Tag Archives: royals

Via the Daily Mail: A princess called Charlotte — a name that is French in origin — is a nod to her grandfather, the Prince of Wales, while Elizabeth and Diana are an obvious mark of respect to William’s 89-year-old grandmother and his late mother respectively. Royal aides told MailOnline that the baby’s second names were self-evident and would ‘speak …

The odds have been shifting hourly, but as of last night British bookmakers Ladbrokes were putting the chances at 10/1 that the new royal baby will be named for her late grandmother. Alice and Charlotte have been the favorites since the baby was born.

A fascinating look from Business Insider: Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, is not going to live forever. Since ascending to the throne in 1952, the monarch has seen 12 Prime Ministers serve Britain, and lived through another …

Spain’s King Felipe VI, 46, has posed for the cover of a local gay magazine as a show of support for the LGBT community. According to Latin Gossip, this is the first time that a “high-ranking Spanish official” has done so. Felipe took the throne last year following the abdication of his father, King Juan Carlos. The magazine is available …

Via the Associated Press: The diva of Dynasty is now a dame. Joan Collins, who played scheming, shoulder pad-wearing Alexis Carrington in the hit 1980s TV show, was made the female equivalent of a knight in Queen Elizabeth II’s annual New Year’s honors list. The star of potboilers including The Stud and The Bitch was recognized for her services to …

Sir Elton John married his partner of 21 years last week, but unlike the spouses of straight male Brits with a royally-bestowed title, David Furnish did not gain a courtesy title. Via Pink News: When a man with a title marries a woman, his wife automatically receives a female courtesy title – meaning that if he had married a woman, …

Via CNN: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II dipped a toe into 21st-century communications Friday when she posted her first tweet. Signing herself Elizabeth R., for regina or queen, she welcomed visitors to a new Information Age gallery focused on the evolution of modern communications at the Science Museum in London. The inaugural tweet was posted to the official British monarchy Twitter …

Via the Daily Mail: Buckingham Palace staff have sparked internal security fears by bringing casual partners met over dating apps back to their living quarters. Police guarding the royal residences are said to be ‘deeply concerned’ at the number of unvetted overnight guests, many of whom appear to be casual acquaintances met online. Apps such as Tinder and Grindr allow …

Via the Telegraph: Forget tea time, beefeaters or those derelict red phone boxes – nothing makes you feel more proud to be British that the world’s most photogenic royal couple announcing that they’re expecting a second child. And with ten days until Scotland votes on whether to remain part of the – proudly royal – British union, could the excitement …

After a nearly 40-year reign, Spain’s King Juan Carlos has surrendered his throne to his son. Juan Carlos, whose health is failing and has had a number of hip operations in recent years, is stepping down for personal reasons, Mariano Rajoy said on Monday. “His majesty, King Juan Carlos, has just communicated to me his will to give up the …

Via Daily Beast: William and Kate will burnish their ultra-modern credentials on Wednesday when they will introduce Prince George to the child of gay parents, it is reported today. Kate and William will take George to a playgroup organised by the New Zealand parent support organisation Plunket, where he will meet gay fathers Jared and Ryan Mullen and their daughter …

Gay Star News reports: Queen Elizabeth II has praised a gay charity, in what is believed to be her first ever comment about the LGBTI community. In her 62-year reign of the UK and the Commonwealth, she has never once visited or become a patron of a charity for gay rights. And even in reforming laws for the community, such …

The first headline is from the tabloid Daily Mail.  The Telegraph has a less sensational story: Men are to be banned from becoming Queen or Princess of Wales as part of an unprecedented effort to rewrite more than 700 years of law to prevent unintended consequences of gay marriage. Even a 14th Century act declaring it high treason to have …

Back in June, I reported that Martin Brophy, founder of Britain’s Fruitvox charity and member of the London Gay Men’s Chorus, would be among those receiving Queen Elizabeth’s birthday honors for his “services to music.” Today Brophy received his Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) from Prince Charles.