TheNewsGuru

Tag: Queen Elizabeth II

  • BREAKING: Date for coronation of King Charles III revealed

    BREAKING: Date for coronation of King Charles III revealed

    The Royal Family of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced the date for the coronation of King Charles III.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that King Charles III would be officially crowned king on May 6, 2023.

    According to a statement released by the Royal Family on Tuesday, the coronation will hold at Westminster Abbey.

    Part of the statement read, “The Coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey.

    “The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort”.

  • Conversation Nigeriana (7) – By Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

    Conversation Nigeriana (7) – By Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

    Dupe: The Queen, the Great Queen is dead and buried!

    Emeka: Long live the Queen, long live the king! The king never dies, so they say!

    Dupe: True! The throne is forever; so, the monarch lives forever! There are a lot of lessons to be learnt from her reign, her life, her style, and the funeral arrangements!

    Omonefe: No throne lives for forever jor. Only God’s throne lives forever. Praise the Lord!

    Dupe: Whatever! There are lots of lessons to learn from the Elizabethan Monarchy!

    Emeka: You are right my sister. To reign as Queen of England for 70 years without a scandal linked to her name is no mean feat.

    Omonefe: You are right there. God made her reign scandal-free. Praise the Lord!

    Odia: She didn’t need a personal scandal. Her throne was scandalous enough!

    Dupe: Excuse me Odia! What do you mean?

    Bishak: Please let us not ask Odia to explain further. I know he is going to argue that the wealth of the Queen was stolen from Africa, that he crown is a combination of stolen jewels from different continents, and that her empire favoured northern Nigeria in fraudulently ascribing a higher population figure to that region in 1952!

    Odia: Mind reader! You have done well. Only that you didn’t say that her throne dethroned, humiliated, and deported the Oba of my ethnic group in 1897.

    Omonefe: And stole art works that still adorn their museums and palaces in Europe! What a shame!

    Emeka: History is a bitch! It invariably comes crawling out of the dead woods!

    Dupe: Look here gentlemen, I am interested in the good aspects of the Queen’s reign, how she was favoured by God to reign for 70 years, how she modernized the monarchy and made it more acceptable to the people of the 20th and 21st centuries, how she successfully managed her marriage to the man of her dream for 73 years, how she managed the ego of the men around her, how she was able to make friends with all the powerful people around the world! It is a lesson in diplomacy and friendship building. See, over 500 international guests flew into London for the funeral. Even some Commonwealth leaders who were ill broke their bones to join the train. President Biden was on the 14th or 15th row behind men and women of the Commonwealth! All as arranged by the Queen herself! The Emperor of Japan who traditionally forbids the sight of a corpse broke tradition and travelled to London for the funeral. My brothers, there must have been something outstanding about the Queen’s character and charisma!

    Bishak: The Gospel according to Evangelist Dupe!

    Omonefe: Praise the Lord for His wonderful work in the life of Queen Elizabeth II, Defender of the Faith! Let us not say that an adulteress now occupies the Throne of England!

    Bishak: And an adulterer too!

    Dupe: O come on! Don’t be an old hat. Old sins are forgiven!

    Omonefe: She and Lady Diana, The Peoples’ Princess will meet in heaven and sort things out!

    Emeka: In hell you mean?

    Dupe: Don’t you start!

    Emeka: I will not complain about Britain’s support for the genocide against Igbo people during the Nigeria-Biafra War because they wanted access to crude oil! Or how the British massacred the Mau Mau freedom fighters of Kenya!

    Omonefe: Let God be the Judge! If she is guilty of all you have said, she might be on her way to hell now for a rendezvous with Satan himself!

    Dupe: Come on gentlemen and lady! Why do you castigate the Queen for what the politicians of her days did? Remember that Queen Elizabeth kept her mouth shut in public on political matters? Indeed, that was one of the strengths of her reign- staying out of the fray, at least in public. Remember the very notion of Constitutional Monarchy! We do not know what she may have told the politicians in private!

    Odia: I am not bothered about what she told the politicians in private. I am concerned with the loot which she treasured and handed over to her successor upon her death! Period! The Koh-I-Noor jewel which is in the crown of the British monarch reminds everyone of their colonial past!

