Victoria And Albert

The Prince of Wales has described the moment he first started to appreciate art. More: 1, 2, 3. He spoke to broadcaster Fiona Bruce as part of a new documentary called 'Victoria: A Royal Love Story'. This documentary airs on BBC One at 7.00pm on Sunday 14th March, and ties in with a new exhibition at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, entitled 'Victoria And Albert: Art And Love' which opens on Friday 19th March. More: 1, 2, 3, 4.

The Earl Of Snowdon

Lord Snowdon celebrates His 80th Birthday. Reports: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Homelessness Targeted

Prince William has called for an end to homelessness, particularly in big cities like London. The Prince, who is Patron of Centrepoint, has spoken out in response to a recent London Evening Standard investigation into poverty and deprivation in the capital city. The Prince said the newspaper's investigation into the level of poverty in the capital city was a wake-up call that needed to be answered.

The Prince said: "I realise that I'm very fortunate. But through my involvement with Centrepoint, and talking with the disadvantaged young people it looks after, I do feel I have an understanding of some of the issues surrounding homelessness, one of the many manifestations of poverty in this capital city. To spend night after night on the streets of London, in fair weather and the foul, not knowing how to break out of a downward spiral of despair, would challenge the strongest of most of us." He added: "This is a great city. However, the plight of the dispossessed in its many forms tarnishes it. For all the achievement of Londoners and the wonderful things that this city does stand for, poverty, homelessness, lack of advantage for dispossessed young people continue to challenge us all." "It is up to us, not just politicians and charities, to answer this challenge - wherever, whenever and in whatever way, small or large, we feel we can," Prince William said.

He went on to say policy was needed to address homelessness problems, adding: "Whether it is street sleeping, overcrowded housing, or spending your life in temporary accommodation, this spiral need not be unbreakable. It may just be about giving people the opportunity to help themselves." After his comments were published, it was suggested that the Prince was urging people to support The Labour Party in the forthcoming General Election 2010. Yet, a Clarence House spokesman said: "Prince William himself makes the point that this is an issue for all of us to get behind, not just politicians and charities. He was speaking as Patron of Centrepoint rather than in any political capacity."

William At Llandudno

William In Llandudno. Reports: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Cadet150 Is Launched

Her Majesty The Queen has launched the 150th anniversary celebrations of The Cadet Force with a group of young cadets from the organisation in London. Full reports here and here. Pictures via here. Film footage is by here. After the launch last Wednesday, The Army Cadet Force are hoping the events they are hosting this year will encourage many more youngsters to join them. Cadet150 events throughout 2010 will include The Royal Review of The Cadet Forces at Buckingham Palace in July. The Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force will also each send their Platoons to The Sea Cadets Annual Trafalgar Day Parade in October for the very first time in its history. The Cadet Movement is one of the oldest and most successful voluntary youth organisations in the world. Today it numbers 131,000 teenagers, led by 25,000 adult volunteers, in well over 3,000 sites across the United Kingdom. It is open to boys and girls from the age of twelve to age eighteen and nine months. Melanie Bowran, from The Army Cadet Force, said: "We are just delighted to be celebrating 150 years of this fantastic movement. The Cadet Forces offer such great opportunities for thousands of young people across the United Kingdom. We are encouraging people to find out more through Cadet150. Come along and live the adventure." Learn more via Facebook here.

Prince Is "Gruesome"

The Prince of Wales has been described as a "gruesome child" by his aunt Princess Alexandra in a letter to her brother Prince Edward. The Princess, then aged fifteen, recalled how Prince Charles enjoyed watching her undergo a painful blister incersion. In the 1952 letter, written when Prince Charles was aged only three, she describes the incident that took place when The Royal Family were all at Balmoral. In the handwritten note to her sixteen-year-old brother, dated September 21st, Princess Alexandra narrates the complete story of how she developed a painful blister after receiving the injury whilst playing the parlour game Stone. "So this morning Doctor Middleton came and pierced it! Ho! Ho! Charles was fascinated and insisted on watching. Gruesome child, don't you think?" She then reveals that Charles had also been in bed for three days at the time as he had been experiencing a pain in his ear. The letter, which has been in a private collection for the past twenty-five years, was recently auctioned off at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel at Heathrow.

Prince At 50

The Duke of York celebrated His 50th Birthday last Friday. More.

Welsh Royalist Army

A plaque has been laid to commemorate The Battle of Coleford in Gloucestershire. Members of the English Civil War re-enactment group The Sealed Knot joined forces with Coleford Town Council to unveil the plaque. The plaque, which was designed and made locally, was then laid in the town centre by Mark Harper MP, The Member of Parliament for The Forest of Dean. He was joined by Arthur Jackson from The Sealed Knot at 2.30pm on Saturday. A Coleford Council spokesman said a total of about 200 people had attended this very moving ceremony. On February 20th 1643, Welsh Royalists loyal to The Crown fought English Parliamentarians defending the town of Colefold in The Forest of Dean. The town's residents took on 1,500 Cavalry and Royalist foot soldiers who were on their way from south Wales to take part in a siege at Gloucester. After a two hour defence, which saw three Royalist Officers killed, the local Coleford militia evaded capture by disappearing into the nearby forest. The Welsh Army overran Coleford but continued to Highnam, near Gloucester, where they were eventually trapped, captured and killed.

William At The Baftas

Prince William At Baftas. Reports: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4.

William In Llandudno

Prince William will visit the new St Dunstan's Centre for blind ex-servicemen and women in Llandudno on Monday. The Prince, who is currently training at RAF Valley on Anglesey, will tour the site and attend a reception for St Dunstaners (the ex-servicemen and women), their families, staff and supporters. It will be his first official visit in north Wales since starting at the airbase in January.

The 27-year-old will view some of the activities carried out at the Centre, including blind archery, IT skills and also craft work. St Dunstan's provides welfare support, rehabilitation, training, respite and nursing care for former servicemen and women blinded in recent conflicts. A Centre spokesman said: "Sadly, as well as those who have served and lost their sight in later life, St Dunstan's is also seeing a number of newly war-blinded."

Prince William recently paid a personal tribute to five injured soldiers when he met servicemen before an England versus Wales rugby match at Twickenham. Sergeant Paul Barrett, 35, from Manchester, lost a leg when he was caught in a blast from an improvised explosive device in 2008. He also suffered damage to his right arm, hearing and eye, and lost a number of fingers. After meeting William and Harry at the rugby match on February 13th, Sgt Barrett said: "It is an absolute honour to meet them. The Princes said, 'thanks for everything' and told us how much they appreciated what we have done. It's nice to hear that from them."

The Royal Foundation

Just like their parents before them, Prince William and Prince Harry are able to use their positions to help the less fortunate by bringing people together across cultures and age groups. The Foundation Of Prince William And Prince Harry was set up in September 2009 to enable our Princes to take forward their charitable ambitions. Learn more about The Royal Foundation here.

William At Baftas

Prince William will attend the Baftas this evening and present Vanessa Redgrave with The Academy Fellowship award. It will be his first appearance at The British Academy Film Awards which this year is sponsored by Orange. The awards ceremony will be transmitted on BBC One from 9.00pm with a Red Carpet Special from 7.30pm on BBC Three.

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