Saturday 31 May 2014

Royals on social media, week ending May 31st 2014

Here's a look at the best photos that Europe's royal houses have posted on their official social media sites for the week ending May 31st 2014....


Baby love

The royal house of Monaco used its Facebook page to announce that Princess Charlene is expecting a baby.  The news of an heir for Monaco was accompanied by a photo of Charlene with Prince Albert that went viral in minutes.





Food, glorious food


Prince Harry was a social media star on May 29th as he visited the Suffolk Show but Clarence House chose a super cute photo of the prince helping a little girl make pizza to post on its Instagram site.


Princess Mette-Marit took centre stage in an image on the Norwegian Royal Family's Facebook page as she attended the Stockholm Food Forum on May 26th 2014 and met up with Prince Daniel of Sweden while she was there.


The Duchess of Cornwall tucked into some cakes on her visit to the Bath and West Show on May 28th 2014 - as seen on Clarence House Instagram.


And the next photo on the same account shows the duchess washing her cake down with some West Country cider.



Up close with the press


The people who usually report on the royals featured on their social media this week as photos of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the 75th anniversary exhibition of the press agency, EFE, on May 27th 2014 were posted on the Spanish Royal Household's official Twitter feed.


The next day it was the turn of former journalist - Letizia, Princess of Asturias - who was photographed for the Twitter account as she made a speech at the ninth language and journalism seminar on May 28th 2014.



All action heroes


Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway was snapped on the Norwegian Royal Family's Facebook page as he spent two days training with his country's Naval Command.



The Dutch Royal House's official Twitter retweeted a photo posted by Hockey World Cup 2014 of King Willem-Alexander at the official opening of the World Hockey Forum on May 30th 2014.


Queen Mathilde of the Belgians was the star of two images tweeted by the Belgian Royal Household on May 29th 2014 - they showed her at the 5th annual 1000km bike ride run by the Flemish League Against Cancer.



Time to remember


As the anniversary of D-Day approaches, shortly followed by the centenary of the start of World War One, thoughts across Europe turn to remembering and the Royal Houses have started.  The Belgian Monarchy tweeted a photo of a message spelled out in Normandy ahead of the commemorations there.


The British Monarchy tweeted details of royal attendance at events marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day as well as a link to new images of letters written by George VI in 1944.  


And Sweden's royals were remembering Veterans across the years on May 29th 2014 when King Carl XVI Gustaf attended Veterans' Day with a photo on the official Facebook page published afterwards.




















Friday 30 May 2014

To Monaco, an heir

It's the news that Monaco has been waiting for.  As their third wedding anniversary approaches, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have announced they are expecting a baby.  The child will be first in line to the throne and give the principality its longed for heir.


The Prince and Princess of Monaco are expecting their first child 

The baby is due before the end of the year although no further details of Princess Charlene's pregnancy have yet been announced.  The couple were last seen in public at a dinner in Monte Carlo on May 26th but there was no hint of a pregnancy announcement being imminent.  The news comes on the 70th anniversary of Albert's grandmother, Charlotte, renouncing her rights to Monaco's throne in favour of her son, Rainier, and the day before the 91st anniversary of Rainier's birth.


When the secret was still just theirs - Albert and Charlene meet Grand Prix workers ahead of the Monaco race 

It means that, for the second time, Princess Caroline will be displaced as heiress to the throne of Monaco.  She is currently the second oldest first in line in Europe but the arrival of a baby prince or princess will mean that Monaco has the youngest heir on the continent.  And that, after a long wait, Albert and Charlene of Monaco will have a family of their own.  




Kate's cute moment

The Duchess of Cambridge carried out her first public engagement since her return from the royal tour of Australia and New Zealand on May 29th 2014 when she and Prince William visited Scotland.  But while the Earl and Countess of Strathearn - as they are known in Scotland - carried out a whole range of duties it was one unguarded moment that really caught the imagination.  Kate seemed so taken with a gift of a kilt wearing teddy for Prince George that she was momentarily lost for words.


It's for George, Kate, you can't keep it yourself - the Duchess of Cambridge with the teddy given to her for her little boy on a visit to Strathearn in Scotland

Prince William was pretty impressed as well as he popped over during a walkabout to have a look at the bear which was kitted out in the Streathearn tartan.


