations of sexual abuse</a> and his association with the convicted sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein.</p> <p>However, both Prince Harry and Prince Andrew remain among the <a href="https://www.royal.uk/counsellors-state">Counsellors of State</a>. Counsellors are determined by law – the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Edw8and1Geo6/1/16/contents">Regency Act</a> – and are authorised to carry out minor official constitutional duties of the king if he is overseas or unwell, such as attending Privy Council meetings and signing routine documents. But they can’t perform major duties such as appointing prime ministers or dissolving parliament.</p> <p>Counsellors of State are appointed from the four adults next in succession who have reached the age of 21. The monarch’s spouse is also eligible for appointment, even though they are not in line to the throne. This meant that following the ascension of King Charles, the Counsellors of State were Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice.</p> <p>However, as Prince Harry and Prince Andrew are not actively carrying out royal duties, and Prince Harry is no longer resident in the UK, there was some <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-prince-andrew-and-prince-harry-can-fill-in-for-the-king-and-how-the-law-might-change-193417">concern about the appropriateness and the sheer logistics</a> of the current list of counsellors. To address this, the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/47/section/1/enacted">Counsellors of State Act 2022</a> expanded the Regency Act to specifically include Prince Edward and Princess Anne, providing the king with two more local, active, and experienced counsellors to call on.</p> <h2>Questioning the monarchy today</h2> <p>King Charles’ ascension to the throne in September 2022 prompted various national <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/10/king-charles-ascension-ignites-debate-over-role-across-commonwealth-death-queen-elizabeth-ii">conversations around the Commonwealth of Nations</a> about the prospect of becoming republics.</p> <p>The monarch’s various duties may be largely symbolic, but symbols are powerful articulations of particular values, relationships, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-ways-the-monarchy-has-benefited-from-colonialism-and-slavery-179911">histories</a>. It is important for the various nations of the Commonwealth to reflect on their symbols and institutions as they look toward their futures.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-does-a-king-actually-do-203842" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Caring

Coronation quiche? Not if the French have anything to say about it

<p dir="ltr">When the British royal family revealed Charles’ ‘Coronation Quiche’, the internet was sent into a frenzy. </p> <p dir="ltr">From concerns for the nation’s crippling egg crisis to complaints over the entirely uninspired choice, <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/king-charles-signature-coronation-dish-mercilessly-mocked">people had a lot to say</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">And now, the French have chimed in, though their issue isn’t necessarily with the dish itself, but instead with its name. </p> <p dir="ltr">They claim that the celebratory dish has been given an incorrect label. The recipe for the Coronation Quiche - released by Buckingham Palace - calls for broad beans, tarragon, spinach, and absolutely no meat in line with Charles’ environmental concerns. The ingredients are considered by many to be traditionally English, although fresh tarragon is often included in various French dishes. </p> <p dir="ltr">But according to French quiche enthusiasts, there can only be one kind of quiche, and that’s the 'lorraine'. The dish is named after the northeastern Lorraine region that it comes from, and is made from shortcrust pastry, eggs and cream with nutmeg, and small bits of bacon.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although, to sidestep that particular issue, Twitter user @RebeccaCNReid used a little red, white, and very blue language to suggest an alternative name that comes close enough to ‘lorraine’ to get it over the line ...</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">what fucking idiot didn't call it quiche le reign? <a href="https://t.co/EFbCZ52UZN">https://t.co/EFbCZ52UZN</a></p> <p>— Rebecca Reid (@RebeccaCNReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/RebeccaCNReid/status/1648087895025041409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Evelyne Muller-Derveaux, president of the Quiche Lorraine Guild, explained to<em> The Times</em> that “they called it a quiche, but I would rather say it's a savoury tart.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When you say quiche, you automatically imply it is from the Lorraine region."</p> <p dir="ltr">Evelyne’s associate, Laurent Miltgen-Delinchamp had similar thoughts, quipping that, “I think it would have anyway better reflected the British spirit if they had called it a tart.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the two don’t intend on taking their particular gripes any further, and were even willing to admit that in France the term “quiche” is already quite misused. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Frankly,” Laurent said, “it shocks me less when Anglo-Saxons do that than when the French do it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And as <em>The Times </em>reported, Evelyne took pride in knowing that the humble quiche had been elevated to such royal heights - even if it wasn’t exactly the most authentic. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I was surprised when I found out,” she admitted. “I said to myself, ‘this is a banal, common, popular dish, and to think that it is being served at a coronation’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to note that the first mention of a quiche - on record - dates all the way back to the reign of another Charles III: the 16th century’s Duke of Lorraine. </p> <p dir="ltr">And even then, they were a simpler dish enjoyed by those who weren’t rolling around in wealth, and consisted of whatever ingredients they happened to have around. </p> <p dir="ltr">Quite unlike the <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/coronation-quiche-anyone-you-ll-need-to-fork-out-a-38-here-are-cheaper-and-healthier-options">$38 grocery price tag</a> behind Charles’, it seems. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

