Per the Palais Princier de Monaco:

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II will travel to West Africa for a state visit to Mali from 13 to 15 February and an official visit to Burkina Faso from 15 to 17 February.

On arrival in Bamako, the Sovereign will meet Ms Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé, the Prime Minister, and Dioncounda Traoré, President of the National Assembly. He will then speak with the President of the Republic, Amadou Toumani Touré, who was in the Principality on an official visit last 30 and 31 October.

On 14 and 15 February, His Serene Highness will visit the Sickle Cell Disease Research and Control Centre, the Yeleen School and Olympic Sports Centre and the Charles Mérieux Centre, structures co-funded by the Monegasque Office of International Cooperation.

Cooperation has been present in Mali for 6 years, mainly in the sectors of health and education. Over 16,000 people benefit directly from these projects.

The Prince will also inaugurate the Honorary Consulate of Monaco in Mali.

In Ouagadougou, the Sovereign will be greeted by Luc-Adolphe Tiao, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, and participate in a working meeting with Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso. He will return to the Presidential Palace on 17 February.

During His stay in Burkina Faso, HSH the Prince will visit the National Fire Brigade and SAMU Social International as well as the village of Guié, where the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Mission Enfance and the Monegasque Office of International Cooperation are conducting programmes.

A delegation from the Chamber of Economic Development will follow in the wake of the Sovereign’s trip to Mali and Burkina Faso.

Spanish Royals

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias Attend the Opening of the Newly Restored Catedral de Santa María de la Huerta (VIDEO)

February 9, 2012 Alexandra

On February 9, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias attended the opening of the newly restored Catedral de Santa María de la Huerta in Tarazona, Spain.

The royal couple were accompanied by the President of Aragón, Luisa Fernanda Rudí, the President of the Cortes de Aragón, José Angel Biel, the Mayor of Tarazona and President of the Diputación Provincial de Zaragoza, Luis María Beamonte, and the Bishop of the Diocese of Tarazona, Monsignor Eusebio Hernandez Sola.

After a prayer and a few words from the Bishop of the Diocese of Tarazona, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia watched a video about the lengthy restoration (which began in 1984.) Afterward, the architects responsible for the restoration, Fernando and José Ignacio Aguerri, explained to the royal couple about the restoration as well as other projects ongoing at the Catedral de Santa María de la Huerta.

Click here to view photos.

Source: Casa de Su Majestad el Rey

British Royals

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall Visit Tottenham

February 9, 2012 Alexandra

Per the Press Association:

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were greeted by surprised locals when they returned to Tottenham to visit businesses that were ravaged in the riots last August.

Charles and Camilla spoke to people from local businesses at the new post office, the Pride of Tottenham pub, and the corner where Carpetright once stood, marking six months since the third night of riots.

They last visited Tottenham just after the riots last August and when she arrived at the post office, Camilla said: ‘It’s very nice to be back again.’

Chris Lane, manager of Tottenham town centre, attached a badge to Charles’s coat which said “I (heart) Tottenham”, and the royal couple also received a canvas bag displaying the same slogan.

They were also encouraged to get into the Valentine’s mood as the postmaster, Vipin Rao, put garlands of red and yellow roses around their necks, taken from a corner of the room which was decked out for Valentine’s Day.

Wearing a coat designed by Roy Allen made from Harris tweed which was given to her during a trip to Scotland last year, the Duchess complimented the attire of Sir William Castell who set up the High Street Fund.

‘I like your hat,’ Camilla told Sir William as she greeted him outside the Pride of Tottenham pub.

Click here to view photos.

Photo courtesy of Daylife/Reuters

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg, Monaco Princely Family

Random Royal News Regarding Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and H.R.H. Princess Caroline of Hanover (VIDEO)

February 9, 2012 Alexandra

On February 9, 2012, Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, along with the Minister of Justice, François Biltgen, visited the Givenich Prison Centre. The Grand Duchess toured the Men’s Detention building which offers workshops, education and training.

Meanwhile, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover’s charity AMADE recently raised over €475.000 for the Republic of Burundi. The funds raised will help “… improvements in medical aid and care as well as education…”

Sources: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg and Palais Princier de Monaco.

Photo courtesy of Palais Princier de Monaco

Dutch Royal Family

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands Opens a New Building, ‘De Kluiverboom’, in Groningen. (VIDEO)

February 9, 2012 Alexandra

On February 9, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was in Groningen to open a new VMBO school building, De Kluiverboom.

De Kluiverboom is a “…joint school of H.N. Werkman College, the Wessel Gansfort College and the Heyerdahl College, 3 Christian public schools…” which share the facilities in this unique new building.

During her visit the princess toured the new building, met with students as well as faculty and more.

Click here to view photos.

Sources: Omroep Groningen and Dagblad van Het Noorden

Belgian Royals

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium Visit HUB Brussels

February 9, 2012 Alexandra

On February 9, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium attended the 2012 HUB Brussels: Network of Social Entrepreneurs.

HUB Brussels is a global network of over 140 social entrepreneurs and ‘start-ups’ who have innovative and entrepreneurial ideas for a better world. The gathering is also a platform for social innovation of public interest, created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs.

HUB Brussels encourages collaboration rather than competition. It is an inspiring professional gathering where social and environmental entrepreneurs can meet, exchange ideas, work together and learn from each other.

Click here to view photos.

Source: La Monarchie Belge

Spanish Royals

Her Royal Highness Infanta Cristina of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca “Worried” About Her Husband, Inaki Urdangarin, Upcoming Corruption Trial

February 9, 2012 Alexandra

Per AFP News:

His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain’s youngest daughter, Infanta Cristina of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, is “worried” about her husband, Inaki Urdangarin Duke of Palma, upcoming corruption hearing, the duke’s lawyer said Wednesday after meeting with her.

‘It is logical she should be worried,’ said Mario Pascual Vives, lawyer for the Duke of Palma, after meeting with Princess Cristina the previous day in the northeastern city of Barcelona.

‘It was essentially a courtesy call so that I could confirm a few things after my latest meetings with Urdangarin,’ the lawyer told Spanish media.

The so-called “Palma Arena affair” centres on the suspected embezzlement of public funds during the construction of a velodrome in Palma de Majorca between 2005 and 2007.

An investigation concluded that the cycling track had an unjustified cost overrun of 41 million euros.

That led authorities on the archipelago to uncover other cases of suspected embezzlement of public funds, including one allegedly involving the royal son-in-law Urdangarin.

The 44-year-old ex-Olympic handball player is scheduled to appear in court on February 25 as a suspect in the probe into corruption at a non-profit organisation, Instituto Noos, which he headed between 2004 and 2006.

The investigation centres on the payment of several million euros to Instituto Noos for organising a tourism and sports conference in 2005 and 2006.

Urdangarin has denied any wrongdoing and his wife is not accused of any involvement.

In December, the royal family suspended the duke from official engagements and the palace’s highest civil official Rafael Spottorno gave an unprecedented rebuke, telling Spanish media Urdangarin’s behavior ‘does not seem exemplary’.