Last updated: June 2nd, 2010.
May 4th
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands had to be escorted to safety this evening during the two -minute silence on Remembrance Day. A sudden yell in the crowd at the end of the two minutes caused panic. People were fleeing the scene thinking of an attack. 63 people were injured. A 39-year-old man with a history of drug offences and violent crimes was arrested quickly. The memorial service at the Dam square in Amsterdam continued after a few minutes.
The Danish royal court published new pictures of Prince Henrik, son of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark, on the occasion of his 1st birthday.
The Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure received a fourth threatening letter for Queen Fabiola of Belgium on Monday. Other letters were received in May and July 2009, and a postcard in January 2010. They are likely all written by the same person.
Zahi Hawass, Chief of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, said today that archaeologists have discovered a headles granite statue of a pharaoh of the Ptolemaic-era. The pharaoh hasn't been identified, but Mr Hawass said t might be Ptolemy IV. The statue is 135 cm high and 55 cm wide. It was found at the temple of Taposiris Magna near Alexandria.
May 5th
Photographer Dany Virgili made the new series of portraits of the Prince and Princess of Asturias. Spanish media wonders whether the pictures of Prince Felipe have been changed by using photo-manipulation software. On the pictures the prince is wearing different uniforms, but his face is similar on all pictures. Both the royal palace and the photographer have denied the claims.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand left the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok temporarily to pay a visit to the Grand Palace on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his coronation. He presided a ceremony marking the coronation. The King returned to the hospital in the early afternoon.
May 7th
Princess Madeleine of Sweden has cancelled her attendance at the Sweden Week in Seattle, USA, this weekend. She will be replaced by Crown Princess Victoria. The Royal Palace said that Princess Madeleine has decided to take a time out from official engagements up to 30 May. Spokeswoman Nina Eldh said: "She needs personal time and peace and quiet. Madeleine is not feeling too good." She recently separated from her fiancé Jonas Bergström.
Prince Harry of Wales received his provisional wings from his father, the Prince of Wales, at the Army Air Corps Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop today. He was awarded the Peter Adams Trophy for the best tactical ability during the operational training phase. It was also announced the prince is to train on the Apache Attack Helicopter. The Army Air Corps commanders think that his skills and flying abilities suit the Apache helicopter best. the Prince is delighted, because of the formidable operation role of the helicopter. He said: "I think it will be one of the biggest challenges in my life so far." He will begin the Apache training course in July at Middle Wallop, where he will remain for about eight months. Afterwards he will join one of the Apache regiments for further training.
The lawyers of Sultan Tengku Ismail Petra of Kelantan say the sultan has been under heavy guard at the Kubang Kerian Hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia, since Tuesday. The Sultan and his third son, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry, were driving by car to the airport on Tuesday evening to travel to Singapore for further medical treatment. They however were stopped by armed men close to the royal palace. Tengku Muhammad Fakhry says his father wanted to return to the palace, but that was prevented. The eldest son of the Sultan, Tengku Mohammad Faris, has been regent since May 2009, but is disputing this position with a younger brother since September 2009.
May 8th
King Juan Carlos of Spain underwent surgery at the Clínica Planas in Barcelona successfully today to remove a growth on his lung. Doctors said the growth didn't show any signs of malignancy and that they have ruled out that it could be lung cancer. The doctors said the growth was discovered during medical tests in late April. The royal palace said: "The medical team considered it necessary to analyze morphological changes in a calcification on his Majesty’s right lung,which had been observed in previous years." Doctors say the king should be able to leave hospital in three or four days. He can return to non-physical activities in about two weeks.
May 9th
The Spanish royal court said today that King Juan Carlos of Spain "had a perfect night, progress continues to be very good", after his lung surgery yesterday. He started a liquid diet yesterday and is to begin respiratory physiotherapy today. Both Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena visited the King this morning.
Drizzle, the favourite 10-year-old pony of Prince Harry of Wales, died of a heart attack shortly after the Prince had been riding the pony in a charity polo match at Coworth Park in Ascot, England. Also the Prince of Wales and Prince William of Wales have been riding the pony in the past.
