Overnight sleeper trains between London and Cornwall will be canceled between Mondays and Thursdays for eight weeks due to a complication with engineering work, Network Rail has announced.

Disruption to Great Western Railway’s (GWR) Night Riviera service begins next week, with the normal timetable not resuming until Monday, March 21.

Network Rail is building a 209-meter long shelter on a stretch of track between Dawlish and Holcombe, Devon, to improve protection from falling rocks.

Engineers recently discovered that poor ground conditions mean work to install the foundations cannot be carried out from the side of the railway, so a machine must be positioned on the track, blocking the route.

Network Rail Western route and strategic operations director Mike Gallop said: “The worksite at Parsons Tunnel is in a difficult location, surrounded by sheer cliffs, the sea, and a tunnel.

“While it is disappointing to need to close the railway overnight for this period, the safety of those working on the project and our passengers is paramount and we have concluded the piling for this project is most safely achieved by using a rail-mounted piling machine.”

Mr. Gallop added that the work has been timed to ensure weekend travel is not affected and the disruption ends before Easter.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “Our Night Riviera Sleeper service is extremely popular and provides an important link between London and Devon and Cornwall, and we are sorry for the disruption that this vital engineering work will cause.

“The rockfall shelter extension is a key piece of work that in the long run will greatly improve the reliability of train services in the future.”

Mr. Hopwood explained that the rail industry would normally focus on reducing services at weekends, but the coronavirus pandemic means carrying out the engineering work on weeknights “will cause the least disruption”.

He added: “We look forward to this phase of the work being completed and restoring the world-famous Night Riviera Sleeper service back to full operation.”

Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris said: “While it is disappointing that we will be seeing line closures to get this vital work done, I have been assured by Network Rail that every effort has been made to minimize disruption while ensuring the work can be done safely.

“I would ask everyone to bear with Network Rail through this disruption. In the end we will be the winners with our iconic railway line properly future-proofed.”

The Night Riviera, which runs between London Paddington and Penzance, will continue to operate on Fridays and Sundays as normal.

It is one of only two overnight rail services in the UK.

The other, the Caledonian Sleeper, runs between London and Scotland.

Robert Burns was advised not to write in Scots by a correspondent who thought it would limit his audience, according to new research.

A project by academics at the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies looked at letters to and from Scotland’s national bard.

The team looked at some 800 letters written by Burns and around 300 to 400 letters from his friends and admirers – and have put together both sides of the letter correspondence where available.

They found that Dr. John Moore advised the poet not to write in Scots, warning that London readers would not connect with it, though Burns ignored his suggestion.

Dr. Rhona Brown, a senior lecturer in Scottish Literature at the university’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies, said: “In the correspondence, we get closer to Burns ‘the man’ than anywhere else: his letters reveal his triumphs, failures, anxieties, fears, and joys.

“Our edition of the correspondence is also presenting, for the first time, letters written to Burns as well as by Burns, allowing us to reconstruct personal dialogues from throughout Burns’s life.

“Two of Burns’s relationships stand out – with Dr. John Moore and Mrs. Frances Dunlop – as we have both sides of the correspondence.

“What is fascinating, for example, is that early on, Moore advised Burns not to write in Scots. He cautioned Burns that he was limiting his audience and felt that London readers wouldn’t understand or connect with the Scots language. Dunlop advised him to avoid political subjects.

“But Burns is his own man and ignores the advice and carries on regardless. I think history has now shown that he was right.”

People around the globe will celebrate Burns Night on January 25 to celebrate the anniversary of the poet’s birth on that date in 1759.

The correspondence will be published as part of the new Collected Works of Robert Burns published by the Oxford University Press.

The new edition’s publication of responses to the poet’s letters also reveals that reactions to his works were not always what people might expect.

Dr. Craig Lamont, a research associate in Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow, said: “Burns sends Dr. John Moore a long, heartfelt letter giving a detailed account of his childhood and life up to 1787: this letter is now known as Burns’s autobiographical letter.

“In response, Moore asks Burns to ‘divide your letters when they are so heavy’, because ‘I was obliged to pay six & eightpence for it’.”

The team will premiere their video documentary on the “Editing Robert Burns for the 21st Century: Correspondence” project at 10 am on January 17 at https://burnsc21-letters-poems.glasgow.ac.uk/documentaries/

The Centre will also host an online question and answer session on Thursday, January 20 so that members of the public and Burns scholars can find out more about the project, with more information available via @GlasgowBurns.

Members of the public are being asked to submit their own snapshots of the royal family, with the chance to see them exhibited alongside some of the most legendary royal photographs in history.

Life Through A Royal Lens, which opens at Kensington Palace on March 4, includes work by renowned photographers Norman Parkinson, Rankin, Annie Leibovitz and Cecil Beaton.

It will also feature behind-the-scenes pictures of an off-duty royal family, plus a selection of images taken by the Windsors themselves, which will be going on display at the west London palace for the first time.

This includes pictures by the Duchess of Cambridge, who is a keen photographer and usually takes the publicly released photos of her children to mark their birthdays.

Starting on Monday, royal fans can submit their own visual memories of the Queen and her relatives at hrp.org.uk, with Historic Royal Palaces suggesting a particular focus on royal walkabouts – which have become a rarity in times of Covid.

The photos must be of official engagements. Paparazzi-style shots taken by the public when the royals are spending time privately will not be accepted.

Up to 20 of the photos will be chosen by Kensington Palace’s curators to go on show as part of a revolving digital display.

They will join images such as intimate family portraits commissioned by Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, and Beaton’s portraits of the Queen and the Queen Mother.

The exhibition, charting almost 200 years of royal photography, will explore the stiff formality of the Victorian era, the high glamour of Beaton’s photographs, and the relaxed informality of the digital age.

Work by celebrated photographer Lord Snowdon, who was married to the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, will also be on show, portraying a “different, sometimes rebellious, fashionable and more informal side to the royal family”.

Photoshoots such as the Duke of Cambridge’s cover of Attitude Magazine and Kate’s centenary issue of British Vogue in 2016 will “explore how photography and image remain central to the public’s perception of the modern royal family today”.

Claudia Acott Williams, curator at HRP, said: “We’re so excited to invite the public to be part of our upcoming Kensington Palace exhibition in this unique way.

“We can’t wait to see images shared from royal visits around the globe, and it’ll certainly be a tough challenge to whittle them down to the chosen few, which will be displayed amongst legendary photographers.

“We look forward to welcoming our visitors into the world of royal photography, to explore the history behind the iconic image of modern monarchy we know today.”

Budding photographers must be aged over 18 and have until January 31 to submit their images. You can submit a photo here.