    Dupe: She was better than most of our traditional rulers in character, dignity, and grace. She identified and groomed her successor very early. She lived in peace with all and sundry!

    Emeka: You are right on that score. No in-fighting. She planned her funeral to the smallest detail. She communicated before and after her death. See the mammoth crowd that showed up at her funeral. No aso ebi. The choir was disciplined. Nobody went out to use the bathroom. No recognitions of people although the most powerful people in the world were in that hall. During the funeral service there was no collection of tithes, donations, and offerings. One hour service! The Bishop of Canterbury preached a six-minute sermon!

    Omonefe: Stingy people! They do not recognize the power of God Almighty. They do not know how to sow seeds in God’s name!

    Emeka: A short sermon that was not targeted at anybody made my day!

    Dupe: Exactly! Although we didn’t see her body, for obvious reasons not even the casket, yet we saw the draped coffin. When our royal fathers die it is not announced. In some cases human beings disappear. Some claim that the heart of the previous monarch must be boiled for the new king to eat! Cannibalism! Disgusting! Even if it is a metaphor, it is an inappropriate one! No one eats a human heart. It should be discarded. There is no reason for any secrecy.

    Bishak: What about the practice of demanding suicide of an aide to the king or killing persons to accompany the dead king to the other world? Barbaric! Which other world?

    Emeka: Does anybody still do that?

    Bishak: I wouldn’t know. It used to be a practice in some African kingdoms like Oyo and the Jukun people.

    Omonefe: Anachronistic. Atavistic. Retrogressive.

    Bishak: This big grammar will get you nowhere!

    Dupe: I wonder! The Queen spoke to modernizing the monarchy all around the world. It is true that her most senior staff broke his staff of office and placed it on her coffin. That was simply symbolic. It showed that his service to her was over. So, our traditional institutions could accommodate symbolisms without being barbaric!

    Emeka: She also tinkered with succession rights to allow a princess to be a possible heir to the throne unlike what used to be when the ladies were the men were put ahead of all the women!

    Dupe: You are right. In some ethnic groups in Nigeria, women are excluded from inheriting property from their father or mother! Can you beat that?

    Odia: Most societies discriminate against women. Men made the rules and continue to enforce them. In some cases, they use women to implement the obnoxious rules.  Which is a tragedy. Women ought to rebel against such wicked rules.

    Dupe: Now that Charles has taken over the throne, I hope he will have the wisdom to manage things properly, especially with the albatross of a wife, the Queen Consort (what a title?) around his royal neck. He must bring his back his rebellious son Harry somehow! That boy was traumatized by his mother’s death.

    Emeka: Spare me that joke please! Didn’t William lose a mother too? Is he reacting the same way?

    Dupe: That is where you err. We all don’t have the same capacity of resistance and react to life’s experiences differently.

    Emeka: Tell me more Professor of Clinical Psychology Dupe Ojojomijojo!

    Dupe: Not now, and don’t be sarcastic! I have a Zoom meeting to attend in ten minutes. Will dwell on that issue when next we meet! Bye for now!

    Emeka: Bye!

  • What leaders could learn from the life of the Queen – By Alim Abubakre

    What leaders could learn from the life of the Queen – By Alim Abubakre

    By Dr Alim Abubakre

    I am writing this piece not because I am British. This article is also not composed for the reason that I have been invited to St James’ palace or because I have engaged with two Prime Ministers of the UK. Nevertheless, I reckon that I have a responsibility to share my reflections on snippets of the life of one of the world’s most famous diplomats and arguably one of the most impactful global leaders in the 21st century who just proceeded to another dimension.  I agree with King Charles that Queen Elizabeth the second is a pattern for all princesses living and I add for all leaders hoping to have an enduring legacy.

