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First Official Joint Portrait of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

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A new portrait of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, painted by award-winning British portrait artist Jamie Coreth, has been released today. © Jamie Coreth/Fine Art Commissions
A new portrait of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, painted by award-winning British portrait artist Jamie Coreth, has been released today. © Jamie Coreth/Fine Art Commissions

First Official Joint Portrait of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

23rd June, 2022

A new portrait of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, painted by award-winning British portrait artist Jamie Coreth, has been released today.

The Artwork, which is the first official joint portrait of The Duke and Duchess, was commissioned in 2021 by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, held by the Cambridge Community Foundation, as a gift to Cambridgeshire.

With this brief in mind, the artist worked to incorporate the City of Cambridge into the portrait by painting the background with the tones and colours of many of the historical stone buildings that are synonymous with the city. The portrait also includes the use of the hexagonal architectural motif which can be seen on buildings across Cambridge.

Members of the public will be able to view the portrait at the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum for an initial period of three years, after which the artwork will be exhibited in other community spaces and galleries around Cambridgeshire. The painting will also be loaned to the National Portrait Gallery for a short time in 2023 to mark the Gallery’s reopening.

Whilst on display at the Fitzwilliam, the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund will continue to work with the museum to ensure the portrait is used as a means of encouraging children and young people of all backgrounds from across the country to take an interest in art in all its forms. The Fitzwilliam Museum has an international reputation for the quality of its learning and inclusion programmes, working with Early Years providers, local schools and community outreach programmes to maximise impact and enrich the lives of young people and their families.

Jamie Coreth, artist, said:

“It has been the most extraordinary privilege of my life to be chosen to paint this picture. I wanted to show Their Royal Highnesses in a manner where they appeared both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified. As it is the first portrait to depict them together, and specifically during their time as The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, I wanted the image to evoke a feeling of balance between their public and private lives. The piece was commissioned as a gift for the people of Cambridgeshire, and I hope they will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.”

The Duke and Duchess had the opportunity to view the painting as it went on public display today at the Fitzwilliam Museum. During their visit, Their Royal Highnesses met with Jamie Coreth, supporters of the project, and Lady Sibyl Marshall – the wife of the late Sir Michael Marshall, who originally proposed the idea to create the portrait.

The Duke of Cambridge Celebrates 40th Birthday

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To mark Fathers Day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared a photograph of Prince William with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Jordan last autumn. © Kensington Palace
To mark Fathers Day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared a photograph of Prince William with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Jordan last autumn. © Kensington Palace

