Latest news with #ChangingoftheGuard
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince William Meets Boy Who Finally Made It to a Garden Party After Missing It Last Year Due to Traffic
Ten-year-old Tony Hudgell missed last year's Buckingham Palace garden party when he got stuck in traffic on the way there, but the palace made it up to him by inviting him to tea with Queen Camilla This year, Hudgell was invited to the garden party once more and arrived in time to meet Prince William In a photo taken at the May 20 garden party, William bent down to shake Hudgell's handPrince William met a very special guest at today's Buckingham Palace garden party. The Prince of Wales, 42, shared a sweet moment with 10-year-old Tony Hudgell at the May 20 event in London, bending down to shake the boy's hand. Hudgell finally got to experience a garden party after missing a similar event last year because he got stuck in traffic. Hudgell is a double amputee whose foundation raises money for children affected by physical, emotional or psychological abuse. While traveling to this year's party, Hudgell's mother, Paula Hudgell, posted to X, "On our way to The King's Garden Party! What a glorious day for it — we can't wait to meet so many wonderful & inspiring people. Tony is so excited to be heading back to the Palace!" The update was a happier one than the message Paula posted before a 2024 garden party when she shared that she and Tony had been trapped in traffic for two hours and wouldn't 'be making the King's Garden Party." However, her post caught the eye of the Royal Family's official X account, which offered another invite to Tony. 'Sorry to hear this, Tony! We were looking forward to seeing you too,' they replied at the time. 'Fancy trying again another day? Leave it with us… @paula_hudgell.' Weeks later, Tony was treated to tea with Queen Camilla in June 2024, who also hosted Lyla O'Donovan, a girl diagnosed with a rare brain tumor who raised funds for ill children and missed a May 2024 garden party due to health issues. During their visit, the children and their families watched the Changing of the Guard and joined Queen Camilla in the garden's Summer House at Buckingham Palace. Later, they were taken on a private tour of the Royal Mews. Queen Camilla also honored Tony with a British Empire Medal (BEM) after his nomination in the 2024 New Year Honours. Paula said after the visit that Tony "chatted to the Queen as if they were old friends, and she was lovely with him, and [it was] an exceptionally very proud moment when the Queen gave Tony his BEM." She added, "We would like to thank everyone who made this one of the most memorable days we will ever have." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! This year's garden party marks an exciting day for Princess Kate, 43. She cohosted the event with Prince William in her first garden party appearance since 2023, as she did not attend last year's parties amid her cancer treatment. Other guests at this year's event included William's cousins Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall, plus King Charles' brother and sister-in-law Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The royal family members stood on the steps of the palace after arriving while the national anthem, "God Save The King," played, then moved to the lawn to greet their guests, who were invited in recognition of their public service. The garden party featured a menu of tea, mini cakes and sandwiches. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia brings in 'top-level' FSB Presidential Regiment to Chasiv Yar, Ukraine's army says
Russian forces attempting to take the Ukrainian city of Chasiv Yar have been bolstered by the elite FSB Presidential Regiment, Suspilne media reported on May 11. Chasiv Yar is a strategically important town in Donetsk Oblast and the scene of an intense, long-running, and bloody battle that began in early April 2024. According to Ivan Petrychak, spokesperson for the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Russian forces continue to be unsuccessful in their attempts to capture the city, and have called upon the elite regiment for reinforcement. Petrychak said the Russian 98th Parachute Division has been joined by the FSB Presidential Regiment, "significantly strengthening them." "These are top-level specialists. Now we have to face very intense fighting, and very accurate and precise work," he said. "If the Russians are using this level of specialists in urban combat, they are probably facing some difficulties as well." The FSB Presidential Regiment — also known as the Kremlin Regiment — is responsible for the security of the Kremlin, the valuables stored within it, and state officials, as well as conducting ceremonial duties such as the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden, Moscow. It is not typically deployed to fight abroad. Russia's months-long attacks on Chasiv Yar are part of its grinding, slow, and costly advances in Donetsk Oblast. "Now the battles in Chasiv Yar have an urban warfare character. When they can't take it by