monarchy

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White House Gets Greetings All Wrong
White House Gets Greetings
All Wrong
OPINION
Jun 10, 2009 4:07 PM CDT

White House Gets Greetings All Wrong

Egalitarian handshake better than hugs, curtsies: Miss Manners

(Newser) - After watching six presidents botch greetings with their global counterparts, Miss Manners has had it. “Where is the Office of Protocol, for goodness’ sake,” Judith Martin fumes in the Washington Post. Fifty years ago, “the American huggy movement” replaced the egalitarian handshake—a gesture that made Americans...

Prince Philip Sets Royal Consort Record

Duke of Edinburgh has been at Queen's side since 1952

(Newser) - Prince Philip today became the longest-serving royal consort in British history, the BBC reports. Philip passes Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, who was consort for 57 years and 70 days, and judging by his current pace, the 87-year-old Duke of Edinburgh could have many more years in him....

Aussie Writer Gets 3 Years for Thai Insult

Self-published book that sold 7 copies dissed the monarchy

(Newser) - An Australian writer has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for insulting Thailand’s monarchy in one passage of a self-published book, the BBC reports. Tough “lese-majeste” laws shield Thailand’s monarchy from criticism and led to Harry Nicolaides’ arrest as he was leaving the country. He pleaded...

Bhutan Crowns 28-Year-Old King

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck heads newly democratic Himalayan nation

(Newser) - Bhutan, the world’s youngest democracy, has its youngest monarch today, with 28-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck crowned king, the Telegraph reports. Reformist King Jigme Singye passed on the title on the heels of this year’s first-ever parliamentary elections. “What is important to me are the hopes and...

Charles, Near 60, May Yet Put Green Stamp on Monarchy

Heir apparent to Queen Elizabeth has built an empire of charity

(Newser) - Prince Charles, who turns 60 on Nov. 14, has used his position as heir apparent to advocate tirelessly for the environment and the disadvantaged, writes JM Ledgard on More Intelligent Life. There’s still time for him to ascend to the British throne, where (after taking the title of George...

Insult This Man, Spend 15 Years in the Pokey

Thai pols accuse foes of slighting king to hamstring them

(Newser) - The crime of insulting a king sounds like a medieval holdover—but in Thailand, an unkind word about King Bhumibol Adulyadej can land you in prison for 15 years. The country's recent political upheaval has coincided with a spike in accusations of maligning the monarch, the Wall Street Journal reports—...

Britain to Ax Ban on Catholic Monarchs

Female heirs will also have the same rights as male counterparts

(Newser) - The British government is planning a royal shake-up of the laws governing who can become king or queen, the Guardian reports. The 300-year-old law currently in place bars Catholics or their spouses from taking the throne, and gives male heirs priority over women; both are targeted for change. Critics say...

Thai Democracy Movement Is Anything But
Thai Democracy Movement Is Anything But
ANALYSIS
Sep 12, 2008 6:30 AM CDT

Thai Democracy Movement Is Anything But

Protests in Bangkok pit elite against fairly elected government

(Newser) - In Bangkok, the People's Alliance for Democracy has entered its third week of occupying the office of the Thai prime minister, who was booted from office on Tuesday by the country's supreme court. But as Seth Mydans of the New York Times observes, the PAD only looks like a "...

Swazi King's Birthday Bash Infuriates Suffering Public

Ruler spends fortune to celebrate turning 40

(Newser) - Swaziland's king is throwing a lavish 40th birthday party for himself and the kingdom this weekend—and Swazis are seething over the extravagance, the New York Times reports. The day marking the double birthday has been dubbed the "40-40 Celebration." But critics of the monarchy point out there's...

Bangkok Bomb Raises Stakes in Standoff

Protesters mark 7th day of occupation of Thai PM's office

(Newser) - A small bomb went off outside a Bangkok police station as anti-government protesters continued their occupation of the Thai prime minister's office for a seventh day. Although nobody was injured in the blast, a senior government source told Reuters that the People's Alliance for Democracy "has launched a guerrilla...

