London: For the first time in 40 years, Queen Elizabeth II will skip the Commonwealth summit to be held in Sri Lanka in November, deciding to send her son Prince Charles instead for the biennial event. 87-year-old Queen will miss the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) for the first time since 1973, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday.
"I can confirm that the Queen will be represented by the Prince of Wales. The reason is that we are reviewing the amount of long-haul travel that is taken by the Queen. As a result of that, she won't be travelling to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting later in 2013", a spokesman said.
This year's CHOGM has been mired in controversy, with campaigners including Amnesty International calling for not holding the summit until an investigation is carried out into alleged human rights abuses in the final six months of the 26-year Sri Lankan civil war.
Britain is facing pressure to lead a boycott of the meeting, with Canada indicating that it will not attend unless specific criteria are met. However, Buckingham Palace said the Queen's decision not to attend was not related to the political situation in Lanka....
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04:15 PM, May 07, 2013
Amsterdam: Millions of Dutch people dressed in orange flocked to celebrations around the Netherlands in honour of a once-in-a-generation milestone for the country's ruling House of Orange-Nassau: after a 33-year reign, Queen Beatrix abdicated in favour of her eldest son, Willem-Alexander. At 46, King Willem-Alexander is the youngest monarch in Europe and the first Dutch king in 123 years, since Willem III died in 1890. Like Beatrix before him, Willem-Alexander...
01:08 PM, May 01, 2013
Amsterdam: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, who became the first King of the Netherlands in over 120 years. An estimated 25,000 well-wishers cheered outside the Royal Palace in Amsterdam as the abdication and automatic succession were broadcast live. The crowds had gathered in Dam Square from early on Tuesday to see the new King and his wife, Queen Maxima, as...
04:35 PM, Apr 30, 2013
London: Helen Mirren was crowned queen of the London stage at the Olivier Awards Sunday, while compelling, canine-titled teen drama 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' emerged as best in show with seven trophies. Mirren, 67, was a popular and expected best actress choice for her regal yet vulnerable Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Audience,' Peter Morgan's behind-palace-doors drama about the relationship between Britain's queen and its...
10:48 AM, Apr 29, 2013
New Delhi: On the 96th birthday of jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, we bring you some of her rarely seen pictures. These pictures depict her life and work. Ella Fitzgerald was also known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, at the age of 78, died at her home in Beverly Hills. Fitzgerald was regarded as one of the world's finest jazz...
12:51 PM, Apr 25, 2013
London: Queen Elizabeth II is set to approve a new succession law that will end the age-old precedence enjoyed by male heirs in line to Britain's throne, ending centuries of religious and gender discrimination. 'The Succession to the Crown Bill', which is set to become law in coming days, means that if Prince William and Kate Middleton were to have a daughter in July, she would be crowned Queen. The...
09:57 AM, Apr 24, 2013
London: British Prime Minister David Cameron delivered an emotional tribute to Margaret Thatcher in parliament on Wednesday, but political opponents boycotted the debate on her legacy, underlining how divisive a figure she remains even in death. MPs were recalled from their holidays for the first time for the death of a public figure since Queen Elizabeth's mother died in 2002, reflecting the "Iron Lady's" place in history. Thatcher, who died...
04:47 AM, Apr 11, 2013
London ...
04:29 PM, Apr 05, 2013
London: Queen Elizabeth II has received a 5 million-pound ($7.6 million) boost in annual funds the British monarch receives from taxpayers to carry out official duties, pay staff and maintain royal palaces. The Sovereign Grant has been set at 36.1 million pounds for the 2013/14 financial year, compared to 31 million pounds allocated during 2012. The new fund - which equals 15 per cent of the profits of the Crown...
06:45 AM, Apr 04, 2013
Fulham withstood a fierce fightback from Queens Park Rangers to beat their London rivals 3-2 and push Harry Redknapp's side closer towards Premier League relegation. ...
09:14 AM, Apr 02, 2013
The majestic Queen's Necklace - Marine Drive- in the southern tip of the megapolis is all set to host a mobile restaurant where visitors can dine atop an open-air bus. ...
08:39 PM, Mar 28, 2013
Ponting, who scored 35 and 1, won the Shield in his third trip to the final, his first coming in 1993-94. ...
02:23 PM, Mar 26, 2013
US First Lady Michelle Obama has been named the most stylish woman in the world beating Queen Elizabeth and Victoria Beckham. The 49-year-old was commended for using fashion as a "force for good" by Sunday Times Style magazine, reports contactmusic.com. ...
06:37 PM, Mar 11, 2013
With relegation a realistic prospect and only 10 games left, the fans will be concerned the club's existence could be threatened. ...
06:10 PM, Mar 07, 2013
The Czech confirmed on Tuesday that he would take part in the London event in a bid to sharpen his grasscourt skills after the European clay season. ...
06:25 PM, Mar 05, 2013
Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday was admitted to a hospital here "as a precaution" after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace officials said. The 86-year-old monarch has been taken to King Edward VII Hospital in London, a palace spokesman said. ...
02:40 PM, Mar 04, 2013
Britain's Queen Elizabeth went into hospital in London on Sunday with symptoms of gastroenteritis, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Sunday. All the monarch's engagements for the coming week, including a trip to Italy, have been cancelled or postponed as a precaution, the spokesman said. ...
11:08 PM, Mar 03, 2013
British Prime Minister David Cameron says Kohinoor, the giant diamond his country forced India to hand over in the colonial era that was set in a royal crown, will not be returned. ...
11:36 AM, Feb 21, 2013
Actresses Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, who have won Oscars in the past, will present at this year's Academy Awards on February 24. Berry won the award for her performance in 'Monster's Ball' (2001), Bullock for 'The Blind Side' (2009), Kidman for 'The Hours' (2002) and Witherspoon for 'Walk the Line' (2005). ...
11:10 AM, Feb 14, 2013
