Queen Mum Was a 'Ghastly Old Bigot'

(NEWSER) - The Queen Mum, Queen Elizabeth II's mother, gave just one interview at age 22 and guarded her privacy the rest of her long life. But a new official biography, published next month, draws on hours of interviews she secretly gave to a school headmaster. As the Telegraph reports, the book reveals for the first time her thoughts on the abdication crisis of 1936, in which her husband suddenly took the throne as George VI and she became queen. More»

(NEWSER) - Michelle Obama’s hands-on encounter with Queen Elizabeth yesterday was not a breach of protocol, Buckingham Palace assures CNN. The two shared a surprising half-embrace, virtually unheard of from Her Highness. “It was a mutual and spontaneous display of affection and appreciation,” the Royal Press Office said. Besides, the reception where the PDA occurred was “an informal occasion.” More»

Reared in feminine household, Henry king became 'emotionally dependent' on women

(NEWSER) - Henry VIII may have been cruel to some of the women in his life, but he was "emotionally dependent" on them, according to a top expert on the oft-married king. Being raised in a feminine household after the death of his dad led Henry to fall in love and marry so many. "He was the only boy and became emotionally dependent on women. Or, to put it more bluntly, he was emotionally incontinent," said historian David Starkey. More»

Praises fellow soldiers, wants to return 'very, very soon'

(NEWSER) - In a revealing interview with the British press, Prince Harry spoke yesterday of his stint in Afghanistan as one of the happiest times of his life, and said he "generally" doesn't "like England that much." The third-in-line to the British throne insisted he's not a hero, and talked emotionally of two wounded soldiers who flew home with him. "Those are the heroes, guys who had been blown up by a mine serving their country. It is a bit of a choke in your throat," he said. More»

Paul Burrell is asked to return after video suggests he lied

(NEWSER) - After a video showed the former royal butler saying he’d been untruthful during an appearance at the Princess Diana inquest, Paul Burrell is being asked to return and explain himself, reports the BBC. In the tape, Burrell allegedly claims to have dropped “red herrings” and kept secrets in his testimony; his lawyers say the statements were drawn from “insidious” questioning from the Sun newspaper. More»