Last updated: July 31st, 2005.
May 1st
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton on Tuesday will start his job as private secretary for Prince William and Prince Harry of Wales. He will become their key aide and will guide them in their royal duties. He is expected to be particularly helpful to Prince William when he finishes his degree at St Andrew's University in Scotland later this year. Clarence House said William, Harry, and their father Prince Charles made the decision to appoint Lowther-Pinkerton together. He will work closely with Sir Michael Peat, private secretary to the Prince of Wales, and Helen Asprey, personal secretary to Prince William and Prince Harry, who organises their diaries. He will work for the princes for 2 1/2 days a week. As the princes grow older and assume more royal duties, Lowther-Pinkerton will advise them about which engagements to take on, and what charities to support. Mr Lowther-Pinkerton was a former equerry to the late Queen Mother Elizabeth.
May 2nd
King Harald V of Norway has finally left hospital for good just over four weeks after he underwent open heart surgery. He was allowed to leave the National Hospital last week, but had to return in the evenings. On Monday he was officially released. He will continue his recovery at the royal lodge of Kongsseteren. It's important, doctors say, for the king to go for walks outdoors and get some mild exercise. That's not easy at the royal palace, which is surrounded by a public park. It remains unclear when the king will start his duties again.
The Danish royal family overspent by 17m kroner ($3m) in 2004, its first annual financial report has revealed. The 59m kroner Europe's oldest monarchy received from the taxpayer to run their household with 125 staff was insufficient to meet last year's costs. The family was in the red mainly due to the cost of Crown Prince Frederik's wedding and Queen Margrethe II's purchase of a new car, the report indicated. However, it did not offer any detailed breakdown of the expenditures. "Most of the amount can be traced to the celebration of the crown prince's wedding in May 2004," the report said. In addition to the wedding the document put the overspend down to extensive renovations to the newlyweds' palace. It also revealed that the royal house was worth 12.8bn kroner ($2.2bn).
Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Presidential Affairs, has married a daughter of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a luncheon at Jumeirah City that was attended by a large number of dignitaries, including members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the United Arab Emirates, their crown princes, deputy rulers, shaikhs, ministers and senior officials. Among them were Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Crown Prince Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, Prince Mut’eb bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Shaikh As’ad bin Tariq al Busaidi and the Duke of York.
Former King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia has delayed his return home from China because his health has deteriorated. He is suffering from cancer. He has been receiving medical treatment in Beijing on and off for several years. He was due back in Cambodia next week. In a statement posted on his website, Sihanouk said doctors believed his tumour was "in a very severe state". "They asked me to delay my stay in Beijing for a while so that they can offer me treatment," he wrote. His son King Norodom Sihamoni, who is currently visiting his father in China, is still expected to return to Phnom Penh as planned on 8 May.
The Prague City Court has already decided in the case of Qatari Prince Hamid bin Abdal Sani, charged with sexual abuse of underage girls, during a closed trial today, but the verdict will be released only following its delivery in writing to all participants in the case. "I expect the verdict to be sent by a messenger to the district court on Thursday," Prague City Court spokesman Lubos Vlasak said. It is thus not yet known whether Sani will stay in custody and whether the district court senate and judge have been biased or not.
May 3rd
According to Swiss researchers Emperor Napoleon I of France suffered from stomach cancer at the end of his life. The Swiss study compared nine pairs of trousers worn by Napoleon both before and after his exile on the island of Saint Helena. They concluded that the emperor lost more than 11 kilos during the last five months of his life. When Napoleon died in 1821, he weighed 75.7 kilos at a height of 1.67 meters. According to the study, there is no dispute that the French emperor suffered from a malignant gastric tumor in 1820. His health deteriorated progressively with bleeding in his digestive tract complicating the cancer. The Swiss study was led by Alessandro Lugli, a specialist in anatomical pathology at the university hospital in Basel in collaboration with the institute of medical history at the University of Zurich.
