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Queen Elizabeth’s 65-year reign


Britain's Queen Elizabeth will mark 64 years as monarch on Saturday (06.02.16).
The royal - who is set to turn 90 this year - ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, the day her beloved father King George VI passed away.
She is expected to spend the day quietly with her husband Prince Philip at her Sandringham estate.
While Accession Day is always low-key for the Queen, she will host a street party for 10,000 people to celebrate her 90th birthday
Peter Phillips, who is in charge of the event and also happens to be the Queen's grandson, told the Daily Mail newspaper: "I was very conscious to make sure we did this properly, so we went through the normal channels of approaching the Palace.
"We had to show that this wasn't a case of trying to cut corners because the Queen happens to be my grandmother. I said [to the Queen], 'Oh, by the way you may or may not have heard that we are having conversations with your office about this' ... She said, 'I've heard you're up to something.'"
The Mall is set to be filled with a thousand tables, which seats ten people each, whilst ten thousand chairs will have to be placed down the iconic road individually.

Queen Elizabeth’s racehorse breeding plans hit


Queen Elizabeth's racehorse breeding plans have been upset by a virus outbreak at a stud farm she uses.
The Jockey Club's National Stud was due to welcome a number of mares owned by the royal for breeding within the next few wees but the plans are in disarray after the equine herpes virus was discovered in a horse which recently arrived at the stud from overseas.
Brian O'Rourke, managing director of the stud, told the Dailt Telegraph: "It's highly contagious and, because we are so close to Newmarket where there are 3,000 horses in training, we are shutting down the stud, with no public access. We are setting the standard by being ultra ultra cautious, taking every precaution and leaving nothing to chance."
"The animal will be in quarantine for 30 days. All the tests show she's not been passing it on. We are testing every two days and we will do so for the next month."
British Equine Veterinary Association President Mark Bowen said: "The herpes virus is a relatively common virus in race horses.
"But when it affects breeding horses it can lead to abortion in large numbers so it can lead to large financial losses in the racing industry.
"It's a particular strain of the herpes virus that goes on to lead to abortions. It's spread largely by direct contact through horse to horse so it's something that can be relatively controlled.
"There is also a form which can effect the nervous system. When that happens the horses are unable to stand and it can be fatal but we don't tend to see this strain in the UK."
The stud has been closed until further notice

Pippa Middleton’s ‘unforgettable’ charity experience


Pippa Middleton says taking part in a 54-mile charity bike ride was an "unforgettable experience".
Encouraging people to sign up for this year's London to Brighton race, Pippa revealed how much she loved the experience when she and her brother James took part last year in order to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
Pippa, whose sister is Duchess Catherine, said: "It was an unforgettable experience. There was such a great atmosphere throughout the day. The view from Ditchling Beacon, the highest point of the ride at 813 feet, was well earned and hard to beat.
"This event is testament to the fact that cycling is such an inclusive sport that everyone can enjoy and through the money raised, the BHF can continue to help the millions of people affected by coronary heart disease - the U.K.'s single biggest killer."
Pippa won't be taking part this year but as an ambassador for the charity, she will be involved in other fundraising efforts.
Meanwhile, Pippa recently moved in with her boyfriend, two months after they rekindled their romance.
She got back together with hotel heir James Matthews following the end of her three-year relationship with hedge fund manager Nico Jackson and things are believed to be so serious that they are now living together.
An insider said: "It's all moved very quickly. They've been friends for a long time, but James has always been keen.
'They've tested living there and all seems to have gone well. As she was spending so much time at James's it made sense to keep stuff there."

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla set for star-studded dinner


Britain's Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla will attend a star-studded dinner for the British Asian Trust tonight (02.02.16).
The heir to the throne and his wife, will join 450 dinner guests at the Natural History Museum to celebrate the work of the charity, which fights widespread poverty and hardship in Asia.
The Prince of Wales is a founder and president of the Trust, which works with the South Asian community, and will be joined at the event by a host of celebrities including the British Asian Trust's first ever ambassador, television star Sanjeev Bhaskar, known for his work on comedy programme 'The Kumars at No. 42'.
Leona Lewis is expected to perform at the celebratory event where guests will be greeted with a champagne reception followed by a three course dinner in the Hintze Hall.
Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the British Asian Trust, said: "We are looking forward to another fantastic gala event for our friends and supporters. This powerful gathering will be an evening of celebration about the tremendous impact we make to the lives of millions of people across South Asia."

