Operation London Bridge

From Wikipedia:

“Operation London Bridge”

Operation London Bridge (also known by its code phrase London Bridge Is Down) refers to a plan currently underway in the United Kingdom following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It includes planning for the announcement of her death, the period of official mourning, and the details of her state funeral. Some critical decisions relating to the plan were made by the Queen herself, while some are currently determined by her successor, Charles, King of the United Kingdom. As of 2017, the phrase "London Bridge is down" was expected to be used to communicate the death of the Queen to the prime minister of the United Kingdom and key personnel, setting the plan into motion. The plans were first created in the 1960s and were updated throughout each year, involving various government departments, the Church of England, Metropolitan Police Service, the British Armed Forces, the media, the Royal Parks, London boroughs, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London. Reporting on the preparations, The Guardian described them as "planned to the minute" with "arcane and highly specific" details. Operation London Bridge is operating concurrently with several plans, including Operation Spring Tide, the plan for King Charles' ascension to the throne. Several Commonwealth realms where Elizabeth II reigned as monarch have developed their own plans which are occurring concurrently with Operation London Bridge.

Background Funerals and coronations of members of the Royal Family are typically organised by the Earl Marshal and the officers in the College of Arms.Preparations for Elizabeth II's death and funeral have also been made by the Cabinet Office. Pre-determined phrases have typically been used as "codenames" for plans relating to the death and funeral of a royal family member. Initially, codenames were used by key officials in an effort to prevent Buckingham Palace switchboard operators from learning of the death prior to a public announcement.  When King George VI died in 1952, key government officials were informed with the phrase "Hyde Park Corner". Several codenamed funeral plans for royal family members in the late-20th and early-21st century have used the names of prominent bridges in the United Kingdom. Operation Tay Bridge was the phrase used for the death and funeral plans of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and was rehearsed for 22 years before its eventual use in 2002. The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, was also modelled after Operation Tay Bridge.  As of March 2017, the phrase Operation Forth Bridge referred to the death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died in 2021, while Operation Menai Bridge referred to the funeral plan for Charles III, and Operation London Bridge referred to the funeral plan for Queen Elizabeth II.

Plan Preparations for Queen Elizabeth II's death and funeral were made as early as the 1960s, with the plan having undergone multiple changes in the decades since. The plan was updated three times a year through a meeting involving government department officials, the police, and broadcasters. Now that Queen Elizabeth has died, her private secretary was planned to be the first official (i.e., not one of her relatives or part of a medical team) to convey the news. Their first act was to contact the prime minister, whose civil servants were expected to convey the code phrase "London Bridge is down" to the prime minister using secure telephone lines. The cabinet secretary and the Privy Council Office were also be informed by the private secretary. The cabinet secretary was then planned to convey the news to ministers and senior civil servants. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Global Response Centre, based at a secret location in London, was planned to communicate the news to the governments of the 14 other countries of which Elizabeth was queen (the Commonwealth realms), and to the governments of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. Government websites and social media accounts are expected to turn black. The royal family's website, is black with the publication of her passing.

The media was informed by announcement to PA Media and the BBC through the Radio Alert Transmission System (RATS) and to commercial radio on the Independent Radio News through a network of blue "obit lights" which will alert presenters to play "inoffensive music" and prepare for a news flash, while BBC Two is expected to suspend scheduled programming and switch to BBC One's broadcast of the announcement. BBC News is expected to air a pre-recorded sequence of portraits, during which the presenters currently on duty were expected to  prepare for the formal announcement by putting on dark clothing prepared for this purpose. The Guardian has reported that The Times has 11 days of prepared coverage ready and that ITN and Sky News have long rehearsed her death, but substituting the name "Mrs Robinson".

A footman would pin a dark-edged notice to the gates of Buckingham Palace. At the same time, the palace website currently displays the same notice. The Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish parliaments would meet as soon as is practical or be recalled if they are not sitting. The prime minister would address the House of Commons. The new monarch would host a meeting with the prime minister and then deliver a speech to the nation at 6 p.m., the evening following the Queen's death. Whitehall and local government buildings will fly flags at half-mast and books of condolence may be opened; ceremonial ornaments, such as ceremonial maces or council chains, are to be put in black purses. Gun salutes will take place at saluting stations and a service of remembrance, to be attended by the prime minister and senior ministers, will be held at St Paul's Cathedral

Different arrangements for moving Queen Elizabeth's coffin are planned depending on where she dies, including plans for Windsor Castle and Scotland. In the event she dies at Windsor Castle or Sandringham House, the coffin would be taken by Royal Train to St Pancras railway station in London, where the prime minister and cabinet ministers would be waiting. Had she died overseas, the coffin would be brought by No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron to RAF Northolt and then by hearse to Buckingham Palace. In all cases, the coffin will be taken to the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. On the 13th of September, five days after the Queen's death, it is planned to be moved to Westminster Hall and, after a service, lie in state for three days.

Ten days after the Queen's death, a state funeral led by the Archbishop of Canterbury will be held at Westminster Abbey. Her body would then be buried in a prepared tomb at King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, alongside Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose coffin will be moved from the Royal Vault. A committal service will be held at St George's Chapel before the burial. As agreed by the Queen and the prime minister, the day of the funeral will be declared a day of national mourning, although a bank holiday will not be granted. A two minutes' silence will take place across the United Kingdom at midday and processions would gather in London and Windsor.

Concurrent operations The plan for the Queen's death and funeral will occur concurrently with plans for the Prince of Wales' accession to the throne. Additionally, an ancillary plan was been created if the Queen died in Scotland.

