Stop Leaving Marmalade Sandwiches For The Queen, Says Royal Parks

It was the Queen’s final starring role of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations and now her iconic double act with Paddington Bear is living on in tributes paid after her death.

The monarch’s two-minute skit with the famous bear from Peru – another British icon – was widely judged a highlight of the Platinum Party at the Palace in June.

The pair were seen sitting down together for a spot of tea, with Paddington swigging straight from the spout, before offering the Queen a bite of his marmalade sandwich, the one he keeps handy, he told her, “just in case”.

“So do I,” the Queen replied, before opening her famous black handbag to reveal the very same. “I keep mine in here,” she said. “For later.”

Now, mourners are leaving sandwich bags, bears and other bits of Paddington memorabilia outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham, Holyroodehouse and other royal residences around the country.

A Paddington bear with messages and flowers hangs at the gate of Buckingham Palace in London.

SOPA Images via Getty Images

A Paddington bear with messages and flowers hangs at the gate of Buckingham Palace in London.
A Paddington Bear teapot is seen with floral tributes left outside the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk

LINDSEY PARNABY via Getty Images

A Paddington Bear teapot is seen with floral tributes left outside the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk
Another Paddington Bear teddy in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace.

STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN via Getty Images

Another Paddington Bear teddy in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace.

One well-wisher even handed a Paddington Bear directly to Prince William during his unexpected public walkabout with his wife and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex outside Windsor Castle on Saturday afternoon.

In fact, there are so many Paddingtons and sandwich bags piling up outside royal residences that The Royal Parks, which operates Green Park and St James’s Park, as well as six other royal parklands around London, has asked the public to stick to leaving flowers instead.

“The Royal Parks are suggesting that there are enough Paddingtons and marmalade sandwiches in the parks at the moment,” a BBC Breakfast presenter said outside Buckingham Palace on Monday morning.

“So please feel free to bring flowers, but maybe don’t bring anymore Paddingtons or marmalade sandwiches for now.”

The message echoed guidance issued on the Royal Parks website regarding floral tributes to the Queen.

“We would prefer visitors not to bring non-floral objects/artefacts such as teddy bears or balloons,” it reads. “Cards and labels will, however, be accepted and will be periodically removed by The Royal Parks’ staff and contractors for storage offsite. This process will be carried out with discretion and sensitivity.”

On Twitter, many commented on the very British nature of the situation.

But others have suggested that people’s time and money could be spent elsewhere, especially given the current cost of living crisis.

“Give a marmalade sandwich to a homeless person, donate the money you would’ve spent on a Paddington doll to a charity,” tweeted barrister and commentator Rupert Myers.

Meanwhile, author Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who co-wrote Paddington’s Platinum Jubilee skit and also had a hand in the Queen’s unexpected cameo with James Bond at the Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2012, has been reflecting on why the meeting captured public imagination.

“It used to be said that millions of people had dreams in which they had tea with the Queen,” he wrote in the Observer. “Even our dream life is going to have to change. Watching her have tea with Paddington will have to do instead.”

Some have questioned whether the real Queen even starred in the skit, Cottrell-Boyce added.

“A conspiracy theory went round that the establishment had employed Paddington’s producers… to create a deep fake queen,” he added. “No one seemed to question the reality of the bear.”

The late Queen having tea with Paddington during the Platinum Party at the Palace.

Victoria Jones – PA Images via Getty Images

The late Queen having tea with Paddington during the Platinum Party at the Palace.
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People Are Calling Out The Police For Their Attitude To Anti-Monarchy Protesters

Anti-monarchy protests have been quickly tackled by the police over the last few days – but not everyone is happy about it.

The changeover in monarch, from Queen Elizabeth II to her eldest son King Charles III, is seen by republicans as the ideal time for a change in the way the UK operates – prompting a small wave of demonstrations across the country.

But, police have quickly acted on several of these protests, escorting anti-monarchists away from crowds or even arresting them.

This has caused a huge stir on Twitter, as critics believe this impinges on freedom of speech, one the central pillars of a democracy.

Here’s what you need to know.

All the known police interventions so far

In Oxford, on Saturday

Author, activist and history tutor Simon Hill claims he was arrested in Oxford (although subsequently de-arrested) after he supposedly shouted, “Who elected him?” during King Charles III’s formal proclamation as the new monarch.

He told the Bright Green campaign website that the police had offered him “confused answers” when he asked about the reasons behind his arrest.

Thames Valley Police later confirmed to Yahoo News UK: “A 45-year-old man was arrested in connection with a disturbance that was caused during the county proclamation ceremony of King Charles III in Oxford.

“He has subsequently been de-arrested and is engaging with us voluntarily as we investigate a public order offence.”

Being de-arrested means to be released before being taken to the police station for further questioning.

