Little Princess Aiko of Japan Smiles at her Father’s Return

  February 18, 2009 at 1:08 am by

15 February 2009: With happy faces Crown Princess Masako of Japan and her daughter Aiko welcomed their husband and father Naruhito back home from his trip to Vietnam. On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries, the heir to the Japanese throne visited Hanoi, Hue, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang. While in Ho Chi Minh City, Prince … Continue reading →

Princess Anne Opens Health and Riding Facilities

  February 17, 2009 at 11:53 pm by

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal attended two openings today, February 17, 2009. The Princess Royal was at Dundee for the official opening of The Brae center. The center is the first riding school that caters specifically to the handicapped. Princess Anne, who is the patron of the Riding for the Disabled Association, and an accomplished horsewoman, is keen to support such facilities and services. She toured the £500,000 facility, which … Continue reading →

Problems Crop Up with The Queen’s New Website

  February 17, 2009 at 9:58 pm by

There are some glitches in the new website of HM The Queen and the British royal family. Users have complained that the dates for official engagements listed in the royal diary are often inaccurate and that the page is difficult to navigate. The site is also incompatible with systems like Linux, and it is not optimized for search engines like Google, which makes it difficult for potential visitors to find. … Continue reading →

Pardon Likely for Australian Journalist Imprisoned for Insulting Thai Monarchy

  February 17, 2009 at 1:35 pm by

Australian novelist Harry Nicolaides has been recommended for a royal pardon after being convicted in January under Thailand’s notorious lèse majesté laws. Nicolaides was sentenced to three years in prison on 19 January for allegedly insulting the Thai monarchy in a 2005 self-published novel, Verisimilitude, in which a fictional crown prince was mentioned. Thailand has lèse majesté laws which place strict limits on what may be said about the king … Continue reading →

Princess Haya Opens World Pearl Forum

  February 17, 2009 at 1:07 pm by

February 17, 2009 – Held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HRH Princess Haya opened the World Pearl Forum at the Atlantis Hotel, Palm Jumeirah. Princess Haya praised the role of the pearl divers that once was the foundation of Dubai’s economy, adding that this … Continue reading →

Prince Charles: Green Hero or Hypocrite?

  February 17, 2009 at 11:56 am by

In March the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, together with a 14-strong entourage, will visit Chile, Brazil and Ecuador on an official tour. The visit will focus on the key issues of environmental sustainability and climate change. The Prince has decided to take a private jet for the 16.000-mile trip. The plane will be an Airbus 319 which seats 29. At the flight to South America the … Continue reading →

Grand Duke Jean Attends Concert

  February 17, 2009 at 6:31 am by

Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Jean, father of Grand Duke Henri, attended the concert “OPL meets UGDA, music through time and space”; organised by the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe. This is his first public engagement of 2009. Read more about Grand Duke Jean in this thread.

Televisión Española Rekindles King Juan Carlos’ “Most Difficult Day”

  February 17, 2009 at 3:36 am by

It is the event that would probably what many Spaniards attribute as King Juan Carlos’ most outstanding action as a monarch. On the 23rd of February 1981, some 200 members of the Guardia Civil stormed the Congreso de los Diputados and staged a coup while Congress was in the process of electing a new Prime Minister. The coup was a failure however, as King Juan Carlos, dressed in his uniform … Continue reading →

Death of the Soldier King

  February 17, 2009 at 12:05 am by

Seventy-five years ago, on 17 February 1934, King Albert I of Belgium fell off the Roche du Vieux Bon Dieu, at Marches-Les-Dames, while mountaineering. He did not survive his fall, and, as quickly as that, Belgium lost its third King. King Albert I was the second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and brother of King Leopold II, and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Albert was not meant to become … Continue reading →

Dutch Photo Session in Lech

  February 16, 2009 at 5:23 pm by

Today, the main members of the Dutch royal family participated in their annual photo session in the exclusive Austrian ski resort of Lech am Arlberg, in Vorarlberg. Queen Beatrix was joined by her eldest and youngest sons, Princes Willem-Alexander and Prince Constantijn; along with their respective wives – Princesses Máxima and Laurentien – and their gaggle of adorable children for the winter holiday. 4-year-old Count Claus-Casimir was outnumbered amongst his … Continue reading →

