The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to Officially Open the Global Academy in Support of Heads Together

Hayes, London

Thursday 20th April, 2017

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will officially open The Global Academy in support of Heads Together on Thursday 20th April. They will meet students training to be the next generation of production staff, as flagship Global stations LBC, Heart and Capital broadcast shows from the new Academy in Hayes, London. The shows will each focus on the mental health of young people, helping to generate conversations with the Heads Together campaign in honour of the visit.

The Global Academy is a state school founded and operated by Global, The Media & Entertainment Group, designed to prepare students for careers in the broadcast and digital media industry, offering academic and vocational training. Ashley Tabor, Global’s Founder & Executive President, came up with the idea of the Global Academy to tackle the skills shortage and lack of diversity across the industry.

As well as giving young people a route into the media industry, the Global Academy gives students the practical and technical skills they need to succeed in the real world. This includes encouraging young people to talk about any mental wellbeing issues they may be facing, with an hour of mental wellbeing on the curriculum every week, recognising the issue and removing the stigma sometimes associated with it.

The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry will visit the Heart Breakfast Show and LBC’s Nick Ferrari Show – to see the programme in action and meet students helping to produce the material. They will each visit a classroom, where pupils are learning about the science of sound, the student radio station where pupils are working on a mental wellbeing project, and an audio project listening to EMI’s vinyl recording of early speeches of the Royal Family. They will also join a roundtable discussion with Global presenters, LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Heart’s Jamie Theakston & Emma Bunton and Capital’s Roman Kemp, as well as students and people who have taken part in the morning radio shows, talking about the importance of having a conversation about mental health. The visit will end with an assembly featuring work of students focusing on talking about mental wellbeing, where Their Royal Highnesses will officially open the Global Academy.

About Global Academy:
The state school is a university technical college for 14-19-year-old students. By 2020 the Global Academy will reach its full capacity of 800 students. Students at the Global Academy work towards GCSE and A Level qualifications and learn the hands on skills to apply for jobs in the media industry, working towards Ofqual-approved diplomas in broadcast and digital media from the Global Academy’s university sponsor, University of the Arts London, and other awarding bodies.

The newly built school is on the site of the Old Vinyl Factory in Hayes in West London which was once the EMI Music headquarters and now houses a rich archive of vinyl and broadcasting equipment. The new four-storey purpose built school building has state-of-the-art TV and radio studios, flexible teaching spaces, informal learning zones, a dining area, a sports hall and a theatre.

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The Duchess of Cambridge will host Team Heads Together runners

Kensington Palace

Wednesday 19th April, 2017

The Duchess of Cambridge will host runners from Team Heads Together at Kensington Palace as they get ready for the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon. Her Royal Highness will talk to the runners about their reasons for taking part in the marathon and wish them luck with their final preparations. The runners will then take part in a training session with coach Nick Anderson.

Heads Together is spearheaded by The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry, in partnership with eight leading mental health charities that are tackling stigma, raising awareness, and providing vital help for people with mental health problems. They are highlighting the power of conversations, how being able to talk openly about mental health challenges, can be life-changing.

Through this campaign, Their Royal Highnesses are keen to build on the great work that is already taking place across the country, to ensure that people feel comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing, feel able to support their friends and families through difficult times, and that stigma no longer prevents people getting the help they need. Please visit www.headstogther.org.uk for further information.

Heads Together want to make this year’s London Marathon the first ever ‘mental health marathon’ and get the country talking about mental health. Whatever cause they are supporting, all the marathon runners will be able to take part in the ‘mental health marathon’ by wearing the Heads Together headband that will be given to them when they collect their race number.

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The Duke of Cambridge to attend screening of BBC’s ‘Mind Over Marathon’ documentary and launch of BBC Mental Health Season

London

Tuesday 18th April, 2017

The Duke of Cambridge will attend the screening of the BBC’s documentary ‘Mind over Marathon’ at the BBC Radio Theatre on Tuesday, 18th April.

‘Mind over Marathon’ is a two-part programme on BBC One which follows a group of 10 runners affected by mental health issues as they prepare to run the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon. The runners are taking part in the London Marathon with Heads Together, the campaign led by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, which is the official Charity of the Year for this year’s event. Presented by Nick Knowles, the documentary follows the group of runners being put through their paces at regular boot camps with targeted physical and mental support. Their Royal Highnesses joined the runners at one of their training sessions to talk to each of them about the mental health challenges they have faced and their preparation for running the marathon.

The ‘Mind over Marathon’ runners will join Heads Together in making this year’s London Marathon the ‘mental health marathon’, which aims to get the country talking about our mental wellbeing.

The first part of the documentary will be shown on Thursday 20th April at 9pm on BBC One, with the second part being broadcast on the following Thursday 27th April. The documentary marks the start of the BBC’s ‘Minds Matter’ season of films on mental health, across TV, Radio and online.

During his visit, The Duke will attend a reception where he will meet guests including some of the runners who feature in the documentary as well as the production team involved in the filming, and those involved in programmes as part of the wider BBC season on mental health. He will then watch the first screening of the documentary.