The Sultan of Kelantan was discharged from hospital today, escorted by his wife and personal physician. A group of his lawyers filed an unprecedented writ of habeas corpus at the Special Court on Friday to free the Sultan and allow him the medical treatment he wishes himself. Several family members claimed that they hadn't been allowed to visit the Sultan in hospital. The police of Kelantan denies that they have acted violently against them. They said the Sultan's eldest son, Tengku Muhammad Faris, had only allowed five people to visit the Sultan, apart from the hospital staff. Others could only visit with his consent.
May 10th
The new stamps and coins to commemorate the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on 19 June have been unveiled. The three stamps show the Crown Princess alone, the couple together, and the couple's monogram. They will go on sale on Thursday. The Riksbank will issue two coins showing a portrait of the bridal couple, their names and the wedding date.
Prince William and Prince Harry of Wales will visit Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa together from 14 to 19 June 2010. The visit shows the Prince's joint interests in supporting disadvantages young people and sustainable development. It will allow them to show the charities' work to one another. South Africa is being visited on behalf of the Football Association, of which Prince William is President. The visits to Botswana and Lesotho are on behalf of the Tusk Trust and Sentebale organisations.
May 11th
The doctors at the Clínica Planas in Barcelona said today King Juan Carlos of Spain is doing fine after surgery on Saturday. There is no need to stay in hospital anymore. The king left hospital today and thanked doctors and nurses for their good treatment. He also praised the Spanish public health care system. He will gradually resume his normal activities in the coming weeks.
The opening of the newly renovated Frederik VIII's Palace of Amalienborg in Copenhagen, Denmark, has been extended to 8 August 2010. Already more than 200.000 visitors visited the palace in the first two months.
The Royal Palace in Oslo is to receive a new roof next year. The state budget of the Norwegian government reveals that the estimated costs are 112 million Norwegian Crowns. The roof over the main part of the palace wasn't renovated during the major renovation of the palace in the 1990s. Reportedly the old roof has been leaking.
May 12th
The Japanese police has arrested a 26-year-old unemployed man on Saturday for allegedly posting an online treat to kill Princess Aiko of Japan by smashing her head with a hammer. It is reported the man told the police he only wanted to test reactions of others online and hadn't thought he would be arrested.
The City Court of Moscow has ruled that the case over the murder of Tsar Nikolai II of Russia and his family was closed illegally. They have granted an appeal by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna or Russia. The case files now will be sent back to the lower court, and a second hearing by a different panel of judges has been ordered. The Basmanny Court at Moscow rejected the case on 19 March.
May 13th
In an interview with radio SR Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden says that marriage and starting a family will be fantastic. She said: "We are very impatient but a bit stressed too, a bit nervous." Victoria added: "Every single wedding couple probably has a bit of the same feeling of panic." She thinks the support she and Daniel Westling received from the Swedes has been heart-warming. Victoria also said she feels completely satisfied nowadays with the balance between herself and her role as Crown Princess. She said: Today I think it is great fun, you really learn a lot." She considers it as her absolute mission in life to serve Sweden and its people.
May 15th
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was 'kidnapped' by her friends yesterday for her hen party in the Stockholm Archipelago, which is expected to last two days. The stag party of her fiancé Daniel Westling took part last weekend.
May 17th
The National Day was celebrated in Norway today. In the early morning Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their children Marius Høiby Borg, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus appeared at the main gate of the Skaugum Estate to greet the children from local schools. Later in the morning King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo to watch the children's parade in front of the palace. From the windows of the palace also Princess Märtha Louise, her husband Ari Behn and their three daughters, as well as Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner had a look at the parade.
Archduke Rudolph of Austria died at Brussels, Belgium, on 15 May. He was born at Prangins, Switzerland, on 5 September 1919 as sixth child of Emperor Karl and Empress Zita of Austria. He married 1953 Countess Xenia Tschernyschev-Besobrasow, who died in 1968, and married 1971 Princess Anna Gabriele von Wrede. He is survived by four of his five children, and by fifteen grandchildren. He is also survived by his elder brothers Otto and Felix. The funeral service will take place at the église Notre-Dame du Sablon at Brussels, Belgium, on 29 May.
