#41 Gun Royal Salute

[thepastisalreadywritten]

[vintage-london-images]

The late Queen takes part in the Trooping of the the Colour in 1956. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony performed every year in London, by regiments of the British Army.

Trooping the Colour has been a tradition of British infantry regiments since the 17th century, and since 1748 has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign, although its roots go back much earlier.

Each year, one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division is selected to troop (carry) its colours through the ranks of guards. The colours were once used on the battlefield as a rallying point. During the ceremony, the Monarch travels down the Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade in a royal procession with a sovereign's escort of Household Cavalry (mounted troops or horse guards). After receiving a royal salute, the Monarch inspects the troops of the Household Division and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

The entire Household Division assembly then conducts a march past the Monarch parading with its guns, the King's Troop takes precedence as the mounted troops perform a walk-march and trot-past. Music is provided by the massed bands of the Foot Guards and the mounted Band of the Household Cavalry, together with a Corps of Drums, and occasionally pipers, totalling approximately 400 musicians.

Returning to Buckingham Palace, the Monarch watches a further march-past from outside the gates. Following a 41-gun salute by the King's Troop in Green Park, the royal family make an appearance on the palace balcony for a Royal Air Force flypast.

The five foot guards are as follows

Grenadier Guards-Coldstream Guards-Scots Guards-Irish Guards and the Welsh Guards.

Please check out other posts with hashtag #video on @vintage-london-images

[essaysbyciara]

Darkness Into Light ['Layton Road' bka Fireworks Part VII] [FINALE]| Erik "Killmonger" Stevens x Reader

FIREWORKS | BIRTHDAY CANDLES | STEAM | NEON SIGNS | GREEN LIGHT | RED LIGHT SPECIAL

Warnings: Gun violence (no mentions of blood), language, lightweight mentions of sexual situations (smut thoughts)

Peace! We're at the end of Layton Road better known as "Fireworks". I will be posting this on Wattpad for all of my Wattpad girlies. Check my masterlist for the link. Thanks for hanging on for the ride with Kill. He's a fave. Much love :)

"...You’ve reached the voicemail box of 41.."

That salutation became a common occurrence since the last night you saw Kill. In the middle of the romance session you both wished for, a phone call of another sort kept breaking up the fun. Unlike you, they wouldn’t leave a voicemail. They called and called, pace after pace, second after second, in hopes that Kill would pick up the phone. It wasn’t until you pleaded with Kill to kill the noise of his phone that you would hear the news you were afraid of: that somebody almost killed his cousin, King. 

The static you felt at The Luxe was real, live and uncut. The dudes Kill and King both told you not to worry about couldn’t believe those dudes from 40th had the gall to step into their spot, or what became of it that night. King’s royal demeanor rubbed them the wrong way, originally not enough to ruffle feathers. Peace was kept enough on the inside but once the club let out and one of the young soldiers from 43rd – reveling in the past with several axes to grind – almost hit Bast, the triple OG of the 40th, with his car that all hell broke loose. 

The crews from 40th and 43rd, who could see the static brewing, tried to keep it peaceful and begged the young guys from both sides to relax. Truthfully, the rivalry between the blocks was of the past; marriages, babies and business between both neighborhoods came to be since the OGs of both crews went onto the ancestral plane. The young ones – souped up on Durk and Lil' Baby, brown liquor and ignorant nostalgia – wanted to resurrect old scores despite everyone, including Kill and King, telling them to chill out.  

The parking lot sparked their fervor to remember a past they weren't around for. 

So not-so-pleasantries were thrown, threats were made, trunks were popped and shots were fired. King got hit trying to rush his date-for-the-night into his car. He wasn't the intended target but that didn't matter. A dude from 40th got hit and a dude from 43rd wanted so badly to be seen as responsible. 

"Hey, Erik. It’s [y/n]. Just checking in to see how you’re doing. Uh … no pressure. We’ll talk when we can. Peace." 

