Monday 30 January 2017

Luxembourg Christmas Reply (2016)

A very lovely Christmas reply came today!

It's from the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. The reply is similar to what we usually see from them, but a little different format. So, not much to say here.

I do find the (of Luxembourg) parentheses distracting. I don't know why they included them. Their previous replies have used of Luxembourg without the parentheses, or simply omitted the of Luxembourg altogether. Both seem like a better alternative.



Also Check Out:
Other Replies 
Christmas 2016 Replies
Writing to the Royals

Monday 23 January 2017

Princess Anne & Sir Tim - Christmas Reply (2016)

A lovely piece of Royal mail arrived today.

The letter is from Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. I had written to the couple in Late November to wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The letter was written January 9th, postmarked January 12th, and arrived today January 23rd.
So in all it took a bit less than 2 months for the reply to arrive, which for Princess Anne is a bit surprising.

With my previous letter to her, Princess Anne's office had done the amazing job sending out a reply within days of receiving my letter. Obviously with a busy time like Christmas it's completely understandable they are very busy and it would take longer.


The letter is like the typical reply from Princess Anne's office. What is interesting is reply was sent from Mrs. Isabella Ward, Princess Anne's Office Secretary. (An office secretary is a few steps down from a Private Secretary.) This is the first time I have gotten a reply from her. 

My previous replies have all been from Commander Anne Sullivan of the Royal Navy. She is Anne's Assistant Private Secretary.  

I've gotten replies for about 40% of my Christmas letters so far. So I have still got a lot more waiting to do,  although there are some I don't expect to get a reply from. I know last year I got about 1/3 of my replies in February, and it looks like that will happen again this year. 

Also Check Out:

Monday 9 January 2017

The Yorks' Christmas Reply (2016)

A lovely Christmas reply from the Yorks: Prince Andrew and his two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

It's the first letter, I've gotten this Christmas Season, the rest so far have been cards.


Not too much to say about the letter. It's a fairly typical reply from the Yorks. I was a little uncertain if I would get anything this year, as I didn't receive a reply for Christmas last year. (I did get a reply for Christmas 2014, which was the first time I have ever written to Andrew or his daughters.)

Also Check Out: 
Christmas 2016 replies
Other Replies from British Royals
Other Replies

Friday 6 January 2017

Monaco Twins Birthday Reply (2016)

I had a good laugh when I saw this piece of Royal Mail today.


Since Christmas and Monaco Twin's Birthday are so close together, I usually just send one letter. The Monaco Royals have always sent back two separate replies for Christmas and the Twin's Birthday, which is what they did this year. 

However, what is interesting is that they sent the birthday reply to my old address (I moved back in February). Luckily, the post office is still forwarding my mail to my new address! 

You can see their Christmas reply here, which was sent to my new address. And postmarked the day before this one.

I've always known that Royal's office will occasionally stores people's address on their computers. Which makes sense if they have to type out the address for the envelope. They don't store everybody's, but will if the letter is particularly touching and they want to make note of it, or if they think the person will write again. 

I find it very exciting to know that someone at the Royals's office knows who I am, even if it's just a computer. 

But it's also very interesting because the last 3 replies from Monaco (Albert's Birthday, 5th 
Wedding Anniversary, and Christmas) were all correctly sent to my new address. So why now is something being sent to my old address? 

This same thing happened with Duchess Camilla's birthday reply earlier this year. 


The Reply is almost exactly the same as last year's birthday reply for the Twins. 


One side of the reply is English. The other is French. 


Also Check Out:

Thursday 5 January 2017

Queen's Grandchildren "Official" Engagements (2017)

The Queen's Grandchildren Peter PhilipsZara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise& Viscount James don't regularly undertake "official" engagements like William or Harry. They are not regularly listed on the CC, and do not receive any funding for their charitable work.

They do however attend the occasional official engagement and do work for various charities and organizations. They also hold a number of patronages.

This is a list of the Official Engagements PeterZaraBeatriceEugenieLouise& James attend (e.g. Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral). This list also includes events they attend as a member of the Royal Family or as Patron of the organization.

We try not to include charity work that related to their job or events they attend in a private capacity, except when they are "official engagements". But it is hard to draw a line between what should be included, and what should not. Also, things aren't widely publicized so, undoubtedly, we will miss some things.