Anni-Frid Lyngstad: from ABBA Pop Star to Princess

  February 16, 2009 at 4:58 am by

“I am in fact very up and down. I am very different from day to day. I am a serious person. But I have a fright in me which is very difficult to forget. I thought that it would be better when I would be older, but it seems to be worse and worse…” Anni-Frid Lyngstad Frida Lyngstad became successful worldwide as a member of the Swedish pop group ABBA. … Continue reading →

Princess Haya Receives the Wife of Vietnam PM

  February 16, 2009 at 2:11 am by

February 17, 2009 – HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai meet with Mrs. Tarn Thanh Kienn, wife of the Prime Minster of Vietnam who are currently on a 3-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates. During the meeting Princess Haya and Mrs. Kienn discussed issues concerning the UAE … Continue reading →

Crown Prince Naruhito inspects classes at Japanese school in Vietnam

  February 16, 2009 at 1:56 am by

During his state visit to Vietnam, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan visited a Japanese school in Ho Chi Minh City.The Crown Prince inspected an English conversation lesson for second-year elementary school children and an integrated studies class for first-year junior high school students on Friday. The friendly contact between the Vietnam and Japan is no matter of course: in 1991, the two countries re-established diplomatic relations. Before that date, Japan … Continue reading →

Lord Frederick Windsor Gets Engaged on Valentine’s Day

  February 15, 2009 at 10:11 pm by

It was announced today from Kensington Palace that Lord Frederick Windsor, son of the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael of Kent, had become engaged to his long-time girlfriend, the actress Sophie Winkleman, on Valentine’s Day. The wedding date has not been announced, but it is being reported that they’ll tie the knot sometime in September. Lord Frederick is 31st in the line of succession to the throne, and has a reputation … Continue reading →

New Television Film about The Queen Has an Insider Source

  February 15, 2009 at 6:49 pm by

A new made-for-TV movie about Queen Elizabeth II is being produced by Channel 4. The filmmakers have hired one of The Queen’s former press secretaries, Penny Russell-Smith, as a consultant on the project. The Queen is said to be disappointed at Russell-Smith’s decision to become involved with the production. The dramatized look at The Queen’s life will be comprised of four episodes, each of which centers on a pivotal time … Continue reading →

Charles and Camilla To Visit South America

  February 15, 2009 at 10:52 am by

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will travel to Chile, Brazil and Ecuador from 8 to 17 March this year. The visit will focus on the relationship between these South American countries and the UK. The main issue will be something that has been very close to the Prince’s heart for many years: environmental issues and climate change. Prince Charles is known as a passionate fighter for … Continue reading →

Inauguration of Princess Elisabeth Base Antarctica

  February 15, 2009 at 5:31 am by

  The little Princess Elisabeth herself, whose name the polar station so proudly bears, visited the International Polar Foundation in Brussels on the occasion of the inauguration last Friday, together with her father, Prince Philippe. They recorded a video message for the scientists who are stationed in Antarctica, in which the little Princess wished them good luck, in perfect Dutch and French. For more pictures of the event, see belga. … Continue reading →

Future of Soestdijk Palace Still Unclear

  February 14, 2009 at 7:36 pm by

Newspaper De Telegraaf claims that they have secret information about the future of Soestdijk. In the secret report ‘Royal Heritage as Example’ of the Rijksgebouwendienst (RGD) it says that the costs of restauration and conservation of the palace will be very high, which makes it impossible to turn the palace into a museum, instead the advice is that the palace will transform to a conference center for topics like sustainability, … Continue reading →

Princess Elizabeth’s Engagement Fashion

  February 14, 2009 at 5:15 pm by

On 9th July 1947 an official statement from Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten. A photo call of the couple was arranged for 10th July followed by the couple carrying out a number of engagements including attending one of the annual Garden parties and the unveiling of Battle of Britain memorial. A beautiful Princess Elizabeth emerged in a very simple dress typical of the 1940s … Continue reading →

Grand Duke Henri Cancels Engagements

  February 14, 2009 at 2:55 pm by

Luxembourg’s Grand Duke has cancelled all upcoming engagements due to being seriously ill with broncho-pneumonia, the same disease for which his aunt, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, was hospitalised in Brussels. The Grand Duke said in a statement issued by the Grand-Ducal Palace that he hopes to resume his duties “as soon as possible.” The last public engagement he carried out was ten days ago, an audience with the President of … Continue reading →