attacks and threats « Royalty in the News

Death Threats Against Belgium’s Queen Fabiola

Belgium authorities are looking into a possible death threat made against Queen Fabiola. queen-fabiola2

A Belgian newspaper received a letter earlier this week in which someone threatened to kill the widow of King Baudoin by a crossbrow during an Independence Day parade on July 21st.

The letter was written by an electric typewriter, and was mailed using five cent stamps from the image of King Albert I from the 1930′s.

According to André Van Doorn, the Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis (OCAM), the letter is very structured, “but that does not mean that we will investigate these threats seriously.”

However, security is expected to be high this year for the Belgian royals, following the Queen’s Day attack in neighboring Holland in April.

Spanish-born Fabiola was Belgium’s Queen Consort from 1960 to 1993.

Crown Princess Letizia Dodges Attack During Hospital Visit

The Princess of Asturias was on her way to a hospital visit, when a deranged man threw himself at her delegation, yelling, “Death to the King!” letizia-hospital

Crown Princess Letizia was not harmed and continued with her official visit as planned.

Royal bodyguards detained the man, described as 55 year-old Argentine with psychiatric issues.

Besides that incident, Letizia was able to have an exciting day at the University Hospital of Son Dureta, where she visited the children being treated there.

She also had the chance to witness the works of the Medical Smile Association, a group of clowns who entertain sick children in the hospital.

The Crown Princess first visited the children and adolescents in the oncology ward and the unit for the chronically ill. She then moved onto the game room to see firsthand the methodology the clowns use to brighten up the days of the children.

Letizia laughed and helped entertain the children herself, clearly unaffected by the attack that happened earlier.

She spent some time talking to the parents as well in the game room.

The Princess of Asturias has been working a lot lately with people who suffer from illnesses, particularly children. In December, she very privately met with children in Madrid hospitals, unbeknown to the media.

Swaziland Palace Bombers Killed In Attempt

A bomb meant for one of the palaces of Swaziland’s King Mswati III went off prematurely, killing the two plotters in the attack.

The bombing attempt is the most extreme form yet of political opposition against King Mswati, one of the world’s last absolute monarchs. captcpsnqi12190908125750photo00photodefault-512x3231

The two men were planning to place the bomb under a bridge near one of Mswati’s palaces outside of the capital of Mbabane.

Police say a third man from neighboring South Africa, and another Swazi who were also involved in attempted attack on Saturday night, were arrested and will be tried for treason in the country.

While many Swazis claim to respect their king, some blame King Mswati – who has been in power since 1986 – for plunging the country into poverty and failing to tackle an AIDS epidemic.

He, his thirteen wives and many children live a lavish lifestyle while there is 40% unemployment in the tiny southern African kingdom.

Earlier this month, dual celebrations marking the King’s 40th birthday, and Swaziland’s 40th independence saw protests, which have been increasing recently – demanding more democratic and social reform.

Last week right before parliamentary elections, several union leaders were detained due to them spreading protest against the King.

Political parties are banned in Swaziland, and although the elections were for 55 parliamentary seats, the King is free to choose 10 deputies.

Bomb Attack On Spanish Princess’ Home

A molotov cocktail was thrown at the Barcelona home of Spain’s Infanta Cristina on Saturday. Police say they do not know of a motive, but a suspect has been detained. infanta-cristina

The unidentified man was alleged to have thrown the device into the grounds of the property in the upscale Pedralbes district of Barcelona in the early hours of Saturday and then fled by car, police said in a statement.

The attack caused only minor damage.

Infanta Cristina – the King’s youngest daughter – and her husband Inaki Urdangarin, and their four young children were not home at the time.

Media suspect that radical Catalan separatists, who view the Spanish royal family as occupiers, were responsible for the attack. As recently as Thursday – Catalan national day – masked youths burned Spanish flags and pictures of the royal family in the city.

Man Arrested Over Japanese Crown Prince Death Threat

A Japanese man has been arrested after allegedly posted death threats aimed at Crown Prince Naruhito on a website. Japan Royal Family

Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested the 31-year-old suspect, Takeshi Yamamoto from Gifu, central Japan, on Friday on suspicion he posted the threats against Naruhito and his family from his home computer.

“I will kill the Crown Prince” Yamamoto allegedly posted on a message board, under the username of “Masako”, which is the name of Naruhito’s wife.

Yamamoto, who is unemployed, is charged with disturbing the work of police after imperial guards boosted security at the crown prince’s residence in light of the apparent threat, Jiji Press and Kyodo News said, quoting police officials.

Police say there is no evidence Yamamoto was actually planning on killing the Crown Prince or doing any harm to his family.

Crown Princess Victoria Celebrates 31st Birthday

SWEDEN ROYALS VICTORIA The future Queen of Sweden greeted thousands of well-wishers as she celebrated her 31st birthday outside Solliden Palace on the island of Oland off Sweden’s east coast, a place where the Swedish royals spend part of their summer holidays.

Later in the evening, it is expected that the Crown Princess will receive performances by British singer Leona Lewis and Charlotte Perrelli, the Swedish entry to the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest.

Victoria’s birthday comes one day after a deranged man dressed as a ninja and brandishing a long knife was detained in Oland. He reportedly made threatening remarks about the Crown Princess.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1416864.php/Well-wishers_and_stars_fete_Swedish_crown_princess_on_her_birthday

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