BONNIE Prince Charlie is to be the subject of an epic £30m
movie destined to be Hollywood's biggest historical blockbuster
since Braveheart.
Ecosse Films, the makers of Mrs Brown and Charlotte Gray,
have chosen English heart-throb Jude Law to play the Young
Pretender.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the summer smash Pearl Harbor, has
been lined up by producer Douglas Rae as the prince's saviour,
Flora MacDonald.
The movie will battle at the box office with another film about
the Highland heroine, produced by Peter Broughan, who made
the successful epic Rob Roy.
Rae's film, to be shot entirely in Scotland, will present a heroic
version of the controversial prince's life.
Rae was inspired to create Bonnie Prince Charlie after seeing
the "questionable" historical accuracy of Braveheart and Rob
Roy.
A centrepiece of the film will be the bloody clash at Culloden,
the last battle on British soil, and the prince's subsequent flight
through the Highlands.
"Bonnie Prince Charlie is a fantastic story," said Rae.
"I'm going to have the most beautiful and talented actor in
England, Jude Law, and Kate would make a lovely Flora."
"My film will be judged alongside Braveheart, but the facts of
his time are very well documented, whereas Braveheart was an
Australian's film," he said.
Bonnie Prince Charlie will be Ecosse Films' biggest movie to
date. Charlotte Gray, starring Cate Blanchett, had a budget of
£20m. Rae said: "It is brilliant that British companies are now
making Hollywood-sized films. They are just as important as
the small ones that we are known for."
Meanwhile, one of Scotland's most keenly anticipated film
productions of 2001 could be ruined by a American actors'
strike. Fly Me To Dunoon, a romantic comedy set in New York
and the west coast of Scotland, has been billed by Scottish
Screen as one of the most important productions of the year.
But filming coincides with a planned strike by the Screen
Actors Guild of America this summer, which would mean
leading man Dan Futterman could not work in it.
~*~
Royals commemorate death of Victoria(BBC News)
Victoria's funeral procession leaving Osborne House
The Queen Mother has attended a church
service commemorating the 100th anniversary
of Queen Victoria's death.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh also joined
in prayers for Victoria the Queen-Empress at
St Lawrence parish church, Castle Rising, near
Sandringham, the Queen's Norfolk estate.
The Queen Mother steadied herself using two
walking sticks as she walked the few yards
from the Royal car into church.
Dressed in a purple
overcoat and matching
hat, she smiled at the
large crowd as she got
out of the car.
The service included
readings from Victoria's
diaries and music
composed by her husband Prince Albert.
Canon George Hall, Rector of Sandringham
group of parishes, told the service: "As we
commemorate tomorrow the 100th anniversary
of her death we give thanks for the life of
Queen Victoria.
"For all that she did in her long reign for this
country and for the rest of the world.
"May we uphold in our lives those principles
which made her a great human being and
monarch."
A public service at St George's Chapel, in the
precincts of Windsor Castle, being broadcast
by BBC Radio 4 on Sunday, is also marking the
centenary of Victoria's death.
And on Monday, the anniversary, the Victorian
Society will lay a wreath at the Queen Victoria
Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace.
Died peacefully
Canon Hall said Queen Victoria visited the
church at Great Rising in April 1889.
Her funeral was held at the chapel on 2
February 1901.
Victoria died peacefully at the age of 81 at
Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
She was buried, beside
Prince Albert, in the
Frogmore Royal
Mausoleum at Windsor
Home Park on 4
February 1901.
One of the most
remarkable buildings of
the Victorian age, it
will be open to the
public, free of charge,
on 4 February this year
as well as on 23 May,
the nearest
Wednesday to Victoria's birthday.
Queen Victoria reigned for nearly 64 years -
longer than any other British sovereign.
When she succeeded her uncle, William IV, in
1837, the monarchy was probably less popular
than at any time since the 17th Century.
By the end of the reign, the crown had been
raised to new heights of prestige and
affection, and the British Empire ruled much of
the world.
~*~
Princess rests at home(BBC News)
Princess Margaret is continuing to recover at
her home in Kensington after leaving hospital
at the weekend.
She was allowed to leave the Edward VII
Hospital in central London on Saturday, where
she was treated for a suspected minor stroke.
She was expected to rejoin the Queen and
other members of the Royal Family at
Sandringham.
But a spokesman for
Buckingham Palace said
the 70-year-old
princess would not be
making the journey to
the Queen's Norfolk
estate on Monday.
"The princess has
decided to spend a
little time resting
quietly close to her
children," she said.
Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto live in
central London.
It is tradition for the Royal Family to stay at
Sandringham until 6 February, the anniversary
of King George VI's death, the Queen's father.
'Enormous improvement'
Princess Margaret, 70, was taken ill just before
Christmas and was admitted to hospital after
suffering a severe loss of appetite.
She is said to have made an "enormous"
improvement and is eating small meals.
The princess smiled at well-wishers as she left
the hospital without the aid of a walking stick
or a wheelchair.
She was helped down three steps and into the
back seat of the car into which a member of
her staff had climbed moments before with a
bouquet of yellow flowers.
Princess Margaret had
been ill for some time.
Three years ago she
suffered a mild stroke
while holidaying on the
Caribbean island of
Mustique and was
flown back to Britain
for treatment at the
King Edward VII
hospital.
In March 1999, again
while in Mustique, the princess was left
seriously debilitated after being scalded on her
legs and feet in the bath.
It is now uncertain whether the princess will
be well enough to take her annual break in her
favourite holiday destination next month.