News Summary R O Y A L B L O G. N L

No parade, speech for Bhumibol's birthday

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has been hospitalized more than two months, will make a public appearance to celebrate his 82nd birthday this weekend but will not deliver a traditional annual speech, the palace said Monday.

The royal statement provided no update on the medical condition of Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, whose health has been a matter of nationwide concern since he was admitted to a Bangkok hospital Sept. 19. At the time, his symptoms were described as fever, fatigue and lack of appetite.

Bhumibol has been on the throne for 63 years and is widely revered in Thailand. His Dec. 5 birthday is typically celebrated with several days of fanfare that start with the king presiding over an annual military parade in his honour. This year's military parade, which was scheduled for Wednesday, will be postponed, said the statement from the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary.

Bhumibol's annual speech _ due to be televised Friday on the eve of his birthday _ has also been postponed, the statement said. This will be the second consecutive year the ailing king has had to cancel his widely watched address on national issues due to health reasons.

His Majesty will appear in front of members of the royal family, government officials and members of Parliament on the morning of his birthday Saturday at the Grand Palace, the statement said. The king last appeared in public on Nov. 2, when he was taken out of his hospital in a wheelchair to celebrate a
national holiday. He appeared alert but weak. © GPD, AP

Belgian royals mourn death of Alexander

The Belgian royal family mourns the sudden passing of Prince Alexander, half brother to King Albert II, who died Sunday at age 67 after an acute pulmonary embolism. The funeral will be held Friday, December 4th.

Prince Alexander was born in 1942, eldest child of the unpopular second marriage of then King Leopold III and Lilian Baels. Leopold lost his first wife, Sweden born Queen Astrid, in a tragic car accident in 1935. Belgium's present King Albert (II) was only one year old.

Leopold was never really forgiven for remarrying, especially as he did so in secret and during the German occupation of Belgium. Towards the end of the war the royal family was taken by the Germans to Germany and Austria, where the Americans liberated them in 1945. Leopold though was not allowed to return and resided for five years with his family in Switzerland.

A referendum restored him to the throne, but resistance to his return was such that he eventually abdicated in favour of his son Baudouin. Prince Alexander, who had returned with the family to Laeken Palace, lived with his parents in the royal residence on the outskiirts of Brussels till 1960. At that time, shortly after the marriage of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola, former King Leopold, his wife Lilian and their three children were asked to vacate the palace.

Alexander made little headlines in Belgium, except for the occasional trafic violation. Relations between the two halves of the family were often tumultuous, but King Albert succeeded after his ascession to mend some of the rifts. Prince Alexander married Léa Wolman in March 1991, keeping the marriage secret for seven years in order not to anger Princess Lilian. © GPD; Photo by © Royal Press Europe, Albert van der Werf

Busy days for King Juan Carlos at summit

King Juan Carlos of Spain is meeting with leaders from Latin America, Portugal and Andorra during the three day Ibero-American summit held in the Portuguese resort of Estoril.

The annual Iberoamerican summit is due to study ways of harnessing new technology that might ease the South American economies' dependence on oil, farming and mining. Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates in a speech Sunday he wanted the summit to expand our cooperation in innovation and the knowledge-based economy.

The three days of meetings between 19 Latin American countries and Spain, Portugal and Andorra also traditionally provide a forum to air diplomatic grievances. Pressing issues include Sunday's disputed elections in Honduras and feuding between neighbours Colombia and Venezuela over Colombia's military agreement with the United States.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe held closed-door talks with Spain's King Juan Carlos but refused to comment to reporters afterward. The Venezuelan government has previously said it would support an effort by other South American nations to broker a solution.

Eight countries failed to send their leaders to Portugal, including Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba. GPD © AP

Queen Elizabeth welcomes Rwanda

Rwanda has been admitted into the Commonwealth of nations, becoming the 54th member of the organization of mostly former British colonies, with Queen Elizabeth II at its head.

Rwanda has no colonial ties to Britain, unlike several of its neighbours that are already part of the Commonwealth. Members are eligible for assistance programs and cultural exchanges. They can also take part in the Commonwealth Games, the world's largest multi-sport competition after the Olympics.

The Commonwealth announced Rwanda's admission Sunday at a meeting in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad Tobago. It is not the first country without ties to Britain to join the group. Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, is a member. GPD © AP

Elizabeth and Philip return to Canada

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip will visit Canada for a weeklong visit starting in late June. The office of Canada's Governor General says the couple will arrive June 28 and travel in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Manitoba before departing July 6.

They will be in the capital, Ottawa, for Canada Day July 1, but the governor general's office didn't say whether they would participate in celebrations. The holiday commemorates the formation of Canada from the British North American colonies.

The queen first came to Canada in 1957 and her last visit was in 2005. This will be her 22nd official visit. GPD © AP

King Mohammed fulfills his islamic duty

* In this photo released Monday Nov. 30, 2009 by the Royal Palace, Morocco's King Mohammed VI slays a sheep in accordance with Muslim tradition for the Eid al-Adha feast, in Fez, northern Morocco, Saturday Nov. 28, 2009. GPD © AP

Pope meets Pres.s. Cristina and Michelle

Pope Benedict XVI exchanged gifts with Chile's President Michelle Bachelet and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, during an audience at the Vatican, Saturday.

Pope Benedict XVI hailed a 1984 Vatican-mediated friendship agreement between Argentina and Chile as a "luminous example" of peace winning out over war during an audience Saturday with the presidents of both countries In 1978, when both nations were ruled by military dictators.

Chile and Argentina nearly went to war over three tiny islands in the Beagle Channel off Chile's southern Pacific shores. The dispute was solved by mediation by Pope John Paul II in 1984. GPD © AP

Joachim and Marie show off fashion

* Prince Joachim of Denmark and Princess Marie arrive for Kopenhagen Fur Expo 2010 Gala Dinner and Fashion Show in Hong Kong Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, as they visit Hong Kong and Beijing from Nov. 22 to 29 in connection with a number of Danish business promotion events. GPD © AP

Ecuador's President visits King Albert II

* King Albert II of Belgium is seen along with Ecuador's President Rafael Correa prior to their meeting at the Royal Castle of Laeken, outside Brussels. 

GPD © AP

King Juan Carlos has look at Valetta

Spain's King Juan Carlos I talked with Malta's Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi as they walked at the Barraca gardens overlooking the Valletta's Grand Harbour, Malta.

The Spanish king is on the second of his two-day visit to Malta. Queen Soifia had to cancel her visit at the last minute due to illness. GPD © AP