Life Through a Royal Lens opens at Kensington Palace on March 4, 2022, and is included in palace admission.

Coastguards around the country are marking the 200th anniversary of the service dedicated to saving lives at sea.

Established on January 15 1822, originally to combat smuggling, Her Majesty’s Coastguard has in the following 200 years expanded to its current form, which involves 3,500 volunteers in 310 teams across the UK, which are supported by 10 search and rescue helicopters.

To mark the milestone, 200 throwlines – part of the standard lifesaving kit – will be cast by coastguards around the country as a symbol of the service’s dedication.

Tom Wright, area commander for South West England, told the PA news agency: “We have changed inconceivably from when we were first brought into place and in my time we have changed massively.

“We have got a lot safer and our rescue capability (has improved) and we are into technical rescue now.

“We rely a lot more on technology as far as our communications are concerned, and the new technologies, as far as drones to assist in search and rescue and other unmanned vehicles (go), will be key moving forward.”

Adding that volunteers and staff remain the most important element of the Coastguard, Mr. Wright said: “We couldn’t do what we do without the volunteers who give up their time 24/7 365 days a year. Without that workforce we wouldn’t be able to undertake the search and rescue that we do.”

Maritime minister Robert Courts said: “Congratulations HM Coastguard on their 200-year anniversary. I am immensely proud and humbled by the continued dedication and professionalism from the staff and volunteers which ensures everyone’s safety on our shores and around our coast.

“HM Coastguard is the backbone of our maritime sector and the nation is indebted to its incredible workforce which continues to deliver an exceptional service.”

Claire Hughes, Coastguard director, said: “When you look at how we started and where we are now, it’s easy to celebrate the innovation and development that can be seen throughout the service.

“And yet we are far more proud of the people, the volunteers and the staff who, throughout two centuries, have continued to strive to keep people safe at the coast and out at sea.

“We always have and always will respond to those in distress.

“While this milestone is an opportunity for us to look back with pride on what we’ve achieved, we have always looked to the future, and I’m proud that we continue to look for ways in which to improve and save lives.

“I’m proud of the commitment, the dedication and selfless sacrifice, and I’m proud of how the service has developed and continues to do so.”

A Coastguard spokeswoman said innovation continues within the service, including a £175 million upgrade to its national radio network and the introduction of electric vehicles to reduce its carbon footprint.

She said: “With technology ever evolving, the service will continue to strive to be at the forefront of innovation to carry out its life-saving work.

“The service continues to adapt to changes – in the last few years providing mutual aid and support during events and incidents to other emergency partners.

“During the pandemic, coastguards supported the NHS, attended the G7 and COP26 in 2021, and are called in to support during national emergencies including flooding or supplying water to stranded drivers.”

After the last couple years, we remain tentatively hopeful that 2022 will be an improvement.  Between the United States and the United Kingdom, we certainly need something to look forward to and Britain has answered the call.  From monumental celebrations to the return of one of the country’s biggest festivals, 2022 has something for everyone to anticipate.  We’ve identified five of things we think are the biggest deals for the UK in 2022, and if you think we left out something or just want to share what makes you hopeful for the near year, you can do that in the comments.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth passed Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning British monarch about seven years ago.  2022 marks a feat that Victoria never achieved with Her Majesty’s 70^th year on the throne.  To celebrate, the country will be celebrating with events from June 2 to June 5, some of which will be special for the jubilee while others are traditional ceremonies such as the Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) with a special jubilee twist.  Buckingham Palace will be hosting a special party and concert that will be broadcast to the nation and you can bet many boroughs and neighborhoods will be throwing their own parties during the weekend.  You can check out royal.uk for more information on the upcoming festivities.

Doctor Who Specials

As the era of Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor comes to an end, Team TARDIS will face a trio of dangers.  The first special was Eve of the Daleks, which premiered on New Year’s Day.  The second features the Sea Devils in Legend of the Sea Devils, while the third has yet to be announced.  Nonetheless, each is highly anticipated, especially with the knowledge that Russell T. Davies will be coming back in the next series.  Speculation is still rampant about who the next Doctor will be, and it remains to be seen whether they’ll be revealed in a big media event or at the end of Chibnall’s last special.

2022 World Cup

England managed fourth place in the 2018 World Cup and had its first final since 1966 as the Euro Cup competition last year, so it’s fair to say that expectations are (cautiously) optimistic for the 2022 World Cup.  With the Three Lions still led by Gareth Southgate, England will head to Qatar with one of the best managers and teams it has had in years.  England successfully became the Group I winners this past November in the qualifiers, but it remains to be seen whether this is the year that football will (finally) come home.

Coventry City of Culture

Back in 2017, Coventry was announced as the next UK City of Culture, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed celebrations that were due to start in January last year to May.  Naturally, this means that there are still about five months left in the year-long celebration and there are plenty of events to experience between now and the end of May 2022.  From window art along the city streets to a big three-day music festival put on by Radio 1, the festival is by no means over yet.  For more information about what’s on between now and May 31, you can go to coventry2021.co.uk.

Glastonbury

The largest music festival in England, Glastonbury, comes back to live performances from June 22 to June 26.  Festival headliners for 2022 include Billie Eilish and Diana Ross, with more certain to follow.  Such is the public’s hunter for live music that the show has already sold out even with only two acts announced.  Keep your eye on the news as it gets closer to June.  While it may not quite resemble previous year’s festivals, you can bet it’s going to be one of the most important music events the country sees all year.

A Roman wooden carved figure has been discovered in a waterlogged ditch during work on the HS2 project.

Archaeologist Iain Williamson  described the survival of the well-preserved wooden figure as “extremely rare.”

The model, cut from a single piece of wood, 67cm tall and 18cm wide, was found by archaeologists in a Roman ditch in a field in Twyford, Buckinghamshire, in July 2021.

The discovery was made by experts from Infra Archaeology, working for HS2’s contractor Fusion JV.

The style of the carving and the tunic-like clothing suggest the figure could date from the early Roman period, almost 2,000 years ago.

A lack of oxygen in the water-logged clay fill ditch helped prevent the wood from rotting and ensured its survival over the centuries.

Mr. Williamson from Fusion JV said: “The preservation of details carved into the wood, such as the hair and tunic, really start to bring the individual depicted to life.

“Not only is the survival of a wooden figure like this extremely rare for the Roman period in Britain, but it also raises new questions about this site.

“Who does the wooden figure represent, what was it used for, and why was it significant to the people living in this part of Buckinghamshire during the first century AD?”

The figure is in good condition, but the arms below the elbows and feet have degraded.

Its hat and hairstyle are among the surprising amount of detail that can still be seen.

