London – AFP
Prince Harry and his wife Megan Merkel joined the royal family on Friday in their first public appearance in Britain in two years, to participate in a prayer of thanksgiving held at a cathedral in London, for the intention of Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates her platinum jubilee.
However, the chances of all family members meeting on Friday faded following his grandmother was forced to be absent due to “some distress” Thursday during the launch of four-day celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
The 96-year-old will follow the ceremonies on the small screen because of her difficulty walking and standing, forcing her to cancel her participation in a number of events since last year.
On Thursday, she appeared twice from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in central London, following the Trooping the Color military parade.
Evening was at Windsor Castle for lamp-lighting ceremonies across the country and in the 54 Commonwealth nations of which she also presides.
Her absence, which the palace said she received “with great hesitation”, casts doubt on her attendance at Saturday’s horse derby.
The Queen has only missed the iconic race three times since her coronation, most recently in 2020 when attendance was banned due to Covid.
In front of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Stephanie Stitt, 35, a fan of the royal family, said she was “a little disappointed” by the Queen’s absence.
However, the event manager, who joined tens of thousands of revelers Thursday on Mall Avenue, said the decision not to attend was “understandable because she is 96 years old.”
The Queen’s second son, Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his official duties due to his relations with two people convicted of sexual abuse, and was absent from Thursday’s events, will also miss Friday’s prayer ceremonies following contracting Covid.
However, Crown Prince Charles, 73, will represent her once more as the oldest member of the royal family, following participating on her behalf in the traditional “Tropping the Color” parade when he saluted the soldiers on horseback.
More than 400 people were invited to Friday’s prayer service, including health and social workers, to thank them for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bible readings, prayers and hymns were chosen to reflect what the palace said was the queen’s “dedicated life of service”.
After the ceremony, the largest church bell in the country, which weighs 16.5 tons, will ring.
The Queen received congratulations on her record-breaking accession to the throne from world leaders, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The British government confirmed plans for a post-Brexit phase of returning to the symbol of the crown on the pint cups, in a move it said was a “decent tribute” to the Queen.
It also launched a survey on allowing goods to be sold in imperial units (the British imperial system) following the European Union had prioritized metric.
Harry, a former British army captain, and his biracial American television actress wife Meghan were once seen as the modern face of the monarchy following their marriage in 2018.
But less than two years later, they gave up their royal titles and moved to the United States, drawing a number of offensive criticisms.
Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, set up a charitable association in California but angered palace fans following they pulled out and later revealed details regarding royal life in a resounding television interview.
And a recent YouGov poll showed that their popularity with the British had fallen to an all-time low. Nearly two thirds of the respondents (63 percent) had a negative opinion of them.
Upon the arrival of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they are officially called, cheers erupted from the crowds gathered in front of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Harry, 37, a former British army captain, wore a jacket with military medals, while Meghan, 40, wore a white dress and matching hat.
At the sound of the bells, they entered the cathedral and sat among the audience, including the last five British prime ministers.
On Thursday, they attended the show, out of sight from another building, following being excluded from the palace balcony because they no longer held any official duties in the royal family.
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Queen Elizabeth
Harry, Meghan and Andrew outside the Buckingham Palace balcony
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Eyes turn to the balcony of Buckingham Palace, which has been a key element for more than a century in the image of the British royal family, whose members appear assembled during coronations, weddings and major events, and are expected to appear during the celebrations of the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne.
The 96-year-old decided to limit the attendance on the balcony during the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of her accession to the British throne to members of the royal family who take on official duties, and they will greet the crowds from the balcony during the military parade “Tropping the Color”. It is expected that 18 members of the family will appear on the balcony, which is much less than what was previously recorded.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, who withdrew from royal life and moved to California in 2020, were excluded from attending the balcony, but they will come to the United Kingdom with their two children.
Also excluded from the balcony was Prince Andrew, the Queen’s youngest son, who was stripped of his military titles following an assault suit brought by a woman in New York that dropped a financial settlement the prince reached with the plaintiff last March, in which he paid millions of dollars.
After two difficult years for the royal family, the balcony, which is decorated with a red and gold cap during major occasions, is not supposed to see any tensions.
Over the years, the balcony became a facade for the British royal family, and following it was an element of its members interacting with the crowds gathered behind the fence of Buckingham Palace, the image of the British monarch saluting the crowds spread all over the world.
This method of greeting the crowd goes back to Queen Victoria, who introduced this custom into royal life in 1851 at the opening of the Great Exhibition.
Seven years later, the family appeared on the balcony during the wedding of the eldest daughter, Princess Victoria. Since that occasion, the balcony has witnessed the most remarkable moments in the life of the royal family and the history of Britain.
On August 4, 1914, crowds demanded that King George V appear following the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. In November 1918, thousands of Britons welcomed the King and Queen following the signing of the First Armistice of Compiegne.
The balcony then witnessed the presence of members of the royal family during wedding ceremonies, jubilees, coronations and other major official occasions. In 1935, Princess Elizabeth, then 9, greeted the crowds from the balcony to mark the 25th anniversary of her grandfather George V’s accession to the British throne. Two years later, she greeted fans from the balcony at the coronation of her father, George VI.
On May 8, 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill joined the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in celebration of the Allied victory over Germany.
