 Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II, has been at it again. Living up to his nickname of King of the Gaffes, old Phil has been ruffling feathers with arguably racist words. Last week Philip was on a visit to Cambridge when he put his foot where his mouth should be once again. He was on an official visit of the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge when he addressed a Polish scientist. He asked the research student if he had come to Britain "to pick raspberries". Polish migrant workers are much valued at establishments that grow strawberries, other fruits and vegetables in the UK. The workers have a record of being fast, good timekeepers and diligent. The Prince, 91, may be forgiven due to his age and presumptions that he is at least borderline senile but he has a long standing reputation for making offensive remarks, doled out with a smile and perhaps an attempt at humour.Cambridge News recalls some infamous gaffes such as:
In 2002, the 91-year-old asked a group of Australian aborigines: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”While talking to a Scottish driving instructor, he remarked: “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?”
He also reportedly reduced a 13-year-old boy to tears when he told him he would have to lose weight to fulfil his ambition of becoming an astronaut.
And he famously told a group of British students during a 1986 state visit to China that they would become “slitty-eyed” if they stayed in the country any longer.
Queen confers new title on Prince Philip
Queen Elizabeth II of England celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Sixty glorious years on the throne with her husband Prince Philip by her side. The Prince, often also referred to as HRH Duke of Edinburgh, has proved a valuable asset to the Queen though he does have a reputation for making gaffes. He has faithfully supported the Queen throughout her reign.
When Prince Philip celebrated his 90th birthday in 2011 he stated that he would start to “slow down”. For any ordinary person they would normally have been retired years before such a birthday. For Royals, retirement may not be an easy option.
It is always difficult deciding what to give an older person for a special birthday. Usually with age, they have acquired most things that they may have wanted at one time. If the recipient is to be a high ranking Prince, the task is doubly hard. What can you possibly give a wealthy Prince for his 90th birthday? Well his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, had the perfect gift in mind.
When the royal couple married, in 1947, the Prince had a successful naval career. This looked set to prosper and flourish. He had enrolled in the navy in 1939 and, in the same year, he was hailed the best sea cadet at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. After marrying Princess Elizabeth, Philip left the navy. It was now 1951.
Prince Philip chose the role of supporting his wife above his own career and he continues to do so.
With the early death of the Queen’s father, King George VI, the young couple found themselves in important roles, Elizabeth as Queen and Philip as her consort, in all but name. Any hopes of returning to, or furthering, his naval career were put on the back burner.
Queen Elizabeth was the titular head of Britain’s Royal Navy, having held this office since 1964. The role of Lord High Admiral of the Navy dates back to the 14th Century. It was conferred on HRH Duke of Edinburgh by way of thanks, from his wife for his birthday. It recognized the personal career sacrifices the Prince made sixty years ago. It also rewarded him for his public service to the people of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
She handed over this role to the Duke of Edinburgh and granted him the title of Lord High Admiralty of the Navy for his 90th birthday.
On June 10, 2013 Philip will be 92. Perhaps this year she should officially name him King of the Gaffes and hand him a pension book.
 The 86-year-old monarch of Great Britain and its countries, Elizabeth II, has been admitted to hospital, as a precautionary measure. Yesterday the palace announced that the Queen had a stomach bug, cancelling a scheduled visit to Wales. She is suffering from gastroenteritis, which can result in the victim becoming dehydrated. The Queen's advancing years will be the reason for hospitalisation.
She was admitted to the King Edward VII hospital in London Sunday aftrnoon, after being driven there in a private car. The palace said she is in good spirits.
The Queen had to cancel engagements late this week and those scheduled for the coming week, including a trip to Rome have been put on hold.
The Queen has been suffering from a stomach complaint for a few days. Usually these illnesses run their course in a couple of days but in the case of an elderly or vulnerable person recovery can be slow. The hospital will undertake investigations and, if it is just a stomach bug, rest and recovery will be the best course of action.
The King Edward VII hospital is used by British royalty for medical treatment. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was admitted in Dcecember suffering from an extreme form of morning sickness. A breach of confidential information followed, and one nurse, Jacintha Saldhana committed suicide.
This time around the hospital staff will be under orders to "say nothing".
 Rounding off what has been a glorious year for the British Royal family and their PR machine there has been an announcement today that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant. It is one of those news items that the media love. In the UK currently the news is full of Kate's pregnancy. To think we will have months more of this to endure.