The Duke of Cambridge Celebrates 40th Birthday

  1. Prince William’s full name is William Arthur Philip Louis.
  2. When Prince William was born on June 21, 1982 at St Mary’s, London he made history as the first direct heir to the British throne to be born in a hospital. He arrived at 9.03pm, weighing 7lb 1.5oz.
  3. His parents are Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
  4. On 4 August 1982, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie, in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace.
  5. Prince William was born as 2nd in the line of succession to the throne of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms.
  6. His title at birth was His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales.
  7. At nine months old, Prince William joined his parents on their official visit to Australia and New Zealand.
  8. Prince William began his education at Mrs Mynors Nursery School in west London before becoming a pupil at the pre-prep Wetherby School in 1987.
  9. From 1990, the young Prince attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire for five years until he started at Eton College in 1995 where he took his GCSEs and A-Levels.
  10. During his time at Eton, Prince William was made a House Captain of Games, House Captain and Prefect.
  11. After completing his education at Eton College, Prince William took a gap year between 2000 and 2001. He travelled around Africa, South America and the Caribbean.
  12. In September 2001 The Duke of Cambridge began a four-year Master of Arts degree course in History of Art at St. Andrews University in Scotland.
  13. After two years, The Duke decided to major in Geography rather than History of Art.
  14. Prince William graduated in June 2005 with a 2:1 Master of Arts (Honours) in Geography after four years of study.
  15. In 2001, Prince William met Miss Catherine Middleton, a fellow University of St Andrews student.
  16. Following university, Prince William joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet.
  17. The Prince was commissioned as an Army Officer in 2006, joining the Household Cavalry with the rank of a Second Lieutenant.
  18. Prince William decided to pursue a flying career in the military and began training as a Search and Rescue pilot in early 2009.
  19. Flight Lieutenant Wales, as he was known in the RAF, joined C Flight, 22 Squadron at RAF Valley in Anglesey in September 2010, following various skill-based training exercises and exams.
  20. After leaving the Armed Forces, Prince William retrained to become an Air Ambulance Pilot and worked for East Anglian Air Ambulance from March 2015 until July 2017.
  21. On 29 April 2011, Prince William married Miss Catherine Middleton.
  22. On the occasion of his marriage, The Queen conferred a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales. He received the titles Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.
  23. On St. George’s Day 2008 The Queen appointed Prince William to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
  24. In her Diamond Jubilee year, 2012, The Queen appointed His Royal Highness to the Order of the Thistle.
  25. The Duke and Duchess’ first child, Prince George, was born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London, at 16:24 BST on 22 July 2013.
  26. Princess Charlotte, the second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was born at 08:34 BST on 2 May 2015 in Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London.
  27. Prince Louis, the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was born at 11:01 BST on 23 April 2018.
  28. The Duke undertakes a number of Royal duties in support of, and at times on behalf of, The Queen.
  29. Together with The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal, The Duke hosts Investitures at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle throughout the year.
  30. The Duke is currently president or Royal Patron of nearly 30 organisations and institutions, which reflect his interest in their work, their importance to the nation, and issues he wishes to support.
  31. In 2016, Her Majesty stepped down as Patron from a number of national organisations – the Royal African Society, Welsh Rugby Union and Amateur Swimming Association (now Swim England), these patronages were passed on to The Duke.
  32. His Royal Highness carried out his first solo engagements representing The Queen in July 2005, as part of a private tour of New Zealand, where he attended ceremonies to mark the 60th anniversary of the Second World War in New Zealand and met veterans in Wellington and Auckland.
  33. Protecting the natural environment for future generations is one of Prince William’s key priorities.
  34. In October 2020, His Royal Highness launched The Earthshot Prize – a new global prize for the environment – the most ambitious and prestigious of its kind – designed to incentivise change and help to repair our planet over the next 10 years.
  35. The Duke of Cambridge is committed to helping children and young people to build their skills, confidence and aspirations.
  36. Having completed seven-and-a-half years of full-time military service, promoting the important role and the welfare of those who are serving or who have served their country in the Armed Forces is a key focus for The Duke’s charitable activities.
  37. In 2017 The Duke spearheaded the Heads Together mental health campaign with The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, leading a coalition of eight mental health charity partners to change the national conversation on mental health.
  38. Prince William’s face will appear on a special £5 coin to celebrate his 40th Birthday. The Queen’s face will also appear on the back of the coin.
  39. Ahead of his birthday, Prince William went out on the streets of London to sell The Big Issue, to raise the issue of homelessness, with vendor Dave Martin, the news quickly went viral.
  40. Prince William is likely to mark his milestone birthday privately with his wife and their three children.

The Duchess of Cornwall to Attend The Rifles Sounding Retreat

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The Duchess of Cornwall speaking with Riflemen, who are currently undertaking further training, at Beachley Barracks, Chepstow, during her first visit to the 1st Battalion, The Rifles, since becoming their Colonel-in-Chief in July, 2020

HRH THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WILL ATTEND THE RIFLES SOUNDING RETREAT 

Thursday 9th June 2022

The Duchess of Cornwall, Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Colonels-in-Chief of 6th and 7th Battalions The Rifles respectively, will attend The Rifles Sounding Retreat, a spectacular evening of unique military music and pageantry.

