The Duchess of Cornwall visits a Children's Centre and weaving studio in Wiltshire

The Duchess of Cornwall visits a Children's Centre and weaving studio in Wiltshire

7th February 2011

The Duchess of Cornwall met excited children during a visit to Chippenham today, at a centre run by the RISE Trust which provides social care and support for families in the area.
Upon arrival, The Duchess was greeted by 130 children from King's Lodge and Charter primary schools, waving flags and singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.

Speaking about the visit, Director of Child and Family Services at the RISE Trust, Pauline Monaghan, said: "We were all very, very excited to meet a member of The Royal Family.
"The families in Chippenham identify with her - she has a connection with Wiltshire and we're so proud she could come."

The visit was The Duchess’s third today, already having stopped at Apetito Ltd - a company specialising in feeding the elderly and vulnerable - in Trowbridge and the Wiltshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, in Steeple Ashton.

Showing support for her husband The Prince of Wales’s Campaign for Wool, she tried her hand at weaving, using a table-top loom. The Campaign promotes the use of British wool to support the farming industry.


The Duchess was shown into a weaving studio by the Guild's Chairman Lesley Greaves and promptly put to work making a black and white silk bag.

She was given a demonstration by Jackie Pohnert, 67, from Poulshot, who has been weaving for 11 years.

"It looks very easy to you," The Duchess said before adding she was not wearing her glasses. "I don't think I'll be a great expert, I need a lot of practice."

Mrs Pohnert told The Duchess she was welcome to join their beginners' group.

The Duchess was taken on a tour of the Guild's new building, where more than 70 members met up before unveiling a plaque and enjoying a cup of tea.

Before leaving, The Duchess thanked the members for supporting The Prince’s Campaign for Wool and said she would report back to him.

The Prince of Wales visits soldiers from the Mercian Regiment before they deploy to Afghanistan

The Prince of Wales visits soldiers from the Mercian Regiment before they deploy to Afghanistan

7th February 2011

The Prince of Wales today met soldiers from the Mercian Regiment who are in training before they deploy on operations to Afghanistan next month.

His Royal Highness visited a windy Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire to meet personnel from The 3rd Battalion (Staffords) who are taking part their final training exercise.

The Prince, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercians, met soldiers and officers from C Company and a contingent of Polish soldiers who will work within the Danish Battlegroup under the command of Task Force Helmand.

The Prince was given updates about the unit and learnt about the training the battalion is undertaking.

Afterwards he met members of the company in the cook house and was shown some of the unit's equipment. He then joined the company for a photograph.

The battalion is to deploy to the Nahr e Saraj area of Helmand province for the six-month tour.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Giles Woodhouse said: "I am hugely proud to be taking the men on operations in Afghanistan.

"It's a huge honour and challenge but it's one, I feel, we are ready for."

Voice of America Interviews Serbian Head of House, Crown Proince Alexander

CP Alexander: "Prayer Breakfast is an unrivalled opportunity to meet with many people not only from the United States, but from around the world. Here, friendships that are made are permanent and we are here in Washington for the third time at the Prayer Breakfast. Discussions are made on the situations in the world, but this time the emphasis is on events in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, and of course we talked about Serbia, its problems and future. We had interviews with congressmen, senators, and exchanged opinions about our country. This is a large set of social and political connections".

Изговор

Читај фонетски

Voice of America: Belgrade strives to become a member of the European Union as soon as possible. What do you think EU membership could bring Serbia?

CP Alexander: "I believe that it is of great importance we accomplish this relatively quickly. The future as a part of European Union is important for entire region and nobody wants Serbia to be the last country to join the Union. I think this membership can help us greatly to achieve much for our country and its citizens in accordance to the benefits that EU members already enjoy. Russia does not oppose Serbia's joining the EU, because they see Serbia as a friend within the European Union. Relations with the United States are also positive and Washington supports our aspiration to become EU members. However, there must be plenty to do in this regard, including further cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, as well as other issues. I hope that we will end this year submitted all necessary documentation. "

Изговор

Читај фонетски

Voice of America: One half of the original EU member states are Constitutional Monarchies. Given your family heritage you are advocating for this type of governmental structure?

