Thursday 25 February 2016

King Carl Gustaf's 70th Birthday

King Carl Gustaf of Sweden turns 70 on April 30th. To celebrate this milestone birthday there will be a number of event to celebrate 25th - 30th April.


Monday 25th
  • Baltic Sea's Seminar at The Royal Dramatic Theatre, orginizaed by the Royal Swedish Academies of Science,  Forestry & Agricultural, War Sciences and The Royal Swedish Society of Navel Sciences.
    • 7:00 PM
    • Attending: King, Queen, Daniel, Carl Philip
Tuesday 26th
  • Royal Armed Forces birthday concert for the King at Slottskyrkan (Chapel at Royal Palace).
    • 6:00 PM
    • Attending: King, Queen
Wednesday 27th 
(Nothing announced)

Thursday 28th
  • Reception for government agencies and organizations at the Royal Palace
    • 10:00 AM
    • Attending: King, Queen
  • Congratulations List 
    • Well wishers can sign Congratulations List at Royal Palace
    • 10:00 Am to 2:00PM
Friday 29th
  • Reception for government agencies and organizations at the Royal Palace
    • 10:00 AM
    • Attending: King, Queen
  • Congratulations List 
    • Well wishers can sign Congratulations List at Royal Palace
    • 10:00 AA to 2:00PM
  • Royal Swedish Academy of Arts reception at Royal Swedish Opera
    • 3:00 PM
    • Attending: King, Queen, Victoria, & Daniel
  • Royal Opera and Stockholm Concert Hall concert at Nordic Museum
    • 7:00 PM
    • Attending: King, Queen, Victoria, Daniel, Carl Philip, Madeleine, & Chris
      • Monaco, Japan, Serbia, Romania, Bavaria
Saturday 30th 
  • STV Live Stream 
    • Starts 9:45 AM - 1:45 PM
    • Starts 8:00 PM - 9:30 Pm
  • Te Deum service at the Royal Palace
    • Attending: Swedish, Denmark, Japan, Monaco, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Bavaria & Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
  • Armed Forces celebration with music and changing of the guard at Outer Courtyard, Royal Palace
    • Attending: Swedish Royals,  Swedish, Denmark, Japan, Monaco, Serbia, Spain, Bavaria & Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
  • Choral Singing at Lejonbackens terrace at Royal Palace
    • 12:15
    • Procession to Stockholm City Hall 
      • 1:00 PM
    • Attending: Swedish Royals
  • Stockholm City Hall for Official Lunch 
    • 1:15 PM
    • Attending: Swedish Royals
  • Parliament, the Government and Governors reception at Royal Palace
    • 3:30 PM
    • Attending: Just King, Queen
  • Banquet for Invited Guests at Royal Palace
    • 7:30 PM
    • Attending: Swedish, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Japan, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Bavaria & Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,
Attending: 
Swedish: King, Queen, Victoria, Daniel, Carl Philip, Sofia*, Madeleine, & Chris

(Swedish Royal attendance will remain constant throughout the day. Sofia will only attend the morning part of the celebrations on 30th.)

(Princess Estelle, Leonore, Nicolas, Oscar & possibly Alexander may make appearances, but will not be attending most of the events.)

Belgium: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde

Bulgaria: King Simeon and Queen Margarita 

Denmark: Queen Margrethe,  Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, and Princess Benedikte

Japan: Princess Takamado

Jordan: Prince Raad bin Zeid, Princess Majda Raad Zeid, Prince El Hassan bin Talal, and Princess Sarvath El Hassan

Liechtenstein: Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein , Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein

Monaco: Prince Albert

Netherland: Princess Beatrix

Norway: Princess Martha Louise and Ari Behn 

Romania: Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu

Serbia: Crown Prince Alexander and  Crown Princess Katherine

Spain: King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia

Bavaria & Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Prince Leopold, Princess Ursula, Prince Manuel, Princess Anna, Duke Max Emanuel, Duchess Elizabeth, Hereditary Prince Hubertus, Hereditary Princess Kelly




Royal Tour of Nepal: March 19th-23rd


Saturday 19th: (2 engagements)
Kathmandu 
  • Meet Prime Minister, K. P. Oli.
  • Attend a reception for UK-Nepal bicentenary hosted by Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa
    • Meet ministers and senior officials 
    • Gave Speech

