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 To all the naysayers who firmly believe that the relationship between Prince William and Kate Middleton is over, or at least on the rocks – think again!

After weeks of not being photographed together, Wills and Kate appeared at the Audi Polo Challenge this Sunday. Kate watched as her prince played for charity, along with his brother, Prince Harry.

Once the game was over, Prince William walked up to his girlfriend of several years, put his hand on her lower back – as he often does – and the two walked in sync with each other, smiling and laughing. They even got into a car together.

So, sorry to all those who believe William is making a mistake, because clearly he does not agree with you!

To see photos of Wills and Kate click here .

Sonjapearl British Royals Kate Middleton, Polo, Prince William

Click the image to see the photo at ANP Beeldbank

 Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was in the southwestern part of Sweden Wednesday, to inaugurate a new breeding facility for Norden’s Ark.

Nordern’s is foundation focused on saving wildlife and endangered species through breeding and reproduction programs, as well as research and studies.

This time, the Ark was getting ready to work on birds, and Victoria was there to help them get started.

In a brief speech, the Crown Princess talked about the important work Nodern’s Ark does and how it is necessary to save the world’s animals. Because, “when they are gone they are gone forever,” said Victoria.

One threatened species of birds is the mountain goose. Norden’s will have fifteen to breed from.

“Thanks to the new breeding facility, we believe that Nordens Ark will make a sustained and valuable contribution, so that we can see the mountain geese fly freely in the north of Sweden, “says Lena M Lindén, CEO of Nordens Ark.

To see more photos of Victoria at this event, go to this thread

Sonjapearl Swedish Royals Environment, Princess Victoria

 Princes William and Harry joined their father, Prince Charles, in a 90 second video which aired on MySpace to encourage viewers to save the world’s rainforests.

The video also included the Dalai Lama, Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig.

But the big star of the video is a digitally animated frog, who sat with the three princes to discuss the need to save the environment.

In the film the Prince of Wales said: “Princes and frogs have a long association but our frog is symbolic with the world’s rainforests. The frog is a symbol of action against climate change.”

To check out the video click here.

Sonjapearl British Royals Environment, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Prince William

 Royal fever in the United States is going to be high pitch next month!

That is because Prince Harry, the youngest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, is going to be making his first official trip here.

The third in the line to the British throne will be taking part in a New York polo match and will be doing a couple of engagements. One of them likely would be a visit to Ground Zero, site of the 9/11 attacks.

The polo match will be a fund raiser for his Sentebale charity, which helps children in the African kingdom of Lesotho.

The charity exhibition match will take place at the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic on New York’s historic Governors Island on May 30th.

Prince Harry has been to the United States before, but only for private trips to Disney World and Colorado as a boy.

Given Harry’s enormous popularity with women in the States, and because he is apparently single these days, it is possible he would receive the same celebrity treatment his brother, Prince William got during a visit to Canada in 1998. There, young girls were screaming at the mere sight of the Prince.

One could only expect the same thing for Harry!

Sonjapearl British Royals Official Visit, Patronage, Polo, Prince Harry, Sentebale, United States of America

 Friday saw Prince William have not one but two engagements! 

The first was for the completion of the 750,000 machine made by JCB. The Prince went to the company’s headquarters in Staffordshire, and was greeted by hundreds of cheering schoolchildren waving the Union Jack.

William then went inside and had a look around the plant. He had a chance to sit on the milestone machine and joked, “I won’t drive it away. This is my own personal one.”

The Prince had a chance to discuss the recession with the company leaders. He expressed sympathy for the employees, some of whom now have to work a four day schedule.

Later in the day, Prince William had a chance to remember two friends who were killed in the line of duty at the National Memorial Arboretum, also in Staffordshire.

Second Lieutenant Jo Dyer and Major Lex Roberts were both killed in action in 2007. William and Dyer were cadets at Sandhurst together, while Roberts was the Prince’s platoon commander.

William gave a short speech in support of the appeal aimed at raising a further Pounds eight million for the memorial.

Sonjapearl British Royals Memorial, Prince William

Click the image to see the gallery at IBL

 Daniel Westling, the fiance to Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria, has been formally introduced to the Swedish government on Friday.

180 special invited guests had the opportunity to congratulate the couple on their betrothal. Representatives of the parliament, government, authorities, land chiefs, representatives from the news industry and various organizations had been invited to the Bernadotte Hall at the royal palace.

