Those early Westerns, like The Rifleman, were packed with historical inaccuracies, but who cares? They’re still a blast to watch and offer richer characters than anything on TV today. Every episode delivered a meaningful takeaway, often focusing on basic human values with a heartwarming moral twist.

The Rifleman starred the legendary Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain, a widowed rancher and skilled sharpshooter raising his son, Mark, played by the charming Johnny Crawford. The duo captivated audiences with their heartfelt bond and thrilling adventures in the Old West.

Even though the series has been hailed as one of the greatest ever produced, even the best of the best can have their slip-ups… So let’s take a peek behind the scenes and uncover some things most of us viewers had no clue about!

Lucas McCain a trendsetter

It’s no surprise that cowboy Lucas McCain preferred jeans, but it turns out he was ahead of fashion trends by about half a century! Sharp-eyed viewers might have caught a scene in “End of a Young Gun,” one of the early episodes featuring Michael Landon, where a shirtless Lucas repairs a wagon wheel.

You can see a “W” stitched on the back pocket of his jeans, and yes, he’s actually wearing Wranglers. The catch? The series is set in the 1880s, but those jeans didn’t start being produced until the 1940s. More than just a fashion-savvy cowboy, he Lucas McCain a true trendsetter and definitely ahead of his time!

Connors’ real son

As I mentioned, one thing I really loved about the show was the father-son relationship. But did you know that Chuck Connors’ real-life son makes an appearance in the series? In the episode “Tension,” Mark and Lucas attends the funeral of Sid Halpern, a friend of the McCains.

The widow and son, Toby, are there dressed in black. It was Jeff Connors, Chuck Connors’ second son with Faith Quabius, who played that young Toby and he had two lines. Sadly, Jeff passed away in 2014.

Getting Chuck wasn’t easy

Casting the lead role in The Rifleman was no easy feat.

Chuck Connors had to outshine 40 other actors, but landing the role was far from guaranteed. Initially, he turned it down due to a low salary offer from ABC, as he could earn more as a freelance actor.

However, Connors eventually secured the role in an unexpected way. It all started when the producers took their children to see Old Yeller, where Connors portrayed a strong father figure. After that experience — presumably with the kids sharing their thoughts — the producers came back with a much better offer, including a five-percent ownership of the show. And just like that, it was all set!

The 1892 Winchester rifle

Every episode of The Rifleman opened with Chuck Connors showcasing his remarkable skills, cranking off a seemingly endless barrage of shots with his saddle-ring carbine. With a dramatic flair, he would spin the rifle, effortlessly toss it from his right hand to his left, and insert a new cartridge, all while giving a menacing stare directly into the camera.

To pull off these iconic scenes, the production utilized two identical 1892 Winchester rifles — one for filming and the other as a backup.

Some might have assumed that the opening scene featuring the 1892 Winchester rifles was trick photography or somehow manipulated. However, the truth is that Connors was genuinely that fast and agile with his carbine. As a former athlete who played professional basketball and baseball in both major and minor leagues before transitioning to acting, he had impressive skills and coordination that made those quick movements look effortless. What we do know though, is that the weapon had been customized to enable rapid firing by cycling its lever action.

The Duke connection

Lucas McCain’s trusty Winchester rifle was more than just a prop; it was a true scene-stealer with an interesting backstory.

The Rifleman took place in the 1870s and 1880s, so it’s impossible for the 1892 Winchester rifle to have existed during that time.

However, this iconic rifle had a previous life on the big screen, making its debut in none other than John Wayne‘s classic 1939 film, Stagecoach. Producer Arnold Levin later revealed the exciting twist: the rifle used by Lucas McCain was the very same one wielded by the Duke in his legendary movie.

The Madera Hotel

The Madera Hotel was a well-known landmark in North Fork throughout the series, frequently appearing in various episodes.

However, in the pilot episode, The Sharpshooter, the establishment underwent a name change to California House. Speculation arose regarding a possible ownership change between episodes, but no one really knows why the establishment suddenly switched names.

Johnny Crawford got blacklisted

At the age of 3, Johnny Crawford made his debut in front of the cameras during an audition. But it wasn’t a success – in fact, he got blacklisted after his performance as a 3-year-old actor.

”I don’t remember the picture and I wound up on the cutting room floor anyway. But I played one of a bunch of refugee children and I was in a scene where Rosalind Russel was supposed to give us all chocolate bars. I think I got blacklisted after this film because the scene had to be reshot and I refused to give back my chocolate bar for the second take,” Johnny Crawford told The Miami Herald in 1973.

