The Duchess of Cambridge has talked about Prince George's obsession with dinosaurs in the past - now her eldest son is the proud owner of a shark's tooth from the time of the prehistoric giants thanks to Sir David Attenborough. In a new photograph released by Kensington Palace, seven-year-old George looked ecstatic as he handled the fossilised giant shark's tooth given to him by Sir David. His younger brother Prince Louis and dad Prince William were also in the photo taking a good look at the tooth, which came from an extinct carcharocles megalodon, described as one of the most feared predators to have swum in the seas. Sir David Attenborough gave Prince George a tooth from a giant shark, the scientific name of which is carcharocles megalodon (‘big tooth’) Image: Prince George was fascinated by the tooth from a giant shark - carcharocles megalodon Sir David gave the present to Prince George after a private viewing of his new environmental documentary with the Duke of Cambridge, in the palace's grounds. In A Life On Our Planet, Sir David reflects on both the defining moments of his life as a naturalist and the devastating changes he has witnessed. Advertisement A photo shows William and Sir David sitting in directors' chairs with their names printed on the back, but sitting in each other's seats. Another photograph showed the Cambridge family clearly very happy to be hosting Sir David at Kensington Palace last week.

 The Duchess of Cambridge has talked about Prince George's obsession with dinosaurs in the past - now her eldest son is the proud owner of a shark's tooth from the time of the prehistoric giants thanks to Sir David Attenborough.

In a new photograph released by Kensington Palace, seven-year-old George looked ecstatic as he handled the fossilised giant shark's tooth given to him by Sir David.

His younger brother Prince Louis and dad Prince William were also in the photo taking a good look at the tooth, which came from an extinct carcharocles megalodon, described as one of the most feared predators to have swum in the seas.

Image:Prince George was fascinated by the tooth from a giant shark - carcharocles megalodon

Sir David gave the present to Prince George after a private viewing of his new environmental documentary with the Duke of Cambridge, in the palace's grounds.

In A Life On Our Planet, Sir David reflects on both the defining moments of his life as a naturalist and the devastating changes he has witnessed.

A photo shows William and Sir David sitting in directors' chairs with their names printed on the back, but sitting in each other's seats.

Another photograph showed the Cambridge family clearly very happy to be hosting Sir David at Kensington Palace last week.

State Visit 2013

 The President of the United Arab Emirates  pays a State Visit to the United Kingdom on 30 April to 1 May 2013.

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Morning

The President of the United Arab Emirates is met privately by The Duke of York on behalf of The Queen

Afternoon

Ceremonial Welcome attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Datchet Road, Windsor, followed by Carriage Procession to Windsor Castle

Arrival at Windsor Castle and Inspection of the Guard of Honour in the quadrangle

State Luncheon

Exchange of Presents

Formal Farewells at Windsor Castle

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Afternoon

Visit to No. 10 Downing Street by The President for talks with the Prime Minister

Visit to Westminster Abbey with The Duke of York to lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior

Visit to Clarence House to meet with The Prince of Wales.

Background

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to United Arab Emirates at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2010.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to the United Arab Emirates visiting The Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1979.

The Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan paid a State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1989.

British Pomp & Pageantry

The President of the Republic of Singapore, accompanied by Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam, are paying a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guests of Her Majesty The Queen, from Tuesday 21st October to Friday 24th October 2014.

During their visit, The President and Mrs Tan are staying at Buckingham Palace.

Here is an outline programme for the visit:

MONDAY 20TH OCTOBER

The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam arrived privately in the United Kingdom on the morning of Monday 20th October, at London Heathrow Airport. They were greeted by The Viscount Hood, Lord-in-Waiting, on behalf of The Queen.

TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam on behalf of The Queen, at the Royal Garden Hotel, London. Their Royal Highnesses then travelled with The President and Mrs Tan to Horse Guards Parade, where The President received a Ceremonial Welcome.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh formally welcomed The President and Mrs Tan at the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade. Presentations were made and following the Royal Salute the Singapore National Anthem was played. The President, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, then inspected the Guard of Honour.

Afterwards, The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam joined The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh for a state carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

After a private lunch at Buckingham Palace, given by The Queen, Her Majesty invited The President and Mrs Tan to view an exhibition of Singaporean related items, from the Royal Collection, in the Picture Gallery.