You didn’t want to pressure him into returning your texts or calls. That felt rude. Injecting your own feelings into the moments where Kill’s feelings were paramount felt callous. Missing him didn’t equate to Kill almost missing his cousin in the physical sense. So you fell back out of what-you-felt-like was respect. Even as you wished to complete you and Erik’s love story. 

That night still feels surreal. Kill’s eyes transformed into bleak darkness, leaving you to peer into the depths of someone controlling their rage so as to not scare the people around them. You didn’t know what to do. Filled with compassion, you wanted to hug Kill and tell him that it’s going to be okay. You gave good hugs too. Such an inert Christian response; Moms and Pops unfortunately taught you well. That didn’t feel right at the moment, though. You didn’t know the status of King’s life. You, again, didn’t want to disrespect. Kill almost leaned into his vault of ungraciousness. Ignoring your stoic and shocked face and tone, he told you, “you gotta leave.”

The mole hill in your throat turned into a mountain. Snapping your neck back in good Black-woman fashion, you hastily grab your heels and fasten the ties around your ankles boiling with your own waters of rage. You never paid for a Lyft so fast, damn the surcharge. 

No thanks for getting him out of The Luxe in time. No thanks for making him answer the phone. Again, selfish responses in a moment where it was okay for Kill to think about self. Kill felt guilty for leaving but he couldn’t tell you that. He didn’t want the guilt to imprint on you. 

But something told you to stop. Something told you to lead with empathy. Something – or maybe Someone – said to slow down and show love even if Kill’s curt-ass didn’t-but-did  deserve it. 

“You okay to drive to the hospital?” 

Kill snapped out of his inward fury. He felt you shut down, felt you afraid. Everyone is always afraid of Kill. He didn’t want you to follow their direction. “I’m cool. I’ll drop you off at your house though.” 

“It’s okay. The Lyft is two minutes away. I don’t want to take you out your way.” Coogler Hospital was just a mile away from your house. It wasn’t out of the way but you wanted to get out of the way of Kill’s grief. 

Before Kill could petition you to change your mind, your phone vibrated from the alert that your carriage awaits you outside. You didn’t hold on for Kill to hug you or say sorry. You walked out the door and sent a kite his way. 

I’m close to Coogler if you need anything. LMK. 

Months later, you guessed that he didn’t. You hadn’t heard from him since. 

Kill’s IG post saluting his cousin’s recovery signaled that everything was okay. You double-tapped your support and kept scrolling. Then the right corner of your screen lit up with the number one. Kill wanted to see how his should’ve-been-number-one was doing. 

Hey. How you been? 

Okay. How are you though? 

Kill feared you asking that question. That’s why he’s been ducking and dodging your texts and calls. Equal parts him not wanting to recount that night and equal parts having to answer why he ducked out on you, he comes up with a skin tight response. 

I’m cool. Not much going on over here. 

What a lie. There’s lots going on, lots left to discuss. But you play it cool. Hopefully this reintroduction into your life will mean conversations about what happened in the future. No need to maybe-trigger Kill. 

Word. Good to see King is doing well. And you too. 

Kill wasn’t doing okay. Super protective of family, he thought of all the bloody things he could do to those cats just a mere few blocks away. The intense scene at the hospital felt like a murder plot. Police cars were called. The hospital feared for the worse. Kill didn’t want you to drive him to the hospital because he knew that would happen. You didn’t need to witness all of that. He wanted to protect you from a scene you didn’t need to see. 

Erik felt your care through your message. He owed you a thanks and an acknowledgement. Bracing his heart for a response not-so-kind, he sends a note of gratitude for that night. You respond in-kind. 

I’m just glad y’all are okay. 

What else was there to say beyond those words? It felt wrong to flirt, it felt wrong to lust after him. Since that night, he’d been posting his escapades from the gym. You really wanted Kill to bench press you into submission. All you could do is like his stories, which he peeped every time. It signaled to him that you were still on his bumper, thankful he didn’t lose you in his gnarly traffic of his own guilt, grief and shame. Truthfully he thought about crunching and curling your body too, remembering that he was so damn close that night until the reason for the distance happened. 

