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Royal family shares adorable new photo and video to celebrate Prince George turning 12!

<p>Prince George is all smiles as he celebrates his 12th birthday, and royal fans are loving the charming new photo and video released by the Prince and Princess of Wales to mark the occasion.</p> <p>In a heartwarming birthday post shared on social media, the royal couple wrote: “Happy 12th Birthday to Prince George! 🎂”, alongside a new portrait of their eldest son. Dressed in a crisp striped shirt and forest-green fleece vest, George leans casually against a wooden gate, a cheeky grin on his face and a handmade friendship bracelet around his wrist, adding a playful, personal touch.</p> <p>The photo, taken by photographer Josh Shinner, is set against a lush countryside backdrop and shows a confident young royal looking more like his father, Prince William, by the day.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy 12th Birthday to Prince George! 🎂<br />📸Josh Shinner <a href="https://t.co/L7hAZXOkDw">pic.twitter.com/L7hAZXOkDw</a></p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1947581237163659568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>Even sweeter, the royal family also treated fans to a behind-the-scenes video of George enjoying time with his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The trio can be seen giggling and playing in the garden, at one point lifting little Louis into the air before marching hand-in-hand toward the camera, grinning from ear to ear.</p> <p>In one charming scene, the siblings stroll through the greenery together, their close bond on full display. Louis, with his signature toothy smile and khaki jumper, steals the spotlight yet again, a reminder that the footage was likely taken a few months earlier, around his birthday in April.</p> <p>The candid footage has delighted royal watchers, with many speculating that more adorable snaps from the shoot may still be on the way.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">12 today! 🎉 <a href="https://t.co/UqYj4Y97QM">pic.twitter.com/UqYj4Y97QM</a></p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1947604323409518681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>As George enters his teenage years, royal fans are also wondering where the future king will attend secondary school. Will he follow in Prince William’s footsteps at Eton, or take after his mum, Princess Catherine, and head to Marlborough College? For now, George continues to study at Lambrook School in Berkshire alongside his siblings.</p> <p>His last public appearance was at the Wimbledon men’s final earlier this month, and before that, he joined his family on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the Trooping the Colour celebrations.</p> <p>As he steps into this exciting new chapter, one thing is clear: Prince George is growing up fast, and winning hearts while he’s at it.</p> <p><em>Images: X (Formerly Twitter)</em></p>

Family & Pets

Aussie Vietnam hero finally awarded Victoria Cross after 60 years

<p>More than half a century after risking his life to save his mates in Vietnam, Richard Norden has finally received the nation’s highest military honour: the Victoria Cross.</p> <p>It’s a moment veterans, families and history-lovers have long hoped for: recognition for a young man from Gundagai whose extraordinary courage in 1968 helped save lives and left an unforgettable mark on those who served beside him.</p> <p>Norden was only 19 when his platoon was ambushed during the Vietnam War. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, he ran straight into enemy fire – killing two enemy soldiers, rescuing his wounded section commander Joe Kelly, and retrieving the body of his mate Chris Nisbet with grenades in hand.</p> <p>"If it wasn't for Dick, there would have been more of us coming home in body bags that day," fellow veteran Stan Barrett told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-cross-awarded-posthumously-to-vietnam-war-veteran-who-rescued-wounded-comrade/2fe31b9a-4057-4552-9b30-5ee746d0e89a" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>.</p> <p>At the time, Norden was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. But even Sir Roden Cutler, himself a VC recipient and then-Governor of New South Wales, felt the recognition didn’t go far enough.</p> <p>For decades, friends, comrades and advocates continued the fight to have his bravery properly honoured. One of them was veteran George Hulse, who took on governments and the military until 2022, when the case for a Victoria Cross was finally accepted.</p> <p>"And (Cutler) said the words, ‘What does one have to do these days to get the Victoria Cross?’" Hulse recalled.</p> <p>In a cruel twist, Norden never lived to see the moment. After surviving Vietnam, he joined the Australian Federal Police, but tragically died in a motorcycle crash in 1972. He was just 24.</p> <p>On behalf of a grateful nation, Norden’s widow Robynn accepted the long-overdue medal in an emotional ceremony, honouring the love of her life and the hero he always was.</p> <p>For the men who served beside him, the recognition is bittersweet. But finally, Richard Norden’s name takes its rightful place in history.</p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair</em></p>

Family & Pets

Tragic update in drowning of 7-month-old after man arrested

<p>A community is in mourning after a seven-month-old baby boy died in a suspected drowning at a popular campsite near Gympie, north of the Sunshine Coast.</p> <p>Emergency services were called to the Chatsworth Park rest area about 10.30am on Saturday, after the boy’s mother found him in a nearby lake, roughly 50 metres from their campsite.</p> <p>Bystanders desperately performed CPR while waiting for paramedics, who rushed the critically injured child to Gympie Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, the baby died later that night.</p> <p>The family had stopped at the free campground for the night while returning to their home in North Queensland.</p> <p>Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said on Monday that the death was being treated as “unexplained”, and that investigations were ongoing.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">However, on Tuesday, a 42-year-old man – who police say is known to the child – was arrested in Bundamba, west of Brisbane. He has since been charged with manslaughter (domestic violence).</span></p> <p>The man is due to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court.</p> <p>The heartbreaking case has shaken locals and left many seeking answers about how such a tragedy could unfold during what was meant to be a peaceful family stopover.</p> <p><em>Images: WIN TV / 7 NEWS</em></p>

Legal

“She doesn’t know where she is anymore": Robbie Williams shares sad update on his mother

