THE QUEEN VISITS THE QUEEN'S PLATE STAKES IN TORONTO

RECENTLY THE QUEEN SHOWED HER SOCIAL GRACES WHEN CANADIAN RACECOURSE OWNER COMMITTED AN ETIQUETTE FAUX PAS BY PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND HER. IF SHE WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE REPEATED FAUX PAS BY HER CANADIAN ADMIRERS, HER MAJESTY WAS TOO DIGNIFIED TO SHOW IT. THE QUEEN ENDURED THE SMALL SERIES OF ROYAL PROTOCOL WHILE ATTENDING A PRESTIGIOUS HORSE RACE ON HER STATE VISIT TO CANADA. THEY BEGAN WHEN DAVID WILMOT, CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP THAT OWNS THE RACECOURSE, BROUGHT HIS HAND CLOSE TO THE SMALL OF THE QUEEN'S BACK WHEN MEETING HER AHEAD OF THE QUEEN'S PLATE STAKES IN TORONTO. WHEN THE ROYAL MET DOM ROMEO, THE OWNER OF THE WINING HORSE, AFTER THE COMPETITION HE APPEARED TO PUT HIS ARM AROUND HER IN THE UNUSUAL SWELTERING HEAT. IT WAS THEN THE TURN OF THE WINNING JOCKEY TO TRY TO MAKE UP FOR HIS COLLEAGUES' GAFFES, BY EXECUTING TWO BACK-BREAKING BOWS. BRAZILIAN-BORN EURICO ROSA DA SILVA SWOOPED SO LOW IN FRONT OF THE MONARCH THAT HIS HEAD WAS LEVEL WITH HIS WAIST. WHEN THE DIMINUTIVE RIDER STEPPED FORWARD TO SHAKE THE ROYAL'S HAND, AGAIN OUT OF KEEPING WITH ETIQUETTE, HE BENT OVER AGAIN. IT IS USUALLY CONSIDERED A BREACH OF PROTOCOL TO TOUCH THE QUEEN. BUT THE AVID HORSE RACING ENTHUSIAST APPEARED UNCONCERNED. LAST YEAR AMERICAN FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA PUT HER ARM AROUND THE SOVEREIGN AND RUBBED HER SHOULDER DURING A DRINKS RECEPTION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. THE MOVE RAISED EYEBROWS, BUT THE QUEEN RECIPROCATED FOR A FEW MOMENTS. YESTERDAY WAS THE QUEEN'S FORTH VISIT TO THE QUEEN'S PLATE STAKES, WHICH IS CANADA'S OLDEST THOROUGHBRED COMPETITION. THE FIRST WAS IN 1959, ON ITS 100th ANNIVERSARY, AND SHE RETURNED IN 1973 AND 1997. THE QUEEN'S NINE-DAY TOUR OF NORTH AMERICA CULMINATES WITH A VISIT TO GROUND ZERO IN NEW YORK, WHERE THE TWIN TOWERS ONCE STOOD, AND THE QUEEN'S FIRST SPEECH BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SINCE 1957.

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE FILLED WITH ROYAL FAMILY MEMORABILIA

