Article and photos from La Nueva España:
http://www.lne.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pIdNoticia=278946&pIdSeccion=64&pNumEjemplar=876
Don Felipe and Doña Letizia, who have traveled to Oviedo to preside over the celebrations of the XXV anniversary of the Foundation met today Hawking, during almost half an hour. The British theoretical physicist, who's in a wheelchair for more than forty years, chatted with the Princes about his stay these days in Asturias, and about the scientific and academic projects in which he's working at the moment.
"It is a great honour to be with you", said Don Felipe to Hawking, at the hall the Palace Villa Magdalena of Oviedo, where the meeting took place. A building that during the next months will be the official headquarters of the acts organized by the Prince of Asturias Foundation, celebrating its quarter of century of life.
The Princes arrived at 1:30 p.m at this old Ovetense large house, coming from Gijón, where they inaugurated the exhibition "The Mountain range of Atapuerca. A trip to our origins", with which Cajastur is commemorating its 125 anniversary.
The British astrophisicist, who suffers a incurable neuro-degenerative disease (that destroys the neurons that send the orders of the brain to muscles, brain that nevertheless works totally) was "very contented" for the visit he is doing these days in Asturias.
Hawking, that visited Gijón on the weekend and had supper last night in a typical Asturian restaurant, traveled for the first time to the Principality in 1989 to gather, in the Theater Campoamor of Oviedo, the Prize Prince of Asturias. "It is an honour for me to be here again. I am very thankful for this interview with TRH", commented the scientist to the Princes. "Thanks for their hospitality", he insisted.
Hawking, that was accompanied by his wife, Elaine, gave Don Felipe and Doña Letizia two units of his new book, "Brief history of the time", which will be presented tomorrow, at the University of Oviedo, wherehe will receive in addition a tribute of the scientific community. This book, published first in Spanish than in English (in England it will be in the bookstores in September), simplifies and updates the "History of the time", the book of 1988 which popularized his theories on the black mysteries and holes of the universe, and that became a great publishing success at world-wide level. "With this flattery - joked Hawking to the Princes - I do not want to insinuate that they have not understood the previous one".
The Princes were interested by the computer that is incorporated to his wheelchair and that allows Hawking to communicate with people. Hawking, that was born in Oxford in 1942, announced to Don Felipe and Doña Letizia that he intents to travel to Madrid. Thus he will be able to visit again one of his favorite museums, the Prado.
After almost half an hour, the Princes returned to the Auditorium Prince Felipe of Oviedo, where will take place the inaugural act of the XXV anniversary. In that act, that Don Felipe will close with a speech, the British scientist will pronounce a conference entitled "The nature of reality".
And yes, Letiza is very elegant!!