Erik's heart begged that every song you would post on your IG stories as a sign that you were leaving the porch light on for him. "I Miss You (Come Back Home)" by Monifah. "One Mo' Gin" by D'Angelo. "Come Over" by Faith Evans. "Can't Stay Away" by Bootsy Collins. He wasn't the type of dickhead who only reappeared when he wanted some ass. He knew better. Didn't erase the desire or the fire to get to know more about you. He felt your goodness. More conversation would confirm it. 

He didn’t want distance anymore. Feeling as if you would still be down to get to know him, with seconds of the clock, he aims for the basket. 

I’m off tomorrow. You wanna grab dinner or something? Just to catch up. I’m sorry for disappearing. Shit was just rough. 

A sly smile forms on your face. 

I know it did. I understand. That night was a lot. 

You wait to confirm for tomorrow. He has to sweat just a bit. 

I’m down. I rather talk in person anyway :)

You needed to see that face and get that hug. Hugs that swallowed you into the craters of his heart. You really missed those. 

Walk around Care after? 

You couldn’t contain the fireworks going off inside of your heart. Here’s to a second chance. 

Taglist: @chaneajoyyy,  @twistedcharismaaa,  @sheabuttahwrites,  @ghostfacekill-monger,  @blackburnbook,  @cecereads209, @lishabaybeee-blog

[royalpain16]

Gun salutes mark the King’s accession one year ago

Interesting.....what do you all think?

[thecrownnet]

The Crown Season 6

10 Events That May Become Plotlines In Season 6 (ScreenRant Nov 29, 2022)

Two years after its fourth season bowed in November of 2020, The Crown returned to Netflix on Nov. 9, 2022 for its highly anticipated fifth season. Following its pattern of swapping in a new cast of actors every two seasons, this one features the debuts of Elizabeth Debicki, Jonathan Pryce, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West as the main characters.

The fifth season follows into the 1990s the turbulent history of the British royal family during Queen Eilizabeth II's reign, including the souring relationship and divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The coming sixth season is set to be the series' last, and while The Crown is a fictionalized version of true events, certain crucial happenings of the late 1990s and early 21st century are likely to come in the show's final episodes.

***SPOILERS***

Princess Diana’s Death (1997)

Princess Diana's tragic 1997 death in Paris remains one of the most poignant and sensitive moments in modern history, and The Crown is guaranteed to depict this sobering event that changed British royalty forever. However, according to the New York Daily News, it will not show the actual car crash but instead the days leading up to Diana's death and the heart-wrenching days that followed it.

This important moment will come at the beginning of the sixth season, according to Marie Claire. Filming began in September 2022, with season five stars Dominic West (Prince Charles) and Elizabeth Debicki (Princess Diana) capturing the last lonely and torrid days of her life.

Prince Edward And Sophie Rhys-Jones' Wedding (1999)

The royal wedding of Prince Edward to the Duchess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones, took place in June 1999, and it's likely to feature in The Crown's sixth season, especially because it is the last "first" wedding of Queen Elizabeth II's children.

The simplicity and lack of scandal surrounding Prince Edward’s wedding is important as a plot line because it illustrates a stark and dramatic contrast to the public debacle of Prince Andrew’s divorce from Sarah Ferguson in 1996 Prince Charles' and Princess Diana's messy split.

The Queen Mother’s 100th Birthday (2000)

To illustrate the longevity and permanence of the British royal family, it's likely the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother in 2000 will appear as a story in the sixth season of The Crown.

The Queen Mother was honored by a 41-gun salute and greeted by thousands of fans who descended on the mall of Buckingham Palace to offer their birthday felicitations on her 100th birthday. Flanked by her daughters Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, she stood on the balcony accompanied by the rest of the royal family. Narratively, this rare moment of happiness and tranquility ciykd stand in contrast to the turmoil the royal family endured through the '90s.

