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 AP July 31st saw one of the major social events not only in the principality of Monaco, but all of Europe. The annual Red Cross Galal was held in Monte Carlo, and royals, socialites and celebrities were rubbing elbows together as they raised money for the organization.
Monaco’s Sovereign Prince Albert II, his girlfriend Charlene Wittstock and sister Princess Stephanie were present for the event. So were singer Shirley Bassey, socialite Ivana Trump, and legendary American astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
But noticeably absent from the ball was Princess Caroline, considered by many to be Monaco’s First Lady. It is rare that Caroline would not make it to one of her country’s biggest events.
The Princess has also not been present for several of Monaco’s most recent events, such as the Grand Prix events.
Such absenteeism is fueling rumors that all is not well with Caroline’s marriage to Prince Ernst August of Hannover. But only those two know what is really going on.
Sweden’s Princess Madeleine was awarded 400,000 euros in her lawsuit against several German tabloids owned by the publication company, Klambt.
 - AP File
Between 2000 and 2004, the tabloids reported on numerous occasions that the Princess was pregnant or engaged.
The German court in Hamburg found that the tabloids were wrong in their “ruthless” campaign against Madeleine.
This is the latest for a European royal to win a case against tabloids and freelance photographers. In 2004, Monaco’s Princess Caroline won her case against German tabloids in a landmark ruling which forced the German media to curb its reporting and publishing paparazzi photographs of celebrities.
Princess Madeleine originally was awarded 300,000 euros. The increase came from a ruling in the first instance.
It is believed that the money would go to charity.
King Mohammed VI officially marked his 10 years on the Moroccan throne on Thursday. Although he really became King on July 23rd, 1999, the festivities surrounding his ascension – called Fete du Trone – are celebrated every July 30th instead. This year, the celebrations took place in Tetouan and Tangiers, in the northern part in the country.
 - Reuters
To start off the day’s events, King Mohammed released a recorded speech to his people. He spoke with his son and heir, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, sitting to his right, and his brother, Moulay Rachid, at his left.
The King spoke of reforms for Morocco’s judicial system. He also asked Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi to take a “qualitative step on the way to local democracy,” by making changes to education, social issues and regionalization.
“In the last 10 years, Morocco has been able to realize major sustainable development projects,” King Mohammed said in his speech. “And I tell you sincerely, it was not an easy undertaking for us. But despite all the difficulties and challenges, I promise you we will continue our efforts for the development of our country.”
 - AP
The King also called for the government to care for the environment, and “to safeguard species, reserves and natural resources, within the framework of sustainable development.” He also reiterated Morocco’s claims of the Western Sahara region, a place in dispute with neighboring Algeria.
While Moroccans watched the speech on television, King Mohammed was in the capital city of Rabat, holding the bey’a ceremony, where Islamic theologians, ministers, civil servants and lawmakers swore allegiance to him.
Later, he took his son, Moulay Hassan, to observe the military guard.
Moving north to Tangiers, the King took time to decorate Wissam Alaouite Aaron Monsonego, the chief Rabbi of Morocco. King Mohammed recently acknowledged the Holocaust, calling it a great tragedy.
In Tangiers and Tetouan, there were fireworks displays all through the night.
Bahrain’s Sheikh King Hamad was there to personally congratulate King Mohammed’s decade of Morocco’s monarch.
 Reuters Thursday saw King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia begin their tour of the little known Portuguese archipelago of Madeira. This visit is for the two countries – Spain and Portugal – to grow closer.
The King and Queen were greeted by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva and his wife Maria Cavaco, in the Madeira capital of Funchal. After the playing of their countries national anthems, the royal and presidential couple went to have a private dinner with the Cavacos at a hotel Juan Carlos and Sofia will be staying at.
During this time, President Cavaco gave his condolescences to his Spanish guests in regards to the recent bombings by the Basque separatist group which killed 2 policemen.
The islands of Madeira, population of 260,000 people, are an autonomous region in Portugal. They even have their own prime minister, Alberto Joao Jardim. King Juan Carlos will meet with him tomorrow.
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of his enthronement, King Mohammed VI of Morocco pardoned or reduced the sentences of 24,865 prisoners.
 AFP File Usually, the King does this each year just before the Feast of the Throne, as it is called. But to pardon nearly 25,000 prisoners makes it the largest number of royal pardons in Morocco.
