A Palace's colourful future

The Prince's Palace in Monaco has been undergoing quite a few design changes in recent weeks.  First, Prince Albert paid homage to his Irish roots - his great grandparents moved from Ireland to America in the 19th century - by bathing his home in green light to mark St Patrick's Day.  And now, along with Princess Charlene, he helped turn the palace blue to highlight World Autism Day.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco show off their new exterior design as they temporarily turn their palace blue to highlight World Autism Day

In 2007, the United Nations made April 2nd the day when the work to understand autism and help people who have the condition is placed centre stage.  It's thought around 67 million people around the world have autism.  Princess Charlene is the Honorary President of Monaco Against Autism and it was the princess who flicked the switch to floodlight her home blue - the colour chosen to symbolise the global campaign.  On the same night, around the world, other famous building were bathed in blue light to draw attention to autism.

The Prince's Palace in Monaco is bathed in blue for World Autism Day

The royal couple have set a bit of a trend for lighting their home in different colours for different events and all eyes are now on Monaco to see which brighter shade of pale Albert and Charlene choose next.

The Prince's Palace in Monaco on St Patrick's Day when Albert II of Monaco honoured his Irish roots by turning his home green

Albert's new crowning glory

He was there to see who would claim rugby's most famous crown but it was the crowned head of Albert of Monaco that had everyone talking at the weekend.  The prince was in Paris to see the Six Nations decider between France and Ireland and appeared with a huge dressing over the front part of his head.

Albert of Monaco at the Six Nations match in Paris on Saturday

As royal headwear goes, it's an unusual look and there's no word as yet as to what happened to the prince.  And his companion in the stands didn't have a great day either.  President Francois Hollande saw his nation's side lose out at the last minute as the Irish side held on to win the Six Nations and send legendary player, Brian O'Driscoll, into international retirement in style.  With St Patrick's Day just around the corner it was perhaps the only ending for a match that caused as much talk at its start and all because of a crowned head with an unusual looking crown of his head.

Royal hat contest in Sochi

After the appearance of Queen Maxima in a very patriotic orange hat during her stay in Sochi to watch the Winter Olympics, other royals are getting in on the quirky headwear trend.  Or it might just be very cold there.  Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway was first to play catch up by sporting a pale blue Norwegian knitted hat that made him look about fifteen.

Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway does pale blue and interesting at the Sochi Winter Olympics

Prince Albert of Monaco is back in Sochi but hasn't gone for the knitted look favoured by Maxima and Haakon.  Instead, Albert has been showing off his red baseball cap as he takes in more winter sports.

That's not going to keep his ears warm - Prince Albert of Monaco in a baseball cap at Sochi

But not to be outdone on the colours front, Haakon Magnus then decided to try a little bit of brightness out himself and was last seen in a bright red knitted number.  But the future king of Norway showed he is used to dressing for the cold - not only was this a wool hat, it had mini ear flaps as well.  Albert might just need to take some tips from his royal counterparts as the Games go on.  

Super warm but still a long way from toppling Queen Maxima in the best hat of the Winter Olympics stakes - Haakon Magnus rocks red in Sochi 

The Swedish royal family is due in Sochi soon and Haakon Magnus is about to depart - just as King Harald is set to arrive.  There are plenty more royal sightings in Sochi still to come.

Royal support for Winter Olympics stars

The gold medal for royal support at the Winter Olympics 2014 at the moment is with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.  The royal couple has been perhaps more high profile than their country's athletes as the Sochi Games get under way. After lots of waving from the stands at the opening cermeony, the king and queen have now given us bicycling in the Olympic park, tea in the Olympic village and big excited grins at the ice skating.  They are running rings around other royals at the event.

Willem-Alexander and Maxima of the Netherlands get very excited about the ice skating in Sochi

Albert and Charlene of Monaco are putting in the royal support hours as well with plenty of appearances at different events around Sochi.  But while Albert is all smiles, he might be telling one too many stories of the time he was an Olympian as Charlene has looked a little distant at times.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Winter Olympics in Sochi

Princess Anne is still at the Games as is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg while the Norwegian and Swedish royals are expected to arrive later in the next few days.  But they are going to have their work cut out when it comes to regal flag waving.  Willem-Alexander and Maxima are looking strong in gold medal position at the moment.

Have bikes, will travel - the king and queen of the Netherlands on their tour of the Olympic village.