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saltymiraculer · 4 years

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Ceremonial Kisses (Part 2 of 3)

Ahhhhh, thank you for all the support I’ve gotten on this fic! It is with great pleasure I present to you *trumpet noise* Part 2 of Ceremonial Kisses!

I apologize for the huge wait, and I’m really sorry about my update schedule in general.

Also, you might notice that around the middle of this chapter, the writing gets a little bit choppy, and I’m super sorry about that! My apartment just decided to evict anyone with a cat, and I’m under a lot of stress right now. Thankfully, it gets smoother towards the end!

Happy reading!

Part 1 | Part 3

-🌸-

After ten minutes of gorging themselves on the Chinese equivalents of Kit-Kats and Lays chips, they pulled up to a hotel.

“Whaf, wewen’t we goih to da cashale?“ Nino asked, his mouth stuffed with cookies. Marinette shot him a disgusted look. He swallowed and took a swig of soda. “Wait, weren’t we going to the castle?“

Marinette had been thinking the same thing. This couldn’t be an ancient Chinese palace–it looked like a hotel!

“My instructions have changed. I was informed you would be staying at the Overseas Suites instead.“ The driver (she still didn’t know his name) said, pulling up to the front of the hotel.

As soon as they stepped out, they remembered that time zones existed.

It was 5:00 PM there.

They were going to be up all night.

The driver handed Marinette a gold-embossed business card with a phone number written on it.

“Call me whenever you need a lift, miss Marinette.“ He stepped back into the car and drove off.

Marinette shrugged and stuffed the card in her pocket. “Well, that was weird. Let’s go inside now, it’s freezing.”

As soon as they walked inside, Bustier scurried up to them.

“Where were you? You had me worried sick!“

Before anyone could say anything, the chauffeur from earlier appeared.

“I am Marinette’s uncle, ma’am. I heard she was going to be staying in China for a week and I just had to see her. The school was informed that I would be picking her and her friends up.“

“Oh–well–you still should have told me where you were going!“

“But shouldn’t you have already known?“ Marinette asked sweetly. “I mean, you were informed of it, weren’t you?“

Ha. She had her there!

“W-well, yes, technically, I was…but it’s time to go to your rooms! Off you go, everybody!“

“Oh, wait, I’m sharing a room with Marinette, right?“ Alya asked.

“Yeah, I think so.“

“Shit. Guys, I’ve got to share a room with Adrien. Say your prayers, ‘cause I don’t know if I’ll make it out alive.“

Oh, right. I guess it’s time to explain.

Adrien had stayed with his “high road” approach, but not in the way that she had expected. He started treating Lila to lunch, buying her jewelry, asking her to school dances, the whole shebang.

But it was all so forced that nobody believed any of it, and one day, all the ‘affection’ had just stopped.

Lila milked it for all it was worth, blaming Marinette and Nino and Alya, and the president of some far-off African country, and Adrien...

Something changed.

His face was more gaunt and his cheeks were more hollow, and he barely ever talked to anyone, just shrugged them off and turned away.

He was, to put it frankly, terrifying.

Which was not good for Nino at all.

“Oh, I’m sorry, class, but Ivan will be sharing a room with Nino. Adrien and Nathaniel will be roommates.“

All three of them heaved a sigh.

“Okay, so I’m sleeping tonight, that’s a plus.“ Nino joked. “What are we doing for dinner?“

“Um, I think Bustier said there was food already in the rooms. There are kitchenettes and, like, boxes of pasta and stuff. The trip was sponsored by–“ Marinette suddenly froze. She was contemplating how to finish her sentence when Alya finished it for her.

“–By your family, right?“

“Yeah. It feels so weird to say that, like–me? A princess? I’d probably trip over my own dress.“

“I know what you mean, girl. Now, let’s go get some food.“

After scurrying back up to their respective rooms and scarfing down some fettuccine, they fell asleep almost immediately, despite it being only about 3:00 in Paris.

Which, in hindsight, was probably why they woke up at two in the morning and started eating Cheerios with chocolate milk.

“Marinette, it’s so early!“ Alya said, stretching her arms towards the ceiling. “What should we do until it’s time for the first tour?“

“Wanna play Uno?“

And play Uno they did, a six-round monstrosity that lasted five hours and many draw-four cards.

There was a knock on the door and they both whipped around. “Girls, are you awake yet?“ a muffled voice asked. “You have to be down in the lobby in ten minutes!”

Alya and Marinette looked at each other. “Shit!” they yelled, jumping up and grabbing clothes out of drawers. They took the elevator down to the lobby after getting dressed, only to face something that made them wish they hadn’t.

Lila.

“And since the princess was so touched by what I did for her, she told me that she’d grant me any favor!“

“So…what was the favor?“ Mylene asked, inching closer.

“I asked her to bring our class on this trip, of course! Because I love my friends–unlike some people.“ She tilted her head in Marinette and Alya’s direction.

“When did you get here? Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?“ Kim shouted.

A few of them turned pink and tried to turn away.

“No, but I’m sure we’ll hear plenty of other horrible things about ourselves from you guys on this trip.“ Marinette said.

“Oh, get over yourselves! Lila’s the one who got us here, and she can kick you out just as easily. Right, Lila?“

“Of course! Marinette, I really want to be friends, but after the way you’ve treated everyone, it’s only fair I had to do what I did!“

“Oh? And what exactly did you do?“ Alya challenged, putting her hands on her hips. Alix smirked and nudged Kim with her elbow.

“Let’s just say…some of the tours might not be for you.“ Sabrina interjected, swiping something on a familiar white tablet. Marinette’s eyes widened. “Did you steal Bustier’s tablet just so you could take us off the tours? You risked suspension for that?!”

“Well, Mari-nette, you should be surprised to know that some people are willing to take risks for their friends.“ Kim snapped over his shoulder, earning many a nod from Lila’s entourage.

“Kids!“ Bustier yelled, startling them all. “What are you doing with my tablet?“

“Um–uh_Marinette stole it and threw it to us!“ Lila replied nervously.

Everyone turned to Marinette. “Marinette, I expect better from you! You just earned yourself a week of detention when we get back to Paris.“ She whisked the tablet out of Sabrina’s arms before Marinette could protest, and turned around, taking a deep breath.

When she faced the class again, she had a smile back on her face.

“Okay! Today, we will be touring a replica of one of the ancient Chinese palaces. Please behave yourselves.“

She started walking out, and the class followed her, Alya and Marinette tagging behind. Nino joined them soon after.

“So, that was weird.“

“No kidding.“

Once they had stepped off the bus in front of the palace, everyone stopped. Of course, they had all done a bit of googling about the places they would visit, but seeing everything live and in person was taking it to a whole new level.

“Whoa,“ they whispered. Even Lila, who wanted nothing more than to break something, was dumbfounded by this wonder of architectural beauty.

Miss Bustier was the one to break the silence. Clearing her throat, she said “Well, shall we head inside?”

As they shuffled inside, Marinette secretly wished she had about eight more eyes so she could take in everything she was seeing. But she had to be on high alert, Lila and her crew were sure to pull something nasty.

“Ah, and this,“ Bustier gasped. “This is one of the things I was looking most forward to seeing.

“As you all know, the princess will be coronated soon, and this is exactly why I wanted to take you here. This is a replica of an ancient Chinese coronation hall, isn’t it breathtaking?“

Lila snapped out of her trance and elbowed Kim, whispering something in her ear that made both of them snicker.

“Hey, Marinette!“ he yelled, running up to her. “What are you doing?“ Marinette watched in horror as he pushed a porcelain vase off of a pedestal, backing away immediately so she was the only one in the area.

Everything seemed to go in slow-motion after that.

Everyone in the room turning to them.

Lila’s grin turning up towards her ears in an almost Grinch-like fashion.

Marinette diving to catch the delicate artifact and balancing it in one hand just before it smashed on the floor.

Security appearing to lecture them.

“Now, miss, what you did was punishable by law,“ one of them said. “And by nature I’ll have to ask you and your whole gang to leave, if you don’t want the royal family to press charges.“

“The-the royal family?“ Lila squeaked. Marinette sighed and stood up.

“I’m sorry, sir,“ she said, hanging her head.

“Wait just a second!“ Someone in the crowd yelled. “That guy in the red hoodie pushed it–I saw it with my own two eyes! The girl saved the vase!“

“Yeah, why don’t you go check the security cameras? I’m sure the girl was the one who stopped it from breaking!“

“No, no, I’m quite sure I saw Marinette push the vase.“ Bustier interrupted. “She’s quite the troublemaker, and it wouldn’t be inconceivable for that to happen.“

“I’m terribly sorry, miss, but only once we review the security footage can we make a decision.“

They left with a promise to return as soon as they were done, and everyone started at Marinette.

Nino was the first to speak.

“Alright, who’s gonna fess up? Marinette didn’t do it, I didn’t do it, Alya didn’t do it. So who did?“

Marinette saw the look on Lila’s face. There was no wriggling out of this one.

“Kim did it! I saw…he tried to warn Marinette about a huge bug, but she had this evil look on her face and moved out of the way…and Kim accidentally pushed the vase.“

“What?! That never happened.“ Nino said, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, I was there the whole time, and there weren’t any bugs.“ Alya said, leaning against a wall. “Give it up, Lila. The security guys’ll be back in a minute.“

“Actually, we’re already here.“ said a deep voice. “The boy’ll need to come with us.“

“Oh, please don’t!“ Bustier cried. “He’s only a kid, he didn’t know any better!“

-🌸-

“I’m sorry, miss, but the security footage suggests otherwise. Though, if you pay a fine, all charges will be dropped.“

“What’s the amount?“ She asked nervously, pulling out her checkbook and hoping euros would translate into whatever the Chinese currency was.

“794.71 yuan.”

“Do you take euros?“ Caline asked weakly. Nino glared at her, and several of her students looked dumbfounded.

“You didn’t bring Chinese money…on a trip to China?! Even Kim brought some!“

Kim suddenly looked scared. “I don’t have to give up my money, do I?”

She sighed. “No, you don’t. If anything, Marinette should be the one paying. How much is that in euros?“

“100, I believe. We do take euros, if you’ll follow me.“ She sighed and shrugged.

“Kids, please don’t push anything else over. I’ll be right back.“

-🌸-

As soon as Bustier hurried away after leading them outside, everyone glared at Marinette except Alya and Nino. Lila still didn’t understand why they had left her, Alya had just stormed up to her one day and yelled, but that was besides the point.

“Marinette, how could you blame this all on Kim? Now Miss Bustier has to pay eight hundred euros!“ Lila cried, earning Marinette a few glares.

She smirked inwardly. Now, if only she could have gotten Marinette arrested…

“Eight hundred yuan, Lila. It’s only a hundred euros, and besides, it would have cost much more if Marinette hadn’t caught the vase.“ Nino said, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, but she’s gonna call my mom. Do you know how long she’s gonna ground me for? Thirty years!“

“Marinette, what is wrong with you?“ Alix accused. “You seriously need an attitude adjustment. And I think I know just what we need to adjust.“ She whispered something into Lila’s ear and smirked.

“But hey, all disagreements aside, do you want a drink?“ Lila asked, shoving Marinette backwards. She stumbled a bit, and Nino and Alya tried to stop her, but she fell back into a large fountain and emerged a second later, sopping wet.

Her hair had come out of the bun, her makeup was running, and her clothes were soaked through.

Everything was going according to plan. “Oh, Marinette, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to…I was only trying to squish a mosquito!”

“Mosquito?“ Marinette seethed through gritted teeth. Her expression was terrifying.

Lila backed away, as did most of the class. “This was one-of-a-kind, Lila. You ruined it. Chloé should know!“

Everyone turned to Chloé for an answer to the nonexistent question. “I didn’t get her that shirt on purpose! My mom did!” She yelled, ducking into a bathroom. Lila shrugged.

“Marinette!“ Bustier screamed, appearing at just the right time. “What are you doing?!”

Lila interrupted Marinette before she could even speak. “Marinette was trying to push me into the fountain, but I dodged.“ She glanced to the side, where Nino was helping Marinette dry off with handfuls of paper towels. She frowned, then looked over at Alya.

Bad idea.

“Miss Bustier, I have a question. Why would Marinette, one of the most non-violent people we know, try to push Lila into a fountain? Especially after she was just proven innocent? Do you really think that she would compromise her innocence like that?“

Miss Bustier looked alarmed. Lila gritted her teeth–she would have to lay low for a while if she wanted anyone to believe that Marinette would do anything wrong.

They're such idiots, she thought to herself. I’ve got practically the whole class under my thumb.

“Lila? Are you coming? We’re going back to the hotel so nothing else gets damaged.“ She shot a pointed look at Marinette, who was dripping all over the floor.

