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Princess of Wales and King Charles: one in two people develop cancer during their lives – the diseases and treatments explained

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gavin-metcalf-1340598">Gavin Metcalf</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin University</a></em></p> <p>The Princess of Wales released a <a href="https://x.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1771235267837321694?s=20">moving video message</a> on March 22 to address speculation about her health. In it, the future queen disclosed that she’d been <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68641710">diagnosed with cancer</a> following tests conducted after she underwent major abdominal surgery at a clinic in London in January.</p> <p>Catherine explained that she was undergoing “preventative chemotherapy” – but emphasised that her surgery had been successful, and that she was “well” and “getting stronger every day”.</p> <p>The message was the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/22/princess-kate-cancer-royal-family-health-annus-horribilis">second announcement</a> of a royal family cancer diagnosis in recent weeks. On February 5, Buckingham Palace <a href="https://www.royal.uk/a-statement-from-buckingham-palace-5Feb24">published a statement</a> that King Charles III had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68208157">cancer, unrelated</a> to the treatment he had been receiving for an enlarged prostate.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3xzKooCaRXU?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>The statement said that he had begun “regular treatments”. The king postponed all public-facing duties during his treatment, but <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68213383">reportedly continued</a> with his “constitutional role as head of state, including completing paperwork and holding private meetings”.</p> <p>Cancer is the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer">leading cause of death</a> worldwide. <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/#:%7E:text=The%20cancerous%20cells%20can%20invade,of%20cancer%20during%20their%20lifetime.">One in two</a> people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime – so the condition will affect almost every family. However, many cancers can be cured if, as appears to be the case with the king, the condition is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68213383">detected early</a> and treated effectively.</p> <h2>What is cancer?</h2> <p>Our bodies are made up of more than 100 billion cells, and cancer typically starts with changes in a small group of cells – or even a single one.</p> <p>We have different cell types depending upon where in the body they are and the function that the cell has. The size, amount and function of each of these cells is normally tightly regulated by genes – groups of codes held within our DNA – that instruct cells how to grow and divide.</p> <p>However, changes (mutations) to DNA can alter the way cells grow and multiply – often forming a lump, or solid tumour. Cancers can also develop in blood cells, such as white blood cell cancer which is known as leukaemia. This type of cancer does not form solid tumours; instead, the cancer builds up in the blood or sometimes the marrow in the core of bones, where blood cells are produced.</p> <p>In all, there are <a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/how-cancer-starts/types-of-cancer#:%7E:text=For%20example%2C%20nerves%20and%20muscles,of%20cell%20they%20start%20in.">more than 200</a> types of cancer, but all start with mutations in the DNA contained within each and every cell.</p> <h2>What exactly are mutations?</h2> <p>Think of your DNA as a big recipe book, and your genes as individual recipes for making different dishes. Mutations are smudges or missing words from this recipe that can result in key ingredients not being added into the mix.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8BJ8_5Gyhg8?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Regardless of the type of cancer or the cells from which it develops, mutations in our genes can result in a cell no longer understanding its instructions.</p> <p>These mutations can happen by chance when dividing, but can also be the result of lifestyle choices such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6141049/">smoking</a>, <a href="https://www.ndph.ox.ac.uk/news/new-genetic-study-confirms-that-alcohol-is-a-direct-cause-of-cancer#:%7E:text=These%20mutations%20both%20disrupt%20the,aldehyde%20dehydrogenase%202%20(ALDH2).">drinking</a>, and <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet">inactivity</a>.</p> <p>Research has found that in order for a normal cell to turn into a cancerous cell, anywhere from <a href="https://www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/1-10-mutations-are-needed-drive-cancer-scientists-find/">one to ten different mutations</a> are normally required.</p> <h2>How is cancer treated?</h2> <p>Treatment options for cancer depend on a variety of factors, including where your cancer is, how large it is, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The main treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.</p> <p>Chemotherapy uses drugs to target and kill cells that are rapidly dividing in our bodies. This approach is effective at targeting fast-growing cells in various cancers – but also has negative side effects. It also targets healthy cells that rapidly divide, such as hair and the cells lining our digestive system. This can lead to commonly reported <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chemotherapy/side-effects/">side-effects</a> such as hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q6tyQxTuBzU7vVD7SHjQ5dF-fRdqnL7S74-k5LXyTqODydsrPfJVsoaAkgyEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">Chemotherapy</a> can be used both preventatively – as in the case of the princess – and therapeutically.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FkZn5u3MIiY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Preventative chemotherapy, also known as <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/adjuvant-therapy">adjuvant chemotherapy</a>, is given after surgery or other primary treatments to eliminate any remaining cancer cells in the body. It aims to reduce the risk of the cancer returning (known as recurrence).</p> <p>Therapeutic chemotherapy is used as a treatment option for cancer that has spread or is well established, such as advanced-stage cancers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/surgery/about">Surgery</a> involves the physical removal of cancerous tissues as well as nearby lymph nodes – small glands which act as filters in your body that cancers can spread through – to eliminate the tumour. Surgery is often used to remove localised cancers that haven’t spread throughout the body.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy">Radiotherapy</a> uses high-energy radiation beams that are able to target specific areas where tumour cells are located to destroy or shrink the tumour. Radiotherapy can be applied externally or internally.</p> <p>Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are often combined in cancer treatment to improve outcomes for patients.</p> <p>Thanks to developments in cancer research over the last 50 years, survival rates have improved greatly – although the rate of improvement has <a href="https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/02/02/world-cancer-day-2024/#:%7E:text=Improvements%20in%20cancer%20survival%20have%20slowed%20in%20recent%20years&amp;text=Survival%20increased%20three%20to%20five,consistently%20lags%20behind%20comparable%20countries.">slowed recently</a>. Cancer survival depends on various factors such as age – people under 40 have a <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/age">greater chance</a> of survival – overall health and fitness, as well as family history.</p> <h2>What you should do</h2> <p>Particular changes in your body or warning symptoms could indicate the presence of cancer. These include, but are not limited to:</p> <ul> <li>Unexplained weight loss;</li> <li>Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest;</li> <li>Changes in bowel or bladder habits;</li> <li>Persistent cough or coughing up blood;</li> <li>Difficulty swallowing;</li> <li>Persistent pain;</li> <li>Noticing lumps, such as in a breast or testicle.</li> </ul> <p>The symptoms may not necessarily be the result of cancer. But it is important to get checked by a doctor if you notice anything out of the ordinary or have had persistent symptoms that don’t ease. Early detection and treatment can <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aay9040">significantly improve</a> outcomes for many types of cancer.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226456/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gavin-metcalf-1340598">Gavin Metcalf</a>, Cancer Biologist and Lecturer in Biomedical Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/anglia-ruskin-university-1887">Anglia Ruskin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/princess-of-wales-and-king-charles-one-in-two-people-develop-cancer-during-their-lives-the-diseases-and-treatments-explained-226456">original article</a>.</em></p>

