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Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa, was officially welcomed to the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II earlier today. Zuma is on a three day state visit to the country, and was welcomed with pomp and circumstance.
 REUTERS/Chris Jackson/pool The Queen greeted the President at Horse Guards Parade before a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. There, Zuma shook hands with Prince Philip and Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Brown will meet separately with the President later on.
At Buckingham, President Zuma presented Queen Elizabeth with a chess set. Problem was, when Her Majesty gave Zuma a tour of the Palace’s collection of South African gifts, he learned that the Queen already had a chess set, given to her by Nelson Mandela in 1995.
There will be a state banquet tonight in honor of the President, at Buckingham Palace where he is also staying overnight. He will also go to Clarence House to visit Prince Charles.
As the world grieves and reaches into their pockets to help the earthquake victims of Haiti, royalty throughout the world have been giving their condolences as well.
 Hola! Magazine Jordan’s Queen Rania used Twitter to provide various links to charity organizations where people could donate money to help. She tweeted yesterday that is was “reassuring to see our humanity kick into gear and countries sending aid already.” The Queen also expressed her sympathy for the three Jordanian UN peacekeepers killed in the quake, which hit 7.0 on the Richter scale.
Today, the Spanish royal family held an ambassadors reception, where they met with the representatives of the countries Spain has diplomatic ties. The Haiti ambassador was one of those the royals met with. Yolette Azor Charles received the condolences of King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and the Crown Princely couple. It was the King who said that the Caribbean nation had “the full support of Spain and the solidarity of the Spanish” and conveyed his “deep regret” over the massive damage of the earthquake.
Last year, Queen Sofia visited Haiti to see how it was recovering from hurricanes by use of Spanish aid.
Lastly, Queen Elizabeth II voiced her sympathy by issuing a brief statement: “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the earthquake in Haiti with its huge loss of life and damage to homes and livelihoods. I offer my condolences and profound sympathy to all those affected.”
Some of Europe’s Kings and Queens gave their annual speeches this Christmas. Besides wishing their subjects the best during one of the biggest holidays of the year, the monarchs encouraged their subjects in being better citizens, and also touched on the difficulties many faced in 2009.
 AP Photo/Angel Diaz, Pool Spain’s King Juan Carlos delivered his speech on Christmas Eve. On national television, the King called for unity in order to have a better country. He asked his people to “overcome tensions and difficulties”, follow the Constitution’s values, and “to strengthen the internal cohesion and the international image of the country,” and to “make economy grow up again to create jobs as soon as possible.”
As every year, Juan Carlos remembered the victims of terrorism and gave his condolences to their families. “They count on the support, solidarity and affection of the Crown and also of the Spanish society. Finishing with terrorism is a target for all democrats in defense of freedom and basic human rights,” he said.
On Christmas Day, three other European monarchs spoke to their people. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II called 2009 a “difficult” year during her speech which was broadcast at 1500 GMT.
 REUTERS/John Stillwell/Pool “2009 was a difficult year for many, in particular those facing the continuing effects of the economic downturn,” the 83-year-old Queen said. “We may ourselves be confronted by a bewildering array of difficulties and challenges, but we must never cease to work for a better future for ourselves and for others.”
She went on to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the conflicts in Afghanistan.
“I am sure that we have all been affected by events in Afghanistan and saddened by the casualties suffered by our forces serving there,” she said. “Our thoughts go out to their relations and friends who have shown immense dignity in the face of great personal loss.”
Queen Elizabeth also praised the Commonwealth, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, and called it the “face of the future.”
“In many aspects of our lives, whether in sport, the environment, business or culture, the Commonwealth connection remains vivid and enriching…It is important to keep discussing issues that concern us all — there can be no more valuable role for our family of nations.”
Another Queen, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, chose to discuss technology and human interaction in her Christmas speech, airing first in the morning, and then in the afternoon.
“Real contact consists of words and deeds.In the past, people knew each other but today people are mainly busy with themselves. We tend to look the other way and close our eyes and ears to what’s going on around us. Nowadays even our neighbours are strangers,” she said.
Beatrix did not mention the tragic events on Queen’s Day this past April, where a motorist deliberately plowed into crowds at the celebrations in Apeldoorn, killing about a dozen people.