Prince William's First Encounter With Kate Middleton (2001)

According to E! News, Netflix has confirmed casting Ed McVey and Rufus Kampa as Prince William and the actress Meg Ballamy as a young Kate, who will appear in the final season of The Crown. Following the timeline of actual events, it's plausible the season will focus on their meeting at the University of St. Andrews in 2001.

With the sixth season focusing largely on the tragedies of the royal family starting with the sad death of Princess Diana, the story of William and Kate's young love and the promise of the future would serve as a welcome, hopeful counterpoint.

Princess Margaret's Death (2002)

The sister of Queen Elizabeth II, the always quotable Princess Margaret holds an important place in the storyline of The Crown just as she held an important place in the royal family in real life. Her diminishing role as a royal and inability to marry her first love, Peter Townsend, led to a tumultuous relationship with the queen. Yet their sisterly bond is featured heavily in the fifth season and could be further explored in the show's last episodes.

Based on the series' depictions of Margaret so far, fans can anticipate the story of her final days will be told in a standalone episode. According to the Daily Express, Princess Margaret suffered three strokes between 1998 and 2001, with her final stroke taking her life in 2002. Queen Elizabeth cried at Margaret’s funeral, "the only time anyone ever saw the Queen show her emotions in public," as Vanity Fair put it.

Prince Charles And Camilla Parker-Bowles' Wedding (2005)

An inevitable arc of The Crown's sixth season is the 2005 marriage of Prince Charles to his first love, Camilla, tying the knot 35 years after they met. The wedding of Charles and Camilla is significant in the royal family's story, given the role their romance played in the demise and fallout of Prince Charles’s first marriage to Princess Diana.

The simple civil ceremony, which was held in real life at the Windsor Guildhall per the BBC, would offer viewers the necessary moment of pause to reflect on history and how it all played out for the heir apparent, Prince Charles.

Queen Elizabeth II's 80th Birthday (2006)

The early 2000s held many high points for the British monarchy, including Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday, celebrated across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

If The Crown depicts this milestone birthday, it could use the event to explore the loyalty of a country to its monarch, in particular Prince Charles, masterfully played by Dominic West. On the happy occasion, Charles notably lauded his mother's lifetime of service and dedication to the country, addressing her warmly at the time as his "darling Mama," according to the Daily Mirror.

Queen Elizabeth II And Prince Philip’s 60th Wedding Anniversary (2007)

Played superbly by Imelda Staunton, Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary. Per Reuters, this event was celebrated with much pomp as the royal couple revisited Westminster Abbey to renew their vows, including German relations who had not been to their 1947 wedding given the strong anti-Nazi sentiment after World War II.

Peter Morgan could use this historical family moment to illustrate the staying power of the British crown though its very foundation had been rocked with tragedy and scandal within the decade and forced to face the pressures of a changing world.

Tony Blair's Premiership (1997–2007)

Tony Blair's tenure as prime minister will no doubt feature in the sixth season of The Crown. Blair played a pivotal role in steering the royal family to steadier waters when the royal establishment was under question following the tragic death of Princess Diana. In an interview with Today, Blair reminisced that the queen "understood, because always her duty came first, that she had to respond to this extraordinary outpouring of grief about Princess Diana."

Peter Morgan depicted these events previously in his movie The Queen, so if he tackles the subject again, he'd likely show it from different narrative angles or use it to color his depiction of the royal family in new ways. Deft handling of this overlap in history between the film and the TV series could enhance both works.

Prince William And Kate Middleton's Wedding (2011)

The last season of The Crown likely won't touch on very recent events such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving the royal family behind them, but it may allude to the future wedding of the next heir apparent, Prince William.

In a show that has observed the bloodline of the house of Windsor since King George V, the creators will likely want to leave fans with a glimmer of hope and anticipation for the future. Alluding to a royal match between Princess Diana's elder son and his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton would bring not only bring a sense of aspiration but a fitting transition to what the modern monarchy might become.

