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"You made me enjoy the game": Federer's emotional retirement letter to Nadal

Roger Federer has penned an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal ahead of his retirement, reflecting on their stellar careers together. Nadal’s career officially came to an end when Spain was defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-final in Malaga on Wednesday morning, with Nadal in tears as he stepped onto the court for the final time. Thousands of tributes poured in for Nadal as his retirement officially began, but Federer's tribute quickly went viral for his emotional words. “As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional,” Federer said. “Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me - a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground." “You made me reimagine my game - even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge. I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals." “Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear … All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique - it was so you." “And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the No. 1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was - until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly." "All that buzz I’d been hearing about you - about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday - it wasn’t just hype." “We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens - historic! You made Spain proud … you made the whole tennis world proud." “And then there was London – the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side – not as my rival but as my doubles partner." “Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.” Federer signed off the 585-word tribute from “your fan Roger”. Image credits: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Retirement Life

"Uniquely, magically, indescribably us": Read the emotional love letter from Suzanne Somers' husband

Just one day before her death, Suzanne Somers' husband gave her a handwritten love letter as part of an early birthday present. Somers' husband, Alan Hamel, gave the letter to his wife of 45 years just 24 hours before she passed away at the age of 76. According to Somers' publicist, R. Couri Hay, Hamel “gave it to her a day early and she read the poem and went to bed and later died peacefully in her sleep.” The emotional poem was an expression of love from Somers' husband, as he struggled to define their intense relationships. “Love I use it every day, sometimes several times a day. I use it at the end of emails to my loving family. I even use it in emails to close friends. I use it when I’m leaving the house,” the note began, via <a href="https://people.com/read-love-letter-suzanne-somers-husband-alan-hamel-wrote-to-her-day-before-her-death-8358234">People</a>. “There’s love, then love you and I love you!! Therein lies some of the different ways we use love. Sometimes I feel obliged to use love, responding to someone who signed love in their email, when I’m uncomfortable using love but I use it anyway. “I also use love to describe a great meal. I use it to express how I feel about a show on Netflix. I often use love referring to my home, my cat Gloria, to things Gloria does, to the taste of a cantaloupe I grew in my garden.” “I love the taste of a freshly harvested organic royal jumbo medjool date. I love biting a fig off the tree. I love watching two giant blackbirds who live nearby swooping by my window in a power dive. My daily life encompasses things and people I love and things and people I am indifferent to,” he continued. “I could go on ad infinitum, but you get it. What brand of love do I feel for my wife Suzanne? Can I find it in any of the above? A resounding no!!!! There is no version of the word that is applicable to Suzanne and I even use the word applicable advisedly.” “The closest version in words isn’t even close. It’s not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction. Unconditional love does not do it. I’ll take a bullet for you doesn’t do it. I weep when I think about my feelings for you. Feelings… That’s getting close, but not all the way.” “55 years together, 46 married and not even one hour apart for 42 of those years. Even that doesn’t do it,” he added. “Even going to bed at 6 o’clock and holding hands while we sleep doesn’t do it. Staring at your beautiful face while you sleep doesn’t do it.” “I’m back to feelings. There are no words,” he concluded. “There are no actions. No promises. No declarations. Even the green shaded scholars of the Oxford University Press have spent 150 years and still have failed to come up with that one word. So I will call it, ‘Us,’ uniquely, magically, indescribably wonderful ‘Us.’” Somers and Hamel tied the knot in 1977, giving them 45 years together as husband and wife. Somers died on Sunday morning after “an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years,” her publicist said in a statement. Suzanne was best known for playing Chrissy Snow on the 1970s sitcom Three’s Company and Carol Foster Lambert on the ’90s family comedy Step by Step. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

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

An 11-year-old girl from New South Wales has captured hearts with her touching words and well-wishes for King Charles III. 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”. 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. “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.” 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.” “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. “Best of luck with your new job.” 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. “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.” 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. But to her delight, she’d been wrong, with a letter arriving in the mail, addressed to her and signed by the monarch. “I got it out of the letter box, and when I got it … I started jumping with joy,” Maeve said. 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. “Your most thoughtful words are enormously comforting, and I cannot tell you how deeply they are appreciated at this time of immense sorrow.” 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. Images: Ben Fordham Live / 2GB