storm, they get the air force and just destroy the city, neighborhood by neighborhood," Petrychak said. Since the fall of Bakhmut in May 2023 and the fall of Avdiivka in February 2024, Russian forces overran one village after another and took up positions close to Chasiv Yar. Located on hills that serve as natural defensive structures, Chasiv Yar town boasts the highest point in the area, a strategic point for any army wanting to gain an advantage. The town is divided in the east by the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal, creating a barrier between the Kanal micro-district and the rest of the town. Throughout most of spring 2024, Kyiv's forces managed to keep Russian troops out of the town. On June 27, 2024, the Ukrainian army reported it had pushed out Russian forces that had entered the Kanal neighborhood. In early 2025, the Russian military seized the Chasiv Yar Refractory Plant, Ukrainska Pravda reported on January 18, but this was not confirmed by Ukrainian officials. On March 7, DeepState analysts said fighting was going on throughout the whole city, with Russians trying to hide in the high-rise buildings' ruins. As of April 28, 156 residents remained in Chasiv Yar, according to Ruslan Pryimenko, deputy head of the Chasiv Yar military administration. Read also: EU to unveil new sanctions against Russia on May 14, source says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Immerse yourself in a London neighborhood for a richer, more authentic visit
Anyone who knows me well knows that London is my favorite city in the world. Some 60 visits have led me to try to unlock all of its secrets. Around visit 50, I finally accepted this cannot be done. If you also love London, but are done with watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and gawking at the crown jewels in the Tower of London, here's an idea. Pick your main interest (literary immersion, theater, museum-hopping, history), then pick your neighborhood and, finally, your accommodation. Design your next visit around that one area; indulge in all it offers and create a richer, more immersive London experience. Here are some neighborhoods. Marylebone For those who love a village atmosphere in the city In this leafy village, sandwiched between bustling Oxford Street and Regent's Park, the traditional and the trendy go hand-in-hand. Literary lovers Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning married in the village church; Sherlock Holmes solved crimes from his fictional residence at 221-B Baker Street, and London's most notorious criminals met their fate at Tyburn where public hangings were once held. Today's experiences are decidedly more pleasant than an encounter with Professor Moriarty or a date with the hangman's noose. Book a room at The Marylebone Hotel, a member of the Doyle Collection, and enjoy a curated stay in this charming "village." Take the hotel's Friday afternoon walking tour where a Blue Badge guide leads you through hidden gardens and off-the-beaten path public art to specialty shops such as La Fromagerie (the window display of cheeses is eye-popping) and Daunt Book Store whose Edwardian décor is the perfect backdrop for its collection of tomes. The Marylebone Hotel can arrange tickets to a concert at Wigmore Hall, an intimate venue specializing in chamber music concerts, or a visit to the Wallace Collection, an exquisite small art museum located in Hertford House, once the home of English aristocracy. The staff can book restaurants such as Orrery just down the High Street from the famous church, but don't forget to schedule an evening in the hotel's own restaurant 108 Brasserie – for an elevated version of fish and chips, order the fried fillet of haddock with pea puree. Kensington For museum lovers and royalty followers The borough of Kensington is synonymous with royals (a tour of Kensington Palace and its beautiful gardens should be on any royalist's list), but it's also home to the city's museum row where the Victoria & Albert and Natural History museums sit side by side in all their architectural splendor. Check into the 5-star boutique Kensington, another Doyle Collection property. Enjoy lunch in the elegant restaurant, but don't linger too long over that post-meal cognac if you want to check out the V&A, the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design. You will have just missed the Cartier Exhibit, but not to worry – another blockbuster special exhibition is always on the horizon. In the meantime, console yourself with the permanent exhibits of nearly three million objects. With 145 galleries, the museum has everything from Islamic art to the largest collection of Italian Renaissance sculpture outside of Italy. Just next to the V&A, the Natural History Museum is spectacular, from the stunning facade to the blue whale skeleton suspended from the main hall ceiling to animatronic dinosaurs. It's no wonder there's nearly always a queue to get in. Both museums are free and a short walk from the Kensington Hotel. Back at the hotel after an afternoon of museum- hopping, slip into the