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First to Prince Andrew – a name and title that no longer belong together. When preparing our story about the errant second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, we had to change the way we referred to him. In accordance with the wishes of King Charles III and consistent with our editorial style guide, we referred to him initially as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and in subsequent mentions as simply Mountbatten Windsor. It will take a lot of getting used to. Not least for Mountbatten Windsor himself, who hitherto was apparently in the habit of signing himself simply as Andrew.
There’s been speculation as to why, having announced he would no longer use his titles, the king decided to go one further and formally strip his brother of all honorifics The most likely explanation, says our expert, is that the British monarchy is an institution which survives, in large part, through an almost mystical relationship between monarchs and the people they represent. So the continuing Mountbatten Windsor saga constituted a threat that needed to be
stopped in its tracks. And that’s what the senior members of “the Firm” will be hoping has happened
Most of us will be taking advantage of some leisure time this weekend to get some exercise. So – and depending on your fondness for endorphins – you’ll be either pleased or disgruntled to hear that men need to exert themselves more than women to get the same benefit. It’s not even close: according to this recent study, women who do four hours a week get the same benefit for their hearts as men who do nine hours.
I was living in Australia for the 1990s and much of the first decade of the 21st century, so while I experienced girl power vicariously as an import from Pommyland, the full force of the hysteria around the likes of the Spice Girls, All Saints and Girls Aloud pretty much passed me by. Which is why I’ll be watching the BBCs documentary Girlbands Forever to find out what I missed. Here’s what to expect (and one glaring omission from the line-up of stars).
Good to see that children’s books are getting their own Booker Prize. And it’s heartening to see that the prize will be open to books translated into English. Where would we be without Pippi Longstocking, the Little Prince or Cinderella? Here are five recent kids’ books in translation for consideration this Christmas.
Having survived Halloween last night, you’ll be happy to hear that Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead is upon us. Celebrated mainly in Mexico or by people with Mexican heritage on November 1 and 2, it’s when people celebrate their loved ones who have passed on. But the day is increasingly being used by feminists to highlight gender-based violence, using the iconic Calavera Catrina, a “dapper” female skull, to reinforce their message.
This week, as hurricane Melissa ravaged Jamaica and the Caribbean, we thought about the enormous psychological toll major storms take on people forced to ensure them. We puzzled over the fossilised remains of a prehistoric hand which appears to have both human and ape traits. And if you are wondering what to listen to, watch, read or see this weekend, our brilliant arts team has their regular list of good things, expertly reviewed, for your edification and pleasure.
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