[head-post]

King Charles feeling very good, pleased to return to public duties, Mordaunt says

King Charles is “very good” as he returns to public duties after being diagnosed with cancer, according to Penny Mordaunt.

The 75-year-old monarch made a triumphant return to public life earlier this month, despite still undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of illness.

The Leader of the House of Commons spoke fondly of Charles today as she helped mark the first anniversary of the King and Queen’s coronation, speaking of her encounters with him as Lord President of the Privy Council.

Ms. Mordaunt was responsible for carrying the Sword of State and presented Charles with the Precious Sword of Offering on this historic day.

When asked about how he is getting on after his return to duties, Ms. Mordaunt said:

He’s very good. And I know that he would have been so pleased to get back to public duties. He would have missed it tremendously.

At noon in London, 41 volleys were fired from Green Park by the Royal Horse Artillery, accompanied by a band of the Irish Guards.

An hour later, at 1 p.m., three miles away from Tower Wharf near Tower Bridge, the Royal Artillery Company fired a salute of 62 guns, adding 21 salutes for the City of London. Salutes were also fired at Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Hillsborough Castle.

Read more HERE

[hardynwa]

UK marks first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death

King Charles III on Friday thanked the public for their support in his first year as monarch and paid tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth II on the anniversary of her death. In a short statement, the 74-year-old British head of state recalled the “great affection” for his mother, her life and public service. “I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all,” he added. Commemorations were low-key on Friday, with the king – who is at his sprawling Scottish Highland estate of Balmoral – not expected at any official engagement. He and his wife Camilla, along with the queen’s niece and nephew, attended nearby Crathie Kirk, the late monarch’s place of worship, for private prayers and a moment of reflection. Charles, dressed in a red tartan kilt, talked to well-wishers gathered outside the church after the event. His mother, who was on the throne for a record-breaking 70 years, died on September 8, 2022 at Balmoral aged 96 after a period of declining health. Flowers were left at the gate of the estate on Friday. Throughout her reign, she did not publicly mark her accession, as it was also the anniversary of her own father King George VI’s death in 1952. – Gun salutes – In London, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will mark Charles’s accession by firing a 41-gun ceremonial salute in Hyde Park from 12:00 pm (1100 GMT). Members of the Honourable Artillery Company — the oldest regiment in the British Army — will fire a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London from 1:00 pm. Both regiments were involved in firing the Death Gun salutes to mark the queen’s death, and the Proclamation salutes to mark Charles’s new reign. The king’s eldest son and heir, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, will commemorate the anniversary with a small private service at St Davids Cathedral in west Wales. The couple posted a message on social media platform X, saying: “Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We all miss you. W & C” It was accompanied by a photo of the queen surrounded by her great-grandchildren. “As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away,” Harry told the charity event. “She would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that’s precisely why I know exactly one year on that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together.” – Memorial – Elizabeth II’s death was a seismic event in British life. For most Britons alive, the queen was the only monarch and head of state they had ever known. During the 10-day official mourning period, tens of thousands of people queued for up to 25 hours to file past her flag-shrouded coffin as it lay in state in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament. Even more packed the streets of London and the route west to Windsor Castle for the state funeral, which was beamed around the world to a television audience of millions. The queen was interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in 2021, her father and mother, and the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Earlier this week, the government announced that a national memorial to the late monarch will be commissioned “in due course”. In London on Thursday, there were mixed views about Charles’s first year. Some felt he had been right not to introduce sweeping reform too early. “He’s got a hard act to follow but he will I think change things,” Joanne Hughes, 61, told AFP outside Buckingham Palace. But despite 161 official engagements and tours of all four nations of the United Kingdom, others were indifferent about the new king — and the monarchy in general. “The monarchy is dying,” said nursing student Mimi Jaffer-Clarke. Read the full article

[onlywaynews]

