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A Guide to Embracing Rain on a UK Staycation

Weather in the UK is famously unpredictable. When it comes to the seasons, the rules just don’t apply. It’s not surprising to see snow in June or experience T-shirt weather in December. Sometimes those days will catch us off guard and hinder our best-laid plans.

Now, with varying roadmaps to exit lockdown for all four nations of the UK, and a successful vaccine drive pushing the country towards greater freedom, there is optimism that staycations will be allowed to go ahead during the summer.

However, the choice of a UK summer holiday is vastly different from the experience of going abroad. While we can expect heatwaves and gloriously sunny days, we must brace ourselves for a rain check.

Having a back-up plan for those rainy days on a UK staycation is essential for keeping your holiday on track. But thinking of what to do when the weather keeps us in our own lockdown can be difficult.

Here, we take a look at the best ways to have the weather on your side during your holiday, come rain or shine.

Sit back and relax

After the year we’ve had, we shouldn’t take a little bit of relaxation for granted. While we’d love to do this on a sunny deck chair, there’s always the chance that the rain will keep us in. Make sure that you’re prepared to stay indoors while using the rain as a tool for relaxation.

The rain has a regular and predictable pattern. This means that it can help our brain relax while processing the calming sound. Take advantage of these moments to sit back and enjoy your time. When it rains you can:

– Read a book
– Do some yoga
– Write a postcard
– Create some art
– Have a massage
– Sleep

Use the sound of the rain as a tool for meditation when you’re on your staycation. It can help you feel relaxed and make you appreciate the quiet moments a little more. After all, what do you go on holiday for if not to relieve our stresses?

Embrace the storm

Staying in when it rains can be relaxing but embracing the weather can be just as enjoyable. Rain only gets in the way when we don’t expect it. Preparing for a rainy day means that you can plan an exciting activity that utilises the wet weather.

For families, playing in the rain can be an exciting and unusual activity. Although it can be messy, you’ll make amazing memories during your staycation.

Children can use containers to measure the rain and see how quickly they can collect a cup of water. Sending paper boats down flowing bodies of water can lead to exciting and high-stake races. Even stomping, jumping, and running through puddles can be a welcome and fun break for any child. Make sure that you’re prepared with a kids umbrella while they enjoy the wild weather. Embracing the elements is very important after a year of lockdown and staying indoors.

Grin and bear it

It’s great to feel the sun on your skin, but good weather is never promised on a UK staycation. Sometimes we just have to endure the cold and enjoy the time while we can.

You can still do many of the same activities you planned to do on your staycation in the rain. Fancy going on a hike? Just make sure that you’re well wrapped up and that you take a quality windproof umbrella to fight the gusts and rain. The world is transformed when it rains, and it should be seen. Climb to the top of a wet and slippery hill and enjoy the views of rainbows and a town under a deluge from the sky.

Even botanical gardens look better in the rain. See rain hit flowers while taking shelter under a tree for a picnic. Visit local attractions and see the true nature of a UK village, town, or city. This country was built in the rain, so it’s important to remember that you’re getting the full cultural experience during your staycation.

Any type of holiday will be enjoyable after enduring the past year, so a spot of rain on your staycation is unlikely to ruin your plans to have a relaxing break. Making sure that you’re well prepared with warm coats, good plans, and quality umbrellas is the best that we can do to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

Although winter doesn’t officially end until 20th March, as the days pass, we edge closer and closer to the end of the coldest months. Soon, warmer days will be upon us, where we will likely feel happier and have more energy.

Have you ever thought about how the weather can affect your mental health?

The rain

Unless you love feeling cosy on rainy days and curling up with a book by the fire, rainy days can get us down. If it’s cold and dreary, the dark and heavy clouds can limit sunlight getting to us, which can impact our mood when it happens for a consistent amount of time. Interestingly, research has found that around nine per cent of people are “rain haters”. While some of us may feel slightly down and tired when it rains, rain haters feel anger with more rainfall. Another study also reported that we take to Facebook to complain with negative posts!

The reason why we feel lethargic during cold and dark weather is because when we’re exposed to less sunlight, our bodies produce more melatonin which makes us tired. A lack of vitamin D from less sunlight exposure can also give us the blues, which when more serious is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – also known as winter depression. So, while you might want to wrap up in a blanket and indulge in comfort food or nap, there is a scientific reason why you want to do nothing.

