Well, I am here [...]]]> For nearly four years, I enjoyed spending almost everyday reporting on the latest news of world royalty. It was both my work and play, and it was quite a journey as I following with all of you on many stories – the weddings, births, state visits, and everything in between.

Well, I am here to say now that because of recent changes in my life, I won’t be blogging as much as I used to. I recently got a full-time job (hooray for me!) that doesn’t leave time to blog during the day. At the same time, I have some personal commitments coming my way in the coming weeks.

I am not saying that I will stop reporting on royalty; I am saying that I won’t be doing it as much. Instead of two or three times a day, I’ll probably post two or three times a week. And when I do, it would be the major stories of the week.

I’ll definitely blog about HGD Guillaume’s wedding in October, the two upcoming baptisms of Sweden’s Princess Estelle and the daughter of Denmark’s Prince Joachim and Princess Marie. You can count me on that.

I am letting you know about this so you wouldn’t wonder why Royalty in the News has gotten so quiet. If my life lightens up, and I’ll have more time to report, I will be there.

Royally yours
Megan

Fresh off his wedding announcement, Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume went to Canada Monday to begin an economic mission to the world’s tenth largest economy.

Along with Economics Minister Etienne Schneider, His Royal Highness is seeking to tighten economic bonds between his country and the Great White [...]]]>

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Fresh off his wedding announcement, Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume went to Canada Monday to begin an economic mission to the world’s tenth largest economy.

Along with Economics Minister Etienne Schneider, His Royal Highness is seeking to tighten economic bonds between his country and the Great White North. The visit began in Montreal with the delegation going to Toronto Tuesday and then heading to Vancouver later in the week. They will wrap their trip Saturday.

Since Canada is the birthplace of the BlackBerry and the KOBO reading tablet, the Luxembourg delegation is looking to team up with the companies that created those gadgets for financial purposes.

Source: Wort

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That wife, Angela “LaGija” Dlamini, who was the sixth of King Mswati III’s thirteen wives, had been unhappy, according to the Swaziland Solidarity Network, a [...]]]> One of the wives of the King of Swaziland has left him, citing years of “physical and emotional abuse” by the monarch.

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That wife, Angela “LaGija” Dlamini, who was the sixth of King Mswati III’s thirteen wives, had been unhappy, according to the Swaziland Solidarity Network, a pro-democracy group.

“A royal guard revealed that Angela had been unhappy for a long time and had actually thought of leaving her husband for many years,” the Network claims, citing an unnamed royal guard.

“She finally packed her bags for good…initially pretending to be visiting her parental home in Hhohho. From there she disappeared and is believed to be with relatives.”

This is the third of Mswati’s wives to leave him. In 2004, two of his wives fled him and made their way to South Africa, leaving behind their children.

In 2010, the King’s twelfth wife, Nothando Dube, was caught having an affair and was placed under house arrest. Reportedly, she is staying in Swaziland for the sake of her children.

King Mswati is a controversial monarch. His rule is absolute, he and his wives and many children live in luxury while most Swazis live in poverty. Recently, he received a private jet for his 44th birthday despite his country’s economic troubles.

Sources: Zee News, Pretoria News

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During a black tie dinner, the 27 year old Prince was given the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award by former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It [...]]]> Britain’s Prince Harry was in Washington, DC Monday night to accept an award for his charity work with wounded soldiers.

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During a black tie dinner, the 27 year old Prince was given the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award by former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It was Powell who praised Harry and his older brother, Prince William.

“The loving effort that Princess Diana made to teach her sons the importance of serving others has touched (their) hearts and souls,” said Powell. “They have acted together in support of veterans’ charities … and the impact of (that) work is already very, very significant.”

He also joked that because of Harry, there was “a record number of young, single women attending” this year’s dinner.

When the Prince took the stage, he confessed that it was “truly humbling and a little terrifying” to meet with the former U.S. military leader.

His Royal Highness also said he did not “feel that I have done nearly enough to deserve” but he accepted the glass trophy for himself and his brother.

He reminded the audience the many troops on both sides of the Atlantic have “paid a terrible price and keep us safe and free.”

“The very least we owe them is to make sure that they and their brave families have everything they need for the darkest days, and, in time, regain the hope and confidence to flourish again,” Harry said.

Earlier in the day, the Prince met with wounded soldiers at the British embassy.

Prince Harry is a veteran himself, having served for 10 weeks in Afghanistan between late 2007 and early 2008. He has not made it secret he would like to return to that country.

Harry has been to the United States a number of times recently. He played in polo matches twice in New York, and trained to fly Apache helicopters in Arizona this year.

Sources: AP, CNN

Their Royal Highnesses, the Grand Ducal Couple of Luxembourg were on hand to inaugurate the Spring 2012 Foire Internationale de Luxembourg – International Fair of Luxembourg – at the LuxExpo Saturday.

The fair showcases home and gardening products, with 400 exhibitors from ten countries participating in it.

Along [...]]]>

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Their Royal Highnesses, the Grand Ducal Couple of Luxembourg were on hand to inaugurate the Spring 2012 Foire Internationale de Luxembourg – International Fair of Luxembourg – at the LuxExpo Saturday.

The fair showcases home and gardening products, with 400 exhibitors from ten countries participating in it.

Along with State Minister Etienne Schneider, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa sat through the opening remarks before touring the exhibits. They included chefs cooking up gourmet meals or an ice cream maker who is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most flavors – 510!

