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Prince Charles and Camilla heading on US tour


Britain's Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall will visit the USA next month.
The royal couple will head Stateside on March 17 for a four-day trip in which they will head to Washington DC for three days and finish off their jaunt in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Prince's official website state: "Their Royal Highnesses will undertake a broad range of engagements to promote the UK's partnership with the United States in key areas such as sustainability and climate change, creating youth opportunities, encouraging corporate social responsibility and promoting historical and cultural links."
Charles and Camilla will visit the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, which is in the same vicinity as Lincoln Cottage, where former US President Abraham Lincoln - who died 150 years ago this year - was said to have written the last draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The pair will also mark the 150th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War by meeting veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coastguard.
The couple will also head to Mount Vernon, where George Washington - the first US President - lived and will mark the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta by visiting the National Archives.
While in Kentucky, the couple will see the hard work being carried out by the local Louisville community within food literacy and clean air initiatives.
The website added: "The duchess will visit a food literacy project for young people at a local farm.
"The project also offers young people an opportunity to experience life on a farm in order to help increase their knowledge of the connection between food and farming."

Prince William’s ‘cute’ Mandarin message


Britain's Prince William has been praised for his "cute" Mandarin video message to the people of China.
The 32-year-old royal spoke the language as he wished the Chinese public a happy new year in a video posted online on Wednesday (18.02.15) ahead of his visit to the country on March 1, and the clip was greeted by numerous people praising him on Weibo, which is China's equivalent to Twitter.
One wrote: "It was so cute when Prince William spoke Mandarin."
Another posted: "When I saw him saying "chun jie kuai le" ("happy new year") in Chinese on CCTV I wanted to ask him who his Mandarin teacher was (sic)"
What's more, some were calling for William to bring his 17-month-old son Prince George with him when he embarks on his short trip next month.
One wrote: "Could he bring his little boy to China soon?"
Unfortunately, William will not be taking George with him on the royal trip and his pregnant wife Duchess Catherine, who is around seven months pregnant with their second child, will also not be joining him.
In the prince's video message he passed on his congratulations to China, which celebrated its transition from the Year of the Horse to the Year of the Sheep on Wednesday.
He said: "Warmest wishes to you all in the Year of the Sheep.
"Chinese New Year is a special time for people around the world and I am very pleased to be visiting China soon."

Prince William ‘won’t advertise for nanny’


Britain's Prince William and Duchess Catherine don't have plans to advertise for a nanny for their second child.
The royal couple - who have 17-month-old son Prince George - are said to be keen to bond with their newborn, who is due in April, on their own so are reportedly not going to look to employ an extra pair of hands when the little one is born.
A royal source told HELLO! magazine: "As new parents, the duke and duchess wish to enjoy being with their new baby and all that this entails.
"There are no plans to advertise for a nanny or a maternity nurse."
Catherine's mother Carole Middleton is expected to lend a hand when the couple's new baby is born, just as she did in the first few weeks following George's birth.
The Duchess of Cambridge attended numerous royal engagements this week, including a visit to the Emma Bridgewater pottery factory in Stoke, central England, and she also spoke to mothers who struggle with serious illness while bringing up their children during a visit to charity Action for Children.
William, 32, and Catherine, 33, announced last September that they were to become parents for a second time, and he later admitted that, while the duchess was experiencing similar severe morning sickness as she did while pregnant with George, the pair were "thrilled" with the news.
He said: "It's been a tricky few days - week or so - but obviously we're basically thrilled, it's great news, and early days."

Prince Andrew takes over as League president


Britain's Prince Andrew has taken over from his father as the Grand President of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League.
The royal - who turns 55 today (19.02.15) - was presented with an implement called a Kabonga, which is used to keep order in the League's meetings, by the Duke of Edinburgh who handed over the role of Grand President and Keeper of the Kabonga after 41 years.
A message on the Duke of York's official Facebook page read: "In 1974 The Duke of Edinburgh took over as Grand President of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League from Lord Mountbatten and after 41 years at the helm of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League supporting Commonwealth Veterans around the world The Duke of Edinburgh handed over the "Kabonga" to me as I take up the role of Grand President and Keeper of the Kabonga, to keep order in meetings! He was dined out in style by the Officers of the League today at the Army and Navy Club to mark his 41 years. Information on the Commonwealth Ex-Services League can be found athttp://www.commonwealthveterans.org.uk/ (sic)"
The League was formed in 1921 by two Field Marshalls, Earl Haig and General Smuts, and aims to assist Commonwealth former servicemen and women if they are need of help.

Prince William speaks Mandarin


Britain's Prince William spoke Mandarin to wish China a happy new year yesterday (18.02.15).
The 32-year-old royal recorded a video message ahead of his visit to the country next week, and the clip begins with the Duke of Cambridge speaking in the language to pass on his congratulations to the nation, which celebrated its transition from the Year of the Horse to the Year of the Sheep on Wednesday.
In the one-minute video released by Buckingham Palace, the prince started off by saying: "Warmest wishes to you all in the Year of the Sheep.
"Chinese New Year is a special time for people around the world and I am very pleased to be visiting China soon."
William also admitted in the clip that he is excited about opening The Great Festival of Creativity, "which marks the start of a year of cultural exchange between our two countries", and he also spoke about China's cultural heritage and how "proud" he feels about Britain's reputation for being a great innovator.
He said: "Together the United Kingdom and China have much to celebrate about our cultural relationship - what we have in common and what we can learn from one another.
"As you celebrate new year with family and friends, I send good wishes from my family to yours..."
He then spoke Mandarin before the video ended.

