Monaco Princely Family

Charlene Wittstock and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco Attend the 2011 Jumping International de Monte Carlo

On Friday June 24, 2011, H.S.H. Prince Albert II and his fiancée, Charlene Wittstock attended the 2011 Jumping International de Monte-Carlo at Port Hercule in Monaco this afternoon.

For three-days the world’s best show jumpers come to Monaco to compete in this very difficult sport.  Charlotte Casiraghi, the prince’s niece, competed this afternoon with her mother, Princess Caroline, Prince Albert and Miss Charlene Wittstock cheering on the young equestrian.

To view photos from the event please click the links here and here.

To watch the entire event from this afternoon please click the link here and click the button where it says live.

British Royals, Royal documentaries

George VI: The Reluctant King

Here is the documentary from the BBC entitled, George VI: The Reluctant King.

…Albert Frederick Arthur George, known to his family as Bertie, who came to the throne when his brother Edward VIII abdicated. Thrust into the spotlight, this shy man overcame his fears of public speaking to become one of the country’s best-loved monarchs.

Click to watch: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four.

Photo courtesy of: Wikipedia

British Royals, Royal documentaries

Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson, and the Abdication: Two Documentaries

Either you love or hate them, but you cannot deny the story of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson is a fascinating one. Nevertheless, here is a documentary about their relationship, the abdication, and so on.

Click the links to watch:  Part One and Part Two 

Finally, here is another documentary entitled, Abdication: A Very British Coup.

British Royals, Royal documentaries

Highgrove House: The Prince of Wales’s Home and Garden, A Documentary

Okay, it’s documentary time yet, again!  In this series the focus is on The Prince of Wales’s home, Highgrove, and the fantastic gardens surrounding it:

The Prince of Wales takes Alan Titchmarsh on a tour of Highgrove House – his own personal retreat and family home. Prince Charles gives a remarkably informal and candid interview about the outlet for his gardening aspirations, offering a rare insight into a royal passion. The Highgrove estate has become synonymous with all things organic, and Alan finds out from Head Gardener Debs Goodenough and her team what inspired the beliefs of the most hands-on royal gardener in history.

For those who hate gardening, nature, the environment, and crap… you can skip this documentary.

Imperial House of Habsburg

H.I.H. Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan Visits Germany: Day Two

On his second day in Germany H.I.H. Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan met with various local dignitaries as well as German VIPs. This afternoon he had a meeting with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, as well as with the mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit. There was also a reception at the Japanese Embassy in his honor.

But, it wasn’t all boring meetings and mindless reception chit-chit for the heir to the Imperial throne in Japan.  The mayor of Berlin gave the crown prince a fantastic tour of the Japanese Garden in Marzahn (it’s in Berlin) where the crown prince was beyond happy and smiled ear to ear.  Yeah, it was a great day.

In case you were wondering, the purpose of the official visit to Germany is to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity between Japan and Germany.

To view photos from today please click the link here.

Source and photo courtesy of: Daylife via Reuters/Johannes Eisele/Pool

Belgian Royals

T.R.H.s Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium Visit the United States

On June 22, 2011, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium arrived in New York City for a nine-day economic mission to the United States.  The royal couple travelled along with several hundred Belgian businessman in the hopes of strengthening economic relations with U.S. companies.

According to the newspaper, Nieuwsblad.be:

The Prince, Princess Mathilde, Minister of Foreign Affairs Steven Vanackere (CD & V) and Walloon Minister of Economy Jean-Claude Marcourt (PS) on Wednesday walked through Central Park. They also took some time to stop and eat some local Belgian waffles.

Prince Philip on Thursday morning brings a visit to Swift, the company that manages a super database of financial transactions in the world and has an establishment in the Walloon Brabant La Hulpe. Princess Matilde will have breakfast at the same time at a branch of the Belgian bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien. Later, the couple will visit Ground Zero.

The majority of the delegation consists of some three hundred business people representing 203 Belgian companies. The companies include sectors from pharmaceutical, biotechnology and ICT. Representatives from the financial sector and travel along the Belgian universities.

The next stop on this whirlwind economic mission trip is Washington, D.C. from June 26-29 and ending in Boston on June 30.

To view photos please click the links here and here. 

Source: Nieuwsblad.be

Photo courtesy of: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

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