Family & Pets

Never-seen-before letter from Princess Di revealed

The late Princess of Wales wanted the monarchy “to survive”, according to her former butler Paul Burrell. He has previously revealed an unseen letter handwritten by Diana, saying he believes she would have fully supported her ex-husband King Charles at the coronation. Burrell said Diana’s words were "so poignant at this time” as the British monarchy prepares to celebrate the first coronation in 70 years. He shared the letter in an interview with OK! Magazine. Burrell said the note was written by Diana between 1993 and 1997 after she had separated from then-Prince Charles. Diana often wrote notes, sending them to her friends and staff. In the letter to Burrell, Diana wrote, "I so want the monarchy to survive and realise the changes that will take to put 'the show' on a new and healthy track. "I am here to support Mama [the Queen] and to bring W + H [William and Harry] up in order to cope with the fast changing world we live in. "I love my boys to death and hope that the seeds I've planted will grow and bring the strength, knowledge and stability that is needed.” Burrell explained he shared the never-before-seen letter because he believes it revealed Diana’s true feelings about the monarchy. "I wanted you to see Diana's handwriting and her words because they are so poignant at this moment in time, tied into the coronation and tied into the fact she was a monarchist. "She loved the royal family and she wanted the royal family to survive. And also, the fact her sons William and Harry were part of this, what she called, 'The Show’. "She used to leave notes and letters for me all the time on my desk. She'd say, 'Whenever I have a thought and you're not there I have to write it down otherwise I'll forget. "She was thinking about her life and the way forward and her sons and her part in the royal family.” With the coronation fast approaching, Burrell said Diana would have been there if she could have and would support the King and Queen Consort Camilla. "I always think to myself, 'What would she do in this situation?' And she would have been at the coronation looking glorious, in her sixties, outshining everyone the way she did. "I don't think she would hold any animosity at all towards her ex-husband or towards her ex-husband's wife. "I think she would have gone on in life and achieved her own ambitions, still being royal and regal." Image credit: Getty

Family & Pets

A letter to my mum this Mother’s Day

A couple of weeks ago, we asked the Over60 community what they would say if they could write their mother a letter. We were flooded with hundreds of beautiful, touching and heartbreaking responses, and we’d like to share a few of them with you. 1. The important lessons “There are so many things I would say, but thank you for making my childhood so good. For teaching the important lessons, like be kind to others, try not to do anything you have to be sorry for and if you do, don't be afraid to say sorry. Do your best always. Look for best in every situation. Money is important, but not the most important thing you can have as an adult. Love, self-respect and follow your dreams. Be the person you want your children to look up to. Be happy. Thanks mum for loving me so much, I love you.” – Raelene Sched 2. Best mum in the world “Dear Mum, there is not a day that goes bye where I don't think about you. Nothing on this earth prepared me for you leaving and learning to live without you. I miss you so much, the ache is still in my heart. I love you and wish you were still here with us. I feel so lucky that you were my mum, I truly believe you were the best mum in the world, you were so giving and selfless.” – Kathryn Wotherspoon 3. Thanks for being my mum “Thank you first for being my mum. Always there for me and loving me. The loveliest nature person I have ever met. Always trying to please everyone and families. You left us so young because God only takes the best. Loved you then and even more now. Miss you every day.” – Caroline Carlson Corbett 4. Never been forgotten “You left me when I was 11 years old, but you were too ill to stay. I’m 77 years old now and it’s just like yesterday. I miss you every day and will never forget you. I talk to your picture and wish with all my heart you could have been with me and seen your grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I know you would be so loving and proud. I hope wherever you are happy. You have never been forgotten. I love you, mum.” – Pat White 5. My only regret “Dear Mum, I am all the better for having you as my mother, you worked so hard all your life and were a punching bag for Dad, but you survived and made sure we all had a way better life than you had. I love and miss you so much, and my only regret is not sitting by your bed and holding your hand as you got sicker and sicker. I let my two sisters have that pleasure while I was being too busy making sure everything was nice and clean and you had food to eat, if I had my time over, I would sit with you and tell you I love you over and over because we never know how much time we have left.” – Sharon Deans Illustration: Midjourney

Family & Pets

“A letter that someone will never forget”: Charles’ $43,000 job offer

Charles and Camilla have put out a call for help with their royal duties, searching for a passionate wordsmith to pen responses to the thousands of letters they receive each year. Their request comes in the form of a one-year contract <a href="https://theroyalhousehold.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-1/brand-3/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/4/opp/2849-Assistant-Correspondence-Officer/en-GB">posted to the palace’s official website</a>, for an individual to “support the important work of The King and The Royal Family”. Coincidentally, the position advertises a start date of May 2023 - the same month in which King Charles III’s coronation will take place. The royals are offering a wage slightly above the United Kingdom’s minimum wage of 10.42 GBP (~19.45 AUD) per hour, with prospective writers looking at an hourly rate of 11.79 (~22.01) on top of the advertised “benefits”. According to the job listing, the ideal candidate is someone who dreams of “drafting a letter that someone will never forget” as part of a like minded team committed to supporting the royal family and engaging with the public. “Thousands of letters addressed to The Monarch and Royal Family are received every year,” the ad explains. “Working as part of the Correspondence team, your challenge will be to ensure that each one receives a timely and well composed response. “Every day you will respond to letters sent by the public regarding social, community and national matters, drafting bespoke responses to answer varying and often unique queries.” Reportedly, the letters sent in one year to the late Queen Elizabeth II amounted to around 70,000, so it’s no small surprise that the family have opted to call in reinforcements to make sure each one receives a thoughtfully crafted response. “It's working in a team with a shared and unique purpose,” the website notes, “engaging with the public whilst supporting The King's role. This is what makes working for The Royal Household so exceptional … Recording and monitoring all correspondence, you'll be proud of the number of letters you handle and this will drive you to deliver consistently high standards. “In this way, you will help to support the important work of The King and The Royal Family.” Unsurprisingly, the ad calls for someone who is confident in their ability to process large volumes of work according to strict deadlines, and who preferably has previous experience in administrative duties. “Excellent written and verbal communication skills” are, of course, a given. The listing hints at a digital sidekick, noting that applications should “have strong IT skills” that they can apply to “bespoke systems”, as well as a “keen eye for detail” to deliver their work quickly and accurately. Most of all, however, enjoyment in a team-based environment is crucial, while an interest in current affairs couldn’t hurt - especially in such a “truly unique environment”. Images: Getty

