King Frederik of Denmark - New Years Speech (2024-Present)

Photo: Foto: Hasse Nielsen

King Frederik gives his New Years Speech at 6 PM (GMT+1) on New Years Eve (December 31st). 

The speech is filmed live from Frederik VIII's Palace (The King's Residence) in Amalienborg Palace Complex. 

His mother' speech was about 10-15 minutes long and ended with a variation of the phrase "God save Denmark."

Speeches

Year	Location	Danish Text	Danish Video	English Text	Notes
2020s
2029	-	-	-	-	-
2028	-	-	-	-	-
2027	-	-	-	-	-
2026	-	-	-	-	-
2025	-	-	-	-	-
2024	Frederik VIII's Palace	-	-	-	First Speech

Christmas/New Years Speeches - Main Page

Qatar State Visit to UK (2024)

Reception ahead of King Charles's Coronation in 2023
Ian Jones, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The State visit of Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar will take place December 3rd-4th. He will be accompanied by one of his wives, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani. 

Monday Dec 2nd

• Arrive London Stansted Airport.
• Greeted by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to UK & Viscount Hood, Lord in Waiting

Tuesday Dec 3rd

• Greeting at their residence
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher
• Prince William & Princess Kate
• Ceremonial Welcome at Horse Guards Parade
• Guard of Honor - Welsh Guards
• Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher of Qatar
• King Charles & Queen Camilla
• Prince William & Princess Kate
• Lunch at Buckingham Palace
• View Royal Collection
• Exchange Honor
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher of Qatar
• King Charles & Queen Camilla
• Prince William & Princess Kate
• Prince Edward & Duchess Sophie
• Duke & Duchess of Gloucester
• Duke of Kent
• Visit Westminster Abbey
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher
• Speech at Parliament
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim
• Meeting with Prince William
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim
• State Banquet at Buckingham Palace
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher
• King Charles & Queen Camilla
• Other Royals

Wednesday Dec 4th

• Visit Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
• Flypast on Parade Square
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim
• Official Goodbye at Buckingham Palace
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim and Sheikha Jawaher of Qatar
• King Charles & Queen Camilla
• Meeting at No. 10 Downing Street 
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim

• Lord Mayor's Banquet
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim
• Duke of Gloucester
• Depart from London Stansted Airport
• Attending: 
• Amir Tamim
• Sheikha Jawaher will depart privately. 

Royal Victorian Order (British) - List of Current Royals Knights/Dames

Robert Prummel., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Below is a list of all the current living royals who have been given the Royal Victorian Order honor from the UK Monach. British Royals are listed first, then Foreign Royals. 

British Royals

Knight/Dame Grand Cross  (Highest Grade)

Royal	Year	Reason
Queen Elizabeth II's Reign
Duke of Kent	1960	-
Princess Alexandra	1960
Princess Anne	1974
Prince Richard of Gloucester (now Duke of Gloucester)	1974	Ahead of 30th Birthday?
Duchess of Kent	1977
Duchess of Gloucester	1989
Prince Michael of Kent	2003	50th Anniversary of QEII's Coronation
Countess Sophie (now Duchess of Edinburgh)	2010	45th Birthday
Prince Andrew	2011
Prince Edward	2011
Duchess Camilla (now Queen Camilla)	2012	7th Wedding anniversary
Duchess Kate (now Princess of Wales)	2019	8th Wedding anniversary
King Charles III's Reign
-	-	-

Knight/Dame Commander (2nd Highest Grade)

Grey - The Royal no longer holds that position as they have since been elevated.

Royal	Year	Reason
Queen Elizabeth II's Reign
Prince Andrew	2003-2011 (elevated)	50th Anniversary of QEII's Coronation
Prince Edward	2003-2011 (elevated)	50th Anniversary of QEII's Coronation
Sir Tim	2011
Prince Harry	2015	To mark end of military service
King Charles III's Reign
-	-	-

Note:

Sir Tim Laurence was previously a Member (lowest grade) of the Royal Victorian Order. He received the honor in 1989 for his service in the Royal Navy. He was not yet a member of the royal family at the time, but was having an affair with Princess Anne. 

Foreign Royals

The Royal Victorian Order is one of a number of honors given to Foreign Royals/Monarchs. We often see this honor given to heirs to the throne. Monarchs are not often given this honor, as they are usually given the Order of Garter (if European) or Order of Bath during State Visits. 

Knight/Dame Grand Cross  (Highest Grade)

Queen Elizabeth II's Reign (1952-2022)
 

Royal	Year	Position	Reason/Event
Crown Prince Akihito of Japan (Now Emperor Emeritus Akihito)	1953	Heir	Coronation?
Prince Harald of Norway (Now King Harald)	1955	Heir to Heir	State Visit
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands (Later Queen Beatrix)	1958	Heir	State Visit
Prince Mengesha Seyoum of Ethiopian (Monarchy since abolished)	1965		State Visit
Prince Albert of Belgium (Later King Albert)	1966	King's Brother (Heir Presumed)	State Visit
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (Now Grand Duke Henri)	1976	Heir	State Visit
Crown Prince Mohammed of Morocco (Now King Mohammed)	1980	Heir	State Visit
Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco	1980	Eldest Daughter of King	State Visit
Princess Lalla Asma of Morocco	1987	Daughter of King	State Visit
Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco	1987	Son of King	State Visit
Prince Felipe of Spain (Now King Felipe)	1988	Heir	State Visit
Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn of Thailand (Now King Vajiralongkorn)	1996	Heir	State Visit
Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand	1996	Eldest daughter of King	State Visit
Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand	1996	Daughter of King	State Visit
Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah of Brunei	1998	Heir	Commonwealth Visit