<p>Pop icon Robbie Williams has revealed the devastating toll dementia has taken on his family, sharing that his beloved mother no longer recognises him.</p> <p>The Angels singer, 51, made the emotional admission during a recent performance in Germany, telling fans that his mother Janet's condition has now progressed to the point where she doesn’t know who, or where, she is.</p> <p>“My mother has dementia and she doesn’t know who I am anymore,” he said quietly. “She doesn’t know where she is anymore.”</p> <p>Williams, who rose to fame with Take That before becoming one of the UK’s biggest solo artists, went on to detail the mounting challenges his family is facing. His father, Peter – also a performer – has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is no longer able to leave the house.</p> <p>“He used to sing with me every night on stage,” Robbie recalled. “He would come out, steal the show, be charming… and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine. Now he can’t leave the house.”</p> <p>He also shared his concern for his mother-in-law, who is currently battling lupus, Parkinson’s and cancer.</p> <p>“She is the most courageous lady and she is fighting, fighting, fighting,” he said, paying tribute to her strength.</p> <p>Clearly moved and grappling with the weight of his family’s health battles, Williams told the audience: “It’s a strange place to be, this place we find ourselves, 51 years old. It’s very strange to be the grown-up. I’m not ready for it.”</p> <p>Robbie has spoken before about his mother’s battle with dementia (an illness that also affected his grandmother) but now, the moment he feared has come: she no longer knows her son.</p> <p>“I’m in a different part of my life right now,” he reflected.</p> <p>The deeply personal revelation comes at a time when Robbie is also being recognised for his extraordinary contributions to music and charity. He was recently nominated for a knighthood, an honour that, if approved, will be confirmed by King Charles following recommendations from the honours committee and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.</p> <p>With 15 No.1 albums in the UK – tying The Beatles – and a legacy that includes seven chart-topping singles, 11 Comic Relief appearances, and over £100 million raised for UNICEF through Soccer Aid, Robbie is one of Britain’s most celebrated entertainers.</p> <p>But in the face of such public recognition, his thoughts remain firmly with his family.</p> <p>“I think Robbie should be knighted, 100 per cent,” said BBC Radio 2 host Scott Mills. “Let’s not forget, he’s the most decorated Brits winner in history. I think we should celebrate and acknowledge how much joy he has brought.”</p> <p>For Robbie, however, no accolade can ease the pain of watching those he loves fade before his eyes.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

‘It feels like I am being forced to harm a child’: Why Aussie teachers are burning out

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Australia is in the grip of a <a href="https://www.education.gov.au/national-teacher-workforce-action-plan">teacher shortage</a>. Teachers are <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-am-exhausted-australian-teachers-speak-about-how-compassion-fatigue-is-harming-them-and-their-work-244519#:%7E:text=I%20found%2073.9%25%20of%20respondents,Victorian%20teachers%20reported%20similar%20rates.">burning out</a>, warning the job is no longer sustainable and leaving the profession.</p> <p>We know this is due to <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-like-banging-our-heads-against-the-wall-why-a-move-to-outsource-lesson-planning-has-nsw-teachers-hopping-mad-188081">excessive workloads</a>, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00049441221086654">stress</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/make-me-a-sandwich-our-surveys-disturbing-picture-of-how-some-boys-treat-their-teachers-228891">abuse</a>. But research suggests there is another element at play: some teachers are also experiencing moral injury.</p> <p>Moral injury occurs when teachers are forced to act against their values – leaving them feeling disillusioned and complicit in harm. In <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00131911.2025.2504523">my study</a> of 57 Australian teachers, many shared emotionally-charged accounts of being put in impossible situations at work.</p> <h2>What is moral injury?</h2> <p>Moral injury is when professionals cannot act in line with their values due to external demands.</p> <p>It differs from burnout or compassion fatigue: <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303817089_Understanding_the_burnout_experience_Recent_research_and_its_implications_for_psychiatry">burnout</a> stems from chronic stress and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/compassion-fatigue">compassion fatigue</a> comes from emotional overload.</p> <p>Moral injury was initially developed in <a href="https://moralinjuryproject.syr.edu/about-moral-injury/">military psychology</a> but has since been applied to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0969733020966776">healthcare</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03057240.2023.2237202#abstract">education</a> – professions where high-stakes ethical decision-making and institutional failures often collide.</p> <p>Previous studies on <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0002831219848690">moral injury in schools</a> have shown how rigid disciplinary policies, high-stakes testing regimes and chronic underfunding often force teachers to act in ways that contradict their professional judgement. This can lead to frustration, guilt and professional disillusionment.</p> <p>Recent studies have <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03057240.2023.2237202">reframed moral injury as a systemic issue</a> rather than an individual psychological condition. This is because institutional constraints – such as inflexible accountability measures and bureaucratic inefficiencies – prevent teachers from fulfilling their ethical responsibilities.</p> <h2>My new study</h2> <p>This research stems from an <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13384-024-00755-8">initial study</a>, which looked at burnout in Australian teachers.</p> <p>The initial study included a national sample of 2,000 educators. This <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00131911.2025.2504523">new study</a> is a subset of 57 teachers who participated in follow-up surveys and focus groups. The teachers were a mix of primary and secondary teachers and some also held leadership positions within their schools.</p> <p>While the original study focused on compassion fatigue and burnout, a striking pattern emerged: teachers repeatedly described moral conflicts in their work.</p> <h2>‘It feels like I’m being forced to harm a child’</h2> <p>A key theme of the new research was teachers having to enforce school or departmental policies they believed were harmful. This was particularly the case when it came to discipline. As one teacher described:</p> <blockquote> <p>The policy says I should suspend a student for attendance issues, but their home life is falling apart. How does that help? It feels like I’m being forced to harm a child instead of helping them.</p> </blockquote> <p>Others talked about having to focus on standardised tests (for example, NAPLAN), rather than using their professional judgement to meet children’s individual needs. This is a <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/opinion-the-fundamental-flaws-of-standardised-testing/273711">contentious issue for teachers</a>.</p> <p>As one high school teacher told us:</p> <blockquote> <p>We’re asked to push students through the curriculum even when we know they haven’t grasped the basics […] but we’re the ones who carry the guilt.</p> </blockquote> <p>A primary teacher similarly noted:</p> <blockquote> <p>Teaching to the test means leaving so many kids behind. It’s not what education should be.</p> </blockquote> <h2>‘It’s heartbreaking’</h2> <p>Teachers also spoke about teaching in environments that were not adequately resourced. In some schools, teacher shortages were so severe that unqualified staff were delivering classes:</p> <blockquote> <p>We’ve got classes being taught by teacher aides […] but that’s because we don’t have enough staff.</p> </blockquote> <p>Or in other classes, students were not getting the help they needed.</p> <blockquote> <p>Larger class sizes and fewer staff mean that the kids who need the most attention are getting the least. It’s heartbreaking.</p> </blockquote> <p>The emotional impact was profound, as one high school teacher told us:</p> <blockquote> <p>At some point, you stop fighting. You realise that no matter how many times you raise concerns, nothing changes. It’s like the system is designed to wear you down until you just comply.</p> </blockquote> <h2>What can schools do to prevent moral injury?</h2> <p>While these findings are confronting, teachers also gave positive examples of what can buffer against moral injury in the workplace. This involved listening to teachers and including them in policies and decisions.</p> <p>One primary teacher told us how their school had changed their disciplinary approach:</p> <blockquote> <p>Our school’s push for restorative justice instead of punitive measures has been a game changer. It lets us address the root causes of issues instead of just punishing kids.</p> </blockquote> <p>Others talked about being asked to collaborate with school leadership to address discipline issues. As one primary teacher said:</p> <blockquote> <p>We helped create a new behaviour management framework. Having a say in the process made all the difference.</p> </blockquote> <h2>What now?</h2> <p>My research indicates when teachers are consistently asked to compromise their ethics, they don’t just burn out, they question the integrity of the entire system.</p> <p>This suggests if we want to keep teachers in classrooms, we need to do more than lighten their workloads. We need to make sure they are no longer placed in positions where doing their job means going against their professional values.</p> <p>This means teachers need to feel heard, respected and empowered in classrooms and schools.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/258821/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/glenys-oberg-1334483">Glenys Oberg</a>, PhD candidate in education and trauma, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/it-feels-like-i-am-being-forced-to-harm-a-child-research-shows-how-teachers-are-suffering-moral-injury-258821">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / </em><em>Andrea Piacquadio</em></p> </div>