May 4th
33-year-old former air stewardess Nicole Coste, who is originally from Togo, claims that Prince Albert II of Monaco is the father of her 21-month-old son Alexandre. In an interview with Paris-Match, accompanied by six photos of the Prince holding Alexandre, she says that she met the Prince on a Paris-Nice flight in July 1997 when she was working for Air France. “Before landing, he asked for my phone number,” she said. For five years, she saw him once a month, she claims. She said that the Prince had never hidden their affair, but that the relationship had soured after she had been introduced to Prince Rainier at a dinner in Monaco. The next day Prince Albert told her: “I think it’s better if we just stay friends.” In December 2002, they met again for a meal and ended up in bed, when Nicole Coste, who already had two children, fell pregnant. “Neither him nor me wanted that,” she said, adding that she had forgotten to take the pill because she had just returned from a long-haul flight to New York. She said that at first the Prince told her: “Keep the child. I’ll look after it. You’ll never go without anything. I don’t promise to marry you, but keep the child and don’t worry. I’ll slowly get it accepted in my family.” Then, when she was five months pregnant, he told her: “I’ve asked for advice. This child is impossible.” Later, he said: “You’ve trapped me.” After the birth, Prince Albert changed his tone, telling Nicole Coste that he would “sort all the problems out”. She claims that he pays her an allowance, that she lives in his flat in an expensive district of west Paris and that he regularly visits his son. She said also that a paternity test carried out in 2003 confirmed that Prince Albert is father to her son. She told: "Albert signed the certificate stating that he was the father. He did it out of respect for me, on the condition that the certificate not be given to city hall until after the death of his father." Miss Coste said she no longer had a copy of the signed birth certificate but had asked several time for a copy from the authorities. She told Paris Match that she had decided to make the disclosure so that “Alexandre can grow up like a normal child with a father. I want the lies to stop. I’m fed up with lying, with hiding myself and pretending to be (Albert’s) friend’s mistress. I just want him to assume some of his responsibilities, I'm not a gold-digger." The Royal Palace in Monaco has refused to confirm or deny her claims, saying only a "legal strategy will be determined in the coming days". Thierry Lacoste, lawyer for the Monaco royal family said: "One has to wonder why this matter is coming to the forefront at this time."
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is offering a reward for the safe return of his pet dog Khun Khao Pod Thien after it went missing on Saturday late afternoon on April 30 at the royal palace in Hua Hin. Royal aides have now offered a 20,000 baht - around £270 - reward for his safe return. The search is being headed by the local police chief and the district's mayor who have made public announcements on local television and radio stations asking for help in finding the royal pet. The dog is described as being particularly important as he is a descendent of the King's favourite dog, Khun Tongdaeng.
May 6th
The troubled Diana memorial fountain has reopened this morning without ceremony after months of improvement work. Turf worn away by visitors has been replaced with tougher grass and a path around the site resurfaced to enable wheelchair access. Visitors are now allowed only to dip their hands and feet into the water. Works to improve drainage and tackle flooding began in January. New additions include a 35mm hardwearing rye grass turf, normally used on sports pitches, to replace existing waterlogged grass. The resin-bonded path has also been lengthened by about 250m, drainage improved, and metal bars put underneath the bridges to prevent debris getting trapped. A Royal Parks spokesman said about 80 visitors had arrived for the reopening and many more were expected throughout the day. "It's just business as usual," he said.
May 7th
Today Kira Marina Liepsner, daughter of the late Princess Kira of Prussia, married Andreas von Bismarck at the St.Peter und Paul Kirche at Nikolskoe, Berlin. The ceremony was led by Bishop Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Huber. Almost the whole House of Hohenzollern was present. The bride wore a dress designed by her cousin Duchess Rixa von Oldenburg. The couple's daughter Luise was born in 2002.
The engagement was announced at Turin, Italy, between Prince Aimone of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of Apulia, and Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark. Prince Aimone is the only son of the Duke of Aosta and Princess Claude of France. Princess Olga is the youngest daughter of Prince Michel of Greece and Denmark and his wife Marina née Karella. The engagement took place already in November and has become official some days ago during a private supper with the couple and their parents. On the occasion Princess Olga received from her fiancé a golden ring with a diamond and some emeralds. The date of marriage has not been set yet.
