The decade that began on January 1, 1990 and ended on December 31, 1999 was a continuation of the decade that preceded it. The decade is noted for the growth of capitalism and multi-national economies that it begat. Many companies experienced a steady economic growth that began to falter by the end of the decade.

The world power structure was forever altered by the birth of the European Union, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, German Unification and the fall of the Berlin, the breakup of Yugoslavia, the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq which led to the Gulf War, the release of Nelson Mandela and the end apartheid in South Africa and the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mother Teresa. In addition, human tragedies were documented in the Balkan Wars, the Rwandan Genocide, Somalia, and the Gulf War.

The 1990’s also introduced us to the creation and growth of the Internet; Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and David Beckham as worldwide sports figures, bands such as U2, N’SYNC and the Spice Girls who dominated the decade; classic television shows which included Friends and Seinfeld, and timeless movies such as Titanic, Ghost, Schindler’s List, The English Patient, Forrest Gump and Braveheart just to name a few. The decade also brought forth the introduction of reality television programs and 24 hour news channels that many continue to enjoy today depending on personal preference.

Despite many doomsday predictions, the Y2K prediction was a bust. Many feared that the world’s computers would crash on January 1, 2000 but it was much to do about nothing and life carried on.

We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter and you have a great Thanksgiving!

Zonk and Lady Leana

Newsletter Editors Read more…

Zonk The Royal Forums Newsletter

LadyK The Royal Forums Picture of the Month

Announcing the winners of the September 2009 Picture of the Month Polls:

September 2009 Official Picture of the Month Poll:
First Place:      Picture D – The Netherlands
Second Place:  Picture A – Sweden
Third Place:     Picture F- Britain

September 2009 Informal Poll- Royal Vacations:
First Place:      Picture B- Spain
Second Place:  Picture E- The Netherlands
Third Place:     Picture H- Norway

Congratulations to the Dutch and Spanish teams, and don’t forget to vote in the October 2009 Formal and Informal Polls.

LadyK The Royal Forums Picture of the Month

 This month’s newsletter focusses on the 1980’s, a decade of economic and social change. The fall of communism shifted into higher gear, with revolutions in Poland, Hungary, China Romania and Czechoslowakia, which resulted the end of the cold war in 1989. Multinationals started relocating their manufacturing processes to Asian countries, and the economy revived after a severe oil crisis.

This was the decade of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, the uprise of the seat belt, the start of MTV, the decade which saw an explosive growth in people having a home computer, the explosion of the Challenger and the assassination of John Lennon. And amidst the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl and the overthrow of various military dictatorships in South America, some of our favourite royals of today were born, fairy tale weddings were celebrated and the deaths of monarchs were mourned.

We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter.

Zonk, LadyLeana

Newsletter Editors

Read more…

LadyLeana The Royal Forums Newsletter

At first, the 1970’s seemed that it was going to be more of the same of the 1960’s…..opposition to the Vietnam War continued, and the threat of a nuclear war still existed. But more and more people were becoming disenchanted with their governments and the changes that the Free Decade of the 1960’s brought forth. During the 1970’s, many countries experienced an economic recession partly due to the oil embargos imposed by Arab countries in the Middle East. The decade also saw the rise of women in the political arena with Isabel Peron in Argentina, Indira Ghandi in India, Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo in Portugal, and Margaret Thatcher in England taking active leadership roles. The entertainment world in the 70’s gave way to the rise and fall of disco, the birth of punk rock, ABBA, Bruce Lee, Stephen King and classic movies such as The Godfather, The Godfather 2, Ingmar Bergman’s Cries and Whispers, Jaws, and Star Wars just to name a few.

In regards to the royals, during this decade the monarchy was restored to Spain, with the accession of King Juan Carlos, as well as the traditional accession of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. And who can forget the joyous celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. Her Majesty’s celebrations were in stark contrast to the protest in Iran, which led to the Fall of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Iran during the Iranian Revolution. The 1970’s saw the births of many royals that we follow today on regular basis. Queen Rania and Crown Princesses Mette Marit, Mary, Letizia, Mathilde and Maxima were born during this decade. Little did they know that while growing up in Argentina, Spain, Norway, Belgiuim and Australia that one day their prince would come in the form of Abdullah, Haakon, Frederick, Felipe, Phillipe and Willem Alexander. Yes, someday your Prince will come.

We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter!

LadyLeana and Zonk (Newsletter editors)

Read more…

Zonk The Royal Forums Newsletter

LadyK The Royal Forums Picture of the Month

LadyK The Royal Forums Picture of the Month

 This month’s newsletter focuses on the Swinging Sixties, the age of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the age of Pop Art and hippies. No less than 32 African countries gained independence, while African American communities mobilized to demand their civil rights to be acknowledged and respected. Student protests in Europe and the States immobilized those countries, while the Vietnam War was raging in the former Indochina.

But even in the age of Che Guevara and Martin Luther King, while the space race was attracting everyone’s attention and the Kennedy’s became legends, the royal families around the globe had their duties to attend to and their countries to lead. This newletter takes you through the births, deaths, marriages and other major events in the lives of the royals of the 1960s.

Enjoy!

LadyLeana, Lady Jennifer, and Zonk (newsletter editors) Read more…

LadyLeana The Royal Forums Newsletter

LadyK The Royal Forums Picture of the Month

 This month’s newsletter focuses on the 1950s, a decade marked by the Korean War and the beginning of the Cold War, which didn’t alleviate the political tension in which the world had been held since WWI.

Many royal families suffered the consequences of the war from the previous decade. Some became immensely popular, while others were on the brink of losing their position as reigning families, or trying to get used to their new non-reigning status.

But the 1950s isn’t all sorrow and misery, it is also the age of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Elvis Presley, the beginning of the European Union, Pop Art, television and Barbie dolls.

So let’s take a closer look at this exciting decade from a royal angle – enjoy our July Newsletter!

Lady Jennifer, LadyLeana, and Zonk (newsletter editors) Read more…

LadyLeana The Royal Forums Newsletter