Tuesday 15 July 2014

Royal round up, week ending July 12th 2014

A round up of all the news from Europe's royal houses for the week ending July 12th 2014...


United Kingdom


The Queen held a series of audiences at Buckingham Palace on July 8th, 9th and 10th 2014 including a meeting with Prime Minister, David Cameron, on July 10th 2014.  On July 11th 2014, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen visited Matlock Railway Station in Derbyshire ahead of a day of engagements in the county.  Their first stop was at knitwear manufacturer, John Smedley Limited, in Lea Mills where they toured the factory.


The Queen at John Swedley knitwear factory on July 10th 2014

Later, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Chatsworth House where they were met by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire who showed them some of the restoration work at the house.  The royal couple also met local community groups before attending a lunch given in their honour.


The helicopter carrying the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh leaves Chatsworth House in Derbyshire after their visit on July 11th 2014

The Duke of Edinburgh inspected cadets at the Royal Marines 350th Foundation Parade at Buckingham Palace on July 8th 2014 and on July 9th 2014 Prince Philip was at Westminster Abbey where he dedicated a memorial to Admiral Arthur Philip.


The Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey on July 9th 2014


The Prince of Wales was in Somerset on July 8th 2014 where he visited Glastonbury Abbey.  The prince attended a reception at Muchelney for communities affected by the flooding of recent months and the organisations that have helped them recover.  Later, Prince Charles - in his role as patron of English Tourism Week - attended a meeting with Visit England and First Great West Trains at Castle Cary station in Somerset.


The Prince of Wales was snapped by James Winslade on his visit to Muchelney, Somerset on July 8th 2014

In the evening of July 8th 2014, the Prince of Wales accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry attended the annual Responsible Business Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London.


The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry at the Responsible Business Awards in London on July 8th 2014

On July 9th 2014, Prince Charles handed over the presidency of the British Sub Aqua Club to his son, Prince William, at an event both attended at the club in London.  While Prince Charles made a speech and watched from the sidelines, the Duke of Cambridge donned his diving gear and jumped into the water.


Prince Charles watches as Prince William is presented with a T-shirt for Prince George at the British Sub Aqua Club on July 9th 2014

The Prince of Wales held an audience at Clarence House on July 9th before attending the Annual Degree Show of the Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London of which he is president.  Later, the prince attended a reception at Clarence House for the College of Medicine.  On July 10th 2014, the Prince of Wales held several meetings and audiences at Clarence House and on July 11th 2014, he attended the Royal International Air Tattoo at Royal Airforce Fairford.  On July 11th 2014, the Prince of Wales held an investiture on behalf of the Queen at Buckingham Palace.



Prince Charles at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford on July 11th 2014

The Duchess of Cornwall opened Aberdeen Sports Village Aquatics Centre at the University of Aberdeen on July 8th 2014 - she is the university's chancellor.  The Duchess later took part in a graduation ceremony for the university at King's College, Aberdeen.


The Duchess of Rothesay - as she is known in Scotland - at Aberdeen University on July 8th 2014

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry took part in a live web hangout on July 9th 2014 as they launched the Queen's Young Leaders Programme at Buckingham Palace.


Prince Harry and the Duke of Cambridge prepare for their live web hangout at Buckingham Palace on July 9th 2014



Luxembourg


Princess Amalia of Luxembourg was christened on July 12th 2014 with the Royal Family of Luxembourg in attendance.  The daughter of Prince Felix and Princess Claire was baptised in a small ceremony in Saint Ferreol en Lorgues in France.


Princess Amalia Gabriella Maria Theresa of Luxembourg arrives for her christening with her parents and godparents on July 12th 2014



Belgium


The King and Queen of the Belgians began their week by welcoming their country's football team to the Royal Palace in Brussels on July 7th 2014.  The Red Devils had an audience with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde after losing in the quarter finals of the World Cup.


The King and the Queen of the Belgians with the Belgian football team at the Royal Palace in Brussels on July 7th 2014

The king held an audience with acting Prime Minister, Elio di Rupo, at the Royal Palace in Brussels on July 8th 2014.  On the following day, July 9th 2014, the king was in Ypres for the start of the 5th stage of the Tour de France.  King Philippe met organisers and riders ahead of the latest part of the race. Also on July 9th 2014, at the Royal Palace in Brussels, King Philippe held an audience with Jan Peumans who is President of the Flemish parliament.