Caring

1200 children to undergo testing after child abuse charges laid

<p><em><strong>Warning: This article contains details of alleged child sexual abuse which may be distressing to some readers.</strong></em></p> <p>More than 1,200 children are being urged to undergo precautionary health screening after a former childcare worker was charged with more than 70 offences relating to alleged child sexual abuse at a centre in Melbourne’s south-west.</p> <p>Joshua Dale Brown, 26, from Point Cook, has been charged over alleged sexual offences against eight children – aged between five months and two years – at the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook, where he worked between April 2022 and January 2023.</p> <p>Victoria Police revealed Brown has worked at 20 childcare centres between 2017 and 2025, with investigations ongoing and additional allegations, including one involving a centre in Essendon, being pursued.</p> <p>Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said the case is “incredibly distressing”, describing the allegations as confronting and involving “some of our most vulnerable people in our community”.</p> <p>The charges laid against Brown include sexual penetration of a child, producing child abuse material, and recklessly contaminating goods to cause alarm or anxiety.</p> <p>Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad began investigating in May after they allegedly uncovered child abuse material and executed a search warrant at Brown’s Point Cook home. He had not previously been known to police and held a valid Working with Children Check at the time of his employment.</p> <p>Police said the families of the eight alleged victims were notified last week.</p> <p>“As you can imagine, this was deeply distressing for the families to hear,” said Acting Commander Janet Stevenson, adding that not all centres where Brown worked are believed to be connected to the alleged offences.</p> <p>In a coordinated response, Victoria Police and the Department of Health have contacted more than 2,600 families whose children may have been at centres during Brown’s employment. About 1,200 children have been recommended for infectious disease testing “out of an abundance of caution”, authorities said.</p> <p>Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said while the public health risk is low, the testing was being recommended due to a potential exposure risk during the relevant period.</p> <p>“We do understand this is another distressing element to the situation and we’re taking this approach as a precaution,” Dr McGrath said, assuring families that any infections could be treated with antibiotics and that there is no broader risk to the public.</p> <p>Letters sent to families on Tuesday stated: “At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that your child has been offended against. If this changes, you will be contacted directly by Victoria Police.”</p> <p>Support lines staffed by professionals have been established, and the government has promised free testing and assistance for affected families.</p> <p>G8 Education, the operator of the Point Cook centre, said it was “extremely distressed” by the allegations and is fully cooperating with authorities. In a statement, the company said all legally required employment and background checks were carried out during Brown’s employment.</p> <p>“G8 Education has no tolerance for any behaviour that compromises the safety or wellbeing of children,” the company said.</p> <p>Brown has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court in September.</p> <p>The investigation remains ongoing.</p> <p><em>Images: ABC News / Supplied</em></p>

Caring

Young Aussie doctor arrested after alleged discovery of thousands of child abuse files

<p>A young Australian doctor has been charged with multiple child abuse offences after police allegedly uncovered more than 5000 files of explicit material on his mobile phone.</p> <p>Gregory John Couch, 37, was arrested at a home in Albury, on the New South Wales–Victoria border, at 6am on Tuesday following a joint investigation between state police and federal border authorities.</p> <p>Detectives from the NSW Sex Crime Squad allege Couch’s phone was seized by Australian Border Force officers at Melbourne Airport in May. A forensic examination of the device allegedly revealed thousands of images and videos depicting child abuse.</p> <p>Footage released by NSW Police shows Couch – dressed in track pants, a jacket and ugg boots – being led from the home by Strike Force detectives before being taken into custody.</p> <p>He was later charged at Albury Police Station with three offences: possession of child abuse material, use of a carriage service to access child abuse material, and intentionally importing prohibited tier two goods.</p> <p>Police have confirmed there is no suggestion at this stage that any of the offences involved patients, with authorities stressing that no alleged misconduct is linked to his clinical work.</p> <p>Couch had recently been working as a locum orthopaedic registrar at Albury Wodonga Health (AWH), engaged through a third-party medical workforce agency. In a statement issued Wednesday, AWH confirmed the doctor is no longer employed by the service.</p> <p>“We understand the seriousness of the charges and the matter is now before the courts,” the statement read. “AWH has no indication that any alleged misconduct occurred at our facilities or involved our patients or staff. All standard background checks, including Working with Children and police checks, were passed prior to his commencement.”</p> <p>Originally from Sydney, Couch previously worked at Liverpool Hospital and had recently relocated to the Gold Coast. His social media presence includes photos from his wedding in 2021 and family images taken in the years prior.</p> <p>Tragically, his twin brother Andrew – also a doctor – died suddenly in his sleep in 2017. That same year, Couch accepted Andrew’s posthumous Master of Medicine degree from the University of Sydney, surrounded by family. Memorial awards have since been established in Andrew's honour by both the university and the Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.</p> <p>Couch remains before the courts and the investigation is ongoing.</p> <p><em>Image: NSW Police Force</em></p>