    The death of Queen Elizabeth II is undoubtedly one of those endings that one would argue has a bitter-sweet conclusion of impactful, strategic and global self-less leadership spanning seven decades and filled with an enduring legacy. It is bitter in the sense that Britain and, indeed, the rest of the world have lost a great leader with massive wealth and experience of impressive transformation. The sweet part, however, comes in that there are a lot of valuable lessons that world leaders can learn from the life of the Queen right from the point when she unexpectedly became the UK’s sovereign as a young, relatively untrained, and inexperienced heir. That did not, however, stop her from being a great visionary leader. Over the years, she rose to be a powerful political figure, with excellent leadership skills admired in Britain and worldwide. With that said, here are lessons that leaders could learn from the Queen:

    Empathy and strength of character

    When it comes to empathy and the strength of her character, the Queen ensured that she remained herself throughout her reign. She remained unapologetically female, and at no time did she pretend to be someone she wasn’t. For instance, instead of ruling other kings (exerting power and always seeking to dominate), she offered a beneficial sounding board in all her sittings with other leaders. According to the former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the Queen always listened fairly to everyone and offered to help solve the most complex problems without necessarily making her physical presence felt or using force. While some criticised such a character, the Queen kept it and never allowed them to interfere with her leadership. Though she did not intervene openly in the operations of governance, Queen Elizabeth II utilised her convening power to exemplify strength, stability, dependability and empathy in her engagement with diverse stakeholders, both domestically and internationally.

    Ability to inspire service to humanity

    Right from her tender age, Queen Elizabeth II strongly believed in her uncommon sense of purpose to serve humanity. As her successor, King Charles expressed in his tribute speech, the rested Queen “…made sacrifices for duty…her dedication to serving…never wavered…through times of joy and celebration…and through times of loss….” In doing so, the Queen demonstrated her determination to serve and ensured that she upheld the public pledge she made at the young age of 21 in a public radio broadcast during which she announced that she would devote her life, whether short or long to serve humanity until her demise. Without a doubt, she lived to the promise, and the world will truly miss her compassionate service to diverse laudable causes.

    From commitment to animal welfare, support for the progress of arts, championing professional institutions and serving as an influential patron of the British Olympic Association, Queen Elizabeth is a wonderful bastion of the peak of leadership-Societal leadership (other types are self, team and organisational leadership). Her support of science and technology, for example, during her reign, the world wide web was developed by a British scientist, the world’s first ATM machine was installed in the UK and fingerprint technology was developed in the UK, demonstrates her commitment to global human advancement. Such a regal yet altruistic individual is undoubtedly an inspiration to anyone seeking to make a positive change in the world and leave an enduring legacy.

    Strategic leadership

    Throughout her reign, the Queen was very strategic in her decisions and actions, especially when she was required to act quickly. From the death of Princess Diana to the COVID-19 crisis and the Meghan scandal, she was able to decide, align, inspire and learn from all these crises to stimulate the nation to navigate these turbulent times effectively. A quote from her speech during the COVID-19 crisis clearly articulates this:

    “I hope in the years to come; everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, quiet good-humoured resolve and fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past. It defines our present and our future”.
    The queen’s focus on the bigger picture even in times of crises and amazing ability to communicate this effectively, one could argue contributed immensely to UK scientists being world leaders in genome sequencing and the country being the first nation in the world to license COVID19 vaccine.

    Dedication

    Undeniably, her dedication was another great leadership quality that Queen Elizabeth II displayed over her tenure as the Queen. While she had the liberty to retire at the age of 66, she continued to serve and carry out her duties diligently up to the age of 96 to dedicate her time to serving the UK, Commonwealth nations and the rest of the world. Indeed, even two days before her death, she performed one of her most important roles: accepting the resignation of the parliamentary leader of the country and asking the new Prime Minister to form her government.

    Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Sue Greenaway, captures this in her “heartfelt condolences” to the Royal Family on behalf of the people of Dudley.

    “Queen Elizabeth II was a dedicated public servant, whose unfailing devotion to her country was evident throughout her reign.” For any leader to have a lasting positive impact on society they need to emulate Queen Elizabeth II by demonstrating unparalleled dedication.

    Discretion, diplomatic credentials and unifying competence

    As part of her diplomatic work, the Queen visited more than 100 countries and welcomed hundreds of world leaders. She was also always in contact with the renowned Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as part of her efforts to build diplomatic ties. Interestingly, as the head of state for 70 years, the Queen was, of course, subjected to wild rides several times in complex situations that could end up in severe diplomatic rows if not managed well. To solve such puzzles, the Queen exercised her discretion but through carefully calculated moves to avoid causing unending diplomatic issues.

