Archive for May, 2012

If you’ve ever wondered if a family tale about your great, great uncle Robert worked for the royals, now you can find out.

The website FindMyPast has released 50,000 staff records from the reign of King Charles II to King George V between 1660 and 1924. The records include details such as name, occupation, age, length of service and salary.

“A number of Canadians of British descent are likely to be able to trace their ancestry to the 50,000 royal staff who served British monarchs over four centuries and feature in these records,” Peter Freedman said in an e-mail promoting the release of records.

The records were previously only accessible at Windsor Castle by appointment.

With the release of the records, FindMyPast has also released the top 10 interesting job titles:

1. Chocolate maker to the queen

2.Yeoman of the month to her majesty Queen Mary in the pantry

3. Necessary woman to the corridor and entrance hall

4. Keeper of the lions in the tower

5. Moletaker

6. Master of the game of cock fighting

7. Groom of the removing wardrobe

8. Groom of the stole

9. Stewer of Herbs

10. Laundress of the body linen

“People across the globe continue to be fascinated by the British Royal Family, as well as the relationship between ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’ life. In the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, this is the perfect opportunity to explore your family history and discover whether you have an ancestor who worked for the royal household,” historian Debra Chatfield said in the press release.

Diana often confided in Prince William when he was young. A new book suggests the princess suffered from mental illness, which affected her sons. File photo from 1991 royal tour to Canada shows Diana and William on the Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls, Ont. (Photo: Stan Behal/QMI AGENCY)

A new book by veteran royal reporter Penny Junor is causing controversy because it says Diana was mentally ill, and her illness affected her children.

In Prince William: Born to be King, Junor says his childhood was a “recipe for disaster.” With the rumours of infidelity (later confirmed by both parents), a nanny being sacked for no real reason, Diana’s attempts to get another one fired and then, tragically, his mother’s death, Junor writes that it’s no wonder William has trust issues and it took him eight years to propose to Kate Middleton.

“I think he was possibly testing Kate to see if she would also abandon him. I think that’s why he waited eight years before finally asking her to marry him,” Junor said in a recent interview with Maclean’s magazine (with the headline, How Diana damaged William).

But it’s not her take on William that has people upset – it’s the way she depicts Diana. A controlling mother who suffered from mental illness – eating disorders, cutting herself, possible narcissism - Diana’s behaviour no doubt altered her sons’ childhoods and lives, Junor says. (Junor paints Prince Charles in a slightly better light in the book, but I think it should be noted both parents had their faults.)

There is now a Facebook campaign to boycott Junor’s book – the group (of, admittedly, only a few members) has the tagline, “Stand up for Diana!”

Other critics have taken to commenting on stories, including the Maclean’s article, saying Junor is clearly a friend, or obsessed, with Charles and her book is trash, capitalizing on William’s upcoming 30th birthday and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (when all things royal are getting more attention).

Junor told Maclean’s she’s not surprised by the backlash – even now, nearly 15 years after her death, there are ardent supporters of Diana who do not want to see the other side of the People’s Princess. She told the Daily Mail she’s been called evil and vile for saying Diana had a mental illness.

The book, released in Britain, is due out in Canada June 19 – two days before William’s birthday.

There is no doubt having a parent (or family member or friend) with a mental illness will affect a person. Diana certainly had her problems, and hopefully William and Harry have been able to work with professionals to discuss their childhoods and have come to realize the world they lived in during their parents’ marriage is not the way things need to progress for themselves as they get older.

More than one in five Canadians are affected by mental illness. A new Mental Health Strategy for Canada was launched earlier this month – click here for more information.

Queen Elizabeth arrives at a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 29. (Photo: Anthony Devlin/REUTERS)

A new poll shows 47% of Britons believe Britain has changed for the worse under Queen Elizabeth.

The ITV News/ComRes poll also found while more than half of those surveyed wouldn’t attend a jubilee celebration, most think the Diamond Jubilee will be good for business — 80% said the jubilee celebrations contribute to Britain’s reputation as a country with its own distinct character, and 65% said the event was good for the economy.

