This month sees the birthday of the Duke of Kent who, at 89 on 9 October, is still a working member of the royal family despite his advanced years. Eddie Kent is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and, through his mother Princess Marina, a first cousin once removed of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Sarah, Duchess of York will be 65 on the 15th. It is good to see Fergie, as we still call her, back in the royal fold. Her loyalty to her beleaguered ex-husband Andrew is something that the late Queen appreciated, and Sarah remained close to her despite some unfortunate mishaps along the way.
The Princess of Wales, who has always been universally admired and respected, revealed last month that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment. In one of the most intimate and glossy three minutes of royal footage ever to be released she thanked her legions of followers – many cancer sufferers themselves – for allowing her to ‘navigate the stormy waters’ of her illness in private surrounded by her nearest and dearest.
‘The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,’ she reiterated, explaining that the ‘cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you’. The princess went on to say that she is looking forward to being back at work and ‘undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can’. She finished her moving statement with a reference to ‘all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand’.
We are overjoyed to have the Princess of Wales back and, as she says, ‘out of the darkness, can come light, so let the light shine bright’.
The UK national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II is to be located in St James’s Park, selected because of its historical significance and its proximity to the George VI and Queen Elizabeth Memorial on the opposite side of The Mall – the ceremonial route to Buckingham Palace. The design phase will be launched later this year and the announcement of the chosen design will coincide with what would have been Her Majesty’s 100th birthday in 2026.
Lord Janvrin, Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, knows the ropes better than most having worked at Buckingham Palace for 20 years, first as press secretary and eventually becoming the monarch’s trusted private secretary, a position he held for eight years until 2007.
Not everyone is a fan of the royal family as Sir Ian McKellen – acting ‘royalty’ himself – cheekily revealed in a recent interview. Sir Ian, who was knighted in 1991, recalled the time the Queen made him a Companion of Honour in 2008 for his services to the theatre and during his investiture said, ‘You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time’, to which he replied, ‘Well, not as long as you.’
He got ‘a royal smile’ for that, he recalled, but the Queen then asked him if anyone actually went to the theatre any more. She was not being rude, as Sir Ian claims, but was merely teasing him, as I feel certain he knew. It makes a good story though, as he knew it would.
