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Game of Thrones star’s unbearable loss

<p>In a deeply sorrowful announcement, former <em>Game of Thrones</em> star and 2018 World’s Strongest Man Hafthor Bjornsson and his fitness model wife, Kelsey Henson, have shared the devastating news of the stillbirth of their daughter.</p> <p>The couple, who joyfully revealed their pregnancy just three weeks prior, now find themselves grappling with the profound grief of losing their precious child.</p> <p>It was on October 19 that Hafthor and Kelsey happily disclosed the news of their second pregnancy, sharing their anticipation of welcoming their baby daughter in March 2024. However, a mere three weeks later, the couple heartbreakingly revealed on their Instagram pages the tragic news of the stillbirth of their daughter, Grace Morgan Hafthorsdottir, born at 21 1/2 weeks gestation on November 8.</p> <p>In their shared statement, the couple expressed their overwhelming pain and grief, emphasising the beauty of their daughter and the love that will endure despite the profound loss.</p> <p>"After a noticeable decrease in movement we found out her heart had stopped beating," the post read. "Words cannot describe our pain of this loss or our happiness at being able to spend time with our daughter. She is absolutely beautiful, with blonde lashes and brows and a little smile for mom and dad. The love we feel for her is overwhelming.</p> <p>"The grief we feel will be with us forever but so will the love. All of our hopes and dreams for her have been taken away from us but I know I will be with her again. Her spirit lives on through us and her siblings. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time as we grieve this unbearable loss. Thank you all for any kind words and support."</p> <p>Messages of condolences and support poured in from friends and well-wishers, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and seven-time Mr Olympia Phil Heath, reflecting the broader community's empathy for Hafthor and Kelsey during this trying time.</p> <p>"My heart is with both of you," wrote Schwarzenegger. "Please let me know if you need anything and know that you’re in my thoughts."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzdubyuKjQt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzdubyuKjQt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kelsey Henson (@kelc33)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The heartbreaking news follows the couple's candid revelation about their struggles to expand their family. Hafthor, known for his impressive feats in powerlifting and his portrayal of The Mountain in <em>Game of Thrones</em>, and Kelsey faced challenges in conceiving their three-year-old son, Stormur. After a failed IVF attempt and two years of trying, they successfully conceived their son naturally. The journey repeated as they tried for a second child, this time resorting to IVF, which proved successful.</p> <p>In a YouTube video, the couple shared their fertility struggles, aiming to shed light on the difficulties many couples face when trying to start a family. Despite the hurdles, they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share their journey, fostering understanding and empathy for others experiencing similar challenges.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Game of Thrones actor passes away at just 39

<p>In a heartbreaking turn of events, Darren Kent, the actor known for his role in Game of Thrones, has passed away following a valiant struggle against osteoporosis, arthritis and an exceptionally rare skin disorder.</p> <p>News of his departure was confirmed by his talent agency, Carey Dodd Associates, through a statement shared on Facebook page this Tuesday.</p> <p>"It is with deep sadness we have to tell you that our dear friend and client Darren Kent passed away peacefully on Friday, his parents and best friend by his side. Our thoughts and love are with his family in this difficult time."</p> <p>They continued: "Darren was not only a talented actor, director and writer, he was truly one of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.</p> <p>"It has been a privilege and pleasure to have been a part of his journey. RIP my friend."</p> <p>Darren Kent's on-screen legacy is highlighted by his memorable portrayal as a goatherder in a pivotal 2014 episode of <em>Game of Thrones</em>. His artistic journey began a decade earlier with his first screen credit in the original series <em>Shameless</em>, setting the stage for his ventures into film.</p> <p>Notable among his filmography are roles in the 2008 horror film <em>Mirrors</em>, starring Kiefer Sutherland, as well as 2012's <em>Snow White and the Huntsman</em>. Television audiences were also treated to his talent, as he graced the screens of shows like <em>Community</em> and the BBC's <em>EastEnders</em>.</p> <p>He stole the show with his recent portrayal as the 'Yes' Corpse <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">in 2023's</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, </em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">one of his final performances. A glance at his IMDb page hints at a future that he won't be able to witness, listing six upcoming titles, comprising short films and the feature titled </span><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">What I Know</em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / Instagram</em></p>

News

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"She sat on a throne of blood": Uni professor launches another attack on Queen Elizabeth

<p>A controversial university professor has doubled down on her celebration of Queen Elizabeth's death, claiming she "sat on a throne of blood".</p> <p>Uju Anya, a linguistics professor at Pennsylvania's Carnegie Mellon University, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/uni-professor-slammed-for-wishing-the-queen-excruciating-pain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">came under fire</a> earlier this week for a series of controversial tweets in which she hoped the Queen was in "excruciating pain" as she died. </p> <p>Now, the Nigerian-American lecturer has reiterated her claims on a podcast, saying, "This was a ruler. The very crown she had on her head signified the fact that she's a monarch was made from plunder. Diamonds. Blood diamonds."</p> <p>"The throne that she was sitting on is a throne of blood... Her very position as a monarch, the palace she lived in... were all paid for by our blood."</p> <p>She stood by her controversial tweets, which she admitted were an "emotional outburst", but said, "I said what I f****** said."</p> <p>"I was triggered by this news. It went deep into pain and trauma for me. Due to my family experience with the rule of this monarch."</p> <p>Anya also shared her thoughts on the Queen's role in the Nigerian Civil War in 1967 by showing support for the turbulent government. </p> <p>She said, "People expected me to be calm or to be... when the person who literally paid money for bombs and guns and military supplies to come and massacre your people is dying, you're not supped to dance."</p> <p>Anya's claims forced her employer to say in a statement, "We do not condone the offensive and objectionable messages posted by Uju Anya today on her social media account."</p> <p>"Free expression is core to the mission of higher education. However, the views she shared absolutely do not represent the values of the institution, nor the standards of discourse we seek to foster," they concluded.</p> <p>Despite thousands of people being up in arms over her comments and demanding an apology, others have jumped to the professor's defence. </p> <p>Over 4,000 people have signed a petition defending Anya, saying her posts on Twitter spoke to personal anguish the scholar still feels about atrocities by the British Empire decades ago that touched her family.</p> <p>Refusing to apologise, Anya once again tweeted, "If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Youtube</em></p>