The Earl and Countess of Streathearn with the teddy in a kilt given to them for their son, Prince George, on a visit to Scotland

The couple spent a lot of time with local community groups and organisations including the Scouts while William also got a chance to meet some members of the Scottish Air Ambulance team among ongoing reports that he is about to take up a position with an air ambulance in England and scale back on royal duties for the time being.  


Prince William with some of the Scottish Air Ambulance team on May 29th 2014

The Earl and Countess of Strathearn also visited the village fete in Forteviot where they posed for photos - including a very unusual royal look from Kate for one young fan.


Kate pulls a face for a young fan in Forteviot on May 29th 2014

But everyone was waiting for one moment on the visit.  The royal engagements included a visit to a whisky distillery with all eyes on Kate to see if she would drink alcohol.  And with one quick swig of whisky, she put an end to another round of royal pregnancy rumours - for now.


No royal baby - for now.  The Countess of Strathearn drinks whisky in Scotland and ends whispers that she is pregnant again





Monday 26 May 2014

Royal round up for the week ending May 24th May 2014....

A round up of all the news from Europe's royal houses for the week ending May 24th 2014...


United Kingdom


The Queen attended the first royal garden party of the summer which was held at Buckingham Palace on May 21st 2014.  Also present were the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Beatrice of York.


The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the first garden party of the year at Buckingham Palace.  It took place on May 21st 2014

Earlier in the week, the Queen had visited the Chelsea Flower Show - she is Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society.  The Duke of Edinburgh accompanied her.


The Queen at the Chelsea Flower Show on May 19th 2014

On May 20th 2014, the Queen was in Portsmouth where she visited HMS Lancaster, inspected a Guard of Honour and had lunch with the Ship's Company and their families. 


The Queen during her visit to HMS Lancaster in Portsmouth on May 20th 2014

On May 22nd 2014, at Buckingham Palace, the Queen received the Bishop of Exeter who did homage to her on his appointment to the bishopric.  Earlier in the week, May 19th 2014, the Duke of Edinburgh had chaired the Regimental Council Meeting of the Grenadier Guards at Buckingham Palace - he is their Colonel-in-Chief.  Later the same day, the duke attended the First Club Guards' Dinner given by the Regiment at Ironmongers' Hall in London.  On May 20th 2014, Prince Philip held a World Fellowship Welcome Lunch at Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association.  Later the same day, Prince Philip held an audience at Buckingham Palace and later attended the Annual Air League Reception at St James' Palace.


Prince Philip at the garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 21st 2014

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall carried out a four day tour of Canada in the week, arriving there on May 18th 2014.


The Duchess of Cornwall on her arrival in Canada, May 18th 2014

On May 19th 2014, the prince and the duchess marked Victoria Day in Canada and laid a wreath at the cenotaph in Halifax honouring those who died in World War One.  They also  attended a reception at Government House in Halifax for bereaved families before taking part in a Family Festival at the Military Family Resource Centre nearby.  


The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the cenotaph in Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 19th 2014

The Prince of Wales later visited Halifax Public Gardens while the Duchess of Cornwall spent time at Northbrook Community Centre in Halifax.  The royal couple went on to visit the local Seaport Farmers' Market before spending time at the Museum on Immigration where they had tea with war brides and World War Two veterans.  They also visited Hector Heritage Quay and in the evening attended a Victoria Day celebration at Province House in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island.


The Prince of Wales meets war veterans in Halifax, Canada on May 19th 2014

On May 20th 2014, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall began their day on Prince Edward Island where they joined a Youth Parliament debate at Province House before visiting the Confederation Centre of the Arts where the prince was presented with the Symons medal for his contribution to Canadian society.


The Duchess of Cornwall meets some of the young people taking part in the Youth Parliament debate she watched in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on May 20th 2014

Prince Charles went on to visit the Centre for Applied Science and Technology at Holland College before attending a Canadian Institute of Forestry meeting at Government House.  The prince also spent some time at Bonshaw Provincial Park.  The Duchess of Cornwall visited Immanuel Christian School and the Prince Edward Home, Charlottetown for older people.  The prince and the duchess reunited to visit the Cornwall United Church.  In the evening they attended a reception for Outstanding Canadians at Government House, Winnipeg.


