Royal news, September 8th 2014

The Duke of Cambridge officially opened the new Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building at St Hugh's College in Oxford.  The duke took part in a traditional chinese ribbon cutting ceremony.  But there was just as much attention on who wasn't there.  The Duchess of Cambridge had to pull out just before the event suffering from acute morning sickness.  The couple confirmed that they will welcome another baby to their family in 2015.

The Duke of Cambridge meets some of the children waiting to see him on his visit to Oxford

Prince Harry helped officially welcome teams from the Invictus Games to London ahead of the event which starts on Wednesday.  The prince took part in a traditional hongi greetings with Maori visitors and also talked about his brother's new baby, saying he was thrilled and couldn't wait to see William 'suffer more'.

Prince Harry also took part in training while meeting the British Team on September 8th 2014

(photo @helpforheroes Twitter)

The King and Queen of Spain welcomed the President of Panama and his wife to the Royal Palace in Madrid as they began a one day visit to the country.  At the start of the day, King Felipe met Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez at the Zarzuela Palace where they held an audience.  Later the two men were joined by Queen Letizia and the president's wife, Lorena Castillo de Varela, for a lunch at the Royal Palace.

The King and Queen of Spain with the President of Panama and his wife

(photo casareal.es)

King Felipe also held an audience on September 8th with the Secretary General of the OECD, Jose Angel Gurria Trevino, at the Zarzuela Palace.

King Felipe greets the Secretary General of the OECD ahead of their audience

(photo casareal.es)

The King and Queen of Sweden attended an ecumenical prayer service in Stockholm Cathedral for all those affected by the current problems in Syria and Iraq.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrive at the ecumenical prayer service at Stockholm Cathedral

(photo kungahuset.se)

Queen Silvia of Sweden marked the fifteenth anniversary of the World Childhood Foundation which she helped establish back in 1999.  The queen took part in the International Council meeting at the Royal Palace - the council has now met three times and discusses the foundation's work overseas. Princess Madeleine, who works for the foundation, later joined her mother and her sister, Crown Princess Victoria, at a gala dinner in Berns for the anniversary which was also attended by Prince Daniel and Chris O'Neill.

Victoria and Daniel at the gala dinner

(photo kongahuset.se)

Queen Margrethe held a public audience at the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen and King Philippe of the Belgians held a private audience with the Belgian Prime Minister, Elio di Rupo, at the Royal Palace in Brussels.  Queen Maxima of the Netherlands welcomed Roberto Azevedo, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, as he made a visit to the country.