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The Dutch royal trio went on a three day state visit to the Sultanate of Oman. Originally scheduled last year, the trip was put off for this year due to the Arab Spring protests in the country.
 Click here for photos of the visit to Oman Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed greeted Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima on Tuesday at Al Alam Palace in Muscat. National anthems of Oman and the Netherlands were played, followed by a 21 gun salute welcoming the Dutch royals.
Their Majesties then went indoors for bilateral talks, followed by a lunch at the Beit al Zhubair museum.
In the evening, there was a state banquet hosted by the Sultan in honor of the Dutch royals. They also exchanged orders. The Sultan bestowed the Order of Al Said on the Queen while she conferred the Order of the Netherlands Lion to him.
Even Willem Alexander and Maxima received orders. The Dutch heir was bestowed the Great Order of Renaissance while his wife got the the Sultan Qaboos Order.
The next day saw the royals go to the Port of Sohar, where they were given a tour of its eco-friendly, industrial projects. They also went to the Sohar Free Zone, where they saw joint Omani-Dutch projects.
Next came Nakhl Fort, where the visiting royals were greeted by music and the children of the Omani Women’s Association of Nakhl with flowers and Omani and Dutch flags. The Queen, the Crown Prince and Princess were briefed about the fort by the students, and then later were shown Omani crafts.
Thursday morning concluded the state visit for the Dutch royals. They met with Sultan Qaboos again in Muscat who bid them farewell.
Sources: Gulf News, Times of Oman, Omani News Agency
On Sunday, the Dutch royal trio – Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima – began their two day state visit to the United Arab Emirates. They arrived the previous night, but began their agenda Sunday.
 Click here for recent pics of Queen Beatrix The royals were greeted at the Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE. There was a 21 gun salute in honor of the Queen, her son and daughter in law.
An exchange of honors took place between the Sheikh and Her Majesty. His Highness the Sheikh gave Beatrix the Order of Zayed, one of the United Arab Emirates’ highest civil decorations given to kings and heads of state. In return the Queen gave him one of the Netherlands’ highest orders.
Also on Sunday, the Dutch royals toured the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The Queen donned a long black dress and wore a blue scarf over her hat while Princess Maxima wore a caftan and a headscarf. This caused a bit of a uproar back in the Netherlands.
“Not to have worn one during a visit to a mosque wasn’t an option. In that case, the invitation to visit to the mosque, one of the most important in the United Arab Emirates, would have to have been refused,” explained Foreign Minister Ufi Rosenthal.
However, the Freedom Party (PVV) led by Geert Wilders, complained that Beatrix was legitimizing Islam’s oppression of women. In response, Green Left MP Tofik Dibi, called Wilders’ comments a waste of time.
For Monday, the royals the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and met with officials and senior managements of companies that specialize in oil and petroleum. Since the Netherlands have their own oil industry – Shell – this was an obvious part of their agenda.
The Dutch trio then went to Masdar, where they met with Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, for a round table discussion on tightening Dutch-UAE relations.
“This meeting builds on an historic relationship,” said the Sheikha. “Trade was always considered the most important factor for relations between the Netherlands and the UAE, and these ties continue to become stronger today. In fact, most people would be surprised to know that the Netherlands’ ties with the Arab world date back more than three centuries.”
That concluded the Dutch state visit to the UAE. Tuesday will see the same trio go to Oman for another state visit.
This visit was historic for Queen Beatrix. This was her 50th state visit since her ascension to the throne in 1980.
Sources: Khaleej Times, Radio Netherlands, WAM, Dutch News
On Tuesday, the royals of the Netherlands welcomed President Amadou Toumani Touré of Mali to their country. The president and his wife, Lobbo Traore, are on a three day state visit. It comes within days of news of a Dutchman being kidnapped in Mali.
 Click here for more images President Touré mentioned the kidnapping in his speech during the state banquet at the Royal Palace Noordeinde at The Hague. He told the Dutch people that he is “terribly sorry that this happened”. He also promised to help the situation.
Her Majesty Queen Beatrix thanked Touré for his apology, saying “I appreciate very much that you personally spoken in response to your horror over the terrible incident.”
She added, “We all hope for a good outcome.”
The Dutch national, who’s name is unknown, was abducted at a restaurant in Timbuktu along with two others, a Swede and a South African.