Королевская семья на балконе, король и старшие члены королевской семьи вышли на балкон Букингемского дворца, в том числе принц Уильям и дети Кейт - принцы Джордж, принцесса Шарлотта и принц Луи. [caption id="attachment_22895" align="alignleft" width="401"] Над Букингемским 70 самолетов.[/caption] Карла III празднует свой день рождения - церемония проводится каждый год в честь дня рождения правящего монарха.  Когда они появились и начали махать руками перед пролетом эскадрильи люди громко встречали королевскую семью, над Букингемским дворцом пролетело 70 самолетов. В Грин-парке начался оружейный салют Королевская конная артиллерия производит 41 выстрел - в честь дня рождения монарха, а еще 20 - в Королевском парке. Выстрелы будут производиться с десятисекундными интервалами, что займет шесть минут, также состоится салют из 62 орудий в лондонском Тауэре. Почему у короля два дня рождения? Фактический день рождения короля приходится на ноябрь, но он следовал традиции проведения официального празднования летом, когда больше шансов на хорошую погоду для парада в честь дня рождения в центре Лондона. King Charles III's birthday parade A massive flypast featuring the Red Arrows has taken place over Buckingham Palace as the Royal Family looked on from the balcony. It was the final event to mark King Charles III's birthday parade - Trooping the Colour. Thousands of spectators lined the route of the parade from the Palace to Horse Guards Parade and back again. King Charles, riding on horseback, inspected the troops at Horse Guards Parade and received the royal salute. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and hundreds of army musicians took part, and there was a guns salute in Green Park. King Charles III's birthday parade. ONLYWAY.NEWS

[somersetlevels]

Official duties on moving day: Major Mark Edward, the Commanding Officer of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, poses for photographs before an inspection on the parade ground of his barracks in St John's Wood before departing to fire a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park to mark the 60 anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on February 6, 2012 in London. The 41 gun salute also signifies the official start to the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and comes after the King's Troop left their barracks in St John's Wood for the final time. The Troop is now housed in a purpose-built equestrian site in Woolwich.

Source: Oli Scarff

[mia-soufi2018]

Gun salute for Prince Philip: Artillery in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Gibraltar join Royal Navy warships in firing 41 rounds in 41 minutes to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh 

By Martin Robinson, Chief Reporter Rory Tingle For Mailonline - April 10th 2021, 10:17:36 am

HMS Diamond, a 8,000-tonne destroyer dubbed 'the jewel in the naval crown, set sail from Portsmouth on Friday with her flag at half mast and will lead gun salutes

[jerseydeanne]

Gun salute to Prince Philip from his beloved Royal Navy: HMS Diamond - the 'jewel in the naval crown' – will lead 41-round tribute to the Duke at midday that will also be carried out in cities across the UK and Gibraltar

Gun salute to Prince Philip from his beloved Royal Navy: HMS Diamond – the ‘jewel in the naval crown’ – will lead 41-round tribute to the Duke at midday that will also be carried out in cities across the UK and Gibraltar

HMS Diamond, 8,000-tonne destroyer dubbed ‘jewel in the naval crown, set sail from Portsmouth on Friday  She is the modern successor to the destroyers that the Duke of Edinburgh served on during World War Two  ‘Solemn’ 41-shot salutes will also take place in London, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh as well as at Navy bases     

[renaldiroyals]

Wishing The Royal Twins A Very Happy Birthday!

Sands Palace is delighted to release new photographs of the royal twins HRH Princess Charlene and HRH Princess Jacqueline on the occasion of their 20th birthdays. 

For their photos the ladies opted to wear red and new tiaras gifted to them from the royal vault to add to their personal collections. Royal photographer Rosie Gutierrez also took a few casual pictures of the young ladies as they were making their way to take their official pictures. As a birthday present they have been gifted Paddington House by the King and they will be setting up their own royal household over the next few weeks with a new team of staff. 