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand yesterday took his wife Mom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayudhya and their newborn son back home to Sukhothai Palace. The Crown Prince, who was accompanied by his daughter Princess Siriwanwaree Mahidol, pushed Mom Srirasmi in a wheelchair as she held their son in her lap out of Centennial Pavilion at 4.46pm amid cheers from waiting well-wishers. They received some gifts. Child singer Chonnipa Saengtong presented them with a roosted-shaped doll and some of her albums. Mom Srirasmi apparently had tears of happiness in her eyes. They went to pay respect at the statues of Prince Mahidol of Songkhla and the Princess Mother Sri Nagarindra, grandparents of the crown prince, in the hospital’s compound. They finally left hospital at 5.35pm. A doctor said that a medical team would pay daily visits to Mom Srirasmi and her son at Sukhothai Palace to provide medical care. He believed Mom Srirasmi would fully recover within two months. Sukhothai Palace will provide books for well-wishers to convey their congratulations.
May 8th
The Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, announced today that Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, wife of the Prince of Asturias, is pregnant with her first child. The baby will be born in November. A brief statement said: "The Prince and Princess of Asturias are delighted to announce they are expecting the birth of their first child next November. Their Majesties the King and Queen wish to express their great happiness at this joyful announcement." When King Juan Carlos arrived at the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona later on Sunday he said: "All the family is very happy, my grandchildren are saying they're going to have a new cousin, so it's all wonderful."
Prince Harry of Wales, accompanied by his father the Prince of Wales, arrived at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in Surrey to begin his carreer in the army. "I am really excited. I want to get on with it and do the best job I can do," he said in a statement. Prince Harry had to pass a four-day assessment, featuring fitness tasks and a military planning exercise, to win his place at the academy. The Prince was one of 270 recruits joining the academy for the 44-week officer training corp. Prince Harry is joining the Alamein company and will belong to one of its three platoons of 30 men. After enrolling and picking up the keys to his modest room, Harry emerged from the old college building wearing a new red name badge with just the word "Wales" printed in white capital letters. Senior officers are understood to be planning to call him Mr Wales or Officer Cadet Wales while his fellow soldiers will just use his surname.
May 11th
More than 80 years after the discovery of the mummy of King Tutankhamun scientists have finally reached some agreement on how King Tutankhamun appeared in life. Zahi Hawass, the Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, commissioned three independent teams, from France, Egypt and the United States, to produce fresh reconstructions using the CT scans. The 1,700 high-resolution images were produced chiefly to determine whether King Tutankhamun had been murdered. Each team used facial-reconstruction techniques commonly used to assist in the identification of murder victims. Dr Hawass said: “The three reconstructions are all very similar in the unusual shape of the skull, the basic shape of the face, and the size, shape and setting of the eyes. The noses of all three are different, although the French and the American versions are more similar to each other than the Egyptian.”
May 13th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is to have her portrait painted by Rolf Harris as part of her 80th birthday celebrations next April. She will have a formal sitting with the Australian entertainer for a Rolf on Art special for BBC One. Harris said he was "thrilled to bits". When the BBC put the idea to Buckingham Palace, they were told the Queen would be delighted to take part. The show will go out later this year or in early 2006. Rolf Harris said his oil painting would be "impressionistic" rather than "photographic". He hoped it would also be "representational of the way the Queen looks and her obvious charm and friendly quality, rather than the very formal", he added. "I want to get the real person rather than the state image," said Harris. BBC One controller Peter Fincham said the programme would be "a unique television event". "It's a huge coup for the BBC to be able to show Rolf painting such a great supporter of the arts, the Queen," he said. "We're delighted that permission has been granted - it's a painting everyone will want to see."
May 14th
Prince Albert II of Monaco will be enthroned as ruler of Monaco on July 12 at the end of a three-month mourning period for his father, palace officials said today. He will thus formally become the 30th sovereign of the Grimaldi dynasty. The officials said the day would be a paid public holiday and would be marked with festivities for all citizens of Monaco as well as foreigners residing in Monaco. The official mourning period for Prince Rainier III ends July 6.
