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 Abaca Press With girlfriend Charlene Wittstock by his side, Prince Albert II of Monaco became an honorary ambassador for the society of vintners in Bordeaux, France.
The event happened Sunday, and the couple were given a tour of the International Wine Fair Vinexpo as part of their special guests positions. The two tasted and tested the wine from the area.
Then came time for the sovereign Prince to put on the robes of an ambassador of the vintners. He put on a red and white robe and joined about 40 other “protectors of the jury.” Albert’s position requires him to promote Bordeaux wine.
Although Charlene and Albert have been dating for three years, they are in no rush to marry. The Prince once said he would follow his “own path,” in reference the 51 year old bachelor is likely not going to tie the knot with his South African girlfriend anytime soon.
Monday saw the King and Queen of Spain on a state visit to New Zealand. They will be there for two days as part of strengthening ties between the two nations.
 - AFP
“I am delighted to host King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia. Their visit presents a unique opportunity to enhance understanding and visibility of New Zealand at the highest levels in Spain,” Prime Minister John Key said in a press release.
“New Zealand’s relationship with Spain is on the cusp of an exciting phase of further development, with the prospect of increased trade, investment and tourism.
“Our two countries are also seeking to expand education, science and technology, and cultural links.”
Upon arriving in Auckland, the royals toured a maritime museum, where they unveiled a plaque in honor of Sir Peter Blake. The museum was in particular interest to the King and Queen, having both done competitive sailing in their younger days.
Later in the day, Juan Carlos and Sofia stopped by the University of Auckland. At the school, they met with Spanish students, and learned that Spanish is the most popular European language on campus.
Tuesday will see the royal couple travel to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. There, they will open the Spanish embassy, plus meet with Prime Minister Key.
On Thursday, the King and Queen will travel west to Australia for a couple of days there.
This is the first time the Spanish monarchs have visited Oceania in 21 years. Their son, Crown Prince Felipe, traveled to this region in 1990, being the last time a Spanish royal ever set foot there.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Misnned are on a state visit to France until Wednesday. The visit is meant to cement ties between the two countries.
 - Reuters
This is the third time the Emir has been to France. In 2007 and 2008, he was a special guest for France’s National Day.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the relationship between France and Qatar as “long-standing and ideal.” He pointed out that many French companies increasingly have branches in the Gulf state.
Sarkozy also mentioned the need for the two countries to boost scientific and cultural ties. He praised Sheikha Mozah’s promotional efforts through the Qatar Foundation of Education, Science and Community Development.
After initial meetings with each other, the Emir and Sarkozy had a glitzy state dinner at Elysees Palace Monday night with their wives dressed to the nines.
Once this state visit is over, both countries would hopefully gain something from one another. France is looking towards Qatar for gas development, and imports Qatari nuclear technology and security equipment. Qatar meanwhile, sees French bilateral ties as a way to diversify its economy.
The son of Iran’s last shah spoke at a press conference Monday about the election protests in his homeland.
 - AP
Reza Pahlavi warned that if the opposition is crushed in Iran, it could lead to problems not only in that country but around the world. He even warned of a nuclear conflict.
“Their defeat will encourage extremism from the shores of the Levant to the energy jugular of the world,” said Pahlavi, who left Iran a year before the ouster of his father, shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in the 1979 Islamic revolution.
“At worst, fanatical tyrants who know that the future is against them may end their present course on their terms: a nuclear holocaust.”
Pahlavi was at times emotional during the presser at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He claimed to have military and clerical sources in Iran telling him some leaders were willing to switch sides and join the opposition.
“It’s almost a revolutionary climate,” he said.
“Let me assure you, (the movement) will not die because we will not let it die.”
Born in 1960, Pahlavi was once the Crown Prince of Iran until the revolution overthrew his father. He lived in Egypt and Morocco until settling in the United States in the 1980s. Pahlavi now lives in Maryland with his wife and three daughters.
Friday saw Queen Beatrix, along with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, open a satellite version of Russia’s famed Hermitage museum in Amsterdam.
 - AP
The inauguration was part of Medvedev’s official visit to the Netherlands. It also celebrates the relations between the two countries. In 1816, the future King Willem II married Anna Pavlovna, the daughter of Russian Tsar Paul I. Even Peter the Great studied shipbuilding in Amsterdam in 1697, and modeled his capital, St. Petersburg after Amsterdam.
