William and Kate End Year in a Tent

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate New Year with the Middleton.

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This is the first New Year of the newly wedded Cambridge couple and they decided to spend it with the Middletons.

And in a very unusual way.

With help of the duchess of Cambridge's younger sister, events coordinator Pippa Middleton, the royal couple enjoyed their first New Year together in a tent traditionally used by a reindeer herder in Lapland, at the duchess' parents' home in Berkshire.

Earlier the William and Kate were expected to join the Prince Charles and Camilla in Scotland, but they were seen early today playing with Kate's parents' dog.

The royal couple were laughing and joking and “looked full of joys of the season,” said one villager to The Daily Mail.   

King Harald's New Year Speech

Country and the world center of speech. 

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Like his cousin Queen Margrethe of Denmark, King Harald V of Norway also issued his year-end speech on New Year's Eve. The king talked about the trauma left by the July 22 terror attack in Oslo and Utoya, and of his duty to heal the country.

“Those directly affected should be processing strong emotions and a heavy loss in their own way and at their own time. In this slow adaptation to the rest of us to be fellow human beings,” he said.

“‘When all is no longer with and carry, it becomes harder for us,’ said one of the survivors of Utøya two months after the tragedy. Here is a challenge to each and every one of us. A challenge to show care and provide assurance. We must not forget the children. They might be sitting back with more and stronger impression than we realize.”

Not to be forgotten are the great tsunami that struck Japan, the Horn of Africa, the debt crisis in Europe, and the Arab Spring that the king took time to mention.

“2011 has been a dramatic year. The tsunami that struck Japan took twenty thousand lives and caused widespread nuclear contamination. In the Horn of Africa and elsewhere have natural disasters hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest. In our own wealthy European debt crisis threatens to close youth out of work – to an extent we thought belonged to the past. But there have also been many positive: the so-called Arab spring. Nobel Peace Prize award to female democracy activists in Africa and the Middle East. Let’s hope this is what will stand out as milestones in history when the long lines to be drawn.”

The King continues to talk about Norway's quest against racism. The program has fared well in many ways with native Norwegians invited to the homes of immigrants. In fact the queen and the crown princess were invited over for tea by an Iranian family.

“The conversation with his neighbor over a cup of coffee or tea will also help us to understand differences and appreciate the resources inherent in diversity. At the same time it gives us the opportunity to hone ourselves to each other. We must dare. When the call is an even more important way forward.”

“Every person has a great power in themselves – that can carry us through what we encounter in life. But we can not do it alone. And I’m not alone would be to cope with life’s greatest challenges,” the king ends his speech.

Photo Source, http://www.royaltyinthenews.com, retrieved Dec. 31, 2011.

Queen Margrethe Gives Year-end Speech

Queen Margrethe's speech highlighted on Denmark's struggle to lift up the economy, given the hard times last 2011.

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While most European monarchs give out their annual year-end speeches on New Year's day, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark gave hers on New Year's eve. She summed up the difficulties that Denmark faced last 2011 while keeping her optimism high with the coming 2012.

Queen Margrethe's speech highlighted on Denmark's struggle to lift up the economy, given the hard times last 2011.

“We have faced adversity before and we’ve seen before how we could get through a crisis by biting the teeth together, support each other and not give up,” she said.

“We can not leave it to others or to chance, how we should proceed. We need to make sure you get where we can find a starting point. This applies both mentally and concretely.”

“Also many of the young, the situation is worrisome. They can not really hold, because they can not find work or because they do not get the education that can improve their chances of finding employment. It can give confidence to recede, making it more difficult to get started, find a foothold and move on. This is serious, not just for the individual young person but the entire community. For it is the young who must lead our society forward, they are the ones that our future must be based.”

Watch the Queen's 2010 Year-end Message

The Danish queen hasn't forgotten the troops in Afghanistan, who she personally visited earlier this year.

“We all know that they are doing a great and good effort, but with my own eyes to see how they live, to talk with them and gain an insight into their everyday lives is something I will never forget.”