Sunday 20th:(5)
Kathmandu
  • Meet President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace)
  • Visit Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • View earthquake damage to the ancient Royal Palace and surrounding temples
    • Learn about their ongoing restoration work
  •  Golden Temple where the local response to the April 2015 earthquake was co-ordinated
    • Meet community members who cooked and offered shelter to those affected by the disaster.
 Bhaktapur
  •  Visit Red Cross pre-positioning site for emergency supplies
  •  Visit Byasi Camp for families displaced by the 2015 earthquakes
    • Meet residences

Monday 21st:(4)
Bardia National Park, Dalla & Pokhara area
  • Visit Bardia National Park 
    • Learn about WWF works with the park
    • Experience rafting on the Khauraha River 
    • View tiger camera traps in the jungle
  • Visit Local Community
    • Learn about the positive economic effects of tourism in their community
  • Attend briefing on anti-poaching at Thakurdwara Headquarters
  • Trek in the foothills of the Himalayas
    • Learn about the balance of conservation and tourism
    • Meet two Gurkha families whose homes were badly damaged by last year's earthquakes
    • Enjoy a cultural show organised by local people
    • Watch the sun set over the Himalayas
(Stay over night at a Gurkha homestay)


Tuesday 22nd:(3)
Pokhara area
  • Watch Sunrise over the Himalayas
  • Visit local secondary school damaged in the earthquake
    • Tour the restored facilities
    • Meeting student and staff
  • Visit British Gurkha Camp 
    • Lay wreath to honour Gurkha soldiers killed in service to the Crown
    • Meet serving Gurkhas, veterans and their families
    • Learn more about the work of the Gurkha welfare scheme and recruitment process
    • Present Captain Bhaktabahadur Rai with a MBE for outstanding service with the Ghrkha Welfare


Wednesday 23rd:(4)
Kathmandu & Bhaktapur
  • Open the Nepal Girl Summit together with President  Bhandari 
    • Meet organisers and participants, including young people
    • Give Speech
  • Visit the Samo Thimi Technical School, which provides technical training for young people
  • Visit the Kanti Children's Hospital
    • Meet young people being treated in the hospital's Burns Unit
  • Attend reception at the UK Embassy, hosted by Ambassador Richard Morris 
    • Deliver Speech
    • Meet individuals and groups who work closely with UK representatives in Nepal
(24th - 28th?: Rebuild earthquake homes in Nepal with Team Rubicon)



Tuesday 23 February 2016

Royal Tour of Western Balkans: March 14th - 19th

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla tour the Western Balkans March 14th - 19th. The tour focuses on peace, reconciliation, youth empowerment and restoration.

Total Engagements
Joint: 23
Charles Solo: 20
Camilla Solo: 14

Monday 14th Zagreb, Croatia (5)
  • Joint - Official welcomed by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, and husband Mr. Jakov Kitarovic at Presidential Palace 
  • Joint - Visit the historic Upper Town 
    • See restorations of buildings that were damaged during bombing in 1991
  • Joint - Meet with Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Tihomir Oreškovic and wife Mrs. Oreškovic.
  •  Joint - Visit the Croatian National Theatre as part of a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the British Council in Croatia. 
    • Tour Theatre
    • Watch short performance by children to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare
    • Performances by Croatian dancers
  •  Joint - Dinner at Presidential Palace

    Tuesday 15th Osijek & Zagreb, Croatia (3,4,2)
    • Joint - Attend the Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival in Tvrda
      • Learn about the history of the town
      • Tour festival 
      • Watch performances from local folklore and choir groups
    • Charles - Attend a meeting with faith and community leaders on inter-faith relations in Slavonia at the Archaeological Museum
      • Organized by Osijek's Centre for Peace and Non-Violence
    • Charles - Met representatives of Osijek's Software City and local businesses at the Archaeological Museum
    • Joint - Met local community leaders, and schoolchildren and representatives involved in a regional peacebuilding and reconciliation initiative, at the Archaeological Museum.
    • Camilla -  Attend a meeting on preventing sexual violence. 
    • Joint - Visit Osijek Co-Cathedral
      • Learn about the history of the building and the restoration works
    • Charles - Visit the Kopački Rit Wetlands and the Zlatna Greda Eco-Centre
      • Meet student, staff and local workers
    • Camilla -  Visit the State Stud Farm in Đakovo
      • Tour the stables
      • Meet students
      • Unveil plaque
    •  Charles - Attend a reception to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the British Council in Croatia, at the Museum of Arts and Crafts
      • Officially open 'Inclusive Design' exhibition
      • Give speech