Upon the inauguration, the President received Queen Beatrix, her son and heir Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, and his wife Crown Princess Maxima. Maxima raised eyebrows with fashion watchers by wearing a fuzzy purple jacket and heavy purple eye make-up. One publication said she looked like Grover, the Sesame Street character.
After signing guestbooks, the royals took a tour of the Dutch branch of the Hermitage, with Medvedev as the guide. The museum is located in Amstelhof on the banks of the Amstel river. It is 107,000 square feet in size, and once served as a nursing home in the 17th century.
Later on, Queen Beatrix attended a ballet with Medvedev by the Russian composer Modest Mussorgski.
About 1,800 pieces of art are on display here, compared to the over 3 million at the original Hermitage. All the artwork is on loan from St. Petersburg.
The current exhibit is about Russia’s tsars, showing the lavishness of the Russian court. It is open until January 31st 2010.
There are similar Hermitage satellites in London and in Las Vegas.
The royals of Denmark visited the Danish territory of Greenland this weekend. Their visit was for the celebrations for Greenland’s transfer to an autonomous government.
 - sermistiaq.gl
Last November, Greenlanders voted in a referendum to take further steps towards total independence from Denmark.
Crown Princess Mary arrived on the island first, on Friday June 19th. She came to the capital of Nuuk as part of her Mary Foundation duties. The Princess attended a meeting with the Department of the Family, and another one at the Department of Culture, Education, Research and Church. Saturday, she visited the Nuuk Crisis Center.
Later in the day, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik arrived in Nuuk. But their visit didn’t get started until Saturday, when they toured Ilimmarfik, the University of Greenland. There, the reading of the Prince Consort’s poetry took place, which is from his collection, “Blue Marks on the Soul.” Afterward, there was a reception.
At around 3pm local time, Prince Henrik went to the school of Maelkebotten. They were greeted by schoolchildren who sang songs in Greenlandic. Henrik was also awarded the Lion’s Prize, which is a prize awarded to who promote the living conditions of Danish citizens, even those in Greenland.
Also happening on Saturday was Crown Prince Frederik’s arrival. He joined his wife in touring Maelkebotten and an orphanage in Qoornoq. Frederik was in Greenland less than month ago, when he and the royal heirs of Norway and Sweden went on a expedition to the island to see firsthand the effects of global warming.
“It was a very rewarding experience. The Greenlandic people are very curious, positive and creative. I love this country and I would come here many times yet,” said the Crown Prince.
 - Reuters
The next day, Sunday June 21st, was the official handover of the new law of self-government to Jozef Motzfeldt, head of Greenland’s parliament. Queen Margrethe personally gave the Home Rule Act to Motzfeldt as a symbol of the handover.
“It’s a great moment for me to present autonomy law for you and thus to the people of Greenland,” said the Queen, who was dressed in Greenlandic national costume.
Even the Danish Prime Miniser, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, was in attendance for the event.
“Today is a responsibility today. We build on the premise that people take responsibility for his own country. It is now up to Greenland to build and build out,” he said, also dressed in Greenlandic national costume.
The day was celebrated with a gun salute, hoisting of Greenland’s flag, choirs singing and a church service at Our Savior Church.
Greenland now has control on their local matters, such as government, justice and police. However, Denmark still has a final say on foreign policy and defense.
Frederik and Mary will depart from Greenland Monday morning, but Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik will stay in the country until Wednesday.
Crown Princess Maxima was in Utrecht Thursday for the general meeting of Rabobank on “Importance and Challenges of Development Banking.” The bank, which focuses on agriculture, serves developing nations in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Maxima spoke about Rabobank’s successes at the meeting.
“I would like to congratulate and encourage Rabobank in the role that you play to make this happen in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. You will make it possible to experience sustainability and rural development should be shared between many people in different situations. That creates alongside economic growth and reduce hunger and poverty also a relationship between people.”
The Crown Princess compared the needs of the third world to the way the Netherlands was over a hundred years ago.
“The Netherlands, and the whole agricultural sector, was in extreme poverty between 1882…. [t]his agricultural depression came at a time when social unrest was already high. Since then, public and private investment in agriculture to ensure a higher food production in the Netherlands and prosperity in rural areas.
