Monday 14 September 2015

Royals at the 2015 Rugby World Cup


The British Royal Family are big Rugby Fans. Between the different royals they are patron of 11 different Rugby Clubs (see list at bottom of page). The Royals are expected to make a number of appearances throughout the games.

The following is a list of 2015 Rugby World Cup related appearances:

(To be Updated as More Announced)

Pre-World Cup:
June 10th 
  • Prince Harry
    • Attended the launch of the Web Ellis Trophy Tour marking One Hundred Days until the Rugby World Cup, Twickenham Stadium,
September 10th 
  • Princess Anne 
    • Attended the Rugby World Cup Send Off Dinner in Glasgow
September 17th
  • Prince Harry
    •  Attend Rugby World Cup Official Welcome Party at Foreign and Commonwealth Office
September: 
Friday 18th - Opening + 1st Match
  • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
    • Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony 
    • England vs. Fiji match
Saturday 19th

No Royals in attendance

Sunday 20th

No Royals in attendance

(No Matches) Monday 21st 
  • Prince William
    • Attend the Wales Team Welcome Ceremony at the Guildhall in London 
Wednesday 23rd 
  • Princess Anne 
    • Scotland vs. Japan match
Thursday 24th 

No Royals in attendance

Friday 25th

No Royals in attendance

Saturday 26th 
  •  Prince Harry 
    •  England vs. Wales match
  • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  
    •  England vs. Wales match
Sunday 27th

No Royals in attendance

Tuesday 29th 

No Royals in attendance

October: 
Thursday 1st
  • Prince William  
    •   Wales vs. Fiji match
  • Prince Harry  
    • Canada vs. France match
Friday 2nd

No Royals in attendance

Saturday 3rd
  • Prince Harry 
    • England vs. Australia  match
  • Princess Eugenie
    • England vs. Australia  match
Sunday 4th

No Royals in attendance

Tuesday 6th 

No Royals in attendance

Wednesday 7th
  • Prince Harry 
    • Namibia vs. Georgia match
Friday 9th 
  • Prince William  
    • Presents the Welsh Team with their  Australia vs. Wales Match jerseys. 
  • Princess Eugenie
    • ???? Confirmation 
Saturday 10th 
  • Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence
    • Scotland vs. Samoa Match
  • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  
    •  Australia vs. Wales match
    Sunday 11th 
    •  Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
      • USA vs. Japan match
    (No Matches) Monday 12th 
    • Queen & Prince Phillip
      • Hold Reception for Rugby World Cup at BP. 
    • Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra
        • Attend reception for Rugby World Cup at BP
          • Harry gave speech
      Saturday 17th - Quarter Finals

      No Royals in attendance

      Sunday 18th - Quarter Finals
      • Princess Anne  
        • Scotland vs. Australia Match
        • With Sir Timothy Laurence 
      • Prince Harry  
        • Scotland vs. Australia Match
      Saturday 24th - Semi Finals
      • Prince Phillip
        • South Africa vs. Australia Match
      Sunday 25th - Semi Finals
      • Prince Harry  
        • Argentina  vs. Australia Match
      • Prince Albert of Monaco 
        • Argentina  vs. Australia Match
      Friday 30th - Bronze Final

      No Royals in attendance

      Saturday 31st - Final + Closing Ceremony
      • Prince Phillip
        • New Zealand  vs. Australia Match
      • Prince William  
        • New Zealand  vs. Australia Match
      • Prince Harry
        • New Zealand  vs. Australia Match
        • Present trophy 

      The Following is a list of Royal Rugby Patronages,

      Queen Elizabeth II

      • (England) Rugby Football Union
      • Welsh Rugby Union
      • Royal Air Force Rugby Union
      • Royal Navy Rugby Union
      • Army Rugby Union
      Prince Phillip 
      • Cornwall Rugby Football Union
      • Windsor Rugby Football Club
      Prince Charles
      • Llandovery Rugby Football Club (Honorary Patron)
      • London Welsh Rugby Football Club
      Prince William
      • Welsh Rugby Union (Vice Patron)
        • Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust
      Prince Harry
      • (England) Rugby Football Union (Vice Patron)
        • Rugby Football Union Injured Players Foundation
        • Rugby Football Union All Schools Programme
      • Rugby World Cup 2015 (Honorary President)
      Princess Anne
      • Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union
      • Scottish Rugby Union

      The Charities Forum

      The Charities Forum (originally called The Princes' Charities Forum) was founded by Prince William and Princess Harry in 2006 as a way of bringing together their different patronages. Princess Kate and Duchess Meghan's charities were later added following their respective marriages. The Sussexes patronages departed following their decision to step down. 

      The Charities Forum is made up of all of William and Kate's patronages, as well as a few organizations they've worked with, but aren't officially patron of.

      The goal of The Charities Forum is to foster collaboration and support between the different patronages.

      The Charities Forum meets twice a year to allow William and Kate to get updates on all their patronage's recent activities and projects, as well as allow the charities to learn from each other's successes and struggles. The charities also develop relationships and collaborate on projects. The Forum is hosted by a different charity each time. (The Charities Forum meetings are usually private, unannounced engagements that are not listed on the CC.)

