International royalsJapan

Japan's Imperial couple return to Tokyo after last trip outside capital before Emperor's abdication

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20th April 2019
Emperor Akihito of Japan and his wife, Empress Michiko returned to Tokyo on Friday after a three-day trip to the Mie Prefecture. There were several ceremonies at the Grand Shrines of Ise where the Emperor reported his upcoming abdication. They arrived on Wednesday at the Kintetsu Railway Co.’s Ujiyamada Station in Ise to a crowd of about 3,500. A further 1,500 people took part in a lantern…
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International royalsJapan

The life of Empress Michiko

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17th April 2019
Michiko Shōda – the future Empress of Japan – was born on 20 October 1934 at the University of Tokyo Hospital. She was the daughter of Hidesaburō Shōda and Fumiko Soejima and was the second of four children. She received a solid education, a combination of…
International royalsNorway

Crown Prince Haakon meets the King of Tonga

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6th April 2019
On Friday, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon began his visit to the Pacific-region. His very first stop was Tonga where he was warmly welcomed by His Majesty King Tupou. Crown Prince Haakon began his visit in the capital of Tonga, Nukuʻalofa. Crown Prince Haakon is accompanied by Norway’s development minister Dag-Inge Ulstein during the journey, where they will see, among other things…
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International royalsJapan

Crown Prince Naruhito’s memoir of time at Oxford reissued in English ahead of 1 May accession

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31st March 2019
As Crown Prince Naruhito prepares to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1st, his first autobiographical book has been republished in English. The book, “The Thames and I” covers the time the then Prince was studying at Merton College, Oxford; his studies were on the historical use of the River Thames for transport. The Crown Prince was the first member of the Japanese Imperial Family to…
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International royals

A pet lion? Dubai's Crown Prince has one

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19th March 2019
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Dubai’s Crown Prince, is well-known as an animal lover and has recently introduced the world to his latest exotic pet via his Instagram account. He has posted a visit showing him laying on the ground feeding red meat to Moochi, a white-maned…
European RoyalsInternational royals

Royal reactions to New Zealand tragedy

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16th March 2019
The British royals are not the only royals who have sent condolence messages and condemned the terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday. Denmark’s Queen, the King and Queen of the Netherlands, Sweden’s King and a Jordanian Queen as well as others have shared messages via press releases or on social media. On Friday, a white supremacist terrorist live streamed his attack…
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