The Prince of Wales wields a mallet during his visit to Holland College on May 20th 2014

The last day of the tour, May 21st 2014, saw the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall carry out several engagements in Winnipeg.  They visited Stevenson Hanger where they met students taking part in an event to celebrate Aerospace and Innovation in Manitoba and where they joined the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, in trying to fly paper aeroplanes.


The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with their paper aeroplanes at an event in Winnipeg on May 21st 2014

Prince Charles visited Assiniboine Park Zoo where he met Hudson the polar bear and even tried to help feed him his lunch.  Along with the duchess, he also visited the Pavilion Gallery Museum where they celebrated the centenary of Winnie the Bear, the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh and where Charles was presented with a toy bear for Prince George.


The Prince of Wales receives a cuddly toy for Prince George on his visit to Winnipeg on May 21st 2014

The Duchess of Cornwall also visited the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and unveiled a commemorative coin marking its 75th anniversary before urging the dancers to come to London to perform at Covent Garden.


The Duchess of Cornwall unveiling the design of a commemorative coin for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet on May 21st 2014

The Duchess of Cornwall later took tea with the Queen's Own Rifles before joining Prince Charles for the final engagements of the tour.  The prince held an investiture before the official farewell ceremony which ended their tour.


The Duchess of Cornwall, Royal Colonel, takes tea with the Queen's Own Rifles on May 21st 2014

But the tour gained global attention when private remarks made by the Prince of Wales during a visit to a museum were reported.  The prince spoke to volunteer, Marienne Ferguson, who was forced to flee Poland by the Nazis and is reported to have compared Hitler's actions then with those of Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.  Clarence House refused to comment as the remarks were private but at the end of the week, the Russian president said the comments weren't befitting of a monarch.  A YouGove poll found that 51% of people questioned agreed with Prince Charles.


The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leave Canada on May 21st 2014 by which point the prince was involved in a row over private remarks made during the visit

Prince Harry continued his two day visit to Italy in the week.  On May 18th 2014, the prince attended a Polish commemoration service marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino where he laid a wreath in honour of those who died in the battle before visiting the abbey and seeing some of the ruins left after the battle.


Prince Harry visits Monte Cassino Abbey on May 18th 2014

The prince went on to a service to remember soldiers from New Zealand who were killed in the ongoing battle to secure the area around Monte Cassino in 1944.  In the evening, the prince travelled to Rome where he visited an event celebrating British produce at the MAXXI museum before unveiling the British Pavilion design for the Milan Expo which will take place in 2015.


Prince Harry lay a wreath at Monte Cassino on May 18th 2014

The prince returned to Monte Cassino on the last day of his tour of Italy, May 19th 2014, where he attended a service in memory of British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in the battle.


Prince Harry meets British veterans of Monte Cassino on the second day of his tour of Italy, May 19th 2014

The prince ended his tour by visiting the Colosseum in Rome on May 19th 2014 before heading back to the UK.


Prince Henry of Wales in Rome on May 19th 2014

The Duke of York paid a two day visit to Kuwait in the week, arriving in Kuwait City on May 19th 2014 and later attending a dinner there to celebrate youth empowerment.  On May 20th 2014, the Duke of York carried out a series of engagements in Kuwait including a meeting with young entrepreneurs.


The Duke of York meets young entrepreneurs in Kuwait on May 20th 2014

On May 21st 2014, the Duke of York met aviation leaders and potential British suppliers to hear about work at the new Kuwait Airport.


The Duke of York discusses the new Kuwait Airport as part of his visit to Kuwait City on May 21st 2014

The Earl of Wessex was resident at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh for most of the week, representing the Queen.  During his time as Lord High Commissioner, which began on May 16th 2014, he was addressed as 'Your Grace' rather than 'Royal Highness' and briefly ranked just behind the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in Scotland.  On May 18th 2014 after attending morning service at St Giles' Cathedral, the Earl and Countess of Wessex held a lunch at Holyroodhouse before attending Heart and Soul 2014 at Princes Street Gardens.  In the evening, the royal couple held a dinner at Holyroodhouse.


