19 February 2016

This Week in Princesses

THE NETHERLANDS, February 12: International diplomacy at home
One of The Netherlands great claims to fame is that it is home to many multi-national organizations including branches of the United Nations, the European Union and NATO. It is no surprise then that Princess Beatrix was on hand for the official opening of new UNICEF offices at The Hague.


NORWAY, February 12: Lighting an Olympic flame
Young Princess Ingrid Alexandra got to run up the stairs to light the Olympic cauldron for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer. The entire Norwegian royal family is crazy about winter sports and can often be seen competing in events themselves.


GREECE, February 16: A fashion-forward young princess
19-year-old Princess Maria Olympia of Greece has been emerging more and more into the fashionable world. Perhaps not a surprise since her mother, American-born Crown Princess Marie-Chantal is a children's fashion designer. Maria Olympia attended the Michael Kors fashion show during New York Fashion Week. Recently tabloids linked her romantically (and without foundation) with her distant cousin Prince Harry of Wales.


THE NETHERLANDS, February 16: Visiting Western Brabant
Queen Maxima was at her big-brimmed, big-earring best as she and the King visited their Dutch countrymen in the Brabant region. (I always like it when she makes an effort with her hair!) But, she is really twinning it up with her mother-in-law's attire from a few days earlier (see above).


SPAIN, February 16: Visiting the Prado
One of the privileges of being a Queen, is having access to all of the great cultural institutions of your country. This week, Queen Letizia and King Felipe, attended a meeting of the Board of Patronages at The Prado in Spain. They also greeted some very excited schoolchildren, who had waited calmly to see them.


UNITED KINGDOM, February 16: Scholarship ceremony

Her Majesty looked delightful in shiny, textured cream-suit when she visited Claridge's to attend the Gold Service Scholarship Award ceremony. Created in 2012, these awards recognize and encourage young talent in working in front-of-house positions within the hospitality industry.


THE UNITED KINGDOM, February 16: Reading to the kids
A passionate advocate for literacy programs, The Duchess of Cornwall rarely misses an opportunity to read in public. Here she seized the moment as part of the preview event marking an upcoming exhibition celebrating the centenary of children's author Roald Dahl.


BELGIUM, February 17: Remembering their loved ones

Queen Mathilde, King Philippe and members of the extended Belgian royal family attended a mass in memory of their deceased family members at their home church in Laeken. Other royal ladies in attendance included the King's cousin, Margaretha of Liechtenstein, his half-aunt Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, and his late half-uncle's widow, Princess Lea of Belgium.


THE NETHERLANDS, February 17: Helping erase personal debt

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Maxima was all smiles as she helped SchuldHulp Maatje celebrates its fifth anniversary. The Dutch organization aims to help people with debt problems. Maxima is interested in everything related to finance and in helping people achieve success in this area.


SPAIN, February 17: Still more audiences
It must get exhausting having to smile and shake hands all day as people are presented to you, but Queen Letizia has it down to an art. Good thing too, because it seems like she's hosting a never-ending cycle of audiences at Zarzuela Palace.


UNITED KINGDOM, February 17: #YoungMindsMatter
The Duchess of Cambridge visited with youngsters at Kensington Palace to mark her day working as guest editor of the Huffington Post. Her goal with the project is to raise awareness that the "mental health of our children must be seen to be every bit as important as their physical health."


MONACO, February 18: More New York Fashion Week
Prince Albert of Monaco's oldest daughter, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, was spotted at the J. Mendel runway during New York Fashion Week. She is an aspiring model.


UNITED KINGDOM, February 18: Greeting the diplomats
As is traditionally done, foreign diplomats present their credentials to The Queen. At this special reception, the Senegalese ambassador was among the diplomats who came to make their presence official. Ambassadors to Britain are actually appointed as ambassadors to the Court of St. James's because St. James's Palace is still designated as the official residence of the monarch, even though the true London residence has been Buckingham Palace for two centuries. Other royals do live at St. James's: The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall live their in the late Queen Mother's former home, Clarence House. The Princess Royal, the York Princesses and the Queen's cousin, Princess Alexandra also live at the Palace. (Most of the other royals have their London homes at Kensington Palace.)


UNITED KINGDOM, February 18: Sending off the RAF
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a private moment while back in their old stomping grounds, RAF Valley in Anglesey, where William was stationed during the last part of their courtship and early part of their marriage. It was a bittersweet visit as they were there to help honor all of the RAF Search and Rescue personnel over 75 years, as the SAR operations are closed down.


SWEDEN, February 19: Hiding the baby bump
Despite having just six to eight weeks until the birth of her first child, Princess Sofia barely looks pregnant in this slim-fitting red dress. It is just an optical illusion, a trick of the angle, however, and the bouquet of flowers helps! She, hubby Prince Carl Philip and mother-in-law Queen Silvia were attending an event for the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.


UNITED KINGDOM, February 19: Visiting flood victims

Flooding devastated areas around York a couple of weeks ago, so The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cambridge, paid a visit to encourage local residents and business owners, as royals often do in the face of disasters.



2 comments:

  1. Cheryl we miss your updates - don't tell me you have gone off on a second honeymoon and left us behind!

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    1. LOL! I wish! Just been super busy with work and family stuff and helping my husband with his podcast. Entering my slower season now so hoping to get back on top of the blog soon!

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