Irlande du Nord : des mensonges à la violence

LE MONDE: La restauration d’une frontière entre l’Irlande du Nord et la Grande-Bretagne, que les loyalistes vivent comme une trahison, résulte d’un choix politique du premier ministre britannique Boris Johnson : celui d’un Brexit dur.

Editorial du « Monde ». Le Brexit menace la paix en Irlande du Nord. Cette dramatique évidence n’est pas une découverte. Deux semaines avant le référendum de juin 2016 par lequel les Britanniques ont décidé de quitter l’Union européenne (UE), John Major et Tony Blair avaient lancé ensemble, depuis Derry, cet avertissement solennel.

Ces deux anciens premiers ministres britanniques, artisans de l’accord de paix de 1998 qui a mis fin à trois décennies de guerre civile sanglante, savaient de quoi ils parlaient. Personne, à Londres, n’a voulu les entendre. Cinq ans plus tard, les huit nuits de violences qu’a connues la province britannique sonnent comme une terrible validation de leur mise en garde. » | Éditorial, Le Monde | lundi 12 avril 2021

Role Call: The Former Ministers Who Found Private Sector Jobs

THE GUARDIAN: The Greensill affair shows how some of David Cameron’s appointees have been among the most enthusiastic corporate jobseekers. Here’s the list...

David Cameron’s lobbying efforts on behalf of his employer Greensill Capital have shone a spotlight on the often lucrative corporate work on offer to former cabinet members and junior ministers with valuable experience of government and a bulging contacts book.

While the former prime minister’s overtures to serving ministers are unusual in that they prompted an unprecedented formal inquiry, there is nothing new about senior politicians taking private sector jobs after they leave office. Indeed, some of Cameron’s closest allies and cabinet appointees have been among the most enthusiastic corporate jobseekers. » | Rob Davies and Georgina Quach | Friday, April 16, 2021

Who Are Prince Philip’s German Relatives?

TATLER: His mother was a German Princess from the House of Hesse, while all four of his sisters wed German Princes and Dukes

When he was a suitor for the then Princess Elizabeth, much was made of Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark’s ‘foreign’-ness. Despite growing up in England and being schooled in Scotland at Gordonstoun, Philip was still seen as an outsider in some circles, leading to the decision to naturalise him as a British citizen ahead of the Royal Wedding, removing his Greek and Danish titles. Yet as well as his Danish heritage (his family had inherited the Greek throne but were not actually Greeks), he was also German through his mother’s side, as Princess Alice of Battenberg was a Hessian Princess.

It is perhaps unsurprising then that all four of Philip’s elder sisters married into German royal and aristocratic families, particularly as they had all moved there following the family’s exile from Greece. This was to have tragic consequences for the Duke, as it not only meant that he was to fight against his brothers-in-law during World War II on the opposite side, but that none of his siblings were invited to his wedding in 1947 to Princess Elizabeth. » | Rebecca Cope | Monday, April 12, 2021

A German Royal Cousin and Two Great-nephews Will Be among Mourners at Prince Philip’s Funeral

TATLER: Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden; Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg are all reportedly isolating at Ascot ahead of the event

The death of a monarch’s spouse would usually be followed by a funeral complete with much pomp and ceremony – particularly when one considers that the late Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away on 9 April, was the longest-serving royal consort in history. Yet under the exceptional circumstances of the ongoing pandemic, the event is set to be quite a departure from royal tradition, with just 30 mourners in attendance – as opposed to the 800 expected under original plans.

The day after Philip passed away aged 99, Buckingham Palace released details of the funeral. Due to take place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on Saturday 17 April, it will feature elements such as military Pall Bearers and a ‘small Ceremonial Procession’, made up of ‘members of the Royal Family and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household’. The Palace announced that the service itself will be ‘attended by Her Majesty The Queen and Members of the Royal Family’, while the coffin, ‘carried by a Bearer Party found by the Royal Marines, will be received… by the Dean of Windsor and the Archbishop of Canterbury.’ » | Hope Coke | Tuesday, April 13, 2021

A French Dinner for the Queen - in the Kitchens of the Elysée Palace

On the occasion of D-Day commemoration ceremonies, the Queen of England is paying an official state visit in France and will be attending a banquet as the guest of honor at the official residence of the President of the Republic of France, the Elysée Palace. This documentary film will describe the event from the kitchens of power, the true vitrine of French gastronomy which has been on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010. We will follow the work of the teams of the famous chef Guillaume Gomez, from the conception of the menus to the selection of products with the best French producers as well as the installation of the reception hall. A true challenge for a prestigious guest.