The Countess of Wessex gets a henna tattoo at Heart and Soul 2014 in Edinburgh on May 18th 2014

On May 19th 2014, the couple began their day by attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland before carrying out a series of engagements in Dumfries.  They opened the renovated Dock Park before attending a reception and lunch for local charities.  The Earl of Wessex then went on to visit Drumlanrig Castle in Thornhill to spend some time with the Queensberry Initiative while the Countess of Wessex visited the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust and later the Electric Theatre Company. The couple later visited the Stewartry Sea Cadets and in the evening gave a dinner at Holyroodhouse.


Sophie, Countess of Wessex at Moat Brae - the birthplace of Peter Pan - on May 19th 2014

On May 20th 2014, the Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides where they began their day meeting community groups in the Town Hall.  They went on to open the Shed at Martin's Memorial Church in Stornoway.  They met more community groups that afternoon at Drill Hall in Stornoway before heading to the Isle of Barra to meet more organisations working within the local community.


Prince Edward in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis on May 20th 2014

On May 21st 2014, the couple visited Gordonstoun School which Prince Edward attended as a teenager.  The Earl and Countess of Wessex opened the Ogstoun Drama and Dance Centre.  Later the same day, the couple opened the Cancer Link Aberdeen and North Cancer Supprt Centre in Elgin before visiting Buckie School.  


Prince Edward during his visit to Buckie High School on May 21st 2014

On May 22nd 2014, the Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland before attending a reception for Chaplain's to the Armed Forces.  They went on to visit the Free Church Assembly at the Mound before giving a lunch at Holyroodhouse.  In the afternoon, the Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Richmond's Hope in Edinburgh before attending Beating Retreat in Edinburgh and then holding a dinner at Holyroodhouse.


The Countess of Wessex at Richmond's Hope, Edinburgh on May 22 2014


Spain


The Prince and Princess of Asturias celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary on May 22nd 2014. The couple posed for an official photo with their two daughters on the morning of their anniversary.


The Prince and Princess of Asturias, with their daughters Leonor and Sofia, pose for a photo on the morning of their tenth wedding anniversary, May 22nd 2014

The couple later visited an exhibition marking the 400th anniversary of the death of El Greco in Toledo and ended their day with a private meal at a popular restaurant in Madrid.


The Prince and Princess of Asturias arriving in Toledo on May 22nd 2014

The Spanish Royal Household opened its official Twitter account in the week.  Its first tweets, sent on the morning of May 21st 2014, welcomed followers and the first royal event mentioned in a message was the visit of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia to Barcelona to oversee a legal event.  In its first three days, it picked up 54,000 followers.


The first twitpic sent by the official Twitter account of the Spanish Royal Household (@CasaReal)

On May 20th 2014, King Juan Carlos was in Vitoria where he visited the Mercedes-Benz plant to see the work on the new version of the Vito van and the Class V being made there and which will go on sale across Europe in June.


King Juan Carlos on his visit to the Mercedes Benz plant in Vitoria on May 20th 2014

Also on May 20th 2014, Queen Sofia was in Madrid to present the 2013 Social Prizes given out by the Mapfre Institution for work that has improved society.  The Infanta Elena was also present at the ceremony.


The Infanta Elena curtsies to her mother, Queen Sofia of Spain, on arrival at the Mapfre Awards in Madrid on May 20th 2014

Later the same day, Queen Sofia was at the fifth Biennial of Contemporary Art held by the ONCE Foundation in Madrid.  The event is for work by artists with a disability or for artists who portray disabilities in their work.


Queen Sofia at the contemporary art biennial she attended in Madrid on May 20th 2014

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain ended their week in Lisbon where they watched Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in the final of the Champions' League on May 24th 2014.


King Juan Carlos and Sergio Ramos in a photo tweeted by the Royal Household of Spain after the Champions' League final on May 24th 2014

On May 19th 2014, Prince Felipe attended a lunch given by the Basque Business Circle in Gexta which is part of a programme of monthly meetings held by the circle's members.


Prince Felipe at the Basque Business Circle lunch he attended on May 19th 2014

Later the same day, the prince was in Bilbao where he presented the sixth NoviaSalcedo Prizes for work in the field of integrating young people into work.


