Latest news with #British-born
DW
6 hours ago
- General
- DW
Catherine Duleep Singh: The Nazi-defying Indian royal – DW – 06/02/2025
Openly living in a same-sex relationship in 1900s Germany, she used her privilege, resources and courage to help Jewish families flee Nazism. In the annals of World War II history, few would have expected a British-born Sikh princess from a dethroned royal family to quietly resist Nazi Germany, and live openly with a female partner long before LGBTQ+ rights were acknowledged — let alone accepted. Yet, that is precisely what Princess Catherine Hilda Duleep Singh did. The daughter of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, Catherine blazed her own trail and defied social norms. The recognition of her legacy is relatively recent. Among those who've brought her acts to the forefront is British biographer Peter Bance, who has spent over two decades researching and writing about the Duleep Singh family, besides piecing together Catherine's extraordinary contributions from scattered records and family documents. Bance explained to Metro in 2023: "She didn't do these things for self-promotion, so the stories weren't in books or anything. Her stories have survived through the people she saved. Her intervention at that time have seen families across the world thrive." The drawing room of Elveden Hall in Suffolk, Catherine's childhood home Image: Peter Bance Royal roots, radical path Born in 1871 in Suffolk, England, Catherine was raised far from the land her father once ruled. At age 10, Maharaja Duleep Singh was forced to surrender the Sikh Empire — and the (in)famous Koh-i-Noor diamond — after the British annexed Punjab. In return, he received a pension from the British Crown on the condition he "remain obedient to the British Government." He later married Bamba Müller, a German-Ethiopian woman, with whom he had six children; Catherine was the fourth. The family lived in exile, but under the patronage of Queen Victoria, who was also Catherine's godmother. Educated at Somerville College, Oxford, Catherine supported the suffragette cause with her two sisters, campaigning for women's voting rights. But it was her private life — especially her years in Germany — that would come to mark her unconventionality and gumption. Catherine (middle) with her sisters Bamba (left) and Sophia (right) at the 1895 Debutants Ball Image: Public Domain A home away from home Having lost both her parents during her teens, Catherine had developed a close bond with Lina Schäfer, her German governess. In the early 1900s, Catherine left England and moved with Schäfer to the central German city of Kassel. The villa in which they lived together for more than three decades still stands today. Their relationship, though never formally acknowledged, defied social norms of the time and remained steadfast until Lina's death in 1937. Catherine initially felt at ease there — among others, the couple enjoyed annual visits to the Bayreuth Festival — but the 1930s saw Germany degenerating into a police state under Hitler. "Being brown-skinned and gay in Germany during the rise of Hitler was a dangerous place for her," according to Peter Bance. "I remember reading some correspondence between her and her accountant. He urged her to leave the country warning she was going to be targeted. She was being watched by the local Nazis, but she refused to leave." Catherine and Lina Schäfer lived together for close to 30 years in Kassel, Germany Image: Peter Bance Making humanity her business As the Nazi regime tightened its grip, Catherine used her resources and influence and helped several Jewish individuals and families escape persecution in Germany and start over in Britain. She wrote letters of recommendation, provided financial support, and personally guaranteed immigration documents that were crucial to survival. One of the most documented examples involves the Hornstein family. Wilhelm Hornstein, a Jewish lawyer and decorated First World War soldier, was arrested during November Pogroms in 1938 and imprisoned in a concentration camp. He was later released on condition that he left Germany. Catherine arranged safe passage to England for him, his wife Ilse and their two children. At Colehatch House, her country home in the village of Penn, Buckinghamshire, Catherine hosted them and other Jewish refugees, including a physician named Wilhelm Meyerstein and his partner, Marieluise Wolff, and a violinist named Alexander Polnarioff. She also advocated for those interned as "enemy aliens" — a cruel irony for Jews who had fled the Nazis. Catherine (seated) surrounded by the Hornstein family, whose descendants still live in England Image: Peter Bance "I think she did her part for humanity. There was a lot of atrocities going on at that time which were going under the radar, and some were there blatantly as well, and people were sort of turning a blind eye. And she could have quite easily turned a blind eye and said, it's not my business, but she made it her business," Bance tells DW. In 2002, one outcome of her "one-woman rescue mission" resurfaced in a chance encounter. Bance recalls how, after having published a local article about Catherine, a man named Michael Bowles walked into his office and told him: "My mother and my uncles and my grandparents were saved by Princess Catherine in Germany. And if it wasn't for her, I would not be alive