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meghanmarklehd-blog · 6 years

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will undertake an official visit to Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand between Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 31st October.

Their Royal Highnesses have been invited to visit the Commonwealth Realms of Australia and New Zealand by the countries' respective Governments, and Fiji and Tonga at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This will be The Duke and Duchess's first joint visit to these four countries.

Across this sixteen day tour, Their Royal Highnesses' programme will focus on youth leadership, and projects being undertaken by young people to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the region. The Duke is particularly keen to highlight these youth-led initiatives in his new role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, and to shine a light on the work and aspirations of young people across the Commonwealth.

The visit will also concentrate on environmental and conservation efforts, from engaging the local community in forest protection schemes in Colo-i-Suva, to the promotion of sustainable tourism on Fraser Island. The Duke and Duchess will dedicate a number of projects to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in each country, learning more about local conservation initiatives, whilst visiting some of the region's most beautiful landscapes.

A major focus for Their Royal Highnesses will also be the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. The Duke and Duchess are excited to see Sydney fully embrace the Invictus spirit, and to support the competitors as they compete across a range of sports at some of the city's most iconic venues. This year's Games will emphasise the integral role played by servicemen and women's family and friends, and Their Royal Highnesses will spend time with a number of the competitors' supporters as they cheer them on from the side-lines.

There is a long history of friendship between The Royal Family and Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and their links with the UK are extensive. The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to experiencing the unique cultures and customs of these four Commonwealth countries, and have asked that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Australians, Fijians, Tongans and New Zealanders as possible. Together they look forward to building an enduring relationship with the people of the region.

The first day of the tour will begin in Sydney at Admiralty House, the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove, who will welcome them to his home which offers spectacular views across Sydney Harbour. Representatives from each of the eighteen countries who are participating in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will be present.

The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Taronga Zoo to officially open the new Taronga Institute of Science and Learning. During this visit, which will also be attended by the New South Wales (NSW) Premier, The Duke and Duchess will meet two koalas and their joeys that are part of the Zoo’s breeding programme, and visit the laboratory to meet female conservation scientists who are working on efforts to reduce illegal wildlife trafficking.

To depart the Zoo, The Duke and Duchess will travel by vessel across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House. Once inside, Their Royal Highnesses will view a rehearsal of Spirit 2018 by the Bangarra Dance Theatre, an internationally acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modern dance company. Upon departure, walking along the Opera House forecourt, The Duke and Duchess will have an opportunity to meet members of the public.

The first day of the visit will conclude with a Reception hosted by the Governor-General at Admiralty House, to be attended by Australians from a broad range of sectors including charity and community, business and industry, arts and culture, sport and entertainment.

The following morning, Their Royal Highnesses will fly to the town of Dubbo, situated on the Macquarie River, 300 kilometres northwest of Sydney. On arrival in Dubbo, The Duke and Duchess will visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service to learn more about the life-saving role the aviation service provides for people living in rural and regional areas.

With most of the state of New South Wales suffering from drought, Their Royal Highnesses will see first-hand the hardships local farmers are facing by visiting a local property. The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Victoria Park to join people from Dubbo and surrounding areas at a picnic in the park to celebrate community spirit within the region. Members of the public are invited to attend, and His Royal Highness will give an address.

In the afternoon, The Duke and Duchess will visit a local school working to improve the education outcomes of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Students will open up their classrooms to present their work and participate in a session of netball and touch football drills on the school oval, highlighting the importance of sport in education.

On Thursday 18th October, Their Royal Highnesses will fly to Melbourne where the day will begin with a short walk to Government House, meeting members of the public along the way, before attending an official Reception at Government House. A diverse group of young Victorian leaders and community members will attend the Reception, including Queen's Young Leader Hunter Johnson from The Man Cave. A demonstration of various sporting activities will take place in the grounds, with ambassadors from the This Girl Can campaign.

Following the Reception at Government House, The Duke and Duchess will visit a social enterprise café which offers leadership, mentoring and training programmes for young Aboriginal people.

In the afternoon, Their Royal Highnesses will visit a primary school to meet students who are involved in sustainability programmes. Upon departure from the school, The Duke and Duchess will travel on an iconic Melbourne tram to South Melbourne beach, where they will meet volunteers from a local beach patrol programme. Here Their Royal Highnesses will learn about efforts to keep Port Phillip Bay beaches and foreshores clear of litter to reduce the negative impact on the marine environment.

Day four of the visit, Friday 19th October, will take place in Sydney. In the morning, Their Royal Highnesses will visit Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most famous landmarks. The Duke and Duchess will meet a local surfing community group, known as OneWave, raising awareness for mental health and wellbeing in a fun and engaging way. Their Royal Highnesses will take part in the "Fluro Friday" session, where people of all ages share their experiences of mental health issues, and will have the opportunity to interact with others enjoying yoga and surfing. Before departing, The Duke and Duchess will have an opportunity to meet members of the public gathered on the beach.

Later that morning, Their Royal Highness will take part in a youth advocate programme that aims to unite and inspire young people to be advocates for cohesion and inclusion in their communities. The Duke and Duchess will also engage with students as they discuss issues including social justice and youth empowerment.