Legal

Family speaks out after teen found guilty of murdering Melbourne doctor

<p>The grieving family of Melbourne doctor Ash Gordon has spoken of their bittersweet relief after the teenager who stabbed him to death was found guilty of murder.</p> <p>A Supreme Court jury convicted the 17-year-old boy following a harrowing trial in which the youth had already pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary.</p> <p>Dr Gordon was killed in the early hours of January 13 last year after waking to find intruders in his Doncaster unit, in Melbourne’s north-east. He chased the two 16-year-olds into the street, but was fatally stabbed less than a kilometre from his home.</p> <p>The brutal and senseless loss of the much-loved doctor sent shockwaves through his community – and left his family shattered.</p> <p>Speaking to <em>A Current Affair</em>, Ash’s sister Nat said the guilty verdict brought some measure of justice after what she described as a long, “gut-wrenching” legal process.</p> <p>"To get a guilty verdict was a huge relief for the family,” she said. “It will never bring him back but it cements for us that we have everyone behind us."</p> <p>Their father, Glen Gordon, described the emotional toll the trial had taken – and the quiet moment of comfort that came with the jury’s decision.</p> <p>"It's been a struggle, but after the verdict today, it just felt like a big weight has been lifted off our shoulders," he said. "It's still a sad situation, but at least the person got what he deserved."</p> <p>Since Ash’s death, the family has channelled their grief into a push for reform – advocating for tougher bail laws and stronger sentencing for youth offenders.</p> <p> </p> <p>"It definitely doesn't get any easier, nothing will ever bring him back, but a small win was had today – not only by us but the wider community and the justice system,” Nat said.</p> <p>Determined not to let her brother’s death be in vain, she issued a heartfelt plea for change. "At the end of the day, if there is no verdict and no consequences, they will continue to do this,” she said. “It won’t be just my family – it will be every family within the country feeling the pain that we’re feeling, and I never, ever want to inflict that pain on any other family."</p> <p>"I don’t want my brother’s memory to be in vain."</p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair</em></p>

Caring

Royal family shares sweet Father’s Day moment with Prince William

<p>Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have delighted royal fans by sharing a heartwarming Father’s Day tribute to their “Papa”, Prince William.</p> <p>The post, shared on the official social media pages of the Prince and Princess of Wales, features two joyful photos captioned “before and after” – showing the children first hugging their father, and then in a playful heap on top of him.</p> <p>“Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L,” the message read.</p> <p>The candid images were captured earlier this year in Norfolk by photographer Josh Shinner, who also took Prince Louis’s birthday portraits. One photo shows Prince William, dressed casually in a green jumper and jeans, with his arms around George, 11, and Charlotte, 10, as Louis, seven, beams in front. The second picture captures a fun moment with the family bundled together, lying on grass dotted with daffodils.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L 💖 </p> <p>📸 Josh Shinner <a href="https://t.co/elSVlgcyWQ">pic.twitter.com/elSVlgcyWQ</a></p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1934159671868223532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>The post comes just a day after the family marked Trooping the Colour, celebrating King Charles’s official birthday, with another rare posed photo.</p> <p>Royal Father’s Day tributes are a cherished tradition. Last year, Prince William shared a nostalgic snap of himself playing football with King Charles in 1984, while this year Buckingham Palace posted touching images of Prince Philip with a young King Charles, and the Queen with her father on her wedding day.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father’s Day today. <a href="https://t.co/pqIK97NqlW">pic.twitter.com/pqIK97NqlW</a></p> <p>— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1934159021633675308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>The message from Buckingham Palace echoed the warm sentiment: “To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father’s Day today.”</p> <p><em>Images: X (Formerly Twitter)</em></p>

Family & Pets

ABC rumoured to be axing Q+A amid fresh round of cuts

<p>Long-running ABC current affairs program <em>Q+A</em> is reportedly facing the axe after 17 years on Australian television, with multiple media outlets citing unnamed sources within the national broadcaster.</p> <p>The influential panel show, which launched in 2008 with Tony Jones as host, is said to have been dropped ahead of its scheduled return in August. The decision places <em>Q+A</em> among a growing list of legacy programs facing the chopping block, coming just days after Channel Ten confirmed it was ending <em>The Project</em> following a 16-year run.</p> <p><em>Q+A</em> went into its scheduled hiatus in mid-May, and it remains unclear whether it will return at all in 2025. ABC’s new managing director, Hugh Marks, is expected to reveal sweeping changes at the public broadcaster this week, including potential staff redundancies and confirmation of the show’s fate.</p> <p>The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) warned ABC staff on Tuesday that job cuts were imminent, with employees reportedly being called into meetings to discuss a major restructure. Marks, who replaced David Anderson in March, has previously signalled a focus on streamlining the broadcaster’s operations, suggesting the ABC may need to “do fewer things better” in the future.</p> <p>In addition to cuts, the ABC is expected to announce new content initiatives, including a dedicated documentary unit championed by ABC chair Kim Williams.</p> <p>Created by executive producer Peter McEvoy, <em>Q+A</em> debuted in May 2008 and quickly became a flagship program for the ABC. Its format, inspired by the BBC’s <em>Question Time</em>, brought politicians, experts and members of the public together to debate national issues in real time.</p> <p>Following Jones’ departure in 2019, the show struggled to maintain its ratings. Hamish Macdonald took over as host in 2020, before stepping down amid mixed reviews. Stan Grant’s brief tenure in 2022 ended after he became the target of racist abuse unrelated to the show. The current host, Patricia Karvelas, has led the program since early 2023.</p> <p>While viewership has modestly improved under Karvelas, the show’s ratings remain among the lowest in the ABC’s current affairs stable. A 2023 “Garma Special” episode drew just 84,000 metro viewers – <em>Q+A</em>’s lowest figures on record.</p> <p>The ABC has not officially confirmed the program’s cancellation. However, the coming days are expected to bring clarity as the national broadcaster embarks on a major overhaul under new leadership.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC</em></p>

Iconic singer reveals sad diagnosis

<p>Morten Harket, the iconic voice behind A-ha’s global smash "Take on Me", has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a progressive condition that may bring an end to his singing career.</p> <p>The 65-year-old Norwegian singer shared the news in a moving interview published on the band’s official website, explaining that although treatment has eased some of the condition’s physical toll, it has also affected his voice – the very heart of his artistry.</p> <p>“I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign,” Harket said candidly. “As things stand now, that’s out of the question.”</p> <p>For the past year, Harket has undergone deep brain stimulation, a complex treatment involving two surgeries to implant electrodes on both sides of his brain. The procedure delivers electrical impulses that help control tremors and muscle stiffness, but in Harket’s case, has also dulled his soaring vocal range.</p> <p>Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Harket said he feels at peace with it. He credits his 94-year-old father for encouraging him to “use whatever works” in coping with the challenges of the degenerative disorder.</p> <p>“There’s so much to weigh up,” he said. “It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects.”</p> <p>A-ha last toured in 2020 and played what may be their final show together in 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl. Harket said he has continued to work on new music but is unsure whether the songs will ever be finished.</p> <p>Still, in classic form, he offered fans words of hope rather than despair.</p> <p>“Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Spend your energy addressing real problems… and know that I am being taken care of.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Meghan Markle shares sweet unseen snaps of Lilibet on her 4th birthday