They all first met Victoria and Daniel before moving on to King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Prince Carl Philip. Princess Madeleine was the one royal noticeably absent from the reception.

After the presentations, everyone mingled with each other, while music from Vastragotaland – Victoria’s duchy – and Gastrikland – where Daniel originates – played.

Those who met the future Prince Consort of Sweden were very impressed.

“Daniel did it gallantly, he did a very good impression,” said Sven Johansson, editor of the newspaper Arbetarbladet. “Daniel thought it was funny that I came from Gastrikland, he said it felt like home. He also said he knows of Arbetarbladet well because it was home on the kitchen table. And so we changed a few words.”

To see more photos, click here and here

Sonjapearl Swedish Royals Daniel Westling, Engagement, Government, Princess Victoria

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 Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are on a two day visit of Italy this week. They arrived Tuesday, and were greeted by President Napolitano at the President’s Palace in Rome.

After a private lunch, the Swedish royals got started with their state visit.

First, King Carl XVI Gustaf visited the Italian Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. While he did that, his wife, Queen Silvia, went to a conference at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital, a place for deaf and disabled children. There, the Queen received an award for her work with children.

She later went to Differenza Donna, a center for abused women and children.

Late in the afternoon, the royal couple stopped by the Swedish Institute, where there was discussion on cultural heritage.

A gala dinner is scheduled for tonight.

To see more pictures, click here. To read more about the visit, see this thread.

Sonjapearl Swedish Royals Carl XVI Gustaf, Italy, President Napolitano, Queen Silvia, State Visit

Click the image to see the photo at the BBC website

 Prince William sat down for a rare interview for the CBBC’s Newsround, where a 10 year old cancer patient named Alice Marples asked him the questions.

The Prince talked with Alice about how his mother inspired him, his “Harry Potter” scar, and how he would easily beat brother Harry in an arm-wrestling match.

“It’s not even a contest. Obviously I’d win. Obviously. As the bigger brother you have that psychological power over your brother, you see,” he joked.

Most especially, William talked about how his mother, the late Princess Diana, makes him want to help others.

“For a very long time my mother was involved with the Royal Marsden,” he said. “And she had a very close connection with them. So I wanted to… follow in her footsteps, in that sense, and help.”

Read more…

Sonjapearl British Royals Children, Interview, Patronage, Prince William

 Prince William spoke openly about losing his mother, Princess Diana, at a lunch for The Child Bereavement Charity, which was once supported by Diana.

Now her eldest son is its patron.

“Losing a close family member is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can ever endure,” Prince William said. “Never being able to say the word ‘mummy’ again in your life sounds like a small thing.

“However, for many, including me, it’s now really just a word — hollow and evoking only memories.

“I can therefore wholeheartedly relate to the Mother’s Day campaign as I too have felt — and still feel — the emptiness on such a day as Mother’s Day.”

The charity is launching a campaign to help others during the British version of Mother’s Day to remember their own mothers, or mothers remember their children.

For the UK, Mother’s Day falls on March 22nd.

Sonjapearl British Royals Diana Princess of Wales, Patronage, Prince William, Princess Diana

 It’s happening again: reports are going around that Britain’s Prince William will announce his engagement to long time love Kate Middleton at the end of this March.

But this recent report is not coming from the usual gossip magazines. It’s from the French publication Pointe de Vue, which claims to have reliable sources in all the royal houses in the world.

According to Pointe de Vue, William likely purposed to Kate during their holiday in Scotland. He then asked her parent’s permission during her 27th birthday celebrations a few days later.

Sources say the announcement will come towards the end of this month so there would be a summer or autumn wedding. They also “say” that all the royals in the world have been asked to clear their diaries for the wedding.

The Daily Mail also reported that a house on Prince Charles’ Cornwall estate has been undergoing a lot of work recently, giving some to believe that it is being prepared as a William and Kate’s first home together.

Romantic and exciting as it sounds, there is room for some doubt. Pointe de Vue is the same magazine which reported Prince Albert of Monaco would announce his engagement to girlfriend Charlene Wittstock last fall. But instead, nothing happened.

Despite this, you can bet royal watchers worldwide would be biting their nails to see if the long awaited announcement would come later this month!

Sonjapearl British Royals Kate Middleton, Prince William