CONTACT Any questions or suggestions? Feel free to email me at: Sonjapearl@royaltyinthenews.com - and my real name is Megan :)
|
One of Monaco’s most exciting events, the 36th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, opened Thursday at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille. With Princess Stephanie as its president, and most of her family in attendance, the Circus Festival got off to a joyous start.
 Click here for photos of the opening day With her two daughters, Pauline Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb, by her side, plus Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, Her Serene Highness inaugurated this year’s festival. The first competition show took place Thursday and will run until Tuesday. There will be circus performances, parades through Monaco, and a charity soccer match. After the competition, each winner will perform up until January 29th.
In the days leading up to the opening day, Princess Stephanie visited a circus exhibition at Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum. She also spoke to the newspaper, Nice Matin, about keeping the love of the circus in the family.
“I do not lie when I say that I am part of this large family in which my children and I can always count on. We have the same values, those people loyal and rights of self-transcendence to give dreams to people. The best quality of the circus, it’s true. It leaves its problems at home, it does not complain. In a sanitized world, computerized, self-centered, the circus continues with its values,and that is what saves us. And I would fight all my life to defend the true values,” Stephanie said.
New this year for the circus festival is the New Generation, which celebrates the youth involved in the entertainment. The Princess is the president of this event while her eldest daughter, Pauline, will be the president of the jury. It will be held in the first week of February.
“It was a bit of our vocation to support a festival for young artists who will be moved on the track alike,” Stephanie told Nice Matin. “It will be a real show, with a numberof animals performed by children, which is unique. A troupe of acrobats from Monaco and the school students trail of blue, our only regional school that does a great job, will also attend. Perhaps some of these artists will return one day to the “big” festival.”
Princess Stephanie first served on the jury of the International Circus Festival in 1974 when she just was nine years old.
Sources: Nice Matin, Monte Carlo Festival
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were at the London premiere of the Steven Spielberg directed film, “War Horse”. The movie is about an English horse sent to the French battlefields of World War I. Their Royal Highnesses went to the premiere to in aid of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.
 Click here to see more photos of the premiere It was raining during the event, so while walking up the red carpet at the Leicester Square cinema, Prince William held an umbrella for wife, Catherine, who wore a black lacy dress by Alice Temperley.
The couple met with the actors of the film, which is based on a novel and a play. They even chatted with Spielberg, who has met William during previous events.
“This is my first royal premiere for the Duke and Duchess, having done them before for the Queen and the Queen Mother. This is a wonderful occasion tonight. This is so exciting. I get a buzz.”
The Oscar-winning director praised the two for bringing 600 British soldiers to the premiere.
“It’s a great honor that they’ve given up their time and also given up their charity and it’s wonderful because it was their idea to bring the veterans here, so they could share this evening,” he said.
Some of the troops, both former and serving, come from the Duke’s regiments, such as the RAF Search and Rescue, Irish Guards, Royal Air Force Coningsby, Scotland Royal Naval Command and Submarines Royal Naval Command.
Sources: AFP, BBC
Norway’s Crown Princely couple will release a Christmas CD on Monday, November 14th to help raise money for disadvantaged youths through their charity fund. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will not be singing on the album, but the project is all theirs.
 Click here to see more photos of the couple and their family “We are very pleased that these particular artists have taken the challenge from the Fund and will work with us to strengthen young people’s opportunities. We think the album project has been an exciting musical profile,” Haakon said in a statement.
It was the Crown Prince who approached Universal Music records about this idea.
The artists featured on the CD – called We Light Our Lanterns – include many of Norway’s young singers. They are: Ida Jenshus, Gunhild Sundli, Thomas Dybdahl, Moddi, Samsaya, Marit Larsen & Garness, Ingrid Olava, Katzenjammer, Stein Torleif Bjella and Vinni. These artists were approached because the Crown Princely couple felt Norwegian youth would respond to them positively.
“Working with youth is both one of the most important and some of the things we do,” said Mette Marit in a statement. “Many young people have the resources that are not captured, and for some it can be a major challenge. Through the fund, we want to ensure that young people are seen, so they can use their capabilities and contribute to the community. When we are better equipped to create the Norway we want for the future.”
