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Princess Anne praises Queensland beef


Britain's Princess Anne paid tribute to Queensland's beef yesterday (21.10.14).
The 64-year-old royal is currently in Australia to attend the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth conference at the RNA showgrounds, and she took some time to congratulate the state on its beef production and how they managed to deal with flooding in recent years.
She said: "Its history as a producer and exporter, particularly of beef, in Australia and a world leader in livestock production, management and technologies is widely renowned.
"It is also renowned for exhibiting that extraordinary strength and resilience in the wake of certainly things like this drought but in previous years, extraordinary devastation caused by flooding."
The princess also paid tribute to the agricultural workers of Queensland for dealing with regular drought, admitting she has "huge sympathy" for them.
She added: "Those of us who live in slightly wetter places on a normal basis I don't think really quite understand what a drought truly means here, and that we have huge sympathy for.
"I know it rather kindly rained just before I arrived - I suspect that probably wasn't enough."
Anne touched down in Brisbane yesterday morning (21.10.14) ahead of the four-day conference.

Duchess Catherine to attend autumn gala


Britain's Duchess Catherine will attend an Autumn Gala Evening tomorrow night (23.10.14).
The 32-year-old royal, who is suffering from severe morning sickness during her second pregnancy, will make the short journey to the event put on by charity Action Addiction, of which the duchess is patron.
A message on the Clarence House official Twitter account confirmed: "The Duchess of Cambridge will attend an Autumn Gala Evening in London in support of @ActionAddiction - HRH is Patron"
Following the news, the charity admitted it was delighted Catherine is going to be joining them on their big night.
A tweet on the Action Addiction Twitter read: "@BritishMonarchy @ClarenceHouse We are very excited that our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge will be attending our Autumn Gala Evening! (sic)"
The forthcoming royal engagement will be Catherine's third is as many days after she attended two yesterday (21.10.14), her first royal duties for 11 weeks.
The Duchess of Cambridge - who has 15-month-old son Prince George with husband Prince William - met Singapore President Tony Tan and his wife Mary yesterday morning and later that evening she attended the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 Awards at the Natural History Museum in central London.

Duchess Catherine pleased to ‘get out of the house’


Britain's Duchess Catherine admitted yesterday (21.10.14) she had been "looking forward to getting out of the house".
The 32-year-old royal has been suffering severe morning sickness throughout her second pregnancy, but made her first public appearance since announcing she is expecting her and Prince William's second child - her first royal engagement in 11 weeks - at the Royal Garden Hotel in central London as she greeted Singapore President Tony Tan and his wife Mary.
When Mary said she was pleased Catherine was able to make their meeting, the duchess replied: "So am I. I've been looking forward to getting out of the house, that's for sure."
The duchess - who also suffered severe morning sickness while pregnant with her and William's son Prince George, who is now 15 months old - was in fine form as she greeted the pair, and joked the weather was much worse compared to when they last met in Singapore during the royal couple's 2012 Asia-Pacific tour.
She said: "It's a bit colder than when we last met."
After meeting the pair at the hotel, William and Catherine - previously known as Kate Middleton prior to her nuptials - headed to Horse Guards Parade, where the Singapore President was greeted by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
The three couples then travelled to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession before enjoying a lunch hosted by the 88-year-old monarch, which Catherine had already planned not to attend.
Despite still suffering from severe morning sickness, a Kensington Palace statement on Monday (20.10.14) revealed her condition is "steadily improving".

Prince Harry reunited with firefighters


Britain's Prince Harry was reunited with a group of firefighters who were targeted in riots three years ago.
The 30-year-old royal returned to Salford Fire Station yesterday (20.10.14) to visit the emergency services personnel who had bricks thrown at them during the infamous 2011 Salford riots, in Greater Manchester, north west England - and they were really pleased to see him again.
Crew member Max Murphy told the Manchester Evening News newspaper: "It was really good of him to come back, we're delighted to see him.
"He was interested in what we did last time and what's gone on since.
"The informality was really refreshing."
Harry visited the fire station shortly after the riots in 2011 when the officers and their engine came under attack when their vehicle got trapped on a night of rioting in the area.
During the flame-haired royal's last visit he was shown footage from the violent incident and crew member Ray Shiel said he was "flabbergasted".
He explained: "After we'd been trapped in the middle of the riots, I went through the footage on CCTV with him, explaining what it was like to work that evening and he was flabbergasted."
Several riots also occurred in neighbouring Manchester and London during a terrible five days for the country in August 2011, resulting in looting and arson.
After the rioting began in London, the media dubbed similar incidents throughout the country "copycat violence".

