Monthly Archives: April 2013

Royal House of Jordan

News Regarding Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan. (VIDEO)

On April 8, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan held an audience with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Chair of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), Ms. Helen Clark, in Amman.  According to the Petra News Agency, discussions focused on:

 “…regional consultations on the post-2015 development agenda.  Her Majesty, as a member of the U.N. High Level Panel (HLP) that will help advise on the shape of the post-2015 development agenda, discussed with Ms. Clark the outputs of her meetings with Arab leaders from civil society, research institutes and academia held last month to outline the main development challenges and priorities of the Arab world which will help shape the post-2015 development agenda.”

And, finally, Her Majesty Queen Rania also participated in a board meeting with members of the “…Queen Rania Al Abdullah Award for Excellence in Education (QRAEE) who briefed her on new elements incorporated into this year’s cycle” according to the Petra News Agency.

Spanish Royals

Iñaki Urdangarín Has a New Job. Adiós muchachos! (VIDEO)

Spanish-king-s-son-in-law-007Disgraced former handball player, husband of Infanta Cristina of Spain, son-in-law of Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, suspect in a mega-corruption case and overall jerk, Mr. Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma, has decided to get the heck out of Spain.

According to the Spanish newspaper, El Pais, Mr. Urdangarín was recently offered a new position in a land far, far away from Spain.  So where is this job and what will he be doing?  Well, it seems that he was offered a position as a handball coach… in Qatar.  The disgraced duke will “…work alongside the Spanish coach Valero Rivera training the Qatari national team and may be joined by his wife, Princess Cristina, and their four children at the end of the school year.  The king’s advisers spoke to Qatari officials to secure the position for Urdangarín…” according to Bloomberg News via El Pais.

Adiós muchachos!   🙂

 

Dutch Royal Family

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands Welcomes President Vladimir Putin. (VIDEOS)

HMQBOn April 8, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands welcomed the President of Russia, Mr. Vladimir Putin and his delegation, to the Netherlands.  The purpose of the visit to not only strengthen ties between the two countries, but to attend the launch of the Netherlands-Russia Year.

Per RVD:

The Netherlands-Russia Year is an initiative of the Russian Federation held in broadening and deepening of the centuries-long collaboration. The two countries will, in the future, continue to work on an innovative partnership. The program for this year rests on three pillars: Economy, culture, and politics & society.

After arriving at Schiphol Airport President Putin and his delegation were driven to the Hermitage museum in Amsterdam where he was warmly greeted by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands as well as several Dutch officials.  Soon, Her Majesty and the President visited the Peter the Great: Inspired Tsar exhibition.  Afterward, the President visited the Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam with Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

Click here and click here to watch videos.

Click here and here to view photos.

Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH

Imperial Family of Japan

News Regarding Members of the Imperial Family of Japan. (VIDEO)

japanOn April 8, 2013, Their Imperial Highnesses Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan welcomed the President of Mexico, Mr. Enrique Peña Nieto, and his wife, Ms. Angelica Rivera, to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.  The President and his delegation are on a four-day visit to Japan to strengthen bilateral and economic ties between the two countries.

After a private meeting Their Imperial Majesties accompanied by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito and several Japanese officials, hosted a luncheon in honor of President Nieto and his delegation at the Imperial Palace.

Click here to view a photo gallery.

And, finally, Their Imperial Highnesses Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan, attended an enrollment ceremony of their only son, Prince Hisahito, on April 7, 2013.  The little prince started elementary school.

Royal House of Jordan

TMs King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan Welcome the Governor-General of New Zealand. (VIDEO)

On April 7, 2013, Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan welcomed the Governor-General of New Zealand, Mr. Jerry Mateparae and his wife, Janine, to the royal offices at Al-Hummer in Amman.

After the inspection of the royal guards His Majesty and Governor-General Mateparae, accompanied by senior Jordanian and New Zealand officials, participated in meeting.  The discussions focused on “…bilateral relations and the crisis in Syria…”

In the evening, Their Majesties hosted a gala dinner in honor of Governor-General Mateparae and his wife’s three-day official visit to Jordan.

Hawaiian royal family, Royal Family of Hawaii

News Regarding Her Royal Highness Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa of Hawai’i. (VIDEOS)

TheRoyalCorrespondent HawaiiCOAOn the evening of April 6, 2013, Her Royal Highness Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa of Hawai’i attended the 2013 Merrie Monarch hula competition held at the Edith Kanaka‘ole stadium in Hilo, Hawai’i.

During last night’s festivities the lovely princess donated $2,000 to each participating kumu hula, and $25,000 to the Merrie Monarch Festival and its president, Luana Kawelu.

Please click here for more information.  Or, you can watch and listen to the announcement  here (at the 7:30 mark).  Also, if you missed the 2013 Merrie Monarch Festival and would like to watch it please click here.   🙂

And, finally, if you are interested here is the 1989 documentary entitled, Kumu Hula: Keepers of Culture, that you might enjoy.