ROYAL NEWS: DECEMBER 2002

Last updated: December 29th, 2002.

December 1st
The Imperial Family of Japan celebrated the first birthday of Princess Aiko with a lunch, tea ceremony and dinner. Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako brought the little princes to see the Emperor and Empress in the Imperial Palace in the morning and then held a lunch for her at the Crown Prince's Palace in Tokyo's Motoakasaka, after which a tea ceremony was held that was attended by some 30 people. In the afternoon, the crown princely couple held a dinner at the prince's palace with the emperor and empress, and prince and princess Akishino. Princess Aiko now weighs 9.32 kilograms and is 74.2 centimeters tall. Japanese reports tell that on recent outings, the little princess has begun to respond to calls of 'Aiko-sama' from members of the public by waving her hand. In April the crown prince and crown princess have started reading to her. The princess is also taken out sometimes twice a day to enjoy fresh air. Also a press conference was held today in which the crown prince and crown princess answered questions of the press. They said they are glad that princess Aiko is healthy. "She is interested in so many things, curious about everything and very active. Among her activities each day, Aiko seems to especially like going for walks, having picture books read to her and taking baths. However, in our family, it seems to work better when her mother puts her to sleep. It would appear that she thinks of her father as a playing partner. When her father tries to put her to sleep, her eyes grow wider with excitement. As such, we have given up on having her father put her to bed." They also told that they hope her, as a member of the royal family, to grow up with a broad understanding of the world.

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on the florists shop of former royal butler Paul Burrell. The alarm was raised shortly before 1am when police and fire crews were called to the store in Chapel Street, Holt, North Wales. Mr Burrell went to the shop in the early hours to survey the damage. A spokesman for Mr Burrell said there was "an incident" in the early hours of the morning which police were investigating.

December 2nd
Former royal butler Paul Burrell reportedly received hundreds of menacing phone calls before yesterday's suspected arson attack on his flower shop. Paul Burrell's brother Graham told the Daily Mirror that someone had called telling: "I'm going to get you and every one of your family." Mr Burrell, his wife Maria and two sons are reportedly under 24-hour guard and are too upset to comment. The menacing phone calls reportedly began soon after the Mr Burrell's Old Bailey acquittal.

December 3rd
Jewellery was stolen on Monday early in the morning from the Museon science museum in The Hague, The Netherlands. Thieves broke in and snatched jewels from an exhibition about diamond cutting and jewellery making. The Dutch police is investigation the case. Yesterday a museum spokesman said some of the jewellery on display were borrowed from European royal families but declined to give further details as it was not yet clear exactly what had been stolen. Today the Portuguese government said there is priceless diamond royal Portuguese jewellery among the pieces stolen. The museum had them on loan the government. Six of 15 Portuguese pieces, including an uncut 35-carat diamond, a cane handle of gold and jewels, a ring of gold and jewels, a diamond necklace and two brooches - all from the National Palace in Ajuda - were among jewellery stolen. The Minister of Culture of Portugal said they will change its policy of lending out royal jewels following the robbery. The value of the stolen pieces is incalculable.

Also the trial of royal butler Harold Brown and society jeweller Jan Havlik has collapsed at the court. Mr Brown had been accused of stealing valuables worth more than £500,000 from Princess Diana of Wales's estate. Mr Havlik was accused of dishonestly handling the valuables. Prosecutors said there was no realistic prospect of a conviction since the collapse of the trial of royal butler Paul Burrell last month. As Mr Brown walked out of the court his sollicitor read a short statement on his behalf saying that Mr Brown was very delighted by today's result. He also has no intention of selling his story now or in the future.

The failed prosecutions of royal butlers Paul Burrell and Harold Brown have cost the taxpayer an estimated £2 million. Former chief of Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Scotland, Bill Taylor, has now been appointed to conduct an internal review of the Metropolitan Police's investigation of the cases. Questions have already been asked by senior politicians and law officers on the way the cases were pursued, the parts played by members of the royal family and why the prosecutions went ahead.

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, Princess Marilène and Princess Annette van Oranje-Nassau van Vollenhoven together planted four limetrees for their children - Eloise, Anna, Lucas and Isabella - and thus opened the 'birth forrest' in Mierlo, The Netherlands. After them 30 new parents also planted trees.