Caring

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Game of Thrones: King Charles III’s choice of royal residences

<p dir="ltr">After King Charles III was sworn in as England’s next monarch, he isn’t just assuming his late mother’s royal duties, but also ownership of her residences.</p> <p dir="ltr">Charles has a choice of five palaces when it comes to his official home, though he doesn’t necessarily have to select just one.</p> <p dir="ltr">If he follows in his mother’s footsteps, he could choose to travel between several locations for official duties and downtime.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He is going to have to weigh up the cost against the importance of keeping these palaces and castles and residences truly royal by using them," a source told The Times.</p> <p dir="ltr">With choices spanning London to Berkshire, here’s a whirlwind tour of the residences King Charles III can choose from.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Buckingham Palace, London</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Having been the official London residence for monarchs for 185 years, when Queen Victoria first took up residence there in 1837, Buckingham Palace has a lengthy history.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/buckingham-palace1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">The 775-room building is now used as the administrative headquarters, or royal office, of the monarch thanks to its 92 offices, 188 staff bedrooms, and 52 royal and guest bedrooms.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, if Charles does want to move in, current renovations to the palace mean he’ll have to wait. The changes are estimated to cost over $700 million, with an expected completion date in 2027.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Clarence House, London</strong></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2d39489f-7fff-5e30-274a-64c59b13a02d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Located beside St James’ Palace, Clarence House has been a royal residence for slightly longer than Buckingham Palace, having been built in 1827 for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/clarence-house.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles and Camilla, now the Queen Consort, have called Clarence House home since 2003.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Sandringham House, Norfolk</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The 20,000-acre Norfolk property is known as the royal’s country house and has been passed down through the royal family for centuries.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4bb18b46-7fff-90ad-bae9-edbe888bb618"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">With its sprawling acreage, more than 200 people make their living from the estate, including gamekeepers, gardeners, farmers and workers at Sandringham’s sawmill.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/sandringham-house.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Sandringham House has also gone down in history as the location of Queen Elizabeth II’s first televised Christmas message.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Highgrove House, Gloucestershire</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5f131cc5-7fff-199d-a2a2-8d500d15656c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles has used Highgrove House as his private residence since the 1980s - over 180 years after it was built.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/highgrove-house.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Before Charles lived there, the Georgian home belonged to Maurice Macmillan, the son of former British PM Maurice Macmillan.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nowadays, Highgrove House sees around 40,000 visitors walk through the estate’s expansive gardens each year.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Windsor Castle, Berkshire</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8caa6e34-7fff-332d-a7be-5ff6431b396c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">With more than 1000 rooms and over 300 fireplaces, Windsor Castle has been in the royal family for 900 years.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/windsor-castle.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">But it isn’t the only building located on the property, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s residence, Frogmore Cottage.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4717eb95-7fff-b26c-bd92-01a19636cb35"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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13 things that will happen now that Charles is king