Only 14% opposed Britain having a monarchy, the Reuters story said.

The poll was released just days before the Queen is set to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

On Monday there will be a star-studded concert. Performers included Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder, Tim Jones, Elton John and Annie Lennox. A bank holiday will give Britons Monday and Tuesday off to celebrate her 60 years on the throne. Street parties and other celebrations are planned for the long weekend, not only in Britain, but also here in Canada.

Will you be celebrating?

They're here! Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, (seen in this file photo) kick off their Canadian tour Monday and will hit New Brunswick, Toronto and Regina. (Photo: Anwar Hussein Collection/WENN.com)

Want the latest news on the royal tour of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall?

Check out: Canoe.ca/royals

Here's one way to win over many Canadians - enjoy a pint! Here, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, share a laugh as he asks for his pint of Cambrian Heart beer back during an August 2010 tour in Wales. (Photo: Anwar Hussein Collection/WENN.com)

Earlier this week, I wrote that it’s hard to get excited about the royal tour of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

The royal couple will be in Canada for a three-city, four day tour starting Monday in New Brunswick and wrapping up in Regina.

I said I suspect many people aren’t excited about the tour for the same reason — they see Prince Charles as dull compared to other royals.

Some people disagreed with me, saying I clearly didn’t understand the man.

But I am not alone in not understanding Prince Charles.

And now is his chance to prove himself to us.

They did the weather at the BBC in Scotland. Camilla held a prop gun on the set of her favourite TV show in Scandinavia. What will they do there that will make Canadians sit up and take notice of the royal couple? What will they do to make Canadians thing, “We were wrong – they’re not so dull.”

I already think Camilla is pretty cool – I like that she does stuff during usually-boring media photo-ops. She’s refreshing.

So now, it’s up to Prince Charles.

Some of you will argue Prince Charles has nothing to prove – he will be king. That should be enough for us.

But I would argue he does need to prove he’s likable because we are still his subjects, and he needs our support. The royal family needs us to love him, or, at the very least, like him as our future monarch.

I applaud the prince for his work with charities and environmental causes. I think it’s admirable the efforts he has put forward to bring important causes to the forefront, to get people talking about them.

I do believe he has a funny streak and I’m ready for him to show us. Maybe a stint beside Don Cherry during a Coach’s Corner segment? Announcing a Jays game? Heck, even a repeat of doing the weather would be great.

I’m ready for people to forget the tampon comment, forgive him for the affair (because, if we’re honest, Diana was no saint herself in her marriage), and embrace our future king.

But I also believe he has a role to play to help us overcome the stereotypes we’ve associated with him for so many years.

It’s a pretty traditional tour when it comes to the itinerary, but that doesn’t mean this royal couple can’t have a little fun.

Prince Charles at a Homecoming Parade in Forfar, Scotland, last month. (Photo: David Moir/REUTERS)

Like yesterday’s fun facts about Camilla, here are some interesting tidbits about Prince Charles.

Names: HRH Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, the Duke of Rothesay, the Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, Knight of the Order of Australia

1. He’s reportedly a fan of Leonard Cohen.

2. His hobbies include Watercolour painting, gardening (especially in his organic garden at Highgrove), hedgelaying, polo, writing books, and acting.

3. He’s passionate about environmental causes and eating locally-sourced, in-season foods.

4. He’s a distant relative of Vlad The Impaler.

5. He’s a graduate of Cambridge University.

6. He is trained as a helicopter pilot.

7. He wrote a children’s book called The Old Man of Lochnagar, which was published in 1980. He originally wrote it for his younger brother, Prince Edward.

8. The prince’s first car was a cobalt blue MGC GT purchased in 1968.

9. He launched his own food company, Duchy Originals, in 1992. Its first product was a biscuit made from wheat and oats grown organically on the Home Farm at Highgrove.

