On Thursday, Monaco celebrated the feast day of its patron saint, Devote. The celebrations are a big part of the tiny principality’s heritage, so its Princely family would obviously take part in them.
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In the evening, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene – who marked her 34th birthday Wednesday – lit a fisherman’s boat on fire with torches on the beaches of Monaco. With them was Albert’s sister, Princess Caroline and her youngest daughter, Princess Alexandra.
This is done to commemorate the burning of a ship on the beach of Monaco, when the captain was caught after stealing the relics of Sainte Devote. Burning a fisherman’s boat has been a tradition since Prince Louis II began it in 1924.
The next morning, there was a mass held at the cathedral. Albert and Charlene then appeared on the palace balcony before the bishop and Monegasque priests.
One should remember that during her July 2nd wedding ceremony, Charlene placed her bouquet at the shrine of Sainte Devote. That is part of the tradition in Monaco.
For future reference, Albert and Charlene will be traveling to the United States in late February to attend the Academy Awards. Keep an eye out that day to see how the Princess of Monaco lights up the red carpet!
Three days after she came into the world, Denmark’s newest Princess was taken home by her parents, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.
The media and well-wishers gathered at the hospital’s lobby to cheer for the latest addition to the Danish royal family. Marie looked well rested while Joachim appeared to be ecstatic.
“She has a good appetite and zest for life,” said the proud father.
Joachim also told reporters that his new daughter looks like Marie, whom said it was too early to say. However, the little girl has Marie’s dark hair.
The baby was asleep in her mother’s arms and one reporter suggested she be named “Sleeping Beauty”.
During her hospital stay, Princess Marie was visited by her parents, her in-laws, and her two stepsons – Princes Nikolai and Felix from Joachim’s previous marriage. Even the couple’s 2 1/2 year old son, Prince Henrik paid a visit and got to meet his little sister.
The new Princess is the eighth grandchild of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort. She is also tenth in line to the Danish throne.
Her name won’t be revealed until the day of her baptism, which has yet to be announced.
Already, Danish bookies are betting the princess would be named after one of her grandmothers. After all, big brother Henrik is named after his paternal grandfather!
With the 42nd World Economic Forum taking place in Davos, Switzerland, many of the world’s who’s who are gathering there to discuss ways to make the world a better place. Among them are a few of Europe’s royals – the Norwegian Crown Princely couple, Belgium’s Princess Mathilde and Dutch Princess Mabel.
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Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are in Davos mainly to promote Haakon’s Young Global Leaders (YGL), which he has been involved in since it’s beginnings in 2005. But Mette-Marit took the time to chat with the press and explain to them why she recently set up her own Twitter account.
“I think Twitter is a fantastic opportunity to spread information about the exciting projects taking place around the world, especially driven by young people,” she said.
The Crown Prince does not yet have his own Twitter account, but said he might start one. “I think I’m quite active as I am. We’ll see if I get my own account. We have the joint account. Maybe I have my own later if I want.”
In addition, Mette-Marit praised Microsoft founder Bill Gates for donating nearly $1 billion to the GAVI Alliance, which gives vaccines to people in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We’re very concerned about global health. And now, Bill Gates once again placed a very good focus on this health care,” said Mette-Marit.
She also mentioned how exciting Davos can be as it draws people from all over the world to participate. “It was incredibly exciting to hear their perspectives on the world situation today. And I could have the opportunity to give them advice on how to use the World Economic Forum to promote their projects.”
Meanwhile, Princess Mathilde of Belgium is at Davos. She sat alongside the Norwegian royals during Angela Merkel’s speech Wednesday.
Also at Davos is Princess Mabel, the wife of Holland’s Prince Friso. She also has a Twitter account and has been tweeting her experiences at WEF. Among them, listening to U.N. Secretary General Ban ki-Moon point out that thousands of women still die in childbirth worldwide. Mabel voiced her dismay over that, saying “These are unacceptable, unnecessary deaths.”
On Monday, Thailand’s Queen Sirikit and her daughter, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, were in the Chinese neighborhood of Bangkok to mark the first day of the Chinese New Year.
With them was Chinese Vice Minister of Culture Li Xiaojie. He arrived in the country to express his condolences for it’s massive floods late last year.
He also brought about 170 artists from China to help Thailand’s ex-pat population celebrate one of their biggest holidays.
Festivities to mark Chinese New Year will end on January 30th. This year marks the Year of the Dragon.
The President and First Lady of Peru began their official visit to Spain Wednesday. Ollanta Humala and Nadine Heredia were welcomed by the Spanish royal family at the palace, and in the evening, were guests of honor at a banquet.
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During the dinner, His Majesty King Juan Carlos spoke about the relationship between Spain and Peru, saying: “Peru and Spain maintain a fraternal relationship that is based on history, culture, language and common values”
“Peruvians living in Spain and the Spanish who live in the Peru contributes to further strengthen our ties.”