To Bugle Fanfare, Her Royal Highness will be received by General Sir Patrick Sanders, Colonel Commandant. 

Moving to the Major General’s office, The Duchess of Cornwall will join a private reception with RIFLES Generals and Commanding Officers, along with members of the Rifles and their families. Moving outside, Her Royal Highness will meet with bereaved families of Riflemen who lost their lives in Iraq (Op TELIC) and Afghanistan (Op HERRICK). 

Her Royal Highness will then proceed to the Royal Marquee with The Duke and The Duchess of Gloucester. Approaching The Duchess of Cornwall, the Rifleman’s Adjutant will seek permission from Her Royal Highness for the Sounding Retreat to start. 

Once permission has been granted, the Sounding Retreat will commence, featuring military music and pageantry that will include the English National Opera and Napoleonic re-enactors, the 95th RIFLES. 

This sunset parade will take place in front St James’s Park, concluding with a firework display. 

In July 2020, The Duchess of Cornwall took over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles from her father-in-law, The Duke of Edinburgh during two ceremonies at Highgrove and Windsor Castle. To mark this, a new official portrait of Her Royal Highness was released. The Duchess could be seen wearing a brooch commissioned by The Rifles in the portrait. Her Royal Highness was presented with the brooch by General Sir Patrick Sanders, Colonel Commandant of The Rifles during an audience hosted by The Duchess on 12th October 2020. 

The Rifles formed in 2007 when four of the most famous Infantry Regiments in the British Army merged into a modern and exciting large regiment optimised for 21st Century warfare. Formed in the crucible of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, The Rifles holds an incredible 913 battle honours, world record 117 Victoria Crosses (VC) and has a living history that is second to none. 

The Rifles are the British Army’s largest infantry regiment. Rifle Regiments were first created from the red coated Line Regiments that used the drum to communicate orders over short distances. The concept of the Rifleman, dressed in green uniform, armed with rifles rather than muskets, fighting on the battlefield on their own initiative, emerged from the forests of North America and Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s. A drummer was unable to communicate instructions across the wider distances and noise of battle. Instead, the bugle, with its clarion call, was selected for use by Riflemen. For that reason, The Rifles uniquely Sound Retreat, to its sentries as day moves to dusk, rather than Beat Retreat like the rest of the British Army. 

The Duchess of Cornwall to Open Chalke Valley History Festival

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The Duchess of Cornwall Releases Summer Reading List
The Duchess of Cornwall Releases Summer Reading List Credit: Clarence House 2020

THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WILL OPEN THE DAILY MAIL CHALKE VALLEY HISTORY FESTIVAL 

Monday 20th June 2022

The Duchess of Cornwall will introduce the first event of The Daily Mail Chalke Valley History Festival, ‘Rediscovering Women in History’, a discussion between authors Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir.

On arrival, The Duchess will be received by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton and welcomed to the Festival by Cllr Tom Hitchings, Chairman of Broad Chalke Parish Council, Mr and Mrs Richard Jowett, landowners of the site and Jane Pleydell-Bouverie, Chalke Valley History Festival Director. The Duchess will then be introduced to the Festival’s Board of Directors, including Festival Chair, James Holland, and Education & Operations Director, Rachel Holland. 

The Duchess will proceed to the Green Room where Her Royal Highness will meet Festival staff and trustees before moving to the Hiscox Tent. 

The Duchess will be greeted at the tent by Philippa Gregory, Historical novelist and Alison Weir, Historian and author. 

Her Royal Highness will then be invited onto the stage by Mr Peter Bell, Chair of Trustees, where she will say a few words to open the Festival and introduce the discussion between Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir. 

Following a brief question-and-answer session with the authors, Her Royal Highness will tour the festival site, viewing traditional rural crafts on display, archery, and colourful costumes. 

The Duchess of Cornwall and Literacy 

The Duchess is recognised as an important campaigner for literacy in the UK and internationally. As a grandmother, Her Royal Highness understands the joy of reading, but also the importance of literacy in creating life opportunities. 