<p><strong>The next monarch</strong></p> <p>As we pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after the news of her passing at the age of 96, all eyes now inevitably turn to her son, Prince Charles, who has immediately succeeded her place on the throne to become King Charles III.</p> <p>Unlike his mother, who unexpectedly became queen at just 25 years old when her father, King George VI, died suddenly, 71-year-old Prince Charles has spent his entire life in preparation to wear the crown. He’s the longest waiting heir apparent and will be the oldest British monarch to ever take the throne.</p> <p><strong>Following Queen Elizabeth's death, Prince Charles immediately became king</strong></p> <p>At the moment of Queen Elizabeth’s death, Prince Charles became king. An ‘<a href="https://www.royal.uk/accession" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Accession Council</a>’, consisting of the group of advisors to the sovereign known as the Privy Council, will convene at St James’s Palace, London, to formally recognise the transition and to proclaim Charles as the monarch.</p> <p>The King will then take an <a href="https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/the-accession-council/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oath</a> to, interestingly enough, preserve the <a href="https://www.royal.uk/queens-relationship-churches-england-and-scotland-and-other-faiths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Church of Scotland</a> (this is because the sovereign is only the head of the Church of England, not the Presbyterian Church of Scotland). Parliament will then be recalled for its members to take oaths of allegiance.</p> <p><strong>It wasn't a given that Prince Charles would become King Charles</strong></p> <p>‘Charles’ was an interesting choice for Queen Elizabeth to name her future heir, because the first two King Charles are associated with the 17th-century English Civil War, when the monarchy was ousted for the first and only time in <a href="https://www.royal.uk/kings-and-queens-1066" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British history</a>. Charles I was beheaded, although Charles II was eventually restored to the throne and well-liked.</p> <p>But Elizabeth, who kept her given name as Queen, was actually unusual in doing so: most other British monarchs changed their names upon taking the throne. For example, Queen Victoria’s first name was Alexandrina. That said, given the Prince of Wales was known by the public as Prince Charles his whole life, it makes sense for him to retain Charles as his regnal name as King, making him King Charles III.</p> <p><strong>Charles may change one of his titles</strong></p> <p>His first name isn’t the only part of his title Charles has the potential to change now that he is King. Queen Elizabeth II’s full title was “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.” That’s a mouthful, but there’s one part of it – one little word, actually – Charles has an issue with. “Prince Charles has taken a strong interest in interfaith dialogue, and there has been speculation that he would prefer the title of Defender of Faiths [or Faith] rather than Defender of the Faith,” Harris says.</p> <p>Charles has since rolled back his initial statements on the wording, though. “I said I would rather be seen as Defender of Faith all those years ago because…I mind about the inclusion of other people’s faiths and their freedom to worship in this country,” he told the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/08/prince-charles-expresses-alarm-about-radicalisation-in-britain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>. “And it always seems to me that while at the same time being defender of the faith you can also be protector of faiths.” Charles does have a say in the <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/research/monarchy-church-and-state/accession-and-coronation/planning-next-accession-and-coronation#Q11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wording</a>, UCL says, so we’ll have to wait until his coronation to see what he finally settles on.</p> <p><strong>The coronation may be different</strong></p> <p>Speaking of the coronation, which is a religious ceremony, Prince Charles may adapt this ritual as well. This ceremony is traditionally presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster Abbey and takes place several months after the last monarch’s death to allow for a period of mourning. At the ceremony, the new sovereign takes the coronation oath, which includes a promise to maintain the Church of England, and is ‘anointed, blessed and consecrated’ by the Archbishop,” the royal family’s <a href="https://www.royal.uk/coronation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official website</a> states.</p> <p>But what about Charles? “The coronation will continue to be an Anglican service, but finding a place for other Christian denominations and other religions, as happened at the recent royal wedding,” UCL’s <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/research/monarchy-church-and-state/accession-and-coronation/planning-next-accession-and-coronation#Q11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Constitution Unit</a> says. “Such people may be invited to give readings; and religious leaders other than Anglicans are likely to be seated prominently, as happened at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee service at St Paul’s in 2012.”</p> <p><strong>All eyes will also be on Prince William</strong></p> <p>With Charles becoming King, Prince William will take on new titles, including the traditional styling given to the king-in-waiting. William becomes Duke of Cornwall with Charles becoming King, and will be formally named as Prince of Wales. But that’s not the only way William’s role will change: because his father is already 73, it might not be long before Prince William takes the throne himself.</p> <p>There will likely be a lot of public interest in William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and how William will be preparing to eventually assume the throne.</p> <p><strong>Charles will likely be a more outspoken monarch</strong></p> <p>The sovereign is supposed to be above politics, but Charles is actually somewhat of a rebel in his <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1206933/prince-charles-news-royal-family-queen-elizabeth-ii-monarchy-collapse-spt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tendency</a> to express his views on social and environmental issues. “Charles is known to hold firm opinions on a variety of subjects including organic farming, architecture and sustainable development,” says Carolyn Harris, PhD, historian and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1459735692/?tag=readerwp-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting</a>.</p> <p>“Climate change and environmental conservation are key political issues in the 21st century, and Charles will certainly not be seen as an impartial figure on these subjects, as his views are well-known.”</p> <p><strong>But, he may temper his opinions</strong></p> <p>Prince Charles noted in a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46133114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a> interview, though, that his vocal manner would be toned down when he became king. “The idea somehow that I’m going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense,” he said. “I do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign.” But, he also expressed that the line between charitable works and “meddling” in politics isn’t always clear; for example, when he created the Prince’s Trust in 1976 to help underprivileged youth. “I’ve always been intrigued, if it’s meddling to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago,” he said. “If that’s meddling, I’m very proud of it.”</p> <p>Plus, the Prince’s candidness over the years may only be unusual when compared to his mother’s approach. “Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for such a long time, that her approach to her duties has become synonymous with constitutional monarchy in the popular imagination – her predecessors sometimes expressed open political opinions, but the Queen has been careful to remain above politics in the United Kingdom,” Harris says. Even so, “Charles will likely moderate his own approach to public duties to follow the Queen’s example, as the public expects the monarch to remain above politics.”</p> <p><strong>The monarchy may shrink</strong></p> <p>Another change that the new king reportedly will institute has had royal watchers buzzing: he may trim down the monarchy in terms of the number of royals actively carrying out official responsibilities. “Prince Charles favours a more streamlined royal family with fewer people undertaking public duties,” Harris says.</p> <p>“In the Queen’s reign, her cousins the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra undertake public duties, and the entire extended family gathers for pre-Christmas lunch and at Trooping the Colour in June. In Charles’s reign, there will be a strong focus on the monarch’s immediate family – his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren – and less of a public role for the extended royal family.”</p> <p><strong>The sounds and sights of Britain will be different</strong></p> <p>In accordance with the normal changes that occur when a new British monarch takes the throne, certain differences will be apparent in the United Kingdom – including the wording of the national anthem. Instead of ‘God Save the Queen’, the wording of the national anthem will be ‘God Save the King’. The royal family’s <a href="https://www.royal.uk/national-anthem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official website</a> states that although there’s no authorised version of the national anthem, “words are a matter of tradition…substituting ‘Queen’ for ‘King’ where appropriate.” In addition, the royal cypher (basically a fancy monogram), which appears on England’s iconic red postal boxes, will change from ‘ER’ for ‘Elizabeth II Regina’ to the new King’s cypher. <a href="https://www.postalmuseum.org/blog/royal-cypher-appearances/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Postal Museum</a> notes that this will only happen when new postal boxes are added; old ones won’t change. In addition, new stamps and banknotes will bear the <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/830010/banknotes-when-queen-elizabeth-dies-prince-charles-new-10-ten-note" target="_blank" rel="noopener">King’s likeness</a>.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/13-things-that-will-happen-when-prince-charles-becomes-king" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Mega mansion with odes to Hollywood hits the market