The head is slightly turned to the left, the tunic at the front seems to be gathered at the waist going down to above knee level, and the legs and shape of the calf muscles are defined.

Shards of pottery dating from 43-70 AD were also discovered in the ditch.

Wooden carved images were offered as gifts to the gods, according to archaeologists, who could not be certain about the figure’s intended use.

A small broken fragment is being sent for radiocarbon dating to try and get an accurate age for the wood, while tests are also being carried out to try and find out where it came from.

Helen Wass, head of heritage at HS2 Ltd, said the archaeology program on the first phase of the HS2 project between London and Birmingham had provided a wealth of new information about the past.

She said: “In Buckinghamshire, our careful work has enabled us to build a much greater understanding of how the landscape was used by our ancestors, especially during the Roman period, and is brought to life further through incredible artifacts like this figure.”

Jim Williams, a senior science advisor for Historic England, said: “This is a truly remarkable find which brings us face to face with our past.

“The quality of the carving is exquisite, and the figure is all the more exciting because organic objects from this period rarely survive.

“This discovery helps us to imagine what other wooden, plant or animal-based art and sculpture may have been created at this time.”

A 26ft-tall bronze sculpture of a naked man built near a busy road has attracted the attention of drivers.

The eight-tonne artwork, called The Yoxman, was commissioned by a tourism firm and installed on the grounds of the 16th century Cockfield Hall in Yoxford, Suffolk.

The statue, dubbed the Suffolk Colossus, is visible from the A12, which stretches from London to Lowestoft in Suffolk.

Russell Pearce, chairman of Yoxford Parish Council, said: “I think it’s great.

“There’s a lay-by beside it and people do stop and take photographs of it.

“They pull into the lay-by, stop, take photographs and drive on.

“You can see it as you drive past.

“I suppose if somebody had never seen it before perhaps it could be distracting, but I don’t see it as a problem personally.

“I’ve not witnessed any issues.”

Mr. Pearce said there had been “a lot of good feedback in the village”, adding: “A few people don’t like it, but then you’re not going to please everybody.”

Sculptor Laurence Edwards, who lives in the village, said when the statue was unveiled in November: “Yoxman is a beacon of local identity and a frame of reference for an evolving relationship with the landscape.

“He’s kind of like a revenant, (a) visitor from the past that’s come back, musing on an unrecognizable environment and contemplating its future.

“The sculpture also marks a transforming moment on the River Yox’s journey through the lowlands of East Suffolk, before it flows – as the Minsmere – out into the North Sea.”

The Yoxman was created at Edwards’s nearby studio and foundry in Halesworth.

For some of us, music has been a balm in a terrible time, whether during trauma or recent events.  The pandemic hurt our ability to engage in live music when concerts were canceled.  For a time, artists were even unable to leave their homes to record.  However, as we can see the light at the end of the tunnel new albums are being released, and concerts are back on for the new year.  For those who love music, we have identified ten things to look forward to in British music in 2022.  If there’s anything you want to include, let us know in the comments.

Bloc Party New Album

Come April 2022, Block party will release their new album Alpha Games.  The band that runs the gambit of musical genres hasn’t had a new studio album since 2016’s Hymns and then 2018’s Silent Alarm Live (the latter a recording of their Silent Alarms tour).  Some of the singles from the album, including “Traps,” have been released during the pandemic.

British Music Embassy at SXSW

One of the largest arts festivals in the world, South by Southwest (abbreviated SXSW), returns to Austin in 2022 for live performances.  This includes the return of the British Music Embassy, a performance stage that often features up-and-coming British musicians.  The British Music Embassy has been part of the festival since 2008 and will be back from March 14 to March 22.

The Cure Tour

Touring returns in 2022 for many bands, including the 80s/90s Goth rock band The Cure.  Headed by singer Robert Smith, the Cure plan to return to doing live shows for a 2022 European tour starting on October 6 in Riga, Latvia.  The Cure will head back to the UK for the British leg of the tour in December with shows in Belfast, Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, and London.

Wombats New Album

The Wombats are an indie rock band that formed in Liverpool in 2003.  They’ve released several albums including their self-titled debut EP, The Modern Glitch, Glitterbug, and Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life.  The band started teasing a new album on their social media during the pandemic and now that album—Fix Yourself, Not the World—is due to be released this month.

Adele Vegas Residency

One of the world’s best singers, Adele is the latest artist to start a residency in Las Vegas.  The residency will take place at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace beginning January 21 and running all the way through April 22.  The shows, known as “Weekends with Adele,” will feature two concerts, one on Fridays and one on Saturdays, during this period.

Elton John Farewell Tour Resumes

Elton John’s final live tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, started in 2018 but was put on hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic.  The North American leg of the tour is due to resume in January 2022, with the first show in New Orleans on the 19^th and will conclude in 2023.

Elvis Costello New Album

Perennial artist Elvis Costello’s new album released on January 14 of this year.  Known as The Boy Named If, features Costello and his band The Imposters, and one single, “Magnificent Hurt” has already been released ahead of the album dropping.  The album is very much a “coming of age” story, largely drawn from Costello’s own childhood and teenage years.

Arctic Monkeys Tour

The Arctic Monkeys have been one of the most popular bands to come out of England in the last twenty years.  The band hasn’t toured since the AM Toru finished in 2014, and this tour is in support of their last studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel, and Casino, that came out in 2018 with the pandemic putting previous tour plans on hold.  The tour will begin in Turkey on September 9 and will have shows in across Europe, North America, and other parts of the world.

Liam Gallagher New Album

One-half of the brothers who formed Oasis, Liam Gallagher has a new solo album out this year titled C’mon, You Know.  The album is due out on May 27 and will be followed shortly by live shows at Knebworth Park on June 4 (marking over 25 years since he performed there with Oasis) and in Manchester on June 1 and Glasgow on June 26.

Glastonbury

The largest music festival in England, Glastonbury comes back to live performances from June 22 to June 26.  Festival headliners for 2022 include Billie Eilish and Diana Ross, with more certain to follow.  Such is the public’s hunter for live music that the show has already sold out even with only two acts announced.  Keep your eye on the news as it gets closer to June.

Archaeologists working on the HS2 route have discovered how an Iron Age village in Northamptonshire developed into a wealthy Roman trading town.

Evidence found during a dig of the site near the village of Chipping Warden has shown how the settlement, believed to have been established in about 400 BC when it was made up of more than 30 roundhouses, expanded during the Roman era in the years around 300-400 AD, with new stone buildings and new roads emerging.

The site, known as Blackgrounds after the black soil found there, is one of more than 100 to have been examined by archaeologists between London and Birmingham since 2018, with experts saying it turned out to be “one of the most impressive”.

