Merry Christmas and warm wishes to all. I can’t believe 2010 is almost upon us already!

This season, please take a moment to donate in memory of Cheekers the cockatiel. As you may remember, Cheekers passed away quite unexpectedly this past summer. In her memory, I humbly ask for a donation that will go to my local animal shelter, c/o A Royal Rep Reader (note: the PayPal page says that the donation is for birds, but for Christmas it will be for any animal).

Or, if you prefer, you can simply go to your own local animal shelter and donate. Lots of families are having major difficulties in this economic slump, and unfortunately many animals get forgotten in the hubbub or need to be given up. Lend a helping hand if possible and give little guys the love they need this year.

Thank you!

Mandy

I’ve been awarded two lovely honors: one from Cinderella of World of Royalty, who has bestowed the Great Buddy award, and Viola of Royal Rendezvous , who has presented me with the Excessively Diverting Blog Award.

For more about these awards, see the blog for each award.

So thank you both very much! Along with the aforementioned blogs, I would like to include my own roster of royal reads that I think deserve these honors.

RoyalWorld
Sofia’s Royal Sweden now at The Royal Twist
Princess Eugenie’s Blog
Marilyn’s Royal Blog (she’s on everybody’s Awesome list)
Royal Jewels of the World
RoyalBlog.nl
Vivian’s House of Orange
Young Royal News
Writer of Queens
Danish Royal Watchers

I did have some trouble uploading it Wednesday, so something went wrong along the way. I am going to record it again over the course of the weekend.

I will probably add some thoughts on Prince Harry’s latest “gaffe”. He recently met a black comedian and said, “You don’t sound like a black chap.”

I am not understanding why that’s an insult. It sounds like a really ridiculous thing to say, but it doesn’t sound like an insult.

Anyway, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Look for the updated podcast either today or tomorrow at some point.

The student marched alongside the guard, who was on sentry duty outside St. James’ Palace, as his friend filmed his mocking performance.

The soldier suddenly marched over to push him in the back and aimed a kick at him. The pair ran off, citing fear of the bayonet attached to the guard’s SA-80 semi-automatic rifle.

A source said the guard will not be disciplined over the incident, while another Queen’s guardsman said he could understand his colleague’s actions.

The soldier told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “On one hand you can understand him wanting to put a hobnailed size 12 up the guy’s backside for taking the p**s.

“But on the other hand he will be in hot water for losing his cool when he should have ignored it. He should have gone back into his sentry box and just stood guard.”

Via Monsters and Critics

Appearing on the calendar is one of  the photos of Parliament I took during my trip to England.