All posts by Alexandra

Spanish Royals

H.R.H. Princess Letizia of Asturias Attends the Inauguration of the ‘Ja-Ye Europe Enterprise Challenge 2011’

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On July 6, 2011, H.R.H. Princess Letizia of Asturias attended the inauguration of the JA-YE Europe Enterprise Challenge 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

So what is JA-YE Europe you may ask?  Well, according to their official site:

Ja-Ye Europe [mission] is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

The mission of JA-YE is to use hands-on experiences to help young people understand the economics of life. In partnership with business and educators, JA-YE brings the real world to students and opens their minds to their potential.

JA-YE enterprise and economic education programmes are designed for young people ages 6-25 and are implemented through a partnership between local businesses and schools.

To learn more about this program and the competition please click here.  To view photos from today’s event please click the links here and here. 

Source: JA-YE.eu

Photo courtesy of:  Daylife by Carlos Alvarez/GettyImages


Monaco Princely Family

T.S.H.s Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco Have Lunch with the President of South Africa

On July 6, 2011, T.S.H.s Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco had lunch with the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, and his lovely wife Thobeka Madiba, at the King’s House in Durban, South Africa.

The couple are in town for three reasons:  The IOC meetings in which H.S.H. Prince Albert II is a member, to throw another lavish wedding celebration, on Thursday at the famous Oyster Box hotel, in the princess’s former home country, and finally to begin their honeymoon.

To read more about the princely couple of Monaco’s lunch with President Zuma and to view photos please click the links here and  here.

Source and photo courtesy of: DM

Monaco Princely Family

T.S.H.s Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco Arrive in Durban, South Africa

After their whirlwind and lavish two-day wedding ceremony this past weekend Their Serene Highnesses Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco arrived in Durban, South Africa.  Come this Thursday July 7, the couple will throw yet another wedding reception at the Oyster Box hotel for a few hundred of their closest friends.  Soon after the prince will participate in the IOC meetings.  When that is all over the princely couple of Monaco will begin their honeymoon.

To view photos please click the link here.

Photo courtesy of: REUTERS/Stephane de Sakutin/Pool

Monaco Princely Family

‘H.S.H. Princess Charlène Essaye Sa Tiare’ by Lorenz Baumer

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Here is a video about the making of H.S.H. Princess Charlene’s Ecume des Jours/Diamond Foam Tiara by Lorenz Baumer.

Princess Charlene of Monaco opted for something much more personal choosing a bold, asymmetrical creation in diamond and white gold that symbolizes the one-time Olympic swimmer’s love for the sea.

… [the] tiara in white gold and nearly 60 carats worth of diamonds evoke the spray thrown off a crashing wave.  Thin strips of precision-cut diamonds arch up from behind the left ear and fan out in an almost pinkish explosion at the temple. Large round cut diamonds, the largest weighing 8 carats, punctuate the ends of the sparkling arcs. (source)

 Click here to watch the video! 

Finally, if you are interested in discussing royal jewels — past and present — with others I highly recommend visiting as well as signing up to the forum known as Royal Jewels of the World.  The members of this forum are incredibly knowledgeable and very kind.  Here is the link.   🙂

Finally, to learn more about Lorenz Baumer, the designer of H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco’s tiara, please click the link here. 

Photo courtesy of:Daylife

Monaco Princely Family

T.S.H.s Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco Host a Brunch at the Palais Princier de Monaco Before Leaving for South Africa

On July 5, 2011 Their Serene Highnesses Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco will arrive in Durban, South Africa to throw another lavish wedding party on Thursday in the princess’s ex-home country.  Moreover, Prince Albert II will participate in the IOC meetings which are being held in Durban this year.

But, before the princely couple will leave for South Africa they threw a lovely brunch this past Sunday for several of their royal guests and friends according to France24 news network:

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, the world’s newest royal couple, hosted guests for a private marriage brunch on Sunday a day after their church wedding, the royal family said.

The brunch in the private gardens of the tiny principality’s royal palace was prepared by French chef Alain Ducasse, creator of the main wedding feast, along with Joel Robuchon and palace chef Christian Garcia.

To view photos from the brunch please click the links here and here.

Source: France 24

Photo courtesy of: Madame Figaro


Imperial House of Habsburg

H.I.R.H. Archduke Otto von Habsburg, Son of Austria-Hungary’s Last Emperor, Has Died.

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On July 4, 2011, the son of the last emperor of Austria-Hungary, H.I.R.H. Archduke Otto von Habsburg, has died.  He was 98 years old.

Per the official website for the late Archduke:

Otto von Habsburg, eldest son of the last regnant Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, long-time member of the European Parliament and Honorary President of the International Paneuropean Union died at his residence in Pöcking, Upper Bavaria at the age of 98 on July 4, 2011.

During the next days, there will be several requiems and the possibility to pay your condolences to Dr. Otto von Habsburg.

The coffin will rest for three days in the Church f St. Ulrich in Pöcking, Bavaria, while there is a perpetual adoration.

After that there will be requiems in Pöcking, Munich, Mariazell, Vienna and Budapest.

If you would like to visit the official website for the late H.I.R.H. Archduke Otto von Habsburg you may do so here.

To watch a video news report about the death of the Archduke please click here.

To read more about the incredible life of Archduke Otto von Habsburg please click the link here, here, and here. 

Photo courtesy of: Wikipedia and Otto von Habsburg