”Hazardous” task of casting a new female lead

While widower Lucas McCain primarily focused on raising his son, the series also featured several romantic interests. In the third season, it seemed like Lucas and Milly Scott, played by Joan Taylor, were on the brink of a budding romance.

However, this storyline fizzled out when Milly left the show in season four, with a vague explanation that she needed to head back east.

This left producers in search of a new female lead, introducing the character Lou Mallory. The challenge was to find an actress who not only fit the role but also had undeniable chemistry with Chuck Connors.

To ensure a successful match, Chuck was actively involved in the casting process. However, this turned out to be more challenging than anticipated. Chuck interviewed over a dozen women who seemed perfect for the part but just didn’t quite click.

”A few months ago, I was handed what I thought was a dream assignment. At least it started out on a dreamlike note but almost snowballed into becoming a nightmare,” the actor shared.

After carefully considering over 60 women, the choice ultimately fell to the stunning red-haired beauty Patricia Blair, who hailed from Texas.

Recognize this baseball hall-of-famer?

As previously mentioned, Lucas McCain was an incredibly skilled baseball player. However, he could never match the prowess of former Dodgers star Duke Snider, who made a guest appearance on the show. (Chuck Connors hit only two home runs during his Major League Baseball career).

The celebrated baseball player, nicknamed “the Duke of Flatbush,” portrayed the character Wallace in the episode titled The Retired Gun. Another former baseball star who made an appearance on the show was Don Drysdale.

Johnny Crawford’s brother popped up

The Rifleman was heavily centered around family themes, and it was the first network television series to portray a single parent raising a child.

In addition to Jeff Connors, another relative of the show’s stars made an appearance: none other than Bobby Crawford, brother of Johnny.

He played the character Freddy in the episode Second Witness, and both he and Johnny delivered performances so impressive that they earned Emmy nominations in 1959. Bobby, whose full name is Robert Lawrence Crawford Jr., continued his acting career and portrayed Andy Sherman on the NBC television series Laramie from 1959 to 1960. He is still alive today and is 80 years old.

Over-protective of Johnny Crawford

It is already known that Chuck Connors looked after the young Johnny and the two actors kept a close relationship off-screen when the series ended.

From a young age, Johnny Crawford admired Chuck Connors, particularly because of his passion for baseball. Their affectionate bond during The Rifleman became a defining aspect of Crawford’s life, as he learned invaluable lessons from his mentor both on and off the set.

”It was a fascinating part of my education listening to Chuck tell his baseball stories or he’d be reciting Casey at the Bat or he’d be doing speeches from Shakespeare. This always surprises people, that Chuck Connors knows Shakespeare,” Crawford told The Buffalo News.

Their special connection is beautifully captured in the classic photo below, showcasing the deep camaraderie and mutual respect they shared.

Actor Paul Fix, who played Marshal Micah Torrence on The Rifleman, also felt a great responsibility for Crawford.

During the filming, he became an extra father to Crawford, and he made sure that all the weapons used during the filming were secured. For Paul Fix, his obsession with security around Crawford was personal.

Fix himself had a near-death experience as a young boy when he played around with his brother and a weapon misfired. The bullet was a hair’s breadth from killing Fix; it was a miracle that he survived.

Buddy Hackett twist

In a surprising twist of casting, Buddy Hackett, known for his comedic genius, played the father of an actor who was actually four years his junior.

In one episode of The Rifleman, Buddy Hackett portrays Daniel Malakie, a father who discovers that his two sons, Ben and Jud, have landed in jail. Interestingly, Christopher Dark, who played the “boy” Ben, was born in 1920, while Hackett was born in 1924. This age dynamic makes for some creative casting, proving that Hollywood has a knack for bending traditional family roles and age expectations…

Baby girl was played by a baby boy

Does the name Robert Anacher ring a bell? No? That’s understandable! His most notable role came was when he played the adorable baby girl Fancy in the episode The Baby Sitter. But as it turns out, the girl was actually a boy.

Shot dead with a pistol

In the pilot, which was originally intended for Gunsmoke (1955), Chuck Connors’ character was named John McCain. According to IMDB, he didn’t have any children and was a dead shot with a pistol.

Sammy Davis Jr. impressed the crew

Know as “Mr Show Business” and “the greatest entertainer ever to grace a stage in these United States” – Sammy Davis Jr. is a dearly missed superstar who forever carved himself into American history.

But did you know he made an appearance in The Rifleman? In the episode Two Ounces of Tin, Sammy Davis Jr. portrayed the outlaw Tip Corey. He showcased impressive skills with a gun, demonstrating quick draws and impressive twirling maneuvers. What’s remarkable is that all of these stunts were performed by Davis himself, without a stand-in!

