On Thursday, March 31, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain presented awards during the closing ceremony of 2nd Edition of the School Short Film Festival project, Diversidad en Serie: Historias que Merecen ser Contadas, at the Casa del Lector in Madrid.
The project, promoted by Netflix and the Fundación FAD Juventud, aims to promote discourses on diversity (gender, cultural and/or generational) and motivate artistic or audiovisual vocations through the scriptwriting of short films by students between 14 and 20 years.
Almost 900 schoolchildren from different educational centers have participated in this edition, presenting 109 short film scripts with stories of diversity.
Of the scripts presented, there have been five winning teams that have agreed, in addition to a master class with Ms. Susana Casares,film director and head of talent training at Netflix Spain-Portugal, to have their works professionally recorded in the hand of the artistic company Lanau. The winning scripts have shown some situation or content that reflects a reflection on the importance of diversity, especially those referring to cultural, gender and intergenerational diversity.
Miss Daniela Valentina Mangones Paternina, from Valencia,has been awarded for her script, Different Flavors of Pizza, which tells the story of a social experiment that tests the differences and peculiarities of a large human group that ends up understanding each other because of what they do have in common.
Not Everything is Always What it Seems, a script by Miss Laura Chana Morales from Madrid, has been awarded for telling the story of Mia, a young woman discriminated against for her physical appearance who is unjustly accused of a robbery. She gets shelter, reasons to move on, and the truth to be known, thanks to friendship.
The script for, Daniela, confronts discrimination based on gender in the school. The award-winning authors, Miss Natalia Alamillos Agudo, Miss Patricia López Merino, and Miss Alba Campos Clavo from Valencia, highlight the situation of some Transgendered people and the need for support from their classmates, to denounce discriminatory treatment by a teacher.
For their part, Mr. Víctor Sánchez Romero, Mr. Raúl Gaia, and Mr. Erik Borrella Navarro from Valencia tell in their award-winning script, Alcalde, the story of a young mayor who understands cultural diversity as an opportunity for progress and the generation of social wealth. This character has the idea of repopulating his town and doing it better with a call to people “outside”.
The last of the recognized scripts have been, My Story, by Mr. DavidValladarez Melgar from Valenciawhich narrates the biography of a young man who decides to go live with his mother in a country “On the Other Side of the Pond”. The protagonist of it faces various types of discrimination, all around having to adapt to being “different” and the suffering that this entails.
If you haven’t heard by now Emeritus King Juan Carlos I of Spain is being sued by his ex-lover of many years, Ms. Corinna Larsen (formerly Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn), in a British High Court in London, England.
Ms. Larsen is claiming harassment, defamation, stalking (illegal surveillance) against the old disgraced king.
Last Thursday, March 24, 2022, The Honorable Justice Matthew Nicklin denied the request of State/Sovereign Immunity, under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, made by Sir Daniel Bethlehem, the barrister representing Emeritus King Juan Carlos. Sir Daniel Bethlehem claims that the old king — and Elephant killer. I’ll tell you about that later — is protected under the State/Sovereign Immunity laws/statutes because he is:
“…the former King of Spain. He abdicated, in favour of his son, now King Felipe VI, on 18 June 2014. The Constitution of Spain does not regulate the legal status of an abdicated King. A Royal Decree, published on the day of the Defendant’s abdication, established that the Defendant would continue to use the title King for life on an honorary basis (“King Emeritus”), would be addressed as “His Majesty” and would receive military honours analogous to those provided to the Heir to the Throne.In the period from 19 June 2014 to 2 June 2019, the Defendant has continued to represent the Spanish State at several public events: [18] and [22]. The Defendant retired from public life on 2 June 2019.
Since August 2020, he has lived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: [3]. The Defendant claimed that he was immune from the jurisdiction of the English Court in respect of all or part of the Claimant’s claim under ss.1, 14 and 20 of the State Immunity Act 1978 (“the SIA”) (the relevant parts of the Act are set out in [24]). His claim to immunity arose from his capacity as a senior member of the Spanish Royal Family and Royal House of Spain, including in respect of the claims brought in these proceedings. The Defendant argued that this immunity did not place him above the law. He is subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Spain, but that Court alone.