Operation Spring Tide The Queen's death and funeral plans works concurrently with Operation Spring Tide, the plan for the Prince of Wales' accession to the throne. The day after the Queen’s death, the Accession Council would meet at St James's Palace to proclaim the new monarch. Parliament would meet that evening when MPs would swear allegiance to the new monarch and express condolences for the Queen's death. Most parliamentary activities would then be suspended for 10 days. At 3:30 p.m., the new monarch will host the prime minister and the cabinet for an audience. Two days after the Queen's death, proclamations of the new monarch would be made by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations. On the third day after the Queen's death, the new monarch would receive the motion of condolence at Westminster Hall in the morning and then depart for a tour of the United Kingdom. The new monarch would visit the Scottish parliament and attend a service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. On the next day, the new monarch would visit Northern Ireland, where they would receive a motion of condolence at Hillsborough Castle and attend a service at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast. Seven days after the Queen's death, the new monarch would visit Wales, receiving a motion of condolence at the Welsh parliament and attending a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

Operation Unicorn Operation Unicorn is a plan that outlines what would have happened if the Queen died in Scotland. Details about Operation Unicorn were first reported to the public in 2019, although mention of the codename was first made in the Scottish Parliament's online papers in 2017. Once the death had been made public, Holyrood Palace, St Giles' Cathedral, and the Scottish Parliament would serve as the focal point of gatherings, with a condolence book open to the public set up at the latter location. Parliamentary business would be suspended immediately for at least six parliamentary days, in order to allow authorities to prepare for the funeral. The parliament would then prepare a motion of condolence within 72 hours of reconvening. The Queen's coffin would first lie in repose at Holyrood Palace, followed by a service of reception at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. Following this, the coffin would then be transported to Waverley station and then taken by the Royal Train to London if possible. Otherwise the coffin would be taken by plane to London and welcomed by the prime minister and cabinet ministers.

Corresponding plans Officials from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, known as the Inter-Realm Working Group, have briefed representatives of the Commonwealth realms about the funeral, and succession plans surrounding Operation London Bridge. The governments of the Commonwealth realms will be informed of the death of the monarch from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Global Response Centre.These realms have devised their own plans for what will happen in their respective countries in the days after Elizabeth II's death, which would run concurrently with Operation London Bridge.

Australia Preparations have been made for the death of the Queen in Australia, with statements having been already drafted for the prime minister and governor-general of Australia. The prime minister will be informed of the Queen's death approximately an hour prior to its formal announcement. The prime minister is expected to wear a black tie immediately after its announcement, with the staff of recent past prime ministers having carried a black tie in preparation for the news. The prime minister and governor-general are expected to return to Canberra to make their statements before departing for London with the Royal Australian Air Force. If not scheduled to sit, the Parliament will also be recalled to meet to pass a condolence motion. Plans have the governor-general issuing the Australian proclamation for the accession of a new monarch and his Australian titles at an appropriate ceremony. The Federal Executive Council will also meet to proclaim the new monarch. A flag notice will be issued instructing flags to fly at half-mast immediately for the next ten days, except on the day the accession of the new monarch is proclaimed. Australia will observe a national day of commemoration, which may be declared a public holiday. A state funeral and special Anglican service will be held.  The Australian Defence Force will organise several gun salutes coinciding with events in London, and will participate in ceremonies in the United Kingdom. The Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is expected to observe the Accession Council. In addition, Australian members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom are entitled to sit on the Accession Council. As reported by The Australian in 2022, four official Australian state guests are expected to attend the funeral in London, with an additional 12 Australians also being invited.

Canada In Canada, preparations were made as early as 2002, during Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. Consultations over the plans have been made with the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Privy Council Office, the Canadian secretary to the Queen, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the office of the governor general of Canada, and the office of the Earl Marshal in the United Kingdom. In addition to the federal government, provincial governments have also implemented their own contingency plans for the death of the Queen, and the accession of a new monarch. After receiving the news about the Queen's death, it is the governor general's responsibility to recall the Cabinet to Parliament Hill and proclaim that Canada has a new "lawful and rightful liege." The Privy Council for Canada will also convene to proclaim a new monarch in Canada. The Manual of Official Procedure of the Government of Canada states the prime minister is responsible for convening the Parliament, tabling a resolution of loyalty and condolence from the Parliament to the next monarch of Canada, and arranging for the motion to be seconded by the leader of the Official Opposition. The Prime Minister will then move to adjourn Parliament. The Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is expected to represent Canada at the Accession Council. An official mourning period for Elizabeth II will take place, the length of said period to be determined by the federal government; and issued by the governor general and the Department of Canadian Heritage. During the mourning period, a national memorial service will be held in Ottawa. Additionally, ceremonial maces, portraits of the Queen, and flagpoles at Government Houses across Canada will be draped in black fabric. A book of condolences will also laid out near the front entrance of the Government Houses, with previously planned events cancelled. The death of the sovereign is considered a mandatory half-masting event for the Canadian government. Flags on all federal buildings and establishments in Canada and abroad will be flown at half-mast from the notification of death until sunset on the day of the funeral or memorial service. Specific attire will be worn during the official mourning period. All staff of the governor-general, provincial lieutenant governors, and territorial commissioners will be immediately issued black ties and black armbands. Other government officials will also wear a black armband. However, some legislative employees will have to wear additional attire during the official mourning period. This includes the sergeants-at-arms, who are required to wear black gloves, piqué bow ties, and carry a black scabbard and sword; and pages, who are required to wear black cravats, armbands and ribbons. The death of the sovereign will be considered a "Broadcast of National Importance" by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and a regularly updated plan is maintained. Regular programming would be cancelled, advertisements will be halted, and all CBC television and radio stations will shift to a 24-hour news format.[20] The CBC also has a specially picked on-call squad of broadcasters in the event the sovereign's death occurs during a holiday.

