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The London based newspaper, Al-Quds Al-Arabi, is reporting that Jordan’s Queen Rania spoke to the wife of Syria’s president, expressing her concerns over the violence in the country.
 Click here for images of Queen Rania Since the uprising last year, an estimated 7,500 people have been killed in clashes between the government and the opposition.
“Our situation is excellent and we have no concerns, thanks to Allah,” Al-Quds Al-Arabi says Asma Assad told the Queen.
A Jordanian source added that Asma then told Rania: “But we have heard worrying reports from your country and wish to make sure you are doing OK.”
In addition, Prince El Hassan, the uncle of King Abdullah II, is claiming that his nephew contacted Bashar al-Assad many times to persuade him to reform Syria.
Sources are saying that Assad is refusing to take phone calls from Jordan.
Source: YnetNews, The Scotsman
 Click here for photos of the event taken by Manuel Dias During a ceremony at royal palace Monday, Luxembourg’s Grand Duchess Maria Teresa thanked more than 70 volunteers who gave 30 or more years of their time to the grand duchy’s Red Cross.
As chairwoman of the Luxembourgisch Red Cross, Her Royal Highness personally met with each of the volunteers and gave them a photo of herself with a handwritten message saying: “Thank you for your engagement in favor of the Red Cross – Maria Teresa”.
Also present for the ceremony were the Red Cross’ executive and directory board members: Rita Krombach-Meyer, Dr Daniel Mart, General Secretary of the Executive Board of the Red Cross, Jacques Hansen, CEO of the Red Cross, and Dr. Paul Courrier, medical director of the blood transfusion center of the Luxembourg Red Cross.
Source: Lëtzebuerger Journal
 Click here to see more photos of the event Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary is currently in the American capital of Washington, D.C. this week for the 2nd World Conference of Women’s Shelters. Her Mary Foundation tackles the issue of domestic violence and that is the reason why the Crown Princess is at this conference.
On Monday, Her Royal Highness first presided over the donation of $2.3 million to The Inter-American Development Bank, which is the largest international development institution in Latin America, from the Danish government.
Mary then visited a shelter that houses women and their children escaping from domestic violence.
Later on, she gave the keynote speech at the conference, where she read a poem by Finnish author Märta Tikkanen, which is about a woman asking herself why doesn’t she leave her abuser. The poem “illustrates the complexity of domestic violence,” Mary told the attendants.
“The finale question ‘Why?’ has no easy answer. We need to recognize and communicate this complexity in order to understand, reach and help the victims of domestic violence.”
“Domestic violence is still a dark secret,” she went on to say. “Reaching the victims of domestic violence is one of our main challenges. It is essential to reach out to these women with a helping hand, to support them in taking those initial and courageous steps out of a life of violence. At this conference we are giving women who live with domestic violence a voice and we are saying to the world that domestic violence is not an individual problem – but a collective concern. And today we make it absolutely clear ¬– violence is never acceptable and can never be justified!”
Mary then mentioned how in Denmark, about 28,000 women are abused while 2,000 of them seek help shelters. “[A] very large majority is alone with their problems. This is a huge challenge. How do we reach these women?”
The Crown Princess talked about how the Mary Foundation reaches out to those women by researching to see what projects are working and are not, and by speaking out on the issue. One project the Foundation established, “Advice for Life” provides such women with financial, legal and social counseling.
“[E]very time I meet one of these courageous women, it reminds me why there are no easy solutions,” Mary said towards the end of her speech. “I get a better understanding of how hard it is to end and break free of a violent relationship. Not least because ending the violent relationship, also means ending the dream of a loving and happy marriage – and breaking up the children’s home.”
“Everybody has the right to a life without violence. No matter where you come from, who you are or where you are.”
Read more of Crown Princess Mary’s speech and the poem by clicking here.
On Tuesday, Her Royal Highness began attending the conference’s workshops that began that day and will continue until the conference ends on Thursday.
Sources: Kongehuset.dk, Mary Fonden
Earlier Monday, the Swedish royal court released several photos of newborn Princess Estelle, the first child of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, who was born Thursday.
 Click here for more photos! It appears the little Princess resembles her mother!