Symptoms of SAD include:
– Depression
– Feeling lethargic
– A weakened immune system
– Low motivation
– Lack of interest in activities that you once enjoyed
– Oversleeping and struggling to stay awake
– Overeating (particularly comfort food like carbohydrates)
– Feeling anxious
– Withdrawing from social situations
– Feeling in a persistent low mood

The sun

In the same way, vitamin D from sunlight exposure regulates our mood and can help in fighting depression and illnesses. There’s a reason why vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin – sunlight stimulates our brain to produce this important nutrient. Serotonin is also released which boosts our mood and makes us feel good.

The circadian rhythm is affected by sunlight, which is essentially our body clock. Our sleep-wake cycle is a 24-hour cycle and is directly set by light, which lets our bodies know when it is light and dark – day and night – and when we should be awake or tired. In the winter, when there is significantly less light than summer, our brain thinks that we should be getting ready for bed and triggers the release of the ‘sleep hormone’ melatonin. So in the summer, when the days are lighter and longer, our brain doesn’t trigger the release of melatonin until later on, giving us more energy.

When it’s hot

When the weather is hot, we can be open to feeling irritable. Research has found that we can get angry or irritated when the weather is warmer as our stress hormones, such as cortisol, rise with the thermometers. If you find that the heat affects your mood, you can shelter under your golf umbrella so you can enjoy the sun without overheating.

When it’s cold

When the weather is cold, we might be more inclined to stay indoors and have less exposure to the sunlight. This can make us feel more lethargic from less vitamin D and serotonin than how we would normally feel.

It’s certainly encouraging to learn that we will have more energy in the summer after a difficult few months in lockdown in winter.

Socially Distant Party Games You Can Play This Christmas

Christmas 2020 is going to be very different. But that does not mean that traditions can’t go on, and a tradition in many families is party games. This year, with our Christmas bubbles, we can have some members of our extended family in our house, but we may still want to maintain a safe distance from them. So, we have solved this problem with our picks of party games you can still play while maintaining social distance this Christmas.

Who Am I?

This is a classic in many homes each Christmas, and it always brings laughs – especially when Grandma has to try and guess Kim Kardashian. People that are in a bubble together can be responsible for writing down the famous figure that needs to be guessed on a sticky note and then pass it to the player to put it on their head. People can be spread around the room because they do not need to be right next to each other, as long as everyone can see the names on the sticky notes. You might need to pass Dad his glasses so he can see though!

Umbrella Bounce

Umbrella Bounce is a simple game – you only need an umbrella and three tennis balls. The game works by having an open umbrella, (outside if you are superstitious), about 10 to 15 feet from where you are standing. Each person has three balls that they have to bounce into the umbrella. The person that has got the most balls in at the end wins. This can be done socially distant by disinfecting the balls after use or having different balls for each person. The kids could also have their own little tournament with their kids umbrellas.

Wink Murder

Many of you may have played this at school, and it is an old favourite. You start with all your players placed around the room, (or dinner table). One person is the detective, and one person is selected to be the murderer. The murderer then winks at each of the other players – if you’re winked at, that’s your cue to perform a dramatic death! The murderer must do this while avoiding being seen by the detective. It is then up to the detective to work out who the murderer is.

The game ends when either the detective has guessed correctly, or the murderer has killed all the other players. Extra points for award-winning deaths!

Simultaneous board games

If board games are what your family loves, you could still play them all together, but in a safe way. Have two sets of the same board game open and replicate the game on each board, but it means that each household can have their own equipment and they are not sharing with the other household.

Charades

For households that can’t be together, you can still play that old Christmas favourite, charades, with the help of technology. Compete against the other household or mix teams up and try to guess across video call. It will be like you are in the same room together and a good alternative that will help you keep up the Christmas tradition.

So, this Christmas may be very different to other years, but you can still keep the tradition of the family party games alive with our suggestions. Some may even become family favourites and will be played every year in the future.

Why Umbrellas Are the Best Present for the Family

The best presents in life are useful ones. Therefore, there can be no doubt that umbrellas can make the best present – they are incredibly useful, especially here in the UK! Throughout the year, there will be many times we all need an umbrella. But more than that, an umbrella is the perfect practical accessory to finish off an outfit.

So, whether you are buying for your nearest and dearest or for that person that has everything, we have picked out the best choices for people you may still need to buy gifts for.

