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.
Yeah, um, it’s a slow news day. 🙂
On August 6, 2013, Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan attended a presentation of educational programs and projects developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Fukushima University and students from the Tōhoku region of Japan. The presentation showcased ways northeastern Japan is recovering from the March 11, 2011, devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Is His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark ready to be king of the Danes? Well, according to a new survey, conducted for the Søndagsavisen, 77% of the Danish population believes it is time that the crown prince takes over the throne.
51% of the 77% want to see Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicate — like the former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and King Albert II of Belgium — rather than wait until Her Majesty dies.
But, as much as the majority of the population want Crown Prince Frederik on the throne within the next year or two, well, it’s not going to happen. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has said over and over again, “Det er en opgave, som man får, og den har man, så længe man lever.” Simply put: Her Majesty will remain queen until she passes away. So, yeah, everyone in Denmark and aboard are just going to have to wait for a long, long time until we can all refer to Frederik as His Majesty. 🙂
On Monday, August 5, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Jetsun of Bhutan launched the Jigme Khesar Environmental Research Fund.
Per the official Facebook page for Her Majesty:
“The Jigme Khesar Environmental Research Fund, an initiative of Her Majesty as the Royal Patron of the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), will encourage and support local environmental research in the country.
Her Majesty, in a statement as the Royal Patron, said, ‘The Kingdom of Bhutan has inherited pristine ecosystems and natural resources. We must, as individuals, personally strive to preserve this endowment through our own sustainable actions. It is our responsibility to ensure that this rich biodiversity abounds for generations to come. I join the RSPN in its efforts of environmental conservation, which remains a pressing concern for our time, and encourage every citizen to embrace the path to a greener future.’”
The Royal Correspondent 