New Zealand In New Zealand, the Cabinet Office of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is responsible for planning the arrangements in response to the Demise of the Crown. New Zealand will receive news of Queen Elizabeth II's death via established communication channels between the Royal Household and New Zealand. Once informed, the head of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage will inform a list of government buildings and other facilities to fly the flag of New Zealand at half-mast up to the day of the funeral; excluding the date the new sovereign is proclaimed. Twenty-one gun salutes will also be ordered "at appropriate times." A state memorial service is expected, although decisions on accompanying events, as well as government protocol will be determined by the prime minister. New Zealand Defence Force personnel would participate in overseas ceremonies. Radio New Zealand (RNZ), the state-radio broadcaster, has a set of guidelines and instructions in the event of the death of the monarch of New Zealand. Across all RNZ stations, broadcasters will break regular programming to announce the death of the Queen, with rolling coverage to begin when ready. RNZ stations are instructed not to play punk music, or songs by the band Queen during this period.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_London_Bridge#Operation_Unicorn

Queen's Obituary

From the BBC:

“Obituary: Queen Elizabeth II”

The long reign of Queen Elizabeth II was marked by her strong sense of duty and her determination to dedicate her life to her throne and to her people. She became for many the one constant point in a rapidly changing world as British influence declined, society changed beyond recognition and the role of the monarchy itself came into question. Her success in maintaining the monarchy through such turbulent times was even more remarkable given that, at the time of her birth, no-one could have foreseen that the throne would be her destiny.

(Princess Elizabeth at her christening ceremony with her parents)

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on 21 April 1926, in a house just off Berkeley Square in London, the first child of Albert, Duke of York, second son of George V, and his duchess, the former Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Both Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret Rose, who was born in 1930, were educated at home and brought up in a loving family atmosphere. Elizabeth was extremely close to both her father and her grandfather, George V. At the age of six, Elizabeth told her riding instructor that she wanted to become a "country lady with lots of horses and dogs". She was said to have shown a remarkable sense of responsibility from a very early age. Winston Churchill, the future prime minister, was quoted as saying that she possessed "an air of authority that was astonishing in an infant". Despite not attending school, Elizabeth proved adept at languages and made a detailed study of constitutional history. A special Girl Guides company, the 1st Buckingham Palace, was formed so that she could socialise with girls of her own age.

Increasing tension

(The newly crowned King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with Princesses Elizabeth & Margaret)

On the death of George V in 1936, his eldest son, known as David, became Edward VIII. However, his choice of wife, the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, was deemed to be unacceptable on political and religious grounds. At the end of the year he abdicated. A reluctant Duke of York became King George VI. His Coronation gave Elizabeth a foretaste of what lay in store for her and she later wrote that she had found the service "very, very wonderful". Against a background of increasing tension in Europe, the new King, together with his wife, Queen Elizabeth, set out to restore public faith in the monarchy. Their example was not lost on their elder daughter. In 1939, the 13-year-old princess accompanied the King and Queen to the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. Together with her sister Margaret, she was escorted by one of the cadets, her third cousin, Prince Philip of Greece.

(Princess Elizabeth makes her first broadcast, accompanied by her younger sister Princess Margaret Rose 12 October 1940 in London)

Obstacles

(Princess Elizabeth's wedding to Philip Mountbatten brightened the post-war gloom)

It was not the first time they had met, but it was the first time she took an interest in him. Prince Philip called on his royal relatives when on leave from the navy, and by 1944, when she was 18, Elizabeth was clearly in love with him. She kept his picture in her room and they exchanged letters. The young princess briefly joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) towards the end of the war, learning to drive and service a lorry. On VE Day, she joined the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace as thousands gathered in The Mall to celebrate the end of the war in Europe. "We asked my parents if we could go out and see for ourselves," she later recalled. "I remember we were terrified of being recognised. I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief." After the war, her desire to marry Prince Philip faced a number of obstacles. The King was reluctant to lose a daughter on whom he doted, and Philip had to overcome the prejudice of an establishment that could not accept his foreign ancestry. But the wishes of the couple prevailed and on 20 November 1947 the couple married in Westminster Abbey. The Duke of Edinburgh, as Philip had become, remained a serving naval officer. For a short time, a posting to Malta meant the young couple could enjoy a relatively normal life. Their first child, Charles, was born in 1948, followed by a sister, Anne, who arrived in 1950. But the King, having suffered considerable stress during the war years, was terminally ill with lung cancer, brought about by a lifetime of heavy smoking. In January 1952, Elizabeth, then 25, set off with Philip for an overseas tour. The King, against medical advice, went to the airport to see the couple off. It was to be the last time Elizabeth would see her father. Elizabeth heard of the death of the King while staying at a game lodge in Kenya and the new Queen immediately returned to London. "In a way, I didn't have an apprenticeship," she later recalled. "My father died much too young, so it was all a very sudden kind of taking on and making the best job you can."

Personal attack

(The Queen at her Coronation in 1953)

Her Coronation in June 1953 was televised, despite the opposition of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and millions gathered around TV sets, many of them for the first time, to watch as Queen Elizabeth II made her oath. With Britain still enduring post-war austerity, commentators saw the Coronation as the dawn of a new Elizabethan age. World War Two had served to hasten the end of the British Empire, and by the time the new Queen set off on a lengthy tour of the Commonwealth in November 1953, many former British possessions, including India, had gained independence. Elizabeth became the first reigning monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand. It was estimated that three-quarters of Australians turned out to see her in person. Throughout the 1950s, more countries hauled down the union flag and the former colonies and dominions now came together as a voluntary family of nations. Many politicians felt that the new Commonwealth could become a counter to the newly emerging European Economic Community and, to some extent, British policy turned away from the Continent.

(The Queen with Prince Phillip and President & Mrs Eisenhower in 1957)

But the decline of British influence was hastened by the Suez debacle in 1956, when it became clear that the Commonwealth lacked the collective will to act together in times of crisis. The decision to send British troops to try to prevent Egypt's threatened nationalisation of the Suez Canal ended in an ignominious withdrawal and brought about the resignation of Prime Minister Anthony Eden. This embroiled the Queen in a political crisis. The Conservative Party had no mechanism for electing a new leader and, after a series of consultations, the Queen invited Harold Macmillan to form a new government. The Queen also found herself the subject of a personal attack by the writer Lord Altrincham. In a magazine article, he claimed her court was "too British" and "upper-class" and accused her of being unable to make a simple speech without a written text. His remarks caused a furore in the press and Lord Altrincham was physically attacked in the street by a member of the League of Empire Loyalists. Nevertheless, the incident demonstrated that British society and attitudes to the monarchy were changing fast and old certainties were being questioned.