Could This Be the Location of Jesus' Tomb? | Secrets of The Cross | Timeline

In 1980, an ancient tomb was uncovered in Jerusalem. Inside were bones dating back to the first century. Could it be the resting place of Christ?

Controversial and compelling, Secrets of The Cross pushes aside centuries of tradition to expose fascinating secrets at the heart of the Christian story.

Prince Philip: Reporter Granted Rare Access by the Duke | 60 Minutes Australia

In his 99 years, it’s hard to guess how many people his Royal Highness met; how many hands he shook; how many events he attended. Far easier to count the number of television interviews he granted. Barely any – and for Australian TV, even fewer. He did, however, give one to 60 Minutes. It was 40 years ago, and the reporter was Ray Martin, who’ll never forget his encounter with the no-nonsense Duke.

My Years With the Queen

Episode 1 - Lady Pamela Hicks talks for the first time on television about her incredible life growing up within the Royal family and her close relationship with the Queen.
Watch the programme HERE » | Thursday, April 1, 2021

Wie deutsch ist die Queen? Die Wurzeln des Hauses Windsor – Doku

"Queen Elizabeth ist bei den Deutschen sehr beliebt, verkörpert sie doch typisch deutsche Tugenden. Auch die in England gern verschwiegenen Wurzeln ihrer Dynastie liegen in Deutschland. Zum ersten Mal berichten in der Dokumentation ""Wie deutsch ist die Queen?"" Vertreter deutscher Adelshäuser über ihre Verbindung zum britischen Königshaus und zur historischen Verantwortung ihrer Familien - auch in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus. Kein Monarch ist hierzulande so populär wie Queen Elizabeth II. Ihr Glamour allein kann diese Beliebtheit nicht erklären.

Eine Rolle spielen auch ihre familiären Verbindungen nach Deutschland. Die Queen auf Deutschlandbesuch, 50 Jahre nach ihrer ersten Visite als Staatsoberhaupt, ist ein historisches Ereignis. Nie waren die deutsch-britischen Beziehungen nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg so gut wie heute, und kein Monarch ist in der Bundesrepublik so beliebt wie Elizabeth II.

Die Dynastie der Windsors stammt aus dem kleinen fränkischen Ort Coburg. Bis 1917 lautete der Nachname der Mitglieder des britischen Königshauses von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha. Unter dem Eindruck des Ersten Weltkriegs erfand man den Namen Windsor...

Die Vorfahren der Windsor-Dynastie kamen aus den Häusern Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, Hessen, Hannover und Preußen. Wenn die Queen nach Deutschland zum Staatsbesuch kommt, ist das also immer auch eine Stippvisite bei Verwandten. Bis zum Ersten Weltkrieg trug die Royal Family sogar einen deutschen Nachnamen: Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha. Prinz Albert hatte ihn mit ins Königshaus gebracht, als er 1840 seine Cousine Queen Victoria heiratete. Die blutjunge Monarchin stammte ihrerseits ebenfalls aus einem deutschen Adelsgeschlecht, der Dynastie der Welfen. Im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert saßen sie nicht nur in Hannover auf dem Thron, sondern in Personalunion auch in Großbritannien. Prinz Albert und Queen Victoria träumten von einer engen deutsch-britischen Verbindung und verheirateten ihre älteste Tochter mit dem preußischen Thronfolger. Zwei Weltkriege später war das britisch-deutsche Verhältnis zerrüttet.Millionen Menschen beider Nationen hatten ihr Leben auf den Schlachtfeldern verloren, und die enge Verflechtung der Royal Family mit ihren deutschen Verwandten erschien so heikel, dass sie für Jahrzehnte dezent verschwiegen wurde."

Bernie Madoff, Infamous Ponzi Schemer, Dies

Bernard Madoff, whose name became synonymous with financial fraud, died while serving a 150-year sentence in Federal Prison. He was 82 years old.

His death Wednesday at the Federal Medical Center in the prison in Butner, North Carolina, was confirmed by the US Bureau of Prisons. A cause of death was not released.