today." Bowles, it turns out, is the grandson of Ursula, one of the Hornstein children saved by Catherine's intervention. Neither Catherine (second from right) nor any of her siblings had descendants Image: Peter Bance Resting in power Catherine died in 1942, aged 71. Neither she nor her siblings had any descendants. In her will, she'd requested that part of her ashes be buried at Lina Schäfer's gravesite in Kassel. Over the decades, the site fell into disrepair and Bance is now working with Kassel's Main Cemetery to formally mark their shared grave. "I really think it's something Princess Catherine would have liked ... They spent their whole life together. And she loved her so much," he explains. Their bond, though subtle in its time, resonates today. Bance tells DW that while Catherine never hid her relationship "and her sisters obviously knew about it, but it was very hush hush," since in that era "it was not something they would have sort of flaunted or advertised." However, as Catherine's valor gets more media mileage, LGBTQ communities have been posthumously embracing her as an icon for having fearlessly loved and lived as she willed. And she has since headlined media coverage during diverse Pride Months, including one by the BBC in 2023. 'Princesses of Resistance' Bance is now working on a new book set to coincide with a Kensington Palace exhibition titled "Princesses of Resistance," set for March 2026 that will focus on Catherine and her sisters Sophia and Bamba. "It's a very female-oriented exhibition showing the efforts of these Duleep Singh princesses," Bance tells DW, adding that he'll be lending items from his personal archive of nearly 2,000 family artifacts that he's collected over the course of 25 years. Catherine Duleep Singh (seated) helped Marieluise Wolff and Dr Wilhelm Meyerstein flee Nazi Germany Image: Peter Bance While details continue to emerge about the Jewish families that Catherine helped, Bance had once described her as an "Indian Schindler," in reference to German industrialist Oskar Schindler (1908–1974), who is credited with saving around 1,200 Jewish lives during the Holocaust. Acknowledging that Catherine's efforts may not meet the scale of the original Schindler's list, Bance nevertheless tells DW: "Saving one life or saving 10 lives, it's still 'saving.' You're saving somebody who's not your color, not your religion, not your ethnic background, but you're doing it based on humanity." A profile on her alma mater's website sums it up: "A true LGBTQ+ icon, who put herself at risk for the comfort of her aging lover, and the very essence of the Somerville motto: 'Include the excluded.' Catherine did not just include the excluded: she saved them, campaigned for them, fought for them." Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rare predator set to make history after international journey: 'I had a few tears in my eyes'
A British-born lynx is on the precipice of making history hundreds of miles away from its original home at the Newquay Zoo. The BBC reported on the unusual saga of the female lynx, whom conservationists hope can survive and thrive in Germany's Black Forest. Last year, there was a shortage of female lynx births in Central Europe, according to Dina Gebhardt, the lynx-breeding coordinator for the European Endangered Species Programme. Thus, Gebhardt made the unorthodox request to the Cornwall zoo to see if it would send over a one-year-old female. "Of course, we said yes straight away; that's something that we'd love to do," the zoo's curator of plants and animals, John Meek, told the BBC. The lynx was transported via truck to its new temporary home, a 1,200-square-meter (3,937-square-foot) enclosure. The animal wandered out carefully into its new surroundings, which prompted an emotional response from Meek. "I'm a big boy, but I had a few tears in my eyes," he said. If all goes well, the lynx will be able to regain its fear of humans and show off hunting and survival skills over the next few months. From there, it would be reintroduced to the wild, making it the first United Kingdom zoo-born cat to achieve that feat. It would represent another conservation win for the lynx in Europe that would join a resurgence in the animal in Iberia. Sightings of North American lynxes have amazed onlookers and heartened conservationists. No matter where they are spotted, a key concern for conservationists is that interaction with humans is minimized and they are given proper room to roam. Lynx play an important role as a predator in the Central European ecosystem by controlling the deer population and preserving forests, according to lynx reintroduction chief Eva Klebelsberg. "Our ecosystems in Europe are missing large predators," Klebelsberg explained to the BBC. Do you think we still have a lot to learn from ancient cultures? Definitely Only on certain topics I'm not sure No — not really Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. This female lynx could help play a small but important role in fulfilling a need. The team in charge of the animal has little concern about its ability to hunt. The real challenge figures to be the lynx's familiarity with keepers who feed it, and zoo visitors who ogle it. No matter how it goes, Meek will be watching from the UK. "Nowadays, zoos are not here to keep animals in cages," he said. "They're there for conservation." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘British bid' to gatecrash Telegraph takeover is rejected