oak-paneled K Bar for a hand-crafted cocktail. With 16 original cocktails from different periods of history, the presentation is as unusual as the drink – just open that little jewelry box and see the menu reflected in the mirror within. Bloomsbury For the literature buff Anyone choosing the Bloomsbury neighborhood as a London base will give thanks to Virginia Woolf and the rest of the Bloomsbury Group who made this charming enclave famous in the early part of the 20th century. Anchored by the massive British Museum, affectionately known as the world's attic (the Egyptian Gallery is a must-see), the area reeks of culture and intellect. A wander through Bloomsbury's 16 squares and gardens will evoke the ghosts of Woolf and her circle: her sister, artist Vanessa Bell; novelist E.M. Forster; writer and critic Lytton Strachey, and economist John Maynard Keynes. No hotel suits its neighborhood more than another Doyle Collection property. Fittingly called The Bloomsbury, this Georgian-style hotel is unapologetic in its appreciation for the literary cachet of the neighborhood. So much so that Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who was a regular guest, was on hand in 2011 to open his library in one of the hotel's public spaces. Likewise, the lush, flower-filled restaurant, Dalloway's Terrace, honors one of Woolf's most famous characters and is a great place to enjoy afternoon tea. Guests have their choice of postprandial cocktail stops – lounging on a velvet shell couch in the pink and gold Coral Room or seeking out a discreet table in the Bloomsbury Club Bar. If they're lucky, the concierge might even direct them to the nearby Lamb Pub where they can enjoy a pint just as poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes did in their happier days. Covent Garden For those who love the bright lights of the West End Covent Garden is one of London's most beloved neighborhoods, from the market stalls and piazza that anchor it to outlying areas such as Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. It has a fascinating and romantic history – learn about Nell Gwynne who went from selling oranges here to becoming a famous actress and mistress of Charles II - and it's home to London opera, theaters and a bevy of talented street performers. In keeping with the glamorous, festive atmosphere of Covent Garden, make your hotel base Hotel l'Oscar. This architectural gem served as the first Baptist church in London, but there is nothing dour or drab about it. The 39 rooms are decorated in jewel tones of gold, ruby and emerald, and you can get lost in the numerous nooks and crannies. The welcoming lobby is a great place to enjoy a cup of tea while awaiting your room, and the Baroque-style restaurant was inspired by the Café Florian in Venice. You'll be spoiled for choice here in the heart of Theaterland, but see if the concierge can score tickets to a performance at the Royal Opera House or a night of theater at the Donmar Warehouse near Seven Dials. Unlike the large, ornate West End theaters, the Donmar is no-frills intimate theater-in-the-round where you're never more than four seats away from the actors, noted thespians such as Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellan, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Adrian Brody. Staff can book you into some of the neighborhood's venerable restaurants, such as The Ivy (I once sat at a table near Ralph Fiennes, busily engrossed in his newspaper), or Rules in Maiden Lane. London's oldest restaurant, dating to 1798, Rules is a bastion of Britishness. From the curated cocktail experience, "Upstairs at Rules," to the plush banquettes and tuxedoed waiters downstairs, you won't find anything like this at your hometown eatery. It was a favorite celluloid dining establishment for James Bond, who presumably liked the way they shook their martinis, and Downton Abbey's Grantham family, who perhaps were partial to the Jersey Rock oysters, Dorset crab salad and steak and kidney pie. If you love London, but find yourself overwhelmed by the overload of sights to see, start small. Pick an area of interest and a hotel, and become acquainted with the city one neighborhood at a time. ________ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
The Star
10-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Changing of the Guard showcases military tradition