“O-of course, Miss!“

They caught a bus back to their resort, and Lila was delighted to see that Nino’s efforts had come to no avail trying to distance Marinette from the older men who approached her from behind.

-🌸-

“Marinette, I can’t believe that little liar.“ Alya said, seething. “She must be getting cocky. Like a game of ‘catch me if you can.’ She’ll have to lay off you for a few days if she wants anything to be believable, though.“

Marinette was toweling off her hair, deep in thought.

“This isn’t like her. Normally, she would stop after the vase and lay off for the rest of the day, maybe badmouth me a little at dinner, but know when to quit.“

“Well, I think you should just bop her in the head with your yo-yo.“ Alya added.

“Agreed!“ Trixx squeaked.

“I don’t normally condone using the Miraculous for selfish purposes, but I’ll let this one slide. You know what to do, Marinette! Get those spots on!“

“Guys,“ Marinette sighed, tossing the towel onto her bed. “That’s not the point. I just want a peaceful few days before I have to deal with her again. Is that too much to ask?“

“Not at all, Marinette!“ Tikki said, nuzzling her cheek. “Just know that I’m always here if you need me!“

“Thanks,“ she whispered.

Two Glorious, Lila-free days later...

“So, Marinette, it’s your free day!” Tikki chirped, patting Marinette’s face. “What do you want to do?”

“Sleep,“ she grumbled.

“No, silly! I mean after you visit your family!“

Marinette bolted upright. “What?!”

“You didn’t remember? You’re supposed to meet your biological parents today for brunch at 10.“

“And what time is it now?“ She asked, jumping out of bed to see if Alya was awake.

“5:30.“

“So I only have four hours to get ready?! That’s not nearly enough!“

“Marinette...? Why are you up so early...?“ Alya mumbled sleepily.

“I’m meeting my family!“ she squawked.

Alya sat up and put on her glasses. “Oh. Want me to help you get ready?“ she asked, walking over to the kitchenette for a glass of water.

“That would be great. Now, can you hurry up!?“

Alya took a long sip. “Calm down, Marinette. Do you want them to think you’re nervous all the time? You don’t want that in a princess. Take a deep breath.“ Marinette glared. Taking a deep breath, she focused on how tranquil she would be.

Her mom would probably be there. Wait–mom–not really her mom, but who she...used to think her mom was? Agh, now she was nervous again!

“So, Marinette, what do you want to wear? Something more traditional, or something that’s a little more...you?“ Alya asked, setting her empty cup down on the counter.

“I don’t want to offend them by just wearing, like, a nice blouse and jeans...but I don’t want to overdress. What do I do?“

Alya munched on a bagel thoughtfully. “Do you still have that qipao dress from a few months ago? The pretty pink one with cherry blossoms on it?“

Marinette nodded and pulled a blur of pink fabric out of her suitcase. She shut the bathroom door, and when she came out a second later, she thought that maybe she actually had a chance to make a good first impression.

On her mom.

Hoo boy.

-🌸-

When Marinette stepped out of the bathroom, Alya immediately started squealing. “Marinette, you look perfect!”

The outfit was simple, no more than a short-sleeved, a-line dress if not for the neckline, which resembled a traditional qipao, adorned with tiny embroidered flowers.

Marinette twirled around. “You like it? I was thinking of wearing those light pink heels. What do you think?”

“Do it.“

🌸 at brunch because op sucks 🌸

“Good morning, miss. Where are you headed today?“

Marinette glanced down at the little card in her hands. “The east dining room, please.”

The man at the desk raised his eyebrows so high they were in danger of disappearing into his curly grey hair. “Right this way, your Royal Highness.” he said, pointing her towards an entryway with a significantly fancier arch than the rest.

She walked down a seemingly endless hallway, wondering when she would get to eat, when the narrow room exploded into a dining room larger than her house.

“Ah, hello…Marinette.“ a peaceful voice greeted her. “I’ve been waiting for you!“

“Hi.“ was all she managed to squeak out. The lady in front of her was stunningly beautiful, with black hair that fell in a curtain down to her waist, wearing nearly the same dress as her, but in what looked like red silk.

“Sit, please!“ she said eagerly. “I’d love to get to know you.“

Marinette awkwardly positioned herself in ont of the high-backed chairs.“Okay.“

The lady sat on the chair opposite from her. “My name is Fei. I’m so sorry to have just...left you with my cousin for years, but I really do hope you can forgive me. This is all a bit hectic–trust me, I know–but I believe that if we can get along, this will go smoothly. What do you say?”

Fei had a warm smile, but there was a nervous undertone to her words. She had felt that way before, and a new feeling coursed through her body. Marinette moved forwards forwards and hugged her. “I’d like that.”

She seemed surprised at first, but hugged her back immediately but then let go almost as fast. “Look, I’m just ecsatic, about this, but if it’s uncomfortable calling me ‘mom’, or anything else, I need you to know that it’s okay. You can call me Fei, you can call me mom, you can call me māmā, anything you want. Okay?”

“Thank you.“ Marinette said, looking down. “It’s nice to know I have you. I think it’ll take a while for me to…adjust, but I’m so happy to know that you’re okay with that. Now, can we stop being so serious and eat?“

She beamed. “That sounds great, Marinette!”

After a few minutes of slightly awkward eating, Marinette cleared her throat. “So, other than the whole coronation thing, are there any other princess-y things I’ll have to do while I’m here?”

Fei choked on her water. “Actually…” she coughed. “I’m glad you asked. See, this is only day three of your 10-day trip. We need to get outfits, jewelry, speeches, everything prepared, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to do it all in time.”

Marinette was soeechless. This was unexpected.

“But that’s not all. I have to intruduce you to my mother, my husband, the whole royal family. “ She was sounding increasingly stressed with each sentence. “Everything has to be taken into account.“

“Hey, it’ll be okay!“ Marinette assured. “Things happen. They’ll sort themselves out. I promise.“

“I know. I have to be calm and levelheaded, or else my mom will take over. If that happens, you’ll end up naked at your coronation, or worse, if my husband takes responsibility, he’ll give it to my mom three days later. Do you know what I mean?“

Marinette nodded. “I know, but sometimes things will just happen. But other times, you have to work for them, you know? As long as you don’t give up on it, it will work out. I promise.”

“Hah–usually I’m the one giving the pep talks. Thank you, Marinette, I-I really needed that. How about you go and…meet up with some of your friends? No use in talking to a boring old lady any longer. Go on!“ she said, motioning towards the door.

Marinette turned back and smiled. “Um...bye, I guess!” she murmured, waving.

-🌸-

“So, Alya, when’s Mari getting back from breakfast with her peeps?” Nino asked as they walked down the street.

“I don’t know. I’ll text. If she replies, she’s free. If she doesn’t, she’s still the–“

“Hey guys, what’d I miss?“ Marinette asked, appearing in front of them. he screamed. “Where did you come from?“

“Brunch.“

“Marinette? You’re already done? We were about to go check out some of the tourist shops.“ Alya remarked, scrolling through something on her phone. Nino rolled his eyes.

“We were going to text you, but since you’re already here, what do you want to do?“ he questioned. Marinette fidgeted with her dress.

“Actually, that sounds fun. Which ones were you thinking?“

“Um, there’s actually one right there.“ Nino said, pointing around her to a shop with neon signs covering the whole window. “It looks fun.“

“So let’s go!“

They walked into the shop, the door jingling cheerfully behind them, and immediately things started catching their eyes. “Oh. My. God. Nino, are you seeing these?” Alya blurted. “They have Carapace merch. We’re world famous!”

Marinette was examining a bracelet with plastic rhinestones on it. “This looks like the bracelet from yesterday’s museum. Isn’t it pretty?” She dug through the bin. “Oh, they have other replicas, too? Awesome.”

Nino walked around, perusing the shelves, not really finding anything that sparked his interest. He picked up a trinket here and there, maybe checked a price tag, but wasn’t very interested. But then he saw it.

“An authentic OctoInk ‘I ain’t callin’ you a truther’ t-shirt? The printing block had an extra line, and only 47 of these were made!“

“Dude.“ Alya and Marinette whispered simultaneously.

“Um, how much is this shirt?“ Nino asked innocently, showing it to the girl at the register. She looked up uninterestedly, blowing a bubble with her gum.

“8 yuan.“ She scoffed. “Like that thing would sell for any more.“

“Hey, this is a nearly one-of-a-kind piece that–mmph!“

“Don’t tell her it’s supposed to be expensive!“ Alya hissed in his ear. “That’s the opposite of what you do!“

Wayzz poked him from his pocket. “She is not wrong, Nino. Purchase the shirt for eight yuan, if it makes you so happy.”

“I’ll take it.“ he said. Marinette put her bracelet on the register with an ‘eh, what the heck?‘ sort of expression. Alya placed a tiny glass turtle on the counter, and Nino felt a flush spreading over his face.

Alya smiled.

-🌸-

“So, Marinette, why did you get that bracelet?“ Alya asked once they had left the shop. “It looks pretty real, but you have way nicer jewelry at home. Like the necklace you wore this morning?“

“Yeah, but this one looks like the one from the museum. I know it seems silly, but it feels special.“ she said, twisting it around her wrist.

“Nah, I get it. And speaking of special, here comes a special little liar.“

Marinette’s head straightened immediately. “Aw, shit. And here I was thinking this would be a nice day.“

“Oh, hello, Marinette!“ Lila purred, snaking into the space between Nino and her. “I love your bracelet. It looks expensive…“ and with that, she sauntered away, all other interactive possibilities completely wasted.

“Well, that went better than I’d hoped.“ Nino chuckled.

“Ooh, Nino, there’s an art gallery! Want to check it out?“

“Sure thing, babe!“ He turned to Marinette. “Wanna come?“

“You can go without me, I’m going to get a bite to eat.“

“But–didn’t you just get back from–never mind.“ They walked into the gallery, chatting about who-knows-what.

Marinette spun around, and immediately someone on a blue bike yelled a split second before they knocked her over.

“Aaaack, my bike!” A male voice yelled. Marinette tried to open her eyes and stood up. A pale boy with bangs that hung over his eyes stared at her. “Sorry, I guess…”

Marinette stared back. “Okay?” she whispered. Maybe it wasn’t going to be a free day after all.

Just as she was about to ask for his name, her stomach growled like an angry Godzilla.

He chuckled.

“You wanna grab a bite? I know a place.“

“Sure. What’s your name?“

“Jianyu.“

“Marinette.“

He opened the door to a little sandwich restaurant and walked in, but let it swing shut behind him in Marinette’s face. Rude. Once they were seated and Marinette was starting to get a little annoyed at him–it was like he didn’t even notice her–he decided it was time to order.

Jianyu snapped at one of the waitresses to get her attention and whistled to get her to come over. She walked over with a pained expression on her face, then plastered on a smile.

“How may I help you today?“

“I’ll have pork dumplings and a Pepsi, the lady’ll have the chicken salad.“

“Actually, I was going to get–“ Marinette started.

“Sorry, sweetheart.“ he said, shoving the waitress away and turning back to her. “But why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself while she’s gone?“

I know that when I’m crowned princess, I’ll kick your scrawny ass, she thought. But she didn’t say that–in fact, she didn’t say anything, just got up from her chair and knocked Jianyu’s water glass down his front.

She swept out of the store before she could hear his cursing.

Yeah, that date was over.

And–being Marinette–as soon as she stormed out of the restaurant, she slammed into a cute girl with her wavy black hair in a ponytail, wearing leggings and a red hoodie.

“Oh, no, are you alright?“ she gasped, checking Marinette over for injuries.

“I’m fine.“ Marinette grumbled. She wasn’t in the mood to meet anyone else she bumped into, not if they were going to be like him.

“You don’t sound fine. I’m Chuntao.“

“Oh–um, I’m Marinette. Little tip, don’t go in there unless you like being catcalled.“

Chuntao frowned. “Hm. I think my brother told me he was going there for lunch–I wouldn’t put it past him to do that.“ She walked in and came out a second later, dragging Jianyu out by the ear.

“What do you have to say for yourself?“

“Marinette!“ he shouted. “I didn’t do anything! Back me up!“

“You called me ‘sweetheart’.“

“Mom’s gonna kick your ass,“ Chuntao growled, letting go of Jianyu’s ear. He scampered away, and she turned back to Marinette, rubbing her temples.

“I’m so sorry for him, but you seem like a really cool person. Can I get your number?“

“Y-yeah, totally!“ Marinette swapped phones with Chuntao, slightly dazed. She handed her phone back and waved.

“Thanks, Marinette! Text me later!“ She yelled, jogging away.

“See you…”

“So, who was that?“ Alya asked, appearing at her shoulder.

“Waugh! Alya! You know…maybe we should sit down first.“

-🌸-

“So…what if I’m gay?“

Alya and Nino simultaneously choked on their drinks.