For the lady in your life

If the lady in your life loves to look trendy and you also want to show your love for her, get her the Birdcage-2 Tattoo Rose umbrella. Express the message of your love with the all-over rose pattern on this dome-shaped umbrella. Plus, it’ll keep that fashionable ensemble dry. The pattern is printed on transparent plastic, meaning that visibility will be good for her whether she is using it on a walk or on her way to work.

However, if she loves her designer labels, we have a full range of Ted Baker, Orla Kiely and Lulu Guinness umbrellas that will suit her perfectly.

For the gentleman in your life

For the gentleman in your life, opt for something smart and durable. he won’t appreciate an umbrella that will break after one gust of wind, after all.

Our Typhoon-1 umbrella is the best solution. Using the latest advancements in umbrella technology the Typhoon-1 is a windproof umbrella. The rib structure can withstand being inverted. Not only is it practical, but it is stylish with its sleek black colour and comfortable rubber-coated hook handle. It’s the perfect choice whether he’s off to the golf course or rushing to a meeting.

For the kids

You might think the little ones in your life would not appreciate an umbrella, but with the fun designs we have, they will love them! For the little girl who is obsessed with magic and stories, get her the Funbrella-4 Bella the Unicorn umbrella. This magical unicorn patterned umbrella with pink hook handle (perfect for hanging off her school bag) will make her so happy when skipping to school on rainy days.

For the little boys that are obsessed with cars, trucks, buses, and all forms of transport, we have the Cath Kidston Junior-4 Mono Transport umbrella. The dark blue umbrella is covered in all sorts of vehicles, which is sure to put a smile on his face Christmas morning. The easy glide opening system means that it is safe and easy to use for small hands.

We hope our guide has shown you why umbrellas are great presents to get for family and friends. There are some great umbrellas spotlighted in this blog that anyone would be happy to get on Christmas morning.

Fan-Favourite Umbrellas from Film & TV

Actors may have the starring role, but where would our leading men and women be without their supporting cast? Sometimes, that supporting cast comes in the form of fabulous accessories!

Umbrellas are often used on the silver screen to convey an emotion about a scene. Sometimes they are used to show reflection or change. Other times, they are used so two characters can have a private conversation.

In this blog, we will show you some of the scene-stealing umbrellas from your favourite TV shows and films, plus how you can recreate the look.

The Umbrella Academy

We’re excited to see that this superhero TV show has recently been renewed for a third season over on Netflix. It has our favourite word in its name, so it’s only fitting that the show features some sleek brollies.

Based on the graphic novel series by singer Gerard Way, The Umbrella Academy features two iconic umbrellas. The first is the black hook-handled umbrella, which is favoured by Sir Reginald Hargreeves and what inspired the name for the eccentric gentleman’s superhero team. Step out in Sir Reginald’s dapper style with our Knightsbridge-1 umbrella!

The second umbrellas is twirled by fan-favourite Klaus Hargreeves. This pink birdcage umbrella can’t keep the spirits away from Number Four, but at least it kept the rain away in season one. Our Birdcage-1 Pink umbrella is a perfect match to Klaus’ brolly of choice.

Mary Poppins

No one can deny that Mary Poppins made umbrellas absolutely magical for generations of Disney fans. Many of us as children spent hours out in the rain with our little brollies, jumping up in a hope that we could learn to fly like everyone’s favourite nanny.

The best part? You can carry the nostalgic magic with you as a grown-up too! Get the Mary Poppins-style with this Soho-1 Navy umbrella. The colour matches Mary’s coat beautifully. (We are sorry but talking parrot handle is also not included with the umbrella. We will leave that part to your imagination!)

James Bond

Ever wanted to walk down the street feeling like a secret agent? While we can’t get you a job at MI6, we can provide you with an umbrella that looks like a classic Bond gadget. The spike umbrella was seen in For Your Eyes Only with Roger Moore playing Bond. The umbrella in the film was to be used by the enemy – when the umbrella is opened, spikes come out and the umbrella snaps shut on the person.

We don’t sell deadly umbrellas, but we do sell the aptly-named Magnum-1 Auto Black. With a wooden hook-handle and a gadget-worthy automatic opening, it’s sure to make you feel as suave as 007.

Moulin Rouge

Many girls have dreamt about Ewan McGregor serenading them. While we can’t provide Ewan, we can give you a similar umbrella to the one he is holding in the climax of the heart-warming Your Song scene in Moulin Rouge. His character, Christian, and the stunning Satine are not avoiding rain with this gorgeous umbrella, but are actually sheltering from a deluge of glitter and confetti. Recreate the romance with the similar Aerolite-1 Dark Red umbrella. If nothing else, it will help you avoid the rain while daydreaming about Mr McGregor at the bus stop.