King Charles III Reign (2022 - Present)
 

Royal	Year	Position	Reason/Event
King Abdullah of Jordan	2024	Monarch	Abdullah's Silver Jubilee
King Hamad of Bahrain	2024	Monarch	Hamad's Silver Jubilee

Back to UK honors - Main Page

Queen Paola of Belgium - Hospitalizations & Serious Health Issues

I think anytime a royal is in the hospital or having a major health event, there is public concern. I have compiled this information for the purpose of allowing the public to better understand the royal's health history.

All information I share is publicly available information that has been released by the palace. Out of respect for the royals, I don't include any rumors or anything not confirmed by the palace or royals. 

• 2024 - November

• Fall injuring her foot.

• Palace confirmed fall earlier this month after leaving Paola off list of attendees at King Feast Celebrations. The fall happened at one of her homes abroad.

• 2022- October 

• "Not Serious" Fall

• Palace confirmed recent fall ahead of Paola's absence at Prince Gabriel's Graduation parade as doctors have ordered her to rest.

• 2022 - March

• Fall & fractured Right upper arm 

• She requires rest for 8 weeks and has canceled all engagements.

• 2018 - September

• Minor Stroke

• Hospital SS Giovanni e Paolo in Italy

• (Sept 25th-26th)

• Sint-Lucas hospital in Belgium

• (Sept 26th-27th)

• 2017 - February to March 

• Fractured Hip from fall 

• Hospitalized at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc

• 3 weeks in hospital

• Surgery 

• will require months of rehabilitation 

• 2016 December  - 2017 January

• Fall and Fractured Spine

• In hospital at Cliniques universitaires Saint Luc in Brussels (December 28th? 2016- Jan ? 2017)

• Updated: 

• December 28th - Palace announces fall and hospitalization. Fortunately, the injury has not caused any neurological complications. Rehab will take several months. 

• 2015 - August

• Diagnosed with Cardiac Arrhythmia

• Updated: 

• August 25th: Palace announces Paola has been order to take a period of "Total Rest" by her doctors. Does not go into detail on health condition. 

• September 25th: Palace confirmed Queen Paola is undergoing treatment for Cardiac Arrhythmia. "Rest remains prescribed but her state of health allows travel, including abroad."

• November 15th: Queen Paola attends King's Fest Celebrations ending her sick leave. 

• 2013 - October

• Surgery for a benign urological condition

• Hospitalized at UCM Sint-Pieter in Brussels (a few days)

• Recovery will take several weeks. 

Royal Film Performance

The "Royal Film Performance" is a charity film premiere hosted by The Film and TV Charity (Formerly the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund, then the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund). This event is attended by a senior royal/couple (usually the Monarch or Heir). And is usually held in November. Ticket sales for the event go to the charity. 

Not every film premiere attended by the Royals is a “Royal Film Performance,” as that is a trademark of The Film and TV Charity.

The first "Royal Command Film Performance" was held in 1946 with the premiere of "A Matter of Life and Death." The event was attended by King George VI, HM Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (Later Queen Elizabeth II), and Princess Margaret. 

Dress Code: 

The dress code has varied over the decades. Today, the dress code in usually black tie, evening dress. Prior to 1980s, we often saw White/Back Tie with Tiara and Honors. 

King Charles's Reign 

Year	Film	King Charles & Queen Camilla	Prince William & Princess Kate	Other/ Notes
Nov 2024	Gladiator II	Just Charles	-	-

Note: 

2024: Queen Camilla canceled as she was recovering from a chest infection.

Queen Elizabeth II's Reign

Year	Film	Prince Charles & Duchess Camilla	Prince William & Duchess Kate	Other/ Notes
May 2022	Top Gun: Maverick		X
2010s
Dec 2019 (70th)	1917	X
Oct 2015	Spectre		X	With Prince Harry
Feb 2015	The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel	X
Dec 2013	Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom		X
Dec 2012 (65th)	The Hobbit		Just William
Nov 2011	Hugo	X

Notes: No Royal Film Performances were held between 2015 and 2019, due to "changes in the organization."

2012: Duchess Kate was unable to attend as she was suffering from acute morning sickness

 

Year	Film	Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip	Prince Charles & Duchess Camilla	Other/ Notes
2000s
Nov 2010	The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader	X
Nov 2009	The Lovely Bones		X
Nov 2008	A Bunch of Amateurs	X
Feb 2008	The Other Boleyn Girl		X
Nov 2006	Casino Royale	X
Nov 2004	Ladies in Lavender	X
Nov 2003	Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World		Just Charles
Nov 2002	Die Another Day	X
Nov  2000	The Grinch	Just Elizabeth
-	-