Following this event, accompanied by the Prime Minister the Honourable Scott Morrison MP, and Invictus Games competitors, The Duke will climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge to officially raise the Invictus Flag, marking the arrival of the Invictus Games to Sydney.

Their Royal Highnesses will conclude the day with calls on the Leader of the Opposition at Admiralty House, and the Prime Minister at Kirribilli House.

On Saturday 20th October, The Duke and Duchess will travel by boat to attend the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island. In the evening, Their Royal Highnesses will attend a Reception hosted by the NSW Premier, The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, inside the Opera House, prior to attending the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Opening Ceremony where The Duke of Sussex will give an address.

On day six, Sunday 21st October, Their Royal Highnesses will watch some elements of the Invictus Games cycling and sailing, and attend a lunchtime Reception hosted by the Prime Minister, with Invictus Games competitors and representatives from the community in the city’s central parkland, The Domain.

The following day, Monday 22nd October, Their Royal Highnesses will travel to Queensland’s Fraser Island, or K’gari as it is known by the Traditional Owners the Butchulla people, as part of the dedication of the site to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QCC).

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, and has a total of 206,970 acres of protected forest. Among its many striking features, the Island is characterised by its long beaches, tall rainforest, coastal heaths, freshwater lakes and ever-evolving sand dunes.

In pristine rainforest, Their Royal Highnesses will be met upon arrival by the Traditional Owners of K'gari, the Butchulla People and the Premier of Queensland. The Duke and Duchess will take part in a traditional Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony and unveil a plaque for the dedication of the Forests of K’gari to the QCC. Traditional Owners from Bulburin National Park, the second QCC dedication site in Queensland, will also be present. Fraser Island rainforest is home to the Island’s satinay trees which, known for their hardiness in water, were used to build the London docks in the 1930s.

The Duke and Duchess will then visit one of Fraser Island’s iconic lakes to meet with local elders and national park rangers to learn about the Island’s natural beauty, rich history, biodiversity and cultural significance. From here, Their Royal Highnesses will travel to the beach to learn about the history in the Island’s logging trade, as well as its use as a training base for the Australian Z Special Unit during World War II.

Their Royal Highnesses will then travel to Kingfisher Bay by boat, where the visit will conclude with a walk along the picturesque Kingfisher Bay Jetty.

The following day, The Duke and Duchess will travel by charter flight to Fiji's capital of Suva, where they will embark on a three-day programme, experiencing the rich Fijian culture and generous hospitality.

On arrival on Tuesday 23rd October, Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted by a Guard of Honour at the airport, before calling on His Excellency The President of Fiji at Borron House. The Duke and Duchess will then attend an official welcome ceremony in the city centre's Albert Park. The ceremony, known as the Veirqaraqaravi Vakavanua, embodies Fijian cultural identity and heritage, and will mirror in format that of the one attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in 1953. It will involve a number of traditional elements of Fijian culture, including dance performances, the presentation of the Tabua, and a Kava ceremony. Members of the public from across Suva will be invited to attend.

From there, The Duke and Duchess will leave Albert Park for the Grand Pacific Hotel to attend a Reception and a State Dinner hosted by The President of Fiji, at which The Duke will speak.

The following morning, His Royal Highness will lay a wreath at the Fiji War Memorial, and meet a number of Fijian war veterans, some of whom served with the British Armed Forces. Links between the British Military and Fiji continue to this day with more than 1250 Fijians currently serving in the British Army. Their Royal Highnesses will then visit the University of the South Pacific campus in Suva, where they will observe a cultural performance on the effects of climate change, before meeting students studying subjects from agriculture to women’s development. The event will be streamed to a number of the university's campuses throughout the Pacific region. The Duke will make a short speech in his capacity as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, and The Duchess will say a few words.

From here, Their Royal Highnesses' programme will split – The Duke will travel to Colo-i-Suva Forest Park, and The Duchess to the British High Commissioner’s Residence. Colo-i-Suva is an indigenous forest site housing many flora and fauna native to Fiji, and species including the Fiji Tree Frog. It is also Fiji's dedication to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. Before unveiling a plaque to mark its dedication and planting an endangered native tree, His Royal Highness will meet with school children, student conservators, representatives from sustainable tourism industries, and local landowners and villagers to see how the rainforest impacts upon their education and livelihoods.

Meanwhile, The Duchess will attend a morning tea at the British High Commissioner’s Residence to showcase women's organisations which operate throughout Fiji. In particular, Her Royal Highness will hear more about a UN Women's project, 'Markets for Change', which promotes women's empowerment in marketplaces throughout the Pacific. The Duchess will then travel to Suva Market to meet some of the female vendors who have become empowered through the project.

On the morning of Thursday 25th October, The Duke and Duchess will travel to the city of Nadi in Western Fiji, where they will attend a special event at Nadi Airport. After an official welcome ceremony, The Duke and Duchess will unveil a new statue commemorating Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, a British-Fijian soldier who lost his life in the 1972 Battle of Mirbat. The event will be attended by the President of Fiji, and senior representatives from government and the Armed Forces.

