News Mash-up: British Royals

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. damning / ˈdæm ɪŋ / (adj.) – strongly proving or showing that someone did something bad or wrong
    Example:

    The report contained damning evidence of the mayor’s illegal activities.


  2. bombshell / ˈbɒmˌʃɛl / (n.) – something very surprising or unpleasant, such as an event or piece of news
    Example:

    During dinner, my sister dropped a bombshell and announced that she was moving overseas.


  3. unprecedented / ʌnˈprɛs ɪˌdɛn tɪd / (adj.) – describing something that has never happened, never been experienced, or never been done before
    Example:

    There’s been an unprecedented increase in the number of forest fires this year.


  4. deceive / dɪˈsiv / (v.) – to cause someone to believe something that isn’t true
    Example:

    The man deceived the couple about the quality of the jewelry.


  5. disclose / dɪˈskloʊz / (v.) – to make something known, such as a secret or a piece of information
    Example:

    The company refused to disclose its reason for shutting down the factory.


Article

Read the text below.

BBC criticized over Diana interview of 1995


The British government vowed May 21 to examine how the BBC was run, after a damning inquiry into how the broadcaster got its bombshell 1995 interview with Princess Diana and unprecedented criticism from her son Prince William.


An independent investigation concluded May 20 that journalist Martin Bashir lied and deceived to persuade Diana to agree to the interview, in which she disclosed intimate details of her failed marriage to heir to the throne Prince Charles. (Reuters)


Meghan, Harry name baby after queen, Diana


Meghan, Britain’s Duchess of Sussex, has given birth to her second child, a girl, whom she and husband Prince Harry have named after Queen Elizabeth II and Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.


Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born June 4 at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, with Harry in attendance. The couple’s first child, Archie, was born in 2019.


The name pays tribute to the queen after a difficult year for the couple and the royal family. Lilibet is a family nickname for the 95-year-old British monarch. (Reuters)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The British government vowed May 21 to examine how the BBC was run, after a damning inquiry into how the broadcaster got its bombshell 1995 interview with Princess Diana. Do you think this investigation is still worth pursuing in 2021, or do you think it’s too late? Why? Discuss.
  • The BBC is a trusted news source. Do you think this issue will greatly affect its credibility? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The name Lilibet pays tribute to the queen after a difficult year for the couple and the royal family. Do you think the decision to name their baby after the queen will help improve Meghan and Harry’s relationship with the royal family? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Meghan and Harry have two children, Archie and Lilibet. Now that the couple has stepped down from being royals, do you think it’s possible for their children to grow up as ordinary people without much public attention? Why or why not? Discuss.