Caring

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Princess Kate sensationally speaks out over photo fiasco

<p>Kensington Palace's attempt to quell speculation about Kate Middleton's health has ignited a storm of controversy, raising concerns about the future Queen's well-being to feverish levels.</p> <p>The Princess of Wales, at 42, issued an unprecedented statement on Monday morning, UK time, taking responsibility for what was described as <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/princess-kate-s-post-surgery-pic-ignites-even-wilder-conspiracy-theories" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"editing" an official portrait </a> released on Sunday for Mother’s Day.</p> <p>This portrait, featuring Kate alongside her three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – was eagerly anticipated as it marked the first sighting of the Princess since her mysterious abdominal surgery in January and subsequent disappearance from the public eye.</p> <p>However, far from dispelling concerns, the photograph seemed to amplify existing suspicions about her health, with many pointing out apparent discrepancies and suggesting it had been manipulated. The situation escalated when four major photo agencies issued "kill notice" orders for the image, alleging it had been "manipulated at the source [palace]."</p> <p>In a rare move, Kate Middleton took to X (Twitter) to address the controversy directly, admitting to the editing mishap and expressing regret for any confusion caused by the altered image. </p> <p>"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C"</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Despite her efforts to diffuse the situation, the fallout continued to unravel. </span>Royal watchers and fans reacted strongly to the events, with some accusing the palace of using Kate as a scapegoat and questioning the integrity of the institution itself. Omid Scobie, a UK author known for his association with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, highlighted the palace's history of misinformation and suggested that regaining public trust would be an uphill battle.</p> <p>“It’s fair to say that most photos released by the offices of public figures have been retouched in some way, so *if* this was an isolated incident then it would just be an unfortunate error," Scobie wrote.</p> <p>"But with the Palace’s long history of lying, covering up, and even issuing statements on behalf of family members without their permission (cc: Prince Harry), it’s becoming increasingly difficult for the public to believe a word (and now photo) they share. Gaining that back at this point is an almost impossible task.” </p> <p>Piers Morgan strongly urged the palace to release the unedited version of the photo to quell speculation. Failure to do so, he warned, would only fuel further conspiracy theories.</p> <p>As the debate raged on social media, with Kate Middleton's name trending worldwide, users dissected the image, pointing out inconsistencies and suggesting alternative theories. The withdrawal of the photo by major news agencies, citing editorial issues, have only added fuel to the fire, further intensifying speculation.</p> <p>Amidst the controversy, Princess Kate's prolonged absence from the public eye following her hospitalisation in January has only heightened concerns. <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/kate-middleton-spotted-for-the-first-time-since-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Her recent appearance</a>, photographed near Windsor Castle, marked her first public sighting in over two months, adding to the intrigue surrounding her health.</p> <p>As the debate continues, the fallout from this incident may have lasting implications for both Kate Middleton and the institution she represents.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Princess Kate's post-surgery pic ignites even wilder conspiracy theories

