Welcome to British Isles Friday! British Isles Friday is a weekly event for sharing all things British and Irish — reviews, photos, opinions, trip reports, guides, links, resources, personal stories, interviews, and research posts. Join us each Friday to link your British and Irish themed content and to see what others have to share. The link list is at the bottom of this post. Pour a cup of tea or lift a pint and join our link party!

Last week, I reviewed seasons 6 and 7 of Death in Paradise. Sim revisited Emma Thompson in The Children Act, for the relief of seeing a judge that she can support. Tina reviewed Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. Gaele reviewed two books: Return to the Little Cottage on the Hill by Emma Davies and Moonlight on the Thames by Lauren Westwood

I needed a quick post for a busy week. And, it seems to me that everyone in the US could use a reason to smile, right now. So, I thought I’d find the most fun and silly stories from the week in the British news outlets.

I got the idea because of the uproar when the Duchess of Sussex (aka Meghan Markle) closed her own car door. Cosmopolitan engaged in some deep research and found photographic proof that the Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton) also remembers how to close a car door and, maybe, even the Queen has the knack. Let’s not forget that Princess Elizabeth was a mechanic during WWII.

I probably can’t top that story for sheer silliness, but the internet was amused by Prince William’s dad joke. The Daily Mail’s report of his trip to Namibia and Tanzania begins with it: “Prince William has revealed that Kate is ‘immensely jealous’ of his trip to Africa – as he’ll finally get a good night’s sleep away from his ‘wonderful children’.” Check out the article for photos of his trip.

Did you know that we’re nearing another royal wedding? Princes Eugenie (younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York) is getting married on October 12. The Daily Mirror has some details, but the dress is a big secret except that it will be made by a British designer.

What have you read, watched, or learned about the British Isles recently?