Daily Archives: April 11, 2026

Royal Family of Bhutan

The Royal Family of Bhutan Joins Thousands of Volunteers at Zhabto Program in Gelephu Mindfulness City

  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan
  • Photos courtesy of Royal Office for Media of the Royal Government of Bhutan

On Friday, Their Majesties King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan, accompanied by their sons, His Royal Highness Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and His Royal Highness Prince Ugyen Wangchuck of Bhutan, attended the opening of the 6th volunteer Zhabto program at Gelephu Mindfulness City, a five-day initiative bringing together thousands of participants from across the Kingdom of Bhutan and abroad.

The program includes volunteers from religious institutions, public service, and the private sector, engaged in coordinated work across designated areas of the site, with activities focused on land preparation, environmental management, and infrastructure groundwork within the broader development of the city.

On the opening day, Queen Jetsun Pema attended a ground-breaking ceremony for Druk Ugyen Samyeling, a planned center for Buddhist practice and study. 

The project is intended as a dedicated space for contemplative and communal activity within the wider development.

King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck also visited a site designated for the development of a future golf course at Gelephu Mindfulness City, where the initial planning phase is now underway. 

The visit marked the formal commencement of the design process, with the project forming part of the city’s broader long-term development framework.

On Saturday, Their Majesties, joined by their children, including Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Yangden Wangchuck of Bhutan, participated alongside volunteers within Gelephu Mindfulness City on the second day of the program. Work continued across designated areas, focusing on land clearing, site preparation, and environmental maintenance in support of planned infrastructure, green spaces, and religious developments.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco’s 1956 Wedding to Be Celebrated in a New Exhibition at the Palace in Monaco

Poster courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Visite du Palais Princier de Monaco

On Friday, the Palais Princier de Monaco announced the opening of the exhibition Le mariage du siècle: Monaco. 12–19 Avril 1956, to be presented in the Grands Appartements of the Palais Princier de Monaco from June 8th to October 15th, 2026.

The exhibition is being held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Miss Grace Kelly, which took place in April 1956, three months after the announcement of their engagement in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bringing together photographs, film material, garments, accessories, gifts, and archival documents, the exhibition examines the sequence of events surrounding the wedding, from the arrival of Miss Grace Kelly to the Principality of Monaco on April 12th, 1956, to the couple’s departure for their honeymoon on April 19th, 1956, situating the ceremonies within the broader context of their international reception.

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

Prince Albert II of Monaco Marks 10th Anniversary of the Flowers for the Bees Campaign in Monaco-Ville

  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi
  • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Michaël Alesi

On Friday, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended an event at the Jardins Saint-Martin in Monaco-Ville marking the 10th anniversary of the campaign Des Fleurs pour les Abeilles.

The Sovereign Prince was joined by the founder of the Observatoire Français d’Apidologie, Mr. Thierry Dufresne, and its vice-president, Mr. Arnaud Dufresne, as well as a group of students from l’Institution François d’Assise–Nicolas Barré, who had previously taken part in educational activities on the role of bees in pollination.

A commemorative photograph was taken to mark the anniversary of the initiative, launched in 2017 by the Observatoire Français d’Apidologie with the support of the Sovereign Prince and the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco.

The campaign encourages the public to plant nectar-rich flowers to support bee populations and promote biodiversity. It forms part of broader efforts to address the decline in pollinators through public participation and environmental education.

Since its inception, more than 1.5 million seed packets have been distributed, contributing to the creation of flowering areas in a range of settings.

The 10th edition of the campaign is scheduled to take place from May 9th to 24th, 2026, and continues to emphasize the role of individual action in environmental conservation.

Royal Family of Thailand

Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand to Open Landmark Paris Exhibition Celebrating Royal Thai Dress and Queen Sirikit’s Legacy

  • Photo courtesy of H.R.H. Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand

On Friday, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya of Thailand concluded a three-day visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, where she presided over a series of engagements focused on Thai national dress and textile traditions.

The program included the opening of the Thailand Gallery at the Royal Thai Embassy, a lecture on the development of Thai traditional dress and textiles, and the inauguration of the exhibition Chud Thai: Knowledge, Craftsmanship and Practices of the Thai National Costume at Hotel Des Indes in Den Haag.

Following these engagements, the Princess, as Patron, is preparing for the forthcoming exhibition, La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress: From Tradition to Modernity, to be held from May 13th to November 1st, 2026, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France.

More than 200 garments and related items will be presented, including royal dress, accessories, and textile works associated with the late Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, alongside contemporary interpretations of traditional design. It will also include all eight recognized forms of Chud Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom, the royally endorsed national costume.

The exhibition focuses on the development of Thai court dress over time, with particular attention to the role of the late Queen Sirikit in shaping its modern form. Garments created by the French fashion house, Balmain, for the Queen, with embroidery by Maison Lesage, are included as part of the exhibition material.

In January 2026, in preparation for the exhibition, Princess Sirivannavari visited the archives of the House of Balmain in Paris, where she researched hundreds of couture garments designed and created by Balmain for the late Queen Sirikit. The research supported the curation of the exhibition, which explores the relationship between Thai royal tradition and haute couture, particularly the long-standing collaboration between the late Queen Sirikit and the House of Balmain. 

The exhibition is being presented to mark the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the French Republic and aligns with Thailand’s ongoing submission of Chud Thai for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity maintained by UNESCO, with consideration expected in 2026.