In February 2020, he petitioned the courts for an early release from prison, stating that he had terminal kidney failure and a life expectancy of less than 18 months. But the US Attorney's office for the southern district of New York said Madoff's crime was "unprecedented in scope and magnitude" and is "sufficient reason" to deny Madoff's request.

Madoff was the mastermind behind a $20 billion Ponzi scheme -- the largest financial fraud in history.

He had a legendary career on Wall Street, famously delivering astronomical returns for his investors, which included director Steven Spielberg, actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick and New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon.

'How Prince Harry Can Show His Face in the UK, I've Got No Idea': Alan Jones

Sky News host Alan Jones says he has “no idea” how Prince Harry can “show his face” in the UK right now.

“I thought he and Meghan (Markle) thought the Royal Family were a bunch of out of touch racists,”

Mr Jones said. Mr Jones spoke of the recent passing of Prince Philip and the preparations being made for his funeral.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral will be the first time Prince Harry is reunited with his family following the bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Prince Philip 'Grows in Stature' While Prince Harry 'Struggles to Find Some'

Sky News Host Alan Jones says in death, Prince Philip only "grows in stature" while in life, Prince Harry "struggles to find some".

"Much has been said and will be said about the passing of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh," he said.

"In the light of such a distinguished career of service, how does one evaluate the abrupt response, six hours after his death I might add, by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. 'Thank you for your services… you will be greatly missed'.

"It does prompt the thought about the two, Harry and Meghan, who have kept their titles to maintain the trappings of Royalty, preferring service to self over service to others. Preferring commercial deals over charity. Preferring royalties over the Royal Family."

Prince Philip performed 22,991 solo engagements, undertook 637 overseas visits, made 5,493 speeches, and wrote 14 books during his time as a working royal.

"Perhaps the passing of Prince Philip might encourage these two to understand the meaning of service and sacrifice from their multi-million-dollar home in California," Mr Jones said.

"What must he have thought of a grandson who abandoned his family for self-interest?"

The Tension Between the Queen Mother & Prince Philip | Behind Closed Doors | Timeline

The Coronation in 1953 appeared to be a glittering triumph for the House of Windsor. But behind the scenes there was a three-cornered story of jealousy and rivalry at the highest level.

On one side Prince Philip was at odds with the Queen Mother over his desire to modernise the monarchy. On the other the old Queen was jealous of her daughter's sudden rise to power. The Coronation was a critical year for the young Queen Elizabeth. She was preparing to undergo the most ancient and important royal ritual, but the two people closest to her, the Queen Mother and Prince Philip had very different ideas about how it should be handled. Philip, the dashing but dangerously modern consort, was anxious that the Coronation should not be simply a stuffy replay of previous reigns. He wanted 'some features relevant to the world today'. But he was fiercely resisted by the Queen Mother and by Princess Mary, who referred to Philip as 'the Hun'.

The new Queen was caught in the middle. In Coronation Coup, we learn that Mountbatten, who had engineered the marriage between Philip and Elizabeth wanted the family name changed to Windsor-Mountbatten after her accession. Also, while the new Queen largely sided with her mother over arrangements for the Coronation, she backed Philip over perhaps the most important decision to televise the ceremony inside Westminster Abbey. In doing so she set a precedent for television to be given access to the most intimate rituals.

Prince Philip's Mother - The Strange, Exciting Life of Princess Alice | Documentary

Philip’s Death Leaves Prince Charles as Patriarch of Royal Family

THE GUARDIAN: Analysis: Prince of Wales will be increasingly at Queen’s side as he takes role at a time of internal divisions

An indisputable truth of hereditary monarchy is that promotion to the “top job” is accompanied by deep personal loss. So it will be for the Prince of Wales, who will eventually take the throne as he mourns his mother.

But the death of his father will have had no less profound an effect on Prince Charles. And, though on any official level it does not alter his royal status, it does change the family dynamic.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s death, as the Queen expressed, has left “a huge void”. Philip was the patriarchal head of “the firm”. This is the mantle Charles will now assume. This role was most symbolically underscored when Charles was the only family member to visit his father during his recent spell in hospital.

He spent 30 minutes at the duke’s bedside at King Edward VII’s hospital in London in February. What words were exchanged between father and son can only be guessed at, and are unlikely to ever be made public. But it was a sombre Charles who emerged with, according to photographers waiting outside, tears glistening in his eyes. » | Caroline Davies | Monday, April 12, 2021

’My Dear Papa Was a Very Special Person,’ Prince Charles Says

Prince Charles spoke in Tetbury, England, on Saturday about the life of his father, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday at 99.