There you have it! Your favourite brollies from the screen, matched and picked from our own collection of stunning umbrellas. Now you can add a subtle movie nod to your outfit – and look forward to feeling like a movie star next time it rains!

Since the popular series about the modern history of the British royal family began in 2016, it has been watched by 73 million households worldwide. The historic drama is now set to release its fourth season this year, but the three before it have created many memorable moments. Here at Fulton Umbrellas, we decided to compile a list of the most impactful moments across the seasons. We analysed the search terms for each of the main events and recorded the increase in searches on Google. We then measured the data two weeks pre- and post-release to gauge the impact of each moment.

Margaret wears the crown in season one

In season one, it was not the story of the Queen that captured everyone’s attention. It was her younger sister Margaret and her love life that people were interested in. Peter Townsend was a divorced captain that Margaret wanted to marry in 1953. However, as she was under the age of 25, she had to get permission from the Queen to marry him, who was in turn caught between her family and her Government as the prime minister at the time, Winston Churchill, said that it was unlikely that the cabinet would agree to the match. Townsend was then sent away to work in Belgium.

The couple was reunited in 1955 but were still denied marriage. At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Eden said that if Margaret married him, she would be stripped of her royal privileges and income. Then in October the same year, she made a statement that ended it all, confirming she would never marry him. Margaret did finally marry in 1960 to magazine photographer Antony Armstrong Jones.

Viewers were hooked, with many turning to Google to search for more information on the “Margaret and Townsend affair”. This search term soared by 1,483% in the 14 days after the season aired, showing the little sister stole the show.

Marburg Files revealed in season two

Season two’s most searched for scene came from a historical moment not many people know about. Indeed, the public did not know about it at time. The Marburg Papers were papers found that showed over 60 documents of correspondence between Edward VIII and Nazi high command. The entire volumes were only finally released in 1957. The episode in the season depicts the Queen’s first response to the documents, as Edward tries to re-enter the public life after his abdication in 1936. Searches for “Marburg Files” rose by 2,000%, which suggests that this was not a well-known thing and people wanted to know more.

Charles has his moment in season three

The most searched-for moment in season three was when Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales. This was important at the time, as the 20-year-old Charles was taken away from his studies at Cambridge University to spend some time in Wales and learn the Welsh language in the hope that this would ease tensions between Wales and England.

In the show, he becomes sympathetic to the idea Wales should be more independent and talks about Wales having a national identity in his investiture speech. In the series, the Queen is not pleased with this because he took a political stance, something royals should not do.

Searches for Charles’ speech in Wales went up 100% after the episode. This may be because people wanted to see the speech in real life was as revolutionary and emotional as the one in the show, or to simply read a translation of the Welsh speech.  It’s no surprise that this moment was so keenly searched for after the episode aired – it was not only a historic moment, but one that displayed a daring side to the future King. His words were not simply that of a royal family member doing the duty asked of him, but of a man going beyond that and standing among the Welsh people, seeking acceptance at a time when anti-English sentiment was strong in the country. Prince Charles did not just deliver a speech to the people. He delivered one in support of the people, making this as a momentous moment.

The upcoming season

Even though season four has not been released yet, it is already making an impact. The introduction of Princess Diana to the season has made search terms related to her rise. As the real woman made headlines in her own life, actress Emma Corrin has also made headlines for her uncanny resemblance to Diana, who she will be portraying in the show. Searches for the actress went up 200 per cent.

The iconic wedding dress Diana wore has been recreated for the series with The Crown’s costume designer, Amy Roberts, collaborating with the original designer, David Emanuel, to recreate the dress perfectly. Across the previous three seasons, Google searches for the most impactful moments in the series have increased on average by a minimum of 200%. We’re certain that internet interest for Princess Diana’s wedding dress will see a similar surge in the two weeks after season four airs.

We hope this blog has intrigued you to find out more about the different events in each season of The Crown. We are sure that the upcoming season four will bring more impactful moments, including Gillian Anderson’s depiction of Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War.

