Click for the image at the Daily Mail

 It’s 2-1 odds at some British bookies this weekend, after reports that Kate Middleton has been formally invited to meet the Queen at Balmoral during the August Bank Holiday, that there will be an engagement announced this year. While Middleton has met the Queen previously, this will be the first time that she has been to the Scottish home of the Queen.

In the minds of many, it’s about damn time that something happened. Now that Crown Princess Victoria has finally gotten herself engaged, all eyes are on William in the hopes of another fairy tale wedding. However, unlike Princess Diana, Middleton has lived with the unending media attention and speculation for years now, so she has at least become somewhat accustomed to what her life would be like as a future British Queen.

Whatever the case may be, Wills will need to hurry along; he turns 27 tomorrow and he’s not getting any younger, as his balding head will attest. And if it’s not Kate that he marries, he’s got a long slog ahead of him to find someone else, if he does not want to put her in the same position that his mother was in. And besides, they do seem to care for each other quite a lot, if they’ve weathered all that’s been thrown at them thus far in their relationship.

Empress British Royals Kate Middleton, Media, Prince William

 After writing yesterday that Jordan’s King Abdullah was serious about finding a solution to the Israeli – Palestinian conflict, I was disappointed today to read that King Abdullah is putting the onus on the USA to head a solution to the conflict.

King Abdullah, in speaking with US President Barack Obama today, told the US President that the US must take a more forceful role in spurring the peace process. What this blogger does not understand is why King Abdullah is turning to the US to help solve a problem in his backyard. It would seem that he would be far better equipped to deal with and understand the conflict than the leader of a nation stretched to the breaking point with other problems. Not to get too political, but it would stand to reason that instead of turning to those that might not understand the why’s and reasons behind the conflict enough to make an educated decision, those that do understand should be at the head of any peace process.

While the USA might understand the political reasons behind the conflict, at least to some degree, I doubt that they can truly understand the importance of the land in the middle of the dispute as well as those that live in and around the region. Given that King Abdullah’s wife is of Palestinian descent, he should have a unique outlook on the situation. King Abdullah seems to desire peace, and hopefully he will be at the forefront of any peace process that could possibly come about.

Empress Jordanian Royals Abdullah II, President Obama, United States of America, Working Visit

Click to see the article at the Jordan Times

 HM King Abdullah is in Belgium this week, meeting with the heads of NATO in the hopes of finally finding a solution to the never ending Israeli – Palestinian Conflict. As head of the most forward thinking nation in the region, and one of the most respected and well known Heads of State in the Arab world, King Abdullah is serious about finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Not only in Europe to discuss unpleasant matters, King Abdullah is also planning on discussing the economic and commercial ties between Jordan and various European Nations. With the current economic situation taking it’s toll on most if not all of Europe, new and improved commercial and economic partnerships would be a benefit to both countries. And as an absolute Monarch, King Abdullah has a lot to say about where and how his country’s money and natural resources are dispersed.

King Abdullah and his wife, Queen Rania, have a very modern and open outlook on life and society, as can be seen in their daily activities and personal relationship. As leader of one of only two Arab nations to make peace with Israel, this open nature has fostered itself well in a very disturbed region.

Without doubt, other matters, far more political and sensitive in nature, will be discussed during this visit. One can only hope that something substantial finally comes of these meetings, rather than the usual round of handshakes, signed papers, and promises. Peace can be found in Jordan, so it would seem that if anyone could foster peace in a war-torn region, it might be King Abdullah.

Empress Jordanian Royals Abdullah II, Belgium, European Union, NATO, Working Visit

 In an uncharacteristic move, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has advocated and in fact urged for leaders of the three largest faiths in the world, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, to come together and work towards a peace among the religions in the region. In a scene straight from the middle ages, and unfortunately still true today, these three monotheistic faiths are still, as they have always been, at war of a sort, with one another in the region. The region, the area of the holiest sites for all three faiths, has an amazing amount of significance for each of the three faiths.

While the specifics of the “call to action”, remain unclear, the fact that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has taken the step towards a conference with everyone taking an equal role, and calling out the fact that there are many similarities in the three faiths, bodes well for future relations. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, we will be able to live amongst one another without warring factions disturbing the peace, and how proud would we all be if one of our beloved Monarchs were to be the catalyst for a lasting peace?

Empress Saudi Royals King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Religion

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 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, figurehead leader of the locked up Russian Federation, began a visit to one of the most liberal nations, The Netherlands, when he landed in Amsterdam today. In town at the invitation of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende to discuss bilateral relations between the two nations, who have a strong trading partnership, Medvedev will also meet with Dutch Queen Beatrix, the majority shareholder in Koninklijke Shell, one of the largest oil companies in the world. There is a partnership between Shell and Russian Gazprom. As far as this blogger is aware, there will be no discussion of business matters between the two heads of state. It is interesting to remark that while Beatrix is a constitutional monarch by choice of her family, Medvedev is not, and is mostly seen to be the figurehead of the former president and current prime minister of the Russian federation, Vladimir Putin.

