From Comedic Timing To Horse Riding Skills, Anecdotes About Queen Elizabeth II
BY LINE : REUTERS
FRI, SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II Was One Of The World’s Most Famous Figures. With Much Of Her Life Documented, Reuters Asked Several Royal Experts To Share Little-Known Facts And Anecdotes About The Monarch. The Experts Spoke Ahead Of Celebrations For The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee In 2022.
Below are their quotes edited for length and clarity.
* The queen had a “delightful sense of humour”
“We all saw a different side with the Queen… when she went along with that James Bond spoof… for the opening of the London Olympics,” royal biographer Penny Junor said.
In a short, tongue-in-cheek film broadcast to a packed Olympic stadium and a massive worldwide television audience, the Queen met Bond and boarded a helicopter with him. Stunt doubles for the pair then sky dived into the stadium before the real Queen took her seat.
“What the Queen has is a very professional front that she has shown the world in her professional role and a very mischievous and delightful sense of humour that she has in private and that her family see.”
* The queen was a “great mimic”
“I know she’s a great mimic. She has entertained privately members of her family with impersonations of various world leaders, and apparently, she is a very good mimic and could have made a reasonable career of it,” Charles Rae, former royal correspondent at The Sun newspaper, said.
* Her shoes were broken in for her
“The queen has to be on her feet quite a lot… so it’s incredibly important that she is comfortable and I believe it is the case that she has her shoes, which are sort of patent and low heeled, broken in for her by a member of staff before she ever wears them,” Lydia Slater, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, said.
“So this member of staff, obviously with the same sized feet, has to wear them on the carpet for several days before the queen puts them on just to make sure they don’t rub and give her blisters, which obviously could potentially be disastrous if she’s on her feet.”
* She rode the Ascot course
“Almost everybody knows the queen has a great love of racing but I think possibly people don’t recognise that she has effectively all but raced herself,” author of ‘The Queen’ and historian Matthew Dennison said.
“It was a royal family tradition in the early years of the queen’s reign, that during Ascot week, the royal family
themselves would race before the racing… the queen and members of her family did indeed ride extremely fast over the course…
“I think somewhere there, there’s a kind of poignancy because in moving incredibly quickly on horseback among a group of family, trusted courtiers and close friends, there’s a kind of freedom that obviously she didn’t very often have.”
World Leaders Pay Tribute After Death Of Queen Elizabeth II
BY LINE : REUTERS
FRI, SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
World Leaders Offered Condolences To The British Royal Family On The Death Of Queen Elizabeth, Who Passed Away Peacefully On Thursday At Her Scottish Home Aged 96
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, died surrounded by some of her family members, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
Tributes have been pouring in as heads of governments and international organizations send messages of condolences following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
With the death of Queen Elizabeth, her son Charles, 73, has now become Britain’s new king.
After Queen Elizabeth II passed away, the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss delivered a speech at the Prime Minister’s Office, saying that “the death of the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.”
Truss also said that Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built, and she has been a personal inspiration to many Britons.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
“I am deeply saddened at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” said Guterres in a statement.
He extended his condolences to the queen’s family, the government and people of Britain, and the wider Commonwealth of Nations.
“As the United Kingdom’s longest-lived and longest-reigning head of state, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth,” said the statement.
“I would like to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her unwavering, life-long dedication to serving her people. The world will long remember her devotion and leadership,” it said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her condolences to the British royal family through social media, saying that Queen Elizabeth II was one of the most respected personalities worldwide.
US President Biden and his wife issued a statement on Thursday local time, saying that Queen Elizabeth II “defined an era”.
In their statement, the Bidens offered their deep condolences to the British people and the royal family, saying that Queen Elizabeth II had deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States, and made the U.S.-UK relationship “special.” The statement also said the Bidens look forward to the continued close friendship with King Charles and Queen.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted a message on his personal social media platform to mourn Queen Elizabeth II. He said the queen embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his condolences on social media.
“It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history,” said Trudeau.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences on Friday (September 9) on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“Her life of faithful service will be remembered for centuries to come,” said Albanese speaking live to Australians via a televised address, adding that her death marked “the end of an era, the close of the second Elizabethan age.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed her condolences on Friday (September 9) on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
“I know I speak for all New Zealanders in conveying our deepest sympathy, to members of the royal family and condolences to King Charles III on behalf of the government and New Zealanders at this time of enormous loss,” Ardern said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy joined world leaders in offering condolences to the British Royal Family following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
“It is a heavy loss for entire Europe, for the world,” Zelenskiy said.
Former US President Donald Trump called the late Queen Elizabeth a “great woman” who never made mistakes following the death of Britain’s 96 year-old monarch on Thursday.
“Who could be greater than what she’s done? And she did it so long, so well and never made mistakes,” Trump said on GB News.
