The Royal Correspondent

So, I thought it would be a fun to post The Royal Correspondent’s First Annual Hot Mess Awards, 2010 (aka worst outfit on a royal in 2010.)

10.) HRH Princess Claire of Belguim at the National Day parade in Brussels. The poor dear channeled June Cleaver on her worst day.

9.)  HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden. Wearing the infamous Letteuce-ball dress.  Yuck.

8.) Princess Birgitta von Hohenzollern. There are no words.

7.) HRH Princess Letizia of Asturias. Ummmm…

6.) HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Wearing a tragic Ralph Lauren get-up.  She looks like a granny milkmaid from Hell.

5.) Miss Charlene Wittstock. This Out of Africaesque dress…tragic.   It’s way too tight around the bust area.  And the untied sleeves… oh no.   The beige color washes her out as well.

4.) HRH Princess Marie of Denmark. Talk about a badly made blazer/coat.  The outfit drowns her.  Awful.

3.) Miss Carina Axelsson. This woman needs help on so many levels.  I just don’t know where to begin.

2.)  HRH Princess Mabel of the Netherlands. LMAO!

1.) HRH Princess Maxima (Messy-ma) of the Netherlands! Now, are really that surprised.  The woman is a complete disaster.

Photos courtesy of REUTERS/Yves Herman, DayLife, Billed Bladet, Svensk Damtidning, Zimbio.com by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Europe, REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Here are some exciting engagements that will happen in Monaco in January.  I know you are thrilled to pieces, right?  

On January 15, 2010, HSH Prince Albert II will attend the XII Archery Cup.

Then on January 19, 2010, Prince Albert will attend the 79th Annual Automobile Rally in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.

From January 26-27, 2010 the Princely family will celebrate the Festival of Saint-Devote.

Finally, there are two important birthdays that will be celebrated:

1. HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover and HSH Princess of Monaco celebrates her 54th birthday on January 23, 2010.
2. Miss Charlene Wittstock celebrates her 33rd birthday on January 25, 2010.

Source: Palais.mc Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com by Frederic Nebinger-Pool/Getty Images Europe

Well, 2011 is almost here and below is the calendar of engagements for the Royal House of Denmark.

On Saturday, January 1, 2011 the entire Danish royal family will attend the traditional New Year’s Court at Christian VII’s Palace in Copenhagen.  Unfortunately, HRH Crown Princess Mary will not participate this year.  She is on maternity leave.

On Tuesday January 4, 2010 at 9:30am, HM Queen Margrethe, Prince Hendrik, and Crown Prince Frederik will receive various important Danish officials including:

1. Supreme Court judges
2. Guard Hussar Regiment
3. Royal Life Guards

Later that day, at 11:30am, the three royals will meet with various diplomatic corps at Christiansborg Palace.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2010, HM Queen Margrethe and Prince Hendrik will meet with various officers as well as representatives from several Danish organizations beginning at 9:30am.

On January 11, 2010, Prince Hendrik will participate in the annual Hunt in Grib Forest.  He likes to hurt innocent animals hence Bambi for fun.  Jerk.

On January 13, 2010, HRH Crown Prince Frederik will attend an anniversary dinner at the National Gallery of Art in Copenhagen.

Source: Kongehuset.dk Photo courtesy of Billed Bladet by Hanne Juul/BILLED-BLADET

On December 30, 2010, The Copenhagen Post, reported that HM Queen Margrethe’s New Year’s Eve speech will “… be available to international audiences worldwide” for the first time.

The Danish television network, DR, will broadcast Her Majesty’s speech LIVE via online as well as on Danish TV.  The reporter for The Copenhagen Post notes:

Public broadcaster DR has announced that due to the large global interest in the Queen’s speech it will temporarily break its practice of blocking people with foreign IP addresses from seeing live broadcasts.

The speech will then be posted online on http://www.dr.dk/nu for people to see afterwards as well. It is also possible to watch and hear previous speeches on http://www.dr.dk/bonanza, using the search keyword, ‘nytårstale’.

To watch HM Queen Margrethe’s speech please click the link:  DR.dk or TV2.dk

If you would like to read HM Queen Margrethe’s speech please click the link: Kongehuset.dk

Source: The Copenhagen Post

Right.  Let’s get to it, shall we?  