CP Alexander: "I think that country would definitely benefit out of that situation.  Karadjordjevic family is deeply rooted in the history of modern Serbia. Constitutional monarchy provides a unifying centre, unity and continuity. Important is to have the head of the state who is neutral person, not a member of any political party. Of course, we would still have free and fair elections and Prime Minister who would manage the country. I think that Monarchy would be good for Serbia, its image abroad and for business".  

Voice of America: Most former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe adopted a law on the returning private property confiscated after the Second World War. Where are we now in terms of the law in Serbia, including your and the property of others?

CP Alexander: "Unfortunately, we are lagging behind. All neighbouring countries, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and others have adopted such a law. As you know, 1947 Tito asked Kardelja to sign a document on the confiscation of private property, including our own, and revocation of citizenship. After restoration of democracy they gave us our citizenships, on which we congratulate them. Then it was implicated that a new law on restitution will be adopted, but that still didn’t happened.  One of the requests of the European Union is that this must be done in order to Serbia become EU member. Therefore, either to return property or to compensate. I believe the issue will be resolved once and for all 2011. One should take into account the legal advices of experts in the Unite States of America and European Union on how to resolve this question and I believe it is important that Serbia responds to its obligations.

(Courtesy of Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia)

From Splendor to Revolution – Four Romanov Women 1847-1928

Last year I was honored by my friend Julia Gelardi with an advance, review copy of her third book, From Splendor to Revolution – Four Romanov Women 1847-1928.

I read the book thoroughly and sent Ms Gelardi and her publisher my thoughts on the book, suggested changes and ideas for improvement. I was very happy knowing that Ms. Gelardi trusted my opinion enough to be involved in making her book even better than it already was.

Last week I received a final copy of this excellent book and I give it my absolute seal of approval and recommend it highly to anyone interested in the Romanovs and the fascinating women who were members of this family. The book covers the life-span of the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna (1847-1928) and it includes three other biographies besides that of the mother of Tsar Nicholas II: Queen Olga of Greece (née Olga Konstatinovna of Russia), the Duchess of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (née Marie Alexandrovna of Russia), and Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia (née Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin).

This is Ms. Gelardi's third book and I find it her best thus far!

Eurohistory.com will be selling the book through our website at:

http://www.eurohistory.com

State of Saxony to Compensate Saxon Royal Family with a Paltry Sum

From the Independent...

The east German state of Saxony was obliged yesterday to pay millions in compensation to descendants of the 17th century king "August the Strong" for hundreds of valuable porcelain artefacts confiscated by the communist authorities after the Second World War.

The porcelain treasure trove amounts to nearly 300 pieces – 17th and early 18th century figures and figurines which currently form part of Saxony's priceless royal art collections, many of which have been housed in museums in the state capital Dresden since the late 1950s.

Yesterday however, Saxony reluctantly agreed to pay €4.2m (£3.5m) to the Wettin family, the direct descendants of the 17th century king of Saxony and Poland. The state conceded that communist authorities had effectively stolen the royal porcelain from the family after 1945 and illegally declared it state property.

Steffen Winter, an arts commentator for Der Spiegel magazine, claimed yesterday that the payment was the beginning of a "compensation marathon that will keep the art world holding its breath for years".

(King Friedrich August III of Saxony)

The article continues and describes Prince Albert of Saxony as Head of House, which of course is erroneous as his elder brother Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meißen, remains Head of House Saxony.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/king-of-saxonys-family-win-payout-from-state-2203850.html

A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment Annual Conference 2011

A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment Annual Conference 2011

3rd February 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I’m so glad to have this brief opportunity to join you all this morning and I’m only sorry I’ve missed, probably the most interesting bits at the beginning.

