Latest news with #monarchs
National Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Kelly McParland: Alaska summit offers no hope for Ukraine compromise
Article content From Putin's position, there's little reason to compromise now. He faces no serious internal opposition or public pressure. Russians as a people are so accustomed to centuries of all-powerful monarchs, dictators or one-party states controlling their lives — demanding unquestioning obedience while treating resistance with ruthless punishment — that it's bred in their bone. They're born to it, live with it and see little prospect of anything different. People who challenge Putin fall out of windows, die in exploding airplanes or expire in jails in some distant outback. He has valuable economic and commercial support from China, which has its own reasons for seeking a western world flummoxed by the uncertainty Putin's war creates. Article content On the other side of the table from Putin we have the president of the United States, who may have somewhat different motives, but could in no way be classed as a reliable friend of Ukraine or its people. Article content President Trump originally claimed he'd end the war in his first 24 hours in office. Later, he sought to squeeze off its weapon supplies, demanding a big chunk of its minerals in return for more. He eventually agreed to renew sales, but only if European allies paid the bill for them. Most recently, he set a deadline for Moscow to end the fighting; it came and went on Friday. The war goes on. Article content For Russia, the summit represents another chance to play for time, stringing along the president while continuing to pummel Ukraine and its people. His chances of gain increase the longer Washington procrastinates and Europe is distracted by the economic and security threats the conflict engenders. Article content So, why would Trump fly all the way to Alaska for the sit-down? European leaders — none of whom were invited to take part — declared both that 'the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,' and 'international borders must not be changed by force.' Zelenskyy has categorically rejected any surrender of territory, despite Trump's talk of 'swapping' territory. Article content The U.S. president likes a show. He admires Putin's avarice and cruelty, which he mimics in his monetization of the presidency and his treatment of immigrants and the homeless. He's remodelled the White House with a czarist taste for gilt and excess, and staged his own military parade with tanks rumbling through the streets of Washington just like they do through Red Square. While he may be mildly irked at Putin's delaying tactics, he's never shown the Russian despot the level of public disrespect Zelenskyy endured during a visit to the Oval Office. Article content
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Royal train to be cut in Palace cost-saving measure
The royal train is going to be taken out of service by 2027, in a cost-saving measure announced by Buckingham Palace. There have been dedicated trains for monarchs since Queen Victoria's reign, but as part of a "drive to ensure we deliver value for money" it's been decided to decommission the historic rolling stock. The announcement came alongside the annual publication of royal finances, which showed that a journey on the royal train, from Gloucestershire to Staffordshire and then London, over two days in February, had cost more than £44,000. The Royal Family will still travel on regular train services - and the annual report showed 141 helicopter trips were taken last year, costing £475,000. Public funding for royals triples since 2012 because of Palace works Royals to get extra £45m as Crown Estate profits soar Royal estates 'receive millions from public bodies and charities' James Chalmers, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, responsible for the royal finances, said the decision to stop the royal train would mean "the fondest of farewells", but "in moving forwards we must not be bound by the past". The royal train will be taken around the UK before it is removed from service, after which it could be put on public display. The royal train consists of nine carriages, with different locomotives hired to pull them. The idea of a royal train goes back to Queen Victoria commissioning special coaches in 1869, with the service being used to take the Royal Family around the country. "The royal train, of course, has been part of national life for many decades, loved and cared for by all those involved," said Mr Chalmers. The train had been used extensively for events during the late Queen Elizabeth's golden and diamond jubilees - with the most recent update to the carriages taking place in the mid-1980s. But the latest accounts, for 2024-25, show the train only being used on two occasions, raising questions about maintenance and storage costs. That's alongside other travel costs such as 55 private charter flights costing almost £600,000 and scheduled flights costing £126,000. The total cost of royal travel is £4.7 million, a rise of £500,000 from the previous year. The single biggest travel item was £400,000 for the King and Queen's trip to Australia and Samoa. The latest financial report for 2024-25 shows the Sovereign Grant remaining at £86.3m. This grant is the public funding for the running costs of the monarchy, such as travel for official duties, staffing and the maintenance of royal buildings. The level of funding for 2025-26 is rising to £132.1m - with this higher level of funding staying for two years to complete renovation work at Buckingham Palace. The cost of this 10-year, £369m building scheme at Buckingham Palace has pushed up the Sovereign Grant - which in real terms, taking into account inflation, is now about three times higher than when the Sovereign Grant funding was introduced in 2012. Funding comes from the Treasury, with the amount based on a percentage of the profits of the Crown Estate. This year's annual report shows the Royal Family carried out over 1,900 engagements, with almost 94,000 guests attending events at royal residences. There were also diplomatic occasions, such as hosting Qatar's state visit to the UK. A financial report for the Duchy of Cornwall, the estates which provide an income for the Prince of Wales, showed a profit of £22.9m, slightly down on the previous year. There had been media criticism of the duchy's finances - and in response Kensington Palace has said that the emphasis will be on a positive social impact. Will Bax, the duchy's new secretary, said there would be a "modern, socially minded" approach, which could see some charitable organisations and community groups having their rents waived and others with 50% reductions. This would cost "significant sums", said Mr Bax, but it was part of a focus on turning the duchy into a social enterprise, supporting communities and reflecting Prince William's interest in projects such as reducing homelessness and tackling climate change. Anti-monarchy campaigners Republic criticised the levels of royal income at a time when there were debates about "cutting welfare for people with disabilities". Republic's chief executive Graham Smith described royal funding as a "scandalous abuse of public money", with published figures not including costs such as security. Sign up here to get the latest royal stories and analysis every week with our Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can sign up here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Telegraph
Why ‘playful' Copenhagen is the world's most liveable city
Over the years, monarchs have chosen a variety of elaborate and ostentatious celebrations to commemorate their Golden Jubilee anniversaries. George III had a 50-gun salute from the Tower of London, Queen Victoria arranged a party for 50 of her favourite international dignitaries, and our late Queen Elizabeth II trumped them all by jetting off on 40,000-mile world tour. Across the North Sea, her contemporary and equally long-serving sovereign Queen Margrethe II of Denmark took a very different approach: she held on tightly to her scarlet fascinator and jumped aboard a 100-year-old wooden roller-coaster. According to resident 'brake man' Morten, who manually operates the historic ride at Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens amusement park, her royal highness grinned gleefully while thundering down 100ft drops. But why would a woman who wears the crown jewels swap banquets for a £6 ride? The answer is simple: because she could. Monarchs may hold little political clout these days, but their actions often reflect the broader attitudes of a population. While Britons love pomp and circumstance, Danes are effortlessly cool, understated and playful. Long ago, Queen Margrethe's unconventional and unpretentious choice of celebration led me to the conclusion that Copenhagen must be a brilliant place to live. I'm not alone. Launched today, the latest edition of The Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2025 ranks Denmark's forward-thinking capital as the most liveable city in the world, ending Vienna's three-year reign. As part of the study, 173 countries were ranked out of ten for stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Copenhagen scored near perfect marks all round. Ambitions have always been big in this former Viking fishing village, where traditions are cherished, modernism is praised, and imagination has no limits. A decade ago, Rene Redzepi sent shockwaves across Europe's white linen-draped dining tables when he served live ants as part of a gourmet dining menu. But the New Nordic revolution has since become an industry norm, creating a world-leading dining scene with 26 Michelin stars to date. Even better quality than the food Danes eat, is the air they breathe. Although dreams of becoming the world's first carbon-neutral city are yet to become a reality, environmental issues are still a big concern. Buildings have been constructed according to top eco standards, power plants convert waste into clean energy, and an artificial ski slope sits on top of a giant incinerator. Inspired by the urban Utopia of a 15-minute city where everything is within easy reach, a new development in former industrial port area Nordhavn will introduce improved public transport links and walking paths. Every time I visit Copenhagen, I take the opportunity to jump on a bike and explore 240 miles of cycle tracks and bridges. But two wheels aren't used only for recreational purposes. I've passed parents doing the school run with side cars in tow, mobile