Money & Banking

Unlikely trio decodes Mary Queen of Scots' secret letters

An international trio of codebreakers have made history by decoding and deciphering a treasure trove of lost letters written by none other than Mary Queen of Scots. The unlikely team - consisting of a computer scientist, a physicist, and a musician - have a passion for historical ciphers and have been working together for 10 years. The letters were assumed lost until they were discovered in Paris, in the National Library of France. The documents and their unusual symbols had been neglected in a mislabelled folder until the trio got to the bottom of them and revealed their true origin. It was only when the code had been broken that it was possible to identify the author as Mary. George Lasry, the team’s computer scientist and cryptographer, is a member of the DECRYPT Project - an organisation with the aim of digitising, transcribing, and identifying historical ciphers. It didn’t take long for the team to realise the letters were written in French, not Italian, once they began working on the unique ciphers. They noted the use of feminine form verbs and adverbs, and mentions of captivity, as well as one codebreaking keyboard: Walsingham. “We were expecting Italian because that is what the catalogue said, but then we started to see some French words - 'ma liberté' (my freedom) - and sentences no-one would write if they were free," Lasry explained to Good Morning Scotland. “So we knew it was someone in captivity, and some of the language was in feminine form, so it was a woman,” he went on. “She also wrote 'mon fils' - my son - so it was a woman in captivity with a son. "We thought 'this is too crazy', it can't be Mary Stuart. But then we saw the word 'Walsingham' and we knew Francis Walsingham was the spymaster of Queen Elizabeth I, so we concluded it was from Mary. "It was very difficult to believe at the start so it was a very exciting moment." Mary, who spent the last 19 years of her life in English captivity, was able to smuggle her letters out via trusted visiting courtiers. Said letters, amounting to around 50,000 words in total, have offered new insight into Mary’s time in captivity. "We have cracked more difficult codes, and we have deciphered an occasional letter from a king or queen, but nothing compared to 50 new letters from one of the most famous historical figures,” Lasry said of their historic accomplishment. While it is believed that other letters may still be hiding out there for the next team of enthusiastic researchers to discover, this batch is set to keep historians and researchers busy for some time yet. “In our paper, we only provide an initial interpretation and summaries of the letters," Lasry explained, “a deeper analysis by historians could result in a better understanding of Mary's years in captivity. "It would also be great, potentially, to work with historians to produce an edited book of her letters deciphered, annotated, and translated." Images: Getty

Technology

Rare unseen private letters of Princess Diana revealed

Previously unseen letters written by Princess Diana have shared a rare insight into her separation from King Charles. The late Princess of Wales confided in her close friends at the time, admitting "she never would have gone through with her divorce" if she knew how "desperate and ugly" the process would be. In the correspondence to her friends, she described how negotiations over the terms of the divorce left her "on her knees", while also sharing her paranoia that her phone at Kensington Palace had been bugged by the royal family. Princess Diana wrote 32 letters to her friends Susie and Tarek Kassem, who have chosen to sell a selection of the letters at auction, believing that the "ownership of these poignant documents is a responsibility" that they "do not wish to pass on to their children or grandchildren". The letters will be sold by <a title="Lay's Auctioneers" href="https://www.davidlay.co.uk/news/diana-the-private-correspondence-of-a-princess/?pc=337" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lay's Auctioneers</a> in Cornwall on February 16th and are expected to reach close to $160,000 AUD. Some of the proceeds will go to charities Diana supported during her life. In one of the most personal notes, dated April 28th 1996, Diana expressed her feelings about the breakdown of her marriage. Diana wrote, "I am having a very difficult time and pressure is serious and coming from all sides." "It's too difficult sometimes to keep one's head up and today I am on my knees and just longing for this divorce to go through as the possible cost is tremendous." In a letter dated May 20th 1996, Diana expressed her concerns that recordings of her private conversations were being passed on to the royal family, fearing her phone at Kensington Palace was bugged. "As I don't have a mobile it is difficult to discuss personal issues as my lines here are constantly recorded and passed on," she wrote. "If I'd known a year ago what I'd experience going through this divorce I never would have consented. It's desperate and ugly." Diana and Charles separated in 1992 but their divorce was not made final until August 1996. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