Charles, Britain’s New King: Death Of Queen Is A Moment Of The Greatest Sadness
BY LINE : THE NATION
FRI, SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
Charles, Britain’s New King, Described The Death Of His Mother, Queen Elizabeth, As A Moment Of The Greatest Sadness In A Statement Issued By Buckingham Palace On Thursday (September 8).
The royal family tweeted a screenshot of the statement, which also said: “I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, died at her home in Scotland aged 96 on Thursday.
Elizabeth’s eldest son Charles, 73, automatically becomes king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. His wife Camilla becomes Queen Consort.
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s 63rd Monarch, Has Steered The Monarchy Through Decades Of Social Change While Remaining A Symbol Of National Stability In A Shifting World.
The eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of York, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary would have been expected to play merely a supporting role in the monarchy.
At the time of her birth on April 21, 1926, her uncle was the Prince of Wales and heir apparent to George V, her father being only second in line to the throne.
Elizabeth’s life changed abruptly on December 11th, 1936, when her uncle, now King Edward VIII, announced he was renouncing the throne to marry twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson.
The crown passed to his brother, who became George VI, and Elizabeth became heir presumptive on the assumption that her father would have no sons to take precedence over her.
She moved with her parents and sister, Margaret, to Buckingham Palace to serve her apprenticeship in statecraft, growing up under strict parental guidance.
Princess Elizabeth’s adolescence was overshadowed by the Second World War, which she and her sister largely spent in the relative safety of Windsor Castle, west of London, retreating during air raids to the cellars where the Crown Jewels were stored.
At the age of 16, she registered with the local labour exchange, or jobs office, and at her own request, she later joined the women’s division of the British army, the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), where she received training in driving and vehicle maintenance.
Two years after the end of the war, Elizabeth celebrated her 21st birthday while visiting South Africa.
Shortly after her return from South Africa came the announcement of the Princess’s engagement to her distant cousin Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, son of Prince Andrew of Greece and great-great-grandson of Britain’s Queen Victoria.
They were married in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947, in a ceremony attended by statesmen and royalty from around the world. Philip’s titles – His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron of Greenwich — were conferred on him by King George VI prior to the wedding ceremony.
The couple’s first child, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, followed by Princess Anne in 1950, Prince Andrew in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964.
In February 1952, Princess Elizabeth and her husband began a Commonwealth tour with a visit to Kenya. News of King George’s death reached the royal couple six days after their departure and the princess returned to London as Queen Elizabeth II.
Her coronation, at the age of 27, took place in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. The ceremony, attended by peers of the realm and international political, civic and business leaders, was transmitted by television and radio broadcasts throughout the world.
Queen Elizabeth’s youth and gender caused some comment at the time but turned out to be an asset in a country keen to make a fresh start after the war and the years of austerity which followed.
Social divisions and respect for the old order began to wane but the queen was seen as an important symbol of unity and remained stoically true to the guidelines she set herself on her 21st birthday.
In July 1969, Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales at a ceremony in the 700-year-old Caernarfon Castle.
The queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne, inaugurated an era of sumptuous royal weddings when she married commoner Captain Mark Phillips in November 1973. The 23-year-old princess broke with tradition during the marriage ceremony, omitting the customary vow to obey her husband.
In 1981, an annual event famed for its pageantry, the Trooping the Colour, was marred by an incident in which a man fired six blanks from a replica pistol as the queen rode along the route of the parade. Her horse shied but she was unhurt.
Later that year Prince Charles, at the age of 32, married 20-year-old Princess Diana in a ceremony watched by an estimated worldwide television audience of 700 million people.
Princess Diana gave birth to the couple’s first son, William, in June 1982. Their second son, Harry, was born in 1984.
In March 1986 Prince Andrew announced his engagement to childhood playmate Sarah Ferguson, who brought with her what was initially seen as a breath of fresh air into a royal family hidebound by tradition.
The following decade saw the royal family under the public spotlight as never before. The queen referred to 1992 as an “annus horribilis”, or horrible year.
During the year Princess Anne’s 18-year marriage ended in divorce amid speculation about her relationship with her future second husband Royal Navy Commander Timothy Laurence; Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson announced their formal separation after six years of marriage; the queen’s favourite royal home, Windsor Castle, was badly damaged by a fire; the perilous state of Prince Charles’ and Princess Diana’s marriage was revealed in the biography “Diana, Her True Story” and in December they announced their separation.
The years following the break-up of her marriage saw Princess Diana’s popularity soar and thousands mourned her passing after she was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31st, 1997. The queen came under unprecedented pressure to recognise the nation’s grief and pay public tribute to the “people’s princess”.
During her reign, the queen has broken new ground for the British monarchy during many of her overseas visits. In 1975 she was the first British monarch to visit Japan. She met Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and became the first British monarch to walk on the Great Wall of China when she visited the country in 1986.