    For instance, in 1999, Australia organised a referendum to decide whether to remain as part of the monarchy. While the Queen had discretionary power to influence the outcome, she made it clear that she was letting the people of Australia make that decision alone without anyone’s interference. That was one of the ways that she promoted peace and freedom.

    In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth II won the hearts of many through her outstanding leadership qualities and will remain a source of inspiration to world leaders for the next several years. Indeed, there are many lessons that leaders of state, heads of government, and even organisational leaders can draw from the life and reign of the Queen. Without a doubt, anyone granted a leadership position would do well by following her example. I agree with Shakespeare that “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”. Queen Elizabeth II though had greatness thrust upon her, she achieved and exemplified greatness and her legacy is a life worthy of emulation.

     

    Dr Alim Abubakre is on the advisory board of the London Business School Africa Club and is the non-executive chair of These Executive Minds (TEXEM)-An organisation which he founded and has trained over 4000 executives across multiple continents. He is a Senior Lecturer in International Business at Sheffield Business School (An AACSB accredited Business School) at Sheffield Hallam University. Sheffield Hallam was named the University of the Year for Teaching Quality by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020

  • Death certificate reveals cause of Queen Elizabeth II’s death

    Death certificate reveals cause of Queen Elizabeth II’s death

    Queen Elizabeth II died of old age, her official death certificate has revealed. The document released by National Records of Scotland noted the time of the Queen’s death on Thursday, September 8 as 3:10 pm (1410 GMT).

    When paying tribute to her mother the Queen, the Princess Royal revealed she was with the head of state in her last moments. Anne, who accompanied her mother’s coffin as it travelled from Balmoral to London, via Edinburgh, said: “I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother’s life.”

    The princess is named as the “informant” on the document and would have notified the local registrar of her mother’s death. The Queen was laid to rest on September 19, following 70 years of service, after family, friends and the nation said a fond farewell to the late monarch.

    For the woman who was never meant to be sovereign, the Queen fulfilled her pledge to serve nation and Commonwealth and came to earn the respect of many from world leaders to the public.

    Her grieving family walked behind her coffin throughout the long day of her funeral and burial, a simple but public tribute. The emotion was clear to see on the face of King Charles III who travelled to Scotland soon afterwards where he has remained with his Queen Consort.

    British royal family return to normal duties as mourning period ends

    Meanwhile, the British monarchy and their households are returning to official duties as the period of royal mourning in memory of the late queen ends.

    Flags at royal residences were at half-mast until 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Tuesday, when they were raised back to full-mast, while William and Kate, the new prince and princess of Wales, will visit the nation.

    The visit will be the first visit since taking up their titles.

    After the death of the queen on Sept. 8, the royal family only carried out official duties where appropriate, and its members dressed in black as a mark of respect when in public.

    From Tuesday they are carrying out their normal official roles in full after observing the seven-day period of mourning.

    William and Kate will spend the day travelling the length of Wales, first visiting Holyhead in Anglesey, North Wales, and then travelling to Swansea in South -West Wales.

    The royal couple had promised to visit at the earliest opportunity following the death of the queen, and return hoping to begin “deepening the trust and respect” they have with the people of Wales.

    The last official visit the pair made to Wales was as duke and duchess of Cambridge to Cardiff Castle in June, where rehearsals for the Platinum Jubilee concert were taking place.

    Charles carried out one official engagement during royal mourning, holding a telephone audience with the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng on Thursday evening, the eve of his tax-cutting mini budget.

    The prince and princess of Wales praised volunteers and operational staff they met at Windsor that day, for their efforts at events surrounding the queen’s committal service.

    The king travelled to Scotland soon after the queen’s funeral last Monday and could remain at his home of Birkhall into early October, following the tradition set by the late monarch.

    The queen would normally spend around 10 weeks at her Scottish home during summer, returning to London around the time the autumn session of parliament began.

    Planning is likely to be under way for Charles’ coronation, and Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court in south London heard the suggestion a date has been set for the national event expected in 2023.

  • British royal family returns to normal duties as mourning period ends

    British royal family returns to normal duties as mourning period ends

    The British monarchy and their households are returning to official duties as the period of royal mourning in memory of the late queen ends.

