Category Archives: The Queen

No mere trifle: amateur baker creates ‘platinum pudding’ fit for the Queen

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Seven decades on from the birth of coronation chicken, a swiss roll-based dessert wins jubilee contest

A copywriter’s recipe for a lemon swiss roll and amaretti trifle will become part of British food history after it was awarded the title of “platinum pudding” for the Queen’s jubilee celebrations.

Jemma Melvin, 31, from Southport, beat off competition from four other finalists in the Fortnum & Mason platinum pudding competition to take the title. Her trifle follows in the footsteps of coronation chicken, serving as a long-lasting reminder of the 96-year-old monarch’s reign.

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Plan for direct UK rule of British Virgin Islands opposed by acting premier

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UK dispatches minister after ex-leader charged with drug offences and inquiry finds serious governance issues

The Foreign Office is risking a political backlash on the British Virgin Islands if it goes ahead with plans recommended by an independent commission of inquiry to impose a form of direct rule on the islands from London after allegations of maladministration and corruption.

Natalio Wheatley, the acting BVI premier elevated to the office after the former premier Andrew Fahie, 51, was arrested on drug running charges in Miami on Thursday, said he opposed the plan for direct rule for two years, with the British appointed governor taking charge and being advised by a council of local politicians.

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Queen expected to miss Easter Sunday service

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News follows announcement last week that monarch, 95, would not attend Thursday’s Maundy church service

The Queen will not attend the Easter Sunday service in Windsor after pulling out of several events in recent months because of mobility problems.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen, who has experienced health problems recently, was not expected to attend the event on Sunday, although it is not known why.

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Royal family shares poem in tribute to the late Prince Philip by poet laureate

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The Patriarchs – An Elegy shared via royal social media accounts on first anniversary of Duke of Edinburgh’s death

The royal family have shared a poem in tribute to the late Prince Philip on the first anniversary of his death.

The elegy was written by the poet laureate Simon Armitage and shared via official royal social media accounts on Saturday.

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Queen pulls out of Maundy church service

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Monarch to be represented by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall

The Queen has pulled out of the Royal Maundy church service and will be represented by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, at the annual event for the first time.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will fulfil the ancient tradition of handing out Maundy money to community figures on Thursday at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

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Was Prince Andrew’s role at service a bid to rehabilitate ‘soiled royal’?

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Analysis: Concerns about royal family’s judgment and message to abuse victims as prince appears at Queen’s side

Prince Andrew has long been known as the Queen’s favourite son – which may help explain why she wanted him by her side at the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service six weeks after he reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with a woman who accused him of sex assault when she was 17.

But Andrew may be hoping other elements of his reputation have a lot less sticking power.

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Royal tour ‘in sharp opposition’ to needs of Caribbean people, says human rights group

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Legacy of ‘colonial-era ideologies’ is condemned as community leaders demand reparations for imperialism

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s recent tour was in “sharp opposition to the needs and aspirations of the Caribbean people”, a human rights alliance from the region has said.

The British monarchy’s historic role in the slave trade continues to damage the Caribbean’s society and economy, Jamaica’s Advocates Network said in an open letter published jointly with representatives from Belize and the Bahamas.

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Queen not attending Commonwealth Day service, says palace

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Monarch, who recently recovered from Covid, ‘will continue with other planned engagements’

The Queen will not attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The 95-year-old monarch, who is the head of the Commonwealth, had hoped to join the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the event, after recently recovering from Covid-19.

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Royal observers wonder if the Queen will ever return to full duties

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‘To be running around like a 65-year-old when you’re 95 catches up with you,’ says author Penny Junor

When the Queen tested positive for Covid at the age of 95, it made headlines around the world.

Buckingham Palace initially said she would carry on working but was soon forced to concede she needed rest and cancelled a series of virtual engagements.

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Queen postpones two virtual audiences after Covid diagnosis

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Buckingham Palace says audiences will be rescheduled for later date and Queen to continue with light duties

The Queen has postponed two virtual audiences after her Covid diagnosis, Buckingham Palace has said.

Concerns for the nation’s longest reigning sovereign have been heightened given her age, frailer appearance of late and recent health scare.

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George Ezra to play Queen’s platinum jubilee party

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Pop singer first act announced for Buckingham Palace bank holiday celebration with live audience of 10,000

The award-winning singer George Ezra has been confirmed as the first act for the Queen’s jubilee event the Platinum Party at the Palace, celebrating the monarch’s 70 years on the throne.

