June

A lot of important happenings in the world of royalty, well, happened last week, and I missed them all because I am a lazy writer. So I am going to go over them really quickly in what will be a much delayed and very short blog post, accompanied by a load of tweets. Go!

1. Royal Baby
Princess Amalia, daughter of Prince Felix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg, was born on the 15th of June. Amalia is third in line of succession, because her uncle and aunt, Guillaume and Stephanie, do not have any children yet, and so is technically as close to her country's throne as Prince George, but for some reason doesn't even have a Wikipedia page yet. Even Princess Leonore of Sweden had a Wikipedia by the time she was a week old. But, like with Leonore, whenever I Google Princess Amalia, I just get pictures of Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange. (With Leonore, it would be Infanta Leonor the NEW Princess of Asturias. New! I'm coming to that).
But little Amalia is ridiculously cute. Look.

Prince Félix of Luxembourg, princess Claire, with their (yesterday born) daughter, princess Amalia. pic.twitter.com/4P9mCUxhFf
— ♔ Rick Evers (@Rick_Evers) June 16, 2014

#RoyalBaby Princess #Claire of #Luxembourg left hospital with baby #Amalia today - after giving birth Sunday morning! pic.twitter.com/J1n3SOmEaM
— Kjell Arne Totland (@TV2KjellArne) June 17, 2014

Another ridiculously cute royal baby is...

2. GEORGE!
On Father's Day (again, the 15th of July) HRH George of Cambridge graced the world with his presence at the annual polo match played between Princes William and Harry for charity. No one expected him to be there, so on Sunday night, I was scrolling through my Twitter feed looking for pictures of Prince Harry in jodhpurs when I saw young George, making faces at the camera. I fell off my chair.

Too adorable! Prince George at the polo today. See gallery via http://t.co/6FZHrNGfAx pic.twitter.com/HjXSFqzonf
— British Royals (@britishroyals) June 15, 2014

Prince George a little confused as to what a polo stick is for-v sweet. pic.twitter.com/bEGfQCgJoU
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) June 15, 2014

And he can walk now! I am content. (For the next few weeks, that is, until I start wishing for a birthday picture of George.)

3. Spanish Abdication

The biggest thing last week was when King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicated in favour of his son, who is now King Felipe VI. His wife is not Queen Letizia, and his daughter Infanta Leonor, is not the Princess of Asturias! She's only eight!
This is the third abdication in the last year. It was all very grand, and ceremonial, and maybe made up for Spain's early exit from the World Cup, but I've had more than my fill of abdications. (It's not as though they're as cute as royal babies. I can never get enough of royal babies.) What I am hoping for is a wedding. I haven't seen a royal wedding in a while. Prince Harry?

Spanish abdication. Not as good as the Belgian or the Dutch (But Leonor and Sofia are AWESOME!)

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain at Madrid's Palacio Real with the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia. pic.twitter.com/FEmLQeWp3g
— Joe Little (@MajestyMagazine) June 19, 2014

How cute are these little Spanish princesses? http://t.co/fxx6i7W2vL pic.twitter.com/QbjzdwP0tA
— HELLO! Canada (@HelloCanada) June 18, 2014

You can read the full coverage on Order of Splendor.

4. Happy Birthday Prince William

Prince William turned 32 on Saturday. Not as momentous as George's first birthday next month, and doesn't hold a candle next to an actual abdication, but a happy moment nevertheless. So many future Kings (and Kings outright) have not made it to the age of 32 in the past, and now William has.

It's Prince William's birthday! Here are 5 ways he's changed in the past year... http://t.co/1QFICMTdUi pic.twitter.com/U4hBwbiXUB
— HELLO! (@hellomag) June 21, 2014

Prince William is 32 tomorrow. I remember pouring his orange juice before he went riding on Smokey his Shetland pony pic.twitter.com/MK4p9cmWT9
— The Royal Chef (@DarrenMcGrady) June 20, 2014

Happy Birthday Your Highness!

~

Book review next week, unless someone dies or Prince Harry gets engaged.

N

UPDATE: I said it and it happened. Not Prince Harry, oh no, but Prince Carl Philip of Sweden just announced (June 27th) his engagement to long time girlfriend Sofia Hellqvist (Hellquest? Hellqvuist? I don't know). Royal wedding!!!

A Big Week For Royalty

I've been back from holiday for a while now, but when I was supposed to be writing this post yesterday, I was doing a lot of BuzzFeed quizzes instead. It was useful. I learnt that if ever a movie was made about my life, I (the main character) would be played by Emma Watson, and that if I lived in Panem, I would be a part of District 1, which is great, because then if I ever got selected in a reaping, I'd have a higher chance of survival, what with being a Career tribute and having sponsors all.

But I'm glad I didn't post yesterday, because I read some news today, which just made this the biggest week for European royalty that I have seen in a long time.

First things first: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco are expecting their first child. Princess Charlene, of course, wore that wedding dress that I thought was the best of all ever worn by royal brides. Charlene is also one of my favourite women to marry into a royal family (My all time favourite is Kate Cambridge, obviously), because she seems like a strong woman, who stays passionate about her causes despite royal protocol's attempts to subdue her. I have no opinion about Prince Albert.

Everyone is making a big deal about how this baby is going to be a grandson for the late Princess Grace, but I think they're forgetting that Princess Grace already has a grandson. More than one, in fact, as well two great-grandsons. It must be weird for Albert to be having a child after his nephew and niece.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's baby will be first in line to the throne of Monaco, which is, in my opinion, great news for the principality. Because while the Casiraghis are great fun, I'm sure, they don't really seem like ruling material.

And most importantly, one more royal baby!

Speaking of royal children who are first in line to the throne, Infanta Leonor of Spain (not to be mistaken for Princess Leonore, who is from an entirely different country) is going to be the new Princess of Asturias, because her grandfather, King Juan Carlos, has abdicated. Juan Carlos' son, Prince Felipe, is expected to rule next, as Felipe VI. His wife, Princess Letizia, will be Queen Letizia. Obviously.

This is the third abdication in the past year. Previously, Queen Beatrix (the Netherlands) and King Albert (Belgium), abdicated in favour of their sons, who coincidentally, will both be succeeded by daughters, as will Felipe. The world, or the monarchy any way, is getting a lot more influenced by women, and if history has proven anything, it's that women are better rulers. I may be just a little biased.

Also, abdication seems to be the new sit-on-the-throne-even-though-you-aren't-mentally-or-physically-fit-to-rule. Could Queen Elizabeth be next?

[Probably not. She, of all monarchs, would never abdicate, because, as anyone who has seen The King's Speech knows, an abdication was what caused her father so much grief and an early death. Never.]

N

Images: Reuters