    Wednesday 16th Belgrade, Serbia (5,5,2)
    • Joint -  Meet President of Serbia 
    •  Joint - Lay wreaths at the Serbian WW1 memorial 
    • Joint - Lay wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery
    • Joint - Visit Kalmejdan Fortress
    • Charles - Attend a meeting of faith leaders from the Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican Muslim and Jewish communities in Belgrade
    • Charles - Call on the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej Gavrilovic and Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci 
    • Charles - Visit St. Sava Cathedral
    • Charles - Visit Nova Iskra Entrepreneurship Hub.
    • Charles -  Met the Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and Yugoslavia and family at the Royal Palace
    • Camilla -  Visit a family care project supported by both UNICEF and the Novak Djokovic Foundation
    • Camilla - Visit Atina and met survivors of rape and domestic abuse
    • Joint - Attend Gala Dinner at Dom Garde given by the Prime Minister of Serbia 

    Thursday 17th Novi Sad, Serbia (3,2,1)
    • Joint Visit traditional crafts fair
    • Joint - Visit the Matica Srpska Gallery
      • View "Moving Museums" exhibit
    • Charles - Visit the 700 year-old Kovilj Monastery
      • Meet recovering addicts in the "Land of the Living" rehabilitation program
    •  Charles -  Boat tour of Kovilj Petrovaradin Marshes
    • Camilla -   Attended the Food is Great Festival at the Museum of Bee Keeping
      • Meet local British and Serbian food and drink producers
    • Joint - Attend at a reception hosted by the President of the National Assembly of Serbia at the Parliament building
      •  To mark British Women on the Serbian Front Line in World War One and the UK-Serbia bilateral relationship
      • Charles gave speech

    Friday 18th  (4,5,7) 
    Cetinje & PodgoricaMontenegro 
    • Joint - Welcomed to Montenegro by President Filip Vujanović
    •  Joint  Visited Cultural Heritage Festival at Vladin Dom Museum 
      • Event celebrating Montenegrin traditional music, arts, food, drink and culture
    • Charles - Viewed historic Montenegrin icons at Vladin Dom Museum
      • Meet  iconographers 
      • View the Icon of Our Lady of Phileremos
      • Charles - Meet the Prime Minister, Milo Đukanović, 
      • Charles - Meet the Speaker of the Parliament, Ranko Krivokapić 
      •  Charles - Attended a Meeting with Mr. Dusko Markovic (Deputy PM) on bilateral co-operation between UK and Montenegrin customs and law enforcement authorities
      • Charles - Attended reception hosted by Ambassador to Montenegro
      • Camilla - Visited the University of Montenegro Music Academy
      • Camilla -  Meet representatives of UNICEF Montenegro
        • Learn about #WePROTECT Children Online
      Pristina, Kosovo
      • Joint - Welcomed by President Atifete Jahjaga and ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O'Connell
      • Joint - Attended reception given by Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo at the Swiss Diamond Hotel

      Saturday 19th  Pristina, Kosovo (3,4,2)
      • Joint - Meet with President Atifete Jahjaga
      • Charles - Attended a meeting with Mr. Prenkë Gjetaj (Head of the Government Commission on Missing Persons).
        •  Joint - Lay flowers at the Missing Persons Monument at the Parliament building
        • Joint - Attended reception at the Hamam Jazz Bar celebrating UK and Kosovo Co-operation.
        • Charles - Visit the Headquarters of the Kosovo Force
          • Lay a wreath
        • Camilla -  Attend a meeting with survivors of sexual violence
          • with President Atifete Jahjaga
        • Camilla - Attend meeting for Ideas Partnership
        • Charles - Walk around Pristina
          • Visit the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
          • Visit St. George's Serbian Orthodox Church 
          • Visit Sinan Pasha Mosque
          • Charles - Attend the interfaith conference 


             

          Friday 12 February 2016

          Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday


          Queen Elizabeth II is the oldest currently reigning monarch, and well as the longest reigning British monarch. On 21st April this year, Her Majesty will celebrate her 90th birthday.