WITH ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY MEMORABILIA, JANET AND PHILIP WILLIAMS HAVE CREATED THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD OF THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR, TURING THEIR FOUR-BEDROOM FAMILY HOME IN WOONONA, AUSTRALIA, INTO A ROYAL MUSEUM, WHICH ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF CURIOUS VISITORS EACH YEAR. AN ABUNDANCE OF UNION JACK FLAGS FILL THE FRONT GARDEN AND ON THE PORCH, A FACSIMILE OF CHARLES AND CAMILLA CAN BE FOUND TAKING IN THE SUN, HAND IN HAND. STEP INSIDE THE QUAINT HOME AND THE UNIQUE ROYAL TOUR CONTINUES. FROM A LIFE-SIZE MODEL OF THE QUEEN, WITH A SMALL CORGI NIPPING AT HER ANKLES, TO ROOMS FULL OF COMMEMORATIVE CHINA, INCLUDING NUMEROUS PLATES, CUPS AND ASSORTED FIGURINES, AND EVEN A PAIR OF CHARLES AND DIANA SLIPPERS. IT ALL BEGAN WHEN JANET WILLIAMS, ORIGINALLY FROM GATESHEAD, MET THE QUEEN ON ROYAL VISIT IN 1952. 'MY MUM BOUGHT ME A ROYAL COMMEMORATIVE TOUR MUG', SHE RECALLS. 'THAT STARTED MY COLLECTION, AND I HAVEN'T STOPPED TO THIS DAY.' THE HOUSE CONTAIN MORE THAN 12,000 ITEMS, BOUGHT FROM MARKETS, ANTIQUE SHOPS OR EBAY, AND THEY'RE JUST THE ONES THAT JANET HAS COUNTED. SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE COUPLE HAD TO BUILD A BIGGER HOUSE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING COLLECTION. PRINCESS DIANA, JANET'S IDOL, HAS HER OWN MEMORIAL ROOM, WITH ELTON JOHN'S 'CANDLE IN THE WIND' PLAYING ON A LOOP.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II 'MAY VISIT IRELAND'

QUEEN ELIZABETH II MAY SOON RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL INVITATION TO VISIT IRELAND FOR THE FIRST TIME, ACCORDING TO RENEWED SPECULATION ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL BUT HIGHLY LONG-EXPECTED TRIP. IRISH PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE IS REPORTED TO BE HOPEFUL THE FIRST STATE VISIT WOULD TAKE PLACE DURING HER TERM IN OFFICE, WHICH ENDS NEST YEAR. IT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME A BRITISH MONARCH HAS SET FOOT IN THE IRISH REPUBLIC. A VISIT HAS BEEN MOOTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS THE ULSTER PEACE PROCESS BRINGS CLOSER TIES BETWEEN LONDON AND DUBLIN, LOWERING THE HURDLES. SUCH AN EVENT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCONCEIVABLE PRIOR TO THE IRA PLEDGING TO HAND OVER ITS VAST CATALOG OF WEAPONS; THE ORGANIZATION WHICH STANDS FOR A FREE IRELAND IS ACCUSED OF MURDERING THE QUEEN'S UNCLE, EARL MOUNTBATTEN, AND 18 BRITISH SOLDIERS IN TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS ON THE SAME DAY IN AUGUST 1979. BUCKINGHAM PALACE SAID IT 'NEVER COMMENTED ON POSSIBLE FUTURE STATE VISITS', AND A SOURCE ADDED THAT THE PALACE WAS NOT AWARE OF PLANS FOR A TRIP TO IRELAND. HOWEVER, A RECENT REPORT IN THE DAILY MAIL QUOTED AUTHOR MARY KENNY,WHO RECENTLY MET MCALEESE AT AN IRISH EMBASSY RECEPTION, SAYING: 'THEY BELIEVE PRIVATELY IT WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR. THE POLITICAL SITUATION HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED AND THE MOOD IS RIGHT.' 2011 WILL MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE VISIT BY THE QUEEN'S GRANDFATHER, KING GEORGE V, TO WHAT WAS THEN SOUTHERN IRELAND. IN DECEMBER, MCALEESE SPOKE OF HER HOPE THE QUEEN WILL FINALLY MAKE HER HISTORIC VISIT TO IRELAND NEXT YEAR, SHE SAID: 'I'D LIKE TO THINK IT COULD HAPPEN. I'VE LONG SINCE BEEN ON THE RECORD AS SAYING I THINK IT COULD BE ONE OF THE GREATEST SYMBOLS OF WHERE WE HAVE MOVED TO AS A COUNTRY IF WE HAD THAT GREAT RECONCILIATION WITH OUR NEIGHBOR'