The hair styles

Despite being set in the 1880s, most of the actors in The Rifleman sported hairstyles that mirrored the trends of the 1950s and 1960s, when the show was actually filmed.

This anachronism is further highlighted by the wardrobe choices, as many of the men wore full-front button-down shirts — a style that didn’t even emerge until the 1920s and didn’t gain popularity until the 1930s. It’s a fascinating blend of historical context and mid-century flair that adds an unexpected twist to the classic Western!

Chuck Connors’ headstone

Chuck Connors, renowned for his athletic prowess, smoked three packs of Camel cigarettes daily. Remarkably, he was one of only twelve athletes in history to play both Major League Baseball and in the NBA.

In the fall of 1992, Connors was hospitalized due to pneumonia. Tragically, three weeks later, he succumbed to lung cancer. He was laid to rest at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, where his headstone proudly displays the logos of the three sports teams he represented: the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Cubs, and the Brooklyn Dodgers

Tamayo Perry, 49, has died after being killed by what is thought to have been a shark attack.Emergency Medical Services in Honolulu said Tamayo’s body was found on Sunday with several bite marks on it.

Perry played the lead role in several big hits, such as Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Emergency Medical Services in Honolulu said Tamayo’s body was found on Sunday with several bite marks on it.

Sometimes the internet tends to humble you quickly. This is why, posing questions to strangers online, is not for the faint of heart. If you post content online, people will think they can leave whatever comments they want and it is warranted.

This woman thought she would pose a simple question to the internet; how old do I look? A question that came from general curiosity that most of us have… turned into a life lesson not just for her but for everyone on the internet.

Keep reading to learn more about what transpired…

A woman posted a video on TikTok and asked viewers a simple question; to guess her age. However, nothing could have prepared her for the answers she received which she simply said were ‘wild.’

Emily Jane posted a video of herself sans makeup and social media filters and asked people to guess how old she was. She was shocked to see that some thought she was in her forties, her fifties, while some even thought she was in her sixties!

“I’m 56, my guess is that you are close to 47,” one commenter wrote.

“I’m 42. I’d guess you’re around 51,” another person pondered.

“A really attractive 42, and I’m 29,” someone shared.

The answer that took the cake for Emily was one commenter who thought she was 58 years old.

“Do I genuinely look like I’m nearly 60? Like I’m nearly at retirement age? Do I actually look that old?” she asked in a follow-up video.

A lot of people of course also thought she was in her thirties and a few thought she was still in her twenties as well. The guesses were of a wide range.

Emily however, was shocked at people who guessed she was so old and finally revealed the truth about her age.

“I turned 36 last week, so only just 36,” she said.

And she is well aware of why people think shes older, its because she has stopped dying her naturally grey hair.

“I’ve had grey hair for quite some time now and it is a natural grey. I started going grey around 19, and people think because I’ve got grey hair, I’m over 50,” she said in her video.

She said even with her grey hair, she was shocked people were guessing she was older.

She said in the original video, that the eyebags she had were a result of sleepless nights because of having a newborn baby. She also said she wore no makeup or filters which might have given people pause, but in her opinion she looked totally normal.

“I’ve never had any work done. This is my face, and this is what I look like, and I think this is what most people my age would look like without a filter,” she shared.

She theorized in her video that peoples’ guesses for her age had less to do with her and more to do with how social media has conditioned people to view women.

She said that these days most people do not know what a woman looks like naturally since social media promotes cosmetic interventions and the use of filters to alter appearances.

“I think it is essential to remember that what you see on social media and what you see on television or what you’ve seen in magazines, and people have said this for years, it is not real. What’s your take?” she asked.

“Do you think we have a warped perception of age based on what we’ve been exposed to on social media?” she asked her viewers.

Some people however did not agree with her and said it was just her grey hair that was aging her.

“36 going on 60. It probably is the hair that ages you but you are still very gorgeous,” one person wrote.

“I think you look your age. I think it’s people’s perception that we only get white hair when we age. They can’t get past it,” another added in argument.

“It is just the hair that ages you. Your skin looks great,” someone shared.
While another person added, “I think people get confused by a younger person feeling comfortable growing their gray hair out.”

The last time royal brothers, Prince William and Prince Harry were seen together, was the during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. While there are some rumours about Prince Harry’s possible return to his royal duties, William will be on his way.

The royal experts also stated that Harry is expecting an apology, which William will not give to him.

