On March 11, 2012, Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan attend a memorial service to mark “… the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the north-east coast, leaving about 20,000 dead or missing” held at the National Theatre in Tokyo, Japan.
Click the links below to watch videos as well as to view photos.
Source: BBC News
Photo courtesy of Daylife/Reuters
His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales is currently in fantastic Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on his final stop representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The purpose of the prince’s visit to Brazil is to “…strengthen ties between the United Kingdom as well as to launch a campaign aimed at boosting tourism in the U.K…”
Click the links below to watch videos as well as to view photos.
Source: Telegraph
On March 10, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium began their six-day economic mission to Vietnam.
The visit, organized by the Agency for International Trade in collaboration with AWEX, Flanders Investments & Trade, and Brussels Invest & Export, aims to promote a positive image of Belgium according to the royal court, La Monarchie Belge.
Princess Charlene gives a speech.
On March 10, 2012, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco opened the highly anticipated exhibition, Grace Kelly: Style Icon, held at the Bendigo Art Gallery.
The princess, accompanied by Mr. John Kelly (nephew of the late Princess Grace) and Ms. Kristina Haugland from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, were warmly greeted by 700 + well-wishers according to the Australian newspaper, Sydney Morning Herald.
Once inside the Bendigo Art Gallery, Princess Charlene gave a speech reflecting on the life and style of her late mother-in-law, Princess Grace, “Her beautiful style was a reflection of her natural elegance, taste and character. Her style is so gracefully unique it remains an inspiration to all across generations and cultures.”
Prior to the opening of the exhibition, Princess Charlene had a chance to catch up with old friends at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Friday. The princess also attended a private gala dinner held in her honor in Melbourne.
If you happen to live in Melbourne or towns near Bendigo why not check out the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition? Need more information about it? Please click here. 🙂
Click the links below to view photos.
Sources: Herald Sun, SMH, and Daily Telegraph
On Friday, March 9, 2012, the Imperial Household Agency confirmed that His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan will participate in the Earthquake and Tsunami Memorial ceremony to be held at the National Theater in Tokyo, Japan.
IHA also announced that the Emperor, accompanied by Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko, will deliver a speech during the ceremony.
Rumors have been swirling for weeks that the Emperor would not participate due to his recent health problems. But, alas that isn’t the case. 🙂
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian newspaper, Kyiv Post, is reporting that Mr. Volodymyr Lytvyn, Ukrainian Speaker, has formally invited His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan for an official visit to Ukraine.
It is unknown at this time if the IHA will allow the heir to the Japanese throne to visit the country.
Finally, on March 8, 2012, Crown Prince Naruhito held an audience with Thailand’s Prime Minister, Mr. Yingluck Shinawatra at the royal palace. Click here for more information.
Source: Associated Press via IHA and Kyiv Post
His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco will be in Marseille, France to participate in the 6th Annual World Water Forum.
The event, organized by the World Water Council, will gather 800 speakers from around the world as well as 25,000 attendees to discuss, debate, and attend presentations regarding, well, water. 🙂 To be more specific the purpose of the forum is to:
…tackle the challenges our world is facing and to bring water high on all political agendas. There will be no sustainable development while the water issues remain unsolved. Everywhere on the planet, for all and everyone, the Right to Water (recognised by 189 states at the UN one year ago) must be guaranteed and implemented.
Both Prince Willem-Alexander and Prince Albert II will give speeches during the World Water Forum’s opening day on March 12, 2012. Two days later Prince Albert II will return to Monaco to participate in a side event (hence connected with the World Water Forum):
…in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Blue Plan, Veolia Environnement, International Office for Water and Unitar. The work undertaken by the Mediterranean Water Think Tank will be presented on this occasion.
The 6th Annual World Water Forum begins on March 12 – 17, 2012. For more information about this event please Click here.
In other Monaco related news, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene is currently in Melbourne, Australia. The princess attended a private gala dinner on March 9, 2012, hosted by Lady Mayoress Emma Page Campbell, at the Melbourne Town Hall in honor of Princess Charlene’s visit to lovely Australia.
Tomorrow, the princess along with Mr. John Kelly (nephew of the late Princess Grace) and Ms. Kristina Haugland from the Philadelphia Museum of Art will officially open the exhibition, Grace Kelly: Style Icon, at the Bendigo Art Gallery.
For more information about this exhibition please click here.
Sources: RVD, Palais Princier de Monaco WWF, and the Herald Sun.
Photos courtesy of Palais Princier de Monaco and Het Koninklijk Huis
The Royal Correspondent 
