British Royals Join Remembrance of End of WWI
November 11, 2008 by Maricar Macalincag
Prince Charles and Camilla joined other European dignitaries in commemorating the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I today, Tuesday, November 11, 2008. They had arrived in Paris on Monday and had dinner with France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy at Elysee Palace.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy welcome Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at the Elysee Palace on November 10, 2008 in Paris, France.
Tuesday’s Armistice Day ceremony was held in Douaumont, near the site of the Battle of Verdun, where about 300,000 soldiers died. Prince Charles, Australia’s governor-general Quentin Bryce, Sarkozy and Germany’s Peter Mueller laid wreaths at the site’s memorial.
A ceremony at London’s Cenotaph was held with the three surviving British WWI veterans attending. The three veterans are Henry Allingham, 112, Harry Patch, 110 and Bill Stone, 108, from the RAF, Army and the Royal Navy, respectively. The Duchess of Gloucester, patron of the World War I Veterans Association, represented the royal family at the Cenotaph ceremony.
A separate program was held at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent attended this event on behalf of the Queen.
via BBC; image credit: Newscom
Who is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall?
November 11, 2008 by Maricar Macalincag
HRH Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall
Born as: Camilla Rosemary Shand
Birthday: July 17, 1947 at King’s College Hospital, London
Royal House: The House of Windsor (The British Royal Family)
Parents: Major Bruce Middleton Hope Shand (1917-2006) and Hon. Rosalind Maud Shand (née Cubitt) (1921-1994)
Siblings: Annabel Elliot (née Shand) and Mark Shand (b. 1951)
First marriage: To Andrew Parker Bowles (wedding: 1973), with whom she had two children: Tom Parker Bowles (b. 1974) and Laura Rose Lopes (née Parker Bowles) (b. 1978). They divorced on March 3, 1995.
Spouse: Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (wedding day: April 9, 2005 at the Guildhall in Windsor)
Children and Grandchildren: Thomas Henry (b. 1974) and Laura Rose (b. 1978) (from Camilla’s first marriage to Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, from 1973 to 1995)
Official Residence: Clarence House
Other Residences: Camilla’s own house in Wiltshire, Highgrove House, Birkhall in Balmoral, The Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Llwynywormwood in Wales
British Royals Lead Remembrance Sunday Ceremony
November 9, 2008 by Maricar Macalincag
Queen Elizabeth and the royal family lead the United Kingdom in remembering those who had died in military service during the annual Remembrance Sunday today, November 9, 2008.
The royals joined past and present government officials, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Baroness Margaret Thatcher, and war veterans at the Cenotaph in laying wreaths of poppy at the war memorial. The 11 a.m. service is held annually on the Sunday nearest to the anniversary of the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.
Prince Charles in Brunei (Photos)
November 4, 2008 by Maricar Macalincag
I am finally able to show you some photos of the visit of Prince Charles and Camilla to Brunei last week. Brunei was the second stop in a tour of East Asia by the British royal couple.
In their itinerary was a visit with Gurkha troops at the British Garrison near Brunei’s capital of Bandar Seri Begawan. These troops have served in Afghanistan. Among them was Lance Corporal Bhim Garbuja, of the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles. He served with Prince Harry during the latter’s tour of duty in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province a few months ago.