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.

Royal Family of Thailand

Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand Visits Praewa Silk Cooperative Celebrating Thai Textile Heritage in Kalasin Province

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  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand

This afternoon, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand visited an exhibition highlighting Thai textile heritage and community handicrafts at the Praewa Silk Weaving Arts and Crafts Centre Cooperative of Ban Phon in Kalasin Province.

The cooperative was originally established under the royal initiative of the late Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, in order to preserve the traditional Praewa silk weaving of the Phu Thai community. Praewa silk, long associated with northeastern Thailand, is widely regarded as one of the most refined regional textile traditions of the country. Historically worn as ceremonial shawls, the textiles are distinguished by intricate supplementary weft patterns created through highly skilled hand-weaving techniques passed down through generations.

The royal patronage of local crafts formed a central component of the late Queen Sirikit’s cultural initiatives during the 20th century. Through programs associated with the SUPPORT Foundation, rural weaving traditions across Thailand were documented, preserved, and adapted for contemporary markets. These initiatives helped transform village handicrafts into sustainable economic activities while safeguarding regional cultural identities.

During her visit to Ban Phon, the Princess viewed the work of 30 artisan groups presenting Thai textile traditions and community handicrafts. Many of the groups specialized in Praewa silk weaving and other regional textiles produced in Kalasin and neighboring communities.

The Princess also visited local weaving households within the community, where artisans demonstrated the production process, from silk preparation to the weaving of complex decorative patterns. These demonstrations highlighted both the technical sophistication of the craft and its deep connection to the cultural heritage of the Phu Thai people.

In recent years, Princess Sirivannavari has actively promoted initiatives encouraging the wider use of Thai textiles through contemporary fashion design and sustainable production practices. These initiatives emphasize the integration of traditional craftsmanship with modern design, as well as environmentally responsible methods such as natural dyeing and the cultivation of mulberry trees for silkworm farming.

At the end of the visit, the Princess attended a cultural performance presented by community groups and students from several educational institutions. The performance celebrated the artistic traditions of the Phu Thai people and reflected the enduring influence of royal patronage in sustaining Thailand’s regional textile heritage.

British Royals

The Princess of Wales to Confirmed to Attend Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot

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Portrait courtesy of Kensington Palace/Matt Porteous

Kensington Palace announced this morning that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, will attend the regiment’s annual St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot on March 17, 2026.

During the ceremony, the Princess will join the parade and present the traditional sprigs of shamrock to the officers and guardsmen of the regiment. The shamrock will then be distributed along the ranks, including to the Irish Wolfhound, the regimental mascot. The parade will conclude with a royal salute and march-past, during which the Princess will take the salute in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.

Following the parade, the Princess will present long service and good conduct medals to members of the regiment. She will also meet representatives of the Irish Guards Regimental Association, as well as the “Mini Micks,” a group of junior cadets from Northern Ireland. The Princess will then join the official Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess photographs.

The Princess will later visit the Sergeants’ Mess to meet soldiers of the regiment and their families, recognising the support they provide to members of the Armed Forces.

The Irish Guards serve both as frontline infantry soldiers and as part of the ceremonial Household Division, acting as the monarch’s personal bodyguard and frequently performing duties at royal residences, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

In recent years, the regiment has also contributed to training programs supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and continues to develop modern operational capabilities, including the United Kingdom’s evolving drone warfare capacity.

Belgian Royals

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians Visits Major Renaissance Art Exhibition at Brussels’ Palais des Beaux-Arts

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Portrait courtesy of La Monarchie Belge

In Brussels, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians visited the Palais des Beaux-Arts this afternoon to view the exhibition Bellezza e Bruttezza: Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance.

The exhibition examines how artists in Italy and Northern Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries explored contrasting ideals of beauty and ugliness in their work. Through paintings, drawings, and other artworks, the exhibition traces how artistic representations evolved from the late 15th century through the end of the 16th century, a period of significant cultural and artistic transformation in Europe.

During the Renaissance, standards of beauty increasingly became a subject of social interest, reflected in the growing number of 16th century publications offering advice on cosmetics, appearance, and personal care. At the same time, artists also experimented with depictions of ugliness and the grotesque, presenting exaggerated or unconventional features in ways that reflected both humor and social commentary.

The exhibition brings together works by several major Renaissance artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Titian, Tintoretto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Lucas Cranach the Elder, and Quentin Massys, among others.

Bellezza e Bruttezza: Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance is on display at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels until June 14th, 2026.

Royal Family of Thailand

King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand to Pay a State Visit to Laos, The First Royal Visit in 32 Years

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  • Photo courtesy of the Bureau of the Royal Household of Thailand.
  • Courtesy of the Bureau of the Royal Household of Thailand/PR Government of Thailand

In Bangkok, it was announced that Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand will undertake a three-day state visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from March 16th to 18th, 2026, at the invitation of the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand noted that the visit will further strengthen the longstanding friendship and close relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The visit will mark the first visit to Laos by a Thai monarch in 32 years, since the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand paid a state visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on April 7th and 8th, 1994.

Relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic are rooted in shared historical, cultural, and religious traditions, reflecting centuries of interaction among the peoples of the Mekong region. 

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have developed further in the decades following the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975, with cooperation expanding in economic development, regional connectivity, and cultural exchange.

Cooperation between the two countries has also included royal development initiatives associated with the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose agricultural and rural development projects in the Kingdom of Thailand served as models for regional cooperation in sustainable farming and water management. 

In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Huayxone–Huayxua Agricultural Development Service Center in Vientiane was established as the first royal development project in the country under the initiative of the late Thai monarch, reflecting efforts to share agricultural knowledge and promote sustainable rural development.

The state visit follows the commemoration in 2025 of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

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