Hi Royal Clubbers, it’s Iona here.
First up, here’s the best of the royal coverage over on HELLO! today.
Prince William praises emergency responders ahead of family move
Why Prince Harry’s security issues being made public are ‘concerning’
Duchess Sophie is the ultimate royal fashionista in striking ra-ra skirt alongside Lady Louise
The Duchess of Gloucester, 79, pictured in Bermuda
King Charles and Queen Camilla to travel to the Vatican next week - all the details
And the winner is…
Apologies yesterday for the no poll (I’m blame it on a Substack poltergeist given we are approaching Halloween) – however, if you didn’t catch the news a very (very) bizarre souvenir from Queen Elizabeth’s wedding is going up for auction.
The fact that a piece of wedding cake from Queen Elizabeth’s 1947 wedding still exists is quite the story. I’m still intrigued to know your thoughts on this – would you keep a slice of royal history like that?
Poll of the day
As you will have read, King Charles and Queen Camilla are travelling to the Vatican next week.
I’ve never been to Vatican City – or to Rome – though it’s very high up on my solo trip list! I think it would be such an interesting and culturally rich place to explore, so I must admit I’m a little envious of Charles and Camilla getting a bit of winter sun before the year’s out…
I’d love to know – have any of you been to Rome before? If so, what were your favourite sights or hidden gems?
Picture of the day
I thought this made for a cheery Friday picture – Prince William was out and about today, visiting the London Ambulance Service (LAS) in Waterloo.
It’s lovely to see how engaged he is in conversation with the first responders, and he certainly seemed to be in good spirits!
Friday’s puzzles
See you on Monday, Royal Clubbers!
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Further reading
Where my love of the royals began
“Proud”?It seems that the trend cultivated in schools and public discourse is the opposite of being “proud”. Nobody is prudently boasting about the colonial past. But people acknowledge the part of their past that overlaps with major achievements in science & technology. When you invoke a pure repentance in people about that period if their history it is less healthy than the pride, often imagined.
Just like in our individual history, it doesn't help us if we sprinkle ashes upon our heads. It helps if we acknowledge mistakes, but are affirmative about things that worked out.
I’ll illustrate it with an example. The Netherlands were once driven by people like Leeuwenhoek, a citizen who used a microscope and curiosity to explore the life. He was the first who notice microbes as he never hesitated to improve microscopes and. The same passion for exploration and the desire to move forward was behind other Dutch endeavors, such as the Dutch rule in the New Netherlands (now New York) and the Dutch Golden Age in general. Thinkers from all Europe found shelter in low countries, due to their intellectual tolerance. Mapmakers, seamen, scientists were driving the colonial expansion just like greed and arrogance. That time, early 17th century, the Dutch East India Company, enjoyed a monopoly on Asian trade. Enormous stocks of goods were made in Amsterdam.
History is complex. One is interconnected with the other. One part cannot be imagined without the other. This is called “integrity”.
I was a Nannie there for the manager of the Gritti Palace in Venice.