Camilla avoids goat encounter


Britain's Duchess of Cornwall avoided repeating an awkward encounter with a goat yesterday (20.10.14) by keeping her distance from the animals.
The 67-year-old royal came face-to-face with the farm animals at the National Harvest Service in Birmingham, West Midlands, but she deliberately stood away from the beasts before checking they were "subdued" after she was forced to wrestle her bag back from one in May 2006.
On this occasion, Camilla handed her bag to a minder to look after while she got a closer look at the goats and she was "amazed" just how quiet the animals were - a contrast to the cheeky four-legged friend who had a nibble of her handbag during a visit to a creamery in Northern Ireland eight years ago.
Farmer Richard Craddock Mr Craddock, manager of Hatton Adventure World, is quoted by MailOnline as saying: "Camilla seemed very comfortable with the animals.
"She said to me 'the goats are very quiet' and seemed quite pleased they were subdued.
"She seemed amazed how quiet they were and even tried to feed one some straw but it didn't seem that interested."
After avoiding the awkward encounter, the duchess was presented with harvest boxes - which came complete with an array of home-grown produce - from 360 children at the National Harvest Service at St Philip's Cathedral in Birmingham.

Duchess Catherine to miss lunch


Britain's Duchess Catherine will miss a state lunch today (21.10.14) but will still return to duties for the first time in 11 weeks.
According to Buckingham Palace officials, the 32-year-old royal - who has been suffering from severe morning sickness while pregnant with her and husband Prince William's second baby - will take part in a carriage procession with Singapore's President Tony Tan but not an arranged lunch.
She will be joined by William as well as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for the procession, which will return to the palace, but is unable to make the lunch, which will be hosted by the 88-year-old monarch.
As well as being Catherine's first public appearance since her second pregnancy was announced, it will also be her first formal role in a state visit.
While Catherine - known as Kate Middleton before her nuptials - is still suffering from severe morning sickness, a Kensington Palace statement released yesterday (20.10.14) revealed her condition is "steadily improving".
Part of the statement read: "The Duchess of Cambridge continues to be affected by Hyperemisis Gravidarum, but her condition is steadily improving."
Kensington Palace also confirmed William and Catherine - who have 14-month-old son Prince George - are expecting their second baby in April.
It read: "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in April 2015."

Princess Anne lands in Australia


Britain's Princess Anne touched down in Australia this morning (21.10.14) ahead of a four-day agriculture conference.
The 64-year-old royal landed arrived in Brisbane for the 26th Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) at the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA), where members of the Commonwealth will discuss natural environments, food and agriculture.
David Thomas, President of the RNA, is pleased Anne has made the journey Down Under because he has always found her to be "very approachable".
He told the Brisbane Times newspaper: "I think Princess Anne has always been a popular royal, she's very hard-working.
"I think she's one of those people who are very approachable; my dealings with her have been completely delightful."
The princess - who recently returned from stays in Ethiopia and Tanzania - last visited the country in 2009 in the wake of the Black Saturday bush fires which devastated areas around Melbourne.
Anne's Australia visit come after Prince William, Duchess Catherine and their 14-month-old son Prince George enjoyed a three-week tour of the country in April this year.

Prince Harry tries rugby coaching


Britain's Prince Harry turned his hand to rugby coaching yesterday (20.10.14).
The flame-haired royal - who is patron of England Rugby's All Schools Programme - coached a team of girls and boys aged 11 to 13 from St Mary's High School at Eccles RFC in Salford, Greater Manchester, north west England, and gave them some worthwhile advice, according to one pupil.
Eleanor Dainty, 13, one of St Mary's players, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "He was giving us lots of tips like, 'don't get involved in a situation where you are surrounded by lots of other players', and 'just try to pass the ball'. It was quite exciting."
As well as coaching, Harry also took to the field for a game of touch rugby on a day he looked to encourage youngsters to play sport in state schools.
The 30-year-old royal met former England rugby captain Bill Beaumont before getting fully involved in the session, which included taking part in a scrum.
Harry teamed up with England women's World Cup winning vice-captain Sarah Hunter in the scrum, and she admitted his visit had a great effect on the pupils.
She said: "You could see the kids were excited by the fact that he was here to enthuse them to want to be involved in the sport and be able to run alongside him or have him in their side.
"He's had a significant effect on them. To have someone as significant as Prince Harry to promote the game nationwide is fantastic."

Elizabeth is favoured royal baby name


Prince William and Duchess Catherine's baby is expected to be called Elizabeth.
The moniker is the hot favourite to be given to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second child, who would be named after William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, with several bookmakers after a number of bets were placed on the name.
Several punters have also had a wager on the little one being born on the same day as the 88-year-old monarch's birthday, April 21, with odds currently priced at 21/1.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: "It would be fitting for the baby to be born on the queen's birthday and Elizabeth is the favourite name too."
The latest royal baby betting market comes after Kensington Palace's announcement earlier this morning (20.10.14) that the 32-year-old duchess is due to give birth in April 2015.
Elizabeth is 7/2 favourite with William Hill to be the name of the couple's second born - following the birth of their first child Prince George in July 2013 - while James and Victoria are both 12/1, followed by Alexandra and Phillip (14/1).
Those looking for an outside bet with more value might like to check out monikers such as Tyrone or Royston, which are both available at 100/1.

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