NEW PORTRAIT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II WILL BE DONE BY UNKNOWN GRADUATE

THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT'S FIRST OFFICIAL PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN WILL BE TAKEN BY AN UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER INSTEAD OF A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL, IT HAS BEEN RECENTLY ANNOUNCED. HOLYROOD CHIEFS HAVE DECIDED TO LAUNCH A COMPETITION FOR A PHOTOGRAPHY GRADUATE TO TAKE THE PICTURE AT THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE IN EDINBURGH THIS SUMMER. ALL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTES ACROSS SCOTLAND WHICH RUN PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES HAVE BEEN INVITED TO NOMINATE TWO GRADUATES FOR THE HONOR. THE WINNER WILL BE JUDGED BY HARRY BENSON, THE WORLD RENOWNED SCOTTISH PHOTOGRAPHER, AND A MEMBER OF HOLYROOD'S ART ADVISORY GROUP. BENSON, WHO HAS PHOTOGRAPHED BARACK OBAMA, THE BEATLES AND WINSTON CHURCHILL DURING HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER, WILL ALSO MENTOR THE WINNING GRADUATE AHEAD OF AND DURING THE PHOTO SHOOT WITH THE QUEEN. 'MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THE QUEEN, BUT ONLY A SELECT FEW HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TAKE A SPECIAL PRIVATE PORTRAIT OF HER MAJESTY', HE SAID. IT WAS REVEALED LAST YEAR THAT A PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN HAD BEEN COMMISSIONED AFTER MURDO FRASER, DEPUTY SCOTTISH TORY LEADER, COMPLAINED THERE WAS NO PICTURE OF THE MONARCH IN THE PARLIAMENT. THE ABSENCE WAS BLAMED ON AN 'OVERSIGHT' BY PREVIOUS SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT CORPORATE BODIES. A PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT WAS CHOSEN INSTEAD OF A PAINTING TO KEEP DOWN THE COSTS, AND THE CHOICE OF AN UNKNOWN ARTIST WILL ALSO HELP LOWER THE PRICE TAG. THE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MAY AND WILL START WORKING WITH BENSON, WHO VOLUNTEERED HIS SERVICES FOR FREE. A DECISION HAS YET TO BE TAKEN OVER PRECISELY WHERE THE PICTURE WILL HANG, BUT IT WILL BE DISPLAYED IN A PUBLIC AREA, SUCH AS THE PARLIAMENT'S FOYER.