In October 1994 the queen arrived in Moscow for a ground-breaking visit aimed at healing nearly five decades of Anglo-Russian Cold War enmity.
Some overseas visits have involved following local customs such as the Queen’s visit to the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad where she was required to cover her hat with a veil and exchange her shoes for a pair of socks.
London marked another milestone in August 2000 when the queen joined her mother and her sister on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to cheers from the crowds gathered to celebrate the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday.
The celebrations were soon to be followed by a period of loss and mourning for the queen. Princess Margaret died in February 2002 after suffering a number of strokes and two months later the Queen Mother died, at the age of 101.
After a tumultuous 35-year affair Prince Charles finally married the love of his life, Camilla Parker-Bowles, in April 2005.
During her reign, the queen has met all 12 serving U.S. presidents except Lyndon B Johnson.
The highly publicised wedding of the queen’s grandson Prince William and Kate Middleton took place on April 29, 2011, in London’s Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was watched by an estimated 2 billion people around the world.
In May 2011 the queen made an historic State visit to the Republic of Ireland, the first by a British monarch since Ireland won independence from London in 1921.
On the 60th anniversary of the queen’s accession to the throne and the beginning of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, February 6, 2012 was marked with a traditional 41-gun salute fired in London’s Hyde Park. She is now the second-longest reigning British monarch in more than 1,000 years of history, surpassed only by Queen Victoria, who reigned for more than 63 years.
The queen and Prince Philip spent the next six months taking part in Jubilee events across the United Kingdom.
The following month the 86-year-old monarch became the unlikely star of the London Olympics opening ceremony, making her film debut with James Bond star Daniel Craig in a spoof video that ended with her appearing to jump from a helicopter and make a parachute landing in the Olympic stadium.
In December 2012 she attended her first cabinet meeting, the first time a British monarch had taken part in a cabinet meeting since King George III in 1781.
With the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s son in July 2013, for the first time in over a hundred years, there were three generations of direct living heirs to the throne. Prince George, named after the queen’s father, became third in line to the throne, after his father and grandfather.
Scotland took precedence during the summer of 2014, with Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in July and Scotland’s bid to become independent in a September referendum. In a serious breach of royal protocol Prime Minister David Cameron let it slip that the Queen had told him she was delighted Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond’s independence bid had failed and Scotland would remain part of the United Kingdom.
On September 9, 2015, the nation celebrated the queen becoming Britain’s longest-serving British monarch. Elizabeth II surpassed the 63 years, 7 months, 2 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes that her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria spent on the throne.
After the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October 2016, Queen Elizabeth became the longest-serving living monarch in the world.
Philip, the queen’s husband of 73 years who had been at her side throughout her record-breaking 69-year reign, died at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2021, aged 99.
A funeral for Philip was held on April 17, 2021, in Windsor.
Queen Elizabeth II Has Died, Buckingham Palace Announces
FRI, SEPTEMBER 09, 2022
Queen Elizabeth II, The UK’s Longest-Serving Monarch And The Nation’s Figurehead For Seven Decades Has Died At Balmoral Aged 96, After Reigning For 70 Years. Buckingham Palace Said On Thursday.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” it said in a statement.
“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
Elizabeth’s eldest son Charles, 73, automatically becomes king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. His wife Camilla becomes Queen Consort.
Her family had rushed to be by her side at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, after doctors expressed concern about her health.
She had been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year, forcing her to withdraw from nearly all her public engagements.
Queen Elizabeth II, who was also the world’s oldest and longest-serving head of state, came to the throne following the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was just 25 and witnessed enormous social change.
All the Queen’s children travelled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision.
Her grandson, Prince William, is also there, with his brother, Prince Harry, on his way.
Prince Charles, The Heir To The British Throne, Is Now With Queen Elizabeth After She Was Placed Under Medical Supervision, The BBC Reported On Thursday.
The queen, Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign and the world’s oldest monarch, has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year.
Her eldest son and heir Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have travelled to her Scottish home Balmoral Castle, where she is staying, along with his eldest son Prince William, officials said.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will also travel to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to be with Queen Elizabeth following news of the British monarch’s ill health, a spokesperson for the couple said on Thursday.
“Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the palace said in a statement.
Whole Country “Deeply Concerned” Over Queen Elizabeth’s Health
BY LINE : REUTERS
THU, SEPTEMBER 08, 2022
Britain’s Newly-Appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss Tweeted A Message Of Support On Thursday After Doctors Said They Were “Concerned” For Queen Elizabeth’s Health.
Truss said the whole country would be “deeply concerned” about Queen Elizabeth’s health after doctors said the 96-year-old should remain under medical supervision.
“The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” she said.
“My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”
Britain’s parliament has Queen Elizabeth in its thoughts and prayers following news that doctors were concerned for her health, speaker Lindsay Hoyle said on Thursday.
