royal family of albania, Royal Weddings

Crown Prince Leka of the Albanians Marries Miss Blerta Celibashi in Private Ceremony at Château Apponyi

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  • Portrait courtesy of the Royal Court of Albania
  • Portrait courtesy of the Royal Court of Albania

This afternoon, the Royal Court of Albania announced the marriage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Leka of the Albanians to Miss Blerta Celibashi.

According to a statement issued by the Royal Court, the couple were married in a private civil ceremony held at Château Apponyi in Slovakia. The ceremony was conducted in an intimate setting in keeping with the wishes of the couple and their families.

An official photograph released on the occasion was taken at the château, a residence historically associated with the late Queen Geraldine of the Albanians, who was born Countess Géraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi into a Hungarian noble family before her marriage to King Zog I in 1938.

Following the marriage, Princess Blerta will bear the family name Zogu, the title Princess of the Albanians, and the style of Her Royal Highness.

The Albanian royal dynasty was established in 1928 when King Zog I proclaimed the Kingdom of the Albanians. His reign ended in 1939 when Italy invaded Albania, forcing the royal family into exile.

Crown Prince Leka, commonly known as Crown Prince Leka of Albania, is the head of the House of Zogu.

Royal Family of Brunei

H.M. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Opens 22nd Legislative Council Session, His First Public Appearance Since Surgery

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  • Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei
  • Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei
  • Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei
  • Photos courtesy of the Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat Brunei

On Thursday, in Bandar Seri Begawan, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah of Brunei and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, presided over the State Opening of the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council.

The ceremony formally inaugurated the new parliamentary session and marked the beginning of debate on the National Budget for the Financial Year 2026–2027, one of the most important legislative processes in Brunei’s political calendar.  The opening also marked the Sultan’s first public appearance since undergoing knee surgery earlier this year.

During the opening session, the Sultan delivered his titah, or royal address, outlining several national priorities. In his remarks, he called on authorities to strengthen road safety measures and improve infrastructure for road users, following a recent tragedy that claimed the lives of two cyclists. He expressed sympathy to the families affected and urged the relevant authorities to consider both legislative and infrastructure solutions to improve road safety across the country.

The Sultan also emphasized the importance of integrity and good governance, reiterating the government’s commitment to combating corruption and abuse of power in both the public and private sectors. He warned that corruption, if left unchecked, could undermine national stability and public trust.

Economic resilience was another central theme of the Sultan’s remarks. He encouraged continued efforts to diversify the national economy through strategic investment in new sectors and through stronger support for private enterprise and small and medium-sized businesses. These efforts form part of the long-term national development strategy known as Brunei Vision 2035, which aims to strengthen economic sustainability while maintaining high standards of social welfare and governance.

The Sultan also emphasized that the Legislative Council serves as an important platform for addressing national challenges and for developing practical solutions to issues affecting the people of Brunei Darussalam.

The State Opening of the Legislative Council remains one of the most significant constitutional ceremonies in the country, reflecting the Sultan’s central role in Brunei’s system of government and in shaping the nation’s long-term development policies.

Bhutan Royal Family

Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan Participates in the Kurukulle Center Blessing Ritual in Gelephu Mindfulness City

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  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of the Royal Office for Media of Bhutan/H.M. Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan

On Friday, Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan attended a Salhang Tendrel blessing ritual for the future Kurukulle Center in Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Her Majesty was accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Deki Yangzom Wangchuck of Bhutan, Her Royal Highness Princess Dechen Wangmo Wangchuck of Bhutan, and Ashi Yeatso Lhamo.

The ritual marked an important step in the establishment of the Kurukulle Center, a Buddhist spiritual complex that will form part of the sacred and cultural landscape of Gelephu Mindfulness City.

The center will be presided over by Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche and will be built around a five-story temple dedicated to Jetsunma Kurukulle, a deity in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Plans for the complex indicate that the campus will be designed as a living mandala, incorporating traditional Buddhist symbolism into its layout. The center will include meditation halls, teaching pavilions, and traditional mani walls.

The Kurukulle Center is among several sacred landmarks planned within Gelephu Mindfulness City, a major initiative that seeks to combine Bhutan’s spiritual traditions with sustainable urban development and cultural preservation.

Monaco Princely Family

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco Attend the Provale Solidarité Charity Gala in Paris

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Photo courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Sarah Steck ©

On Friday evening in Paris, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, accompanied by Mr. Gareth Wittstock, attended the second edition of the Provale Solidarité charity gala held at the Four Seasons Hotel George V.