May 15th
Delphine Boel, illegitimate daughter of King Albert II of the Belgians, said today in a 10-minute interview on France 3's "On ne peut pas plaire a tout le monde" that King Albert once planned to divorce his wife and renounce his royal title. Delphine spoke about her childhood living with her mother. She said that her father used to pay regular visits to them, especially at the weekend. When she was 9 years old, in 1977, she and her mother moved to Great Britain. It was at that moment that King Albert wanted to leave his wife, Delphine said: "He wanted to divorce Paola. He had completed the paperwork. The government and the palace agreed to the divorce of Albert and Paola. He was going to have to abdicate." According to Delphine her mother and Albert remained in touch with each other for 18 years.
May 16th
Prince William of Wales has been invited by the British and Irish Lions rugby team to join them on their tour to New Zealand in July 2005. During his visit the prince will also undertake two official engagements representing his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain in Wellington and Auckland at events to commemorate the end of the Second World War. Sir Clive Woodward, Head Coach of the touring party said: "I am delighted that Prince William will be spending some time with us. It will be a great boost for the team as he is a great supporter of the game. He is going to be with the team for certain periods and it all adds to the sense of occasion around these key Tests." The prince will join the Lions squad for the second and third Test matches in Wellington and Auckland, at the beginning of July.
The health of Crown Princess Masako of Japan is improving "slowly but steadily", the Chamberlain of Togu Palace, Hideki Hayashida, has confirmed. "The crown princess now seems to regain a positive frame of mind more quickly, and we recognise that her condition has apparently improved." However it may take some time before the Crown Princess resumes official duties. She has been seen out and about more frequently over the past two weeks. She attended the 50th anniversary celebrations for Japan's UNICEF office on May 1 and last week she was photographed at Tokyo International Airport as she sent off her in-laws, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, on their eight-day tour of Ireland and Norway. On Saturday she was there to greet the Imperial couple upon their arrival home on Saturday.
Queen Rania of Jordan received the 2005 'My Way' Award today. The award was presented by the chairman of the Executive Board of the My Way Private Foundation of Austria and Mayor of Hagenbrunn Ernst Fischer. The Queen received the award in recognition of her extensive social work and contributions. During a meeting with Mr Fischer Queen Rania lauded the friendly relations between Jordan and Austria, thanking the Austrian foundation and commending them on their efforts. The meeting included a video screening on the foundation's work and past recipients including the former Polish President Lech Walesa (2003) and the late Pope John Paul II (2004). The Austrian prize is intended to raise public awareness of social consciousness and initiatives, providing individuals with personal encouragement to achieve their goals and pursue their `own way.'
A gold diamond-studded ring bearing the royal monogram on white enamel that once belonged to Emperor Alexander III of Russia was sold at the spring Bukovsky antiquarian auction in Finland yesterday. The ring was the Emperor's gift to bandmaster Adolph Frederick Leander, whose performance immensely pleased the Emperor as he was visiting Finland in 1888. The ring was auctioned off at 31,000 euros, as against a 7,000-euro starting price. The deed that confirmed the provenance of the jewel, and a photograph of Leander's army band appeared at the auction together with the precious item. The ring was bought by a Finnish national. The Finland's Museum Board however prohibited the buyer to remove the jewel from the country because of its exceptional artistic and historical value.
