[The Netherlands] First day of school for 4-year old Dutch princess Ariane

It was a bittersweet moment for the Dutch Crown couple this monday: their baby daughter, princess Ariane just turned 4. And as the Dutch law orders, she started school, attending the same one as her older sisters, Catharina-Amalia and Alexia.

Doesn't she have the sweetest eyes?

[United-Kingdom] Photos from Prince William and Kate Middleton's last public engagement before wedding

To check out the video of this event and my comments, click here.

Kate Middleton and Prince William were caught in a torrential downpour this week as they arrived in Lancashire on their last public engagement before their wedding.

But not even the inclement British weather could dampen the sunny mood of the crowds who waited to greet them.

There were cheers as the couple arrived, with Kate sheltering under an umbrella. Some members of the crowd even waved flags bearing pictures of the royal sweethearts.

She's been experimenting lately with her look, stepping out in vibrant red and the super chic Burberry trench, which sold out on the firm's website in a day.

But Kate was back in her tried and tested hue this week, stepping out in navy blue.

The future Princess looked elegant in a simple jacket and skirt as the couple arrived to open the Community Darwen Aldridge Academy.

What stood out was her hair. Usually tumbling down her back in gentle waves, this time it was partly pinned back, drawing attention to her cheekbones and a pair of delicate gold earrings.

While they're in town, the couple will also launch the SkillForce Prince's Award.

The prize will honour teenagers who "show significant character or make major contribution to the community".

Tens of thousands of well-wishers were expected to gather at Witton Park to welcome the couple, but the weather cut the numbers down significantly.

There William will sign a deed to protect the park and perhaps even have a kick-around when he meets a group taking part in a football skills training programme involving Blackburn Rovers.

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King Juan Carlos I of Spain will not attend British royal wedding but Queen Sofia, CP Felipe & Letizia will.

Don Juan Carlos, the King of Spain will not be attending the Royal Wedding in London between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The Spanish monarch generally only attends family weddings or those of close friends.

With three weeks to go to the ceremony on April 29, the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid has confirmed that only Queen Sophia and the Prince and Princess of Asturias will be attending. The infantas have not been invited to Westminster Abbey.

The threesome of the Queen, Letizia and Felipe were seen travelling together last summer to the World Cup in South Africa, when the King was recovering from a lung operation.

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[Sweden] Queen Silvia injured in New York while trying to evade photographer

Queen Silvia of Sweden was injured in New York this week while trying to escape the attentions of a photographer.

The 67-year-old royal was shopping with her youngest daughter Princess Madeleine, who lives in the city, on Monday.

During the outing, they were confronted by a Swedish photographer, who - according to the royal palace - ignored their pleas to be left alone.

"The queen chose to go out through a side door and walked quickly towards a parked car to keep away from the photographer who ran after her," the palace said in a statement. "The queen then fell and injured her foot and wrist." The photographer was a freelancer for tabloid Aftonbladet, whose editor-in-chief said the paper "deeply regretted the incident."

Silvia's schedule in New York has remained unchanged, and on Tuesday she received a prize from the Health Right International wearing a brace on her foot and walking with a cane.

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The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visiting the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco

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[Norway] Crown couple off to Ghana

News bureau NTB reports that the royal couple will have a full program during their two-day visit, which runs from April 12-14, just before Norway’s annual Easter holidays set in. Their visit will coincide with a large oil industry conference called Ghana Summit, to be held in the capital of Accra.

Norway and Ghana have bilateral cooperation in several areas, not least in the development of the country’s oil and gas industry. Norway is a partner in the development and management of the country petroleum resources, reported NTB, and Norwegian oil companies have shown “considerable interest” in the country.

In addition to meetings with authorities in Ghana, the couple will meet with UN officials, visit a Norwegian studies center at Cape Coast and visit the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center.

King Harald, meanwhile, was to officially greet Ghana’s new ambassador to Norway, Hajia Fati Habib-Jawula, in a meeting at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Thursday.

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[Norway] Palace confirms royal US tour for King Harald and Queen Sonja

Plans for the trip have been known for months, but the palace confirmed this week that it will take place October 11-22, and include visits to Minnesota and Iowa.

In the two Midwestern states, the royals will meet with state government officials and visit Norwegian-American communities and institutions.

In New York, they’ll be among the guests of honor at the 100th anniversary of the American Scandinavian Foundation, which also is expected to attract most of the other Nordic heads of state, reported newspaper Aftenposten.

King Harald and Queen Sonja will also visit other Norwegian institutions in New York and take part in several cultural and business programs.

In May the royal couple will make state visits to Slovenia and Croatia. King Harald cut back on lengthy official foreign travel after undergoing surgery for bladder cancer and, later, heart trouble. He’s been back on the sailing circuit in recent summers, though, and has declared himself fit and healthy. He turned 74 last month.

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