From 'the Monarchy' to 'the Royal Family'

(The documentary Royal Family gave an unprecedented look behind the public face of the monarchy)

Encouraged by her husband, notoriously impatient with the court's stuffiness, the Queen began to adapt to the new order. The practice of receiving debutantes at court was abolished and the term "the Monarchy" was gradually replaced by "the Royal Family". The Queen was once more at the centre of a political row when in 1963, Harold Macmillan stood down as prime minister. With the Conservative Party still to set up a system for choosing a new leader, she followed his advice to appoint the Earl of Home in his place. It was a difficult time for the Queen. The hallmark of her reign was constitutional correctness, and a further separation of the monarchy from the government of the day. She took seriously her rights to be informed, to advise and to warn - but did not seek to step beyond them. It was to be the last time she would be put in such a position. The Conservatives finally did away with the tradition that new party leaders just "emerged", and a proper system was put in place. By the late 1960s, Buckingham Palace had decided that it needed to take a positive step to show the Royal Family in a far less formal and more approachable way. The result was a ground-breaking documentary, Royal Family. The BBC was allowed to film the Windsors at home. There were pictures of the family at a barbecue, decorating the Christmas tree, taking their children for a drive - all ordinary activities, but never seen before. Critics claimed that Richard Cawston's film destroyed the mystique of the royals by showing them to be ordinary people, including scenes of the Duke of Edinburgh barbecuing sausages in the grounds at Balmoral. But the film echoed the more relaxed mood of the times and did much to restore public support for the monarchy. By 1977, the Silver Jubilee was celebrated with genuine enthusiasm in street parties and in ceremonies across the kingdom. The monarchy seemed secure in the public's affection and much of that was down to the Queen herself. Two years later, Britain had, in Margaret Thatcher, its first woman prime minister. Relations between the female head of state and female head of government were sometimes said to have been awkward.

Scandals and disasters

(The Windsor Castle fire contributed to the Queen's "annus horribilis")

One difficult area was the Queen's devotion to the Commonwealth, of which she was head. The Queen knew the leaders of Africa well and was sympathetic to their cause. She was reported to have found Thatcher's attitude and confrontational style "puzzling", not least over the prime minister's opposition to sanctions against apartheid South Africa. Year by year, the Queen's public duties continued. After the Gulf War in 1991, she went to the United States to become the first British monarch to address a joint session of Congress. President George HW Bush said she had been "freedom's friend for as long as we can remember". However, a year later, a series of scandals and disasters began to affect the Royal Family. The Queen's second son, the Duke of York, and his wife Sarah separated, while Princess Anne's marriage to Mark Phillips ended in divorce. Then the Prince and Princess of Wales were revealed to be deeply unhappy and eventually split up. The year culminated in a huge fire at the Queen's favourite residence, Windsor Castle. It seemed a grimly appropriate symbol of a royal house in trouble. It was not helped by a public row over whether the taxpayer, or the Queen, should foot the bill for the repairs. The Queen described 1992 as her "annus horribilis" and, in a speech in the City of London, appeared to concede the need for a more open monarchy in return for a less hostile media. "No institution, city, monarchy, whatever, should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don't. But we are all part of the same fabric of our national society and that scrutiny can be just as effective if it is made with a measure of gentleness, good humour and understanding." The institution of monarchy was very much on the defensive. Buckingham Palace was opened to visitors to raise money to pay for the repairs at Windsor and it was announced that the Queen and the Prince of Wales would pay tax on investment income.

(Queen Elizabeth II poses with British Prime Minister David Cameron and heads of government and representatives of Commonwealth nations in London on June 6, 2012)

Abroad, the hopes for the Commonwealth, so high early in her reign, had not been fulfilled. Britain had turned its back on its old partners with new arrangements in Europe. The Queen still saw value in the Commonwealth and was deeply gratified when South Africa, where she had come of age, at last threw apartheid aside. She celebrated with a visit in March 1995. At home, the Queen sought to maintain the dignity of the monarchy while public debate continued on whether the institution had any future.

(The Queen & Prince Philip view flowers laid to commemorate the death of the Princess of Wales)

As Britain struggled to find a new destiny, she tried to remain a reassuring figure, and with a sudden smile could lighten a solemn moment. The role she valued above all was that of symbol of the nation. However, the monarchy was shaken and the Queen herself attracted unusual criticism after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car accident in Paris in August 1997. As the public crowded around the palaces in London with tributes of flowers, the Queen seemed reluctant to provide the focus that she had always tried to do during great national moments. Many of her critics failed to understand that she was from a generation that recoiled from the almost hysterical displays of public mourning that typified the aftermath of the princess's death. She also felt as a caring grandmother that she needed to comfort Diana's sons in the privacy of the family circle. Eventually, she made a live broadcast, paying tribute to her daughter-in-law and making a commitment that the monarchy would adapt.

Losses and celebrations

(Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011)

The deaths of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, in the Queen's Golden Jubilee year, 2002, cast a shadow over nationwide celebrations of her reign. But despite this, and the recurring debate over the future of the monarchy, a million people crowded into The Mall, in front of Buckingham Palace, on the evening of the jubilee. In April 2006, thousands of well-wishers lined the streets of Windsor as the Queen performed an informal walkabout on her 80th birthday. And in November 2007, she and Prince Philip celebrated 60 years of marriage with a service attended by 2,000 people at Westminster Abbey. There was yet another happy occasion in April 2011 when the Queen attended the wedding of her grandson, William, Duke of Cambridge, to Catherine Middleton. In May that year she became the first British monarch to make an official visit to the Irish Republic, an event of great historical significance. In a speech, which she began in Irish, she called for forbearance and conciliation and referred to "things we wish had been done differently or not at all".