Omid Scobie, royal expert and author, shared that when Meghan, Harry, Kate and William walked together after the funeral, William didn’t wanted to do this.

“Essentially, he told William to swallow his pride and invite his brother and sister-in-law to join them when they greeted mourners and well-wishers in Windsor that day. William wasn’t keen,” royal expert said. “This was his moment with the public, but the King put pressure on [him].”

The royal expert also stated that the royals, “said it was all led by their father, that he was the one that made the suggestion.”

“It showed that all four are capable of switching it on and doing what’s right in the moment,” Scobie continued. “I thought potentially that could open doors to other moments of seeing what matters and putting certain things to one side, just to coexist or to find some sort of common ground.

“But I think the thing that surprised me the most was that afterward everyone just went their own ways and nothing happened beyond that.”

After the funeral, Harry returned to the UK several times but not even once he met with his brother. He even refused an invite from his father, King Charles, because he didn’t want to sit on the same table with his brother, Prince William.

In August, after Lord Robert Fellowes passing, both of the princes were at the same place, but they avoided each other. “Most people were astounded that Harry came,” a guest shared.

“He was on remarkably good form — and you could tell he was very pleased to see everybody. And he was very pleased that he had come over.”

“It was wonderful that both princes were able to attend their uncle’s memorial service yesterday at St. Mary’s Church.” a source shared.

“The service was a lovely family occasion celebrating the life of such a special man. Many friends were also present and also many members of the St. Mary’s Church family.”

“William and Harry were both there but we never saw them speak to each other and they were keeping their distance.”

Prince Harry expressed his desire to receive an apology from royal family after their so called terrible welcoming for his wife, Meghan Markle.

Royal expert Hilary Fordwich stated that there would be only one royal who would talk about peace with Harry, and that royal is head of the monarch, King Charles.

“If anyone would relent, it would be King Charles III, whom, of course, Prince William won’t challenge. [He] still misses his ‘darling boy’ and would like to see more of Prince Harry,” royal expert said.

“However, to this day, after the release of [his memoir] ‘Spare’ and the Netflix series, as well as with everything else Harry has said, done and not done – it’s Prince William who adamantly refuses to even speak to his brother.”

“With Prince Harry, it’s all an issue of trust. Prince William is the most unlikely royal to ever forgive Harry for all his despicable indiscretions. He is now very much seen and accepted as the family enforcer, taking on the hard-line ruler role of his grandfather, Prince Philip.”

Royal expert Jennie Bond also shared that royal fans would love a reunion of brothers. “I still think things are too sensitive for a meaningful reconciliation with William, but the fact that he and Catherine authorised the greeting to be posted is definitely an unexpected turn of events,” royal expert said.

“I don’t think we should hold our breath for the step to really signal the start of a reconciliation, but it was an unexpected turn of events.”

“William has so much on his plate at the moment that I don’t think he has room in his heart or head to deal with all that has gone on with Harry. While the brothers may never be close again, or even live on the same continent, it doesn’t mean that the future has to be full of bitterness and bad blood. Catherine is right. Family should always be paramount.”

Prince William, as reportedly, wants his own coronation to “look and feel different,” as a source shared. William might not invite his brother to his coronation.

“They are estranged, which is dreadfully sad,” the source claimed.

“Despite all the bad blood between the brothers, I’m convinced that, when the time does come, William will not be foolish enough to exclude his only sibling, now fifth in line to the throne, from his coronation,” royal expert and author Christopher Andersen shared.

“Things probably have never been worse between the brothers than they are now. William and Charles have pretty much made the joint decision to effectively cut Harry out of their lives, at least for the time being. There is no sign of a reconciliation on the horizon, and everyone involved seems to have pretty much come to terms with that.”

“That being said, we have to remember that William is carrying a very heavy psychological burden at the moment,” the royal expert said.

“He is deeply upset that his wife and his father are battling cancer at the same time. He must keep a brave face not only for his three young children but also for the sake of the monarchy.” Andersen concluded.

When Leonard turned 18, his parents were eager to see him attend law school. They always imagined their son being a successful lawyer, running his own firm. But the moment Leonard told them his dream was to become a musician, their world crushed.

Both his parents, Kenneth and Lily, were convinced they knew what was best for their son and refused to support him in pursuing a career in music. This decision led to a heated argument after which Leonard left his parents’ home.

For three long years, they didn’t talk to each other. Lily and Kenneth tried reaching out but Leonard shut them out completely. They knew he was well because some family members he stayed in touch with provided them with updates on him every now and then. They hoped His parents hoped Leonard would contact them when he stopped being mad at them, but sadly, that day never came.

