Adorable home videos of Prince Charles early life have been released, and they were produced by the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, herself.
Guests at a reception for the British Film industry were treated to the film ‘Prince Charles at home’ showcasing the adorable young royal, and the production skills of his film enthusiast mother.
The footage shows a baby Prince Charles struggling with his steps, playing peekaboo with mum, and collapsing in fits of laughter as the soon-to-be Queen tickles his tummy.
They often stole the spotlight from their human co-stars and are fondly remembered even decades after their death – they're the animals from our favourite movies and TV shows.
They often stole the spotlight from their human co-stars and are fondly remembered even decades after their death – they’re the animals from our favourite movies and TV shows.
What would Skippy have been without the kangaroo? Lassie without the collie? Mr Ed without the talking horse?
These are the animal stars that made ordinary films and television shows instant classics beloved by generations.
Who is your favourite?
Babe the pig.
Marcel the monkey from *Friends*.
Marcel the monkey from Friends.
Milo and Otis from *The Adventures of Milo and Otis*.
Milo and Otis from The Adventures of Milo and Otis.
It was the romance everyone said would never last, Shane Warne and Liz Hurley's love affair isn't cooling off yet - and they've proved it with a romantic trip to Paris.
It was the romance everyone said would never last, Shane Warne and Liz Hurley’s love affair isn’t cooling off yet.
The couple have just returned from two days in Paris, the city of love, and couldn’t resist posting loved-up photos of themselves at famous monuments on their social media accounts.
Liz, 47, uploaded the images with soppy captions praising her “gorgeous” fiancé.
The couple are reportedly planning to marry later this year.
“@warne888 and I lurking at the Louvre,” Liz wrote on Twitter.
Liz tweeted: “At the Eiffel Tower! Yes, we wheezed up every step.”
“And here’s my gorgeous @warne888 at the Arc de Triomphe,” Liz tweeted.
Some snails the couple ate for dinner.
Shane and Liz in Mumbai in May 2011.
Shane debuts his wrinkle-free face in London in June 2011.
Warnie and Liz do lunch in London in June 2011.
The couple in London in July 2011.
Shane and Liz attend a breast cancer gala in July 2011.
Australia is in the grip of an epidemic: almost half the adult population will suffer from a mental illness at some time in their lives. Anxiety and depression are at the top of the list, but modern treatments can do much to alleviate the pain, writes Michael Sheather.
At the height of her life-long battle with anxiety and depression, Maddie Kennedy’s world often shrank to the space of within her bedroom walls. During her workday week, she presented a face of happiness and stability to everyone who knew her, but in the dead of night and on weekends, when her truck driver husband was on the road, Maddie succumbed to the fear and chaos that constantly threatened to overwhelm her.
“I spent most of my life hiding my condition,” says Maddie, 42, who has suffered both depression and a complex form of anxiety obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since she was four.
“I lived in constant fear that something bad would happen to me, to my family, to my husband, and that somehow it would all be my fault.”
Maddie is one of millions who suffer from anxiety and depression, the most prevalent mental illnesses in Australia. These conditions reach deep into the Australian psyche, affecting as many as 2.5 million people each year or roughly 10 per cent of the population.
Even more staggeringly, 45 per cent of Australians suffer a mental illness at some time in their lives. And, according to the statistics, women report these illnesses at twice the rate of men.
Anxiety, a condition characterised by persistent, excessive worry, is the most widespread, with 2.3 million sufferers. The most common form is post-traumatic stress disorder, followed in descending order by social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), agoraphobia, panic disorder and OCD.
“Women tend to worry a lot more than men,” says psychiatrist Professor Ian Hickie, one of Australia’s mental health commissioners and the director of the Sydney University Brain and Mind Research Institute.
“It’s women who are at the epicentre of the family, who take the emotional burdens of the family on their shoulders.
“And because they tend to have a better awareness of their own emotions and because they talk about them to friends and family, women seek help earlier, usually in their 30s, but men are often untreated until their late 40s and even their 50s. They bottle everything inside and end up drinking, often on their own, and that is very dangerous behaviour.”
Nobody is sure exactly what causes either anxiety or depression. Many believe the illnesses spring from interacting influences, including stressful circumstances, a traumatic event such as an accident or even child abuse, inherited predisposition, personality traits and socio-economic factors.
