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Post by Admin on Oct 18, 2014 22:52:25 GMT
Angelina Jolie was in Buckingham Palace meeting the Queen on Friday. The Hollywood actress was made an honorary Dame in the Birthday Honours List back in June and picked up her award this week. Looking proud, Angelina bowed slightly as she shook hands with the monarch. On learning of the accolade, she said: "To receive an honour related to foreign policy means a great deal to me, as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to. Working with survivors of rape is an honour in itself. "I know that succeeding in our goals will take a lifetime, and I am dedicated to it for all of mine." As a foreign citizen the Hollywood heavyweight cannot be addressed as 'Dame' but it will add to the impact of her global campaigning work. Angelina was a UN High Commissioner for Refugees for many years before being promoted to a Special Envoy. She regularly visits refugee camps around the world. Her current campaign against sexual violence is also backed by the former Foreign Secretary William Hague. The pair have travelled together to spread their message most notably in 2013 to the Congo, becoming good friends in the process. Mr Hague has previously told how the actress did not let on that she was having medical treatment during their trip to Africa. He was first to praise Angelina for her decision to have a pretentive mastectomy because her family is prone to breast and ovarian cancer, calling her a "brave lady and an inspiration to many".
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Post by Admin on Oct 28, 2014 22:40:59 GMT
King Felipe VI of Spain and his wife Queen Letizia travelled to the Netherlands on Wednesday to meet old friends, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima. The two sets of monarchs, who have a close relationship, greeted each other warmly, with Felipe and Willem-Alexander giving each other a large hug, while Letizia and Maxima smiled as they kissed each others cheeks. The Spanish royals were reportedly 15 minutes late arriving at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, and Willem-Alexander laughed as Felipe exited his car. "It's a pleasure to see you again", said the Dutch king. Wearing a red double-crepe shirt dress with embroidery, Queen Letizia looked stylish as she greeted the Dutch queen, who looked elegant in an aubergine-coloured peplum dress with matching wide-brimmed hat and simple jewellery. The recently-crowned Spanish monarch is in the Netherlands for a special one-day visit. The couple will also meet with Prime Minister Mark Rutte in the Prime Minister's Office at The Hague. The trip came just over a year after the Dutch royals made their first visit to the Spain since they received their new titles. They were flown in by none other than Willem-Alexander himself (the royal holds a military pilot's license), and Felipe and Letizia greeted them upon their arrival at the air base, with the royals warmly embracing one another.
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Post by Admin on Nov 5, 2014 22:49:00 GMT
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands appeared in high spirits as they touched down in South Korea for their whistle-stop tour. The royal pair, who are spending three days in the Far Eastern country, had just flown in from Japan where they were on a state visit to see Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Arriving in the capital of Seoul on Sunday, Willem-Alexander and Máxima were given a gentle ease into their jam-packed itinerary. The Dutch couple were thrown a lavish banquet by President Park Geun-hye at her official residence the Blue House, also known as Cheongwadae, which is literally translated as "the pavilion of blue tiles". Fellow Dutch national and football manager Guus Hiddink was also on hand to greet the monarchs as they attended the state gala. The following day Máxima, 43, proved every inch the royal style icon as she stepped out in a gorgeous champagne-coloured dress and matching cape. Her elegant number featured a mint green pattern on the waist, which Máxima teamed with a pair of jade earrings and a jade bracelet. The queen and Willem-Alexander may have left their three princesses at home, but the couple of 12 years were able to bond with local children as they were given an official welcoming ceremony on Monday. As Máxima and Willem-Alexander were met by President Park and treated to a royal guard of honour, again at the palace, the couple waved to youngsters who flew flags and smiled out at their foreign visitors. Once inside the palace, the couple had a meeting with President Park and signed the guestbook.
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Post by Admin on Nov 12, 2014 22:48:46 GMT
Prince Harry, watch out: You've got some serious competition from Kate Middleton's younger bro in the cool uncle department! James Middleton, whose custom marshmallow company Boomf just launched in the States (!), is already thinking about what to get nephew Prince George for Christmas. "I just want to be the best uncle possible, like any uncle wants to be," James, 27, told Good Morning America's Amy Robach Wednesday. "I want to be the cool uncle, the fun uncle!" As for sister Kate, who is pregnant with royal baby No. 2? "She's on the mend," said James, referring to the duchess' recurrent bout with severe morning sickness. He wouldn't say whether she's expecting a girl or a boy—just that "it's wonderful to have another niece or nephew on the way." He was also tightlipped when Amy said, "We've heard Kate's coming to New York." "I've heard that too," said James laughingly. He fumbled a moment over that one, before he claimed, "I don't really know..." Asked how often he gets to see his nephew, James said: "We're a close family and we see each other and speak on the phone all the time, so the odd Sunday lunch or popping in for a coffee." He also discussed the wedding in 2011 which was watched by two billion people, revealing that "the most wonderful thing about the wedding, which will stay with me forever, is that even though millions were watching, it felt like a family wedding" James also revealed some surprising news — that Kate and WIlliam's pet dog Lupo was a gift from James. "My little treat for them was to give them a puppy and Lupo was their gift." With another niece or nephew on the way, James said Kate's pregnancy was "wonderful" news, and he also admitted that he doesn't mind sharing the excitement with royal watchers, adding of Prince George's birth: "Everyone was celebrating with us, becoming an uncle, and for my parents becoming grandparents, they were all so excited."
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Post by Admin on Jan 3, 2015 22:47:14 GMT
A Harvard law professor who was named alongside Prince Andrew in the 'sex slave' case has accused the alleged victim of a pattern of 'made up stories' against prominent people. ‘Jane Doe #3’ alleges that she was loaned out to the royal and other friends by Jeffrey Epstein, an American billionaire who has been convicted of soliciting underage prostitution. In court documents, she accuses Professor Alan Dershowitz, who was part of O.J. Simpson's 'dream team', of abusing her when she was underage. Today, Professor Dershowitz spoke out against the allegations, saying that he would not rest until he had shown that the claims regarding his conduct were false. He also urged the Duke of York to fight back with 'every ounce of energy' against claims the woman made that she was forced to have sex with the royal while she was a minor in the state of Florida. Last night the prince issued a strongly-worded denial, with Buckingham Palace saying ‘any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue’. Professor Dershowitz told BBC Radio 4 Today: 'My only feeling is, if she's lied about me, which I know to an absolute certainty she has, she should not be believed about anyone else. We know she's lied about other public figures including a former prime minister and others who she claims to have participated in sexual activities with, so I think it must be presumed all her allegations against Prince Andrew were false as well. 'You cannot allow these allegations to hang above you. The first question you have to ask yourself when you are charged with a crime like this is "Is there any conceivable possibility you did it?" and if the answer to that is "no", you have to fight back with every resource and ounce of energy available to you. The claim by the woman is part of a lawsuit in connection with Epstein - a former friend of the Duke. In court documents she accuses Epstein, the Prince and his friend the socialite Ghislaine Maxwell - the daughter of crooked tycoon Robert - of abusing her when she was underage. The woman – named only as Jane Doe #3 but said to be 30-year-old Virginia Roberts – says in court documents she was told to ‘give the prince whatever he demanded’ by Epstein. Epstein was one of the best-connected men in America until he was jailed for 13 months in 2008 for soliciting girls for underage prostitution. The prince stayed friends with him despite his conviction and they were seen together in 2011 after Epstein’s release from jail.
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