Sweden has been elated over the birth of its future Queen. On Friday, there were long lines at the palace for people to sign congratulations books.
Also on Friday, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Prince Car Philip and proud father Prince Daniel attended a thanksgiving mass at the royal chapel.
The Spanish King’s son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma, appeared in a Palma de Mallorca court Saturday to face questioning over embezzlement and fraud charges.
 Click here for photo gallery at Daylife.com He is being investigated for his involvement in alleged misuse of millions of public funds at his non-profit Noos Institute, which Urdangarin ran from 2004 to 2006.
On his way to court, Urdangarin spoke to reporters, telling them, “I appear today to demonstrate my innocence, my honor, my professional activity. For all these years I have discharged my duties and taken decisions properly and transparently.”
Inside, Urdangarin spoke to Judge Jose Castro in a close court. According to an anonymous official, the Judge asked the Duke about the workings of his companies involved in the case.
It is the judge who will decide if the case should go to trial.
Outside the court were anti-monarchists protesting the Duke. Some waved the flag Spain had during its brief republican government from 1931 to 1939, while others had signs that read “Inaki owes us money” and “Monarchy Corruption”.
“We want justice to be the same for all Spaniards. He should be convicted,” said protester Claudio Borilla.
Urdangarin’s alleged involvement in this matter led him to be sidelined by the Spanish royal family, which means he is excluded from official duties, such as National Day events.
During his Christmas speech, King Juan Carlos said ”all are equal before the law”, though he did not directly refer to his son-in-law.
“When untoward conduct arises which is not in keeping with the law and ethics, society naturally reacts. Fortunately we live by the rule of law and any unworthy act must be judged and penalised,” he said.
Sources: BBC, Reuters UK
Nearly a week after being rescued from an avalanche while skiing in Austria, Dutch Prince Johan Friso’s condition was finally discussed by doctors at the Innsbruck University Hospital. Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good.
 Click here for related photos at Daylife.com Doctor Wolfgang Kolle, the head of the medical team treating the Prince, said Johan Friso suffered “very serious brain damage” and it is unknown when he will regain consciousness. If he does, it might take months or years for him to recover.
Johan Friso, the second son of Queen Beatrix, was buried under snow for just under a half hour and his heart stood still for 50 minutes, cutting off oxygen to his brain.
“Fifty minutes is very long, you could say too long,” NOS television quoted Koller as saying.
“It is clear that the oxygen starvation has caused massive brain damage to the patient,” Koller said in regards to an MRI scan of hte Prince’s brain. “At the moment, it cannot be predicted if he will ever regain consciousness.”
The Dutch royals are now looking for a rehabilitation center where the Prince can be treated.
Prince Johan Friso, age 43, is married to Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau. They have two daughters, Countesses Luana and Zaria, ages 6 and 5.
If anyone wants to offer their support or sympathy to the Dutch royals, you can e-mail at adhesie@dkh.nl or mail to this address:
Paleis Noordeinde
P.O. Box 30412
2500 GK Den Haag
Sources: DutchNews, MSNBC
That’s right – Sweden’s future Queen is named Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary.
 Click here for related photos The name of the newborn Princess was revealed by proud grandfather King Carl XVI Gustaf during a cabinet meeting Friday.
“The family was there and we had a nice community together,” His Majesty said. “She was very cute and behaved the way she should do. It was a happy moment for the whole family and as Prince Daniel said, to give them a time as any new parents together and enjoy the right way. I can understand their desire for it.”
Also, Princess Estelle got her own duchy today – Östergötland. Which means, she is the Duchess of Östergötland.
Estelle is a name of French origin corresponding to the Latin stella, star. The name has been in Sweden since the 1800s, but has never been very common. Since 2001, Estelle’s name day on August 15, according to the National Encyclopedia.
In Sweden there are 1217 women with first name Estelle, according to statistics.
Sources: Aftonbladet, Sveriges Radio
A new Queen for Sweden has been born!
 Click here for original Sveriges Radio article At 4:26am local time, Crown Princess Victoria delivered a healthy baby girl. The newborn Princess weighed 3.2 kilograms and was 51 centimeters long.
Proud father Prince Daniel spoke to the media at Karolinska Hospital, saying everything has been great. “It is a very pretty princess,” he said.