The archaeologists found more than 300 Roman coins along a wide road, suggesting that commerce in the area was significant as the village developed into a wealthy town.

The 10-meter wide road also indicated that the settlement would have been very busy with traffic.

The archaeologists found the settlement divided into domestic and industrial areas, with evidence of workshops, kilns, and well-preserved wells.

In one part of the site, the earth was bright red, suggesting the area would have been used for activities involving burning, such as bread-making, foundries for metalwork, or a kiln.

Other artifacts found during the dig highlighted the wealth of the inhabitants, such as glass vessels, highly decorative pottery, jewelry, and even traces of the mineral galena – a substance that was crushed and mixed with oil to be used as make-up.

Half a set of shackles was also discovered, suggesting criminal activity or slave labor in the area.

Site manager James West, from MOLA Headland Infrastructure, which has been excavating the site, said: “This is certainly one of the most impressive sites MOLA Headland Infrastructure has discovered whilst working on the HS2 scheme.

“A particular highlight for me has been understanding the emerging story of Blackgrounds, which we now know spans multiple time periods.

“Uncovering such a well-preserved and large Roman road, as well as so many high quality, finds, has been extraordinary and tells us so much about the people who lived here.

“The site really does have the potential to transform our understanding of the Roman landscape in the region and beyond.”

Mike Court, lead archaeologist for HS2, added: “The opportunity to carefully examine a site such as Blackgrounds, and map out a long history of the site, brought to life through artifacts, building remains and roads, has enabled us to provide a more in-depth understanding of what life was like in rural South Northamptonshire in the Iron and Roman Age.”

One thing many of us have done during the pandemic is watch TV.  Whether you’re using cable or a number of streaming services, odds are good that you have streamed at least one show in the past year and probably more.  If you’re looking for something new to watch, 2022 has your back.  From new miniseries, new seasons, and new TV movies, there is plenty for you to watch in the new year.  We’ve identified ten of these shows and specials we think you should watch and you can share your own suggestions with us in the comments.

Lockwood & Co.

From Joe Cornish (director of Attack the Block) and based on the book series of the same name by Jonathan Stroud, Lockwood & Co is about a group of teenage supernatural detectives.  The first season features 8 60-minute-long episodes and is based upon the first book of the series, The Screaming Staircase.  The books and show are told from the perspective of Lucy Carlysle, the newest member of the Lockwood & Co. detective agency.

Englistan

Actor and rapper (and hero of the Rebellion) Riz Ahmed brings this nine-part series to BBC Two in 2022.  It tells the story of three generations of a British Pakistani family.  It was first announced in 2018, but work on it was postponed indefinitely during the pandemic, so it remains unseen whether work will finally get going on this in the new year.

Derry Girls, Season 3

The hit series based in 1990s Northern Ireland will be back for its third and final season in 2022.  Filming was postponed for the pandemic but started up late last year.  It’s unknown what stories may be explored in the new season, but you can bet fans will be looking to see if Erin and James finally get together and whether the series will handle the Good Friday Agreement.

Good Omens, Season 2

After saving the world by averting the apocalypse in Season 1, the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley might finally get to enjoy their friends.  Of course, nothing is ever so simple and while the plot is unknown at this time, it could be based on the second book 668:  The Neighbour of the Beast, which went unfinished after Terry Pratchett’s death.

Doctor Who Specials

As the era of Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor comes to an end, Team TARDIS will face a trio of dangers.  The first special was Eve of the Daleks which premiered on New Year’s Day.  The second features the Sea Devils in Legend of the Sea Devils, while the third has yet to be announced.  Nonetheless, each is highly anticipated, especially with the knowledge that Russell T. Davies will be coming back in the next series.

Pistol

If you needed a TV series about Britain’s first punk band, Danny Boyle has what you’ve been wanting.  Based on the autobiography by Sex Pistol’s guitarist Steve Jones, it chronicles the formation and glory days of the band. Naturally, a series about the Pistols isn’t without some controversy as Johnny Rotten tried to sue his former bandmates to keep the band’s music out of the series and lost.  Needless to say, any fans of British punk should definitely check out the show when it comes out on FX in 2022.

The Crown, Season 5

A new cast takes over Buckingham Palace in Season 5 as Imelda Staunton replaces Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as the late Prince Philip, Dominic West as Prince Charles, and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana.  The next series is sure to focus on Charles and Diana’s divorce, the end of John Major’s government, and the rise of New Labour.  Beyond that, not many details are known, but the show will be returning to Netflix in November.

This Sceptred Isle

Much criticism has been leveled at the government for its handling of the pandemic and the 2022 series This Sceptred Isle will take a lens to its earliest days.  Premiering on Sky, it will feature Kenneth Branagh as Prime Minister Boris Johnson dealing with the first wave of the virus, including his own illness and the birth of his son.  Simon Day will feature as Dominic Cummings and Ophelia Lovibond will play Carrie Symonds.

Funny Girl

Another Sky series coming in 2022, Funny Girl features Gemma Arterton as a Blackpool beauty queen who takes on the male-dominated comedy scene of the 1960s.  Arterton’s Barabara Jackson lands a role on a 1960s sitcom that ends up having a massive cultural impact and will help her to define herself and her place as an icon.

Call My Agent

This British take on the French comedy series features Jack Davenport, Maggie Steed, Jim Broadbent, and Prasanna Puwanarajah as a group of talent agents who have to manage the careers of their celebrity clients.  Seemingly a spiritual successor to Extras, it will feature plenty of real-life celebrity cameos playing fictional versions of themselves.

A special set of stamps is being issued to celebrate The Rolling Stones, Royal Mail has announced.

The 12 stamps will be a tribute to the band, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, having been formed in London in 1962.

Eight of the stamps will feature images from some of their most famous performances over the years, including dates such as 1969’s London Hyde Park show held on July 5, just two days after the death of founding member Brian Jones.

The free outdoor festival, marketed as The Stones In The Park, saw the live debut of his replacement guitarist, Mick Taylor, who was later replaced by Ronnie Wood.

Other performances to feature on the eight stamps include those from Rotterdam, Netherlands, in August 1995 and their gig at the Knebworth Festival in August 1976.

A further four stamps will be available in a miniature sheet format and will feature two shots of the band together and two of their vintage worldwide tour posters.

The Rolling Stones – Sir Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards – worked closely with Royal Mail on the issue of the stamps, which also feature drummer Charlie Watts, who died in August last year.

They are only the fourth music group to feature in a dedicated stamp issue, Royal Mail said, following The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016 and Queen in 2020.

David Gold, Royal Mail’s director of public affairs and policy, said: “Few bands in the history of rock have managed to carve out a career as rich and expansive as that of the Rolling Stones.