Heads Together is spearheaded by The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry, in partnership with eight leading mental health charities that are tackling stigma, raising awareness, and providing vital help for people with mental health challenges. They are highlighting the power of conversations, how being able to talk openly about mental health challenges, can be life-changing.

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The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Bedfordshire

Tuesday 11th April 2017

Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will open the new Centre for Elephant Care at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and open Priory View independent living scheme in Bedfordshire on Tuesday 11th April 2017.

Centre for Elephant Care
Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of The Zoological Society of London, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. On arrival The Queen and The Duke will be met by Sir John Beddington, President of the ZSL, and Ralph Armond, ZSL Director General. The Royal party will proceed to the Elephant Centre, meeting staff along the way.

At the Elephant Centre The Queen and The Duke will meet the Head Elephant Keeper and view the elephant team carrying out daily care tasks such as nail filing and mouth care. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will meet the Centre’s project team, including zookeepers and architects, in front of the elephant paddock before proceeding to the amphitheatre where The Queen will unveil a plaque to mark the formal opening of the Centre. The Queen and The Duke will view an elephant being fed and meet keepers and vets before departing.

Priory View in Dunstable
Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Priory View in Dunstable, an independent living scheme for older residents. On arrival The Queen and The Duke will be greeted by Julie Ogley, Director of Social Care and Housing and Clle Carole Hegley, Executive Member for Social Care, Health and Housing, before proceeding on a tour of the facilities. The Royal party will visit the hair salon, meeting clients and hairdressers at work, before moving into the restaurant where they will meet the building’s architects and designers.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will tour the spa and see residents engaged in wellbeing treatments such as massage and an aerobics class. The Queen and The Duke will then meet one of the residents and be shown their apartment. After a private lunch The Queen will unveil a plaque to mark the formal opening of Priory View before departing.

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The Duke of Edinburgh presents Ms Kylie Minogue with the
Britain-Australia Society Award for 2016

4th April 2017

The Duke of Edinburgh, as Patron of the Britain-Australia Society since 1970, this afternoon received Ms Kylie Minogue in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, to present the Britain-Australia Society Award for 2016.

The Vice President of the Britain-Australia Society, His Excellency The Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner, and the Chairman of the Britain-Australia Society, Mr Peter Benson OAM, were also present.      

Kylie Minogue OBE has been awarded the 2016 Britain-Australia Society Award for her significant contribution to the Britain-Australia relationship. At a private reception at Australia House last night Kylie was celebrated as an acclaimed singer-songwriter, actor, philanthropist and outstanding cultural ambassador for both Australia and the UK.

Kylie said:

“I am delighted to accept this award from the Britain-Australia Society. I’m a proud ‘Aussie’ but Britain has a very strong place in my heart having lived and worked here for many years. The Society does a wonderful job to promote the rich cultural ties between the two countries and I am honoured to be recognised by them in this way.”

Speaking at the reception, His Excellency the Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Vice President of the Britain-Australia Society said:

“With a career that has spanned almost three decades, Kylie is a global pop icon and one of the UK’s most loved Australians. Kylie has had phenomenal success in the UK, with five number one albums and seven UK number one singles. She has come a long way since the UK first fell in love with her on the Australian TV show Neighbours. Kylie continues to inspire people in the UK and worldwide, as an artist and philanthropist. Kylie is an outstanding recipient of the 2016 Britain-Australia Society Award and a great ambassador for Australia.”

Lord Carrington, President of the Britain-Australia Society sent the following:

“I am delighted that Kylie Minogue is the recipient of the Britain-Australia Society Award for 2016. As an Australian comfortably based in the UK, she personifies the best traits of Australians and Britons – warm, amiable, easy-going, talented and industrious – in her case to a superlative extent. This award recognises not only her extensive public profile but also her status as a cultural ambassador with a foot firmly in both countries. The relationship between Australia and Britain is demonstrably stronger and warmer for her presence.

I am sorry that I am unable to attend personally but wish all present at the reception a very pleasant evening and congratulations to Kylie on a well-deserved commendation.”

The Britain-Australia Award recognises Australian and British individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Australia-UK bilateral relationship. Past recipients include Barry Humphries AO CBE, and The Rt Hon Lord Hague PC. Established in 1971 by the Prime Ministers of Britain and Australia, the Britain-Australia Society works to advance the relationship between both countries through mutual interests in commerce, public service, education, entertainment, culture and sport.

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The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the
Royal Maundy Service at Leicester Cathedral

Thursday 13th April 2017

Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend the Royal Maundy Service at Leicester Cathedral on Thursday 13th April 2017.

The Royal party will travel by car along Humberstone Gate, High Street and Jubilee Square before being met at the Cathedral by the Dean of Leicester, the Very Revd David Monteith, and the Bishop of Leicester, the Right Revd Martyn Snow. During the service, Her Majesty will distribute ceremonial Maundy money to 91 men and 91 women from the local community of senior citizens, in recognition of the service they have given to the church and to the local community. At the end of the service an official photograph will be taken of The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and the Royal Maundy party.

Following the service, The Queen and The Duke will attend a reception and community lunch at St Martins House.

Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The Queen commemorates Maundy by offering ‘alms’ to senior citizens – retired pensioners recommended by clergy and ministers of all denominations – in recognition of service to the church and to the local community.

The Queen is presented with a nosegay at the start of the Royal Maundy Service. During the service The Queen will distribute the Maundy money to 91 men and 91 women – one for each of The Queen’s 91 years. Each recipient receives two purses, one red and one white.

This year the Red Purse contains a £5 coin, commemorating the Centenary of the House of Windsor and a 50p coin commemorating Sir Isaac Newton. Both coins have been minted in 2017. Historically, this sum of £5.50 in the Red Purse is made up of £3 for clothing, £1.50 in lieu of provisions and £1 which represents a piece of the Sovereign’s gown which, before Tudor times, used to be divided between the Recipients.

The White Purse contains uniquely minted Maundy Money. This takes the form of one, two, three and four silver penny pieces, the sum of which equals the number of years of the Monarch’s age. This year ninety-one pennies of silver coins, which are legal tender, will be distributed.

Royal Maundy is one of the most ancient ceremonies retained in the Church of England.

On duty during the service is the Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard in their full uniform. This is the oldest military body in the UK whose record dates back to 1485 and who still wear the Tudor crown ornament, which commemorates their original appointment.

More information about Royal Maundy is available at www.royal.uk/royal-maundy-service.

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Kew Palace Reopens this Spring to Reveal the Intellectual and
Leisure Pursuits of Young Princesses

Opens Saturday 1 April 2017

Explore the pastimes of King George III and Queen Charlotte’s children through intimate family objects, on display in their Thameside country retreat

Set within the iconic Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Palace will open once again this spring, alongside Queen Charlotte’s Cottage and the Royal Kitchens. Together, they allow visitors to experience the joys and sorrows of King George III and his family, told through an engaging soundscape and displays of fascinating personal artefacts. Built as a country home for a Flemish merchant in 1631, this tiny dollhouse of a palace gained its first royal occupants almost a century later with King George II, Queen Caroline and their daughters.

The display at Kew Palace in 2017 will focus on King George III’s domestic life with Queen Charlotte and their family in this quiet countryside retreat. Exhibits explore the learned pastimes of Queen Charlotte, and the education of her children. Away from the prying eyes of the public, the royal family could relax at Kew Palace, where they developed interests in art, needlework and geography.

A miniature doll’s house from c. 1780 reflects the artistic talent of George III’s daughters, the interiors of which were designed and crafted by the young princesses. Personal childhood objects reflect the humble upbringing of George III’s children, such as a tape measure marked with their heights, and a delicate lace bonnet later gifted to the children’s nurse. Three-year-old Princess Charlotte’s gloves will be on display, as well as pair once owned by the four-year-old future King William IV.

The art of letter writing is also explored at Kew Palace this year. The first letter that Queen Charlotte ever wrote in English – addressed to her children’s governess – will be on display, as well as the Queen’s citrine-embellished gold paper knife and pencil-case by Alexander James Strachan, and her tortoiseshell notebook, embellished with gold and diamonds. Princess Sophia’s silver ink stand and an intriguing riddle written by Princess Amelia will also be displayed.

The palace’s restored Royal Kitchens host live cooking demonstrations during the summer months. Left untouched since Queen Charlotte’s death at the palace in 1818, the kitchens allow visitors behind the scenes, to delve into the world of cooking for the King and his family and encounter the servants who worked for them. When they were restored in 2012, archaeologists unearthed a pair of Victorian leather boots in the kitchens, which will be showcased at the palace. They may have been deliberately hidden because of a traditional superstitious belief that this would protect the building from witches and evil influences.

New cartoons will go on display from the Baker Collection – a series of satirical prints recently acquired by Historic Royal Palaces.  These satirical cartoons will explore the popular depiction of George III as Farmer George – a nickname which was coined in 1770, with George III allegedly showing more concern for the welfare of livestock than his own subjects. These prints from the 1780s and ‘90s include ‘Farmer George and his Wife’ by British caricaturist and printmaker James Gillray, a hand-coloured etching of Queen Charlotte and her husband, who is dressed in a wide brimmed hat and rustic clothing.

The theme of political satire continues in Queen Charlotte’s cottage, a stroll away from Kew Palace. This rustic retreat was built in 1770 as a place where the royal family could enjoy picnics in a tranquil corner of Kew Gardens. Inside, the cottage’s Print Room is hung with over 150 satirical engravings, mostly after William Hogarth, the political satirist and cartoonist who inspired Gillray’s work.

To book your tickets click on the following link.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to attend Service of Hope

Westminster Abbey, London

Wednesday 5th April, 2017

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will attend a Service of Hope at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday 5th April at noon, following the Westminster terror attacks last week.

Families of those killed in the attack, together with other victims, witnesses and first responders from the police, fire, ambulance and NHS hospital services will form part of the congregation. The Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Craig Mackey will also be present.

During the service, which will be broadcast live on BBC One, The Duke will give a reading from Luke 10: 29–37, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Following the service, The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry will meet members of the congregation.

For more information, please visit http://www.westminster-abbey.org/home.

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