On June 14, 2013, His Royal Highness Prince Felipe of Asturias arrived at the Alhóndiga in Bilbao, Spain to participate in the 4th Edition of the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum.
This three-day gathering is basically a meeting in which mayors from around the world get together to discuss various issues and problems at the municipal level. Anyway, the theme of this year’s forum is Liveable And Sustainable Cities: Common Challenges, Shared Solutions.
On Friday, June 14, 2013, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visited the provinces of Noord-Holland and Fryslân.
The purpose of the visits to various provinces around the Netherlands is to meet the people, local officials and generally to have a fabulous time. I mean, who wouldn’t? Who wouldn’t have a fun time? It is the Netherlands after all and it is a beautiful country filled with great people. 🙂
Anyway, to view hundreds of photos please click here and here.
On the afternoon of June 14, 2013, Their Royal Highnesses The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales arrived at the London Clinic to visit their grandfather, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall also stopped by the hospital today.
Last Friday the 92-year-old duke was admitted to the London Clinic for an “exploratory operation on his abdomen.” A Buckingham Palace spokesman recently stated that the duke is “comfortable and in good spirits.”
Earlier this week Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as well as Their Royal Highnesses The Earl and Countess of Wessex also visited the duke in the hospital.
On the morning of June 14, 2013, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan arrived in Coria del Río, a municipality in the province of Sevilla, Spain, for a one-day visit.
Upon his arrival the crown prince was warmly welcomed by various officials as well as hundreds of locals who cheered and clapped for the future emperor. Soon, he planted a cherry tree next to the statue of the 17th century Samurai, Hasekura Tsunenaga. In 1614, Tsunenaga arrived in Coria del Río with his delegation and thus began Japanese and Spanish relations. Anyway, after planting the lovely tree the crown prince visited the Colegio Público Vicente Neria (it’s a primary school) where he met with teachers and students who sang various songs for the future emperor of Japan.
In the afternoon, the crown prince met with the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Mr. José Antonio Griñán, at Palacio de San Telmo. Once their meeting was over the crown prince arrived at the Archivo General de Indias to officially inaugurate the exhibition, De Japón a Roma, Buscando el Sol de la Cristiandad: La Embajada de Hasekura (1613-1620). The exhibition highlights the 400 years of bilateral relations between Japan and Spain.
Crown Prince Naruhito also visit the historic city of Sevilla where he toured the Alcázar de Sevilla, met the mayor of Sevilla, and took a fun boat ride on the Guadalquivir river.
On Thursday, June 13, 2013, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex arrived in the county of Lancashire in northwest England for a one-day visit. The lovely countess made her first stop to the “…Kingfisher Special School in Chadderton to mark the completion of a £2.5 million refurbishment and extension project” according to the newspaper, Oldham Chronicle.
Afterward, the countess visited the Royal Oldham Hospital in Oldham where she toured the Super Centre for Women and Children (a maternity ward). Whilst there she met with staff as well as new moms and their adorable babies.
Please click here and here to view photos as well as to learn more about yesterday’s visit.
On the afternoon of June 12, 2013, Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses Prince Georg Friedrich and Princess Sophie of Prussia attended the ceremony of the laying of the foundation for the rebuilding of the Stadtschloss (aka the Berliner Schloss).
The schloss, located in what was East Berlin, was destroyed in the 1950s by the East German communist government. After the demolition a bland and boring government office building was constructed on the site of the old schloss. After the reunification of Germany in 1990 the government, in 2006, demolished the ratty old communist government building and laid plans to rebuild a replica facade (with modern interior) of the magnificent schloss. So how much will all this cost? Oh, only a few million Euros. 590 to be exact. Chump change. 🙂
Anyway, when a journalist from Bild Magazine asked how Prince Georg Friedrich felt about today’s foundation laying ceremony — or what ever you want to call it — he replied, “This is a very special day. The more I think about it, the less I can believe that it is now to start.”
Awesome! Yay Germany! 🙂
Click here for more information about Wednesday’s event.
Earlier this month Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses had a chance to view plans as well as model of the new Stadtschloss with Stiftung im Kronprinzenpalais board member, Mr. Manfred Rettig.
On the evening of June 13, 2013, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco arrived at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco to attend the closing ceremony of the 53rd Festival de Télévision de Monte-Carlo.
According to various sources during tonight’s event the U.S. television shows “…Breaking Bad, Modern Family, and The Big Bang Theory…” were presented with Golden Nymph Award.
The Royal Correspondent 
