ROYAL NEWS: DECEMBER 2008

Last updated: January 8th, 2009.

December 1st
Fürstin Nadja Anna zu Schaumburg-Lippe gave birth to a daughter at 7.07 this morning in a women's clinic in München, Germany. She and her husband Fürst Alexander zu Schaumburg-Lippe named their daughter Felipa. At birth she was 48 cm tall and weighed 3170 gramms. Mother and daughter will leave hospital in a few days. In a press statement the couple said: "We are grateful and happy. Felipa is the most wonderful Christmas gift."

December 2nd
Grand Duke Henri of Luxemburg is refusing to sign a bill that legalizes euthanasia for 'reasons of conscience', it emerged on Monday. The Luxemburg government today announced that they are planning to strip the Grand Duke of his power to sanction laws.

December 4th
Officials said today that they have identified the body of President Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan, who was killed in a coup in 1978. A small golden Quran the President had received from the King of Saudi Arabia, and which was found next to the body, helped authorities to identify the body, as well as teeth molds. The body was among the bodies discovered in two mass graves at the Pul-e-Charkhi area near Kabul six months ago.

December 5th
On the occasion of the 5th birthday of Princess Amalia of the Netherlands on Sunday, the Government Information Service issued nine new photos of her, and her siblings, as well as some new official portraits of her parents. They were taken by Robin Utrecht in August 2008.

Photos

On 10 December Christie's will auction off the Wittelsbach Diamond during its London sale of jewels. The Wittelsbach Diamond - a rare 35,56 carat blue diamond - was presented by King Felipe IV of Spain to his daughter Infanta Margarita Teresa in 1664. The diamond is expected to fetch as much as 9 million pounds.

Emperor Akihito of Japan cancelled several appointments in the past three days after having been diagnosed with an irregular pulse. His blood pressure rose on Tuesday night, but is normal again. He cancelled appointments to have a check up and take rest. According to the Imperial Household Agency he complained about chest pains already two weeks ago. The Emperor is said to resume part of his work today.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was unable to deliver his birthday speech on the occasion of his 81st birthday yesterday, because of a minor illness. He usually delivers a speech on the eve of his birthday, which is broadcasted live on radio and later on on television. The King's son Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn represented him yesterday at a birthday reception for government officials and Thai people. In name of his father, the Crown Prince said that the King hoped that the well-wishers would receive happiness, physical strength, courage and mental strength to fulfil their duty for the country and the public.

Dr. Michael Cobble, research director at the US Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, said today that experts from the USA are certain that the remains found at the first burial site near Yekaterinburg in 1991 were the authentic remains of Tsar Nikolai II of Russia and his family. Three types of DNA were examined and compared with the DNA of members of the family. The researchers are 100% certain.

The administrative court in Potsdam, Germany, announced today it has dismissed a claim by Fürst Friedrich zu Solms-Baruth for the return of a a 7,224-hectare tract in Brandenburg. He claimed that the Nazis stripped his late grandfather of his rights of ownership in July 1944. The court ruled that the land was expropriated as part of a land reform, and that the persecution of the 3rd Fürst zu Solms-Baruth by the Nazis didn't result in the loss of his fortune. Fürst Friedrich in a statement said to be very disappointed about the decision of the court. The ruling is said to be appealed.

December 6th
Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria married Count Rodolphe de Limburg Stirum at Mechelen in Belgium today. Report and photos.

According to a statement by the Royal Household Bureau the fever of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was still fluctuating yesterday, although he started taking fluid meals, after being unable to take food and medicines because of an infection in his throat.

December 8th
The European Court of Human Rights announced today that Princess Caroline of Monaco has sued the German magazines Frau im Spiegel and Frau Aktuell for breaching her privacy. Between 2002 and 2004 one of the magazines published photos of her and her husband Prince Ernst August of Hanover skiing in St. Moritz and stories about the deteriorating health of her father, Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Princess Caroline argues that the photos and article are an infringement of her right to privacy.

In a letter on his website former King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia said today that his health is deteriorating. Although his Chinese doctors told his wife that he should be taken to hospital in case of an emergency, he said he prefers to die at home. He also said that his doctors have increased examinations from once a week to many times a week.

December 9th
His doctors have adviced Emperor Akihito of Japan to reduce his activities in the coming month. Medical checks showed he suffered from an inflamation and bleeding in the stomach last week. A spokesman for the Imperial Household Agency said that the cause might be mental stress.

