Imperial Family celebrates Christmas

The Christmas season has been celebrated by the Austenasian Imperial Family over the past few days. On Christmas Eve (Monday 24th), the immediate Imperial Family – consisting of Sir Terry the former Emperor, his wife Lady Margaret, and their children Crown Prince Jonathan and Princess Caroline – went out for a meal at local Carshalton pub The Racehorse to start the Christmas season, traditionally celebrated in Austenasia over the days of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Christmas Day (Tuesday 25th) commenced with the opening of presents in Parliament Hall, followed by the Imperial Family joining the population of Zephyria at the Christmas morning service at Carshalton Methodist Church. Crown Prince Jonathan accompanied the Imperial Family despite having converted to Orthodox Christianity in early 2011. Princess Caroline sung an up-beat version of Silent Night as part of the Christmas service, accompanied by two friends and with Sir Joseph the former Prince of Copan on the ukulele. The Imperial Family returned home to have a traditional Christmas dinner of roast turkey, joined for the afternoon by Dame Joyce Boxall, mother of Lady Margaret. The Imperial Residence then played host in the evening to the Allens, family friends of the Imperial Family who visited for drinks and a game of charades. Boxing Day (Wednesday 26th) saw the Boxall family (Lord Michael, brother of Lady Margaret, and his wife and children) visit the Imperial Residence for a roast dinner and a buffet supper, joined again by Dame Joyce. The popular board game Articulate was played and small presents were handed out to the guests. The Austenasian Times hopes all its readers have had a Merry Christmas, and wishes you all a happy 2013.

Declan I celebrates two years on the Throne

Two years ago today, HIM Emperor Declan I was made joint Monarch of Austenasia by an Act of Parliament. Act 138 (Dual Monarchy) brought an end to the ongoing War of the Orlian Reunification and shared the Throne between the then Emperor Esmond III and the victor of the war, Declan I. As revealed by HIH Crown Prince Jonathan last year, this was a plan to limit the powers of Esmond III, who was plotting to overthrow the Empire’s constitutional government and replace it with a military dictatorship. Esmond III and Declan I ruled together until 31 March 2011 when Parliament voted to remove the powers of Esmond III after the Austenasian Army pledged not to rebel to restore him to the Throne should he be removed from power. The plan to avoid Esmond’s plot complete, Declan I remained the only effectively ruling Austenasian Monarch – Esmond III remained titular joint Emperor until September last year, when the implementation of the new Constitution deprived him of this rank. The Austenasian Star is flying from the Prime Minister’s Office in celebration of this Cotton Jubilee of Declan I, the first Austenasian Monarch to celebrate two years on the Throne. His predecessors, Terry I and Esmond III, reigned for only seventeen and nineteen months respectively. The reign of Declan I has so far seen a long period of peace for Austenasia, which has been involved in no conflicts as of yet – in contrast, skirmishes were fought in Beddington Park and in the Imperial Residence itself during the reign of Terry I, and Esmond III reigned during both the Austenasian Civil War and the aforementioned war over Orly. The Empire has furthermore made great advances in diplomacy and culture over the past two years, and implemented an improved Constitution last year.

Lady Margaret Austen celebrates birthday

Lady Margaret Austen, Baroness of Glencrannog today celebrated her 57th birthday. Lady Margaret, 12th in Line to the Throne, was born in 1955 and married the future Emperor Terry I in 1989. She was Empress consort of Austenasia during the reign of Terry I (2008 – 2010) and is mother to Crown Prince Jonathan and Princess Caroline. Her mother Dame Joyce, brother Lord Michael (13th in Line to the Throne) and his wife Dame Rosalind visited Lady Margaret and her two children at the Imperial Residence this morning for coffee and cake, and this evening the Imperial Family ate out at an Italian restuarant in celebration of her birthday.

First winter snowfall in Carshalton

Dawn broke over Wrythe, Zephyria and Orly this morning to reveal snow falling in Carshalton for the first time this winter. The snow lasted from roughly 06:30 to 08:50, with about two inches falling but only a few centimetres settling. There was no noted disruption to British transport systems, with bus routes running and schools open. The snow had mostly become ice and slush by noon, and had melted away by late afternoon. The last time snow fell in Austenasia was at the start of February earlier this year. It is expected that heavier snow will fall over the rest of the winter.

Winter starts in Austenasia as new laws are passed

His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has announced the start of winter in the Austenasian calendar, and given Imperial Consent to two new Acts of Parliament. Austenasia has been battered by heavy winds and large amounts of rain over the past week, although thankfully there have been no floods as in the surrounding United Kingdom. This morning finally saw an end to the rain, although the temperature was several degrees colder than yesterday. This change in weather conditions has been used to mark the turning point from autumn to winter this year. The Emperor has also given Imperial Consent to two Acts of Parliament, passing them into law. The first has revised the law on homicide, defining the required acts and intentions for murder and manslaughter in greater detail and creating a separate offence of second-degree murder for killings in which, while harm was intended, it was not realised death was a possibility. The second act has codified Austenasian law on the subject of how international treaties are to be ratified.

Archaeological dig put on hold due to rain

HIH Crown Prince Jonathan has announced that work on the archaeological dig currently underway in Wrythe Public Park is to be put on hold until the spring due to bad weather. The dig, which started on 16 August earlier this year and is organised by the Imperial Geographical Society, is excavating an area which had been under paving stones since before the Imperial Family moved to what is now the Imperial Residence in January 2004. The trench which has been dug has so far unearthed various pieces of glass and pottery, an at present unidentified animal bone, several metal nails, and a two pence coin which dates the construction of the patio under which the dig is taking place to no earlier than 1992. The trench has also unearthed a large tree stump with an extensive root system, formerly sealed under the patio – two tree stumps were already visible and used as steps down from Wrythe Public Park’s patio to 2 Imperial Road. With the discovery of this third tree stump, it is thought that there was once a row of trees marking the end of the now Imperial Residence’s garden before 2 Imperial Road (the garage) was built. The last digging which took place was in early October – due to rain since then, further excavation has been continually postponed due to the soil in the trench becoming waterlogged. With rainfall yesterday, the Crown Prince (who is leading the dig) has announced that digging is being formally put on hold until drier weather. Fans of Cool Barbie will recognise the area of the dig as being where a Dalek was imprisoned in Prisoners Freed. Thankfully, the diggers have not reported unearthing any hostile aliens yet.