Young girl who penned heartfelt letter to King Charles is floored by response

<p>An 11-year-old girl from New South Wales has captured hearts with her touching words and well-wishes for King Charles III. </p> <p>Maeve Malone, who lives in Willoughby with her family, wrote a letter to the monarch in September 2022 to offer her condolences on the loss of Charles’ late mother, Queen Elizabeth, and to let him know that she believes he will be a “fantastic king”.</p> <p>Maeve’s letter, which she shared with Ben Fordham on his 2GB series, opened with a quick introduction, before she launched into the heart of her message, writing that she was “really sorry to hear about your mum. I am 10 and in Year 4, Mum and Dad let me stay up to watch Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. </p> <p>“You were so brave on that sad day. I think you will be excellent at leading the commonwealth. I also believe you will be a fantastic king.” </p> <p>At the end of the page - one embellished with colourful images of purple flowers - Maeve shared another personal message for Charles, letting him know of their shared interest in botany when she said, “Mum told me you like gardening, me too! I hope the flowers in your new home are blossoming.”</p> <p>“I hope to visit London one day,” she concluded. “When I do, I will go past your home and think of you and your mum. </p> <p>“Best of luck with your new job.” </p> <p>After reading Maeve’s letter, radio host Fordham checked in with the young girl, asking her what had prompted her to put pen to paper and contact Charles in the first place. </p> <p>“I wrote it because I wanted him to know that I was sorry for Queen Elizabeth,” Maeve explained, “I really liked Queen Elizabeth, ‘cause she was a really good leader, and it was really sad for Charles to lose his mum.” </p> <p>When Fordham asked what Maeve had expected from her kind words, and whether or not she had anticipated a response, the 11 year old was quick to admit that she hadn’t expected one. </p> <p>But to her delight, she’d been wrong, with a letter arriving in the mail, addressed to her and signed by the monarch. </p> <p>“I got it out of the letter box, and when I got it … I started jumping with joy,” Maeve said. </p> <p>That letter - typed up with Charles’ signature at the bottom - read, “it was so very kind of you to send me such a wonderfully generous message following the death of my beloved mother. </p> <p>“Your most thoughtful words are enormously comforting, and I cannot tell you how deeply they are appreciated at this time of immense sorrow.” </p> <p>And while Maeve’s entire day might have been made with the kind reply, she still won’t be able to tune in for her new friend’s big day - he might have his coronation to attend, but Maeve is a busy girl, and has a party of her own to get to. </p> <p><em>Images: Ben Fordham Live / 2GB</em></p>

Family & Pets

Busting a king-sized myth: why Australia and NZ could become republics – and still stay in the Commonwealth