In the afternoon, The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam visited Westminster Abbey, where The President lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. Following the wreath-laying the party took tour of the Abbey and viewed the memorial statue to Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who worked for the East India Company and founded the then British colony of Singapore in 1819.

The President and Mrs Tan then visited the Palace of Westminster, where they were welcomed by The Speaker of the House of Commons and The Lord Speaker. President Tan delivered an Address in the Royal Robing Room and attended a reception with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups and other guests.

The President of the Republic of Singapore will later receive a call at Buckingham Palace by the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg, MP.

In the evening, The Queen will give a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace for the President of the Republic of Singapore. Her Majesty and President Tan will both make speeches at the start of the Banquet.

WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER

In the morning, The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam, accompanied by The Duke of York, will visit the Royal Society. The President will be presented with the Royal Society King Charles II Medal for his support for science and innovation after which the President will deliver a speech. The President and Mrs Tan, with The Duke of York, will then join a UKTI event "UK and Singapore: Innovating Together for the 21st Century". They will be met by The Lord Livingston of Parkhead, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, who will introduce stakeholders and business leaders.

Afterwards, President Tan will meet with the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, at No.10 Downing Street for a bilateral meeting.

In the afternoon, The President and Mrs Tan will attend a Singapore United Kingdom Association Diwali celebration in London.

Later, The President of the Republic of Singapore will receive a call at Buckingham Palace by the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband, MP.

In the evening, The President and Mrs Tan will attend a Banquet at Guildhall given by The Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation, in the presence of The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The Lord Mayor and the President will both make speeches at the end of the Banquet.

THURSDAY 23RD OCTOBER

The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam will formally bid farewell to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in the morning.

Thereafter, The President and Mrs Tan will travel to Bristol. Initially, they will visit M Shed, Prince's Wharf where they will learn about the regeneration of the harbour area of the city. The Mayor of the City of Bristol will host a lunch.

Later, The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam will visit the University of Bristol. The President will launch the "SPHERE (Sensor Platform for Healthcare in a Residential Environment) eHealth Hackathon". The President and Mrs Tan will meet competition entrants and view demonstrations on cutting-edge research in the field of personal healthcare technology (wearable tech). During the event The President will also witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Nanyang Technical University (NTU) Singapore and the University of Bristol for Healthcare Technology Research Collaboration. During the visit the President will meet Singaporean students who are studying at Bristol.

Afterwards, The President and Mrs Tan will visit Aardman Animations – they will be welcomed by the Co-Founders of Aardman and by the Chief Executive and Director of English Language of the British Council. The President and Mrs Tan will hear about the UK’s creative industry and will be briefed on the new partnership between British Council and Aardman to open English Language Learning Centres for children aged 3-6 in Singapore from January 2015. The President and Mrs Tan will then visit Aardman studios.

FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER

The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam will visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Party will take a tour highlighting the deep, historic relationship between RBG Kew and Singapore and their contemporary scientific and horticultural collaboration. During the visit there will be an announcement of a joint programme of work between The Carbon Trust and Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) to enhance the implementation of energy efficient practices amongst small and medium sized enterprises in Singapore.

In the afternoon, President Tan will visit Lloyd’s of London. Lloyd’s and the Singapore Government are committed to further developing Lloyd’s market presence in Singapore. President Tan will be given a tour of the trading floors and attend a working lunch with key stakeholders to discuss the growing global financial centres of the City of London and Singapore.

Later, The President of the Republic of Singapore will visit Imperial College London. President Tan will hear about Imperial’s joint medical school with Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, phenome research that builds on the London 2012 Olympic legacy, big data technology, cybersecurity, and the College’s new innovation campus, Imperial West. The President will also visit Imperial College’s Carbon Capture Pilot Plant. The President will meet some of the 400 Singaporean students attending Imperial College.

The Viscount Hood, Lord-in-Waiting will bid farewell to The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam on behalf of The Queen, at the Royal Garden Hotel in the evening.