Prince Felipe presents one of the NoviaSalcedo Prizes in Bilbao on May 19th 2014

On May 21st 2014, the Prince of Asturias attended a training exercise involving over twenty maritime agencies and which took place off Cartagena in Murcia.


Prince Felipe during the maritime training exercise he attended on May 21st 2014

The Prince and Princess of Asturias had one joint engagement in the week when they attended a dinner in Seville given by the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry by the Confederation of Seville.  The royal couple presented several awards at the event.


The Princess of Asturias presents an award at a dinner in Seville on May 20th 2014 with the Prince of Asturias looking on


Sweden


The Swedish Royal Household launched a special website with more details of the christening of Princess Leonore which will take place on June 8th 2014 at the Drottningholm Palace.  A new photo of the princess with her parents, Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill, was also issued to mark the occasion.


Princess Leonore of Sweden with her parents in an image on her new web page which has been launched to mark her christening which takes place on June 8th 2014

King Carl VXI Gustaf began his week with a series of audiences on May 20th 2014 at the Royal Palace in Stockholm to welcome the new ambassadors from the Seychelles, Burundi, Macedonia and Saudi Arabia where they presented their letters of credentials.  On May 21st 2014, the king held two farewell audiences for the outgoing ambassadors from Tanzania and Finland at the Royal Palace.


The new ambassador from the Seychelles to Sweden, Marie-Pierre Lloyd, arrives at the Royal Palace in Stockholm ahead of her audience with King Carl XVI Gustaf

The King and Queen of Sweden attended the annual meeting of the Friends of the National Museum which took place in Stockholm on May 20th 2014.  King Carl XVI Gustaf presented several association scholarships at the event.  


King Carl XVI Gustaf presents association scholarships at the meeting of the Friends of the National Museum in Stockholm on May 20th 2014

On May 22nd 2014, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited Kristianstad in southern Sweden which is marking its 400th anniversary this year.  They visited a silver smiths - the trade has been popular in the area for many centuries - and spent some time at the Art Hall where they viewed an exhibition of art built up in the late 20th century.


The King and Queen of Sweden visit silver smith, Ingemar Gronroos, during their day in Kristianstad on May 22nd 2014

After an official lunch, the royal couple went to the City Park where they learned about a health garden initiative and met the local scout group.  They then went on to the city's Wetland Visitor Centre which opened in 2010 and then found out more about local projects to help protect the European eel, an endangered species.


King Carl VI Gustaf and Queen Silvia learn about the conservation of eels during their visit to Kristianstad on May 22nd 2014

The king and queen then visited the Holy Trinity Church and the Regional Museum to see an exhibition about Kristianstad's four centuries before ending their day with a concert where the king made a speech.


King Carl XVI Gustaf makes a speech at a concert marking the royal visit to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Kristianstad on May 22nd 2014

On May 23rd and 24th, King Carl XVI Gustaf was in Copenhagen for a scout meeting organised by the World Scout Movement of which the king is honorary chairman.  It was also run by the Olave Baden-Powell Society of which Princess Benedikte of Denmark is president.  During the two day meeting, the king heard about leadership initiatives before heading into central Copenhagen to help scouts with a place finding exercise.


King Carl XVI Gustaf during the scout event he attended on May 24th 2014 in Copenhagen

On May 19th 2014, Prince Carl Philip visited the offices of the Dyslexia Association in Sundbyberg to hear about some of its latest initiatives and to see the facilities it can provide for students.


Prince Carl Philip during his visit to the Dyslexia Association on May 19th 2014


Norway


The King of Norway and the Queen of Denmark were present for the unveiling of a statue of King Christian Frederik at Eidsvoll on May 18th 2014.  The statue is a gift from Norway's government to its parliament to mark the 200th anniversary of the country's constitution.  the statue of Christian Frederik, a Danish prince who was elected King of Norway in 1814 and who went on to become King of Denmark in 1839, was unveiled by Queen Margrethe who spoke of her emotion at seeing her ancestor remembered in such a way.  Queen Sonja and Prince Henrik were also at the ceremony.