3.) National Day Monaco

I know, I know… you are wondering why I chose this event ahead of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark’s pregnancy announcement.  The reason why I decided on this particular event is due to one person.  You got it… Miss Charlene Wittstock.

Since the startling announcement that HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was engaged to Miss Wittstock it was only a matter of time until we saw her with the rest of the Princely family on the balcony of the Palais Princier de Monaco.  Naturally, it was going to happen.  She is after all Prince Albert’s fiancée.

Miss Wittstock basically stole the show on November 19, 2010, starting with that Eva Peronesque suit she wore during the day.  Let’s not sugarcoat this… she looked ridiculous.   Way too over the top.  Her hat looked like a giant satellite dish, while her skirt was way too tight.  Unfortunately, for her, the skirt flattened her rear-end which, as a result, gave her a massive pancake butt.  The gloves, oh no.  Tsk tsk.  Simply wrong on all levels.

After the church service and balcony wave-a-thon the Princely family of Monaco attended a fancy gala concert.  Everyone looked lovely, including Miss Wittstock (wearing an altered Armani Prive beaded ombre gown.)   HSH Prince Albert II , however, looked like a head waiter at some restaurant in Boca Raton, Florida.

All in all it was a lovely day.

To watch two video clips from Monaco’s National Day please click the links:  TF1.fr and You Tube

Source and Photos courtesy of: Nice-Matin, Zimbio.com by Frederic Nebinger-Pool/Getty Images Europe, and Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images.

2.) HRH Prince William of Wales announces his engagement to Miss Catherine Middleton.

No one is actually that surprised that HRH Prince William of Wales finally asked his college sweetheart, Miss Catherine Middleton, to marry him.  At least, I’m not.

I don’t know what else to say except… congrats to the couple.

The British royal wedding will take place on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey, and if you are thinking about traveling to London for the big day… forget it.  It will be a madhouse. First, all hotels within the city are booked.  Solid.  Second, you would probably enjoy watching the wedding on television then being smashed together with screaming and otherwise smelly people only to have a quick two second glance at the new royal couple.

You can watch the interview with HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton by clicking this link: You Tube

Here is the official photo-op and quick Q&A with the press: You Tube

Photo courtesy of Mario Testino/Clarence House Press Office.

On December 30, 2010, Autumn Phillips, wife of Peter Phillips and daughter-in-law to the Princess Royal, gave birth to a healthy baby girl at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Britain.

The baby weighed 8lbs 8oz according to a Buckingham Palace press release.

According to the Daily Mail.co.uk:

‘The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Autumn’s family have been informed and are delighted with the news,’ a spokesman said.

The little girl is the first child for Mr and Mrs Phillips and the first grandchild of the Princess Royal. She is 12th in line to the throne.

Stay tuned for more information as the day unfolds!  And, of course a big congrats to Peter and Autumn!

Source: Daily Mail and Hello Magazine

Happy Wednesday to all!  

Here are numbers 4 and 5:

5.)  HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark: Twins Announcement

On August 6, 2010, Lene Balleby (Danish royal family head PR woman) announced that HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark was pregnant… with twins.

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess have the great pleasure to announce that the Crown Princes are expecting twins.

The birth is expected to take place at Rigshospitalet during the month of January 2011.

Lene Balleby
Communications

After the announcement was made many royal watchers were floored.  Happy, but extremely shocked by the news.  The Crown Princely couple of Denmark have stated for years that they wanted a large family; however, after HRH Princess Isabella was born many doubted whether Frederik and Mary would have another baby.   But, they did.

Whilst at Gråsten Slot, for a short family get together, Crown Princess Mary did look a tad tired and it did seem as if she lost a bit of weight.  Yet no one suspected she was pregnant.  Nevertheless, the news of the upcoming birth of the Danish royal twins is a blessing.

You can watch a video clip from the Gråsten Slot family photo-op days before the announcement was made:  Nyhederne.TV2.dk

Source and photos courtesy of Kongehuset.dk, Billed Bladet by Jesper Sunesen, MSN.dk Starlounge by NIELS HENRIK DAM/COLOURPRESS, Daylife.com/GettyImages, Zimbio/PacificCoastNews.com

4.) HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco Announces his Engagement to Miss Charlene Wittstock.