In Edinburgh, on Sunday

A woman was arrested after holding an anti-monarchy sign shortly before the announcement for the accession proclamation of Charles on Sunday.

Police in Scotland said the arrest was made outside St Giles Cathedral, where the Queen’s coffin is currently lying at rest.

She held a sign with the slogan: “Fuck imperialism, abolish monarchy.”

Officers took her away, and the crowd clapped, although one man said: “Let her go, it’s free speech.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson later confirmed a 22-year-old woman was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace”. She was later charged and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

In Edinburgh, on Monday

One protester was arrested for “shouting abuse” at Prince Andrew during the procession carrying the Queen’s coffin moved down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh on Monday.

Amid the quiet crowd, he called: “Andrew, you’re a sick old man!”

In Edinburgh, on Monday

Another arrest took place around the same time on Monday, although more details surrounding it are yet to emerge.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: “A 74-year-old man was also arrested near Holyroodhouse in connection with a breach of the peace – he has also now been charged and is due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, September 12.”

In London, on Monday

A demonstrator holding up a small sign with the words “Not my king” was silently led away by police on Monday morning.

In London, on Monday

Barrister and climate activist Paul Powlesland claimed he risked being arrested for writing “not my king” on blank piece of paper while in Parliament Square.

Powlesland also tweeted a video recording of an exchange that he appeared to have had with a police officer, who could be heard telling him that someone might be offended if the lawyer were to write “not my king” on the piece of paper he was carrying.

He tweeted: “He confirmed that if I wrote ‘Not My King’ on it, he would arrest me under the Public Order Act because someone might be offended.

“A period of quiet mourning for the Queen is fine, but using that period to cement Charles accession as King and cracking down on any dissent to the accession as disrespectful is outrageous.”

People on Twitter are furious…

So, should people be arrested for peaceful protest?

Well, there’s a range of legal opinions out there.

Barrister Adam Wagner tweeted: “A few stories of people being arrested for protesting against the monarchy – unless they are threatening violence the police should leave well alone.

“Freedom of speech is as important a value in times of public mourning as it [is] at any other time.”

He continued: “A few people saying ‘now is not the time’. That is a fair opinion and will be shared by many, but it is an opinion not the law. Protest is often inconvenient and irritating – but still a central part of our democracy.”

He clarified that a “liberal society benefits from multiple points of view”.

Another criminal barrister, Tom Wainwright, also explained: “It is not automatically a criminal offence to express republican views in public. Now or ever. As is often the case, context may be important.”

He said police can “only arrest for breach of the peace if there is a threat of violence” – including if threatening or abusive words said or displayed in public could cause “harassment, alarm or distress”.

And, Wainwright explained that a court could only convict if it was necessary to protect public safety.

But, Wainwright also highlighted that laws are different in England and Wales compared they are in Scotland.

Legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg told Times Radio that in Scotland, this matter comes under a common law laid down over the centuries and reviewed by judges 20 years ago.

It states that “breach of the peace” which causes alarm to ordinary people and threatens serious disturbance to the community, could justifiably lead to an arrest.

He argued that offensive signs shown at times of heightened emotion might have caused violence to break out, and so the display of the ‘Fuck Imperialism’ sign “did fall under the definition of the criminal law as I understand it to be in Scotland”.

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William and Kate Surprise Crowds at Windsor with Meghan and Harry Reunion

Prince William and Prince Harry gathered outside Windsor Castle with their partners in an unexpected show of unity following the death of their grandmother, the Queen.

The new Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, greeted mourners and well-wishers together late Saturday afternoon, as they looked at the many floral tributes left by the public.

All four royals were dressed in black as they walked along the gates of Windsor Castle.

It is the first time the two royal couples have appeared in public together since the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, in April 2021.

After arriving at the same time, the couples walked along separately, with William and Kate speaking to people on one side of the crowd and Harry and Meghan speaking to people on the other side.

William and Harry, who are thought to have experienced a rift in recent years, also joined forces in July 2021 to unveil a statue marking what would have been the 60th birthday of their late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

On the walkabout in the Windsor grounds on Saturday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex held hands as they looked at the tributes, with Harry at one point affectionately putting his hand on his wife’s back.

The new Prince and Princess of Wales were given bunches of flowers by members of the crowd as one visitor waved a Welsh flag.

William was also seen lightly touching Kate’s back at one moment as she crouched down to speak to a child at the front of the gates.

At one moment, he was also given a small Paddington Bear.

The royal couples look at the piles of floral tributes lining the road in Windsor.
The royal couples look at the piles of floral tributes lining the road in Windsor.

Kirsty O’Connor via PA Wire/PA Images

It was the Cambridges’ first public appearance together since they were announced as Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III on Friday, and the first time both women have appeared in public since the Queen’s death.