PRINCE HARRY FALLS OFF HORSE DURING CHARITY POLO MATCH

PRINCE HARRY WAS THROWN FROM HIS MOUNT, DURING A RECENT CHARITY POLO MATCH, AS HE ATTEMPTED A SHARP TURN CLOSE TO THE GOAL MOUTH, CAUSING THE ANIMAL TO LOOSE ITS FOOTING AND SLIDE ACROSS THE GROUND OF DUST AND GRASS. FORTUNATELY THE YOUNG ROYAL MANAGED TO DIVE FORWARDS AND EXECUTE AN ATHLETIC ROLL, BREAKING THE IMPACT OF HIS FALL ON THE ROCK-HARD POLO FIELD. SECONDS LATER HE PICKED HIMSELF UP UNHARMED BUT WAS CLEARLY UPSET AT THE BLUNDER AS HE THREW HIS MALLET TO THE GROUND IN DISGUST, RIPPED OFF HIS HELMET AND PUNCHED IT. THE PONY WAS UNHURT. HARRY'S TEAM WENT ON TO WIN THE INAUGURAL SENTEBALE POLO CUP, WITH THE PRINCE SCORING ONE OF THEIR SIX GOALS. BUT THE EVOKED MEMORIES OF THE INCIDENT IN WHICH HIS FATHER, PRINCE CHARLES, WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS WHILE PLAYING THE GAME AND SWALLOWED HIS TONGUE. HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL SUFFERING A CONCUSSION AFTER THE 2001 ACCIDENT. SPEAKING ABOUT THE FALL AFTERWARDS, HARRY SAID: 'I'M A BIT SORE BUT IT WAS ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE SO IT WAS WORTHWHILE IN THE END. BASICALLY THE HORSE SLIPPED FROM UNDERNEATH ME, WHICH DOES HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY AND IS UNFORTUNATE. IT PROBABLY LOOKS VERY DRAMATIC BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO THROW MYSELF CLEAR OF THE HORSE. I'M A BIT SORE BUT THE HORSE IS OK THOUGH.' THE PRINCE EXPLAINED THAT HE HADN'T THROWN DOWN HIS MALLET IN ANGER AT GETTING THROWN BUT WAS FURIOUS THAT HE MAY HAVE LOST SENTEBALE A SIZABLE DONATION. HE EXPLAINED: 'THE REASON WHY I WAS THROWING MY MALLET DOWN WAS BECAUSE I MET THIS NICE BUSINESSMAN AT DINNER LAST NIGHT WHO OFFERED ME $50,000 FOR SENTEBALE IF I FELL OFF MY HORSE TODAY. HIS WIFE TURNED ROUND AND SAID, 'THAT'S A BIT HARSH, YOU SHOULD GIVE HIM $100,000 IF HE STAYS ON.' AND HE AGREED TO SEAL THE DEAL ON THAT. SO WHEN I FELL OFF, I THREW DOWN MY MALLET AND SHOUTED: 'WHAT A WASTE OF $100,000!!' I WAS FURIOUS WITH MYSELF.' HARRY WAS PLAYING AT THE EXCLUSIVE APES HILL POLO CLUB IN BARBADOS TO RAISE MONEY FOR SENTEBALE, THE CHARITY HE CO-FOUNDED IN MEMORY OF HIS LATE MOTHER TO HELP VULNERABLE AIDS ORPHANS IN THE AFRICAN KINGDOM OF LESOTHO. THE 1,200 TICKET MATCH WAS A COMPLETE SELL OUT AND IS EXPECTED TO RAISE MORE THAN £100,000. HARRY HOPES TO MAKE SENTEBALE POLO CUP AND ANNUAL EVENT.

PRINCE HARRY PROMOTES CHARITY IN BARBADOS

PRINCE HARRY RECENTLY ARRIVED IN BARBADOS FOR A THREE-DAY VISIT THAT WILL SEE THE ROYAL LAUNCH AN ANNUAL FUND RAISING POLO MATCH. THE 25 YEAR OLD PRINCE WAS GREETED BY PAUL BRUMMELL, THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER, AS HE STEPPED FROM A SCHEDULED BRITISH AIRWAYS FLIGHT FOR HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE COUNTRY. DRESSED IN A DARK SUIT AND RED TIE, HE LOOKED RELAXED AS HE MET OFFICIALS IN THE DIPLOMATIC LOUNGE AT THE GRANTLEY ADAMS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HE JOKED WITH THE DIGNITARIES ASKING BERTIE HINDS, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE: 'AN I ALLOWED IN THE COUNTRY, DO YOU NEED MY PAPERS?' THE PRINCE WILL TAKE PART IN THE INAUGURAL SENTEBALE POLO CUP AT THE EXCLUSIVE APES HILL POLO CLUB ON SUNDAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR HIS CHARITY SENTEBALE WHICH HELPS ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN THE LAND-LOCKED KINGDOM OF LESOTHO. DURING HIS TIME ON THE CARIBBEAN, THE YOUNG ROYAL WILL ALSO ATTEND A FUND RAISING CONCERT AND A SEPARATE DINNER IN AID OF THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORT IN HAITI. THE PRINCE HAS DESCRIBED THE FUTURE OF LESOTHO'S YOUNGSTERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LOST THEIR PARENTS TO HIV OR AIDS, AS 'VERY BLEAK' IN A YOUTUBE VIDEO MESSAGE POSTED LAST MONTH. IN THE BROADCAST POSTED ON THE YOUTUBE-HOSTED ROYAL CHANNEL, HARRY SAID HE WAS PROUD OF THE WORK HIS ORGANIZATION HAD ACHIEVED SINCE BEING SET UP FOUR YEARS AGO. HE ADDED: 'WITHOUT HELP, THE FUTURE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND ITS UNIQUE PEOPLE IS VERY BLEAK. WE BELIEVE SENTEBALE CAN CHANGE THIS.' HARRY FOUNDED SENTEBALE IN 2006 WITH LESOTHO'S PRINCE SEEISO AFTER SPENDING PART OF HIS GAP YEAR IN THE KINGDOM WHICH IS LOCATED WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA. MORE THAN 3,000 OF LESOTHO'S ORPHANS AND OTHER VULNERABLE YOUNGSTERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HELPED BY SENTEBALE.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA PRESENTS EXHIBITION OF RON MUECK'S WORKS