<p>Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has delighted fans with rare glimpses of her daughter, Princess Lilibet, as the little royal turned four this week.</p> <p>In a joyful Instagram post on Wednesday, Meghan shared two intimate black-and-white photos of her and Prince Harry’s youngest child – offering a rare look at the young princess who has largely grown up out of the public eye. One picture shows Meghan gently cuddling Lilibet, with her daughter's face just peeking out from behind her arm. The second, a tender throwback, captures Meghan cradling newborn Lilibet shortly after her birth in 2021.</p> <p>“Happy birthday to our beautiful girl!” Meghan wrote in the caption. “Four years ago today she came into our lives – and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day.”</p> <p>Adding to the light-hearted celebration, the Duchess also posted a playful home video of her and Prince Harry dancing and twerking together while she was heavily pregnant – a rare and candid moment from their family life in California.</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/reel/DKfAON8xRLi/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/reel/DKfAON8xRLi/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Lilibet was born on June 4, 2021, in Santa Barbara, a year after the couple stepped down from their roles as senior working royals and began a new life in the United States. Since then, Harry and Meghan have been selective in sharing images of their children, making these birthday snapshots especially meaningful for fans around the world.</p> <p>Last December, the couple released a Christmas card featuring both of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Though the siblings' faces were turned away from the camera, it was the first time since 2021 that a family photo of the four had been shared publicly.</p> <p>Earlier this year, Meghan revealed on her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast that she had suffered a serious health scare following Lilibet’s birth: postpartum preeclampsia, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. Reflecting on that time, she said, “The world doesn’t know what’s happening quietly. And in the quiet, you’re still trying to show up for people ... mostly for your children, but those things are huge medical scares.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

"Not acceptable": William Tyrell's foster mother breaks silence

<p>The foster mother of missing toddler William Tyrrell has broken her long silence, calling on police to investigate new evidence allegedly linking a convicted child abuser to the victims of three unsolved murders.</p> <p>The plea follows revelations from <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/william-tyrrells-foster-mum-breaks-silence-amid-new-claims-aired-about-person-of-interest-in-case/news-story/34d7b2bb1de4b141ff3aecedbeab4737" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au’s Witness: William Tyrrell podcast</a>, which reported that key evidence presented during the inquest into William’s disappearance has not been pursued by investigators.</p> <p>“In the middle of William’s inquest we find three more families who don’t have answers,” the foster mother said. “That’s not acceptable. How can they be forgotten?”</p> <p>When asked whether police should act on this new evidence – much of which was tendered during the coronial inquest into William’s suspected death – she responded simply: “Yes.”</p> <p>This marks the first time William’s foster mother has spoken publicly since being identified as a suspect by police in a leaked front-page story in September 2021. The report claimed officers were “now confident they will solve the mystery of the disappearance of the three-year-old boy”, who vanished from a property on the NSW Mid North Coast in 2014.</p> <p>Nearly four years later, she has not been charged and continues to deny any involvement in William’s disappearance.</p> <p>Last November, the barrister assisting the coronial inquest stated it was “beyond argument” that no forensic or eyewitness evidence had been found to explain what happened to William.</p> <p>Despite this, in June 2023, NSW Police submitted a brief of evidence to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), reportedly seeking to charge the foster mother. No public statement has been issued regarding the ODPP’s advice, and both the ODPP and police declined to comment on the matter.</p> <p>While the foster mother remains under scrutiny, both she and her partner were charged with unrelated offences, including assaulting and intimidating another child – who is not William. She earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of assault after striking the child with a wooden spoon and kicking them on the thigh, however h<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">er conviction over these incidents was overturned on Friday May 23 at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.</span></p> <p>The new allegations emerging from the podcast involve Frank Abbott, a convicted child sex offender currently serving time for abusing two girls and a boy. Abbott has previously been named as a “person of interest” in the Tyrrell case but was never summoned to give evidence at the inquest.</p> <p>Abbott has consistently denied any involvement in William’s disappearance.</p> <p>As the inquest continues and new leads emerge, William Tyrrell’s case remains one of Australia’s most haunting and unresolved mysteries.</p> <p><em>Images: NSW Police / Facebook</em></p>

Legal

“Mum always found the joy”: Beatrice and Eugenie open up on royal divorce

<p>Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have spoken candidly about the impact of their parents’ divorce and the enduring strength of their mother, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.</p> <p>Appearing on the "Lessons from our Mothers" podcast, hosted by Isabella Branson and Cressida Bonas – actress and former girlfriend of Prince Harry – the royal sisters shared heartfelt reflections on their upbringing and the lessons imparted by their mother during challenging times.</p> <p>Beatrice recalled the difficult period during their parents' separation, which began in 1992 when she was just eight years old and Eugenie was six. Despite the emotional turmoil, she remembered it as a time still filled with positivity and a sense of adventure, thanks to their mother’s optimistic spirit.</p> <p>“Mum's ability to sort of jump into any situation,” Beatrice said, was something she admired and now emulates. “There was always an adventure to be had. Even during some of the harder times through divorce and through challenging moments… she had an ability to kind of jump into things with two feet.”</p> <p>She added that those early memories are precious and formative: “It's this sort of way with which she just brought that joy to moments.”</p> <p>Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York, affectionately known as "Fergie", were married in 1986 and formally divorced in 1996. Long naval deployments and conflicting responsibilities are believed to have contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.</p> <p>In a 2007 interview with <em>Harper’s Bazaar</em>, Fergie explained, “I wanted to work; it's not right for a princess of the royal house to be commercial, so Andrew and I decided to make the divorce official so I could go off and get a job.”</p> <p>Despite the separation, the couple have maintained a close relationship, cohabiting in separate wings of the Royal Lodge since 2008. They often refer to themselves as the "happiest divorced couple", setting a rare example of post-divorce harmony.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Q+A descends into acrimony over Welcome to Country debate

