All posts by Alexandra

Dutch Royal Family

H.R.H. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands Participates in an Opening of a Nature Preserve

On April 19, 2011, H.R.H. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands participated in the opening of Volgermeerpolder Nature Preserve in the Netherlands.  The crown prince was on hand, along with hundreds of attendees, to not only open this great new reserve, but also to unveil a lovely statue in honor of the workers (did that make any sense?   🙂 )

According to the online Dutch newspaper, Parool.nl, the Volgermeerpolder:

… in North Amsterdam was one of the largest waste dumps in our country. The former landfill, with a size of 100 acres housed as many as ten thousand barrels of dioxins and benzenes. Now, after the remediation largest ever in the Netherlands, the heavily polluted site transformed into a nature preserve.

Any way, there are many great photos from today’s opening so please click the link here to view.

Source and photo courtesy of: Parool.nl by AP Photos/SPD

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg to Attend the British Royal Wedding

The Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg announced this afternoon that Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg will attend the upcoming British royal wedding on April 29, 2011.

According to the newspaper, Wort.lu:

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa Luxembourg will officially represent the world in the highly anticipated wedding. Whether other family members or political leaders to the Luxembourg delegation are, could not be confirmed yet.

This is wonderful news, in my opinion.  Hopefully within the next few days the Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg will confirm the Grand Ducal couple’s attendance for the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011.

Source: Wort.lu

Hawaiian royal family, Royal Family of Hawaii

The Gold (Music) Room at I’olani Palace in Hawai’i is Finally Restored and Now Open to the Public!

Well, after years of restoration and hunting down valuable personal items from the Hawaiian monarchy the Gold (Music) Room at I’olani Palace is finally done.

The public will be able to have their chance to view some amazing pieces within the Gold Room starting today on April 18, 2011.   KITV news has a report about this re-opening of the Gold Room so please click the link here to watch.

To learn more about I’olani Palace please click the link here.  To learn more about the ongoing palace restoration and other items that are still missing (they would like to have back, thank you very much) please click the links here and here.  

Palace objects sold and dispersed at public auction have been recovered from 36 states and 4 foreign countries — from porcelain plates returned from Australia, and a table found in the Governor’s mansion in Iowa, to a chair in a local thrift store. The quest to find original Palace furnishings and artifacts continues. Many original furnishings are still missing. (I\’olani Palace)

Photos:  Author’s own.

Belgian Royals, Spanish Royals

Belgian and Spanish Royals to Attend the Beatification of the Late Pope John Paul II

According to the Belgian online newspaper, Knack.be, T.M.s King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium will attend the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011.  Also, T.R.H.s Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias will attend on behalf of the Spanish royal family, according to the newspaper, Rome Reports.

It is unknown at this time if other members of various royal and princely houses will attend, such as Luxembourg and Monaco, but I have a feeling the latter two houses will confirm in the next few days so stay tuned.

To view a video report regarding the royal attendance please click the link:  Video

For more information about the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II please click the links here  and  here.

Source: Rome Repors and Knack.be

Monaco Princely Family

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock Attend the ATP Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Final

On April 17, 2011, in sunny Monaco H.S.H. Prince Albert II and his fiancée, Charlene Wittstock, attended the ATP Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Final with hundreds of other tennis fanatics.  The couple cheered on the players and were — using the token word for all royals and princes — “happy and relaxed.”    After the end of the tournament, the couple awarded the winner’s trophy to Rafael Nadal.

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

To read more about the tennis match between Rafael Nadal and the dude who lost to him please click the link:  Article

Photo courtesy of: Zimbio.com by Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe

Dutch Royal Family, Royal documentaries

The Queen in Germany (De koningin in Duitsland): A Video Wrap-Up from the Dutch State Visit to Germany

The Dutch television network, NOS.nl, has just released the half hour video documentary entitled De Koningin in Duitsland (The Queen in Germany) about the recent state Dutch visit to, where else, Germany.  The program covers everything from the regal gala dinner in Berlin to Dresden and much more.

Please click the link to watch:  Video 

To view photos from the last two days of the state visit please click these links: here, here, here,  and here.  Plus,  a nice article here.

Photo courtesy of: Zimbio.com by Pool/Getty Images Europe