22 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Wednesday, December 25, 2019 Queen admits ‘bumpy’ year in Xmas message ueen Elizabeth II called 2019 “quite bumpy” in a beloved Windsor Castle nearly went up in flames in that Christmas message at the end of a chaotic year “horrible year”. Qwhich saw Britain feud over its split from the European Union and her scandal-plagued son Prince Missing picture Andrew withdraw from public life. The 93-year-old The queen found herself dragged into the tortuous monarch’s received good news when husband Prince political drama of Brexit when she approved Prime Philip checked out of a London hospital after a four-night Minister Boris Johnson’s request to suspend parliament in stay in time to join the royal family for Christmas. But the August. Critics claimed it was an attempt to silence year was filled with disappointments for the queen - a opponents to his EU withdrawal plans. The Supreme seminal figure in British public life who assumed the Court subsequently ruled that Johnson’s request had throne in 1952 and is beloved by much of the nation. been unlawful and many people blamed him for making None may have been more bitter than a calamitous the queen look bad. BBC interview in which her second son Andrew tried The queen was also rumored to have been disappoint- to distance himself from American pedophile Jeffrey ed by her grandson Prince Harry and his American for- Epstein. Andrew promised to “step back from public mer actress wife Meghan Markle. The young couple duties” after his denial of having sex with one of made waves by speaking out about their struggle with Epstein’s alleged victims was ridiculed in the UK life in the public eye and then suing three British newspa- media and reportedly criticized in Buckingham Palace. pers for prying into their private lives. Their picture was The queen’s traditional address - to be aired in full on notably absent from the collection of family photographs Christmas Day - will point to the life of Jesus as an on the queen’s desk in her televised address. “With the example of “how small steps taken in faith and in hope queen, nothing ever happens by accident,” The Times can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated newspaper wrote. “It can be taken as read that the signif- divisions”. icance of each picture has been carefully considered.” The remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to the Brexit debate that has torn Britain apart since it vot- ‘Spirit of reconciliation’ ed to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum. “The path, of The queen has remained one of Britain’s most popular A picture released yesterday shows Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II posing for a photograph after she recorded her annual course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year figures despite the royal family’s travails. A poll by Christmas Day message in Windsor Castle west of London. — AFP have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world YouGov in November showed 72 percent of respon- of difference,” the queen will say. Royal commentators dents had a positive opinion of the monarch. The queen’s one in June to attend the 75th anniversary commemora- tions either side of the Channel, putting past differences said the queen’s use of the word “bumpy” marked her Christmas Day message also reflected on the heroism of tions in France. behind them,” the queen will say in her message. “By most explicit admission of turmoil since her headline- British forces during the D-Day landings in Normandy “For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a being willing to put past differences behind us and move grabbing description of 1992 as an “annus horribilis”. The that turned the course of World War II in 1944. Her trips true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formerly been forward together, we honor the freedom and democracy marriages of three of her children fell apart and her abroad are becoming increasingly rare, but she made sworn enemies came together in friendly commemora- once won for us at so great a cost.” — AFP Director urges Bollywood stars to break silence over citizenship law, violence Two women walk past the Museum of Hangovers in Zagreb on Dec 3, 2019. — AFP photos A woman plays darts with special glasses simulating heavy drunkenness at the entrance of the Museum of Hangovers. Zagreb’s ‘hangover museum’ ne of Bollywood’s leading directors called makes light of blurry nights on its three superstar actors to break their Osilence about a new citizenship law that has or those struggling to piece together the black Dubokovic. “I thought, as I listened to him, why not set triggered riots in India, saying they could influence holes of a boozy night, a one-of-a-kind museum up a place, a museum, with a collection of these objects millions of fans. At least 21 people have died since in Zagreb is offering up some inspiration. The and stories that will illustrate in a funny way these crowds took to the streets enraged by the Hindu F nationalist-led government’s legislation, which crit- “Museum of Hangovers”, which opened in the Croatian evenings of drunkenness and the hangover the next capital this month, is showcasing objects and amusing day,” he said. ics say discriminates against Muslims. stories from drunken escapades around the globe. “We The violence and the political storm raging wanted to collect objects that people woke up with ‘Bad memories’ around it has posed a dilemma for a film industry without knowing where they picked them up,” In one story a young man describes making it to his that is dominated by Muslim actors, directors and explained 24-year-old Roberta Mikelic, who opened front-door in the early morning and flashing an ID card crew but caters for India’s broader, predominantly the museum with her boyfriend Rino Dubokovic. to his father, a policeman dressed for work. The boozer Hindu population. A handful of figures have spoken out against the law and the violence, some at rallies The museum, which the duo says is the first of its thought he was entering another club. His dad “let me Roberta Mikelic, co-owner of the Museum of Hangovers. kind, currently focuses solely on the “fun” side of these inside the house. However, I was not allowed to go out in Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood. But none of its three leading stars - Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and forgotten nights. But they plan to also delve into the for a while,” he wrote. “If you wake up on the balcony The museum’s founders say they plan to create a dangers of binge drinking and blacking out in the of an elderly home, you know you’ve had a good Shah Rukh Khan - have made public statements. All “dark room” where these risks will be explored, and three are Muslim. future. The stories and paired objects, such as stop sign night!” writes a Bulgarian about a night out in the where warnings will be displayed. For now, museum- and a plastic potted plant, are laid out in a series of Netherlands. “I am really angry at anyone who has not spo- goers are offered a glass of local brandy on arrival and ken out,” director Anubhav Sinha, a critic of Prime rooms meant to recreate the zig-zaggy walk home from So far the museum is drawing a steady flow of visi- a chance to play darts with goggles that simulate the the bar. Visitors start in the “Street” room, whose walls tors, mostly on the younger side. “I’m very impressed Minister Narendra Modi, told Reuters. “These three effects of inebriation. If they hit the bulls-eye, they can actors and their fan following is something else. are covered in graffiti, before winding through the but also very horrified because it brings back very bad enter for free. So far, everyone has had to pay. — AFP room of “Mirrors” that represent storefronts, past a memories, or good memories at the same time,” chuck- One word from them can influence millions,” added home’s “Garden” and into a messy “Room” where the led Andrew Hardie, a 29-year-old tourist from Sinha, who directed Shah Rukh Khan in the 2011 partier finishes the night. They are also invited to com- Edinburgh. The dangers of binge drinking - from film “Ra One”. He said it did not matter what they plete the sentence, “I woke up with...” on a chalkboard. adverse health effects to injuries - are not mentioned. said about the law or the violence, just that they “Two stray dogs”, “My ex”, “a lot of pumpkins”, According to the World Health Organization, the harm- contributed to the debate. “I am not saying they read some of the contributions. The idea was sparked ful use of alcohol leads to 3.3 million deaths annually. should agree with me or others. Their opinion can by a conversation in which a friend recalled waking up Among people between the age of 20 and 39, nearly a be the opposite of what we have.” hungover with a bicycle pedal in his pocket, explained quarter of deaths are attributable to excessive drinking. None of the three Khans, who are not related, responded to Reuters requests for comment. Industry insiders say the lack of comments or con- demnations by some of the industry’s biggest names points to a broad cultural difference from Hollywood - where actors regularly take up political causes and criticize the government.