On July 2, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh began their visit to Scotland as part of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The day began with Her Majesty attending the 2012 Ceremony of the Keys held at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. Afterward, Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh “… officially re-opened the Scottish National Portrait Gallery…” where they viewed various items on display and signed the guest book.
On July 2, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall began their visit to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as part of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
This afternoon, the royal couple officially opened the “… £35 million community-led regeneration project in one of the most impoverished parts of Cornwall” known as the Heartlands Community Regeneration Project.
The royal couple also had a chance to visit a local food market in the Heartlands. Whilst there the Prince of Wales:
… stopped for a taste of pie and a pint of Betty Stogs ale – produced by Skinners Brewery in Truro – and expressed his love of locally produced food-stuff. [While] The Duchess bought a couple of treats from the market, including five shortbread teddy bears for her grandchildren and a cushion.
Tomorrow, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Isles of Scilly where they will open a new school, attend meeting with the Isles of Scilly Local Action Group, open the new Bryher Shop and Post Office, and much more.
On July 2, 2012, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium held an audience with Prime Minster, Mr. Elio Di Rupo at Château de Laeken. Afterward, the king “…watched the second stage of the 99th Tour de France…” finish in Tournai, Belgium.
Meanwhile, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium are currently in Bujumbura, Burundi to attend the 50th anniversary of the independence of Burundi “… a country which was once administered for over four decades by Belgium…” The prince and princess are representing His Majesty King Albert II.
The Palais Princier de Monaco recently announced that Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco will make an official visit Germany beginning on July 9-10, 2012.
The purpose of the princely couple’s visit is to “… reinforce the close ties between both countries.” On the agenda, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will be officially welcomed to the country by the President of Germany, Mr. Joachim Gauck and his partner, Ms. Daniela Schadt, at Schloss Bellevue on July 9. From there the sovereign prince will:
… meet the Finance Minister, Mr. Wolfgang Schaüble, before participating in a working lunch with the Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle. He will [also] meet with Klaus Wowereit, Mayor of Berlin.
The next day, the prince and princess will travel to Stuttgart where they will meet with:
… Mr. Winfried Kretschmann, Minister-President of the State of Baden-Württemberg. The sovereign prince will also visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum and its research centre as well as the Bosch Company.
Meanwhile, this afternoon in Paris, France, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene attended the début collection by Raf Simons for the house of Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2012-2013 collection. Other attendees included actresses Marion Cotillard and Jennifer Lawrence and fashion designers such as Olivier Theyskens and Marc Jacobs.
Christian Dior Haute Couture Show Fall/Winter 2012-2013; Part 1 and 2.
And, finally, Vogue Italia claims that Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline’s son, Mr. Andrea Casiraghi, will finally marry his beautiful longtime girlfriend, Ms. Tatiana Santo Domingo. The lovely couple will allegedly marry sometime in 2013. Click here for more information.
UPDATE!
Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover confirmed on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, that indeed Andrea and Tatiana are engaged! In a statement, released by the Palais Princier, Princess Caroline stated:
J’ai la joie de vous annoncer les fiançailles de mon fils, Andrea Casiraghi, avec Mademoiselle Tatiana Santo Domingo!
Wonderful news and congrats to the couple. 🙂
Sources: Palais Princier de Monaco, Now Fashion, Vogue Italia and Monaco Matin.
According to Reuters, “… voters in Liechtenstein rejected a proposal to abolish the ruling prince’s right to veto… 76.1% to 24% in favor of the princes…” So, yeah… the bratty ballerinas of Liechtenstein still have a firm hand and absolute power over their subjects.
On Saturday, June 30, 2012, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco received the first Toyota Rechargeable Prius (called the Prius Plug-In here in the United States) car from the President of Toyota France, Mr. Pascal Ruch. The environmentally friendly car is one of the first Rechargeable Prius’ delivered in Europe.
This new model, which will be released this fall in France, was given to the sovereign prince for two months and will be used for “private travel.”
The car is equipped with a lithium-ion battery (LIB) and is able to drive for 11-15 miles using electricity. Then it switches to the “… full hybrid technology.” The sovereign prince’s new Prius can be recharged from one of 424 charging stations installed in Monaco and can “… travel around the principality using pure electric mode, generating zero CO2, NOx or particulate matter emissions.”
So far, here in the United States, the new Prius Plug-In has received mixed reviews. The company, Toyota, still needs to work out some of the kinks and other stuff. If you are interested in learning more about this car pleaseclick here.
Also, on Saturday, Prince Albert II joined Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover to watch the Jumping International de Monaco at Port Hercule.
And, finally, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today. Last year on Saturday, July 1, 2011, the princely couple said “Oui” during their civil wedding ceremony held in the Throne Room at the Palais Princier.
Prince Albert II recently spoke to the Brazilian magazine, ÉPOCA, regarding his happy marriage to the princess and their 1st wedding anniversary:
We are really happy and I have the feeling that it happened yesterday. I am very proud of what my wife has accomplished this past year. Creating her Foundation [which is] dedicated to children and sport, and being so involved in her new role in Monaco. She is fulfilling a difficult mission in a perfect way and I thank her for that!
Civil Wedding
Interview with Euronews journalist, Isabelle Kumar, before the Jean Michel Jarre concert in Monaco on July 1, 2011.
Joyeux Anniversaire Prince et Princesse! 🙂
Sources and photos courtesy of: Monaco Matin and Palais Princier de Monaco
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The Royal Correspondent 