English in Madrid

Princess Leonor of Spain's royal profile rises as she comes of age Spain's Princess Leonor is about to turn 18 , thrusting her into the spotlight  as heir to the throne and raising questions about the role she will play as an adult royal. Her birthday, on Tuesday, will be marked by a formal ceremony in the Spanish Parliament, at which she will swear allegiance to the Constitution before receiving the medals of Congress and the Senate. Anticipating the event, the Spanish royal family has released a series of photos of the princess, many of them previously unpublished. They include one of her on her first day of school, flanked by her mother, Queen Letizia, and her father, King Felipe VI, who was then still a prince himself. Another shows her in 2010, clutching the World Cup trophy the Spanish men's football team had just won. Others show her alongside her younger sister Sofía. Underlining the significance of her birthday, there will also be a reception in the Roya...

Source: Wikipedia   French history myths: Marie-Antoinette said ‘Let them eat cake’ It's one of history's most famous quotes , synonymous with the French revolution, but there's little evidence that any real-life royal actually said it. The Myth: French queen Marie-Antoinette, on be ing told that an ongoing famine meant that many people did not even have bread to eat, said “Let them eat cake”. It’s the perfect symbol of the out-of-touch French royalty who would shortly be deposed and executed in the French Revolution, but there are two problems with this ‘fact’.  In response to be ing told about the famine, the Austrian queen supposedly answered “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” dismissing the widespread hunger and making it obvious she did not understand the gravity of the situation.  However , even the English translation of ‘Let them eat cake’ on its own might merit a fact check, as brioche is in fact a sweet bread made with butter and egg, so it is not ex...

Coat of arms of Felipe de Marichalar, Grandee of Spain and Knight of the Solar de Tejada Source: Wikipedia (Heralder)    King Felipe of Spain’s scandal- plagued nephew under investigation over nightclub knife brawl   The incident is just the latest controversy for the young royal and his family Police are investigating Felipe Juan Froilan de Marichalar y Borbon, nephew of Spain’s King Felipe VI, over his alleged involvement in a fight involving dozens of people – some armed with knives – in a Madrid nightclub, it has been reported.  The brawl is just the latest issue for the 24-year-old, one of the most controversial figures of a royal family that has often been plagued by scandal.  Several of the young royal’s entourage were injured   in the incident outside high-end venue Vandido on 25 November, according to Spanish newspaper El Confidencial. If charged , he could face a prison sentence of up to a year if convicted.  Mr Froilan’s nocturnal...

  Source: You Tube (The Royal Family Channel) I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of St George at Windsor Castle, so clo se to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father. I am reminded   of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family. Christmas is a particularly poig nant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition. In the much -loved carol O Little Town Of Bethlehem we sing of how “in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light”. My mother’s bel ief in the power of that light was an essential part of her faith in God, but also her faith in people and it is one which I share with my whole heart. It is a belief in the extraordinary ability of each person to touch, with goodnes...

Source: Wikipedia   Charles I (r.1625- 1649) Charles I was born in Fife on 19 November 1600, the second son of James VI of Scotland (from 1603 also James I of England) and Anne of Denmark. He became heir to the throne on the death of his brother, Prince Henry, in 1612. He succeeded , as the second Stuart King of Great Britain, in 1625. Controversy and disputes dogged Charles throughout his reign. They eventually led to civil wars, first with the Scots from 1637, in Ireland from 1641, and then England (1642-46 and 1648). The wars deeply divided people at the time, and historians still disagree about the real causes of the conflict, but it is clear that Charles was not a successful ruler. Charles was reserved (he had a residual stammer ), self-righteous and had a high concept of royal authority, believing in the divine right of kings. He was a good linguist and a sensitive man of refined tastes. He spent a lot on the arts, inviting the artists Van Dyck and Rubens to work in...

On her twenty-first birthday, 21 April 1947, Princess Elizabeth was with her parents and younger sister on a tour of South Africa. In a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, the Princess dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth. Source: You Tube  (Britis Pathe) Key Words: Princess Elizabeth 21st speech On my twenty-first birthday I welcome the opportunity to speak to all the peoples of the British Commonwealth and Empire, wherever they live, whatever race they come from, and whatever language they speak. Let me begin by saying 'thank you' to all the thousands of kind people who have sent me messages of good will . This is a happy day for me; but it is also one that brings serious thoughts, thoughts of life looming ahead with all its challenges and with all its opportunity. At such a time it is a great help to know that there are multitudes of friends all round the world who are thinking of me and who wish me well. I am grateful and I am deeply moved ....

  Source: You Tube (BBC News) Key Words: Charles first address I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow . Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example. Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing . That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today. Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where The Queen was Head of State, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than seventy years in which my Mother, as Queen, served the people of so many nations. In 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Com...

Source:  Mark de Jong on Unsplash Queen Jubilee letter in FULL - read the Queen's words on Camilla  QUEEN ELIZABETH II has issued a special message marking her Platinum Jubilee on February 6.  Today (Sunday, February 6), the Queen marks an unprecedented seven decades on the throne with her Platinum Jubilee. On this date in 1952, the Queen's beloved father King George VI died at Sandringham House in Norfolk, leading to the new Queen ascending the throne at the age of 25. In recognition of her 70 years on the throne, the Queen issued a special written statement on February 5, 2022.  Within the message, the Queen expressed her thanks to the nation for its continued support for her reign.  But the Queen also expressed her "sincere wish" that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will be known as Queen when Prince Charles is King.  Here is the Queen's Platinum Jubilee message in full: "February 5, 2022.  "Tomorrow, 6th February, marks the 70th anniv...

Source:  Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Royal scandal as King's disgraced brother-in-law admits to affair with colleague  Iñaki Urdangarín, the brother-in-law of Spain's King Felipe, admitted to hav ing an affair after pictures emerged of him holding hands with a woman on a beach King Felipe of Spain has been embroiled in a royal scandal as his brother-in-law admitted to an affair with a colleague.  Iñaki Urdangarín has been married to Infanta Cristina, 56, the youngest of the king’s two sisters, since 1997.  This morning he admitted to having an affair as he arrived at work this morning at a law firm in Vitoria.  It comes as he was pictured holding hands with Ainhoa Armentia, 43, on a beach in the south of France. Mr Urdangarin, a former handball player for Spain’s national team, said: “These things happen…it is a difficulty that we will manage with the utmost tranquillity and together as we have always done.”  Sources told Hola!, the sister pub...