One of the artists, Ida Jenshus, said this about the CD: “I think it is healthy and good to focus on those who have difficult in such a feast as Christmas. There are at least as many who dread this time, as those who rejoice. Those who fall outside the idyll. It’s good someone wants to make a difference and help. Too many are indifferent.”
Sources: kronprinsparetsfond.no, VG.no
 Click here for more Princess Theodora images For all you Bold and the Beautiful fans, gear up your DVRs – you’re going to have a real life Princess on your favorite soap!
Princess Theodora, the youngest daughter of Greece’s exiled King Constantine II, is going to play villain Bill Spencer’s personal secretary, Alison, starting December 5th.
The character will be playing a significant role in the rivalry between the two fashion houses, Marone and Forrester, as they prepare to stage major fashion shows on the same day. Theodora’s Alison will be acting like a spy for Dollar Bill and will give valuable information on Forrester.
The 28 year old Princess, who’s stage name is Theodora Greece, also has a western film lined up called The Big Valley.
Theodora, who was born and raised in London, studied theater arts at Brown University.
Source: TV Guide
On Wednesday afternoon, the Netherlands’ Princess Maxima took her three daughters to the premiere of the children’s musical, “Fantasia” in Amstelveen. Her Royal Highness and her little princesses walked the red carpet in front of the press before sitting down to enjoy the show.
 Click here for more images at Dutch Photo Press! And boy did they! Judging from the delighted looks on their faces, Catharina Amalia age 7, Alexia, age 6, and Ariane, age 4, had a great time during the performance.
They even displayed media savvy right before the show, particularly Catharina Amalia. When reporters tried to interview the young princess, who is second in line to the Dutch throne, she told them that she was in a hurry. Even after the show, she was photographed waving away the media.
Unfortunately, after the musical, the red carpet was rolled back and it exposed a rocky ground that was affected by the rain. Little Ariane slipped at one point while leaving the show.
“Fantasia” is based on a popular children’s book series about a journalist mouse named Geronimo Stilton, who writes for the Rodent’s Gazette and lives in New Mouse City on Mouse Island. The books originated in Italy and have been translated into 35 languages.
“Fantasia” will tour the Netherlands until late November, stopping in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven and Breda.
Sources: Bruno.nl, The Royal Forums Blog
Up in Stockholm Tuesday, members of the House of Bernadotte attended what is considered to be the Nobel Prize of music: the Polar Music Prize.
 Click here to see more photos. King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, a radiant Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel all turned up for the ceremony, in which American rock legend Patti Smith and the U.S. classical group Kronos Quartet were all being honored.
His Majesty personally gave the awards to the honorees. Patti Smith said she felt “humbled and inspired” to win the prize. But in her acceptance speech, she also told the audience to focus on the famine in East Africa.
Both Smith and the Kronos Quartet took home a prize money worth one million kroner.
After the awards were given out, both acts entertained the audience with their performances.
The Polar Music Prize began in 1989 by Stig Anderson, the manager of Swedish pop group ABBA. Former honorees include Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and opera singer Renee Fleming. Each year, a classical act and a more mainstream act is honored.
Click here to see the arrival of Victoria and Daniel.
Source: BBC News
The King of Jordan is going to fund $1.5 billion for a Star Trek amusement park in the Hashemite Kingdom. A major Trekkie himself, King Abdullah II has teamed up with American and Mideast investors to build the theme park in the Gulf of Aqaba in southern Jordan.
 Click here for more King Abdullah II images The park will called the Red Sea Astrarium and will feature a large “space-flight adventure” ride based 2009′s “Star Trek” film remake. There’s also a chance for some non-Star Trek rides and attractions.
At the same time, there are plans to invest in the entire Aqaba area because of this project. Hotels, restaurants, theaters, and shopping centers are on the list, as well as tours that will give people a chance to learn about Jordanian history. Aqaba is described by AOL Travel as “a fairly quiet place, but it has the makings of a resort town.”
Rubicon Group Holdings is the company overseeing the development of this theme park.
His Majesty once made a non-speaking cameo appearance on Star Trek in the mid-90s, back when he was simply Prince Abdullah.