<p dir="ltr">A mansion on the top of a mountain with “million-dollar views” of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Hinterland has hit the market - but its unique interior could be its biggest drawcard.</p> <p dir="ltr">Not only does it come with seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, it also boasts its own medieval throne room, a Wild West-style saloon bar, and a Hollywood-style theatrette.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ray White Beerwah agent Alex Garden said the property, known as Chateau Cedarton, was built by a concreter who wanted his own mega mansion.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is really unique,” Mr Garden told <em><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/live-like-royalty-in-qlds-own-game-of-thrones-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realestate.com.au</a></em>. “In its heyday, it would have been a really cool venue.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The medieval throne room, styled with stone tiles to create a classic castle look, is complete with two full-sized replica knights and leads into the 25-metre-long red-carpeted theatrette, decorated with Hollywood-style movie posters.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Wild West-style saloon room features timber panelling, appropriately-themed wall art and a cellar.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other internal features include a sauna and spa, as well as a formal reception area, statement kitchen, formal dining room, space for 10 cars, a pool/rumpus room, and a commercial kitchen and laundry.</p> <p dir="ltr">Outside, the 16.19-hectare block boasts just as many interesting features, such as Roman columns, a pool with its own public bathroom, and replicas of European fountains.</p> <p dir="ltr">There is also a wraparound verandah, a resort-style pool, a gazebo, fruit trees, three dams, and a workers cottage.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-cedarton-139351039" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listing</a>, the home has complete privacy despite being surrounded by large acreage homes and “hosts scenic breathtaking million-dollar views”.</p> <p dir="ltr">After spending a weekend at the home more than a decade ago, owners Victor and Lana, who have asked for their surname not to be published, said they fell in love with the property.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, their plans for transforming the home were put on hold after Victor suffered an accident which saw him undergo extensive rehabilitation two months after they moved in.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We had huge plans for it and we did open it as a function centre, restaurant and accommodation for a while, we also had visits from the elderly, from retirement villages and children with disabilities,” Lana said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And our direction changed towards that, towards helping people who needed some peace and tranquillity.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With COVID-19 lockdowns keeping them away from half of their family in Victoria, the couple then decided it was time to sell - giving them the opportunity to move south and start their new business venture.</p> <p dir="ltr">They have freshened up the home ahead of the sale, softening some of the Tuscan palette to create a more neutral vibe.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, they have left its unique rooms untouched.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s what makes it so unique,” Lana said.</p> <p dir="ltr">They hope that the next owner has their own vision for the property, as Lana says the estate has “so much potential”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It needs someone with some big plans and the ability to make them happen.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The views, the privacy, the grounds, the possibilities are endless.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3423ace5-7fff-e640-f932-7f5b0de0294f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Ray White</em></p>

Real Estate

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Rare photo released of the Queen with all three heirs to the throne

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>The British Royal Family have released a rare photograph of the Queen with her three heirs to the throne.</p> <p>The image features the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George and was shared on the Kensington Palace Instagram to mark the start of a new decade.</p> <p>The photo was taken on the same day that the Queen hosted the extended royal family for their annual Christmas lunch on December 18th.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B636jKClcWA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B636jKClcWA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">🎉 Happy New Year! A new portrait of The Queen and The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and Prince George has been released to mark the start of a new decade. Wishing all of our followers a happy and healthy 2020! Photo 📷 by Ranald Mackechnie.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Jan 3, 2020 at 2:06pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The caption reads:</p> <p> “A new portrait of The Queen and The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and Prince George has been released to mark the start of a new decade.</p> <p>“Wishing all of our followers a happy and healthy 2020!”</p> <p>The newly issued photo is one of only a few times a portrait has been issued with the Queen and all three heirs.</p> <p>The first portrait was released in April 2016 for the Queen’s 90th birthday and was used on Royal Mail stamps. Another photo was taken of the foursome at Prince George’s christening in 2013 as a part of the official christening photographs.</p> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>The photo is reported to have caused tension from the Sussex family as they saw it as a sign that they were being excluded from royal life, according to <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/excluded-from-the-future-the-sussexes-look-elsewhere-blkhfs589" target="_blank">The Times</a></em>.</p> <p>The newspaper also said that their decision to step away from royal duties was triggered by the Queen's Christmas message not featuring any photos of the couple on her desk. </p> <p>Nick Ede, a PR expert, has played down these claims as the Sussexes couldn't have expected to be in the photo.</p> <p><span>"I think it was very interesting to see that photograph... that was a very interesting silent PR tool to show there is a streamlined royalty, a streamlined family, and those are the ones we should be focusing on,” he told </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/harry-meghan-royal-photo-164328172.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIzhhi52xJFeFgdMBMLLABAev2wM73hnQK7iTRSjewMuuW045qeFS62ddf6k7CJo3sY2Frdtd7-wQUODfYrpZ0IkarVu4XGzWhAWdiSicMdt9ernZN3Wz1c-4MdT8YP_5NfC42Ncg9kaA01oz_Mb4sIoiXONjazIGNBpnEoHOghi" target="_blank">Yahoo News UK</a>.</em></p> <p><span>“In many ways I can’t see that as a tipping point... the fact of the matter is Prince Harry and Meghan are quite far down the pecking order now so they really shouldn’t be there on that, and it really should be the future king and obviously the next ones," he explained.</span></p> <p>“I think it was a direct way of showing they are streamlining, they are thinking about what do do about taxpayers’ money.</p> <p>“When the Queen goes, it is going to change, no matter what anyone says.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

