News Summary ROYALBLOG.NL

Spanish royals welcome Peru's Humala

Peru's President Ollanta Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia were warmly welcomed in Madrid, Wednesday, on the first day of their official visit to Spain, at the start of an European tour which also takes them to Belgium and Switzerland.

King Juan Carlos hosted a gala dinner for his Peruvian guests in the Royal Palace. Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia also attended.

Earlier in the day president Ollanta Humala  met with Spain’s new prime minister Mariano Rajoy. He asked Spanish companies to boost investments in Peru, according to newspaper El Comercio. © GPD AP

Royals attending World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum got under way Wednesday with a speech by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the Swiss town of Davos world leaders, CEO's and opion makers meet annually to network and discuss global economic issues. 

Angela Merkel met with the Norwegian Crown Princely couple - Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit listened to her speech - and Dutch Princess Mabel was photographed with Mette-Marit. © GPD AP

Curtain falls for 36th Circus Festival

The 36th Circus Festival of Monte Carlo came to a close Tuesday evening, in the presence of Monaco's princely family. Princess Stéphanie of course, president of the circus festival, an her daughter Pauline, and Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene.

Behind Prince Albert and Princess Charlene can be spotted Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia and his wife Crown Princess Katherine.

© GPD AP

Dutch PM finally has a date: Máxima

Dutch bachelor Prime Minister Mark Rutte finally had a date. Monday evening he was co-guest with Princess Máxima at a Gala hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in The Hague.

The American Chamber of Commerce was established in 1961 to help promote the interest of American investors in The Netherlands.

© HJ; Bron: RVD; Foto's: © RPE

Princess Marie has baby girl

Danish Princess Marie on Tuesday morning gave birth to a baby girl, the Palace announced on behalf of the Princess and her husband Prince Joachim - second son of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik. The girl is the eight grandchild for the Danish royal couple and the fourth child of Prince Joachim, who has a son by Marie and two sons out of his previous marriage.

The official announcement:

Emperor opens Diet session

* Japan's Emperor Akihito read a statement to formally open the ordinary diet session of the Parlliament in Tokyo, Tuesday. © GPD AP

Guillaume meets William Hague

Luxembourg's Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume paid a visit to the headquarters of the European Council  in Brussels, Monday. Accompanied by Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn he was introduced to EU foreign ministers ahead of their meeting. Pictured is Guillaume with Asselborn and Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague. © GPD AP

 

Tongan royal engagement party

The Matangi Tonga News reported that on Friday an engagement party was held in the Observatory Hotel in Sydney for Prince 'Ulukalala (27) and Sinaitakala Fakafanua (25). Their wedding is scheduled for May 4.

Prince 'Ulukalala is second in line to the throne, as eldest son of Crown Prince Tupouto'a Lavaka and Crown Princess Nanasipau'u Tuku'aho. Sinaitakala is the only daughter of Princess 'Ofeina-'e he-Langi Fakafanua and the late Lord Fakafanua (Tutoatasi), the newspaper said. The engagement on January 20, was set on the birth date of her late father.

The party was attended by the Crown Prince - who is Tonga's representative in Australia - and Crown Princess, Princess 'Ofeina, Princess Latufuipeka, Prince Ata, and others. Source: Matangi Tonga

Dutch princesses at Jumping Amsterdam

Princess Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander took their three daughters Amalia, Alexia and Ariane - 'Triple A' as the Prince once famously said - to Jumping Amsterdam.

The Dutch royals watched the equestrian event from the royal box, with Princess Máxima explaining the finesses of the show jumping to her daughters.

Dutch camera journalist Frank Buis submitted this footage to YouTube.

 

Photos by © RPE

Royal praise from Bhutan

Queen-mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, one of the four sister spouses of the former King of Bhutan, met with Singapore based Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka,in Jaipur, India, Saturday.

The writer won the DSC Prize for South Asia literature 2012, at the Jaipur Literature Festival, in Jaipur. Karunatilka received USD $50,000 for his book Chinaman, a novel that explores cricket as a metaphor to uncover a lost life and a lost history. © GPD AP