From Nadi Airport, Their Royal Highnesses will take a chartered flight to Tonga, where they will be met at Fua'amotu Airport by Her Royal Highness The Princess Angelika Latufuipeka. That evening, The Duke and Duchess will visit Consular House in central Nuku'alofa for a private audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu, to be followed by an official reception and dinner, and traditional Tongan entertainment.

The following morning, The Duke and Duchess will visit the St George Building for a call on the Prime Minister S. Akilisi Pohiva and members of the cabinet. From there, Their Royal Highnesses will attend an exhibition with The Princess Angelika at the Faonelua Centre, celebrating Tongan handicrafts and products, including traditional mats and 'tapa' cloth. Their Royal Highnesses will also have the opportunity to meet local Tongan traders and craftsmen.

The Duke and Duchess will then travel to Tupou College, which is the oldest secondary school in the Pacific, founded by a British missionary in 1866. Their Royal Highnesses will dedicate two forest reserves at the school's on-site forest, the Toloa Forest Reserve, the last remaining forest area on Tonga’s main island of Tongatabu, and the Eua National Park Forest Reserve, located at the Island of Eua – to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. The Tupou College Boys' will perform traditional Tongan music to commemorate the event.

From Tupou College, The Duke and Duchess will travel to The Royal Palace for an official farewell with The King before departing for Sydney.

That evening in Sydney, Their Royal Highnesses will attend the Australian Geographic Society Awards, an annual gathering of Australia's brightest and best in exploration, science and conservation. Their Royal Highnesses will present youth awards to honour the highest achievements in conservation and adventure, and The Duke will give an address.

The last day of the Australian programme falls on the final day of the Invictus Games. Their Royal Highnesses will spend the afternoon at the wheelchair basketball finals at the Quay Centre, before attending the Closing Ceremony that evening at Qudos Bank Arena. The event, at which both The Duke and Duchess will speak, promises to be a celebration of the outstanding achievements and inspiring spirit of the Invictus Games competitors.

The following morning, Sunday 28th October, The Duke and Duchess will depart on a Royal New Zealand AirForce flight for Wellington. Their Royal Highnesses will travel on the same aircraft as a number of the New Zealand Invictus Games competitors, and on arrival, will be met off the plane together by the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

From the airport, Their Royal Highnesses will attend the traditional welcome ceremony on the lawns of Government House – the residence of the Governor-General to New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy. Their Royal Highnesses will be invited to hongi with the Governor-General’s Kuia and Kaumātua (Māori elders), before the pōwhiri, which includes a haka performed by members of the New Zealand Defence Force. The ceremony will also include a 21-gun salute, and will be attended by school children.

Their Royal Highnesses will then travel to the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Here, they will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and will visit the newly unveiled UK War Memorial – whose design takes the form of two of the United Kingdom and New Zealand’s most iconic trees – the Royal Oak and a Pōhutakawa. This engagement will be followed by a public walkabout in the Memorial Park.

That evening, The Duke and Duchess will receive official calls from the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition at Government House, before attending a reception hosted by the Governor General celebrating the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand.

The next morning, The Duke and Duchess will visit one of Wellington’s most iconic cafes. Their Royal Highnesses will meet young people from a number of mental health projects operating in New Zealand offering support to other young people through helplines, social media, websites and school-based programmes.

From Wellington, The Duke and Duchess will travel to Abel Tasman National Park, which sits at the north-Eastern tip of the South Island, and is an area famed for its golden beaches and native bush walks. Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted by a traditional welcome ceremony on arrival, before embarking on a trail walk with one of the park’s rangers to learn more about the history of the forest and the environmental challenges of protecting the park’s habitat. Before departing, The Duke and Duchess will join some of the park’s young ambassadors and local school children at a barbeque lunch and for a tree planting.

That evening back in Wellington, Their Royal Highnesses will visit Courtenay Creative for an event celebrating the city’s thriving creative arts scene. Courtney Creative runs programmes to give young people the tools and experience to excel in the film industry, and The Duke and Duchess will meet a number of young creatives demonstrating their skills in props, make-up, and costume.

The following day, Their Royal Highnesses will travel to Auckland, where they will firstly visit the North Shore to dedicate a 20 hectare area of native bush to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. After unveiling the plaque, The Duke and Duchess will hear more about the ecological importance of the native bush, before joining children from the 'Trees in Survival' group in a ‘welly-wanging’ contest.

Their Royal Highnesses will then join the Prime Minister to visit Pillars, a charity operating across New Zealand that supports children who have a parent in prison through the provision of special mentoring schemes. As a wedding present to The Duke and Duchess, the Government of New Zealand gifted $5000 dollars to Pillars, and Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to meet some of the children who have directly benefitted from this funding.

Later that afternoon, The Duke and Duchess will have the opportunity to meet the people of Auckland on the Viaduct Harbour, before attending a Reception hosted by the Prime Minister at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This reception will include cultural performances and entertainment by members of the Pasifika community living in Auckland. The guests will be predominantly young people in the 17 to 25-year age group who are making significant contributions to the wellbeing of their communities, representing the future of New Zealand.

