Yearly Archives: 2011

British Royals

The British Royal Family ‘Regional and overseas visits to mark the Diamond Jubilee’

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To say that the members of the British royal family will be busy come next year is an understatement.  This morning, December 14, 2011, a statement from the press secretary to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was released regarding “… regional and overseas visits to mark the Diamond Jubilee…” :

Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a series of regional visits and engagements throughout the United Kingdom during 2012.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, supported by other members of the Royal Family, will be traveling as widely as possible across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In addition, members of the Royal Family will travel overseas representing The Queen throughout the Diamond Jubilee year, visiting every Realm as well as undertaking visits to Commonwealth countries, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories.

Her Majesty has asked that these visits include the following:

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea

The Prince of Wales: Channel Islands, Isle of Man

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: Malaysia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu

Prince Harry: Belize, Jamaica, The Bahamas

The Duke of York: India

The Earl and Countess of Wessex: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Gibraltar, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

The Princess Royal: Mozambique, Zambia

The Duke of Gloucester: British Virgin Islands, Malta

The Duke of Kent: Falkland Islands, Uganda

Saturday 2nd June, 2012
The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby.

Sunday 3rd June, 2012
The Big Jubilee Lunch: Building on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, people will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This may take the form of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch in small or larger groups. This event is being organised by the Big Lunch.

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: This event will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the flotilla. This event is being organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation.

Monday 4th June, 2012
BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace: There will be a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace with tickets being available to UK residents by public ballot. The musical programme for the concert is still being planned and is expected to feature British and Commonwealth musicians. Details on how to apply for the concert will be available in due course. This event is being organised by the BBC.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons: A network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth. As in 2002, The Queen will light the National Beacon. The beacons project is being organised by Diamond Jubilee Beacons Ltd.

Tuesday 5th June, 2012
Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession: There will be a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage Procession by The Queen.

3. In addition, the Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place on 10th, 11th and 13th May 2012 in Windsor. Horses and other acts will travel from all around the world to perform in celebration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

Source: Royal.gov.uk

Belgian Royals

The Belgian Royal Family Attend a Christmas Concert at the Palais de Bruxelles

On December 14, 2011, King Albert II and Queen Paola attended Christmas concert, followed by a reception, held at the Palais de Bruxelles (Palace of Brussels). Also in attendance were Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz. The concert is provided by the orchestra “deFilharmonie” and with soloists from the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe.

To view photos please click the links below:

Source: La Monarchie Belge

Photo courtesy of: Daylife/Reuters

Spanish Royals

Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain Presides over the 50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Special Operations Command in Alicante, Spain

Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain presided over the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Special Operations Command, held at the cantonment “Alférez Rojas Navarrete” in Alicante on December 14, 2011.

The Queen was accompanied by the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Alberto Fabra Part, the chief of Army Staff, Army General Fulgencio Coll Bucher, General Land Force chief, Jose Ignacio Cebrian Medina, the chief general Special Operations Command, Brigadier General Mir Francisco Arribas, the president of the Valencian Parliament, Juan Gabriel Ferrer Cotino, the government delegate in Valencia, Ana Botella Gomez, and Mayor of Alicante,  and Sonia Castedo Ramos.

During the ceremony, there was the delivery of “Machete Awards 2011” were awarded to The Councillor for Environment and Social Welfare and 3rd Deputy Mayor of Alicante, Asuncion Sanchez Zaplana, and the City of Enguera, whose award was received by the Mayor, Santiago Arevalo Llacer.

The celebration also included a tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain, a military parade and an act of imposition of decorations.

 Source and photo courtesy of Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg Holds an Audience

On December 14, 2011, H.R.H. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg held an audience with Mr.Victor F. Rashnikov at the Grand Ducal Palace. Mr.Rashnikov was sworn in as the Honorary Consul of Luxembourg in the Russian Federation prior to meeting the Grand Duke.

To view a photo please click here.  

Source: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg

Monaco Princely Family

T.S.H.s Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco Participate in L’arbre de Noël at the Palais Princier (VIDEO)

On December 14, 2011, T.S.H.s Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco participate in L’arbre de Noël at the Palais Princier de Monaco.

“It is a tradition that the Monégasque children are invited to the Palais…” for a Christmas party where loads of gifts are presents and lots of delicious treats are, well, eaten.    🙂

To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below:

Spanish Royals

Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain Attend the Inauguration of the Exhibition, ‘National Library of Spain: 300 years of Making History’

Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain attended the inauguration of the exhibition National Library of Spain: 300 years of Making History organized by the National Library of Spain and the Spanish Cultural Action on Tuesday December 13, 2011 in Madrid.

Upon their arrival to the National Library the reigning couple were received by Minister of Culture, Ángeles González-Sinde, president of the Community of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, president of the Royal Board of the National Library of Spain, Margarita Salas, the director of the National Library of Spain, Gloria Perez-Salmeron, and the president of Spanish Cultural Action, Rosario Otegui.

Later, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia entered the building and were greeted by members of the National Commission for the celebration of the National Library of Spain, the president of the Fundación Amigos de la Biblioteca Nacional of Spain, Pere Vicens , members of the Royal Board of the National Library of Spain, the curator of the exhibition and Professor of Romance Philology at the Complutense University of Madrid, José Manuel Lucia, and by Assistant Curator of the exhibition and professor of Hispanic Studies University of Alcalá, Aurelio Vargas.

Then, the royal couple toured the exhibition which includes the Foundation Fund of the Royal Public Library History of the Funds, the National Library of Spain and Technology, Works and Days, which shows the daily operations of the Library and “Timeline,” which highlights the milestones in the existence of the National Library of Spain.

To view photos please click here.

Source and photo courtesy of Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

Belgian Royals

Royal Family of Belgium News Regarding T.R.H.s Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium

On December 13, 2011, H.R.H. Prince Philippe attended an academic session held at the new Viviqua headquarters in Brussels. The session was organized on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Viviqua building, and the 120th anniversary of the company which produces and distributes drinking water. Prince Philippe also participated in a workshop with employees and stakeholders from Viviqua.

 Meanwhile, H.R.H. Princess Mathilde was in Gedinne where she was greeted by the governor of the province, Denis Mathen, and other local dignitaries.  During her one-day tour the princess visited a community center, a second-hand shop, and participated in two educational workshops entitled, Little Reporters and Arts and Wood. 

Source La Monarchie Belge