The Royal Court of Albania announced the engagement of Prince Leka of the Albanians and Elia Zaharia on 10 May. A press meeting will take place at the Hôtel Lutetia in Paris, France, on 16 June.
May 18th
In an interview to the Swedish tv-channel TV4 Daniel Westling spoke about his kidney transplant one year ago. He said that he had been born with a kidney defect, which is not hereditary, but didn't realize it until he was 16 and received x-rays after suffering a football injury. Doctors advised him two years ago that he should have a kidney transplant. He says he now feels better than ever. He hopes to be able to support Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in her role and would like to focus on health and youth issues. Crown Princess Victoria told in the interview: "Daniel is a person with a wonderful sense of humor and energy. We laugh a lot and have a lot of fun together – I hope you agree." Daniel said about Victoria: "The Crown Princess is a wonderful warm person. There are not enough superlatives to describe her."
The BBC has apologised "unreservedly" after radio DJ Danny Kelly had joked during his live broadcast "Queen Elizabeth II has now died". Just before he had started playing the national anthem. After an interruption by the producer of the radio show Danny Kelly clarified that he had been referring to a Facebook friend by the name of "Queen Elizabeth II", who had vanished from the list of friends. BBC says there was no intention to offend, but although it was corrected on-air immediately, the BBC says the remark was inappropriate. The BBC takes the comment very seriously and says that action is being taken.
May 19th
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is to attend Jansløkka school in Asker near Oslo after the Summer. The 6-year-old princess will start school on 19 August. The principal of the school, Else Johansen, said that they think it is very nice that Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have decided to send their children to the local school.
May 20th
Archbishop Anders Wejryd of Sweden, who is to conduct the marriage of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on 19 June, has publicly disapproved the decision of the Crown Princess to walk down the aisle with her father King Carl XVI Gustaf on her side. He said: "Being given away is a new phenomenon which occasionally occurs in the Church of Sweden. I usually advise against it, as our marriage ceremony is so clear on the subject of the spouses’ equality. The couple know where I stand on this matter." Nina Eldh, spokeswoman for the Swedish royal court has underlined that the decision was taken by the bride.
May 21st
King Juan Carlos of Spain left the privat Planas clinic in Barcelona today where he had been recovering from his surgery on 8 May. He had moved to the privat clinic after having been discharged from hospital in Barcelona on 11 May. He is set to resume his official duties now.
May 22nd
In an interview in the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet today Daniel Westling said to be nervous ahead of his wedding to crown Princess Victoria of Sweden on 19 June. He told: "When the big day come around I guess I'll be standing there with both butterflies in my stomach and trembling knees." He says that his biggest task as consort of the Crown Princess will be to support his wife. The couple, he said, would love to have children: "In 10 years time, I hope we will have created a family." He said he hopes they will have a number of children "although that is not the kind of thing one can really predetermine." He said he grew up in a gender-equal family, and thinks for him it is not a problem to walk some steps behind his wife and keep his self-esteem intact. In the interview the couple stresses that the wedding ceremony will also be a private event, and that the media will only be permitted in the space behind them in church. Crown Princess Victoria said: "Daniel and I need to have a space for just us, that is just ours. I will not say 'yes' to the television cameras or the congregation. My 'yes' will only be directed at Daniel."
Carol Ferdinand of Romania was christened today at the Domchurch of Bucharest, Romania, today. He was born as son of Paul and Lia of Romania His godparent was the president of Romania, Traian Basescu.
May 23rd
The Duchess of York was filmed last Tuesday night taking $40.000 cash payment from an undercover reporter of the newspaper News of the World, who posed as a businessman, the newspaper claims. The newspaper accuses the Duchess of plotting to sell access to her former husband the Duke of York for £500.000. The Duchess is said to have promised to introduce reporters to the Duke of York and claimed that the Duke would help fix lucrative deals. The Duchess is said to have demanded a cut of all profits. According to the newspaper the Duke of York was unaware of the deal.