The event was organized by Provale, the national union representing professional rugby players in France. The organization works to defend the rights and interests of rugby players and provides assistance to athletes throughout their professional careers and during their transition to life after sport.

The gala brought together more than 300 guests, including former professional players, prominent figures within the rugby community, and representatives from the wider sporting world.

The evening featured a charity auction, including a selection of exceptional items such as match-worn and autographed jerseys, as well as original works of art. The gala raised more than €120,000 for the Provale Solidarité Fund.

According to the Palais Princier de Monaco, the Sovereign Prince Couple “generously donated tickets to the 2027 Rugby World Cup Final in Australia, together with VIP invitations to the next Monaco Formula One Grand Prix.”

Funds raised during the evening will support Provale’s programs assisting current and former players who face significant personal and professional challenges following their sporting careers.

Many former athletes encounter lasting difficulties after retirement, including long-term physical injuries, challenges related to professional reintegration, and the broader physical and psychological consequences associated with high-level competition.

Events such as the Provale Solidarité gala contribute to sustaining the organization’s mission of providing support and solidarity to players during the most difficult periods of their professional and personal transition after sport. 

Princess Charlene is the President of the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby.

Royal Family of Spain, Spanish Royals, Vatican

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain to Meet with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

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  • Portrait courtesy of Casa de Su Majestad el Rey
  • Portrait courtesy of Vatican Media

On Friday, the Casa de Su Majestad el Rey announced that Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain will be received in audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on March 20th, 2026.

Following the audience, His Majesty the King will formally assume the position of Protocanon of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.  

The honorary title of Protocanon of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is traditionally held by the Kings of Spain, a distinction historically associated with the Crown of Spain’s longstanding patronage of the basilica.

Their Majesties previously met His Holiness on Sunday, May 18th, 2025, following the Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome, commonly referred to as the Mass for the Inauguration of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, when they extended an invitation to His Holiness to visit the Kingdom of Spain.

The Casa de Su Majestad el Rey also announced that His Holiness is scheduled to undertake his first Apostolic Visit to the Kingdom of Spain from June 6th to 12th, 2026. 

The visit will make His Holiness the first Pontiff to travel to the Kingdom of Spain during the reign of King Felipe VI. It will also mark the first papal visit to the country in fifteen years, following the visit of the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.

The visit responds to the official invitation of King Felipe VI and the Conferencia Episcopal Española.

Their Majesties’ most recent audience at the Vatican prior to this took place in June 2014, when they were received by the late Pope Francis.

Belgian Royals, Imperial Family of Japan, Royal Family of Belgium

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians to Host a State Visit by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan Marking 160 Years of Diplomatic Relations

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  • Portrait courtesy of La Monarchie Belge
  • Portrait courtesy of Kunaichō (the Imperial Household Agency)

On Thursday, the Government of Japan announced that Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians will host an incoming state visit from Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in mid to late June 2026.

The visit will take place on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Belgium and Japan.

In a statement issued by the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Government of Japan, Minoru Kihara, noted that exchanges between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Belgium have long played an important role in strengthening the close and friendly relations between the two countries. He added that preparations for the visit are proceeding following repeated invitations extended by the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium.

Diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Belgium and Japan date back to  August 1st, 1866, when the two countries signed the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation. The agreement was concluded during the final years of the Tokugawa period, at a time when Japan was establishing formal diplomatic and commercial relations with a number of Western countries following the end of its long period of relative isolation.

The Kingdom of Belgium was among the early European countries to establish sustained diplomatic ties with Japan. In the decades that followed, relations between the two countries expanded through diplomacy, trade, and cultural exchange.

In October 1921, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Hirohito of Japan, the future Emperor Hirohito, visited the Kingdom of Belgium during his tour of Europe. During the visit, the Crown Prince was received by King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians.

Exchanges between the Royal Family of Belgium and the Imperial Family of Japan have continued as part of the broader diplomatic relationship between the two countries. The forthcoming visit by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will mark the latest chapter in those relations.

Imperial Family of Japan

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan to Host an Official Visit from the President and First Lady of the French Republic

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  • Portrait courtesy of Kunaichō (the Imperial Household Agency)

In Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced that Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan will host an incoming official visit from the President and the First Lady of the French Republic, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, on Tuesday, March 31st to April 2nd, 2026.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will host a luncheon at the Imperial Palace in honor of the presidential couple, which will be preceded by a meeting between the Imperial Couple and the presidential couple.

The Ministry added that the official visit is intended to “further strengthen Japan–France relations,” describing the partnership between the two nations as an “Exceptional Partner” founded on shared fundamental values and principles.

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