On October 12, 2011 at the grand ducal palace in Luxembourg T.R.H.s Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa meet with a delegation of participants from the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011 in Athens. They were accompanied by Mr. Romain Schneider the Minister of Sport in Luxembourg. To view a photo please click here.
This afternoon in the Aalburg, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands inaugurated a new center that provides assistance to the those in need especially the elderly.
When she arrived at the zorgplein Maawaarden Center she was greeted by hundreds of people dressed in orange ponchos and waving the Dutch flag.
After receiving her lovely bouquet of flowers she unveiled a new statue, then proceeded into the care center where she meet with residents as well as staff.
To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below:
Photo courtesy of: Het Koninklijk Huis
On October 12, 2011, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was in Brussels, Belgium to participate in the 2011 Arctic Futures Symposium.
Once Prince Albert II at the event he was warmly greeted by the president of the International Polar Foundation, Alain Hubert as well as the European Commission for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanski. Other attendees at this conference held at the Royal Library of Belgium and organized by the International Polar Foundation in conjunction with the FP2 (Foundation Prince Albert II de Monaco), included the President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greenland Inuutwq Holm Olsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Denmark Kim Jorgensen, and many more. .
So what is the Arctic Futures Symposium and its purpose? Well, it is a forum to have a well-informed discussion on key issues such as:
… transport and infrastructure, search and rescue, the future of Arctic research and monitoring, ecosystem stewardship, management of natural resource development, and indigenous affairs.
Once again, Arctic stakeholders including EU and foreign policymakers, scientists, representatives of industry, indigenous peoples and academics will be brought together to discuss needs, address challenges, exchange ideas, and network.
On October 11, 2011, T.S.H.s Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco were at the Auditorium Rainier III to attend the Monaco Humanitary Group Presentation in Monte-Carlo.
To view photos please click here.
On October 11, 2011, Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia along with Infanta Elena attended the annual meeting of the Board of the Instituto Cervantes, held in the Audience Hall of the Palace of La Zarzuela. Per the official website for the royal house of Spain, Casa de Su Majestad el Rey:
In his speech, the King recalled the twentieth anniversary of the Instituto Cervantes, ‘a key institution for global projection of our language and culture in Spanish. Learning Spanish is still a preferred option for many people around the world,’ added King Juan Carlos, who noted that Cervantes has become one of the institutions’ most appreciated by the Spanish.
Likewise, His Majesty said that this anniversary should serve ‘to broaden horizons, to imagine new ways and continue to open ourselves to continuous innovation in contemporary society requires.’ King Juan Carlos said that the ‘effort of all we must ensure that the Spanish were at the top of modernity’, and it is ‘necessary to strengthen its role in strengthening international relations and use in communication technologies and information.’ Before concluding, King Juan Carlos paid tribute to the memory of Ernesto Sabato, Gonzalo Rojas and Josefina Aldecoa.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Trinidad Jiménez, Minister of Education, Angel Gabilondo, the Minister of Culture, Ángeles González-Sinde, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Soraya Rodriguez Ramos, director of the Cervantes Institute, Carmen Caffarel, among others.
King Juan Carlos was in charge of opening the session and give the floor to the Prime Minister for reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting of the Board, which was approved. Then the director of Instituto Cervantes presented the annual report. Later involved the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Prime Minister. After the speech of the King, there was an ample opportunity for questions.
During the ceremony, four new trustees were welcomed: Juan Manuel Blecua, director of the Royal Spanish Academy, the Colombian writer Laura Restrepo; Enrique Gonzalez Macho, president of the Academy of Motion Picture and writer Jordi Sierra i Fabra.
The Instituto Cervantes is the institution created by Spain in 1991 for the promotion and teaching of Spanish language and the dissemination of Spanish and Hispanic culture. Its headquarters are in Madrid and Alcala de Henares, birthplace of the writer Miguel de Cervantes, while the centers of the Institute are spread over four continents.
Under the honorary presidency of His Majesty the King, the Prime Minister exercises the chief executive and elected members have been appointed from among prominent representatives of literature and Spanish and Latin American culture, of the Royal Academies, universities and other social institutions, as they are born writers vocal Prize for Literature Miguel de Cervantes (Cervantes Prize).
To view photos please click here.
This morning at the palace in Brussels, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium held an audience with the speaker of the Parliament for the French community, Mr. Jean-Charles Luperto.
Her Majesty Queen Paola attended the opening of the new home of the association and support entitled, Blindenzorg Licht en Liefde, for the blind and visually impaired in Ghent.
H.R.H. Prince Philippe received officers from the Royal Military Academy at the royal palace in Brussels. During the reception meeting the prince mingled with the guests whilst sipping on coffee.
And, finally Princess Astrid attended the opening ceremony of Parlamentarium, the visitor center of the European Parliament.
Source: La Monarchie Belge
At the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco this evening H.S.H. Prince Albert II attended the 2011 Golden Foot Awards. During the gala ceremony the prince awarded Manchester United footballer, Ryan Giggs, the top prize.
To view photos please click here and here. To learn more about the Golden Foot Awards please visit the official website here.
Photo courtesy of Palais Princier de Monaco
The Royal Correspondent 