Today's the day you get to wake up with The King as your DJ
For those who missed the memo last Friday, His Majesty The King — yes, King Charles III — has produced a playlist of his favourite music, and today (March 10) is the day that it goes live. As of 6am, The King's playlist came to life on Apple Music's Apple 1 radio station, full of songs, in his words, 'that have brought me joy'.
Charles III: King, statesman, DJ. You'll be relieved to see that we resisted the temptation to photoshop in a pair of headphones and some vinyl decks.
Being brutally honest, we were a little surprised that His Majesty put his playlist out into the world via Apple Music rather than the BBC, but while Apple Music is paid-for, Apple 1 Radio is free to listen to around the world. All you'll need is an Apple account; if you don't have one, sign up here and get listening to the Royal records.
Land Rover of hope and glory
Charm, refreshing honesty and an old Land Rover. No wonder Tati Reed — aka @overintherover — blew up our Instagram page last week. See the post below, read James Fisher's cracking piece about Tati (and 'Blue Tit', her car) here.
Saving Devon's rivers at Agatha's place
Burgh Island (pictured at the top of the page) has been in our minds in recent days after its starring role in the BBC's Towards Zero, an adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel (Christie stayed on the island for large chunks of her life).
It'll be back in our minds again this week: the Burgh Island hotel is hosting an 'Island Assembly' this Thursday, 13th March, which will focus on tackling water pollution. Guest and speakers include local MP Caroline Voaden, Guy Singh Waston (Founder of Riverford) and Nick Bruce-White, CEO of Devon Wildlife Trust.
Our favourite picture of the last seven days...
...goes to this wonderful image of Siena, as featured in Mary Miers' lovely piece on the National Gallery's latest exhibition.
The view skyward from Siena's Palazzo Pubblico’s internal courtyard.
"I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit."
John F Kennedy, with a sixty-year-old quote that simultaneously sheds light on the present, and makes you miss the days when more politicians were true statesmen.
Spike's house
Iconic 1950s comedian Spike Milligan (ask your parents/grandparents if you're not sure) was know for his offbeat, wacky and unsettling manner. So it seems fitting that his country house is just as unsettling: I genuinely grabbed for the arms of my chair on seeing this picture of the living room with its wonky beams.
It's up for rent now,, if you're of strong constitution and are looking for a lovely family home in East Sussex.
Impulse buy
The old William Morris adage about surrounding yourself with things that you know to be useful or believe to be beautiful now extends to radios, apparently. Hepburn Voice vintage-style radios are actually smart-speakers which have WiFi, bluetooth and Alexa built in. None of that is ground-breaking, but the nice thing is that in addition to working well, and costing about £50, they come in some lovely designs; our favourite is the Joules bee option, pictured here. Not so much a smart speaker, then, as a smarter speaker.
That's it — Dawn Chorus will be back on Wednesday
-
Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary’s joint adventure to the Arctic that you've never heard about and what its re-creation can tell us about the state of EarthIn 1985, Neil Armstrong and Sir Edmund Hillary adventured to the North Pole; 40 years later, their children re-created the expedition.
-
Nuthall Temple: The Palladian masterpiece that was blown up to make way for the M1Every Monday, Melanie Bryan, delves into the hidden depths of Country Life's extraordinary archive to bring you a long-forgotten story, photograph or advert.
-
How Sir Walter Scott made the Dandie Dinmont terrier a legendThis week marked Sir Walter Scott’s birthday — and so it seemed the right moment to celebrate the terrier that owes its fame, and its name, to his pen.
-
'Two months to the Moon, three for rest and refreshment and two more for the return': The English stork success storyLong unseen on British shores, white stork chicks are hatching once again in the UK and a colony is now flourishing in West Sussex thanks to a pioneering restoration project.
-
How the acrobatic buzzard survived persecution to become one of Britain's best avian huntersIt may appear lethargic, but no one could argue with the hunting prowess of the common buzzard when it transforms into a surging missile intent on an unsuspecting victim.
-
From Lincoln to London, the crosses of Eleanor are a legacy of loveA grief-stricken Edward I built a legacy to love across the middle of England in memory of his adored Queen Consort, marked by 12 Eleanor Crosses. The historian Alice Loxton walks in the footsteps of the epic funerary procession.
-
Pier today, gone tomorrow: Blackpool pleasure pier up for saleA product of Victorian entertainment, piers are synonymous with the British seaside. But they need our help to survive.
-
Sophia Money-Coutts: Can my dog sit with me at the table when I’m eating out?'Admittedly, I did once offer Dennis a small piece of truffled arancini in a Mayfair restaurant, but I felt it was important that he try his first truffle.'
-
A hoover for goose droppings, a tree-planting battle with the Hilton, and a disgusting banana: Inside Buckingham Palace and its gardensThe summer tours of The King’s residence this year include two new state rooms and a peep inside his private gardens.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Would you swim in the River Thames?Week in, week out, Will Hosie rounds up the hottest topics on everyone's lips, in London and beyond.
