Thailand

King of Thailand releases New Year card

The King of Thailand has released a New Year card to the Thai people to coincide with his New Year speech that he gave as 2021 began. The card features a photo that was released of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida ahead of his coronation in May 2019. Both the King and Queen’s signatures also feature on the inside of the card while their monograms are on the front. The…
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Thailand

United Nations urges Thailand to change law which criminalises insulting the royals

In Thailand, people can be sentenced from three to 15 years for insulting or defaming the Thai king, queen, heirs or regent. Now the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has asked the Thai government to change the law. Known as lese majeste law, it has been implemented on 35 people, the youngest being 16 years of age, in recent weeks. Protests in Thailand…
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Japan

Emperor Naruhito attends environmental conference

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the Global Environmental Action International Conference in Tokyo this week. The conference is held every two years, and this year focused on how to have environmental conservation while maintaining economic…
Bhutan

Bhutan's Queen Mother receives 2020 UN Population Award

Bhutan’s Queen Mother, Sangay Choden Wangchuck, 57, has received the 2020 UN Population Award for her contributions in raising awareness for population and reproductive issues. The Queen Mother was presented the award on 10 December during a virtual awards ceremony. Members of the Royal Family attended the special viewing ceremony as she was given the honour and were able to watch the…
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Japan

No public new year celebration in Japan in 2021

Japan’s Imperial Family will be ringing in the new year privately this year. The Imperial Household has decided to cancel Emperor Naruhito’s New Year’s event at the palace, due to a rise in coronavirus cases.  The news of this latest cancellation came as Japan…
Japan

Japan's Princess Aiko turns 19

Japan’s Princess Aiko is celebrating her 19th birthday today. She is the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. To celebrate, the Imperial Household Agency released a video of the teenage royal in the gardens of the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo alongside her dog, Yuri. She is currently enrolled in online courses, due to the pandemic, at Gakushuin University in Tokyo. She did…
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