May 24th
The official guestlist for the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on 19 June remains a secret so far. During an information briefing at the royal palace today the Swedish Royal Court says they are expecting about 30 overnight guests at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Wedding coordinator Håkan Pettersson said that the couple wants the celebrations to represent "timeless tradition with a personal touch". Senior preacher to the royal household, Lars-Göran Lönnermark, said that it wasn't confirmed yet that Crown Princess Victoria will be given away by her father. However he said that if the couple breaks with the Swedish tradition to enter the church together, it would "symbolize the fact that the heir to the throne must have the permission of the king and the government in order to marry." About 1000 Swedish press representants and 500 foreign ones have applied for accreditation for the wedding. Among the foreign media are 141 Germans, 60 Norwegians, 46 Fins, 35 British, 35 Spaniards, 31 French and 19 Japanese.
Buckingham Palace said the Duke of York didn't know anything about his ex-wife's meetings in which she allegedly offered a reporter of the newspaper News of the World access to the Duke for cash. The Palace says the Duke is a UK trade envoy with "complete and absolute propriety and integrity". In a statement the Duchess of York said, she was "sincerely sorry" and admitted that her financial situation is quite "stressfull" at the moment. She said: "I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused. It is true that my financial situation is under stress. However, that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgement and I am very sorry that this has happened." She also said her former husband didn't know about it.
Count Christian Bernadotte af Wisborg married civilly Christine Stoltmann on Saturday on the Island of Mainau, Southern Germany. Only the closest family atttended. The religious wedding was to take place on 14 August, but has been postponed. A new date is not known yet. The couple expect their first child in August.
Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein of Jordan married Sarah Bassam Kabbani at the Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan, today. The wedding was among others attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan, Princess Muna, Prince Omar, Princess Basma, Princess Zein, Princess Alia, Prince Hamzah, Princess Rym and Princess Iman of Jordan, as well as by other members of the family and of the Kabbani family. The new princess is a Lebanese national and graduated from the American University in Cairo, Egypt, in 2000 with a bachelor degree in journalism and mass communications.
Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna of Russia died aged 95. After Father Andrew, rector of the Russian Orthodox Church in Madrid, had visited her on Sunday, her condition deteriorated and she was taken to the Hospital La Paz, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain, where she died at 11.55pm on Sunday. Her daughter Grand Duchess Maria was by her side. She will be buried next to her husband Grand Duke Vladimir at the St Peter and St Paul Fortress in St Petersburg. Grand Duchess Leonida was born as Princess Leonida Bagration-Moukhransky at Tbilisi, Georgia, on 23 September 1914. In 1934 she first married Sumner Moore Kirby, but divorced him in 1937. They had a daughter, Helena. In 1948 she married Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia, who died in 1992. The couple had one daughter Maria. Grand Duchess Leonida is survived by her two daughters and her grandson Grand Duke Georgy.
May 25th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain revealed the legislative programme of the new British coalition government during the state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh she drove from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster and back.
The Swedish Royal Court has confirmed that King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will lead his daughter Crown Princess Victoria to the altar on 19 June. Spokeswoman Nina Eldh said it is the family's wish, and added: "This is a state ceremonial event with great symbolism, not an ordinary marriage. It is Sweden's king who is escorting the heir to the throne to the altar." According to Mrs Eldh it is a family tradition and she says there are no church regulations on how to walk to the altar.
May 26th
Princess Madeleine of Sweden has cancelled all her appointments until the wedding of her sister Crown Princess Victoria. Nina Eldh, spokeswoman of the Swedish royal court, said that the princess needs some private time. Madeleine broke off her engagement with Jonas Bergström some weeks ago.
A memorial service Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna of Russia was held in Madrid yesterday. The service was attended by family and friends, including her daughter Grand Duchess Maria, and officials of the Russian embassy in Spain. The funeral will take place at the St Peter and st Paul Fortress in St Petersburg, Russia, on 3 June. The coffin with the body of the Grand Duchess will arrive in St Petersburg on 2 June, where the public can pay their last respect. Metropolitan of St Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir will lead the funeral service the next day.
May 27th
Anette Wallner, a spokeswoman of the Swedish royal court said that the title of Daniel Westling, the fiancé of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is being discussed. Upon the engagement it was announced that he will be known as Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. Mrs Wallner says that nothing has been decided yet about the rank of Royal Highness, which would be a personal gift of the King. The final decision will be made known on Sunday.