Impactful moments throughout the season

Season	Searches Increased By
Season 1
Margaret and Townsend affair	1483%
Eden Prime Minister	639%
Great Smog 1952	1787%
Season 2
Marburg Files	2000%
Princess Margaret engagement	425%
Macmillan Prime Minister	503%
Season 3
Charles speech in Wales	100%
Princess Margaret US tour	100%
Princess Margaret divorce	339%

 

Sustainability has never been so urgent. Brands, celebrities, and the general public are all beginning to turn towards sustainable options, championing everything from eco-friendly fashion to conscious travel brands. The royal family is no exception to this movement, and many of Britain’s royals have been seen to make big steps towards a greener way of living.

From nifty electric cars to eco-activism and sustainable wardrobes, let’s find out which of our royals are paving the way and think about how we can emulate their efforts in our own lives.

The Duchess of Cambridge
Kate Middleton is famed for always looking classy and fashionable. In the words of one Guardian fashion editor, “her clothes show respect, bring an emotional warmth that strengthens historic and strategic bonds, and send a positive message about the country and family she represents.” Ever since marrying into the royal family, she has presented herself with true grace, and now she is using her coveted wardrobe to champion sustainable fashion brands.

Kate’s high-end designer choices always favour the sustainable, and she is often seen looking fabulous in Alexander McQueen and Temperley London garments. However, she has also been seen wearing lesser-known sustainable brands such as Faithful and Beulah. The latter of the two is a brand that sets out to fight modern slavery and empower vulnerable women.

Not only does Kate Middleton use her influence to champion sustainable brands, but she also doesn’t shy away from revisiting her wardrobe and re-wearing garments that she has already been seen in. This may seem normal to most of us, but for a royal, outfit repeating is a powerful statement!

Considering the fashion industry is the world’s second largest polluter after the oil industry, boosting the popularity of sustainable fashion could not be more important. The Duchess of Cambridge’s choices encourage the rest of us to choose investment pieces over fast fashion, whether that be reducing our plastic waste by investing in a luxury umbrellas, re-styling an old dress rather than buying one new, or shopping at pioneering sustainable brands.

The Price of Wales
Over the years, Prince Charles has regularly been involved with community initiatives and scientific bodies as well as developing his own sustainability projects. Each of his projects has focussed on remedying environmental damage and finding sustainable ways to save the plant’s natural resources. His projects include the Prince’s Rainforest Project, Accounting for Sustainability, the International Sustainability Unit, and Project Start. On top of this, Price Charles has been involved with planning homes in communities with an environmental focus, while updating his own homes and cars to make sure that they are more eco-friendly (such as the solar panels installed in Clarence House)

Prince Charles was also the first member of the royal family to opt for an electric car, a Jaguar I-PACE to be precise. Not only did this purchase make his journeys much greener, but it set a precedent both for the general public and the other royals. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex soon followed his lead in 2019!

Queen Elizabeth II
Each member of the royal family seems to have chosen their own area of sustainability to champion. For Queen Elizabeth, that area is forests. After the launch of the Queens Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) in 2015, all 53 countries in the Commonwealth family have united together in a pledge to help save some of the plant’s most precious natural habitats.

The result was the launch of a network of forest conservation projects, helping to conserve indigenous forests for generations to come. The QCC prioritises five key objectives:

• To raise awareness of the value of indigenous forests

• To create a chain of forest conservation projects that unite commonwealth countries

• To demonstrate the Commonwealth’s capacity to promote change in our forests

• To facilitate knowledge about what the best strategy is to achieve forest conservation

• To create a lasting legacy of the Queen’s leadership of the Commonwealth

In recent news, it was announced that Bermuda has now joined the QCC. As of March 2020, Bermuda chose to contribute towards the incredible biodiversity that the Walsingham Nature Reserve QCC project strives to accomplish.

From involvement in charities to eco-tourism, it’s clear that sustainability is more important to the royal family than ever before. With more and more high-profile, influential people putting the wellbeing of our planet at the top of their priorities, the future looks brighter and far more sustainable!

Breathing a New Lease of Life into Our Brollies
Concerns of the environment are trickling down into virtually everything. At the moment, there’s a growing emphasis being placed on tackling the ‘throwaway culture’ in the UK with the 5 Rs; refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. Every gesture helps when it comes to combatting climate change, whether customers choose to buy longer lasting products or simply make a habit out of upcycling goods that are of no use anymore, we could all make a huge difference. Here, we’ll look at some clever tips for you to upcycle your umbrellas into new household products.