Princes William and Harry both travelled to Balmoral on Thursday to be at their grandmother’s bedside, but neither of their wives joined them in Scotland.

On Saturday morning, Prince William, alongside Camilla, Queen Consort, was a witness to the formal proclamation of his father’s accession to the throne.

Earlier on Saturday, the first heir to the throne also issued a deeply personal statement speaking of the loss of the Queen – his “Grannie” – and what she meant to him and his family.

“So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign. I, however, have lost a grandmother,” he said.

“She was by my side at my happiest moment. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life.”

Wellwishers and the media were surprised to see the royal couples together.

But according to the PA news agency, a royal source said the new Prince of Wales asked his brother and his wife to join them in viewing the tributes.

The source said: “The Prince of Wales invited the Duke and Duchess to join him and the Princess of Wales earlier.”

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‘I Have Lost A Grandmother’: Prince William Pays Personal Tribute To Queen

Prince William has issued a deeply personal statement about the late Queen Elizabeth II, saying just how much she meant to him and his family.

The new Prince of Wales, now first heir to the throne, said: “On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute.

“So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign. I, however, have lost a grandmother.”

On Friday, King Charles III confirmed that his first son would inherit his title of Prince of Wales, while his wife Catherine would now be Princess of Wales, a title not held since Princess Diana died in 1997.

“I have had the benefit of the Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade,” William said of his grandmother in his statement on Saturday.

“My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives.”

In what could be seen as a references to his wedding to Kate and, possibly, to his mother’s death, he added: “She was by my side at my happiest moment. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life.”

On Saturday morning, the Prince of Wales, together with Camilla, Queen Consort, was witness to the formal proclamation of his father as King Charles III.

The Prince said that while he grieves the Queen’s loss, he also feels “incredibly grateful”.

“I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me,” he said. “And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all.”

Echoing the words of his father, he said: “I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.”

And as King Charles III did in his first televised statement to the nation on Friday, the Prince also spoke of love.

“My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love,” he said.

“All of the sadness we will feel in the coming weeks will be testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen. I will honour her memory by supporting my father, The King, in every way I can.”

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The End Of An Era: The Life And Times Of Queen Elizabeth II, The World’s Second-Longest Reigning Monarch

Queen Elizabeth II has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

In a statement, the Palace said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

Prince Charles, who is the heir apparent, was with her.

It comes shortly after the UK’s longest-reigning monarch celebrated her 70th year on the throne, her platinum jubilee.

The whole country came together to honour the occasion across the extended bank holiday, paying tribute to her unprecedented reign through Trooping the Colour, a service of Thanksgiving and Big Jubilee Lunches up and down the UK.

The Queen was also a reassuring presence for many as the country tried to cope with successive lockdowns, despite catching Covid herself in February 2022.

In her 2020 Christmas message she praised the efforts of individuals and called on the nation to “remain united and resolute” in the face of the outbreak. And in a poignant video to mark the 75th anniversary of VE day in 2020, she delivered a message of hope, promising in the words of Dame Vera Lynn’s wartime anthem: “We will meet again.”

The royal family also grieved in April 2021, when the Queen’s husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, died. The entire ‘Firm’ followed Covid restrictions and sat apart in their bubbles at the televised funeral – meaning the Queen had to sit on her own.

The Queen was widely praised for returning to her royal duties after just a two-week mourning period for the Duke of Edinburgh, who she referred to as her “strength and stay”.

The news of her death marks the end of a new Elizabethan era that began when the 25-year-old princess became Queen Elizabeth II on the death of her father King George VI, in the early hours of February 6, 1952.

She became the longest-ever reigning monarch in British history on September 9, 2015, bypassing the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. This took into account 63 years plus 16 leap days, additional months and days, and the timing of George VI’s death.

Princess Elizabeth waves from her carriage in London in 1928
Princess Elizabeth waves from her carriage in London in 1928
The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) with her husband, King George VI (then the Duke of York), and their daughter Elizabeth II at her christening in May 1926
The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) with her husband, King George VI (then the Duke of York), and their daughter Elizabeth II at her christening in May 1926

With the death of 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 2016, the Queen then took the record for the world’s longest reigning living monarch.

She is the world’s second-longest reigning monarch ever, after French King Louis XIV, who served on the throne for more than 72 years.

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born by Caesarian section on April 21, 1926, in her maternal grandparents’ London home: 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, while the home secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks waited in the next room.

The presence of the government minister was an age-old custom designed to ensure that no substitute had been smuggled in hidden in a warming pan or similar receptacle. Apparently one of Princess Elizabeth’s first acts was to yawn at Sir William.

Elizabeth’s father, George VI, only became king after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936 – when she was born, the princess was not expected to take the throne.