<p>In a recent revelation that has the internet buzzing, Kensington Palace released a brand new photo of the Princess of Wales alongside her adorable brood, but it seems like the royal family might be playing with more than just thrones and crowns.</p> <p>The picture, meant to express gratitude to the public for their support during Catherine's recovery from abdominal surgery, quickly became a subject of speculation, leaving royal enthusiasts scratching their heads and raising eyebrows faster than you can say "corgi".</p> <p>The image, which features Catherine sitting and embracing her children – Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte – in the scenic backdrop of Windsor, seems like a wholesome Mother's Day tribute at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, the cracks in this picture-perfect façade begin to show.</p> <p>Social media erupted with theories faster than a racehorse at Ascot. Some eagle-eyed observers speculated that the photo might have been the handiwork of artificial intelligence, citing suspiciously green grass and leaves in the dead of winter, a rarity even in England where the weather is as unpredictable as a teenage royal's romantic interests.</p> <p>"AI is that you?" asked one astute commentator on Instagram, voicing the suspicions of many.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4U_IqTNaqU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4U_IqTNaqU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Ummmmm, this photo looks doctored…" wrote another astute reader. "Catherine’s right hand around Louis is entirely blurry but the left hand around Charlotte, at the same distance to the camera, is not, and either is Louis’ jumper around the hand blurry. Also Charlotte’s dress, which is clothing her torso behind her arm, impedes on the sleeve at the wrist… the cardigan sleeve shows the dress in front of it, when it should only be behind. And Louis’ middle finger must be awfully long to be entirely wrapped around the next finger without being able to see the finger nail… it’s also blurry. I’m a keen photographer, and those are not true elements of a photo as taken."</p> <p>But wait, there's more! The absence of Catherine's wedding ring did not escape the notice of keen observers, prompting questions about the state of her marriage. "WHERE'S YOUR RING??!" demanded one fan, while another pondered, "no ring, tree in full bloom in winter, jeans after major abdominal surgery, face shape completely different from car photo."</p> <p>And if that wasn't enough to fuel the royal gossip mill, Prince Louis's peculiar finger-crossing gesture sent conspiracy theorists into overdrive. Is he sending secret messages? Or is it just further evidence that we're all living in a simulation run by an eccentric royal fan with a knack for Photoshop?</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Additionally, a subtle misalignment in Princess Charlotte's hand compared to her jumper sleeve raised clear suspicions of digital manipulation. As the speculation grew louder, four of the world's largest photo agencies – The Associated Press, AFP, Getty Images and Reuters – issued a "mandatory kill notice", on the image, effectively retracting it from circulation.</span></p> <p>The reasons cited varied slightly among the agencies, with mentions of "editorial issues" and inconsistencies in the photograph's details. The decision to retract the photo wasn't taken lightly; it's a standard protocol for picture agencies to withdraw images that have been significantly altered.</p> <p>The reaction on social media was swift, with royal watchers and media personalities dissecting the image for clues. Chris Ship, ITV News's royal editor, shared close-up sections of the photo, highlighting apparent discrepancies in Charlotte's sleeve, Prince Louis's jumper, and the background behind him. His commentary underscored the seriousness of the situation, questioning Kensington Palace – the source of the photo – about the authenticity of the image.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I’ve never been much of a conspiracy theorist but if <a href="https://twitter.com/AP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AFP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reuters</a> &amp; other picture agencies are concerned enough to remove it and ask clients to delete it, there are serious questions for Kensington Palace - which was the source of the photo.<br />These appears to be the issues 👇 <a href="https://t.co/ifcSB9mUzu">https://t.co/ifcSB9mUzu</a> <a href="https://t.co/bH5gN9fJtJ">pic.twitter.com/bH5gN9fJtJ</a></p> <p>— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisshipitv/status/1766947758529822803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Amidst the fervent speculation, Kensington Palace remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the allegations of photo manipulation. The lack of clarity has only fuelled the fire, leading to further conjecture about the intentions behind the controversial image.</p> <p>In a world where every pixel is scrutinised and every detail dissected, the royal family's attempt at a heartwarming family photo has turned into a comedic saga worthy of a Shakespearean farce.</p> <p>As the internet continues to buzz with speculation, one thing is for certain: when it comes to the royals, truth is often stranger than fiction. Or in this case, more digitally manipulated than reality TV.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Belgium royal accused of copying the Princess of Wales

<p dir="ltr">A dress worn by Belgium’s Princess Delphine has caused a stir over its similarity to one of Princess Kate’s recent looks.</p> <p dir="ltr">The original designer of Kate’s dress, Andrew Gn, has called out Belgian design label Atelier ExC for creating a “shameless copy” of his work.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Singaporean designer expressed his anger via an Instagram story which has since expired.</p> <p dir="ltr">Princess Delphine wore a dress that featured colourful swirls and a blue trim that was embellished by matching blue crystals, during the country's National Day celebrations on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her dress bared a striking resemblance to the Princess of Wales’ green dress with satin trimmings and jewelled button-like decorations, which she wore at Trooping the Colour in June.</p> <p dir="ltr">Not only that, Gn had also worked closely with hat designer Philip Treacy to create a wide-brimmed hat for Kate, and Princess Delphine was pictured with a similar looking hat on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The stylist who designed Princess Delphine’s outfit has denied the claims and said that her look was “inspired” by vintage Chanel.</p> <p dir="ltr">"For Princess Delphine's dress we were inspired by the Chanel style of the '60s," Jody Van Geert told <em>Vanity Fair </em>Spain.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Both the designer of Kate's dress and Atelier ExC copied from the best. Therefore, it is purely coincidental that the dresses are similar.</p> <p dir="ltr">"And, in fact, there are differences, like the ruffles on Princess Delphine's dress."</p> <p dir="ltr">Some royal fans were quick to judge, taking to Instagram to express their critiques.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When you ordered Kate's dress from wish," wrote one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It seems the Shein version of Catherine's outfit,” echoed another.</p> <p dir="ltr">However there were a few others who defended Atelier ExC’s design choices.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm a huge fan of AG so I can see why one would be inspired by him. His work is breath-taking,” wrote one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Everybody is inspired by someone. Kate's green dress by Andrew Gn was inspired by a hundred dresses before him, even with the buttons,” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Prince William shares sweet Father’s Day photo

<p dir="ltr">Prince William has shared a few sweet snaps with his children in celebration of Father’s Day in the UK.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Prince of Wales took to Instagram to post the wholesome picture of him with Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, on Sunday to celebrate the annual holiday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy Father’s Day ❤️," he captioned the photo.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the first photo, the royal can be seen wrapping his arms around his two older kids, George and Charlotte, while Louis sat on his lap with a cheeky smile on his face.</p> <p dir="ltr">The second photo showed the royal family’s playful side with Louis wrapping his arms around Prince William, while his siblings laughed at his antics.</p> <p dir="ltr">The royal siblings all wore blue to match their dad. Charlotte looked beautiful in a floral print dress with a pastel blue cardigan, while George looked dashing and mature in a chequered shirt and jeans. Louis looked adorable in a knit sweater, striped shirt and shorts.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctn8MqkNqRV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctn8MqkNqRV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The photographs were taken on the Windsor Estate earlier this year by Millie Pilkington, who commented on the post and said, “Thank you so much for entrusting me to take this portrait. Truly honoured.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans took to the comments to wish Prince Willam a happy Father’s Day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What a wholesome photo of a dad and his young kids 😍” wrote one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Happy Father's Day to Prince William and all fathers out there!” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can see they love their Dad very much :) I do love how affectionate William is with his children, it’s so important to have them know they are loved!” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Charlotte is her late grandma's blueprint, she must make prince William's heart skip a beat every time he looks at her,” one fan noted.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Kate and Will's stunning appearance at royal wedding