Flower Vase
Perhaps you bought a new windproof umbrellas, replacing your old and battered brolly — you don’t want to just put it in the bin and contribute to the growing waste in our landfills, so what can you do instead?

You can turn your brolly into a quirky flower vase wall decoration. Everyone loves flowers, so you could give this as a thoughtful, homemade gift to your loved ones, or use it to make cheap bespoke decorations for your own home. Simply wrap a pretty ribbon at the point of the umbrellas to keep the fabric held tight, placing your favourite flower arrangement inside — if your umbrella has a hooked handle, you could use this to hang as a fixture on the wall.

Party banners
Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, baby gender reveal, graduation party, or baby shower, this nifty little trick will save pointless amounts of money on party decoration when you could be DIY’ing! Craft your own banners or streamers from the fabric of your umbrella to hang up around your home or the venue you’re partying at. These will add a unique touch to your parties as the banners won’t be like generic decorations from the store. They’ll also be a great backdrop for some fun mid-partying snaps!

A unique skirt
Umbrellas come in unlimited styles, colours, and patterns, and can be a great fashion accessory in the sun and rain if you have one that matches your style. But what if you could wear your beloved umbrella pattern in a new way? You might be wanting to switch things up or your umbrella has just broken, but luckily for you, you don’t need to be a sewing master to rock this look. Particularly useful if you have a pretty patterned ladies umbrellas, simply remove the canopy of the umbrella from the frame, add a belt and you’ve got yourself a one of a kind skirt that nobody else will have!

Scrapbook material
If you’re an avid arts and crafts fanatic and are looking for new material to use in your scrapbooks or photo albums, create swatches and shapes from your broken umbrella material to add a touch of individuality to your memories!

So, what upcycle idea will you use? Umbrellas are a lot more versatile then you might realise…

Statistics show that in the UK, around two to five per cent of school-aged children have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with 60 per cent of those continuing to display symptoms into their adult life. Symptoms include not being able to control their responses, including paying attention, siting still, and their speech. However, studies have suggested that not enough children are receiving treatment for ADHD, with many children being undertreated.

This raises the issue that maybe not enough of us are aware of ADHD and its symptoms. Many of us are unable to identify the condition and don’t know how to accommodate those with ADHD’s needs to help them excel, with children struggling in school, and as a result, underperforming. It can be very frustrating and overwhelming for a child to feel excluded or not understood, mislabelled as troublemakers or being undisciplined. Click her for more information on understanding ADHD.

To tackle this issue and the stigma and discrimination around ADHD, the Umbrella Project is a neurodiversity charity that celebrates the gifts, talents, and employability of those with neurological conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia. Have you ever noticed unique shapes such as birdcage umbrellas hanging up and you’ve been unsure why? The Umbrella Project is a movement that is becoming more and more popular around the world each year to help people understand individuals who are neurodiverse. World leading companies like Apple, Microsoft, and IBM actively recruit neurodiverse employees because of their fantastic abilities to innovate, solve creative problems, and analyse information. The Umbrellas Project earned its name because ADHD and autism are ‘umbrella terms’ for a range of neurological differences that challenge the stigma of these disabilities, which are often invisible.

To help the rest of the world become aware of their capabilities, beautiful and colourful rainbow displays of umbrellas are designed and installed on public streets and spaces such as Heathrow Airport and Liverpool city centre. A recent campaign invited schools across the world to have their own display suspended from classroom ceilings so children can understand the unique talents among their peers. It also raises money for the charity — 2018 was so successful that it attracted over 30 million media hits and installations in Dubai, Spain, Argentina, the U.S, Romania, and Czech Republic.

Photo by Ricardo Resende on Unsplash

Businesses can get involved and sponsor an umbrella for £250. Each umbrella is signed and decorated by a neurodiverse child who writes what their ‘superpower’ is on the brolly, whether it’s a talent, gift, or ability, to celebrate their cognitive differences.

This challenges the myths and stereotypes that people may have about children with these disabilities and helps to recognise their contribution to our society and lives.

While it’s difficult to estimate how many of us believe in astrology, research suggests that 90% of adults know what their zodiac sign is. For many of us, astrology brings great comfort to us as we try to understand the uncertainty and chaos in the world with a greater understanding of celestial navigation. Whether you’re trying to suss whether yours and your partner’s star signs are compatible or if they explain the conflict you’ve been experiencing, some believe that they can provide insight into our natures and personalities.