Alya dabbed at her face with a napkin. “Marinette, darling, may I know the circumstances that have led you to entertain this line of inquiry? Because what the fuck?”

“Tell me all about her.” Nino said, resting his chin in his hands.

“Well, she saved me from a really sucky dude,“

“Hm. So she’s already a nice person.“ Alya remarked.

“And she’s super pretty,“

“So are you, honestly. But that’s off-topic.“

“And I haven’t had a real crush on a boy, like, ever,“

“And you went out with Kagami a few months ago, too. That settles it, Marinette! You are most definitely likely probably gay!“ Nino announced, raising his virgin Piña Colada in a toast.

Alya clinked her Shirley Temple against Marinette’s glass. “So, Marinette, it’s your free day. Only 48 hours until the coronation. How are you feeling?”

“Honestly, I d–“

“Hands in the air!“ an amplified voice screamed. “You’re under arrest!“

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#ml salt #ml salt fic #marinette dupain cheng #marinette deserves better #alya sugar #nino sugar #lila salt #lila bashing #ish #adrien salt #adrien bashing #again ish #marinette the princess of china #chuntao song #miraculous salt #miraculous ladybug #class salt #the kwamis just kinda dont exist in this chapter #~gone~

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gstqaobc · 3 years

Text

CBC THE ROYAL FASCINATOR

Friday, April 09, 2021

Hello, royal watchers and all those intrigued by what’s going on inside the House of Windsor. This is your biweekly dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox.

Janet DavisonRoyal Expert

Prince Philip’s life of duty

(Adrian Dennis/Getty Images)

For so many years, Prince Philip was at Queen Elizabeth’s side — or walking just behind — deeply devoted in his duty as consort to the woman who is now the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

But the Duke of Edinburgh, who died this morning aged 99 at Windsor Castle, was seen by many as having his own role in helping an institution steeped in tradition try to find its way toward the future.

Much of that began nearly 70 years ago, after the former sailor who gave up a successful naval career saw his wife ascend the throne.

“What Prince Philip did was help modernize the monarchy in the 1950s,” Michael Jackson, president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, said in an interview this morning.

“It was still a very tradition-bound institution…. We can credit Prince Philip, with the Queen’s full support, of course, with modernizing [its] finances, protocols, how Buckingham Palace was run … its outreach to the Commonwealth.”

Philip pushed to have Elizabeth’s coronation televised in 1953, an idea she did not wholeheartedly welcome at first.

“He was the modern person,” John Fraser, author of The Secret of the Crown: Canada’s Affair with Royalty, said in an interview this morning. “He was in touch with real people, non-royal people, and so he always had the instinct to reach out. He understood both the dark side of the media presence as well as the necessity of it.”

Fraser credits Philip’s profoundly unsettled early years, after he was “born in poverty and insecurity,” with how he looked toward the future of the Royal Family, and the monarchy.

“I do think those early years were the single biggest factor in his life and how he approached life,” said Fraser. “I think he never assumed things would last forever because he didn’t make any assumptions like that, and I think he certainly assumed the monarchy wouldn’t survive if it didn’t reach out more to the constituency that it had to serve.”

Fraser met Philip, and recalled him as a man who would revel in asking questions and challenging others.

“He was — charming is not the word I would use — but he was an invigorating person to speak to.”

Jackson, who was Saskatchewan’s chief of protocol from 1980 until 2005, met Philip during four visits to the province — three with the Queen and one on his own — and remembered a man with “a great sense of humour.”

“Sometimes people found him a bit abrasive, a bit abrupt, but that’s the way he was,” said Jackson.

“He was a straight shooter and he complemented the Queen beautifully because the Queen is a very soft-spoken, more laid-back person. Prince Philip really spoke his mind and occasionally made jokes and … put everyone at ease. I found him very refreshing, good to work with.”

With Philip’s death, there is an inevitable sadness for the Queen, and inevitable concern for how she will cope with the passing of her husband of more than 73 years.

Both Fraser and Jackson say the Queen will carry on, with Jackson noting “That’s the way she is. She’s a very strong person” with a deep religious faith that will sustain her.

“She’ll do her duty,” said Fraser. “And I think that’s the big lesson of him. He did his duty.”

For a full obituary of Prince Philip, click here.

For photos from Prince Philip's royal career, click here.

Family dysfunction

When Philip Mountbatten married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, the family he was joining was in marked contrast to the fractured one he had known in his youth. His parents' marriage broke down and offered him nothing like the nuclear family arrangement (mom, dad and two kids) that Elizabeth had known throughout her childhood. "In marrying the Queen, [Philip] gained that sort of stable home life that he didn't have when he was younger," royal author and historian Carolyn Harris has said in an interview. Philip's parents were Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Philip was born a prince of both Greece and Denmark on June 10, 1921, on the dining room table at Mon Repos, a villa that was the summer home for the Greek royals on the island of Corfu. He was the last of five children — his four older siblings were all girls. At the time, he was sixth in line to the Greek throne. But life in Greece didn't last long. His father, a professional soldier, was exiled from Greece in 1922 as his uncle, King Constantine I, was forced to abdicate. Philip's family fled, with the story being that Philip was nestled into an orange box as the family was evacuated from Greece on a Royal Navy ship. They eventually made their way to Paris. Philip's childhood took a "dysfunctional turn," author Sally Bedell Smith wrote in her book, Elizabeth The Queen, when he was sent by his parents at the age of eight to England for boarding school. The family eventually broke down. Philip's mother, who was born deaf, was ill periodically, diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in a sanitarium in Switzerland. His father went off with his mistress to Monte Carlo, where he died in 1944. Philip was left to be brought up in the U.K. by his mother's family, shuffled among various relatives and boarding schools throughout his youth. He didn't see or have any word from his mother between the summer of 1932 and the spring of 1937. "It's simply what happened," Philip said matter-of-factly in an excerpt from a book by Philip Eade, Young Prince Philip, Turbulent Early Years, published in the Telegraph. "The family broke up. My mother was ill, my sisters were married, my father was in the south of France. I just had to get on with it. You do. One does." As life went on, there really was no father to guide, consult or do anything else a father can do for his child. Several other close relatives died in his early years, including his favourite sister, Cecile, and her family in a plane crash in 1937. The following year, the 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven, his uncle and guardian, died of bone cancer. That left the marquess's younger brother, Louis Mountbatten, to bring up Philip. His family ties also extended into Germany. Three of his sisters were married to German princes involved in the Nazi party. Cecile and her husband, Don, had just joined the Nazi party before they died. Those family alliances had a visible repercussion when Philip and Elizabeth were married in 1947. "His sisters were not invited to the wedding as they were married to German princes who had been involved in the Nazi party during World War Two," Harris said. Philip's mother, Princess Alice, however, was at the wedding, and in her later years, came to live at Buckingham Palace. Alice had her own moment in the cultural conscience in 2019, as an episode during the third season of the Netflix drama, The Crown, focused on her. "She's just the most extraordinary character," Crown creator Peter Morgan told Vanity Fair. She set up charities for Greek refugees and later established a nursing order of Greek Orthodox nuns. During the Second World War, while her son was serving with the Royal Navy and her German sons-in-law fought for the Nazis, she was hiding Jews in Athens. As much as there was the distance between Philip and his mother in his younger years, there was a closeness later. Alice came to live at Buckingham Palace in 1967. Alice died at the palace in 1969 and was interred in the royal crypt at Windsor Castle. In 1988, her remains were transferred, as she had wished, to the church of St. Mary Magdalene in east Jerusalem. In a 1994 visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, Philip planted a tree in his mother's honour and visited her gravesite. "I suspect that it never occurred to her that her action was in any way special," Philip said during his visit. "She was a person with deep religious faith and she would have considered it to be a totally human action to fellow human beings in distress."

No stranger to Canada

(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)

Prince Philip's last visit to Canada was a short one in 2013 — on his own, without the Queen — to present a ceremonial flag to the Royal Canadian Regiment's 3rd Battalion. It came as something of a surprise. Philip had experienced a few health scares in the 18 months prior. So overseas travel was not necessarily a given for the Duke of Edinburgh at the time. But given Philip's feisty personality, dedication to his role and some of the interests he showed over the years, his return to Canada — he made more than 70 visits or stopovers between 1950 and 2013 — may not really have been a complete surprise. The 2013 trip was billed as a private working visit and was only a few days long. But while he was here, he was finally able to pick up the insignias he had been awarded as companion of the Order of Canada and commander of the Order of Military Merit from David Johnston, then Canada's governor general.

To read more about Philip’s time in Canada, click here.

Royally quotable

“He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”

— Queen Elizabeth, publicly acknowledging Prince Philip’s importance to her during a speech on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.

To read more on what Philip meant to the Queen, click here.

Remembering Prince Philip

Royal Fascinator readers are welcome to share their thoughts on the passing of Prince Philip, and any memories they may have of meeting him over the years. We’ll include some in the next edition of the newsletter.

I’m always happy to hear from you. Send your ideas, comments, feedback and notes to

[email protected]

. Problems with the newsletter? Please let me know about any typos, errors or glitches.

GSTQAOBC 🇨🇦🇬🇧🇦🇺🇳🇿

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curlybookwriter0294 · 4 years

Text

A Conversation with a Known Stranger

SasuNaru(OneShot)

Summary: There’s this dance club that Naruto love to go to after work on Fridays. Why? Because Fridays are (men night) meaning there’s nothing but gorgeous men in the club. Naruto was shocked to see a known stranger there at the bar. It was Sasuke Uchiha. His long time crush. Wait, what?

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot

“Care for a dance?”

Naruto turned around to see a guy standing in front of him. They were about the same height. The guy had long brown hair, the end of it tied with a ponytail with purple like eyes. He had his hand out with a small smile on his face.

Naruto chuckled. “Uh, no thank you. Thanks for asking.”

The guy shrugged his shoulders and dance his back towards a group of other men on the dance floor. Naruto cocked his head to the side as he tried to make out what song was currently playing at the club and smirked. It was a Lady Gaga song. Of course.

Naruto wasn’t in the dancing mood as of yet because he had just gotten off from his shift at the hospital he worked at with his best friend Sakura Haruno who was the lead nurse. He knew that he couldn’t break his tradition of going to his favorite club that he has been going since he came out publicly at the age of twenty-one. Sakura wanted to come with him but had a date night with her girlfriend Ino and couldn’t make it.

He tried to slip by the group of sweaty, shirtless men that was dancing around him as he made his way to the bar area. Don’t get him wrong, he loves sweaty and shirtless men around him, however, he needs a couple of drinks in his system before dancing along with them.

He sighed in relief when he finally spotted the bar at the far end coroner of the club. He could see his favorite bar tender Kakashi Hatake, pouring a drink into a glass for someone.

As he had gotten closer to the bar, he could easily see that the customer had shoulder length raven hair and wore a three piece black suit. His mouth dropped opened when the customer turned his head slightly to look at the dance floor. It was his long time crush, Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke turned back around to look at Kakashi. Kakashi doesn’t show his face due to personal reasons, so he hides his face using a cloth from his nose to his chin to conceal it. Naruto and Kakashi locked eyes for a few seconds and quickly looked away. When Naruto first started to come here, he would confide to him about his crush he had on Sasuke since he was in elementary school and that’s how he knew that he liked the same gender rather than the opposite. He could’ve swore that Sasuke left Japan to work at the family business overseas. So why was he here? At the gay club? For gay people?

Naruto took a deep breath, trying to hide his nerves as he made it to the bar to sit next to him. He tried to act smooth and cool as he slip into the bar stool and accidentally almost trip on the metal that was on the bottom of the stool. Both Kakashi and Sasuke looked him. Naruto laughed. “Don’t mind me. I meant to do that. Really.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes at him as he picked up his glass of his drink. Naruto waved his friend Kakashi over with his hand. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at him as he placed a hand onto his hip. “The usual?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Naruto smirked at him and nodded at him. “You should know my drink by now.” He said with a laugh.

Kakashi shrugged his shoulders when he placed a glass in front of Naruto. He grabbed a can of Coke and rum that was underneath the bar. Naruto watched him as he poured the coke in first and then the rum and then mixed it together nicely with a stirring stick. “Enjoy.” He told Naruto with a wink as he moved down the bar to take care of other people, leaving him and Sasuke completely alone.

Naruto gripped his glass hard as he took a sip of his drink. “Bastard.” He muttered. Kakashi knew what he was doing, leaving them alone.

“Tt. Wouldn’t peg you to be a rum and coke type.”

Naruto turned to see Sasuke staring at him. Was he actually talking to him right now? Was he dreaming? He bit his lower lip. “How so?” He asked him, taking another sip of drink as he tried not to freak out.

Sasuke hummed as he took a drink of how own drink. Once finished, he flipped over the cup face down on the napkin that he had. “I just know.”