Before the state banquet, the President and his wife were received by Queen Beatrix during a welcoming ceremony. Later on, Touré met with members of Parliament and even gave a speech discussing the economic developments of Mali.
Sources: De Telegraaf, Eerstekamer, NOS
Yesterday began the first visit to Japan of any kind by a Bhutanese King. The state visit is meant to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Japanese-Bhutan diplomatic ties.
 Click here to see more photos at Daylife.com King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his new wife, Queen Jetsun Pema, arrived in Tokyo and quickly met with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his wife. The two expressed their condolences over the devastating March 11th earthquake and tsunami. Meanwhile the Prime Minister congratulated them on their wedding last month. The King and Noda then discussed ways to tighten their countries relations.
On Wednesday, the couple met with members of the Imperial family. They were greeted at the palace by Crown Prince Naruhito and took part in a welcoming ceremony.
Naruhito is standing in for his father, Emperor Akihito, who is still being hospitalized with a bad cough.
In the evening, the King and Queen will be guests of honor at a state banquet at the palace.
During their itinerary, the Bhutanese royals will go to local schools, visit the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto to learn about the country’s culture, and also tour the areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.
In addition, King Jigme will receive a honorary doctorate in economics from Keio University and will give a speech to Parliament.
King Jigme and Queen Jetsun are the first state guests to Japan since the devastation earlier this year.
Bhutan, which focuses on limiting the effects of outside influences in the country, has diplomatic ties to only 25 countries plus the European Union.
Sources: Mainichi Daily News, Mofa.go.jp
His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg is on a three day visit to Vietnam. He is in the country to strengthen ties between the two nations.
 Click here to see more photos The Grand Duke was greeted by Truong Tan Sang, the President of Vietnam, at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. After an official welcoming ceremony and inspection of the honor guard, the two heads of state sat down for talks.
Afterward, there was a signing of the understanding on the provision of expertise and technical assistance to the financial sector, capacity building and training. The signing was done by Luxembourg’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Marie-Josée Jacobs and Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, with the Grand Duke and President Truong witnessing it.
Later, Henri went to the Bach Mai hospital that benefits from the Handicap International Luxembourg and is supported by his country’s government. The project focuses on those with spinal cord injuries.
In the evening, the Grand Duke was a guest of honor at a dinner banquet at the Government Guest House. During the banquet, he spoke about the close ties between Vietnam and Luxembourg. “Relationships are in the process of moving towards a broader partnership, more balanced and more based on economic cooperation,” Henri said.
He also said that his country is willing to invest in Vietnam, because Luxembourg wants “to become a hub for distribution in Europe of high quality Vietnamese products.”
For the remainder of his stay, Grand Duke Henri will lay a wreath at National Monument of Heroes and Martyrs tomorrow. He will also visit the city of Hue, which is recognized by UNESCO for its World Heritage of Humanity. In Hue, there is an 11th century temple dedicated to Confucius.
Henri will also visit cooperation projects throughout Vietnam during his visit.
Source: Gouvernement.lu, Wort.lu
His Highness Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khaifa al-Thani of Qatar is wrapping up a four nation tour of Eastern Europe. His list of state visits were Macedonia, Poland, Albania and Ukraine. He began on Monday in Macedonia.
 Click here for photo gallery of the tour After arriving in Skopje and going through the welcoming ceremony, the Emir was given the the September Medal by President Gjorge Ivanov, which is the highest Macedonian honor. It was given to the Emir as an appreciation for his efforts to broaden ties with the country and Qatar.
“We highly appreciate the efforts the State of Qatar has been exerting under your wise leadership and your far-sighted vision in areas of peace, cooperation, tolerance, and dialogue in the world,” Ivanov told Hamad.
On Tuesday, His Highness met with the President of the Parliament Trajko Veljanoski, where he discussed cementing Qatari-Macedonian bilateral ties even more. The Emir also was given a tour of Skopje, where he saw the Mustafa Pasha mosque, then toured around the Old Market where he was briefed on its most prominent features and the old shops it includes. Accompanying him on this visit was President Ivanov and the head of the Islamic Religious Community, Reis ul Ulema Sulejman Efendi Rexhepi.