Of course, the queen put to mention the joys of having a growing family, especially having more grandkids around.

“We are pleased and touched by everything that happens in our family. I could wish for all families that they could experience as much joy as we: to see their children grow up and develop, and their grandchildren thrive and spread joy.”

“God Save Denmark,” the queen ends her speech.  

Photo Source, Official Website of the Danish Royal Family, Retrieved Dec. 31, 2011.

Queen Victoria - Accession

Queen Victoria succeeded as Queen of Great Britain in 1837, after the death of her uncle King William IV. Hers would be the longest in British history.

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The young Queen Victoria welcomes the Lord Chamberlain and
the Archbishop of Canterbury, who brings news of her accession.

Victoria Becomes Queen

King William IV died in the early hours of June 20, 1837 and the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chamberlain hastened to Kensington Palace to inform the new queen of her accession. Victoria received them at around 6 am, in her dressing-gown and welcomed her reign with quiet dignity, although covered with a shawl and her hair falling upon her shoulders and her feet hurriedly thrust on her slippers.

Read more about Queen Victoria's Accession to the British Throne.

Queen Victoria Gains her Independence From the Duchess of Kent

The moment she became queen, Victoria made two simple requests: the first was that she be left for hour alone – one thing that has been denied to her all her life; the second was for her bed be moved to a room of her own, away from her mother’s chambers.

How did Queen Victoria break free from her mother and his companion John Conroy? Continue reading here. 

Watch A Two-Part Documentary of Queen Victoria's Life and Reign.

Great Britain Separates from Hanover

An important and welcoming result to the accession of a female sovereign during those days was the separation of the crowns of Great Britain and Hanover, the latter passing to William IV’s next surviving brother, the very unpopular duke of Cumberland.

More about the separation of the crowns of Britain and Hanover here. 

Queen Victoria Plunges into a Life of Zest, Freedom, and Gaiety

The new queen entered with zest upon her freedom, her new interests, and her new duties.

“I have,” she wrote, “so many communications from the ministers, and from me to them, and I get so many papers to sign every day, that I have always a very great deal to do. I delight in this work.”

Read The Queen's gay life after her accession

King Juan Carlos Attends Opening of Parliament

Two daughters missed ceremony. 

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King Juan Carlos attended official opening of Parliament, also known in Spain as Xth legislature. Together with the king are Queen Sofia, Felipe, Prince of Asturias, and her wife Letizia, Princess of Asturias.

The King's speech gave emphasis on the Parliament's duty to perform their responsibilities to seal people's “trust in the institutions” of Spain. The King also highlighted the importance of obeying the law, saying that no public figure is above the law. 

Among the issues that the King gave emphasis include the pressing concerns on the country's rising unemployment, calling the attention of those listening to him to act upon the crisis to curb its impact on the citizens. 

"All of you, deputies and senators, are united in the obligation to contribute with decisiveness and efficacy to getting over this crisis and its negative effects on citizens,” he said.

The King's two daughters, Infantas Elena and Cristina were not present on the event. This is the first time that the royal daughters missed the opening of Parliament since 1979. Royal insiders believed that their absence were linked to Cristina's husband, Inaki Urdarangin's link to corruption scandal. Since the scandal's eruption, Urdarangin has been banned from the royal family or from appearing in royal and public functions.

A royal spokesperson said they declined the invitation to one of Spain's most important political events, citing personal reasons. "They did not accept their invitation for different reasons. 

“It is their decision,” the spokesman said.

Queen Victoria - The Younger Years

The events in Queen Victoria's childhood, especially her relationship with her mother the duchess of Kent, would have a lasting impact on her life.

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“I never was happy until I was 18,” wrote Queen Victoria in her journal, of her unhappy and somber childhood. She had a very good reason of saying so.