Naruto looked back over at his brown drink. It’s true, rum and coke wouldn’t be first drink he would choose but he would only drink it if it’s at the club because Kakashi makes it just right. He scoffed at him. “Kakashi makes the best rum and coke. Which is why I always drink it here.”

Sasuke didn’t respond to him. Instead, he turned his stool around to face the dancers on the dance floor as a Post Malone sang came on from the speakers. Naruto eyed him sideways, still wondering why he was here. He wants to talk to him, but he’s scared shitless. He would always watch Sasuke from afar. Naruto would remember times when he would leaned against his locker as his best friend Kiba Inuzuka chatted about some girl he wanted to talk to, but Naruto would always block him out each time he would see Sasuke walking down the hallways of the high school they went together. He would have girls swarming around him as he walked straight ahead, ignoring advances each girl tried to give him. Naruto could’ve swore Sasuke glanced at him as he walked passed him, his eyes narrowing at him before looking away and disappeared around the corner for his advanced math class. Yes, Naruto had memorized his class schedule.

Would Sasuke remember him? Naruto wasn’t popular like Sasuke, though he was still noticeable due to famous pranks he would place around the school before summer break. He wants to know if Sasuke remembers him. However, again, he’s scared shitless. He gulped down the last bit of his drink, trying to find the courage to talk to him once more. He opened his mouth about to speak when his voice stopped him.

“Naruto Uzumaki.”

He blinked a few times and shook his head. Did, did Sasuke just said his name? Naruto bit his lower lip when Sasuke turned to look at him. “You’re Naruto Uzumaki are you not?”

Naruto nodded fast in his response. He knows his name! He actually knows his name! But how? That’s what Naruto wants to know. He cleared his throat as he place a hand into his jean pocket. “Y-you remember me?”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, waving at Kakashi over to bring him another drink. Naruto and Kakashi eyed at each other briefly before the silver haired bartender walked his way back over towards a group older guys at the bar.

“Who could forget about the one who had released the cicada bugs into the hallways of the school junior year.”

Naruto laughed nervously as he rubbed the back of his head. Junior year, Naruto had a brilliant idea about gathering up the cicada bugs that had recently came out of hibernation and released them throughout the school. It was his best prank yet to start his summer break. Though Principal Tsunande wasn’t quite as happy with him. She made him sit through detention all summer every Saturday. “Yeaaaa, that was me! Best prank ever I’ll say.” He said with another laugh.

Sasuke chuckled quietly. He had to admit it was quite a scene when he had walked down the halls seeing dead bugs everywhere. Girls would scream at the sight of them, freaking out and wanting to know who had committed this prank. Turns out, it was some blonde kid named Naruto Uzumaki, notoriously known as some idiot who pulls pranks at the end of each year before summer break. He didn’t know that the guy in front of him even existed until his friend Suigetsu talked about him. Interesting.

“What brings you here Sasuke? You, you do know what kind of club this is don’t you?”

Sasuke turned his stool around so he could face the blonde in front of him and scoffed. “I’m not an idiot, dope. I know what kind of club this is.”

Naruto cocked his head to the side at his answer. That didn’t answer his question. He wants to push further but knew it’s not his place, but he was just curious after all. “I thought you moved overseas.”

Sasuke shrugged his shoulders. “I did. Moved back a couple of days ago.” He sighed as he balled up his fists. “For good.”

Naruto raised an eyebrow. “Can I ask why?”

“No.”

Naruto hummed to the latest BTS song that was now playing overhead. Damnit, now he’s pissed at him. Crap. “S-sorry for prying.” He muttered, turning around to look at the dancers on the dance floor.

Sasuke grunted when he ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean it to come out like that. It’s just,” he rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. “Family issues. That’s why I’m back.”

Naruto glanced back at him and nod his head with understanding and smirked at him. “Welcome back.”

Sasuke smirked back him. “I guess.”

Naruto thought for a few seconds after the BTS song had ended and now the DJ started to play a Coldplay song. He pointed towards the dance floor. “Do you, um,” he stuttered, getting nervous. Again. “Wanna dance?”

Sasuke shook his head. “I don’t dance. Sorry.”

Naruto sighed in disappointment. Well, at least he tried. Naruto bit his lower lip as he tapped his shoe against the chair with the beat of the Coldplay song that was still playing. They didn’t talk for a while after that. They sat in a comfortable silence staring at the half naked guys on the dance floor to the beat of the song, yelling and having a blast.

“I didn’t know that you were gay.”

Naruto glanced at him when Sasuke said that. Sasuke wasn’t looking at him, his eyes were still glued to the guys on the dance floor. “I came out at twenty-one.”

Sasuke huffed at his answer. “Congrats.” He told him, raising his glass towards him.

Naruto gave him a small smile. “Thanks. I-I didn’t know that you were gay too.” To be honest, he always hoped that Sasuke was gay. He always dreamed that Sasuke liked guys too. However, his dream was shuttered in high school when he started dating a red head named Amaya Sora, a fellow senior in his year. Could he really be gay after all?

“Tt, I’m bisexual.”

Naruto’s ears perked up with interest. Well, at least he still like guys. “That’s really neat! Are you out to everyone too then?”

Naruto gulped when he saw Sasuke frowned at his question. Crap, did he make him mad again? “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I understand! It’s highly personal and you don’t have to come out right away! It happens all the time. It—“

“That’s why I’m back. My family,” he growled lowly, biting the inside of his cheek. “Is not very accepting. Which is why I am back. My brother is taking over the company overseas to replace me.” He balled his fists up in anger, not even wincing when his fingernails digged into his palm.

Naruto eyed at his fist, mentally punching himself in the face. He reached up slowly to place a hand over Sasuke’s closed fist. Sasuke’s head snapped over at him at the touch. “Fuck them. You are very brave to come out. Not a lot of people have that courage. You can finally be your true self Sasuke. Without hiding anymore.”

Sasuke took a deep breath as he released his fist and looked down at Naruto’s hand on top of his. He smirked when he saw that they practically matched. “Thank you, Naruto. For saying that.”

Naruto smiled him, trying not to freaking out that his hand was still on Sasuke’s.

Sasuke sighed when he pulled his hand out from under Naruto and stood up from the bar stool. He reached into his pocket to place a couple of bills on the counter to pay for his drink. “I should be heading back. It’s late.”

Naruto nodded when he looked up at the clock that was over at the bar. The clock read 3AM. Have they really been talking since he got here at 9:30? Wow, time sure did move fast. “R-right, me too.” He said, yawning as he stood up from the stool and place the same amount of bills on the counter for his drink. “Had a long ass shift today at Konoha Hospital.”

Sasuke chuckled. “Interesting. What do you do? Sakura Haruno also works there correct?”

“Yes she does! She’s a lead nurse now and I’m a nurse. Who would’ve thought I would survive nursing school.”

Sasuke pursed his lips. “That’s interesting. Listen,” he said with a sigh. “Thank you, for tonight. Again.”

Naruto blushed. “Y-you’re welcome, Sasuke anytime!”

Sasuke walked passed him and placed a hand onto his shoulder. “Maybe next Friday I’ll see you here?”

Naruto’s insides were doing jumping jacks. “I’m always here on Fridays.”

Sasuke smirked as he gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Good. See you then.” He waved at him as he walked away, leaving Naruto speechless.

“Holy fuck. Did that just happened?” Naruto asked himself once Sasuke disappeared outside. Naruto pinched himself and yelped at the pain. “It did!”

A/N: so I always liked this pairing so I thought I should give it a shot at it lol. I know they didn’t kiss or anything like that but I just thought it was a nice idea lol. Tell me what you guys think!

#naruto x sasuke #sasuke x naruto #sasunaru #narusasu #naruto uzumaki #sasunaru naruto x sasuke naruto fanfiction #naruto fanfiction #yaoifanfic #sasuke uchiha

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alexandraandangus · 4 years

Photo

Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas Day 1936 at the family home in London, 3 Belgrave Square. She is the second child and only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince George and Princess Marina. Her birth came only two weeks after the abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII, and her grandmother, Queen Mary, expressed that her newest granddaughter’s birth was ‘the only nice thing to have happened this year.’ The family was ecstatic at arrival of their newest addition. Prince George proudly telephoned his family with the good news and announced,

‘I've just had the best Christmas present in the world—and it weighs nearly seven pounds.’

She was christened Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel, in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace on 9 February 1937. Her last middle name pays homage to her festive birthday, which she shares with her late aunt, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. Among her godparents were: one king, two queens, three princesses, one earl, and one count.

Princess Alexandra grew up alongside her older brother, Prince Edward (later Duke of Kent), at their country home, Coppins. Growing up, the Princess was frequently termed the outgoing and leading child, while her brother was timid and subservient. Throughout her childhood, the children were able to go on holidays without being recognized.

The young Kent family regrettably had little time together. Shortly after the birth of her younger brother, Prince Michael (4 July 1942), her father, Prince George, was killed in an aircraft accident in Scotland while on active service. Princess Alexandra was only six years old at the time of her father’s death. Her mother was distraught by the loss and dedicated the rest of her life to her children.

During World War II, the Princess and her brothers lived in the country and spent much of their time with their paternal grandmother, Queen Mary. They would occasionally visit their cousins, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, at Windsor Castle. Princess Alexandra has long been reported to be one her cousin’s closest friends and aids. During the war, the future queen and younger sister would hand down their clothes to their younger cousin due to rationing. Princess Alexandra would later serve as one of the eight bridesmaids at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten (later Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh).

In the same year of her cousin’s marriage, Princess Alexandra began attending Heathfield School near Ascot. She was the first Princess of the British Royal Family to be sent away for her education. She attended until 1953 and then was sent to Paris to study a variety of subjects. She retuned in 1954 and worked towards her ambition to become a nurse. In 1957, Princess Alexandra began training at the Great Ormond Street. She never officially worked as a nurse but used the skills she learned throughout the years.

Since 1954, Princess Alexandra has supported the Queen by carrying our engagements both at home and overseas. The Queen asked the Princess to carry out official engagements due to a lack of working royals shortly after her coronation. Until 2013, when she was forced to drastically decrease her work due to polymyalgia rheumatica, a severe form of arthritis, she was one of the most active members of the royal family. Over the years, she has been been patron, president, or fellow of countless charities and colleges. The Princess has travelled across the Commonwealth and the world for royal tours. Her most famous tours include her trips to Australia and representing the Queen during the Nigerian independence day celebrations in 1960. After her marriage in 1963, her husband, Angus Ogilvy, began accompanying her on her engagements.

Princess Alexandra was married on 24 April 1963 to the Honourable Angus Ogilvy (later Sir Angus Ogilvy). The couple had been friends for years and unknowingly shared romantic feelings for each other but never spoke out in fear of the affection not being reciprocated. They were engaged in Scotland in late 1962, and once they announced their betrothal several weeks later, the couple was thrust into the royal spotlight. During their prime, Princess Alexandra and Mr Ogjlvy were some of the most popular members of the royal family. The couple has two children, James Ogilvy (29 February 1964) and Marina Ogilvy (31 July 1966). They were both born at the family home in Richmond Park, Thatched House Lodge. Princess Alexandra and Mr Ogilvy were devoted to their children, and her children frequently visit their mother in Richmond Park.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Princess Alexandra worked tirelessly on her royal duties, but the decades were not without trials. In the mid-1970s, Mr Ogilvy was caught in a controversy which concluded with end of his business career. This was a troubling time for the couple and many close to the Princess commented the strain the couple was under. The storm passed, and the family was kept out of any controversy until the late 1980s. In October 1989, their pregnant daughter, Marina Ogilvy, went to the press with her boyfriend and reported that her parents had attempted to convince them to have an abortion or have a shotgun wedding. For the next several months the family was embroiled in a painful press frenzy. The young couple was eventually married on 2 February 1990. Their daughter and the Princess’s first grandchild, Zenouska Mowatt, was born on 26 May 1990. The couple had one more child three years later, Christian Mowatt (4 June 1993). Princess Alexandra has two more grandchildren, Flora Ogilvy (15 December 1994) and Alexander Ogilvy (12 November 1996), from her son, James Ogilvy, and his wife, Julia Rawlinson Ogilvy.

Sadly, on Boxing Day 2004, her husband, Sir Angus Ogilvy, passed away after a long battle with esophageal cancer. She continued to carry out royal duties after his death and kept an extensive programme until 2013, when she reduced her work load. Princess Alexandra still carries out royal engagements but on a lower scale. She can be seen at official family events now accompanied by her son or grandchildren.

Wishing Princess Alexandra the happiest birthday and happiest Christmas!