According to reports, the monarch did “humanitarian considerations in allowing the prisoners back into society.” That included 517 women who were pregnant or had children, 137 minors, 659 foreign prisoners, plus 32 death row inmates. The latter received life in imprison rather than facing the death penalty.
Although Morocco still has capital punishment, though the last person to be executed was in 1994.
This North African kingdom will mark King Mohammed VI’s 10 years in power tomorrow, July 30th. The 45 year-old King ascended to the throne after the death of his father, King Hassan II.
Another major move King Mohammed VI made recently was acknowledging the Holocaust, where six million Jews were murdered. He called the genocide, “one of the most tragic chapters of modern history.” This statement comes after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied the Holocaust ever happened.
The King also is endorsing the Aladdin Project, which aims to educate the Middle East about the Holocaust. One way it plans to do so is by translating “The Diary of Anne Frank” into Arabic and Farsi.
Members of the former Imperial dynasty of Russia say the country has more important issues than burying the remaining children of slain Tsar Nicholas II. 
Earlier this year, scientists declared that the bones of Grand Duchess Maria and Tsarevich Alexei were authentic. But those remains have yet to join the other Romanovs in the crypt at Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
The bones were found in 2007, several yards away from where the rest of the family, along with four retainers, were discovered in 1991.
“Today is perhaps not the time when money can be spared for a fitting reburial ceremony,” said Ivan Artzishevski, the spokesman of the Romanov Family Association.
“Russia has more pressing and important issues to face and there are more appropriate ways of spending the money today. The question of the reburial is currently discussed within the Family and with the Russian Government.”
Artzishevski went on to say that the Romanovs believe the DNA tests on the remains prove right that they are of Maria and Alexei.
The two children were murdered with their father, mother, and three other sisters, plus four servants, on the night of July 17, 1918 by Bolsheviks in Yekaterinburg. It is believed the Bolsheviks meant to burn the bodies, but only had enough fuel for two, and those were of 19 year-old Maria, and Alexei, nearly 14.
 - kp.ru
The announcement of the Romanov’s take on what to do with the bones come as a couple of members of the dynasty have completed tours of the former Russian Empire. On July 19th, 83 year-old Prince Dmitri Romanov visited Fyodor’s Imperial Cathedral in St. Petersburg, the former capital of Russia. He was accompanied by his wife, Feodora, and 24 year-old nephew, Rostislav. Prince Dmitri is the brother of the current head of the Romanov family, Prince Nicholas.
Over in Belarus, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, visited several cities in towns there as though she were an actual royal doing an official visit. Even strict protocol was done, such as bowing or curstying to Maria, plus shaking and kissing her hand.
The Grand Duchess is the only Romanov descendent who is claiming the Russian throne. All the others have called off any idea of restoring the monarchy.
This week could have been great press for Queen Margrethe of Denmark and her husband, Prince Henrik. On Sunday, they were at the christening of their newest grandchild, named after the Prince Consort. But quickly, things got a bit odd.
 - Hello Magazine File
First, the regent couple announced they would not be doing their annual interview during their summer break in southern France.
Then, Prince Henrik attended the 275th anniversary of a rifle club. He was meant to stay for the entire four hour event, but instead stayed for only 30 minutes. The chairman of the club did not bother to hide his disappointment.
What is going on for this normally in-touch couple?
“There can be several reasons underlying the decision,” writes Danish royal expert Marianne Singer.
“Maybe regent couple already feel amply exposed this year. First came the birth of the little new prince, and Prince Henrik’s 75th birthday, where there was celebration over several days.”
Even so, cancelling a traditional interview and not doing a full engagement could harm the Danish royal couple, who already are experiencing some decreasing approval ratings.
A lecturer at the University of Copenhagen, Klaud Kjoller, told Berlingske newspaper: “I can only interpret the [press] cancellation as a step away from the people.”
The Prince and Princess of Asturias are in Romania this week for a three day official visit. They arrived Monday morning, with the purpose of strengthening ties between their country and this new member of the European Union.
 - Getty Images
Upon their arrival at Bucharest’s Cotroceni Palace, Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia met with Romanian President Traian Basescu and his wife, Maria.
Felipe and Basescu held talks while Romania’s First Lady gave Letizia a tour of the palace. President Basescu, who visited Spain in late 2007, praised King Juan Carlos and the welcome the King had given him.
