On Saturday, the Dutch crown princely couple took their three daughters to the Jumping Amsterdam, a horse jumping show. It was a rare opportunity for royal fans to see all three of the princesses beyond a photo session with the media.
Catharina-Amalia, age 8, Alexia, 6 years old and 4 year old Ariane cheered for horses during the competition. Amalia, who is second in line to the Dutch throne, was very expressive, showcasing that while she may resemble her father, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, she has the facial expressions of her mother, Princess Maxima.
Both parents also displayed much attention to their three children. At one point, Willem Alexander was seen hugging his eldest, while Maxima kept the other two close by. Keep in mind, with their duties taking them abroad sometimes, family moments like this one probably don’t come very often for these Dutch royals.
The Queen of the Netherlands showed up Sunday for the final day of the European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam. She brought with her granddaughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, who is second in line to the Dutch throne.
This was Queen Beatrix’s first outing since going for cataract surgery in her right eye on Thursday. She noticably wore sunglasses while spectating the competition.
Also in attendance with Princess Benedikte, the sister of the Queen of Denmark. Benedikte is the patron of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses. The royal trio say in the royal box, cheering loudly for their favorite, Adelinde Cornelissen of the Netherlands, who won the gold medal.
On Wednesday, Spain’s Princess Letizia stopped by Handisport, an not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping the handicapped integrate socially through sports. Handisport is located in Llucmjaor on Mallorca, one of the Balearic islands.
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Dressed in a flowing chiffon salmon dress, Letizia was welcomed by the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Carlos Delgado plus the President of the Foundation Handisport, Cristina Martin, the founder of the Foundation, Rafael Winckelmann, and the mayor of Llucmajor, Joan Jaume Mulet.
The Princess was then introduced to a couple of those who have benefited from Handisport. One of them was European golf champion for disabled persons Sebastian Lorente of Spain. He demonstrated for Letizia how he is able to stand by the use of a machine and therefore play golf.
Established in 2006, Handisport seeks to make sports available for everyone, including those with mental and physical disabilities.
Letizia is also on Mallorca to begin the annual summer vacation with the rest of the Spanish royal family. Already Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena are there, and Infanta Cristina and her family will arrive tomorrow. Letizia’s husband, Prince Felipe, is currently in Peru for the presidential inauguration but he will come to Mallorca later this week along with King Juan Carlos.
This weekend, the princely family of Monaco took part of one of the tiny principality’s traditions – the 69th Formula 1 Grand Prix. Starting on Thursday and ending this Sunday, race car drivers sped around Monaco’s winding roads, hoping to win first place. This year, Red Bull Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany won the race.
Click here to see Charlene Wittstock at the Grand Prix
Monaco sovereign Prince Albert II, his soon-to-be wife Charlene Wittstock, and the Casiraghi trio – Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre – attended the event. Charlene congratulated the top three winners by giving them kisses on their cheeks.
This evening, there will be a celebratory dinner and Vettel will dine with the princely family.
Recently, Prince Albert gave an interview to CNN and spoke about Monaco’s car racing tradition.
“It’s hard to say what lies ahead for us for the future, but we have a great relationship with the FIA and the entities running Formula One,” he said.
“I don’t see anything changing in the near future, at least for the next 10 or 11 years, because that’s the cycle. Beyond that, if there is still Formula One racing — because it will evolve like every sport does — I think Monaco will be a part of it.
“Monaco is such a part of the history of motor racing and the history of Formula One, I think it would be difficult to imagine a Formula One season without the Monaco Grand Prix, but of course I’m biased.”
The country held its first car racing event in 1929. During the glamorous days of Albert’s parents, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, they would personally meet with the drivers away from the race for a more personal connection.
“History and the links between Monaco and motor racing make it a very special place,” said Albert.
“And the fact that there are so many events around the grand prix, that it’s a great place for the different teams and sponsors and they love coming here, also the fact it’s on the waterfront, I think all of this creates a special atmosphere.”
Dubai’s Princess Haya was in Lausanne, Switzerland Saturday to inaugurate the new headquarters of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Named after Haya’s father, the late King Hussein of Jordan, the project was three years in the making, and was funded by the Princess herself.
With her three year old daughter, Sheikha Al Jalila in her arms, Haya watched as Martin Fuchs of the Youth Olympic Games team champion cut the ribbons to officially open the King Hussein I Building.
“The building we are inaugurating has been designed to serve our wonderful sport,” said Princess Haya.
“I also feel an immense sense of pride knowing that this building carries the name of my late father and hope that this serves as a constant reminder to all of us who work at the FEI of a unique statesman, whose entire soul was devoted to the service of his people.
“Our new headquarters will play a key role for the FEI and our National Federations over the coming years. It will be the environment in which important discussions take place and fundamental decisions are taken as we continue our mission to advance the orderly growth of equestrian sport worldwide, while ensuring that the welfare of the horse and a level playing field remain at the centre of all that we do,” Haya said.
Worth $18 million, the new headquarters include offices for 62 employees plus a state of the art interactive gallery showcasing the equestrian sport.