Referendum

(Martin McGuinness shakes hands with the Queen)

A year later, on a visit to Northern Ireland as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, she shook hands with the former IRA commander Martin McGuinness. It was a poignant moment for a monarch whose much-loved cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, had been killed by an IRA bomb in 1979. The Diamond Jubilee brought hundreds of thousands of people on to the streets and culminated in a weekend of celebrations in London. The referendum on Scottish independence, in September 2014, was a testing time for the Queen. Few had forgotten her speech to Parliament in 1977 in which she made clear her commitment to a United Kingdom. "I number kings and queens of England and of Scotland, and princes of Wales among my ancestors and so I can readily understand these aspirations. But I cannot forget that I was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." In a remark to well-wishers at Balmoral on the eve of the Scottish referendum, which was overheard, she said she hoped people would think very carefully about the future. Once the result of the vote was known, her public statement underlined the relief she felt that the Union was still intact, although recognising that the political landscape had changed. "Now, as we move forward, we should remember that despite the range of views that have been expressed, we have in common an enduring love of Scotland, which is one of the things that helps to unite us all."

(Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Platinum Pageant on June 5, 2022)

On 9 September 2015 she became the longest reigning monarch in British history, surpassing the reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. In typical style she refused to make any fuss saying the title was "not one to which I have ever aspired". Less than a year later, in April 2016, she celebrated her 90th birthday. She continued with her public duties, often alone after the retirement of the Duke of Edinburgh in 2017. There were continued strains on the family - including her husband's car accident, the Duke of York's ill-judged friendship with convicted American businessman Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Harry's growing disillusionment with life in the royal family. These were unsettling moments, presided over by a monarch who demonstrated that she was still firmly in control. There was also the death of Prince Philip in April 2021, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and her Platinum Jubilee a year later. Although the monarchy might not have been as strong at the end of the Queen's reign as it was at the start, she was determined that it should continue to command a place of affection and respect in the hearts of the British people. On the occasion of her Silver Jubilee, she recalled the pledge she had made on a visit to South Africa 30 years before. "When I was 21, I pledged my life to the service of our people and I asked for God's help to make good that vow. Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgement, I do not regret, or retract, one word of it."

^ She lived a long, full life. She worked long and hard for all of us. She was a great Monarch and Human. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61605149

Through The Years

Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) - the 1st Canadian Monarch and the 1st and Only Canadian Queen - through the years.

New King

Sadly, we Canadians now have Charles as Canadian King and Camilla as his Consort.

I would rather see Canada as a Republic than him staying on as King.

He should Abdicate and his Son, Prince William, should be King of Canada.

Queen Elizabeth II

From the BBC:

“Queen Elizabeth II has died, Buckingham Palace announces”

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier on Thursday. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change. With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. "The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow." All the Queen's children travelled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision. Her grandson, Prince William, is also there, with his brother, Prince Harry, on his way.

Queen Elizabeth II's tenure as head of state spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK's entry into - and withdrawal from - the European Union. Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Liz Truss, born 101 years later in 1975, and appointed by the Queen earlier this week. She held weekly audiences with her prime minister throughout her reign. At Buckingham Palace in London, crowds awaiting updates on the Queen's condition began crying as they heard of her death. The Union flag on top of the palace was lowered to half-mast at 18:30 BST.

The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, in Mayfair, London, on 21 April 1926. Few could have foreseen she would become monarch but in December 1936 her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated from the throne to marry the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth's father became King George VI and, at age 10, Lilibet, as she was known in the family, became heir to the throne. Within three years, Britain was at war with Nazi Germany. Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, spent much of wartime at Windsor Castle after their parents rejected suggestions they be evacuated to Canada. After turning 18, Elizabeth spent five months with the Auxiliary Territorial Service and learned basic motor mechanic and driving skills. "I began to understand the esprit de corps that flourishes in the face of adversity," she recalled later. Through the war, she exchanged letters with her third cousin, Philip, Prince of Greece, who was serving in the Royal Navy. Their romance blossomed and the couple married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947, with the prince taking the title of Duke of Edinburgh. She would later describe him as "my strength and stay" through 74 years of marriage, before his death in 2021, aged 99. Their first son, Charles, was born in 1948, followed by Princess Anne, in 1950, Prince Andrew, in 1960, and Prince Edward, in 1964. Between them, they gave their parents eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya in 1952, representing the ailing King, when Philip broke the news that her father had died. She immediately returned to London as the new Queen. "It was all a very sudden kind of taking on and making the best job you can," she later recalled. Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, aged 27, in front of a then-record TV audience estimated at more than 20 million people. Subsequent decades would see great change, with the end of the British Empire overseas and the swinging '60s sweeping away social norms at home.

^ The First Canadian Monarch and the First Canadian Queen has died. She was a remarkable Queen and Person who did so much for so many. She reigned for 70 years and 214 days. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61585886

$2.6 Billion Aid

From the BBC:

“Ukraine war: US approves $2.6bn in aid for Ukraine and allies”

(Ukrainian servicemen operate with US-made 155mm M777 towed howitzer at their positions in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, 28 July 2022)

The US has approved nearly $2.7bn (£2.3bn) in new aid for Ukraine and allies, including $675m in weapons for Ukraine as it battles Russia. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the arms package at a meeting with dozens of fellow ministers at the US air base in Ramstein, Germany. The aid includes howitzers, munitions, Humvee vehicles, armoured ambulances and anti-tank systems. The US has already pledged at least $13bn in military aid for Ukraine. The Biden administration said on Thursday it had earmarked $2bn in long-term assistance in the form of investments to bolster the security of Ukraine and 18 of its neighbours, including both Nato members and non-members at risk of future Russian aggression. It said it would notify Congress of the aid plan.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as his colleague urged Ukraine's allies to commit to supporting the country for as long as necessary and be prepared to adapt the type of support offered. "It means moving urgently to innovate and to push all of our defence industrial basis to provide Ukraine with the tools that it will need," Mr Austin said. Describing Russia's invasion as an "illegal, imperial and indefensible war of conquest", he said: "Now we're seeing the demonstrable success of our common efforts on the battlefield."

