The Royal Correspondent

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands is currently visiting Ankara, Turkey, as the United Nations Advisor for Inclusive Finance and as Honorary Chairman of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).

According to the official website for the Dutch royal house, Het Koninklijk Huis (RVD):

Princess Máxima will have several discussions on the importance of access to financial services. The Princess will attend a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Turkey. Princess Máxima will also met with representatives of various international organizations, such as IMF, World Bank and United Nations.

On Wednesday February 15, 2012,  Princess Máxima will visit the ‘Women Entrepreneurship Support Project’. Through this project, thousands of women have received training and coaching in the setting up of a private company, such as writing a business plan and to have access to financial services.  Princess Máxima then visits a bilateral tool from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ‘Women Education and Employment Association’, whereby women are helped on the labour market and, for example, also be trained on social aspects.

Finally, the Princess will visit ‘Cocoon to Silk Women Co-Operative’ where she will attend a meeting with organizations which educates women on both business and social fields. source 

This afternoon at the royal palace in Stockholm, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel had lunch with the Minster of Trade, Ewa Björling.  According to the Swedish newspaper, Expressen, the royal couple and Ms.Björling discussed “… Swedish exports and the upcoming birth of the royal baby…” as they dined on salmon and cheese.

On February 12, 2012, His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip of Sweden attended the 2012 Swedish Rally Awards ceremony in Karlstad where he presented the top prize to winners, Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila.

Sources: Expressen and Kungahuset

Last Friday, February 10, 2012, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended a reception for the Fondation Turquois held at the Hotel Hermitage in Monaco.

Since its inception in 1997, the foundation brings students from Mexico on a scholarship, who are currently studying Hospitality and Industry Management, to “…refine their training in Monaco…”   Why?  I have no idea.  But, hey it’s cool the students get to chill in Monaco as well as the South of France for a couple of weeks and/or months.  

On February 13, 2012, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, along with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, held an audience with the Chief of the Norwegian Defence at the royal palace in Oslo.  Afterward, His Majesty met with representatives from the Church Council.

This afternoon in Bussum, Netherlands, Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise of Norway attended the “Do and Dream Fair” where she, along with her co-author, signed copies of their book, Discover Your Guardian Angel.  Click here to view photos.

Source: Kongehuset

On February 13, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark attended the Ambiente 2012 Consumer Fair in Frankfurt, Germany.  During her visit the princess visited Danish exhibitors as well as attended a special presentation “…on sustainable design in the Galleria entitled, ‘10+ Design Forecast Denmark: Future Living’…” by the Dansk Design Center.

According to the official website for Ambiente 2012 this consumer fair is:

…the leading international trade fair for products for the table, kitchen, household, giving and decorating, as well as for home and furnishing accessories.

Source: Kongehuset and Ambiente 2012

Photo courtesy of Daylife/AP

His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje was in Rotterdam this morning to attend the opening of a new exhibition entitled, Zoet & Zout: Water en de Nederlanders, held at the Kunsthal Museum.

This exhibition displays “…125 works of art and based on 5 themes — war, alliance, gain, entertainment, and myth — and the relationship between the Dutch people and water.”

Click here to watch a video.

Click here to view photos.

For more information about the exhibition, Zoet & Zout: Water en de Nederlanders, please click here.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived in beautiful Lech, Austria to begin her annual skiing holiday.  Click here to watch a video. 

Sources: NOS and RPE

On Monday, February 13, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium visited the school, Sint Pietersinstituut Zevendonk, in the town of Turnhout (located north of Antwerp).

The purpose of the visit by the prince and princess was to participate in the project, Heureux dans Notre École or Blij Op Onze School in Dutch, which promotes anti-harrassment in schools.  During today’s event Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde attended a meeting with directors of the project along with experts in the field “… of prevention and treatment of harassing behavior in primary and secondary schools…”  

Meanwhile, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium held audiences with the Ambassador of Poland, Mr. Slawomir Czarlewski and with Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Elio Di Rupo, at Château de Laeken.

Source: La Monarchie Belge