December 4th
The Prince of Wales's private secretary Sir Michael Peat denies aides had ever obstructed the police inquiry into former butler Harold Brown who was cleared yesterday of theft. He insists the prince would never intervene in the proper course of justice. He said he found it difficult to understand if police officers involved in the two cases were now claiming that the royals had been anything less than helpful. He said: "We have fallen over backwards to be as helpful as we can and that is supported by the police themselves. I've spoken to the Director of Public Prosecutions and he said categorically that there is no question of the CPS having been misled."

December 5th
On a press conference, also attended by his wife Anne-Marie, Crown Prince Pavlos, Crown Princess Marie Chantal and Prince Nikolaos, former king Constantine of Greece said: "I feel extremely grateful to the court for finding in my favor, but my human rights had been violated by the government of my country." Last week the European Human Rights Court ruled he would get $12.000.000 as compensation for palaces and properties seized after he fled his homeland. He said he will use the money to set up a charitable trust, and will name the fund Anna Maria, after his wife. The fund will help Greek victims of hardship and natural disasters. King Constantine said: "I have never ever claimed any money from the Greek people and never will. I feel that the Greek government have acted unjustly and vindictively. They treat me sometimes as if I'm their enemy — I am not the enemy." He said he hopes to return to live in Greece. The Greek government refuses to issue him a passport unless he formally renounces the throne and adopts a last name. "I consider it the greatest insult in the world for a Greek to be told that he is not a Greek," the former king said. Queen Anne-Marie told the press: "Whatever he does, I support him all the way".

At a press conference at the crown princely palace prior to their official nine-day trip to New Zealand and Australia starting next Wednesday, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan expressed hope to make trips abroad more often. The trip will be their first trip abroad together in eight years. "Trips with Masako are often fruitful as they give me a chance to note things that I would never notice on a trip on my own. I very much hope that we will be able to visit foreign countries together more often," the crown prince said. "I had to make so many efforts in adjusting myself to the situation after marriage in which visiting foreign countries was difficult," the princess said and added she is pleased about the upcoming trip. Their daughter Princess Aiko will remain in Japan during the trip.

December 6th
Former royal butler Paul Burrell has admitted he was naive to think police would not investigate his collection of Princess Diana of Wales's possessions. He said he was unable follow her request to destroy many of the things she gave to him for safekeeping. "After she died, there was no way I could destroy or burn anything of hers," he told CNN's Larry King. "I was going through a deep grieving process. I guess I was kind of mummifying her things." He added: "How naive could I be to think the police would not come to my door? They did come to my door and they found more than they should have." He said that Princess Diana gave him her possessions because she was paranoid about security. "She never knew who was coming in and out of her rooms at any one time...looking at her private things." Mr Burrell said there were still many more secrets he could have revealed. he said: "Of course I held things back. The royal family are still worried about me saying too much. I knew every aspect of her life." He added that he hoped to meet up with the Prince of Wales and William and Harry in the next few weeks. He added: "I look forward to seeing them in the near future and giving them things that Diana kept for them. I want to shake them by the hand and tell them that I am the same person they have always known."

A dramatic 50x80 metre fountain will form the permanent memorial for Diana, Princess of Wales, to the south of the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park. The oval-shaped feature is said to emphasise qualities of "inclusiveness and accessibility". Detailed design plans show one side of the £3 million fountain will see water bubbling down a gentle slope. The other stream will tumble and cascade before both paths flow into a tranquil pool. Designer Kathryn Gustafson said the contrasting halves would reflect the different parts of the Princess's life - the joyous times but also the turmoil she experienced. Work on the fountain is set to begin next year and is expected to be finished by summer 2004. The fountain design will now be submitted to Westminster City Council for planning permission next week. Gustafson said Princess Diana was a "contemporary princess" and they wanted a contemporary fountain to remember her. "The concept is based upon the qualities of the Princess that were the most loved and cherished. These were inclusiveness and accessibility."