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's military had recently carried out successful attacks against Russian forces which control large areas of Ukraine in the south and the east - and retaken settlements near the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. He did not give details but both Ukrainian and pro-Russian officials report fighting around Balakleya, 60km (38 miles) south-east of Kharkiv. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says there are signs Ukraine is making real military progress. Western-supplied long-range artillery and rockets are helping to target Russian supply lines and command centres. Russian President Vladimir Putin denied reverses on Wednesday, saying: "We have not lost anything and will not lose anything." Russia says it is fighting neo-Nazis in Ukraine - a claim widely dismissed - and that it is threatened by the Nato alliance's strong relations with Ukraine.

Since the invasion on 24 February, the UN has recorded at least 5,718 civilian deaths, with 8,199 injured, and more than seven million Ukrainians have been recorded as refugees across Europe. An unknown number of combatants have been killed or injured. Russia, a global energy supplier, is locked in an economic struggle with the West which imposed sweeping sanctions in response to the invasion.

^ Ukraine needs and deserves all the help the US and the whole world can give it to defeat Russia. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62832881

Queen's Health

From the BBC:

“Queen under medical supervision at Balmoral”

The Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace has said. All the Queen's children are gathering at, or are travelling to, her Scottish estate near Aberdeen. "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision," a statement said. The Queen is "comfortable", it added. It is very unusual for Buckingham Palace to put out a statement like this - it is usually unwilling to provide a commentary on the 96-year-old monarch's medical matters, which are seen as private.

Prince Charles has travelled to Balmoral with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. The Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of York, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived at Aberdeen Airport just before 16:00 BST. They are travelling to the Queen's Scottish estate, about 40 miles (64km) west of Aberdeen. The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, was already in Scotland undertaking engagements and is in Balmoral. The Duchess of Cambridge has remained in Windsor with their children on their first full day at school. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were due to attend a charity event in London, are also travelling to Balmoral, said a spokeswoman.

Barriers have been being placed outside one of the entrances to the estate. There are clearly pressing concerns for the Queen's health - much more explicitly put than before and without any reference to this only being about difficulties with mobility. There are also warnings against unfounded speculation, such as that she might have had a fall. And on Tuesday she was photographed smiling as she appointed new Prime Minister Liz Truss. But from the last-minute cancellation of what would only have been a virtual meeting of the Privy Council - of senior ministers - there is no mistaking the fragility of the Queen's health. Ms Truss said the "whole country" would be "deeply concerned" by the news. "My thoughts - and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom - are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time," she added. The Queen appointed Ms Truss as prime minister at Balmoral, instead of travelling to London for the event.

During her 70-year reign the Queen has typically had an audience with her new prime minister at Buckingham Palace. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: "My prayers, and the prayers of people across the [Church of England] and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today. "May God's presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral."

Political leaders send best wishes to Queen News of the Queen's ill-health came as MPs heard details of the government's new plan to help households and businesses with energy costs in the House of Commons. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi entered the Commons and spoke to Ms Truss. Notes were then passed to the Commons speaker and Labour front bench. The palace statement came minutes later. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement he was "deeply worried", while Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sent her thoughts and wishes to the Queen. Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford sent his best wishes on behalf of the people of Wales. The monarch has been on a summer break at her Scottish home since July.

^ I hope that the Queen recovers or at least that she is made comfortable at the end. ^

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62836057

Victory Soon

 

Little Debbie Off Bases

From AF Times:

“Commissaries bid adieu to Little Debbie snack cakes”

“Grief after all is the price we pay for love,” wrote grief therapist David Malham. Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and coasties alike will soon know the sadness that comes when something beloved is lost. This is in reference, of course, to the news that commissaries will soon no longer stock shelves with Little Debbie snack cakes. Gone too soon are the nights when a sad sailor on 24-hour duty could pace the aisles and seek solace in a Swiss Roll. And no coastie will ever again indulge in an Oatmeal Creme Pie.

McKee Foods, the maker of Little Debbie snack cakes, has said it can no longer shoulder the burden of providing the sweets to the Defense Commissary Agency and Navy Exchange Service, company spokesman Mike Gloekler told Stars and Stripes. The regulatory standards are simply too costly. “As supporters of the men and women who serve the United States military this was a very difficult decision for us to make,” he said. “We believe in the mission of forward-deployed troops, and we understand the impact that the comforts of home have on morale. Perhaps some will see an opportunity to streamline federal contractor compliance.” And while Little Debbie snack cakes will still be sold in off-base grocery stores, the company’s dwindling stock on commissary shelves is sure to be a blow to morale. For the butter bars who love Nutty Bars, it’s a day of great mourning.

^ This is a sad day for the Men and Women and all their Dependents in the US Military. It is one thing if you are stationed in the US and can go off base and get them and another if you are stationed overseas and can’t. ^

https://www.airforcetimes.com/off-duty/2022/09/07/commissaries-bid-adieu-to-little-debbie-snack-cakes/

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

 

I have shown pictures from the outside of the Monastery of Caves (that Me, my Mom and my Sister) visited in Kyiv, Ukraine in November 2007.

It is officially called Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Києво-Печерська лавра in Ukrainian.)

There are over a hundred Saints and Leaders buried in the Caves among them Pope Clement I (his head is in the Caves the rest of him is in Rome.)

Here are some pictures from the outside and the inside of the Monastery of Caves (luckily it has not been destroyed by the Russian Bombings.) The last one I personally took.

Exciting Education

 

Ban NY

When I was in New York last week the one thing my Great-Aunt was so excited about (besides seeing my Sister and Me) was when I brought her 2 large containers filled with plastic bags.

Plastic Bags are now illegal in New York so you can’t get them anywhere. They are legal in my State. A few months ago, when she first told me about the Bag Law, I mailed a small box filled with lots of plastic bags.

She was so pleased and was even giving them to a select few of her Friends.  When I heard she was rationing them and giving them out I brought 2 large containers filled with plastic bags this time.

Recently, New York also made it illegal for 18, 19 and 20 year olds to buy whipped cream.