<p>The imminent coronation of King Charles III is an ideal time for Australia and New Zealand to take stock of the British monarchy and its role in national life – including certain myths about what becoming a republic might mean.</p> <p>In particular, there is a common assumption that both nations must remain monarchies to retain membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. It might sound logical, but it’s entirely wrong. </p> <p>There is no basis for it in the rules of the Commonwealth or the practice of its members. Australia could ditch the monarchy and stay in the club, and New Zealand can too, whether it has a king or a Kiwi as head of state. </p> <p>Yet this peculiar myth persists at home and abroad. Students often ask me about it when I’m teaching the structure of government. And just this week a French TV station interpreted the New Zealand prime minister’s opinion that his country would one day <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/01/new-zealand-will-ideally-become-a-republic-one-day-says-chris-hipkins">ideally become a republic</a> to mean he would <a href="https://www.bfmtv.com/international/oceanie/nouvelle-zelande/nouvelle-zelande-le-nouveau-premier-ministre-souhaite-que-son-pays-quitte-le-commonwealth_AN-202305010328.html">like to see</a> it leave the Commonwealth.</p> <h2>What does ‘Commonwealth’ mean?</h2> <p>The implication that breaking from the Commonwealth would be a precursor to, or consequence of, becoming a republic relies on a faulty premise which joins two entirely separate things: the way we pick our head of state, and our membership of the Commonwealth. </p> <p>It would make just as much sense to ask whether Australia or New Zealand should leave the International Cricket Council and become a republic.</p> <p>The confusion may derive from the fact that the 15 countries that continue to have the British sovereign as their head of state are known as “Commonwealth Realms”. </p> <p>What we usually refer to as the Commonwealth, on the other hand, is the organisation founded in 1926 as the British Commonwealth of Nations. This is the body whose membership determines the competing nations of the <a href="https://www.commonwealthsport.com/">Commonwealth Games</a>, the highest-profile aspect of the Commonwealth’s work. </p> <p>King Charles III is the head of state of the 15 Commonwealth Realms and the head of the international governmental organisation that is the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth has 56 members – but only 15 of them continue to have the king as head of state.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Monday he personally favors his country becoming a republic, though it’s not a change he intends to push for as leader. <a href="https://t.co/1XEiFFtqPT">https://t.co/1XEiFFtqPT</a> <a href="https://t.co/aftsZ0hHmV">pic.twitter.com/aftsZ0hHmV</a></p> <p>— The Diplomat (@Diplomat_APAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Diplomat_APAC/status/1653406552693395457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <h2>Joining the Commonwealth club</h2> <p>To be fair, confusion over who heads the Commonwealth is nothing new. A <a href="https://www.royalcwsociety.org/_files/ugd/e578ea_5642f282aad345faa0b39c9eebd465e5.pdf">2010 poll</a> conducted by the Royal Commonwealth Society found that, of the respondents in seven countries, only half knew the then queen was the head of the Commonwealth. </p> <p>A quarter of Jamaicans believed the organisation was led by the then US president, Barack Obama. One in ten Indians and South Africans thought it was run by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.</p> <p>Given the king’s overlapping leadership roles and the different use of the word in the contexts of Commonwealth Realms and the Commonwealth of Nations, these broad misunderstandings are perhaps understandable. In fact, it was this ambiguity that allowed for the development of an inclusive Commonwealth during the postwar years of decolonisation.</p> <p>However the confusion arose, it is also very simple to correct. The Commonwealth relaxed its membership rules regarding republics when India became one in 1950. </p> <p>According to Philip Murphy, the historian and former director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, this decision was based on the erroneous idea that India’s huge standing army would underwrite Britain’s great-power status in the postwar world. </p> <p>From that point on the Commonwealth of Nations no longer comprised only members who admitted to the supremacy of one sovereign. To make the change palatable, a piece of conceptual chicanery was needed. Each country did not need a king, but theking was to be head of the organisation comprising equal members.</p> <h2>Monarchy optional</h2> <p>Since then, the number of Commonwealth members has steadily increased to the 56 we have today.</p> <p>As early as 1995, membership was extended to countries with no ties to the former British Empire. With the support of Nelson Mandela, Mozambique became a member, joining the six Commonwealth members with which it shared a border. </p> <p>Rwanda, a former German and then Belgian colony, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/oukwd-uk-commonwealth-rwanda-idAFTRE5AS1C520091129">joined in 2009</a>. It became an enthusiastic member and hosted the biennial meeting of states known as CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting). The most recent countries to take up Commonwealth membership are the <a href="https://thecommonwealth.org/news/gabon-and-togo-join-commonwealth">former French colonies of Togo and Gabon</a>. </p> <p>According to the <a href="http://www.thecommonwealth.org/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=174532">Commonwealth’s own rules</a>, membership is based on a variety of things, including commitment to democratic processes, human rights and good governance. Being a monarchy is entirely optional. </p> <p>The new king offers the chance for a broader debate on the advantages of monarchy. But let’s do so knowing Commonwealth membership is entirely unaffected by the question of whether or not the country is a republic.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/busting-a-king-sized-myth-why-australia-and-nz-could-become-republics-and-still-stay-in-the-commonwealth-204750" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Legal

