On January 27, 2015, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony held at the Central Hall Westminster in London, England.
(VIDEOS) European Royals Attend a Ceremony Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.
On Tuesday, January 27, 2015, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Their Royal Highnesses Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark along with dozens of dignitaries from around Europe as well as survivors of the Holocaust attended a solemn ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Poland.
(VIDEO) TSHs Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco Attend a Special Mass at the Eglise Sainte Dévote.
Embed from Getty Images
On the evening of Monday, January 26, 2015, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attended a special Mass at the Eglise Sainte Dévote in celebration of the Fête de Sainte-Dévote. Sainte-Dévote is the patron Saint of the Princely Family of Monaco, the Monégasques, and the Diocese of Monaco.
Here is the story/legend of Sainte-Dévote:
Tradition holds that she was a Corsican woman born around 283 AD at Mariana. A young virgin, she had decided to devote herself fully to the service of God. By order of the prefect Barbarus, she was imprisoned and tortured for her faith. She was martyred at Mariana by being stoned to death.
After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt to prevent its veneration. However, it was saved from the flames by Christians. Her body was placed on a boat bound for Africa. Gratianus (Graziano), the boat’s pilot; Benedict (Benenato), a priest; and Apollinaris, his deacon; believed it would receive proper Christian burial there. However, a storm overtook the boat and a dove flew out from the mouth of the saint. The dove guided the boat to present-day Les Gaumates, today part of the Principality of Monaco, where a chapel dedicated to Saint George already stood.
Her body was discovered by fishermen. In her honor a chapel was built, which stands in Monaco still. Traditionally, flowers are said to bloom before their season on January 27, the Saint’s Feast Day.
After the Mass the princely couple along with Archbishop Bernard Barsi, members of the Diocese of Monaco, various Monégasque government officials as well as citizens participated in the traditional burning of the boat in front of the Eglise Sainte-Dévote.
Tomorrow — per tradition — the princely family will attend a traditional Mass at the Cathédrale de Monaco then a balcony wave from the Palais Princier de Monaco.
If you missed this evening’s Mass you may watch it again here.
Embed from Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/V.Hache
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco Attends the 83rd Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo.
Embed from Getty Images
On Sunday, January 25, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the 83rd Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo award ceremony held at the Palais Princier de Monaco.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/V.Hache
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco Gives a Speech at the 2015 WEF.
On Thursday, January 22, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco participated in the 45th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting debate session entitled, Ocean Matters, held at the Congress Center in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
During Thursday’s session, with the theme focusing on the protection of the marine environment, the sovereign prince noted to attendees that:
“….ocean conservation also involves combating climate change which will be one of the key challenges for 2015. The Paris Conference in December will, I believe, be a “last chance” event in which we all need to become involved. The fight against climate change is now a vital objective for our Planet. We need to create a new development model together as quickly as possible, the only way of ensuring the future of Planet Earth and its oceans…”
Photos courtesy of the WEF 2015
His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip of Sweden Views the Exhibition, Carl Larsson: Det Goda Livet.
On Friday, January 23, 2015, His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip of Sweden viewed the exhibition, Carl Larsson: Det Goda Livet, at the Ordrupgaard Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The exhibition showcases the works of late Swedish painter, Mr. Carl Larsson:
“…known and loved for his idyllic depictions of family life on his homestead in Sweden. Masterful watercolours where beauty and everyday life go hand in hand. [Overall the exhibition] tells the story of a painter who opened up his home through his art and created an ideal Nordic lifestyle which still stands today.”
Carl Larsson: Det Goda Livet will be open to the public until February 8, 2015.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/P. Hauerbach
(VIDEO) News Regarding His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
On the evening of Friday, January 23, 2015, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands participated in an “…initiative to speak out all the names of the 102,000 Dutch victims that died in or were deported from the former Westerbork Concentration Camp during World War II…”
The Royal Correspondent 