Sunday marks the fair’s 100th anniversary.

Source: Tageblatt

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Along with Albert’s nephew, Pierre Casiraghi, the couple arrived at 11am [...]]]> On Friday, Monaco’s Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene flew to Porto, Portugal to be inducted into The Confraria do Vinho do Porto – Port Wine Brotherhood – a knighthood set up in 1982.

Click here for image gallery and a video!

Along with Albert’s nephew, Pierre Casiraghi, the couple arrived at 11am local time at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. After having lunch, they took part in the enthronement ceremony.

At the Palácio da Bolsa, Albert and Charlene were given the rank of Cancelário and the degree of Infanção, respectively. The Cancelário title is given to heads of state, while the rank of Infanção is given to those of “merit distinction with this rank due to their personal prestige or high ranking positions” according to the Brotherhood’s official website.

The enthronement ceremony included receiving insignias, signing the Book of Honour, and swearing an oath to “give my support to the confraria and to continue fighting for the honor of port wine.”

Other members of this Brotherhood include King Juan Carlos of Spain and King Albert II of Belgium.

Learn more about the Brotherhood here.

Sources: For The Love of the Port, Caras

Read more about the summit here

“The textile industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Textile is also Denmark’s fourth largest export commodity,” Her Royal Highness said in her [...]]]> Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary inaugurated the Copenhagen Fashion Summit Thursday by urging the fashion industry to be more environmentally sustainable.

Read more about the summit here

“The textile industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Textile is also Denmark’s fourth largest export commodity,” Her Royal Highness said in her opening speech.

“We need to put some social footprints of our descendants.”

Originally, Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit was supposed to attend this summit, but according to Eva Kruse, the head of Danish Fashion Institute, which hosts Copenhagen Fashion Summit, she was unavailable.

So, it was Crown Princess Mary who stepped in, and she was a fitting choice. She was named by Vanity Fair magazine as one of the world’s best dressed women in 2010.

In case you are wondering, Mary wore a dress by the Swedish fashion store, H&M from its organic line.

Source: Minmote

On Thursday, the Grand Ducal Palace of Luxembourg announced that Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume would wed his fiancèe, Countess Stephanie de Lannoy on Saturday, October 20th.

So, mark your calendars and get ready for the countdown!

After all, Guillaume is [...]]]>

Click here for photos of the couple from when they met the press

On Thursday, the Grand Ducal Palace of Luxembourg announced that Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume would wed his fiancèe, Countess Stephanie de Lannoy on Saturday, October 20th.

So, mark your calendars and get ready for the countdown!

After all, Guillaume is going to be the last European royal heir to marry for quite a long time.

In the meantime, the de Lannoy family has released photos of Stephanie through the years – from her baby photos to her now.

Take a look at Wort and RTL.

Sources: Lux-arazzi

See more photos of Queen Noor here

Amanda Hill filed a constructive dismissal and sex discrimination case at Reading Employment Tribunal, and today told the tribunal about the diva-like demands of the Queen.

Among them [...]]]> Jordan’s Queen Noor is facing claims of bullying from the former gardener to her estate in Berkshire, England.

See more photos of Queen Noor here

Amanda Hill filed a constructive dismissal and sex discrimination case at Reading Employment Tribunal, and today told the tribunal about the diva-like demands of the Queen.

Among them were growing mango and avocados on the estate even though they can’t flourish in English weather.

‘When I pointed out that it is not possible to grow these fruits in the UK,” Hill said. “[estate manager Caroline] Migdadi informed me in a threatening manner, “Do you want to tell that to Her Majesty Queen Noor?”’

Other complaints included Hill being forced to cut short a vacation to come to the estate to educate one of Noor’s daughters on herb. But she was not yet there, and Hill had to do menial tasks in the meantime.

At the same time, the former gardener claims a groundsman was given a pay increase while she did not, and that groundsman eventually took over her responsibilities. Hill was told it was “because he was a man, he was stronger”. She also says Queen Noor became rude to her after the promotion.

Mrs Hill’s witness statement reads: ‘I would never have imagined anything like this happening to me ever and it has caused me a great deal of pain and heartache.

“All I wanted was to be treated fairly and with respect and dignity. During this period of time the majority of employees at Buckhurst Park have left.

‘There had become a culture of bullying and harassment and I feel sorry to have to say this and be here today.”

Queen Noor is the widow of the late King Hussein, who ruled Jordan until his death in 1999. They married in 1978 and she was the last of his four wives.  She divides her time between England and the Middle East.

The hearing continues.

Sources: The Daily Beast, The Daily Mail

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The Queen personally gave the Microsoft Jordan award to a team called the Dancing Pillow – which came up with the idea of [...]]]> Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan was the patron of Tuesday’s Imagine Cup Jordan 2012 competition which awarded technology students who created new inventions.

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The Queen personally gave the Microsoft Jordan award to a team called the Dancing Pillow – which came up with the idea of inventing a pillow that uses light, smells, and vibrations to wake the deaf or insomniac.

“It’s difficult to describe this feeling. I finally get to see the result of long hours of hard work and late nights with minimal sleep. This achievement is remarkable and it will push me to accomplish even more with this project, especially with regards to serving the hearing impaired,” said team member Anwar Almojarkesh.

The Dancing Pillow team will go on to compete at the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide in Sydney, Australia in July.

Queen Rania also awarded the runner-ups, who invented a game for physically disabled children and an interactive book for children to enjoy reading.

Source: Petra