Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands in Ankara, Turkey

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands is currently visiting Ankara, Turkey, as the United Nations Advisor for Inclusive Finance and as Honorary Chairman of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI).

According to the official website for the Dutch royal house, Het Koninklijk Huis (RVD):

Princess Máxima will have several discussions on the importance of access to financial services. The Princess will attend a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs, Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Turkey. Princess Máxima will also met with representatives of various international organizations, such as IMF, World Bank and United Nations.

On Wednesday February 15, 2012,  Princess Máxima will visit the ‘Women Entrepreneurship Support Project’. Through this project, thousands of women have received training and coaching in the setting up of a private company, such as writing a business plan and to have access to financial services.  Princess Máxima then visits a bilateral tool from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ‘Women Education and Employment Association’, whereby women are helped on the labour market and, for example, also be trained on social aspects.

Finally, the Princess will visit ‘Cocoon to Silk Women Co-Operative’ where she will attend a meeting with organizations which educates women on both business and social fields. source 

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco Attends a Reception for the Fondation Turquois (VIDEO)

Last Friday, February 10, 2012, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended a reception for the Fondation Turquois held at the Hotel Hermitage in Monaco.

Since its inception in 1997, the foundation brings students from Mexico on a scholarship, who are currently studying Hospitality and Industry Management, to “…refine their training in Monaco…”   Why?  I have no idea.  But, hey it’s cool the students get to chill in Monaco as well as the South of France for a couple of weeks and/or months.   🙂

His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje Opens an Exhibition in Rotterdam. Plus, News Regarding Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (VIDEOS)

His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje was in Rotterdam this morning to attend the opening of a new exhibition entitled, Zoet & Zout: Water en de Nederlanders, held at the Kunsthal Museum.

This exhibition displays “…125 works of art and based on 5 themes — war, alliance, gain, entertainment, and myth — and the relationship between the Dutch people and water.”

Click here to watch a video.

Click here to view photos.

For more information about the exhibition, Zoet & Zout: Water en de Nederlanders, please click here.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived in beautiful Lech, Austria to begin her annual skiing holiday.  Click here to watch a video. 

Sources: NOS and RPE

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium Participate in the Project ‘Heureux dans Notre École’. Plus, News Regarding His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium.

On Monday, February 13, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium visited the school, Sint Pietersinstituut Zevendonk, in the town of Turnhout (located north of Antwerp).

The purpose of the visit by the prince and princess was to participate in the project, Heureux dans Notre École or Blij Op Onze School in Dutch, which promotes anti-harrassment in schools.  During today’s event Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde attended a meeting with directors of the project along with experts in the field “… of prevention and treatment of harassing behavior in primary and secondary schools…”  

Meanwhile, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium held audiences with the Ambassador of Poland, Mr. Slawomir Czarlewski and with Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Elio Di Rupo, at Château de Laeken.

Source: La Monarchie Belge

Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco Dining in the City of Lights (aka Paris)

Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene are currently in Paris, France where they attended a football match  this weekend.  Last evening the princely couple dined at Patrick’s Le Ballon Vert off Rue de Montreuil in the 11th Arrondissement.

Click here to view a photo.

Tomorrow, Prince Albert II will begin his state visit to Mali until February 15, 2012.  Then the sovereign prince will make an official visit to Burkina Faso from February 15 to 17th.

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan to Have Heart Bypass Surgery

Per AFP News:

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan, 78, will undergo heart bypass surgery this week after tests showed the narrowing of his arteries has worsened, the Imperial Household Agency announced on Sunday.

The operation, scheduled for Saturday, February 18, will be performed ‘to maintain and to improve His Majesty’s daily life. We have decided to ask his majesty to have a coronary artery bypass surgery,’ a IHA spokesman said.

The announcement came shortly after Emperor Akihito was discharged from the University of Tokyo Hospital, where he underwent a catheter angiogram on Saturday.

The test showed that the narrowing of his arteries has progressed, compared with an examination he underwent a year ago, the spokesman said.

Doctors have reached ‘a conclusion that a new action has to be taken’ to stop the trend, he said.

The operation will be performed by physicians from the University of Tokyo and private Juntendo University, the spokesman said.

Akihito, wearing a gray suit and a striped tie, walked out of the university hospital Sunday, accompanied by Empress Michiko, as his physicians stood in line at the entrance.

The surgery comes amid increasing concerns about Akihito’s health.

The latest angiogram was arranged after periodic electrocardiograms showed restricted blood flow to his heart.

In November, the Emperor spent 19 days in hospital suffering mild pneumonia.

Emperor Akihito, who ascended the throne in 1989 following the death of his father Emperor Hirohito, underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2003.

The Emperor’s second son Prince Akishino in November suggested there should be a discussion about setting a retirement age for the titular head of state.

Despite being stripped of much of its mystique and its quasi-divine status in the aftermath of World War II, the Japanese throne is held in deep respect by much of the public.