May 17th
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway made her debute at National feastday. In the morning she appeared with her parents at the stairs of Skaugum and stole the show. She was brought inside after about ten minutes. Her halfbrother Marius took part in the children's procession. Crown Princess Mette-Marit for the first time used her new Vest-Agder bunad (costume). Later Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit appeared on the balcony at the royal palace in Oslo. The Queen wore a bunad from Telemark, Crown Princess Mette-Marit one from Rogalan. As usual Crown Prince Haakon wore jacquet with high hat, which he takes off for each delegation that passes the balcony.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain officially opened the British parliament today. Dressed in her lavish robes of office the Queen travelled from Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage to deliver the annual Queen's speech -which outlines the government's lawmaking plans over the next 18 months - and open the new parliamentary sitting. She and the Duke of Edinburgh will jet off to Canada for an official state visit tomorrow. They will fly into Regina, in Saskatchewan province, where they will be met by Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation will give the Duchess of Cornwall the Ethel LeFrak award for her work raising awareness about the debilitating condition of osteoporosis. Both the mother and grandmother of the Duchess of Cornwall died of osteoporosis. The Duchess of Cornwall is president of the National Osteoporosis Society. She has sent a video message of thanks for the New York ceremony on 24 May. A Clarence House spokesman said: "The duchess is very honoured." The foundation's executive director Judith Cranford said: "She (Camilla) has worked for several years and has seen the consequences of the disease within her own family." The duchess is visiting an osteoporosis unit in Southampton on Monday, her first solo engagement as a member of the British Royal Family.
The Prince of Wales has called for a more holistic approach towards medicine and the nation's health. Complementary and orthodox methods of tackling diseases should be used in tandem, Prince Charles told the Royal Society of Medicine conference of medics in London. And he stressed the important role nutrition had to play in fighting growing health problems such as childhood obesity and allergies. He also praised TV chef Jamie Oliver's efforts to improve school meals. He said there had been a real shift in thinking since he first raised the issue of homeopathic medicine 23 years ago. We need to harness the best of modern science and technology, but not at the expense of losing the best of what complementary approaches have to offer. The prince was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Society today.
Sarah Forsyth, a sacked Eton art teacher was heard at a tribunal in Reading, Berkshire, Great Britain, today. She said she taped a conversation with Prince Harry of Wales because claims she was forced into improperly helping him were ignored. She wanted proof that she was pushed into doing some of the prince's AS-Level art coursework. The college and royal aides deny any suggestion of "cheating". Ms Forsyth is claiming unfair dismissal. She claims that Harry was a weak student who needed to be helped and that the school's head of art had ordered her to write a few pages of text to accompany a project by Prince Harry. She also alleged that the head of art had completed some of the Prince's artwork - a claim he denies. The tribunal's decision is expected by early July.
Prince Turki Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi ambassador for Great Britain, was following in the footsteps of his father King Faisal by climbing Wales' highest peak, the Snowdon, as part of a trade-boosting trip. His father had visited both Snowdon and Caernarfon during an official UK trip in 1919, but he was unable to get to the summit of the 3559ft peak because of bad weather. Speaking at Caernarfon Castle last night the prince, a nephew of King Fahd, said of his climb: "It was very nice, a bit cloudy but I enjoyed the journey very much." It was the prince's first visit to Wales. During the past three days he has visited Portmeirion and Bodnant Gardens. He added: "The people of Wales have been very generous and hospitable."
May 18th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh have begun a tour of Canada. The nine-day trip marks the centennials of the incorporation of Alberta and Saskatchewan into Canada. She received fully military honours upon arrival. It begins just two days before Paul Martin's Liberal minority government, hit by a corruption scandal, faces a vote of no confidence. If he loses, an election would be called and the Queen's schedule changed so she is not seen with politicians. Mr Martin met the royal couple when they touched down in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Tuesday afternoon. They visited the First Nations' University of Canada where the Queen participated in a tribute to First Nations Indians veterans. The royal couple were at an official welcoming ceremony today, when the Queen and Mr Martin were giving speeches before the legislature of the western Saskatchewan province from the steps of the legislature. In her speech Queen Elizabeth said: "My mother once said that this country felt like a home away from home for the queen of Canada. Ladies and gentleman, six decades later it still does, and it is good to be back." The Queen then unveil a plaque inaugurating the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens at the front of the building and a statue of herself riding a Saskatchewan-bred horse presented to her by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1969. They afterwars were going to travel to the town of Lumsden for a lunch where the Queen will be greeted by school children.
