There are premieres and there are royal premieres, and Bond is the only movie franchise able to guarantee a blue-blooded red-carpet appearance. Not one but two palace limousines pulled up at the Royal Albert Hall this week to deliver the first and second in line to the throne and their spouses. Back in 2002, the Queen attended the "Die Another Die" premiere and met Bond stars Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry and director Lee Tamahori. And in 1983, Diana met actor Roger Moore and his wife Luisa at the premiere of "Octopussy." In this case, Bond is something they want to associate with and promote because of the “Britishness” of the global brand. Prince William is also President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and one of his chosen duties is to promote the best of British moviemaking.
William probably realized the Bond movies aren’t accurate portrayals of life as a spy. But real-life officers have advised on set so there is a tacit approval of the franchise and how it has helped elevate the profile of the service. Charles visited the set of the 25th Bond film at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England in 2019, where he caught up with actors Daniel Craig and Ralph Fiennes, and director Cary Joji Fukunaga. The royals will also appreciate that the premiere had the added benefit of fundraising for charities that support current and former members of the three intelligence agencies: the Secret Intelligence Service (more commonly known as MI6), the Security Service (MI5) and the Government Communications Headquarters (or GCHQ).
Prince George is going to be upset about his parents’ latest trip. Look, the fear of missing out (or FOMO, as it’s known) can hit us all, and not even members of the royal family are immune. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a whistle-stop visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday, where William revealed one event in particular would make his elder son jealous. While visiting Ulster University’s Magee Campus, the pair got hands-on with some creepy creatures at the campus’ petting zoo. There we learned 8-year-old George is “obsessed” with snakes, according to his dad, who confidently held one of the reptiles. “George is going to be so upset,” he mused, before adding “the children are not going to believe I did this.” For her part, Kate gleefully asked to hold a tarantula, who, it turned out, shares a name with her daughter, Charlotte.
For their first time visiting the Londonderry, also known as Derry, area, the couple spent the day meeting young people and learning how local groups are promoting inclusivity across communities. Their itinerary also saw them meet nursing students and view a specially designed simulated ambulance that helps train student paramedics. Later, they went to the City of Derry Rugby Club to find out about the “Sport Uniting Communities” project, which helps “promote meaningful, purposeful and sustained contact between individuals from different backgrounds -- particularly across the religious divide -- resulting in a change in perception and relationships,” Kensington Palace said.
The Queen, Charles and Camilla to meet pandemic heroes. The Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla will meet community heroes from across Scotland on Saturday. The reception, for people who are being celebrated for their contributions during the pandemic, will be held after the royals attend the opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The Queen, who has been enjoying her annual summer stay at her Balmoral estate for the past few weeks, is set to give an address as the sixth session of the parliament gets underway. Before the ceremony, the royals will meet with party and parliamentary leaders, according to Buckingham Palace. As part of the ceremony, the mace and Crown of Scotland will be carried into the Debating Chamber in procession, to a fanfare by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the palace added. The Queen attended the last Scottish Parliament opening ceremony in 2016. William visits homelessness charity he first visited with his mom. Each royal has particular charities that are especially meaningful to them. For the Duke of Cambridge, one of those is the London organization The Passage, which supports people living on the street. William has long-standing ties to the charity, becoming royal patron in 2019 and first visiting with his mother, Diana, when he was still a young boy. This week, The Passage celebrated its 40th anniversary and William made sure to mark the moment, attending a special award ceremony honoring volunteers and frontline staff while paying tribute to donors and supporters. After the visit, he posted a series of photos on Instagram, including a black and white shot of his mother at the charity, while explaining his “great affection” for the organization. The Queen needs a new chef. Looking for a new gig post-pandemic? There’s an opening in the royal household for an “ambitious” demi chef de partie in the pastry kitchen. According to the job ad on the royal website, the successful applicant will be expected to “deliver food to the highest standards” and “prepare diverse menus for a wide range of events.” The position is based at Buckingham Palace -- with perks including 33 days of vacation and the option to live on site -- but will involve traveling to other royal residences. While no salary is mentioned in the job listing, it does say payment will be “competitive.” Don’t you wish you’d paid more attention in cooking class 🤦 ? Harry and Meghan win over crowds in NYC. All eyes were on the Sussexes as they descended upon the Big Apple last weekend. They may not be working royals anymore, but they still command an impressive reaction from VIPs and fans. We told you last week that the couple were in town for Saturday’s Global Citizen Live concert in Central Park. But they also made time to meet with leaders, public health officials and others as they continue their mission to fight for vaccine equity. The crowd roared as the pair took to the stage on Saturday to reveal what experts had been telling them. Here’s an excerpt of their speech:
Princess Diana's former London apartment is now an official tourist site. The London apartment where Diana Spencer lived before she became the Princess of Wales has been awarded an official blue plaque. The plaque was posted on the Coleherne Court building on Old Brompton Street in Kensington on Wednesday. “Diana had, and still has, a very special place in the hearts of Londoners and we are thrilled to see her blue plaque formally placed as a monument to her work for others,” said Andrew Boff, chair of the London Assembly, during the unveiling ceremony. Read the full story here.
"I join with all Canadians on this first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to reflect on the painful history that Indigenous peoples endured in residential schools in Canada, and on the work that remains to heal and to continue to build an inclusive society."
– Queen Elizabeth sent a message to Canada’s governor general as the country observed its newest federal holiday. Canada has been facing a national reckoning over the treatment of its indigenous community after the grim discoveries of hundreds of graves at its former residential school locations. Acknowledging a tragic chapter in Canadian history, the new holiday, on September 30, honors victims and survivors of the government’s attempt at cultural assimilation.
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