The claim for immunity was based on two grounds: (1) the Defendant was personally immune from the jurisdiction of the English Court as a result of his being a “sovereign” under s.20(1)(a) SIA and/or a member of the family of the current King of Spain, King Felipe VI, “forming part of his household” under s.20(1)(b) SIA; and (2) the Defendant was immune for acts carried out by him in a public capacity, before his abdication, under s.14(1) SIA”
So, after this not so brilliant argument was made, The Honorable Justice Nicklin denied the use of States/Sovereign Immunity noting:
“In respect of the claim to personal immunity as ‘sovereign’ or member of King Felipe VI’s family forming part of his ‘household’, the Court found that: (1) whatever special status the Defendant retained under the law and Constitution of Spain, he was no longer a ‘sovereign’ or ‘head of state’, so as to entitle him to personal immunity under s.20(1)(a): [56]-[60]: and (2) the Defendant was also not a member of the ‘household’ of King Felipe VI so as to entitle him to immunity under s.20(1)(b): [61]-[64].
The definition of ‘household’ under s.20(1)(b) is to be determined in accordance with English Law, and the decision of the Court of Appeal in Apex Global Management Ltd -v- Fi Call Ltd & Others [2014] 1 WLR 492 determined that, to qualify as a part of the ‘household’ under the subsection, the ‘central criterion… is dependence, rather than the performance by any such persons of diplomatic duties or functions…’: [46]- [47].
The Defendant was not a dependent of King Felipe VI but, in any event, since his retirement from public life, the Defendant has discharged no Royal, constitutional and/or representational functions: [64].
In respect of functional immunity claimed in respect of acts of the Defendant carried out in his public capacity, the Court rejected this ground of immunity for acts of harassment alleged against the Defendant prior to his abdication. The Claimant’s claim is based on a course of conduct of alleged harassment by the Defendant. Such acts do not fall within the sphere of governmental or sovereign activity: [68]. Acts of surveillance alleged by the Claimant, if carried out by agents of Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI: The Spanish National Intelligence Agency), might potentially attract state immunity, but no such immunity had been claimed by the Spanish State and it was unclear precisely what role CNI agents played in the alleged acts of harassment: [72].
On the Claimant’s behalf, an offer was made to make clear that she was not alleging that acts alleged against the head of CNI were carried out by him in a personal, not official capacity. The Court will direct that this is made clear in the Claimant’s claim: [75].
The effect of the Court’s decision is that the civil claim brought by the Claimant will be allowed to proceed: [78].“
While this morning the world had its eyes on Westminster Abbey, for the Service of Thanksgiving for the late Duke of Edinburgh, down the street King Juan Carlos I received another massive blow to his already inflated ego. Immediately after last Thursday’s denial of State/Sovereign Immunity Sir Daniel Bethlehem had requested permission to appeal the decision. Well, the decision came and The Honorable Justice Nicklin said…no. Again.
And, so, here we are. The trial will proceed, and I have a feeling it may be just as scandalous as the 1960s Profumo Trial/Affair. Or, worse.
Now, you’re probably wondering why I referred to Emeritus King Juan Carlos I as the “Elephant Killer”, right? Well, on April 12, 2012, the old king went on a luxurious $57,850 a week elephant killing vacation in Botswana, Africa, alongside several wealthy businessmen and his lover at the time, Ms. Corinna Larsen (who was then known as Princess Corinna Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn).
During his disgusting vacation of watching innocent elephants suffer after being shot then slowly dying King Juan Carlos I had an accidental fall thus fracturing his right hip in three places. Karma. As a result of his accident, the old king was immediately flown to the San José Hospital in Madrid where he had hip replacement surgery.
King Juan Carlos I’s vacation had angered the people of Spain not just because the old king slaughtered innocent elephants for fun, but also due to the fact thousands of Euros were spent on a stupid vacation while the people of Spain were in a serious economic crisis. When the vast majority of the public learned that the old king was having a years long extramarital affair with a not-so-hot blonde named Corinna combined with a vacation in Botswana, the epic downfall of King Juan Carlos I had begun. Everyone hated him including his old patronage, the WWF España.
If you’re interested in reading about what happened between the WWF España organization and the old king please click here.
