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Thai Royals Donate Necessities to Japanese Earthquake Victims

REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin/Files

Thailand’s Queen Sirikit and her niece, Princess Soamsavali, donated packages of necessities to the victims of the 9.0 earthquake that struck Japan two weeks ago.

The relief packages consisted of rice, preserved and dried food, blankets, torches, medicine, and others, which can last for about one week.

Princess Soamsavali donated 1,820 relief packages from the Princess Pa Foundation. The Queen gave several as well.

All the relief packages were transported from a Navy Military Base in Rayong to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Then, they were transported to Japan by Thai Airways. The donations are expected to arrive early Friday morning local time.

As well as being Queen Sirikit’s niece, Soamsavali is also the former wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. They divorced in 1991 after a stormy marriage. They had one child, Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the King and Queen’s eldest grandchild.

Sources: Pattaya Daily News, Wikipedia

March 24th, 2011 | Tags: , , | Category: Thailand | Leave a comment

HGD Guillaume on Economic Mission to Turkey

Since Monday, Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume has been in Turkey, where he has been looking to promote his grand duchy on an economic scale. With him is the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Jeannot Krecke.

MECE

During the visit, Guillaume and Ms. Krecke met with Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yildiz. The three discussed energy sources from Turkey to Luxembourg, such as the building of the Nabucco pipeline, which will allow Western Europe to diversify its gas supply sources.

Also during his time, Guillaume met with the Minister of State in charge of Foreign Trade, Mehmet Zafer. Zafer criticized the European Union for stalling its efforts to admit in Turkey, but praised Luxembourg for its support on the matter.

When the Hereditary Grand Duke and Ms. Krecke met with the finance minister, Mehmet Simsek, the good political relations between Luxembourg and Turkey were highlighted. Jeannot Krecke express regret over the insufficient attention Luxembourg paid towards Luxembourg in terms of an economic mission.

According to Minister Simsek, the Turkish city of Istanbul has the ambition to become a regional financial center, and the Luxembourg financial sector serves as its model.

For Wednesday and Thursday, Guillaume and Luxembourg’s delegation will visit Istanbul for a few seminars in order to get to know the city’s financial district.

Source: Gouvernement.lu

March 24th, 2011 | Tags: , | Category: Luxembourg | Leave a comment

Monegasque Royals Lay Princess Antoinette to Rest

It was a sunny day in Monaco Thursday, but the mood was somber as the tiny principality and its ruling family laid to rest the sister of the late Prince Rainier III. Princess Antoinette died last Friday at the age of 90 after many years of ill health.

REUTERS/Lionel Cironneau/Pool

At the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate of Monaco, the Grimaldi family – Prince Albert II, his fiancée Charlene Wittstock, Princess Caroline and all four of her children, and Princess Stephanie – gathered for the funeral mass, conducted by Monsignor Bernard Barsi.

REUTERS/Lionel Cironneau/Pool

Dressed in black, and the women wearing black lace scarves over their heads, the family sang the hymns, said the prayers and listened to the moving eulogy done by Princess Antoinette’s granddaughter, Melanie de Massy.

LIONEL CIRONNEAU/AFP/Getty Images

Afterward, the coffin carrying the body of the late Princess was carried out of the Cathedral and placed in the Peace Chapel, where Antoinette was laid to rest.

Prince Albert II looked visibly upset and relied on Charlene for strength. Princess Caroline displayed a look of grief all too familiar to watchers of the Monegasque royal family.

The Prince has declared Monaco in a state of mourning until April 1st.

Sources: Pure People, Hello!

March 24th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Category: Monaco | One comment