Category Archives: Headlines

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco Tests Positive for COVID-19.

On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the Palais Princier de Monaco announced that His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco has tested positive for COVID-19. This is the second time since the pandemic began that the sovereign prince has had the virus. In March 2020 Prince Albert II was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was the first of several heads-of-state in Europe to test positive.

In a press release the Palais Princier noted that the sovereign prince is:

Asymptomatic at this time, his state of health inspires absolutely no concern. He works remotely, in permanent contact with the members of his cabinet, his government as well as with his close collaborators. This period of isolation will adapt to the health rules in force. 

This evening, His Serene Highness was due to attend the 23rd Annual Stars of Stony Brook Gala held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The sovereign prince is being recognized for his dedication to ocean conservation and sustainability.

(VIDEO) Dronningens Skatkammer: Smykker der Taler. A Special Program About HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s Glittering Jewels.

Recently, the Danish television network, DR, interviewed Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark for the special program entitled, Dronningens Skatkammer: Smykker der Taler (The Queen’s Treasury: Jewelry that Speaks).

Through intimate stories from Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II viewers get an up-close and personal look at the impressive jewelry collection that the queen has at her disposal.

Episode two of Dronningens Skatkammer: Smykker der Taler will air on April 19, 2022 on DR.

Please click here to watch the 28:25 minute documentary.

His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan to Undergo Back Surgery in Frankfurt, Germany.

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, the royal Hashemite court announced that His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan will undergo back surgery for a Thoracic Herniated Disc.

Under the advice of His Majesty’s physicians, the surgery will take place at a specialized hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, this week. According to a press release, His Majesty had previously been experiencing intermittent pain in the spinal cord after years of parachuting while serving in the Special Forces, but “…the pressure on the nerve due to the herniation has increased lately, which calls for undergoing surgery urgently, according to medical advice.”

According to the website, Spine Health, Thoracic Herniated Disc surgery is:

“…indicated in only rare instances when a herniated disc leads to myelopathy (spinal cord dysfunction), progressive neurologic deficits, or intolerable pain.

Typically, these symptoms occur following an acute traumatic herniated disc with myelopathy. The Thoracic surgery to address these symptoms, called a Decompression, is designed to take the pressure off the spinal cord or nerve root.”

After the surgery, His Majesty King Abdullah II will remain in Frankfurt, Germany for one week of convalescence prior to returning to Jordan.

This morning, at Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II of Jordan, His Majesty’s son, was sworn in as Regent, in the presence of members of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

Chief Commissioner, Mr. Musa Maaytah, and Commissioners Mr. Abeer Dababneh, Mr. Ammar Husseini, Mr. Jihad Momani, and Mr. Raed Adwan were sworn in.

Royal Hashemite Court Chief, Mr. Yousef Issawi, also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

(VIDEO) Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan Attend an Iftar at Al Husseinieh Palace.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, accompanied by His Majesty King Abdullah II, hosted an Iftar for a group of accomplished youth representatives at Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman, Jordan.

During the Iftar, Their Majesties mingled with their honored guests, who are active in the fields of entrepreneurship, media, social welfare, and volunteer work. Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania also expressed their unwavering pride in Jordan’s diligent youth and their myriad of accomplishments.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco Inaugurates the New Albert I Courtyard at CHPG.

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco inaugurated the Albert I courtyard at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace in Monaco in Fontvieille, Monaco.

During today’s event, the sovereign prince unveiled a plaque and toured a photo exhibit, which displays the history of the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, along the courtyard.

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.