The final day of Their Royal Highnesses’ tour will take place in Rotorua, a town set on Lake Rotorua, renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. The Duke and Duchess will firstly visit Te Papaiouru Marae, for a formal pōwhiri and luncheon in Their Royal Highnesses’ honour.

Next, The Duke and Duchess will head to Rainbow Springs to learn more about the centre’s kiwi breeding programme. Kiwi, which are New Zealand’s national bird, have become increasingly endangered in recent years, and Their Royal Highnesses will meet conservationists working to protect the species. They will also have the opportunity to name two young kiwi chicks at Rainbow Springs.

Later that afternoon, The Duke and Duchess will head into the city for the chance to meet members of the public gathered there. They will then travel to Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua. The treewalk is a 700m-long walkway of suspension bridges between 117-year-old Redwood trees. The forest is also the home to a thriving mountain biking community that draws people of all ages to the Redwoods. The Duke and Duchess will learn more about the forest’s history as they take on the tree walk, and will then meet invited representatives of the local biking community under the forest canopy.

Their Royal Highnesses will return to Auckland that evening, before departing for London the following day.

#Meghan Markle #Prince Harry #celebrities #british royal family #Duke of Sussex #Duchess of Sussex #royal tour

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thaniaaras · 3 years

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Died at 99 Years Old, Prince Philip’s Leave a Good Memories

Prince Philip, the late husband to the UK's Queen Elizabeth II, will be laid to rest on Saturday next week, in a ceremony that will be colorful and steeped in tradition, but low key by royal standards.

Philip, who was officially the Duke of Edinburgh, died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday morning at the age of 99. He was the nation's longest-serving consort -- a term given to the spouse of a reigning monarch -- and they had been married for 73 years.

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will attend his grandfather's funeral, but his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, won't be present, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. The couple are living in California and a doctor had advised the duchess, who is pregnant, against traveling to the UK, the spokesperson said.

The couple gave an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired in March, in which they told their side of the story in their rift with the royal family, making explosive allegations against some of its members and the establishment.

Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, longtime consort to Queen Elizabeth II, dies  

Philip's long-standing funeral plans had been adapted to respect certain Covid-19 restrictions, with all the usual elements that involve contact with the public removed. The College of Arms, which oversees many ceremonial aspects of the royal family's work, had earlier confirmed the duke would not lie in state anywhere accessible to the public, which could have seen thousands of people lining up to view his coffin.

Current Covid rules in England limit the number of people who can attend funerals to 30.

In a nod to the duke's preference for driving himself, without a chauffeur, his coffin will be carried by a Land Rover from Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel, for the ceremony.

The procession will begin at 2:45 p.m. (9:45 a.m. ET) and will be led from Windsor Castle by a band of grenadier guards, along with several heads of military units. A Royal Navy piping party will pipe "The Still" whilst the Land Rover is stationed at the foot of the West Steps. There will be a gun salute and a national minute's silence at 3 p.m. ahead of the ceremony.

The duke's death has been marked in a somber fashion, as the royal household and UK government have asked the public not to gather or leave flowers at royal residences, with the country still under strict Covid-19 restrictions.

The Honourable Artillery Company fire a gun salute near London's Tower Bridge on April 10

But gun salutes were held across the nation, as batteries fired 41 rounds, at one round per minute, at Windsor Castle, the Tower of London in the capital and at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, among other locations. Australia, a Commonwealth nation, also paid its respects with a gun salute outside Parliament House in the capital, Canberra, on Saturday morning.

Tributes have flooded in from the UK and abroad for the duke, who had recently spent a month in two London hospitals, undergoing heart surgery and treatment for an infection, before returning in mid-March to Windsor Castle.

Paying tribute in a televised statement, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the duke had "earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world" and had lived by an ethic of service.

"Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it remains the institution indisputably vital to the balance of our national path. He was an environmentalist, and a champion of the natural world, long before it was fashionable," Johnson said.

But the duke was also a controversial figure. For many Britons, his defining characteristic was not his public service but his off-the-cuff and often offensive comments, including some that were undeniably racist.

The BBC said Friday it was receiving complaints about too much air time dedicated to the duke's death, after the public broadcaster canceled hours of its usual programming to make way for wall-to-wall coverage of Philip's life and death.

The BBC set up a dedicated feedback form within hours of the news from Buckingham Palace because of the high volume of complaints.

The special coverage had meant some of the UK's most-watched shows, including soap opera EastEnders and the final of cooking competition MasterChef, were taken off air.

People gather outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London on Saturday.

But the nation is officially in eight days of mourning, as was announced on Friday, and there will be other tributes to the duke in public life.

People gather outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London on Saturday.

But the nation is officially in eight days of mourning, as was announced on Friday, and there will be other tributes to the duke in public life.

Players in the English Premier League will wear black armbands, and "there will be a minute's silence before kick-off at all Premier League matches ... across the weekend," the organization has announced.

People take cellphone photos of a portrait of Prince Philip in a pub window near Windsor Castle on Saturday.

An online book of condolence was launched on the royal family's official website, as they joined the British government in asking that "members of the public consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh."

The bells of London's Westminster Abbey, where Prince Philip married Queen Elizabeth more than 70 years ago, rang 99 times on Friday evening in his honor, while the British flag -- the Union Jack -- is flying at half-staff on government buildings.