Nepal to Become a Republic
 Nepal to Become a Republic 
May 28, 2008 7:26 AM CDT

Nepal to Become a Republic

People celebrate as monarchy ends

(Newser) - Nepal is becoming a democratic republic today—and it's getting its first taste of democracy's hiccups. As thousands gathered in the streets of Kathmandu to celebrate, the newly-elected constitutional assembly met to abolish the country’s monarchy. But the momentous vote has been delayed a few hours over disagreements about...

Hawaiians Protest Statehood; Vow to Take Over

Monarchists blockade royal palace

(Newser) - A group of native Hawaiian activists seized the grounds of the state's old royal palace in Honolulu yesterday and vowed to take over, CNN reports. They locked the gates and announced they would rule the government from there. The group, one of several which rejects Hawaii's statehood and seeks to...

Nepal Set to Abolish 240-Year-Old Monarchy

Voters out in droves for first election in 9 years

(Newser) - Voting is under way in Nepal's parliamentary elections, where citizens of the Himalayan nation are expected to endorse parties that will oust the 240-year-old monarchy, reports AFP. UN observers have commended a high turnout despite eight deaths in protests ahead of today's polling, the centerpiece of a peace deal between...

Queen, Duke Won't Testify at Lady Di Inquest

Fayed fails to make them testify as inquiry hears last witness

(Newser) - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will not testify at an inquiry into Princess Diana's death, the BBC reports. Mohamed al Fayed, who accuses the royals of killing his son, Dodi, and Diana, failed today in a bid to make them testify. Fayed himself was a witness, turning heated over...

Aussies in Fold While Queen's on Throne

Vote on independence awaits end of Elizabeth's reign

(Newser) - Unlike his firmly monarchist predecessor, Australian PM Kevin Rudd is an enthusiastic republican who would like his country to be independent of the British crown. But Australians won’t be voting on the issue until Queen Elizabeth's reign is over, says the leader of the republican movement. That's because while...

Thailand Axes Anti-Monarchy Website

Critical postings, government shutdown may spark legal fight

(Newser) - A Thai ministry has shut down a website critical of the country's monarchy, the AP reports. Postings on Sameskybooks.com questioned news accounts that all citizens mourned the king's sister, who died Wednesday, and criticized officials. "I think we're one of the few sites posting remarks against the monarchy,...

Brits Want Wills, Not Charles
Brits Want Wills, Not Charles
Dec 28, 2007 8:31 AM CST

Brits Want Wills, Not Charles

Public would skip Charles & Camilla to crown Wills & Kate

(Newser) - The British want the monarchy to skip a generation, passing over Charles to Prince William, Reuters reports. More than half of those polled preferred a King William to having his pop ascend the throne. Younger people were especially keen to see Wills crowned. A clear majority were in favor of...

Nepal to Ax Monarchy, Install Republic

Leaders cave after 3-month standoff with Maoists

(Newser) - After almost three months of deadlock, Nepal agreed today to end its 240-year-old monarchy and set up a republic, the BBC reports. Maoist rebels, who had walked out in October and staged violent protests, struck the deal with Nepal's leaders, which will go into effect after elections next spring.

The Queen Called a Philistine
The Queen Called a Philistine
Dec 22, 2007 5:04 PM CST

The Queen Called a Philistine

Historian says Elizabeth II is uneducated and incurious, even about her predecessors

(Newser) - Queen Elizabeth II is undereducated and lacks curiosity about culture and her predecessors, a British historian charges in an interview with the Guardian. "I think she's got elements a bit like Goebbels in her attitude to culture," David Starkey says. "You remember: 'Every time I hear the...

Queen Breaks Royal Age Record
Queen Breaks Royal Age Record
Dec 20, 2007 9:07 AM CST

Queen Breaks Royal Age Record

81-year-old passes Victoria, becomes oldest Brit monarch

(Newser) - As of today, Queen Elizabeth II is Britain's oldest-ever monarch, AFP reports. She's now a day older than Queen Victoria lived to be, and while she doesn't seem to be slowing down much, the British are starting to think about what will happen after she dies—as well as looking...

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