His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan continued his official visit to Thailand on June 23, 2012. This afternoon, the future emperor was in the Ayutthaya province where he visited the famous Wat Phra Mahathat temple, toured the “… Ayutthaya Historical Study Center and visited a Japanese village in the province…” according to Pattaya News.
Source: Pattaya News
On June 26, 2012, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy where he met with members of Team GB’s Olympic sailing team.
During his surprise visit the Prince of Wales christened a new British Olympic 49er boat with Palmers Dorset Gold beer. According to the Press Association, as the Prince of Wales, “… poured the ale over the white sailing boat…” he named it ‘Lovely Rita’ after the Beatles song.
Source: Press Association
On Tuesday, June 26, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh began their two-day visit to Northern Ireland as part of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
This afternoon Her Majesty and the duke visited the West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen as well as attended a service of Thanksgiving held at St. Macartin’s Church of Ireland Cathedral. Afterward, Her Majesty and the duke “… met families of the victims of the 1987 Enniskillen Bombing in the Deanery…” according to the Buckingham Palace officials.
Tomorrow, Queen Elizabeth II will hold an “… historic meeting…” with former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander, Mr. Martin McGuinness. Today, Mr. McGuinness is a member of the Sinn Féin party and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.
According to the Telegraph newspaper, the meeting will:
… take place at a celebration of culture at the Lyric theatre in Belfast which will also be attended by President of Ireland Michael D Higgins.
The Queen and Mr. McGuinness are set to meet initially in private alongside a handful of dignitaries and while a photograph of the moment was ruled out last week, sources have now said discussions are ongoing…
To read more about today’s events, watch videos as well as to view photos please click the links below.
Sources: Royal.gov.uk and Telegraph
On June 25, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Henley Business School, University of Reading, in Oxfordshire to attend the “…Henley-on-Thames Jubilee river pageant…” The purpose of today’s event was, again, to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
Click the links below to read an article from the BBC News as well as to view photos.
Sources: Royal.gov.uk and BBC News
Recently, Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg along with His Royal Highness Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra, His Royal Highness Prince Felix, and Their Royal Highnesses Prince Louis and Princess Tessy celebrated Luxembourg’s National Day 2012.
For more detailed information about the celebrations, in English, as well as to view photos please click the links below.
Meanwhile in Monaco, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover watched the 2012 Fête de la Saint Jean procession held in front of the Palais Princier de Monaco on June 23, 2012.
Sources: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg and Monaco Matin
On Monday, June 25, 2012, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan arrived in Bangkok, Thailand to begin his official visit to Southeast Asia.
According to Kyodo News, via the Imperial Household Agency, the crown prince will stay “… two nights in each of the capitals of the three countries — Thailand, Cambodia and Laos — he will visit.”
Any way, upon his arrival at Don Mueang airport in Thailand, Crown Prince Naruhito was greeted by government dignitaries and the press. Soon, the future emperor of Japan was at Government House in Bangkok where the Prime Minister of Thailand, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, hosted a reception in his honor.
Afterward, the crown prince was at the Grand Palace where he had a meeting with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand.
Source: Kyodo News via the Imperial Household Agency
On June 25, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands were at the Ridderzaal in Den Haag to attend the TEDxBinnenhof Catwalk for Innovation meeting.
According to RVD:
TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment & Design and began in 1984, is an international non-profit platform where entrepreneurs and researchers from the three sectors present new ideas for solving social problems.
At present TEDxBinnenhof consists of ten people discussing their innovative solutions to social problems in areas such as energy, water, agriculture and nutrition. The ideas all meet the criteria that they are cutting-edge, focus on Dutch problem and accessible to a broad audience. Audiences include entrepreneurs, policy makers, researchers and young people.
Source: RVD
The Royal Correspondent 