December 7th
Thousands of relatives and subjects attended the glamorous and star-studded South African wedding of the year between Princess Nandi, 25, daughter of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, and Prince Bovulengwe Mfundo Mtirara, 32, a Prince of the abaThembu tribe and great-grand nephew of Nelson Mandela who was recently crowned as the Matye'ngqina traditional authority chief, on Friday and today near Umtata. Bride and groom met at college and Prince Bovulengwe paid 120 cattle as lobola and two horses to King Zwelithini already last December. On Friday the couple were married by Anglican Bishop Sitembele Mzamane in St John's Cathedral in Umtata and wearing western clothes. The groom arrived at the church at 10.30am, accompanied by a convoy of the Thembu warriors. Today the bride and groom wore a traditional wedding attire for the traditional wedding at the grounds of AmaTshenqina outside Umtata. The bride carried a shield and a spear and wore the Zulu regal blue and maroon isiCholo (tiara) with four feathers of the iGwalagwala bird, iziNyembezi (a Zulu veil), a leopard skin top, covered in wedding glass, and various types of colourful beads and bangles on her arms, a tiger skin choker around her neck, a huge carefully and intricately beaded isiDwaba (a Zulu cowhide leather skirt) and she was barefooted. She arrived with her father who publicly gave her a white sword as a gift. The bridegroom wore Xhosa attire, a black head band, white vest, a variety of necklaces and beads and a cream royal cloth around his waist - he too was bare foot. The bride formalised the wedding when she plunged a spear into the ground at the entrance to her husband's cattle pen. When the groom drew out the spear, she was formally installed as Queen of Matyeningqina Great Place. Among the prominent guests were former president Nelson Mandela - for the first time in more than 40 years in the traditional dress of his Tembu tribe, two Swazi princes, King Letsie of Lesotho, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and King Ngangomhlaba Matanzima of emaMpondweni. The Swazi royal presence is viewed as an act to support his brother-in-law King Zwelithini as Queen Mantfombi, the sister to King Mswati III, is married to the Zulu monarch. The crowd of more than 5 000 people was entertained by the spectacle of Xhosa and Zulu warriors' traditional dances. About 50 bare-breasted Zulu princesses, including the bride's sisters, danced for about two hours in turn with scores of royal warriors carrying cowhide shields and spears. After the ritual slaughter of a white goat Xhosa maidens danced for their new queen while elders sang praises to Mandela, the Zulu nation and the six bullocks given to Zwelithini by the groom's parents. The wedding was almost spoilt by a squabble between the large contigent of journalists and private photographers who claimed they had exclusive rights to shoot the wedding. It appears the couple had made an arrangement with private photographers, but it was later agreed local and international journalists were allowed to take pictures. Sources close to the royal families said the wedding was to strengthen the relations between Zulus and the Xhosas.

Countess Eloise van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg, daughter of Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands will be christened on Sunday December 15th in the chapel of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn. The service will be led by Ds C.A. ter Linden. Godparents will be Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands, Princess Carolina de Bourbon de Parme and Mrs Sophie van de Wouw. Next to members of the family, also the prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende and former prime minister Wim Kok will attend the christening. Isabella van Vollenhoven, daughter of Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette van Oranje-Nassau van Vollenhoven, will be christened in the same chapel on December 22nd.

December 9th
In a letter sent to the weekly magazine Shukan Shincho the Japanese Imperial Household Agency said to be very unhappy about an article in the magazine on December 5th that says that Prince Akishino's official duties are easy compared with for example those of the Emperor and the Crown Prince. The article was about 'how busy imperial family members really are'. The Imperial Household Agency said in his letter: "The prince does not take more time off than other members of the family in terms of number of days. His days off are rather on the shorter side. He has been actively carrying out his duties." The magazine wouldn't comment on the letter.

December 12th
Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan arrived in Wellington, New Zealand, at the start of their official visit to the country. At the welcoming ceremony they were greeted by Maori and watched traditional dancing. They were also greeted by lots of children waving with Japanese flags, while the Air Force band played. The crown prince also picked up an arrowhead, symbolizing a formal welcome. Thereafter they were received at the Government House by Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright and pupils from Chartwell School and St Mark's School. They are scheduled to visit both the North and South Islands (Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland) and will inspect the multi-million dollar yachts getting ready to compete in the Louis Vuitton Cup. They will among others also visit a children's hospital, a museum, an international Antarctic center as well as going sightseeing in Te Anau and Milford. On Monday they will travel to Australia, where they will visit Sydney and Canberra, and they will return to Japan on December 19th. Prior to leaving Japan, the prince said he was looking forward to learning about the indigenous culture of the country. The princess, who is a Harvard graduate and fluent in five languages, meanwhile stressed the importance of Asia-Pacific cooperation.

