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In an interview marking his 46th birthday, Japan’s Prince Akishino made some controversial remarks about the age limits of Emperors.
 View more images of Prince Akishino & family here He said having a retirement age for monarchs is “one idea” and “discussions should be held including at what age to draw the line.”
“When you pass a certain age, it gradually becomes difficult for people to do various things,” said Akishino, who’s father, Emperor Akihito, will turn 78 in late December.
Under the 1947 Imperial House Law, a male who is a descendant of an Emperor would ascend to the Chrysanthemum throne upon the Emperor’s death.
Akishino’s comments have led many to wonder if there is a crisis going on within the imperial family. According to the Daily Yomiuri, many of the Prince’s comments reflected the beliefs held by many among members of the royals and senior officials of the Imperial Household Agency.
These remarks come just days after it was announced there will be dynastic changes to the family, particularly allowing princesses to maintain their titles after marrying commoners.
Sources: Inside Japan Tours, Daily Yomiuri
This Friday marks the 30th birthday of one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg. This week he met with several journalists and told them how he feels about the role of monarchy in a modern age, and him becoming head of state one day. He also discussed his day to day life and also his personal life.
 Click here for more recent photos of HGD Guillaume “This is my reality and I accept it,” Guillaume said about his destiny as Grand Duke. “I grew up with the knowledge that I will one day take over this office. My parents prepared me for this task. It is a process.”
The Hereditary Grand Duke was asked if there’s any need for a constitutional monarchy in Luxembourg. “The monarchy must be a role outside politics,” he said.
“It is good that the president can exercise as chief executive, the role of an arbitrator. The responsibility of the monarchy, it is also responsible for the identity of Luxembourg to the outside world. The monarch was to fulfill this task as worthy and as good as possible. The role of the monarchy is also in preserving the continuity and tradition of the country.”
Guillaume admitted that when he meets with other European royals, they discuss this issue together. “We talk a lot about the future of the monarchy in Europe and I think we all agree on one fact: we must look ahead and meet the expectations of our people, not forgetting our history.”
He went on to describe his daily life, which entails spending Mondays going over with his parents – Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa – about the weekly activities. He then spends the remainder of the week either performing duties or doing office work by writing and answering letters.
“How do you respond to people who accuse you of having an easy life?” one reporter asked Guillaume.
“I invite them to come and see,” he laughed. “One would think maybe not from the outside but the Palace is a mini-enterprise. The best way to represent Luxembourg is as a real job. It requires much preparation, the pace is very demanding and busy days. We are far from at least 40 hours.”
His Royal Highness said despite his busy schedule, he does spare time for himself. That is when he plays tennis, goes to movies or dines with friends. Some weekends he even goes out of Luxembourg with those pals.
Guillaume said that he would like a family of his own, but it can be tough to meet someone given his status. “You must be very clear about research to ensure that the person in front of you is really there for what you are and not for what you represent. But I think seriously about starting a family. I was fortunate to grow up with many brothers and a sister and that’s something I would also like to give to my children.”
When asked about his weaknesses, he was very forthcoming about that. “My forte is probably that I approach people on the course. This spontaneity I inherited from my mother. I would interpret as a weakness, that I still must continue to strive to cultivate myself and read a lot.”
One reporter brought up the constitutional changes made to the role of the Grand Duke back in 2009, when the power to sign laws into power was taken away from Guillaume’s father. The Hereditary Grand Duke said it was best for that to happen.
“My father wanted us to change the Constitution so that there is a genuine respect for the separation of powers. There was an interference by the executive in the legislature that had no purpose. With this reform, there is more logic. I thank my father because he really had the right to have a conflict of conscience at the time. Such a situation does not occur again with his decision.”
Guillaume said if he were not to be head of state one day, he would’ve been a businessman. He also admitted he is not ready to take over for his father, saying he needs several years of more training. Henri is his role model, as well as former U.N. Secretary Generall Kofi Annan.
When asked how is the pressure being the heir to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Guillaume was nonchalant. “Actually, I do not feel much pressure. For me the best way to exert my duty is to be myself. I always want to do everything well, and that is a pressure in of itself.”
Sources: Le Quotidien, Wort.lu
Tuesday was an historic day for Romania, as its former King gave a speech at its Parliament for the first time since 1947 as part of the celebrations of his 90th birthday.