International Travel

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“I’m seeing someone else”: Dame Edna claims she's dating Thomas Markle

<p>Dame Edna is a classic Australian icon, and it’s safe to say that this title does not come without controversy.</p> <p>As Dame Edna is promoting her new tour, she’s announced to the press that she’s got a new man in her life.</p> <p>“I’ve had many years of widowhood, but I’m seeing someone else,” Dame Edna said, before dropping clues about her new lover.</p> <p>“An older man. He’s not well known. He was in the limelight because of his daughter’s marriage. He lives in America. He sometimes lives in Mexico. His name is Thomas Markle,” she said, as the room erupted in laughter.</p> <p>Although they’re getting “very, very close”, nothing serious has happened yet.</p> <p>“He is the father of little Meghan and he’s such a lovely man,” she continued. “We’re getting very, very close. We haven’t committed acts of immodesty yet.”</p> <p>After doing some quick math, Dame Edna realised that she would be in line to the throne if her and Tommy tied the knot.</p> <p>“Do you realise that if I do tie the knot with Tommy, I will be 17th in line for the throne,” she said.</p> <p>“So he suggested we go down to his local jeweller and have our heads measured for crowns, just in case. Queen Edna and King Thomas, it sounds good, doesn’t it?”</p> <p>This isn’t the first time that Dame Edna has had a brush with the royal family, as she recently posted a video on her Instagram page of her with Prince Charles and Camilla at the Royal Variety Show.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Nih1dHV_K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Nih1dHV_K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Me with Prince Charles and Camilla at the Royal Variety Show. I absolutely ADORE them! 😘 #royalfamily #royal #royalty #royals #britishroyalfamily #katemiddleton #queenelizabeth #princewilliam #britishroyals #duchessofcambridge #princeharry #meghanmarkle #princegeorge #queen #princesscharlotte #princelouis #royalwedding #monarchy #princess #dukeofcambridge #london #duchessofsussex #princessdiana #love #windsor #houseofwindsor #royalfamilynews #hermajesty #thequeen#dameedna</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/dameednaeverage/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Dame Edna Everage</a> (@dameednaeverage) on Sep 9, 2019 at 6:06pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p> </p>

News

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The bizarre rule that could stop Prince William and Prince George claiming the throne

<p>When Queen Elizabeth's reign ends, it is <span>expected that Prince Charles will take the throne, with his eldest son Prince William, </span><span>37, next in line and then his 6-year-old grandson, Prince George. </span></p> <p>Following Charles, William and George is Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, baby Archie, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.</p> <p>However, there is a bizarre rule laid out in the laws of succession to the British throne which could spell the end of Prince William and Prince George’s claim to it. </p> <p>While birth order is important, succession can ultimately be determined in the constitutional developments of the 17th century, which resulted in the Bill of Rights (1989) and the Act of Settlement (1701).</p> <p>Both these acts forbid “Roman Catholic” people to be specifically excluded from succession to the throne. </p> <p>The royals are all members of the Church of England, a Protestant Anglican Church, and have been since the 16th century.</p> <p>While we are sure the royal heirs will not turn their back on the Church of England, if they did it could mean they lose claim to the throne. </p> <p>British royals have never had the ability to exercise religious freedom in their own lives, and when it comes to the younger royals, there is yet to be an issue. </p> <p>The Royal Family website explains the religious requirements expected of the British family. </p> <p>"Parliament, under the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement, also laid down various conditions which the Sovereign must meet.</p> <p>"A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne.</p> <p>"The Sovereign must, in addition, be in communion with the Church of England and must swear to preserve the established Church of England and the established Church of Scotland.</p> <p>"The Sovereign must also promise to uphold the Protestant succession."</p> <p>The Succession of the Crown Act came into force in 2013 and ensures that if a royal member marries someone from the Roman Catholic church, they can still ascend to the throne – just as long as their children are raised in the Church of England.</p>

News

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Visit the Game of Thrones shoot locations and relive your favourite episodes