The Imperial Household Agency said that the 90-year-old Princess Takamatsu was discharged from St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo today. She had been receiving treatment for a suspected case of pneumonia over the past three weeks. The Princess is the widow of Prince Takamatsu, younger brother of the late Emperor Hirohito.

December 13th
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden passed his officer examinations today and is a second lieutenant in the marine now. He was presented with a sabre by his proud father. Prince Carl Philip said he plans to study design in the spring.

During his annual television speech only the photograph of the 76-year-old Emir Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah of Kuwait in the corner of the TV screen was shown, while the news announcer read the speech, telling that the emir was pleased with the way the country celebrates the Islam's holy month and calling on his countrymen to care for their young people. As the Kuwaitis know that the Emir is not in a good health, after suffering a brain hemorrhage last year. But the Kuwaitis are more afraid for the future as also the crown prince, 72-year-old Crown Prince Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, is widely believed to be sick with colon problems. That leaves the question of succession weighing heavily on the country. And these days, the question is magnified by the the fear that another war with Iraq may be coming. There are no rules set on princely succession in Kuwait. Instead, each emir selects his own crown prince after secret consultations within the 3,000-member family. So the dual illnesses have created a palace puzzle that has unnerved many Kuwaitis and, according to politicians and observers, set off a spate of lobbying for position by younger members of the ruling clan. "It's legitimate for people to aspire to power," a liberal parliamentarian said, adding that he is regularly visited by young members of the family looking for support. But, he said, the competition "is creating an unhealthy atmosphere." It is said the possibility of change in neighboring Iraq requires more openness from the family on the succession issue. The family remains silent about the issue and family members say it is the way it should be. "The family will solve the situation. And however they solve it will be accepted by Kuwaitis," said Sheik Humoud Al Jaber Al Sabah, a cousin of the emir. The Al Sabah family has governed what is now Kuwait for nearly 250 years. The present emir has held power since 1977.

December 14th
The Prince of Wales is looking for a housekeeper to run Birkhall, his grandmother's holiday home, which he inherited. The Balmoral Estates Office placed an advertisement in a local weekly newspaper without mentioning who the employer will be, but the advertisement states that applicants will be security checked. The advertisement also reads: "You will have at least three years' experience in a senior housekeeping role, ideally within a large house, with an established track record of being meticulous, tactful, extremely discreet and trustworthy. The successful candidate will manage the housekeeping staff and ensure the highest standards of cleanliness, good order and presentation of the house and other buildings are maintained at all times. You will also have excellent communication and practical housekeeping skills, together with the proven ability to manage, motivate and train staff effectively. A current driving licence and good IT skills are also essential." The Birkhall post was left open after the previous housekeeper resigned after the death of the Queen Mother. The closing date for applications is January 6th, 2003.

December 15th
Countess Eloise Sophie Beatrix Laurence van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkvrouw van Amsberg was christened this morning in a Dutch reformed service at the chapel of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, led by the Rev. Carel ter Linden. The organ was played by Jan van Hemert and Jozien Jansen played the cello. De Veluwse Cantorij was the choir that sung during the service. After the service photographers were able to make some pictures. The little countess's godparents were Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands, Princess Carolina de Bourbon de Parme and Sophie van de Wouw. The christening was among others attended by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima, Prince Bernhard, Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène with son Lucas, Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette with daughter Isabella, Prince Floris, Prince Carlos and Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Princess Christina, Juliana Guillermo, Laurens-Jan and Jantien Brinkhorst and Mabel Wisse Smit (girlfriend of Prince Johan Friso), as well as Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg.

Yesterday Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand, where they were greeted by 200 people, most Japanese. The imperial couple chatted with the crowd for about 15 minutes. They visited the Antarctic Center. Staff presented them with a giant cuddly toy penguin for their daughter Aiko. Before flying to Te Anau they attended a reception hosted by the mayor of Christchurch. Today they took a cruise on Milford Sound.

