The Royal Correspondent

Wishing you and your family a very happy new year!

May you have 12 months of happiness, 52 weeks of fun, 365 days of success, 8,760 hours of good health, 525,600 minutes of good luck, and 31,536,000 seconds of joy!

As you may or may not know by now Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco will visit Australia next year.  The purpose of the princess’s visit down under is to officially open the exhibition, Grace Kelly: Style Icon, at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

In a recent interview with Rob and Pete from Riviera Radio, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II noted that he would be unable to attend due to a prior commitment (he will participate in an environmental conference in France.) The prince also noted that Princess Charlene will be accompanied by one of her sisters-in-law, Princess Caroline of Hanover or Princess Stephanie of Monaco.

Princess Charlene will open the exhibition, Grace Kelly: Style Icon, on March 10, 2012.

To learn more about the Bendigo Art Gallery and the exhibition please visit their official website here.  If you are interested in seeing this exhibit tickets are now on sale.

Here is the highly anticipated documentary from SVT entitled, Året med Kungafamiljen.  Click the link below to watch.  :)

Året med Kungafamiljen 

Earlier this month, Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Denmark sat down with the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, (as well as posing for photos) at her home in southern Denmark.  The princess spoke about motherhood, work, life at Schackenborg Slot, and her relationship with His Royal Highness Prince Joachim.  Here is what she had to say:

“Time is a precious commodity, so it’s important to set priorities,” says Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Denmark. While preparing to expand her family, Princess Marie says it can be difficult to leave her son, Henrik, when she is working, “Especially when we’re traveling a while, I feel guilty and I miss him. It’s hard not to feel frustrated, but it is also important to find the right balance. A frustrated mother is not a good mom. I love being a mother and I love being at home, but I also need other stimuli. I cannot content myself to sit and do nothing else but think of my family when I have the opportunity to help other people. “

My husband was not a toad when I kissed for the first time

The wife of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark is a very modern princess, “Life as a princess is not a fairy tale. My husband was not a toad when I kissed for the first time. Today, a princess works. She is more independent in their choices. She also, for sure a great responsibility as a representative of the Danish royal family. We want to help and work for the country. I do it with pleasure. “

Life at Schackenborg Slot

“I love the city and being in contact with many people, but I also need to be in the middle of nature and to be a little protected. That’s why it’s so great to be here at Schackenborg Slot. Especially since we are often at Amalienborg Palace because of our meetings and official activities.

“Schackenborg is a business, we put a lot of effort and time into it. In addition to my patronages and my official duties, I am dedicated to Schackenborg Slot. My husband and I work really hand in hand. I work more on the administrative and commercial side, because I do not really have experience in agriculture. But, we share opinions, discuss strategy and new products. It is a team effort. “

Source Pure People via Jyllands-Posten

Photo courtesy of Kongehuset

It was announced that His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark won the Berlingske Fonds (Berlingske Foundation) Award for 2012.  The award is given each year to a Dane who has had major political, economic or cultural importance for the country.

In a press release, chairwoman and chief editor of Berlingske Fonds, Lisbeth Knudsen, notes that Prince Consort should be given credit for “…the success that is modern Danish monarchy.”  Ms. Knudsen also notes that the prince’s ability to adapt to his role as prince consort is admirable:

Prince Henry stepped into a role that no one had explained to him beforehand. An especially difficult one, especially as a foreigner, and as a lifelong companion to a highly popular and highly respected queen. He has managed even to create the framework for completing the task which was his, in a way that now after so many years must be respected, and always as a strong representative for Denmark conscious of the royal house’s special mission and role…

The award will be given to Prince Henrik on January 12, 2012 along with a check worth 100,000 Kroners.

Congrats, Prince Henrik!  

Source: Berlingske

Photo courtesy of Kongehuset

Via the Associated Press:

A book that accused His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden of visiting strip clubs and media reports claiming the queen was on the verge of a nervous breakdown made 2011 a very tough year, the royal family said in the new documentary, Året med Kungafamiljen.

In the documentary, produced by, SVT, the royal family said the book, “The Reluctant Monarch,” triggered an unprecedented media siege that ended up hurting all of its members, but also brought them closer together.