Attending the opening was Infanta Pilar of Spain, who was the FEI president from 1994 – 2006 and Princess Lalla Amina, who is chairwoman of Morocco’s Federation of Equestrian Sports. The other 300 attendees included Olympians and Swiss officials.
For the 16th Dubai World Cup horse racing competition, the wife of the Sheikh of Dubai, Princess Haya, brought along her 3 year old daughter, Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
Haya was every bit the doting mother as she carried Al Jalila to the Maydan Race Course. She hugged her daughter often and also played with her hair.
Even Al Jalila’s father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, held his little girl during the horse races.
The Meydan racecourse holds about 60,000 spectators in a one-mile long grandstand, hosted the second World Cup on Saturday with total prize money of $26 million.
This year’s winner was Victoire Pisa.
Princess Haya, who is half-sister of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, is president of the FEI – International Equestrian Federation. Both she and Sheikh Mohammed have a passion for horses.
Watching the World Skiing Championships in Oslo has been lots of fun for the Scandinavian royals. The royals of Norway and Sweden have been present for each of the events, and enjoyed them together as they showed the world they are very friendly with each other.
To demonstrate that, during a relay race, Prince Daniel jokingly flipped Crown Princess Mette-Marit the finger. But no one was offended – Mette-Marit, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Victoria simply laughed at Daniel’s cheeky move.
In the end, the royals had something to cheer about as Norway took the gold while Sweden won the silver.
The Prince of Monaco was in Naples, Florida this past Saturday to open the Art of The Olympians museum. As a five time Winter Olympian, and an IOC member, plus the son of an American actress, it seemed natural for Prince Albert II to be the guest of honor at the museum’s opening. Other guests included local politicians and past Olympians.
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First there was a breakfast at a private club in nearby Port Royal, where Albert gave a speech to the 100 people in attendance.
“This event has very special meaning to me,” the Prince said. “It exemplifies the Olympic values, which offer lessons in fair play, patience, respect and dedication. These are traits learned through experiences, especially through creative pursuits.”
He went on to say that everything from the school programs to the exhibitions of art reflect the Olympic value of pursuing excellence.
“Everyone is most proud of your achievement. It’s amazing what Olympians can do when they put their hearts to the task.”
Artist Ellen West said she was “thrilled” to be a part of Saturday’s event.
“I think it was marvellous,” she said of the breakfast. “I am so thrilled I got to meet a little piece of Grace Kelly. It brings back memories of those days.”
As the day went on, Prince Albert attended an art fund raising event and finally the reception after the official opening of the museum. The art fundraiser was called, “Painting with the Prince” which had Albert throw a discus at a painting. He was dressed in a regular T-shirt and shorts for that. But he changed into a tuxedo in the evening for the museum’s opening.
On Monday, members of the Spanish royal family were at El Pardo Palace to give out the National Sports Awards 2010. The award recognizes the athletes, sports associations and other entities that have most highlighted in competition or in supporting the promotion of sports throughout last year.
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King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia and Infanta Elena personally handed the large trophies to the winners. Some of the awards were named after the royals themselves.
For example, the Reina Sofia award goes to the Spanish athlete who has distinguished his or herself over the year in their sporting performance, both nationally and internationally. For 2010, it was mountaineer Edurne Pasaban Lizarribar.
Other awards named after the royals included the Premio Don Felipe de Borbon, Princess of Asturias National Prize, the Award of HRH Doña Elena, and the Award of HRH Doña Cristina.
13 trophies were given out to various athletes, including the Spanish football team which won the 2010 World Cup, riders Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez, the Andalusian Federation of Football, athlete Eusebio Cáceres, hockey player Luciana Aymar, the Foundation for Sport Equestrian Championships International Open ATP Spain Castilla y León “El Espinar, the City of Leganés, Universidad Camilo Jose Cela, the advertising agency Villar-Rosàs and tennis player Manolo Santana.
After delivery, His Majesty King Juan Carlos gave “a very special and warm congratulations” to the winners in 2010, “the most brilliant years of the history of Spanish sports.”
“Sport, in its most noble and extensive expression must muster the effort and cooperation of all” and “not only in the disciplines of equipment and more popular,” in which Spain is now the first country in the world, but also in the individual and the less widespread. ”
The opening of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship got underway in Oslo Wednesday, and many Norwegians turned out for its opening ceremony. That included the Norwegian royal family, who joined in with the celebrants.
The regent couple, the crown princely family and even King Harald V’s sister, Princess Astrid were present for the ceremony. Crown Prince Haakon had his son, Prince Sverre Magnus on his shoulders as the little Prince cheered and waved a baton.
The sporting event will last until March 6th.
The King and Queen are expected to appear frequently at the various events of the championships. On March 3rd and 4th, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel will stop by, as well as the Swedish King and Queen on the 5th and 6th. At some point, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II will make an appearance.
Even Haakon and Mette-Marit will show up. After all, the Crown Prince is part of the advisory board of Oslo 2011, the committee that arranges the championships.
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