<p dir="ltr">The Prince and Princess of Wales were spotted at the spectacular royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Alseif.</p> <p dir="ltr">The royal couple travelled all the way to Amman, Jordan to attend the wedding ceremony which took place on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Jordanian Crown Prince tied the knot in an Islamic marriage ceremony at Zahran Palace, which was followed by a reception at Al Husseiniya Palace hosting over 1,700 guests.</p> <p dir="ltr">Upon arrival Princess Kate was the epitome of grace, as she dipped into a curtsy while greeting the parents of the groom, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple also reportedly had a lengthy chat with the King and Queen of Jordan.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the ceremony, Prince William and Princess Kate warmly greeted the newlyweds with hugs and kisses on the cheeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">Princess Kate looked stunning in a pink maxi gown with long sleeves which she complimented with a pair of statement earrings and sparkly gold clutch.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince William donned a dark blue suit which he complimented with a white dress shirt and light blue tie.</p> <p dir="ltr">The exclusive line up included Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo, Denmark's Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik, Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, among others.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Prince and Princess of Wales have been close friends with Jordan's royal family for a while. In 2018, during his official visit to Jordan, Prince William spent time with Crown Prince Hussein, escorted him to the Roman ruins of Jerash and watched soccer together.<em>Images: Royal Hashemite Court Handout / Youtube / Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Queen Bee Catherine delights in unusual getup

<p>Catherine, Princess of Wales, has gotten into the spirit of World Bee Day with a bee-autiful new look. </p> <p>In a picture shared to the prince and princess’s official Instagram account, taken the previous year by photographer Matt Porteous, Kate could be seen standing in front of a beehive in a full beige beekeeper suit - complete with a protective veiled hat and boots - and holding a rack covered in the pollinators.</p> <p>“We are buzzing about #WorldBeeDay,” came the honeyed words of the post’s caption. “Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem and today is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy.”</p> <p>While the image was taken at Kate’s country home in Norfolk, beekeeping is reportedly one of Kate’s long-treasured hobbies, and she even has bees at home at Anmer Hall. And in June 2021, she turned that beloved hob-bee into a sweet - albeit quite sticky - affair, taking a jar of her own honey to give to children at London’s Natural History Museum.</p> <p>The royal honey isn’t limited to just Kate’s hives, either, with both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House producing their own for their hardworking kitchens - enough that they could be considered self-sufficient.</p> <p>Despite their success on the honey front, however, all attention in 2023 was on Kate and her suit - though some made note of her previous gift-giving in their comments, among the loving buzz towards the princess. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsdcUTmNhGk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsdcUTmNhGk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Even in this outfit she looks stunning! Whatever she wears she always looks so classy and beautiful,” one fan wrote. </p> <p>“Oooh, I remember The Princess bringing honey from her bees to an engagement and let the children taste it,” another shared. “Lovely photo!”</p> <p>Meanwhile, another had to ask, “is there anything that this lady can’t do? I don’t think so.”</p> <p>“Awww, a ‘honey’ checking the Bees,” wrote one devoted pun-ster. </p> <p>Some - while pleased with this latest insight into royal life - were grateful to Kate for raising awareness over the important date, with one writing “thanks for shining a light on so many important matters.”</p> <p>“Such an informative update! i have no idea there's something called #WorldBeeDay haha,” one declared. </p> <p>“There is and you can have a small bee lover plant to benefit bees in your area,” came a well-intended suggestion in response, “they love lavender.” </p> <p>And as another put it, “wow she’s a beekeeper too, lucky bees”, before noting that she “will be the queen bee anyway”.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Princess of Wales shares new photo of daughter

<p>Princess Charlotte of Wales celebrated her eighth birthday on May 2 2023.</p> <p>Kensington Palace has shared a new photo of the young royal to commemorate the special day, saying, “The Prince and Princess of Wales are delighted to share a new photograph of Princess Charlotte ahead of her eighth birthday.”</p> <p>Just like the images posted in 2022 to mark her seventh birthday, Princess Charlotte bears a striking resemblance to her father.</p> <p>The pair seem to share a number of similar facial features, including their eyes and nose, and expressions.</p> <p>The birthday photo, taken by her mother, the Princess of Wales, follows a long-standing tradition started by Catherine soon after her marriage to Prince William 12 years ago.</p> <p>The photo saw Princess Charlotte near the family’s home, Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor.</p> <p>She is shown sitting in a white wicker chair, with a beaming smile, wearing a white dress with floral embroidery.</p> <p>The new portrait comes shortly after the fifth birthday of Charlotte’s younger brother Prince Louis.</p> <p>However, breaking from tradition, the two photos shared by the palace on April 23 were taken by photographer Millie Pilkington rather than Kate.</p> <p>Instead, the Princess of Wales was captured in one of the images pushing her young son in a wheelbarrow.</p> <p>The Princess of Wales has been photographing her children for special occasions since soon after the birth of her first child, Prince George, and has chosen a more personal approach to royal family portraits.</p> <p>She’s been praised by professional photographers for her skills and ability to capture her children so organically.</p> <p>Princess Charlotte is said to join her parents Prince William and Kate, and brothers Prince George and Prince Louis at the coronation of King Charles on May 6.</p> <p>She is not believed to have an official role due to her age but she will take part in a procession with her two brothers from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace following the ceremony.</p> <p>They will ride in a carriage close behind the Gold State Coach carrying the King and Queen Consort Camilla.</p> <p>Prince George will <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/palace-confirms-prince-george-s-role-at-coronation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">play a special role</a> during the ceremony, acting as one of the King’s four pages as the monarch enters the Abbey.</p> <p>They will be joined by the Princess Royal, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.</p> <p>Princess Anne, who is a former Olympic equestrian is set to ride horseback behind the Gold State Coach.</p> <p>This role is formally given the title of Gold-Stick-in-Waiting, a position that has historically been given to the person trusted with looking after the Monarch’s safety.</p> <p>Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are not expected to participate.</p> <p>It was previously revealed that Prince Harry <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/king-charles-coronation-harry-is-in-meghan-is-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will be in attendance</a> but Meghan will remain in Montecito, California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.</p> <p>However, Prince Harry's visit will likely be short-lived as he will return to California to celebrate Prince Archie's fourth birthday that same day.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Princess of Wales delights in new family photo