King Harald of Norway and Queen Margrethe of Denmark at a ceremony at Eidsvoll on May 18th 2014 where the queen unveiled a statue of King Christian Frederik who was elected King of Norway in 1814

There were more celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the constitution on May 19th 2014 when King Harald attended an outdoor event including speeches and music a Askerhus Fortress.  On the same day, the king held an audience with the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, and with Gerhard Heiberg who was head of the Lillehammer Olympics Organising Committee at the Royal Palace in Oslo.  Also on May 19th 2014, King Harald and Queen Sonja attended the opening of an exhibition at the summer palace of Oscarshall in Oslo celebrating the Queen Sonja scholarship and featuring 65 works.


Queen Sonja at the opening of an exhibition in Oslo on May 19th 2014

Celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the constitution continued on May 20th 2014 when the Norwegian king and queen attended an ecumenical service at Trondheim Cathedral.  On May 21st 2014, the monarchs began a two day tour of More og Romsdol county in western Norway.  On May 21st 2014, they visited Aure where they spent time at the church and met representatives of local groups.  They also met  entrepreneurs and tried some local dishes.  


King Harald and Queen Sonja coming ashore in Aure at the start of their two day tour of More og Romsdol county which began on May 21st 2014

In the afternoon, they headed to Tingvoll where the queen spoke about immigration and met people who had moved to the area in recent years.  The king and queen then visited the local church and tried some more local food as well as coffee prepared in the traditional Eritrean manner.  Their last destination of the day was Gjemnes where they enjoyed singing and dancing by local people and later held a dinner.


King Harald and Queen Sonja try out Eritrean coffee during their visit to Tingvoll on May 21st 2014

On day two of their tour, the king and queen visited a primary school in Bryggia where the king spoke about the importance of being part of a strong community.  The next stop of the tour was Halsa where the royal couple visited local boatbuilders and met community representatives.  The tour ended in Surnadal where King Harald and Queen Sonja saw local dancing and arts as well as a Taekwon-Do display.  Before leaving, the king and queen held a reception for local dignitaries on their royal yacht.  Back in Oslo, King Harald held an audience with the Prime Minister at the Royal Palace on May 22nd and a Council of State on may 23rd 2014.


King Harald of Norway in Halsa where he met local boat builders on May 22nd 2014

On May 19th 2014, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus presented the Abel Prize at a ceremony in Oslo. The prize was set up in 2003 and is awarded for outstanding achievement in mathematics.  It was won this year by Yakov G.Sinai with whom Prince Haakon had held an audience at the Royal Palace earlier the same day.


Crown Prince Haakon Magnus with mathematician Yakov G. Sinai who won this year's Abel prize and was presented with it on May 20th 2014

On May 21st 2014, Crown Prince Haakon opened the 62nd Bergen arts festival and spoke of the importance of freedom in culture.  Crown Princess Mette-Marit was also present at the ceremony which took place in the Festival Square.


Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway opens the Bergen Festival on May 21st 2014

On May 22nd 2014, as part of his visit to the Bergen Festival, the prince helped the Carte Blanche dance company celebrate its 25th anniversary.  Prince Haakon Magnus went on to visit StormGeo, a weather forecasting company working with a wide range of organisations.  He also opened the 2014 exhibition in the Bergen Art Hall.


Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway at StormGeo during his visit on May 22nd 2014

On May 23rd 2014, the Crown Prince of Norway gave a speech at a meeting of the International Institute of Banking Students before joining the Crown Prince of Denmark at Roskilde in Denmark where they laid wreaths in memory of King Christian Frederik as part of the ongoing commemorations for the 200th anniversary of his election as monarch of Norway and the signing of the Norwegian Constitution.


The Crown Prince of Norway and the Crown Prince of Denmark lay wreaths at the tomb of Christian Frederik, King of Norway and later King of Denmark, in a ceremony on May 23rd 2014 in Roskilde

Later the same day, the Crown Prince was joined by his mother, Queen Sonja of Norway, for a concert in Copenhagen marking the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution.


Queen Sonja of Norway with Queen Margrethe of Denmark at a concert to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution which took place on May 23rd 2014 in Copenhagen

On the following day, May 24th 2014, Queen Sonja joined Queen Margrethe at a seminar to mark the anniversary and they unveiled a sculpture in Copenhagen to mark the event.


Denmark


The Royal Family of Denmark carried out several engagements this week marking the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution.  Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik joined King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway in Eidsvoll on May 18th where Queen Margrethe unveiled a statue of King Christian Frederik who was elected king of Norway  in 1814.