“They have created some of modern music’s most iconic and inspirational albums, with ground-breaking live performances to match.”

The stamps go on sale from January 20.

A new music festival has just been announced. And, while it’s frustrating that so little information has been made available, what we do know is starting to intrigue me. The crew behind the annual FLY open-air festival in Edinburgh has announced a new festival: Otherlands Music & Arts Festival. The Date: August 19-21 (assuming all goes well, Plague-wise). The Site: Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland.

In the past, Scone Palace has been the site of festivals like Rewind Scotland and Solas Festival. And long before that, it was the place where the Kings and Queens of Scotland would be crowned, even being the original home of the famous Stone of Scone (it’s currently in Edinburgh Castle, with a plan to move it to Perth City Hall sometime in 2024).

An Instagram page for the festival promises this:

“Let us take you on a journey down a mystical path of Scotland’s heritage, where the nation’s Kings and Queens were once crowned. Feel the rhythm as we escape into nature for 3 days of music, art and culture in the Perthshire countryside. Welcome to The Otherlands.”

An intriguing start for a festival. But what else is there for information? Well, according to Crack Magazine, there will be:

• Six stages with “some of the biggest names in live and electronic music”
• Talks with Industry leaders
• “Forward-thinking art”
• Boutique Glamping on offer.

Unfortunately, there’s not much more information on who those “biggest names in live and electronic music” even are, and nothing about how to purchase tickets, although Crack promises that there are plans to release more information later in the month. However, they did include a link to a mailing list where you can find more information when they’re willing to give it.

And to add some more to this article, I was unfamiliar with the word glamping. And while the word is a new one, the concept is very old. Indeed, Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie wrote of an incident of glamping when, in 1532, the Earl of Atholl heard that King James V, his mother, and a papal ambassador were coming around for a hunting trip, he set up a  tent for him. But this was to be no ordinary tent. In the midst of a meadow, he built a tent with tree branches for structure, hung with tapestries and silk, glass windows, and even a moat 30 feet wide. And inside were all the provisions the king would have needed to feel at home as he would have been in Edinburgh Castle, and that’s not even going into all the food, which cost £1,000 for three days and three nights. The King’s reaction is not recorded, but the Ambassador was astonished, not only that such a place could have been set up in a meadow 20 miles away from any town, but especially that such a spectacle would have existed in Scotland, which other nations considered (and these are the exact words used) “The Arse of the World.”  And when the trip was over, the whole campground was burned, much to the Ambassador’s astonishment, although King James would reply: “It is the use of our Highland men, though they be never so well lodged, to burn their Lodging when they depart.” You can find more information here on pages 146-7, though the dialect can make it a bit difficult to follow. Admittedly, the glamping (glamourous camping) available at Otherlands might be aiming more for four-or-five-star hotel than Edinburgh Palace in Tudor era, but it might be interesting to see if that “mystical path of Scottish Heritage” includes a reference to something like that.

The image of the medieval warhorse as a giant snorting, stamping beast is a myth, according to new research, with many mounts of the era no bigger than modern-day ponies.

The chargers of English knights were often below 14.2 hands, which would see them classed as ponies today.

A hand is four inches and is a measurement specific to horses, and measures their height from the ground to the top of the shoulder – only equines taller than 14.2 hands are deemed horses.

Research by academics from a number of English universities analyzed equine skeletons from 171 different archaeological sites across the country dating between AD 300 and 1650.

It found horses of 15 hands to 16 hands, the size of modern racehorses and showjumpers, were “very rare indeed” even in stables owned by royalty.

Animals of this size would have been considered large by medieval people, the researchers said.

In period dramas, the animals chosen for medieval warhorses are usually 17 hands to 18 hands high – equivalent in height to massive Shire horses bred for pulling heavy loads.

The researchers found medieval animals were not only bred for size, but for tasks such as tournaments and long-distance raiding campaigns.

Selective breeding of warhorses was influenced by their physical characteristics and their temperament.

Historical records revealed huge sums were spent on “developing and maintaining networks for the breeding, training, and keeping of horses used in combat.”

Researcher Helene Benkert, from the University of Exeter, said: “Neither size nor limb bone robusticity alone, are enough to confidently identify warhorses in the archaeological record.

“Historic records don’t give the specific criteria which defined a warhorse; it is much more likely that throughout the medieval period, at different times, different conformations of horses were desirable in response to changing battlefield tactics and cultural preferences.”

The tallest horse discovered from Norman times was excavated at Trowbridge Castle in Wiltshire and stood at 15 hands.

The high medieval period – between 1200 and 1350 – saw domesticated horses start to reach heights of 16 hands.

The report’s authors found that it was not until the post-medieval period, around the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII, that the average height of horses increased to that of modern-day draft animals.

Professor Alan Outram, from the University of Exeter, said: “High medieval destriers (warhorses) may have been relatively large for the time period, but were clearly still much smaller than we might expect for equivalent functions today.

“Selection and breeding practices in the royal studs may have focused as much on temperament and the correct physical characteristics for warfare as they did on raw size.”

Professor Oliver Creighton, also of the University of Exeter and the principal investigator for the project, said: “The warhorse is central to our understanding of medieval English society and culture as both a symbol of status closely associated with the development of aristocratic identity and as a weapon of war famed for its mobility and shock value, changing the face of battle.”

The research was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.

Academics in from the universities of Sheffield, Leicester, Bournemouth, and East Anglia were also involved.

As the pandemic begins to (hopefully) wind down, many of us have been brave enough to venture back out into movie theaters.  As happy as we are to see movies in theaters again, the movie industry is just as happy about it.  Of course, there are the big blockbusters due out this year, and a number of these are British, but they’re not the only movies coming out for 2022.  We have identified ten British films coming out that we think you ought to see, from period dramas to animated adventures.  If there are any you’d like to include, you can share those in the comments.

Death on the Nile

This Agatha Christie adaptation serves as Kenneth Branagh’s sequel to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express.  Branagh’s Poirot (and his mustache, which appears to be growing its own mustache) is invited to a cruise on the S.S. Karnak by socialite Linnet Doyle (Gal Gadot).  The real reason for his invite becomes apparent when one of the passengers is murdered, necessitating the Belgian detective to find the murderer and keep Lennet from becoming the next victim.

Let me Count the Ways

The real-life love story between poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning gets the screen treatment this year with Emilia Clarke playing Elizabeth.  It was one of many films that got its production postponed due to the pandemic but is still scheduled to be coming out in 2022.