From Corona beer to the coronation, the crown is branding fit for a king

<p>As a fashion statement or piece of art, crowns are distinguished by their beauty, containing rare jewels, precious metals and velvet in deep, rich colours. As a symbol, crowns are associated with majesty, authority and sovereignty. And as the coronation of King Charles III reminds us, the crown is also a superlative brand. </p> <p>Though images of crowns are often used in royal branding, it is rare for monarchs these days to actually wear crowns. In the western monarchical tradition, the British monarchy is an exception, with kings and queens undergoing a crowning ceremony. </p> <p>In the UK the crown encompasses both the monarch and the government, namely King Charles III and His Majesty’s government. The title of the Netflix drama “The Crown” has made this association clear even to international audiences unfamiliar with British constitutional principles. </p> <p>The reign of late Queen Elizabeth II was represented by a stylised image of <a href="https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/trails/the-crown-jewels/in-detail-st-edwards-crown">St Edward’s Crown</a>. King Charles III’s reign is represented by an image of the <a href="https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/news/item/205-royal-cypher%E2%80%99">Tudor Crown</a>, which appears in the king’s royal cypher, coat of arms and the <a href="https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-04-04/the-coronation-invitation">invitations for the coronation</a>. In time, it will be seen on state documents, military uniforms, passports and post boxes throughout the UK and the 14 realms where he is head of state.</p> <p>For monarchies, the crown is the quintessential monarchical symbol – something my colleagues and I in the field of corporate marketing research have described as <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/palgrave.bm.2550031">“the crown as a brand”</a>.</p> <p>Although the European monarchies of Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the Vatican, are known as “crowned heads of state”, they forswear coronations and eschew the wearing of crowns. Still, they all use a crown as the marque (or emblem) to represent themselves – see <a href="https://monarchie.lu/en/monarchy/orders-and-coats-arms">Luxembourg</a> and <a href="https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/the-monarchy-in-denmark/the-royal-symbols">Denmark’s</a> coats of arms.</p> <h2>Crowns of the coronation</h2> <p>The coronation of King Charles III will be a veritable festival of crowns, featuring seven crowns in total. The king will be crowned with St Edward’s crown by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and he wears this crown once. But during his exit from Westminster Abbey, he will wear the lighter <a href="https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9412/CBP-9412.pdf">Imperial State Crown</a>. Queen Camilla will also be crowned with Queen Mary’s crown. The last queen consort to undergo a coronation was in 1937. </p> <p>Four other crowns will be present during the coronation, worn by the <a href="https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/about-us/heralds-officers">kings of arms</a> – senior officers who regulate heraldry (coats of arms) in the UK and participate in major ceremonial occasions. </p> <p>The three kings of arms from England’s College of Arms will wear crowns decorated with acanthus leaves and engraved with the words of Psalm 50, <a href="http://www.medievalist.net/psalmstxt/ps50.htm">Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam misericordiam tuam</a> – “Have mercy on me, O God.” Scotland’s king of arms from the Court of the Lord Lyon will wear a crown which is a facsimile of the <a href="https://exarandorum.com/2023/04/25/crown-of-lord-lyon/">Scottish royal crown</a>. Heraldry can be viewed as an early form of branding. Many UK universities, for example, have a coat of arms as their <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41262-023-00316-x">visual identity</a>.