Latest news with #militaryhonours
National Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Ben Woodfinden: King Charles III and the glorious weirdness of Canada's monarchy
When King Charles III delivers the Speech from the Throne on Tuesday, it will be only the third time in our history that a monarch has done so, with both previous times occurring under the late Queen Elizabeth II. This is Charles' first visit to Canada as monarch, and the timing is not a coincidence. U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state likely triggered the invitation from the prime minister, and will make the delivery of the speech by our sovereign and head of state all the more symbolic — a visible reminder of our unique history and distinct institutions. Article content Article content Article content But part of what makes the Crown, and all the pomp, the tightly controlled customs and conventions, and rituals around it, worth celebrating is how strikingly odd and weird it all is. This isn't a knock against the monarchy; it's a visible reminder that part of what makes our unique form of government worth preserving are all the strange idiosyncrasies that come along with it. Article content Article content During his visit, the King will journey to the Senate to deliver the speech in Canada's traditional state landau, a regal horse-drawn carriage reserved for royal and viceregal ceremonies. The grand procession will feature 28 RCMP musical ride horses, with 14 leading and 14 following, creating an impressive spectacle. Upon arrival at the Senate, the King will receive full military honours, including a 100-strong guard from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, an inspection of both the guard and the band, and a 21-gun salute. After the King arrives, the Usher of the Black Rod will be sent to summon members of Parliament to the Senate chamber. This historic role dates back to 1348. Article content Article content The spectacle is weird. Gloriously so. But more importantly, the constitutional conventions and oddities surrounding the visit are equally idiosyncratic. When Charles delivers the speech, he will be doing so in his capacity as the King of Canada. This differs from Charles' role as King of the United Kingdom. If you ever point out to people that it is incorrect to say that our head of state is the 'King of the United Kingdom,' people often reply with 'so what, he's the same person.' But this visit actually illustrates a subtle but important reason why this matters. Article content Article content Media reports have suggested that behind the scenes, there are some disagreements between the Canadian and British governments over exactly what Charles should say and do while here. Trump is a fan of the monarchy, and the British government has tried to leverage this to curry favour with Trump. During a visit to the White House in February, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hand-delivered a letter from the King to Trump inviting him for a state visit. This was while Trump was making repeated comments about making Canada the 51st state, and during the height of the tariff fight. Carney criticized this move a few weeks ago on British television.
Times
12-05-2025
- Times
First World War soldier buried 108 years after his death
A soldier who died in the First World War has been buried with full military honours nearly 108 years after he was killed in battle. Private John Tame died on August 16, 1917, during the Battle of Langemarck, and was one of three brothers who died between 1915 and 1917. After his remains were discovered during roadworks near Ypres in Belgium, the Ministry of Defence's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) — also known as the War Detectives — identified him from a previous shoulder wound, a cap badge and shoulder title of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. They traced his great nephew, Keith Brooks, who provided a DNA sample to confirm his identity. He was laid to rest on May 8 in Belgium, attended by
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WW1 soldier laid to rest after nearly 108 years
A World War One soldier has been buried with full military honours nearly 108 years after his death. Pte John Tame, who was from Windsor and served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was killed in Belgium in August 1917. His remains were found during road works at Zonnebeke, near Ypres, in May 2018, with a cap badge and a Royal Berkshire Regiment shoulder title found nearby. A DNA match to a living relative confirmed his identity and he was laid to rest at the New Irish Farm cemetery, near Ypres, on Thursday. Pte Tame's older brother L/Cpl Alfred Tame and Cpl William George Tame, who served in the same regiment, were both killed during the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915. Their bodies have never been found and they are commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, about 11 miles (18km) from where their brother is now buried. On Friday, on the 110th anniversary of their deaths, their family and a party from 2nd Battalion the Rifles visited the memorial to remember the missing brothers. Keith Brooks, Pte Tame's great nephew, helped the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) to identify him by giving a DNA sample. "John and his brothers Alfred and William have been remembered by the family from just photographs and vague memories from those who have now long passed," Mr Brooks said. "Now, after finding John's remains, he is more than just a distant photograph. This has made him more real along with his story for future generations. "This has all been achieved because of the excellent work the MOD do with all the research and investigations, giving missing people who have served their country the funeral they all greatly deserve." Rosie Barron, who works for the JCCC, said: "It has been an honour to work with The Rifles to give Pte Tame the full military funeral that he deserves and to have conducted the research which led to his identification. "It has also been a privilege to meet Keith and to have shared this experience with him and his family." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Ministry of Defence
BBC News
11-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
WW1 soldier for Windsor laid to rest nearly 108 years after death
A World War One soldier has been buried with full military honours nearly 108 years after his John Tame, who was from Windsor and served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was killed in Belgium in August remains were found during road works at Zonnebeke, near Ypres, in May 2018, with a cap badge and a Royal Berkshire Regiment shoulder title found nearby.A DNA match to a living relative confirmed his identity and he was laid to rest at the New Irish Farm cemetery, near Ypres, on Thursday. Pte Tame's older brother L/Cpl Alfred Tame and Cpl William George Tame, who served in the same regiment, were both killed during the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May bodies have never been found and they are commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, about 11 miles (18km) from where their brother is now buried. On Friday, on the 110th anniversary of their deaths, their family and a party from 2nd Battalion the Rifles visited the memorial to remember the missing Brooks, Pte Tame's great nephew, helped the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) to identify him by giving a DNA sample. "John and his brothers Alfred and William have been remembered by the family from just photographs and vague memories from those who have now long passed," Mr Brooks said."Now, after finding John's remains, he is more than just a distant photograph. This has made him more real along with his story for future generations."This has all been achieved because of the excellent work the MOD do with all the research and investigations, giving missing people who have served their country the funeral they all greatly deserve."Rosie Barron, who works for the JCCC, said: "It has been an honour to work with The Rifles to give Pte Tame the full military funeral that he deserves and to have conducted the research which led to his identification."It has also been a privilege to meet Keith and to have shared this experience with him and his family." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