<p>The ABC’s flagship program <em>Q+A</em> erupted into heated exchanges on Monday night as panellists clashed over the role and frequency of Welcome to Country ceremonies, amid growing national debate sparked by political and community divisions.</p> <p>The discussion was triggered when audience member Peter asked how tensions over the ceremonies could be resolved "amicably" and "in the interest of all parties", following escalating disagreement between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during the current federal election campaign.</p> <p>Liberal MP Paul Fletcher argued from the Q+A panel that while it was important to recognise the “distinctive place” of Indigenous Australians, many in the community felt there were now too many ceremonial acknowledgements.</p> <p>The issue has been further inflamed after neo-Nazis booed a Welcome to Country delivered by Bunurong man Uncle Mark Brown during the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance – a move that was swiftly condemned by both major political parties.</p> <p>However, Mr Dutton later suggested that Welcome to Country ceremonies were being overused and questioned their appropriateness for solemn occasions like Anzac Day.</p> <p>On <em>Q+A</em>, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek defended the tradition, particularly at Anzac Day events, arguing it was "perfectly appropriate" to acknowledge the service of Indigenous Australians in the military.</p> <p>Fletcher countered that veterans should be consulted on the issue, prompting a sharp exchange when Plibersek retorted that he was speaking as if Indigenous veterans did not exist. Fletcher accused her of using “straw man rhetoric”, insisting, “The role of Indigenous people in defending Australia over many conflicts has been very significant. Nobody is contesting that for a second.”</p> <p>Greens leader Adam Bandt also weighed in, launching a scathing attack on Dutton’s handling of the matter. “It’s gutter politics from an Opposition leader whose campaign is in free fall and he’s starting to punch down,” Bandt said. He accused Dutton of spreading misinformation during the Voice referendum campaign and likened his tactics to those of US President Donald Trump.</p> <p>“He’s playing from the Trump play book as his campaign is in free fall. Punching down. Playing from the Trump play book and we’ll call it out," Bandt said.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC's Q+A</em></p>

Prince Louis turns 7, loses teeth, gains fans

<p>The Prince and Princess of Wales have released a new video of their youngest son, Prince Louis, in celebration of his 7th birthday – and fans were quick to notice one majestic omission!</p> <p>The young royal, known for upstaging grown adults with nothing but facial expressions and unfiltered energy, beamed into the camera with a grin so wide it could be measured in acres – revealing a spectacular dental vacancy.</p> <p>Yes, Prince Louis is now officially a member of the exclusive “Missing Front Teeth Club”, joining generations of British children, Jack-o'-lanterns and occasionally stressed-out rugby players.</p> <p>The video, taken behind the scenes of a photoshoot with photographer Josh Shinner, captures the birthday boy mid-adventure, clad in jeans, a jumper and brown boots – aka, "British Boy Chic". In a moment of cinematic glory, Louis approaches the camera like a pint-sized action hero, then flashes his now-iconic toothless grin.</p> <p>But it wasn’t just his smile that had viewers grinning: it was his voice.</p> <p>“I can jump down from there!” Louis proclaims, boldly sizing up a log that looked suspiciously like it had auditioned for a Bear Grylls special. He then executes the leap, presumably sticking the landing, though the palace has yet to confirm whether a royal stunt double was involved.</p> <p>This rare vocal cameo marks only the second time the public has heard Prince Louis speak. The first was in 2020, when he interrogated naturalist Sir David Attenborough with a hard-hitting question: “What animal do you like?” (Attenborough's answer: monkeys – though many suspect he now ranks Louis higher.)</p> <p>Royal fans rejoiced at the annual tradition of birthday content, with one commenting, “He’s growing up so fast — and shrinking his dental real estate just as quickly!”</p> <p>The official photo was released with the caption: “Wishing Prince Louis a very Happy 7th Birthday!” Though some believe it should have added, “...and a speedy return of those front teeth”.</p> <p>At press time, Buckingham insiders declined to comment on whether the Tooth Fairy was knighted in a private ceremony earlier this week.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">📽️🎞️ Seven today! <a href="https://t.co/n3lNIXesCR">pic.twitter.com/n3lNIXesCR</a></p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1915035767518232641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: X (Formerly Twitter) / Josh Sinner</em></p>