</p> <p>An eighth crown – the actual Scottish crown and one of the oldest in Europe – will not be at the coronation, but will be presented to the king at a <a href="https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23473755.king-charles-coronation-special-scottish-service-planned/">special service</a> later in the year.</p> <h2>Crown brands in business</h2> <p>The exclusiveness and majesty associated with royal crowns has meant that many organisations use a crown as their brand name or logo. The phrase “crowning achievement” refers to an excellent accomplishment. Likewise, a crown in branding communicates quality, status, class and reliability. </p> <p>Some iconic brands, such as Twinings Tea, Heinz and Waitrose, benefit from an official royal endorsement, having been awarded a <a href="https://theconversation.com/royal-warrants-are-good-for-business-and-benefit-the-british-monarchy-too-192115">royal warrant</a> by a king or queen, or other senior royal family members. They may use the royal coat of arms as a type of royal brand endorsement. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/organisation-and-contact/the-royal-warrant-and-copyright/">Danish royal warrant</a> entitles an organisation to display “an image of the crown along with the company’s name on signs”. Carlsberg beer is a prominent example of this. </p> <p>Sometimes permission is granted to use the royal crown as a distinct brand marque as per <a href="https://www.logo-designer.co/the-clearing-creates-new-visual-identity-design-for-ascot-horseracing/">Royal Ascot horseracing</a>, or in a coat of arms such as in the former <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41262-023-00316-x">Royal College of Science and Technology in Glasgow</a>.</p> <p>Of course, while some brands have an official royal endorsement, most organisations with a crown name or logo do not have a direct association with monarchy. Sometimes the crown brand name is used for its cultural associations – see the many British pubs called “The Crown”.</p> <p>Regal branding has taken hold internationally. Among the companies using a crown name are Couronne (Korean handbags), Crown Bank (USA), Crown Class (Royal Jordanian Airways), Royal Crown Derby (English porcelain), Crowne Plaza Hotels (UK), Crown Royal (Canadian Whiskey), Crown Worldwide Distribution Group (Hong Kong) and Krone (South African sparkling wine). </p> <p>Those with a crown logo include Columbia University (USA), Cunard (UK), Dolce & Gabbana (Italy), Hallmark Cards (USA), Moët and Chandon (France), Ritz Carlton Hotels (USA) and Rolex (Switzerland). </p> <p>The Mexican beer brand Corona, which uses both a crown name and logo, is the most valuable beer brand in the world, <a href="https://brandfinance.com/press-releases/18003">worth US$7 billion</a>.</p> <p>Even in a world of republics, it is clear that the crown as a brand not only endures, but flourishes. The crowning of the king and queen will be the zenith of the coronation service. For producers of Corona beer and other brands featuring crowns around the world, the visual and verbal link of crown and monarchy will be, in a way, a reminder to consumers that their products are fit for a king.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-corona-beer-to-the-coronation-the-crown-is-branding-fit-for-a-king-204409" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

