All posts by Alexandra

Monaco Princely Family

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco Finally Speaks Out Regarding The ‘Runaway Bride’ Rumors

A week after his religious wedding to his lovely bride, H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Albert II finally addresses the allegations that his then fiancée tried to flee — or to be more dramatic about it “escape” — three times to head back home to South Africa:

[These rumors] are completely fabricated… It’s just to try to destabilise our marriage, it’s very unfair.  The rumours are completely unfounded, that’s why it’s easy for me to talk about them.’

And, there you have it… until the paternity tests.

Source:  iAfrica.com

British Royals

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in L.A.!

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Well, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are finally here in Los Angeles and most Angelenos just don’t care (we have other things on our mind like the closure of the 405 Fwy next week, TSOL playing at the Brixton, and other stuff.)   🙂

Anyway, the couple touched down at LAX with throngs of journalists and photographers watching their every move.  Once the couple’s royal feet touched the pavement they were greeted by California Governor, Jerry Brown, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the British ambassador and consul general and other dignitaries.

Soon, the Duke and Duchess hopped into their black and not so environmentally friendly Land Rover and were then whizzed through the side streets of L.A. via a LAPD police escort (who stopped all traffic annoying everyone in their cars) thus avoiding the 405 Fwy.  Finally, the royal duo arrived at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to attend a conference.

To read the couple’s L.A. itinerary please click here here and here.

To read more about the Duke and Duchess’s arrival click here to read my crappy local newspaper, Daily Breeze.

To view photos please click here.  

With that… Welcome to L.A., Wills and Kate!  Glad to have you here!   🙂

No.  Those are not my hands, in case you were wondering.

Photo courtesy of: Reuters/Kevork Djansezian/Pool

Monaco Princely Family

H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco Pairs Up with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in Cape Town, South Africa

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On July 8, 2011, H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco became a patron of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s charity, The Giving Trust, an organization, “…made up of 10 charities that focus on issues ranging from HIV to children and environmental protection.”

To read various articles about the princess and Archbishop Desmond Tutu please click the links here, here, and here.

To view photos please click the link here.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu jokes with Princess Charlene of Monaco during a visit to a clinic in Masiphelele township…

Monaco Princely Family

T.S.H.s Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco: The South African Wedding Reception

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This evening at the famous Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, South Africa Their Serene Highnesses Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco had their wedding reception — again — for several of their closets friends who could not make it to Monaco last weekend.

Guests included South African president, Jacob Zuma, and his wife, loads of members from the International Olympic Committee, and some of the princess’s friends as well as family members.

To read an article from the Washington Post newspaper about the event please click here.  Another article.

To view photos please click the link here and look down.  More photos.  VIDEO!

And, an interesting, yet brief, commentary from a South African newspaper here.

Monaco Princely Family

‘Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess’ Exhibit Comes to Toronto, Canada. Plus Other News

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It was announced this afternoon that the exhibit, Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess, will be shown at the TIFF Bell Lightbox museum in Toronto, Canada.

Per the Hollywood Reporter:

Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox will be busy this fall with the exclusive North American exhibit of Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess. The late princess of Monaco’s rarely viewed gowns and artifacts, from the palace where she married Prince Rainer III in 1956, will be on display.

The exhibition will also feature the princess and actress’ Van Cleef & Arpels tiara, her 1955 Oscar for The Country Girl, letters from Alfred Hitchcock, childhood scrapbooks, yearbooks, notes from Prince Rainier and Super-8 home videos she made.

The Lightbox show—which will run from November 4 through January 22, 2012.

Finally, on July 9, 2011, the Musée Océanographique de Monaco will open the exhibit L’Histoire du Mariage Princier by Stéphane Bern.

This exhibit focuses on the recent July 2 religious wedding between T.S.H.s Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco.  Per the official site for the Musée Océanographique de Monaco:

This exclusive exhibition offers a tour around objects particularly symbolic of marriage, previously unpublished photographs, the Lexus Hybrid car, gifts offered by Monaco and several outfits, presented to the public for the first time.

If you decide to waltz on over to the Musée Océanographique, whilst on vacation on Monaco, you will be able to gaze upon the Océan Tiara that was recently constructed for Princess Charlene by Van Cleef & Arpels.  The exhibit ends in November.

For more information please visit the Musée Océanographique de Monaco website here.  

For information about the Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess exhibit at the TIFF Bell Lightbox please click here.

Source: Hollywood Reporter and Oceano.mc

Photos courtesy of: Oceano.mc and The Star.com

British Royals

H.M. Queen Elizabeth II Opens a Hospital

On July 6, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II along with the Duke of Edinburgh opened up the Forth Valley Hospital this afternoon.  According to the newspaper, Falkirk Herald:

…she toured the £300 million facility before performing the official opening.

Staff, patients, visitors and members of the public joined dignitaries for the landmark occasion.

The royal visitors were greeted by Lord Lieutenant Marjory McLachlan, who introduced NHS Forth Valley chairman Ian Mullen and chief executive Fiona Mackenzie, Cabinet Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, Minister for Public Health and Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson, Eric Joyce MP, Depute Provost Allyson Black, Falkirk Council chief executive Mary Pitcaithly and Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Gordon Samson.

She then walked through the flag-waving crowds of staff, some who had been invited to bring their children, before arriving in the main atrium where she met many of those involved in the task of turning the dream of one acute hospital to serve entire Forth Valley into reality.

To view a photo from the event please click the link here. 

Source: Falkirkherald.co.uk

Spanish Royals

H.R.H. Prince Felipe of Asturias Attends the Inauguration of the New United Nations Support Base

This afternoon, July 6, 2011, H.R.H. Prince Felipe of Asturias attended the inauguration of the new U.N. support base in Quart De Poblet, Valencia, Spain.  The prince along with the U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, had the arduous task of pulling a curtain which showcased the shiny new plaque with a bunch of writing on it.  Anyway, to view photos please click the link here. 

Source and photo courtesy of:  Zimbio by Xaume Olleros/GettyImagesEurope