Royal Events this Week - January 19-25, 2014

Check out this week's royal events that you should never miss!

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands

January 19 - Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, daughter of Queen Juliana, celebrates her 71st birthday.

The Countess of Wessex

January 20 - Sophie, Countess of Wessex, wife of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, celebrates her 49th birthday.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium

January 20 - Queen Mathilde of Belgium celebrates her 41st birthday. She was born Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz.

Infant Princess Ingrid Alexandra with her father.

January 21 - Princess Ingrid Alexandra, daughter of Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette Marit celebrates her 10th birthday.

Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover

January 23 - Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover, celebrates her 57th birthday. She is the sister and heiress presumptive of her brother, Prince Albert II.

Princess Charlene of Monaco

January 25 - Princess Charlene, wife of Prince Albert II of Monaco, turns 36. She was born Charlene Lynette Wittstock in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. 

Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal loses court battle, Scandal-hit Infanta Cristina moves to Switzerland and More Royal Updates!

Billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal loses court case against woman he owes £6.5 million to after giving 'confusing and unreliable' evidence. The prince says he now plans to appeal against the judge's ruling [MailOnline]

Scandal-hit Infanta Cristina of Spain decides to move with her children to work in Switzerland two months after a court named her in a corruption case against her husband. [Telegraph]

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is set to move out of hospital for the first time in four years. [ABC]

Nigeria's traditional Monarchs may have been stripped of their powers half a century ago, but they appear to have lost little of their regal pomp and splendour as this fascinating series of portraits shows. [MailOnline]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now ready to move into their new home, Anmer Hall, in the Queen’s Sandringham estate. [Telegraph]

With the celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the coming of royal baby George, royals enjoy all-time high support from Britons. [Express]

Princess Diana was ready to move to Pakistan to be with surgeon Hasnat Khan. A new article in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair claims that Diana was 'madly in love' with Hasnat. [Daily Beast]

Princess Charlene leads Monaco's royal family at the glamorous Love Ball in Monte Carlo. [Hello]

The Royal Blogger

Christian George Acevedo is a book worm, mentor, and scholar of wide-ranging interests. He has authored hundreds of articles for various websites, and his expertise ranges from online marketing and finance to history, entertainment and many more. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr. Contact Christian at powerwordsonlinewriting@gmail.com.

Celebrating Prince Albert and Princess Charlene’s Wedding

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene after their wedding.
Image: Reuters

The royal wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock was a magical day that evoked some poignant memories in Monaco. As the breathtaking blonde bride stood at the ornate altar in the Palais Princier, royal observers couldn’t help thinking back to the principality’s last wedding of a reigning sovereign in April 1956, when the beautiful actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III and became a Princess.

The glamorous screen legend would surely have been overjoyed to see her son, Prince Albert, wed as elegant and poised a young woman as South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock. And it would have moved the late royal couple to see their own nuptials reenacted decades later, bringing new love to the palace, and ushering in a new era for the Grimaldi dynasty.

But in the absence of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, Monegasque celebrated for them, gathering to watch the ceremony on giant TV’s throughout Monaco and erupting in cheers as Albert and Charlene exchanged vows in a lavish, multimillion-dollar spectacle that will go down in the Mediterranean enclave’s history.

On July 2, 2011—a day after the couple of five years were legally married in a civil ceremony at the Prince’s Palace—Charlene, 33, was ready to don her wedding dress for the 90-minute Roman Catholic ceremony. At 5 pm, she entered the palace in an off white silk duchesse satin Giorgio Armani Prive gown, its delicate floral pattern embroidered with 90,000 pearl drops, Swarowski crystals and gems. The statuesque beauty held a bouquet of freesias, orchids and lilies of the valley.

Followed by seven bridesmaids—all wearing the nation’s traditional flower girl costume—Charlene made her way down the aisle with her father, Michael, approaching the double spiral staircase in  the 17^th century Courtyard of Honour.

The well-heeled congregation of 850 royals, dignitaries and celebrities leaped to their feet clapping, and Charlene’s husband-to-be, 53, looking dashing in a white summer uniform of the Palace Guards, elicited chuckles from the crowd as he peeked backwards to steal a glimpse of his bride. Sir Paul McCartney’s “Standing Stone,” sung by opera singers Lisa Larson and Kenneth Tarver, filled the space.

Charlene joined her prince at the foot of the spectacular staircase, carved from a single block of Carrara marble, and the pair took their places on the scarlet damask stools in front of the altar, which had been consecrated for the occasion. As the couple’s proud families looked on – including Albert’s sisters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie – the prince’s nieces Pauline Ducruet and Charlotte Casiraghi delivered readings.

By the time the Archbishop of Monaco, His grace Bernard Barsi, made his stirring address, the emotion in the room was palpable. The couple exchanged vows – each affirming their lifelong commitment with a heartfelt “Oui” – and they were pronounced husband and wife. After the bride and groom exchanged 18-karat white gold platinum Cartier rings, a traditional South African marriage song was performed and communion was taken. Albert the lifted his new wife’s veil and kiss her.

Amid much applause, the delighted groom punched the air in celebration, his look expressing what he would later say to his bride in his wedding speech: “Thank you for allowing me to share my life with you.” Andrea Bocelli then sang “Ave Maria,” and the newly-weds signed the marriage register and left the palace arm in arm, while the elated crowds showered them with white rose petals.

Custom dictates that the bride place her bouquet at the feet of the principality’s patron saint, and as she did so as at the picturesque Church of Sainte-Devote, joyful tears streamed down her face. Charlene had her prince, and Monaco had its new princess.

About the Author: 

Christian George Acevedo loves to write about everything. He has authored hundreds of articles for various websites, and his expertise ranges from online marketing and finance to history and entertainment. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene lead Monaco in celebrating National Day

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene during the Fete National celebrations. 

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco lead the principality in celebrating the annual Fete National, November 19. Originally held on varying dates, the 'sovereign's celebration', from this time, has been held on 19 November, the day of the anniversary of the ceremony of the accession to the throne of Prince Rainier III on 19 November 1949, and also the day chosen to celebrate the blessed Rainier d'Arezzo (edict of 27 October 1951).


In 1950 and 1951, the 'Fête Nationale' had been celebrated on 11 April (edict of 4 July 1949); 11 April 1950 also representing the accession of Prince Rainier III. In 2005, in tribute to his father, H.S.H. Prince Albert II decided to keep the 'Fête Nationale' on 19 November, chosen as the day of his enthronement after the accession ceremony on the preceding 12 July.

The Prince's festival is the occasion for the national community to celebrate its identity and traditions. The ceremonies and festivities which are held on this occasion reflect Monegasque specificities and traditions:

- National traditions: presentation of honorary distinctions by the Prince and members of his family; parade in the 'cour d'honneur' in the Prince's Palace; taking the salute in the Palace square, which first took place in 1871

- Religious traditions: celebration of the thanksgiving mass and Te Deum in the cathedral, which marks the community's attachment to the Catholic faith

- Festive traditions: gala evening; shows, children's entertainments and free fireworks at the port organized by the Town Hall; amusement fair on Albert I Quay  - Social traditions: distribution of parcels and presents to the needy, the sick and the elderly.