“You are not alone”: Prince Harry pens emotional letter to bereaved children

Prince Harry has penned a letter to children whose parents have died as a result of being in the military, telling him they share a bond in losing a parent and experiencing grief. The former royal wrote of how he learnt to cope with grief and encouraged the children to “lean into your friends” in his letter, which was shared by the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers on Remembrance Sunday. “As many of us observe and reflect on Remembrance Sunday, I wanted to write to you and let you know you are all in my thoughts and heart today,” he began. “We share a bond even without ever meeting one another, because we share in having lost a parent. I know first-hand the pain and grief that comes with loss and want you to know that you are not alone. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/prince-harry-nov-letter.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Prince Harry penned a letter to children supported by the charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers for Remembrance Sunday. Image: Scotty’s Little Soldiers "While difficult feelings will come up today as we pay tribute to heroes like your mum or dad, I hope you can find comfort and strength in knowing that their love for you lives and shines on. Whenever you need a reminder of this, I encourage you to lean into your friends at Scotty’s Little Soldiers. "One of the ways I've learned to cope has been through community and talking about my grief, and I couldn't be more grateful and relieved that you have amazing people walking beside you throughout your journey. "We all know some days are harder than others, but together those days are made easier." Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity that supports children who have lost a parent in the military, was founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott, whose husband Corporal Lee Scott was killed in Afghanistan in 2009 and left behind two young children. On Sunday, 55 children and their parents took part in the Remembrance Sunday parade wearing black and yellow scarves. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A proud moment for Scotty’s 💛 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RemembranceSunday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RemembranceSunday</a> <a href="https://t.co/CsD7wL9BQP">pic.twitter.com/CsD7wL9BQP</a> — Scotty's L Soldiers (@CorporalScotty) <a href="https://twitter.com/CorporalScotty/status/1591767075567333378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></blockquote> In his letter, Prince Harry acknowledged that taking part in the parade would be “hard but equally important to do” to raise awareness for others. “Today you will bring new awareness to young people, just like you, who will benefit from this community of support,” he wrote. “I salute you for serving others in need, in the most honourable memory of your parent.” The Duke of Sussex has long supported the charity, which was one of the organisations chosen by Harry and Meghan Markle to benefit from donations they received as gifts for their 2018 wedding. In 2017, he met with children who’d lost a military parent at a special party on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. This year, he and Meghan attended a service on Remembrance Day to pay their respects to those who died in war across the US and the Commonwealth. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Touching note from the Queen to a young Prince William goes viral

A sweet letter from Queen Elizabeth to a young Prince William has gone viral online, with the touching note highlighting the relationship between the two. Posted on Twitter by the Real Royal Mail fan account of the royal family, the note was sent to the young prince by his grandmother along with an advent calendar. The hand-written letter reads, "William, I hope you enjoy opening this each day, Granny." The undated letter was written on official Buckingham Palace stationary, with the Twitter account saying the letter was purchased by a former employee of Princess Diana. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "William, I hope you enjoy opening this each day, Granny"- A card written in the hand of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QueenElizabethII?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QueenElizabethII</a> & sent to the young <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrinceWilliam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrinceWilliam</a> obviously along with an advent calendar. It was purchased from a former employee of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrincessDiana?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrincessDiana</a>. <a href="https://t.co/qo6j882yUb">pic.twitter.com/qo6j882yUb</a> — Royal Household Mail 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 (@RealRoyalMail) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealRoyalMail/status/1584756638099148803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2022</a></blockquote> Fans of the royal family quickly went wild over the note online, with one writing, "Aww how lovely, beautiful, precious memory to treasure." Meanwhile another wrote, "Aww this is the sweetest thing." A third added, "I have never seen this! They had such a lovely relationship." The note originally went up for auction in December 2016, where it was expected to fetch up to £1,400 ($2,500 AUD). At the time, Robert Livingston, executive VP at Boston-based RR Auction, called the letter "a seldom-encountered piece of correspondence from within the royal family, enhanced by its fitting Christmas time association". Image credits: Twitter / Getty Images

Family & Pets

“It’s time for the world to read this”: Simon Dorante-Day shares last letter to the Queen

Simon Dorante-Day, the Queensland man who claims he is the secret son of King Charles III and Camilla, has shared the final piece of correspondence he sent to Queen Elizabeth II. The 56-year-old took to social media on Australia’s National Day of Mourning with a full version of the letter he sent to the late monarch last November. In it, he explains that he wrote to the Queen after approaching Dr Jeanette Young, Queensland’s Governor General, about his case. “I take the liberty of approaching you via the Governor’s Office however, given the position with which my family and I find ourselves, we feel this action is justified,” he writes. He then details medical procedures he claims were performed on him as a child, including changing his eye colour from blue to brown when he was eight and filing two of his teeth at age 15. “These actions I believe were undertaken to conceal my true identity,” he continues. “Furthermore, over the years of residing with the Day family, my adopted grandparents Winifred and Earnest Bowlden often spoke about the time they worked for the Royal household. “Then on my last visit to the United Kingdom in 1998, my adopted grandmother Winifred told me herself, that my birth parents were your son Charles and his wife Camilla.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/dorante-day-letter.jpg" alt="" width="472" height="575" /> Simon Dorante-Day has shared the contents of the letter he sent to Queen Elizabeth II. Image: Facebook After detailing his claims, Dorante-Day appeals for help from the Queen with his case. “It would be naive of me to think you are not aware of my claims. Nor that you have not been following events to date,” he writes. “Subsequently, you will all be aware of the actions I have recently commenced and the level of attention this has already received. “I am writing on behalf of my family and I to ask for your assistance in coming forward and resolving this issue and stopping this global assault. “May God give you the strength to come forward.” Speaking to <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/man-who-claims-to-be-charles-secret-son-shares-last-queen-letter-before-she-died-c-8382605" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>, Dorante-Day said it was finally time for the world to see the contents of the letter. “I think it’s time - it’s time for the world to read this,” the father-of-nine said. “I’ve kept the contents of the letter confidential until now, but with her passing I think it’s appropriate to share my last correspondence with her. “When she passed away, I was disappointed that she had died without responding to my message. That was my first thing - just sad, because that window of opportunity has closed.” He added that he is looking forward to taking up his case directly with Charles. “It makes no difference to me whether that mountain in front of me is male or female. It makes no difference to me how high that mountain is,” he said. “I’ve still got to climb it to prove what I know to be true. So from that regard, nothing has changed.” Along with the letter, Dorante-Day also shared a message to the Queen from his wife, Dr Elvianna Dorante-Day, including a “special thank you” for existing. “You and I knew we came from warring backgrounds, but we both loved something in common, your grandson Simon Charles, your first-born grandchild,” her message read. “In loving him as much as we do, we had to put our differences aside and pursue peace, not only for you and I but for the whole of humanity. No-one understood the path we walked together on this planet, and our work isn’t over, as you and I know. “Through your grandchild Simon Charles and his children your legacy lives on in them.” Image: Facebook