Kate is less than 12 weeks pregnant and today she has been hospitalised. She is said to be suffering from Hyperemisis Gravidarum which is acute morning sickness, As an already thin young woman doctors are taking a cautious approach.
She has been admitted to the King Edward VII hospital for treatment and is expected to be there for a day or two at least. It could be that Kate will have this acute morning sickness during her pregnancy so it will not be completely resolved in hospital. Medical professionals will be making sure that both mother and baby to be are well. Various treatments are possible and we should remember that the pregnancy is in its early stages.
Crowds have gathered outside of the hospital, mainly made up of media representatives hoping for a "snap" of William or other members of the Royal Family. In turn a heavy security presences is now there.
One interesting point is that should William and Kate's first born be a girl she will ascend to the throne of England even if sons follow.
OPINION
Whilst no-one would wish any harm to those involved it is rather sickening to keep hearing how the whole of the country will be so happy with the news of another royal mouth. Treason? No just an honest assessment which will be hard to find for the next 7 or 8 months. No waiting for a hospital bed for this young lady.
Good lcuk to the couple, is sent as it would be to any young couple.
 No sooner had we written a brief report regarding Prince Charles and Camilla's Diamond Jubilee visit to the Antipodes than we saw a man had been arrested for planning to attack the Royal couple. The pair have just completed their visit to Australia and are now visiting New Zealand. The man accused of plotting to attack Charles and Camilla is a 74-year-old known anti royalist. A Republican. As yet he has not been named. The man was arrested a short time before the British Royal couple arrived in Auckland. The latest news from "down under" is that the man will appear in court "charged with preparing to commit a crime, namely assault". Whether that attack would have been throwing eggs or something more sinister we do not know. Not yet at least. The Royal Couple have not been embraced wholeheartedly on this tour. There have been some protesters out to greet them. In New Zealand some carried signs saying "get a job". According to the BBC one said, "Get a Job Royal Bludgers", a New Zealand slang term for someone who avoids work.Many people in the UK will agree with this we think. The Diamond Jubilee Tour has been a success but of course there have been some protesters. The media has played down any protests such as those in New Zealand and concentrated on showing happy, welcoming people.
 As Brits experience typical winter weather, notably rain, cold, wind and more the heir to throne and his wife have been at the other side of the World visitng the Antipodes. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have been visitng as part of the Queen's Diamond JubileeTour.
This year it was 60 glorious years since Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne. A series of celebrations cost the British taxpayer a great deal. Add to this the Jubilee tour and you are looking at ever escalating costs.
Australia and New Zealand were part of the old British Empire but times change. Many Australians these days are Republicans and want true independence for their country. The Australian PM has said that the tour went "delightfully well" whatever that means.
It ended last week with the royal couple getting caught in a downpour on Bondi beach. In some ways it will get the couple climatised for their return to the UK. The difference was though that it is warm in Australia right now and any such thunderstorms will be short lived.
It had been so hot and humid during their visit that one military policeman fainted as a parade took place. The Royal pair are now in New Zealnad for the last lap of this Antipodean tour.
Nice work if you can get it, say we!
 The Duchess of Cambridge's topless images have now been published in more than one publication. Early today it was announced that another magazine in France would publish the offending images and now an Irish newspaper, The Irish Daily Star, has done the same. The photos will not be seen in the English edition of the paper, nor in the one issued in Northern Ireland. That "compromise" will not prevent the publisher's being sued should William and Kate decide upon legal action. The Palace has already said it will sue over the first publication of the images so what will it do now?Whilst the Duke and Duchess should have the right to act in anyway they want in private, doing so is not always practical. For one thing they are public servants, like it or not. We after all pay dearly to maintain a British Royal Family. Then there is the question of security. As TEK blogger Barbara McPherson pointed out if a rogue photographer can get close enough to snap the couple surely an assassin or the like could do the same.It is time that the Duke and Duchess moved on from the honeymoon period and took their responsibilities more seriously. That may sound harsh but it is a fact of Royal life. If they do not want to play ball they can always opt out of their privileged lifestyle. The 21st Century is now a dangerous time to live in especially if yu are in a position of power and or privilege. For now the topless images continue to make waves. Maybe it would have been better to learn a lesson and ignore these images, rather than airing anger publicly. By starting legal action the Royal couple have guaranteed publicity for the publications involved and helped increased revenue.