Princess Nori of Japan will marry Yoshiki Kuroda in a shinto ceremony at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on November 15, the Imperial Household Agency said today. The princess's parents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will be present. According to reports the princess is also taking driving lessonsin the palace grounds.
May 19th
Sir Michael Peat, private secretary to the Prince of Wales, lost a briefcase full of royal papers earlier this week. It fell from the back of a top aide's bike, it has emerged. Sir Michael Peat only realised the bag had dropped onto the road when he arrived at Clarence House. Police searched for the bag which contained a draft copy of a budget for Prince Charles' London residence. Royal aides said the briefcase did not contain any sensitive material. A Clarence House spokesman said: "It wouldn't have contained anything sensitive - documents like that are always locked away".
The Danish Royal House backs the decision to move from Denmark to Russia the remains of Empress Maria Fyodorovna, mother of Russia’s last Emperor Nikolai II. Prince Henrik of Denmark told Itar-Tass: “We still regard Maria Fyodorovna as our Danish princess, since she was born in Denmark. On the other hand, she was definitely a Russian Empress. She had to flee from Russia during the revolution and to go back to her home country, where her nephew had reigned at that time. After the changes that had occurred in Russia, we deem it legitimate to take her back to St.Petersburg. The Danish Royal Family will attend this important ceremony since it is an outstanding event for our two countries. Unfortunately, neither I myself nor the Queen will be able to go to Russia, but Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark will definitely be there.” The Empress now lies buried in the Cathedral of Roskilde in Denmark. She ceremony is scheduled for September 26, 2006 and will take place on the 140th anniversary of the Danish Princess Dagmar’s arrival in Russia, where she was converted to the Orthodox faith and named Maria Fyodorovna.
Madame de Pompadour's porcelain toilet ensemble was sold to an anonymous buyer for $ 1,8 million dollar, the highest price ever paid for a French porcelain, Christie's auction house said today. The toilet was made in 1754 for Louis XV's mistress and includes a faucet with a spout in the form of a dolphin's head and a basin, all in Vincennes porcelain and decorated with garlands of flowers, on a gold stand. It had been estimated to bring between USD 150,000 and USD 300,000.
May 20th
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands is "very unhappy" with the negative media reports that surfaced this week over her accelerated naturalisation in 2001. "It particularly pains her that the impression has arisen something went wrong and that it is her fault," the Government Information Service said. "All Dutch people must observe legal procedures, also the members of the royal house." Earlier this week television programme Twee Vandaag and the magazine Nieuwe Revue indicated that Princess Máxima breached normal regulations when she applied for citizenship with the Queen's Cabinet instead of with the mayor of her city of residence. The Government Information Service said the request was subsequently passed onto the Justice Minister. "The Queen's Cabinet only did what a municipal council would have done in other cases." They also said that the situation of Princess Máxima was different because she was to become a member of the royal house. It was pertinent then that she became a Dutch citizen prior to the parliamentary proceedings relating to her Amsterdam marriage in February 2002 to the Prince of Orange. The granting of Dutch citizenship to Princess Máxima was applied via article 10 of the Dutch statute law. Some 880 people had already availed of this article prior to Máxima. This procedure means that in exceptional cases Dutch citizenship can be granted on commission of the Justice Ministry by royal decree. It can only be used when special circumstances apply.
Preparations for the wedding of Princess Nori of Japan and Yoshiki Kuroda have had a dramatic effect on the value of shares in the Tokyo hotel hosting the event. Since the royal household announced on Wednesday that the princess would be getting married at the Imperial Hotel, its share price has risen by 23%. The Imperial Hotel has an illustrious past dating back to 1890, when it was built on a site close to the imperial palace and became Tokyo's first European-style hotel. In the 1920s, the original structure gave way to a new building designed by US architect Frank Lloyd Wright, which was in turn replaced by the current hotel in 1970.
Queen Rania of Jordan was awarded the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize at the World Health Organisation Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday. An international recognition of Queen Rania's commitment and active involvement in health development issues, the prize was presented at a special ceremony during the annual World Health Assembly. The Health Minister of Jordan, Saeed Darwazeh, received the award on the Queen's behalf.