Foremost is the fact that the Duchess of Kent, ambitious and domineering woman, did all she can to  keep Victoria isolated from rest of the royal family. The duchess also feel under the influence of Sir John Conroy, an Irish officer who rose to become the master of the duchess’ household since the Duke of Kent's death.

The couple planned to become the powers behind the throne should Victoria ascend the throne before she turns 18. Because of the growing differ between her and the Duchess of course with her utter disgust to Conroy, the relationship between Victoria and her mother greatly strained. Even the couple strictly looked after Victoria and denied her any acquaintance with people her age or liking, she developed a headstrong and passionate personality.

Indeed, all attempts to control, let alone influence Victoria proved to be in vain. She celebrated her eighteenth birthday just five weeks before her uncle’s death.

The future queen's early life was isolated and her ascension was believed to be the rise of the Coburg dynast, not a continuation of the House of Hanover because everyone who surrounded her were all Coburgh. This feeling  she expressed when she disapproved of the name “George” when her grandson, the future George V, was named.


More about the early years of Queen Victoria in this article. 

Queen Victoria's Birth and Childhood

Queen Victoria was the only child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. His father's death, as well as her uncles', placed her in direct line of succession.

Read: Events that led to Queen Victoria's birth.

The infant Victoria with her mother, the Duchess of Kent.

Before being forced to marry, Victoria’s father, the Duke of Kent lived with his mistress, Madam de Saint Laurent, for many years. After the government urged him to look for a royal wife, he eventually found a suitable bride in the person of Princess Victoria, daughter of Francis Frederick, reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and of Princess Augusta of Reuss-Ebersdorff.

The duke of Kent takes a bride

The bride had been married before to Emich Charles, Prince of Leiningen-Dachsburg-Hardenburg, who died in 1814 and left him with two children – Charles, who succeeded to his father’s title, and Feodora. She met the duke in Amorbach, where she was then living. Her brother, Leopold, who was married to Princess Charlotte, encouraged her sister’s union with his late wife’s uncle.

Money was one of the reasons why the duke decided to get married. He was already encumbered with debts before she met the princess and marrying her will enable him to receive a substantial income from the parliament.

The wedding between the Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg was solemnized on July 11, 1818.

Queen Victoria is born

Baby Victoria

The only child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent was born on May 24, 1819. Wanting their daughter to be born on the English soil, the couple departed Franconia for London just in time before the duchess gave birth.

The newborn royal baby was named Alexandrina Victoria, the latter being unheard of in the English-speaking world until that time. It was the product of a conflict of her father with her uncle the prince regent, who refused her to be christened with a “royal” name, like Augusta or Charlotte.

Alas, the duke did not live long after the infant princess’ birth. He succumbed to pneumonia and died on Jan. 23, 1820, six days before his father the king passed away. They were both buried in Windsor.

Prince Leopold’s Influence to Queen Victoria

King Leopold I of Belgium, Victoria's
uncle and surrogate father.

Left with nothing but a debts, the Duchess of Kent and the young princess went to live at Kensington Palace, having the economical support of Prince Leopold. Before his marriage to Princess Charlotte, the parliament provided the prince with an annuity of L50,000 for life. He continued to live in England, at Claremont House in Usher, Surrey until 1831 after he was elected first king of the Belgians.

The widowed mother trusted her brother as her best adviser and he was responsible for the general character of Queen Victoria’s education. After he went to Belgium, Victoria and Leopold carried on an affectionate correspondence throughout the 34 years of their joint lives. After her accession, the niece tactfully eluded and quickly terminated the uncle’s attempts to control British policies behind the backs of the British cabinet. Nonetheless, though she could not accept him as an extra-constitutional adviser, Victoria found in correspondence to her uncle, a delightful outlet for her private and unofficial feelings; only to him for example, did she speak of Palmerston and Russell as “those two dreadful men.”

On his death she recorded on her journal that he had been “ever a father” to her.

Baroness Louise Lehzen plays an important role in Queen Victoria’s childhood

The Baronness Lehzen is the young princess'
nanny. Early in her reign, she was a trusted
confidante. 

