Royal

Britain's Prince William has hailed Australia as an "enormously attractive" place to live.
The 31-year-old royal, who is in the midst of an 11-day royal tour of the country with his wife Duchess Catherine, offered a glowing review of his host country while dining with the Australian prime minister Tony Abbott at a reception held at Parliament House in Canberra today (24.04.14).
Speaking at the reception, William said: "This is a country that is in the front rank internationally.
"Australia has a quality of life and a level of excellence that makes it a magnet - an enormously attractive place to live, trade, invest, and indeed just visit."
The prince and his 32-year-old wife - who are joined by their adorable nine-month-old tot Prince George in Australia - were treated to a performance by Australian singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu at the reception, where they also mingled with guests that included politicians, war heroes, fashion designers and Olympic athletes.
William declared there was "so much to admire" about Australia following their trek across the country and paid tribute to the indigenous aboriginal people of the country.
He is quoted by BBC News as saying: "Catherine and I acknowledge the timeless values of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"They have been the custodians of this ancient and majestic continent for thousands of years. The traditional owners' stories, and the magnificent and moving rock art at Uluru, which we saw for ourselves, are a priceless inheritance.
"They tell us not just about the past but provide a precious vision for the future."

Britain's Prince William and Duchess Catherine planted an English oak tree in Australia today (24.04.14).
The royal couple, who are currently in the capital city of Canberra, planted the tree at the National Arboretum, which boasts panoramic views of the capital and was built following the 2003 Canberra bushfires which ravaged the city.
William, 31, and Catherine, 32, were joined for the special moment by six-year-old twins Oliver and Sebastian Lye, the latter of whom has Down's Syndrome, as well as hearing and vision impairment.
The youngsters helped water the newly planted tree as Australian Capital Territory minister Katy Gallagher heaped praise on the couple.
She is quoted by The Australian newspaper as saying: "There is a lovely symmetry in having you as the first members of your family here to plant a tree at Australia's youngest national institution. Today also carries a strong thread of youth, growth and change.''
Katy said the tree will be well looked after by the children who use the nearby Pod Playground.
She added: "It's safe to say the future of this young tree is in fine hands and I hope that you're able to visit again to check on its progress in the years to come."

Britain's Prince George loves chewing on his new wombat toy.
The nine-month-old tot was gifted the giant animal plush toy last week and his father Prince William has revealed the tot is thoroughly enjoying playing with it.
The royal made the admission while addressing his family's imminent departure from Australia - after an 11-day tour of the country - at a reception held at Government House in the capital city of Canberra today (24.04.14).
He said: "Reluctantly, Catherine, George and I leave Australia tomorrow.
"Thank you for the warmth and generosity that has been shown to us during our visit.
"We go away with wonderful memories, and George goes away with his cuddly wombat, which he has taken to chewing so lovingly."
Earlier in the trip, Duchess Catherine, 32, revealed her son is "obsessed" with wombats after being gifted a book about the marsupials by 21-year-old royal enthusiast Kate Swan.
Kate recalled: "She said, 'I will read this to George, he is obsessed with wombats at the moment. He is really into them.' "

Britain's Prince William and Duchess Catherine are "saddened" by the death of Duchess Camilla's brother, Mark Shand.
The royal couple, who are currently on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand, took a moment's pause from their trip to pay their respects to the Duchess of Cornwall's late brother, who died on Tuesday (22.04.14) after slipping on a New York City street and hitting his head.
William and Catherine said in a statement: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were saddened to learn this morning of the tragic death of Mark Shand. Their thoughts are with the Duchess of Cornwall and her family at this time."
Mark, who was 62, tragically succumbed to serious head injuries after he stepped outside New York's Diamond Horseshoe nightspot to enjoy a cigarette.
The royal sibling slipped, hitting his head on a sidewalk, and was later declared dead in hospital.
Camilla, 66, is "devastated" by the death of her brother.
Clarence House said yesterday (23.04.14): "The Duchess, the Prince of Wales and all her family members are utterly devastated by this sudden and tragic loss.
"Mark Shand was a man of extraordinary vitality, a tireless campaigner and conservationist whose incredible work through The Elephant Family and beyond remained his focus right up until his death."