An 11th-hour attempt to gatecrash the sale of The Telegraph with a 'British bid' has been rejected. The latest approach from Dovid Efune, which includes funding from the hedge fund manager Jeremy Hosking, has been ruled out, according to multiple sources. It valued the Telegraph at £550m but had only £170m of committed equity and required a level of borrowing that lenders would be unlikely to support, sources said. Mr Efune, the publisher of The New York Sun, has said he expects to reveal more backers soon as he seeks a 'beneficial resolution for all stakeholders'. He added that he had received no communication from the seller rejecting his bid. He has been pursuing control of The Telegraph for a year. He emerged from an auction in October as the preferred bidder but subsequently struggled to raise finance. In a development that creates more potential obstacles for Mr Efune, the firm appointed by IMI to run the auction, Robey Warshaw, has stopped work on it. Sources said the investment bankers expect the rival bid by RedBird Capital to proceed. The US private equity firm has reached an agreement in principle to acquire majority ownership of The Telegraph from IMI, the United Arab Emirates state media company. The deal values the company at £500m. Together, as the joint venture RedBird IMI, the pair were blocked from taking full control last year following an outcry over press freedom. It would have handed the UAE a 75pc stake. Mr Efune said he is undeterred by the latest action. He told The Telegraph: 'Our British bid is strong with upward momentum. 'We expect to announce new funding partners in the near future. We're more confident than ever that what we have to offer is a favourable pathway for the sellers, The Telegraph and journalism writ large.' The British-born entrepreneur acquired The New York Sun in 2021 after running The Algemeiner, a newspaper for the Hasidic Jewish community. He is casting his bid for The Telegraph alongside Mr Hosking and Nadhim Zahawi, the former Conservative cabinet minister, as the 'British bid' in contrast to RedBird's American roots. However, Gerry Cardinale, RedBird's founder, is in talks with at least three potential British minority co-investors, including Lord Rothermere, the owner of the Daily Mail. Following proposed changes to the law banning foreign state ownership of newspapers, IMI is expected to retain a passive stake in The Telegraph of up to 15pc. Mr Efune's chances of disrupting the transaction have appeared to be fading. This week on his X account, he appeared to seek divine intervention by posting 'stand still and see the salvation of the Lord', a quote from Exodus typically interpreted as an appeal to trust in God. The bid's remaining earthly hopes may rest on Mr Efune's efforts to stoke political opposition to RedBird and to Labour's proposed legal changes. His consortium appears further to the Right and more ideological than RedBird's, and has been seeking to exploit a Conservative split over the laws on foreign state ownership of newspapers. Tory leaders have said they will not oppose a 15pc limit but some of the party's peers intend to support a Liberal Democrat 'fatal motion' in the House of Lords. It is unclear how such opposition would deliver The Telegraph to Mr Efune's 'British bid'. Mr Cardinale has told senior managers at the newspaper that he is anxious to complete his takeover as soon as possible to end two years of ownership uncertainty and launch an ambitious growth and investment strategy. Once a deal emerges, a smooth regulatory process could mean The Telegraph is under RedBird's control by September. It would join a portfolio of media and sport assets that includes AC Milan, a significant stake in Liverpool FC and a film studio co-founded with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. RedBird is also backing the planned $12bn (£8.9bn) takeover of the Hollywood giant Paramount, the owner of CBS in the United States and Channel 5 in Britain. If the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy refers The Telegraph deal to the Competition and Markets Authority for a full investigation of competition and plurality concerns, the timeline would be extended by several months. She could also impose legal restrictions on Mr Cardinale's ability to work with Telegraph management in the meantime. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Age
4 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Middle Park finally gets its moment as a new bar and bistro opens in the suburb