Her Royal Highness has visited schools and libraries, as well as workplace reading schemes and prisons to see the work of adult literacy schemes. The Duchess has numerous Patronages in the UK including the National Literacy Trust, First Story, Coram Beanstalk and Booktrust. 

Last month, during the Royal Tour of Canada, Her Royal Highness visited Assumption School where The Duchess met Mr. Brian Warren, Founder and Executive Director of Start2Finish and showed her support for their Vending Machine project – which provides a new book monthly for each student in the school, for a period of three years. 

During Lockdown in 2020, Her Royal Highness published a list of her 9 favourite book recommendations over the Easter weekend, and shared 5 more in August. The hugely positive response to these lists prompted The Duchess to create an online space to continue this conversation, and in January 2021 The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room Instagram account was launched – a community space for book lovers to visit, and to see videos, photographs and commentary from some of Her Royal Highness’s recommended authors. The Reading Room has gone on to attract over 137,000 followers. 

In March 2022, The Duchess of Cornwall launched a website for The Reading Room. 

Reading Room | The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room (royalreadingroom.uk) 

@duchessofcornwallsreadingroom 

The conversation between Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir at The Chalke Valley History Festival will be filmed, for release during Season 7 of The Reading Room later in the summer. 

Chalke Valley History Festival 

The Chalke Valley History Festival began in 2011. With almost 45,000 tickets sold in 2019 (pre-Covid), it is the largest festival in the world devoted entirely to history and the only festival to combine living history entertainment with literary talks and panels. This year’s series of events will take place from 20-26 June. 

Speakers have ranged from top academics such as Niall Ferguson and Ian Kershaw to best-selling historians Antony Beevor, Bettany Hughes and Andrew Marr. From stellar authors Michael Morpurgo and Jung Chang to television stars such as Monty Don, Dan Snow, and even Mark Knopfler. Most touching are the WW2 fighter pilots and D-Day veterans sharing their memories. 

All proceeds go to the Chalke Valley History Trust, a charity which promotes the understanding and enjoyment of history to the widest possible audience of all ages, but especially children. A key part is the two-day History Festival for Schools, which takes place during the festival week and offers pupils an incredible opportunity to hear a wide range of talks by leading historians. Pupils also have the opportunity to take part in hands-on living history. In 2019 a record 2,500 pupils attended, of which over half were from state schools and we are now developing an online programme for schools that are unable to attend the live festival. 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Celebrate Commonwealth Diaspora

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Prince of Wales to Visit Malta
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrive at the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Malta 2015.

 THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WILL HOST A RECEPTION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO CELEBRATE THE COMMONWEALTH DIASPORA 

Thursday 9th June 2022 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will host a Reception to celebrate the Commonwealth Diaspora of the United Kingdom ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda.

On arrival at Buckingham Palace, Their Royal Highnesses will meet celebrities, and well-known members of the diaspora community including, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the cast of “Small Island” (which played at the National Theatre. The Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of the National Theatre) and Eric Murangwa Eugene MBE, (Rwandan Genocide Survivor.) Their Royal Highnesses will also meet High Commissioners and representatives from various organisations associated with the Commonwealth. Members of Prince’s Trust International and The British Asian Trust, which was founded by His Royal Highness, will also be present. 

The Chineke Orchestra String Quartet will play during the reception. The Quartet is made up of black and ethnically diverse classical musicians from the UK and Europe. 

The reception celebrates and recognises the important contribution the Commonwealth diaspora provides within the United Kingdom. 

There will be around 400-500 guests which will include High Commissioners, celebrities, members of society including those representing business, the arts, education, the N.H.S. and the charity sector and will include a number of organisations that Their Royal Highnesses are associated with. 

Commonwealth 

The Commonwealth is a vast community which embraces diversity among its 54 countries and over 2.5 billion people, of which 60 per cent are under 30 years old. 

