Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended a reception at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, “…for members of the Royal Engineers Association.” During the event Her Majesty was “…presented with two park benches to mark her Diamond Jubilee” a gift from the members of the Royal Engineers Association.
Sources: Royal.gov.uk and Daylife
On April 17, 2012, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg held an audience with United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon at the Grand Ducal palace in Luxembourg. Afterward, the grand duke along with Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg hosted a lovely private in for Mr. Ki-Moon and his wife, at Château de Berg.
Meanwhile, the Spanish newspaper, El Pais, is reporting that His Majesty King Juan Carlos’ recent $57,850 elephant killing vacation in Botswana last week was allegedly paid for by a wealthy man named Mohamed Eyad Kayali. Mr. Kayali is apparently a “…Syrian businessman…”* who resides between Marbella and Madrid and “…tends to act as a representative for the royal house of Saudi Arabia in Spain, whose business he defends and promotes.” Now, El Pais is a reliable and highly respected newspaper in Spain; however, it is unconfirmed by the royal court of Spain as to whether or not El Pais’ reports are true.
Click here to read the article in its entirety. (in Spanish)
*UPDATE*:
Mr. Kayali is of Syrian descent.
Sources: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg and El Pais
Photo courtesy of the Facebook 🙂
On April 18, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain attended the Fundación Mapfre Awards in Madrid. According to the official website for the royal house of Spain the awards, “… grants people and their initiatives of Spain, Portugal and Latin America in areas of general interest to the society in which the institution works.” What ever that means.
Moving on…
This afternoon Her Royal Highness Princess Letizia of Asturias participated in the 50th anniversary of the Club Internacional de Prensa held at the Jardines de Cecilio Rodriguez in Madrid:
These awards are granted to Spanish and foreign journalists whose work throughout the year or career is recognized. The prizes coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the Constitution of the International Club of press, that although their historical antecedents go back to the time of Alfonso XIII, was established in 1962, with the purpose of bringing together representatives of the foreign media who developed their professional work in Spain alongside their Spanish journalists colleagues.
During today’s event the princess gave a lovely speech then presented five awards to worthy recipients.
Source: Casa de Su Majestad el Rey
On April 18, 2012, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain (the Elephant Killer) was discharged from the San José University Hospital in Madrid, Spain after having an emergency hip replacement surgery on Saturday, April 14, 2012.
Prior to his departure from the hospital, the old king was met by a select group of Spanish photographers and journalists who politely asked him, “Majesty, how are you today?” Looking slightly frail the old king responded, “I feel much better.” The old king immediately apologized for his recent behavior stating, “I am very sorry. It will not happen again.”
Juan Carlos I also thanked the San José University Hospital staff for caring for the old king. Then he hobbled his way out of the mini-press conference.
According to the Spanish newspaper, El Pais, the old king was aware of the media firestorm surrounding his recent $57, 850 luxurious elephant killing vacation he took in Botswana alongside his alleged mistress, Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and several wealthy businessmen.
The luxurious vacation angered the people of Spain not just because the old king slaughtered innocent elephants for fun, but because thousands of Euros were spent on a stupid vacation while the people of Spain are in a serious economic crisis. As I previously mentioned in another article, unemployment in Spain is at 23.6 % and the ”…youth unemployment rate is at 50%…” according to Reuters. Spanish debt levels are so high that the country may have to ask the European Union to bail Spain out as the EU recently did for Greece. It is not certain, however, whether the EU would be willing to do so (or for that matter ableto do so).
Any way, Juan Carlos I is still Honorary President of the WWF España and is expected to hold a meeting in the coming days with the organization’s Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos del Olmo, to discuss whether the old king should keep his position.
Click the links below to watch videos, in Spanish, and to view photos.
With the international outcry from thousands of animal rights groups, comments on Twitter, Facebook, newspapers, forums, etc regarding Juan Carlos I of Spain’s recent luxurious elephant killing vacation — which apparently cost $57,850 — in Botswana the WWF España has been under serious pressure to remove the old king as Honorary President of the organization.
As a result, the WWF España Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos del Olmo, released a statement on April 16, 2012, announcing that he has sent a letter to the Spanish royal court to request a meeting with Juan Carlos I of Spain when he is available:
I am writing to you to convey the unease and WWF concerns at recent developments related to the involvement of H.M. The King in a hunt for elephants in Africa, which has caused a huge rejection among our partners and the public in general against the hunting of elephants, even when it is in a legal and regulated manner.
For this reason, I consider it to be very urgent to hold a meeting where I can transfer of the signatures [petitions] received, assess the situation and provide a response to the thousands of people that are being directed to the WWF, inside and outside our country.
An example of this unrest are our numerous partners that are requesting his discharge from WWF España and the tens of thousands of people who have already expressed their concerns through different digital platforms to protest and to have H.M. The King resign as Honorary President of WWF España.
This unfortunate event is known worldwide at the moment and we are receiving countless comments of strong protest, which implies a serious harm to the credibility of WWF and the hard work that has been developed during more than fifty years for the protection of elephants and other species.
Click here to read the rest of the press release. (in Spanish)
If you are interested in the latest updates about this issue or if you would like to voice your thoughts, in English if you like, to the WWF España visit either their official website, Facebook, and /or Twitter.
Source: WWF España
Photos courtesy of the damn Internet. 🙂
After recently dumping their old holiday villa in Mozambique Their Royal Highnesses Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands decided it was time to buy a new vacay spot in beautiful southern Greece. According to BBC News the royal couple purchased their new $5.9 million villa near the village of Kranidi.
Click here to read the BBC News article.
Meanwhile, Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco was recently on holiday in Marbella, Spain. The princess was seen enjoying the sites in the lovely Spanish town alongside a mildly handsome dude. At this time it is unknown if this dark haired guy is Princess Stephanie’s new boyfriend or bodyguard. Click here and here to view photos.
Finally, the New York Post is reporting that “…lawyers for the royals Pierre are firing off legal letters to media in France and Germany…” who wrote about the February 12, 2012, infamous Double Seven brawl between Mr. Pierre Casirahgi and Mr. Adam Hock. Apparently, Mr. Casiraghi’s attorneys believe that the punching match between Mr. Casiraghi and Mr. Adam Hock is a “private matter.”
Huh. Oh-kay.
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Sources: BBC News, Essential Magazine and Svensk Damtidning
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal arrived in South Africa on April 16, 2012, in connection with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
The Princess Royal began her day with a visit to several organizations in Johannesburg including St. John Eye Hospital, Cotlands Turffontein Resource Centre, the Soweto Equestrian Foundation, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to name a few. The princess also attended a reception “…hosted by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa to commemorate Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Pretoria.”
Click here to watch another video.
Source: Royal.gov.uk
The Royal Correspondent 