In a written statement on the occasion of her 45th birthday, Crown Princess Masako of Japan said to be very happy that she was able to make her first official appearance in five years in November. She attended the welcoming ceremony for the Spanish royal couple. She said: "It was my first attendance at such a ceremony in a while, and I am delighted and truly grateful that I was able to take part in the ceremony with the support of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko." She added: "I was worried sometimes that it wouldn't be possible for me to complete all the preparations for the Crown Prince's trips abroad and for our move, but I'm relieved that I could manage thanks to the help of all the people around me, including agency officials." The Crown Princess had to cancel birthday events on Tuesday because of a fever.

December 10th
Nobel prizes were handed out in Oslo and Stockholm. In Oslo King Harald V and Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the presentation of the Nobel peace prize to former president Martti Ahtisaari of Finland. Also Prince Friso and Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau were present, as Princess Mabel works closely with the former president. The other Nobel prizes were presented in Stockholm, where the presentation was attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine.

The Government Information Service announced today that Prince Floris and Princess Aimée van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven expect their second child early July 2009. Their daughter Magali was born in October 2007.

The Government's auditor said today that the royal palaces in Great Britain are crumbling because of cuts in the money allocated to repair them. The palaces need urgent work. That would cost £32m. The National Audit Office has urged the Culture department and the Royal Household's property section to talk about which repairs are most urgent and how they can be funded.

A poll by Gallup for Post Danmark, in which 1114 people were questioned from which known Dane they'd like to receive a Christmas, shows that most people would like to have a Christmas card from Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Second was Crown Prince Frederik, and Crown Princess Mary ended in third place.

The 17th century Wittelsbach diamond fetched a record $ 24,3 million at auction at Christie's in London.

King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia has appointed his halfbrother Prince Norodom Ranariddh as his chief advisor.

December 11th
Prince Harry of Wales will be trained as an army helicopter pilot, Clarence House announced in a statement today. They said: "If Prince Harry qualifies as an Army Air Corps pilot, he will, like any officer, be available for operational service wherever the AAC flies." The Prince will start training next month. He has passed a four-week selection process of the Army Air Corps.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and her family will spend Queen's Day 2009 (30 April) in Apeldoorn, it was announced today.

The Luxemburg parliament voted almost unanimously today to change the constitution, so that Grand Duke Henri of Luxemburg will no longer have the right to approve laws adopted by the parliament. The second vote will follow in three months time, after which the change will be official.

December 12th
CNN website users have voted Queen Rania of Jordan as the most inspirational leader featured on CNN's "The Spirit of ...".

At a press conference on Thursday grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, Shingo Haketa, said: "His Majesty appears to be worried about the issue of future Imperial succession, which he has constantly had on his mind, as well as various matters involving the Imperial Family." He however didn't want to become more specific. He furthermore said that Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are not dissatisfied with Crown Princess Masako's failure to sufficiently perform her official duties. He said that he thinks that the imperial couple is worried about news reports that attribute the Crown Princess' adjustment disorder partly to stress arising from the Imperial Family. He said that the imperial couple feels deeply hurt by such news reports. Mr Haketa said that the agency is considering cutting down the schedule of the Emperor for the coming weeks.

December 15th
In Norway a photosession was held at Skaugum. King Harald and Queen Sonja as well as the crownprincely family are to spend Christmas at Kongsseteren. Princess Märtha Louise and her family are celebrating with her family-in-law at Lommedalen.

Pictures

Video

On 16 December the site http://www.nos.nl/koningshuis is to go online. This is to become the place to be for audiovisual material on the Dutch royals. It will start with 250 videos, mainly of Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima with their children, but will extended in the coming years. Also live tv-broadcasts will be shown here, starting with the Oranje Jaaroverzicht of the NOS: Het Huis van Oranje in 2008 (The House of Orange in 2008) on 16 December (10.02pm-10.53pm). In the future also events like Queen's Day, Prinsjesdag, christenings, etc. as far as broadcasted by the NOS, will be shown live here. Furthermore the site will contain an agenda of the royal house and RVD-messages.

December 16th
The court of appeal in Paris today confirmed the 10-year jail sentence of Prince Nayef al-Shaalan of Saudi Arabia for his involvement in a cocaine smuggling group. It also added a seven million euro fine to the sentence. The Prince himself again failed to show up at trial. The court of appeal has issued a warrant for his arrest.

The Imperial Household Agency announced that Emperor Akihito of Japan will not hold his annual birthday press conference next week due to his health problems. He will release comments for his 75th birthday instead.