Tributes to a life of service

Harry and Meghan said his grandfather would be "greatly missed" in a statement following news of his death.

Posted on the front page of the couple's Archewell charity website, the message simply reads: "In loving memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021. Thank you for your service ... you will be greatly missed."

The Death Gun Salute is fired by the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery at Cardiff Castle, in Wales on April 10.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said the "whole nation will be united in sadness at the passing of Prince Philip," adding he should be recognized "as a remarkable and steadfast support to the Queen over so many years" but also "celebrated in his own right as a man of foresight, determination and courage."

Tributes for the duke also flooded in from all over the world, including the Commonwealth nations of India, Australia and Canada. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had had a "distinguished career in the military and was at the forefront of many community service initiatives. May his soul rest in peace."

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Philip "embodied a generation that we will never see again." Canada's Justin Trudeau said: "Prince Philip was a man of great purpose and conviction, who was motivated by a sense of duty to others. He will be fondly remembered as a constant in the life of our Queen."

US President Joe Biden said Philip had "gladly dedicated himself to the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and to his family," and that his legacy would live on "not only through his family, but in all the charitable endeavors he shaped."

'Constant strength and guide'

Philip married the then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, following distinguished service in the Royal Navy during World War II. Together, they had four children -- Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward -- eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

When Elizabeth ascended the throne in February 1952, on the death of her father, George VI, Philip's lifetime of service as royal consort began.

Over the decades, Philip often accompanied the Queen on royal engagements, and conducted thousands of his own solo appearances. He once referred to himself as "the world's most experienced plaque unveiler," while the Queen lauded him as her "constant strength and guide."

Philip continued making public appearances well into his 90s, retiring only in August 2017.

He was seen in public only infrequently from that point, notably at the Windsor Castle wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018, and at the nuptials for Princess Eugenie in October 2018 and for Princess Beatrice in July 2020.

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silverblogxyz · 3 years

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Prince Philip dies at 99: Duke of Edinburgh was a joker with a keen sense of humour

Philip, the court jester! How the Duke of Edinburgh kept the Queen, his family and foreign dignitaries smiling through 70 years of public service Prince Philip conducted more than 22,000 solo engagements in his career as the longest-serving consort Duke of Edinburgh, often joked he was the ‘world’s most experienced plaque unveiler’ and in his 70 years of public duty always brought a sense of…

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orbemnews · 3 years

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Britain mourns Prince Philip, longtime consort of Queen Elizabeth II The timing of Philip’s death, with Covid-19 restrictions still in place across the UK, means the nation’s public expressions of grief will be constrained. The royal household and the UK government have urged the public not to gather or lay flowers outside royal residences, as has happened in the past. Huge banks of bouquets were left by well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle and elsewhere following the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. “Although this is an extraordinarily difficult time for many, we are asking the public not to gather at royal residences, and continue to follow public health advice particularly on avoiding meeting in large groups and on minimizing travel,” a Cabinet Office spokesperson said in a statement. Funeral arrangements for Philip are expected to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Saturday, according to a royal source. CNN understands that plans for royal funerals have been in place for many years, but the ceremonial elements have had to be altered due to the Covid-19 restrictions in the UK. The College of Arms, which oversees many ceremonial aspects of the royal family’s work, said in a statement Friday that the funeral would be held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, “in line with custom and with His Royal Highness’s wishes.” The statement said the ceremony would not be a state funeral and would not be preceded by a lying-in-state, which could have seen thousands of members of the public lining up to view his coffin. “The funeral arrangements have been revised in view of the prevailing circumstances arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and it is regretfully requested that members of the public do not attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral,” the statement added. More than 200,000 people filed past the coffin of the Queen Mother — who preceded Philip as royal consort — as she lay in state in April 2002, and many thousands lined the streets to pay their respects as her funeral procession passed. Such a mass expression of grief is unthinkable in a time of pandemic. However, signs of a nation in mourning will still be apparent. Players in the English Premier League will wear black armbands, and “there will be a minute’s silence before kick-off at all Premier League matches … across the weekend,” the organization has announced. An online book of condolence was launched on the royal family’s official website, as they joined the British government in asking that “members of the public consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh.” The bells of London’s Westminster Abbey, where Prince Philip married Queen Elizabeth more than 70 years ago, rang on Friday evening in honor of him. Gun salutes will be fired from noon local time on Saturday, the UK Ministry of Defense wrote in a statement. “Across the United Kingdom, in Gibraltar and on HM Ships at sea, saluting batteries will fire 41 rounds at one round every minute for 40 minutes,” it wrote. Philip’s death comes as many across the country and the world grieve the loss of loved ones during the Covid pandemic. Tributes to a life of service Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said Prince Philip would be “greatly missed” in a statement following news of the death of Harry’s grandfather. Posted on the front page of the couple’s Archewell charity website, the message simply reads: “In loving memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021. Thank you for your service… you will be greatly missed.” Paying tribute in a televised statement, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the duke had “earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world” and had lived by an ethic of service. “Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it remains the institution indisputably vital to the balance of our national path. He was an environmentalist, and a champion of the natural world, long before it was fashionable,” Johnson said. “With his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, he shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people.” Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said the “whole nation will be united in sadness at the passing of Prince Philip,” adding he should be recognized “as a remarkable and steadfast support to the Queen over so many years” but also “celebrated in his own right as a man of foresight, determination and courage.” Tributes for the duke also flooded in from all over the world, including the Commonwealth nations of India, Australia and Canada. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had had a “distinguished career in the military and was at the forefront of many community service initiatives. May his soul rest in peace.” Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Philip “embodied a generation that we will never see again.” Canada’s Justin Trudeau said: “Prince Philip was a man of great purpose and conviction, who was motivated by a sense of duty to others. He will be fondly remembered as a constant in the life of our Queen.” US President Joe Biden said Philip had “gladly dedicated himself to the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and to his family,” and that his legacy would live on “not only through his family, but in all the charitable endeavors he shaped.” ‘Constant strength and guide’ Philip married the then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, following distinguished service in the Royal Navy during World War II. Together, they had four children — Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward — eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. When Elizabeth ascended the throne in February 1952, on the death of her father, George VI, Philip’s lifetime of service as royal consort began. Over the decades, Philip often accompanied the Queen on royal engagements, and conducted thousands of his own solo appearances. He once referred to himself as “the world’s most experienced plaque unveiler,” while the Queen lauded him as her “constant strength and guide.” Philip continued making public appearances well into his 90s, retiring only in August 2017. He was seen in public only infrequently from that point, notably at the Windsor Castle wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018, and at the nuptials for Princess Eugenie in October 2018 and for Princess Beatrice in July 2020. CNN’s Max Foster, Lauren Moorhouse and David Wilkinson contributed to this report. Source link Orbem News #Britain #consort #Elizabeth #Longtime #mourns #Philip #Prince #Queen