Picking up a King Charles III coronation commemorative plate? You’re buying into a centuries-old tradition

<p>Mugs and plates celebrating the coronations, marriages and deaths of British royalty are not unusual sights in the Australian home. With the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III on May 6, such memorabilia cluttering our cupboards are only likely to increase. </p> <p>Guides to “<a href="https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/king-charles-coronation-memorabilia-2023">the best King Charles III memorabilia</a>” are already advising what souvenirs to buy, including commemorative coins, biscuit tins, tea towels, plates and, of course, mugs. </p> <p>Yet the royal souvenir is not a recent invention.</p> <h2>History of the royal mug</h2> <p>The tradition of celebrating royal events with a mug or drinking vessel dates to at least the 17th century when the current king’s ancestor and namesake, Charles II, was restored to the English throne in 1660-1. </p> <p>Several mugs and cups produced at the time have survived and depict the “<a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/charles-ii-guide-restoration-why-merry-monarch-how-many-children-rule/">merry monarch</a>”.</p> <p>The restoration of Charles II (after his father Charles I had been executed by order of parliament in 1649) was greeted with rejoicing throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. </p> <p>The famous social climber and diarist Samuel Pepys embodied the general feeling of this time when he wrote that on the day of Charles II’s coronation he watched the royal procession with wine and cake and all were “<a href="https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1661/04/22/">very merry</a>” and pleased at what they saw.</p> <p>Drinking and eating in celebration may account for why mugs and plates were, and remain, such popular forms of royal memorabilia; they were used to <a href="https://stuarts.exeter.ac.uk/education/objects/delftware-cup-c-1661/">drink loyal toasts</a> of good health to the monarch on special days of celebration. </p> <p>While a strong ale was the preferred liquid for 17th-century toasts, as the British Empire expanded tea drinking became a common pastime. Teacups became popular royal souvenirs during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century.</p> <h2>Fostering support</h2> <p>The earthenware mugs made for Charles II’s coronation were relatively inexpensive, but not produced on a mass scale. </p> <p>With the industrial revolution of the 19th century and the rise of souvenir culture, royal memorabilia in all forms became more <a href="https://theconversation.com/royal-family-why-even-a-charles-and-diana-divorce-mug-is-important-for-the-monarchy-176588">popular and widespread</a>. </p> <p>Since 1900, royal births, deaths, marriages and coronations have been big money for manufacturers of royal memorabilia.</p> <p>The pitfalls of mass production were realised in 1936 when Edward VIII abdicated from the throne just months before his planned coronation in May 1937. Manufacturers were stuck with <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/178313173?searchTerm=%22coronation%20mug%22">thousands of mugs</a>, plates and other items celebrating the coronation of a king that would not happen. </p> <p>Many of these mugs still made their way out to the market, while other manufacturers such as Royal Doulton <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_2012-8022-5-a-c">adapted existing designs</a> and used them for the coronation of his brother, George VI.</p> <p>English monarchs were not the only royals to encourage the use of their image on objects collected, worn or used by their subjects. </p> <p>Renaissance Italian princes popularised the <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/renaissance-portrait-medals/exhibition-themes">portrait medal</a> and the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, Charles V, fostered support in his vast territories using mass-produced medallions <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/197126">bearing his image</a>.</p> <p>Objects with images of royalty served similar functions in the 20th century. Australian school children were often <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141777602?searchTerm=%22coronation%20mug%22">given medals</a>to commemorate coronations, while children in England were gifted pottery mugs to drink to the sovereign’s health. </p> <p>When Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, <a href="https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/coronation-of-hm-queen-elizabeth-ii">English children</a>received mugs, tins of chocolate and a spoon or coin.</p> <h2>Measuring popularity</h2> <p>Royal memorabilia don’t just foster support but act as a barometer of the popularity of the royal family around the globe. </p> <p>Coronation mugs became popular in the reign of Charles II in 1661 because these objects captured the joyous feeling of a nation that had endured 20 years of warfare and political chaos.</p> <p>Support for the royal family has often been shown through royal weddings and marriages: plates depicting Charles II and his Portuguese bride, Catherine of Braganza, were made to celebrate their union in 1662.</p> <p>Recently a <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/metal-detectorist-discovers-rare-gold-pendant-celebrating-henry-viiis-first-marriage-180981557/">gold pendant</a> inscribed with the initials of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, likely worn by a supporter, was also discovered.</p> <p>For Prince William and Kate Middleton’s highly anticipated wedding in 2011, thousands of types of mundane and wacky <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-royal-wedding-souvenirs-pictures-photogallery.html">souvenirs</a> were produced, such as plates, mugs, magnets, graphic novels, toilet seat covers and PEZ dispensers.</p> <p>Over 1,600 lines of official merchandise were produced for the marriage of Princes Charles to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. <a href="https://issuu.com/accpublishinggroup/docs/june_july_2022_mag/s/15960301">Less than 25 lines</a> were produced for Charles’ unpopular second marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005.</p> <p>While Charles may not be <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2023/03/01/celebrities-dont-care-to-perform-for-king-charles-iii/?sh=56487b7a20f8">as popular</a> as his mother, coronation fever has most definitely taken hold in the United Kingdom. Royal fans are set to spend £1.4 billion (A$2.6 billion) on <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/21911733/shoppers-spend-billion-king-coronation-may/">coronation parties and souvenirs</a>. </p> <p>The availability of coronation souvenirs and party supplies in Australia is somewhat more limited – perhaps an indicator of Australia’s diminishing appetite for the royal family amid increased calls for another <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-24/king-charles-australias-head-of-state-alternative-republic/101470156">vote on a republic</a>.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/picking-up-a-king-charles-iii-coronation-commemorative-plate-youre-buying-into-a-centuries-old-tradition-200646" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Home & Garden