Family & Pets

Queen's letter for Sydney that can't be opened until 2085

Sitting inside a locked, glass case, within the dome of Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building, is a letter from Queen Elizabeth II that can’t be opened until the year 2085. The letter was written by the monarch in November 1986 and has become the subject of conversation once again following the news of <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/news/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-dead-at-96" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Her Majesty’s passing</a> last week. Addressed to the Lord Mayor of Sydney, the Queen requested that her message be shared with the people of the city in 2085. “On a suitable day to be selected by you in the year 2085 AD, would you please open this envelope and convey to the citizens of Sydney my message to them,” the Queen wrote on the outside of the letter, signing it simply as, “Elizabeth R”. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/queen-letter-sydney-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1920" /> The letter in question will remain sealed until 2085. Image: Creative Commons She wrote the letter after the restoration of the Queen Victoria Building in the 1980s, which was saved from demolition in the late 1950s by “ardent public campaigning” from Sydneysiders. According to <a href="https://7news.com.au/entertainment/queen-elizabeth-ii/queens-secret-letter-is-hidden-in-sydney-vault-and-cant-be-opened-for-63-years-c-8193155" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7news.com.au</a>,it is unknown what the Queen wrote in the letter, even among her personal staff. In 2012, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hidden-treasures-to-expose-secrets-in-plain-sight-20121026-28b3l.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a> reported that the letter came to be in the building when the Queen visited, with then-centre manager Natalie Douglas telling the outlet that the monarch put the letter inside a time capsule and buried it in the central dome. “Nobody knows what it says,” Ms Douglas said. It seems that mystery will continue to surround the letter until its fateful opening many decades from now. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

Man receives letter from Queen Elizabeth on the day she died

Just moments after hearing the news of Queen Elizabeth's death, a Tasmanian man received a letter from Her Majesty in the mail. Lloyd Babcock, who is just weeks away from his 100th birthday, received the honorary letter to celebrate his centenary, which was written by the Queen just before her passing. The 99-year-old said that the fact Queen Elizabeth was able to write him a personal letter so close to her death made it even more special. "She was just a wonderful person, I had complete admiration and respect for her, her whole reign," Lloyd told Today Extra. "I remember her coming to Devonport in 1954 and she's just one amazing person." Lloyd said his friends had been bragging about already getting their letter from the Queen and he had hoped he would too before she passed away. "I was very pleased to get it from Queen Elizabeth," he said. "I always said I wanted it from the Queen, not from Charles, so it was very timely." Lloyd's wife Barbara said the letter feels "very important", and said the letter would stay in their family for generations to come. Lloyd then assured he would be showcasing the letter to his friends and family at his 100th birthday party in a few weeks. Image credits: Today Extra

Retirement Life

Young fan invites Prince George to her 6th birthday party

When Prince George was invited to a young girl’s sixth birthday he had to politely decline. The nine-year-old Prince was invited to an anonymous girl’s sixth birthday party over the school holidays. However, the Prince had to politely decline and a beautiful letter was written by his mother the Duchess of Cambridge and sent to the young girl apologising for not being able to attend. “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me to thank you for your letter, in which you invite Prince George to your 6th Birthday party,” the letter read. "I am sorry that it took so long to reply. "Their Royal Highnesses were extremely grateful for your kind invitation. Having given careful consideration to the possibilities, however, I very much regret that Their Royal Highnesses reluctantly feel they have to decline. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were immensely touched that you should take the trouble to write as you did to their son, Prince George. "It really was most thoughtful of you and Their Royal Highnesses have asked me to send you their warmest thanks and best wishes. "Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy your birthday." The eldest child of Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton only recently <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/prince-george-is-nine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated his birthday</a> on July 22. In honour of his birthday, Kensington Palace released an adorable portrait of the future king on holiday in the UK earlier this year. “George is turning 9!” the caption simply read with a cake and balloon emoji. <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/CgSe4v0NTfN/?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/CgSe4v0NTfN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)</a> </div> </blockquote> The image shows a huge grin from the young prince as he enjoys a holiday at Norfolk with his family. The photo was taken by the Duchess who has regularly been sharing snaps of her family as they celebrate milestones. Prince George was born on July 22, 2013 at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London and made his first appearance as a day old baby in his mother’s arms as she left the hospital. Images: Instagram/Getty