She married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten of Greece at the age of 21 at Westminster Abbey in 1947 in front of 2,000 guests. Princess Elizabeth was dressed in an ivory silk Norman Hartnell gown, decorated with 10,000 seed pearls, glittering crystals and an intricate 13ft (4m) star-patterned train. The dress was bought with food rationing coupons as the UK was still struggling in the aftermath of World War 2. Philip, 26, was fresh from serving in the Royal Navy for the war effort.

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day in 1947
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day in 1947

Evening News/Shutterstock

Prince Philip and the Queen for their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 2007
Prince Philip and the Queen for their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 2007

Tim Graham via Tim Graham/Getty Images

Another 200 million people listened to the radio broadcast of the nuptials and thousands lined the streets to watch the spectacle.

The pair had begun exchanging letters in 1939 when Elizabeth was 13 and Philip was 18, and their friendship blossomed over the years.

After their wedding, the couple lived together on the island of Malta for periods between 1949 and 1951 while the duke served on HMS Chequers with the Mediterranean Fleet.

Villa Guardamangia, a palazzo-style mansion on the outskirts of the capital Valletta, served as a much-loved base for the couple in the early years of their marriage. Their stay in Malta offered them their only real taste of life as a relatively ordinary couple.

They enjoyed parties, picnics and boat expeditions, and the princess was even able to take a trip to the hairdresser for the first time. In 2015 during an official trip, the Queen recalled: “Visiting Malta is always very special for me. I remember happy days here with Prince Philip when we were first married.”

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, celebrating the her 24th birthday at Villa Guardamangia, Malta
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, celebrating the her 24th birthday at Villa Guardamangia, Malta

PA Wire/PA Images

Princess Elizabeth was staying in an exclusive tree house hotel in Kenya in 1952 when she was informed of her father’s death.

Former lady-in-waiting Pamela Hicks recalled: “She goes up as a princess. The king died that night. She comes down the ladder as a queen.”

Prince Philip was told the news first, and covered his face with his newspaper, murmuring “this will be such a shock”, before taking her for a walk in the gardens, where he told his young wife of her father’s death and that she was now to be Queen.

Treetops Hotel, in Kenya – it was here that Princess Elizabeth learned of the death of her father, King George VI
Treetops Hotel, in Kenya – it was here that Princess Elizabeth learned of the death of her father, King George VI

PA Archive/PA Images

Elizabeth II sets foot on British soil for the first time since her accession as she lands in Britain, following the death of her father. Waiting for her at the bottom of the plane steps are Clement Attlee and then prime minister Winston Churchill
Elizabeth II sets foot on British soil for the first time since her accession as she lands in Britain, following the death of her father. Waiting for her at the bottom of the plane steps are Clement Attlee and then prime minister Winston Churchill

The couple’s children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, were born between 1948 and 1964, all at Buckingham Palace.

Charles’ birth on November 14, 1948, was the first in centuries without a government minister present to witness the arrival of a future heir to the throne. The occasion was marked publicly with the fountains of Trafalgar Square lit up in blue. The Duke of Edinburgh, said to be “not indifferent but restless”, played squash while his wife was in labour.

As Victoria had done the previous century, Elizabeth acted as a figure of continuity as the country modernised. Serving through the 20th century, the Millennium and well into the 21st century, she was also head of state, the armed forces and the commonwealth.

She witnessed many new technological advances and a succession of British governments of different political persuasions.

Elizabeth II met every US president of her reign – except one.

Queen Elizabeth II and baby Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 1948
Queen Elizabeth II and baby Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 1948
President John Kennedy with his wife Jackie, meeting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in London, 1961
President John Kennedy with his wife Jackie, meeting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in London, 1961
US President Ronald Reagan goes riding in Windsor Home Park with the Queen
US President Ronald Reagan goes riding in Windsor Home Park with the Queen

Lyndon B Johnson, who took over in 1963 following John F Kennedy’s assassination, never crossed paths with the Queen. By contrast, president Donald Trump, who visited Britain three times during her reign, boasted about having “automatic chemistry” with her and praised her as a “spectacular woman”.

Current President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, and made his first official visit overseas to visit the UK – and its monarch – in June.

The Queen had become accustomed to milestones during her decades on the throne. In December 2007, she became the longest living British monarch, overtaking Victoria who died when she was 81, and in May 2011, she became the second-longest reigning monarch in British history, when she overtook George III.

According to Guinness World Records, the Queen also held the world record for most currencies featuring the same person.

Her Diamond Jubilee river pageant in 2012 set a new world record for the number of boats in a parade with more than 1,000 vessels taking part and 670 making the complete trip down the Thames to Tower Bridge.