Duchess Catherine to take over Wimbledon patronage


Britain's Queen Elizabeth is planning to hand over some of her duties to Duchess Catherine.
The 89-year-old royal wants to cut down on her workload and has reportedly decided to pass on her patronage of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, which is responsible for Wimbledon, to her granddaughter-in-law.
Prince Harry is set to replace his grandmother as patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), while Catherine's husband Prince William has been tipped to take over the role of patron of the Football Association from his grandmother.
According to The Sunday Times: "The queen is understood to be assessing how much time she can now devote to the 628 organisations and charities to which she is affiliated."
Meanwhile, the queen's closest family members have been interviewed for a film dedicated to the monarch's life, for her upcoming 90th birthday on April 21.
Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV's controller of factual, who co-commissioned the film, said: "It's a remarkable story of an extraordinary life which in so many ways reflects the changing face of the nation. As she reaches her 90th birthday, this film aims to offer a fresh insight into our monarch's life and work."
The film is set to be broadcast in May as part of the queen's ongoing birthday celebrations.

Prince William saddened by pilot death


Prince William has been left "saddened" by the death of pilot Robert Gower.
The helicopter pilot was shot down by elephant poachers in Tanzania in the Maswa Game Reserve, near Serengeti National Park and William - who is the royal patron of the wildlife conservation charity Tusk Trust - revealed his sadness at the death.
Although he did not know Mr Gower personally, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: "The Duke was saddened that yet another life had been lost due to poaching."
Last year William hit out against the "plunder and destruction" of African wildlife.
Attending the 25th anniversary of the Tusk Trust at Windsor Castle he said that wildlife hunting is "growing worse by the week".
The Duke of Cambridge said: "The plunder and destruction of Africa's natural endowment remains one of the greatest challenges facing the world - and it is growing worse by the week.
"Over the last 100 years, the abundance of the world's species has decreased by almost a third. But the picture in the last few years has seen a genuinely unprecedented rise in the numbers of animals being slaughtered for their body parts.
"With the illegal trade on the rise, our response to it must rapidly evolve. The time for words has long gone - we must see action."
Prince William went on to praise the Tusk Trust, led by CEO Charlie Mayhew, for raising $39million in 25 years for over 100 projects, protecting 36 different endangered species.

Prince George settling in to nursery school


Britain's Prince George is loving nursery school.
The two-year-old royal recently began attending the Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk and royal sources have revealed that he has settled in quickly.
An insider told PEOPLE: "It has been a very happy time for them as a family. Prince George is settling in the nursery school very well. And the family is very grateful for the widespread goodwill they have received from around the world."
George's parents, Prince William and Duchess Catherine, reportedly decided to send him to the school so that he can enjoy his "freedom".
The royal couple - who wed in 2011 - fully appreciate their son, who is third in line to the throne, won't be able to afford the luxury of time away from the spotlight in the future and so want him to make the most of it now.
A source previously said: "Montessori focuses on social development and independence as well as education. Children are encouraged to choose whatever activity suits them, and then the teacher is there to be a guide. As George gets older there will be constraints in his life, so this is a great start where he will get independence and freedom.
"He needs to have as much freedom as possible for as long as possible. This method of education gives a child a strong sense of what they like and dislike, which should give him the confidence he'll need as our future monarch."

Reluctant royal Princess Marie


Princess Marie of Denmark was initially reluctant to marry Prince Joachim.
The 39-year-old former executive secretary admitted that although she knew she loved the 46-year-old Danish prince, she wasn't sure if she wanted to give up her independence to join the royal family.
She said: "I had a great life - I didn't need to be rescued by some prince from Denmark.
"There was no doubt in my heart that I loved him, but I had my life. I was happy, and I had my pride. I simply was not ready to get married and take on the responsibility it would be to become part of the royal family."
And Marie was also wary of the public scrutiny that comes with the role.
She explained to Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten: "I'd been fending for myself for years, and it felt overwhelming that suddenly everyone apparently had an opinion about me. I was not prepared that attention could be so negative. I did wonder whether it was worth it."
However, the princess put her fears behind her and married Joachim in 2008, and now could not be happier with him, their children Prince Henrik and Princess Athena, and her two step-children, Princes Nikolai and Felix.

Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge’s TV interview


Britain's Duchess of Cambridge has given her first solo television interview.
The 34-year-old royal was asked along with a group of Queen Elizabeth's closest family members to give interviews for a film dedicated to the monarch's life, in honor of her upcoming 90th birthday on April 21.
Catherine hasn't spoken to camera since November 2010, when it was annoucned she was engaged to Prince William, and the heir apparent was by her side at the time.
However, in this segment, the brunette beauty is questioned by television broadcaster and Political Editor for ITV, Tom Bradby, in a tribute to her grandmother-in-law.
Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV's controller of factual, who co-commissioned the film, said: "It's a remarkable story of an extraordinary life which in so many ways reflects the changing face of the nation. As she reaches her 90th birthday, this film aims to offer a fresh insight into our monarch's life and work."
The film is set to be broadcast in May as part of the Queen's ongoing birthday celebrations.

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