<p>Kensington Palace have shared a new snap of Kate, Princess of Wales, and her three children in honour of Mother’s Day in the UK. </p> <p>The snap, shared to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account, sees Kate sitting in a tree, surrounded by her kids - Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4. </p> <p>“Happy Mother’s Day from our family to yours,” the post was captioned. </p> <p>The royals’ Norfolk estate is believed to have been the location for the shoot, and Mat Porteous - who has previously acted as photographer for the couple and their young family - was behind the lens. </p> <p>Like the family’s 2021 Christmas card and previous portraits of the children, the latest snap sees them outside, enjoying the sunshine together. Kate has spoken before of the importance of the outdoors, encouraging children everywhere to head outside and experience what the world has to offer them - a lesson, it seems, she is keen on passing on to her own kids.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp99RBWtx_V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp99RBWtx_V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fans of the royal family wasted no time in sharing their love in the comments of the post, and wishing Kate the happiest of Mother’s Days. </p> <p>“Happy Mother’s Day to you Catherine,” wrote one. “It is so clear to see through the pictures how wonderful and doting mum you are … have an amazing day.”</p> <p>“Happy Mother's Day to our lovely Princess, a wonderful mummy to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and baby Prince Louis,” echoed another. </p> <p>“Now that’s what you call a family tree,” came one joke. </p> <p>Meanwhile, another shared the opinion that it was “nice to see the kids being kids, dressed in everyday clothes.”</p> <p>One, who’d obviously gotten quite the fright with differing dates for Mother’s Day, declared that “every man in America just panicked for a moment.”</p> <p>And one took the time to pay tribute to those who may not be having such a joyous experience on Mother’s Day, writing, “and thinking of those without their mothers, those yearning to be mothers, those with strained relations, those who have lost children.”</p> <p>In a similar post to the former sentiment, the Royal Palace’s official Twitter account shared some snaps on behalf of Charles and Camilla, along with the caption, “To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special #MothersDay.”</p> <p>The second series of snaps sees a young Charles on his late mother’s lap, and Camilla with her own late mother, Rosalind. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">💐 To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MothersDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MothersDay</a>. <a href="https://t.co/v3ugcnH8pJ">pic.twitter.com/v3ugcnH8pJ</a></p> <p>— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1637265329003872256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>It was Charles’ first Mother’s Day celebration without Elizabeth, who passed away in 2022. </p> <p>It is the King's first Mother's Day without the Queen, who died on September 8, 2022, aged 96.</p> <p>Many in the comments there had kind words for Charles, and opened up about their own experiences with missing their mothers, coming together on what was a bittersweet holiday for them all. </p> <p>“We see them as king and queen but at the end of the day they were [also a] much loved son and daughter of devoted [and] loving Mums,” said one supporter. </p> <p>“Charles, you lost your mother on September 8th during my 1st visit to England,” another shared. “I lost mine on July 22nd.  So I understand how you felt & feel on this 1st Mother's Day since their passing. I sense our mothers raised us well & they will live on forever in our hearts & soul.”</p> <p>“Our Mothers are ALWAYS with us. I truly believe that,” one more fan stated. “My thoughts are with all who are missing (like me) these Incredible, Inspirational, Beautiful and Courageous women we were (and are always) privileged to call ‘Mummy’.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“A ray of sunshine”: Catherine’s heartwarming visit to miracle baby

<p>A mother from West Sussex has recounted the experience of having Catherine, Princess of Wales, meet her young daughter Amaya-Rae. </p> <p>When Amaya-Rae was born at only 23 weeks and classed as a “late miscarriage” in August 2021, her parents were left heartbroken. </p> <p>Amaya-Rae had already beaten the odds by surviving what was described as a traumatic birth, but the family’s medical team didn’t have high hopes for the baby girl, advising her parents to say their goodbyes. </p> <p>Over the course of 360 days in hospital, Amaya-Rae’s family were told on eight separate occasions that she was not going to make it, but she had other ideas. </p> <p>“It’s nothing short of a miracle,” her mother, Mischa, said, “I’m not religious but I really do believe she has had someone watching over her, telling her it’s not her time to go yet, sending her back.</p> <p>“At first, each time we were told to say goodbye to her, our world just crumbled.”</p> <p>Amaya-Rae went on to prove her mum right and her doctors wrong, defying all of the odds in her fight to survive. Now, she is almost eighteen months old, and safe at home with her family. </p> <p>Despite the heartbreak that came with their time in hospital, Amaya-Rae’s mum has opened up about one bright moment in the dark: a visit from Princess Catherine. </p> <p>“When we were in the Evelina Children’s Hospital, we were totally stunned when Catherine, Princess of Wales, made an unexpected visit,” Mischa recalled. “Catherine was so lovely, she listened intently to Amaya’s story, and genuinely seemed so taken with her and asked such a lot of questions.</p> <p>“She seemed totally besotted, complimenting her smiles and her outfit. Amaya couldn't take her eyes off her, she was transfixed. </p> <p>“Someone suggested we take her to see a Disney Princess show at Christmas, but we joked she only deals with actual royalty now.”</p> <p>Amaya-Rae’s need for specialist care saw her transferred to the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where she stayed for 166 days before getting to go home. It was there, at the children’s hospital, that she came face-to-face with the real-life princess. </p> <p>Catherine, who is the hospital’s patron, was there on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnxfEqxs3v2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnxfEqxs3v2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by amayarae_ story (@amayarae_story)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>As Mischa explained, she was “with Amaya and her nurse came in and said we had someone who’d like to visit us. I was stunned when I realised who it was, I kept saying it couldn’t be her because it was the Jubilee weekend.” </p> <p>The nurse, she said, told them that Catherine had come to visit the families who couldn’t be out celebrating, and that after being told about Amaya-Rae, she had requested to meet her. </p> <p>“There were no press there, we didn’t see any bodyguards,” Mischa said of the meeting, “she just popped in to meet the children. She was so lovely.”</p> <p>In an interview with the <em>Mirror</em>, Mischa added, “when the nurses told me she was in the hospital and wanted to meet Amaya-Rae, I completely panicked.”</p> <p>“She was in her nappy. I ran around finding something presentable for her to wear. But as soon as Kate walked in through the door, all the nervousness disappeared."</p> <p>After speaking on Catherine’s calming demeanour, and how Amaya-Rae was “transfixed” with the princess, Mischa reflected on their experience and the surprise introduction, saying, “there are some really dark days in a children's hospital, and for our family - and lots of others - there isn't much to look forward to. </p> <p>“Everybody who met Kate said it gave them such a pick-me-up. She was a ray of sunshine in a really frightening time."</p> <p>Mischa’s miracle, her ray of sunshine, is now home. Though Amaya-Rae will require oxygen for another few months, and faces some underlying conditions that Mischa hopes will be manageable and won’t hold Amaya-Rae back, she is happy to report that her daughter is just like anyone else her age. </p> <p>“She is doing so well. She’s such a happy, chilled out little girl. You’d never know what she’s been through.”</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Princess of Wales shows off her tree-decorating skills