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impressivepress · 3 years

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Cubism and War show at Barcelona Picasso Museum

Barcelona's Picasso Museum unveiled an exhibition on "Cubism and War" on Thursday depicting how one of the most influential artistic styles of the 20th century survived the First World War.

Born around 1907 with Picasso's ground-breaking painting "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon", Cubism could have run out of steam during the conflict as the Spanish artist and others who had settled in Paris suffered shortages and destruction.

"The movement had hardly begun and it could have been cut off by the war but they kept it alive, they didn't let it get frozen and die," curator Christopher Green told AFP.

"And it's rather extraordinary with this catastrophe, this massacre happening so close."

With around 80 works from museums such as New York's MoMA, Paris's Georges Pompidou Centre or London's Tate Modern, the exhibition gives an overview of Cubist production between 1913 and 1919.

On show are artists such as Spain's Picasso and Juan Gris, Mexico's Diego Rivera or the French Henri Matisse, Georges Braque and Fernand Leger.

Braque and Leger were called up and experienced the war first hand, but the others also suffered the effects in Paris, not far from the frontline, with food and heating shortages.

But despite this, the exhibition radiates optimism with colourful and dynamic paintings -- the 1914-1918 war barely present.

"For them, making art was about construction, about building and the war was about destruction and about death," said Green.

"They realised that photography and film were actually depicting the war better than any painter could."

As such, the exhibition starts with photos of the war in a dimly-lit room.

But this soon gives way to works of art that centre on experimenting with space, textures and breaking objects and figures down in portraits and still lifes.

The First World War, which killed more than 16 million people, reappears at the end with Gris's "Still Life on Plaque" which resembles a memorial to the victims, and three works by Braque, who was seriously wounded in combat.

"He never painted the war, he never touched it in his artwork, but somehow the war remained inside him," said Green.

~ 21 October 2016.

#Pablo Picasso #painting #art article #history article #ww1 #cubism #georges braque #the local #exibition review #review

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stanandcharleyandfriends · 7 years

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Above: Balto the hero dog models for his sculpture in 1925!

Original photo caption: "Famous dog hero to be modeled for New York. Balto, the dog who brought serum and a blinded master into Nome, Alaska, in a raging blizzard, and whose efforts stopped the scourge of diptheria, is to be modeled in a panel relief by G. R. Roth, famous sculptor. The Municipal Art Society has appropriated $7,000 for the panel which will be placed in Central Park as a memorial. Photo shows Balto in the arms Gunnar Kasson, his driver and personal friend, giving the panel the dog 'once-over,’ and Mrs. Roth.”

***

Bottom: Statue of Balto in Central Park at East 67th Street

NYC Parks Caption: “The glowing bronze of this statue on a rock outcropping near the East Drive at 67th Street reflects the loving pats of countless children and adults who recall the story of a heroic dog.

“In January 1925, the city of Nome, Alaska experienced an outbreak of diphtheria. At that time, Nome had a population of 1,429 people and there was only enough antitoxin serum in distant Anchorage to treat about 300 people exposed to the disease. A train line did run over 325 miles from Anchorage to Nenana, the station closest to Nome, but Nome was icebound seven months out of the year. Alaska’s two open-cockpit planes were not safe in the frigid and windy weather.