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turnaboutancestor · 7 years

Text

DGS2 Case 5: Review and Thoughts

this case was, in a few words, “the many solutions to the many puzzles” presented in the series thus far. as SUCH.....i’m gonna split things up by puzzle

By the very nature of this game, much of the information here is going to build on previous cases, especially Case 3 and Case 4. As such, rather than repeating all that here, I’d like you to take a look at those posts if you somehow managed to come across this one first.

Review

The Professor: Klimt van Zieks, Hart Vortex, Jigoku Seishirou, and Asougi Genshin

Klimt van Zieks was a very pure, extremely righteous prosecutor. When it came out that a fellow noble was victimizing the rest of England to make himself more well off, he felt a deep sense of regret and frustration at being unable to do anything about it exactly because the perpetrator was a noble.

And so Klimt took his large hound, Balmung, and decided to go on a hunt.

That was the Professor’s first victim, and though the “weapon” was an interesting choice and made it more difficult to follow, Klimt was still an amateur and eventually got caught by Hart Vortex.

Vortex decided to use the Professor to create his perfect society. This eventually led to Klimt having to take the life of his mentor and benefactor, the current Chief Justice, to pave the way for Vortex rising to the top.

In the midst of this, Asougi Genshin, who had been studying abroad as a detective, started to piece together the Professor’s true identity. He approached Vortex about it, begging him to move the police force into action, but Vortex wouldn’t have any of it without “decisive evidence” (not to mention he had his own stakes in the Professor remaining active).

Incensed by this, Genshin snuck into the van Zieks mansion one night, cornering Klimt. He proposed that they duel, and Klimt agreed on two conditions: that he be allowed to write a will, confessing his sins; and that Klimt agree to help his wife (which will be addressed later). They dueled, and Genshin won, leaving Klimt for dead as he ran out of the mansion.

Unfortunately, a number of the servants spotted Genshin running. This was the most concrete thing they had, however, as there wasn’t enough evidence. Wanting to tie this up and protect Klimt’s secret to keep the law running as smoothly as possible, Vortex roped Detective Tobias Gregson and Doctor John H. Watson into a forging scheme.

First, Gregson would collect a group of thugs together and attack Genshin, stealing his trademark ring. Second, Gregson would argue for Klimt’s autopsy--something which would otherwise not be done to a noble--with the House of Lords, with Vortex’s help. Third, Watson would keep his assistants (Courtney Sithe and Mikotoba Yuujin) busy during the dissection and pretend at finding this ring in Klimt’s stomach, coming to the conclusion that Klimt had swallowed it to provide proof for his killer.

Despite the discrepancies in Klimt’s death--dying of a stab wound to the heart, rather than having a throat torn apart by a hound--he was treated as the last of the Professor’s victims, and Genshin was arrested and tried as the Professor.

However, Genshin had a very important weapon: Klimt’s will, which not only admitted his identity as the Professor but also pointed to Vortex as the one who threatened him to continue killing. Vortex realized this must exist, so he approached Genshin for a deal: keep the will secret and accept a Guilty verdict at the trial, and he would arrange for Genshins’ escape from prison. Genshin refused to agree until Vortex brought up the prospect of never seeing his family again, and then caved.

Genshin did one last thing, however: he wrote his own will, asking that all his personal affects be sent overseas to his son. He also hid Klimt’s will in the hilt of Karuma, hoping that it could one day be found and reveal the truth.

Vortex involved Courtney Sithe, as the coroner that confirmed Genshin’s death after execution; and Harry Barricade, the prison warden, to aid in Genshin’s escape. Then, once Genshin was burried Vortex and Jigoku--who jumped on board after Vortex promised him the Minister of Foreign Affairs position back in Japan--would head to Lowgate Cemetary to help dig him out and begin his journey back to Japan.

There was a problem, however: Enoch Drebber had appeared in the cemetery that night and saw the figure only known to the wider world as “The Professor” rise from his grave. Vortex told Jigoku the plan was over, and they had no choice but to shoot Genshin to keep him dead for real. Jigoku hesitated, but he eventually shot Genshin, killing him.

The Death Bringer: Vortex’s ambition

The true “moving force” behind the Death Bringer is Vortex. In his desire to create a world of order and safety for the people of London, he created an organization that go after those that managed to escape guilty verdicts.

The first victim was a head of a criminal organization in a trial that Barok headed; rumors began to spread that this “Death Bringer” was actually Klimt’s ghost attached to Barok, bringing down justice where the latter could not. These rumors were...likely spread by Vortex, as he knew Barok would cling to that moniker to hold onto something of his brother’s.

Vortex involved people like Gregson, who would carefully investigate the targets and come up with the best way to eliminate them. Ann Sasha, otherwise known to us as Jezail Brett, was the primary assassin. It’s likely Watson was involved as well, after his first role in Klimt’s autopsy. When Watson was invited overseas, Vortex turned to his understudy, Sithe.

The Four Names: Asougi, Gregson, Sasha, Watson

Slowly, Vortex began to realize being Chief Justice wasn’t enough to fulfill his desires of an orderly, crime-free London--he had to become Attorney General no matter the cost.

But to do that, he would need to cut off a few loose ends--those of Gregson and Watson specifically, as they were the only remaining individuals that knew the truth about Klimt’s autopsy. To do this, he blackmailed Jigoku with the truth of Genshin’s death, and created a “Target Switch” assassin program. Using the recently established treaty that allowed criminals in a foreign country to be extradited to their consulate, England and Japan would switch assassins.

First, England would send Sasha, disguised as exchange student Jezail Brett, to murder Watson. Once that was established, Japan would send Asougi Kazuma to murder Gregson.

To solidify this deal, and to prove as a kind of contract, a transmission was sent from England to Japan containing these four names.

This assassination was a condition of Asougi’s study abroad, and he readily accepted it.

Asougi’s “Death” and Sherlock’s Resolve

Sherlock had a habit of listening in on transmissions between England and Japan, and that was how he found out about the four names. Given notorious assassin Ann Sasha had been missing for months and he heard news of Watson’s death, he was afraid that the four names on this list were the names of victims.

Having heard about Asougi and his upcoming study abroad trip from Yuujin’s letters, Sherlock resolved to prevent Asougi’s stdy abroad by any means possible. Sherlock took his chance when Asougi passed out on the Alaclair, intending to leave him in Hong Kong as a “corpse” and have him sent back to Japan. He then convinced Ryuu to take up Asougi’s place as the transfer attorney, knowing that this meant Asougi wouldn’t be able to come to England for at least a few years.

He also convinced Gregson to transfer to France and take Gina with him, hoping to protect him this way.

It wasn’t until he overheard Yuujin, Ryuunosuke, and Susato talking that he realized that Sasha hadn’t disappeared and had actually killed Watson, making him realize that Asougi and Gregson’s relationship was likely the same.

Gregson’s Death

Gregson was given a “Death Bringer” mission for 10/31, aboard the Balabrock as it head for France. The target was Jigoku, and in a twist of fate, the assassin sent with him was Asougi.

Asougi grew incensed after hearing the truth about Genshin’s trial from Gregson and attacked him, chipping Karuma’s blade in the process. However, Asougi decided to leave it at that, disembarking in France and staying the night.

On Jigoku’s end, however, he had no idea Asougi was still alive at this point, and was determined to complete Japan’s end of the target switch agreement with his own hands.

When he returned to his room, he found Gregson there. He body slammed Gregson, knocking him unconscious, but as first class cabins are surrounded by guards, he decided to wait until the emergency drill later that evening to do the final deed. Unfortunately, just as that time arrived, Gregson woke up and started attacking Jigoku in a frenzy. In a moment of panic, Jigoku used the gun the English government had given him in his exchange program 16 year ago and shot Gregson.

He took Gregson’s coat off and hid his body in the freezer, trying to buy some time and fake Gregson’s time of death. He then put Gregson’s body in his own suitcase and took him off the boat and to the hotel, as there was no chance to throw the body overboard due to all the guards.

He had heard about Gregson’s secret room with Mitermont from Vortex, and went to drop the body off there. He set up some firecrackers he bought from Venus and used the candles as a makeshift timer so that, when Mitermont came to visit, he could be framed. Unfortunately for him, it was Barok that showed up instead, on his investigation of Gregson.

Iris’s Father

Flash back to the two promises Genshin made to Klimt: to allow Klimt to write his will, and to help Klimt’s wife.

Klimt told his secret to his wife, figuring that if he died, she’d know what to do. When Klimt died, she went into hiding in the Baskerville manor--she was a member of the Baskerville family, and the dog collar Balmung always wore was the treasure found at the end of case 2. It had been stolen a few years back by Selden.

There was one problem, though: she was pregnant, and was due very soon.

In Genshin’s last meeting with Yuujin while the former was in solitary, he asked that Yuujin help her in his stead, as a doctor. He also insisted that ONLY Yuujin go, and that Jigoku be left in the dark.

Yuujin arrived in Dartmoor and found her in pain and in labor. He did all he could to help her, and while the baby girl was born safely, the young woman passed away. Yuujin realized, however, that she had probably gone into hiding and Klimt had kept this a secret so that his child wouldn’t have to live their life as “the child of a serial killer.”

Not even a month passed when Yuujin was told he had to return to Japan, and unfortunately he couldn’t take a child with him from an unknown (or not allowed to be known) background. So, after some worrying, he left her with his friend: Sherlock. And, having come to Japan to escape the grief of losing his own wife, Ayame, to childbirth, he decided to give her name to this baby girl: Iris.

Iris as of yet doesn’t know about where she comes from, and Yuujin wanted to keep it that way; it was the main reason he pulled Susato back to Japan after seeing the Baskerville collar show up in Natsume’s records, as he remembered Susato had spotted the story Iris wrote. He didn’t want Susato opening a path that would lead to Iris discovering her origins.

As of now, though, he wonders if maybe she’ll be able to properly accept it, someday. Everyone else, including Barok, has now been made aware of who her father is.

Where they are now

Ryuunosuke has decided to return to Japan to properly pursue the path of a lawyer, and Susato is going along with him, saying she wants to see where that path leads.

Asougi is remaining in England and studying to be a prosecutor under Barok. He handed Karuma over to Ryuu, asking that he hold onto it until he can properly quell and deal with the urge to kill that he felt when facing Gregson. Barok has decided to let go of Klimt’s ghost for good, and move on like his “Japanese friend” told him to.

Iris has decided that finding out who her real father is doesn’t matter for now, as she feels Sherlock is her papa.

There seems to be an implication hat they’ll all see each other again, though...Sherlock muses going to Japan after people keep bugging him about the stunt he pulled with image transmission in the final trial.

Thoughts

That....is a lot of text. Too many text. I hope I’ve managed to cover everything important.

There was a LOOOOT happening in the final trial segment, and it was one of the few places I feel like the pacing really suffered. It basically followed the flow of “witness - something important - we need to know about XYZ now - new witness that sherlock managed to call in knowing we’d need them” for at least 3-4 times, I believe....

The only investigation was a side thing as Sherlock and Yuujin investigated the Balabrook, which they knew was the real crime scene. It was definitely FUN, but it being the only bit was a little disappointing, though I’m fully aware that cases 4 and 5 are so connected that they may as well be one case, which means I got plenty of investigation done.

I am OBSCENELY pleased at Barok actually being the awkward uncle. All my dream come tru.

Also, I’m generally pretty pleased at how Barok and Asougi’s stories were brought to a close. I was previously worried that I wanted both of them to get closure, because we were fighting between “friend’s dad was convicted wrongly and was totally innocent” and “rival prosecutor is the defendant and did nothing wrong.”, when in reality they were both really middle ground: Genshin wasn’t the Professor, but he did kill Klimt; Klimt WAS the Professor, but he was also being used by Vortex.

Speaking of Vortex: he had a LONG takedown, but it was different from someone like AAI’s piece of shit final villain because there was something about Vortex that was weirdly amicable and also charismatic. He wasn’t out to kill someone out of revenge, or do someone in out of some petty reason--he very, legitimately thought that what he was doing was for the good of the citizenry, the good of the law. And you could see the audience in this case, made up entirely of people related to government, almost BELIEVE him. Sure, he did some reprehensible things, but their RESULTS actually did wind up benefiting the greater good. I’m curious about how that information getting revealed to the general public will affect things from now on, but unfortunately we don’t get to see it.

I got so overwhelmed emotionally that I bawled nearly straight through the credits at the end. It didn’t help that Watson’s usual narration faded into Iris being the one speaking: a line about how if you miss your friends, just close your eyes and they will be there. And it was just, alot, because the characters in this game really feel like my friends, and Ryuu referring to them all as his family really made them more so for me.

In the end, this was a really......really good game. I’m so glad to finally see an ace attorney game that can capitalize on being able to be a proper sequel, and I think the DGS duology as a whole is better for it.

