Interesting Facts

28th August 1963 - Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous, "I have a dream", speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before more than 200,000 people gathered for the Freedom March in Washington. 1996 -  Diana's divorce from Prince Charles became final today; she got to keep the title "Princess".

17th May 1521 – Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed for treason. 1536 – George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford and four other men were executed for treason. 1590 – Anne of Denmark was crowned Queen of Scotland. 1792 – The New York Stock Exchange was formed. 1814 – The Constitution of Norway was signed and Danish Crown Prince Christian Frederik elected King of Norway by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly. 1974 – Thirty-three people were killed by terrorist bombings in Dublin and Monaghan, Ireland. 1978 - Charlie Chaplin's stolen body was found. 1984 – Prince Charles called the proposed addition to the National Gallery, London, a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend," sparking controversies on the proper role of the Royal Family and the course of modern architecture. 1992 – The WHO (World Health Organisation) took homosexuality out of its list of mental illnesses. 1994 - The U.N. Security Council approved sendi...

A rare species of frog has been named after Prince Charles in honour of his conservation work. (The Ecuadorian frog, from the stream frog species, has been named Hyloscirtus princecharlesi. The blotchy brown frog was discovered by Ecuadorian scientist Dr Luis A Coloma four years ago among preserved museum specimens, he later found live species in the wild. I wonder what happens if you kiss it?)

If her hubby isn't with her, Kate Middleton will have to curtsey to the blood princesses, including the cats in the hats, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. (The Queen’s updated protocol — the “Order of Precedence in the Royal Household” — stipulates that if Wills (a.k.a. the Duke of Cambridge) is in the room, Kate need only curtsey to the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and, believe it or not, Charles’s wife, Camilla. The Daily Mail sets out the palace rankings as follows: The Queen; Prince Philip; Prince of Wales; Duchess of Cornwall; Prince William; Prince Harry; the Duke of York; the Duchess of Cambridge; the Earl of Wessex; the Countess of Wessex; the Princess Royal; the Duke of Gloucester; the Duchess of Gloucester; the Duke of Kent; the Duchess of Kent; Princess Alexandra. Further, as commoners (like most of the planet), Kate’s parents have not — by virtue of their daughter’s marrying “up” — become members of the Royal Family, as under a “blood Royal” rule, only the chil...

Hannah Stone, 24, has become the official harpist to the Prince of Wales. (The role, 'Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales', aims to foster musical talent in Wales as well as the raise the profile of the harp. Miss Stone is actually the fourth person to take on the role since it was reinstated in 2000. This all sounds very worthy, but the fact is she isn't paid. She will receive expenses, but no salary and this from a man who makes £19.7 million a year. So Charles, if music be the food of love, pay one.)

Prince Charles is now the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. (The previous record belonged to his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII, who had to wait 59 years, two months and 13 days. Charles has now been waiting 59 years, two months and 14 days. I bet it only seems like yesterday. Just another example of the abuse royals have to suffer - waiting for your mum to die.)