On a Sunday morning, which resembled like any other in the lives of Lily and Kenneth, they received the most devastating news. The police called them, telling them their son lost his life in a motorcycle accident.

After his sudden passing, Lily made a promise to visit his grave every day.

On the first day following the funeral, she noticed a teddy bear placed on the grave. She thought that someone put it there by mistake so she took it and replaced it with flowers.

The following day, there was another teddy bear.

On the third day, she noticed a young woman carrying a child at Leonard’s grave. Just as she was about to place yet another teddy bear on the grave, Lily called out to her.

The young woman looked both sad and scared. When Lily approached her, she started crying.

All this puzzled Lily even further. When she asked the woman what she was doing there she explained that she was Leonard’s girlfriend and that the child was his.

Lily was stunned. She just froze and was unable to say a word. How was this even possible. She lost her beloved son and now she had a grandson.

The woman, who introduced herself as Carrie, spoke of Leonard; how they met while he was working at a bar in order to be able to fund his music career, how they fell madly in love, and how they welcomed a baby together. Leonard was planning to make amends with his parents,he was waiting for the right time, but sadly, that right time never came.

Lily invited Carrie home. She introduced her to her husband. The three had a long conversation and Carrie agreed Lily and Kenneth to be part of her child’s life.

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Kathleen Turner rose to fame in the 1980s with her strength and attractiveness – many consider her one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood.

It is this fortitude that has helped her through the many goods and bad times the actress has experienced over the years.

Kathleen Turner had a rough childhood and was raised in a family with four children. She and her siblings grew up in London and Venezuela. Tragedy befell her at a young age when her father unexpectedly passed away while mowing the lawn of their Hampstead home.

A month after his death, Kathleen and her family were kicked out of the UK by the foreign service. Turner and her family settled in Springfield, Missouri, all still grieving their father and former home.

As an adult, Tuner finally found peace after moving to New York to pursue an acting career. She had some luck on the stage – but her biggest break came when she was given the role of the femme fatale in 1981’s “Body Heat.”

Three years after starring next to William Hurt, Turner was given a chance to co-star with Michael Douglas in the famous “Romancing the Stone.” Douglas was in a rocky separation from his wife Diandra at the time of filming, and he and Turner developed some feelings for each other.

She eventually married the property developer from the film, Jay Weiss, in 1984. The two had their only daughter together soon after. Rachel Ann Weiss was born on October 14, 1987.

Unfortunately, the couple’s relationship began to fracture as they started raising their daughter.

“I’d make the movie companies give me long weekends or provide extra tickets so my daughter and husband could come to me. But there was a sense in the marriage the effort was all on his side, which made me feel guilty. It was one of the reasons it ended. I started to feel very oppressed. I thought, ‘Hang on a minute, you’ve done very well out of being married to me also,’” Kathleen explained.

In 2005, Turner starred as Martha in the Broadway revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and it was then that their marital problems came to a head. Turner became incredibly busy while acting in eight shows a week, and it appeared that Weiss wanted no time with her when she was home.

The two divorced amicably during that time, and Turner earned a Tony award nod for her time as Martha.

The star had also earned an Oscar nomination back in 1987 for her role in “Peggy Sue Got Married.” Her film career was alive and well during the 80’s, and she starred in a variety of blockbusters–three of which were with Michael Douglas.

However, in the 90’s, Kathleen experienced a medical setback when her neck locked, not allowing her to turn her head. In addition, her hands swelled to the point where she stopped being able to use them.

“It was crippling,” Kathleen said. “You stop taking things for granted when you lose them, even temporarily. What I took for granted – my athleticism, my ability to throw myself around, and just be able to move however I wanted to. When I lost that, that was a real crisis of self: who am I if I cannot do this?”

The culprit of her misfortune wound up being rheumatoid arthritis, a condition characterized by the swelling of the lining in our joints. This condition causes chronic pain that can be difficult to manage.

“When it was first diagnosed, I was terrified because they said I’d be in a wheelchair,” Kathleen explained. “I thought, ‘If I can’t move, I can’t act.’ Acting isn’t just what I want to do. I was born to do it. It’s at every point of my living. The idea of not being able to do it was the most frightening part – that and the constant pain.”

Kathleen turned to pills and alcohol to manage her pain. While these helped her to work, the habit of drinking vodka led to her passing out during rehearsals for shows like 2002’s stage production of “The Graduate.”

The actress actually went to rehab after the show stopped running, only to find out that she was not an alcoholic. Instead, she was told she simply needed to better track when she was taking her medications and their side effects.