December 17th
The laptop of the Duchess of York was stolen during a burglary at a studio in Hertfordshire, England, last Thursday. An aide had brought the laptop there so the pictures could be downloaded. The Duchess is said to be devastated. A source said: "The laptop contains pictures of her family and friends as well as snaps taken on her recent travels. They are personal images taken by the duchess and she desperately wants them back." The police say it is unlikely those responsible realised it belonged to royalty when they took it, but warn they may try to access the material it contains.

The Christmas cards of the Spanish royal family can be downloaded online.

Christmas cards

Zahi Hawass, chief of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, told Discovery news: "We can now say that Tutankhamun was the child of Akhenaten." A few months ago Mr Hawass discovered the missing part of a broken limestone block in a storeroom of the archaeological site at El Ashmuneim. The reassembled limestone has become "an accurate piece of evidence that proves Tut lived in el Amarna with Akhenaten and he married his wife, Ankhesenamun." Hawass also said: "The block shows the young Tutankhamun and his wife, Ankhesenamun, seated together. The text identifies Tutankhamun as the 'king's son of his body, Tutankhaten,' and his wife as the 'king's daughter of his body, Ankhesenaten'."

December 18th
A visitor's book signed by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was auctioned at JP Humbert in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, today. It was sold for £1,600. The auction house said to come from a private vendor in Northamptonshire, who acquired it from a headmaster of the Haile Selassie school in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. The book also contains about 200 photos of the Emperor with other heads of states. Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert said: "It sold to a private collector and will be the jewel in his crown because he has spent a lifetime researching the slave trade in Ethiopia and the life of Haile Selassi. For him to get a book with his signature and all those images is quite unprecedented and the opportunity of a lifetime."

December 22nd
Former royal butler Paul Kidd has been sentenced to at least six years in prison for child abuse offences. He served Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the late Queen Mother for nine years between 1977 and 1984, and some of the offences were committed while working in the royal household. Mr Kidd pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault and six counts of sexual activity with a child. He also admitted possessing more than 18.000 indecent images of children and making these images.

December 23rd
Queen Silvia of Sweden told the Swedish news agency TT that there will not be a grand birthday party on the occasion of her 65th birthday today. She said: "We are going to meet in the evening with the family and Princess Christina and her family." She has no plans to retire: Sometimes I think that I would like to have more time for myself and my family and I would also like more time to travel around Sweden. I have mixed feelings on retirement and sometimes I think it would be nice. But, on the other hand, I feel that I have so much more to give of my experiences."

Despite of his health Emperor Akihito of Japan appeared three times to greet the 18.000 well-wishers at the Imperial Palace today. It was the first time in about two weeks that he was seen in public. In his reflections upon his 75th birthday the Emperor said: "I appreciate the concern for my health that many people have shown. I feel there has been an improvement in my condition lately, compared to a while back." He also referred to the health of Crown Princess Masako: "At a time when the Crown Princess is suffering from illness, it is only natural that our whole family support her. Both Her Majesty and I earnestly wish for the health of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, and hope to continue to support the two of them, who will be assuming weighty positions in the future."

The Emperor's reflections

December 24th
In his speech on Christmas Eve King Juan Carlos of Spain showed his concern about the economic crisis in the world. He asked for "more efficiency and competitiveness", to return to sustainable growth. He said that unfortunately there is no magical recipe to end the crisis. The King also called for unity in the fight against terrorism.

In his Christmas speech King Albert II of the Belgians urged the political parties in Belgium to form a new government as soon as possible and respond to the financial crisis in the world. It is the third political crisis in Belgium in one year. He also referred to the dispute between Flanders and Wallonia. He said: "I sincerely hope that, despite the difficulties, the work will continue in a constructive spirit and with essential discretion. It is a vital issue for our country and for the well-being of everyone."

December 25th
In her traditional Christmas speech from the music room at Buckingham Palace Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain spoke about her concern over the economic crisis in the world. She also referred to the terrorist attacks in the world. Shown was among others footage of Prince Harry of Wales presenting awards to 10 children of courage, and private footage of the Prince of Wales as a little child.

The British royal family traditionally spent Christmas Day at Sandringham in Norfolk. They attended the service at St Mary Magdalene Church today. Queen Elizabeth II was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, theDuchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry of Wales, the Princess Royal, Timothy Laurence, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Peter and Autumn Phillips, Zara Phillips, Daniel and Lady Sarah Chatto. About 2000 onlookers greeted them.