Archeologists have uncovered a 5.000-year-old chamber believed to have been used in the burial rituals of Egypt's first major pharaoh, Hur-Aha, who was founder of the First Dynasty and ruled around 3100 BC. They also found a cache of 200 rough ceramic beer and wine jars, Egyptian authorities announced. "It is a very important discovery because it would provide us with new information about the First Dynasty," Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said. The mud-brick enclosure was discovered by a joint American excavation from Yale University, the Pennsylvania University Museum and New York University at Shunet El-Zebib, near Abydos. Many of Egypt's earlier pharaohs are buried in Abydos, a holy city 400 kilometres south of Cairo.
May 21st
500 people attended an open air commemoration concert at Mainau for Count Lennart Bernadotte af Wisborg, who died last December. Among the guests were King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Count Axel and Countess Johanna Douglas, Count Wilderich and Countess Claudia von und zu Bodman as well as politicians, businessmen and actors. Before the concert the Swedish royal couple unveiled a bronze bust of Count Lennart, together with members of the Bernadotte and Romanov family. At the concert the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie led by Vassilis Christopoulos played Swedish and Russian music, as well as Italian opera arias. Between the musical pieces the five children of Count Lennart and countess Sonja told about the life of their father.
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have put their 36-acre Nether Lypiatt Manor near Stroud, Gloucestershire, up for sale for £6million. The manor dates back to 1703. An agent said: "It's a wonderful house." The house has eight bedrooms and four staff apartments. Three barns, garaging and stabling for nine horses, plus gardens, grounds and paddocks are included in the sale. The royal couple are now expected to live full-time at their five-bedroom, five-reception room Kensington Palace apartments. The £10,000-a-month rent there has been paid by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain from her own private funds, since December 2002.
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini will today be accused of failing in his duties to unify the Zulu Nation. The SABC is in possession of a document which will be presented by the chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders, Mangosutho Buthelezi, at today's imbizo in KwaZulu-Natal. The documentation also alleges that the king is more inclined to be concerned about himself and his personal future - ignoring the welfare of his nation. It also further criticises the government for allegedly failing to provide protection for local government and traditional leadership powers. Buthelezi called today's imbizo to discuss what he says are matters pertaining to the Zulu nation. The king has distanced himself from the gathering. There is a strong police contingent at the Princess Magogo stadium where the imbizo will take place.
May 26th
51-year-old Prince Rüdiger von Sachsen has placed an advertisement in a German newspaper that reads: "Genuine prince, sweet natured and industrious, is seeking after much disappointment a decent woman aged between 25 and 50 for marriage. Pocket money of 2,500 euros a month. I will lay all my love and treasures at her feet. My future wife will marry into one of the oldest dynasties in Europe, one that ruled the Kingdom of Saxony for 829 years." However, commoners need not apply: "I am looking for a princess to marry, ideally one from Saxony," he explained. But he is willing to seek candidates among Britain's royal set too if a suitable German cannot be found. The prince was already married twice and he hasn't officially divorced yet from his second wife.
The Norwegian newspaper VG says the German magazines have gone too far in their efforts to boost sales by spinning wild tales about Norway's royal family. Action is being weighed now after inventions were printed about Marius Borg Høiby, Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship. They have tended to ignore the weekly magazines despite occasionally offensive fictions, but are not likely to tolerate stories that focus on children. "They (the royal couple) react to the clear focus on children, in this case Marius," palace information chief Astrid Versto told VG. "They will now assess what they will do about these stories." Peter Viktor Kulig, editor of German weekly 7 Tage told VG that "it is no secret that there is an element of fantasy in the articles we write", but he said that Germans wanted to read these tales, and that it should not be a problem for young Marius. "He doesn't read German and he can't get our magazines. They aren't sold in Norway," Kulig said.