King Philippe of the Belgians at the 5th stage of the Tour de France on July 9th 2014

On July 10th 2014, Queen Mathilde was in Zeebrugge where she launched a new patrol ship, the Castor.


The Queen of the Belgians launches a patrol ship on July 10th 2014

At the end of the week, July 12th 2014, the King and Queen of the Belgians posed for photos at the Blankenberge Sea Park with their four children at the start of the summer holidays.  


Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eleonore of Belgium with their parents on July 12th 2014

Prince Laurent of Belgium was in London on July 12th 2014 to take part in a ceremony of commemoration at the Cenotaph for Belgian soldiers who died in both World Wars.


Prince Laurent of Belgium at the Cenotaph in London on July 12th 2014

On July 8th 2014, it was announced that Kin Albert II of the Belgians had undergone a successful operation to remove a basal cell carcinoma on his scalp.  The king returned to his home at the Belvedere Castle on the day of the operation - July 7th 2014.



Netherlands


The King of the Netherlands held several audiences in the week.  On July 7th 2014, he welcomed two new members of the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State to the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague and was present as JH Trop and FD van Heijningen took their oaths.  On July 9th 2014, the king held farewell audiences with the outgoing ambassadors of Belgium and New Zealand at the Noordeinde Palace.  There were more farewell audiences at the palace on July 11th 2014 with the ambassadors of Ireland, Switzerland and France and on the same day, King Willem-Alexander received the letters of credentials of the new ambassadors of New Zealand, Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi and Libya.


The Noordeinde Palace in The Hague where King Willem-Alexander held several audiences in the week

Queen Maxima was in Paris on July 9th 2014 where she spoke at an OECD meeting about the importance of financial literacy for young people.  


Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in Paris on July 9th 2014

The Dutch queen travelled to Ankara on July 10th 2014 to meet President Gul ahead of Turkey assuming the presidency of the G20 in December this year.  Queen Maxima and President Gul held talks about inclusive finance.


Queen Maxima with President Gul of Turkey on July 10th 2014



Spain


King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Portugal on July 7th 2014 as part of their introductory tour following the accession in June 2014.  The monarchs arrived in Lisbon and were given an official welcome at the Belem Palace by the President of Portugal, Anibal Cavaco Silva, and his wife, Maria Cavaco Silva.


Queen Letizia of Spain with Maria Cavaco Silva on July 7th 2014

The king held an audience with the president while the queen and the president's wife held a meeting with the president of the Portuguese Association for Rare Diseases.  After a lunch in their honour, the king and queen visited the Portuguese Parliament before an audience, at his official residence, with the Prime Minister of Portugal, Pedro Passos Coelho, and his wife, Laura Ferreira.


The King and Queen of Spain with the Prime Minister of Portugal and his wife on July 7th 2014

During their visit, the news broke of the death of legendary Real Madrid star, Alfredo di Stefano, and the monarchs along with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia immediately sent their condolences.  On July 8th 2014, King Felipe paid his respects at the coffin of Alfredo di Stefano at the Bernabeu Stadium.


King Felipe signs the book of condolence for Alfredo di Stefano at the Berneabeu Stadium on July 7th 2014

On July 9th 2014, the king and queen were in Leon were Felipe VI oversaw the promotion of officers in the Spanish Air Force.  On his return to Madrid, the king witnessed Antonio Narvaez Rodriguez taking the oath as new magistrate of the Constitutional Tribunal at the Zarzuela Palace.


King Felipe and Queen Letizia arriving in Leon on July 9th 2014

On July 10th 2014, King Felipe chaired a meeting of the National Security Council at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.  On July 10th 2014, the king was in Cadiz to oversee the promotion of non commissioned officers in the Spanish Navy.


Felipe VI in Cadiz on July 10th 2014


Sweden


It was a quiet week for the Swedish Royal Family who are enjoying their holidays but the Royal Household did release some photos of King Carl XVI Gustaf, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Estelle on a day out a Skansen open air musuem.  


The King of Sweden with his heiress, Victoria, and her heiress, Estelle, at Skansen Open Air Museum in photos released in July 2014


Norway


There were no formal activities for the Royal Family of Norway in the week as they enjoy their summer holidays.



Denmark


It was also a quiet week for the Danish royals who are enjoying the beginnings of their holidays. Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik attended the World Ballet event at Mollerup Gods on July 11th 2014 - part of the show was set to a poem written specially by the Prince Consort.


Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik arrive at World Ballet on July 11th 2014



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