Family & Pets

"Find a life worth enjoying": Dame Deborah's final letter to her family

Dame Deborah James wrote a heartwarming letter to her family in her final days before succumbing to bowel cancer at the age of 40. The popular British media personality, mother-of-two and podcaster who raised millions of dollars for charity <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/vale-dame-deborah" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a> “peacefully” on June 28. In a section of a book titled How To Live When You Could Be Dead, Dame Deborah penned the final letter which her family would be left with. “I am currently sitting here next to the love of my life, Sebastien,” the letter began. “I never quite knew if you could really have a love of your life, but I now know what the very core of unquestioned love is between two people. “I have always loved my husband. I fancied him from when I first met him, and I knew I would marry him after our third date. It was clear to me that, while he wasn’t perfect, there was something about him that was right for me.” She then reflected on their time together and said it was so important to take time for the marriage and how sometimes you forget your loved one is there when life gets busy. “It’s easy to forget that the person you love is still there in front of you when things are clouded by the annoyance of childcare logistics, money pressures and living like ships in the night,” her letter continued. <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/CfXIN1-ob4X/?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/CfXIN1-ob4X/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah James (@bowelbabe)</a> </div> </blockquote> “I wish I had learned at a young age that making time for your marriage to work should be as much a part of your timetable as going to the gym or cleaning your teeth. “It’s important that you don’t allow the big arguments to build up, when all you really want is to forget about everything and cuddle the one person who you love.” Dame Deborah then got candid about her feelings following her diagnosis with cancer, confessing that she felt “robbed” for not being able to be herself. “As cancer brings my life to an end, I feel this cruel realisation that I’m not fully able to be myself with the one person I have adored and needed in my life more than anyone else,” she wrote. “I feel robbed of the freedom of a body without pain to kiss with, the freedom for us to make whimsical plans for our future and retirement together. “Our goals and dreams have had to be adjusted week by week and day by day, depending on my cancer.” The media personality then reached a part for her children Hugo and Eloise as she recalled precious memories she had while raising them. “I’ve learned that there are many ways to parent — nothing is right or wrong as long as there is love,” she wrote. “There are mental snapshots of being a parent that will never leave you. But the beautifully etched memories that will come to you in your death are not necessarily the ones you might expect. “One of my first is of Hugo when he was four days old. He was lying next to me in our double bed in our flat, and he was looking for my breast to feed on — he was yellow and had a big conehead. “I remember looking at this little 6lb ball cradled against my tummy and thinking that it was only at this point that I had begun to understand what love was. “I now look at that same 14-year-old boy, who still takes the time to cuddle up next to me on the sofa, and I would give anything to continue being able to protect him in the way I did when he was just four days old.” Dame Deborah then ended with a reminder, telling readers that it is okay to relax and take time for yourself. “Take time out. Relaxing isn’t an indulgence — it’s a form of refilling ourselves. None of us can drink from empty cups. “Each day, do things that make you happy — build them into your life and never criticise others for the things that make them happy. “Every day we wake not knowing if we will see the full 24 hours of the day, so as the sun comes up on a new day, we should feel blessed. “We are given 86,400 seconds every day, and we each choose how to use them. “It is only as they begin to slip away from us that we understand the value of each and every one of those seconds.” You can read the entire letter from Dame Deborah James from How To Live When You Could Be Dead, by Deborah James out on August 18, 2022. Images: Instagram

Caring

“How do you write to your Queen?” Helen Mirren reveals contents of special letter

Helen Mirren has revealed the secret letter she wrote to Queen Elizabeth when the actress was playing Her Majesty in the 2006 biopic The Queen. The Hollywood legend reflected on crafting the letter in an interview with the <a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/radio-times-new-issue-cover-helen-mirren/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Radio Times</a>, saying she felt compelled to write after realising the intensity of the Queen's role firsthand. "I realised we were investigating a profoundly painful part of her life, so I wrote to her," she said. "How do you write to your queen? Was it Madam, or Your Highness, or Your Majesty?" "I said: 'We are doing this film. We are investigating a very difficult time in your life. I hope it's not too awful for you'. I can't remember how I put it. I just said that in my research I found myself with a growing respect for her, and I just wanted to say that." The 76-year-old actress won an Oscar and a Bafta for her portrayal in the film, which is set during the time Princess Diana tragically died. While she never received a response to her letter from the Queen, Mirren said she did receive a letter from the Queen's secretary. Upon opening the response she confessed, "I was very relieved subsequently that I had written that letter." Earlier this year, the actress told <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/helen-mirren-interview-f9-golda-meir-1235097461/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> that she believes the Queen has watched the biopic. "At the time, it had never been done before, playing the queen. It was quite nerve-racking because I didn't know – no one knew – how the public would receive it, let alone the establishment in Britain," Mirren reflected. "But I got the sense that it had been seen and that it had been appreciated. I've never heard directly, and I never will," she added. Image credits: Getty Images