Later that day, the Emir left Macedonia and headed to nearby Albania, where he was greeted by Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinas at the Mother Teresa International Airport in Tirana. He was then whisked away to the Presidential Palace and met with President Bamir Topi, plus took part in the welcoming ceremony.
As he did in the previous country, the Emir received Albania’s medal of the highest order – the Iskander Beg. It was given to him for the same reasons as before, which was tightening Qatari-Albanian bilateral ties.
 View more photos at Daylife.com He then later met with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha. The meeting included discussions about more bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Also on Tuesday, Emir Sheikh Hamad met with the Mayor of Tirana, Lulzim Basha. During the meeting, Basha presented the Qatari leader with the honorary Medal of Tirana citizenship.
The next day, Wednesday, Hamad headed for Ukraine. In its capital of Kiev, His Highness met with President Viktor Yanukovych and received military honors for a welcoming ceremony. In the evening, there was a dinner banquet in honor of the Emir.
On Thursday, the Emir met with Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, and the two discussed, once again, cementing bilateral ties. Later in the afternoon, Hamad left Ukraine for Poland. During his flight, he sent a cable to Viktor Yanukovych in which he expressed thanks and appreciation for the hospitality accorded to him and the accompanying delegation during the visit.
In Ukraine, the Emir did not receive any sort of medals.
For his final stop, His Highness went to Warsaw where he was greeted by President Bronislaw Komorowski. After the welcoming ceremony, Hamad went on to meet with Bogdan Borusewicz, the Speaker of the Polish Senate, which is part of the Polish Parliament, and later Prime Minister Donald Tusk. For both meetings, bilateral discussions took place.
Tomorrow will be the Emir’s last day on his Eastern European tour.
Source: Qatar News Agency
A trio of Danish royals began a state visit to Russia Tuesday, as a way of tightening bilateral ties between the countries. Queen Margrethe II, Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Frederik traveled to Moscow to begin their four official days in Russia, with three days set aside for a private visit.
 Click here for images of Day 1 at Daylife.com Upon landing in Moscow, the royals were welcomed by Transport Minister Igor Levitin. Queen Margrethe inspected the honor guard before she, her husband and son were taken to the Kremlin, where they met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
It was at the Kremlin that the official welcoming ceremony took place. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gave a speech where he talked about Danish-Russian ties.
Later, the Queen and Prince Henrik were given a tour of the Pushkin museum by First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva. This marked the inauguration of the Danish Golden Age exhibition and Thorvaldsen exhibition at the museum.
Crown Prince Frederik also took the time to meet with officials of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which will be held in the Russian town of Sochi. Frederik is a member of the International Olympic Committee.
In the evening, there was a state banquet in honor of the Danish royals and their delegation.
On Wednesday, Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses performed the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Minutes later, Queen Margrethe attended a meeting with the chairman of the Duma, or Parliament. She also met with the President of Federation Council.
 Click here for images of Day 2 In the afternoon, after attending business meetings, seeing a photography exhibit and opening factories, the Danish royal trio met with Vladimir Putin for a little while.
After that, Crown Prince Frederik went to the Skolkovo School of Management, while his parents went to the children’s ward at the Endocrinology Research Center.
Tomorrow, the Queen, Henrik and Frederik will travel north to former capital of Russia – during its imperial days – St. Petersburg. There, they will continue to promote Danish-Russian ties by signing business agreements, tour a factory, a brewery and a shipbuilding yard. They will also visit the Peter and Paul Cathedral to lay a wreath at the tomb of Empress Maria Feodorovna, the Danish princess who became the wife of Tsar Alexander III.
On Saturday, the royals will hold a press conference, discussing their time in Russia.
There is no official word on why Crown Princess Mary did not accompany her husband and in-laws to this state visit.
Source: Kongehuset.de
Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa, began a two day state visit to Norway Wednesday. He arrived with his one of his wives, Tobeka Zuma, and they were welcomed in Oslo by the royal family. The purpose of Zuma’s visit is to strengthen ties with Norway and convince its business leaders to invest in South Africa.
 Click here for more photos at Daylife.com
The President and his wife spent the first part of Thursday going through the ceremonies that go with Norwegian state visits. There was the playing of the national anthems in Palace Square, followed by a review of the honor guard by Zuma and King Harald V.
