All posts by Alexandra

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room Season 6 Book Has Been Announced!

Photo courtesy of PA/H.Burnand

On Friday, April 8, 2022, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room announced the first book for Season 6: The Kite Runner. I loved this novel! If you haven’t had a chance to read this amazing story, I highly recommend that you do.

Originally published in 2003 by Mr. Khaled Hosseini — and made into a film in 2007 — The Kite Runner tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant:

“…the novel is a beautifully crafted story set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic.”

If haven’t heard about The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room, which launched on Instagram in January 2021, is a “…literary hub on a mission to help readers and non-readers alike find and connect with books they will love. Through exclusive author interviews and behind-the-scenes content, The Reading Room celebrates books from around the world and the extraordinary people who create them.”

To learn more about The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room as well as to review her past recommendations please click here.

If you are interested in following The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room on Instagram please click here.

Finally, if you’re interested in learning more about Mr. Khaled Hosseini as well as other novels that he has recently published please visit his official website here.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Cancels Her Attendance for the Upcoming Maundy Day Service.

On Friday, April 8, 2022, it was announced from Buckingham Palace that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will not attend the upcoming Maundy Day Service to be held at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. The 95-year-old queen’s absence is not due to illness, but rather due to mobility issues.

Maundy Day Service happens every Thursday before Easter Sunday whereupon Her Majesty:

“…distributes gifts according to the number of years she has lived: for example, when she turned 80 she distributed 80 pence worth of Maundy money to 80 men and 80 women in recognition for their contribution to the community and to the church.  The service dates back to 600AD and these special coins have kept much the same form since 1670.”

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will represent Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for Maundy Day Service on Thursday, April 14, 2022.

(VIDEO) His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain Meets with the Governor of Puerto Rico.

On Friday, April 8, 2022, His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain met with the Governor of Puerto Ricco, Mr. Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia, at Palacio de La Zarzuela in Madrid.

During their meeting, discussions focused on strengthening relations between the two countries in all areas and, in particular, in terms of trade and investment, and consolidating the momentum given during His Majesty’s visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico last January.

HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Holds a Meeting with Journalists from SVT Nyheter.

On Thursday, April 7, 2022, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden met with journalists from SVT Nyheter’s (Sveriges Television AB) Foreign Editorial Offices in Stockholm.

According to the Swedish royal court, Her Royal Highness was informed about the journalists’ situation in Ukraine by SVT’s Foreign Director, Ms. Pia Bernhardson Forsell, and SVT’s Foreign Correspondent, Mr. Carl Fridh Kleberg.

Photos courtesy of the Swedish royal court/S.Friberg 

HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway Opens the I/O Exhibit at the Norsk Teknisk Museum.

On the afternoon of Thursday, April 7, 2022, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway officially opened the new exhibit entitled, I/O, at the Norsk Teknisk Museum in Oslo.

I/O is an AI-driven exhibition about data and telecommunications history. According to a press release from the Norsk Teknisk Museum the:

“…I/O experience starts with the AI ​​system receiving input from the visitors, such as age, interests, etc. and then recommending a trail through the exhibition based on this data. Through the trail you will collect various objects and stories. The last stop is Reactor and dialogue based on the experience in the exhibition. The visitors can participate themselves and also see debate between artificial intelligences. As much as an exhibition, I/O becomes a dynamic arena for discussing and developing insights – about the past, present and future of information technology.

The title, I/O, plays on input/output or a/null. This, and several opposing pairs, such as human /machine, connected/disconnected, freedom/coercion, individual/society, actualize technological challenges. The discussions are the essentials, rather than the final truths about the technologies.

Artificial intelligence and co-creation:
A keyword is active participation. Based on data, I/O will introduce questions and discussions. The ambition is to facilitate the experience of connections between individual objects and themes in the exhibition in light of relevant societal issues. AI can, for example, automate tedious routine tasks, but is also responsible for security challenges in privacy and energy consumption.

Art:
Every day, an AI-powered 2×2 meter work of art will take on a different shape based on AI’s interpretation of data from the exhibition experience. Such works of art in small formats are also included in the activity offer. More art will come later.

I/O, an arena for dialogue and joint knowledge development:

With I/O, the Technical Museum renews the entire top floor of the museum. It will be an arena for reflection, knowledge development, and dialogue on important topics in computer and telecommunications history up to now – which will also point forward.

Through I/O and associated activities, we aim to build a bridge between generations, professional environments and most people. It should be a meeting place for everyone, regardless of age and knowledge. I/O must develop over time. With different trails, and the discussions and art will always be different, the exhibition will be experienced in new ways with each visit, says museum director Meinich enthusiastically.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the I/O exhibition as well as other exhibits at the Norsk Teknisk Museum please visit their official website here.

Photos courtesy of the Norsk Teknisk Museum

(VIDEO) HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark Opens the Exhibition, Makabre Mesterværker.

On the afternoon of Thursday, April 7, 2022, Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark opened the exhibition entitled, Makabre Mesterværker, at the Museum Sønderjylland at Sønderborg Slot.

Makabre Mesterværker exhibition showcases a:

“…series of exclusive jewelry created by leading Danish and foreign goldsmiths, silversmiths, and jewelry designers in a surprising encounter with prehistoric and historical objects from the museum’s own collection and deposits from museums at home and abroad.

The works on display together form a journey into the dimensions of death with narratives that begin violently and with the triumph of death. The journey moves around many cultures and different times, and follows its own track, where time inevitably flows out, the body passes away, and where grief and rituals find a place along with notions of life after death and resurrection. Embark on a thoughtful journey studded with chains, body parts, skulls, crosses, and valuables.

The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between Museum Sønderjylland, jewelry writer, Nina Hald, who has curated the exhibition, and jeweler, Bodil Binner. Most of the modern jewelry is created specifically for the exhibition.”

Makabre Mesterværker will be open to the public beginning on April 8 to October 23, 2022. For more information about the exhibition please visit the official website for the Museum Sønderjylland here.

Please click here to watch a video from the Danish magazine, Billed Bladet.

Photos courtesy of the Danish Royal Court

(VIDEOS) Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain Announces the Winner of Social Award During the Premio Fundación Princesa de Girona 2022.

On the morning of Thursday, April 7, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain arrived at the Riojaforum Auditorium in Logroño, Spain, to attend the Premio Fundación Princesa de Girona 2022 award ceremony.

During today’s ceremony, Her Majesty announced the winner of the Social Award. This award is presented to an individual for their outstanding leadership, and personal commitment; moreover, who has achieved success in creating and promoting social projects, with new visions and tangible results, within the framework of social entities or companies.

The recipient of the Social Award 2022 went to Ms.Claudia María Tecglen García, a psychologist and social entrepreneur from Madrid. The Fundación Princesa de Girona jury of experts presented the award to Ms. García for her “…social impact in promoting equal opportunities in her actions and for her management quality and transparency. The jury has also highlighted her exemplarity as an inspiring model and being a reference for other young people…” according to the Fundación Princesa de Girona press release.