The Royal Correspondent

Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway along with Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Her Highness Princess Astrid and Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise attended the opening of the exhibition, Kongelige Reiser: 1905-2005, held at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Oslo.

Per the official site for the royal house of Norway:

The exhibition is the Government’s gift to Their Majesties on the 75th birthdays, and is the first of a total of six different exhibitions with art and historical artifacts and photographs from the Royal Collections. Most of the artifacts and photographs have never before been displayed to the public.

The main theme of this first exhibition is the royal journeys that link between the monarch and the people.  The exhibition also displays the travel gear, jerseys, uniforms, orders and gifts given to our Kings and Queens of foreign heads of State. Among the highlights is the stroller, the suits and uniforms that were made for the coronation of King Haakon and Queen Maud in 1906, as well as clothing suits used in connection with the consecration by King Olav V in 1958 and today’s pair of Kings in 1991.

During today’s opening Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, presented Their Majesties with a book entitled, Arv og Tradisjon: De Kongelige Samlinger (Heritage and Tradition: The Royal Collections).  Speeches were also made by Prime Minister Stoltenberg  as well as by His Majesty King Harald V and Queen Sonja.

If you are interested in seeing this exhibition it ends on August 26, 2012.  For more information please click here.  

Click the links below to watch videos as well as to view photos.

• VIDEOS (Scroll down to see two more clips) 
• Gallery One
• Gallery Two 

Source: Konghuset

On February 15, 2012, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall  became an honorary Royal Bencher by the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn.   According to the Press Association, the Duchess of Cornwall was given a Master’s robe for the ceremony then she:

…stood before under-treasurer, Brigadier Anthony Faith, who said, ‘Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall has been deemed by the Masters of the Bench to be eligible for call to the Bar.’

Now, you may be thinking today’s ceremony seems unusual for a British royal, right? Actually, it’s not.  The Prince of Wales became an honorary Royal Bencher in 1975 as well as the Duke of Gloucester.  Click here to view photos. 

Meanwhile, across town, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal hosted a luncheon at Buckingham Palace for her patronage, Opportunity International United Kingdom.  Afterward, she attended the City Food Lecture and Supper held at Guildhall in London.

Sources: Press Association and Royal.gov.uk

Photo courtesy of PrinceofWales.gov

There is a new film currently in the works about Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s father the late King Frederik IX.

Well-known Danish documentary and television producer, Mikael Rieks, hopes to bring the story of the late king’s life to the big screen.  In a recent interview, Mr. Rieks stated that the film, “…will be a biopic where writer and director may interpret and invent within the historical and factual context…”  

To read more about the yet untitled film please click here. (in English)

On February 15, 2012, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain held an audience with representatives from the Verspieren Group, a company which began in 1880 in the French town of Roubaix, “…to meet a need for services in the sector of insurance brokerages generated in the textile industry of the time.”

Meanwhile, Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain attended the awards ceremony, Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo, held at the headquarters of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.  Accompanying Her Majesty were the Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality, Ms. Ana Mato, the Minister of Health of the Community of Madrid, Mr. Javier Fernández-Lasquett, the President of the Superior Council of Scientific Research (CSIC), Mr. Emilio Lora, and the Board of Trustees from the Fundación Renal Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo.

Source and photo courtesy of: Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

His Royal Highness Prince Felipe of Asturias visited the exhibition, La Orden del Toisón de Oro: 1430-2011, at the Fundación Carlos de Amberes on February 15, 2012.  The heir to the Spanish throne was accompanied by the president of the Fundación Carlos de Amberes, Mr. Miguel Aguilar, and the curator of the exhibition, Mr. Joaquín Martínez-Correcher.

La Orden del Toisón de Oro: 1430-2011 displays the history, prestige, and traditions of the Order which began in 1430 by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy to, “… uphold the knightly ideals and whose sovereignty passed to the Crown of Castilla when Philip the Handsome, son and heir of Mary of Burgundy, married Juana I de Castilla.”

To learn more about this exhibition please click here.

Source and photo courtesy of: Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

On February 15, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were at Lambeth Palace to attend a multi-faith reception to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee.

According to the official website for the Archbishop of Canterbury, today’s event was attended by “…eight non-Christian religions – the Baha’i, the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities…” as well as representatives from the Christian faith.

