Queen Elizabeth II and Birmingham Small Arms

Queen Elizabeth II with her son, Prince William.

 

The BSA Bantam, one of the Birmingham Small Arms Company’s most successful machines ever manufactured. Based on a prewar German DKW, this simple lightweight two-stroke was a roaring worldwide success for BSA. 1948 is the year it all started with the Rigid Frame Bantam D1. Featuring a 58mm stroke with 53mm bore, it produced a 123cc modest engine and 3-speed gearbox. For the novice motorcyclist, this distinctive and small capacity machine was the perfect first choice.

By the end of 1948, the U.K.’s General Post Office (GPO) started purchasing thousands of Bantams and using them as cost effective and economical transport for their telegram delivery service.

You would often see these little red roosters on streets and pavements all over the country. They were finished in the famous Post Office Red. Featuring King George VI royal crest on the tank, GPO transfers on the Legshields, BSA Garter Rifles on the toolbox, Pilled arms on Rear No. Plate Bracket, Tyre pressure transfers on the mudguards and some fitted with a first aid box.

Later versions had Queen Elizabeth II’s crest on the tank instead and a revised Garter Rifles as BSA changed their company name from B.S.A. Cycles to B.S.A. Motor Cycles Ltd in late 1953.

Funky looking Queen Elizabeth II with her BSA Bantam

By the 1950s the model began to evolve, now offering a plunger frame, and larger capacity models. It wasn’t too long before riders were looking for more power and so their focus turned to increasing their engines capacity and this first came with the 148cc Bantam D3. Available in two road options and competition models offering either rigid or plunger frame with heavier front forks on all D3 versions.

By late 1957, it was back to the drawing board for the design team in the never ending race to increase engine capacity. A failed attempt at increasing a longer stroke which resulted in stronger torque but terrible vibration lead to the solution, a plan to increase the bore size and a re-design of the bottom end. The result was the D5 (Major) with an engine displacement of 174cc and top speed nearly of 60mph.

BSA Bantam Super

The D7 shortly replaces the D5 in 1959. This Bantam Super was seen as more of an improvement rather than another bore-job and this model endured until 1966. Replacing the D7 in 1966 was the short lived D10, with noticeable changes to the engine and improved electrics and later versions of the D10 Sports and Bushman highlighting a 4-speed box taking up the same space as its predecessor.

Out with the 3-speed gear box and in with the 4-speed Bantam D14/4 series from 1968. A larger exhaust, respectable price and the fastest of all Bantams of as yet, meant it sold well although falling behind competition probably due to the lack of investment.

Early 1970’s saw the rise of the Japanese models and sadly the demise of B.S.A. Revised improvements to the engine were welcome but it was too little too late for the nimble bantam. The faster, more reliable rivals at Honda and Suzuki had crushed the competition and ultimately crushed B.S.A. by the end of the decade.

Prince George of Wales

Prince George of Wales (George Alexander Louis; born 22 July 2013) is a member of the British royal family. George is the eldest grandchild of King Charles III and second in the line of succession to the British throne behind his father.

Prince George

Prince George in the sun

Born

Prince George of Cambridge

22 July 2013

St Mary's Hospital, London, England

Names

George Alexander Louis

House

Windsor

George was born at St Mary's Hospital, London, during the reign of his paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and was third in line before her death. His birth was widely celebrated across the Commonwealth realms due to the expectation that he will eventually become king.

Infuncy

Prince George with his father

Prince George was born at 16:24 BST on 22 July 2013 in St Mary's Hospital, London, during the reign of his paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. He was the first child of Prince William, then Duke of Cambridge. His birth was announced by press release and followed by the display of a traditional easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Celebrations were staged in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms and the newborn was widely hailed as a future king in the majority of British newspapers. His name was announced as George Alexander Louis on 24 July.

George was third in the line of succession to the British throne at the time of his birth. For the first time since the reign of Queen Victoria, three generations in direct line of succession to the British throne were alive at the same time: George; his father, William; and his grandfather, Charles. George was christened on 23 October by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace.

Carl Frampton received his MBE for services to boxing at a ceremony
at Buckingham Palace from Prince William (he won the IBF super-
bantamweight crown after beating Kiko Martinez)

Upbringing

George spent his first months in Anglesey, Wales, before his family relocated to Kensington Palace in 2014. He embarked on his first royal tour with his parents in April 2014, during which they spent three weeks in New Zealand and Australia.

George started primary school under the name George Cambridge in September 2017 at Thomas's School in Battersea. In 2022, the family relocated to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park. Since September 2022, George and his siblings, Charlotte and Louis, have attended Lambrook, an independent preparatory school in Berkshire.

George took part in his great-grandmother's Platinum Jubilee celebration in June 2022, including the Trooping the Colour carriage procession. Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 and was succeeded by George's grandfather, who took the regnal name Charles III. George moved up to second in line for the throne, behind his father. He served as a page of honour at his grandfather's coronation on 6 May 2023. George and his siblings occasionally accompany their parents on royal engagements, tours, and diplomatic visits.

Prince William, Strawberry pie, Louise, George the kid and a wolf.

In August 2015, Kensington Palace stated that they wanted all global media to stop taking unauthorised photographs of George, saying that "a line [had] been crossed" in paparazzi methods of locating and photographing him, including surveilling the family and sending children to bring George into view.

In the British satirical sketch programme Newzoids George was depicted as a rebellious, foul-mouthed character with a lewd sense of humour. The 2016 children's book Winnie-the-Pooh Meets the Queen, written in honour of the 90th birthdays of both Queen Elizabeth II and the fictional character of Winnie-the-Pooh, features a cameo appearance from George, to whom Piglet presents a red balloon. The 2021 animated sitcom The Prince stars a fictionalised eight-year-old George who makes life difficult for his family. The show was cancelled in February 2022 after the first series drew criticism for satirising royal children.

References

Davies (24 July 2013). "Prince George: royal couple choose name fit for a king". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2013.

Davies (24 July 2013). "Prince of Cambridge's parents present him to the world at first photocall". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.

Kimble, Lindsay (30 April 2015). People. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.

"Prince George not yet sleeping through the night, says his dad". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2021.

Wylie (3 September 2022). "Cambridges have moved into new Windsor home, sources say". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.

"Prince George 'being harassed by paparazzi'". BBC News. 14 August 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2015.

"A new photograph of the King and the Queen Consort". The Royal Family. 4 April 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.

Charlotte and George at school