#case summaries #sarah play dgs2 #case 2.5

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elizabethcariasa · 4 years

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IRS 'People First' COVID-19 effort eases collections, audits

IRS Washington, D.C., headquarters photo by Davide Boeke via Flickr CC

You've been sheltering in place. You've applied for unemployment benefits.

You're alternately checking your bank account and the Internal Revenue Service's Get My Payment online search tool (good luck!) for your COVID-19 economic relief payment.

And then there are your taxes.

Added COVID-19 tax considerations: Like just about everything during this global pandemic, taxes also are affected. There is, of course, the new July 15 Tax Day deadline, which now applies to a wide variety of tax obligations.

But the IRS also is accommodating other tax circumstances, such as installment payments and collection actions, under its new People First initiative.

"In addition to extending tax deadlines and working on new legislation, the IRS is pursuing unprecedented actions to ease the burden on people facing tax issues," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig in announcing the program last month.

The tax actions gathered under the initiative are designed to provide "immediate relief to help people facing uncertainty over taxes," said Rettig. That will be accomplished, he added, by "temporarily adjusting our processes."

Those adjustments will apply during a special COVID-19 relief period that runs through July 15.

the most obvious tax problems are those faced by folks who owe but, even before the virus spread across the United States, were having difficulty paying.

Here is how the IRS says its People First approach will, to borrow from a ages old mantra, attempt to be kinder and gentler during coronavirus tax time to folks in these debt and collection circumstances.

Existing Installment Agreements: If you can't pay a large tax bill all at once when due, you can apply for an installment agreement (IA) that lets you pay it over time. In light of the financial difficulties caused by COVID-19, particularly the record number of folks who've lost jobs, the IRS says those with tax IAs can suspend any payments due between April 1 and July 15. This includes the basic tax installment payment agreement, as well as a direct debit IA.

The decision to forgo payment during this relief period won't put your tax IA account into default, according to the IRS. However, by law interest will continue to accrue on any unpaid balances.

However, the IRS doesn't offer any further explanation yet as to how it will deal with suspended IA payments. They could be spread out over the life of the arrangement or could all be due in a lump sum after July 15.

New Installment Agreements: As for folks just now finding themselves in tax payment trouble, the IRS is still offering new IAs. These new applications are being offered under the existing application rules.

Offers in Compromise: Sometimes an installment agreement isn't feasible. You don't have the money now and realistically don't expect to have it in the near future to pay off your tax bill. In this case, you can make the IRS an Office in Compromise (OIC). Here, you provide the IRS with a reasonable amount that you can pay toward a due or overdue tax bill. The agency could decide to accept that amount as full payment in order to get some due taxes and move your case off its books.

Under the People First initiative, the IRS says it is taking the following steps regarding OICs:

Pending OIC applications: The IRS will allow taxpayers until July 15 to provide requested additional information to support a pending OIC. In addition, the IRS will not close any pending OIC request before July 15 without the taxpayer's consent.

OIC Payments: Taxpayers have the option of suspending all payments on accepted OICs until July 15. Again, as with installment agreements, unpaid OIC amounts by law will continue to accrue interest charges.

Delinquent Return Filings: Filers delinquent in filing their tax return for tax year 2018 will not face any IRS default actions. However, the IRS says taxpayers should file any delinquent 2018 return (and their 2019 return) on or before July 15.

New OIC Applications: Where a taxpayer is facing a liability that's more than his or her net worth, the IRS notes that the OIC process is designed to resolve outstanding tax liabilities by providing a Fresh Start, another IRS program created in the wake of 2008's Great Recession. It is a more flexible approach in working with taxpayers who are having trouble paying Uncle Sam because of economic factors beyond their control. The IRS has periodically expanded its Fresh Start offerings. You can find more on this at the IRS' OIC page.

Field, office and correspondence audits: One of the IRS' main responsibilities is to collect revenue. That sometimes requires audits (or examinations, as the agency calls them) of taxpayer filings and supporting documents. But during the coronavirus relief period, the IRS says it generally doesn't plan to start new field, office and correspondence examinations.

The agency says it will continue to work refund claims where possible, without in-person contact. And the IRS says it may start new examinations where deemed necessary to protect the government's interest in preserving the applicable statute of limitations.

The IRS also elaborated on other audit-related actions and how they are affected as the agency works under COVID-19 limitations. They are —

In-person meetings regarding current field, office and correspondence examinations will be suspended. Even though IRS examiners will not hold in-person meetings, they will continue their examinations remotely, where possible. To facilitate the progress of open examinations, taxpayers are encouraged to respond to any requests for information they already have received or may receive on all examination activity during this period if they are able to do so.

Unique situations, particularly for some corporate and business taxpayers, will be taken into account. The IRS understands that there may be instances where taxpayers may want the IRS to go ahead and start an examination. In those instances where people and records are available and it's in the best interest of both parties, the IRS may initiate activities to move forward with an examination. These will commence, however, with the understanding that COVID-19 developments could later reduce activities for an agreed period.

General requests for information in connection with compliance activities will continue where feasible. In these cases, the IRS encourages taxpayers to respond as much as possible to this and any other official correspondence.

Field collection activities: Under usual tax circumstances, IRS collection efforts include liens and levies, which also encompass seizures of a personal residence. These actions typically are initiated by IRS field revenue officers. For now, however, the agency says it will be in some cases suspending these collection actions.

However, field revenue officers will continue to pursue high-income non-filers and perform other similar activities where warranted.

Automated liens and levies: Similarly, the IRS' new automatic, systemic liens and levies actions also will be suspended during this COVID-19 relief period.

Independent Office of Appeals: IRS appeals employees are not currently holding in-person conferences with taxpayers, but they will continue to work their cases. The necessary contacts will be held over the telephone or by video conference. Taxpayers are encouraged to promptly respond to any outstanding requests for information for all cases in the Independent Office of Appeals.

Private debt collection: Since 2017, the IRS has been handing over certain delinquent tax accounts to private debt collectors. This action is mandated as part of 2015's Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. However, during the COVID-19 relief period, the IRS will not send any new delinquent tax accounts to collection agencies.

Passport certifications: Not that anyone right now is seriously thinking about travel, especially long trips overseas in cramped planes with recycled air, but the IRS is taking such possibilities that require official documentation into account, too. The same 2015 transportation funding measure also requires the IRS to notify the State Department of taxpayers who owe substantial tax amounts.

Upon receiving this info, the State Department then can suspend the passports of these "seriously delinquent" taxpayers. Inflation adjustments in 2020 set the amount of tax debt that get a passport pulled at $53,000 or more.

Photo by Mike via Flickr CC

However, during this COVID-19 relief period, the IRS says is will not provide new tax delinquency certifications to State. During this coronavirus leniency period, the IRS encourages such tax-owing individuals to work toward resolving their debt, for example, via an installment agreement or offer in compromise.

Statute of limitations remain paramount: While the IRS is offering a grace period for the many tax debt situations noted above, the agency also emphasized that it will continue to take steps where necessary to protect all applicable statutes of limitations.

In instances where statute expiration dates might be jeopardized during this period, taxpayers are encouraged to cooperate in extending such statutes. Otherwise, the IRS will issue Notices of Deficiency and pursue other similar actions to protect the interests of the government in preserving such statutes. But where a statutory period is not set to expire during 2020, the IRS says it is unlikely to pursue actions until at least July 15, 2020.

Closing COVID hopes: I hope these IRS actions take a little tax pressure off in this extraordinarily trying time.

I also hope if you haven't already received your COVID-19 relief payment, you get it soon. And I hope that you and your family continue to cope as well as possible with your close (and closed) sheltering quarters.

Mostly, though, I hope everyone does whatever it takes to stay safe!

Coronavirus Caveat & More Information In 2020, we're all dealing with extraordinary circumstances, both in our daily lives and when it comes to our taxes. The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to reduce its transmission and protect ourselves and our families means that, for the most part, we're focusing on just getting through these trying days. But life as we knew it before the coronavirus will return, along with our mundane tax matters. Here's hoping that happens soon! In the meantime, you can find more on the virus and its effects on our taxes by clicking Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes.

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soft-likethesunslove-blog · 6 years

Text

The Several Top rated Things in Slovakia

Every snowflake contains half a dozen elements of crystals; each one signifies a secret, even though the 7th top secret may be the snowflake themselves.

spiš castle

The amount 7 can be a mark of good lot of money. It might remind folks from the several wonders on the planet. Slovakia, a tourism nation, possesses its own 8 strategies. During the entire total 12 months, she shows her great elegance to people from all over the world: prolonged record, normal virgin lands, comfortable trip center, ample social and fun resources and the key key - hospitable indigenous individuals.

(1) Bratislava

Buildings here offers people a straightforward and unadorned feeling within the initially vision. However, if you trip round the whole area, you will certainly be impressed by the ways packed with households with classical design and style. People simple and easy undecorated squares possess a proven and beautiful style. This city is actually a lovely spot. The society listed here traces returning to the traditional time. 2000 years back, there existed primitive residential areas constructed by Celts. Then Romans built their armed service camps in this article, whilst Slaves begun to resolve in the half a dozen century Advertising. In 1291 Advertisement, the metropolis was viewed as a freedom area, the most significant celebration took place in this article. Afterwards, the centre of this location dished up since the coronation spot for sovereigns of Empire of Hungary. More than 300 hinders of properties on this page witnessed many traditional situations. Together there was 11 Kings and 8 Queens crowned on this page. Close to the sq . in metropolis middle, you will discover a coronation streets which captured the beauty on this town. It is actually paved with 178 crown-decorated copper dishes on the floor.

(2) St. Martin's Cathedral

Saint. Martin's Cathedral was crowned being a holy church in 1452 Advertising. The greatest part of its chancel is as high as 18.5 m. The time tower is 85 m substantial. The amazing factor is the fact there is a golden-plated kitchen table of two rectangular m for the time clock tower. About this table, there is a gilt replicated of the crown of Hungary Emperor, which weighs about 300 kilometers. In the very first Society Warfare, the five bells have been dissolved to construct cannons. The only survived bell weighs 2 all kinds. Within a expression, you will find plenty of awesome stuff on this page.

Bratislava Castle is really a also ponder while in individuals intervals. In the past, it was a somewhat tiny castle belonging to a Slav duke. The idea became a administrative place of the capital in the empire lastly was a household from the imperial minister. Till 1811, there happened a catastrophic fire which created Bratislava fortress turn into a pile of remains.

Reconstruction and decoration are produced 150 many years following that failure. The current fortress contains the party hallway of Councils of Slovak Republic. The fortress is seen as 4 tower halls. This structural type goes back towards the period of time amongst 1635 and 1649. The castle holds 85 yards more than Danube Stream. It is possible to guide the full metropolis from each observatory.

The Palacio Arzobispal is actually a jewel amongst all those classical architectures in Bratislava. Right after the war of Slavkov, France which has been under the reign of Napoleon sighed Pressburg Peace Treaty with Austria during the Looking glass hall of Palacio Arzobispal. Now, there exists a wedding reception hallway of Bratislava mayor, for which you could see six items of 17th century tapestry. Around the doorway, there exists a cardinal head wear which is 1.8 m in diameter, but weighs about 150 kilos.

(3) Entire world National Traditions

Slovakia operates several societal heritage which will probably make other Central European countries admire. This advantages of the intense man civilization listed here. I would want to expose Maria Theresa who is an excellent lady considered to be mum of Austria. She was crowned in the St. Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava. In the a long time between 1563 to 1830, there have been a complete of 11 Hungarian kings and 9 Princess crowned in Saint. Martin's Cathedral and Franciscan chapels which includes Maria Theresa. Today, it is a historic web site which draws numerous tourists.

Banska Stiavnica

Independent of the specialised sources of exploration, Stiavnica manages copious drinking water assets and other solutions. It has been known as "silver city" because there had been several metallic mines. You can certainly learn that this city is very rich when you notice these 215 countrywide ancient cites. In this article there are 2 delayed Gothic cathedrals every 500 meters. It had become the 3 rd greatest town of the Empire of Hungary in 18th century. An original standard water technique was built from sixteenth century to 18th century. This method includes 60 person-produced water physiques which make the side to side drainpipes and drinking water stations turn into a reliability. Beneath the terrain in this area there are lots of degrees of standard water routes with all the deepest area as profound as 900 meters. There are several types of architectures and locations of hobbies on the floor exactly where travellers is capable of doing mining on their own.

(4) Caverns

Caves in Slovakia are exceptional on earth because there are couple of places across the world will surely have a great number of Karst caves, which bring in just about 650,000 vacationers each and every year from around the globe. Around many many years, a multitude of caverns have already been inscribed around the Community Traditions Collection by UNESCO, between which you will find a complicated Slovenia cave built by greater than 400 caverns. Furthermore, there exists the world maximum crystalline rock resolved close to vitamin spring season. It really is as much as 32.6 meters and possesses been placed in the Guinness Publication of World Data.