The King then talked about how his country helped Peru grow economically. “The economic and business is a very significant of our relations…thus contributing to its economic growth, both in terms of goods and services generated as job creation or contribution to the public purse, not to mention involvement in corporate social responsibility.”
“Peru is a nation in Spain, sister and friend, and it is committed to the projects progress and welfare of the beloved people of Peru,” His Majesty concluded.
Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip was on hand to award the Chef of the Year Wednesday. This year’s winner is Klas Lindberg, a freelance chef who’s dish of fried steak and lobster won him the prestigious title.
The Prince placed a medal around Lindberg’s neck as he expressed his delight over winning. He beat out 147 chefs for this title.
“It feels great,” Lindberg said.
This award ceremony showcases Carl Philip picking up more duties as his older sister, Crown Princess Victoria, goes on maternity leave as she waits for the birth of her first child, due in March.
“We are very happy and proud of the Prince’s participation. The Prince has a great commitment to the Swedish gastronomy and it’s a great honor that he now crowns the Chef of the Year 2012,” says Hannah Halpern, General for the competition.
Denmark’s Princess Marie delivered her second child Tuesday. She had a daughter, and the child weighed 6.45 pounds (2.930 kilograms) and measures 19.6 inches (49 centimeters).
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This new addition to the Danish royal family is now 10th in line to the throne.
While this is the second child for Marie, it’s the fourth for husband Prince Joachim. He has two boys – Princes Nikolai and Felix – with his previous wife, Alexandra Manley, whom he divorced in 2005.
Joachim married Marie in 2008, and they had a son, Prince Henrik, in 2009.
This baby was born exactly ten days after her grandmother, Queen Margrethe II, celebrated her 40 years as monarch.
As with Danish royal tradition, the name of this new princess won’t be revealed until her baptism later this year.
On Saturday, the Dutch crown princely couple took their three daughters to the Jumping Amsterdam, a horse jumping show. It was a rare opportunity for royal fans to see all three of the princesses beyond a photo session with the media.
Catharina-Amalia, age 8, Alexia, 6 years old and 4 year old Ariane cheered for horses during the competition. Amalia, who is second in line to the Dutch throne, was very expressive, showcasing that while she may resemble her father, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, she has the facial expressions of her mother, Princess Maxima.
Both parents also displayed much attention to their three children. At one point, Willem Alexander was seen hugging his eldest, while Maxima kept the other two close by. Keep in mind, with their duties taking them abroad sometimes, family moments like this one probably don’t come very often for these Dutch royals.
January 21st marks Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 8th birthday. The young girl who is second in line to the throne is celebrating her big day quietly with friends and family.
To mark this occasion, the Norwegian royal court released four new photos of the little Princess, taken by Julia Naglestad.
At the same time, Ingrid Alexandra’s mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who recently joined Twitter, shared a poem by Wislawa Szymborska to her followers. To read the poem, click here
Ingrid Alexandra is a student at Jansløkka Elementary School, where she’s been going to since 2010. She is slowly taking part in official engagements with her parents.
One of Monaco’s most exciting events, the 36th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, opened Thursday at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille. With Princess Stephanie as its president, and most of her family in attendance, the Circus Festival got off to a joyous start.
Click here for photos of the opening day
With her two daughters, Pauline Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb, by her side, plus Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, Her Serene Highness inaugurated this year’s festival. The first competition show took place Thursday and will run until Tuesday. There will be circus performances, parades through Monaco, and a charity soccer match. After the competition, each winner will perform up until January 29th.
In the days leading up to the opening day, Princess Stephanie visited a circus exhibition at Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum. She also spoke to the newspaper, Nice Matin, about keeping the love of the circus in the family.
“I do not lie when I say that I am part of this large family in which my children and I can always count on. We have the same values, those people loyal and rights of self-transcendence to give dreams to people. The best quality of the circus, it’s true. It leaves its problems at home, it does not complain. In a sanitized world, computerized, self-centered, the circus continues with its values,and that is what saves us. And I would fight all my life to defend the true values,” Stephanie said.
New this year for the circus festival is the New Generation, which celebrates the youth involved in the entertainment. The Princess is the president of this event while her eldest daughter, Pauline, will be the president of the jury. It will be held in the first week of February.
“It was a bit of our vocation to support a festival for young artists who will be moved on the track alike,” Stephanie told Nice Matin. “It will be a real show, with a numberof animals performed by children, which is unique. A troupe of acrobats from Monaco and the school students trail of blue, our only regional school that does a great job, will also attend. Perhaps some of these artists will return one day to the “big” festival.”
Princess Stephanie first served on the jury of the International Circus Festival in 1974 when she just was nine years old.
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