          March 
          Sunday 27th  - Easter Sunday
          • "Our Queen At Ninety" - Documentary by ITV
            • Interview: Charles, Camilla, William, Catherine, Harry, Andrew, Beatrice, Eugenie, Sophie and Peter. 
          April
          Wednesday 20th 
          • Official Stamps to celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday released by Royal Mail.

          • Visit the Royal Mail delivery office in Windsor to mark the Royal Mail 500th anniversary.
            • Unveil Plaque 
            • Meet representatives from Royal Mail, including long-serving postmen and women
            • Performance by the Royal Mail choir
            • Attending: Queen and Philip
          • Officially open the new bandstand at Alexandra Gardens
            • Unveil plaque 
            • Meet School children who helped design the plaque
            • Performance by children's choir
            • Attending: Queen and Philip
          • Prince William: 'I don't lie awake waiting to be king' interview by BBC
          • "The Queen at 90" Documentary by Sky News
          • 3 Official Photo taken by Annie Leibovitz released 
          • Birthday Honor List released

          Thursday 21st   Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday
          • Unveil a plaque marking The Queen's Walkway at the foot of Castle Hill
            • Walkabout
            • Attending: Queen and Philip
          • Traditional Gun Salute
            • At Noon
              • 41 Gun Salute in Hyde Park, London, England
              • 21 Gun salute at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland 
              • 21 Gun salute at Cardiff Castle, in Wales
              • 21 Gun salute at Edinburgh Castle, in Scotland
            • at 1 PM
              • 62 Gun Salute  at the Tower Of London 
            •  at 2:30 PM  
              • 21 Gun salute at the Royal Borough, Windsor Castle
          • Bell Ringing at Westminister Abbey at 1 PM
          • Light a beacon on The Long Walk to celebrate Her Majesty's birthday
            • Attending: Queen, Philip, Charles and Camilla
          • Private Dinner at Windsor Castle with Family
          (21st: Beacon lighting around the UK. You can participate in your own Beacon lighting)
          • "Elizabeth at 90 - A Family Tribute" - Documentary by BBC
            • Interview: Charles, William, Harry, Andrew, Anne, Duke of Kent, & Princess Alexandra
            • 9 pm BBC 1
          Friday 22nd 
          • Private Lunch with USA President Barack Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama at Windsor Castle
            • Attending: Queen and Philip
          May 
          Tuesday 10th 
          • Received a Delegation of Members of the House of Lords and House of Commons at Buckingham Palace in celebration of the Queen's 90th Birthday 
            • Presented with addresses from the Chambers of Parliament
            • Attending: Queen, & Philip
          12-15th Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration (Winsdor Horse Show) at Windsor Castle 
          • At least one Senior member of the Royal Family attended each day, with everyone attending on the last day.
          June 
          Friday 10th     (Prince Philip's 95th Birthday)  
          • Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral 
            • Service at 11 AM
            • Attending: Queen, Philip, Charles, Camilla, William, Catherine, and other members of the Royal Family
          • Governors-General lunch at Buckingham Palace
            • Attending: Queen, Philip, Charles, & Camilla
          • Reception at Guild Hall
            • Attending: William, Catherine, and other members of the Royal Family
          • Photo of Queen and Philip taken by Annie Leibovitz  released 
          Saturday 11th    
          • Trooping the Colour  
            • Starts at 10 AM
            • 11AM  Royal salute at Horse Guard Parade
            • 1 PM Fly Past
            • Trooping by the Coldstream Guards Colour 
            • Attending: Royal Family
          Sunday 12th        
          • The Patron Lunch
            • In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 90th Birthday and her 600+ patronages
              • The Queen grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry are patron of the Patron Lunch and Peter Phillip's company is organizing it. 
            • Attending: Queen, Philip, William, Catherine, Harry, Peter & Other members of the Royal Family
              • Charles and Camilla will attend Regional Lunch
          Also check out:


          Royal Tour India + Bhutan: April 10th - 16th

          The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went on a Royal Tour of India and Bhutan April 10th-16th, 2016. While on the Tour they undertook 27 Joint Official Engagments.