Count for 2017:
Peter - 3 
Zara - 3 
Beatrice - 23
Eugenie - 27
Louise - 1
James - 1

January (0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0)
Saturday 7th 
  • Eugenie attended the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate festival in South Africa 
    • presented the LQP 2017 trophy
February (0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0)
Monday 27th 
  • Eugenie attend UK-India Year of Culture Reception at Buckingham Palace
March  (0, 1, 1, 3, 0, 0)
Friday 3rd
  • Zara attend official opening of the new Clubhouse and Changing Rooms at Minchinhampton Rugby Football Club
    • With mum Princess Anne, and husband Mike
Wednesday 8th 
  • Eugenie attend a celebration at UK consulate in New York City to mark International Women's Day
Thursday 9th 
  • Eugenie visit Safe Horizon domestic violence shelter in New York City with  Voices of Hope
    • With British Consul General, Antonia Romeo 
Friday 10th 
  • Eugenie attend a UN Trustfund End Violence Against Women conference in New York City
Sunday 30th 
  • Beatrice attend the 100th Teenage Cancer Gig at Royal Albert Hall 
    • With mum Duchess Sarah (Joint Patron)
April  (0, 0, 2, 1, 0, 0)

(April 4-13: Eugenie's "Be Inspired" Art Auction to raise funds for Children and Arts)

Thursday 6th 
  • Beatrice attend We Day in New York City
(Sunday 16th: PeterBeatriceEugenieLouise& James attend Easter Service at Windsor Castle)
(Mid April: Beatrice judge Easter bonnet pageant for Sick Kids Friends Foundation)

Thursday 25th 
  • Beatrice and Eugenie attend Pitch at Palace at St. James Palace
May  (0, 0, 9, 5, 0, 0)
Tuesday 2nd 
  • Beatrice attend Milken Institute Global Summit at the Beverly Hilton in California 
    • With dad, Andrew
Thursday 4th 
  • Beatrice visit Facebook Headquarters in California 
    • With dad, Andrew
  • Beatrice visit Cisco Systems in California 
    • With dad, Andrew
Saturday 13th 
  • Beatrice run in Lady Garden Charity 5K in Hyde Park
Monday 15th
  • Beatrice attended Oscar's Book Prize Awards Ceremony 
Tuesday 16th 
  • Beatrice attended Queen's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
Wednesday 17th 
  • Eugenie speaks at China Exchange's Prudential Series of "exceptional people w/ extraordinary lives"
    • Beatrice attended
Sunday 22nd  
  • Beatrice attended Fashion for Relief in Cannes France in aid of Children in Crisis
    • With mum, Sarah
Monday 22nd 
  • Beatrice Eugenie attended RHS Chelsea Flower Show
  • Beatrice Eugenie attended Ultra Awards in aid of Children in Crisis
    • With mum, Sarah
Tuesday 25th 
  • Eugenie attended Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
  • Eugenie meet with Mersey Girls at Buckingham Palace (RNOH Redevelopment Appeal)
June  (2, 2, 6, 70, 0)
Monday 12th 
  • Eugenie host UNAIDS Gala in Switzerland 
Saturday 17th 
  • PeterBeatrice & Eugenie attend Trooping the Colour
Monday 19th 
  • Beatrice, & Eugenie, host reception at St. James Palace for Charity: Water
Tuesday 20th
  • PeterZara, Beatrice, & Eugenie attend Royal Ascot
    • With Queen & Royal Family 
Thursday 22nd
  • Zara, Beatrice, & Eugenie attend Royal Ascot
    • With Queen & Royal Family 
Friday 23rd
  • Beatrice, & Eugenie attend Royal Ascot
    • With Queen, Royal Family, & Eugenie's boyfriend Jack 
Saturday 24th
  • Beatrice attend Royal Ascot
    • With Queen & Royal Family 
Friday 30th 
  • Eugenie attend Children in Crisis Reception
    •  With mum Sarah, & boyfriend Jack Brooksbank 
July  (1, 0, 0, 4, 0, 1)
Saturday 15th 
  • James attended the Royal Windsor Rose and Horticultural Show
    • With mum, Countess Sophie
Monday 24th - Glasgow, Scotland 
  • Eugenie visited Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA) at Community Safety Glasgow
  • Eugenie visited Project Ability, a visual arts organisation supporting people with disabilities and mental health issues.
  • Eugenie visited Horatios Garden, a garden for patients of the Spinal Unit at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
  • Eugenie visited Teenage Cancer Trust at Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity 
Friday 28th - Canada
  • Peter & Autumn Philips attend the lunch of the 2017 Women Build for Habitat for Humanity, in Canada
August  (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)
None

September  (0, 0, 2, 1, 1, 0)
    Sunday 3rd 
    • Louise attend the Burghley Horse Trials
      • with mum, Countess Sarah
    Wednesday 13th 
    Wednesday 20th
    • Beatrice speak at WE Day at the UN headquarters in New York City, USA
    Wednesday 27th
    • Beatrice open WE Movement's new Global Learning Center in Toronto, Canada

    October  (0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)
    None

    November (0, 0, 3, 3, 0, 0)

    Wednesday 1st 
    • Eugenie host book launch the Be Cool Be Nice book in the House of Lords
    Thursday 2nd 
    • Eugenie attend the annual Poppy Ball hosted by the Royal British Legion.
    Monday 13th 
    • Beatrice attend book launch the Be Cool Be Nice book in the House of Lords
    Friday 17th
    •  Beatrice visit Children's Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury
    Monday 20th 
    Saturday 25th 
    • Eugenie attend UN Trust Fund gala for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
    December  (0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0)
    Wednesday 13th
    • Eugenie (Committee Member) attend The Charges II gala at Royal Horticultural Society Halls
    Also Check Out:

    Monday 2 January 2017

    Prince Albert of Monaco's New Year's Eve Speech - English Translation (2016)

    Dear compatriots, residents and friends!