The 4 June concert will have an in-person audience of 10,000, half of which will be members of the public from a ticket ballot, the BBC reported, to be awarded in pairs.

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Queen cancels virtual engagements due to Covid

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Buckingham Palace says monarch suffering ‘mild cold-like symptoms’

The Queen has cancelled her planned virtual engagements for Tuesday as she continues to experience Covid symptoms.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “As Her Majesty is still experiencing mild cold-like symptoms she has decided not to undertake her planned virtual engagements today, but will continue with light duties.’’

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Queen to speak to PM in weekly update from self-isolation

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UK monarch tested positive for Covid, which is manifesting in ‘mild cold-like symptoms’

The Queen is expected to speak to Boris Johnson on Wednesday for her regular weekly update from the prime minister as she continues to recover from Covid-19.

Audiences with foreign ambassadors are expected to go ahead – also on a virtual basis – as the monarch remains in self-isolation at her home in Windsor.

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The Queen tests positive for Covid

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Monarch, 95, experiencing ‘mild cold-like symptoms’ but expects to continue carrying out light duties

The Queen has tested positive for Covid-19, ahead of the expected ending of all coronavirus restrictions in England in the coming days.

Buckingham Palace said the monarch, 95, was experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms” but expected to continue carrying out light duties this week.

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Covid antivirals an option for the Queen under care of medical household

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Monarch said to have mild symptoms, but staff may look to drugs recently approved in UK

With the Queen approaching her 96th birthday in April, there was always going to be concern about her contracting Covid, but the monarch has tested positive against a radically different backdrop from when the virus arrived in the UK.

In addition to the protection afforded by her vaccinations – and she is understood to have had a booster – she could also be given antiviral drugs approved by UK authorities as recently as December.

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‘So many soundbites’: PR experts on Prince Andrew’s disastrous denials

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The duke’s legal battle was blighted by blunders, aggression and the lack of apology, which did not wash in the #MeToo era

The Duke of York’s legal battle with his accuser Virginia Giuffre, which he settled out of court this week, was characterised by a years-long series of damaging and unnecessary PR blunders, experts have said.

His disastrous Newsnight interview, his ducking and diving to frustrate the serving of legal papers, and claims from “friends” that the infamous photograph of him with his arm around Giuffre’s waist was faked, all served to inflict further public opprobrium on the Queen’s second son, it was claimed.

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Prince Charles pays tribute to ‘darling wife’ and future queen Camilla

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First in line to throne thanks Duchess of Cornwall for support as royal family paves way for her to take title of queen

The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to his “darling wife” the Duchess of Cornwall for her “steadfast support” after the Queen announced that Camilla will be known as “Queen Consort” when Charles becomes king.

In a statement released on Sunday, Charles heralded the Queen for the way her “devotion to the welfare of all her people inspires still greater admiration with each passing year”.

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Boris Johnson pays tribute to Queen’s ‘inspirational sense of duty’

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PM salutes Elizabeth II’s ‘unwavering dedication’ as she becomes first British monarch to celebrate platinum jubilee

The Queen’s platinum jubilee message in full: ‘These last seven decades have seen extraordinary progress’

Boris Johnson has paid tribute to the Queen’s “unwavering dedication to this nation” as she became the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee.

The Queen marks a historic 70 years on the throne on Sunday 6 February.

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Queen wants Camilla to be Queen Consort when Charles becomes king

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Monarch expresses ‘sincere wish’ in candid message marking 70th anniversary of her accession

The Queen has expressed her “sincere wish” that the Duchess of Cornwall becomes Queen Consort when Charles becomes king.

In a candid message marking the 70th anniversary of her accession, the monarch made clear her desire, unambiguously paving the way for Queen Camilla.

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‘A time for reflection’: Queen prepares for first accession day without Philip

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Marking 70 years on the throne will be a private occasion of mixed feelings for the monarch

Seventy years after becoming monarch far sooner than she could have anticipated, the Queen will mark the anniversary of her accession on Sunday at Sandringham, where her father George VI died aged 56 in 1952.

Though it has long been her custom to mark this milestone at the Norfolk estate, this year has added poignancy. The Duke of Edinburgh, her “strength and stay” during 73 years of marriage, and who broke news to her of the king’s death while they were thousands of miles away at a Kenyan game lodge, is no longer at her side.

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