<p>After almost a decade of captivating audiences, Game of Thrones has finally come to an end for TV viewers. But if you still want your GoT fix, visiting one of the show’s filming locations may be the next best thing.</p> <p>Bursting onto the small screen in 2011, Game of Thrones was quick to garner critical acclaim and be catapulted into cult-like TV status. As well as launching its actors into the public eye, Game of Thrones also helped propel its filming locations into the travel hotspot stratosphere. With shot locations as diverse as Croatia, Iceland, Spain, Malta, Morocco, Northern Ireland and Scotland, travellers have the opportunity to enter the world of fire and ice as envisioned by George R.R. Martin. With the show’s final season now ended, you can begin your own pilgrimage to one (or all) of these majestic destinations and set out on your own quest for the Iron Throne.</p> <p><strong>Croatia</strong></p> <p>King’s Landing’s real-world location can be found within the mediaeval walls of <a href="https://www.webjet.com.au/cheap-flights/dubrovnik/">Dubrovnik</a>, a coastal city in the south of <a href="https://www.webjet.com.au/flights/croatia/">Croatia</a>. The city’s 16th-century Old Town is used for all King’s Landing exterior shots and is encircled by a three-kilometre ring of defensive limestone walls. Croatia has been used as the King’s Landing filming location since the second season and provides the setting for some of the show’s biggest plot points.<br /> <br />Lovrijenac Fortress is the backdrop for The Red Keep, the palace of King’s Landing occupied by the Lannisters. This limestone fortress is located just outside the western wall of Dubrovnik and stands 37 metres above sea level. The fort overshadows the two entrances to the city, by sea and by land, and sets the scene for the spectacular Battle of Blackwater Bay. The inner streets of Old Town have also played a part in bringing some major scenes from the books to life.<br /> Jesuit Staircase</p> <p>Head to the famous Jesuit Staircase to see where Cersei took her ‘walk of shame’ along St Dominic Street. This same street is also used in many of the series’ market scenes and was the spot where the gold cloaks killed one of Robert Baratheon’s biological children.<br /> Pile Bay, Bokar Fortress and Trsteno Arboretum</p> <p>Be sure to visit Pile Bay on your trip to Dubrovnik. Pile Bay most notably hosts the disturbing scene of the slaying of Robert Baratheon’s bastards from season two. Moving outwards from Pile sits the Bokar Fortress. The Bokar Fortress is one of the most recognisable structures in both Dubrovnik and Game of Thrones, in which this beautiful mediaeval construction features heavily in seasons two and three. The fortress hosts the scene where Varys discusses Tyrion’s work as the Hand of the King, as well as the deliberation of key battle strategies in the defeat of Stanis Baratheon’s army.<br /> <br />Moving out of the city of Dubrovnik, be sure to visit Trsteno Arboretum. This luscious garden which is positioned only 20 minutes’ drive outside of the city was built in the late 15th century, offering visitors panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. The majority of the palace garden scenes that take place in the show are filmed in Trsteno Arboretum.</p> <p><strong>Diocletian’s Palace and Fortress of Klis</strong></p> <p>Another filming location worth noting is Diocletian’s Palace in the Croatian seaside city of <a href="https://www.webjet.com.au/flights/split/">Split</a>. The palace was constructed in the 4th century by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. This UNESCO World Heritage Site received modern fame for being the setting for where Daenerys trained her dragons and where the ‘kill the masters’ scene in season four took place. While in the region be sure to visit the grand mediaeval Fortress of Klis which is only a 30-minute drive north of Split. This dominant structure features heavily in season four and is the location in which Daenerys overthrows the Meereen, the greatest of the three great city-states of Slaver's Bay. The Fortress of Klis was built in the 3rd century into and on top of an isolated body of rock. The fortress is completely inaccessible from three sides and offers visitors panoramic views of Split and the Adriatic Sea.</p> <p><strong>Iceland</strong></p> <p>A trip to Iceland on a Game of Thrones filming expedition wouldn’t be complete without visiting Iceland’s most famous waterfall, Skogafoss. This breathtaking cascade of water is a national icon, a representation of just how picturesque and powerful the Icelandic landscape can be. As dramatic as the series, Skogafoss spews an enormous amount of water into the depths below. The waterfall features in the first episode of season eight where Daenerys and Jon Snow ride the dragons and perch next to a series of ice-covered waterfalls.<br /> <br />What other location in the world could play the part of The Wall as perfectly as <a href="https://www.webjet.com.au/flights/iceland/">Iceland</a>? Large glaciers in Snæfellsjökull, Svinafellsjökull and the hills of Höfðabrekkuheiði have been used to depict the Fist of the First Men and the Frostfang Mountains. Visit Dimmuborgir, a lava field with interestingly shaped rocks and great significance in Icelandic folklore and find yourself in the spot where Jon Snow and the Wildlings set up camp. Thingvellir National Park was also used for many of the exterior scenes beyond The Wall, and, during the warmer months, for Arya and The Hound’s travels in season four.<br /> <br />On your trip north of The Wall be sure to visit Hengilssvæðið to truly experience the rugged and confronting terrain that Iceland provided in the making of the series. Located a 30-minute drive from the capital (Reykjavik), the Hengill area was the filming location for the face-off between Brienne of Tarr and the Hound in season four, episode 10.<br /> <br />Moving further east of Reykjavik, the Þjórsárdalur Valley is a must see on every Game of Thrones diehard wishlist. It is here where the ransacking and destruction of Olly’s village in season four-episode three takes place. Olly is left as the lone survivor, leaving everyone and everything in his village dead and destroyed behind.</p> <p><em>This article first appeared in </em><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/visit-game-thrones-shoot-locations-and-relive-your-favourite-episodes"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Travel Tips

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9 great fantasy epics every Game of Thrones fan needs to read