coffee shops and even a hearse peddling corpses to the next world by trike. Green living has become a playful pastime. Several years ago, I spent an afternoon paddling around Copenhagen's harbour, where locals boast the water is clean enough for swimming. Fearing chilly North Sea temperatures rather than the slim possibility of contamination, I chose to explore by boat. An NGO working in five European countries, GreenKayak lend out kayaks for free on the condition borrowers return with a hefty bucket of rubbish collected during their journey. I fished out the usual suspects – crisp packets, Coke cans and cigarette butts, although baths, bikes and bullets have reputedly been found. Continuing with the theme of waste, artist Thomas Dambo has found a novel way to transform trash into art while communicating an important message. A modern-day Hans Christian Anderson on an eco-mission, his 'Trail of 1000 Trolls' has spread from Copenhagen to Europe and the USA. By downloading a map from his website, I found six scrap wood sculptures dotted around the outskirts of the city. In typical Danish style, any messaging is foremost about having fun rather than being reprimanding and didactic. While important issues are always given serious consideration, life is never taken too seriously. It's an outlook ingrained in the national psyche. Tivoli Gardens, where retiree Queen Margrethe regularly returns for her favourite white-herring smørrebrød at Hotel Nimb, is the perfect entry point for any new visitor to the city and an introduction to this admirable way of thinking. Built in the mid-19 th century as a place for entertainment and make-believe, it remains one of the Danish capital's biggest attractions. But over the course of almost two centuries, much of the magic that's always filled the park's colourful pavilions has seeped into the cobbled streets and pretty canals, making Copenhagen a marvellous place to work, rest and – above all – play.
ABC News
25-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
'Monarch mother' Ellen Reid reflects on 50 years of butterfly breeding
If you spot a small orange butterfly fluttering around St Arnaud there is a good chance it was raised by Ellen Reid. The 82-year-old retired pharmacist has been breeding butterflies from her verdant green garden in western Victoria for more than 50 years. It is a passion that took flight in the early 1970s sparked by a chance encounter with famed TV naturalist Harry Butler. "I just think they're wonderful little creatures," Ms Reid said with a laugh. Every year she contributes thousands of butterflies of different varieties to St Arnaud's local population, delighting as they slowly make their way from her home to the town's botanic gardens. "This year alone I've done about 1,500 [Queen] monarchs, as well as several hundred jezebels," she said. "It's lovely. We send them off and hope they'll go and multiply, and that they bring joy to people." Ms Reid has raised queen monarchs, jezabels and yellow admirals for decades. Once fully grown she sets them free to flutter wherever wind and wing carry them. But this year, with dry conditions dragging on, most have stayed closer to home, clustering in large numbers throughout the gardens. Ms Reid says watching the butterfly's transformation — from egg to caterpillar, then to butterfly — is part of the joy of the job. "In about 10 to 14 days it transforms from a leaf-processing creature to a nectar-drinking butterfly," she said. It is not something she keeps to herself. She gives away cocoons to community members and zoos keen to assist with butterfly conservation. The butterflies feast on nectar-rich plants called buddlejas that Ms Reid grows especially for them. "We've got 40 different buddlejas so that we've got nectar all year," she said. Her daughter, Jean Reid, said butterflies had been a constant throughout her life. She said it was all she had ever known since the age of four. "I grew up thinking everybody bred butterflies and I used to take them to school. It's just something that we do. "You never ever get used to seeing a butterfly being born. "It's something that everybody should watch once in their lifetime and I'm so very blessed to have it just about every day." Ellen Reid said butterfly gardening, simply put, was a beautiful thing to do. "It adds magic to the garden." Ellen and Jean Reid are not alone in their efforts. They have shared cocoons with several businesses around town helping to spark joy, colour and biodiversity at the same time. Local gardener Barry Robertson is in awe of Ms Reid's dedication. "I just think Ellen's a remarkable woman because of what she's done here," he said. "Over the years they've been through a bit of trial and error, and a bit of hardship with the different seasons. "But I think it's got to a stage now where she's very happy with what she's doing." Mr Robertson said her passion has sparked special moments of joy around town. Ms Reid is not eyeing retirement from the caper just yet. It is something that brings too much joy. The Reids dream of establishing a butterfly education centre in St Arnaud — a place to inspire others and share what they have learned. But until then, Ellen Reid will keep filling her garden, and her town, with quiet flashes of colour, one butterfly at a time.