The royal hosts and their guests then went inside the palace to pose for the media and exchange gifts. President Zuma gave Their Majesties a small leather stool and three traditional clay pots intended for drinking beer. The King and Queen in return gave Zuma and his wife a book on Norway and a large glass bowl.
Later, the King and Queen Sonja brought the Zumas to the National Monument at Akershus Fortress to lay memorial wreaths. They also took them to Oslo Cathedral and the Nobel Peace Center.
President Zuma then met with Prime Minister Jans Stoltenberg for talks.
In the evening, there was a state gala dinner in honor of the South African President and his delegation. Both King Harald and President Zuma gave speeches touting Norwegian and South African ties.
The next day, while the President met with Norwegian politicians and business leaders, Queen Sonja brought Tobeka Zuma to Ullevål University Hospital, where they met with its cancer treatment team. Mrs Zuma was briefed on how the doctors tackle cancer in Norway, which has seen its survival rate grow by 68%
Trade between South Africa and Norway increased by 21% between 2009 and 2010. Since 2006, the two nations have worked together on environmental issues.
Sources: NRK.no, Oslo universitetssykehus
On Monday, Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa began a state visit to Norway. The trip is to last for two days, and it is no different from any other state visit. Meaning, this one is meant to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
 Click here to see more the state visit Their Royal Highnesses arrived in Oslo in the morning and were greeted by King Harald V and Queen Sonja at Palace Square. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were also present for the welcoming ceremony, which included national anthems and inspection of the honor guard. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa also took time to greet schoolchildren who were watching the event.
Next came the laying of the wreath at Akershus Fortress, which commemorates the fallen during World War II.
Afterward, Grand Duke Henri met with the Prime Minister and Parliament President Dag Terje Andersen.
During that time, Queen Sonja took the Grand Duchess to the newly restored cabin on Sæter Bygdøy at Oscarhall Palace. They were also given a tour of Seter cottage, and children from Dissimilis entertained the royal women.
In the evening came the state banquet. Princess Martha Louise and Princess Astrid were attendance.
The rest of the itinerary has the King and the Grand Duke meeting with business leaders while the Queen and the Grand Duchess will tour museums and art galleries. Also, the Luxembourg royals will go to Trondheim to see Statoil’s Research Centre.
But there is a question if Maria Teresa will continue with the state visit after today. Her brother, 58 year old Antonio Mestre, is in a coma at a Florida hospital after suffering a heart attack. Supposedly, the Grand Duchess will leave Norway early to go be at her brother’s side.
Source: Kongehuset, Wort.lu
The United States’ President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama began their state visit to the U.K., which is still glowing from its royal wedding nearly a month ago. The House of Windsor was ready to welcome the couple with the grandeur the royals are so well known for.
 Click here for more pics! The Obamas arrived last night due to the Icelandic volcanic ash causing air traffic problems. This morning, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, greeted them at the home of the American ambassador. From there, Mr. and Mrs. Obama went to Buckingham Palace where they were welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
This was the second time the Obamas met the royal couple. The first time was in April 2009, during a G20 meeting in London. That was when Michelle Obama famously put her arm around the Queen.
The highlight for the Obamas had to be meeting the newlywed couple, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The two had just returned from their 10 day honeymoon in Seychelles, and this was their first official engagement after their historic wedding last month.
 Click here for more photos Catherine chatted with Michelle while William spoke to the President. The four discussed the wedding and the Cambridges’ visit to California in July. Catherine handled her first royal engagement with perfect ease, as though she was born to be a royal.
Later in the evening, Queen Elizabeth II hosted a state dinner, in which about 170 guests attended. They included other members of the House of Windsor, such as Princess Anne, and ambassadors, business leaders, leading academics, prominent nobility and even celebrities from both sides of the Atlantic.
Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson were present, as was Tim Burton, Kevin Spacey and Helena Bonham-Carter – who won rave reviewed for portraying the Queen’s mother in the Oscar winning film “The King’s Speech” this year.
As for the Queen’s speech (  ), she said, “We are here to celebrate the tried, tested and – yes – special relationship between our two countries.”
There was a mishap when President Obama gave his speech. He was quoting Shakespeare when the band began to play “God Save the Queen”. Other than that, this first day of their British state visit was memorable for Barack and Michelle Obama.
Sources: AP, Hello!, Telegraph
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