Royal pains

Published 12:01 am Friday, July 1, 2011

It’s store-brand dog food for the corgies, I’m afraid: Prince William and his bride continued their tour of Canada, with crowds greeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with cheers, outstretched hands and gifts. Meanwhile, back at home, the B

ritish government announced that Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royals would have to cut back just like everybody else. An austerity plan will pare the queen’s budget to $55 million for the 2013-14 financial year.

The queen then tweeted her grandson: “Suggest you extend your visit of Canada, and plan on bringing home more than a bottle of maple syrup.”

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When animals pester: A day after turtles wandered onto a runway and delayed flights at a New York City airport, a Portland, Ore., man reported being stung by a scorpion on an Alaska Airlines flight between Seattle and Anchorage.

FAA officials were taking precautions after spotting mosquitoes suspiciously swarming near a 737 on the tarmac in Boise, Idaho.

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Don’t know much about history: On this day in 1861, the first issue of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, was published in Rome.

Among the features was an advice column written by nuns at the Vatican convent called Dear Abbey.

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