Princess Diana with Queen Elizabeth II on the Queen Mother's 87th Birthday, at Clarence House, in 1987
Princess Diana with Queen Elizabeth II on the Queen Mother’s 87th Birthday, at Clarence House, in 1987
The Queen and Prince Philip during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in 2012
The Queen and Prince Philip during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in 2012

The monarch’s “second birthday” – that is, the official celebration – was marked on the second Saturday in June each year, commemorated with the Trooping the Colour parade. The double birthday tradition was introduced in 1748 by King George II, who was born in November – a time where the UK weather was typically dreary. Wanting a big public celebration, the king decided to hold a birthday parade in the sunnier months and to combine it with an annual military parade.

The Queen was also the first British monarch to send an email, to have a message put on the moon, to conduct a royal “walkabout” and to hold a public concert in her back garden.

Each year, without fail, the Queen would retreat to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire during the summer months, where she is said to have been happiest. It was her private home and was handed down to her through generations of royals after being bought for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852.

Baby Prince Andrew perches on Prince Philip's lap during a picnic on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. Also pictured are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne
Baby Prince Andrew perches on Prince Philip’s lap during a picnic on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. Also pictured are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne
The Queen at Balmoral Castle with some of her beloved dogs in 1952
The Queen at Balmoral Castle with some of her beloved dogs in 1952

Victoria described Balmoral as her “heaven on Earth” and it was where she sought solace after Albert’s death. Queen Elizabeth’s usual two-month stay in August and September traditionally included a visit to the nearby Braemar Gathering, where she was chieftain of the Highland games.

Princess Eugenie, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s granddaughter, once described Balmoral as the most beautiful place on the planet.

“Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there’s always dogs – and people coming in and out all the time,” she said.

“It’s a lovely base for granny and grandpa, for us to come and see them up there; where you just have room to breathe and run.”

Years of happy royal memories were forged at Balmoral, including family barbecues – where Philip did the cooking and the Queen the washing-up – and each morning a lone piper would play below the Queen’s bedroom window.

In recent times, the Queen had endured the biggest crisis the royal family had faced in years after her supposed “favourite son” Prince Andrew gave a television interview about his friendship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It triggered a public outcry, and it was decided in an unprecedented move for Andrew to step back from public duties for the “foreseeable future”. Andrew kept a low profile but fell back into the spotlight when one of Epstein’s alleged victims started a civil case against him.

And in early 2020, her grandson Harry and his new wife, the actress Meghan Markle, sparked a major royal crisis when they made a decision to step down as senior royals for personal and financial freedom, in a move that was dubbed by the media as Megxit.

The Queen did not comment on either matter publicly.

She had previously dubbed 1992 her “annus horribilis”, following a series of scandals involving her children.

Prince Charles separated from Diana, his first wife; the Princess Royal divorced; and Andrew’s newly estranged wife Sarah Ferguson appeared in the tabloids topless and having her toes sucked.

That year also saw public opinion turn against the royals amid fears that taxpayers would have to foot the bill for repairs to Windsor Castle after a fire. In the end, the Queen agreed to pay 70% of the £36.5 million costs by opening Buckingham Palace to the public for the first time to generate extra income.

It was also announced that she would pay income tax for the first time and cut down the size of the Civil List.

The Queen surveying the scene at Windsor Castle following the fire in 1992
The Queen surveying the scene at Windsor Castle following the fire in 1992
The Queen at 10 Downing Street at a farewell dinner for retiring prime minister Harold Wilson
The Queen at 10 Downing Street at a farewell dinner for retiring prime minister Harold Wilson

With a reign spanning many British governments under 15 prime ministers and dozens more in the Commonwealth, the Queen did not escape constitutional difficulties over the years.

Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament in September 2019, an order approved by the sovereign, was described as drawing the monarch into the most contentious and divisive political debate in recent times.

She officially accepted Johnson’s resignation just two days before her death and invited his successor, newly-elected Tory leader Liz Truss, to form a government.

However, the Queen’s dedicated attention to her constitutional functions has been commented upon by many of her prime ministers.

Politicians knew they ought not go to Buckingham Palace unless fully prepared.

Harold Wilson once confessed that he felt like a schoolboy who had not done his homework when the Queen cited a document which he had not read.

In the documentary Elizabeth R, filmed in 1992 to mark her 40th year on the throne, the Queen gave her view on the importance of her meetings with her prime ministers.

“They unburden themselves or tell me what is going on or if they have any problems, and sometimes I can help in some way as well,” she said.

“They know I can be impartial and it is rather nice to feel one is a sponge.

“Occasionally one can put one’s point of view and perhaps they have not seen it from that angle.”

As head of state, the Queen was politically neutral and acted on the advice of her government in political matters, but her political knowledge was known to be immense.

She rarely voiced her thoughts on current affairs but was occasionally caught on camera revealing her real opinions, such as when she expressed her frustration with world leaders who “talk but don’t do” when it comes to the climate crisis.