HRH,The Duke of Cambridge

 

Prince William as Commodore-in-Chief-Submarines attends a ceremony to hand out silver and gold pins to sailors at HMNB Clyde naval base on October 28, 2010 in Faslane, Scotland. The presentation ceremony was held at Faslane, recently named as the future home of Britains submarine services. - Prince William Meets Personnel And Attends A Service At HMNB Clyde

Castle Combe

 Castle Combe had been recommended to me as one of the prettiest places in the Cotswolds. My expectations have been fulfilled and even succeded. It really is amazingly pretty and if there was an award for coziness, Castle Combe's chances would be very high. 

Maybe that's why it is on top of my list of places where I would happily spent a possibly white Christmas. What do you say? 

 A suitable Inn there is..  🤔

Only the Union Jack didn't give me the pleasure to blow at least a little bit. 

But, once again, the outstanding private gardens with their beauty made all up for it. 

I am so grateful for your effort to make your gardens so beautiful. You make passers-by simply happy at the view of them. ❤

Kensington

 

Homes at Chelsea  and Notting Hill 

The borough of Kensington and Chelsea is located in the inner-west of London. As the smallest borough in London and the second smallest district in England, this urban area is one of the most densely populated in the United Kingdom.

It contains major museums and universities in Albertopolis, department stores such as Harrods, Peter Jones and Harvey Nichols, and embassies in Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Kensington Gardens. Each year it hosts the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest carnival.

South Kensington is home to a rich diversity of architecture and building design. Since the Great Exhibition of 1851, the area has attracted world renowned architects, many of whom have left their mark on London's cultural centre.

The Great Exhibition was held in Hyde Park as an international celebration of manufacturing. After the exhibition, the proceeds were used to purchase land in South Kensington. Prince Albert's vision was to create a centre for the arts and academia in the heart of Kensington. The South Kensington Museum was established in 1857 and, while itself not the most attractive of buildings, sparked the development of the area. Take a day to stroll through the area and appreciate how architectural style has changed over time. 

1. The Design Museum

The Design Museum opened the doors to its new location at the end of 2016, and the building itself is a work of art. The museum's new home is a 1960s, Grade II* listed building, which has been spectacularly repurposed and refurbished for the museum. You simply cannot miss the building's incredible vaulted ceilings – stunningly beautiful from both inside and out. Architectural designer John Pawson led the project to transform the building into a museum space. The museum is currently displaying a photographic exhibition telling the story of the building's transformation.

Find out more about the Design Museum building.

2. Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace has been a royal residence since the late 1600s, when William III and his wife Mary II purchased what was then a mansion in the village of Kensington. Christopher Wren was instructed to expand and improve the house. His designs created a building fit for a king. There have since been several small changes and additions to the building – from Queen Ann's Orangery, to the sunken garden. This is a building that has a history of its own.

Find out more about the architectural history of Kensington Palace.

3. Serpentine Sackler Gallery

The Serpentine Sackler Gallery is a hidden gem within Hyde Park. The original 19th century brick building was a Gun Powder store, until it was redesigned by Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Zaha Hadid in 2013. The new design is a fusion of old and new, combining the sharpness of the 200-year-old structure with the smooth clean lines of the extension. 

Find out more about the Serpentine Galleries.

Bonus: Want to see more Zaha Hadid designs? The Mathematics Gallery at the Science Museum was also designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Find out more about the Mathematics exhibition at the Science Museum.

4. Royal Albert Hall

The beauty of Royal Albert Hall is clear to anyone who walks by. It was built as part of South Kensington's cultural boom after the Great Exhibition of 1851. With its domed roof and the intricate mosaic frieze that wrap around the exterior, Royal Albert Hall is a true work of art. However, such beauty can sometimes come with a price; the domed ceiling caused sound to echo, until the hall's ceiling was fitted with acoustic 'mushroom' to correct the issue. Building works are also currently underway to provide new spaces underneath the building. 

Find out more about the Royal Albert Hall building.

5. V&A

The V&A museum was established after the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. Queen Victoria's beloved husband Prince Albert was passionate about the project. The building has gone through many changes since then, and each part of the building tells a different story of architecture and ambition.

The V&A continues to change and evolve, with the construction of a new Exhibition Road Entrance. Using the existing structure of a 19th Century screen, and featuring stunning handmade porcelain tiles, the new entrance will open onto a courtyard and subterranean gallery. The design, by Amanda Levete Architects (AL_A), will allow visitors on Exhibition Road to appreciate the beauty of the V&A's existing architecture, previously been hidden from view.