Domica cave, which situates close to Ple ivec - a little city of Slovakia, is among the greatest discovered caves in Slovakia. It wind 5 kilometers beneath the soil and expands in to the border of Hungary, being an important part of Hungary Aggtelek Federal Park. 35000 in the past, there was individuals resided in Domica cave. It was exposed towards the public since 1932. It had taken form because of the erosion of the below ground rive and Domicky. When water within the undercover river is rich enough, it is possible to obtain a fishing boat to take pleasure from the beautiful surroundings of the caves.

(5) Castles

As reported of all time, there are about 300 castles in Slovakia, however you will find only 168 castles left behind right here, among which 109 castles are members of cultural web-sites within the safety the us government. These castles are not just witnesses of your lengthy background, as well as used for a lot of valuable societal activities, including ethnic event, rivalry, martial arts demo, fairs, musical shows and romantic weddings.

Trencin Fortress

Trencin fortress is amongst the greatest fortress groups in Slovakia and is particularly situated in the top host to Trencin city along with the complete Vah Stream center. It is actually constructed according to the primitive castle of Wonderful Moravia. The outside model of Trencin fortress originates from the neighborhood nobility in 13th century. In 1790 Advertisement, Trencin area experienced a large fireplace which propagate for the entire fortress and wrecked the castle. Even though bottom floor was remodeled, the reconstruction of the whole castle got not commenced up until the fifties of last century.

Green Stone Castle

Red-colored Rock castle is the most correctly-protected fortress architecture of Renaissance fashion in Slovakia. Its massive cellar and the design type are exclusive within the entire The european union. This castle is the most often-been to fortress in Slovakia. Additionally it is acknowledged as one of the most incredible castles in Slovakia.

(6) Spring

Slovakia used to be popular because of its vitamin normal water and very hot planting season. Every year, increasingly more overseas vacationers arrived at Slovakia for health spa assistance with regard to health and beauty.

Essentially The Most Old Spring season Kurhaus

One of the most historic early spring Kurhaus of Slovakia is located in Bardejov. The safeguarded published records show that early on in of 1217, folks Bardejov used early spring to carry out therapy.

The Favourite Slovakia Early spring Area

Piestany, a day spa holiday resort positioned across the bank of Vah Stream, is among the most well known springtime location in Slovakia. It is actually a location engrossed in large trees and shrubs, little back gardens, direct and broad soft sandy highway, and organized lovely architectures. The temperatures of your planting season here is involving 67 qualifications and 69 diplomas. There are about 1500 milligrams of nutrient material, that contain excellent medical consequences.

Tatra Hills National Playground

Despite the fact that Tatra mountain peak is simply not distinguished across the world, it is actually a distinctive scenery in European countries as it includes a great deal natural charm in a reasonably little region. Tatra Mountain range Federal Recreation area is jointly built by Slovakia and Poland. Most portion of the car park is throughout the boundary of Slovakia, whilst the other element is inside of Poland. Enclosed by lots of trees, people wonderful ponds are the best places for fans to visit swim in the tranquil nights. The surroundings down the lakes simply cannot be referred to as to get peerless, but are liked by these vacationers who truly appreciate organic surroundings.

(7) Wood made Properties

As with any the nations in The european union, travelers could see several church buildings in Slovakia. As the most northern region of the Roman Empire plus the main section of Hungary for centuries, those old castles in Slovakia show unexplainable testimonies. Individuals social relics which endure in the attack of Napoleon pushes are really incredible. But the most impressive issues listed below are wood made church buildings and timber villages. The wooden small town can be found in Cicmany, where by most of the residences are made of forest. Around the surfaces of these residences, there decorated whitened pictures which appear like primitive totems. These architectures are a type of special grow which expand coming from the below ground and live harmoniously using the mother nature.

In comparison with neighbors like Hungary, Poland and Czech who wish to recover previous times beauty, Slovakia presents me an impression of your spot without divine pressure. He is carefree and enchanting almost like a typical men and women without the need of strength. But he nonetheless qualified prospects a contented lifestyle. This sort of much less outstanding life is adored by all those committed men and women. He is sort of a charmingly naive mole that is frequently bullied by other creatures. But he never ever seems anxious. He or she is simply to solve these complications by his knowledge and sales opportunities a happy life with his own shovel.

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juliamichaels84 · 6 years

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Fast Miami to Key West Tour Bus

Miami to Key West Tour Bus

Enjoy a 4 hour ride across 43 bridges and 31 islands to the “America’s Caribbean Islands.” The Florida Keys, a series of islands. Islets bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. After arriving to the destination. You will enjoy a Caribbean climate feel, seeing the road artists, open air cafe’s and eateries. Enjoy a timeout some and explore Key West personally.

Miami to Key West Tour Bus

You may visit Ernest Hemingway’s House, The Southernmost purpose of the mainland U.S (the renowned “90 miles to Cuba” Monument), The Mel Fisher Museum. The Light House Museum, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum or Mallory Square and a couple of more. (Tickets excluded). You may likewise decide to add one of our most exciting package options of activities to do in Key West, activities like the snorkeling trip, the glass bottom boat cruise or the Hop on Hop off trolley. Certainly the best Miami to Key West tour experience.

Why Taking a Bus from Miami to Key West?

If you are setting out from Miami to Key West and you should have it in mind that riding a motor coach is more fun than driving yourself, flying or sailing there. The buses to convey you there are new, comfortable, clean and they offer restrooms and Wi-Fi on board. Riding a transport from Miami to Key West is the most ideal approach to unwind while in the meantime you get to:

– View the landscape and take photographs

– Meet other individuals traveling like you

– Less costly than flying or drifting

Furthermore, our Company has the most Popular Busses Connecting Miami to Key West

To finish your Key West Tours as well as you should visit the local aquarium is must see. The aquarium along with others, is a standout amongst other attractions on the island. Its a good time for children, consequently the parents, guardians and even grandparents. America’s southernmost US Highway starts with milepost zero at 490 Whitehead Street right in the heart of Old Town Key West and runs north of Miami.

While traveling, you will see that the road traverses a number of the Keys both inhabited and uninhabited and crosses open water at many points with the amazing Seven Mile Bridge. A road bus trip through the Keys on the Overseas Highway is an ideal and wonderful exploring experience. You would make no wrong choice to definitely add it into one for the bucket list. Our Miami to Key West bus tours are the only fun filled way to go if you really want to relax. Enjoy all the amazing historical sights in style and class.

You all have the opportunity to enjoy spacious seating settings, unlimited Wi-Fi. Snacking and comfortable resting at your leisure, interacting with friends and also making new friends, networking with potential business associates. Learning a lot about a detailed history and consequently, the culture of the Keys. Our Miami to Key West Packages exceptionally wonderful. An experience that would leave you coming back for more trips, contact us now to make your reservations.

The post Fast Miami to Key West Tour Bus appeared first on Miami to Key West Tours Guides.

Source: https://www.miamitokeywesttoursguides.com/fast-miami-key-west-tour-bus/

from Miami to Key West Tours Guides https://miamitokeywesttoursguides.wordpress.com/2018/01/10/fast-miami-to-key-west-tour-bus-5/

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frontstreet1 · 7 years

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Girlfriend Of Las Vegas Killer Says He Left Her In The Dark

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LAS VEGAS — The girlfriend of the Las Vegas gunman said Wednesday that she had no inkling of the massacre he was plotting when he sent her on a trip abroad to see her family.

Marilou Danley issued the statement after returning from her native Philippines and being questioned for much of the day by FBI agents still trying to figure out what drove Stephen Paddock to open fire on 22,000 fans at a country music festival from his 32nd-floor hotel suite.

“He never said anything to me or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be a warning that something horrible like this was going to happen,” Danley said in a statement read by her lawyer outside FBI headquarters in Los Angeles.

Danley, who was overseas for more than two weeks, said she was initially pleased when Paddock wired her money in the Philippines to buy a house for her family. But she later feared it was a way to break up with her.

“It never occurred to me in any way whatsoever that he was planning violence against anyone,” she said.

Danley, 62, who has been called a person of interest by investigators, said she loved Paddock as a “kind, caring, quiet man” and hoped they would have a future together. She said she was devastated by the carnage and would cooperate with authorities as they struggle to get inside Paddock’s mind.

Two sisters of Marilou Danley say Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock sent Danley away so that he could plan the shooting. (Oct. 4)

Investigators are busy reconstructing his life, behavior and the people he encountered in the weeks leading up to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said. That includes examining his computer and cellphone.

But as of Wednesday, investigators were unable to come up with a motive for the attack Sunday night.

“This individual and this attack didn’t leave the sort of immediately accessible thumbprints that you find on some mass casualty attacks,” McCabe said.

Paddock killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 others before killing himself in his room at the Mandalay Bay hotel casino, authorities said. The Associated Press previously reported that 59 victims were killed, but has received revised information from the Clark County coroner.

The 64-year-old high-stakes gambler and real estate investor specifically requested an upper-floor room with a view of the music festival when he checked in last Thursday, according to a person who has seen hotel records turned over to investigators.

Paddock wasn’t able to move into the room until Saturday, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and disclosed the information to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The room, which goes for $590, was given to Paddock free because he was a good customer who wagered tens of thousands of dollars each time he visited the casino, the person said.

It was just another indication of how methodically he planned the attack. Authorities have said he brought 23 weapons in 10 suitcases into the room and set up cameras inside and out to watch for police closing in on him.

But investigators had little to work with in trying to determine what set him off.

While he had a passion for high-stakes gambling at Nevada casinos, his game of choice was video poker, a relatively solitary pursuit with no dealer and no humans to play against. And while neighbors described Paddock as friendly, he wasn’t close to them.

“He was a private guy. That’s why you can’t find out anything about him,” his brother, Eric Paddock, said from his home in Florida. As for what triggered the massacre, the brother said, “Something happened that drove him into the pit of hell.”

Occasionally, Paddock shared news of his gambling winnings, his brother said, recalling a photo text message he received showing a $40,000 payout.

Casino regulators are looking closely at Paddock’s gambling habits and checking their records to see whether he had any disputes with casinos or fellow patrons. In addition, investigators are examining a dozen financial reports filed in recent weeks when he bought more than $10,000 in casino chips.

It was in a casino where Paddock met his girlfriend, who was a high-limit hostess for Club Paradise at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Eric Paddock told The Washington Post.

Stephen Paddock wired $100,000 to the Philippines days before the shooting, a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly because of the continuing investigation said on condition of anonymity. Investigators are trying to trace that money.

Danley’s sisters in Australia said in a TV interview that they believe Paddock sent her away so she wouldn’t interfere with his murderous plans.

Paddock had no known criminal history. Public records contained no indication of any financial problems, and his brother described him as a wealthy real estate investor.

“I believe, based on what I have been told, the issue was not that he was under financial stress,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, the ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump met privately with victims at a Las Vegas hospital Wednesday and then with police officers and dispatchers, praising them and the doctors who treated the wounded.

“Our souls are stricken with grief for every American who lost a husband or a wife, a mother or a father, a son or a daughter,” he said. “We know that your sorrow feels endless. We stand together to help you carry your pain.”

Paddock had stockpiled 47 guns since 1982 and bought 33 of them, mostly rifles, over the past year alone, right up until three days before the attack, Jill Snyder, an agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told CBS on Wednesday.

By KEN RITTER, MICHAEL BALSAMO and BRIAN MELLEY - Oct 4 6:57 PM EDT

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Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Jim Gomez and Teresa Cerojano in Manila, Philippines; Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles; and Richard Lardner, Eric Tucker, Sadie Gurman and Tami Abdollah in Washington contributed to this report.

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For complete coverage of the Las Vegas shooting, click here: https://apnews.com/tag/LasVegasmassshooting .

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This story has been corrected to show that the death toll is 58, not including the gunman, based on revised information from the Clark County coroner.

#Gunman Stephen Paddock #Marilou Danley #Philippines #Vegas Killer’s Girlfriend #Wired $100K

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years

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Things to See, Eat, and Do in Krakow!

Krakow was the first stop of our month-long trip through Poland and what a great city to kick things off! Our visit to Krakow was filled with delicious platefuls of pierogi, trendy neighbourhoods covered in street art, relaxed afternoons on the banks of the Vistula River, stunning architecture around every corner, and lots and lots of ice cream. For years friends and fellow travellers had been urging us to visit Krakow, and now we understand why; the city is pretty magical but it also has a cool edge. In this post I’m going to share my mini-guide to what I think are some of the best things to do in Krakow:

THINGS TO DO IN KRAKOW

Spend a few hours wandering around Kazimierz

Kazimierz is Krakow’s Old Jewish Quarter and it lies directly south of the Old Town. The neighbourhood was mostly destroyed during the Second World War and then fell into further disrepair during the Communist period, but today it’s one of the city’s hotspots.