Prince Nikolaus von und zu Liechtenstein has asked for a retirement after 14 years as ambassador of Liechtenstein at the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union in Brussels. He will however be available to the government of Liechtenstein as parttime advisor and for single tasks. In the summer he will be replaced by Kurt Jäger.
May 28th
Luís Alfonso de Borbón y Martinez, Duke d'Anjou, and his wife Maria Margarita Vargas y Santaella had twin sons this morning at 9.33am at a hospital in New York City, USA. The eldest of the sons is called Luis (Louis), was 51 cm tall and weighed 3340 gramms. The second born son is called Alfonso (Alphonse), was 52 cm tall and weighed 3710 gramms. They have respectively received the titles Duke de Bourgogne and Duke de Berry. They were born by caesarian section and mother and children are doing fine. The boys already have a sister, Eugenia, who was born in 2007.
Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Nasir bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia appeared at the High Court in London today. There he denied that he killed his aide Bandar Abdullah Abdulaziz at the Landmark Hotel in London on 15 February. He also says he didn't cause his aide bodily harm two weeks earlier. He is to face trial at the Old Bailey on 4 October.
The civil marriage of Alexander Johannsmann and Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg took place in private yesterday at the orangery of Berleburg Castle. Only the closest family attended. The religious wedding is planned for 2011. The couple has decided they will both keep their own name. The couple expect their first child in July and will live at Berleburg Castle.
May 29th
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway and her son Marius, as well as Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn, attended the finals of the Eurovision Songcontest 2010 in Oslo. During the Flash Mob Dance by Madcon, in the break between the singers and the results, the Crown Princess and her children were shown dancing at home.
The funeral service for Archduke Rudolph of Austria took place at the Église Notre-Dame du Sablon in Brussels, Belgium, this afternoon. The funeral service was attended by his wife Anna Gabrielle, his children Maria-Anna, Carl Peter, Simeon and Catharina with their partners and children. His funeral will take place at the Loreto Chapel in Muri, Switzerland, on 4 June. A mass will be celebrated at the Stephansdom in Vienna, Austria on 12 June, and at the Augustinerkirche in Vienna on 14 June. The last service is being led by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. Among today's guests were many members of the Austrian Imperial family, as well as Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg, Queen Fabiola of the Belgians, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium Archduke and Archduchess of Austria, Princess Lea of Belgium, Prince Guillaume of Luxemburg as well as among others members of the royal families of Liechtenstein, Bavaria, Württemberg, France, Brazil and Bourbon-Two Sicilies. The deceased's youngest daughter Catharina expects her third son in about two weeks time.
The political party TOP09 led by former minister of foreign affairs Fürst Karl zu Schwarzenberg became the third biggest party (16,7%) in the elections in Czechia on Saturday, behind the Social Democrats (22,1%) and the Civic Democrat Party (20,2%). Schwarzenberg declared: "I am hugely pleased with the Czech people." It is not clear yet which parties will form the new Czech government yet.
May 30th
The banns of marriage between Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling were published this morning in the Royal Chapel, followed by a reception at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Next to the couple King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden attended, as well as the groom's parents Olle and Ewa Westling, and his sister Anna Westling Blom. The service was led by Bertil Reimer and Lars-Göran Lönnermark. Pastor Erland Ros led the pre-prayers. Two more receptions will be held on 1 and 3 June at the Royal Palace. During today's reception the couple received the joint gift of the Riksdag and the Government of Sweden. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and speaker of the Riksdag Per Westerberg prsented the couple a total of 200 settings of five different types of glasses designed by Professor Erika Lagerbielke and handmade by Orrefors in Småland, Sweden.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has decided his future son-in-law Daniel Westling will become Prince of Sweden and a member of the royal house, which means he will also receive the rank of Royal Highness. He will also become Duke of Västergötland, as his wife is titled Duchess of Västergötland.
May 31st
In an hour-long interview with Oprah Winfrey, which is to be aired on Tuesday, the Duchess of York admits she had been drinking and was "in the gutter" when she was filmed while offering a reporter of the newspaper News of the World access to the Duke of York for cash. She hadn't seen the video yet, until it was shown to her by Oprah Winfrey.
Royal News: April 2010. Last updated: May 2nd, 2010.