Britain's Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla are "utterly devastated" following the sudden death of her younger brother.
The Duchess of Cornwall's brother, Mark Shand, died in hospital at the age of 62 after suffering a head injury outside a nightclub in New York City on Tuesday night (22.04.14), following a charity auction.
In a statement on Wednesday (23.04.14), a spokesperson for Clarence House said: "It is with deep sadness that we have to confirm that The Duchess of Cornwall's brother, Mark Shand, has today passed away in New York. Mr. Shand died in hospital as a result of a serious head injury, which he sustained during a fall last night. The Duchess, The Prince of Wales and all her family members are utterly devastated by this sudden and tragic loss. Mark Shand was a man of extraordinary vitality, a tireless campaigner and conservationist whose incredible work through The Elephant Family and beyond remained his focus right up until his death."
A source told the MailOnline that Mr. Shand, who was a travel writer, slipped and fell while lighting a cigarette and smashed his head on a sidewalk outside the Diamond Horseshoe, after attending a function to raise funds for the Elephant Family, which helps to prevent the extinction of endangered Asian elephants.
A spokesman for the organisation, which he set up in 2002, said: "Today we have lost the head of our family. Mark Shand was a true force for conservation.
"He was both a legend and inspiration and above all our great friend. We ask at this time that people's thoughts are with his loved ones. We will miss him always."
Mr. Shand is survived by his wife Clio, and his daughter Ayesha, 19.

Prince Harry's moniker has been trademarked by a clothing company in China. The 29-year-old royal could see his name printed on a string of products including underwear, watches and jewellery, after a firm called Yiwu Novo Clothing Company Limited rec...

Britain's Prince Charles is tipped to attend Anzac Day in Gallipoli next year.
Australian authorities plan to invite the royal to be part of the centenary anniversary of the Anzac Day dawn service in the Turkish peninsula next year.
Anzac Day is observed on April 25 each year and commemorates all of the Australians and New Zealanders who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
Charles, 65, is expected to join the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, at the ceremony.
No official invitation has been extended as yet but one is expected to be made soon.
Services director Tim Evans told a press conference on Tuesday (22.04.14): "I also understand that if approached the royal family would like to send a very senior member of the royal family, so you can draw your own conclusions.
"Prince Charles would be a very welcome nominee, but the decision is for the palace.
Prince Charles previously attended the 90th anniversary of Anzac Day in 2005.

Britain's Prince George has grown an "extra fat roll" during his visit to Australia.
The adorable tot's mother Duchess Catherine has quipped that her son has piled on the pounds while on a royal trip to New Zealand and Australia with his parents.
The 32-year-old royal made the amusing comment while visiting Uluru yesterday (22.04.14) after being quizzed if she missed George, who stayed with his nanny in Canberra.
Catherine told 17-year-old student Shannon Hunt: "He's been changing so much while we've been away."
Shannon said of the conversation: "Kate also said he grew an extra fat roll while they're away. She said he can get a bit grumpy on the long flights and she'd love to have him with her here."
Shannon was also eager to get a photo with Catherine and husband Prince William, 31, who was in quite a humorous mood.
When asked for a snap, he quipped: "Well, if you don't mind having a photograph with us!"
Shannon also intimated she was disheartened not to meet Queen Elizabeth when she visited Buckingham Palace last year.
William responded: "That's because she knew you wanted a selfie. She ran away!"

Prince William and Duchess Catherine are "cool dudes".
Youngsters who met the royals at an activity centre in Adelaide, Australia, today (23.04.14) were so impressed they described them as a "couple of cool dudes".
The royals were treated to a series of BMX bike tricks by some of the youth and William, 31, was even handed a spray can to create his own graffiti art on a nearby wall.
Simon Burt, leader of the Aerosol Angels, said: "He did a pretty good job. And he admitted when he'd finished his bit of art work that he was now addicted."
Another painter said: "He paints very well. He filled in part of the blue sky and didn't go over any of the lines."
The royals then witnessed an exhilarating BMX show which featured mid-air twists, somersaults and more.
18-year-old rider Liam Zammit is quoted by the Daily Express newspaper as saying: "Yeah, we all agreed [they were cool] because they showed such an interest in what we were doing.
"The Duchess noticed I had a scar on my leg and asked if I had done it today but I said it was from practicing.
"I think we put on a good show for them, that's for sure."