The Prince of Wales has been an active supporter of the Commonwealth for over fifty years. Together with The Duchess of Cornwall, His Royal Highness shows his support through official visits, military links, charitable activities and other special events such as the opening of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in New Delhi, India; in 2014 Glasgow, Scotland and in 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda during the week of 20th June. Their Royal Highnesses have just undertaken a tour of Canada from 17th – 19th May 2022. 

The Prince has attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on five previous occasions – Edinburgh in 1997, Uganda in 2007, Sri Lanka in 2013 (where The Prince represented Her Majesty The Queen), Malta in 2015 and in the U.K in 2018. During the 2018 CHOGM in the UK, Commonwealth leaders formally announced that The Prince of Wales would succeed The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. 

CHOGM was due to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since 1969, The Prince has visited forty-six Commonwealth countries, many of them on several occasions. The Duchess of Cornwall has accompanied The Prince on many of his visits to Commonwealth countries and Her Royal Highness has visited twenty-four Commonwealth countries. 

The Prince of Wales recorded a message to mark Commonwealth Day in 2021 on 8th March 2021, during the COVID Pandemic, during which he spoke of the importance of the Commonwealth. 

For more information about The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visit: www.princeofwales.gov.uk 

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Portrait Released

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To mark the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration Weekend, a new portrait of The Queen has been released. The photograph was taken by Ranald Mackechnie at Windsor Castle on 25 May. Captured in the background are the Castle’s Round Tower, and the statue of King Charles II which stands in the Quadrangle of the Castle.
To mark the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration Weekend, a new portrait of The Queen has been released. The photograph was taken by Ranald Mackechnie at Windsor Castle on 25 May. Captured in the background are the Castle’s Round Tower, and the statue of King Charles II which stands in the Quadrangle of the Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Portrait Released

“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.

“I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions. I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.”

𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐑

To mark the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration Weekend, a new portrait of The Queen has been released.

The photograph was taken by Ranald Mackechnie at Windsor Castle on 25 May. Captured in the background are the Castle’s Round Tower, and the statue of King Charles II which stands in the Quadrangle of the Castle.

THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY PARADE (TROOPING THE COLOUR)

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British Royal family on the balcony during celebration of the Trooping the Colour in London, UK, on June 08, 2019.

THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY PARADE (TROOPING THE COLOUR)

Thursday 2nd June 2022

Members of the Royal Family will be present at The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade, at which the colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards will be trooped.

On Horse Guards Parade, the Prince of Wales will take the salute and inspect the troops of the Household Division on Her Majesty’s behalf, joined by the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal.

The Duchess of Cornwall, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence are expected to travel to Horse Guards Parade in carriages, where they will join other members of the Royal Family to watch the parade from the Major General’s office.

Upon the return of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Guards, the Queen will take the salute from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, accompanied by the Duke of Kent, Colonel, Scots Guards.

The Queen, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, will return to the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force.

The Queen Will Lead the Lighting of the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon

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The Queen and Duke Of Edinburgh watch Fireworks burst over Buckingham Palace in London, after Britain's Queen Elizabeth II lit a beacon to commemorate her Golden Jubilee.

THE QUEEN WILL LEAD THE LIGHTING OF THE PRINCIPAL PLATINUM JUBILEE BEACON

Thursday, 2nd June 2022

Her Majesty The Queen will lead the lighting of the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon on Thursday evening from Windsor Castle. The Queen will take part in the special dual ceremony with the Duke of Cambridge, who will represent Her Majesty at the Principal Beacon in central London.

The Principal Beacon for the Platinum Jubilee takes the form of a lighting installation involving The Queen’s Green Canopy ‘Tree of Trees’ sculpture, and will be accompanied by projections of archive photographs onto the front of Buckingham Palace. Placing the ‘Tree of Trees’ at the heart of the beacon lighting reflects the Royal Family’s long history of championing environmental causes and will pay a fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s 70 years of service to the nation.

