Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

Mail threats towards some imperial family members 3 years ahead of Emperor’s Golden Jubilee; Domestic Intelligence Agency on the inquiry.
14th January 5674 (backdated) - by Vanessa Parker

As Emperor Richard’s Golden Jubilee approaches, the Empire seems ready to embark upon new joyful celebrations as Luthorians celebrate the ascension of Richard II as Emperor in October 5627. The celebrations, which are going to happen through the year of 5677, are expected to be “grandiose”, with the Orange Palace already having hinted at the presence of numerous foreign dignitaries to the Jubilee’s numerous events. While the imperial family prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its patriarch’s reign and his 73rd birthday, some members of the imperial family haven't been able to sleep well in recent nights. The Orange Palace confirmed that some members of the Luthorian imperial family, who remained anonymous as of now, have been targeted by a “shameful” and “vile” campaign from “malevolent individuals”, according to the official statement from the Palace, furthermore the imperial family have announced that the Fort William Metropolitan Police Department has been “investigating” the affair at the request of Emperor Richard II.

This declaration was confirmed by a recent statement of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Commissioner, Sir Peter Durbin, which lambasted the action taken against the imperial family, calling it “shameful”, “unreasonable” and “malicious”, the Metropolitan Police’s statement explained that some members of the Emperor’s family had received death threats from an unknown and underground organisation called the “RCYL”, according to the preliminary reports made by the Fort William Police, the militant group had targeted numerous individuals, such as the Emperor, Richard II, the Empress, Valeria, the Prince of Orange, William, the Princess of Orange, Victoria, the Grand Duke of Northriding and Duke of Armstead, Peter (the Emperor’s brother) and the Grand Duchess of Erneshire and Princess Royal, Margaret (the Emperor’s sister). These individuals, all are in the line of succession to the Luthorian and Mordusian thrones, and according to the Metropolitan Police, these threats may be the premises to a wider conspiracy to “clear out” most senior imperial family members.

“...It shouldn't be excluded that the possibility of a plot to disrupt the Imperial and Royal thrones’ line of succession be the wider aim of these individuals…”, said Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolis, Dame Rita Bowles on LBC yesterday.

The Emperor and Empress’ private secretary has stated that Their Majesties remained “optimistic” that the police and competent authorities would grant “sufficient” necessary protections to their family members before the 5677 Jubilee. Their Majesties, have, furthermore, added their “profound sadness” that an event such as the 50th anniversary of Richard II’s ascension be used as a “platform for criminals to increase either their malevolent reputation or threaten the lives of innocents”, nevertheless, the Emperor and Empress remain confident in the ability of the police and judicial system and remain equally confident that the Jubilee would be an event “filled with joyful celebrations” throughout the nation. The Prince of Orange has, during a visit to a rebuilt Stonefire church in Erneshire, jokingly remarked that he “didn’t necessarily want to see a joyful celebration where all Luthorians gets an excuse for a bank holiday be transformed into a massacre where Luthorians have also an excuse for a bank holiday, although, a far more tragic one”.

Prime Minister Joseph Brooke and Home Secretary Parker-Stanford both condemned the actions undertaken by the “RCYL”, alongside former Prime Ministers Miles and Howe on their respective social media accounts. Former PM Miles posted a picture of herself and Emperor Richard II during one of their weekly meetings at one of the imperial residences (mostly the Orange Palace and Rottingham Palace), stating that “While we might have differences on the necessity of having a monarchy in our nation, we must all remember that for a democratic society to thrive, death threats are never been a solution and will never be one. I stand by the imperial family through this difficult moment and will always stand by the rule of law and our democratic system of government where violence has no place.” According to the Metropolitan Police, the Orange Palace and the Government are currently looking into ways to increase security granted to the members of the imperial family for “the time being..”, and according to Deputy Commissioner Bowles, at least until the threats to the lives of senior members of the imperial family was “totally cleared”.

Emperor Richard II’s private secretary refused to comment on potential increased security detail, as the monarch is known for disliking these security protocols and having actively weakened the Palace’s security apparatus during visits and events, in a bid to be seen as “closer to the population” rather than being seen as “closed off” and heavily guarded. Empress Valeria herself referred to the Orange Palace’ extensive security apparatus as being “choking”. 

Emperor Richard and Empress Valeria's own popularity remains high, as their 5673 visit in Northriding continued to increase the favourable public opinion over themselves and the Monarchy as a whole. Currently, polling suggest that 89% of Luthorians support the current system of constitutional monarchy, with merely 5% opposing the system. The Emperor-King's support for increased Second Kundrati War veterans' funding in pensions have also contributed to that popularity. The imperial family having been financing the construction of the "Stonebird War Memorial" in the Stonebird Valley, Grand Duchy of Erneshire, whose completion is stated to be in 5679.