<p dir="ltr">The Princess of Wales has given fans another glimpse into her Christmas spirit ahead of the holiday season.</p> <p dir="ltr">A few hours before her second annual <em>Royal Carols: Together at Christmas</em> concert, the Princess shared a video of herself decorating a tree.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Final touches before the #TogetherAtChristmas' Carol Service tomorrow," the caption read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video shows a cheerful Kate dressed in a white turtle neck as she decorates a festive fir at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans commented on the video, wishing the Royal Family a Merry Christmas.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Prince and Princess,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Season greetings your RH Catherine Princess of Wales,” another commented.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Final touches ahead of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherAtChristmas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherAtChristmas</a> Carol Service tomorrow 🎄 <a href="https://t.co/mixjI8d5TD">pic.twitter.com/mixjI8d5TD</a></p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1603129389927071749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“What a beautiful video. I’m so excited,” someone else wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">The concert was a family affair with the support of Prince William, King Charles and the Queen Consort.</p> <p dir="ltr">The concert also celebrated the life of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8.</p> <p dir="ltr">There were several choir performances of Christmas classics, including readings by the Prince of Wales and an introduction from The Princess of Wales.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Royal Carols: Together at Christmas </em>is set to air on ITV on Christmas Eve.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Prince and Princess of Wales release family Christmas card!

<p dir="ltr">The Prince and Princess of Wales have released their Christmas card for 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr">The stunning photo shows Prince William and Kate Middleton holding hands with their three children Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7 and Prince Louis, 4, in the British countryside of Norfolk.</p> <p dir="ltr">All five family members appear to be colour coordinating in white, denim and blue with beaming smiles.</p> <p dir="ltr">The image was taken earlier this year by photographer Matt Porteous, who had joined the family on their tour to the Caribbean.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sharing a new picture of the family for this year’s Christmas card!” their caption on Instagram read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo received almost 2 million likes with many fans wishing the family a Merry Christmas as well as thanking them for sharing the photo.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmH_qcOtUx_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmH_qcOtUx_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Happy Christmas to your family! Thank you for sharing!” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What a great photo of your beautiful family!” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Beautiful family. Merry Christmas,” someone else wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A beautiful family, have a wonderful Christmas,” another read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Their photo comes just days after <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/charles-and-camilla-release-first-christmas-card-as-king-and-queen-consort" target="_blank" rel="noopener">King Charles III and his wife Camilla</a>, the Queen Consort released their Christmas card.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Princess of Wales stuns in breathtaking new portrait

<p dir="ltr">The Princess of Wales has released a breathtaking portrait ahead of the Christmas carol concert which she is hosting.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kate Middleton stuns in a beautiful red dress from British brand Needle and Thread, which retails for $850.</p> <p dir="ltr">She is seen posing in front of a Christmas tree in a decorated room as part of ITV’s Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Princess of Wales will host the <em>Together at Christmas</em> service on December 15, with the support of Prince William, King Charles and the Queen Consort which will celebrate the life of Queen Elizabeth II.</p> <p dir="ltr">The program will also include the choir performing all the classics, including readings by the Prince of Wales and an introduction from The Princess of Wales.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans were in awe over the portrait and the Princess’s outfit, wishing her the best for when she hosts the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wow, Princess of Wales looking stunning and classy,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“First Christmas without our beloved Queen Elizabeth II. What a wonderful and touching tribute The Princess of Wales pays to her,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our Princess looks so christmassy. I can’t wait to watch her carol service,” another person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Kate Middleton’s touching gesture to child