She received weekly briefings from the prime minister of the day and dozens of government documents passed across her desk every week for formal approval.

The Queen is survived by her four children – Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward – and her 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Queen and Prince Philip seated on thrones in the House of Lords at the state opening of parliament in 2013
The Queen and Prince Philip seated on thrones in the House of Lords at the state opening of parliament in 2013
The Queen at the wedding of her grandson Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle in May 2018
The Queen at the wedding of her grandson Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle in May 2018
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Buckingham Palace Gives Update On The Queen’s Health After Death Hoax Circulates

Buckingham Palace has released another update regarding Queen Elizabeth’s health.

The palace said on Wednesday that the queen, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, held her weekly telephone audience with prime minister Boris Johnson.

The news of the queen’s call followed the US blog Hollywood Unlocked’s false “exclusive” claim that the Queen died on Tuesday, which quickly circulated on social media. The false claim, made on the site’s Instagram page, has yet to be taken down by the blog.

The queen’s positive Covid-19 test came just days after her son, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, also tested positive. The statement from the palace over the weekend said the queen was “experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week”.

The queen cancelled virtual engagements on Tuesday, as the palace said she was “still experiencing mild cold-like symptoms”, but would still “continue with light duties”.

The latest news about the queen’s health comes after questions were raised in October, when the sovereign cancelled a planned engagement to Northern Ireland the day of the trip.

Buckingham Palace said at the time that the queen had “reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days”.

The Sun later published a piece on the monarch’s hospitalisation, prompting the palace to confirm her hospital stay for “preliminary investigations.”

The queen held a virtual appointment the following week, though she cancelled an in-person appearance at the United Nations climate change conference, COP20.

In late October, the palace released another statement on Queen Elizabeth’s health, saying that she was intent in making an in-person appearance at the National Service of Remembrance on November 14.

The queen was unable to attend the service, though, missing it due to a sprained back.

Charles talked about his mother’s health just a few days later, telling press during a trip to Jordan that the sovereign was doing “all right”.

“Once you get to 95, it’s not quite as easy as it used to be,” the Prince of Wales told Sky News royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills in November. “It’s bad enough at 73.”

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Queen’s Touching Tributes To Philip In First Christmas Message Since His Death

The Queen is to deliver a particularly personal Christmas Day message, surrounded by reminders of her beloved late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, heartfelt decorations made by children and the sound of a choir.

This is the 95-year-old monarch’s first festive period without Philip, who died aged 99 in April.

Coronavirus restrictions at the time meant the Queen was forced to sit alone in St George’s Chapel for his funeral service.

In the message, the Queen is seen wearing a chrysanthemum brooch that she wore during her honeymoon in 1947 at Broadlands country house, Hampshire, and she is sat next to a framed picture of her and Philip.

It was taken at the same venue in 2007 to mark their diamond wedding anniversary.

A photograph released by Buckingham Palace ahead of her televised address to the nation shows the Queen wearing an embossed wool Christmas red shift dress, by British designer Angela Kelly, and sitting behind a desk in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

The Queen also wore the brooch, made from sapphires and diamonds set in platinum, in a photograph to mark the couple’s 73rd wedding anniversary last year.

She is sat in front of an illuminated Christmas tree that has been decorated with more than 100 white and gold stars, which were specially made by the children and staff of The Royal School, Windsor.

The children eventually got to take the stars home as presents for their parents and carers as they were returned to the school after the message was recorded. They were hung on the pupils’ Christmas tree until the end of term.

Those who tune into for the Queen’s message are set to hear a Christmas carol being performed by the Singology Community Choir, a group of singers who come together from across London to share in their passion for music. The choir was filmed in St George’s Hall, Windsor.

Viewers will hear the National Anthem being played by The Central Band of the Royal British Legion in celebration of the organisation’s centenary.

Buckingham Palace announced the Queen had agreed to stage a service of thanksgiving for the life of the duke next spring, with the date and guestlist yet to be finalised.

The Queen is expected to be joined at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, having shelved her customary trip to Sandringham as a “precautionary” measure amid rising coronavirus cases.

The Sun reported she will be joined by 20 family members in all, including the Duke of York and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex and five of her great-grandchildren.

Charles, Camilla, the Wessexes and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will attend a morning service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, Clarence House said.

But the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be spending Christmas in Norfolk and will be joined by some members of the Middleton family.

The monarch’s annual address marks the end of a year peppered with both joy and immense sadness.

The Queen welcomed four new great-grandchildren to the family – August to Princess Eugenie, Lucas to Zara Tindall, Lilibet to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Sienna to Princess Beatrice.

