On Monday, July 6th 2009, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, and Norway’s King Harald V attended the 1000 year celebrations of Lithuania’s capital Vilnius.

Several other Heads of State also attended the celebrations:for example: President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson of Iceland, President Valdis Zatleras of Latvia, President Lech Kaczyński of Poland, President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, President Tarja Halonen of Finland, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Legate of Pope Benedict XVI and Dean of the College of Cardinals, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip of Estonia, and Russia’s Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeyev, President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, Minister of Defence Franz Josef Jung of Germany, and Minister of Culture Pavel Latushko of Belarus.

The celebrations started with the Flag Hoisting Ceremony on the Daukanto Squareand and a Mass at the Vilnius Cathedral. After the mass, the Palace of Rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was symbolically opened. In the courtyard of the Palace of Rulers, rulers from Lithuania and foreign countries were greeted by the State Choir of Kaunas.

Later the guests visited the exhibitions “Lithuania in Ancient Historical Sources”, “Wawel in Vilnius. From the Jagiellonian Dynasty to the end of the Republic”, and “The Art of Balts” in the Museum of Applied Arts. After that, they attended a lunch hosted by the President.

In the afternoon, heads of states from Lithuania and foreign countries watched “The Song of the Centuries” concert in the Vingio Park. After the concert, the President hosted a gala reception.

You can read more about the program here.

A thread where you can find pictures of the Royals attending the celebrations can be found here.

Her_Majesty Danish Royals, Norwegian Royals, Swedish Royals Anniversary, Carl XVI Gustaf, Harald V, Lithuania, Margrethe II, Official Visit, Queen Silvia

Click the image to see the gallery at Daylife

 Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain arrived yesterday afternoon at Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, for a two-day State Visit. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were officially welcomed by the Lithuanian President, Valdas Adamkus, and the First Lady, Mrs. Alma Adamkienė, at the Presidential Palace.

After the official welcome ceremony, the King and the President had a bilateral meeting where they discussed the European Union, NATO, bilateral cooperation and energy issues. The President declared that the Spanish royal visit “will give a fresh impetus to the development of relations between the two nations and societies.” Meanwhile in the Presidential Palace’s Waiting Room a private meeting between Queen Sofia and Lithuania’s First Lady.

During the meeting in the Presidential Palace there was a gift exchange ceremony. Acording to the press department, the President made the King a gift of three silver medals by Lithuanian artist Petras Repšys, dedicated to the three most important events in Lithuania’s history: the first mention of the name of Lithuania in Europe, the first internationally recognised monarch of Lithuania, and the first book published in Lithuania in the Lithuanian language. Queen Sofia was presented with an amber brooch made by the jeweller Solveiga Krivičienė. Read more…

Paty Spanish Royals King Juan Carlos, Lithuania, Queen Sofia, State Visit

 Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, upon the invitation of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves of the Republic of Estonia, will pay a state visit to Estonia on May 4-5, 2009.

Also on May 5, at the end of their visit to Estonia, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will travel to Latvia, upon the invitation of the President Valdis Zatlere to make another state visit, which will finish on May 6th.

And on May 6 and 7, Their Majesties will head to Lithuania where they will meet with President Valdas Adamkus.

Paty Spanish Royals Estonia, King Juan Carlos, Latvia, Lithuania, Queen Sofia, State Visit