At 12pm the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a 41-gun salute in Desmond’s Park in honor of the occasion. Although the palace won’t be hosting any official parties, we expect that the girls will be spending their birthday with family and friends over the next few days.

Beginning || Previous || Next

[princesscatherinemiddleton]

DUCHESS REVIEW || the duke and duchess of cambridge meet mr and mrs obama✨

for their first engagement after their wedding, and catherine’s first engagement as a member of the royal family, the duke and duchess of cambridge met with president and first lady obama at buckingham palace. while the obamas were on diplomatic duty, undertaking a state visit to the uk, william and catherine were far more relaxed, enjoying a simple 20 minute informal chat with the most powerful couple in america.

dressed in a nude reiss dress, catherine was seen chatting animatedly to michelle obama in the grand 1844 room of buckingham palace. shortly before this meeting - the contents of which were kept private - the obamas had met with the queen, the duke of edinburgh, the prince of wales, and the duchess of cornwall. the couple also received a 41-gun salute.

[theempireroyals]

Hello, Irina!

Outside Highcrest Hospital in the slightly shabby section of Highcrest, the crowd was growing by the minute, more than 300 reporters, TV technicians and curious onlookers milled anxiously behind a double row of police barricades and dozens of photographers and TV cameramen perched atop ladders nearby.

Inside the hospital, in the private wing, Elena, Tsarina of Raymount, had been in labor since 7:30 a.m. Finally after nine hours, as the afternoon light began to fade and a gray sky threatened rain, a daughter emerged for all of Raymount.

Fair of face and green-eyed like her brother, Alexei, she weighed in at six pounds, 14 ounces. The infant, second in line to the throne after her brother, would be known officially as Tsarevna Irina Alice Mary Victoria, it was announced. A TV crewman, hooked up to his home office through head-phones, broke the news to the mob outside Highcrest Hospital. “It’s a girl!” he shouted. The crowd exploded in cheers.

Moments later a town crier, decked out in a white-plumed hat and red knickers, rang a large bronze bell and intoned, “Her Imperial Highness the Tsarina Elena has issued forth a daughter.”

Champagne corks popped and church bells pealed throughout the kingdom. Congratulatory flowers and messages poured into the hospital, and two traditional 41-gun salutes ripped the air.

Tsarevna Irina arrived a week before expected. Just as the mist was gathering on the emerald lawns of Windenburg Palace at 6:30 a.m. on April 8, Elena and Michael, accompanied by their bodyguard, made the 30-minute car journey from their royal palace to Highcrest Hospital. Tiny Irina was delivered in the same room where Tsarevich Alexei was born.

Until the last three hours of labor, the 25-year-old Tsarina read a novel, while Michael dozed in an armchair next to her bed. Tsar Michael, dressed in a green hospital gown and surgical mask, stayed at his wife’s side throughout the delivery, just as he had during Alexei birth.

Two hours later the proud, 35-year-old father greeted the still-cheering crowd and shook hands. Michael described his newborn daughter as “absolutely marvelous. It didn’t matter whether it was a boy or a girl.” When the crowd chanted, “Let’s have another one,” Michael smiled. “We’ve nearly got a full polo team now,” he said.

[trh-thesussexes]

Today The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined The Queen and members of The Royal Family at the annual Trooping the Colour, to celebrate Her Majesty’s official birthday. Trooping the Colour orginated from traditional preparations for battle and has commemorated the birthday of the sovereign for more than 250 years. In the 18th century, guards from the royal palaces regularly assembled to “troop" colours or flags down the rank, so they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. In 1748, it was announced this parade would also mark the Sovereign’s official birthday. Trooping the Colour is performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies for The Queen’s birthday parade, allowing them to pay a personal tribute to Her Majesty. Today over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians came together on Horse Guards Parade in London in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare. The parade concludes with a 41-gun salute fired by The King’s Troop, following which The Queen leads members of The Royal Family back the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the Royal Air Force flypast display. Photos credit: PA - Sussexroyal