Rosie arrives at the Imperial Residence
Yesterday evening, Emperor Father Terry and Crown Princess Caroline arrived back home at the Imperial Residence with Rosie, the new pet cat of the immediate Imperial Family. Rosie was acquired from a friend of Emperor Father Terry who lives in Yorkshire. Updates will be posted as Rosie continues to settle in. UPDATE 5 APRIL 2017 – After initial disputes about the name, the Imperial Family’s pet cat has now been renamed Baby.
New pet expected for the Imperial Family
The immediate Imperial Family have announced that they plan to acquire a pet kitten, to arrive in Wrythe on Saturday 10th December. The family have decided that the kitten will be named Rosie, in honour of the late Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff, Rose, who passed away in April 2014. Rosie will join Rose’s successor as Mascot, Edd, who – being of a very gentle temperament – is expected to get along well with the new arrival. This will be the first time that the immediate Imperial Family have owned a pet cat, having previously only owned dogs, fish, and hamsters. Rosie was born on 18 October to a cat owned by a friend of the family.
Emperor graduates with first class honours
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Jonathan I has graduated from the University of Roehampton, receiving a first class with honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and Religious Studies. A graduation ceremony was held yesterday at the Royal Festival Hall in South Bank, London. Jonathan I attended along with his parents and Princess Consort Hannah. The Emperor started his three-year course at Roehampton in September 2013, and spent most of term time over said years living in accommodation on campus, in a flat which was temporarily designated Austenasian Embassy to the United Kingdom. During his course, Jonathan I took modules in which he studied topics including the Bible, Christian doctrines, classical and medieval philosophy of religion, the relation of religion to human rights and to art, the person of Jesus Christ, the history and doctrines of Islam, Judaism and Hinduism, and the religious make-up of London. The Emperor chose to take two extra modules in his final year rather than write a dissertation. His highest marked piece of work was a 3100-word essay he wrote in his final term on the way in which Jesus is presented in St. John’s Gospel.
Imperial Family members return from Devon holiday
Emperor Jonathan I, Crown Princess Caroline, and Emperor Mother Margaret yesterday returned from a week’s holiday in Devon. The three imperials had spent the week at Sidholme Hotel in the town of Sidmouth, relaxing at the hotel as well as going out for day trips. Activities by the three holidaymakers included a visit to a pottery studio where they made their own pots, exploring the picturesque village of Branscombe, building a “sea wall” on Sidmouth beach, and looking through various gift shops. Emperor Father Terry was unable to come on the holiday due to the Imperial Family’s pet bullmastiff Edd requiring somebody to look after him, but had spent a week away with a friend earlier in the month to make up for missing out. An album of photographs taken of the holiday by the Emperor can be seen at this link.
Lord John Gordon visits Carshalton
Lord John Gordon, Baron of Palasia, today visited Wrythe after being given a guided tour of the surrounding British town of Carshalton. Lord John arrived at Morden tube station, where he was welcomed by Emperor Jonathan I and Countess Eritoshi Augusta. They got a bus to Carshalton High Street, from where Lord John was given a guided tour of the nearby nation of Orly. From there, the tour continued, going past the former site of Rushymia and the Midget Empire before arriving at Wrythe. Lord John there met Emperor Father Terry and imperial pet bullmastiff Edd. The Emperor, Emperor Father, Augusta, and Baron of Palasia then went out for lunch before driving back to Morden for Lord John to depart. As well as being Baron of Palasia, Lord John Gordon is also its Representative, having been elected in the November 2013 elections. He served as Home Secretary between November 2013 and May 2014.
