QUEEN Elizabeth the Queen Mother is to defy anti-monarchy protesters by
parading through central London in an open-top carriage on her 100th
birthday on August 4.
Fears had grown that the Queen Mother would be forced to spend the day at
Clarence House, her London home, after the Movement Against the
Monarchy (MAM) revealed its plans for a large demonstration against the
Royal Family.
Anarchist organisers expect at least 500 militant protesters to attend after its
web site said: "Next big event in all you royal lovers' diaries is Friday, August
4, 2000, 3pm. Queen Mum's birthday bash at Clarence House. Hell if we're
paying for it we might as well be there."
This weekend, however, The Telegraph can reveal that after weeks of
discussions between Buckingham Palace and Scotland Yard, the Queen
Mother has decided that she will make a procession from Clarence House to
Buckingham Palace so that she does not disappoint thousands of admirers
who are travelling from all over the world to pay tribute to her.
Senior officials have revealed that she will travel in a horse-drawn carriage
and will be escorted by the Household Cavalry, possibly accompanied by Sir
Alastair Aird, her private secretary, and a lady-in-waiting.
The procession will go from Clarence House to Pall Mall to Marlborough
Gate, into The Mall and up to Buckingham Palace. She will wave to the
public from the balcony of Buckingham Palace before spending part of the
day with the Queen, and, possibly, Princess Margaret. One official said: "It's
quite a short journey but it will allow at least 35,000 people to line the route.
We believe that this is a route which the Metropolitan Police will be able to
make secure."
Sir John Mills, the veteran actor, director and producer who will be paying a
public tribute to the Queen Mother at her birthday pageant, yesterday praised
her decision to defy the protesters. He said: "The Queen Mother has proved
many times in the past, especially during the Blitz, that she knows the meaning
of the word 'courage'. To stop the Queen Mother from travelling to
Buckingham Palace from Clarence House would be like trying to stop the
Flying Scotsman with a banana on the line."
A spokesman for MAM, who declined to give his name, promised a
substantial demonstration on August 4. He said: "Our aim is to get as near as
possible to the Queen Mother. Apart from that I can't say any more because
we need to be flexible because otherwise we won't get anywhere near her.
This is our next big protest and they won't come any bigger than this one."
The open-top procession will be one of three events to mark the Queen
Mother's 100th birthday. On Tuesday there will be a celebratory mass at St
Paul's Cathedral and on Wednesday, July 19, more than 12,000 guests will
attend the birthday pageant at Horse Guards Parade.
In May, Scotland Yard officers said that they were taking threats against the
Queen Mother's birthday celebrations "extremely seriously". Among those
expected to attend is Michael Fagan, who once broke into Buckingham
Palace, sat on the Queen's bed and chatted to her. He is now believed to be
living at an anarchist squat in north London. Yesterday a spokeswoman for
Scotland Yard said: "The event will be policed accordingly."
~*~
Apple juice from Sandringham takes
Queen into commerce(Electronic Telegraph)
By Jo Knowsley, Countryside Correspondent
THE Queen is to sell her own brand of fruit juice, becoming the latest member
of the Royal family to enter the world of commerce.
The apple juice from apples grown, pressed and bottled on the Sandringham
estate in Norfolk, is to be marketed from October. The Queen has registered
her two private homes as trademarks in a new move to sell merchandise
under the brand names of Sandringham and Balmoral, it emerged today.
The apple juice will be the first agricultural produce from Sandringham to be
sold to the public under its own brand. Among the proposed branded items
for sale from Balmoral, in central Scotland, are venison, glassware, household
utensils and clothing. Both estates have been registered with the UK
Trademarks Registry, a branch of the Patent Office.
It is the first time the Queen has exploited the names of her houses for
commercial purposes, although the Prince of Wales has a similar commercial
venture with Duchy of Cornwall produce. The Queen's application was filed
under a company called Flitcham Ltd, whose directors are the outgoing Lord
Chamberlain, Lord Camoys, and Sir Michael Peat, the Keeper of the Privy
Purse.
Marcus O'Lone, land agent for Sandringham, said he had hoped to keep the
apple juice venture secret for a little longer. "It is early days," he said. "We are
planning to go into the production of apple juice, pressed from apples grown
on the Sandringham Estate and will be going on the market in the autumn."
The apple juice will be derived from eight varieties of apples, including Laxton
Fortune, Worcesters and Bramleys, which are grown in the orchards of the
Norfolk estate. They will be pressed, bottled and branded with a
Sandringham logo, yet to be finalised, before being sold to leading restaurants
and delicatessens.
At some outlets, such as Partridges, the delicatessen in Sloane Street,
London, it will be placed beside organic produce, such as jams, juices and
cheeses, from the Duchy of Cornwall. The Queen's apple juice, however, will
not be organic.
The juice is being promoted by John Shepherd, who owns Partridges and
Shepherd Foods. He said. "We had only a small amount to offer this year but
we hope we will be producing in greater quantities in the autumn."
Peas and beans grown on the Queen's estates are already used by Bird's Eye,
and blackcurrents from the Sandringham estate are used in the manufacture of
the fruit drink Ribena.
~*~
Royals bowl them over in Wessex(Evening Standard)
The Earl and Countess of Wessex delighted members of a
bowling club by trying their hands at the sport.
The Royal couple were opening a new green at Taunton
Deane Bowling Club, Somerset, on the opening
engagement of their first official visit to Somerset, Dorset
and Devon - the ancient kingdom of their title.
The Earl joked with more than 200 members of the club,
who crowded round the green and applauded as he rolled
the wood to within about 10ft of the jack.
They cheered as the Countess followed her husband with
an effort which ended up about the same distance away.
The couple then asked for another go each to the delight
of the crowd.
The club's ladies captain Gwen Allen, who showed the
Prince how to hold and bowl his wood, said: "I think he's
had a go before.
"Both of them were very good and asked if they could
have another go. "I thought the Countess did very well
indeed."
The men's captain Colin Greenslade said: "It was just
lovely to have them both here."