Family & Pets

Our ancestors didn’t eat 3 meals a day. So why do we?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Pop quiz: name the world’s most famous trio? If you’re a foodie, then your answer might have been breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s an almost universally accepted trinity – particularly in the Western world.</p> <p>But how did it come about?</p> <h2>The first meals</h2> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/when-did-we-become-fully-human-what-fossils-and-dna-tell-us-about-the-evolution-of-modern-intelligence-143717#:%7E:text=Fossils%20and%20DNA%20suggest%20people,%3A%2050%2C000%2D65%2C000%20years%20ago">Early humans</a> were nomadic. Forming small communities, they would travel with the seasons, following local food sources.</p> <p>While we can only guess what daily mealtimes rhythms looked like, evidence dating back <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/feast-9780199209019?cc=nz&lang=en&">30,000 years</a> from the South Moravia region, Czech Republic, shows people visited specific settlements time and again. They gathered around hearths, cooking and sharing food: the first signs of human “commensality”, the practice of eating together.</p> <p>One of the best-preserved hunter-gatherer sites we’ve found is <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/feast-9780199209019?cc=nz&lang=en&">Ohalo II</a> – located on the shores of the modern-day Sea of Galilee (also called Lake Tiberias or Lake Kinneret) in Israel, and dating back some 23,000 years.</p> <p>In addition to several small dwellings with hearths, it provides evidence of diverse food sources, including more than 140 types of seeds and nuts, and various birds, fish and mammals.</p> <p>The development of <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/development-agriculture/">agricultural knowledge</a> some 12,000 years ago gave rise to permanent settlements. The earliest were in the Levant region (across modern-day Iraq, southwestern Iran and eastern Turkey), in an area called the “Fertile Crescent”.</p> <p>Permanent agriculture led to the production of a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/evolution-of-diet/">surplus of food</a>. The ability to stay in one place with food on-hand meant the time it took to cook no longer mattered as much.</p> <p>It quickly became common to eat one <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/history-of-the-world-in-6-glasses-9780802718594/">light meal</a> early in the day, followed by a larger <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/feast-9780199209019?cc=nz&lang=en&">hearth-prepared meal</a> later on. The specific timings would have varied between groups.</p> <h2>Eating together as a rule</h2> <p>The communal nature of foraging and hunting, and later farming, meant humans almost always ate their meals in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2009.9.3.42">company of others</a>. In the ancient city-state of Sparta, in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.2307/293895">4th century BCE</a>, these practices were codified as common main meals called <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2017.17.2.51"><em>syssitia</em></a> (meaning “eating together”).</p> <p>These meals were consumed at the end of the day in communal dining halls. Food was served by young boys to tables of 15 or so men who lived together and fought in the same <a href="https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0063%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DS%3Aentry+group%3D5%3Aentry%3Dsyssitia-cn">military division</a>. The men gradually shared generational knowledge with the young boys, who themselves would join the tables by age 20.</p> <p>In the 5th century BCE, Greek historian Herodotus <a href="https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-histories-9780140455397">wrote about</a> how <em>syssitia</em> evolved from a Spartan military practice to having deep political meaning in society. Similarly, <a href="https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-republic-9780140455113">Plato</a> <a href="https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-laws-9780140449846">wrote</a> common meals were an integral component of civil society, and that missing a meal without good reason was a civic offence.</p> <p>By dining in <a href="https://doi.org/10.2307/293895">full view</a> of the rest of society, citizens were compelled to maintain self-discipline. Mealtime was also an opportunity for social linkage, and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2017.17.2.51">important discussions</a> ranging from business deals to politics.</p> <p>The eating habits of Spartan women are missing in the texts, although it is implied they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2017.17.2.51">ate at home</a>.</p> <h2>Bunches of lunches</h2> <p>Counter to the tough Spartan way of life, the Romans enjoyed their main meal, <a href="https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/1550/everyday-life-ancient-rome?srsltid=AfmBOooVPsJL24HR9woTdVNQwEG1uCU7q0k7r2beD-KD13m0KX-l1dSY"><em>cena</em></a>, earlier in the day, followed by a lighter meal just before bed.</p> <p>The northern European tribes tended towards two larger meals per day, as more <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23071">sustenance</a> is required in colder climes. To the Vikings, these meals were known as <a href="https://www.historyonthenet.com/what-did-vikings-eat"><em>dagmal</em> and <em>nattmal</em></a>, or day meal and night meal. <em>Nattmal</em> was the cooked evening meal, while <em>dagmal</em> usually consisted of leftover <em>nattmal</em> with the addition of bread and beer or mead.</p> <p>In Australia, evidence suggests Aboriginal peoples tended toward a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03122417.2022.2089395">daily single meal</a>, which aligns with the predominant method of cookery: slow-cooking with hot coals or rocks in an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03122417.2022.2089395">earth oven</a>. This underground oven, used by Aboriginal and also Torres Strait Islander communities, was referred to as a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=745326709638881&t=0"><em>kup murri</em></a> or <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/food/the-cook-up-with-adam-liaw/recipe/slow-cooker-kap-mauri/lfza7eqs4"><em>kap mauri</em></a> by some groups.</p> <p>This is similar to other Indigenous preparations throughout the Pacific, such as the New Zealand Māori <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2024.2381305"><em>hāngī</em></a>, Hawaiian <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/20707103?seq=1"><em>imu</em></a>, Fijian <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/1021389307?accountid=8440&parentSessionId=605Pt1iTclBEC77VSlZvrnxxY%2Bdc7e%2Bx9pT4MgRLPqQ%3D&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses"><em>lovo</em></a>, and even the Mayan <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-012-9207-2"><em>píib</em></a>.</p> <p>The once-daily meal would have been supplemented with snacks throughout the day.</p> <h2>Three’s the magic number</h2> <p>The timing of meals was heavily influenced by class structure, local climate and people’s <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Cuisine+and+Culture%3A+A+History+of+Food+and+People%2C+3rd+Edition-p-9780470403716">daily activities</a>. Practicality also played a part. Without reliable lighting, meals had to be prepared and eaten before dark. In settled parts of Northern Europe, this could be as early as 3pm.</p> <p>So how did we go from one or two main meals, to three? The answer may lie with the British Royal Navy.</p> <p>Since its inception in the 16th century, the navy served <a href="https://www.historyhit.com/what-did-sailors-in-the-georgian-royal-navy-eat/">three regular meals</a> to align with the shipboard routine. This included a simple breakfast of ship’s biscuits, lunch as the main meal, and dinner as more of a light supper.</p> <p>Some sources suggest the term “<a href="https://www.grammar-monster.com/sayings_proverbs/square_meal.htm">square meal</a>” may have come from the square wooden trays meals were served in.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=455&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=455&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=455&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=572&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=572&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660040/original/file-20250407-56-xgt2pm.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=572&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Initially, sailors recieved a daily gallon of beer with meals. This was later changed to watered-down rum, the infamous ‘grog’, which is being handed out in this 1940 photo taken aboard HMS King George V.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205185139">Imperial War Museums</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20243692">Industrial Revolution</a>, which started around 1760, arguably also played a role in formalising the concept of three specific mealtimes across the Western world.</p> <p>The cadence of breakfast, lunch and dinner matched the routine of the longer, standardised workdays. Workers ate breakfast and dinner at home, before and after work, while lunch was eaten with coworkers at a set time.</p> <p>With minimal breaks, and no time for snacking, three substantial meals became necessary.</p> <h2>The fall of the holy trinity</h2> <p>Today, many factors impact the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.09.005">time and frequency</a> of our meals, from long work commutes to juggling hobbies and social obligations.</p> <p>The COVID pandemic also impacted how and what we eat, leading us to eat larger amounts of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102641">higher calorie foods</a>. The rapid growth of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020000701">delivery services</a> also means a meal is no more than a few minutes away from most people.</p> <p>All of this has resulted in mealtimes becoming less rigid, with social meals such as <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442229433/Brunch-A-History">brunch</a>, <a href="https://www.harpercollins.co.nz/9780261102354/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/">elevenses</a> and <a href="https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442271029/Afternoon-Tea-A-History">afternoon teas</a> expanding how we <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126235">connect over food</a>. And mealtimes will continue to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2013.13.3.32">evolve</a> as our schedules become ever more complicated.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/250773/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rob-richardson-2328981">Rob Richardson</a>, Senior Lecturer in Culinary Arts & Gastronomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dianne-ma-2331997">Dianne Ma</a>, Lecturer in Culinary Arts & Gastronomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/auckland-university-of-technology-1137">Auckland University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-ancestors-didnt-eat-3-meals-a-day-so-why-do-we-250773">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