Today, the actress does yoga and pilates to help manage the pain and remain nimble.

While better managing her pain, the star really began to focus on her stage career. While she did still occasionally work in film and television, she returned largely to her roots as she got older, even starring in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” on stage in her forties.

“Because I knew that the better roles as I got older would be in theatre, which is absolutely true, so that was a little foresight on my part of which I am justly proud,” Kathleen said.s

Focusing on theatre has also allowed the star the time to focus on her passions of hers, such as volunteering at Amnesty International and working for Planned Parenthood of America.

A staunch feminist for most of her life, Turner has turned her doubtless strength to uplifting other women throughout her life. Her ideologies are represented clearly in Gloria Feldt’s 2008 memoir of the star, Send Yourself Roses.

“We are the first generation of women who are financially independent. Women are going back to work,” Kathleen said. “They’re reinventing themselves. I thought I could support that, even increase that. So it has got a lot of philosophy in it and a lot of my beliefs.”

What do you think of Kathleen Turner’s challenging but rewarding path? Let us know in the comment.

Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton were together on a balcony at the Foreign Office during the previous year’s Remembrance Sunday service when a body language specialist observed a small, understated movement from Kate towards her fellow royal. The specialist recommended that Kate discreetly mentioned the royal hierarchy to Camilla at the formal occasion.

They assumed their regular spots on the Foreign Office balcony, with a view of the Cenotaph in Central London, to observe the moving ceremony presided over by King Charles. Both ladies were stylishly attired in black coats and hats, accessorized with pearl jewelry, as they faced the chilly weather.

Last year, Charles presided over the Remembrance Sunday service for the second time since becoming king. The ceremony featured a moving two-minute pause, during which he placed a wreath at the Cenotaph, alongside Prince William and other royal and political dignitaries.

Body language specialist Judi James observed that Camilla and Kate seemed like a “powerful duo” as they witnessed the ceremony. In an interview with The Mirror, she remarked that Camilla and Kate appeared to be on the same level of status while standing at different ends of the royal balcony without Sophie.

In a subtle demonstration of etiquette, Camilla and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, revealed their awareness of hierarchy at a public event. Judi disclosed that at the service’s conclusion, there was a moment where both women emphasized how the late Queen’s passing still allows for subtle, hierarchical signals. Camilla looked inside and noticed Kate making a slight ‘after you’ gesture, causing Camilla to smile gratefully as they both gracefully entered the room.

The royal family will gather at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday, November 10, 2024, for the National Service of Remembrance. This occasion pays tribute to the bravery of British and Commonwealth armed forces and civilians in World Wars and subsequent conflicts.

Times have got stranger this month, with not only King Charles but Kate the Princess of Wales currently laid up in the same London hospital, with the Crown Inc. suffering its worst health crisis since that one time all the lobster thermidor turned out to be off.

The bizarre doesn’t stop there: Why haven’t Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis been to see their mother?

It is now 12 days since the princess and mother of three was admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery, thus 12 days at least since her three young children have seen her

The day after the Kate news was announced, Prince William, having put his out of office on to do the full-time dad bit, was seen leaving the Clinic via the back in his $268,000 electric Audi.

Both the Sun and the Daily Mail have subsequently reported that the prince has been in to see his wife on a daily basis since then, which is sweet and all but just to really play broken record, what about their kidlets

And what about, for matter, Kate’s devoted parents Carole and Michale Middleton and her siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, with whom she is very close? (James, who has written about suffering from severe depression, has revealed that Kate “came to some of my therapy sessions” and that she was “by my side during the hardest of times as well.”)

It is not a matter of William wanting to protect his kids from having to brave the wall of invasive, intimidating long lenses of the world’s press either.

The Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English has revealed that “the media have agreed not to have photographers [outside the hospital], not to have camera crews, not to have journalists, to allow [Kate] to recuperate from her operation in privacy and also to respect the privacy of the other patients.”

Therefore, William or the Middletons could easily ferry George, Charlotte and Louis in and out of the hospital to see their mum unobserved and in private.

One possible explanation for the young Waleses staying away came via the Sun, which reported that “William and Kate want her absence to feel as normal as possible for the youngsters”. And Monday to Friday, that’s entirely buyable and reasonable.

But – and here we have a double, treble underlined ‘but’ in bold – what about the weekend just past?

Still, they did not go, instead doing some (I’m assuming) bucolic gambolling about their “doting” Middleton grandparents’ $7 million place in Bucklebury, according to the Sun.

Which is sweet and all and Carole and Michael can ‘dote’ all they want, proffering forth as many sticky buns, sweet treats and gloriously gloopy ice creams as they can find, but is that better than getting a hug from their mother?