Last but not least at giving the annual Christmas speech was Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf. Like the British Queen, the King talked about the economic difficulties many Swedes experienced this past year.
 Bengt Hansell/SR “Many are young and many are immigrants. They are a great asset as we in our society find it difficult to fully take advantage of. I sincerely hope that we succeed in protecting these groups and their opportunities. It is hoped that all who are out of work soon to get to know the security of having a workplace to go to.”
The King shared with his people his dreams and hopes for young people.
“I and the Queen has for some time resulted in a common dream. To provide a forum for children and young people in the world – a World Child and Youth Forum – which aims to inspire and support so that the UNCRC is complied with. We hope that it might become as known as the Davos Forum, but with the light directed at children and young people’s situation.”
But perhaps the highlight of King Carl’s speech was him mentioning the upcoming weddings of his two daughters, Victoria and Madeleine. The Crown Princess will marry in June 2010, while her younger sister may marry either later in the year or early in 2011.
“To marry his heart’s choice was not always obvious when I was growing up. I am therefore very happy that my daughters, like me, may be the person they love most at his side. I would like to express my sincere and humble thanks for all the support and encouragement shown to us by the Swedish people.”
One of the reasons why many royal fans enjoy the Christmas speeches is because it is one of the rare moments the monarchs write their words, rather than have them written by someone from the government.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has told the paparazzi to leave her family alone as they prepare for Christmas. According to Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty told newspapers not to run pictures of her family taken by freelance photographers. The Palace said she wrote to the newspaper editors requesting this.
 AFP/Pool/File/Phil Noble The letter was “in response to many years of the royal family being hounded by photographers on the queen’s private property,” the Palace is quoted by the AP in saying.
This action was not prompted by any recent event and has been in the works for months. Members of the British royal family, particularly Princes William and Harry and their girlfriends, are often hounded by the paparazzi in private situations.
Prince Charles’ spokesman, Paddy Harverson, told the Sunday Telegraph that members of the House of Windsor “feel they have a right to privacy when they are going about everyday, private activities.”
“They recognize there is a public interest in them and what they do, but they do not think this extends to photographing the private activities of them and their friends.”
Some speculate the royal crackdown on the paparazzi may be linked to Prince William at last announcing his engagement to longtime girlfriend, Kate Middleton. Perhaps, but it is the Christmas season, and such speculation reaches fever pitch as this time.
Check out this clip from Newsy.com on the British media’s reaction to this:
http://www.newsy.com/videos/privacy_threat_pits_queen_against_press
 REUTERS/Hans Deryk Queen Elizabeth II can rest easy now. The Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines voted last night to keep her as their head of state. The people rejected a new constitution that would have removed the Queen and put a president in her place.
This comes as Her Majesty is making a rare trip to the Caribbean for a summit Thursday. She will be stopping by St Vincent at some point.
Both main political parties of St. Vincent wanted to oust Queen Elizabeth as its leader. However, two-thirds of the vote was needed for this, and 56 percent of voters chose not to have a change in its government.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines won its independence from Great Britain in 1979, but remains a member of the Commonwealth.
Despite economic problems in the U.K., full scale pageantry was on display today as Queen Elizabeth II opened Parliament at the Palace of Westminster. This was the final Parliament session before elections in 2010.
 AP Photo/Paul Edwards, pool The Queen arrived at Westminster in horse and carriage with her husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She was dressed in full royal regalia – gown, jewels, fur wrap, ermine robes and of course, the Imperial State Crown, which the Queen put on once she arrived at the Palace.
From the throne, Queen Elizabeth read the speech that was written for her by the government. The speech outlined the economic and financial struggles the British government has dealt with over the year, and how it will tackle it in the months to come.
“My government’s overriding priority is to ensure sustained growth to deliver a fair and prosperous economy for families and businesses, as the British economy recovers from the global economic downturn,” the Queen said.
“My government will continue to reform and strengthen regulation of the financial services industry to ensure greater protection for savers and taxpayers,” she went on to say. “Legislation will be brought forward to enhance the governance of the financial sector and to control the system of rewards.”
Also mentioned in the speech was legislation to protect communities from flooding, European collaboration on climate change, tackling discrimination at the workplace, and salary differences between male and female workers. Furthermore, the conflict in Afghanistan and peace in the Middle East were touched on.