Save the Cinema

With quite the all-star cast in Samantha Morton, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Felton, Erin Richards, and Colm Meaney, Save the Cinema is a heartfelt true story about a small Welsh village trying to save its local movie theater.  To do this, youth theater leader Liz Evans (Morton) tries to arrange a special screening of Jurassic Park at the Lyric Theater as a last-ditch effort to keep it open.

The Duke

The Duke is another film that was due to come out in 2020 but got pushed back to this year thanks to the pandemic.  It features Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren as Kempton and Dorothy Bunton.  The movie tells the true story of Kempton stealing a portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery as a means to bring attention to the financial plight of the elderly.  The film was the last one directed by Roger Mitchell (Notting Hill) before his death in 2021.

Munich:  The Edge of War

Based on the book by Robert Harris, Munich:  The Edge of War is a fictionalized account of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s attempt to prevent World War II by negotiating with Hitler; meanwhile, a British spy is tasked with acquiring a document that reveals the truth of Hitler’s intentions.  The film is also another example of the growing power that streaming services have in the industry, as it was made by Netflix and will receive a limited run in theaters before hitting the service.

Fantastic Beasts:  The Secrets of Dumbledore

The next entry in the Fantastic Beasts series, the Wizarding World is on the edge of war as Gellert Grindelwald (now played by Mads Mikkelsen) rallies his supporters against the Muggles.  Albus Dumbledore tasks Newt Scamander, Jacob Kowalski, Newt’s brother Theseus, and several other new characters to thwart the dark wizard’s latest plan.

Downton Abbey:  A New Era

The next chapter in the saga of the Crawley family and their servants, A New Era, sees the family take a trip down to the south of France after the Dowager Countess announces that a former beau has bequeathed his vacation home to her.  The film seems to focus on the end of the Roaring 20s with all the jazz and good times that accompanies the period prior to the Great Depression felt by most of the world.

Operation Mincemeat

Operation:  Mincemeat was a real WWII strategy developed by MI5 to deceive Axis forces ahead of the Allied invasion of Sicily.  The film depicting these events of this plan was originally set to come out at the end of 2021, but the pandemic pushed its release into 2022.  It features Colin Firth as Naval Intelligence officer Ewen Montagu who thought up the plan along with Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfayden).  It will be released in the UK in the spring and on Netflix in the USA.

A Special Relationship

A Special Relationship is a biopic focusing on the life of Elizabeth Taylor, specifically her post-acting activism to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s.  Rachel Weisz is set to play one of Hollywood’s most glamourous leading ladies, with the writer of Slumdog Millionaire and directors of Troop Zero bringing it to screen.  The film is one of many whose production was waylaid by the pandemic but is still on to be released this year.

The Amazing Maurice

Based on the children’s book The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by fantasy legend Terry Pratchett, this 2022 animated film features Hugh Laurie as Maurice, a highly-intelligent feline who perpetuates a scheme based on the Pied Piper of Hamlin.  The all-star voice cast also includes Rob Brydon, Emilia Clarke, David Tennant, Himesh Patel, David Thewlis, Gemma Arterton, and Hugh Bonneville.

Scientists have hailed one of the “greatest finds” in British palaeontological history after the largest fossilized remains of a prehistoric “sea dragon” were discovered in the Midlands.

The ichthyosaur, approximately 180 million years old with a skeleton measuring around 10 meters in length and a skull weighing approximately one tonne, is the largest and most complete fossil of its kind ever found in the UK.

It was discovered by Joe Davis of Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust during a routine draining of a lagoon island at Rutland Water in February 2021.

The first ichthyosaurs, which are called sea dragons because they tend to have very large teeth and eyes, were discovered by fossil hunter and paleontologist Mary Anning in the early 19th century.

Dr. Dean Lomax, a paleontologist who has studied the species, said: “Despite the many ichthyosaur fossils found in Britain, it is remarkable to think that the Rutland ichthyosaur is the largest skeleton ever found in the UK.

“It is a truly unprecedented discovery and one of the greatest finds in British palaeontological history.”

Ichthyosaurs, which were marine reptiles, first appeared around 250 million years ago and went extinct 90 million years ago, varying in size from one to more than 25 meters in length and resembling dolphins in general body shape.

The remains were dug out by a team of expert paleontologists from around the UK in August and September.

Two incomplete and much smaller ichthyosaurs were found during the initial construction of Rutland Water in the 1970s. However, the latest discovery is the first complete skeleton.

Dr. Mark Evans of the British Antarctic Survey said: “I’ve been studying the Jurassic fossil reptiles of Rutland and Leicestershire for over 20 years.

“When I first saw the initial exposure of the specimen with Joe Davis, I could tell that it was the largest ichthyosaur known from either county.

“However, it was only after our exploratory dig that we realized that it was practically complete to the tip of the tail.”

He added: “It’s a highly significant discovery both nationally and internationally but also of huge importance to the people of Rutland and the surrounding area.”

Nigel Larkin, a specialist palaeontological conservator, said: “It’s not often you are responsible for safely lifting a very important but very fragile fossil weighing that much.

“It is a responsibility, but I love a challenge. It was a very complex operation to uncover, record, and collect this important specimen safely.”

The excavation of the remains will feature on BBC Two’s Digging For Britain on Tuesday at 8 pm.

A £35 million conservation project to renovate HMS Victory including replacing rotting planks has been announced on the 100th anniversary of the warship being brought into dry dock.

Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship was brought into dry dock 2 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 100 years ago, where it has remained as the world’s oldest commissioned warship and the flagship of the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff.

A dockyard spokeswoman said that dry dock 2, which is 220 years old, is itself a scheduled ancient monument.

She said: “One hundred years ago today, on January 12 1922, the world watched as Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson’s celebrated survivor from the Battle of Trafalgar was towed from her berth in Portsmouth Harbour and secured into the dry dock.

“First floated out at Chatham in 1765, Victory enjoyed a varied career but by the 1920s was in poor condition and at risk of sinking at her mooring without considerable intervention.

“Later in 1922, on October 21st, Trafalgar Day, the ‘Save the Victory’ campaign by the Society for Nautical Research was publicly launched and continues to play a hugely significant role in securing the world-famous flagship for posterity.

“Although Victory had been a popular tourist attraction when berthed in the harbour throughout the 19th century, she was opened as a museum ship to the public by King George V on July 17, 1928, and has since welcomed more than 30 million visitors.

“Since then, she has welcomed a host of famous visitors including royalty at dinners and balls and survived a 500lb bomb dropped by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

“The dry dock itself is now part of a greatly enhanced visitor offer for Victory which, in addition to a self-guided tour of the ship, now includes the chance to descend into the dry dock under the enormous hull on a dedicated walkway, weaving through the recently completed and new state-of-the-art support system.”