It’s a sorry state of events when New York makes Drugs legal, but Whipped Cream and Plastic Bags are illegal.  When I see such injustice and stupidity going on I have no problem helping in every way I can.

I will gladly buy as much whipped cream to anyone 18 to 20 years old in New York  - if you can join the US Military or the Police Force and risk your life for me the least I can do is buy you whipped cream.

I will also continue to supply my Great-Aunt and all her Friends in New York with as many plastic bags as they want.

Commie Ammo

Russia is so desperate for ammunition and weapons that they are buying old Soviet ammo that the USSR gave to North Korea.

Note: The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 - 31 years ago. That should tell you have badly the Russian War in Ukraine is going.

Let's keep this up by continuing to give Ukraine all the modern weapons we have.

Ad Streaming

From Yahoo:

“Netflix's new ad-supported tier will return company to growth: analyst”

Netflix's (NFLX) upcoming ad-supported tier will cost between $7 to $9 a month, according to a new Bloomberg report — and one analyst is confident this price range will prove successful. "This is going to work," Michael Pachter, managing director at Wedbush Securities, told Yahoo Finance Live in a new interview. "The trick here is to convince a subscriber who's quitting that they can [cut their costs in half] and go from $15.49 down to $7.99," the analyst continued.  Pachter added that Netflix has reached peak penetration levels in above-median income households in the U.S. and Canada, further underscoring the need for a more affordable, ad-supported option.

Bloomberg noted Netflix will play four minutes of ads for every hour of content. Pachter surmised many consumers won't be phased by the disruption, citing the lengthy ad spots viewers endure during broadcast and cable television programs. "Most consumers will tough it out," he said, doubling down that the upcoming ad-supported tier will slow churn, or the number of customers that drop off the service. "You're going to see subscriber growth start back up, and then investors are going to be confident that this is a growth company — slow growth, but growing," he stated, anticipating that Netflix's share price will rise as a result. Netflix shares are currently trading at around $224, flat over the last month but still down roughly 62% year-to-date.

Streaming platforms have battled a more fickle consumer in recent years. According to data from subscriber-measurement firm Antenna cited by The Wall Street Journal, about 19% of subscribers to premium services — which includes Netflix, Hulu (DIS), Apple TV+ (AAPL), HBO Max (WBD), among others — canceled three or more subscriptions in the two years up to June, compared to just 6% in the two-year period leading up to June 2020. This increased churn, coupled with stalling growth in domestic markets, has contributed to big losses in recent quarters with Netflix shedding 1 million subscribers in the second quarter, while Peacock (CMCSA) subscriptions remained flat. To offset the subscriber slowdown and buoy revenues, price hikes and ad-supported options have hit virtually every streaming-facing media company as Wall Street looks beyond subscriber counts and zones in on profitability and free cash flow. In addition to Netflix, Disney has also hopped on the ad-tier bandwagon, revealing the official launch date for its ad-supported offering will be December 8. This new tier will cost consumers $7.99 a month — the same price as Disney+'s current ad-free plan before prices jump 38% to $10.99 in December. The price of Hulu's ad-free service will rise by $2 a month to $14.99 beginning October 10. Hulu with ads will go up by $1, to $7.99 a month. Apple TV+ is also rumored to be exploring an ad-supported option, while Warner Bros. Discovery revealed it will have three tiers once the combined HBO Max-Discovery+ platform when it debuts next summer.

^ I don’t mind paying less to get a few ads, but I do wish there was one Streaming Service you could pay for and get to see shows and movies from every Streaming Service. ^

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/netflixs-ad-supported-tier-subscriber-growth-analyst-212202569.html

Dinner Plans

 

Zelensky Vs Putin

 

I have just watched Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Interview with David Muir.

I have watched his other Interviews and speeches (in English and in Ukrainian) for 6 months now.

I have watched Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Interviews and Speeches (in English and in Russian) for 6 months now.

1 thing I can clearly tell is the difference between the two Presidents – the 2 Men.

Putin is a Power-Hungry, Evil Little Man who has lost his grasp on reality. He doesn’t care who he kills (whether it is 20,000+ Russian Soldiers or 28,000+ Ukrainian, Men, Women and Children.) He would gladly give his own 2 Daughters’ (who are 37 and 36 years old) lives and the lives of his Grandchildren if it meant he could stay in Full-Control for a minute longer. He is a sick man who only has sick intentions for Russia, Ukraine and the whole World.

Zelensky is a Man who puts others first. He cares about every single Man, Woman and Children that is wounded or killed. He is a Family Man who wishes his 9 year old Son and his 17 year old Daughter could live freely and out of the Bomb Shelters. He is extremely grateful to the US, the US, Canada, the EU, etc. for helping his country. He sees how Ordinary Citizens of the World have come together to help Ukraine.

To support Putin and Russia is to support Genocide and War Crimes.

To support Zelensky and Ukraine is to support Freedom and Democracy.

Period.

There has been no Gray Area since the Russian Massacres (ie. the Bucha Massacre) of April 2022.

4 Out Of 3

 

50: Commemoration

From the DW:

“German and Israeli presidents commemorate 50 years since Munich Olympics attack”

(The presidents of Germany and Israel, along with their partners, attend a memorial event)

In 1972, eight Palestinian militants stormed the Israeli apartment in the Munich Olympic village. In the bungled police operations that followed, all nine Israeli hostages were killed. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday asked for forgiveness from the families of the Israeli Olympic team members who were slaughtered at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Steinmeier was speaking alongside his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog at a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the attack, in which 11 Israelis were killed. "We cannot make up for what happened; we cannot make up for the obstruction, ignorance and injustice you experienced and suffered. That shames me," Steinmeier said at a ceremony at Fürstenfeldbruck airbase, where the 1972 terror attack came to a climax.  "As the head of state of this country and in the name of the Federal Republic of Germany, I ask your forgiveness for the woefully inadequate protection afforded to the Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich and for the woefully inadequate investigation afterwards — for the fact that it was possible for what happened to happen." "I have a duty and a need to acknowledge Germany's responsibility — here and now and into the future. May the outcome of today be that you, the families, feel properly seen and heard in your pain and feel that we take our responsibility seriously."