“A relay of mushers and their dog-sled teams was the only way to deliver the fur-wrapped twenty-pound package of serum to the ailing community 674 miles from Nenana. The route followed the old Iditarod Trail used by mail drivers from Anchorage to Nome (now the route of the dog-sled championships).

“The 20 teams of over 200 dogs covered the frozen terrain at about six miles per hour, in blizzard conditions with temperatures of 50 degrees below zero. An international audience listened over their radios and read in their newspapers of the race to Nome.

“The last musher, Gunnar Kasson, and his team lead by Balto, a black and white Alaskan malamute, raced over the frozen tundra in only five days and seven hours – a world record time. Within days after the arrival of the serum, the epidemic, which had claimed five lives, was over.

“Gunnar Kasson later described the incredible trip to reporters: "I couldn't see the trail. Many times I couldn't even see my dogs, so blinding was the gale. I gave Balto, my lead dog, his head and trusted him. He never once faltered. It was Balto who led the way. The credit is his."

“Balto survived the journey, and toured the United States with the rest of the dog team. On December 17, 1925, 10 months after his arrival in Nome, Balto was present as this bronze statue was unveiled in Central Park. Balto died in 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio, where his stuffed body is on display at Cleveland’s Natural History Museum.

“Private donations collected under the auspices of the Municipal Arts Society paid most of the cost of this sculpture. Brooklyn-born sculptor Frederick George Richard Roth (1872-1944) received the commission for the statue, which was awarded the 1925 Speyer Prize by the National Academy of Design.

“A low-relief plaque shows the dogsled team braving the blizzard and bears an inscription dedicating the statue to all of the sled dogs that helped save lives of so many people. From the moment of its unveiling, the sculpture has been a favorite of young park visitors, many of whom come from far and wide to sit astride the dog hero celebrated in several books as well as in Steven Spielberg’s animated film, Balto (1995).”

Source: top / bottom

#Balto #sled dog #Central Park #NYC #1920s #heroism #Alaska

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tasod · 7 years

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Prince Philip, 95, keeps calm but won’t carry on royal duty

LONDON – For decades, he has stood loyally at the side of Queen Elizabeth II and made thousands of solo appearances as well. He calls himself the world’s most experienced unveiler of plaques. Prince Philip, 95, keeps calm but won’t carry on royal duty

#Prince Philip #95 #keeps calm but won’t carry on royal duty

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kylebae6-blog · 7 years

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Little Statue, Big Message

The “object” of my choice is not necessarily a physical item per se, but a brilliant idea that inspired and motivated others to pursue transnationally. An idea first proposed by the Korean Council for Women drafted for Military Prostitutes by Japan, a statue was to be built in front of the Japanese embassy in downtown Seoul, South Korea, to send a sincere yet grave message regarding the oppression of former sex slaves during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

As for a brief background introduction, from 1930 to 1945, during the colonization of Korea by Japan, many young women were forced to suffer as sex slaves by the Japanese soldiers in the “comfort stations”. These women were inhumanely abused against their will to satisfy the sexual desires and to improve their morale during World War II. The living conditions in these camps were unspeakably horrible, as their sanitation and nutrition were not taken proper care for. The women did neither dare speak out against them nor escape from them, because society would most likely have viewed them as unclean and unacceptable, as were the social perspective on the comfort women. Even after time passed, the victims hid the truth, until by the 1990’s when they started to give testimonials and the issue started getting a lot more attention. This idea of building the “Statue of Peace”, or the Pyeongwha-bi, shifted from Korea to the States, and was targeted towards the Japanese government for them to admit their falsehood and formally apologize to the surviving “comfort women”. This transnational idea, in my opinion, would fit well under the category of War and the Figure of the Refugee, as it represents a girl whose youth and life was destroyed by foreigners.

This idea was put into action on the 1000th weekly rally, also called the Wednesday demonstration, by a sculptor named Kim Woon-Sung. A statue of a 13-year old girl sitting across the Japanese embassy was erected on December 14, 2011. After 20 long years of protesting, former “comfort” women and their supporters would consider the statue to have great impact and meaning. It is impossible to ignore the distinct message and meaning of the new landmark, but the Japanese government chose to ignore it. Furthermore, they requested that the statue should be removed, as it denounces their dignity and international reputation. Of course, the Korean government refused since “The statue is a free and rightful expression by the victims and their civilian supporters” (koreanjoongangdaily.joins.com). Although some time has passed since Japanese occupation, people and government alike cared and supported these women because Korea, overall, was and still is a nationalistic country. Anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea was an elephant in the room, while animosity between the two nations was growing. Similar patterns were shown when a monumental plaque was installed in Palisades Park, Bergen County, New Jersey in 2010 for the memory of Korean women who were sexually enslaved at the average age of 13 by Japanese soldiers during World War II. Two delegations of Japanese officials came to the park lobbying to remove the monument: the first on May 1st, 2012, and the second on May 6th, 2012. These attempts at convincing the park authorities only deepened the animosity between South Korea and Japan on the issue on comfort women. In fact, their attempts to remove the monument spurred the movement to plan more such monuments around Korean-based communities across the United States. An example of this spread of idea is the unveiling of the “Statue of Peace” in Glendale, California on July 29, 2013. Another example would be Chang-Jin Lee’s work “Comfort Women Wanted” on one of the DOT Urban Art Program’s art display at 14th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan. As such, the movement was not only active in South Korea, but rather a transnational movement motivated by a single idea to commemorate the 20th year, or the 1000th week, of protesting for sincere admittance and apology.