<p>George R. R. Martin started writing A Game of Thrones, the first volume in the series, <em>A Song of Ice an Fire, </em>in 1991. When books 6 and 7—<em>The Winds of Winter</em> and <em>A Dream of Spring</em>—will come out is anybody’s guess.<br /><br />But how closely the TV show will match the content of those books is less of a guess, given that they’ve already shown an ability to veer in their own direction.<br /><br />For fans of the books, endlessly waiting for Martin to get on with it, here’s a few suggestions for some other epic books to help pass the time.</p> <ol> <li><strong> Lord of the Rings</strong></li> </ol> <p><em>Lord of the Rings</em> by J. R. R. Tolkien: What is it about fantasy and the initials R. R.?</p> <p>Anyhow, if you haven’t already read the classic trilogy that can be considered to have started the whole thing, now is the time.</p> <p>The good news is that there is a beginning, a middle, and, yes, an end.</p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong> Wheel of Time</strong></li> </ol> <p>Also famous, and a lot longer, is Robert Jordan’s <em>Wheel of Time</em> series.</p> <p>There’s 14 books plus a prequel. Jordan deliberately intended for the beginning of his story to evoke the Shire of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, but the series goes on into way more complicated ground, and way more pages.</p> <p>Jordan died before concluding the series; Brandon Sanderson, author of the <em>Mistborn</em> books, finished the series.</p> <p>Sanderson is now at work on a ten-book series called <em>The Stormlight Archive</em>. </p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong> The Dresden Files</strong></li> </ol> <p>Jim Butcher is the author of the bestselling series <em>The Dresden Files</em>, about a grownup wizard solving paranormal crimes in Chicago.</p> <p>Less well-known, and well worth reading, is his four-book <em>Codex Alera</em> series. In a world where everyone can control the elements, hero Tavi is unusual in having no such power.</p> <p>Butcher’s take on fantasy is as much fun as his Dresden books.</p> <p>The book, <em>Skin Game</em>, is the 15th in the series.</p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong> Earthsea</strong></li> </ol> <p>Originally written as a young adult series, Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series, comprising six books, is nevertheless a satisfying read for adults as well.</p> <p>As a matter of fact, parents a little wary of the hijinks in Thrones might want to direct their young readers here as a safe substitute.</p> <p>The books are set in a world of far-flung islands, providing yet another change of pace from the expected. </p> <ol start="5"> <li><strong> Leviathan</strong></li> </ol> <p>Speaking of young adult series, Scott Westerfield’s steampunk series, Leviathan, is perfect for any age.</p> <p>Its heroes are a young girl masquerading as a male cadet, and an Austro-Hungarian noble teen boy, just as World War I (or this book’s version of it) is breaking out.</p> <p>It’s the Darwinists versus the Clankers, and a lot of fun and adventure for all.</p> <ol start="6"> <li><strong> Commonwealth</strong></li> </ol> <p>When it comes to big BIG books spread out over a long period of time and abundantly filled with incident, it would be hard to beat Peter F. Hamilton’s <em>Commonwealth</em> series.</p> <p>Starting with <em>Pandora’s Star</em>, which is clearly science fiction, and covering a millennia or two, eventually the story encompasses a classic fantasy tale, told from within the novels’ mysterious “void.”</p> <p>As a matter of fact, if you stick with it, <em>The Abyss Beyond Dreams</em>, the 6th book, will strike you as having a decidedly Wild West side (apart from the spaceships).</p> <ol start="7"> <li><strong> Magicians</strong></li> </ol> <p>Another series of fantasy material might be familiar to you from a television version is Lev Grossman’s <em>Magicians</em> series.</p> <p>Yes, there is the whole young wizards at college part, a deliberately adult spin on Hogwarts, but somewhere along the way there is also Fillory, this time a deliberately adult spin on C. S. Lewis’s Narnia.</p> <p>The TV show is fine, but the books are special.</p> <ol start="8"> <li><strong> The Narnia Trilogy</strong></li> </ol> <p>Speaking of Narnia, there is also C. S. Lewis’s classic <em>Ransom trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra</em> and <em>That Hideous Strength</em>.</p> <p>They’re a decidedly old-fashioned blend of fantasy and science fiction, but then again, they were written roughly during the period of the Second World War and were pretty cutting edge for their day.</p> <p>Lewis’s allegories have a lot to say about the times back then—with meaning also applicable to our present-day now—as his hero, Elwin Ransom, explores our neighboring planets.</p> <ol start="9"> <li><strong> The Chronicles of Amber</strong></li> </ol> <p>Finally, if you still have time on your hands and you’re looking for ten novels breaking into two cycles of five, plus a handful of short stories (the best way to track all of these down is through Wikipedia), then you’re ready for Roger Zelazny’s <em>The Chronicles of Amber</em>.</p> <p>It all begins when our hero awakes from a coma, suffering from amnesia.</p> <p>He soon learns that he is part of a magical family that can wander through something called 'shadows.' And the game is afoot.</p> <p><em>Sign of the Unicorn</em>, is the third book in the <em>Chronicles of Amber</em> series. </p> <p><em>This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/9-great-fantasy-epics-every-game-thrones-fan-needs-read">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Books

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Princess Charlotte set to make history when royal baby arrives

<p>For the first time in history, Princess Charlotte’s ranking for the crown will not be affected by the arrival of her new sibling if her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, gives birth to a boy.</p> <p>Thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, birth order now determines who will become the next king or queen of the UK, not their gender. If this new act had not been put in place, the two-year-old princess’s position would fall a spot if Prince William and Kate Middleton were to welcome a boy.</p> <p>The new legislation affects all royals born after October 28, 2011 and was first passed while Kate Middleton was pregnant with now 4-year-old Prince George.</p> <p>Prince Charles is currently the heir to the throne, which his mother Queen Elizabeth II has held the position of for 66 years. Prince William is second in line, with his children – Prince George and Princess Charlotte – in third and fourth positions, respectively, and the impending arrival of his soon-to-be newborn child taking the fifth position.</p> <p><img width="499" height="645" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7817232/wills-kate-and-kids_499x645.jpg" alt="Wills Kate And Kids"/></p> <p>Prince Harry, who is currently fifth in line to the throne, will move down a place once his new niece or nephew arrives, as will Prince Andrew, and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.</p> <p>In the meantime, Kate is now officially on maternity leave and preparing for the new addition to her and Prince William’s family.</p> <p>A royal friend told <em>PEOPLE</em> that both Prince George and Princess Charlotte are “excited” about their new sibling, noting, “Charlotte, as the youngest, may find it hard.”</p>