 Click here for more images King Mihai, the last surviving World War II leader, was forced to abdicate by a Soviet backed regime and lived in exile for most of the 20th century. He returned to the country several times in the 1990s and now lives in Bucharest.
Frail, but dignified, the ex-King encouraged Romanians to have faith in democracy.
“All united, we have to pursue our efforts in order to become once more respected and dignified,” he said.
“The time has come after 20 years to … break for good with the bad habits of the past,” said Mihai. He added in 2011 “demagogy, selfishness and attempts to cling to power” should not have their place in Romania, which was a zing against the country’s much criticized leaders.
He also spoke of his “long life, full of happy and unhappy events” and praised the role of monarchy in the country.
“My wife and I will continue to back Romania’s fundamental interests,” Mihai said.
His speech was greeted with a standing ovation and several “Long live the King” by several Parliament members.
 Click here to see more pics But not everyone is willing to celebrate. Romania’s president Traian Basescu has accused Mihai as being “Russia’s servant” and called his abdication “betrayal”. He also said the former King should be accountable for the deaths of Romania’s Jews and Gypsies by the Nazis.
But a member of the ruling Liberal Democrats (PDL), Radu F. Alexandru, said he was happy that parliament “paid homage to this historic moment.”
“It was a constructive and useful speech,” former president Ion Iliescu said.
In the evening came a glittering birthday celebration at the National Opera with members of reigning and non-reigning royals attending. They included the King of Sweden, Queen Sofia of Spain, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, and Grand Duchess Maria and her son Giorgi of the House of Romanov, as well as Bulgaria’s former King Simeon.
Although King Mihai is very popular in Romania, few want the monarchy to be re-established.
Source: AFP, Telegraph
Tuesday marks the 10th birthday of the young girl who might be Belgium’s first reigning Queen.
 Click here for gallery at Daylife.com Princess Elisabeth, the eldest child of Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, was born October 25th 2001. Although she is now 10 years old, she is rarely seen in the public eye. The exceptions are arranged sessions with the media during the summer, her first day of school, and most recently, when she helped inaugurated a hospital in Ghent which bears her name.
 She has three younger siblings: Prince Gabriel and Prince Emmanuel, and Princess Eleonore.
A student at Sint-Jan Berchmans College in Brussels, Elisabeth would be the first monarch in Belgian history to be educated in Dutch.
Belgium has a long history of rifts between its French and Dutch speaking populations. The rifts can be so strong that they threaten to split Belgium into two countries. It is Elisabeth’s grandfather King Albert II who fights to keep his country together.
Let’s hope that the young Princess will be able to celebrate her future milestones as Queen of the Belgians.
Source: Belga
 Click here to see more photos of Princess Mako The eldest grandchild of the Emperor and Empress of Japan celebrates her 20th birthday Sunday. Princess Mako, daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, gave a press conference where she said she will try to act like an adult.
“I would like to try to conduct myself appropriately as an adult. I would like to take part in various events, including official ones,” the Princess told reporters.
Mako discussed the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan back in March. She talked about her experience volunteering in the Iwate prefecture and the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, areas hit hard by the disaster.
“Although I thought I had understood the situation after the disaster from media reports, I realized that there are some things you cannot understand until you actually go there.”
The Princess, who is a sophomore at the International Christian University in Tokyo, told reporters she is still thinking about her goals and her future, and will give those much thought during her time in college.
By turning 20, Princess Mako becomes the 19th adult member of the Japanese Imperial Family.
Source: Mainichi Daily
The Empress of Japan celebrated her 77th birthday Thursday. As all members of the Imperial family do, Michiko released a statement where she discussed this year’s massive earthquake and tsunami, and getting older.
 Click here for more images of the Empress “I shall continue to watch over and support the path to their recovery until this region shows signs of true and positive recovery,” the Empress said about the tens of thousands who were displaced as a result of the natural disaster that killed 20,000.
“Initially I had to face and overcome the hopelessness and helplessness that tended to overwhelm me,” she explained her initial reaction.
She added, however, it was “the noble and calm behavior of the people” in the disaster-afflicted regions that encouraged and helped her recover from “the anguish and despair” she felt.
“More than anything else, it gave me great solace” to see the way so many citizens responded to the disasters “by helping each other in the spirit of sharing and giving.”
“I pray that they will be able to regain their normal daily lives as soon as possible and for the return of peaceful days,” the Empress said.
Michiko was asked about her health. In July and September, she suffered from severe pain between her left shoulder and left arm.
