Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been discussing the 1701 Act of Settlement with the Queen and other officials at Buckingham Palace. He feels it is time to rescind the act that has barred members of the Royal family from succeeding to the throne if they marry Roman Catholics.

The Act has been called a “violation of human rights”, but the Telegraph’s Andrew Roberts says:

[The Act] is not the bigoted, irrelevant and obsolete law that Downing Street presents it as – it is one of the key pieces of legislation that has defined what Britain was and still is. For a Prime Minister who claims to care deeply about the concept of Britishness, the Act should be sacrosanct, rather than sacrificed in a gross bout of politically correct gimmickry.

Personally, I can’t believe this is an issue in this day and age. People seem to be loathe to admit they are associated with any sort of Christianity and are more proud to say they’re atheist or that they’re a “pick-n-mix” of all sorts of belief systems.

Crushing anything to do with Christ seems to be the modus operandi of most of the mainstream. Think about it: Saying “Merry Christmas” is an issue. You can’t say “Christmas Tree”, you have to refer to it as a “Holiday Tree”. Even now, things in the stores do not say “Happy Easter”, but “Happy Spring“.

The world is shutting out Christ.  He said love thy brother, drink some wine, eat some bread, don’t lie, cheat or steal, and I’ll be back soon. Don’t go away! But does anyone listen? Not in the slightest.In fact, His peacefulness and common sense seems to be offensive to people. What a world!

So that’s why I find this Act of Settlement debate so interesting. Since when did the importance of religion come roaring back?

via Gordon Brown’s assault on the traditions of the monarchy is preposterous – Telegraph.

Video from Monaco Monte-Carlo – Bal de La Rose Monaco 2009.

Monaco’s First Family goes Rock’n Rose: via RoyalBlog.nl

Princely Family of Monaco presents Rose Ball photos

Like all good historians, I am going to write a book.

I know, I know. How many more projects could you possibly launch? you’re thinking.

As it stands, my current schedule centers around writing said book, RoyaltyNow!, August Annotations, MBR Kids, and lots of photo and video editing. With all of that on my plate, this blog will be going on vacation for a little while.

I’ll definitely post when something happens that should be discussed, but otherwise my energies will be devoted to the above projects. Keep an eye out for Twitter updates, mostly.

Thanks to all of you who visit regularly and encourage me. You won’t be disappointed!

Cute To The Power of 3

The world’s most famous girlfriend, Kate Middleton, is a cover girl.

The royal-bride-in-waiting to Prince William has found her face on her family’s business brochure. Kate was also featured in the “Party Pieces” website and the catalog offering princess-themed products such as dresses, wands, fairytale stagecoaches, and “Princess party” accessories.

The oft-speculated engagement between Kate and William is supposedly occurring this summer. With this sort of promo deal for the Middletons’ already successful business, the Queen isn’t likely to be thrilled. The fear of another PR stuntwoman entering the fold may cause second-thoughts.

This is not the first time Kate has appeared in her family’s catalog. Kate’s mother Carole involved her children in the marketing scheme when they were very young. The basis of the company was to show other mothers how easy it was to buy pre-packaged party favors for their child’s birthday rather than do them up themselves. Little Kate featured many times, wearing a themed tee shirt and holding a cupcake.

It is an immensely successful business and the Middletons have worked hard to achieve their place. Regardless, the Queen will not want such blatant advertising now in the middle of royal wedding speculation. This advertisement is merely seen as the Middletons cashing in on their daughter’s relationship. Not a good move if you really do want a ‘princess’ lifestyle.

By delivering a keynote speech on climate change during his tour of South America last week, the Prince of Wales has finally gained respect for his environmental views, says The Telegraph.

“If people now realise I wasn’t talking complete nonsense then I’m delighted,” says Charles.

Nearly twenty years ago, Charles was in South America giving a speech on the exact same issue. He’s discussed how he talks to his plants, and began his “Duchy Originals” company based solely on organic foods.

This is no trendy flash-in-the-pan Prince. Charles sticks to what he thinks is right, and not just for himself, but for the entire planet. Is he frustrated that it has taken so long for most companies and countries to wake up?

“Yes, it is rather depressing. I’m not doing this for myself but basically for the sake of everyone’s children and grandchildren [...] at the moment it looks very much as if we are handing on a poisoned chalice to future generations,” the Prince told journalist Andrew Alderson.

If only the politicians would adhere so consistently to their viewpoints, we may be better off.

via The Telegraph.

King Badu Bonsu II of Ghana is going home. Just not entirely.

The head of the African king is to be returned 170 years after it was hacked off in retaliation for the slayings of two Dutch emissaries whose skulls were hung from the tribal leader’s throne.

Hm, I guess you really don’t mess with the Dutch. Eek!

The prominent Dutch author Arthur Japin said he discovered Bonsu’s head last year, sitting in a jar of formaldehyde at the Leiden University Medical Center’s anatomical collection. He was researching material for a historical book.

Ghana immediately requested the head’s return, and the Dutch government asked the hospital to cooperate.

Eric Odoi-Anim, a minister at the Ghanian Embassy, explained that “without burial of the head, the deceased will be hunted in the afterlife. He’s incomplete.”

via Royalblog.nl.