Crown Princess Mary and husband, CP Frederik dancing in event in New York

Crown Princess Mary and her husband Prince Frederik showed off their fancy footwork at a ball in New York recently.

Mary's face shone with delight as her husband twirled her round at the chic function in the Hilton Hotel. The mum-of-four was elegant in a floor length nude-hued gown.

The fun-loving couple were letting their hair down at a gala to celebrate 100 years of the American-Scandinavian Foundation, which promotes good relations between the US and the region. Joining the popular Danish royals at the event were blue bloods from their neighbouring countries. Princess Madeleine of Sweden – who also donned a nude gown – was joined by her parents King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia. King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway were also in attendance.

source

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary taking a stroll in Soho (New York) this week

[United Kingdom] Peter and Autumn Phillips announce they are to have a second child! #royalbabyboom

The Princess Royal's son Peter Phillips and his wife are expecting their second child, Buckingham Palace confirmed last night.

Canadian Autumn Phillips is due to have her baby in March. The couple already have a daughter, Savannah, who is 12th in line to the throne.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: 'The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, as well as Autumn's family, have been informed and are delighted with the news.'

Their first child, and the Queen's first great-grandchild, a daughter named Savannah, was born on 29 December 2010 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Mr and Mrs Phillips attracted media attention when they sold their wedding photos to Hello! magazine in May 2008 for a reported £500,000.

The episode provoked claims the couple had exploited their Royal status.

At the time Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb called the move 'a serious error of judgment'.

And Labour MP Ian Gibson said that the British public would have been shocked to see their monarch in the magazine, saying: 'She is the Queen, not a footballer's wife'.

Photos of the couple on honeymoon on safari in South Africa were also released to the press, arising suspicion they received the £1,000-a-night accommodation for free - or at least at a knock-down rate - in return for their co-operation.

Although he is 11th in line to the throne, Peter does not have a royal title as his mother declined to give her children the HRH title at birth.

The Phillipses lived in Hong Kong after he moved jobs within the Royal Bank of Scotland to head their sponsorships activities in the region. They now live in London where he continues to work for the bank.

Autumn was born and brought up a Roman Catholic but renounced her faith shortly before their wedding so her husband-to-be did not have to give up his claim to the throne.

Savannah Phillips was baptised on Saturday, 23 April 2011, at Holy Cross Church in Avening, Gloucestershire, near the Princess Royal's home, Gatcombe Park, with the Queen present at the happy event.

source

[United Kingdom] Catherine makes first solo appearance standing in for her father-in-law

At her wedding, the Prince of Wales is said to have told guests that she was "the daughter he never had".

So it was fitting that the Duchess of Cambridge stepped in for her new father-in-law when he had to drop out of an official engagement this week.

The heir to the throne had travelled to Riyadh to present his condolences to the Saudi Royal Family following the death of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

In his absence from the Clarence House reception, Kate was the epitome of a gracious hostess, looking typically elegant in a long pale blue evening gown that showed off her toned figure.

A St James's Palace spokesman said: ''The Duchess of Cambridge was delighted to be able to step in for her father-in-law, The Prince of Wales, to celebrate the work of In Kind Direct at the dinner.''

''She was so pleased that her first solo engagement was for the Prince of Wales, who has shown her so much support over the years.''

The soiree was for In Kind Direct, the charity founded by Charles in 1996 to redistributes surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers to charities.

Chief executive Robin Boles: "We were delighted that the Duchess was able to step in at such short notice after our founder was unexpectedly called away.

"The Duchess hosted a very special evening with absolute professionalism and charm."

source

Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary to greet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they'll visit the UNICEF supply centre in Denmark

St James's Palace have announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's next public engagement will be a trip to Denmark.

The newlywed couple will visit UNICEF’s emergency supply centre in Copenhagen on November 2 to distribute emergency food and medical supplies to East Africa.

It will be only the second official visit abroad by the couple, following their tour of Canada and the US in July, and will be the Duchess’s first trip to a foreign country specifically to carry out charity work.

William and Kate will be accompanied by Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark.

The royal couples will seek to maintain global attention on the crisis in East Africa, an area well known to The Duke and Duchess, where the situation is getting worse.

More areas are expected to be declared as ‘in famine’ over the next few months.

Currently some 320,000 children in East Africa are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and are at imminent risk of death without immediate assistance.

Clarence House said: "The Duke and Duchess have been deeply moved over the past few weeks by the desperate plight of hundreds of thousands of seriously ill children in East Africa, a part of the world they know well and which is dear to them.

"Going to Copenhagen to view the supplies heading out to the famine zones was their idea as they are very troubled by the situation.

"The British public have already been very generous, but the royal couple wish to do what they can to help to help maintain global attention on the worsening situation."

source

[Bhutan] King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck marries beautiful 21-year-old student Jetsun Pema

At exactly 8.20am – a time ordained by astrologers – the fifth Dragon King of Bhutan proceeded up the steps of the country's most sacred monastic fortress in the ancient capital Punakha on the way to greet his bride.

Monks chanted in celebration as King Jigme Khesar Namguyal Wangchuk, 31, placed an embroidered silk brocade crown on her head, making her the new queen of this tiny Himalayan nation.

Thousands came down from the surrounding mountains to celebrate his wedding to pilot's daughter Jetsun Pema with three days of dancing.

The focus of the festivities was the ancient capital of Punakha, where in 2008, he was installed in some splendour on a golden throne.

But make no mistake, despite his elaborate floral robe and royal sash, this union is not merely the traditional match that it seems.

Oxford-educated, with slicked-back hair and matinee idol looks, the king has forged his own path ever since his revered father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated in his favour, under plans to usher in democracy and a constitutional monarchy.

He often invites ordinary folk around for tea and mingles freely with them at public functions much to the exasperation of his security team.

And unlike the elder Wangchuk, who wed four sisters in a polygamous ceremony, the "prince charming of the Himalayas", as he is affectionately called, is marrying for love.

He and his 21-year-old bride lived together for eight months before the nuptials.

Her husband's subjects know little about Jetsun. However, her dazzling looks and CV – she studied in London and is pursuing a degree in international relations – would seem to make her a worthy addition to the royal family.

And locals have noted her effect on their monarch. He holds her hand in public and talks openly of his love for her.

Watching the dancing in their honour, one villager, named Pema Gyeltshen, summed up the nation's joy, saying: "I have longed for this celebration, and here it is."

So quite clearly had his sovereign. When one well-wisher asked how it felt to be married, the groom said: "Are you married yourself?"

Learning that she wasn't, he responded: "It's great; you should try it yourself."

hellomagazine

[Bhutan][Video] King ties the knot with childhood sweetheart