“Most of the time they are the sort I can bear,” she said. “It pains me to see that whenever this happens, it causes anxiety and concern to the people.”
Also suffering from illness is, her husband, Emperor Akihito, who was diagnosed with arteriosclerosis in February.
“All this makes me realize that we are now entering a slightly more ‘uphill’ age,” she said in her statement.
Source: Mainichi Daily
On Thursday, Norway’s Princess Märtha Louise celebrated her 40th birthday.
 View gallery of the birthday dinner here Her parents, King Harald V and Queen Sonja, held a private dinner at the palace on Saturday to mark their only daughter’s milestone. That dinner had 225 guests and it included some royals from Europe.
Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien were there, as was Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg. And of course, the Princess’ brother, Crown Prince Haakon attended, but his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was not. She is reportedly out of the country, but it is not known where.
Also in attendance was Märtha Louise’s husband, Ari Behn, who is a year younger than her. His parents also came.
Märtha Louise gave an interview to Norwegian television this week, but there is not yet a translation of what she talked about.
Once a translation can be found, I will update this post with it.
Source: AFP
Happy 5th Birthday to Japan’s Prince Hisahito!
 To see more Prince Hisahito photos, click here!
Born as the first male of the imperial family since 1965, Hisahito is third in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne behind his father, Prince Akishino and his uncle, Crown Prince Naruhito.
To celebrate his big day, the Imperial Household Agency released photos of the young Prince playing on the grounds of his family’s home, Akasaka imperial estate. It was different from the usual shots of Hisahito simply wearing traditional Japanese attire.
According to the IHA, the boy has an interest in fire engines, and he enjoys collecting insects. Hisahito raised a silkworm larva given to him by his grandmother, Empress Michiko. He also likes to look at picture books of insects and fish with his dad.
Prince Hisahito is a student at a kindergarten affiliated with Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. This is a break from tradition for the Japanese imperial children. Hisahito’s two older sisters – Princesses Mako and Kako – and his cousin, Princess Aiko, were or are students at the exclusive Gakushuin school.
Source: Mainichi Daily News
 Click here for Steen Brogaard photos of Nikolai & Felix This past Sunday, the eldest grandchild of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark marked his 12th birthday. Prince Nikolai, the eldest son of Prince Joachim and the former Princess Alexandra, celebrated his big day with most of the Danish royal family. The ones who were missing were the Queen and her husband, Henrik the Prince Consort, and Crown Princess Mary, who was in Africa, and the royal twins.
This meant Nikolai got to spend time with his youngest brother, 2 year old Prince Henrik, who is the son Princess Marie, Joachim’s second wife. Marie is expecting again, and this could bring another brother or even a sister for Nikolai this coming January.
The birthday boy already has another brother, Prince Felix, age 9.
Nikolai and Felix live with their mother, who is now known as the Countess of Frederiksborg, following their parents divorce in 2005, and their stepfather Martin Jørgensen, who Alexandra remarried in 2007. They both attend Krebs School in Copenhagen.
Nikolai is seventh in line to the Danish throne.
To see photos of the birthday party arrivals, click here.
July 14th marked the future Queen of Sweden’s 34th birthday, and for the first time since 2009, she was present to celebrate her special day. Last year, Crown Princess Victoria was on her honeymoon following her June wedding to the now Prince Daniel.
 Click here for more pics! The two made an appearance on the island of Öland, where the Swedish royals spend their summers, to meet and greet the locals who gathered to wish their next monarch a happy birthday.
It was quite rainy out, and Victoria and Daniel had to use umbrellas to pick up the flowers and chat with the people.
“The weather is terrible, but it is fantastic that so many are still here, it is heart-warming and touching,” said Victoria, according to The Local.
Later in the afternoon, the Swedish royal family and their subjects gathered for a concert, as is done yearly (save for 2010). As always, Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria wore folk attire. But this year saw Victoria wear a scarf around her head to symbolize her status as a married woman.
Wrapping raincoats around their legs so they wouldn’t sit on the wet seats, the family watched a concert done by Swedish singers Carola, Jessica Andersson and Andreas Johnsson.
Victoria also gave scholarships, or the Victoria Award, to ice hockey twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin, as a way to congratulate them on their athletic success.
Since 1979 on her second birthday, the Victoria Award has become a staple in Sweden’s sports awards.
Source: The Local
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