News and Views From An American Royalist.
Everyone knows Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge. The gorgeous Queen Rania of Jordan ranks high in the royal elite, and Queen Elizabeth II is a legend. Which modern-day royals rank in your top 10? Let’s hear the nominations as we research the hard-working and history-worthy royals across the world.
Obama’s royal gaffe
President Barack Obama arrived in Tokyo November 13, the first stop on his four-nation tour of Asia. He met with Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
With a deep bow and handshake, Obama greeted the Emperor. His gesture has been met with criticism. Obama should know the custom of a country like a professional businessman and behave accordingly.
Apparently improperly briefed about accepted procedure in Japan or perhaps having a time zone mind melt, Obama stuck out his hand for a shake. Which was fine. And friendly.
He then proceeded to simultaneously bow. Which was not.
And take his eyes off the person he’s greeting. Which was not.
And, worst in the eyes of many, the over-enthusiastic president of the United States bowed way down at a 45-degree angle, indicating in that culture and apparently in the eyes of many others, subservience to the emperor, son of the man who authorized the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. – LA Times
Prior to this incident, the President caused a stir during a visit to Saudi Arabia when he bowed deeply to the ground for King Abdullah.
After the Japanese visit, Obama will continue to Singapore, China and South Korea.
Good will to all men this season… or not
Labour candidate Peter White has been forced to apologize for calling the Queen a ”parasite” and ”vermin” on Facebook.
White, who is seeking election to Havering Borough Council in London next year, was summoned by officials after he compared the idea of a public holiday to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 with ”celebrating vermin”.
Apparently becoming a politician does not give this man pause in his choice of words.
Stephen Fry an oracle?
According to the Telegraph, Stephen Fry has come to be regarded as a “modern oracle” because of all of his updates to many followers on Twitter. But Stephen has put his foot in it.
The actor and longtime comedian has upset friends of the late Princess Margaret by accusing her of anti-Semitism. During a lecture at the Royal Institute of British Architects, Fry claimed that the Queen’s sister had been shocked when he told her that he had Jewish ancestors. The princess then allegedly expressed her horror by shouting to everybody else at her table: “He’s a Jew. He’s a Jew.”
Lord Glenconner, who points out that Margaret’s chum Peter Sellers was Jewish, adds of Fry: “It’s a bit unfair of him to say these things when she cannot defend herself.”
Happy birthday, Prince Charles!
The Prince of Wales turned 61 on Saturday, November 14.
Royal Sugar – Noble and Sweet! is my new freelancing site, provided by Sugar Inc.
If you haven’t seen Sugar yet, I highly advise that you do. It’s a great network!
PopSugar – Celebrities & Gossip
CitizenSugar – News & Politics
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…and more! Now I plan to add a bit of my own regal shine. See you there! NOTE: The above is a working title
The royal houses from the East and the West met this week to share a rare evening together when the Queen welcomed the Emperor and Empress of Japan to Buckingham Palace.
More at Hello! Magazine
Here’s a handy list in chronological order. There have been so many royal babies, and there’s more to come… it’s hard to keep track of them all:
October 25, 2001 – Princess Elisabeth (Belgium)
December 7, 2003 – Princess Catharina-Amalia (Holland)
January 21, 2004 – Princess Ingrid Alexandra (Norway)
October 15, 2005 – Prince Christian (Denmark)
October 31, 2005 – Infanta Leonor (Spain)
September 6, 2006 – Prince Hisahito (Japan)
While things are quiet in Norway, Belgium, and now Japan, things are still happening in Denmark, Spain, and Holland respectively.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is pregnant with her second child, due to be born in May 2007. Crown Princess Letizia is also expecting her second child in May 2007, and Dutch Crown Princess Maxima is pregnant with a third child due in late April 2007.
Congratulations to the happy parents!
Princess Kiko of Japan has given birth to a son. This child will now be the next in line for the Chrysanthemum Throne, laying to rest the frenzy surrounding imperial succession changes. Kiko had only produced 2 daughters up to this point, and her sister-in-law Crown Princess Masako had one daughter. The Japanese royal family feared that its imperial dynasty – 2000 years old – would die out. There was so much worry that, last November, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi helped back a change in Japanese law that would allow a female to ascend as Empress. The future Empress was to be 4-year-old Princess Aiko, daughter of Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito. Many Japanese were in favor of an Empress, and there have been a few Empresses in Japan’s history. However, the staunch conservatives were not looking fondly on the possibility of a female ruler. Former Trade Minister Takeo Hiranuma, according to Time magazine, said of Aiko: “If [she] becomes the reigning empress and gets involved with a blue-eyed foreigner while studying abroad and marries him, their child may become emperor,” he said. “We should never let that happen.” The xenophobic Japanese conservatives and Imperial Household Agency have a firm grip on what happens with the royal family. Unlike the British royal family, the Japanese imperial family’s schedule -and life – is completely controlled by the dominating IHA, with little breathing room. They are so concerned with the line of succession remaining male that they most likely convinced Kiko to try for a much-needed son. She succeeded. Meanwhile, the Crown Princess has gone abroad with her husband and daughter to the Netherlands. At the announcement of Kiko’s new son, Masako wanted to be out of the country to get away from the media sensation caused by the birth. Hopefully the intelligent and accomplished Masako may now return to public life now that she is out from under pressure to produce an heir.
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