At Windsor Castle, the Queen will arrive in the Quadrangle for the lighting ceremony from the Sovereign’s Entrance. Her Majesty’s arrival will be signalled by a trumpet fanfare, before the Queen is received by Bruno Peek LVO OBE, who has overseen the Platinum Jubilee Beacons Project.

Simultaneously, outside Buckingham Palace, the Duke of Cambridge will meet the Chair of The Queen’s Green Canopy, Sir Nicholas Bacon, and the designer of the ‘Tree of Trees’, Thomas Heatherwick, to hear about how the sculpture was created.

Schoolchildren who have taken part in The Queen’s Green Canopy Junior Forester Award will also be present, as well as young leaders from Scouts, Girlguiding and the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, who have all been involved with the Platinum Jubilee Beacons Project.

At Windsor, watched by Her Majesty, the Commonwealth Globe of Nations – specially created for the Beacons Project and displayed publicly at the Tower of London since April – will then be placed on a podium by representatives of the Yeoman Warders. Her Majesty will then proceed to the podium, and with a symbolic touch on the globe, the Queen will trigger the beginning of the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside Buckingham Palace.

Prompted by Her Majesty’s touch on the globe, the lighting sequence will travel from Windsor to London, beginning with lights chasing along the Quadrangle towards Windsor Castle’s Round Tower, before travelling up the ‘Tree of Trees’ in London.

Once the beacon is lit, the Duke of Cambridge will watch as the London Community Gospel Choir and singer Gregory Porter sing the official Beacons song, A Life Lived with Grace, in honour of Her Majesty The Queen.

Platinum Jubilee Beacons

On the evening of Thursday 2nd June 2022, more than three thousand beacons will be lit by charities, community and faith groups throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Overseas Territories. Beacons will be lit by groups and young leaders throughout all 54 Commonwealth countries including cities, capitals, across five continents, to celebrate the Queen’s service to the people of the Commonwealth. Starting with Tonga and Samoa, beacons will be lit in Australasia and the Pacific region before moving through Asia and onto the 19 African Commonwealth member states to continue in Europe, and finish in the Caribbean and Americas.

The Commonwealth of Nations Globe

The Commonwealth of Nations Globe has been created as a symbol representing the Queen’s previous Jubilees. It is made from silver, gold, diamonds and platinum. The Globe itself is mounted on a cushion and surrounded by a Crown. The stones in the Crown signify the coming together of the four nations of the United Kingdom in celebration of the jubilee and were collected from the top of the four highest peaks – Mount Snowdon, Wales; Ben Nevis, Scotland; Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland, and Scafell Pike, England. Since mid-April, the globe has been displayed in the White Tower at the Tower of London for members of the public to view.

The Queen’s Green Canopy Tree of Trees

The living sculpture seeks to put the importance of trees and nature at the heart of this historic milestone to celebrate Her Majesty, who has planted over 1,500 trees throughout the world during the course of her 70-year reign. Made up of 350 trees, the sculpture is symbolic of over a million trees already planted as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy during the first planting season.

After the jubilee weekend, the 350 trees in their special pots will be gifted to selected community groups and individuals to celebrate their work and inspire the next generation of tree planters across the nation. The trees will be distributed evenly across the UK in proportion to the population. The QGC is working closely with Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants in each county on the selection process, with priority given to those seeking to create a cleaner, greener environment which will work towards a living legacy for the Platinum Jubilee.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall to Attend Royal Cornwall Show

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The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall sign a young boy's plaster cast during their visit to Lincoln Farmers Market in Christchurch, on the seventh day of the royal visit to New Zealand, 2020

THE DUKE OF CORNWALL AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WILL ATTEND THE ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW, WADEBRIDGE, CORNWALL

Friday 10th June 2022

As The Prince of Wales celebrates 70 years as Duke of Cornwall, His Royal Highness Patron, the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, will attend the Royal Cornwall show accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall who is Vice President of the show. Their Royal Highnesses will meet staff, stewards and exhibitors, and undertake a tour of the stands and the showground. 