The young princess’ home was Kensington Palace, though she stayed at times with her uncle at Claremont and frequently traveled on the continent with her mother. Her half-sister Feodore was her nursery companion and remained her friend until her death in 1872.

When Victoria was five and admirable governess was found for her in the person of Fraulein (later Baroness) Louise Lehzen, a native of Coburg. Louise Lehzen won the whole-hearted devotion of the young princess and was the principal influence in her life until her accession to the throne, quite eclipsing the influence of her mother, the duchess of Kent. Victoria’s relation to her mother may be described as correct and usually friendly but no more. Hers is an elusive, pathetic figure. Her influence was of negative character, yet not this reason unimportant.

Prince Philip: Let Me Go Home!

Duke of Edinburgh insists he's well and good to go.

Robust or frail, Prince Philip remains in fighting form. Not even his chest pain, not the succeeding surgery dampened the 90-year old Duke of Edinburgh's spirits. In fact, hours after he awakened from operation, he demanded that he released from hospital confinement. 


"I feel fine," said the Duke to his doctors who performed the operation that remedied the blockage in his artery. "I don't want to make a fuss. I just want to go home."


Insiders at the Papsworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, the country's most advanced heart and lung center said that the Duke can't wait to go home. But the Duke will have to wait for at least one more night.


The Duke of Edinburgh was rushed to the Cambrideshire hospital evening, December 23 when he complained of chest pain. A successful operation was performed which removed the blockage in the artery. Midday Dec. 24, Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the Royal Family paid him a visit. This is the first time that the royal consort was not present in the annual Christmas Day Church Service in Sandringham estate, the royal family's holiday home in Norfolk. 

The Christmas Broadcast 2011

The Queen's Christmas Broadcast this year centers on families, friends, and the community. Here is the latest video or you can read the complete speech below.

In this past year my family and I have been inspired by the courage and hope we have seen in so many ways in Britain, in the Commonwealth and around the world. We’ve seen that it’s in hardship that we often find strength from our families; it’s in adversity that new friendships are sometimes formed; and it’s in a crisis that communities break down barriers and bind together to help one another.

Families, friends and communities often find a source of courage rising up from within. Indeed, sadly, it seems that it is tragedy that often draws out the most and the best from the human spirit.

When Prince Philip and I visited Australia this year we saw for ourselves the effects of natural disaster in some of the areas devastated by floods, where in January so many people lost their lives and their livelihoods. We were moved by the way families and local communities held together to support each other.

Prince William travelled to New Zealand and Australia in the aftermath of earthquakes, cyclones and floods and saw how communities rose up to rescue the injured, comfort the bereaved and rebuild the cities and towns devastated by nature.

The Prince of Wales also saw first hand the remarkable resilience of the human spirit after tragedy struck in a Welsh mining community, and how communities can work together to support their neighbours.

This past year has also seen some memorable and historic visits – to Ireland and from America.

The spirit of friendship so evident in both these nations can fill us all with hope. Relationships that years ago were once so strained have through sorrow and forgiveness blossomed into long term friendship. It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow.

Of course, family does not necessarily mean blood relatives but often a description of a community, organisation or nation. The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations, all with a common bond, shared beliefs, mutual values and goals.

It is this which makes the Commonwealth a family of people in the truest sense, at ease with each other, enjoying its shared history and ready and willing to support its members in the direst of circumstances. They have always looked to the future, with a sense of camaraderie, warmth and mutual respect while still maintaining their individualism.

The importance of family has, of course, come home to Prince Philip and me personally this year with the marriages of two of our grandchildren, each in their own way a celebration of the God-given love that binds a family together.

For many this Christmas will not be easy. With our armed forces deployed around the world, thousands of service families face Christmas without their loved ones at home. The bereaved and the lonely will find it especially hard. And, as we all know, the world is going through difficult times. All this will affect our celebration of this great Christian festival.

Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas. Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: ‘Fear not’, they urged, ‘we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.’

Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love.

In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, there’s a prayer:

O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin
And enter in
Be born in us today

It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

Source: The British Royal Family's Facebook Page and the Official Website, retrieved Dec. 25, 2011.

British Royal Family Attends Christmas Day Service

• Prince Philip not present, recovering from surgery in hospital. 
• Duchess of Cambridge joins Royal Family for the Christmas Service the first time. 
• Rugby star Mike Tindall present.

For the sake of the holidays, the Royal Family cheers up, after all
they have the reason, thanks to Prince Philip's recovery.

The Royal Family celebrated Christmas Day service at Sandringham, their Norfolk estate that serves as their Christmas retreat every year. Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh's conditions progresses as he recovers at hospital in Cambridgeshire. This is the first time that the Queen with the Royal Family celebrates Christmas without Prince Philip.


In his sermon, Sandringham's rector, the Rev. Jonathan Riviere asked the congregation to join him in a prayer for the Duke of Edinburgh's speedy recovery.

"We pray for the Queen and the Royal Family, especially today we pray for Prince Philip and his continued recovery,” he said.

Hundreds of people flocked at the gates to see the Queen and her family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Zara Phillips and husband Mike Tindall, as they go to the royal estate's church.

England rugby player Mike Tindall and the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, who wedded last summer, were present at service.

Sandringham is the royal family's official residence for Christmas. Philip normally treads the few hundred yards from the main house to the church and since the Queen's ascension had never missed a Christmas Day service.

Well-wishers called out with questions about the Duke, but members of the family did not respond.

The royals traditionally gather at Sandringham for Christmas. Prince Philip normally walks the few hundred yards from the main house to the church and is not thought to have missed a Christmas Day service before.

Although the crowd repeatedly asked questions about the Duke, members of the family did not make any response.

This is the first time that the Duchess of Cambridge spends Christmas as a member of the Royal Family after her highly publicized wedding to Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, in April.

Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and Camilla (L-R) lead the
royal family on their way to the church service. 

The Duchess of Cambridge warmly accepts some flowers from a girl.

The Queen receives a bouquet of flowers from
well-wishers after the Christmas Day Service.

The Duke of Cambridge escorts her lovely wife, the smiling Duchess.

Prince Harry beams while meeting the cheering crowds.

The Duchess of Cambridge receives a lovely rose from one of the crowds.

Zarah Phillips attends the Christmas service with
husband Mike Tindall.

Princess Beatrice in her smart look, wearing brown
hat and coat, with a clutch bag at hand.

Rugby player Mike Tindall joins the Royal Family's
Christmas Day Service.

The Royal Family on their way to church.

The Duke of York is very merrily warm despite
the cold Christmas morning.

Princess Anne is kept warm with all the wrap for
Christmas Day Service.

Photo Source, The Daily Mail, retrieved Dec. 25, 2011.

Emperor Akihito Turns 78

Reflections for 2011.

Emperor Akihito, with Empress Michiko, delivers his speech before
cheering crowd during his 78th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, December 23, 2011.

Emperor Akihito of Japan celebrates 78^thbirthday on June 23. Since his ascension to the Chrysanthemum throne which is considered as the oldest existing monarchy in the world, the Japanese has never lost their reverence and respect to the emperor who remains their source of strength and unity. Amidst the merriment and cheers, the 78^thyear old monarch mirrors on the year that was 2011, not only for himself or for his reign, but also for the Japanese people.

“Looking back on this year, I must say this has been a truly distressing year, dominated by disasters,” His Majesty said.

“However it has been encouraging to note that the people in the afflicted areas are enduring the harsh conditions in evacuation and that many people are volunteering to support the victims. I feel that the Japanese people have come together as a nation to squarely face the disaster and do what they can to be of help for the victims.”

The Emperor reflects on massive the East Earthquake, that stuck March 11 and led to massive tsunami that left more than 20,000 people.