      Video of September 2009 Charities Forum Meeting:


      Thursday 10 September 2015

      Princess Diana's Patronages


      During her life, Princess Diana was Patron or President of over 100 charities. Diana ended her official relationship with most of her Patronages after her divorce in 1996. This is by no means a complete list. 

      Patron
      • Centrepoint  (1992 - 1997)
        • Prince William is currently Patron
      • English National Ballet (1989-1997)
        • Prince Andrew was Patron (?-2019)
      • The Leprosy Mission England and Wales (1990-1997)
      • National Aids Trust (1991-1997)
      • The Albany (1982-1996)
      • Anglo-European College of Chiropractice
      • Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, London (1989-96)
        • Duke of Gloucester is currently Patron
      • Association for Spinal Injury Research Rehabilitation and Reintegration 
      • Douglas Bader Foundation (1991-1996)
      • Benesh Institute of Choreology 
      • British Deaf Association (1983-1996)
        • Prince Andrew was Patron (1997-2019)
      • Junior British Red Cross Society (1988-1996)
        • Queen Elizabeth II was Patron of British Red Cross Society (?-2022)
        • King Charles is President of British Red Cross Society
        • Princess Alexandra is Deputy President of British Red Cross Society
      • Chickenshed Theatre Company
      • Chipangali Wildlife Trust (1983-1997) 
      • College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (1983-1997) 
      • Commonwealth Society for the Deaf
      • Foundation for Conductive Education (1990-1996)
      • Gloucestershire County Cricket Club 
      • Guiness Trust (1987-1997)
        • Prince Charles is currently Patron
      • Headway National Head Injuries Association (1991-1996)
      • Help the Aged
        • Prince Phillip is currently Patron
      • Homestart
        • Princess Alexandra is currently Patron
      • London Symphony Orchestra
        • Queen Elizabeth II is Patron
      • National Children's Orchestra (1983-1996)
      • Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 
      • Parkinson's Disease Society (1990-1996)
      • See Ability, School for the blind
        • The Duchess of Gloucester is Patron
      President
      • Barnardos (1984-1996)
        • Queen Elizabeth II was Patron (?-2022)
        • Duchess Camila is President
      • Great Ormond Street Hospital (-1997)
        • Queen Elizabeth II was Patron (?-2022)
      • Royal Marsden Hospital (-1997)
        • Prince William is  President

      There are some Patronages of Princess Diana that no longer exist. I have not to include them in this list. 

      Royal Patronages often get passed between different royals. When a Royal becomes patron of a charity, it is not for life, but usually for a set amount of time (sometimes just for an Appeal, 3 years, 5 years, etc) and then possibly renewed. 

      Tuesday 1 September 2015

      September Q&A (2015)

      As Always, Post your Royal Questions & I will get to them as soon as possible. 


      Question 1: When does Prince Harry get back from Africa?


      Answer: Prince Harry is back in the UK! We will get our first glimpse of him on his birthday as he has a official engagement.

      Prince Harry's other Engagements for September 

      Question 2: If the Cambridges go on a Royal Tour every year, why didn't they in 2013?

      Answer: Catherine was pregnant, and the whole year was basically consumed by that and the new baby. Catherine started 2013 off with hyperemesis gravidarum. Catherine had been hospitalized in December 2012 with HG and was still dealing with that. She didn't undertake her 1st post-announcement engagement till late February.

      Hyperemesis Gravidarum can be really really bad, and lead to multiple hospitalizations during a pregnancy. So, even if it was okay for a barely pregnant royal to go on a strenuous overseas tour, with HG it would be out of the question. The Doctors had no idea how Catherine's condition was going to progress.

      Obviously, the middle of the year is taken up by Catherine being very Pregnant and then having a new born.

      The latter half of the year, the Cambridges are still dealing with their new baby and being 1st-time parents.

      In September, William left the Armed Forces for his gap year.

      In January 2014, he starts his 10-week course at Cambridge University.

      The other short answer is: They often start planning Tours a year in advance (Although they aren't announced till 1-3 months ahead of time). If the Cambridges knew in 2012, that they were thinking about having a baby in 2013, they may have decided not to plan any tour because they were uncertain about their plans. It was only in the last few months of 2012 that they knew for certain what their 2013 baby plans were.

      Question 3: I haven't gotten a reply for ____ yet?

      Answer: If you are waiting for a reply from Sweden for the Royal Wedding or Birth of Prince Nicolas, etc: I haven't seen anyone receive one yet. When I wrote after the announcement that Princess Madeleine was pregnant again, back in January, it took about 2.5 months for a reply. And given that this is summer and a lot of staff are taking time off for holiday it will probably take a little longer to receive a reply.

      Hopefully by the end of this month.

      If you are waiting for a reply from the Cambridge's for Prince William's birthday, Charlotte's Christening, George's Birthday:  I haven't seen anyone receive one yet. I believe the Correspondence Section at Clarence House took most of the month of August off. They were behind on the letters. I have recently seen replies for letters sent for various reasons Pre-William's birthday. So They should be sending out replies for William's birthday soon, and then Charlotte's Christening & George's Birthday after that.