It isn’t just our own zodiac signs that interest us—have you ever wondered the secret to Queen Elizabeth’s and Prince Philip’s enduring love story? Or was there celestial influence over Princess Diana becoming the ‘People’s Princess’?

Here, we’ll look at the star signs of current monarchs to find out if there is a dominant “ruling” zodiac. Then, we’ll look to the future with different countries’ hereditary ‘next-in-lines’ to discover which star sign is most popular and least popular when destined to don the crown. After all, the answers could lie in the stars.

Current stars of the world

We looked at the birthdays of the 29 current ruling monarchs across the world, from Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and Commonwealth realms to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain, to explore which star sign is currently the most common among our ruling kings and queens. Aries, Taurus, Leo, Pisces, and Aquarius were the most popular, with 70% having these zodiac signs.

Country	Ruler	Birthday	Age	Gender	Zodiac sign
Denmark	Queen Margrethe II	16-Apr-40	80	Female	Aries
Luxembourg	Grand Duke Henri	16-Apr-55	65	Male	Aries
Swaziland	King Mswati III	19-Apr-68	58	Male	Aries
Cambodia	King Norodom Sihamoni	14-May-53	67	Male	Aries
Belgium	King Phillippe	14-Apr-60	60	Male	Aries
England	Queen Elizabeth II	21-Apr-26	94	Female	Taurus
Sweden	King Carl XVI Gustaf	30-Apr-46	74	Male	Taurus
Netherlands	King Willem-Alexander	27-Apr-67	53	Male	Taurus
Cambodia	King Norodom Sihamoni	14-May-53	67	Male	Taurus
Morocco	King Mohammed VI	21-Aug-63	56	Male	Leo
Thailand	King Vajiralongkorn	28-Jul-52	67	Male	Leo
Malaysia	King Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin	30-Jul-59	60	Male	Leo
France	Co-Prince Archbishop Joan Enric Vives I Sicilla	24-Jul-49	70	Male	Leo
Liechtenstein	Prince Regeant Hans-Adam II	14-Feb-45	75	Male	Aquarius
Spain	King Felipe VI	30-Jan-68	52	Male	Aquarius
Jordan	King Abdullah II	30-Jan-62	58	Male	Aquarius
Bahrain	King Hamad bin Isa	28-Jan-50	70	Male	Aquarius
Norway	Harald V of Norway	21-Feb-37	83	Male	Pisces
Monaco	Sovereign Prince Albert II	14-Mar-58	62	Male	Pisces
Bhutan	King Jigme Khesar Namgyel	21-Feb-80	40	Male	Pisces
Japan	Emperor Naruhito	23-Feb-60	60	Male	Pisces

The planets above the crowns

Ruled by the planet Mars, Aries share his traits of courage, determination, confidence, and passion with a strong tendency for taking on leadership roles.

Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, sharing her traits of beauty, artistry, hedonism, and have a strong love of luxury and comfort. Queen Elizabeth II is known for her bold and fashionable power suits and matching ladies umbrellas—she is certainly a queen of luxury. Taurus’ are also said to be fiercely loyal, which is a characteristic used to describe Her Majesty. A Taurus tends to escape from reality when they’re emotional, which is something that the Queen doesn’t display in public.

Leo is ruled by the Sun and have great energy, courage, and honesty, considered a natural leader. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet of ultra-progressive thinking, originality and advocate of change and reform. Finally, Neptune rules Pisces, who have traits of compassion, insight, and spiritual development.

Elements of current rulers

All zodiac signs are grouped in four groups of three based on their element; 23% had air signs with Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini; 20% had earth signs with Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo; 16.6% had water signs with Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces; and 30% had fire signs with Leo, Sagittarius, and Aries. The fire element is the most popular among the ruling monarchs, who are fiery characters with a tendency for excitability and impulsivity. Fire and water were two of the most popular zodiac sign elements—fire signs are passionate and temperamental whereas water signs are intuitive, emotional, and very sensitive.

Modality of current rulers

Each of the four elements have a distinct quality of how they engage with the world, known as modalities, including Cardinal (30%), Fixed (40%), and Mutable (23%). Fixed was the most common modality sign, who are said to dig in and are able to hold steady to achieve their goals. It’s hard for these signs to change, which can give them a reputation for being set in their ways.

Heirs written in the stars

It would seem the stars have aligned new beginnings for the next generation of rulers. Here, we looked at 23 hereditary rulers. This is because some monarchy systems don’t run through hereditary succession and instead appoint the next King or Queen, so we won’t know their star signs until they are named as successors.

