According to Matangi Tonga Online, the late King Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Manumataongo Tukuʻaho (George) Tupou V of Tonga’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. The late king “… will lie in state at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa for two days…” His final resting place will be at the royal tombs Mala’e Kula, Nuku’alofa.
Government officials in Tonga have also announced that there will be “… an official period of mourning until June 19, 2012…” for the late king.
His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium presented grants from the Lauréat du Fonds Prince Albert on March 20, 2012, to several Belgian professionals. The presentation was held at the Federation of Enterprises of Belgium in Brussels.
The purpose of the Lauréat du Fonds Prince Albert is to help talented Belgian professionals build experience in the operation of an international project, by financially supporting recipients for a 12-month business project outside Western Europe for a Belgian company or whose headquarters are in Belgium. Did that make sense? 🙂 Good.
Meanwhile in Monaco, Their Serene Highness Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene inaugurated a new daycare center in Monte-Carlo. The princely couple were accompanied by the mayor of Monaco, Mr. Georges Marsan, and the Minister of State, Mr. Michel Roger.
Sources: La Monarchie Belge and the PrinceAlbertFund.be
On March 20, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was at Westminster Hall where she addressed both Houses of Parliament to “… commemorate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.” The queen was accompanied by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
Click the links below to watch a video as well as to view a gallery of photos.
On March 20, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived in Luxembourg to begin her three-day state visit to the lovely grand duchy.
Upon her arrival, at the Grand Ducal Palace, Her Majesty was greeted by Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa as the Dutch and Luxembourg national anthems played. After meeting local dignitaries, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume attended a private luncheon in the Grand Ducal Palace. Afterward, Her Majesty participated in a wreath laying ceremony held at the Monument National de la Solidarité Luxembourgeoise along with various government officials.
Soon, it was time to return to the Grand Ducal Palace whereupon Her Majesty held a meeting with government officials and local dignitaries. According to the official site for the government of Luxembourg, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix along with Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume participated in:
…a round table entitled “Strengthening Business Climate in Europe”, in the presence of the Minister of the economy and foreign trade, Etienne Schneider, and his Dutch counterpart Maxime Verhagen, as well as of a large number of business leaders.
Tonight there will be a gala dinner held at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg.
Click the links below to watch a video as well as to view photos.
It was announced by the Imperial Household Agency that His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan will undergo another procedure to remove fluid in his chest. Twelve days ago the 78-year-old emperor had the same procedure after having heart bypass surgery on February 18, 2012.
According to the IHA, Emperor Akihito still suffers from “…shortness of breath during exercises, apparently due to fluids remaining in the left of his chest…” The second procedure will be performed on March 20, 2012, at the Imperial Household Hospital.
Source: The Japan Times via Imperial Household Agency (IHA)
On March 19, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Edinburgh and the Earl of Wessex attended the Umpires’ Dinner for the Lords Tavener’s held at the Hilton Hotel in London.
Meanwhile, last Friday, March 16, 2012, Prince Carl Alexander von Hohenzollern and his lovely bikini princess bride, Corinna, apparently attended the 2012 Orange Wiener Filmball (Orange Filmball Vienna) held at the Wiener Rathaus in Wien, Austria.
Any way, the regal princely couple were allegedly accompanied by a film crew from the German network, RTL, according to PR Plus. Does this mean there is a reality show in the works about the glamorous couple? Gosh, I hope so! 🙂
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the inauguration of the Centre de Secours de Fontvieille on March 19, 2012. The sovereign prince was accompanied by Colonel Luc Fringant, the Chamberlain and Senior Commander of the Public Force.
Afterward, Prince Albert II participated in the Medal of Courage and Dedication ceremony alongside Mr. Hugues Moret, the Ambassador of France in Monaco. Today’s ceremony, held at the barracks of Fontvielle, honored eleven firefighters from Monaco who helped “… the earthquake victims after the disaster of Fukushima in Japan in March 2011…”
Also, during today’s ceremony a lovely plaque was unveiled in front of the Centre de Secours de Fontvieille. And, that’s it. 🙂
According to Matangi Tonga Online, the late King Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Manumataongo Tukuʻaho (George) Tupou V of Tonga’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. The late king “… will lie in state at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa for two days…” His final resting place will be at the royal tombs Mala’e Kula, Nuku’alofa.
The Royal Correspondent 