<p dir="ltr">Kate Middleton has once again shown her affection for young children by offering up her poppy to a young child who didn’t have one.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Princess of Wales was visiting Colham Manor Children's Centre as a royal patron for the Maternal Mental Health Alliance.</p> <p dir="ltr">A mother of three herself, the Princess spoke to new mums and families who have struggled since giving birth.</p> <p dir="ltr">On her way out, she bumped into three-year-old Akeem, who bombarded Kate with a series of questions – including asking for her name.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What is your name?” the curious kid asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My name is Catherine. Nice to meet you,” she responded.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">It’s not everyday you get a poppy from a Princess 😊 Akeem who’s 3 was very chatty when Kate unexpectedly stopped to say hello at a maternity mental health visit so she gave him her remembrance poppy. Thanks Liberty from Colham Manor primary and Akeem’s mum for letting me share <a href="https://t.co/ykP1wyujtf">pic.twitter.com/ykP1wyujtf</a></p> <p>— Rhiannon Mills (@SkyRhiannon) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyRhiannon/status/1590323556126457857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">She then asked Akeem if he had a poppy, pointing to her own, before he reached over and said, “No, I haven't found one”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Would you like mine?" the Princess then asked, to which Akeem said yes – at which point she proceeded to take off her poppy.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Do you know what this is for? It's for remembering all the soldiers who died in the war," the Princess told the young boy as she removed the poppy from her coat.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Here you go, that’s for you. You look after it,” she then said to the excited child before handing the sharp pin to his mother.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Our extraordinary Queen": William's first statement as new Prince of Wales

<p>Prince William has shared a statement following the death of Queen Elizabeth, reflecting on her special relationship with her great-grandchildren. </p> <p>The heir apparent released the emotional statement two days after the death of the monarch, honouring the Queen's life both professionally and personally.</p> <p>The king-to-be began the acknowledgement by saying "the world lost an extraordinary leader" with an "absolute" to commitment to the people she governed.</p> <p>The new Prince of Wales focused on his familial loss, and how the royal family are dealing with their grief. </p> <p>"On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute. So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign," the royal wrote.</p> <p>"I, however, have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen's wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade."</p> <p>The Duke of Cornwall went on to honour the role Her Majesty played in his wife Catherine's life, and the lives of his three children, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.</p> <p>"My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives."</p> <p>The emotional tribute recalled how the Queen, or "Grannie" to William, remained a pillar for the duke throughout his key life experiences.</p> <p>"She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real."</p> <p>The 40-year-old prince ended his statement with a final emotional display of gratitude for the longest-serving monarch.</p> <p>"I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me. And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all.</p> <p>"My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love. All of the sadness we will feel in the coming weeks will be testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen.</p> <p>"I will honour her memory by supporting my father, The King, in every way I can."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Self-taught 14-year-old artist offered thousands for paintings

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During lockdown, it was not uncommon for most people to try a new hobby they had been putting off. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But for 14-year-old Makenzy, it was a starting point for incredible success. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During a period of self-isolation in Wales, Makenzy Beard found some old acrylic paints and an easel that once belonged to her mother, and decided to try her hand at painting. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her first piece, an incredible portrait of her farming neighbour John Tucker, went viral on social media. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She told the </span><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57670603"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BBC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the portrait took about 20 hours to complete over a three-week period.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/COGXvlHH1Ax/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COGXvlHH1Ax/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Makenzy Beard (@makenzy_beard)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I was very busy at the time I decided to do this one, so I was taking five minutes before school, an hour after school before sport. It was all broken down, I never spent one long extended period of time on it", she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Makezny said her subject John “is a wonderful person and has a really lovely, kind and friendly demeanour," and thought he would be the perfect person to paint. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The post racked up thousands of likes online, as she was encouraged by art fans around the world to keep up her extraordinary talent. </span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpfvXipcmU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpfvXipcmU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Makenzy Beard (@makenzy_beard)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After adding more works to her collection, Makenzy has had her works displayed in a gallery in Cardiff. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some pieces have captured the attention of international art dealers, with one of her paintings selling for $18,000AUD.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the pieces in her showcase is a portrait of her grandfather Bernard Davis, but Makenzy said she will be keeping the artwork due to its sentimental value.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUid6kGo0n6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUid6kGo0n6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Makenzy Beard (@makenzy_beard)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite having international offers on her artwork, Makenzy is still keeping her options open in regards to her future. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While she is passionate about art, the 14-year-old is happy just keeping her talents as a hobby as she focuses on school. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Director of Blackwater Gallery, Kimberley Lewis, said, "I think anyone can be a good portrait artist, but I think it takes a lot to show real personality and the soul of a person through their pieces and I think for someone so young, Makenzy does this brilliantly."</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram @makenzy_beard</span></em></p>

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Daring mum seeks revenge on her noisy neighbours

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A mum in Wales has come up with a genius way to seek revenge against her noisy neighbours while on holiday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heather Minshull and her family were trying to enjoy a peaceful holiday at a Welsh holiday park, when their neighbours had other plans.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a caravan next door, Heather and her family could hear their rowdy neighbours having a loud get-together after arriving at midnight and blasting The Beatles at full volume. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Heather asked politely if they could turn their music down, they simply refused. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a sleepless night, Heather played out her ingenious revenge plan: by waking them up at 7am with the sound of screeching seagulls. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The clever mum got a leftover loaf of bread and threw it on top of their caravan roof, attracting a flock of the noisy birds. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heather, originally from Manchester, shared her devious plan on TikTok, with the caption reading, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Was I wrong? I think not” and “Payback’s a b**ch.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She said in her video that her plan was a success, saying “The group woke up straight away.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There were three young men in the caravan, as they came outside to investigate the noise.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heather said, “They were all looking angry and rough, and clueless over what was going on!”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: TikTok @heatherminsh</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Moved beyond words": Prince Charles reflects on UK COVID pandemic