 Another scandal involving members of the British Royal Family and their privacy. When it was amnnounced early today that a French Magazine had decided to publish photographs showing the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless William and Kate were said to be saddened. As the day has progressed their reaction has turned to anger.
Both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now furious. They and others have remarked on the way that William's late mother Diana was hounded by the media. William is determined that he and his wife will not be exposed in such a way.
Recently his brother Price Harry was caught on camera during a naked escapade. He had compromised his privacy which is not the case for Kate.
William and Kate were at a private residence belonging to a family member The area was secluded and so in order to get the "money shot" the paparrazi involved must have gone to some lengths.
Whilst it isj ust another storm in a teacup it could send a signal to other paparazzi. This is why it will be important that British Royals react in the best way for them.
Royals are well known for courting the media when it suits but when it turns nasty screaming press intrusion. There is no doubt in this case that the paparrazi have overstepped the mark. What the Royals do about it remains to be seen.
The French Magazine at the centre of this row, Closer, must have thought the revenue they might earn would outweigh the potential legal damages, should the Duke and Duchess take them to court. They maintain that they have done nothing wrong and that the images are not shocking in the least.
The public must take some blame. As the people's fascination with William and Kate continues to grow the press will keep trying to get a story or an unusual image. They know there is a market for such images and tales. However a twitter backlash following the publication of the images may indicate that Closer is not on to a money spinner with this one.
In light of current World events though this story is mere stuff and nonsense but it could become much more for the paparrazi and those involved.
 Austere times On June 29, 2009 the BBC reported an increase in the cost of British Royals to UK taxpayers. According to the report, "The total cost to the public of keeping the monarchy increased by £1.5m to £41.5m in the 2008/9 financial year. Palace accounts also show that the Queen dipped into a reserve fund to boost by £6m her Civil List, which pays for the running of the Royal household. It is the largest sum ever drawn from the reserve built up in the 1990s. The Queen's Civil List, which also covers Royal household staff salaries, cost £13.9m in 2007/8 - this comprised £7.9m from government coffers and £6m from the reserve. If the Queen continues to spend money from the reserve at the rate she is now, it will be used up by the start of her Diamond Jubilee year in 2012."Today is July 2, 2012, we are in the midst of the Diamond Jubilee and the latest figures showing the cost of the British Royals have been released. The ITN report claimed, "The Queen's official expenditure increased by £200,000 (0.6 per cent) from £32.1 million in 2010/11 to £32.3 million in 2011/12, according to the royal public finances annual report. Civil List funding, much of it used to pay the wages of her Royal Household staff, fell by £100,000 from £13.7 million to £13.6 million. The Government also provides money, known as grants-in-aid, to cover the areas of royal travel, property services and communications and information. The taxpayer funds used to pay for official air and rail travel at home and abroad for members of the Royal Family increased by £100,000 from £6 million in 2010/11 to £6.1 million in 2011/12. There was also an increase in spending on property services - money used for the upkeep of royal residences and other buildings - from £11.9 million to £12.2 million."Overall running the Royal household cost less due to a pay freeze, presumably for the ordinary staff who work for the family.Figures released today do not include the cost of security which will be huge, nor last year's wedding, nor the Jubilee.Opinion: Our UK report last week on the cost of Prince Charles reported a staggering amount of money. Aswe reported, "The official accounts though show that taxpayer funding of Charles rose from £2m to £2.2m in the last financial year". Now this was in spite of, "His main income, which comes from the duchy of Cornwall – the ancestral estates of princes of Wales – was up by nearly 4% last year to £17,796,000, owing to profits from his bonds portfolio." The taxpayer funding of these people continues to rise although we the ordinary citizen are experiencing austerity. If you want a slap in the face read the Daily Mail report which gives details of extravaganze. For example, "A few days before flying out to the Middle East, Charles flew by charter to Saudi Arabia at a cost of £67,215, to pay his condolences on behalf of the UK following the death of the Crown Prince."In 2012 many people in the UK have braved the terrible weather to flag wave, cxheer on the Royals and the like. This blogger was not one of them. Tags:Cost of UK royals, British Royal family, British Royals, Prince Charles, xpensive UK royals
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