Kazimierz’s streets are covered in art, its sidewalks are dotted with bars and restaurants, and you can find art galleries, boutique shops, and vintage stores all in the same block. It draws a youthful crowd – both young by years and young at heart.

But if you really want to see Kazimierz come to life, you have to wait till evening. This neighbourhood is renowned for its nightlife, and you don’t realise how many watering holes there truly are until the sun goes down and revellers emerge en masse.

Some of the most popular bars in the area include:

Singer – Instead of tables, you sit around old Singer sewing machines.

Alchemia – Set in an old tenement building, with interiors that will make you think you’ve travelled back in time.

Propaganda – Covered in old posters and knick-knacks from the Soviet era.

You can find a bigger selection of trendy bars in Kazimierz here.

Taste the best ice cream of your life

Oh, my goodness Polish ice cream is good!

After a few days in Krakow, I had only managed to learn one Polish word: lody. This may sound like a bit of a faux pas – surely, please and thank you should have come first – but when those four letters spell out ice cream, you can understand why.

There’s one place you need to try and that’s Emil Kręci Lody. I visited that ice cream shop more times than I care to admit and it was pure magic every time. The flavours were natural, slightly understated at first bite, but you could taste each and every ingredient. It was better than any other ice cream I’ve ever had.

My favourite combination was the waffle cone with three scoops of mango, coconut and strawberry sorbet.

Trust me, the ice cream is worth the trek across the bridge.

Sample pierogies with different fillings

Speaking of food in Krakow(surely, ice cream qualifies as some form of food!), I also had some of the best pierogi of my life in this city.

It all went down at Pierogarnia Słowiańska Uczta (Krakowska 44) where I had lunch on my first day thinking I would just have a plate of pretty average pierogi. My interest was piqued when I saw they had a pretty interesting menu with experimental fillings. I went with one order of the classic pierogi ruskie, which is stuffed with potato and cottage cheese, but feeling adventurous then I also ordered pierogi pieczarkami, serem i orzechami, which turned out to be mushrooms, cheese and walnuts.

Oh, boy! Of course, this turned out to be my best meal in the city!

The mushrooms were the perfect filling I never knew existed. They were rich and earthy, and the chopped walnuts added the perfect texture. A plate of 10 was beyond filling, but if you had put a second plate in front of me, I would have gone at it, because a meal like that is just irresistible. Needless to say, I went back to this place again and ordered the same thing. As you do!

It’s a small place and they only have about 6 tables in there, so if you can swing by outside of lunch hours, you’re more likely to get a table, but check the hours because they don’t stay open late.

Feel like a queen (or king!) at Wawel Castle

Krakow’s crowning jewel is Wawel Castle, which for centuries, was the residence of the kings of Poland. This is one of the largest castles in Poland (though not quite as large as Malbork Castle, which takes the title of largest castle in the world by land area!), and it’s hard to miss given its size.

We unknowingly happened to visit on a day when there was a special function taking place, so many of the areas were off limits, but even standing in the courtyard and seeing the mix of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque architecture was pretty cool.

You can get information on admission and hours here. For conservation reasons, there are daily limits on the number of visitors who can enter Wawel Castle, so you’ll want to plan ahead.

For some stellar views of Wawel Castle, I would recommend going for a walk along the Vistula River at sunset. There’s a nice path that comes to life with bikers, rollerbladers, dog walkers, and sunset lovers, plus you also have a big stretch of grass directly underneath the castle, where you can sit down, relax, and enjoy the last bits of sun.

Enjoy the summer vibes along the Vistula

And speaking of the Vistula River, if you’re visiting during the summer months, one of the most popular things to do in Krakow is to go on a sunset river cruise. We opted for a small sightseeing cruise, but there were larger and livelier boats blasting tunes and keeping the booze flowing – these seemed especially popular with bachelorette parties.

Aside from cruises, you can rent kayaks, or if you’re not really in the mood for exercise, you can hop aboard one of the many boat restaurants where you can have a drink or dinner.

Tour Schindler’s Factory

Oskar Schindler is responsible for saving the lives of over 1,200 Polish Jews during the Holocaust by employing them at his factory, and this same factory now hosts a museum, so we went to visit.

I thought the museum would be a bit more about Schindler, his workers, and their combined story, but the museum takes on a different shape. The former factory now hosts two museums: the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków, which is located in the former workshops, and a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków, which is located in what would have been the administrative building of the factory.

We visited the latter, which is home to a permanent exhibition titled Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945. This is honestly one of the best museums I have been to in a long time, and it really pulls you in with its narrative, telling you the history of Krakow’s inhabitants – both Jews and non-Jews – and the events that unfolded once the Nazis occupied the city. If you only have time for one museum in the city, I’d pick this one. You can check the opening hours and ticket prices here.

Take the Royal Route through the Old Town

I can’t believe I’ve made it this far without mentioning Krakow’s Old Town, but this city just has so much good stuff on offer.

So another thing you can’t miss in Krakow is going to the Old Town and walking the Royal Route, which was the historic coronation path of Polish kings. The route starts in the north end of the Old Town at St. Florian’s Church, goes past the Barbican and through St. Florian’s Gate, straight down Florianska, past the Main Square and St. Mary’s Basilica, down Grodzka, and up Wawel Castle.

Another reason to visit Krakow’s Old Town is that it has the largest medieval town square in Europe. We were there on a weekend so it was very lively; there were lots of street performers, the cafes were packed with people enjoying sunset drinks, kids were chasing giant bubbles floating across the square, and there also happened to be a jazz festival featuring some overseas talent.

Look up inside St. Mary’s Basilica in Krakow

Travelling in Europe means you set foot inside a lot of cathedrals, and if there’s one I think you shouldn’t miss, it’s St. Mary’s Basilica in Krakow’s Old Town.

You do have to pay an admission fee to enter, but I think it’s worth it. St. Mary’s Basilica is home to the Altar of Veit Stoss, which is the largest Gothic altarpiece in the world and also one of Poland’s national treasures. The piece was carved by Veit Stoss, a German sculptor, between 1477 and 1484, and it’s a massive triptych carved out of different types of food. The amount of detail that went into this piece is amazing.

Another reason to visit St. Mary’s is the ceiling, which is painted to resemble the midnight sky. It’s hard to pull your eyes away.

They have a really up-to-date website that lists different events like choirs, organ concerts, and mass.

Where to stay in Krakow

We found one of my favourite AirBnBs to date here in Krakow! This two-story attic apartment was located in Podgorze, which is a funky district with a local vibe just south of the Old Town on the shores of Wisla River. The apartment had arched windows to boot and it was so nice waking up in the morning with natural light streaming in. I especially enjoyed lounging in the living area and observing people come and go. If you’ve never tried AirBnB before, you can use my discount code on your first trip.

There are also lots of hotels, B&Bs and hostels to fit every budget. You can get a better idea of rates and availability here.

Have you visited the city? What are some of your favourite things to do in Krakow?

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spookywinnerpainter · 7 years

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Queen Elizabeth II is dedicated to defensive the rights of all distinct faiths.

New Post has been published on http://articlesworldbank.com/2017/06/14/queen-elizabeth-ii-is-dedicated-to-defensive-the-rights-of-all-distinct-faiths/

Queen Elizabeth II is dedicated to defensive the rights of all distinct faiths.

Queen Elizabeth II Biography

Elizabeth-iiQueen Elizabeth (1952 – ) became topped Head of State, Head of the Commonwealth and Supreme Governor of the Church of England in 1952.

She is the longest serving British monarch and has presided over 1/2 a century of continual alternate each in the Royal Family, Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

Elizabeth was the eldest child of Prince Albert, the Duke of York (later George VI) and his wife Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Mother). Her father Prince Albert changed into 2d in line to the throne, until his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 – pushing the shy Prince Albert into a sudden position of King. King George VI rose to the task though he died early in 1952.

Elizabeth was educated at domestic, alongside her sister Princess Margaret. During the Second World War, they had been evacuated to Balmoral and later Windsor Castle. Towards the quiet of the struggle in 1945, Elizabeth joined the Women’s Royal Auxiliary Territorial Service, wherein she served as a driving force and mechanic. After the battle, she more and more stepped into her position of performing public service and made her first overseas trip to South Africa in 1947. Shortly earlier than her 21st birthday, she stated:

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“I claim before you all that my entire life, whether or not it be lengthy or quick, shall be dedicated for your service and the service of our top notch imperial circle of relatives to which all of us belong.” Phillip-queenIn 1947, she married Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in a ceremony at Westminster; they had recognised every different for numerous years. Some wherein opposed to the union due to his overseas ties, however, this become conquer via his service within the Royal Navy. They were fortuitously married for over 70 years, and their dating is a source of mutual strength, even supposing Prince Philip has a recognition for letting slip the strange colourful commentary about foreigners. Elizabeth gave a start to their first child in 1948 – the destiny Prince Charles. They had four youngsters in overall. (Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward)

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Elizabeth-iiIn 1952, her father George VI surpassed away and Queen Elizabeth became topped Queen to large enthusiasm. Her coronation set TV statistics around the globe, and it regarded to herald a brand new era for the monarchy and British Commonwealth. News of Edmund Hilary attaining the peak of Mt Everest was behind schedule to coincide with her coronation. It appeared a symbolic cease to the post-war austerity.

The 1950s can be visible as the golden age for the Queen. Deference and Queen_Elizabeth_IIrespect to the Royal own family were nonetheless excessive, and the young Elizabeth seemed like the fairy-story Princess. However, over the following few many years, vast social trade noticed a decline in conventional attitudes to the monarchy. Also, the new technology of TV and severe media scrutiny led to many adverse headlines as her children had been stuck up in marital troubles and associated scandals.

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Yet, there have been still excessive factors for the Royal Family, which includes her ‘Silver Jubilee’ in 1977 and the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981. By the Nineties, the media had a great fascination with Princess Diana, but as their marriage broke down, the Queen become an increasing number of perceived as being out of contact. In 1992, she famously declared the year to be her ‘annus horribilus‘ The year saw media headlines ruled by the marriage breakup of Charles and Diana, a hearth in Windsor, and different criticisms of the Royal Family.

“1992 is not a yr on which I shall appearance returned with undiluted satisfaction. In the phrases of considered one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has grown to become out to be an ‘Annus Horribilis‘.” (Christmas cope with, 1992)

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In 1996, Princess Diana died in a vehicle crash, and briefly, there has been public dismay as the Queen seemed remote and refused to fly the flag at 1/2 mast. But, after the Queen later expressed admiration for Princess Diana the hostility evaporated. Nevertheless, the connection between Princess Diana and the Queen were pleasant described as being ‘cool’.

ElizabethThe Queen placed tremendous emphasis on her activity as uniting the Commonwealth – a hard job in the put up warfare length as decolonisation caused many differing issues. However, the Queen usually received sizeable acclaim, and many comments she changed into a real unifying presence on the Commonwealth meetings. In a speech to the United Nations, in 2010, she pointed out the significance of nations working collectively:

“In the next day’s international we should all paintings together as tough as ever if we’re true to be United Nations.”

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After the difficulties of the Nineties, the 2000s noticed a resurgence in her recognition because the Royal Family positioned many difficulties behind them and that they were able to celebrate the appropriate news. If 1992 turned into her anus horribilus, 2012, became perhaps her annus mirabilis. Firstly, in April, Prince William married Kate Middleton to considerable public enthusiasm. Then in the summer season, her Golden Jubilee become widely celebrated and famous despite the moist weather. Finally, in July 2012, she took part in the commencing ceremony of the London Olympics – which became a huge worldwide fulfilment.

During her time as Head of State, Queen Elizabeth has sought to refrain from interfering in political problems and provide a moderating influence on the nation.

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“We are a slight, pragmatic people, greater at ease with exercise than a concept.” (30 April 2002) She is a committed Christian and frequently mentions her non-secular ideals in her Christmas addresses. However, in her function as Head of the Church of England, she has said that she is dedicated to defensive the rights of all distinct faiths.

“The idea of our mounted Church is occasionally misunderstood and, I agree with, typically underneath-favored. Its position isn’t always to shield Anglicanism to the exclusion of different religions. Instead, the Church has an obligation to shield the unfastened practice of all faiths in this united states.” – During a speech at Lambeth Palace, 15/02/2012.

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Despite passing ninety years, she is in relative right health and indicates no sign of passing the throne to her heir Charles early. Though in current years, she has started to scale back on public engagements.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan. “Biography of Queen Elizabeth II”, Oxford, www.Biographyonline.Net, 30/01/2013. Updated thirty-first January 2017.

Edited By articlesworldbank.com

#Queen Elizabeth II is dedicated to defensive the rights of all distinct faiths.

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