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Prince Charles has been "moved beyond words" as he released a video message marking the National Day of Reflection in the UK.</p> <p>The National Day of Reflection marks one year since the first COVID-19 lockdown started in the UK and honours the 126,000 lives lost since the start of the pandemic with a minute silence at midday UK time.</p> <p>The Prince of Wales has battled coronavirus himself in April and paid tribute to the communities across the UK that have banded together and sacrificed for others.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">One year on since the UK went into lockdown, The Prince of Wales, as Patron of <a href="https://twitter.com/mariecurieuk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mariecurieuk</a>, shares a message to mark this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayOfReflection?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DayOfReflection</a>. 🌼 <a href="https://t.co/sRY7Ba6Czy">pic.twitter.com/sRY7Ba6Czy</a></p> — The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClarenceHouse/status/1374283438434443267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>"We have all been inspired by the resourcefulness we have witnessed, humbled by the dedication shown by so many, and moved, beyond words, by the sacrifices we have seen," he said in the clip.</p> <p>"Whatever our faith or philosophy may be, let us take a moment together to remember those who have been lost, to give thanks for their lives, and to acknowledge the inexpressible pain of parting.</p> <p>"In their memory, let us resolve to work for a future inspired by our highest values, that have been displayed so clearly by the people of this country through this most challenging of times."</p> <p>The video message was recorded on behalf of the Marie Curie Foundation where Prince Charles is the royal patron.</p> <p>The charity estimates six million people have been bereaved since the beginning of the pandemic.</p> <p>"Many people who are grieving say the support they receive from their friends and family is one of the things that helps them get through," the charity said, adding: "Don't be afraid to reach out."</p> </div> </div> </div>

Caring

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Prince Charles gears up for showdown with Prince Andrew

<p>Prince Charles is reportedly furious with his brother Prince Andrew as the scandals surrounding the Duke of York continue to grow.</p> <p>As the Prince of Wales is flying back to the United Kingdom after his tour of New Zealand and the Solomon Islands, he is reportedly furious about his brother’s disastrous BBC interview.</p> <p>According to insiders, the Prince of Wales is furious that the BBC interview overshadowed his royal tour and is planning to speak to the Duke of York when he returns on Tuesday.</p> <p>This comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Andrew would be “standing back” from all his patronages as well as his royal duties.</p> <p>“The Duke has over 230 patronages. He will be stepping back from public duty and temporarily standing back from all his patronages,” a spokeswoman told the PA news agency.</p> <p>However, Prince Andrew will continue to work on his Pitch@Palace program, which is a program designed to help young entrepreneurs. The program was dropped by several Australian universities last week after the interview.</p> <p>“(The Duke) will look at how he takes this forward outside of his public duties, and outside of Buckingham Palace. We recognise there will be a period of time while this transition takes place,” the spokeswoman said.</p> <p>A royal insider told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/prince-andrew-election-fears-made-charles-call-for-duke-to-be-removed-39xfn0ntn" target="_blank">The Times</a></em><span> </span>that questioning whether or not Prince Andrew was “fit for purpose” on<span> </span><em>IITV<span> </span></em>was the final straw for Prince Charles.</p> <p>The questions were posed to Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn during their first election debate.</p> <p>“Prince Charles and his private secretary were determined that this should not be allowed to drag on and on. The question of the election was critical,” they said.</p> <p>Former BBC correspondent Peter Hunt says that the Queen had no choice but to make her son step down after the scandal.</p> <p>“After her error of judgment when she let Andrew do the interview, the palace are keen to show a decisive Queen,” former BBC correspondent Peter Hunt said on Twitter.</p> <p>“But it’s Charles and his people who are increasingly pulling the strings.”</p>

International Travel

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“Complete joke”: Wallabies World Cup “disgraceful” move

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wallabies star Samu Kerevi has said he would consider a switch to the NRL after being penalised for a controversial tactic - a move that contributed to Australia’s 29-25 loss on Sunday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sportsman was whistled for a penalty after his fend-off of Welsh fly half Rhys Patchell appeared to slip up to the opponents throat. </span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B28Z4N2j9Fe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B28Z4N2j9Fe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by SAMUELÁ VATUNIVEIVUKE (@samukerevi_)</a> on Sep 27, 2019 at 10:52pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Captain Michael Hooper became clearly frustrated after the third penalty was awarded against the Wallabies in the first half. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The match referee Romain Poite’s explanation for the penalty was given following an extensive number of replays. </span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7831302/wallabies-rugby-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1bdac0888bce471bb3e872d1a060431f" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em> Samu Kerevi was penalised for leading with the arm against Wales' Rhys Patchell.</em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They deemed Kerevi had dangerously raised his forearm into Patchell's chest/neck area.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, he believes he has done nothing wrong and slow motion replays had worked against him. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I've been playing with that for my whole career. It's the first time I've heard that I can't lead with my arms and bump," he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The worrying thing is if he's falling and I keep moving forward, which I would normally do, I could touch his head."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"What do we do in that split second? ... I might as well just stop."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Patchell missed the resulting penalty kick, Wales scored a dubious try on a missed offside call just seconds before half time. </span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_ftE0DnPP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_ftE0DnPP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Wallabies (@wallabies)</a> on Sep 29, 2019 at 3:40am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wales led 23-8 at the break and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fox Sports</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> commentator Phil Kearns shared his opinion on the officiating clear.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The whole refereeing display has been disgraceful,” Kearns said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Just embarrassing.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hoover couldn’t hold back his own fury after the penalty was called by Poite and TMO. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Can we not run into the tackle anymore?” he asked.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That is terrible tackle technique, he’s (Kerevi) just done a very good carry.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We can’t carry if that’s going to be the ruling.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wallabies fans took to social media to share their own opinions with one deeming Poite’s call as a “horrible decision”. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Horrible decision!! How can Kerevi control where the opposition tackles. Penalty for poor tackle technique. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvWAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvWAL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rugbyworldcup2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rugbyworldcup2019</a></p> — Dean Mumm (@DeanMumm) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanMumm/status/1178226634941288449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Rugby now officially a complete joke. What a farce. Runners now have to protect tacklers doing stupid things.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvWAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvWAL</a></p> — Mark Riley (@Riley7News) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley7News/status/1178226984939245568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">What's going on with rugby? You can't run into player and fend them off now? It's a contact sport. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvWAL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvWAL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RWC2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RWC2019</a></p> — Arvind Hickman (@ArvindHickman) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindHickman/status/1178226899287511040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2019</a></blockquote>

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