What happened in 1972? On September 5, 1972, eight Palestinian gunmen stormed the Israeli team's apartment at the Olympic village. The Black September militants shot dead two Israeli team members, and took a further nine Israelis hostage. In a botched response from West German police, all nine hostages were killed, as well as five hostage-takers and a police officer. The incident caused a deep rift between Germany and Israel, just 27 years after the Holocaust and during the first major international sporting event on German soil since the 1936 Berlin Olympics. West Germany had hoped the Games would showcase a new face to the country, but the actions of police and German security authorities were harshly criticized and caused outrage in Israel. In his speech, Steinmeier said the Games were supposed to represent a counterpoint to the Nazi-run Berlin games in 1936. The fact that Israel had taken part — survivors of the Holocaust were among the team members — was a show of confidence in the new face of Germany, but they failed as hosts. "Intrinsic to the sad and painful truth of this commemoration is the fact that we wanted to be good hosts, but did not live up to the trust that the Israeli sportsmen and their families had placed in Germany. They were not safe. They were not protected. In our country, they were tortured and killed by terrorists." Israel's Herzog later praised Steinmeier for a "brave and historic speech". "It represents, half a century later, an important step of morality and justice for the victims, for the families, and for history itself," Herzog said.

Mayor apologizes for 'momentous mistakes' At a separate ceremony at the Olympic village on Monday morning, Munich mayor Dieter Reiter apologized for the "momentous mistakes" of the organizers of the Games. "I am sorry for that and I apologize for the fact that after the attack, what would have been demanded by humanity was simply not done — admitting the mistakes and taking responsibility for them." At the village event, Israeli Sports Minister Hili Tropper said the hostages had been murdered in cold blood, and the fact the Games had continued as planned meant the event was stained with blood.

Family members receive compensation Bereaved family members had threatened to overshadow Monday's events with a boycott over a long-delayed compensation deal. However, Germany on Wednesday agreed to an increased €28 million ($28 million) payout for relatives, averting the boycott. In the deal, the German state for the first time acknowledged its "responsibility" in failings that led to the deaths of 11 Israelis. Family members had long fought for an official apology, and access to official documents. Steinmeier thanked the families for attending Monday’s events, as well all those who made the deal possible. "Honored family members, we cannot fathom what suffering, what pain you have been through. We can only imagine what the loss of your sons, husbands, fathers meant to you and still means to you." Steinmeier called for ongoing reconciliation between Germany and Israel. "The friendship, the reconciliation that Israel has afforded us is nothing less than a miracle." "May the outcome of today also be that we Germans prove ourselves worthy of the precious asset which forms the foundation of that friendship — the asset which was so badly damaged in this place 50 years ago: trust." Herzog will also hold a speech in the German parliament, or Bundestag, on Tuesday, and visit the former concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen, where thousands of Jews were imprisoned under the Nazi regime. Many died of disease, starvation and mistreatment.

^ It took the Germans 50 years to finally apologize to Israel and the Israeli Victims and admit their mistakes during the 1972 Olympics.

1972 could have been 1942 - the Germans gave the same disregard to Jewish Life then as during the Holocaust. In 2022, things are just slightly better - slightly. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/german-and-israeli-presidents-commemorate-50-years-since-munich-olympics-attack/a-63022330

Truss Is PM

From News Nation:

“Liz Truss set to become UK prime minister”

Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Foreign Secretary Liz Truss as the party’s new leader, putting her in line to be confirmed as prime minister. Truss’s selection was announced Monday in London after a leadership election in which only the 180,000 dues-paying members of the Conservative Party were allowed to vote. Truss beat rival Rishi Sunak, the government’s former Treasury chief, by promising to increase defense spending and cut taxes, while refusing to say how she would address the cost-of-living crisis. Truss received 81,326 votes to Sunak’s 60,399.

Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled to formally name Truss as Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday. The ceremony will take place at the queen’s Balmoral estate in Scotland, where the monarch is vacationing, rather than at Buckingham Palace. The two-month leadership contest left Britain with a power vacuum at a time when consumers, workers and businesses were demanding government action to mitigate the impact of soaring food and energy prices. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has had no authority to make major policy decisions since July 7, when he announced his intention to resign. With household energy bills set to increase by 80% next month, charities warn that as many as one in three households will face fuel poverty this winter, leaving millions of people to choose between eating and heating their homes. The Bank of England has forecast that inflation will reach a 42-year high of 13.3% in October, threatening to push Britain into a prolonged recession. “The new prime minister is facing a very, very difficult inheritance,” said Tim Bale, a political analyst and professor at Queen Mary University of London. Johnson was forced to resign after a series of ethics scandals that peaked in July when dozens of cabinet ministers and lower level officials resigned over his handling of allegations of sexual misconduct by a senior member of his government. Under Britain’s parliamentary system of government, the center-right Conservative Party was allowed to hold an internal election to select a new party leader and prime minister, without going to the wider electorate. A new general election isn’t required until December 2024.

^ I don’t know how Truss will do, but hopefully she continues to have great relationships with Canada, the United States and Ukraine. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/liz-truss-set-to-become-uk-prime-minister/

Labrador Or Labor?

 

^ Is it Labor Day Weekend or Labrador Weekend? ^

KSAR: Charity Day

From Kabul Small Animal Rescue’s Facebook:

Oh hey! Thank you all so much for the birthday greetings and donations for our facility improvements--these sly little faces are looking forward to it!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/kabul-operations?fbclid=IwAR3Q4C026DqtWh0HVQ_9EzEBoDk4aBI4hyziHveE741HZ78dPeT5fRQW3e4

^ For International Day of Charity today: KSAR helps care for abandoned, abused and sick animals in Kabul. It is run by an American Woman (Charlotte Maxwell-Jones.) Please click on the link to help them continue to help animals. ^