May 27th
Princess Mathilde of Belgium was appointed UNICEF and UNAIDS Special Representative for Children and AIDS today. On the occasion of the granting of an honorary doctorate to UNICEF at the University of Antwerp Princess Mathilde announced her acceptance to become a UNICEF and UNAIDS Special Representative for children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. She said: “The HIV/AIDS epidemic also strikes children indiscriminately. Children infected, or otherwise affected, by this terrible disease are very vulnerable. They are often without defences once they become orphans - abandoned and alone with no one taking care of them and, therefore, prone to becoming victims of abuse, violence, trafficking and other types of exploitation. I want to give these vulnerable children a voice. I want to draw more attention to this growing problem.” She is planning to make field trips with UNAIDS and UNICEF to generate more attention and support for children affected and infected by AIDS.
May 28th
Today Countess Vanessa von Bismarck married Maximilian Weiner, son of Gabor and Brenda Weiner, in a religious ceremony at the Bismarck Mausoleum at Friedrichsruh in Aumühle. The civil wedding took place in Aumühle on Thursday. The bride wore a lace gown designed by Derek Lam and sparkling tiara. She was led to the altar by her father Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck. The oecumenical ceremony (the groom is anglican) was led by 85-year-old family priest Hans-Joachim Arps. Among the 300 guests were Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, Princess Lilly zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and her husband Lambros Milona. The newlyweds met each other four years ago in New York.
May 29th
Andrea Casiraghi, son of Princess Caroline of Monaco was reported to police after scuffling with a photographer during a stroll with his girlfriend through central Rome, Italy's Corriere della Sera reported today. Andrea Casiraghi knocked over photographer Stefano Meloni in the scuffle and grabbed his camera after he emerged from a famous Roman gelateria with a female friend. Meloni reported the incident to police guarding the nearby parliament building. The newspaper said Meloni had not yet decided to press assault charges.
May 30th
In honour of the memory of the late Queen Mother Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York will be confirmed in her favourite chapel, the All Saints Chapel in Windsor, on June 5. They will receive confirmation from the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner.
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia's health condition is 'stable and reassuring' medical tests showed. Crown Prince Abdullah said this on Monday in a cabinet meeting. The King was admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh on Friday for medical examination.
Prince Hamid Bin Abdul Sani al-Thani of Qatar has been convicted in the Czech Republic of sexually abusing young girls and sentenced to 30 months in prison. He was tried in Prague after a Czech judge turned down a request from Qatar to have him sent back home to face trial. He was found guilty of paying to have sex with four girls aged under 15 between 2001 and 2004. He was arrested after one of the girls told her mother about the offer of sex. Al-Thani was arrested last year and has spent 10 months in custody awaiting trial.
King Mswati III of Swaziland has married 21-year-old Noliqwa Ntentesa as his eleventh wife. She was selected by the king three years ago at an annual ceremonial dance. She is pregnant with his 25th child. Two more young women have already been lined up to marry the king. Noliqwa Ntentesa, who was forced to give up high school when she was picked three years ago, was smeared in traditional red ochre and married in a secret wedding service held last week at a royal palace.
May 31st
Princess Marilène van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, wife of Prince Maurits, has given birth to her third child this morning at 2.34. The girl was born at home in Amsterdam, is healthy and weighs 4380 grammes. She will be named Felicia Juliana Bénedicte Barbara. She is the fifth grandchild of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. Later today Prince Maurits showed his daughter from the balcony of the house to the waiting press outside.
Earl Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana of Wales, is producing a new line of furniture based on the thousands of antiques that fill Althorp Estate, the home where he and his sister grew up. The collection is being manufactured by furniture company Theodore Alexander. Royalties will be used to pay for a 10-year renovation project at the Northamptonshire mansion. Each piece in the range is an exact replica of an item from Althorp. "The house has been looking after the furniture for hundreds of years," the Earl explained. "It's time for the furniture to look after the house. I was brought up to look after Althorp. It was drummed into me at a very young age that it would be mine to have, not in a way to enjoy it and abuse it in any way, but very much as a duty that I should look after this piece of Britain's heritage."
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz said today that King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is recovering and can be expected to leave hospital soon.
Royal News: April 2005. Last updated: July 24th, 2005.