“My thoughts go out to the people who lost members of their families and loved ones. Their sorrow must be truly heart-rending. My heart goes out to those who lost their homes and livelihoods and those who can no longer live in the places they used to live because of the nuclear plant accident,” he said.

“In the aftermath of the disaster, the Empress and I visited the areas afflicted by the disasters and the evacuation centres for the victims in many areas to offer comfort and encouragement to them. On all of these visits we were most touched to see that, in spite of the sadness and hardships they must be facing, the people never seemed to lose their composure and, with a strong sense of solidarity, they were trying to overcome their hardships by helping each other.”

The Emperor also thanks the Self-Defense Forces, the police, the firefighters, the Japan Coast Guard, as well as the international community for the help and condolences they sent. But his mind is still on those suffering from the March disaster.

“The afflicted areas will soon be facing a bitter cold winter. I am concerned about the health of the survivors, especially the elderly, who live under inadequate living conditions. It is my sincere hope that they will remain in good health through the cold winter.”

Moreover, the emperor mentions natural disasters elsewhere, particularly those that struck Thailand, where major flooding impacted the country.

“The disasters in Japan and the floods in Thailand remind us once again that we live in a world today in which our lives are closely linked with the lives of peoples of other countries.”

Lastly, the emperor talked about his recent hospital stay for bronchitis.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all the people for their concern and compassion regarding my health when I was hospitalized last month for mycoplasma infection. It has now been several weeks since I left hospital and I have been able to resume the official state duties that I had entrusted to the Crown Prince and I now feel that my physical condition is back to how it was prior to my hospitalization. I shall take good care of my health as I resume my works from now on through various events related to the coming of the New Year.”

“Only days remain before the end of the year. My heart will be always with the afflicted people in the coming new year as has been the case thus far. I sincerely hope that the coming year will be a better year for everyone.”

About Emperor Akihito

Emperor Akihito was born December 23, 1933. He is the eldest son and fifth child of Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako. The Emperor was tutored English and Western etiquette by Elizabeth Gray Vining and later attended at the Department of Political Science at the Gakashuin University. He was invested as Heir-Apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne Nov. 10, 1952 and the following year, he represented his father the emperor at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, his first of the dozens of trips he made to 37 years as crown prince. He succeeded as Japan's 125^th emperor on the death of Emperor Hirohito, Jan. 7, 1989. His formal accession took place Nov. 12, 1990. Since his accession, the emperor gave his best to bring the Imperial Family closer to the public, visiting 18 countries and all of Japan's 47 prefectures since he inherited the crown.

Akihito is the first Japanese emperor to made televised appearance, during the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country and the succeeding Fukushima I nuclear crisis in 2011, perhaps the most trying moments of his reign. In it, the emperor urged the country to keep hoping and helping one another.

Together with Empress Michiko, he toured numerous shelters for refugees to rekindle their hope, a very rear opportunity that the emperor grabbed to boost the country's morale.

The Emperor is a published ichthyology researcher, with emphasis in family Gobiidae. In 2005, a newly described goby, Exyrias akihito was named in his honor.

Emperor Akihito married Michiko Soda (born Oct. 24, 1934), the first-born daughter of Hidesaburo Shoda, president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling. She was the commoner to become Japanese' empress-consort. Their marriage is a happy one and they have two sons and one daughter: Crown Prince Naruhito (born Feb. 23, 1960); Prince Akishino (botn Nov. 30, 1965); and the former Princess Sayako (Mrs. Kuroda, born April 18, 1969).  

The Emperor and Empress cheer well-wishers.

The Japanese Imperial Family, from left to right, Crown Princess Masako,
Crown Prince Naruhito, Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Prince
Akishino, his wife Princess Kiko, and their daughter Princess Mako.

Well-wishing crowd cheers during Emperor Akihito's 78th birthday.

The Emperor waves on well-wishers while speaking before them.

Crown Prince Naruhito

Crown Princess Masako.

Photo Source, Daylife, retrieved Dec. 24, 2011.