Russell Crowe's blunt take on the need for a monarchy

<p>Russell Crowe has shared his thoughts on the need for the monarchy ahead of the highly-anticipated coronation of King Charles.</p> <p>The Aussie actor, who has become acquainted with several of the royals throughout his career, says Charles is a “good bloke” but that “we don’t need a King”.</p> <p>Taking to Twitter, Crowe recounted meeting Charles with his ex-wife Danielle Spencer at the royal premiere of the film <em>Master and Commander</em> in 2003.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Don’t bother sending abuse, because I’m not a monarchist, nor am I a name dropper, but…</p> <p>I met the former Prince Charles at a Royal Premier of master & commander in London, 2003.<br />Dani was 6 months pregnant with our first. We did the obligatory conga line of cast introductions,</p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1652839605568434176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">then we sat with him for the film.<br />The man who would be King was kind. He was also funny. Deeply intelligent and good company, and gallant in his deference to Dani’s pregnancy.<br />I’ll never forget the warmth in our last hand shake.<br />Good bloke.<br />I don’t think any of us can really</p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1652839613185282050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">understand what that life of duty and expectation must feel like.</p> <p>He’s taking over the family business. That is his destiny. Like it is for many, from publishers to plasterers.</p> <p>In any of my meetings with Royalty, I haven’t yet been able to utter the “ your highness”</p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1652839616079335426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">It simply doesn’t come out of my mouth.<br />It’s not in my dna.<br />I called both William & Harry mate when I met them.<br />I thought the equerry was going to pass out.<br />That doesn’t mean however that I meant any disrespect or discourtesy. Far from it. I was pleased to meet them.</p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1652839619027939328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I view the costumes and the ritual and the pageantry with distant interest, if any. I don’t know what it’s all supposed to mean in 2023, nor in any other time for that matter.<br />I don’t really think we need a King, but I’m sure Charles III will do the very best job he can.</p> <p>— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1652839621779402752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Dani was six months pregnant with our first. We did the obligatory conga line of cast introductions, then we sat with him for the film,” Crowe wrote.</p> <p>“The man who would be King was kind. He was also funny. Deeply intelligent and good company, and gallant in his deference to Dani’s pregnancy. I’ll never forget the warmth in our last hand shake. Good bloke.”</p> <p>However, Crowe stressed his deference to the royals only went so far.</p> <p>“In any of my meetings with royalty, I haven’t yet been able to utter the ‘your highness’,” he continued.</p> <p>“It simply doesn’t come out of my mouth. It’s not in my DNA.</p> <p>“I called both William and Harry ‘mate’ when I met them.</p> <p>“I thought the equerry (an officer of the British royal household) was going to pass out.</p> <p>“That doesn’t mean however that I meant any disrespect or discourtesy. Far from it. I was pleased to meet them.</p> <p>“I view the costumes and the ritual and the pageantry with distant interest, if any. I don’t know what it’s all supposed to mean in 2023, nor in any other time for that matter. I don’t really think we need a King, but I’m sure Charles III will do the very best job he can.”</p> <p>He added, “I don’t think any of us can really understand what that life of duty and expectation must feel like.</p> <p>“He’s taking over the family business. That is his destiny. Like it is for many, from publishers to plasterers.”</p> <p>Buckingham Palace has kept the guest list carefully under wraps, but it was revealed that Lionel Richie is among the celebrities that scored an invite.</p> <p>Richie, 73, has confirmed he will be one of the headline acts at a concert on the grounds of Windsor Castle the day after, and will be present in London’s Westminister Abbey for the May 6 coronation, the palace revealed in a statement.</p> <p>Other big names include Kelly Jones, lead singer of the band Stereophonics, and restoration and recycling champ Jay Blades, presenter of the BBC television series The Repair Shop.</p> <p>An unnamed group of Nobel prize winners made the list for the event, which has seen numbers slashed from the 8,000 invited to his mother’s coronation in 1953 to just 2,000.</p> <p>It was previously revealed that two massive stars from the UK <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/king-charles-coronation-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declined to perform</a>.</p> <p>Charles is reportedly determined that the ceremony reflects modern British life rather than piling in aristocrats seen in previous coronations.</p> <p>He is said to have chosen “meritocratic not aristocratic” criteria that have seen invitations sent out to representatives of charitable organisations backed by the King and Queen Consort Camilla.</p> <p>Other guests include recipients of the British Empire Medal who have been honoured for good works such as English schoolboy Max Woosey, who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for a hospice by sleeping in a tent in his garden for three years.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