Baby Lightning strikes! Aussie Olympian gives birth to fifth child

<p>Aussie Olympic champion Libby Trickett has shared some joyful news – her family has grown with the arrival of baby number five!</p> <p>The 40-year-old swimmer took to Instagram to announce the birth of her newest bundle of joy, revealing his beautiful name and details of his arrival. Trickett and her husband, Luke, proudly welcomed Archie Wilson Lightning Trickett into the world at 7:51am on April 3rd, via an elective caesarean. Baby Archie weighed in at a healthy 3.99kg and measured 53cm long.</p> <p>"The shape of our family is complete," Trickett wrote, beaming with happiness. "Definitely promise it’s for reals this time! I’m really almost certain this time... though I’ve come to realise that I probably would have babies forever. I know that I’ve pushed my body to its absolute limits with this one."</p> <p>Trickett shared that Archie’s arrival was a calm and joyous experience, filled with laughter and love. "Every birth I’ve had has been extraordinary and this one was no different. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to meet our baby boy," she added.</p> <p>The couple’s new arrival is already adored by his siblings, as Trickett sweetly noted that Archie is being "suitably smothered" by his three big sisters and big brother. "We have all been struck with love," she gushed.</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/DIF32JMxCiX/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/DIF32JMxCiX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Libby Trickett (@libby_trickett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In a fun twist, Trickett revealed that they never found out the gender of any of their children during pregnancy – and she managed to guess wrong every single time! "I didn’t predict a single one and I feel so lucky because I couldn’t have wished for more," she laughed.</p> <p>The heartwarming announcement was met with a flood of congratulatory messages from friends, fans and fellow athletes. Surfing legend Mick Fanning commented, "Congratulations," while fellow swimming great Grant Hackett wrote, "Woohoo 🎉 A massive congratulations." Olympian Jana Pittman also chimed in, saying, "Enormous congrats xxxxx."</p> <p>With their growing family now complete, the Tricketts are soaking up every moment of love and joy with little Archie.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

66-year-old woman reveals why she just gave birth to her 10th child

<p>In a remarkable turn of events, 66-year-old Alexandra Hildebrandt gave birth to her 10th child, a healthy baby boy named Philipp, on March 19 at Charité Hospital in Berlin. The birth, carried out via cesarean section, saw Philipp weighing in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces.</p> <p>Hildebrandt, a well-known human rights activist and the director of Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie Museum, insists that she conceived naturally, without the aid of fertility drugs, and faced no difficulties during the process.</p> <p>Baby Philipp joins an already large and diverse family, including siblings Svitlana (46), Artiom (36), Elisabeth (12), Maximilian (12), Alexandra (10), Leopold (8), Anna (7), Maria (4), and Katharina (2). Remarkably, eight of these children were born after Hildebrandt turned 53, all during her second marriage to former CDU politician Daniel Dormann.</p> <p>For Hildebrandt, having a big family is both fulfilling and fundamental. “A big family is not only something wonderful, but above all, it is important for raising children properly,” she told <em>The Today Show</em>. Despite her age, she has received only positive feedback from friends and family regarding her pregnancy and childbirth.</p> <p>Dr Wolfgang Henrich, Hildebrandt’s OB/GYN, described her pregnancy as “largely uncomplicated”. However, medical experts caution that pregnancies at such an advanced age come with significant risks. Dr Brian Levine, a fertility specialist based in New York City, notes that the biological likelihood of a woman conceiving naturally at 66 is extremely low. Additionally, the risks of hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm labor and chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome rise significantly with age.</p> <p>Hildebrandt is not alone in making headlines for late-life motherhood. In 2023, 70-year-old Safina Namukwaya from Uganda gave birth to twins via in vitro fertilisation using donor eggs and her husband’s sperm. Despite concerns about her age, Namukwaya expressed joy at her newfound motherhood, saying that age should not be a barrier to having children.</p> <p>As for Hildebrandt, she credits her lifestyle for her ability to conceive and carry a child at her age. “I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, walk for two hours,” she shared in an interview with <em>Bild</em>. She also noted that she has never smoked, consumed alcohol or used contraceptives.</p> <p><em>Images: The Today Show</em></p>

Family & Pets

Adorable new portraits mark Prince Julian's 4th birthday!

<p>Sweden is celebrating a special milestone as Prince Julian, the youngest son of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, turns four years old! In honour of this joyous occasion, the Swedish Royal Family has released an adorable new portrait of the young prince, capturing hearts across the nation and beyond.</p> <p>Dressed in a charming knitted cardigan over a collared shirt, Prince Julian was photographed sitting gracefully in an armchair, exuding both innocence and poise. His parents proudly shared the heartwarming portrait on their official Instagram account, accompanied by a loving caption: "Today we celebrate our exuberant Julian who turns 4 years old🎉❤️."</p> <p>Born on March 26, 2021, at Danderyd Hospital, Prince Julian is the third child of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia. His arrival was met with great excitement from his parents and older brothers, Prince Alexander, now eight, and Prince Gabriel, seven. Upon his birth, Prince Carl Philip shared a heartfelt statement: "We are so happy and grateful to welcome our fourth son to the family. This day has been longed for by both us and his two older brothers. Now we look forward to getting to know our new family member."</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/DHqErnaoCpd/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/DHqErnaoCpd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Prinsparet (@prinsparet)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Prince Julian’s birthday comes during an exciting time for the Swedish royal family, as it follows the recent birth of his baby sister, Princess Ines. Born just weeks ago, Princess Ines is the first daughter of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, completing their beautiful family of four children. The proud parents introduced their newest addition with a touching Instagram post, stating: "It turned out to be a perfect little quartet. Big and warm thanks for all the nice congratulations to our little Ines."</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/DF9_AL8ofsh/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/DF9_AL8ofsh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Prinsparet (@prinsparet)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While Princess Ines is a member of the Swedish Royal Family, she does not hold a position within The Royal House. This follows King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 2019 decision to redefine the roles of his grandchildren, allowing them to retain their ducal titles while removing their "Royal Highness" status.</p> <p>As Sweden celebrates Prince Julian’s fourth birthday, royal fans are delighted by this sweet glimpse into the young prince’s life. Happy birthday, Prince Julian!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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“She doesn’t know where she is anymore": Robbie Williams shares sad update on his mother

‘It feels like I am being forced to harm a child’: Why Aussie teachers are burning out

1200 children to undergo testing after child abuse charges laid

Young Aussie doctor arrested after alleged discovery of thousands of child abuse files

Family speaks out after teen found guilty of murdering Melbourne doctor

Royal family shares sweet Father’s Day moment with Prince William

ABC rumoured to be axing Q+A amid fresh round of cuts

Iconic singer reveals sad diagnosis

Meghan Markle shares sweet unseen snaps of Lilibet on her 4th birthday

"Not acceptable": William Tyrell's foster mother breaks silence

“Mum always found the joy”: Beatrice and Eugenie open up on royal divorce

Q+A descends into acrimony over Welcome to Country debate

Prince Louis turns 7, loses teeth, gains fans

Our ancestors didn’t eat 3 meals a day. So why do we?

Baby Lightning strikes! Aussie Olympian gives birth to fifth child

66-year-old woman reveals why she just gave birth to her 10th child

Adorable new portraits mark Prince Julian's 4th birthday!

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