On Wednesday, October 9, 2013, His Majesty King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway attended the opening session of the 2013-2014 Norwegian Storting.
During today’s event His Majesty, who officially opened the 158th session, gave a speech which “…present[ed] the main features of the Government’s policies for the coming year. The Speech from the Throne is written by representatives of the Government, not by the King…” according to the Norwegian royal court.
On October 9, 2013, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark accompanied by the Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building, Mr. Martin Lidegaard, continued their three-day visit to beautiful Vilnius, Lithuania.
The day began with the crown prince and Mr. Lidegaard participating in the Danish-Lithuanian Business Forum held at the National Art Gallery. During the event the crown prince gave an important speech in front of various “…business leaders and decision-makers from Denmark and Lithuania…” and the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite.
Thereafter, Crown Prince Frederik and Mr. Lidegaard visited the Danske Bank where the crown prince “…opened the competition for Children on ‘Financial Literacy.’”
In the afternoon, the crown prince visited the Vytautas Art Museum to view the exhibition, A Modern Royal Household. An hour an a half later Crown Prince Frederik arrived in the city center of Vilnius where he met up with the mayor, Mr. Artuas Zuokas. After a warm welcome and a couple of handshakes the future king of Denmark, Mr. Lidegaard, and Mayor Zuokas hopped rented bikes and took a cycling tour of the old city of Vilnius. Thirty minutes later and slightly sweaty the crown prince and company arrived at Vilnius University. Why? I have no idea. It was on their schedule/agenda/whatever its called.
Anyway, later in the afternoon Crown Prince Frederik unveiled a new plaque in the city center, and attended a gala reception as well as dinner at the Grand Duke’s Palace in the evening.
The end. 🙂
To view photos from today’s fun-filled activities in Vilnius please click the links below:
On Wednesday, October 9, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh launched the 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland beginning on July 23 – August 3, 2014. For more information about today’s event please click here.
On the morning of October 8, 2013, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway arrived in Notodden in Telemark county to celebrate the town’s 100th anniversary.
Meanwhile, Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway opened Quo Vadis new adult education and training center for immigrant men and women in Trondheimsveien in Oslo.
On the evening of October 8, 2013, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco arrived at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris to attend Ralph Lauren’s 2013 Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear collection.
Thereafter, the lovely princess along with hundreds of guests attended a glamorous dinner in the courtyard of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
On Tuesday, October 8, 2013, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal arrived at the University of Edinburgh to officially open the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic.
According to the Edinburgh Evening News and the BBC News the clinic was “…established with a £10 million donation from JK Rowling and is named after the author’s mother who had the disease and died at the age of 45.”
For more information about today’s opening as well as to watch a video news report please click the links below.
On October 8, 2013, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands along with Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan visited the special exhibition,Petra: Wonder in de Woestijn, at the Rijksmuseum van Ouheden in Leiden.
According to the official website for the Rijksmuseum van Ouheden the exhibition displays:
“…150 archaeological and architectonic highlights from Petra, showing you the most stunning locations in the city. The exhibition’s displays exude the atmosphere of the awe-inspiring ruins and the desert to introduce visitors to the Nabataeans and their architecture, culture, art and religion. Never before have so many objects from Petra been on display in The Netherlands.”
Petra: Wonder in de Woestijn will be open to the public on October 9 – March 14, 2014. For more information please visit the official website for the Rijksmuseum van Ouheden here.
On Wednesday, October 9, 2013, His Majesty King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway attended the opening session of the 2013-2014 Norwegian Storting.
The Royal Correspondent 