On the morning of Tuesday, March 29, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, members of the British Royal Family, foreign royals from the European continent, members of the UK Government, and 500 representatives of the late Duke’s many charities attended a Service of Thanksgiving for the late His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh held at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
In a press release via Buckingham Palace the purpose of this morning’s service was to:
“…gave thanks for His Royal Highness’s dedication to his family, to the Nation, and to the Commonwealth as both Consort to the Queen, and a working member of the Royal Family in his own right. The event also recognized the importance of The Duke’s legacy in creating opportunities for young people, promoting environmental stewardship and conservation, and supporting the Armed Forces.
The Service, in particular, paid tribute to The Duke of Edinburgh’scontribution to public life and steadfast support for the over 700 charitable organizations with which His Royal Highness was associated throughout his life.”
In his address during the service the Dean of Windsor reflected on the life of The Duke of Edinburgh stating:
“In 1947, Prince Philip was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter. On the back of his stall in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, is fixed, in perpetuity and for everyone to see, a small enamelled brass plate on which is inscribed his motto. It is simply: “God is My Help”. We do not understand the man unless we see him, at the heart, to be a man of faith.
That faith was never dogmatic, sentimental or paraded and, as it went in search of understanding, was frequently questioned and examined. However, it was real and it endured, inspiring and shaping a lifetime of commitment to the making of this world a better place.
I am not sure that Prince Philip had much time for the theological controversies that divide people. His faith was a heartfelt trust in a loving God whose intention for this world is glimpsed in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ; such trust, such hope, as could unite people in a common endeavour.
This trust, this hope, was not idle wishful thinking or escapism. Rather, it evoked in him a kind of impatience; eagerness for that God-intended future upon which his gaze was always fixed.
He knew however that that future, from any human point of view, had to be arrived at step by step. He was practical, wanting to put flesh upon his dreams, and (acknowledging the limitations of living in this so-called ‘real world’) he devoted his astonishing intellectual and physical energy, his enormous capacity for sheer hard work, to a host of down-to-earth enterprises. These included the equipping of young people to face tomorrow’s challenges, the encouragement of respect and care for the natural order, and his pioneering work in facilitating conversation between representatives of the different world faiths.
Through his passionate commitment, he drew others to himself in admiration and respect and, in the case of those who lived and worked most closely to him, genuine love.
However, I sense that he did not believe that all these achievements were made in his own strength. I am reminded of those words: ‘God is My Help’. I think he understood his constant need of inspiration and of guidance. I am quite sure that his prayers were not reserved for public occasions alone.
He would hate to think that I should paint a picture of him as a ‘plaster saint’; someone without the usual human foibles and failings. He was far too self-aware ever to be taken in by flattery. Of course, it must be said that his life bore the marks of sacrifice and service. Certainly, he could show great sympathy and kindness. There is no doubt that he had a delightfully engaging, and often self-deprecating, sense of humour. It is quite clear that his mind held together both speculation and common sense.
Moreover, nobody would ever doubt his loyalty and deep devotion to our Queen and to their family. Yet, there were times when he could be abrupt; maybe, in robust conversation, forgetting just how intimidating he could be. A kind of natural reserve sometimes made him seem a little distant. He could be somewhat sharp in pricking what he thought to be bubbles of pomposity or sycophancy. On the other hand, we should not forget that he himself was sometimes wounded by being unfairly criticised or misunderstood.
Like the rest of us, he was part of flawed humanity. Unlike most of us however, he was one of those rare people who remained true to, and guided by, what you might call ‘an inner spiritual compass’; a sense of being called to play a part in the making of a God-intended world.
As we give thanks for the life of a remarkable man, perhaps our greatest tribute to him, most especially in these far too troubled times, will be for us to accept the challenge, implicit in his life, to rekindle in our hearts something of that call, and to pray (as I think he did) for the inspiration and the guidance to play our part, however, small, in working for a kinder future.