    Flags at royal residences were at half-mast until 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Tuesday, when they were raised back to full-mast, while William and Kate, the new prince and princess of Wales, will visit the nation.

    The visit will be the first visit since taking up their titles.

    After the death of the queen on Sept. 8, the royal family only carried out official duties where appropriate, and its members dressed in black as a mark of respect when in public.

    From Tuesday they are carrying out their normal official roles in full after observing the seven-day period of mourning.

    William and Kate will spend the day travelling the length of Wales, first visiting Holyhead in Anglesey, North Wales, and then travelling to Swansea in South -West Wales.

    The royal couple had promised to visit at the earliest opportunity following the death of the queen, and return hoping to begin “deepening the trust and respect” they have with the people of Wales.

    The last official visit the pair made to Wales was as duke and duchess of Cambridge to Cardiff Castle in June, where rehearsals for the Platinum Jubilee concert were taking place.

    Charles carried out one official engagement during royal mourning, holding a telephone audience with the Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng on Thursday evening, the eve of his tax-cutting mini budget.

    The prince and princess of Wales praised volunteers and operational staff they met at Windsor that day, for their efforts at events surrounding the queen’s committal service.

    The king travelled to Scotland soon after the queen’s funeral last Monday and could remain at his home of Birkhall into early October, following the tradition set by the late monarch.

    The queen would normally spend around 10 weeks at her Scottish home during summer, returning to London around the time the autumn session of parliament began.

    Planning is likely to be under way for Charles’ coronation, and Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court in south London heard the suggestion a date has been set for the national event expected in 2023.

  • Funerals of royalty and disloyalty, songs of defeat and victory – By Owei Lakemfa

    Funerals of royalty and disloyalty, songs of defeat and victory – By Owei Lakemfa

    Funerals, official and unofficial, were held in parts of the world this Monday September 19 to eternally send-off Queen Elizabeth II.

    The pre-funeral ceremonies had included the Queen’s coffin which some mischievous people claimed was empty, lying-in-state in Scotland and London with some mourners spending a whole day queuing to view it.

    In the official funeral, some 2,000-strong congregation included world leaders, royal family members and the richest in the world gathered. There were some angry reactions that African leaders were packed in buses like school children going on a picnic, while American President, Joe Biden, rode with wife, Jill, in his beast motorcade. To them, it was a display of neo-colonialism.

    One Twitter user said: “Those saying that this was to avoid congestion of motorcades; in 2005 while Pope John Paul II was being buried in Rome, over 100 presidents attended and each came with their motorcade.” Despite such royal treatment for Biden, his immediate predecessor, Donald Trump, mocked him for allegedly allowing himself to be relegated to the 14th row at the funeral service.

    Some royal watchers attacked Prince Harry, the Queen’s grandson, for alleged disrespect because he held hands with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as they left the funeral. Meanwhile, the Queen’s demise had provided an opportunity for some Welsh to question why heir-apparent, William, an Englishman, would wield the title of the Prince of Wales.

    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby painted the former head of his church in saintly colours claiming she had touched “a multitude of lives” and having been a “joyful” figure for many. This belief must have been shared by some in Africa who mourned her and even held noisy funeral processions on dusty roads.

    However, there were some who saw Elizabeth II in a different light. The Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF, one of the main parties in South Africa, said she reigned for 70 years as the head of “an institution built up, sustained, and living off a brutal legacy of dehumanisation of millions of people across the world. We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very tragic period in this country and Africa’s history”.

    The Communist Party of Britain declared thus: “Elizabeth Windsor has died leaving the kingdom she ruled over poorer, with greater disparities in wealth and income, obscene profiteering and tax evasion…”

    Six countries, most notably Russia, were not invited to the Queen’s funeral. This may be due to the fact that the English royalty and the dismantled royals (Tsarists) of Russia, were first cousins. But more likely, because of the War in Ukraine.

    Two days after Elizabeth II’s funeral, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a televised address as world leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

    The Western media presented the speech as a sign of the Russian military collapsing. The British Guardian newspaper headline was: “Putin announces partial mobilisation and threatens nuclear retaliation of Ukranian war.” The Reuters headline was: “Putin escalates Ukranian war, issues nuclear threat to West.”

