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That was a long national anthem (or was it a royal anthem?) The Crown Prince is certainly growing up fast.

A few years ago when the Princess Royal was in Melbourne her standard flew from the tower at Government House. The Governor was still in residence so someone at Government House got things wrong. Last year when the Queen was in Melbourne for only three hours, and at Government House for about...

The gene can also pass also from mother to daughter, so there is every reason to believe that one or more of the girls were carriers. I think the probability for a carrier's daughter also being a carrier is 50%.

My understanding is that prior to the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge getting a Canadian standard last year, only the Queen has ever had a Canadian standard (as she is, of course, the only member of the Royal Family with a constitutional role in Canada). My concern about the Prince and...

I know you are probably right Madame Royale, but I like to toy with the constitutional and legal possibilities. You make an important point that Australia does not have a royal family, despite what some Australian monarchists might claim. That's why I was a bit unsure about Canada adopting...

Bert is quite happy with Bertie. This afternoon he thought about adopting Bertram as his professional name, but I think I have talked him out of that. As for the Queen of Australia, Madame Royale, who knows? Anything is possible: it all depends on the wording of the Royal Styles and Titles...

What happened while I was having a nap? Was my true identity revealed? Oh no, is the secret out? Never mind. No matter, I do not mind. When I joined this forum I noticed most people seemed to use an alias, so I thought I would try one out as well, that's all.

We are feeling a bit more refreshed now. Well, I am at least; Bert has gone straight back to sleep after having his supper. So here is my diary entry for today's big day. This time there are even a couple of photos. After the success of meeting the Prince of Wales yesterday, I was not...

Bert and I have just got back from seeing the Prince and Duchess. The Duchess took a shine to Bert and stopped for a chat and pat. We are both a bit exhausted, so a full report will have to wait until we have had a bit of an afternoon nap.

Yes, I think you are right Madame Royale. When it was announced that they were attending the Melbourne Cup I feared there would be comparisons to the late Diana, Princess of Wales in 1985. Nothing of the sort has happened, but a major gaffe might have changed the tone of the afternoon. All...

Your are right about Miss Susie O'Brien's big yawn of an article, Madame Royale. I've stopped reading the media reports of the visit, and am just enjoying the pictures and videos. What a wonderful welcome the royal couple got at Flemington this afternoon. I thought is was great to see the...

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have arrived in Australia. They will be in Longreach for about two hours before heading to Melbourne. I'm sure the Duchess will appreciate the cooler weather down here after the humidity of Papua New Guinea, and the scorching heat of Longreach (it...

I fear the positive feel to the Diamond Jubilee Tour is about to change as they arrive in Australia. The republican dominated media is already spewing forth its predictable vitriol: The Age yesterday included a particularly awful "opinion" piece. It is annoying as the most recent opinion polls...

He was certainly a colourful character, but I have never really been able to make up my mind about him. In the late 1980s I did a unit on the history of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. My main research paper was on Norodom Sihanouk, and I set out to present him in a favourable light. But about half...

When a male member of the Imperial Family receives his own title and mon (emblem) he is also authorised to start his own branch of the Imperial Family. This often happens on the Prince's marriage, e.g. on his marriage Prince Fumihito (Fumihito Shinnō) became Prince Akishino (Akishino-no-miya...

The Imperial House Law 1889, Article XLIV, states that: A female member of the Imperial Family, who is married to a subject, shall be excluded from membership in the Imperial Family. However, she may be allowed, by special grace of the Emperor to retain her title of naishinnô or nyoô, as the...

Why should non-Greeks "mind their own business" about domestic politics in the Hellenic Republic? KBoussemart was not being rude, so I think offence is a bit of an over reaction to what is nothing more than a difference of opinion. I have lots of opinions about all sorts of countries all...

But I do "get it" Iluvbertie. It is quite clear what point you are trying to make. But I do not agree with your premise that supposed sporting allegiances are an important enough reason to change our constitution, especially as the Governor-General can quite easily fulfil these symbolic...

Well put Madame Royale. Iluvbertie seems to have lost the plot a bit: the Queen laughs at us for our loyalty? What a ridiculous comment; and an insult to the Queen who obviously cares deeply about all her realms. Then the "argument" about sporting allegiances. Well call me old fashioned, but...

That "the Queen is totally irrelevant to us in Australia today" is just a personal opinion and a glib generalisation. Section one of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia states that the Parliament is comprised of the House the House of Representatives, a Senate, and the Queen. I...

An online poll on Channel 7 is running at 70% against the move of the Australian Girl Guides. I'm quite impressed that the opposition is so high. The new pledge is awful and quite meaningless, but, unfortunately, a sign of the times. There is obviously someone high up in the Guides who has a...

I’ve been doing a bit of research into the death and burial of the Dowager Empress Longyu in February 1913. She was Dowager Empress for only four years (1908-1912) and has always been overshadowed by her predecessor the Dowager Empress Cixi. But it was she who issued the Imperial Edict of 1912...

The Chinese government is keen to suppress seperatist movements, but also pragmatic enough to realise that it is Tibetan culture that draws the tourists and makes money. They have already turned some of their minorities into little more than a side show. A few years ago I was in Guilin where...

I was in Tibet last December and nobody would talk openly about the Dalai Lama. It was hardly surprising because there were soldiers on nearly every street corner. At all the monasteries I went to there were CCTV cameras everywhere, and probably a few microphones as well. One chap, however...

Grand Duchess Maria has already stated that any change she might make to the succession laws would require the blessing of the Orthodox Church. The Succession Laws are not laws of the Russian Federation, so I can't imagine the Duma would be at all interested in providing a legislative solution...