Below is the list of the members of the British royal family and foreign royals who attended this morning’s Service of Thanksgiving:
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence
His Royal Highness The Duke of York
The Earl and Countess of Wessex
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Their Royal Highnesses Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, The Viscount Severn
Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York and Mr. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York and Mr. Jack Brooksbank
Mrs. Zara Tindall and Mr. Mike Tindall
Miss Mia Tindall
Mr. Peter Philips
Miss Isla Philips
Miss Savannah Philips
The Earl and Countess of St. Andrews
The Earl of Snowdon
Lady Margarita Armstrong Jones
Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto and Mr. David Chatto
Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor
Lady Gabriella Kingston (née Windsor) and Mr. Thomas Kingston
Mr. James and Julia Ogilvy
Mrs. Flora Ogilvy Vesterberg and Mr. Timothy Vesterberg
Lady Amelia Windsor
Their Highnesses Hereditary Prince Bernhard and Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden
Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium
His Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain
His Royal Highness Prince Kyril of Bulgaria, Prince of Preslav
Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Her Majesty Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippos and Princess Nina of Greece
Prince Heinrich Donatus and Princess Floria-Franziska of Hesse
Their Highnesses Prince Philipp and Princess Saskia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
Their Royal Highnesses Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath al Hassan of Jordan
Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco
Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands
Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania and Prince Radu of Romania
Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia
Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain
Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden
Princess Christina of Sweden, Mrs. Magnuson
Other guests at the Service included representatives from UK Government, the Armed Forces and the Devolved Administrations, Realm High Commissioners, representatives of Overseas Territories, representatives from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household, representatives from The Duke’s Regimental Affiliations in the UK and the Commonwealth as well as the clergy and other faiths.
Notably absent from today’s Service of Thanksgiving was The Duke of Sussex. It’s quite unfortunate that the Duke of Sussex did not attend this meaningful day; moreover, a day that meant so much to Her Majesty The Queen. In the past, the Duke has mentioned a myraid of times how much he “…adores his grandfather…” and how much the late Duke of Edinburgh has helped him throughout the years.
After the Service of Thanksgiving, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales hosted a reception at Clarence House in London for members of the British royal family and foreign royals.
On the afternoon of Monday, March 28, 2022, Their Royal Highnesses Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg visited the Genaveh Chocolate Factory in Steinfort.
Established in 2005, by Ms. Geula Naveh and taken over in 2017 by young entrepreneur Ms. Alexandra Kahn, Genaveh chocolate factory produces handmade high-quality chocolates from its small workshop. The company owes its reputation “…to its delicious chocolate bonbons: More than 80 varieties have been created to satisfy the finest palates as well as the most greedy…” according to the company website.
During today’s visit, the royal couple learned how to make chocolate and were informed about the creative process around the development of each of Genaveh’s recipes. The company only uses high-quality raw materials and, as much as possible, local products for all of their chocolates.
On March 25, 2022 His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the 2022 Yacht Club de Monaco Explorer Awards held at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM).
According to a press release via the YCM, the awards:
“…by La Belle Classe Superyachts recognize owners who take their environmental responsibilities seriously. They are presented by the Club’s President, HSH Prince Albert II, at the end of a one-day Environmental Symposium, organized by the YCM during Monaco Ocean Week in March.
The major criteria for these awards are the owner’s conception of their superyacht, how they use it and what it can do for humanity. It could be a technical innovation that significantly reduces the yacht’s CO2 emissions, the assistance given to scientists, or just an ability to pass on and share adventures at sea so that many more people come to respect, love and protect the Ocean. These men and women are tomorrow’s explorers and all perpetuate the YCM’s ‘Art de Vivre la Mer’ philosophy which is at the heart of the Club’s core values.”
In the Science/Mediation category, the award went to the superyacht, Gene Machine. In the Adventure/ Ethics/Behavior/ Environment category, the award went to the superyacht, Dragonfly. And, finally, in the Technology/Innovation category, the award went to the superyacht, Artefact.
On March 24, 2022, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco celebrated the 10th anniversary of Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting held at the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Photo courtesy of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco
On Friday, March 25, 2022, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the conference, Sea & the City: Pathways for Coastal Resilience, held at the Yacht Club de Monaco.
During yesterday’s conference discussions focused on the stake in the coastal zone, identifying tools for assessing vulnerabilities, and promoting solutions. According to a press release, the overall goal was to focus on ways to:
“…build on the work of the conveners and partners, particularly focusing on nature-based solutions, as no-regret options. Recommendations from the conference will be used by governments, industry, and civil society to inform improved decision making and take collective action to protect and enhance resilience of coastal and marine eco-systems to climate change to benefit societies and economies around the world.”
The conference was assembled under the presidency of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and organized by the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco in collaboration with the Stimson Center Environmental Security Program and the Ocean & Climate Platform.
The Royal Correspondent 