James Hewitt says if he would sell the 64 love letters he exchanged with his former lover, the late Diana Princess of Wales, it would reportedly cost the buyer $16 million and a promise to keep them private. Lawyer Michael Coleman says Mr Hewitt has the right to sell the letters, but he would insist on a promise that they will never be published. The statement followed a tabloid report that Mr Hewitt offered the letters to an undercover reporter, posing as a middleman for a fictional Swiss tycoon, for $16 million. Mr Coleman read extracts from the letters to the reporter including intimate admissions of love and shared fantasies. The princess's relatives and the British royal family made no comments. A spokesman for Earl Spencer said: "It is not something we would comment on."

Two British newspapers today report that Michael Peat, the private secretary to the Prince of Wales, received a letter from an ex-policeman last week containing details of a plan to steal the hair of Prince Harry to obtain a DNA sample. The letter was given to the police and the Prince of Wales and his son Harry were alerted. The Sunday Times said that, according to an unnamed source close to the princes, the letter claimed that a media organisation had hired a private detective to steal the hair. According to a report in the Mail on Sunday the hair was supposed to be sold to a foreign newspaper to test rumours that James Hewitt is Harry's father. It said that an attractive girl would have been used to pluck a hair from Harry's head.

An inquiry has been started after an intruder entered St James's Palace shortly before midnight on Wednesday 11 December without being stopped by security. A report says that the man was only apprehended after he started drunkenly knocking at the door of the Princess Royal, apparently asking for directions to Victoria Station. A police spokesman only said that a man was stopped within the precincts of St James's Palace by a police officer. "He was questioned and his identity established. He was escorted from the premises." The spokesman says inquiries are continuing into how the intruder gained access to the Palace. He added that no officers had been suspended as a result of the incident. St James's Palace declined to comment on security issues.

December 17th
Rumours are becoming stronger and stronger that Prince Laurent of Belgium will become engaged to his girlfriend Claire Coombs on the 19th. It seems he has told the news himself at a private birthday party of one of his protégés. Meanwhile the official website of the Belgian Royal Family has finally been redesigned and was transferred to an own domain.

A source close to the royal palace at Rabat says that Princess Lalla Salma, the wife of King Mohammed VI, is pregnant and that the child will be born in 2003. Nothing has been made official.

December 18th
Belgian newspapers say that the wedding of Prince Laurent of Belgium and 28-year-old Claire Coombs will take place on April 12th, 2003. The Belgian government is said to discuss tomorrow at 10:30 to give permission to the couple to get married, after which the engagement will be made public. That might be followed by an official announcement by the royal court.

The former apartments at Kensington Palace in London of the late Princess Margaret of Great Britain will be opened up to the public as an education centre and extra exhibition space for the royal ceremonial dress collection, as they will be taken over by the Historic Royal Palaces. Buckingham Palace also confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain will pay £120,000 a year from her own funds in rent for Prince and Princess Michael of Kent to remain at Kensington Palace. No decision has yet been made on the future of the former Kensington Palace apartment of Diana, Princess of Wales.

December 19th
Prince Laurent of Belgium and Claire Coombs became engaged. The wedding will take place on April 12, 2003 in Brussels, Belgium.

December 21st
Emperor Akihito of Japan will be admitted to the Hospital of the Imperial Household on Tuesday to undergo a biopsy on his prostate. He will stay there until Wednesday. According to the agency, ultrasound tests have not shown any abnormalities in the emperor's prostate, but doctors at the hospital have been concerned over blood test results in the past few years. Experts from other hospitals will be invited to check the results of the biopsy.

December 22nd
Isabella Juliana Lily van Vollenhoven, daughter of Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette van Oranje-Nassau Van Vollenhoven was christened at the chapel of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn this afternoon. The service, attended by family and friends, was led by the Rev. A. van der Meiden. Godparents of Isabella are Prince Maurits, José Sekrève (sister of Princess Annette) and Menno de Jong (a friend of Prince Bernhard).