          Sunday 10th  Mumbai, India
          • Arrival at the Taj Palace Hotel
            • Lay a wreath at a memorial for victims of the 2008 terrorist attack at the hotel
            • Meet members of staff who helped protect guests during the attack
          • Visit Oval Maidan, a large park/recreational ground 
            •  Watch youth cricket match 
            • Meet representatives and beneficiaries of three charities 
              • Magic Bus
                • Children living in poverty charity
              • Door Step School Children's literacy program
              • India’s Childline
                • Children's help line
                • Countess Sophie is patron of the UK's Childline
          • Open-top bus tour of Mumbai with children from local charity, Apnalya. 
          • Visit  Banganga Water Tank
            • Learn about Mumbai and it's different social classes
            • Meet representatives from SMILE a charity that focuses on skills and opportunities for young people and their parents
          • Attend dinner and reception held by the British High Commission & British Asian Trust. 
            • Meet Mumbai’s leading figures, Bollywood stars and Business people
            • Watch dance and musical performances
            • William gave Speech
            • Prince Charles is founder and president of the British Asian Trust
            • Raise funds for three charities they met at Oval Maidan



          Monday 11th Mumbai &  New Delhi, India
          • Host Investiture at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
          • Launch the 2016-2017 Technology Rocketships Awards at the Social
            • Meet aspiring young entrepreneurs
            • Learn about the Prime Minister's Startup India campaign
            • William gave speech
          (Fly to New Delhi)
          • Visit India Gate memorial
            • Lay Wreath
          • Visit Ghandi Smriti (Ghanidi Memory), a museum for Mahatma Ghandi
            •  Tour the museum
            •  Pay their respects at the memorial 
            • Watch Youth choir performance
          • Attend Birthday Party for Queen Elizabeth at British High Commissioner home
            • Meet Vip guests
            • William gave speech

          Tuesday 12th New Delhi & Kaziranga National Park, India
          • Visited Salaam Baalak Contact Centre and Salaam Baalak Children's Home
          • Meeting with NGOs working in Delhi to support women
            • At British High Commission
          • Meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
            •  Have Lunch
          (Travel to  Kaziranga National Park)
          • Attended a traditional Assamese Dance Performance at Diphlu River Lodge
            • Meet local people 

          Wednesday 13th  Kaziranga National Park, India
          • Open-air drive around the National Park 
            •  Welcome by local people and park staff 
          •  Meet rangers
            • Learn about conservation work and animal trafficking
          • Visit Pan Bari Village
          • Visit  Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation
            • Meet young filmmakers from Green Hub
              • a project that teaches film-making as a vocational skill to young people across North-East India
            • Watch two short films on human animal conflict
          • Visit Kaziranga Discovery Centre built by Elephant Family
            • Elephant Family was cofounded by Mark Shand, Duchess Camilla's late brother
            • View construction progress
            • Meet with villagers who have been relocated by the charity to keep them safely out of the path of an elephant corridor
            • Put finishing touches on an elephant sculpture to officially mark the ‘call for artists’ for India’s elephant parade
              • Parade was previously held in London, Edinburgh, and New York

          Thursday 14th Thimphu, Bhutan
          (Fly to Bhutan)
          • Welcomed at airport by Princess  Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck
          • Visit Thimphu Dzong which houses the King's office and other government offices
            • Take part in a Chipdrel, a traditional welcome procession
            • Received by King and Queen
          • Visited the Grand Keunray Hall Temple in Thimpu Dzong
            • With the King and Queen
            • Receive a brief blessing 
            • Light butter lamps
          • Visit Thimphu’s open-air archery venue
            • Watch archery match
            • Meet young people from local schools and NGOs who will be playing other traditional games
          •  Private dinner with The King and Queen at Lingkana Palace



          Friday 15 Thimphu, Bhutan
          • Hike to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest monastery
          • Attend reception for British nationals in Bhutan and Bhutanese people with strong links to the UK  at the Taj Tashi Hotel