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE, PRESENTS A MAJOR EXHIBITION OF THE WORK OF INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCULPTOR RON MUECK. KNOWN FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE-LIKE CREATIONS, THE EXHIBITION FEATURES TWELVE SCULPTURES BY MUECK INCLUDING FOUR NEW WORKS. THIS IS THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE MUECK EXHIBITION EVER TO BE HELD IN AUSTRALIA. DAVID HURLSTON, CURATOR AUSTRALIAN ART, SAID RON MUECK'S POIGNANT SCULPTURES ILLUSTRATE TIMELESS HUMAN CONDITIONS FROM BIRTH TO DEMISE. THE EXHIBITION DRAWS FROM AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIONS, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 'MASK II 2001/02', 'MAN IN A BOAT, 'OLD WOMAN IN BED', 'WILD MAN', 'TWO WOMEN', 'IN BED', AND THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR FROM THE UNITED STATES, THE ICONIC WORK 'DEAD DAY'. IN ADDITION TO THESE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NEW WORKS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE EXHIBITION WHICH WERE UNVEILED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MELBOURNE.
IN HIS EARLY CAREER MELBOURNE-BORN MUECK WORKED AS A PUPPET MAKER, HOWEVER SINCE 1997 HE HAS BEEN ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO MAKING SCULPTURE. IN 1996, HE WAS 'DISCOVERED' BY THE BRITISH ADVERTISING GURU CHARLES SAATCHI, WHO INCLUDING MUECK'S 'DEAD DAD' AS PART OF THE HISTORY MAKING SENSATION EXHIBITION THE FOLLOWING YEAR. MUECK WENT ON TO REPRESENT AUSTRALIA AT THE 2001 VENICE BIENNALE, CAPTURING WORLDWIDE ATTENTION FOR HIS 4.5 METER SCULPTURE, 'CROUCHING BOY'. SINCE THEN, HE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH GIVEN A PAIR OF BERMUDA SHORTS ON ISLAND TOUR

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WAS PRESENTED WITH THE ULTIMATE ITEM OF TROPICAL CLOTHING RECENTLY, A PAIR OF BERMUDA SHORTS. WORN BY JUDGES, TOURISTS AND EVEN GROOMS ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, THEY ARE POPULAR NOT JUST ON THE ATLANTIC PARADISE ISLANDS BUT ACROSS THE WORLD. THE DUKE WAS GIVEN A PAIR OF BRIGHT GREEN SHORTS, WHICH ARE TRADITIONALLY WORN WITH KNEE LENGTH SOCKS, AND TEAMED WITH A JACKET AND TIE, A COMBINATION KNOWN AS A 'BERMUDA RIG'. DAVID HAMSHERE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE ENGLISH SPORTS SHOP, A CLOTHING SHOP REMINISCENT OF AN OLD FASHIONED MEN'S OUTFITTERS, MADE THE PRESENTATION WHEN THE QUEEN AND DUKE VISITED BERMUDA'S FORMER NAVAL DOCKYARD. THE DUKE GREETED THE GIFT, WHICH INCLUDED A PAIR OF BLUE SOCKS AND A BRIGHTLY COLOURED 'BERMUDA' TIE, WITH MUTED DELIGHT AND SAID HE WOULD NOT BE PUTTING THE SHORTS ON STRAIGHT AWAY. HAMSHERE, WHOSE OUTLET IS IN THE CAPITAL OF HAMILTON, TOLD HIM: 'YOU'LL DEFINITELY LOOK VERY ELEGANT IN THEM.' THE SHORTS WERE ORIGINALLY WORN BY THE BRITISH MILITARY TO KEEP COOL ON THE HOT AND HUMID ATLANTIC ISLANDS THAT ARE WARMED BY THE GULF STREAM, BUT WERE SOON ADOPTED AND ADAPTED BY THE LOCALS. HAMSHERE, WHO WAS BORN IN BOURNEMOUTH BUT EMIGRATED TO BERMUDA AS A YOUNG MAN, SAID LATER: 'BERMUDAN MEN ARE PEACOCKS AND ARE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKINS AND ARE HAPPY IN THE BRIGHT COLOURS.' HIS BUSINESS SELLS AROUND 16,000 PAIRS OF SHORTS A YEAR FOR 55 BERMUDAN DOLLARS (£30), AND HAS THE MADE IN ARGENTINA FROM A LINEN AND SYNTHETIC FIBER MIX.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISITS BERMUDA