In her Christmas speech Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands talked about the relationship between the generations. She said that the younger generation no longer see the need to care for the elder people, although there are more and more elderly people.

In his Christmas speech King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden urged to stay positive in a world plagued by climate problems and economic crisis. He said: "Even the financial crisis can promote something positive." Apart from the crisis he especially mentioned young people who are involved in issues affecting them, and people working with integration.

December 26th
At 8.00pm on Christmas Eve Hereditary Princess Elna-Margret zu Bentheim und Steinfurt gave birth to her first child at a hospital in Münster, Germany. Her husband Hereditary Prince Carl-Ferdinand returned with wife and son to the castle in Burgsteinfurt just after 11.00pm on the same day. The birth of Jonathan Alexis Viktor took place without any difficulties and mother and child are doing fine. The baby was 53 cm tall and weighed 3760 gramms. The flag waved on top of the castle on 25 December.

December 28th
On his website former King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia has disclosed that Chinese doctors have diagnosed him with cancer for the third time. Doctors are optimistic about his treatment, as the cancer is situated in a part of the body which will allow relatively simple and easy treatment. The former King's return to Cambodia, which was planned in February 2009, therefore has been delayed.

Tuanka Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, head of the Negri Sembilan state (Malaysia) died yesterday aged 86. He was taken to hospital on Saturday, because he complained about an headache and dizziness. He died a few hours later at the intensive care. He is survived by his wife Tuanku Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, three sons and three daughters. Tuanku Ja'afar was the 10th King of Malaysia between 1994 and 1999, and ruled Negri Sembilan since 1967. The funeral will take place on Monday at the Seri Menanti royal cemetery. His remains were driven to Istana Besar Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah, today with police escorts.

December 29th
New pictures were released of Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium and their four children Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore.

Pictures

Prince William of Wales, who grew a beard in recent weeks, became runner-up in the annual Beard of the Year Award behind Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says it is looking at claims that the Earl of Wessex struck a labrador with his walking stick at the Sandringham estate. There were complaints after pictures of the Earl showed up holding a stick over a black labrador. A spokesperson of Buckingham Palace said: "It has not been determined that he did strike the dog. He broke up the fight with the dogs and pictures show him waving his stick around. We cannot confirm, however, whether he struck the dog."

60-year-old Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir has been proclaimed the new Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan today at the throne room of the Istana Besar Seri Menanti. He was appointed from among the Putera Yang Empat (Four Princes) in accordance with the state constitution in a simple ceremony.

December 30th
Dagmar Heine née Princess zu Schaumburg-Lippe died on 24 December 2008. She was widowed Kalau vom Hofe. There will be a private funeral. She is survived by her daughters Tatjana Kalau vom Hofe-Glende and Carolin von Boehn, their husbands, and by five grandchildren.

December 31st
The Prince of Wales beat his sister the Princess Royal this year. For the first time in many years she is no longer the hardest working British royal. The Prince of Wales carried out 560 engagements, the Princess Royal 534. However the Princess Royal carried out 299 official visits, opening ceremonies and other engagements, while the Prince of Wales only carried out 166. The Prince of Wales carried out 193 investitutures, meetings and audiences, the Princess Royal 74. The Prince of Wales had 106 overseas engagements, the Princess Royal 52. 82-year-old Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain carried out 417 engagements (440 in 2007), and the 87-year-old Duke of Edinburgh 354. The Duke of York carried out 293 overseas engagements, mainly as Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Prince William of Wales carried out 24 engagements in 2008, and his brother Prince Harry 17, including 2 overseas engagements.

In his New Year's speech tonight King Harald V of Norway recalled among others the 60th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Declaration in 2008: 'All men are born equal'. The king in his speech said: "If we had really taken this to heart, the King said, the world woul have looked different from how it looks today. I want to use this last day of the year to reflect over what it is that link us human beings to each other." He further mentioned the financial and the climate crisis.

In his New Year's speech King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand called on the Thai people to be careful in their thinking and actions so the country will become a peaceful and happy nation. He said: "Happiness and progress are very much desired by people. But only when everyone acts carefully and is always keenly aware of what they are thinking can those aims be achieved." The King also expressed his appreciation for the loyalty shown by Thais who participated in the royal funeral rites for his sister Princess Galyani Vadhana. Traditionally the King also designed a greeting card for the New Year for his people. The card shows the King sitting in a chair with his two dogs.


Royal News: November 2008. Last updated: December 1st, 2008.