09 « September « 2010 « Royalty in the News

Crown Princess Victoria Awards Canadian Teens

On Tuesday, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria was on hand to give out the annual Junior World Water Prize during Stockholm’s World Water Week. Usually the Crown Princess is the one who gives out the award, and this year she did not fail to dazzle everyone.

Photo: Business Wire

The Swedish press went mad with Victoria’s long earrings, tight hair bun but most of all, her lilac dress. Designed by the label Greta, it should her slim, fit body nicely. Some publications such as Svensk Damtidining noted how over the past year, Victoria’s fashion sense has blossomed into something “prettier, hotter and cooler. She has developed a personal style and ensure that feels classic yet updated and trendy. And of course it is partly her love for Daniel that made her so radiantly beautiful but it is not the answer.”

But there was more to Tuesday night than what the Crown Princess wore. For two Canadian teens, it was a big night for them as they took home prize money and sculptures in honor of their science experiment regarding styrofoam cleaning up polystyrene waste.

Alexandre Allard and Danny Luong of Quebec City, who are both 19, say they were inspired after reading a report about how polystyrene breaking down in the ocean can release toxic molecules. The two then came up with a technique that uses bacteria to break down the foam plastic used in many disposable cups, fast-food containers and packing materials. They went on to experiment their find at a local dump, collected soil in areas where there was a lot of polystyrene, and learned that bacteria could break down plastic into carbon dioxide.

Allard and Luong won $5,000 and are planning to further conduct tests and experiments to see if their findings could clean up styrofoam waste.

Source: Svensk Damtidining, CBC

Dutch Children Break World Record With Princess Laurentien

Thursday saw thousands of Dutch children make history as they broke the world record for the most simultaneously reading. For three hours, nearly 46,000 children, between the ages of 5 and 8, read “Yellow Grass” by Spiris Simon van der Geest via satellite, internet, and telephone.

1,500 of those kids were at the Luxor theater in Rotterdam, where Princess Laurentien, the patron of literacy in the Netherlands, read to the book to them.

It was all part of Literacy Week in Holland, where reading was heavily promoted. Studies have shown that reading among youths has risen.

As for Laurentien, the wife of Prince Constantijn, youngest son of Queen Beatrix, she has been busy all week with Literacy Week, attending seminars and spreading the word for people to read more.

Recently, Laurentien inaugurated a library at an airport in Schiphol, the first of its kind in the world.

Source: RTL Nieuws

Princess Maxima Helps Dutch Schoolchildren Give to Others

At Bavinck School in The Hague Thursday morning, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands kicked-off a drive aimed at needy children in Third World countries. The project, Edukans Shoe buddies, focuses on school children filling their shoe boxes with toys and school supplies.

The program is meant to teach children to be aware of the fact that not every child in this world goes to school.

Princess Maxima handed over the first shoe to Edukans Director Kees de Jong. She told of filling the shoebox with her three young daughters who are also participating in the Shoe buddies. The first shoebox goes to Uganda.

Other countries benefiting from Edukans are Peru, India and many other African nations.

Edukans Shoe buddies has been around for 15 years and more than 2 million children have received shoeboxes from their Dutch peers.

Sources: Den Haag

Princess Madeleine Hangs With Paris Hilton’s Ex

Coming off her few days in South Africa, Sweden’s Princess Madeleine is now in New York City where she would spend her time working on behalf of World Childhood Foundation. It is being speculated that the Princess will stay in the Big Apple all through the fall season, and beyond.

Torsten Laursen/Getty Images Europe/FILE

Also being speculated is a new member of her circle of friends. Madeleine has been spotted dining with Stavros Niarchos III, grandson of Aristotle Onassis’ rival. Tabloids all over Europe are wondering if Stavros is a new flame of Madeleine’s.

According to Expressen, the two met at the wedding of Greek Prince Nikolaos two weeks ago. A couple of days ago, the Princess and the Greek shipping heir were seen at the French bistro Bilbouquet. Paparazzi who shot photos of Madeleine meeting with her friends and Stavros said it was clear she and Stavros knew each other well.

If there is any chance Stavros is more than just a friend of Madeleine’s, it would be just as controversial as her brother, Prince Carl Philip’s choice of a companion. 25 year-old Stavros’ former girlfriend includes celebutantes Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Mary-Kate Olsen. He is well known for crashing Paris’ Bentley not too long ago.

Although World Childhood Foundation is claiming the Princess has a long list of projects to do for the charity while in New York, by associating with Paris Hilton’s former boyfriend, it looks like the tabloids will be focusing more on Madeleine’s relationship with Stavros – whether it is a simple friendship or more. Chances are, things could be blown out of proportion with these two, but time will tell.

Source: Expressen

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