“It’s incredibly painful,” Her Majesty Queen Silvia said, describing how she had endured reading headlines about herself suggesting she was depressed and close to a breakdown. “Of course I am disappointed and sad, but I think it has strengthened me, too.”

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria said, “It has been a very tough year. It really hurts when your parents get written about in this brusque manner.”

The 34-year-old crown princess, who is expecting her first child in March, also expressed concern about how the critical media climate she had witnessed might affect her new family. “I’m worried about this lack of understanding regarding personal privacy,” she said.

The book, released late last year, alleged that the king had a secret love affair in the 1990s and described how he and his friends frequented private nightclubs in Stockholm where they were entertained by scantily clad women. The book, poorly sourced and brushed off by critics as nothing more than a gossip magazine, also claimed the king had visited exclusive strip clubs during some foreign visits.

The king has denied visiting those establishments.

But the scandal intensified when one of the king’s closest friends, Anders Lettstrom, admitted trying to find out what “The Reluctant Monarch” would say about the royal family before its publication by using underworld contacts to talk with some of the criminals the book was quoting. Lettstrom’s admission led several Swedish newspapers to question the value of the monarchy, with some calling for the king’s abdication.

The documentary, Året med Kungafamiljen, airs on SVT on Thursday, December 29, 2011.

To watch a video clip from the program please click the link below:

Året med Kungafamiljen

Sources: Associated Press and SVT

Photo courtesy of Billed Bladet

On December 29, 2011, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain’s son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin, was ordered to appear in court in Palma, Majorca on February 6, 2012 to testify “…as a suspect in a high-profile corruption probe…”

Mr.Urdangarin is “…being investigated over claims he misused public funds given to a foundation he ran” an accusation which he firmly denies.

To read more please click here.

Sources: BBC and the Associated Press

Since it’s an incredibly slow news day I thought now is the time to share this old documentary about the life of King Constantine of Greece entitled, Once a King.  Click the links below to watch:

• Part One 
• Part Two 
• Part Three 
• Part Four

The palace released detailed information regarding the members of the Spanish royal family’s finances on Wednesday, December 28, 2011.  His Majesty King Juan Carlos I earns $382,597 a year and His Royal Highness Prince Felipe of Asturias earns $191,297. The palace said that of His Majesty’s gross income, just under half was his personal salary and the rest was designated for expenses. The king pays 40% in tax on the total sum.

Her Majesty Queen Sofia and Their Royal Highnesses Princess Cristina, Princess Elena and Princess Letizia receive $483,553. The palace is assigned an annual budget by Parliament which totaled $11 million in 2011.

Source: The Associated Press

Photo courtesy of Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

According to a new poll published in the Danish newspaper, Politiken, on Wednesday revealed that 77% of Danes are happy with their monarchy and only 16% are in favor of a republic. “That’s a lot more than for the other European monarchies,” commented Copenhagen University lecturer Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, an expert on the subject.

Sorensen said the success was due to the Danish royal family’s ability to modernize at the right pace, unlike the British (too slow) and the Norwegians (too quickly).

While many Norwegians were shocked by their crown prince’s marriage to a single mother in 2001, Danes were delighted with their Australian-born Princess Mary, who wed the heir to the throne in 2004, he said.

The cost of maintaining the royal family, at 300-400 million kroner (40-54 million euros) a year, was also seen as reasonable, Sorensen added.

Meanwhile, new photos were released of Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Denmark. The beautiful French-born princess posed for photographer Camilla Stephan at her home, Schackenborg Slot, located in southern Denmark. She also  posed for photographer, Mikkel Østergaard, again at Schackenborg Slot on an earlier date. Princess Marie is currently pregnant with her second child due sometime in January 2012.

To view the images please click here and here. 

Recently, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco spoke with Rob and Pete from Riviera Radio regarding the events from this past year, and much more.  Click the link below and push play to listen to the interview.

An Interview with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco

Here is an old video news segment from the program, Place Royale, regarding His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg entitled, 10 ans de règne du Grand-duc Henri de Luxembourg. Click the link below to watch.

10 ans de règne du Grand-duc Henri de Luxembourg

Here is the documentary entitled, Leopold III, la chute d’un Roi.  The series discusses the reign of the late king of Belgium and the crisis generated by his return after World War II.

• Part One 
• Part Two 
• Part Three
• Part Four 
• Part Five 
• Part Six