Queen Elizabeth to open newly-refurbished Canada House


Britain's Queen Elizabeth will re-open the newly-refurbished Canada House today (19.02.15).
The 88-year-old monarch is to make the short trip to the London-based building, which houses the Canadian High Commission in the capital and overlooks Trafalgar Square, following its renovation work.
A message on the official British Monarch Twitter account read: "This morning The Queen will officially re-open #CanadaHouse, home of the Canadian High Commission in London (sic)"
The account also shared a picture of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers and added the caption: "#RCMP officers wait for The Queen's arriival at #CanadaHouse (sic)"
The Duke of Edinburgh, 93, is also due to accompany the queen on the visit, which will see them greeted by Canada's Mounties, and High Commissioner Gordon Campbell.
The royal couple will be given a guided tour of the newly-refurbished facilities and also get the opportunity to speak to some of the construction and design workers.
To mark the special occasion, the atrium at Canada House will be named the Queen Elizabeth Atrium.
Elizabeth - who previously visited the building in 1951 alongside Prince Philip - will be presented with a set of Canada House ceremonial keys, which have been made out of gold, silver and nickel.
The keys are a newer version of the set which was given to King George V in 1925 when he opened Canada House alongside Queen Mary.

Prince Charles visits London sewer


Britain's Prince Charles visited London's deepest sewer yesterday (18.02.15).
The 66-year-old royal took a stroll along the £635 million Lee Tunnel's pipe network - which was described as a "super sewer" by London Mayor Boris Johnson - but fortunately the prince avoided getting covered in unpleasant substances as it is not due to open until December 2015.
Charles donned a hard hat and high-visibility jacket for the occasion near Stratford, east London, over the top of his grey suit as he took a walk through the tunnel, which is 75 metres below the ground, while accompanied by a group of engineers.
The prince's visit marked 150 years of the London Sewer Network, and Martin Baggs, Thames Water's chief executive, admitted everyone involved in the sewerage system was "extremely proud" to see the heir to the throne at the Abbey Mills site.
He said: "We are all extremely proud and honoured The Prince of Wales joined us today for this special occasion.
"Abbey Mills was such a fitting place to hold the celebration. It formed the central feature of [Sir Joseph] Bazalgette's Victorian sewerage system, but the site is also at the core of our current developments.
"The Lee Tunnel has just been completed at Abbey Mills and this, along with the extensions and improvements at the five sewage works which discharge into the tidal river and the Thames Tideway Tunnel, due to begin construction next year, will greatly improve London's great river for wildlife and people alike."

Duchess Catherine’s tears for mothers


Britain's Duchess Catherine was in tears yesterday (18.02.15) while speaking to mothers who struggle with serious illness while bringing up their children.
The 33-year-old royal - who has 17-month-old son Prince George with husband Prince William and is currently seven-months pregnant with their second child - got emotional when hearing from mum Michelle Griffiths, who suffers from a rare heart condition and is cared for by her 13-year-older daughter.
Speaking to the 33-year-old woman - who has "died" six times after suffering heart attacks but has been brought back to life on each occasion - the Duchess of Cambridge said: "You've brought a tear to my eye."
Melanie explained: "I was telling her that sometimes I feel like I have stolen my daughter's childhood but she doesn't see it like that.
"She got choked up and I had to give her a tissue."
The duchess also heard other mothers talk about their struggles to bring up their children while dealing with domestic violence, as well as other issues, during a visit to charity Action for Children - a charity which speaks out and supports the vulnerable kids in the UK - in Smethwick, central England.
Catherine had some fun with the children by doing some actions to kids songs they were listening to including 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and 'Row, Row Row Your Boat', and she joked her son George would've loved to have played with the little ones.
She said: "I should have brought George. He would have loved this."
But the brunette doesn't think the young royal would've been quite as well behaved as the kids at the Cape Hill Children's Centre.
Speaking to 26-year-old mother Claire Dandy, she said: "I can't imagine George would have been so good."

Duchess Catherine paints pottery


Britain's Duchess Catherine tried her hand at painting pottery earlier today (18.02.15).
The 33-year-old royal - who is pregnant with her and Prince William's second child - got stuck in during a visit to the Emma Bridgewater pottery factory in Stoke, central England, where she helped out by painting ladybirds on a new range of mugs being sold for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).
A short clip of the brunette working away was shared on the official Kensington Palace Twitter account and showed the duchess having a good chuckle with renowned potter Emma Bridgewater while helping the cause.
An accompanying caption read: "The Duchess of Cambridge has a go at painting ladybirds on pottery designed for @EACH_hospices @EmmaBridgewater (sic)"
Emma also showed Catherine a selection of already-painted mugs - which will be sold to raise money for the charity, which offers care and support for life-threatened children and their families in the east of England - inside the factory.
The duchess - who has 17-month-old son Prince George with William - was said to have been behind enlisting Emma to produce the range, which feature a spring flower as well as a ladybird on, because she was a big fan of other collections she had created.
A royal aide previously said: "It was the duchess's idea to approach Emma, whom she didn't know previously, and she helped in the design process."

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