This was the Queen’s 57th speech that opened Parliament – and one of the shortest. In June 2010, there will be Parliamentary elections. The Labour party has been in charge since 1997. According to some polls, that may change next year.
 AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth This morning, members of the British royal family took part in the annual Remembrance Sunday, a day where Britain’s war dead are commemorated. Originally intended to remember those who died fighting in World War I, Remembrance Sunday now is for the soldiers who were killed in World War II, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wearing red paper poppies on their coats, Queen Elizabeth II and her grandsons, Princes William and Harry, laid floral wreaths at the Cenotaph, London’s biggest war memorial. A moment a silence came at 11 am local time, which was broken by a gun salute and a military band playing the “Last Post.”
This was Prince Harry’s first time participating in Remembrance Sunday. He stood in place for his father, Prince Charles, currently on an official visit to Canada. A war veteran as well, Prince Harry spent 10 weeks fighting in Afghanistan last year.
This year’s Remembrance Sunday is particularly poignant. Today announced Britain’s 200th death in Afghanistan. Also, the country’s last three World War I veterans – Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch – died this year.
 Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett The UK’s support for the war in Afghanistan has been waning as the death mounts. More polls show the majority of Britons believe the conflict cannot be won, and the country’s troops should be pulled out.
Remembrance Sunday takes place every year on the Sunday closest to November 11th, the day World War I was declared over in 1918.
India’s President, Pratibha Patil, began her state visit to the United Kingdom Tuesday, and Queen Elizabeth II welcomed her with pomp and pageantry.
 AP Photo/Chris Jackson, pool Patil first was welcomed to the country at Heathrow airport by several British dignitaries. But her real greeting came when she arrived at Windsor Castle outside London. There, she met with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip who had an entire military guard on hand to welcome the first Indian head of state to visit the UK in 20 years.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall were also in attendance for the ceremony. They had traveled with Patil from Heathrow to Windsor in a car fleet.
Tonight, there will be a banquet in Patil’s honor. On Wednesday, she will meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown for talks. They will discuss ways to strengthen ties between the two nations which already have strong relations.
“Apart from the growing trade and economic relations, India and Britain cooperate well in a number of areas including education, research, science and technology,” foreign secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters last week.
Patil is also in the UK for the beginning of the Commonwealth Games baton relay race, which will start at Buckingham Palace and end in India.
She is also only the fourth female head of state to go on a state visit to the UK. The other three were all monarchs: Queens Juliana and Beatrix of the Netherlands, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Friday morning saw the United Kingdom honor the 179 soldiers who died in the Iraq war. The memorial service took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William were in attendance.
 AP Photo/David Parker None of the royals spoke at the service. They sat quietly as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani thanked the troops for their duty.
“My brief words today cannot convey the great debt, and gratitude, of the Iraqi people to those men and women who joined in the liberating of Iraq,” he said.
The royals also listened to criticism of the war by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
“The conflict in Iraq will, for a long time yet, exercise the historians, the moralists, the international experts,” Williams said. “In a world as complicated as ours has become, it would be a very rash person who would feel able to say without hesitation, this was absolutely the right or the wrong thing to do, the right or the wrong place to be.”
Also at the service were former Prime Minister Tony Blair, current Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the families of the troops who died in Iraq.
Britain pulled its troops out of the country this April, six years after it joined the United States to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime. About 100,000 servicemen and women had spent time in Iraq.
It is being reported that Queen Elizabeth II is angry over British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s handling of the war in Afghanistan.
 Getty Images She supposedly voiced her concerns during her weekly meetings with the Prime Minister. The issue of equipment shortage is what upsets her the most.
According to historian Andrew Roberts, it not just Her Majesty who is outraged. “The Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles are all furious with Gordon Brown over sub- standard equipment in Helmand, principally the under-armoured vehicles and the lack of helicopters.”
Roberts claims to have heard these reports from a minor royal, a serving general and a former Cabinet member.
However, royal sources say none of what Roberts is saying is true, and royal spokespeople have not commented.
Word of what the Queen may be saying comes after mounting criticism within the British government about the handling of the war in Afghanistan.
The Queen is the head of Britain’s Armed Forces.
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