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D-Day: Queen Elizabeth making rare foreign trip

By WTOP Staff

GREGORY KATZ
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The queen’s joints are creaky and her husband has recently battled serious illness, but the royal couple won’t let aches and pains keep them away from a grand overseas commemoration: the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have for the most part stopped traveling abroad — a reluctant concession to their advanced years — but next week they intend to be in Normandy for ceremonies to honor those who sacrificed their lives to liberate Europe from the Nazi grip.

The perils of World War II directly shaped the lives of Elizabeth, 88, and Philip, 92. The anniversary is so heartfelt that the royal couple is preparing to cross the English Channel once more, this time on a Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel that Elizabeth helped inaugurate 20 years ago.

Historian Antony Beevor, a renowned chronicler of World War II, said Elizabeth and Philip want to show their solidarity with the dwindling number of living veterans, including those still strong enough to attend the events next week. They will bring younger royals as well, including Prince Charles, heir to the throne, and Prince William, second in line.

“I think it will mean a huge amount to the veterans,” Beevor said. “To have the queen there makes all the difference. The veterans’ loyalty is very deep and their admiration is very deep. The queen and Philip are both well aware that this is the last time a reasonable number of veterans will be able to attend. So it’s very important to both of them.”

The queen was a teenager during the war. As a princess she contributed by joining the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, where she served as a driver and mechanic. Philip was on active duty in the Royal Navy.

Beevor said many believe that this may be the final overseas trip for the queen, whose impressive stamina and mobility have lately been affected by joint pain.

The monarch, head of state since the sudden death in 1952 of her father George VI, has recently ceded more of her duties to Charles in what has been characterized as a “soft succession” or partial transition. Charles has stepped in for his mother at an increasing numbers of investitures and also represented her at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting gathering in Sri Lanka.

Charles also filled in for the queen at the last minute at an event in May when royal planners became concerned about the number of steps she would have to ascend.

Despite these changes, Elizabeth is expected to carry on in the office she has held since 1952. She continues her private weekly meetings with the prime minister — Winston Churchill was the first — and plans to read the Queen’s Speech announcing her government’s program at the formal opening of Parliament next week.

The queen has not said publicly that she is cutting back her role — and in fact she has appeared as ebullient as ever when in the public eye. But Philip, who has heart disease and other ailments, indicated when he reached 90 that it was time for him to reduce his public commitments.

He was out of public view for an extended period last year when recovering from exploratory abdominal surgery for an undisclosed illness, but has recently been seen out and about — a bit craggier, perhaps, but still chipper.

The queen is also relying increasingly on the younger generation of royals, led by Prince William and his wife Kate, who will both have a prominent role in the events taking place next week in Normandy.

The queen does plan, however, to attend a remembrance service and to meet personally with veterans in addition to taking part in the main ceremony at Sword Beach, one of the landing spots where allied forces faced fire from entrenched German troops and tanks.

French officials have described Elizabeth as the “super guest of honor” — a nod both to her longevity and to Britain’s vital role in the D-Day invasion that liberated France.

After the solemn events in Normandy, the queen and Philip will be given a state banquet Friday night at the Elysee Palace hosted by French President Francois Hollande.

The next morning the queen’s schedule is mercifully light, and she and Philip plan to fly home to England just in time for her to attend the Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse — an event that, like the D-Day commemoration, is something she would not voluntarily miss.

“That’s dear to her heart, her favorite day on the racing calendar,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. “No one would begrudge her a little bit of pleasure.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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