“My feelings are a bit all over the place. Well, when I came down from the room, the little princess was laying on her mother’s chest, and it looked like they were having a very cosy time, so it was hard to take my eyes off them.”
Daniel also admitted being nervous during the birth. “It’s a new situation, something you never experienced before. It is always subject to certain risks when to redeem a child but it has gone very well.”
 Click here for the Swedish Monarchy on Facebook! At the same time, the Prince asked for some privacy. “As I am sure you can all understand, we have a great need just to be with our own little family right now. You understand that surely, that we want to treasure what has just happened.”
At noon, a salute of 42 shots will be heard throughout Sweden, while church bells will toll.
Prince Carl Philip and his girlfriend, Sofia Hellqvist, released a statement, saying: “We are overjoyed on their behalf and (we) wish Daniel and Victoria a big congratulation and bid the little daughter welcome to this world. I’m looking very much forward to meeting her and getting to know her.”
With the birth of this new Princess, Europe will one day have five reigning Queens. The countries of Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and now Sweden all have girls as their second-in-line to the thrones.
Victoria and Daniel left Karolinska Hospital later on Thursday. The name of this new baby will be revealed at a cabinet meeting Friday.
Congratulations to Victoria and Daniel, and long live the new Princess!
Sources: Sverige Radio, Royal News Examiner, Svensk Damtidning
 Click here for more photos That’s right! The Swedish court’s Bertil Ternert confirmed this to Aftonbladet less than an hour ago that Crown Princess Victoria is right now at Karolinska Institute, giving birth to not only her first child, but the baby that would be second in line to the throne!
This would be the first royal birth for Sweden since Princess Madeleine in June 1982 – nearly 30 years ago!
Victoria and Daniel were admitted to the hospital at 12:30am local time.
It’s 8:27pm right now where I am (New York City) and I intend to stay up as long as possible to find out whether it is a boy or a girl (personally, I think its a boy but we’ll see!).
I’ll keep everyone updated as much as I can!
11pm: If you want to keep an eye on Karolinska Hospital, click here for live broadcasting at Expressen.tv: http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/kungligt-live/live-senaste-nytt-om-kungababyn/
11:30pm: I’m sorry, everyone, but sleep is coming onto me. I have to work tomorrow, so I better go to bed now. I promise to get up early though for the latest developments! Hopefully, we’ll know what Victoria had by then!
Pierre Casiraghi, the youngest son of Monaco’s Princess Caroline, was treated at a New York City hospital following a fight at a trendy club Saturday night.
 Click here for more photos of Pierre Casiraghi Casiraghi was at a nightspot, Double Seven in the Meatpacking district, with several friends – including Stavros Niarchos III, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Diego Marroquin – when things got out of hand.
According the New York Post, Casiraghi, age 24, and his friends approached a table that had former Manhattan club owner Adam Hock and his entourage, which included several models. The group were reportedly “completely obnoxious” and had also spent $500 on vodka.
“The next thing I saw, all hell broke loose,” a witness told the paper. Hock allegedly punched Pierre, and he “flew across the room and landed on a table on the other side.”
“Pierre’s face looked broken, with deep cuts and blood everywhere,” a witness said after the fight. “He looked like he needed plastic surgery.”
Witnesses from both sides also say Casiraghi tried to hit Hock over the head with a bottle of Grey Goose vodka.
Police told People magazine, “At 2:22 a.m. Sunday police responded to a call at 63 Gansevoort Street and were met by the complainant, during which he said the defendant punched him in the face.”
Hock was arrested and arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court Sunday.
Hock’s attorney, Sal Strazullo, told People: “How could my client be accused of attacking four men? These four men attacked my client and his friends at this restaurant/lounge, and in self defense my client defended himself and others, which under law is something he has a right to do.”
On Monday, the spokesperson for Double Seven said: “The facts are very clear. There was only one person arrested Friday night at the Double Seven, Mr. Hock, who spent two days in jail as a result from his actions. We have no further comments.”
Officials in Monaco are not commenting either.
Hock is due back in court on March 29th, while Pierre Casiraghi was released from New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center later on Saturday.
Sources: New York Post, People
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