Harry and Meghan publicly released the first photo of Lilibet on Thursday, with the infant seen smiling as she is held aloft by her mother in the couple’s “family holiday” e-card.

sussex

The photograph, taken by Alexi Lubomirski at the couple’s Santa Barbara home in California, also shows the Queen’s grandson smiling at his daughter, while son Archie, two, sits on his father’s knee.

But there was also scandal this year, following Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with US chat show titan Oprah Winfrey in which they accused an unnamed royal of racism, as well as other allegations about the institution.

The royals also had to contend with allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who started legal action against the Duke of York for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. Andrew has repeatedly denied all claims.

And the monarch has faced her own health issues this year, when, in October, she was admitted to hospital overnight for preliminary investigations and ordered by her doctors to rest.

The Queen used her 2020 Christmas broadcast to deliver a heartfelt message of hope to the country, praising the “indomitable spirit” of those who had risen “magnificently” to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Queen’s address to the nation will be broadcast across multiple channels at 3pm on Christmas Day.

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Earthshot: Who Are The Winners And How Do They Plan To Save The Planet?

Saving the planet from the harsh effects of climate change is everyone’s job. And now, the Earthshot prize is here to reward those creating the most innovative solutions.

Created by the Duke of Cambridge, the awards present a £1 million prize to five projects working to combat the climate crisis.

The inaugural event took place on Sunday, attended by celebrities who did not fly to the event in London, and who were asked to consider the environment when choosing an outfit.

In a pre-recorded video for the ceremony, Prince William said: “We are alive in the most consequential time in human history. The actions we choose or choose not to take in the next 10 years will determine the fate of the planet for the next thousand.

“A decade doesn’t seem long, but humankind has an outstanding record of being able to solve the unsolvable. The future is ours to determine. And if we set our minds to it, nothing is impossible.”

The winners – decided by judges David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett and singer Shakira – were chosen from five different categories, from a shortlist of 15 entrees.

The Earthshot prize was started by the Duke of Cambridge.

Samir Hussein via Getty Images

The Earthshot prize was started by the Duke of Cambridge.

The 2021 EarthShot winners

Protect and Restore Nature:

  • The Republic of Costa Rica: Costa Rica is working on a scheme to pay local citizens to restore natural ecosystems which has led to reviving their rainforest.

Clean our Air:

  • Takachar, India: Farmers who burn agricultural waste can cause huge air pollution, so a portable machine has been created to turn the waste into fertiliser.

Revive our Oceans:

  • Coral Vita, Bahamas: Coral reefs are beautiful to look at but they are dying out. So two best friends from the Bahamas developed special tanks which restore the world’s diminishing reefs, growing coral up to 50 times faster than they would grow naturally.

Build a Waste-Free World:

  • The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs, Italy: Food poverty is real around the world, while waste is a huge problem. The city of Milan has found a way around it, collecting unused food and giving it to the poor. This scheme has dramatically cut waste while also tackling hunger.

Fix our Climate:

  • AEM Electrolyser, Thailand/Germany/Italy: Hydrogen is usually produced by burning fossil fuels. But a new design in Thailand is using renewable energy to make hydrogen by splitting wanter into hydrogen and oxygen.

The Duchess of Cambridge recycled an old outfit for the awards, while humanitarian and actress Emma Watson sported a dress made out of 10 different outfits from Oxfam.

The stage was also erected without using any plastic while the music was powered by 60 cyclists pedalling on bikes.

The award got its name after being inspired by former US president JFK’s project ‘Moonshot’ to get a man on the moon within the decade.

Emma Watson wore a dress made out of ten Oxfam outfits.

Neil Mockford via Getty Images

Emma Watson wore a dress made out of ten Oxfam outfits.

Prince William hopes that with the launch of the prize, more young people will be interested in getting involved in climate action.

He tweeted: “I want to say something to all the young people watching tonight: For too long, we haven’t done enough to protect the planet for your future. But Earthshot is for you. In the next 10 years we are going to act. We are going to find the solutions to repair our planet.”

The ceremony took place just two weeks before the COP26 UN Climate Change summit happening in Glasgow with world leaders.

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Prince George’s Birthday Photo Pays Sweet Tribute To Duke Of Edinburgh

Prince George’s eight birthday has been marked with a new photograph that pays touching tribute to his great-grandfather, the late Duke of Edinburgh.

In the image, taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, George sits on the bonnet of a Land Rover Defender, Prince Philip’s favourite make of car.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April a few months short of his 100th birthday, regularly drove Land Rovers and during his funeral, his coffin was carried by a specially adapted defender, which he helped design himself.

A keen photographer, the Duchess of Cambridge often releases images she has taken of George, his sister Charlotte and brother Louis to mark birthdays and major landmarks of both the Cambridge and Royal families.