Find out more about the history of the V&A's architecture. Find our more about the new Exhibition Road Entrance.

6. Ismali Centre

The Ismali Centre's South Kensington location is an architectural achievement, combining traditional Islamic design into a building which blends with the South Kensington surroundings.  The building also features a beautiful roof-top Charbagh garden, which is sometimes open to the public.

Find out more about the architecture of the Ismali Centre.

7. Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum was purpose-built as a museum space in the late 1800s. The building is unique in its design; architect Alfred Waterhouse was tasked with creating an exhibition space where specimens of all sizes could be displayed, and separated into different categories. The project was spearheaded by scientist Richard Owen, who imagined the museum as a 'cathedral to nature'. Looking at the NHM's imposing structure and grand entrance hall certainly inspires such an image. 

Find out more about the architecture of the Natural History Museum.

   

Interior of The South Kensington Museum: Opened to The Public on Wednesday last; wood- engraving; from Illustrated Times, 27th June, 1857. Museum no. 131198 NAL. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

 

 

The Design Museum, Kensington

  

 

Serpentine Sackler Gallery

 

 

Royal Albert Hall (Credit: Royal Albert Hall)

 

 The Royal Caldelian 

The Medieval Warwick Castle

The medieval Warwick Castle on the banks of the River Avon.

Warwick Castle is a medieval castle developed from a wooden fort, originally built by William the Conqueror during 1068. Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England, situated on a bend of the River Avon. The original wooden motte-and-bailey castle was rebuilt in stone during the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognisable examples of 14th-century military architecture. It was used as a stronghold until the early 17th century, when it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by James I in 1604. Greville converted it to a country house, and it was owned by the Greville family (who became Earls of Warwick in 1759) until 1978, when it was bought by the Tussauds Group.

7 fascinating insights about to Warwick castle 

1. It’s older than most countries!

The castle can be traced back to 914 AD when Alfred The Great’s daughter built a fort on the site. The original castle was built in 1068 by William The Conqueror, out of wood. In order to make room for the castle in the existing city, four houses were destroyed. At this time in world history, Europe was a collection of empires and clans, with Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden nowhere near being formed.

2. It was once owned by a two-year-old girl.

(Not this actual one but we’re probably not far off)

When Henry de Beauchamp, the 1st Duke Of Warwick and owner of the castle, died in 1446, he didn’t have a son to pass down his property to, so it went to his daughter Anne. But Anne was just two years old, and she only owned it for three years before passing away at the age of 5.

3. Disney was once held prisoner here

No… not Walt Disney! A certain Edward Disney was locked up in Warwick Castle dungeon in 1642 during the Battle of Edgehill in the Civil War. It’s possible that he is related to the great Walt Disney – Walt came to the Midlands in the 1940s to try and trace his family who he believed formed the village of Norton Disney. Warwick Castle represented Cromwell and Disney was fighting for King Charles I, and he doodled some graffiti on the wall. This can be found in the Castle Gaol, and is included in the entry price so be sure to check out some 370-year old (Edward) Disney art!

4. And so was a king!

King Edward IV was also locked up in the Warwick Castle during the Wars Of The Roses. Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, captured him and then attempted to reign but was not welcomed by the nobility, so released the King after a few months. The Castle Dungeons are now open for visits so you can witness precisely where the tortuous imprisonments took place.

5. It is home to the world’s most powerful catapult

The trebuchet was an old medieval launching weapon, and the most powerful one in the world lives in Warwick Castle, and is roughly the height of three houses! It got the record in 2006 when it launched a 29lb missile 800ft (that’s ten tennis courts) at a speed of 160mph! The castle demonstrates the giant weapon on certain days so you might get to see it in action!

6. They built a new building for Queen Elizabeth I

When Queen Elizabeth I visited the castle in the 16th century, it was in such a bad state that they had to construct a separate timber building exclusively for her. James I then gave the castle to Sir Fulke Greville in 1604 and it remained in their family for over 300 years.

7. The castle has murder holes!

Murder holes is the appropriate name for the holes on the battlements, where boiling tar and human waste was poured out to kill invaders. Pretty gruesome! 

Warwick Castle: BritainAndBritishness.com/WarwickCastle

Baz Richardson.