Royals in Vancouver Ahead of Games Opening

  February 12, 2010 at 3:26 pm by

View the image at the Official Website

The Princess Royal, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and the Prince of Orange have all flown to Canada ahead of today’s Winter Olympic Games.

The three royals are each members of the International Olympic Committee, and thus arrived earlier this week to attend the 122nd IOC Session prior to the Games’ Opening Ceremony.

Princess Anne was seen yesterday attending the British flag raising ceremony at the Athlete’s Village, as well as having attended two receptions in conjunction with the Games. One was hosted today by HE the Governor-General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean; the other was yesterday at Terminal City Club where the flag bearer for Great Britain was announced (skeletor Shelley Rudman).

Crown Prince Frederik enjoyed himself with the Danish athletes, spending some time with them yesterday at the Athlete’s Village. The Prince of Orange, Prince Willem-Alexander, was seen posing briefly for photos outside the IOC Hotel in the host city earlier today. Both Princes have been joined by their respective wives, Crown Princess Mary and Princess Máxima, for the seventeen days of the Games. Willem-Alexander and Máxima will also be bringing along their three daughters; Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane.

Multiple others royals have also arrived in Vancouver to attend the Olympics, beginning with tonight’s Opening Ceremony and lasting until February 28th. King Carl XVI Gustav, Queen Silvia and Prince Carl Philip will represent Sweden; King Harald V, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon will cheer on Norway and Infanta Pilar de Borbón will be there for Spain. There is also a chance that other European and Middle Eastern royals will attend, as several are members of the IOC and avid sports fans.

The Winter Olympics have begun on a sad note however, with 21-year-old Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili passing away after a horrific accident during a final practice run on the luge track at the Whistler Sliding Centre earlier today. The President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, told how the tragedy has “cast a shadow over these Games.” Kumaritashvili will be honoured at tonight’s Opening Ceremony.

The following thread, Royals attending the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, 12-28 February 2010, is where you may find all information and photos regarding the Games at TRF.

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One Response to Royals in Vancouver Ahead of Games Opening

  1. Pingback: The Royal Forums » How the Royals Spent the First Week of Vancouver 2010

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