“Today, the situation in many poor countries like the Netherlands when: poverty, lack of investment and lack of technological opportunities to increase production. Since the fifties, the grain on the world market steadily declined. This world has contributed to a structural reduction of investment in the agricultural sector. In many parts of the world, the situation in rural areas has not improved: 70% of the poorest live in rural areas and many of them can not or barely in their own food needs.”
Maxima reminded the audience of 1200 attendants of how they are connected to those in poorer nations.
“The quality and availability of almost all products you purchase will depend on farmers in distant countries. Your cup of coffee, sugar cube, the chocolates, tropical fruit salad or your clothes of cotton: It connects us with people all over the world.”
Lastly, the Princess spoke of how Rabobank brings together the world.
“[W]hat binds them is the desire for progress, to escape from a vicious circle of poverty and lack of opportunities. Your commitment over so many decades, shows us that, as in 1896, the rural development in the world a matter of shared self is.”
A former banker, Crown Princess Maxima works on behalf of the United Nations with microfinancing issues in the developing world.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II has spent the past couple of days on a working tour in Europe – making stops in Belgium, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The purpose of his visits is to push for the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
 - Reuters
The King’s first stop was in Brussels, Belgium. He was greeted by King Albert II, and later had talks with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who’s country is the current head of the European Union. The King also met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
The King stressed to the European leaders of the importance of the two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also insisted without a separate country for Palestinians, it would cause instability not only in the Mideast, but to the rest of the world.
That all happened on Wednesday June 17th. On Thursday, King Abdullah and his wife Queen Rania arrived in London. The King met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to not only discuss the peace process, but also bilateral ties between Jordan and Great Britain.
While that was going on, Queen Rania was at the Mulberry School for Girls. There, she discussed education focused programs made by Mosaic, a Muslim Mentoring Network created by Prince Charles in 2007. The students told the Queen how they’ve benefited from the program, both in school and as they prepare for the future.
Friday sees King Abdullah going to Sweden. He would be greeted by King Carl XVI Gustaf, and meet with Swedish leaders. It is not known right now if Queen Rania will accompany her husband.
Royal brothers Princes William and Harry allowed the media and the public to get a look at their military lives as both train to be helicopter pilots in the Royal Air Force.
 - AP
At the same time, the two spoke of what they hope for in their military careers.
Prince William mentioned that he hopes to follow in his younger brother’s footsteps, and serve in the frontlines in war. Prince Harry spent 10 weeks fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan last year. But because he is to be King one day, his chances of fighting in a war are slim.
“I still remain hopeful there’s a chance,” William, who is currently training to fly search-and-rescue helicopters, told reporters. “In my eyes, if Harry can do it, then I can do it. I think as a future leader of the armed forces, it’s really important you at least get the opportunity to be credible and to do the job I signed up for, as best I can. That’s all I want to do.
“The search and rescue role is now slightly different to obviously being able to go to Afghanistan, but it’s still doing an important job.”
Harry, meanwhile, hopes to return to the frontlines.
“To get out to Afghanistan again would be fantastic and my best chance is to do it from a helicopter,” he said.
“I love flying helicopters. I just hope I can be better than the best, that’s what I’ve always strived to be — spot on.”
Prince William began his training in January and is expected to complete it in 2011. He then would serve around four to five years as a RAF pilot.
The brothers live together on the RAF Shawbury airbase in western England.
During the press conference, they both joked about who was the better brother.
“He’s definitely got more brains than me,” said Harry. “We established that back at school. But when it comes to the handling, I’m much better.”
Carlos Morales Quintana, the son in law to the former King of Greece, is under investigation for property corruption charges in Spain. If charged and found guilty, he could face up to four years in prison.
 - Billed Bladet
Morales, who is married to King Constantine’s eldest child, Princess Alexia, is said to have bribed mayors in order to gain building licenses and purchase permissions to properties on Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands where the couple lives with their four children.
So far, Morales has only been interrogated, and is only a person of interest in the case. But others involved have faced more serious outcomes. Of the twenty arrested in the operation, a judge has ordered the imprisonment of seven of them, and the other thirteen have been released with charges of corruption.
This is not the time for such allegations for the former Greek royal family. This July 9th Princess Alexia was to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary to Morales. At the same time, ex-King Constantine is recovering from a recent open heart surgery.
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