Queen Margrethe of Denmark unveiling the statue of King Christian Frederik of Norway, later King Christian Frederik of Denmark, at a ceremony in Eidsvoll on May 18th 2014

On May 21st 2014, Queen Margrethe II was presented with a new translation of the Icelandic Sagas at a meeting at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen.


Queen Margrethe is presented with a new translation of the Icelandic Sagas on May 21st 2014

The queen hosted a gala on May 23rd 2014 in Copenhagen to mark the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution with the Prince Consort, the Crown Prince and Princess and Prince Joachim and Princess Marie also in attendance as they welcomed their guests, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway.


The Queen of Denmark and the Queen of Norway arriving at a gala in Copenhagen on May 23rd 2014

Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja unveiled a sculpture in honour of the celebrations marking the Constitution's anniversary after a seminar in Copenhagen on May 24th 2014.


Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja at a seminar marking the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution in Copenhagen on May 24th 2014

As part of the celebrations for the Constitution's anniversary, Crown Prince Frederik visited the Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad on May 21st 2014 at Langelijne before he sailed to Kristianshavn for a special exhibition linked to the anniversary called 'Under the Same Flag'.


Crown Prince Frederik arrives for a visit to Helge Ingstad on May 21st 2014

On May 23rd 2014, Crown Prince Frederik joined Crown Prince Haakon Magnus to lay wreaths at the tomb of King Christian Frederik in Roskilde.


Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Prince Haakon Magnus in Roskilde on May 23 2014

Princess Marie was in Roskilde on May 21 2014 when she launched the Denmark World Heritage app.  Earlier in the week, on May 20th 2014, the princess attended a briefing at the Amalienborg Palace for World AIDS Vaccine Day - she is patron of the AIDS Foundation.  


Princess Marie with some of the delegates at the AIDS Vaccine briefing at the Amalienborg Palace on May 20th 2014

On May 22nd 2014, the princess attended a presentation by school pupils of their contributions to UNESCO Arts Education Week which took place at the DR Concert Hall in Copenhagen.


Princess Marie of Denmark at the presentation of contributions by students to the UNESCO Arts Education week on May 22nd 2014


Belgium


The King of the Belgians began his week by taking part in a 20 kilometres run in Brussels where he was cheered on by his wife and children before the whole royal family greeted runners.


The Belgian Royal Family at the Brussels run on May 18th 2014

Later the same day, the Queen of the Belgians took her three eldest children to the semi finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Prize in Brussels.


Queen Mathilde with Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel and Prince Emmanuel on May 18th 2014

On May 20th 2014, the king and queen held a reception at Laeken for all the ambassadors who have been accredited by the monarch since September 2013.  


King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at Laeken on May 20th 2014

The king had several individual engagements through the week as well.  On May 19th 2014, he led the Royal Family's mourning for the former Prime Minister of Belgium, Jean-Luc Dehaene, who died on May 15th 2014.  The king paid his respects at the politician's coffin on May 19th 2014 with King Albert and Queen Paola doing the same on May 22nd 2014.  


Jean-Luc Dehaene (second left) in an archive photo with other former Belgian Prime Ministers during a reception held by King Albert and which was also attended by Philippe of the Belgians

On May 21st 2014, King Philippe travelled to Geneva where he visited CERN and heard about the Large Hadron Collider.  On May 22nd 2014, King Philippe attended a meeting of 'Think Tank Business and Society' in Brussels.  The group brings together twenty Managing Directors from large companies and organisations in Brussels.


King Philippe of the Belgians at CERN in Geneva on May 21st 2014

King Philippe also held several audiences throughout the week. On May 19th 2014 he held his regular meeting with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Elio di Rupo, at the Royal Palace in Brussels.  On May 22nd 2014, also at the Royal Palace, he held an audience with Johan Delmulle who was sworn in as Attorney General of the Court of Appeal of Brussels in the presence of the Justice Minister, Annemie Turtelboom.  On the same day, King Philippe welcomed the President of Hungary, Janos Ader, to the Royal Palace and on May 23rd 2014 the king held an audience with Michele Sioen who is President of the Belgian Enterprise Federation and with the organisation's honorary president, Pierre-Alain de Smedt at the Royal Palace.