Victory has been undergoing a 20-year period of conservation including recently having its mast removed, with the next stage of works now being unveiled.

The spokeswoman said: “Rotting planking will be removed from the hull and replaced with new oak, repairs made to the ship’s structural framework, and she will be fully re-rigged, in a process lasting 10 to 15 years and costing £35 million.

“The project will provide visitors with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see beneath Victory’s skin and experience a first-rate line-of-battle ship being taken through a great repair.”

Dame Mary Berry will judge a baking competition fit for the Queen as part of the full program of events unveiled by Buckingham Palace to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

Celebrations will include the 95-year-old monarch opening her private estates to the public and some of the world’s biggest stars performing outside Buckingham Palace.

It is not clear which events the Queen will attend or take part in as she was ordered to rest by doctors in October last year following an overnight hospital stay for unspecified preliminary investigations.

The bulk of the Jubilee duties are thought likely to be given to the rest of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

The Queen usually spends the anniversary of her accession privately at Sandringham.

Official Jubilee celebrations will begin on Monday when Fortnum & Mason launches the Platinum Pudding Competition to find a dish to dedicate to the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. Recipes will be judged by an expert panel, including Dame Mary Berry.

Dame Mary said: “I’m so thrilled to be panel chair for this exciting competition to make the perfect pudding for the Queen and to work alongside such a wonderful team of judges. I hope everyone who enters has lots of fun, and I wish them the very best of luck.”

It is hoped it will serve as a long-lasting reminder, alongside the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, which will continue to plant new trees from October this year until the end of the Jubilee year.

From May 12 to 15, more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers are expected to take part in a show in the grounds of Windsor Castle, which will take the audience through history from Elizabeth I to the present day.

More ceremonies are to take place later in the year, starting on Thursday, June 2, the first day of the special four-day bank holiday, when the Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) will take place in Horse Guards Parade.

On the same day, the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and UK Overseas Territories will come together to light a beacon at the same time as the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace.

On Friday, June 3, a Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral, before the star-studded Platinum Party At The Palace on Saturday, June 4.

Performers are yet to be named but it is being billed as bringing together some of the world’s biggest names in entertainment.

People across the country will sit down together for the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday, June 5, the final day of the bank holiday break.

Sandringham and Balmoral will also be open for residents and visitors to enjoy the celebrations across the long weekend.

Performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers, and volunteers will tell the story of the Queen’s reign in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which will see a River Of Hope – made up of 200 silk flags – make its way along the Mall.

Schoolchildren across the country have been invited to create a picture of their hopes for the planet over the next 70 years, and some of their designs will be put on to the flags.

From July, three displays marking the Queen’s accession to the throne, the Coronation and Jubilees will be put on at the official royal residences.

Here’s the full schedule

Here is a list of all of the events taking place for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee:

– January 10: ‘Platinum Pudding competition’

The competition is inviting members of the public to create a dish to dedicate to the Queen’s reign.

– May 12-15: Platinum Jubilee Celebration

More than 500 horses and 1,000 performers will take part in a 90-minute show taking the Windsor Castle audience through history right from Elizabeth I to present day.

Bank Holiday: June 2: Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour)

The color will be trooped on Horse Guards Parade by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and over 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division who will put on a display. Sandringham and Balmoral will also be open for residents and visitors to enjoy the celebrations across the Bank Holiday.

Platinum Jubilee Beacons

The UK will join the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and UK Overseas Territories to light a beacon to mark the Jubilee. The Principal Beacon will also be lit in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

June 3: Service of Thanksgiving

The Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral.

June 4: Platinum Party at the Palace

Some of the world’s greatest entertainers are billed to perform at the concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the Queen’s reign.

June 5: Big Jubilee Lunch

Street parties are being planned across the UK, and neighbors are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. It will mark the end of the Bank Holiday.

Platinum Jubilee Pageant

Performers will come together in London to tell the story of the Queen’s reign through a pageant that will include a “River of Hope” section made up of 200 silk flags that will make its way through The Mall, appearing like a moving river.

July: The Royal Collection Trust

Three displays marking the Queen’s accession to the throne, the Coronation and Jubilees will be put on at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The 1830s saw the beginning of one of the most important periods of British history—the Victorian era.  While the period of Queen Victoria’s reign would certainly see the greatest expansion of the British Empire since Queen Elizabeth I, there were also plenty of things that happened before Victoria came to power.  From election reform to the abolition of slavery, much progress was made in the years leading up to Queen Victoria.  In the years from 1831 to 1840, Britain would change in many ways, and we have identified ten of the most important of these revolutionary events by the year in which they took place.  If you think we left something out, you can let us know in the comments.

1831 – First Reform Bill and General Election

With the 1830 General Election, Earl Grey replaced the Duke of Wellington as Prime Minister and introduced the First Reform Bill to extend suffrage to more adult men and reform parliamentary boroughs.  The resulting bill passed by only a single vote but later lost a procedural vote that killed the bill.  Earl Grey opted to take the issue to the people with another general election that saw the Whigs win an overwhelming majority.

1832 – Great Reform Act

With this newfound parliamentary majority, the Whigs were able to pass a third reform bill in 1832 that is also known as the Great Reform Act.  The final act abolished small “rotten” boroughs, gave parliamentary seats to cities, and extended suffrage to a number of male groups such as small landowners, shop owners, and tenant farmers as well as some renters and lodgers.  It also expressly defined a voter as a man, putting women’s suffrage off for nearly a century.

1833 – Abolition of Slavery

While the slave trade had been abolished earlier in the century, slavery itself was still very much a practice in British colonies until the Slavery Abolition Act was passed in 1833.  This immediately set free some 800,000 slaves in South Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, and elsewhere in the empire.  Slave owners were compensated by the government, but the slaves themselves received no compensation.

Read more about the abolition of slavery here.

1834 – Poor Law Amendment

The 1834 Poor Law certainly seemed to have good intentions, but its legacy was one of abject misery.  The act was passed to help provide for the impoverished by sending them to workhouses where they would be clothed and fed, and poor children could receive some education.  However, many critics believed they were nothing more than prisons for the poor.  One such critic was author Charles Dickens, who was sent to a workhouse after his father was imprisoned for a debt.  Charles Dickens cast a harsh light on these places in his works such as Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol.

1835 – Municipal Corporations Act

After Lord Grey had set about giving cities the ability to be represented in Parliament, he took to reforming location governments themselves.  The Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 helped establish new municipal corporations with representative councils elected by taxpayers.  Local governments were required to publish their financial accounts and could be subject to audit.