      The replies should come in the order of events/they were sent.

      If you are waiting for a reply from someone else: Remember 1-2 months is standard, and that during the summer it can take longer.

      Question 4: Do you think Prince Harry will get back together with Chelsy Davy?

      Answer: No. They have been broken up 5 years ago, and have both moved on. Even if the recent rumours about them meeting up in Africa are true, they are not getting back together.  Chelsy has stated she doesn't want the royal life and has shyed away from the spotlight. They still remain friends and still have a number of mutual friends in common, so they are occasionally seen at the same events.

      Question 5: Is it true Will and Kate are going on Tour to the Caribbean in 2016?

      Answer: Short Answer: No/ No, we haven't heard anything official.

      Long answer: Usually the Cambridges go on tour once a year. Usually a big tour and then possibly a smaller overseas visit.

      So, we should expect to see the Cambridges go on Tour in 2016. My bet is without the children. But it just depends on where they are going, for what purpose and for how long.

      Royal tours are often planned a year in advance, so it is possible that the tour is being planned and that the media got hints of this. It could also be, someone got a hint of something that's not quite true, reported it, and then other news media reported that misinformation. It could also be a case of the Cambridges getting invited to visit the Caribbean, but the logistics not working out.

      Remember when it was reported that Cambridges were going to attend the Annual Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta?

      The rumour, which many outlets reported as confirmed, was started by a comment from Malta's Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Muscat. He said the Cambridges have been invited to attend the meeting. But in reality, there was never any plans made for the Cambridge to attend. They get invited to thousands of things every year and have to say no to most of them.

      Kensington Palace does not usually announce Royal Tours till 1-3 months ahead of time. So we won't know anything for certain for a while.

      List of Overseas Tours and Visits

      Question 6: How many Royals are Pregnant right now?

      Answer: I can only think of 2 off the top of my head Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, and  Lady Frederick Windsor. 

      Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel are expecting their 2nd child in March. This child will be 3rd in line to the Swedish throne, regardless of sex. The couple already have a daughter, Princess Estelle, born in 2012.


      Lady Frederick Windsor (Sophie Winkleman)
      is the wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, the Prince & Princess Michael of Kent's son. The Kents are the Queen's cousin.

      Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor are expecting their 2nd child in January. He or she will be 48th in line to the throne, regardless of sex. The couple already have a daughter, Maud, born in 2013. Princess Eugenie is one of the Maud's godmothers.


      Question 7: Why are some Royals HRH and some HSH?

      Answer: They are both styles of address for a member of a Royal Family. The use of the two different addresses depends on the country.

      HRH stands for His/Her Royal Highness. It is used by most of the European Royal families for members of the royal family. When you are talking about 2 or more royals they are TRH - Their Royal Highnesses. 

      HSH stands for His/Her Serene Highness, It is used by Monaco & Liechtenstein, as well as a number of now defunct Monarchies. HSH is the equivalent of HRH, although HSH is often used to address the monarch, where HRH is not.

      HM stand for His/Her Majesty. It is used by the monarch of a country. If the Monarch is a King and his wife is Queen, she will often use HM as well. If the Monarch is a Queen, since King outranks Queen, her spouse often uses the title Prince Consort and uses HRH.

      HH stands for His/Her Highness. This is used by a few monarchies for a number of different reason, usually to signify a family member who isn't granted the distinction "Royal" (Think children of the 2nd child of the king).

      You will see these forms of address in different languages as well. S.A.S.  is French for His/Her Serene Highness (Son Altesse Sérénissime). HKH is Swedish for Her Royal Highness (Hennes Kunglig Höghet).

      Question 8: Why does George always touch his ear when he cries?

      Answer: I wouldn't read anything into Prince George touching his ear when he cries. We've only seen him cry twice (and that certainly not enough times to draw any conclusions) at a 2014 Polo Match and Princess Charlotte's christening.

      Over the course of a cry, a toddler is bound to put his hand up to his ear at one point. There are hundred of pictures taken at each event and only a few show him with his hand by his ear. Plus, you have to think about why he might be crying.

      These were both events where there was a lot of people and a lot going on, it can be a little overwhelming for a young toddler. His hand to his ear may have just been a response to the noise.


      Question 9: Any mail from the Cambriges yet?

      Answer: I've received a number of responses from the Cambridges. You can find all the ones I have blogged about Here.

      If you're asking if I have gotten any Recently? No, not since Princess Charlotte's birth. Clarence House was really busy with all the mail they got for Princess Charlotte's birth. It took them a while to get through it all (depending on when you sent your letter and where you sent it to response times varied greatly). Then came summer and they took a holiday for a bit. Which means things got backed up even farther.

      They just came back from holiday at the beginning of September. I've recently seen a few responses from Clarence House for letters sent beginning of June, before Prince William's birthday. So I would expect Prince William's birthday responses to be sent out soon, followed sometime after by Princess Charlotte's Christening, Prince George's birthday and Prince Harry's birthday.