Prince Philip: An Extraordinary Man Who Led an Extraordinary Life

BBC: He outlived nearly everyone who knew him and might explain him.

And so we have been left with a two-dimensional portrait of the duke; salt-tongued and short-tempered, a man who told off-colour jokes and made politically incorrect remarks, an eccentric great-uncle who'd been around forever and towards whom most people felt affection - but who rather too often embarrassed himself and others in company.

With his death will come reassessment. Because Prince Philip was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life; a life intimately connected with the sweeping changes of our turbulent 20th Century, a life of fascinating contrast and contradiction, of service and some degree of solitude. A complex, clever, eternally restless man.

His mother and father met at the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901. At a time when all but four of Europe's nations were monarchies, his relatives were scattered through European royalty. Some royal houses were swept away by World War One; but the world into which Philip was born was still one where monarchies were the norm. His grandfather was the King of Greece; his great-aunt Ella was murdered along with the Russian tsar, by the Bolsheviks, at Ekaterinberg; his mother was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

His four older sisters would all marry Germans. While Philip fought for Britain in the Royal Navy, three of his sisters actively supported the Nazi cause; none would be invited to his wedding. » | Jonny Dymond, Royal correspondent | Friday, April 9, 2021

'Cherish the Memories' – Prince Philip

BBC: Extract: “Prince Philip had blood ties with a number of former or current European royal households, and many of their members have been sending condolences.

The telegram from King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain was particularly poignant, sending "all our love and affection" to Aunt Lilibet (the affectionate name used by the duke for his wife) and Dear Uncle Philip.

"We shall never forget the moments that we shared with him and the legacy of service and dedication to the Crown and the United Kingdom by your side," they told the Queen.

Sweden's King Carl Gustaf was also moved, saying the duke had been "a great friend of our family for many years, a relation we have deeply valued".

Swedish royal family spokeswoman Margareta Thorgren told the BBC the king and the duke had sailed together in England, adding: "That was the start of a great friendship between them."

The Dutch royal family said they remembered Prince Philip with great respect, adding: "He dedicated his long life to the service of the British people and to his many duties and responsibilities. His lively personality made an indelible impression."

Belgium's King Philippe said he and Queen Mathilde would "always cherish the memories of our warm encounters". Prince Philip: World leaders and royals send heartfelt sympathy » | Friday, April 9, 2021

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Obituary

THE GUARDIAN: Prince Philip was the longest-serving consort of a British monarch, described by the Queen as her ‘strength and stay’

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who has died aged 99, was the Queen’s husband for 73 years. He was the longest-serving royal consort in British history, the family’s patriarch and a well-known figure in public life for two-thirds of a century until his final disappearance into seclusion in 2019.

This was a marathon stint on which he had originally embarked with resignation, in the belief that a life of walking several steps behind his wife, curbing his opinions – though not always his tongue – and being an appendage to the institution, without even being able to pass on his surname to his children, would turn him into “nothing but a bloody amoeba”.

Things did not work out that badly. He brought a relaxed, mostly affable, peppery, outspoken – and occasionally brusque – style to a ceremonial monarchy that would have been more hidebound, introverted, insipid and decidedly stuffy without him. He introduced badly needed fresh air into the royal family but, while his longevity ensured that he became an integral part of the family firm, he clearly never forgot his initial, impecunious, foreign and outsider status within the institution.

His dutiful support for his wife and his engagement in public visits, ceremonial occasions and foreign trips continued well into old age. In 2011, he said in a television interview that he was winding down, but it was not until 2017 that he completed his final public engagement and it was only in January 2019, when he gave up driving after causing a car crash near the Sandringham estate, that he disappeared from view. He became the focus of attention again in February 2021, when he went into King Edward VII’s hospital in central London after an infection. » | Stephen Bates | Friday, April 9, 2021

Yanis Varoufakis: Capitalism Has Become 'Techno-feudalism' | UpFront

A recent Oxfam study found that since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the world’s richest 10 billionaires have seen a wealth increase of half a trillion dollars – enough to pay for every person on the planet to get a vaccine.

In this UpFront special, Marc Lamont Hill discusses with economist and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis what is driving the staggering wealth inequalities and how governments are offering socialism for the rich, and austerity for the rest.