On December 20, 2011, H.I.M. Emperor Akihito of Japan hosted the annual year-end luncheon for the Japanese government held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. Attendees included Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Farm minister, Michihiko Kano.
Source: Kyodo News
One week after the horrific attacks on the Place Saint-Lambert in Leige, Belgium more than 3,000 people, along with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, attended a remembrance ceremony in the square where shooter, Nordine Amrami, killed six people and injured 125.
Also, in attendance where the victims families, politicians including Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo, and Interior Minister, Joëlle Milquet. After three minutes of silence honoring the victims Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde laid flowers in the square then spoke with the victims families.
To view photos please click the links below:
On December 18, 2011, the Bishop Museum on the island of O’ahu celebrated the birthday of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, founder of the Kamehameha Schools. During Sunday’s celebrations there were performances from Hâlau Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lâ, traditional chants, a presentation from renowned historian, DeSoto Brown, and much more.
According to president and CEO of the Bishop Museum, Blair Collins:
Were it not for the love of Bernice Pauahi Bishop and Charles Reed Bishop for the people of Hawai‘i, and the Hawaiian culture in particular, we would not exist. They feared that the native people and culture of Hawai‘i were disappearing, and the Museum was their effort to protect and preserve this heritage for future generations. It is only fitting, that in honor of Pauahi’s day of birth, we open our doors to our resident and military populations and reflect on her life and legacy.
Today, the Bishop Museum is recognized as the principal museum of the Pacific, housing the world’s largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artifacts and natural history specimens. More than 340,000 people visit the each year.
To watch a brief news report please click here.
To learn more about the Bishop Museum please click here and here. By the way, if you have never been to this amazing museum I highly recommend that you do so if you happen to visit the island of O’ahu.
Press release courtesy of the Bishop Museum
On December 19, 2011, T.R.H.s The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge along with H.R.H. Prince Harry of Wales attended the Sun Military Awards held at the Imperial War Museum in London, England.
The purpose of the event was to honor British troops. Prior to the ceremony the royal trio mingled with servicemen and women during a reception. The awards ceremony, also known as the Millies or Night of Heroes, was also attended by David Beckham, accompanied by sons Brooklyn and Romeo, plus others including Gordon Ramsay, Jimmy Carr, and Frank Lampard and his girlfriend Christine Bleakley.
Prince Harry, who recently returned from America where he was undertaking the final phases of his Apache helicopter training, described the members of the armed forces assembled as “…inspirational role models to all young Britons…”
In a speech to guests at the event he also spoke of his own military career:
I am a young Army officer, a serving soldier. Like my brother, I share many of the same hopes, the same aspirations to go on operations, and the same fears as all those who serve our Queen and country.
By an accident of birth, though, it falls to 564673 Captain Wales humbly to express – on behalf of my comrades-in-arms and people up and down the country – the admiration we feel for the extraordinary men and women we honour here tonight.
It’s often said of our armed forces that they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Well, I don’t entirely buy that. Ordinary people don’t run out under withering enemy rocket and heavy machine gun fire to rescue a wounded comrade.
Ordinary people don’t brave monsoon conditions dangling on a winch line to rescue 13 people, each in turn.
To view photos, please click here.
On Larvotto Beach this cold Sunday morning, December 18, 2011, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, along with 200 brave men and women, participated in the traditional Christmas Bath. Before jumping into the freezing Mediterranean sea the gutsy participates pumped themselves up by listening to traditional Tahitian Pahus (drums) and chanting. Soon, the Sovereign Prince joined the excited participants on the beach where he mingled with them as well as posed for photos. Then they were off… throwing themselves into the 14* water and had one hellva time!
Click the links below to watch a video as well as to view photos:
Photo courtesy of Premiere France
Here is this week’s edition of Blauw Bloed. Click the video icon below where it says Oranjes Bij Eerbetoon Aan Prins Claus
Here is a documentary about that short dude from Corsica that did something mildly interesting eons ago and the dude who liked to stick his hand in his shirt entitled, Enjoy! 🙂
The Royal Correspondent 