Impressive performance: The Changing of the Guard ceremony being carried out at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Istana Negara here was carried out in full military tradition. The ceremony was conducted by four officers and 79 personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (1RAMD). The series 1/25 ceremony, which began at 9am yesterday, also included two officers and 22 horsemen from the 21st Ceremonial Mounted Squadron (SIB) under the command of the 12th Brigade Headquarters. The event began with the outgoing guards marching from the palace compound and taking their positions at the main gate, followed by the incoming guards taking their place opposite them. This was followed by the handover of the regimental colours, symbolising the formal changeover between the outgoing and incoming palace guards. The ceremony was witnessed by 1 RAMD commanding officer, Kol Mohd Fuad Md Ghazali, and commanding officer of the SIB, Lt-Kol Shahrul Azudin Maulod. Speaking to reporters, Kol Mohd Fuad said the ceremony not only involved a physical change of guards but also carried significant symbolic value in continuing Malaysia's military heritage, Bernama reported. He said it reflected the identity of the Malaysian Armed Forces as a force prepared for the battlefield while also upholding national honour and tradition. 'Apart from being a symbol of respect for the Royal Institution, the Changing of the Guard ceremony also attracts tourists from within and outside the country,' Kol Mohd Fuad said. 'The uniqueness of the ceremony, which combines military elements, culture and Malay heritage, makes it one of the nation's proud traditions. 'It also provides the public with a rare opportunity to witness the beauty of military customs not often seen by the general public,' he said. Kol Mohd Fuad added that the Malaysian Armed Forces is committed to preserving and honouring the ceremony as part of the national heritage.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fears of crime surge as Met disbands dedicated Royal Parks police unit
Fears of a crime surge in London's historic Royal Parks are growing after plans emerged to scrap their dedicated policing team as part of sweeping Metropolitan Police budget cuts. For over 130 years, specialist officers have closely guarded the capital's iconic green spaces, with around 80 Met officers currently assigned to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour, and patrol high-profile events such as the Changing of the Guard. But the Met has now confirmed these officers will be absorbed into local neighbourhood teams as it attempts to bridge a funding gap of £260 million, Sky News reports. The Royal Parks charity manages more than 5,000 acres of green space, including Hyde Park, Regent's Park, and Richmond Park. A spokesperson for the Royal Parks said: "We are disappointed with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) decision to close its dedicated Royal Parks police unit. "The Royal Parks MPS unit and its predecessors have been a massive part of the rich history of the parks in London for over 150 years. "We are deeply grateful to those police colleagues who have been so committed in their work to protect our amazing green spaces and ensure the safety, security and welfare of the millions of visitors to the parks." The charity sought to reassure visitors that their safety "is our top priority," adding it is seeking further clarity from the Met on future policing arrangements. London Assembly Member Gareth Roberts, who is also Liberal Democrat Leader of Richmond Council, warned that crime would inevitably rise due to reduced policing coverage. He said: "We will have that type of space within the capital being largely unpoliced. "I hope that we won't be seeing dire consequences, but we have already seen organised criminal gangs targeting cyclists when they know that the police aren't on duty… and this could open the door to further acts like that." According to the Royal Parks' latest annual report, crime rose by around one-third between 2022/23 and 2023/24, increasing from 76 incidents to 101. Sexual offences, phone thefts and drug dealing are among the most frequently reported crimes, while Mr Roberts highlighted recent cases where cyclists have been threatened and robbed of expensive bikes. Less frequent but disturbing offences include gangs deliberately using dogs to chase deer at night, hoping to force the animals to shed their antlers, which can then be sold online. Commander Owain Richards confirmed last week that as part of its wider budget cuts, the Met will lose around 1,700 officers and staff, with the Royal Parks team among several specialist units set for disbandment. In a letter, Commander Richards stated: "It is with regret that we have taken the tough decision to no longer have a dedicated Royal Parks policing team." The parks have had specialist policing since 1872, beginning with park keepers, replaced by the Royal Parks Constabulary in 1974, and finally the dedicated Royal Parks policing unit established in 2004. In future, local neighbourhood policing teams will take over responsibility for security and safety in the parks. A spokesperson for the Met said: "Park users and partners can be reassured the Met will continue to respond to emergency calls, patrol hotspot areas, investigate crimes, and support events in Royal Parks across London. "We have been working closely with the Royal Parks and stakeholders to understand concerns as we navigate our £260m funding gap and reduce the size of the Met. "The Met is prioritising neighbourhood policing and see this as a positive opportunity to integrate the Royal Parks into local community crime fighting plans and ensure a wider pool of officers understand the unique requirements of parks policing."