Afterward, the Prince and Princess laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at King Carol Park. In the evening, the royal couple attended a gala dinner with the Basescus’. It was during the dinner that the Crown Prince spoke of the potential between the two nations.
“The Spanish experience in the management and use of structural funds and cohesion, and the large number of businesses in our country with experience in this field can be of great interest and value to Romania,” he said.
Felipe also talked about the 700,000 Romanians currently living in Spain, and how the two countries have plenty in common despite geographical differences.
Tomorrow, Felipe and Letizia will meet with Romania’s Prime Minister, Emil Boc and a couple of other politicians. They will also hold meetings with Spanish and Romanian business leaders. Their visit ends on Wednesday.
Romania has been receiving a lot of royal traffic this year. In April, Prince Albert II of Monaco and King Abdullah II of Jordan both stopped by. Japan’s Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko made a visit in May. And earlier this month, the King and Queen of Belgium made their state visit here.
Prince Henrik Carl Joachim Alain.
 - Berlingske.dk
That is the name of the newest member of the Danish royal family.
The baby’s name was revealed by tradition during his baptism in Mogeltonder at exactly 6pm local time.
Proud mom Princess Marie was the one to tell all of Denmark and royal fans worldwide the name of her little son, whom up until this point was called the “Lille Prins.”
Marie did so when she brought her baby son up to the baptismal font and told the minister who her son was.
All members of the Danish royal family were in attendance at Mogeltonder, the same church where Prince Joachim married Marie in May 2008. The family members also included Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, Joachim’s sons from a previous marriage.
Of course, Queen Margrethe and her proud husband, Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort, were there, as well as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary and their two children, Prince Christian and Princess Isabella.
Crown Princess Mary had a reason to be happy today. She is one of baby Prince Henrik’s godparents.
The others are Benjamin Grandet, Charles Cavallier, Fru Britt Davidsen Siesbye, and Christian Scherfig.
Prince Henrik cried a little bit during the ceremony. He was calm when the baptismal water was poured on his head, but then started to cry afterward.
Also getting teary-eyed was Princess Isabella, who probably got tired from having to sit still during the service.
Even her cousins, Nikolai and Felix, seemed a bit bored. Towards the end, they began to make paper airplanes out of their programs, and pretended to throw them at their father and stepmother. The Queen and the Prince Consort did not make it a secret they were not pleased with that behavior.
Later on, Prince Christian got a paper plane from one of his older cousins. He waved his plane at the media and stuck his tongue out.
The baptism ceremony ended at 6:30pm local time. Prince Joachim put his arm around Princess Marie as he guided her to their car. They returned to their palace at Schakenborg, where there is to be an informal reception for all 200 guests of the ceremony.
So, now there are two Prince Henriks of Denmark!
This weekend, dresses worn and gifts given to Queen Elizabeth II during her Commonwealth tours are on display at Buckingham Palace to commemorate 60 years of the Commonwealth of Nations.
 - AFP
Friday, the Queen was given a preview tour of the exhibit. At one point, she wondered if some of the gifts – such as necklaces made out of sperm whale teeth – should be shown, since today they are considered to be illegal.
Sir Hugh Roberts, director of the Royal Collection, replied to Her Majesty, “Well, I suppose Ma’am, luckily they were given to you long enough ago for that not to be, I think, too much of an issue.”
The Queen laughed and said: “I hope not, it would be awful if somebody comes round and says you’ve got to return them.”
The exhibit features 28 dresses Queen Elizabeth wore during her tours to the Commonwealth since she inherited the British throne in 1952.
“The dresses help the Queen to stand out”, said Caroline de Guitaut, Assistant Curator of the Royal Collection.
“They help her to be visible in large crowds which is why we see so many wonderful colors.
“We also see national emblems incorporated which helps the Queen to pay a compliment to the nation she is visiting and of course they are a source of great interest to the public who always want to know what the Queen will be wearing.”
Elizabeth is the most traveled British sovereign in history. She has made more than 170 visits to Commonwealth countries over the years, making it a third of her travels abroad.
This exhibit would be around until the end of September.
The Commonwealth of Nations is a scion of the British Empire. In 1949, eight countries – Australia, Britain, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka – signed the Declaration of London, and created the Commonwealth.
About a third of the world’s countries – and a quarter of the global population – are a part of it.
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