Sunday, December 25, 2011
[UK][VIDEO] The Queen's Christmas Broadcast 2011
Queen Elizabeth addresses the highlights (the good and the bad) in the world, spec. the Commonwealth and in her family (re: Zara & William's weddings).
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
[UK] The Duchess of Cornwall invites sick children to decorate the Clarence House Christmas Tree
The Duchess of Cornwall held back tears as she hosted her annual festive party for sick children at Clarence House.
Each Christmas, Camilla invites disabled youngsters to spend a fun evening with her.
This year children from the Helen and Douglas House Hospice and the London Taxidriver’s fund for underprivileged children helped the Duchess decorate the Christmas tree.
Captain Charles Fraser Samson of the Welsh Guards was also on hand to help out, and the little ones were eager to try out his bear skin for size.
Three-year-old Finley Middleton, who suffers from a combination of restricted growth and immune deficiency problems, drew admiration from the doting grandmother.
Afterwards she told reporters: “It just makes you realise how lucky you are. Honestly, it was all I could do not to cry. It puts everything in perspective, doesn't it?”
To top off the day, the group sat down for some tea accompanied with sandwiches and muffins while Camilla handed out presents and goodie bags.
Divisions deepen in the Japanese Royal [Imperial] court
The divisions are so sharp that Crown Princess Masako, pleading a cold, did not once visit the ailing Emperor Akihito, who turns 78 this month, as he lay for 19 days in the University of Tokyo hospital with bronchitis.
The estrangement between the emperor and the couple comes in the twilight of Akihito's reign and foreshadows profound changes in the ancient dynasty.
Long rumoured, but seldom confirmed, the troubles of the monarchy last week moved from the gossip pages of weekly magazines into the staid columns of Japan's most respected newspapers.
 |
| Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess Kiko |
Supporters of the crown prince and princess, who both studied at Oxford, had hopes they would refresh the court with a modern, cosmopolitan touch - hopes that foundered on stony traditions.
Instead, Japan has endured the private anguish of its crown princess, who has been receiving psychological care for eight years and seldom appears at royal engagements. Masako was ostracised by courtiers when she tried to break with protocol, failed to produce a male heir to the throne and then went into seclusion after a nervous collapse.
The royal couple have a daughter, Aiko, 10, who cannot accede to the chrysanthemum throne under a rule barring women. Crown Prince Naruhito has defended his wife against criticism and this has led to an erosion of his stature in the eyes of the emperor and the rest of the family.
Instead, Prince Akishino, his younger brother, has advanced in favour as the father of the male heir to the throne, Prince Hisahito, now aged five. Hisahito's birth 12 years after his parents' last child ended parliamentary discussion of reforms to allow Aiko to succeed.
Now taboos are crumbling after the younger prince spoke publicly about the distance between the brothers.
"Unfortunately, we do not have the opportunity to interact on many occasions with the crown prince and princess," Akishino told a press conference to mark his 46th birthday.
He remarked the imperial grandchildren rarely saw each other, even though they all lived on the leafy Akasaka estate in central Tokyo. "There have only been a limited number of opportunities for our children to be together," Akishino said.
According to the Asahi Shimbun, a leading daily paper, his comments "give the impression that the crown prince and his family have become isolated within the entire imperial family".
It said the elderly emperor saw far more of little Hisahito, who is a passionate collector of insects, and joined him on expeditions in the imperial palace gardens.
"That may reflect a special bond towards Hisahito, who is the first and only grandson," the paper commented, adding: "The emperor and empress ... want to pass on the future to (Akishino's) children ... that is because they feel they can no longer depend on Masako, who rarely makes public appearances due to an 'adjustment disorder'."
[Spain] Iñaki Urdangarin - husband of Infanta Cristina - dismissed from Official Engagements for the time being
A few months ago, King Juan Carlos of Spain proudly saluted the country's armed forces at the National Day military parade surrounded by his family, as he has done throughout his 36-year reign.
Highly respected with a dignified bearing, the royal has always enjoyed great affection among his people.
In the public memory, the patriarch is remembered for his decisive role in thwarting a coup by military officers against the country's fledgling democracy in 1981.
But now the standing of the clan has been threatened by, what the local press has dubbed, the Urdangarin Case.
Juan Carlos' son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarin, the husband of his daughter Cristina, is being investigated on corruption charges relating to his business activities in Palma, Majorca.
After weeks of headlines, the Palace has announced that he will no longer take part in official engagements.
Spokesman Rafael Spottrono added that his behaviour "did not seem to have been exemplary".
Iñaki, a towering athlete who was once the capitan of the national handball team, was created the Duke of Palma in 1997 on his marriage to Cristina.
Their magnificent wedding in Barcelona Cathedral was followed by the birth of four children.
A few years ago the couple moved to Washington where he works for telecoms giant Telefonica.
Aides said it was not yet known if Cristina would also step down from her official roles.
At the weekend the duke published a statement saying he "regretted" the damage caused by press reports to his family and the king "who had nothing to do" with his private activities.
His lawyer also said that his client is innocent of any wrongdoing and was "outraged" by the allegations.
The accusations centre around the Noos Institute, an non profit organisation for the promotion of sports and tourism.
As president, he is alleged to have charged local authorities hugely inflated fees for organising events and siphoning off funds to his private companies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)