Movies

Prince Charles’ letters to paedophile Jimmy Savile exposed

Letters exchanged between Prince Charles and paedophile Jimmy Savile are being exposed in a Netflix documentary. Prince Charles would occasionally get in contact with the disgraced former BBC presenter, who used his role, charity and hospital work as a cover for his heinous predatory behaviour Savile was 84 when he died in 2011 and was only exposed as a paedophile after dying with many victims coming forward sharing their stories. In the new documentary, Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story, the letters exchanged by Prince Charles and Saville between 1986 and 2006 have been exposed. The letters reveal that Charles regularly wrote to Savile for advice - described as a “handbook” for the royals. One of the first letters dated January 14, 1987, came from Charles, reading: “Perhaps I am wrong, but you are the bloke who knows what’s going on. “What I really need is a list of suggestions from you. I so want to get to parts of the country that others don’t get to reach.” Another letter written by the Prince of Wales in the '90s shows him praising Savile for understanding the public. "You are so good at understanding what makes people operate. Can you cast an eye over this draft and let me know how we can best appeal to people on this score?" it read. Following Savile’s help, Charles once again penned another letter thanking him for his help. "It really was extremely good of you to take the trouble to put together those splendid notes and they provided me with considerable food for thought. With renewed and heartfelt thanks. Yours ever, Charles." Charles sent another letter following the devastating Lockerbie bombing, when a passenger flight operated by Pan Am exploded over the Scottish city on December 21, 1988. All 259 people on board were killed including 11 people on the ground. Savile suggested that “an incident room” with “several independent phone lines” should be set up following the bombing. “I attach a copy of my memo on disasters which incorporates your points and which I showed to my father. He showed it to HM [Her Majesty],” Charles wrote in the letter. Image: Getty

Letter written by Holocaust survivor delivered after 75 years

A letter written by a Holocaust survivor to her sister in 1945 has finally been delivered, after a hobby historian found it at a New York flea market. Ilse Loewenberg, who died in 2001 aged 92, wrote the letter to her sister in 1945 to describe her life under the Nazi regime, including how she jumped out of a train on the way to Auschwitz before being captured again in Berlin. Her sister Carla, the letter's intended recipient, moved to London before the start of World War II, avoiding persecution by the Nazis. After the letter was lost for more than 75 years, it was discovered by Chelsey Brown, an interior designer and "heirloom detective" at a flea market in New York. Chelsey worked to track down Carla and Ilse's great-niece Jill Butler, who has been reunited with the piece of family history. Jill said that she thought it was "a scam" when Chelsey first got in touch with her, but is "in awe" of the work she's done. The heart-breaking letter, written in German, details how "no one is alive" as Ilse explains to Carla that their parents, other siblings and her husband had been murdered at the hands of the Nazis. It reads, "Through the kindness of our liberators, I am able to give you a sign of life from me after so many years... Dad, Mom, Grete, Lottchen and Hermann: no one is alive anymore." "My pain is unspeakably big." "My husband, whom I married 3.5 years ago, was also taken from me!" "When there will be a regular mail connection, I will tell you everything in detail." After the war, Carla and Ilse were reunited in the US where they spent the rest of their lives. When Chelsey found the letter in New York, she used MyHeritage.com to trace the family lineage to find a living relative, which is when she found Jill. Speaking to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10448565/Heartbreaking-letter-returned-Holocaust-survivors-relatives.html">Daily Mail</a>, Jill said her entire family is incredibly grateful Chelsey took the time to find them. She said, "My whole family is truly in awe of all you [Chelsy] have done for us." "Almost everyone's first reaction of 'Is this a scam?' quickly transformed into bewilderment at your selfless dedication to reuniting heirlooms with families." "We all loved our Great-Aunt Ilse and are thrilled beyond words to read her thoughts in her own handwriting after she emerged from the depths of the European inferno." Ilse passed away on September 11th 2001, and although her death was unrelated to the 9/11 terror attack, her close friends and family believe it was because she couldn't possibly witness anymore tragedy. Image credits: Instagram @citychicdecor

Family & Pets

Letter from soldier delivered to widow after 76 years

After 76 long years, a heartfelt letter form the battlefield has finally been delivered. Angelina Gonsalves received the letter in an unexpected delivery form the US Postal Service, which was written by her late husband while he was deployed overseas in 1945. Written by 22-year-old Sergeant John Gonsalves while stationed in Germany, the soldier wrote the letter to his mother to check in on his family and let them know he was believed to be coming home to Massachusetts soon. The letter was dated December 6th 1945, and was never delivered to his mother. Instead, it was delivered to his widow 76 years and three days later. "I got to read it and it was wonderful," Angelina Gonsalves, of Woburn, Massachusetts, told CNN on Wednesday. "It is in really good condition. I was amazed by that myself." When John wrote the letter, he and Angelina has not yet met. The pair married in 1953, eight years after the war, and had five sons together, before John died in 2015 at age 92. In the two page letter to his mother, who shared the same name as his wife, John discusses the "lousy" options for food and the horrible winter weather, claiming where he was stationed has not seen the sun in weeks. He closes the letter by sending love to his family, before signing and sealing the note and attaching a six cent stamp. "It was a joy to see her face light up reading his words," Brian Gonsalves, Angelina and John's son, told CNN. "To be able to see her read something he wrote and look back at that history, it's something she'll always have now." It is unclear where the letter had been hiding all this time, but it was found at the USPS Pittsburgh processing centre late last year. Dedicated employees at the centre understood the importance of the late soldier's letter, and started to track down John's next of kin to deliver the piece of history. "We are aware of the passing of your husband in 2015 (our condolences)," reads a letter from the USPS, which was sent with John's letter. "By virtue of some dedicated sleuth work by postal employees at this facility, we were able to determine your address, hence this letter delivery to you, albeit 76 years delayed. Due to the age and significance to your family history, delivering this letter was of utmost importance to us." The letter was delivered to Angelina just before Christmas, which her son said made the perfect gift. "It felt like he came back for the holiday season," he said. Image credits: CNN

