1. “This has been the hardest week of our lives.” Over 1000 people attended vigil for Hannah Clarke and her three children.
At a park in south Brisbane last night, 1000 people turned out for Hannah Clarke and her three children – Laianah, 6, Aaliyah, 4, and Trey, 3 – who died on Wednesday after their family car was set alight by their father.
The kids died at the scene, and Hannah passed away later that day from horrific injuries. Rowan Baxter died nearby from self inflicted stab wounds.
Masses of flowers and kid’s toys lay at the front of the memorial service, while Hannah’s family dressed all in pink for the occasion.
"We would have felt lost without all your support. I don't know how we can repay such kindness," her father, Lloyd Clarke, told the crowd. "This has been the hardest week of our lives."
Hannah's brother Nathaniel described his sister as, "the most amazing person you could ever meet".
"You would always leave there smiling. She had to share everyone's big moments and she would always be there. When something like this happens to someone like that, you lose a bit of faith in the world," he added.
Nikki Brookes, a friend of Hannah, had to hold back tears as she addressed the crowd and called for the community to not turn a blind eye to domestic violence.
"We are a nation in pain," she said. "Don't back away from your friends for the sake of convenience. Time's up on domestic violence."
Brisbane's Story Bridge, Victoria Bridge and City Hall were all lit up in pink to honour Hannah and her kids.
READ: Slowly, we're piecing together the brutal reality of Hannah Clarke's final months.
READ: Some are asking what 'drove' Rowan Baxter to murder his family. As if he was only a passenger.
2. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a statement outlining the deal they struck with the Queen.
Over the weekend, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle published a lengthy post on their Sussex Royal website outlining the deal they struck with the Queen about the future of their life away from the monarchy and their use of royal titles.
"While there is not any jurisdiction by The Monarchy or Cabinet Office over the use of the word 'Royal' overseas, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use 'Sussex Royal' or any iteration of the word 'Royal' in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs Spring 2020," their statement reads.
Royal experts have told The Mirror it's obvious from the wording of their official correspondence that the couple aren't happy with the deal.
"They're basically saying the royals can't stop them using it, but they won't be using it," said Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal expert and commentator.
Their apparent spite was again noted in the line: "While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place".
Again, the couple note restrictions being placed on them that have not been placed on other royals.
On becoming financially independent the statement notes: "The Royal Family respect and understand the wish of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to live a more independent life as a family, by removing the supposed ‘public interest’ justification for media intrusion into their lives. They remain a valued part of Her Majesty’s family".
On the topic of duties, the statement reveals that while the Duke and Duchess will no longer carry out "official duties" they will be allowed to maintain their patronages.
3. Findings from the inquest into the Dreamworld Thunder River Rapids tragedy will be handed down today.
The fate of Dreamworld will be revealed when a coroner delivers his long-awaited findings from the inquest into the deaths of four people at the Gold Coast theme park more than three years ago.
Coroner James McDougall will hand down his findings in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
Police recommended no criminal charges against Dreamworld staff over the fatal accident, but the coroner could still suggest prosecutions or substantial fines for the company and its executives.
Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi died in October 2016 when a water pump on the Thunder River Rapids malfunctioned at the theme park.
Three of the four holidaymakers were flung into a mechanised conveyor when the raft they were riding collided with another and partially flipped on October 25, 2016.
With AAP
Feature Image: Getty/Facebook.
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Top Comments
I'm pretty sure these "royal experts" have as much genuine expertise as MAFS' resident "experts" are at matching up couples on the show. And choosing to interpret a written statement as "spiteful" rather than "gracious" when someone has said "we can but we won't" is more indicative of their mindset than of Meghan and Harry's.
The leaks are also coming from Palace staff, which is where many of the royal experts get their information.
The statement is nothing short of petulant. Harry and Meghan (both independent millionaires already) have been told they can't actively trade off their connections to the Queen while they attempt to become "financially independent", and now they are throwing the toys out of their pram.
You don't get to continue to use the letterhead of your former workplace if you resign and go work somewhere else.
You're talking about "Royal" as if it were a job description, instead of something that Harry has been his whole life. The problem is that the definition of "royal" was not something anyone gave any thought to before Harry and Meghan made this move, and now that there's been a ruling, they've accepted it while pointing out the logical inconsistencies in that ruling - yet the tabloids are painting them as "petulant" and "angry". I do wonder if they'll need to get a new URL.
No questions about its accuracy and veractity then! No wonder Harry and Meghan have stepped out of the "Royal Rota" system.