On June 23, 2010, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco announced to the world that he was engaged to former South African swimmer, Miss Charlene Wittstock. As a result of this thrilling news, 97% of the royal watching community had a heart attack and never recovered.

Seriously.

I’m still praying for them.  Lighting candles here and there.

Anyway.

To say that no one saw this coming is an understatement.  Even I was completely amazed that Prince Albert — Mr. Permanent Bachelor/only dates hot supermodels with no brains — decided to take the plunge.

Perhaps it’s safe to say that Miss Wittstock breathed a sigh of relief when Prince Albert asked for her hand in marriage.  I mean, geez, it has been eight and a half freaking years! Any who, the Sovereign Prince presented Miss Wittstock with a massive diamond engagement ring he bought from a local jeweler in Monaco (some say that he purchased the ring the same day he asked his intended.)

Then Prince Albert called Miss Wittstock’s father in South Africa for permission. Allegedly, Mr. Wittstock was busy watching a rugby match on the television, but of course he gave his blessing… I mean, who wouldn’t?

Since the engagement was announced the dates for the civil and religious ceremonies changed — get ready for it — four times!  How embarrassing!

The upcoming Princely wedding in Monaco will be vastly different from his parents wedding.  First, the wedding will take place outdoors in the courtyard of the Palais Princier de Monaco.  Why the couple decided not to marry in the Cathedral in Monaco is beyond me.  However, I suspect this is due two reasons: Charlene is not a Catholic. She’s Protestant.  Second, Prince Albert decided that this wedding will be a “red carpet event” with all the trimmings according to the Monaco Palace PR people.  An event in which all the citizens of Monaco can view as well as enjoy (I’m sure they are beyond ecstatic, to the point they cannot control themselves.) Proceeds from the televised wedding (shown on French television) will be donated to various charities in Monaco.

The wedding dates have finally been set for July 1 and 2, 2011.  Yay!

To watch a clip of an interview with Prince Albert and Miss Charlene Wittstock please click the link: Albert, L\’Autre Prince

Photo courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco and Royal Dish.

On December 29, 2010, HRH Crown Prince Frederik gave a speech and presented an award to Badminton player, Victor Axelsson, for the event known as  The Talent of the Year in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The ceremony was held at the JP/Politiken Hus (the Danish newspaper building, Jyllands-Posten); unfortunately there was a major problem prior to the event.  According to CNN.com:

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing a terror attack against a Danish newspaper, a spokesman for the Danish intelligence agency PET said Wednesday.

Thankfully, no one was hurt; however by the time HRH arrived the “… atmostsphere was tense…”  Ekstra Bladet reports:

Crown Prince Frederik arrived with several bodyguards promptly at 17:30 and went resolutely and fearlessly into the JP/Politiken’s House to deliver his speech for the young sporting talent.

To read the story in depth please click the links below.

Source and photo courtesy of Ekstra Bladet (by Thomas Lekfeldt) and CNN International

You may also watch a clip of HRH Crown Frederik speaking at Nyhederne.TV2.dk

On Sunday, December 26, 2010, Princess Natalie of Sayn-Wittengenstein-Berleburg and her husband, Mr. Alexander Johannsmann, baptized their son, Konstanin, at the Schloss Berleburg chapel.

Their son was named Konstantin Gustav Heinrich Richard, according to Princess Natalie who recently spoke with the Danish magazine, Billed Bladet.  The Princess notes how the names came about:

The name comes from the family on both sides.  In the daily he is called Konstanin, that’s one of my father’s names. Gustav named after my brother. Heinrich after  Alexander’s father and Richard after my father.

The godparents are HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, HH Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, and Ann-Kathrin Johannsmann, according to the German newspaper, Siegener-Zeitung.de.

Princess Nathalie and Alexander will have their much anticipated religious wedding sometime next year (2011) at Schloss Berleburg so stay tuned for details.

Source and Photo courtesy of  Siegener-Zeitung and Billed Bladet by Jesper Sunesen.

