On Friday, August 9, 2013, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex arrived at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) to represent Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Sovereign’s Parade.
Per the official website for the British Army:
“The Sovereign’s Parade, at the end of each term, marks the passing out from Sandhurst of Officer Cadets who have completed the Commissioning Course and is the result of many hours of hard work. It is the grandest day in the Sandhurst calendar as friends, family and VIPs gather before Old College Square to watch the cadets take part in their final challenge.
During the ceremony, the Sword of Honour, the Overseas Sword and the Queen’s Medal are awarded by the Sovereign’s Representative to the top Officer Cadets.”
On Tuesday, July 30, 2013, His Highness Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha accompanied by his son, His Highness Hereditary Prince Hubertus of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, attended a ceremonial dinner honoring two longtime members of the Schützengesellschaft Coburg (Shooting Club Coburg). The club was established in 1354, but the handwritten register of its members dates from the year 1710 to the present.
Anyway, during last month’s dinner Prince Andreas awarded the Protektoratsabzeichen (protectorate badge) of the Schützengesellschaft Coburg to Mr. Detlef Zöllner who is responsible for the protection of the handwritten register. Prince Andreas also honored Mr. Reinhold Rau for his longtime membership — 60 years — and dedication to the Schützengesellschaft Coburg.
On August 8, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II inspected the Royal Scots Borderers (1 Scots) at the gates of Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, along with other members of the royal family, will join Her Majesty at the beautiful castle in the coming days.
On Thursday, August 8, 2013, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko of Japan arrived at the International Library of Children’s Literature (ILCL) in the Ueno district of Tokyo to view the exhibition, Japanese Children’s Literature: A History from the International Library of Children’s Literature Collections.
The permanent exhibition at the ILCL showcases “…works by leading Japanese authors and illustrators from the Meiji era to the present.”
On August 7, 2013, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Michiko of Japan participated in the 2013 Florence Nightingale Medal presentation ceremony in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The empress is Honorary President of the Japanese Red Cross Society.
The Florence Nightingale Medal is awarded every two years to a male or female nurse who are:
“…active members or regular helpers of a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society or of an affiliated medical or nursing institution. The medal is given to a nurse for their exceptional courage and devotion to the wounded, sick or disabled or to civilian victims of a conflict or disaster and/or exemplary services or a creative and pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education.”
The winners of the 2013 Florence Nightingale Medal are Mrs. Aiko Kin and Mrs. Setsuko Hisatune.
On the evening of August 6, 2013, Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain accompanied by Her Royal Highness Infanta Elena of Spain and Their Royal Highnesses Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias hosted a gala dinner at Palacio Real de La Almudaina in Palma on the island of Mallorca for various Illes Balears government officials.
On Friday, August 9, 2013, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex arrived at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) to represent Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Sovereign’s Parade.
The Royal Correspondent 