    One interpretation that caught my eyes was by conscientious Nigerian lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, who immediately took to the internet with a screaming headline: “PUTIN IS LOSING!” He pronounced magisterially that Putin calling up reservists “is a clear indication that his deployed regular combatants are not able to subdue Ukraine. Also, his plan to hold a sham referendum in the occupied Ukrainian territories shows that he is panting. He has difficulties in administering and militarily holding and dominating the occupied territory.”

    These headlines and interpretations made me go back to reread Putin’s address. I recall that at the onset of the war, Russia, having taken out the Ukrainian Navy and Air Force, suddenly withdrew from Kiev and neigbouring cities. To the West, it was a sign that the war was going badly for Russia which was now in retreat. But it turned out that Russia, after bombing Kiev and causing mass population exodus across Ukrainian borders had simply redirected its energy to taking the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions among others.

    I think the timing of Putin’s address was strategic: to let world leaders assembling at the UN appreciate Russia’s views and position.

    I glean five decisions from Putin’s address. The first is that the legal status of the pro-Russian rebels fighting in Ukraine “must be the same as the status of military professionals of the Russian army”. This hints at a sort of merger or their recruitment into the Russian military.

    The second is that there are going to be referendums in the Russian-controlled parts of Ukrainian; Donetsk, Luhansk Kherson and Zaporizhzhia “on the future of their territories”. This may imply that Russia either wants these areas to become a separate country(ies) or like the Crimea, be merged with Russia as a sort of Greater Russian Federation.

    The third decision is a “partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation to defend our Motherland and its sovereignty and territorial integrity”. This implies that Russia wants to formally put its economy and military on war footing. For this, a seventh of the official Russian military reservists would be called up for service.

    This means deploying additional 300,000 troops to join the estimated 190,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine. This is what has been interpreted by some as Russia losing the war in Ukraine. I am not sure about this, but I think such a conclusion may be way off the mark.

    The fourth is “increasing the production of weapons and military equipment and using additional production facilities for this purpose”.

    The fifth is an allegation by Putin that some high-ranking representatives of the leading North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, countries are talking “on the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction- nuclear weapons-against Russia.” He then added that: “In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country, and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff.” In my analysis, this does not amount to Putin saying he would use nuclear weapons in the Ukrainian war.

    Generally, the propaganda oozing out maybe to deaden our sense of reasoning. For instance, the NATO countries think it is alright for them to impose all sorts of sanctions, including financial, on Russia. But when the latter responded by shutting its oil and gas pipes, it is said to be endangering the world.

    I reiterate, as before, that the solution to the war in Ukraine is more of negotiations and diplomacy, not claimed high moral grounds, motivating the Ukrainians to sacrifice more, die more, kill more Russians and endless propaganda.

  • What’s next now that Queen Elizabeth II is buried?

    What’s next now that Queen Elizabeth II is buried?

    Britain’s longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8 at the age of 96 years has been buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where her late husband Prince Philip and her sister Princess Margaret are also interred.

    For the past week, normal life in Britain effectively has been put on hold as the country observed a National Mourning period for reflection in response to the demise of the Sovereign who had devoted her entire life to the service of her country.

    Her son, now King Charles III who also goes down in British history as the oldest and the longest-serving heir apparent, began his reign as soon as his mother passed and is understood to want a slimmed-down official royal family to reduce the cost to the public purse.

    The 73 years old King has promised to “faithfully” follow the examples set by his mother, but he is also expected to be unique and a unifying figure for all parts of Britain. As Prince of Wales, Charles was outspoken about several issues that were important to him, but as King, he is expected to maintain political neutrality.

    Last year, speaking at the opening ceremony of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, he warned that the time for addressing climate change had “quite literally run out”. In order to tackle the problem, he said, “We have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing.”

    In relation to the Commonwealth realms, it is hoped that King Charles III will be more conscious of societal changes and modernise relations with Commonwealth countries. As Prince of Wales, he commented at the Commonwealth’s Heads of Government meeting in Kigali how the legacy of slavery needed to be confronted.

    The former Prince of Wales in his Easter message earlier this year, covertly criticised former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s immigration policy that sends all asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing when he expressed concern about the “unutterable tragedy” of those who had been “forced to flee their countries and are “in need of a welcome, of rest, and of kindness.”

