Archive
Christmastide statement from the Prime Minister
This year, Emperor Jonathan I did not issue his customary Christmas broadcast, but rather delegated that honour to the Prime Minister, Lord John Gordon. Technical problems have prevented him from recording a broadcast, but he has published the following statement:
Austenasians, Friends and Subjects, I must first start by apologizing for the lateness of this speech. As you can imagine, it’s been a busy period.
This Christmas we reflect not only on this year, but also on ourselves. This year has been full of hardship and sacrifice and we have risen to the challenge. With Covid-19 ravaging the world, it hasn’t been the best of years. However, we all came together in the spirit of community and I could not be more proud. We must also remember those we have lost this year due to the pandemic: they will never be forgotten.
This year for Austenasia has been turbulent, beginning with the crisis with the Constitutional Referendum and Dionisiy’s subsequent resignation which gave me the reigns of government, but we have emerged stronger and more united. Austenasia is my home and I am so proud to be an Austenasian.
This Christmas I want us to remember the words of Jesus when he told of the Good Samaritan in the Bible (Luke 10:25-37). We must help our neighbor as we help ourselves. I want 2021 to be an illustrious year for Austenasia, and I promise you I will do everything I can to make that a reality.
Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!
Lord John Gordon, Viscount of Thetford
Prime Minister of Austenasia
Palasia
30 December 2020, the Sixth Day of Christmas
First confirmed case of COVID-19 amongst Austenasian population
A non-residential subject of Austenasia tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus in mid-December, but is making a swift recovery.
The subject, who has asked to remain anonymous, went into self-isolation upon receiving the positive test. He has now reported feeling better, and stated that his symptoms are improving. It was not necessary for him to be hospitalised.
As the infected person is a non-residential subject and does not live within Austenasia itself, this positive case has not posed any direct threat to any other Austenasians.
March earlier this year saw three suspected cases of coronavirus, and early September saw a suspected case in Palasia, but all four individuals affected either tested negative or soon stopped displaying symptoms. This case is the first which has been officially confirmed as COVID-19 by a positive test.
UPDATE 8 JANUARY 17:15 – The Austenasian Times is pleased to confirm that the infected Austenasian has completely recovered, and is now back at work.
Imperial Family celebrates Christmas under coronavirus restrictions
A toned-down Christmas Day was yesterday celebrated by the Imperial Family due to restrictions currently in force in neighbouring areas of the United Kingdom to protect people from the spread of coronavirus.
Christmas would usually see the immediate Imperial Family hosting or being hosted by the relatives of Emperor Mother Margaret for Christmas dinner, but in order to help prevent Covid-19 spreading between households, new restrictions brought in earlier this month by the British government have forbidden different families from meeting.
Plans to allow up to three households to meet together over Christmas were cancelled after a new strain of the virus was discovered in England.
The Imperial Family was, however, able to attend the customary morning service at Carshalton Methodist Church, albeit wearing masks, socially distanced from other families, and with no congregational singing, as per the rules imposed regarding corporate worship.
Emperor Jonathan I did not give his usual Christmas broadcast, instead delegating that honour to the Prime Minister, Lord John Gordon. The broadcast will be published at some point over the wider Christmas season, prior to the New Year.
The Emperor was, however, able to wish the people and supporters of Austenasia a merry Christmas in a post on the Empire’s official Facebook group, in which he shared photographs taken of the Imperial Family’s visit to church that morning. The customary Christmas cards to Austenasian and foreign dignitaries were also successfully sent off.
With the success of ongoing vaccination efforts, next year’s Christmas should hopefully see a return to relative normality.
Aggelos acclaimed joint Emperor of Imvrassia to replace Stamatios
Aggelos I, founder of Imvrassia, has been appointed joint Emperor of Imvrassia by his daughter, Empress Aikaterini, replacing her grandfather Stamatios I.
Stamatios I had reigned as joint Emperor of Imvrassia in a primarily ceremonial capacity since November last year, but on Christmas Eve his granddaughter honorably revoked his position as reigning co-monarch and downgraded him to the title of Symbasileus, a “junior co-emperor” roughly equivalent to the Austenasian position of Caesar.
On Christmas Day, Empress Aikaterini raised her father, Aggelos I, to the throne as joint ruling co-Emperor. He had previously been appointed Symbasileus himself on 21 December.
Aggelos has served as Imvrassian head of state before, most recently from March to November 2016 as king. Prior to being appointed joint Emperor, he had held the rank of Despotes and managed Imvrassian foreign relations, being instrumental in securing recognition of Imvrassian imperium in October this year.
Jonathan I has sent congratulations to his new colleague in the consortium imperii.
Two new Austenasian Towns founded
Sunday 20th December saw two new Towns formed in the Empire of Austenasia.
Blue Ridge, which was founded in July as an uninhabited Territory, became a Town after it expanded to claim a neighbouring residential property.
The second new town is New Flat Rock, a property claimed from North Carolina for Austenasia by its residents and owner.
Both new towns have a population of five, and so have boosted Austenasia’s population by ten to one hundred and nineteen, a new record.
Lady Addison Dillon, governor of Blue Ridge while it was a territory, has been appointed its Acting Representative now it is a town. The now Lord Hunter Prater, who led the initiative of claiming New Flat Rock for Austenasia, has been made its Acting Representative and granted the title Count of Henderson.
Bregusland’s territory to be ceded in the New Year
The Crown Dependency of Bregusland will be dissolved as a territorial entity at the end of the year.
This was formalised by an Act of Parliament passed yesterday.
The land composing the Crown Dependency will be ceded back to the United States due to its population moving to a new property. The current residents of Bregusland will be granted non-residential subjectship and so remain Austenasians.
Bregusland was founded as an Austenasian Territory in March 2019, expanding into a Crown Dependency with the annexation of a neighbouring house in March earlier this year.
Austenasian Times 
Recent Comments