ARCHDUCHESS JOINS JSFAWThe Palace today confirmed that Archduchess Sophie Harrison-Ironside has completed selection for the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing. The unit is considered an elite of the Air Force and provides logistical and protection support for members of the various East Moreland's special forces including Red Legion, the Royal Marine Commando's and Parachute Regiment Pathfinders. The 26 year old niece of King David is currently serving as a Force Protection K9 Officer in the REMAF where her responsibilities include providing security to Air Force establishments as well as providing security onboard aircraft such as medivacs. The JSFAW have strict entry requirements which include an individual to complete a run of 2.4km in 11 minutes 11 seconds, reach level 9.1 on the beep test, complete 20 press ups in a minute and then 35 sit ups in two minutes. There is then a break of an hour and then the test repeated. Those passing the test then undertake a two weeks of fitness training culminating in with candidates having to pass Red Legions basic fitness test of 2.4km run to be completed in under 9mins30 seconds, followed immediately by 45 press ups and 55 sit ups to be completed in two minutes each. The Archduchesses exact times are not known but with a track record of athletic excellence it is probably no surprise she has completed the requirements. While the work of some of the nations Special Forces are highly secretive much of JSFAW's work is common knowledge with the manning of the Royal Flights being a key priority. With her experience it is likely she will become an "Aviation Commando" which means she will be involved in such tasks as Air-Loadmasters, Winchmen and gunners who ensure the aircraft of all kinds can operate safely on operations.
The Archduchess has also confirmed for the first time that her lengthy relationship with star rugby player Rollo MacAllister has ended. Speaking during the launch of a new range of sportswear she was asked whether Rollo would be joining her in promoting the products to which she replied. "Myself and Rollo realise that we have spent very little time together over the past two years. With his rugby career, my military duties and the various projects we're both keen to be involved in maintaining an actual functioning relationship is going to be next to impossible. As such we've gone our seperate ways but remain on good terms. Rest assured at the rugby world cup I'll still be cheering him and the rest of the Honeybadgers on while wearing my No.6 shirt proudly." The Archduchess is now on leave for a month before reporting back to base for her new posting and has confirmed she will be using the time to help support several royal projects. She has also confirmed that her K9, a husky named Bandit, will also be joining the JSFAW.
KING AND PRINCESS TO UNDERTAKE GREENFLOWERS HIKEThe Palace have today confirmed that in the days leading up to the Festival of Greenflowers the King and his 11 year old daughter Princess Rhiannon will undertake a symbolic hike. It is well documented that past and present members of Red Legion undertake an act of voulentary rememberance known as
The Vigil the evening before. This sees the Legionnaires complete a hike in which they attempt to march just under 100km in 30 hours however some older Legionnaires take shorter routes with 67 year old Steven Holbrooke being the oldest to take part last year hiking 40km. This year however the King and Princess will walk the route with the intention of doing it in 4 days. The pair will aim to arrive at the battlefield where the Battle of Greenflowers took place on the 21st of May, two days before the festival. Explaining to the press Royal Press Secretary Malcolm Tucker said. "The Battle of Greenflowers is the birth of East Moreland and the possibly the most important moment in our nations history since. The King is a well documented history buff and that is rubbing off on Rhiannon. The King aims to help her understand what those men and women experienced. Naturally King David is not a Red Legionnaire and while Rhiannon is an honourary one I don't think either of them are up to keeping up with a Red Legionnaire of the modern day. They also do not want to interfere in the units tradition of hiking in the evening before the Festival and standing guard over the battlefield. As a result they'll take a little longer and complete it a few days before. The King hopes to be self sufficent and enjoy some wild camping with his daughter who is excited to be doing the trip."
The Princess has also had her first social media account established. Mr.Tucker explained "While I think King David would prefer her to stay off social media its a reality of the modern era. While the account will be in her name it has been made very clear that it will actually be our office running it until she's of age to be responsible herself however we will naturally be taking guidance from her on what to post. We will naturally be ignoring all personal messages. We've seen the poor use of social media by some others and hope to avoid those mistakes."