On arrival at the showground, The Lord-Lieutenant Colonel Edward Bolitho, will introduce Their Royal Highnesses to Sir Ferrers Vyvyan, Chairman RCCA, and Mr Christopher Riddle Secretary RCAA both of whom will escort Their Royal Highnesses around the showground.

Mr John Willis will make a presentation of a gift to His Royal Highness to mark the 70th anniversary of His Royal Highness becoming Duke of Cornwall.

Their Royal Highnesses will start their tour of the show by visiting organisations that support the rural community including the Addington Fund, The Farming Community Network and Forage Aid area.

Their Royal Highness will then visit the President’s Suite where they will sign the visitors’ book before continuing separate tours.

His Royal Highness will visit the Duchy of Cornwall exhibition which depicts aspects of work undertaken on The Duke of Cornwall’s estate. This years’ display provides an introduction to some of the exciting projects underway across the Duchy of Cornwall and information about their vision of ‘Sustainable Stewardship.

The Duchy will be highlighting some of the important initiatives that they are involved in; how they are building communities, fostering the spirit of enterprise and sharing their journey towards Net Zero whilst enhancing the natural environment.

Her Royal Highness will visit the Dog Show and the Flower Show before, as Patron of the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust she visits their stand, while His Royal Highness will visit the Countryside Arena before taking a seat at the Main Ring to watch the parade of Cattle, Sheep and Goats and presenting the Livestock Inter-Breed Championship Trophies.

Their Royal Highnesses will visit the Food and Farming Pavilion before departing.

The Royal Cornwall Show  

The Royal Cornwall Show is an annual celebration of the very best in Cornish agriculture, food and heritage, and has been running since 1793. The three-day show, this year taking place from 9th – 11th June, is expected to attract around 120,000 visitors, after what would have been 3 years away due to the pandemic.  

The Prince of Wales has been Patron of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association (RCAA – the organiser of the event) since 2002, and Her Royal Highness has been Vice President since 2011.  

His Royal Highness made his first visit to the Show in 1970 and has made regular visits over the past 50 years, the last being in 2018, when he was accompanied by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. 

The Royal Cornwall Show this year takes place the week after the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and also marks 70 years since His Royal Highness became The Duke of Cornwall. To celebrate this, many of the Show Sections are putting on special competitions in relation to this.  

The RCAA have commissioned a local potter to create a special pitcher to commemorate His Royal Highnesses’ time as the Duke of Cornwall. Local materials have been used to create the piece and it will depict Cornish animals and agriculture

Floristry students from nearby Duchy College have created a special bouquet, made from local flowers, to present to Her Royal Highness.  

Slide into the Tower of London’s ‘Superbloom’ this Summer

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Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 © Historic Royal Palaces
Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 © Historic Royal Palaces

Slide into the Tower of London’s ‘Superbloom’ this Summer

Superbloom opens to the public on 1 June 2022

Lead sponsor Burberry

The Tower of London is set to be encircled by a thriving new natural landscape this Summer, and from 1 June, visitors will be able to walk through it for the first time.  In celebration of HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, 20 million seeds have been sown in the Tower’s moat, to create ‘Superbloom’ – a floral display and haven for wildlife, surrounding the famous fortress.  The display marks the beginning of a long-term transformation of the moat by the charity that runs the Tower, Historic Royal Palaces.  In a Tower first, a unique entrance has been installed to mark the occasion: a four-lane slide, to deliver visitors into the moat in style! 

Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 Historic Royal Palaces
Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 © Historic Royal Palaces

Upon arrival in the moat – either by slide or on foot – visitors will discover a transformed landscape.  Paths, walkways and viewing points have been installed throughout, offering a new perspective on the Tower’s ancient walls.  A score by Scottish composer Erland Cooper, ‘Music for Growing Flowers’ provides the perfect backdrop to watch the blooms as they begin to flourish.  A willow sculpture, by artist Spencer Jenkins, offers a beautiful vantage point to enjoy views of the display and Tower Bridge, and a swarm of intricate copper insects by sculptor Mehrdad Tafreshi, flies above the East moat.  Meanwhile, the Tower Wharf, with views over the Thames, has been transformed into a vibrant food and drinks venue, with street food and bars from KERB and fine dining available riverside in ‘The Glass Rooms’.

Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 Historic Royal Palaces
Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 © Historic Royal Palaces

Throughout June, flowers will gradually begin to flourish throughout the display, which will change colours and patterns until September.  Selected by Sheffield University Planting Professor Nigel Dunnett, the flowers will provide a rich source of food and nectar for pollinators, bringing more biodiversity to the Tower’s urban surroundings.  Familiar wildflowers will appear in the moat throughout the Summer, from red Poppies, to yellow Corn Marigolds and blue Cornflowers.  In addition to the wildflowers, a range of garden plants will heighten the colour effects and extend the season of flowering.  Sunflowers, Cosmos and Rudbeckias will flower into early autumn, and the snapdragon-like Fairy Toadflax, and Baby’s Breath will bloom at the very beginning of the summer. 

The crowning glory of the display is the ‘Queen’s Garden’, installed in the Tower’s historic Bowling Green.  Inspired by HM The Queen’s Coronation gown by Norman Hartnell, this elegant garden features a combination of meadow flowers, topiary and summer-flowering perennials, bulbs and ornamental grasses.   Developed by Grant Associates, the lead designers for the Superbloom project, the garden draws on the colours, shapes and motifs deployed by Hartnell in the 1953 gown.  Rising above it are 12 cast glass forms by glass artist Max Jacquard, representing the national emblems featured in Hartnell’s design. In the centre of these motifs sits a glass crown, a reminder of the Tower’s role as home of the Crown Jewels.

Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 Historic Royal Palaces
Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 © Historic Royal Palaces

The Tower’s ‘Superbloom’ is already spreading across the country.  As part of the initiative, almost 1,500 schools have been growing their own gardens, using a similar mix of seeds provided by Historic Royal Palaces, who have sent out 17,112 packets of seeds, all over the country, from the Shetlands to Guernsey.  The schools involved have created some amazing new spaces in the heart of their communities, supporting local wildlife and learning about how gardening is good for health and wellbeing along the way.  Many of the schools involved will be visiting the Tower during the Summer, to see the large scale display in bloom.

Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 Historic Royal Palaces
Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 © Historic Royal Palaces

Tom O’Leary, Public Engagement Director, Historic Royal Palaces, said:

‘The Tower’s moat was designed in the 13th century to keep people out – now we’re thrilled to be welcoming people, and nature, into this amazing new green space.  The weather might have set back our blooms, but they’re gradually beginning to appear, and the moat is beginning to buzz with wildlife.  We hope that we’ve created something joyful, celebratory and fun, with a lasting environmental legacy and we look forward to sharing it with visitors to the Tower this Summer.’

The Superbloom and its accompanying schools initiative are generously supported by Lead Sponsor Burberry, Coronation Crown Platinum Partners Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Rothschild & Co and Schroders, State Crown Platinum Partner Bloomberg and Diadem Platinum Partner Marsh; generous donors including The American Friends of Historic Royal Palaces Inc, The City of London Corporation, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust, the Hiscox Foundation and others who wish to remain anonymous; as well as a number of City of London livery companies: The Grocers’, Drapers’, Fishmongers’, Goldsmiths’, Merchant Taylors’, Clothworkers’, Wax Chandlers’, Tallow Chandlers’, Saddlers’, Airpilots’, Builders’ Merchants’, Actuaries’ and Engineers’ Companies.

Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 Historic Royal Palaces
Superbloom at Tower of London May 22 © Historic Royal Palaces
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