“I know I speak on behalf of the entire House when I say we send all the best wishes to her Majesty the Queen,” Hoyle said after interrupting a debate.
Keir Starmer, the leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, said on Thursday he was concerned about news from Buckingham Palace that Queen Elizabeth’s health had declined.
“Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply worried by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” he said in a statement released on Twitter.
“My thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time, and I join everyone across the United Kingdom in hoping for her recovery,” he added.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday joined other British political leaders in expressing support for Queen Elizabeth after doctors said they were “concerned” for her health.
“All of us are feeling profoundly concerned at reports of Her Majesty’s health. My thoughts and wishes are with the Queen and all of the Royal Family at this time,” Sturgeon wrote on Twitter.
The Archbishop of Canterbury joined political and religious leaders in expressing support for Queen Elizabeth amid concerns for the monarch’s health.
“My prayers, and the prayers of people across the @churchofengland and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today,” Archbishop Justin Welby wrote on Twitter.
“May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral.”
As well as monarch, Queen Elizabeth serves as Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Family members rushed to be by the side of the 96-year-old monarch after the doctors’ announcement, which said she should remain under medical supervision.
The queen, Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign and the world’s oldest monarch, has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year.
Doctors Are Concerned About The Health Of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth And Have Recommended The 96-Year-Old Remain Under Medical Supervision, Buckingham Palace Said On Thursday.
“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral”, the palace said in a statement.
A palace source said immediate members had been informed and played down speculation that the monarch had suffered a fall.
On Wednesday the queen was forced to cancel a planned virtual meeting with senior ministers after being advised to rest by her doctors.
The previous day she had been pictured appointing Liz Truss as the country’s new prime minister at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle.
Truss said the whole country would be deeply concerned by the news.
“My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time,” she said.
Drought Shrinks China’s Biggest Freshwater Lake To A Mere 10%
BY LINE : CHINA DAILY
THU, SEPTEMBER 08, 2022
Lake Poyang, The Largest Freshwater Body In China, Has Declined To Just 10 Per Cent Of Its Normal Size Since The Onset Of A Drought In August, According To The Local Water Resources Authority.
With water levels at the landmark Xingzi hydrological station dropping to 7.99 meters, the lake entered an extreme low-water state at 8am on Tuesday, the earliest since records began in 1951, according to a media release from the hydrological monitoring centre in Jiangxi province, where Poyang is located.
The drop in water levels came 115 days earlier than usual and also breaks the previous record of November 30, 2019, by 85 days.
Jiangxi has received an average of 132.2 millimetres of rain since July, 57 per cent less than average and the lowest on record for the period. Continuing heat has resulted in average evaporation levels of 329mm across the province.
“Poyang’s water level dropped from 12 metres to 8 metres in only 31 days. This is historically rare,” the centre noted.
As a result, its water surface has shrunk to an area of 291 square kilometres, or 10 per cent of its usual size. The volume of water in the lake is also only about 10 per cent of normal levels.
Consistently high temperatures, low rainfall and a significant decrease in water emptying into Poyang are to blame, the centre said.
Monitoring stations at five major rivers that empty into Poyang have reported decreases of 30 to 80 per cent less runoff since July. The situation has been exacerbated since the middle of August, the centre said, adding that the lake has received much less water from the Yangtze River.
Hou Liqiang and Wang Jian
China Daily
Asia News Network
Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily, The Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia, Dawn (Pakistan), The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), The Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).
Malaysian Ex-Minister Zahid To Know Fate On Sept 23
BY LINE : THE STAR
THU, SEPTEMBER 08, 2022
Malaysia’s Former Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi Will Know On September 23 If He Can Walk Away A Free Man Or Would Have To Defend Himself Against Allegations Of Graft In The Foreign Visa System (VLN) Case.
High Court judge Justice Mohamad Yazid Mustafa, who set the date to deliver his verdict based on whether the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against the accused, also directed both the prosecution and defence teams to file notes of their submissions by September 13.
Yesterday marked the end of both parties’ oral submissions after the prosecution closed its case.
Ahmad Zahid, 69, was charged with 33 counts of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (352.5 million baht) from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) during his tenure as home minister in order to extend the company’s contract to continue operating the one-stop centre in China and the VLN.
The alleged graft was also to ensure that the contract agreement for the supply of the VLN integrated system by the company was maintained.
He was also slapped with seven additional charges for allegedly procuring for himself S$1.15 million, 3 million ringgit (24.3 million baht), 15,000 Swiss francs (558,800 baht) and US$15,000 (549,000 baht) in his capacity as home minister.
He was accused of committing the crime between October 2014 and March 2018 in his private residence in Country Homes, Kajang, and his official residence in Putrajaya.
The Star
Asia News Network
Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily, The Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia, Dawn (Pakistan), The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), The Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).
SootinClaimon.Com 