The complete Norwegian royal family attended the final concert of the Oslo Gospel Choir in Oslo today. Princess Märtha Louise took part in the whole tour of 28 concerts since November 30. She both read out loud from her own Christmas fairy tale, called "The Christmas Lights" (Julelysene), and sang, backed by Sigvart Dagsland and the choir. Princess Märtha Louise says she’s thoroughly enjoyed her experience of touring with the choir, although it has been demanding. Before entering the Oslo Spektrum arena this evening her husband Ari Behn told: "I've seen six of them, so I'm what you'd call a 'super fan'". The album she made with the Oslo Gospel Choir meanwhile has become double platinum, as more than 200.000 copies have been sold. The Norwegian royal family is looking forward to spend Christmas together at the Kongsseteren lodge.

December 23rd
Just after 9:00 this morning the Italian royal family landed at Ciampino military airport, Rome, in a private plane, ending an exile of 56 years. At 11:00 they were received by Pope John Paul II for a private audience. Prince Vittorio Emmanuele spoke of experiencing "indescribable emotion" at his return. At the end of the day they returned home to Switzerland.

December 25th
In her Christmas speech Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands referred to a year that brought her family a wedding, birth, christening and a death, going through all stages of life. She told that "Many shared our grieving about my husband. The farewell stressed him as a human being. Living with his principles of truth and equality he was allowed to be an example for many. With conviction he worked hard for humanity, justice and truth. Sincerely attached to life he found his strength in his bond with his fellow human beings, also on other continents." She also spoke about injustice and violation in the world. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain spoke about the loss of her mother and sister this year and also looked back to the great Golden Jubilee celebrations. She said: "As I look back over these past 12 months, I know that it has been about as full a year as I can remember." The Christmas speech of King Albert II of the Belgians mainly spoke about the meaning of culture for society.

Prince Turki ibn Faisal ibn Saad of Saudi Arabia passed away at the age of 50 on Monday in a Swiss Hospital.

The British royal family attended church on the Sandringham estate. Queen Elizabeth II arrived in her Rolls Royce together with the Countess of Wessex. Despite suffering from a strained ligament of the right knee the Queen walked without a walking stick, although she slightly limped. Earlier this week a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "She is making a quick recovery with the occasional use of a stick." Other members of the royal family at the service included the Prince of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, Viscount and Viscountess Linley, Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto.

December 28th
Emperor Akihito of Japan was diagnosed with prostate cancer during a recent medical checkup, the Imperial Household Agency said. The Emperor will undergo an operation in mid-January to have the cancerous tissue removed and will remain in hospital for about one month. He was hospitalized Tuesday for a prostate checkup and spent the night at the Hospital of the Imperial Household as a precaution. The Emperor underwent the examination because blood tests over the past three years showed "slightly worrisome" figures. At a press conference Doctor Ichiro Kanazawa said the Emperor was notified of the condition because he has a very good chance of a full recovery and will be treated accordingly. "The emperor is a scientist and took the notification calmly." Kanazawa said.

The Prince of Wales has been accused of hypocrisy for urging the Government to help struggling farmers by ordering its departments to buy British products as such a policy would have an enormous impact on the viability of Britain's farms, he says in an interview with Farmers Weekly. He said: "I have been told that EU tendering rules mean it is impossible to specify the type of food you wish to buy under contracts that are worth over a certain amount. However the University of Wales has recently completed an excellent piece of work showing there are perfectly legal mechanisms to avoid this." The prince said such methods were used by other EU countries who understood the value of good-quality home-produced food. However hours after this appeal came out it became known that the Prince of Wales has bought a few new cars from the German firm Audi to replace a Vauxhall Omega which is no longer produced. A St James's Palace spokeswoman said: "Vauxhall have decided to stop making Omegas so he has had to pick another car and has chosen Audi. Audi was the car that met the required specification." She said the decision did not contradict his article in Farmers' Weekly because "he was talking about food, not cars".

December 29th
Near the oasis of Al Fajum in the Ahanassya area, some 100 kilometres southern from Cairo, Egypt, Spanish archeologists have found four graves of pharaohs from 2260 to 2050 BC. Sepulchral chambers have been found with beautifully decorated walls with religious motives and pictures of the deceased.


Royal News: November 2002. Last updated: December 4th, 2002.