Jordan has a struggling economy and high unemployment rate. It was one of the many countries that witnessed protests during the Arab Spring.
Sources: TIME, AOL Travel
Last night, the 35th International Circus Festival began in Monte Carlo, Monaco with the Monegasque royals attending the opening ceremony. Prince Albert II, Princess Stephanie – who is patron of the festival – and her daughter, Pauline Ducruet arrived under the big top to watch the beginning of the ten day festival, which has circus groups from all over the world.
 Gaetan Luci/Monaco Palace via Getty Images Stephanie spent the past week preparing for this annual event, which was started by her father, the late Prince Rainier, in 1974 because of the family’s deep love of the circus.
“I have the eye of a child who grew up in the circus,” the Princess told Nice Matin. “The clowns always moved me so much. But now I also see the numbers with my professional eye. We have a quality to meet in Monaco. The public, accustomed for 35 years in Monaco has become a connoisseur and we have no room for error.”
Stephanie also talked about circus troops all over the world.
“There are a lot of circus schools [in Russia] and in this country, there is a real potential,” she said. “Many directors, choreographers working in this country and present original numbers with traditional disciplines. That said, China also, the practice of the circus is very strong. In Shanghai, I met with circus schools some young people working with the single goal to go the Festival of Monaco. It is unfortunate that in France, there is no culture. Perhaps due to a lack of circus schools.”
 VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images Princess Stephanie also defended the circus’ use of animals, which many animal rights group criticize.
“I find the debate on animals ridiculous. Zoos and circuses do much for the preservation of endangered species. The circus animals are treated as artists in their own right.”
Earlier in the week, Stephanie spent time with the American troop, checking out its elephants and even climbing on top of one.
The International Circus Festival will last until January 30th. The winner will get an award shaped like a clown’s face.
Sources: Nice Matin
Clotilde Courau, the wife of Prince Emmanuel Filiberto of the House of Savoy, which used to rule Italy, will be performing in a risqué show in Paris starting this month. The burlesque performance, at the Crazy Horse, will include sexy songs and dances.
 REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer “With the rise of extremist views, of which women are often the first victims, I think my position is quite important — defending femininity, eroticism and freedom,” Clotilde told the AFP recently.
“I have no obligations, aside from those I set myself,” she added.
During one segment, Clotilde appears as an elegant femme fatale in a lace dress, crooning: “When night falls gently, I have my candy sucked, I have my fishy stroked, I have my shirt starched and I have my apricot touched up.
“And what do I do during the day, you ask? Oh that’s easy. By day, I quite simply like to f**k.”
In another sequence she appears as a sexy prison inmate subject to the explicit caresses of her similarly well-dressed lesbian jailers.
“I wanted to play a fiery woman who finds herself in jail and becomes someone else’s prey, as if she was a victim of her own liberty,” she said.
Clotilde is a well-known actress in France, having had appeared on stage and on film. Despite marrying into the former Italian royal household, she says she prefers to express herself over submitting to duty and protocol.
The show will run for 25 nights starting this Sunday. Tickets are priced at $50.50 (limited seating) and $60.50, inclusive of all tax and fees.
Sources: AFP, Marketwire
Sweden’s regent and crown princess couple were present for the 2010 Polar Music Prize at the Stockholm Concert Hall Monday. They were on hand to honor two of the music world’s most known names – Icelandic singer Björk and Italian composer Ennio Morricone.
 SVT.se When Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel arrived, Victoria sent the photographers wild when they noticed her metallic gold and black dress, but more importantly, her hair. Normally the Crown Princess ties her brown hair up in a ponytail or a bun, but for the Prize, she unusually let it down.
Afterward, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia walked the pink carpet. Once the royals show up, it means its time for the ceremony to begin as the royals are the last to arrive.
During the show, Björk sat next to Prince Daniel. Earlier the electronic singer told reporters that it “tickled” her vanity to be winning what is considered to be the Nobel Prize for the music industry.
Winners of the Polar Music Prize get one million kronor, or $136,000. Since its inception in 1989 by ABBA singer Stig Anderson, the Prize honors one classical performer and one pop artist.
Source: AP, Aftonbladet
|
|
Recent Comments