As time runs out and does not wait for the comfort women forever, all they want is a sincere apology, not a financial compensation. How could they bid farewell to the world in which took their dignity and freedom from such a young age without having them restored? These monuments, based on the idea introduced before, symbolize the courage these victims of “comfort women” have shown in testifying their history to the world. This problem is not limited to Korea - other countries have experienced wars and sexual slavery – and must be addressed to stop it from happening again in the future. We live in a different world today than in the World War II era; while national security was above human rights and decency, human rights and dignity have the highest priority in the modern days. Just as Germany sincerely apologized and have focused on educating their children not to repeat the same mistakes, Japan should take a similar course of action for their soldiers’ crimes as a culturally and economically mature nation and a major Asian powerhouse.

Sources:

http://panoramapsu.com/2016/04/wounds-comfort-women-unhealed-80-years/

http://typehost.com/article/pyeonghwa-bi-peace-monument-seoul-south-korea

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/nyregion/monument-in-palisades-park-nj-irritates-japanese-officials.html

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2945683

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Peace

Parents and grandparents

#notebook1 #kwayneyang #ethnicity2

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sbknews · 5 years

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New Post has been published on Superbike News

New Post has been published on http://superbike-news.co.uk/wordpress/akrapovic-makes-colin-edwards-its-first-two-wheel-brand-ambassador/

Akrapovič Makes Colin Edwards Its First Two-Wheel Brand Ambassador

Akrapovič has the great honour of announcing that its first-ever world champion, Colin Edwards, has been made its inaugural two-wheel brand ambassador, and that he will continue the story and relationship that has seen him become an important part of the company’s history. This honour has been bestowed on Edwards in recognition of the American’s achievement in winning the WorldSBK Championship in 2000 on his Akrapovič-equipped Honda and becoming the first person to claim a world title for the Slovenian company. Edwards repeated his championship success in 2002, and his initial triumph led the way to Akrapovič now having over 100 world champions in many disciplines.

Edwards is the first motorcycle racer to be honoured as an Akrapovič brand ambassador, and his involvement is extremely meaningful for the company’s #TrustedByChampions ethos because not only did he use Akrapovič exhausts in his WorldSBK championship seasons, but he also raced for different manufacturers in MotoGP – most of which used Akrapovič exhaust systems – along with twice winning the prestigious Suzuka 8 hours on an Akrapovič-equipped Honda. Edwards continued to race with Akrapovič until he retired from the pinnacle of the sport in 2014. His input, involvement, and knowledge of Akrapovič on different machinery in varying disciplines is second to none, and his constant involvement and success with the brand further cements the bond between Edwards and Akrapovič.

Akrapovič looks forward to Edwards and the #TrustedByChampions ethos communicating the advantages of the company’s products in 2019, including aspects of performance, weight, durability, innovations, and much more, all of which the American has experienced in his career, and so he knows better than most the benefits that can be reaped in racing with an Akrapovič exhaust. His involvement in his own motorcycle school, the Texas Tornado Boot Camp in the US, as well as many other TV, personal, and sports appearances throughout the race season, places him in a perfect position to convey the benefits of Akrapovič to a wider audience.

More of what Edwards will be doing as an Akrapovič brand ambassador will be announced in the new year, but so far he has visited Akrapovič HQ in Ivančna Gorica and the production facilities in Črnomelj. His first official appearance as an Akrapovič brand ambassador was as a surprise guest at the Akrapovič New Year’s get-together for all the employees of the company, where he was a very welcome and popular visitor. During this latest visit to Akrapovič in his new role, Edwards was honoured by the company because it named one of its conference rooms after him. He unveiled a special commemorative plaque with Igor Akrapovič in honour of his achievements while using Akrapovič exhausts throughout his career and becoming the company’s first-ever world champion.

Colin Edwards, Akrapovič Brand Ambassador: “It’s an honour to be an Akrapovič brand ambassador. When I came here a few months ago, I was very impressed with what I saw at the factories. Akrapovič is a top-level company that’s good to be associated with. Everything is top level, from the workshop on. It’s good to be associated with a product that’s the best and easy to understand. It’s an honour and a pleasure to have a room named after me and to be part of the company. We’re planning many things to promote the brand. It will be a fun adventure.”

Igor Akrapovič, Akrapovič Company Founder and Owner: “It’s very special to have the first Akrapovič brand ambassador from the two-wheeled world, and it’s extremely fitting that it’s Colin. It was such a significant moment in the history of the company when he won the world championship with us in 2000. I remember doing a huge amount of testing on his bike because Honda kept developing the engine and we had to update the exhaust every time. We worked really hard to get what they needed – I think it was more than forty modifications – but it’s part of our DNA to get the best, so the harder they worked us the more it paid off, and together Colin, Honda, and we won the championship. Akrapovič is pleased to have him as part of the family, and we look forward to working with him.”