Looking at the heirs to the thrones across these nations, it was revealed that Scorpio and Cancer are the next zodiac signs to rule the world, with 34% of heirs born from October 23 to November 22 and June 21 to July 22.

Country	Next in line	Birthday	Age	Gender	Zodiac sign
England	Prince Charles	14-Nov-48	71	Male	Scorpio
Sweden	Crown Princess Victoria	14-Jul-77	42	Female	Cancer
Liechtenstein	Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein	11-Jun-68	52	Male	Gemini
Denmark	Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark	26-May-68	52	Male	Gemini
Spain	Leonor, Princess of Asturias	31-Oct-05	14	Female	Scorpio
Netherlands	Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria	07-Dec-03	16	Female	Sagittarius
Norway	Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway	20-Jul-73	46	Male	Cancer
Brunei	Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah	17-Feb-74	46	Male	Aquarius
Morocco	Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco	08-May-03	17	Male	Taurus
Monaco	Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco	10-Dec-14	5	Male	Sagittarius
Jordan	Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan	28-Jun-94	25	Male	Cancer
Luxembourg	Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg	11-Nov-81	38	Male	Scorpio
Saudi Arabia	Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud	31-Aug-85	35	Male	Virgo
Belgium	Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant	25-Oct-01	18	Female	Scorpio
Thailand	Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti	29-Apr-05	15	Male	Taurus
Bahrain	Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa	21-Oct-69	50	Male	Libra
Bhutan	Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck	05-Feb-16	4	Male	Aquarius
Kuwait	Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	25-Jun-37	82	Male	Cancer
Malaysia	Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah	17-Sep-95	24	Male	Virgo
Japan	Fumihito, Prince Akishino	30-Nov-65	54	Male	Sagittarius
Lesotho	Prince Lerotholi Seeiso	18-Apr-07	13	Male	Aries
Qatar	Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani	03-Jun-80	40	Male	Gemini
Tonga	Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala	17-Sep-85	34	Male	Virgo

 

Cancers are said to be emotional and deeply intuitive as well as sensitive to their environments and extremely protective of themselves—will this reflect in the way monarchies will be protective of their people in a mothering sense? Cancerians wear their heart on their sleeve and have a dislike of strangers and revealing their personal lives. Monarchies famously keep their private lives as shielded as possible, so we don’t expect to see a change in terms of sharing details about what is going on personally. Tabloids often guess goings on behind closed doors, but will this information be harder to come by with the next generation of royals?

Scorpio is one of the most misunderstood zodiac signs. Their incredible passion and power means that they often mistaken as a fire sign. Scorpio is actually a water sign along with Cancer, which was the most popular element in heirs’ zodiac signs. Water energy is ambitious and enticing—their assertive nature makes them natural born leaders. When Scorpios build trust with others, they are extremely empathetic and committed. However, on a bad day, a Scorpio is driven by a relentless need for control—if they’re controlled by their egos, they risk self-destruction.

 

Source: Shutterstock, by Viacheslav Lopatin

 

Future modality upon the thrones

The most popular Modality across all heir zodiac signs is Mutable sign, who are flexible, adaptable, and restless for movement and change. Mutable signs can see life from many perspectives which makes them great communicators. With the most common Modality for current rulers being Fixed—who tend to be less flexible and more single-minded—will this shift to Mutable signal a time for even more progressive change and a shift in energy?

The Modality sign for Scorpio is Fixed, so it’s hard for Scorpio to change. This can give them a reputation for being inflexible. On the other hand, Cancer’s Modality is Cardinal, one of the oldest in the family who are assertive in their style of leadership, similar to Fixed. This isn’t surprising as heirs are born to rule.

The planets to come

Cancer is ruled by the moon, which is said to give people with this zodiac an innate need to nurture, support, and protect—characteristics important in leaders. It’s possible that we might see more emotion from global monarchs with times and traditions changing more and more in the modern world. Meanwhile, Scorpio is ruled by Mars and Pluto, which are associated with transformation.

Considering this, the number of kings and queens currently stands at 91% men and 9% female, which will increase to 17% women when heirs come into their throne—will more female monarchs be a goal these progressive characters will strive to achieve for in the future, signalling transformation and a step forward for monarchies? Will more countries follow Sweden, who in 1980 became the first monarchy to change succession rites so that the first-born child of the monarch is heir, regardless of gender?