The first month of the year is done and it’s been a strange one for royal dynasties across Europe. Major events have been cancelled, postponed or altered as all of them continue, like the rest of us, to deal with the ever changing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. But they have found new ways of managing old royal traditions and as January comes to an end, there has been a steady stream of engagements and events. In a busy seven days for many families, here’s the royal week, in pictures.
That’s My Girl!
Embed from Getty ImagesPrince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco experienced every parents’ idea of a bad night out when they had to stand by and smile while pretending they were happy to see their children holding burning torches. The couple took their six year old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, to the traditional events marking the feast of Monaco’s patron saint, Devote. As custom dictates, those ceremonies involve setting fire to a boat although the pandemic meant that happened on a much smaller scale. Princess Charlene was clearly proud of her daughter’s style and dedication to duty, later sharing an image of her looking excited on Instagram with the caption ”that’s my girl!”
The Solitary King
Embed from Getty ImagesKing Philippe of the Belgians took part in the annual reception for the authorities across his country but instead of welcoming them to the Royal Palace in Brussels, he oversaw a digital version of the event. While dignitaries around Belgium sat at the other end of video connections, the Belgian monarch stood in splendid almost isolation alongside his country’s Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, to deliver his yearly address.
The Snow Princess
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden had a busy month, leading a number of digital engagements and conferences and joining her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, for several high profile online meetings. But it’s the great outdoors where this future queen is happiest and as January came to an end, Victoria headed into the snow to send a message to a meeting on the importance of public access. For someone who has just completed a trek around her country, it was a message worth hearing.
Heads, You Won
Embed from Getty ImagesAs January came to an end, there were reports that the Queen was set to meet new US President, Joe Biden, in England this summer. The 46th President, who took office earlier in the month, is set to visit London and Cornwall as part of the G7 summit being held in the UK. In the meantime, the Grevin waxwork museum in Paris prepared to add President Biden to its collection although this first close up with The Queen isn’t what anyone was really expecting.