The Waleses home Adelaide Cottage is only about a 45-minute drive from Kate’s hospital, so again, that’s hardly a logistic concern that might be preventing a family reunion.

What makes all of this even more bizarre is if you consider the bigger picture. A royal commentator can barely move normally without tripping over some story strenuously flogging the line that the Waleses are devoted parents entirely committed to being as present as possible in their childrens’ lives.

Take, for example, that the prince and princess take off pretty much every school holiday, that is, 19 weeks a year, so that they do bonding things that probably involve matching muddy wellies and games of Pooh sticks.

As a royal aide told the Sunday Times’ Roya Nikkhah last week, William and Kate’s new motto as they face her health situation is, “100 per cent family first, day job second”.

Does that gel with the kids not be taken to see Kate?

I understand: No child wants to see a parent in a hospital bed. It would be scary and upsetting. But I do think that they would prefer to see their mother for a much-needed dose of mumming and to see for themselves that she is on the road to recovery than not.

An argument put forward by the Mail’s English is that “ royals don’t tend to visit each other in hospital, or at least only very rarely.”

Except here comes that word again – ‘but’.

But we haven’t really had members of the royal family, aside from Prince Philip, in hospital for years now making this something of a moot point.

Also, various moda operandi established under the late Queen, like staying clear of relatives in wards, are quietly being done away with to usher in a much more contemporary, less emotionally austere royal family. For example, His Majesty “made a beeline” for his daughter-in-law’s room when he arrived at the London Clinic this week.

Meanwhile Queen Camilla visited her husband three times within the space of 24-hours.

At the very time of year when all the working members of the royal family should be mucking in, instead things have veered dramatically off course and we are far away from normal Windsor programming.

I’d suggest that Camilla invest in some crystals, sage and the services of a half-decent shaman to sort of whatever bad juju or hex is hanging over Buckingham Palace.

 Luis Armando Albino was 6 years old in 1951 when he was abducted while playing at an Oakland, California park. Now, more than seven decades later, Albino has been found thanks to help from an online ancestry test, old photos and newspaper clippings.

The Bay Area News Group reported Friday that Albino’s niece in Oakland – with assistance from police, the FBI and the Justice Department – located her uncle living on the East Coast.

Albino, a father and grandfather, is a retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, according to his niece, 63-year-old Alida Alequin. She found Albino and reunited him with his California family in June.

On Feb. 21, 1951, a woman lured the 6-year-old Albino from the West Oakland park where he had been playing with his older brother and promised the Puerto Rico-born boy in Spanish that she would buy him candy.

Instead, the woman kidnapped the child, flying him to the East Coast where he ended up with a couple who raised him as if he were their own son, the news group reported. Officials and family members didn’t say where on the East Coast he lives.

For more than 70 years Albino remained missing, but he was always in the hearts of his family and his photo hung at relatives’ houses, his niece said. His mother died in 2005 but never gave up hope that her son was alive.

Oakland police acknowledged that Alequin’s efforts “played an integral role in finding her uncle” and that “the outcome of this story is what we strive for.”

In an interview with the news group, she said her uncle “hugged me and said, ‘Thank you for finding me’ and gave me a kiss on the cheek.”

Oakland Tribune articles from the time reported police, soldiers from a local army base, the Coast Guard and other city employees joined a massive search for the missing boy. San Francisco Bay and other waterways were also searched, according to the articles. His brother, Roger Albino, was interrogated several times by investigators but stood by his story about a woman with a bandana around her head taking his brother.

The first notion that her uncle might be still alive came in 2020 when, “just for fun,” Alequin said, she took an online DNA test. It showed a 22 percent match with a man who eventually turned out to be her uncle. A further search at the time yielded no answers or any response from him, she said.

In early 2024, she and her daughters began searching again. On a visit to the Oakland Public Library, she looked at microfilm of Tribune articles – including one that had a picture of Luis and Roger – which convinced her that she was on the right track. She went to the Oakland police the same day.

Investigators eventually agreed the new lead was substantial, and a new missing persons case was opened. Oakland police said last week that the missing persons case is closed, but they and the FBI consider the kidnapping a still-open investigation.

Luis was located on the East Coast and provided a DNA sample, as did his sister, Alequin’s mom.

On June 20, investigators went to her mother’s home, Alequin said, and told them both that her uncle had been found.

“We didn’t start crying until after the investigators left,” Alequin said. “I grabbed my mom’s hands and said, ‘We found him.’ I was ecstatic.”

