Royal couple sail to Quebec City

3 July 2011 Last updated at 08:30 GMT The royals were heckled by a small group of protesters when they went to a children's hospital in Montreal

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on board a Canadian naval ship, travelling from Montreal to Quebec City, on the latest leg of their first overseas tour as a married couple.

Overnight they sailed up the St Lawrence river to the city, where they are due to visit a youth project and attend a military ceremony.

In Montreal about 60 protesters heckled the couple outside a hospital.

There was also a much larger number of well-wishers.

Canadian barbecue

The Duke and Duchess' agenda for Sunday also involves morning prayers with the crew of the Canadian frigate on which they are travelling, HMCS Montreal, on the ship's helicopter deck.

The military ceremony in Quebec City will honour the Royal 22nd Regiment of Canada, as well as a Freedom of the City Ceremony, at Quebec City Hall.

The couple will also attend a community event, including barbecues and stalls, before a short flight to Prince Edward Island.

Prince Edward Island is the most easterly point of the tour, and is known as the home of Anne of Green Gables - a fictional character said to be a favourite of the duchess.

Continue reading the main story 30 June: Arrival in Ottawa1 July: Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa2 July: Visit to a Montreal cookery school 3 July: Freedom of the city ceremony in Quebec City4 July: William takes part in Sea King helicopter training session on Prince Edward Island5 July: Visit to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories7 July: Arrival in Calgary8 July: Attend Calgary Stampede. Leave for USThe official welcome to Prince Edward Island is on Monday, and the Canadian government expects their visit may be a focal point for many well-wishers from across the Maritimes provinces, Clarence House said earlier.

On Monday, still on Prince Edward Island, Prince William will take part in a Sea King helicopter training session.

A dragon boat race is scheduled for later, with the husband and wife steering opposing teams.

Their first overseas tour has involved a tree-planting ceremony in the grounds of Government House, in Ottawa; a Montreal children's hospital visit; and a citizenship ceremony for 25 new Canadians who had come from 12 different countries.

They were also guests of honour for celebrations for Canada Day, when about 100,000 people joined events on Parliament Hill as part of a national holiday to mark the country's 144th birthday.

The protesters outside the hospital the couple visited in Montreal shouted "down with the monarchy" and "We will never bend, Willy go home!"

They also chanted "French Quebec!" and "Parasite go home!"

The couple are visiting seven Canadian cities in eight days in their first official overseas tour.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

Read the terms and conditions

View the original article here

First commissioned photo of royal couple released

A new portrait photograph of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the first to be commissioned of the two together, has been released by the National Portrait Gallery, as part of an exhibition to mark next year's Diamond Jubilee called The Queen: Art and Image.

The large-scale portrait, measuring 1.5m by 2m, shows the Queen and Prince Philip seated together in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

The photograph was taken on 7 April 2011 and commissioned to mark the Queen's forthcoming Diamond Jubilee, in the year of the Duke's 90th birthday.

"I wanted to leave them both in their royal environment, and of course not try to disguise who they are, but also show them as an elderly couple who are together," artist Thomas Struth told arts editor Will Gompertz.

"I selected what in America you call a love seat, which is a small two-seater sofa which would make them sit together, and yet both in their own aura."

What do you think of the new royal portrait? Get in touch via email , Twitter or Facebook.

This is an attractive portrait. I hear what the photographer is saying about sitting together, each in their own aura, but wouldn't it be nice to see them holding hands? Why not - they are an elderly couple who have spent 60 years together and what a message that would have sent.
Paul Smith, Pluckley, Kent, UK

This image is dull and no charisma about it. If this is end result of the image after probably 50 shots to choose from this guy should change his job. I would be happy to challenge this image using my basic Pentax KX. So to sum it up - too dark, boring, lacks charisma, looks like the photographer was rushing the image.
James , Milton Keynes

I very much like the idea of the portrait but could they not have been shown with a bit of a smile? They may then have looked like happy couple, not just an elderly couple.
Julie Pollard, Lincoln, UK

This is unfortunately a very poor portrait - it is cold and not regal at all... it could just be somebody's Grandparents sat in their (albeit posh) front-room. It actually looks as if they don't know each other!
A Dinnaken, London, UK

An impressive photograph - immaculately composed and a visual metaphor of their public role when together. The slightly forward position of the Queen in conjunction with the reflected light off her dress place her in the 'spotlight'. Whereas the stoic Duke sits slightly to the rear with his face partially in the shade. Top marks to Thomas Struth.
Peter Saltmarsh, Swanwick, Derbyshire

Wonderful.
Vanda Watling, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex

It's a great picture for lighting, colour and composition of the two subjects. I do think, however that the couple are just too far apart. They are married after all. It looks like they are disconnected and not as husband and wife.
Paul Milton-Lyons, Newhaven, Sussex

View the original article here

Couple kept pony in home cellar

27 May 2011 Last updated at 13:40 GMT The pony found in the cellar A couple already banned from keeping animals for life were found in a RSPCA raid to have a pony, geese and goats in a "stinking" cellar at their home.

Eric and Doreen Buckley had nine geese, two goats, a pony, as well as 11 dogs and a cat in a converted Rhondda pub, Pontypridd magistrates heard.

Both were bailed after admitting five charges of causing unecessary suffering and two for breaching banning orders.

A RSPCA inspector said it was "beyond anything" she had seen before.

The Buckleys were warned they could be jailed.

The court heard how police and the RSPCA raided the Buckley's "stinking" home in June 2010 only to find they had left over night.

The property, in High Street, Gilfach Goch, was in such a putrid condition, it was regarded as proof of breaching animal welfare rules alone.

At one point up to 13 retired racing greyhounds had the run of the property, which they used as a toilet.

Most though were kept in an unlit cellar, which was almost an inch deep in animal waste.

"I have never seen anything like it before in my life," said RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnston.

"Even before going inside the house you could sniff the air outside and realise something was wrong.

"Inside, it was beyond anything I have ever seen, or hope ever to see again."

'Squishing and squashing'

Ms Johnston described how she found worse conditions inside the unlit cellar.

"You stood there in complete blackness squishing and squashing underfoot as you walked," she added. The air was stagnant and stinking.

There was particular worry about the dogs

"To think that somebody thought it was a fit place to keep animals was incredible."

Ms Johnston said three dogs in particular had to receive comprehensive dental surgery as a result of their condition.

"The vet actually said in the case of one dog that it had the worst dental condition he had ever seen in his career," she added.

"He was horrified.

"It was so bad when the dog's mouth opened the teeth moved about individually. To keep animals like that is completely unnecessary."

She said that when Eric Buckley was approached about the conditions and asked why he kept so many animals, he answered: "Why not?"

Buckley, 56, admitted all the charges against him on Friday on the eve of a trial.

The conditions at the house appalled RSPCA inspectors

His wife, 46, failed to attend but had previously made full admissions to all charges through her lawyer.

The charges they faced related in particular to four dogs which were found to be suffering flea infestations, ear infections and oral disease.

"This is a serious case aggravated by the fact that there was an order from a magistrates' court which you breached and which led to the suffering of these animals," said district judge Jill Watkins.

They were warned they could face a custodial sentence, with the case adjourned until 17 June.

The couple had already been banned from keeping dogs for 10 years due to animal welfare breaches in 1993.

After more series breaches in 1995 both were banned from keeping all animals for life.

The couple appeared before magistrates in Kingston upon Thames, where they were living at the time, on both occasions.

Some of the geese rescued by the RSPCA

View the original article here