10. The motto of the Prince of Wales ‘Ich dien’, which means ‘I serve’.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, during a tour of a bakery last month. (Photo: Cathal McNaughton/REUTERS)

Ahead of the royal tour, which kicks off officially on Monday, here are 10 fun facts about the HRH Duchess of Cornwall (or the HRH the Duchess of Rothesay as she is known in Scotland).

1. Camilla is permitted to use HRH the Princess of Wales, but chose not to out of respect for Princess Diana.

2. Her hobbies include reading, watching television, fishing, walking in the countryside, gardening, and oil painting.

3. A new rose was named the Duchess of Cornwall in her honour in 2005.

4. She’s a distant relative of Madonna and Celine Dion.

5. She owns three Jack Russell terriers: Tosca, Rosie and Beth.

6. She’s a huge fan of the TV show The Killing. So much so that on a recent tour of Scandinavia, she asked to visit the set and even seemed a little star struck by the actors.

7. It’s been reported her secret to staying young is using bee venom masks. They’re known as “organic face lifts.” The website for Heaven by Deborah Mitchell says the product “contains the magic bee venom ingredient that works to control the facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening and firming, whilst getting to work on frown lines and wrinkles.”

8. In April, she was appointed to the highest female rank of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen. She was made a Dame Grand Cross. The move was seen by many as being the Queen’s final seal of approval for her son’s former mistress-turned wife.

9. She used to work as a secretary.

10. She used to smoke, but gave it up because Prince Charles detests the habit.

Prince Charles has announced two new patronages for Canadian organizations. (Photo: Zak Hussein/WENN.com)

Some people might say, “Why should we care about the royals? All they ever do is sit in Buckingham Palace, wasting taxpayer money and petting corgis.”

What have they done for us lately? What do they do for Canadians?

Well …

Prince Charles has just announced two Canadian organizations — the Royal Conservatory of Music and Earth Rangers — have been granted a royal patronage.

Prince Charles is currently the patron of six charities, as well as acting colonel-in-chief of seven Canadian regiments.

“The Prince of Wales has been involved in Canadian public life for 40 years,” president and CEO of Prince’s Charities Canada Amanda Sherrington said in a release Wednesday.  “These patronages represent a further deepening of that relationship and honour the good work of these organizations in the prince’s areas of interest.”

A patronage means Prince Charles supports these charities, through encouragement, financial aid or privilege. It often also brings attention to the causes — something charities desperately need in order to garner donations and volunteers.

Dr. Peter Simon, president of the Royal Conservatory, said his group is “extremely proud and grateful to join a select group of organizations reflecting the values and goals” of Prince Charles.

Peter Kendall, executive director and co-CEO of Earth Rangers, said Prince Charles, “shares our passion for wildlife and the environment.”

The announcement comes just days before the royal couple’s Canadian tour, which kicks off Sunday.

When they are in Toronto during their royal tour, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will tour the Yonge Street Mission and UforChange. Both are part of the prince’s Seeing is Believing program, which brings corporate leaders face-to-face with social and economic issues, and demonstrates the impact that responsible business can have by closing the gap between the boardroom and the community.

“These visits provide the opportunity for the prince to see the great work of these charitable partners and to encourage our visiting CEOs in their efforts to make a difference,” Sherrington said in a release May 11.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, watches as her husband, Prince Charles, does the weather on a recent trip to a Scotland BBC studio. (Photo: Andrew Milligan/REUTERS)

Toronto Sun columnist Mike Strobel has written about the upcoming royal tour.

Read his column: Charles shoots for the throne on this royal visit

Will Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, woo Canadians in their upcoming tour? Do they even need to?

If you haven’t seen the video of Prince Charles and Camilla doing the weather, check it out here:

Madame Tussauds unveils the 23rd waxwork of Queen Elizabeth in London on Monday. (Photo: WENN.com)

Madame Tussauds has unveiled a new sculpture of the Queen in time for her Diamond Jubilee.

Sculptor Steve Swales told Reuters he was nervous when he met the monarch at her Windsor and Balmoral homes.