Queen Rania Reminisces About Queen Elizabeth II and Wants To Be a Grandmother

Queen Letizia Speaks at UNICEF Meeting in New York

Queen Rania in Hospital Recuperating from Heart Procedure

The Royal Hashemite Court has released a statement today regarding the health of Queen Rania of Jordan. The Jordanian queen is recuperating in a New York hospital following a procedure to correct an irregular heart rhythm. A spokesperson from the Royal Court said, “the procedure went very smoothly and Her Majesty is well and in good spirits. She will remain in hospital for two nights while she recuperates.”

Before her surgery, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania were fulfilling engagements in United States which included attendance to the UN General Assembly and MDG Summit.

Willem and Máxima Kick Off Dutch Festivities In New York

The Prince of Orange is in New York this week to celebrate the 400th anniversary of friendship between the Netherlands and the United States. He and his wife, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, will participate in the New York festivities starting today and leave on Sunday, September 13th.

The ceremonial welcome began on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid. Prince Willem-Alexander gave a short speech after the formalities of introduction by the Mayor of New York and the US Secretary of State. The royal couple was presented with a Tiffany bowl which was etched with scenes of New York City. The Dutch naval frigate HMNLS Tromp fired a 21-gun salute and the Royal Netherlands Navy Band provided the music.

After the ceremony, Willem and Máxima visited the United States Military Academy at West Point. The prince addressed the corps of cadets and emphasized the importance of the alliance between the Netherlands and the United States.

The royal couple then headed to Albany for a reception and to view the New Netherland Project.

In the evening, Willem and Máxima returned to New York City to light the tower of the Empire State Building in orange. After the lighting, they were bestowed a gift of a miniature Empire State Building.

Princess Máxima did not disappoint fashion pundits with her choice of outfit for the first day; she was resplendent in a scarlet suit and small feather hat.

Photo: REUTERS

Dashing Prince Harry Charms New York

It is not uncommon for New York to be inundated with royal visits. In the last two years, the city has entertained royalty from Prince Andrew to Queen Rania and now Prince Harry is joining the brigade of royals who have undertaken engagements in the Big Apple.

He arrived in New York today; he is on two-day diplomatic tour of the city. It is his first official engagement overseas representing the British Royal Family. His trip will wrap up tomorrow on Governors Island playing polo for his charity Sentabale.

His first stop was to the World Trade Center site where he placed a wreath on the fence and thereafter stood quietly with his head bowed to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The note attached to the wreath was imprinted with his cypher and he had written on it the following words: “In respectful memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and in admiration of the courage shown by the people of this great city on that day.” He signed it simply Harry.

After the quiet contemplation at Ground Zero, the prince headed over to the British Garden at Hanover Square to plant a tree.

At the Manhattan Campus of the Veterans Affairs New York Harbour Healthcare System, the prince toured the prosthetics facilities and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment clinic. Afterwards, he attended a private reception at the British Consul General's Residence in New York.

Tomorrow, he will visit the Harlem Children’s Zone and participate in the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Match which will be held on Governors Island. The proceeds from the charity event will benefit the American Friends of Sentebale. Sentebale was co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho which assists Lesotho's orphans and vulnerable children ravaged by poverty, abuse and the HIV/Aids epidemic.

The BBC video clip, Harry lays wreath at Ground Zero, can be viewed here.

Photo: REUTERS

Another Visit to America for King Abdullah II

King Abdullah II of Jordan will be back in the United States towards the end of the week. He will be accompanied by his elegant wife, Queen Rania. On Thursday, the king will be meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York to contemplate the possibility of “expanding the UN's efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and foster Middle East peace and stability.” The following day, Abdullah will be speaking at Princeton University. The monarch will wrap up his visit in Washington D.C. where he will rendezvous with President George W. Bush “to discuss means to push the peace process towards a comprehensive peace agreement that addresses all aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” According to the statement released by the White House press secretary, "The President and Mrs. Bush will welcome King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan to the White House on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. The President looks forward to discussing with the King the bilateral relationship between the United States and Jordan, Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, the situation in Lebanon, and other regional issues. Following his meeting with King Abdullah, the President and Mrs. Bush will host the King and Queen for a private lunch."

Photo: Petra

Pieter, Maurits and Marilène Attend Peter Stuyvesant Ball in New York

Professor mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, attended the 26th Peter Stuyvesant Ball at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Manhattan’s 42nd Street in New York. He was accompanied by his son, Prince Maurits and his daughter-in-law, Princess Marilène. The event took place on November 16th and was themed the “Daffodil Ball.” The ball is hosted by the Netherland-America Foundation. The foundation’s main objective is to build “on the enduring heritage and values shared between the peoples of the Netherlands and the United States” and “seeks to further strengthen the bonds between {the} two countries through exchange in the arts, sciences, education, business and public affairs.” Princess Margriet and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven are patrons of the NAF.

Prince Willem-Alexander Goes To Washington

In preparation for the International Year of Sanitation 2008, the Prince of Orange outlined the goals of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation at a Washington D.C. meeting yesterday and said: “Today we start mapping out a course of action that will enable us to pick up the pace on water and sanitation. As far as I am concerned, this meeting will focus on one central question. What do we want to achieve by the end of 2008, and how do we achieve it? It is important that between now and November, when the International Year of Sanitation will be launched, we take the step from general objectives to measurable targets. Targets expressed in figures, percentages and money, and in concrete project plans and partnerships.”

Below is a segment of Prince of Orange’s speech from the Washington DC preparatory meeting to organize the International Year of Sanitation 2008 in New York.

"Ladies and gentlemen,"

"Welcome. As chair of UNSGAB, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, I was thrilled last December when the General Assembly accepted our recommendation and unanimously adopted the resolution declaring 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. Today I’m delighted that we can officially start preparing to make it a success. There is an enormous amount of work to be done and I thank you in advance for your readiness to do your share."

"UNSGAB was established in 2004 to speed up progress on MDG 7, target 10, the MDG target on water and sanitation. Our own Hashimoto Action Plan summarises in just eleven pages the points requiring swift and resolute action. In short: we need more political commitment, more cross-sectoral cooperation and more money. The International Year of Sanitation is an important vehicle to achieve all this."

"Today we start mapping out a course of action that will enable us to pick up the pace on water and sanitation. As far as I am concerned, this meeting will focus on one central question. What do we want to achieve by the end of 2008, and how do we achieve it? It is important that between now and November, when the International Year of Sanitation will be launched, we take the step from general objectives to measurable targets. Targets expressed in figures, percentages and money, and in concrete project plans and partnerships."

"And that immediately brings me to the question I want to ask each and every one of you. What can you do, en route to 2015, to put achievement of the sanitation goals on the fast track? What organisational and financial sources can you tap? And how are you going to do it? I hope to hear more about that today. I can imagine that you also have questions. For instance, what role will UN DESA play as lead agency? What role will the other UN agencies play? And what can UNSGAB itself contribute through the Hashimoto Action Plan? In other words, today we have to look each other squarely in the face and say what we promise to contribute to the International Year of Sanitation 2008!"

The Prince of Orange’s entire speech from the Washington D.C. preparatory meeting to organize the International Year of Sanitation 2008 in New York can be read here.

Photos: Unicef