    During a news conference following the death of the Queen, Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria Ben Llewellyn-Jones said King Charles III was personally vested in Nigeria, having visited the country four times since 1990 and will strengthen the relationship between both countries. 

    In his first public address as the new Sovereign on September 9, King Charles III acknowledged that his life will change as he takes on his new responsibilities when he admitted: “It will no longer be possible to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I cared so deeply”.

    There is also the task of changing and updating everything – from images of the queen on flags, stationery, stamps, and currency to legal mentions of Her Majesty, which will cost the country a fortune to implement within a short period of two years amidst rising inflation.

    Whichever direction the King goes, his actions regarding how to refashion the monarchy and maintain public support for it as a ceremonial institution at the centre of British public life will be closely monitored and weighed against the record established by Queen Elizabeth II.

    The coronation ceremony where the King is officially crowned will likely take place sometime next year, according to speculations, because of the preparation required. Queen Elizabeth II’s took place in June 1953, 16 months after she ascended the throne in February 1952.

    Upholding years of tradition, the coronation ceremony which is typically a state event will hold in Westminster Abbey where William the Conqueror was crowned and King Charles III will be the 40th monarch to be crowned there. Being a state event, the government pays for it and ultimately decides the guest list.

  • Osinbajo spotted wearing black “agbada” to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

    Osinbajo spotted wearing black “agbada” to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday was spotted dressed in black agbada while attending the state funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth ll at Westminster Abbey.

    Hundreds of world leaders and foreign dignitaries are gathered in the UK for the queen’s funeral including United States’ President Joe Biden.

    Nations not invited included Syria and Venezuela because London does not have normal diplomatic ties. Britain also did not invite representatives from Russia, Belarus or Myanmar after it imposed economic sanctions on those countries.

    The main service began shortly before 11am (10:00 GMT) at Westminster Abbey in central London, followed by a committal service at 4pm (15:00 GMT) in Windsor. A private service will be held at 7:30pm (18:30 GMT).

    Osinbajo departed Abuja for London on Saturday, September 17.

    Upon his arrival in London on Sunday, according to his media aide Laolu Akande, the vice president paid respects at the queen’s lying-in-state at Westminster.

    He also signed the condolence register, saying, “Nigeria joins government, people of UK, Commonwealth, and rest of the world in expressing our sincere condolence to the royal family on the passing of a monarch for all seasons. May the Lord bless her memory.”

    Prof Osinbajo was received by UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, James Cleverly.

    At the meeting, Cleverly expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s solidarity with the UK at its time of grief and both men discussed the interest of the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, in deepening the relationship with Nigeria.

    On Sunday evening, Osinbajo and several other world leaders – including members of the Commonwealth, heads of state, governors-general, prime ministers, and foreign royal families – were received by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla in Buckingham Palace.

    Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died aged 96 on September 8 at Balmoral, Scotland.

    Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022.

    She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and 15 at the time of her death.

  • Biggest gathering of world leaders as Queen Elizabeth is buried

    Biggest gathering of world leaders as Queen Elizabeth is buried

    The world would see the biggest gathering of world leaders in many years on Monday as thousands attend the state funeral of deceased Queen Elizabeth II.

    The police, hundreds of troops, and an army of officials made final preparations on Sunday for the funeral.

    Sources said US President, Joe Biden, as well as other dignitaries, arrived in London for the funeral, to which around 500 royals, heads of state, and heads of government from around the globe have been invited.

    The late Queen’s eight grandchildren, led by heir to the throne, Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday evening.

    The miles-long queue at Westminster Hall closed to new arrivals on Sunday for everyone in line to file past the coffin before Monday morning when it will be borne on a gun carriage to Westminster Abbey for the queen’s funeral.

    Also Read

    Queen Elizabeth II: Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not attend State Reception at Buckingham Palace

    People across the United Kingdom observed a pause Sunday evening for a nationwide minute of silence to remember the queen, who died September 8 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne.

    Monday (today) has been declared a public holiday, and the funeral will be broadcast to a huge television audience and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country.

    A tide of people continued to stream into Westminster Hall, where the queen’s coffin is lying in state, draped in the Royal Standard and capped with a diamond-studded crown.

