The Imperial Household Agency in Japan announced on April 24, 2012, that Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan will “… visit Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s tallest stand-alone communications tower and Tokyo’s newest tourist attraction…” on April 26, 2012.
Click here for more information from the Mainichi Daily News.
On April 24, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands opened the Klok & Peel Museum in Asten. According to RVD, the museum displays:
… a comprehensive international collection of loud bells and carillons (clocks games). The second collection in the museum includes the natural and cultural history of the area.
The original museum was opened in 1975 by Prince Bernhard. In 2008 the restoration of the museum began. The museum building is completely renovated and was extended to 1100 square meters. Beside a large, new exhibition hall as the focal point of the museum, there is a glass Orangery in the museum gardens which offers space for workshops, educational projects and events. The museum has also a new entrance, a movie room with education space and gotten a new museum café.
Click here to watch a video. (in Dutch)
Her Majesty also visited the National Bricklaying and Building Championships in Barneveld this afternoon. Again, according to RVD:
Since 1953, this event is organized and supported by the Dutch brick industry to get the youth interested in masonry.
The industry organizes the championships in cooperation with VMBO schools, training in the construction industry and civil society organizations. The Dutch brick industry is represented by the Association Koninklijke Nederlandse Construction ceramics (KNB).
Click the links below to view photos.
Sources: RVD
Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco inaugurated the new permanent exhibition entitled, ‘Turtle Island’, at the Musée Océanographique in Monaco on April 24, 2012.
According to the official website for the Musée Océanographique ‘Turtle Island’ “… consists of three exhibition spaces.” The first area is dedicated to the discovery and the protection of land and sea turtles. It is a space where adults and children alike can view various turtles including a Sulcata tortoise (turtle) from Mali. There are information signs that will help to raise public awareness about these unique species.
The second area will is a game space with a sea theme.
The third area is the relaxation lounge area located in the West Terrace of the musée where parents can sit, relax, eat while watching their children play, discover, scream, cry and generally have a fantastic time.
On April 24, 2012, His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium attended the 1st Annual Masterclass held at the Résidence Palace à Bruxelles (residence Palace in Brussels). Today’s event was:
…organized for the benefit of the winners of seven editions of the Belgodyssée competition.
The ‘Masterclass’ is a project in collaboration between Radio 2 and the Prince Philippe Fund with the support of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Participants had the opportunity to listen to speakers on the theme of ‘Journalism and social media.’
Meanwhile at the Palais Royal in Brussels, Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde presented the 2012 Princess Mathilde Prize from her personal foundation:
Each year, the Princess Mathilde Fund presents the prize to a particular initiative to strengthen the autonomy of persons who, because of their location, are more vulnerable than others.
For the second consecutive year, the Princess Mathilde Fund decided to engage in the fight against youth poverty, convinced that it must be stopped from the earliest age.
This year’s winner was ASBL Service Brussels. Click here to view a photo as well as to read an article about today’s event (in French.)
Source: La Monarchie Belge
On April 23, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg began their three-day state visit to Germany. Accompanying the grand-ducal couple are His Royal Highness Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, the Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade, Ms. Étienne Schneider and the Finance Minister, Mr. Luc Frieden, to name a few.
Click here to read more about today’s event. (in English)
Sources: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg and Wort Luxembourg
On Monday, April 23, 2012, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium held an audience with the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Elio Di Rupo. Later, His Majesty along with Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium held an audience with Baron Toots Thielemans and his wife, Huguette, at Château de Laeken. Mr. Thielemans, a well-known jazz musician, will celebrate his 90th birthday on April 29, 2012.
Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium visited the Universitaires Saint-Louis (FUSL) in Brussels. Whilst there the heir to the Belgian throne attended an academic session “… on the 20th anniversary of the creation… “ of the university’s multilingual training program in collaboration between the FUSL and Hogeschool Universiteit Brussels (HUB).
Source: La Monarchie Belge
Photo courtesy of Daylife
It’s a lazy Sunday and once again it is time for your weekly royal video news from the Dutch program, Blauw Bloed, hosted by Jeroen Snel. This week’s episode focuses on the recent state visit from Turkey to the Netherlands and more.
Click the video icon below where it says Staatsbezoek Turkije
The Royal Correspondent 