So, here we are… again.  Here are numbers 6 and 5.  :)

6.) Nikolaos and Tatiana’s Big Fat Hot Mess Greek Wedding.

Good heavens… where do I begin.  LOL.   This wedding was one big old hot mess.  From the screaming  and uncontrollable Greek royal watchers, to the lack of tight security, sweaty royal guests, slutty Paris Hiltonesque bridesmaids (dressed as Mermaids), a smug soon-to-be Princess with a slightly torn veil, and a too tanned orange- looking groom with new giant chicklet veneers.   This wedding had it all!  And, boy was it fun to watch!!

Royal guests who attended:

1. Spanish royal family (sans the amazing King Juan Carlos)
2. Danish royal family (sans Crown Prince Frederik)
3. Norwegian royal family (sans the King, Queen, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit)
4. Princely family of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (including the non-Princess Carina Axelsson who left the pre-wedding dinner party with Prince Carl Phillip of Sweden at 2am.  Prince Gustav was no where to be found.  SCANDAL!)
5. Swedish royal family (sans the King and Queen)
6. Empress Farah Pahlavi
7. Minor royals as well as nobles
8. Of course, the Greek royal family

Events this bad only happen every so often, and I’m glad I had a chance to view it as it happened.

Source and photos courtesy of  Gossip-tv.gr, Billed Bladet, Zimbio.com by Chris Jackson/Getty Images, and Svensk Damtidning.

5.)  HM Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s 70th Birthday Extravaganza!

This year Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark turned 70 years old, and to celebrate her birthday the Queen threw a lavish three day birthday celebration.  To say that these events were regal is an understatement.  All in all, the extravagant celebrations were just what royal watchers around the world waited for this year (along with the Swedish royal wedding.)

Events included a Gala dinner at Christianborg Palace, Gala concert, balcony wave from Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, a 6am birthday sing-a-long at Fredensborg Palace, and another private gala dinner at Fredensborg Palace outside of Copenhagen.  Yeah, it was a bit much, but what ever.   Attendees included Kings and Queens from a majority of royal houses in Europe, heirs to various thrones, non-reigning royals, Princely houses, nobles, politicians, and commoners.

Here are some photos from the gala concert in Copenhagen.

Videos:

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday at Fredensborg: Morning Sing-A-Long

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday at Fredensborg: Arrivals

Private Dinner at Fredensborg for Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday: Gala Concert Arrivals

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday: Gala Concert

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday: Gala Concert Intermission

Source and Photos courtesy of Zimbio.com by Schiller Graphics/Getty Images Europe, Billed Bladet, Svensk Damtidning, Fyens.dk by KHAN TARIQ MIKKEL/POLFOTO, Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images, DayLife by REUTERS/Bob Strong.

Videos courtesy of DRF Gardern and Eurgus via You Tube .

The Danish television network, DR, released their documentary/chat-fest entitled Monarchy 2010: Part One, online today.  The panel consists of a journalist (Billed Bladet), Annelise Weismann and Historian, Jes Moller.

If you understand Danish, the program, thus far, is a delight to watch.  Enjoy!

Click the link to watch the program:  DR.dk Monarchy 2010: Part One and Monarchy 2010: Part Two

Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com by Schiller Graphics/Getty Images Europe

Yesterday, I reported (via Billed Bladet) that HRH Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, and Princess Isabella attended Christmas Eve service at the Garnisions Church in Copenhagen.  At the time photos were not released of the heavily pregnant Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

However, today you are in luck.  HRH Crown Princess Mary, who is due to give birth any second now, was photographed leaving the church with her husband and family.  Also in tow was her father and step-mother, author Susan Moody.

Wearing what seems to be a long brown fur coat, boots, and dress the Crown Princess barely looked pregnant.  Amazingly odd.   Although I will say she looks absolutely tired.  Crown Prince Frederik looked, as usual, a tad bit out-of-it as well.

Source and photos courtesy of Billed Bladet

SVT has released the first part of The Swedish Royal Wedding: Behind the Scenes documentary online.

It’s roughly 58 minutes and absolutely amazing.  Enjoy!  

Watch it here at SVT.se

Photo courtesy of Svensk Damtidning

Tak, tak to Victory at Royal Dish for the announcement.