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"Beyond the pale": Fury over King Charles' call to allegiance

<p>The public have been invited to swear their allegiance to King Charles and his reign during his coronation, in a move that has been widely criticised. </p> <p>The King's coronation is set to take place this coming weekend, and will include a prompt for everyone in attendance in Westminster Abbey, and those watching at home, to take part in a "homage of the people". </p> <p>This promise will replace the "homage of peers" which has taken place at previous coronations, with the change reflecting a more modern UK and Commonwealth. </p> <p>After the King is crowned during the historic ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will invite the congregation, including an expected global audience of millions, to pledge their allegiance with the words, "I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God".</p> <p>The former promise of the Homage of Peers often took more than hour, and saw a long line of hereditary peers kneel and make a pledge to the monarch in person.</p> <p>The Archbishop of Canterbury's office Lambeth Palace said plans for the "Homage of the People" section of ceremony on Saturday would be "very much an invitation rather than an expectation".</p> <p>The move has prompted a wave of backlash by some sectors of the community, with Graham Smith, a spokesman for anti-monarchy group Republic, slamming the change.</p> <p>"In a democracy it is the head of state who should be swearing allegiance to the people, not the other way around," he said.</p> <p>"This kind of nonsense should have died with Elizabeth I, not outlived Elizabeth II."</p> <p>"In swearing allegiance to Charles and his 'heirs and successors', people are being asked to swear allegiance to Prince Andrew too. This is clearly beyond the pale."</p> <p>The outrage continued on social media, with some suggesting the allegiance was "royal pantomime at the taxpayers' expense", while others said it "makes no sense at all".</p> <p>Despite the public outcry, Lambeth Palace defended the oath, saying it hoped the change would result in a "great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King".</p> <p>The statement said: "It's simply an opportunity offered by the Archbishop so that, unlike previous coronations, those who wish to join in with the words being spoken by the Abbey congregation could do so in a very simple way."</p> <p>"For those who do want to take part, some will want to say all the words of the homage; some might just want to say 'God Save The King' at the end; others might just want it to be a moment of private reflection."</p> <p>"We live in a wonderfully diverse society with many different perspectives and beliefs, and it's quite right that people decide for themselves how they relate to this moment."</p> <p>"For those who may wish to join in, we hope it's a moment of joy and celebration – both in the Abbey, and in homes around the country and beyond."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Astonishing new wax figure of Queen Camilla Consort unveiled

<p>A new tribute to King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla has been unveiled in London ahead of the highly-anticipated coronation.</p> <p>As the Queen Consort prepares for a crowning of her own, Madame Tussauds London has created a wax figure of the 75-year-old wearing a tiara, gown and sash.</p> <p>The statue was first shown on April 27, ahead of being displayed beside one of King Charles’ waxworks.</p> <p>Queen Camilla’s wax figure shows her in a midnight blue dress, made by one of her favourite designers, Anna Valentine, and decked with a royal blue sash and star of the Order of the Garter.</p> <p>The royal is also seen in a replica of the late Queen’s Belgian sapphire tiara and matching George VI sapphire necklace.</p> <p>The necklace was a wedding gift from her father, King George VI when she married Prince Philip in 1947.</p> <p>The Queen Consort was seen in the Belgian tiara at the first state banquet of King Charles’ reign, where they hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at Buckingham Palace in November 2022.</p> <p>Both the royal’s Art Deco engagement ring and Welsh gold wedding band are seen on the figure.</p> <p>"Whilst for many people this will be their first experience of a coronation, the Coronation of King Charles III will be the eighth that Madame Tussauds London has celebrated," General Manager Tim Waters said.</p> <p>"We're incredibly proud of our centuries long link with The Palace and what better way to mark the official start of this new chapter in the history of the British Monarchy than with the creation of our brand new soon-to-be Queen Camilla to stand alongside her husband, The King."</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

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