Family & Pets

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Prince Harry says no one wants to rise to the throne

<p>Prince Harry has suggested no one in the Royal Family wants to rise to the throne in a tell-all interview with <em>Newsweek</em> magazine, among other revelations.</p> <p>During the interview, the 32-year-old royal argued members of the royal family rising to the throne is out of sense of duty, rather than desire, and said the House of Windsor "not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people".</p> <p>Prince Harry also spoke openly about the distress that was caused by walking behind his mother’s coffin as a 12-year-old boy in public view, saying, "I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances.</p> <p>"My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">WATCH: Prince Harry scarred by mother's funeral <a href="https://t.co/eQj0htsB7x">pic.twitter.com/eQj0htsB7x</a></p> — Asbury Park Press (@AsburyParkPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsburyParkPress/status/878017261910413315">June 22, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>Prince Harry also said he does his own shopping.</p> <p>"People would be amazed by the ordinary life William and I live,"</p> <p>"My mother took a huge part in showing me an ordinary life, including taking me and my brother to see homeless people.</p> <p>"Thank goodness I'm not completely cut off from reality."</p> <p>Who’s your favourite member of the Royal Family?</p>

News

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Game of Thrones' Northern Ireland travel to-do list

<p>At the close of Game of Thrones season four, HBO declared the show its most-watched program since The Sopranos is 2007. The continued popularity of the fantasy series has also meant that the show’s filming locations – Northern Ireland, Croatia and Iceland – have seen a boost in tourism. Ireland has been of particular interest. Thousands have been visiting from across the globe and the latest – and perhaps most illustrious – visitor, Queen Elizabeth II, toured the studio sets in June.</p><p>Northern Ireland, one of the main shooting locations since its first season, has served as the backdrop for GOT's distinctive fantasy world. Counties such as Antrim, Londonberry and Down are among the key locations you should note if you want to plan a GOT travel adventure.</p><p>The Caves of Cushendun, located in a small coastal village, set the scene for the scene in which Lady Melisandre gives birth to a mysterious shadow. A site known as the Dark Hedges, with its curving beech trees, stands in for the dangerous King's Road in the series. Shillanavogy Valley is the site of the show's Dothraki Camp.</p><p>The country's tourist board is going out of its way to attract GOT fans, even offering a guide of must-see locations on its website.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>GOT Ireland must-do list:</strong></span></p><p><strong>Cushendun Caves, County Antrim</strong><br>Where enchantress Melisandre births a shadow baby.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Castle Ward</strong><br>County Down is more familiar as Winterfell and is featured when King Robert Barratheon arrives at Winterfell.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Shane's Castle in County Antrim</strong><br>GOT fans would better know this as where Ned Stark was chained up and The Hand's Tournament took place.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Armoy known as The Dark Hedges</strong><br>County Antrim, is where Arya Stark escaped from King's Landing.</p><p><strong>Murlough Bay</strong><br>Otherwise known as the Iron Islands where Theon Greyjoy and his sister Asha ride on horseback.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Inch Abbey on the River Quoile</strong><br>The backdrop for Walder Frey's twin castles in The Riverlands, where Catelyn Stark learns of her husband's fate and vows revenge.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Travel Tips

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Game of Thrones' Northern Ireland travel to-do list

<p>At the close of Game of Thrones season four, HBO declared the show its most-watched program since The Sopranos is 2007. The continued popularity of the fantasy series has also meant that the show’s filming locations – Northern Ireland, Croatia and Iceland – have seen a boost in tourism. Ireland has been of particular interest. Thousands have been visiting from across the globe and the latest – and perhaps most illustrious – visitor, Queen Elizabeth II, toured the studio sets in June.</p><p>Northern Ireland, one of the main shooting locations since its first season, has served as the backdrop for GOT's distinctive fantasy world. Counties such as Antrim, Londonberry and Down are among the key locations you should note if you want to plan a GOT travel adventure.</p><p>The Caves of Cushendun, located in a small coastal village, set the scene for the scene in which Lady Melisandre gives birth to a mysterious shadow. A site known as the Dark Hedges, with its curving beech trees, stands in for the dangerous King's Road in the series. Shillanavogy Valley is the site of the show's Dothraki Camp.</p><p>The country's tourist board is going out of its way to attract GOT fans, even offering a guide of must-see locations on its website.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>GOT Ireland must-do list:</strong></span></p><p><strong>Cushendun Caves, County Antrim</strong><br>Where enchantress Melisandre births a shadow baby.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Castle Ward</strong><br>County Down is more familiar as Winterfell and is featured when King Robert Barratheon arrives at Winterfell.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Shane's Castle in County Antrim</strong><br>GOT fans would better know this as where Ned Stark was chained up and The Hand's Tournament took place.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Armoy known as The Dark Hedges</strong><br>County Antrim, is where Arya Stark escaped from King's Landing.</p><p><strong>Murlough Bay</strong><br>Otherwise known as the Iron Islands where Theon Greyjoy and his sister Asha ride on horseback.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Inch Abbey on the River Quoile</strong><br>The backdrop for Walder Frey's twin castles in The Riverlands, where Catelyn Stark learns of her husband's fate and vows revenge.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

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