King Philippe of the Belgians with the President of Hungary, Janos Ader, ahead of their audience at the Royal Palace in Brussels on May 22nd 2014

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians attended the last day of the semi-finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Contest on May 20th 2014 in Brussels.


Queen Mathilde of the Belgians at the semi finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Contest on May 20th 2014

On May 24th 2014, the Royal Palace released a statement in which King Philippe sent his condolences to the families of the people killed in a gun attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels and in which he spoke of his outrage at the attack.


Netherlands

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands began his week by symbolically striking the new two euro coin which will bear a double image - of him and his predecessor as monarch, Princess Beatrix.  The king struck the coin at the Royal Dutch Mint in Utrecht on May 21st 2014.


The new two euro coin showing King Willem-Alexander and Princess Beatrix 

Earlier the same day, the king had held farewell audiences with the outgoing ambassadors of Chile and Georgia at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.  On May 22nd 2014, King Willem-Alexander opened a major exhibition of works by the Impressionist artist, Georges Seurat, at the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo.  


King Willem-Alexander views some of the works by Georges Seurat being shown at the Kroller Muller Museum until September 2014

On May 23rd 2014, King Willem-Alexander was in Delft where he opened the newly renovated Prinsenhof Museum.  And on May 24th 2014, he was joined by Queen Maxima, Princess Beatrix and Princess Margriet for the presentation of the Franklin D.Roosevelt Four Freedoms Awards at a ceremony at the Neuwe Kirk in Middelberg.  The awards are given to people who have worked towards freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear.  


The Dutch Royal Family with the winners of the Franklin Four Freedoms Awards on May 24th 2014

The king and queen had one other joint engagement during the week when Willem-Alexander accompanied Maxima as she presented the Apples of Orange awards at a ceremony at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on May 22nd 2014.  The prizes are given to social initiatives that help improve links within communities.


King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima pose with the winners of the Apples of Orange Awards on May 22nd 2014

Queen Maxima had begun her week by attending the inaugural lecture of the holder of the Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.


Queen Maxima standing with the new holder of the Prince Claus Chair, Jumoke Oduwole, at her inaugural lecture on May 20th 2014

On May 22nd, Queen Maxima was in The Hague where she opened the International Conference for Culture and Science Communication at the World Forum being held in the city.  In the evening, the queen attended a concert marking the 150th anniversary of the Queen Sophia's Association wind orchestra held at the Efteling Theatre in Kaatsheuvel.


Queen Maxima arrives at a concert in Kaatsheuvel on May 22nd 2014

On May 23rd 2014, Queen Maxima attended a lunch in Amsterdam marking the 100th anniversary of the charity, Cordaid, and celebrating the work of those who silently help others within the community.  Queen Maxima was also presented with a new book about the work of the organisation.


Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the Cordaid lunch she attended on May 23rd 2014

Princess Beatrix made a three day visit to St Maarten in the week, beginning on May 19th 2014.  During her visit she opened the UK Youth Parliament there in a ceremony held on May 20th 2014. Her visit also included engagements at UNICEF, Belvedere Community Centre, the Bel Air Community Centre and the Nature Foundation St Maarten - the princes is patron of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance.


Princess Beatrix during her visit to the Belvedere Community Centre in St Maarten - she spent four days there in the week


Monaco


Prince Albert and Princess Charlene attended the new show of Louis Vuitton held in Monaco on May 18th 2014.


Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Louis Vuitton Show in Monaco on May 18th 2014

On May 22nd 2014, ahead of the Grand Prix of Monaco, the royal couple visited the security and safety personnel working at the race and spent some time with the Red Cross volunteers helping there.


Prince Albert and Princess Charlene meet some of the people helping out at the Monaco Grand Prix on May 22nd 2014 - the race took place on May 25th 2014

On the same day, Prince Albert attended the 'Peace One Day' gala hosted by Jude Law in Monaco. The gala is part of the Peace One Day organisation which promotes a day of peace and global ceasefire - it is marked on September 21st.


Prince Albert of Monaco with Jeremy Gilley who founded Peace One Day and the actor, Jude Law, during the gala held on May 22nd 2014