I’m enormously grateful to George Clarke for having invigilated this session so brilliantly and having brought out, I think, so many fascinating points. It was riveting to hear the comments from those who have had experience of the system as it were and of trying the Foundation’s approach. But what I don’t think people always realise is just what an effort it’s always been for a long time to reach this point as far as establishing this Foundation is concerned.

What I can never get over is, I don’t think people understand how much you have to invest in training and educating people to be able to understand how to deliver the kind of process you’ve all been talking about. It doesn’t just happen by chance or by accident. People talk glibly all the time about sustainable this and sustainable that. Half the time I actually think it means business as usual with a few sustainable bits on, which might just satisfy a few people around the bazaars. Well actually it requires an awful lot of effort and an awful lot of application and an awful lot of study to achieve the kind of holistic integrated understanding of how you look at the environment, the natural environment as well as the human environment.

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_at_the_prince_s_foundati_692279837.html

Royal Fever – Why We Feel it More than the British

4 February 2011 | By Laura Trevelyan

As the royal wedding approaches, Nicky Perry is making elaborate plans to celebrate Prince William and Kate Middleton's marriage. "We're going to have ourselves a right old knees-up," says the exuberant owner of Tea and Sympathy, the British-themed tea shop in Manhattan's West Village. Nicky envisages a street party, complete with Morris Men and bunting. New York is a city full of subcultures, and in the British expatriate world, royal wedding fever is taking hold.

Royal wedding commemorative mugs are proving very popular at Tea and Sympathy. "Americans are buying them," says Perry.

"People are fascinated by this wedding," she explains. "They loved Diana, then the fascination died down a bit, and now there's this beautiful princess-to-be and people can't wait to see what she's wearing, what her shoes are like, they want to know every detail."

Mara Saksin, a graduate student and one of Tea and Sympathy's American customers, is also excited about the wedding. She feels William's life has paralleled her own. "William is my age, and even though we live 3,500 miles apart I saw him grow up. I was at a friend's party the night Diana died, and I felt his loss, so I'm glad to see him marrying someone he loves. I just got married myself."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_royals/20110204/wl_yblog_royals/royal-wedding-fever-why-americans-might-feel-it-more-than-brits

A Commoner Monarchy

Josienita Borlongan Josienita Borlongan – Mon Jan 31, 6:42 pm ET

 

With barely three months to go until the wedding of the century, Prince William and Kate Middleton seem to be breaking royal traditions and opting for the not-so-traditionally-royal ways of doing things. Although these changes may be raising eyebrows in the British aristocracy, many believe that these changes are signs of times. British royal followers have mixed reactions, but many believe that most people will embrace the changes like a breath of fresh air.

A Commoner for a Future Queen
First off, the choice of a completely commoner bride as a future queen of England has never happened before. She's certainly the first and, rest assured, she'll not be the last either. According to The Telegraph, Middleton will "permanently change the Royal family when she becomes Britain's first middle class queen-in-waiting." She may not be poor and pitiful, but she's still a commoner nonetheless -- a wealthy commoner, but not an aristocrat. Middleton comes from a working-class family background, which is not what you would expect as a first choice for a future queen of England. In fact, the New York Post reports she is the first "non-blueblood" to marry a British monarch since the 1600s.

©Reuters

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110131/en_ac/7747124_will_and_kate_breaking_traditions__a_commoner_monarchy_in_the_making

The thought of "Princess Chelsy" sends shudders through my...

From the Huffington Post:

As all the royal wedding details come together, "Good Morning America" reports that love may be in the air for Prince Harry. His ex-girlfriend Chelsey Davy is said to be moving back to London and attending William and Kate's wedding as Prince Harry's date.


The couple broke up in 2009, but the Zimbabwean beauty was spotted attended Prince Harry's graduation in May. Is there another royal wedding in the future? If the length of William and Kate's courtship is any indication, you shouldn't hold your breath.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/03/chelsy-davy-royal-wedding_n_818454.html

Video – The Youssoupoffs

Enjoy!