Princess Elizabeth appeared on the balcony in 1947 on the occasion of her wedding to Prince Philip, and then once more in 1953, when she became queen, on the occasion of her coronation.
Nor is the appearance of the royal family on the balcony spontaneously; The queen is in the center dressed in bright colors, while the high-ranking men appear in full traditional military uniform and the women wear distinctive hats.
Historic moments are sometimes recorded, some of them unusually daring, such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana who exchanged a kiss on the balcony following their marriage in 1981, following in the footsteps of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and then Prince William and Kate Middleton.
However, the importance of the balcony lies not so much in highlighting the image of the family as in expressing the image of the monarchy itself.
After reaching 96 years, special secrets in the diet of Queen Elizabeth
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
With Queen Elizabeth the Queen of Britain reaching the age of 96, many may be wondering how she has maintained her health Diet Good is one of the main factors that contribute to this.
A good diet can add up to 10 years to your life according to recent research compiled by PLOS Medicine, so if you’re looking to improve your diet, Queen Elizabeth II can be considered a role model, according to the Daily Express.
A healthy, balanced diet offers many diverse benefits, including reduced risk of diseases, health conditions, and improved mood, to name a few. The better your diet, the better your health. To achieve this, the rule of thumb is to reduce your intake of sugars, salt and saturated fats and replace them with more protein, whole grains and vegetables.
By doing this, your body can get all the nutrients it needs to function at its highest levels.
And it can be hard to know where to start, although in this case, the simpler the better, and according to Darren McGrady, a former chef in the royal kitchens, the Queen tends to stick to the same foods most days, albeit in turns. Especially healthy.
Dr Alona Boldi, of Lifesum, said: ‘Queen Elizabeth’s preference for simple foods makes it easy for anyone to eat like the Queen. Incorporating fruits, grains, protein and vegetables has many health benefits, from ensuring a well-functioning immune system and increased energy, to decreasing the risk of disease. Heart and diabetes – all of which ultimately contribute to a longer, healthier life.”
What does the queen eat for breakfast?
For breakfast, the Queen usually eats a bowl of cereal with added fruit, which has many health benefits.
“Fruit is calorie-reduced and nutrient-rich, and contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber that keeps cells healthy, protects the heart and boosts energy, and grains, especially whole grains, are rich in fiber that helps with weight management by keeping us full for longer, and vitamins and minerals,” said Boldy. which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
What does the Queen have for lunch?
For lunch, the Queen is said to enjoy protein-rich grilled fish or chicken served with a salad or vegetables, including zucchini and spinach. She often keeps her lunch very simple while avoiding more starchy foods.
“Protein is an important component of bones, muscles, skin, hair, nails and blood. It helps with tissue repair, regulates hormones, and is important for our immune system. Vegetables are also rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, which help prevent and even reverse chronic disease,” Boldy said. “.
What does the Queen have for dinner?
For dinner, the Queen’s protein and veggie pattern continues, and according to McGrady, that will include grilled or boiled fish with a simple array of veggies and salad.
“The Queen’s Dinner, which is rich in protein and vegetables, helps maintain a lower weight, supports immune system function, increases energy and ultimately contributes to a longer, healthier life,” said Boldy.
As for dessert, the Queen is known to be a fan of chocolate, especially dark chocolate that is rich in minerals, including iron, magnesium and zinc.
“A little bit of dark chocolate in your diet adds fiber and antioxidants that have been shown to improve mood,” Boldy said.
Elizabeth II will attend the platinum jubilee celebrations of her accession to the throne
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
London – Archyde.com
Queen Elizabeth II plans to attend major celebrations next month to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the British throne, but it was decided to exclude Princes Andrew and Harry from a traditional traditional event in the celebrations, Buckingham Palace announced Friday.
The 96-year-old Queen completed seven decades on the throne last February, and the four-day “Platinum Jubilee” events will be held to celebrate this occasion in early June.
A palace spokesman said: “The Queen is currently waiting for the weekend, and she will participate in the celebrations, but her attendance will not be confirmed until shortly before the date or even on the day of the event itself.”
The Queen, Britain’s longest-reigning ruler, has had mobility problems, which has led to the recent cancellation of most of her public engagements. But Buckingham Palace said she plans to participate on several occasions.
The festivities begin on June 2 with the annual military parade in central London, followed by a mass at St Paul’s Cathedral, a concert in front of Buckingham Palace, and a festival across the British capital in the following days.
Among the events that mark all major royal occasions, the royal family gathers to wave to the crowds from the palace balcony. But the Queen decided not to attend her son Prince Andrew, nor her grandson Prince Harry this time.
Andrew’s popularity plummeted following a US lawsuit was settled in which he was accused of assaulting American Virginia Joffrey, before he was later stripped of his military titles and royal patronage.
Harry, the youngest son of Crown Prince Charles, also abandoned his royal duties, and lost her care following moving with his American wife Megan to Los Angeles, where he leveled harsh criticism and accusations of racism once morest the royal family.
There has been much speculation in the British press regarding whether Harry, who has been at odds with the government over security arrangements that caused him to miss the memorial service for his grandfather Prince Philip in March, would attend the platinum jubilee celebrations.
His spokesman confirmed that Harry will be with Meghan, their son Archie and their daughter Lillipet.