Jonathan I becomes Austenasia’s longest reigning Emperor
At 18:38 GMT this evening, HIM Emperor Jonathan I broke the record of his predecessor to become the Empire’s longest reigning Monarch. Jonathan I ascended to the Throne on 20 January 2013 after the abdication of Declan I. The precise record to beat was 763 days, 1 hour, 11 minutes and 30 seconds. Each of Austenasia’s four Monarchs (except, of course, founding Emperor Terry I) have had a longer reign than their predecessor: Jonathan I: 20 January 2013 – present; 763 days and counting. Declan I: 19 December 2010 – 20 January 2013; 763 days Esmond III: 16 February 2010 – 20 September 2011; 580 days Terry I: 20 September 2008 – 16 February 2010; 414 days
Imperial Family celebrates Christmas 2014
Christmas has been celebrated by the extended Austenasian Imperial Family over the past few days. Christmas Day (Thursday 25th) begun with the immediate Imperial Family opening presents in Parliament Hall. The Emperor Father then went to visit an elderly friend for the morning while the rest of the family attended the Christmas morning service at Carshalton Methodist Church with Emperor Grandmother Joyce, the Boxall family (the relatives of Emperor Mother Margaret) and the population of Zephyria. The Imperial Family and Boxalls then had Christmas lunch at the Imperial Residence, followed by opening presents and playing parlour games. Christmas Day ended with a light supper. Emperor Jonathan I released his second Christmas broadcast on YouTube. This broadcast reflected on the events of 2014 and on the concept of family, and can be heard here. On Boxing Day (Thursday 26th), the Boxalls hosted the Imperial Family for the afternoon and evening. The Austenasian Times hopes all its readers have had a Merry Christmas, and wishes you all a happy 2015.
Six years of independence celebrated
The sixth anniversary of the Austenasian Declaration of Independence has been celebrated across the Empire, while local elections have been called for next month. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and his parents celebrated Independence Day with a meal out this evening at a local restaurant. Crown Princess Caroline was unable to accompany them due to schoolwork. The occasion was also marked across the Empire – a parade took place in New Richmond, a ceremony was held in Oregonia, and a museum has been opened in Lichtenstein. Furthermore, the customary Independence Day honours list was released by Emperor Jonathan I. Amongst those granted honours was Lord Dux Joseph Kennedy, who has been appointed Caesar. Now known as HIH Joseph Nobilissimus Caesar, the founder of New Richmond has been appointed the Emperor’s deputy over the two Crown Dependencies in North America, Shineshore and Oregonia. Furthermore, the Governing Commissioner of the latter of these two, King Adam I of Überstadt, has been granted subjectship of the Empire, raising Austenasia’s population to fifty people. In an Imperial Edict given yesterday, the Emperor also announced that local elections will take place on 11 October. The last local elections took place in November last year, but since then several new Towns have joined the Empire, meaning that a large proportion of those in the House of Representatives are serving as Acting Representatives, without a democratic mandate. Subjects have one week in which to announce their intention to stand for Representative.
Rose’s ashes buried in Wrythe
An urn containing the ashes of Rose has been buried in Wrythe Pet Cemetery after a short ceremony. Rose, Mascot of the Order of the Bullmastiff and pet of the immediate Imperial Family, died in late April after being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. After being cremated, her ashes were brought back to Wrythe on 13 May, where the urn containing them was placed in Bullmastiff Hall for the rest of the month. This afternoon, the immediate Imperial Family held a ceremony in Wrythe Public Park during which the urn containing Rose’s ashes was buried in the pet cemetery. The Emperor Father said a few words and placed the urn in the grave which had been dug, after which he, the Emperor, and the Crown Princess each placed some soil on the urn in the grave. The Emperor Mother was also in attendance together with Edd, the surviving pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family. After the urn had been buried, a plaque was placed over the grave to mark the place of burial, and a rose was fittingly placed on the grave. The ashes were buried close to the grave of Alpha Primus, a puppy of Rose’s who was still-born during her pregnancy in June 2010. In other news, the Emperor announced today to be the first day of Summer 2014 in the Austenasian calendar.
Rose’s ashes return to Wrythe
An urn containing Rose’s ashes was brought to the Imperial Residence this morning. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor himself escorted the urn to Wrythe from the veterinary clinic where Rose, pet bullmastiff of the Imperial Family, was put to sleep on 24 April after suffering from lung cancer. The urn has been placed on a table in Bullmastiff Hall, along with a small vase of flowers and some plush toys which were affectionately termed Rose’s “babies” during her lifetime. The urn will remain in Bullmastiff Hall – almost a sort of lying in state – until Emperor Father Terry returns on Monday 19th from a trip to northern England visiting friends. It is planned for the urn to be buried in Wrythe Pet Cemetery at some point next week after a short ceremony.