    The lying-in-state continues until early Monday morning when the queen’s coffin will be moved to nearby Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

    After the service Monday at the abbey, the late queen’s coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on a gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

  • Queen’s death: King Charles III to visit Nigeria

    Queen’s death: King Charles III to visit Nigeria

    The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Liang has disclosed that the newly crowned King of England, King Charles III will visit Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Liang made the disclosure when she led members of staff of the Commission to a special service held for the late Queen Elizabeth II by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

    The British High Commissioner disclosed this while thanking the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, and the Church for honouring the late Queen and identifying with the people of the United Kingdom (UK) in their period of mourning.

    While Liang did not release the details of the visit of King Charles III to Nigeria, she recounted her previous audiences with the late Queen as her representative to Nigeria.

    The British High Commissioner disclosed that the late Queen Elizabeth II spoke so fondly of her two visits to Nigeria in 1956 and 2003.

    “King Charles III also has great interests in Nigeria, has visited and will visit again,” she said.

    In his sermon at the special service held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Abuja, Archbishop Ndukuba described the late Queen Elizabeth II of England as a defender of the Protestant faith, whose entire life was guided by her belief in Jesus Christ.

    He said that her messages always demonstrated her personal commitment to the rich inheritance of faith in the living God, convictions on marriage, morality and the dignity of human life, as rooted in the Scriptures.

    The Archbishop said in spite of her deep convictions in Christ, the Queen accommodated and respected other faiths and people.

    In the special service attended by members of the House of Bishops, clergy and laity of the Church, Ndukuba recalled her publicly declared devotion to Jesus Christ at her accession to the throne, 70 years ago.

    He said: “At her coronation when she processed into the Church, she first went to the high altar to kneel in prayer and personally surrendered her life to the Almighty God before she came down to the pomp and pageantry of the coronation.

    “Her message of Aug. 3, 2022 expressed this clearly when she said ‘throughout my life the message and teachings of Christ have been my guide and in them, find hope.”

    The Archbishop added that the Queen had run a good race in faith and life till the end.

    “If Christ and the word of God be her hope then there is the great and glorious reward of the crown of righteousness that awaits her,” he added.

    The Primate, who based his exhortation from 2nd Timothy 4: 6-8, said ” like Saint Paul the Apostle, the Queen would be remembered as the monarch whose life was spent purposefully in the service of God and her people.”

    Reflecting on her life and numerous charities that touched many indigent people, the Primate said “like Paul, she was poured out in the very service she was called.

    “As a young princess, she pledged to spend her whole life serving the people whether that life be long or short.

    “Indeed, God blessed her with longevity and she was a hallmark of humble, patient and dedicated service to the citizens of Britain and the whole world.

    ”Till the very last breath of her life, she remained resolute in her service”.

    “Queen Elizabeth II was a steadfast consistent guide to Britain, the Commonwealth and to world leaders in the most difficult periods of history, wars, economic recessions and political instabilities.”

    He also described her as a guiding light and a measure of stability, who was always calm and unruffled by challenges, whether personal, national or international.

    “She lived a purposeful and fulfilled life of service to her Kingdom and to the world,” the clergy added.

    The Nigerian Anglican leader said that her reign witnessed the transition from colonial rule to the independence and nationhood of many nations under the British Empire.

    “She wisely brought to birth those nations. As a mother, she was able to constitute them into a Commonwealth of Nations that has remained a strong bloc of nations contributing to world peace,” he added.

    Ndukuba used the occasion to remind Christians of life beyond this world, the second coming of Jesus Christ, eternal judgment and reward.

    Reading from Psalms 39: 4-6, 90:10 and 1 Peter 1:24, the Archbishop reminded Christians of ”the inevitability of death.

    “The real issue is where shall you be when this life is ended. Hebrews 9 verse 27 says ‘it is appointed for men to die once but after this comes the judgment of God.”

    He prayed that “God will raise the beloved Queen Elizabeth II at the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

    The Archbishop of Jos Province and Bishop of Yola Diocese, Markus Ibrahim, and Bishop Stephen Fagbemi of Owo Diocese, led intercessory prayers for the new King and the late Queen.

    The Cathedral’s choir ministered in hymns and a special anthem, “His Eyes are on the Sparrow”.