BERMUDA ABANDONED THE TRADITIONAL RED CARPET WELCOME IN FAVOR OF A PINK COLOURED GREETING FOR TE QUEEN WHEN SHE ARRIVED IN THE ATLANTIC PARADISE ISLAND. THE UNUSUAL ROSE-TINTED RUG WAS ROLLED OUT FOR THE ROYAL VISIT WHICH IS CELEBRATING THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISLAND'S SETTLEMENT BY THE BRITISH. IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WERE GREETED BY BERMUDA'S GOVERNOR SIR RICHARD GOZNEY AND PREMIER EWART BROWN WHEN THEIR CHARTERED BRITISH AIRWAYS JET ARRIVED. THE RED CARPET WELCOME IS SOMETHING THE QUEEN HAS EXPERIENCED ALL OVER THE WORLD BUT IN BERMUDA SHOCKING PINK WAS CHOSEN TO REFLECT THE FAMOUS COLOUR OF THE LOCAL BEACHES. THE SANDY SHORES HAVE A UNIQUE ROSE TINGE TO THEM AS THEY ARE PARTLY MADE UP OF PULVERIZED CORALS AND MOLLUSK SHELLS. ABOVE THE ENTRANCE TO THE LF WADE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BUILDING WAS ANOTHER ICONIC IMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY, BERMUDA SHORTS. ORIGINALLY WORN BY THE BRITISH MILITARY TO KEEP COOL ON THE HOT AND HUMID ISLANDS THAT ARE WARMED BY THE GULF STREAM, THEY WERE ADOPTED BY THE LOCALS WHO COMBINED THEM WITH KNEE LENGTH SOCKS, JACKET AND TIE TO WEAR AT ANY OCCASION. THE QUEEN ARRIVED IN THE TERRITORY 56 YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE SHE FIRST TRAVELED TO THE REMOTE ATLANTIC OUTCROP ON 24.NOVEMBER.1953. IT WAS THE FIRST STOP ON A MAJOR TOUR OF THE COMMONWEALTH THAT FOLLOWED HER CORONATION FIVE MONTHS EARLIER. SINCE THE 1890s BERMUDA HAS BEEN A HAVEN FOR WEALTHY AMERICANS AND ITS APPEAL WAS SUMMED BY AMERICAN AUTHOR MARK TWAIN WHO ONCE WROTE: 'YOU GO TO HEAVEN IF YOU WANT TO, I'D RATHER STAY HERE'.

PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HONORED WITH CANADIAN ABORIGINAL GIFTS

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HONORED WITH CANADIAN ABORIGINAL GIFTS DURING AN OFFICIAL DINNER HELD IN THEIR HONOR. THE ROYAL COUPLE WERE EACH DRAPED IN 'FIRST NATIONS' BLANKETS AND CEDER WREATHS WERE PLACED ON THEIR HEADS AT THE EVENT. THE PRINCE WAS ALSO GIVEN AN ORNATELY CARVED WALKING STICK BY BRITISH COLOMBIA'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STEVEN POINT AND THE PROVINCE'S PREMIER GORDON CAMPBELL, DURING THE EVENT HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN VICTORIA. THE HEIR TO THE THRONE ADDRESSED THE GATHERED DIGNITARIES AND PRAISED BRITISH COLOMBIA'S LEADERSHIP IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE. HE TOLD THE GUESTS THE PROVENCE HAD SHOWED 'REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP' BY SETTING LEGALLY BINDING TARGETS FOR GREENHOUSE GASES. THE PRINCE ADDED: "IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT WE ARE PART OF NATURE. WE CANNOT HAVE OUR OWN ECONOMY WITHOUT NATURE'S ECONOMY. FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE." THE BLANKETS PRESENTED TO THE COUPLE WERE FROM A FIRST NATIONS TRIBE CALLED COAST SALISH. BLANKETS ARE ONE OF THE MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS FOR CANADA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. ONE WAY TO HONOR SPECIAL GUESTS IS TO GIVE A BLANKET TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR NATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY. THE WOVEN BLANKET SYMBOLIZES WARMTH, SAFETY AND PROTECTION, A NECESSITY FOR LIFE YET IT ALSO SIGNIFIES WEALTH AND STATUS. THE COMPLEXITY OF THE DESIGN AND THE QUALITY OF WOOL USED IN THE WEAVING GIVE IT ITS VALUE. THE BLANKETS CAN ALSO SIGNIFY 'STEPPING INTO A NEW LIFE'. THE HEADBAND IS PLACED ON THE INDIVIDUAL AS PROTECTION AND A REMINDER TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS TO TAKE PLACE.

DUCHESS OF CORNWALL VISITS CANADIAN NAVAL VESSEL HMCS HAIDA

THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAD A CRASH COURSE IN SEA WARFARE RECENTLY . . . AND LOOKED LESS THAN IMPRESSED WITH THE EXPERIENCE. AS PART OF THEIR OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA, PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILA HAD THE CHANCE TO FIRE A NAVAL GUN ON THE HMCS HAIDA. IN AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT MULTI-TASKING THE DUCHESS TRIED TO COVER HERE EARS AND FLINCH AWAY FROM THE SOUND WHILE PULLING THE TRIGGER OF THE DESTROYER'S GUN, BUT SHE DISSOLVED INTO A FIT OF GIGGLES AS SHE TRIED TO PROTECT HERSELF FROM THE EAR-SPLITTING SOUND. SHE WAS SEEN LAUGHING AS THE PRINCE OF WALES HAD A GO AT FIRING THE GUN ON WHAT IS KNOWN AS 'THE FIGHTINGEST SHIP IN THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY'. DESPITE HER DISTASTE AT THE SOUND SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS HAVING FUN ON HER FIRST OFFICIAL TRIP TO CANADA. PRINCE CHARLES, HOWEVER, LOOKED LESS THAN IMPRESSED AT THE FUSS HIS WIFE WAS MAKING. THEIR GUN-TOTING ON THE SHIP, WHICH IS NOW USED AS A NAVAL MUSEUM AND SEA CADET TRADING VESSEL, IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS THE ROYAL COUPLE HAVE PLANNED AS PART OF THEIR TEN-DAY TOUR OF CANADA. THEY ALSO CALLED IN AT DUNDURN CASTLE, THE 72 ROOM HOME OF CAMILLA'S ANCESTOR SIR ALLAN MACNAB BUILT IN HAMILTON NEAR TORONTO. SIR ALLAN BECAME PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED PROVINCE OF CANADA IN 1854. ALTHOUGH IT IS CAMILLA'S FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE COUNTRY OF HER ANCESTORS, IT IS PRINCE CHARLES' 15th VISIT. THE COUPLE HAVE ALREADY VISITED NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR AND HAVE MANY MORE ENGAGEMENTS BEFORE THEY LEAVE ON 12.NOVEMBER.