    As the year ends with many countries experiencing terrorist acts, conflicts and humanitarian crises, our traditional holidays greetings seem all the more necessary.

     It is thus from the bottom of our hearts, with Princess Charlène and our children Jacques and Gabriella, we present to you this evening our most fervent wishes for a serene, happy and peaceful 2017.

    Indeed, we believe that when, in their diversity, people are mobilizing to draw together, along with their leader, the prospects for justice and peace, the return of harmony and security is not a utopia.

    We also know that in the chaos of suffering there arise men, women, young people who, in reverse and against everything, pose acts of generosity in the service of their fellows so tried. May these festive times enlighten us on these manifestations of solidarity often discreet but so comforting.

    Because it can not be insensitive, our country has long been committed to being close to these situations of human distress. The principality has the chance to be a prosperous country thanks to the efforts of all. Let everyone here be thanked for his work, for the confidence he places in Monaco and for his contribution to living together.

    The current situation calls for vigilance by all. We know that we can count on the services in charge of security to ensure effective monitoring and action.

    For my part, I will continue to work internationally to ensure that commitments made in the environmental, humanitarian, health and education fields are maintained and consolidated. Awareness of global warming and its causes is irreversible. It is our responsibility to take the strong actions required by thinking of future generations.

    I am determined, along with my Government, to continue to fight against other scourges, including corruption. I would also like to recall that our discussions with the European Union must continue under my impetus, step by step, in objectivity and lucidity, without bias. The necessary weightings will be made when the time comes to present our specificities without ever departing from the balance that has always made our strength.

    I call on our community to remain united and united around our institutions. They have proved that they are the guarantor of our stability and of the same progress.

    On the verge of this news, I wish you, your family and all the people who are close to you, the realization of your most cherished projects and a full development. To each and every one of you, Happy New Year 2017!

    January Q&A (2017)

    As always, post your Royal Questions & I will get to them as soon as possible.

    Question 1: Could we send letters to Her Majesty the Queen directly to Sandringham House? Or shall we always write to Buckingham Palace?

    Answer: Always write to Buckingham Palace. The Queen isn't the one who answers her letters, it is the Correspondence Section at Buckingham Palace. So, you always want to write to Buckingham Palace. This way it will get to the correct people, whose job it is to deal with the Queen's mail. Letters sent to other royal residence will likely get forwarded to Buckingham Palace to be dealt with by the correspondence section.


    It's a lot of work to process and sort the hundreds of pieces of mail the Queen receives everyday. You have to open it, figure out who it is really meant for. There will be some letters that should be forwarded to the Queen's Private Secretary, the Master of the Household, the Lord Chamberlain, or the head of the Royal Collection's office, etc. Harassing or threatening letter need to be forwarded to Scotland Yard. Then you would need to sort the mail for reason for writing, or event. And this would be all before one of the Queen's Ladies-in-Waiting even sees a letters.

    Occasionally, you see people get responses from Ladies-in-Waiting from other royal residences: Sandringham, Windsor, etc.  All those responses are from letters sent to Buckingham Palace, that were processes, and sorted there. Then some were taken along with the Ladies-in-Waiting, so they have some work to do during their stay at the royal residence. You just have to get lucky to get a reply from one of the royal residences.

    Question 2: Does Her Majesty the Queen see "normal" letters from normal people? Is there any sort of selection from the ladies-in-waiting who would tell her about the most beautiful letters or something like that?

    Answer: Yes, the Queen is shown a selection of letter from a diverse array of people and issues. We don't have a way of knowing which letters she read, as the replies are handled by ladies-in-waiting like the rest of the letters. But certainly if you get a reply from the Royal Residence the Queen was staying at, and it's a more personal reply, there is a chance that the Queen may have seen your letter.


    Question 3: Do Kate and William sign autographs at public walkabouts?

    Answer: No. The Royals are not allowed to sign autographs on walkabouts. 


    Question 4: Do you know when the Duchess of Cambridges birthday reply will be sent out?

    Answer: They will send out replies when they get to it. They don't really have a set time they do it each year. When you write for the same event each year you will find the response time varies, it just depends how busy they are. 
    Clarence House gets hundreds of replies a day, and correspondence section staff isn't that big. 

    But on average it takes about 1-2 months to get a reply.  So expect something in February, but don't be surprised if it comes in early March. 

    I've gotten a reply in Mid January, before I even got a reply for my Christmas letter to the Cambridges. I've also gotten a reply in late February.