Prince George was born on July 22, 2013, in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and, at that time of his birth, was the Queen’s third great-grandchild. She now has 11, after latest arrival in June of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second child, Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who was named by her great-grandmother’s childhood nickname.

George, who is third in line to the throne after his grandfather, the Prince of Wales, and his father, Prince William, made his debut in front of the world’s media on the hospital steps a day after his birth, wrapped in a white merino wool shawl and cradled in his parents’ arms.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital with their newborn son, Prince George of Cambridge in 2013.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital with their newborn son, Prince George of Cambridge in 2013.

He has since been photographed on his first day of school, at various royal weddings and big occasions, and ahead each of his birthdays.

Kate’s latest pictures of Prince George was taken earlier this month in Norfolk, where the Cambridges have a family home, Anmer Hall, which is close to the Queen’s Sandringham residence.

George, who celebrates his birthday on Thursday, is dressed in a striped polo- top and shorts, and is sporting a big smile for his mother behind the lens.

Despite this, Kate has previously revealed that her children sometimes beg her to put her camera down. Speaking at an event for her Hold Still photography contest in June, the duchess said about George, Charlotte and Louis: “Everyone’s like, ‘Mummy, please stop taking photographs’.”

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Prince Harry Says He Already Wanted To Leave Royal Life In His 20s

Prince Harry touched on nearly every major aspect of his life during a wide-ranging interview on the Armchair Expert podcast with hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman.

In the one-and-a-half hour episode, which was released on Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex talked about myriad disparate topics, including Joe Rogan, Princess Diana, the benefits of therapy, nude pictures taken of him in Las Vegas, his first incognito supermarket date with Meghan Markle, unconscious bias, and his military service.

Harry also discussed his “biggest issue” with royal life, which he compared to being a cross between The Truman Show and a zoo, and explained why he disliked it even in his early 20s.

Prince Harry on royal duty in Nottingham in 2016.

Prince Harry on royal duty in Nottingham in 2016.

“I think that the biggest issue for me was that, being born into it, you inherit the risk. You inherit the risk that comes with it ― you inherit every element of it without choice,” Harry said.

“Because of the way that the UK media are, they feel an ownership over you. Literally, like, full on ownership. And then they give the impression to some of their ― or most of their readers ― that that is the case. But I think it’s a really dangerous place to be, if you don’t have a choice.”

“But then, of course, then people quite rightly, will turn around, and be like ‘So what if you didn’t have a choice? It’s privilege!’” he added.

“I was in my early 20s and I was a case of, ‘I don’t want this job, I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be doing this,’” Harry said later in the interview. “Look what it did to my mum. How am I ever going to, you know, settle down, have a wife and family, when I know that it’s going to happen again?”

The Duke of Sussex said he had those thoughts because he’s “seen behind the curtain” and “seen the business model.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in December 2017, shortly after they got engaged.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in December 2017, shortly after they got engaged.

“I know how this operation runs and how it works. I don’t want to be part of this. And then once I started doing therapy, suddenly it was like the bubble was burst,” he said. “And I plucked my head out of the sand, gave it a good shake off. And I was like, ‘Okay. You’re in this position of privilege. Stop complaining or stop thinking as though you want something different ― make this different. Because you can’t get out.’”

Through his relationship with Meghan, he began to examine what was really hurting him.

“She could tell that I was hurting and that some of the stuff that was out of my control was making me really angry,” he said. “For me prior to meeting Meghan, it was very much a case of ― certainly connected to the media ― this anger and frustration of ‘this is so unjust.’

Harry and Meghan in January 2018.

Harry and Meghan in January 2018.

Harry said “helplessness” is his biggest weakness, and listed off the three times when he’s felt “completely helpless.”

“One when I was a kid in the back of the car with my mom being chased by paparazzi; two was in Afghanistan in an Apache helicopter; and then the third one was with my wife,” he said.

“And that’s when you think to yourself: ‘Shit. I’ve got the privilege, I’ve got the platform, I’ve got the influence and even I can’t fix this, I can’t change this.’ And you start getting in your head about it and that’s when it starts taking a toll.”

While the duke said he’s been overly self-critical in the past, “the good thing is the course is being altered now.”

Harry’s interview with Shepard and Padman comes on the heels of the duke opening up to two friends, Late Late Show host James Corden and media mogul Oprah Winfrey, in extremely candid interviews earlier this year.

Supporters of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped back as working members of the royal family in January 2020, will likely hear more candour from the royals in the months to come.

Harry has a new multi-part docuseries about mental health coming out in partnership with Winfrey later this month, in which the two will interview stars like Lady Gaga and Glenn Close, as well as regular people who face mental health struggles.

Last year, Harry and Meghan signed major deals with Spotify and Netflix, which have them producing and appearing in content for both platforms.

For more of the duke’s Armchair Expert interview, listen below:

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