On June 24, with the assistance of the FBI, Luis came to Oakland with members of his family and met with Alequin, her mother and other relatives. The next day Alequin drove her mother and her newfound uncle to Roger’s home in Stanislaus County, California.

“They grabbed each other and had a really tight, long hug. They sat down and just talked,” she said, discussing the day of the kidnapping, their military service and more.

Luis returned to the East Coast but came back again in July for a three-week visit. It was the last time he saw Roger, who died in August.

Alequin said her uncle did not want to talk to the media.

“I was always determined to find him, and who knows, with my story out there, it could help other families going through the same thing,” Alequin said. “I would say, don’t give up.”

Times have got stranger this month, with not only King Charles but Kate the Princess of Wales currently laid up in the same London hospital, with the Crown Inc. suffering its worst health crisis since that one time all the lobster thermidor turned out to be off.

The bizarre doesn’t stop there: Why haven’t Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis been to see their mother?

It is now 12 days since the princess and mother of three was admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery, thus 12 days at least since her three young children have seen her.

The day after the Kate news was announced, Prince William, having put his out of office on to do the full-time dad bit, was seen leaving the Clinic via the back in his $268,000 electric Audi.

Both the Sun and the Daily Mail have subsequently reported that the prince has been in to see his wife on a daily basis since then, which is sweet and all but just to really play broken record, what about their kidlets?

And what about, for matter, Kate’s devoted parents Carole and Michale Middleton and her siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, with whom she is very close? (James, who has written about suffering from severe depression, has revealed that Kate “came to some of my therapy sessions” and that she was “by my side during the hardest of times as well.”)

It is not a matter of William wanting to protect his kids from having to brave the wall of invasive, intimidating long lenses of the world’s press either.

The Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English has revealed that “the media have agreed not to have photographers [outside the hospital], not to have camera crews, not to have journalists, to allow [Kate] to recuperate from her operation in privacy and also to respect the privacy of the other patients.”

Therefore, William or the Middletons could easily ferry George, Charlotte and Louis in and out of the hospital to see their mum unobserved and in private.

One possible explanation for the young Waleses staying away came via the Sun, which reported that “William and Kate want her absence to feel as normal as possible for the youngsters”. And Monday to Friday, that’s entirely buyable and reasonable.

But – and here we have a double, treble underlined ‘but’ in bold – what about the weekend just past?

Still, they did not go, instead doing some (I’m assuming) bucolic gambolling about their “doting” Middleton grandparents’ $7 million place in Bucklebury, according to the Sun.

Which is sweet and all and Carole and Michael can ‘dote’ all they want, proffering forth as many sticky buns, sweet treats and gloriously gloopy ice creams as they can find, but is that better than getting a hug from their mother?

The Waleses home Adelaide Cottage is only about a 45-minute drive from Kate’s hospital, so again, that’s hardly a logistic concern that might be preventing a family reunion.

What makes all of this even more bizarre is if you consider the bigger picture. A royal commentator can barely move normally without tripping over some story strenuously flogging the line that the Waleses are devoted parents entirely committed to being as present as possible in their childrens’ lives.

Take, for example, that the prince and princess take off pretty much every school holiday, that is, 19 weeks a year, so that they do bonding things that probably involve matching muddy wellies and games of Pooh sticks.

As a royal aide told the Sunday Times’ Roya Nikkhah last week, William and Kate’s new motto as they face her health situation is, “100 per cent family first, day job second”.

Does that gel with the kids not be taken to see Kate?

I understand: No child wants to see a parent in a hospital bed. It would be scary and upsetting. But I do think that they would prefer to see their mother for a much-needed dose of mumming and to see for themselves that she is on the road to recovery than not.

An argument put forward by the Mail’s English is that “ royals don’t tend to visit each other in hospital, or at least only very rarely.”

Except here comes that word again – ‘but’.

But we haven’t really had members of the royal family, aside from Prince Philip, in hospital for years now making this something of a moot point.

Also, various moda operandi established under the late Queen, like staying clear of relatives in wards, are quietly being done away with to usher in a much more contemporary, less emotionally austere royal family. For example, His Majesty “made a beeline” for his daughter-in-law’s room when he arrived at the London Clinic this week.

Meanwhile Queen Camilla visited her husband three times within the space of 24-hours.

At the very time of year when all the working members of the royal family should be mucking in, instead things have veered dramatically off course and we are far away from normal Windsor programming.

I’d suggest that Camilla invest in some crystals, sage and the services of a half-decent shaman to sort of whatever bad juju or hex is hanging over Buckingham Palace.