Family & Pets

The four-letter word that can end any fight – no, not THAT word!

It’s a familiar scene: An argument with your partner heats up, and old grudges start sneaking into the conversation. Your partner lashes out, bringing up that one thing that really pushes your buttons. Now you’ve gone from miffed to deeply insulted. Before lashing back out with your own cutting comment, though, respond with one simple word. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846685/fight1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/024c7bdc7f4a46de81bfd5680e86af46" /> Image: Reader's Digest Unlike using phrases that make arguments worse, saying “ouch” could put a heated fight on ice, says marriage and family therapist Hal Runkel. Your significant other probably knows you better than anyone else, including knowing the trigger words that cut deep. No doubt your partner still loves you, but the heat of the moment is bringing out words you’ll both regret later. That’s why you need to signal your partner that the conversation is getting nasty. Say: “Ouch. That one hurt. I don’t know if you were meaning to hurt me; I don’t know if that’s what you were going for; but that’s what you did,” Runkel tells Business Insider Australia. That simple word will make your partner – and you – pause before doling out more mean words. With a wake-up call that the argument could cause lasting damage, you can refresh back to the core issue. “That conversation – which was a very familiar path, that fight – is now a totally different path because one of you chose to actually get vulnerable,” Runkel says. “I am open enough to you that you can actually hurt me. So now how about we talk to each other as if we actually love each other?” Now that you remember how much words hurt and how much the relationship means to you, you can both move forward calmly. In a particularly fiery fight, there’s a good chance your partner will be able to whip out plenty of examples of harsh things you’ve said, too. Denying or glossing over that won’t solve anything, so acknowledge you hurt your partner and calmly apologise, says Runkel. If it doesn’t work and your partner continues being cruel, that dialogue could say a lot about the relationship. But you won’t know until you try making the change yourself. Written by Marissa Laliberte. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/the-four-letter-word-that-can-end-any-fight-no-not-that-word" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

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"You made me enjoy the game": Federer's emotional retirement letter to Nadal

"Uniquely, magically, indescribably us": Read the emotional love letter from Suzanne Somers' husband

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

Never-seen-before letter from Princess Di revealed

A letter to my mum this Mother’s Day

“A letter that someone will never forget”: Charles’ $43,000 job offer

Unlikely trio decodes Mary Queen of Scots' secret letters

Rare unseen private letters of Princess Diana revealed

“You are not alone”: Prince Harry pens emotional letter to bereaved children

Touching note from the Queen to a young Prince William goes viral

“It’s time for the world to read this”: Simon Dorante-Day shares last letter to the Queen

Queen's letter for Sydney that can't be opened until 2085

Man receives letter from Queen Elizabeth on the day she died

Young fan invites Prince George to her 6th birthday party

"Find a life worth enjoying": Dame Deborah's final letter to her family

“How do you write to your Queen?” Helen Mirren reveals contents of special letter

Prince Charles’ letters to paedophile Jimmy Savile exposed

Letter written by Holocaust survivor delivered after 75 years

Letter from soldier delivered to widow after 76 years

The four-letter word that can end any fight – no, not THAT word!

News

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Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

"You made me enjoy the game": Federer's emotional retirement letter to Nadal

"Uniquely, magically, indescribably us": Read the emotional love letter from Suzanne Somers' husband

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

Never-seen-before letter from Princess Di revealed

A letter to my mum this Mother’s Day

“A letter that someone will never forget”: Charles’ $43,000 job offer

Unlikely trio decodes Mary Queen of Scots' secret letters

Rare unseen private letters of Princess Diana revealed

“You are not alone”: Prince Harry pens emotional letter to bereaved children

Touching note from the Queen to a young Prince William goes viral

“It’s time for the world to read this”: Simon Dorante-Day shares last letter to the Queen

Queen's letter for Sydney that can't be opened until 2085

Man receives letter from Queen Elizabeth on the day she died

Young fan invites Prince George to her 6th birthday party

"﻿Find a life worth enjoying﻿": Dame Deborah's final letter to her family

“How do you write to your Queen?” Helen Mirren reveals contents of special letter

Prince Charles’ letters to paedophile Jimmy Savile exposed

Letter written by Holocaust survivor delivered after 75 years

Letter from soldier delivered to widow after 76 years

The four-letter word that can end any fight – no, not THAT word!

"Find a life worth enjoying": Dame Deborah's final letter to her family