“We need to lose the stigma that is attached to mental illness,” says Professor Ian Hickie.
“It’s an illness and should be seen just like any other condition. We need to be in a place where we watch each other’s back. We need to have that awkward conversation … Are you okay? Do you need help? What’s the matter? What’s the next step?
“This is a massive problem simply because of the crippling emotional impact it has. Everyone knows someone who has a mental health problem and if you can’t point to someone who needs help, then you simply don’t know the people who are close to you.”
Read more of this story in the February issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
As a former holder of the title ‘world’s most eligible bachelor’, Prince William isn’t used to rejection, but he was left red-faced yesterday as a little girl refused his kiss.
Four-year-old Shona Ritchie appeared to be more of a Kate fan as she recoiled in horror when the second-in-line to the throne tried to plant a kiss on the toddler’s cheek.
The little girl had been dressed up as a princess, waiting to greet the royal couple, especially Kate, on their visit to Glasgow.
She further rebuffed the Prince’s advances, keeping a flower firmly in her grasp as he admired it. She thrust the flower in his wife’s direction, making it clear she intended to give the flower to the Duchess.
“Is that for me?” asked a hopeful William.
“No, you want to give it to Kate. Quite right.”
When she turned her cheek, the rejected Prince said “next time, Shona, next time”.
Kate enjoyed a friendlier reception as the crowd welcomed the pregnant Duchess showering her with gifts and flowers.
Little Shona giggled and smiled as she met Kate and seemed to have overcome the shyness she displayed on meeting the Prince.
The royal visit to Glasgow marked the beginning of a two-day Scottish tour. Kate gave a nod to her Scottish title on the visit, concealing her blossoming bump with a short tartan coat.
Recent reports that Princess Mary is expecting twins have been strongly denied by Danish royal officials.
“The story claiming that HRH the Crown Princess is pregnant is false,” Lene Balleby, Communications and Press Secretary of The Royal Court, told Woman’s Day.
The reports suggested Princess Mary and her husband, Crown Prince Frederick, were once again expecting twins, expanding their brood of four to six.
The pair recently went on an official five-day tour of Chile, leaving Christian, 7, Isabella, 5, and two-year-old twins Vincent and Josephine at home.
Showing no sign of a baby bump, Princess Mary set the glamour stakes high as soon as she stepped off the plane in Santiago, demonstrating her impeccable style in a wide-brimmed hat, peplum top and figure-hugging embroidered skirt.
The visit was the pair’s first official visit to the country, after they stepped in for Queen Margrethe, who was forced to cancel her proposed visit due to health problems.
Vogue Hommes has caused controversy again, featuring a completely naked male model in a risqué pictorial spread.
Australian model Jarrod Scott appears fully nude inside the magazine but it’s the provocative semi-naked cover image that has raised the most eyebrows.
Scott is shirtless in the image, with his trousers unzipped to reveal a patch of thick black pubic hair.
It’s not the first time the title has been criticised. Last September the cover image of a man strangling a woman was accused of glamorising domestic violence.
Jarrod Scott and his pubic hair. Solve Sundsbo for *Vogue Hommes International*.
Jarrod Scott and his pubic hair. Solve Sundsbo for Vogue Hommes International.
We’re often told we’ll feel better if we come clean and apologise after doing something wrong but, in fact, the opposite may be true!
A University of Queensland study suggests that the feeling of empowerment which can come with refusing to make amends sometimes outweighs the relief we feel after apologising.
“We do find that apologies do make apologisers feel better, but the interesting thing is that refusals to apologise also make people feel better and, in fact, in some cases it makes them feel better than an apology would have,” says researcher Tyler G. Okimoto
During the study, the 228 participants were asked to remember a time they had done something wrong.
While most remembered trivial events, some recalled more serious offences, including crimes such as theft.
They were then quizzed on whether they had said sorry, refused to say sorry, or simply did nothing despite knowing they were in the wrong. Participants were divided at random, with some told to compose an email where they apologised for their actions, and others writing an email refusing to apologise. They then rated how they felt afterwards.
Okimoto said the results demonstrated why some people are often reluctant to apologise.