The most likely meeting between the two will come at the opening of the new exhibit at the renovated Hermitage, a most beautiful museum dedicated to the Russian hermitage in St Petersburg, which has a permanent and very enlightening exhibit on the Russian Royal Family, and life at the Russian Court. The re-opening of the Hermitage will happen, to great fanfare I am sure, on Saturday. There is sure to be a visit not only by the Queen, but by other members of the Royal Family.

In contrast to Russia of today, the exhibits at the Hermitage show the opulence and luxury of what was once one of the grandest nations on Earth. It is interesting to note that while that opulence and luxury has gone by the wayside, the Russia of today is much more in line with the practical Dutch sensibilities of this era. None the less, I am sure that the Dutch would never consider a coup to throw off their royal family. The family is much too loved and in tune with the needs of their subjects for this to ever happen. So all in all, perhaps the partnerships of the various companies in the two countries is not all that surprising after all.

Empress Dutch Royals Hermitage, Official Visit, President Medvedev, Queen Beatrix, Russia

 I’m sure HM the Queen has had to deal with situations ranging from silly to the downright diabolical, but this one must take the cake. The Queen, who is the figurehead for the entire commonwealth, might have to welcome a convicted criminal to her Summer Garden Party. As if that weren’t insult enough, apparently it all so that someone can make some political hay out of the invitation that is being completely misused. The Queen, who counts among her subjects a full range of society from Anglo Saxons to Aborigines, might well have to deal with BNP Party Leader Nick Griffin coming to her home. Not so unusual one might say, but given the fact that this character has been convicted of inciting racial hatred, you’d think those that are in charge of allocating the invitations might put some restrictions on them. Now, an invitation was not issued to Nick Griffin himself, however one of the London Assembly’s members has decided to use one of their guest tickets to bring along this person who can clearly be called a racist.

So exactly why is a convicted criminal in public office anyway? I guess it doesn’t really make sense to me, but apparently enough people agree with his views that he was voted in one way or another. All I know is that I’m sure HM wouldn’t agree with them. And she certainly won’t find meeting him the most pleasurable day of her life. He speaks for one tiny little subsection of society, whereas she must speak for the entire Commonwealth. It certainly won’t look good if she has to make nice with him!

Surely there must be a way to prevent him from showing up and making a political mess out of the entire tradition. I suppose we will see, so stay tuned for further updates!

Empress British Royals British National Party, Elizabeth II, Garden Party, Nick Griffin

In her newest novel on the British Royals of the past, Anne Easter Smith chooses to delve into the theoretical existence of a bastard child of Edward IV, Grace, whom she chooses to tell the story of Perkin Warbeck, yet another theoretical child of Edward IV.

Perkin Warbeck claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury and was recognized as such by Margaret of Burgundy, sister to Edward IV, one of the most intelligent women ofher day. We all know that royal men of that day and age tended to sow their seeds in every compliant garden that they could find, and Edward IV is likely to have been no different. So it would not be surprising to find out that this child, Grace, did in fact exist.

However, since Anne Easter Smith’s books are largely works of fiction, based on historical characters with historically acurate details, it would be wise to take what you read with a grain of salt.

This book, like her previous one, is bound to be a fun read when it arrives in stores on March 10th.

Empress British Royals, Historical Royals Book Review, Edward IV, Perkin Warbeck

  Queen Elizabeth II is to meet the new Head of State from the country wth the largest debt in the world. While this is by no means the fault of the newest American president, it is now his job to dig the United States of America out of the hole that it currently finds itself in. And if this President has half the brains given to a billy goat, he will listen very carefully when the Queen of England, who has seen 12 administrations come and go, offers advice, whether it be on a personal, political or world view level.

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President Obama is surely not the only Head of State that the Queen will welcome during the G20 meeting. However, it is the first time that they will meet, and unusually it is not being done with a “State Visit”,  more as an informal “get to know each other” meeting. Perhaps the economic crises, and the fact that the State Visits are pricey affairs has something to do with this? Not to mention that  Obama has probably not had a chance to prepare to meet the Queen formally, and no chance to learn all of the etiquette involved, what with being busy trying to address the international financial crisis, the nation’s education problems, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the energy crisis simultaneously – a daunting challenge for even the most dedicated multitasker!

This being the very first president of African American heritage, the Queen Mum might not have been best pleased to see him treading on her aubusson rugs, but he is sure to appreciate all of the heritage and history that England and the Royal Family can offer. But as stated earlier, it is the sincerest hope of this blogger that he takes HM’s advice to heart about anything that she might choose to offer advice on. With more than 60 years of world experience under her belt, she could teach a thing or two to the newbie on the block!

Empress British Royals Elizabeth II, President Obama