1836 – Chartist Movement

As mentioned above, the Great Reform Act extended the vote to only a select group of men in the United Kingdom.  Suffrage was still beyond the reach of the working classes, who banded together as the Chartist Movement in 1835, crafting a People’s Charter in 1838 that they took to Parliament calling for further suffrage expansion.  While the movement itself eventually died out, its legacy ultimately increased calls for reform that would take place decades later.

1837 – Victorian Period Begins

Like his brother, King George IV, King William IV also died without issue, and his closest relative was the young Princess Victoria, who became Queen at age 18.  Until Queen Elizabeth II, Victoria was the longest-reigning monarch at almost 64 years.  Her reign would see Britain become a major world power, and her influence would remain for decades, especially as her children married into the various royal houses of Europe.

1838 – First Anglo-Afghan War

The First Anglo-Afghan War began as part of the “Great Game” between Britain and Russia to extend their power and influence into Asia and the Middle East.  As many world powers would learn, Afghanistan is not so easily captured or held, and the British were dealt a defeat in 1842 that caused the British Army to withdraw.  Britain would invade again forty years later with a war that saw its victory and Afghanistan becoming a protected state, though the army would still withdraw.

1839 – Establishment of Penny Postage

The General Post Office introduced the Uniform Fourpenny Post in 1839, the precursor to the Uniform Penny Post.  The Fourpenny Post lasted for 36 days before its successor and was the first part of a comprehensive reform of the Royal Mail.  This action and the Uniform Penny Post would see a drastic increase in the amount of mail sent all over the UK.

1840 – Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Marry

If you want to talk about one of history’s greatest power couples, look no further than Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  Their marriage in 1840 was the most celebrated event of the year and would go on to have a great impact on the United Kingdom and the world through their advancement of science and the arts as well as their interest in charity.  They also helped to change Britain’s culture, and, as mentioned earlier, their children and grandchildren would populate many of Europe’s royal families.

The Prince of Wales has described how he finds painting so relaxing that it “transports me into another dimension”, as the largest ever display of his artwork is staged.

Seventy-nine of Charles’s watercolors – the first full exhibition of his work in the medium – are being exhibited at The Garrison Chapel in Chelsea, London.

The atmospheric paintings depict Scottish landscapes such as the Huna Mill in John O’Groats and Glen Callater near Balmoral, and outdoor scenes from Provence in the south of France and Tanzania in East Africa – one the prince’s favorite places to paint.

In a display panel, Charles reveals how the hobby “refreshes parts of the soul which other activities can’t reach”, and how he started painting after finding little joy in photography.

Of the therapeutic benefits, he writes: “You become increasingly aware of things that may have escaped your attention previously – things like the quality of light and shade, of tone and texture and of the shape of buildings in relation to the landscape.

“It all requires the most intense concentration and, consequently, is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic exercises I know.

“In fact, in my case, I find it transports me into another dimension which, quite literally, refreshes parts of the soul which other activities can’t reach.”

But he admits he is “appalled” by the quality of his early sketches.

“I took up painting entirely because I found photography less than satisfying,” he writes.

“Quite simply, I experienced an overwhelming urge to express what I saw through the medium of watercolor and to convey that almost ‘inner’ sense of texture which is impossible to achieve via photography.

“I very quickly discovered how incredibly difficult it is to paint well in such a spontaneous medium, and the feeling of frustration at not being able to achieve on paper the image that your eye has presented you with is intense.

“Looking back now at those first sketches I did, I am appalled by how bad they are. But, nevertheless, the great thing about painting is that you are making your own individual interpretation of whatever view you have chosen.”

He adds: “I am under no illusion that my sketches represent great art or a burgeoning talent.

“They represent, more than anything else, my particular form of ‘photograph album’ and, as such, mean a great deal to me.”

The display, in The Prince’s Foundation exhibition space at the chapel, began before Christmas and reopens on Monday for an extended run until February 14.

Rosie Alderton, curating the exhibition for The Prince’s Foundation, said: “His Royal Highness has said before that he likes to sit in the actual environment and paint en plein air, and that, for him, taking a photograph doesn’t have the same feel as a painting.

“His passion for creating beautiful art is conveyed strongly in this exhibition.”

Charles paints whenever his schedule allows and he usually takes his treasured sailcloth and leather painting bag with him on royal tours in the hope he will have time to do so.

His interest – fostered by his art master Robert Waddell at his school Gordonstoun – grew in the 1970s and 1980s as he was able to meet leading artists.

He discussed watercolor technique with the late Edward Seago and received further tuition from professionals such as Derek Hill, John Ward, and Bryan Organ.

An exhibition at Hampton Court Palace in 1998, held to mark the prince’s 50th birthday, displayed 50 of his watercolors, while The National Gallery of Australia’s exhibition in 2018 celebrated his 70th birthday and showed 30 pieces.

Alongside Charles’s art will be Ben Hymers’s woven interpretation of the prince’s 2003 painting Abandoned Cottage on the Isle of Stroma.

The complex tapestry, which took eight months to make at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, was presented to Charles in 2019 and is usually on display at the Castle of Mey in Caithness.

Odds are, if you’ve clicked on this article, you’re in one of two camps: either you’ve watched The Beatles: Get Back on Disney Plus (and probably managed to get through all 7.8 hours), or you haven’t. And if you haven’t, it’s either probably because you didn’t want to get Disney Plus just to watch it, or you balked at the gargantuan runtime and wanted something more manageable. And if you haven’t watched it, (and you really should) maybe just watching his take on the Rooftop Concert would be a good substitute for the whole doco.

So, maybe you’d like to see the Rooftop Concert in theaters?

On January 5, the Beatles’ official social media pages announced a set of special simultaneous screenings of The Beatles: Get Back — The Rooftop Concert in IMAX locations around the US and at London Odeon’s BFI IMAX stadium. In addition to showing the whole concert, it will also include a special Q&A with Peter Jackson. And presumably, other things will be included in the screening, since the film, minus the Q&A is advertised as being an hour long and the Rooftop Concert was a shade less than 40 minutes long.

The screenings will be held on January 30, 8 PM London time, 12-3 PM American time (depending on the time zone), on the 53rd anniversary of the famous concert, with footage and the audio “optimized for IMAX,” presumably with a little more tweaking than even the streaming version had, perhaps restoring the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Tickets and locations for participating theatres can be found here.

Quoth Peter Jackson: “I’m thrilled that the rooftop concert from The Beatles: Get Back is going to be experienced in IMAX, on that huge screen. It’s The Beatles’ last concert, and it’s the absolute perfect way to see and hear it.”

Of course, given that, as I write this, the latest variant of our current plague is spreading like, well, the plague, with 2.5 million new cases every day for the past three days, I can’t be 100% certain this is going to happen on time, but I hope it does, even if you need some proper precautions to do it.