“When you refuse to apologise, it actually makes you feel more empowered. That power and control seems to translate into greater feelings of self-worth,” Okimoto says.
Meanwhile, those who did apologise experienced boosted feelings of integrity.
Okimoto says he hopes that the research will provide clues on how best to get people to apologise.
What would you do with $1.5 million? Buy a new house or two? Several sports cars? A lavish around-the-world trip? Or you could blow it all on this new solid gold dress.
Designer Zac Posen created this one-of-a-kind gown in honour of Magnum’s new Gold ice cream bar. It is completely covered in 24-karat gold discs and weighs more than any model who would be able to fit into it.
As impractical as it is, this dress is far from the most ridiculous lavish fashion item. Here are some of the most ludicrously expensive clothes and accessories from the past decade.
Zac Posen’s $1.5 million dress. Mark Von Holden/Invision for Magnum Ice Cream.
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s $55,000 crocodile and pill backpack.
Debbie Wingham’s $17.7 million diamond creation.
This Hermes crocodile skin t-shirt costs nearly $95,000.
These Stuart Weitzman Ruby Slippers cost $1.6 million.
This Victoria’s Secret Fantasy bra is worth $2.5 million.
The Mouawad’s 1001 Nights Diamond Purse costs $3.8 million.
Miranda Kerr modelling a $2 million Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra.
The Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag costs $42,000.
Debbie Wingham’s $5.7 million gown studded with 50 two-carat black diamonds.
This Hermes crocodile skin Birkin costs $100,000.
Another Victoria’s Secret Fantasy bra, this one worth $2.5 million.
This $300,000 Anthony La Bate gown is encrusted with 1,100 diamonds.
This $15 million Chloe and Reese frock is studded with 100 three-carat diamonds.
This diamond-studded Dress Goddess prom dress is worth $14,000.
The Hermes bag by Japanese designer Ginza Tanaka sells for $1.9 million.
These Kathryn Wilson pumps cost $420,000.
Stuart Weitzman’s Diamond Dream heels cost $500,000.
British author Iain Banks has revealed he has terminal gall bladder cancer.
The 59-year-old made the surprise admission in a touching letter to his fans.
You can read his words in full below:
A personal statement from Iain Banks:
I am officially Very Poorly.
After a couple of surgical procedures, I am gradually recovering from jaundice caused by a blocked bile duct, but that — it turns out — is the least of my problems.
I first thought something might be wrong when I developed a sore back in late January, but put this down to the fact I’d started writing at the beginning of the month and so was crouched over a keyboard all day.
When it hadn’t gone away by mid-February, I went to my GP, who spotted that I had jaundice. Blood tests, an ultrasound scan and then a CT scan revealed the full extent of the grisly truth by the start of March.
I have cancer. It started in my gall bladder, has infected both lobes of my liver and probably also my pancreas and some lymph nodes, plus one tumour is massed around a group of major blood vessels in the same volume, effectively ruling out any chance of surgery to remove the tumours either in the short or long term.
The bottom line, now, I’m afraid, is that as a late stage gall bladder cancer patient, I’m expected to live for ‘several months’ and it’s extremely unlikely I’ll live beyond a year. So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last.
As a result, I’ve withdrawn from all planned public engagements and I’ve asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow (sorry — but we find ghoulish humour helps).
By the time this goes out we’ll be married and on a short honeymoon. We intend to spend however much quality time I have left seeing friends and relations and visiting places that have meant a lot to us.
Meanwhile my heroic publishers are doing all they can to bring the publication date of my new novel forward by as much as four months, to give me a better chance of being around when it hits the shelves.
There is a possibility that it might be worth undergoing a course of chemotherapy to extend the amount of time available. However that is still something we’re balancing the pros and cons of, and anyway it is out of the question until my jaundice has further and significantly, reduced.
Lastly, I’d like to add that from my GP onwards, the professionalism of the medics involved — and the speed with which the resources of the NHS in Scotland have been deployed — has been exemplary, and the standard of care deeply impressive. We’re all just sorry the outcome hasn’t been more cheerful.
A website is being set up where friends, family and fans can leave messages for me and check on my progress. It should be up and running during this week and a link to it will be on my official website as soon as it’s ready.
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