During the reception Her Majesty gave a speech stating, “… our concept of our established Church is occasionally misunderstood and I believe commonly under-appreciated…”  Afterward, guests admired various sacred artifacts on display from the faith communities represented at today’s reception.

Click here to watch a video of Her Majesty’s speech. 

Click here to view photos. 

Sources: Archbishopofcanterbury.org and Royal.gov.uk

Per the Press Association:

The Prince of Wales has said he hoped a new job creation initiative by his Prince’s Trust would make a difference around the country.

The charity is to create 100 jobs for unemployed young people – who will then try to help a further 100,000 find work.

The new scheme will see youngsters who have transformed their lives with help from the trust employed as job ambassadors to assist other young people.

Charles visited the trust’s headquarters in London to unveil the initiative, which is designed as a direct response to high levels of youth unemployment.

He compared conditions in the job market now to how they were 31 years ago, saying: “Back in 1981 we had a whole series of riots in this country, some in Brixton, some in Toxteth.

“I remember at the time thinking, what on earth could be done, even in a small way, with my trust. We started looking at one or two ways a difference could be made, and one thing that came out was the trust’s business initiative, to help people into employment.

“There was a lot of youth unemployment then. Now we have the same problem again, with sometimes one in five young people finding it impossible.

“Part of my cunning plan over 36 years has really been to invest in the future, in the lives and the abilities and the talent and the potential of so many young people.”

He said he hoped the new idea would make a difference to some extent around the country. And he urged people who had been able to start up new businesses because of help from the Trust to assist now.

He said: “Now is the time to put their relationship with the trust into action.”

Click here to watch a video. 

Meanwhile, Madame Tussauds announced that the Duchess of Cambridge is:

…to grace four separate branches of Madame Tussauds – each in a different frock.

Modelmakers have been working on the figures – which cost £150,000 a time – for several months ahead of them being launched in April.

Staff have been working to prepare the figures for the first anniversary of her marriage to William.

She will take her place alongside the duke’s figure at the London branch on April 4, wearing a copy of the blue Issa dress she wore when the couple announced their engagement.

The figure will also include a recreation of the engagement ring, which was once worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

A figure to be placed in the Madame Tussauds exhibition in New York will portray her with a replica Alexander McQueen gown worn at a Bafta event, while in Amsterdam the model will be draped in a lace Alice Temperley number.

On February 15, 2012, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg held an audience with the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Ms. Miroslava Němcová, at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco continued his visit to West Africa today.  During his state visit to Mali the sovereign prince officially inaugurated the Honorary Consulate of Monaco in Mali.

Click here to view photos.  

Later on in the afternoon Prince Albert II arrived in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso where he was greeted by the Prime Minister, Mr. Luc-Adolphe Tiao.  Later the sovereign prince had a meeting with the President of Burkina Faso, Mr. Blaise Compaoré, held at the Palais de Kosyam.  During a press conference Prince Albert II he thanked the government as well as people for the “warm welcome” and looks forward to “strengthening of bilateral cooperation” between the two countries.

Sources and photo courtesy of: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg, Palais Princier de Monaco and Presidence.bf

Per the Mainichi Daily News :

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito will enter University of Tokyo Hospital on Friday morning to prepare to undergo heart bypass surgery the following day, the Imperial Household Agency said Wednesday.

The Emperor will conduct his official duties, including meeting with foreign ambassadors to Japan, until Thursday, according to the agency.

Saturday’s surgery, which will be conducted by a team of doctors from University of Tokyo Hospital and Juntendo University Hospital, is likely to take about five hours, and Emperor Akihito is expected to be able to leave hospital in about two weeks if there are no complications.

During the Emperor’s hospitalization, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Naruhito will carry out his father’s state duties.

Photo courtesy of Daylife/AP

On February 15, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium visited Hainaut Province.  The royal couple began their day at Tannerie Masure in Estaimbourg which provides leather goods to various companies such as Louis Vuitton.  Soon, it was off to Les Tourelles Institution in Chercq which provides “… educational support and youth assistance in the community…”

Afterward, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde toured the town of Tournai.  Whilst there the royal couple visited the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Tournai to view the ongoing restoration of the building.  Their final stop was at the Tournai City Hall were they, along with dozens of local dignitaries, attended a reception in honor of the royal visit.

VIDEO

Click here to view photos.

Source La Monarchie Belge