Eating out Just open From the owner of Tartine and Ned's Bake, Middle Park European is a long-awaited diner for pasta and steak frites. For months, Middle Park residents have been peering through the venetian blinds of the building on the corner of Armstrong and Erskine streets, eagerly awaiting its transition into a wine bar and bistro they can call their own. After much anticipation, 110-seat Middle Park European will officially open on June 3. The latest venture by restaurateur Matteo Bruno's Valarc Group (Richmond's Tartine, Windsor's Ines Wine Bar and Sistine, and more) will feed the local hunger for an elevated dining option in the suburb, says Bruno, who lives nearby in Albert Park. 'I was really familiar with this strip and I knew that there was really nothing of this nature.' He tested the concept when he acquired Ned's Bake after it went into administration, adding nights at the Middle Park location, which he says 'locals couldn't get enough of'. Bruno hopes the same will be true for Middle Park European, open for lunch through dinner six days a week for residents to use as casually or ceremoniously as they like. There's an immediate warmth to the front bar – all salmon-coloured tiles, lime-washed walls and original stained-glass windows – where you can perch at a standing table with a beer, or champagne and a half-dozen oysters, while you wait for a seat. The 'spine of the venue', Bruno says, is a curvy walnut-timber bar, inset with stone, that the team needed a local boat builder to make. It stretches up the building's right-hand side into a cork-lined dining area with booth and banquette seating. Vintage cabinetry sourced from Kyneton homewares store Kabinett adds to the lived-in feel. Leading the (open) kitchen is British-born head chef Aaron Wrafter, who cut his teeth at the Michelin-starred, now-closed Turners, and Harborne Kitchen in Birmingham. His menu is Italian-leaning, with French flourishes and a substantial selection of seafood. To start, caviar 'dip' saves you having to splash out on a tin. A bed of creme fraiche is topped with Black River caviar, chives (and chive oil), and pickled shallot. There will always be two kinds of house-made pasta – so generously 'sharing-sized' that Bruno had to order bigger tables. For the opening menu expect fresh tagliatelle with Shark Bay crab and bisque, and ridged shell-like cavatelli with pork-and-fennel sausage. Mainstays include fish'n'chips and steak frites (porterhouse, say, with tarragon butter), while a specials board will introduce new dishes every couple of weeks. As with the food, the wine list favours Italy and France, with a few big-ticket bottles from Barolo and Burgundy. More affordable local alternatives also punch above their weight: Heathcote winery Vinea Marson's barbera is 'just as bold as ones from Piedmont that are 20 times the price', says Bruno. Cocktails are largely driven by citrus and amari, including an Aperol-tinged spicy marg and salted-caramel espresso martini with Averna. Open lunch and dinner Tue-Sat.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Middle Park finally gets its moment as a new bar and bistro opens in the suburb
Eating out Just open From the owner of Tartine and Ned's Bake, Middle Park European is a long-awaited diner for pasta and steak frites. For months, Middle Park residents have been peering through the venetian blinds of the building on the corner of Armstrong and Erskine streets, eagerly awaiting its transition into a wine bar and bistro they can call their own. After much anticipation, 110-seat Middle Park European will officially open on June 3. The latest venture by restaurateur Matteo Bruno's Valarc Group (Richmond's Tartine, Windsor's Ines Wine Bar and Sistine, and more) will feed the local hunger for an elevated dining option in the suburb, says Bruno, who lives nearby in Albert Park. 'I was really familiar with this strip and I knew that there was really nothing of this nature.' He tested the concept when he acquired Ned's Bake after it went into administration, adding nights at the Middle Park location, which he says 'locals couldn't get enough of'. Bruno hopes the same will be true for Middle Park European, open for lunch through dinner six days a week for residents to use as casually or ceremoniously as they like. There's an immediate warmth to the front bar – all salmon-coloured tiles, lime-washed walls and original stained-glass windows – where you can perch at a standing table with a beer, or champagne and a half-dozen oysters, while you wait for a seat. The 'spine of the venue', Bruno says, is a curvy walnut-timber bar, inset with stone, that the team needed a local boat builder to make. It stretches up the building's right-hand side into a cork-lined dining area with booth and banquette seating. Vintage cabinetry sourced from Kyneton homewares store Kabinett adds to the lived-in feel. Leading the (open) kitchen is British-born head chef Aaron Wrafter, who cut his teeth at the Michelin-starred, now-closed Turners, and Harborne Kitchen in Birmingham. His menu is Italian-leaning, with French flourishes and a substantial selection of seafood. To start, caviar 'dip' saves you having to splash out on a tin. A bed of creme fraiche is topped with Black River caviar, chives (and chive oil), and pickled shallot. There will always be two kinds of house-made pasta – so generously 'sharing-sized' that Bruno had to order bigger tables. For the opening menu expect fresh tagliatelle with Shark Bay crab and bisque, and ridged shell-like cavatelli with pork-and-fennel sausage. Mainstays include fish'n'chips and steak frites (porterhouse, say, with tarragon butter), while a specials board will introduce new dishes every couple of weeks. As with the food, the wine list favours Italy and France, with a few big-ticket bottles from Barolo and Burgundy. More affordable local alternatives also punch above their weight: Heathcote winery Vinea Marson's barbera is 'just as bold as ones from Piedmont that are 20 times the price', says Bruno. Cocktails are largely driven by citrus and amari, including an Aperol-tinged spicy marg and salted-caramel espresso martini with Averna. Open lunch and dinner Tue-Sat.
