Christmas Message from Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

HGH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg's traditional Christmas message to his people!

http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/Presse/Discours/2010/12/discours_de_noel_video/index.html

HM The Queen's Christmas Message

This year HM Queen Elizabeth II chose to give her traditional Christmas Message from Hampton Court.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12079065

Christmas Message from HM King Albert II of the Belgians

HM King Albert II of the Belgians released his traditoinal Christmas message to his fellow Belgians.

http://www.monarchie.be/fr

Christmas Message from HM King don Juan Carlos I of Spain

As is tradition, HM King don Juan Carlos released a televised Christmas message to his Nation.

http://www.casareal.es/noticias/news/20101224_mensaje_navidad_rey-ides-idweb.html

Japanese Imperial Birthday – Akihito turns 77!

On the occasion of the seventy-seventh birthday of Emperor Akihito, the Japanese Imperial Agency released some lovely photos of the Imperial Couple, Akihito and Michiko, who also made an appearance on the balcony of the Imperial Lalace surrounded by Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Masako, and Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko.

The Other Dukes of Calabria – Carlo & Camila of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

Carlo & Camila of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Dukes of Calabria, welcomed HOLA Magazine to their new sumptuous residence with sprawling views of Paris' Eiffel Tower.

Carlo is the son of the late Ferdinando, Duke of Castro, and of his late wife Chantal de Chevron-Villette. Ferdinando led a competing claim for the abolished throne of the Two Sicilies, which was incorporated into Italy in 1860 as a result of the unification movement historically known as the Risorgimento, which was led by then King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy.

Eventually of the five reigning families that ruled what became modern-day Italy, four lost their thrones: the Bourbons of Parma and the Two Sicilies and the Habsburgs of Tuscany and Modena. Their Savoy cousins, for the Savoyard dynasty was closely related to these four dynasties, overthrew their relations between 1859-1860. By late 1870 even the Papal States were incorporated into a unified Italy under the rule of Vittorio Emanuele.

Carlo Calabria is married to Camilla Crociani, a fabulously rich heiress.

©HOLA

Wales Wedding Coin Fiasco

Many in the UK are voicing their criticism concerning the profiles of Prince William of Wales and Ms Catherine Middleton...the profiles used on the coins, frankly, are awful...and look nothing like the groom and his fiancée.

The Centennial of the late Countess of Barcelona's Birth – Madrid, December 23, 2010

TM King don Juan Carlos and Queen doña Sofía, accompanied by countless family members, attended a mass at the Palacio de Oriente to commemorate the centennial of the birth of the late Countess of Barcelona, doña María de las Mercedes de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Orléans.

The late Countess of Barcelona died in January 2000.

Royal Romanian Christmas, Savarsin 2010

HM Queen Anne of Romania accompanied by Crown Princess Margarita, Prince Radu and her grandson Prince Nicholas welcomed local folk dancers for a performance outside the Romanian Royal Family's Savarsin Castle.

A few years ago this beautiful property was returned to HM King Michael by the Romanian government.

©HRH Prince Radu of Romania

July 1, 2011 – A Princely Marriage in Monaco

The Princely Court announced that the wedding ceremony of Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock will take place in Monaco on July 1, 2011.

There are 4,000 guests on the list and one hopes tat, given good weather, the public will get a good view of the festivities.