Bright Young Royals (12 page)

◆ Odense International Film Festival

◆ Plant a Tree

◆ Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus

◆ Royal Awards for Sustainability

◆ Save the Children Fund

◆ The Soldiers’ Grant

THEIR IMPERIAL HIGHNESSES CROWN PRINCE NARUHITO AND CROWN PRINCESS MASAKO

HIM:
Born February 23, 1960, Prince Naruhito (known as Prince Hiro) is the oldest son of Emperor Akihito and heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan—the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy. A graduate of History and Humanities from Gakushuin University, the prince has also studied at Oxford University in the UK and published a memoir about the experience entitled
The Thames and I
. His hobbies include jogging, hiking, mountaineering, and playing the viola. The prince remains a robust advocate for water conservation and other green causes—frequently acting as a keynote speaker on the subject. It has been said that the prince was completely smitten with the beautiful and intelligent Masako the first time he saw her.

HER:
Born December 9, 1963, Masako was hardly a ditzy aristocrat. The eldest daughter of Mr. Hisashi Owada (a professor and diplomat), the teenage Masako attended an American high school outside of Boston, where she had a 4.0 GPA and became president of the National Honor Society. She continued her education at Harvard (magna cum laude) and Oxford, never suspecting that one day she would be a princess. Masako speaks no fewer than five languages (English, French, German, Russian, and Japanese) and passed Japan’s Foreign Ministry entrance exam in record time. She is smart, charming, thoroughly modern, and seems to get along with everyone she meets. “She’s always had the qualities of an empress,” a friend once said.

THEIR REGAL ROMANCE:
Crown Prince Naruhito ardently pursued and eventually proposed to the then twenty-nine-year-old Masako, who was working as a professional diplomat in the Japanese Foreign Ministry. But Masako wasn’t interested in giving up her career, so she gently declined the prince’s proposal—twice! Still, the prince persevered until Masako accepted. (“You might have fears and worries about joining the imperial household,” he reportedly said to her, “but I will protect you for my entire life.”) On June 9, 1993, the couple were married in a picture-perfect traditional Japanese wedding ceremony. Masako became the second commoner ever to enter the Japanese imperial household, but despite this lack of noble breeding, she is next in line to become Empress of Japan.

HEIR:
Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko (born December 1, 2001); her official title is
Toshi no Miya
, or Princess Toshi. However, females cannot inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne, so unless changes are made to the male-only law of imperial succession, Aiko will never be empress of Japan; rather the throne will pass to her cousin Prince Hisahito of Akishino.

PHILANTHROPY OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS:

◆
The Japanese Red Cross Society
Conducts relief activities when major disasters strike. The crown prince and princess are honorary vice presidents.
http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/index.html

◆
The World Water Forum
Seeks to identify, promote, and develop concrete solutions for water. The crown prince has served as honorary president.
http://www.worldwaterforum.org/

◆
The Asia-Pacific Water Summit
Generates awareness to the significance of water issues and challenges. The crown prince lectured at the opening ceremony.
http://www.adb.org/Water/apwf/apws/default.asp

RECENT ROYAL BRIDES

T
here can be no doubt that the world loves a royal wedding.

Royal nuptials are a fascinating mix of ancient tradition and modern-day opulence resulting in a heady concoction of romance, ritual, and old-fashioned fairy tale magic. If televised, they are watched by millions (sometimes billons); if photos are published, magazines sell out in a flash. There is just something about a royal wedding, with the dashing prince, blushing bride, and all that pomp and pageantry, that melts even the most cynical of hearts.

A bevy of beautiful young brides, including Catherine Middleton, Charlene Wittstock, Princess Victoria of Sweden, Tatiana Blatnik, Autumn Kelly, and Sophie Winkleman, have recently joined the royal fray and we are still clamoring for every detail of their storybook celebrations.

One only needs to look to Princess Grace and Princess Diana to see how royal brides can influence global fashion to an overwhelming extent. But these days, it’s not only about what newly wedded royal women are wearing—it’s more about what they are
doing
. Which charities are they supporting? Which causes are they championing? In the coming years, it will be interesting to see how these ladies use their new titles and royal connections to have a positive impact.

As the future Queen of Sweden, Princess Victoria’s career is already laid out for her. But will Kate Middleton be able to fill the void that Princess Diana left behind? Will the new Princess Charlene be able to replace Grace Kelly as Monaco’s female figurehead? Will Lady Frederick Windsor forge ahead with her acting career? Will Autumn return to her Asian studies once she bears the queen’s first greatgrandchild ? Only time will tell. Although joining a royal house often means devoting all of your time to duty and tradition, these talented ladies are sure to shine in their own unique ways.

HRH CATHERINE, DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE

THE GROOM:
Second in line to the British throne, Prince William’s parents are HRH Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. His fairy tale lineage and swoonful good looks once made William the most sought after bachelor in the world.

THE BRIDE:
Born January 9, 1982, Kate Middleton attended Marlborough College before earning a degree in art history from St. Andrews University, where she met and began secretly dating Prince William. Known for her glossy chestnut hair, demure smile, levelheadedness, and perfectly polished fashion sense, Kate is extremely photogenic and entirely scandal-free, which made her ideal HRH material. Always immaculately turned out, Kate looks like she was born to be a Windsor. Her staples include tailored suits, jeans with boots and tweed jackets, wrap dresses, and Philip Treacy hats. (She is also leading the way when it comes to teaching England the value of a good, Americanstyle blow-dry!)

Among Kate’s many hobbies are photography, field hockey, tennis, and country pursuits like polo and horse racing. Before starting her official royal duties, Kate helped her parents with their highly successful business, Party Pieces, and once worked as an accessories buyer for UK fashion chain Jigsaw.

At first, Kate and William were just friends, and then housemates, but in 2003, their romance officially blossomed. The world was overjoyed when Kate’s engagement to Prince William was announced in November 2010, making her the first non-blueblood since the 1600s to marry a future British monarch. We love Kate because she is poised, confident, and extremely family-oriented. Not only will she become the first Queen of England with a university degree, but she has shown the world that if you conduct yourself with the grace and dignity of a princess, your background is irrelevant.

KATE’S CHARITIES:

◆
The Starlight Children’s Foundation
Helps brighten the lives of seriously and terminally ill children by granting their wishes and providing hospital entertainment. A favorite cause of the Middleton family, Kate and William co-hosted a table at a recent black-tie benefit.
http://www.starlight.org.uk/

◆
Oxford’s Children’s Hospital
Kate recently attended an eightiesthemed rollerskating disco in aid of the charity, which was set up in memory of her school friend Thomas Waley-Cohen, who tragically died of bone cancer at age twenty.
http://www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/forpatients/departments/children/home.aspx

◆
Place2be
Kate helped focus the limelight on this school-based counseling service dedicated to the emotional well-being of children, their families, and the whole school community.
http://www.theplace2be.org.uk/

◆
Babes in Arms
Kate trained for a rowing challenge across the English Channel in aid of this charity that sponsors research into cot death and other abnormalities that affect newborn babies.
http://www.babes-in-arms.org/

◆
CHASE Hospice for Children
Kate supports this charity in memory of England and Surrey cricketer Ben Hollioake, who was killed in a tragic car crash at age twenty-four.
http://www.chasecare.org.uk/page.asp?section=61§ionTitle=CHASE+Ben+Hollioake+Fund

◆
Raleigh International
A UK-based educational development charity that aims to help people of all backgrounds and nationalities to discover their full potential. Both Kate and Prince William are Raleigh alumni—Prince William went to Chile with Raleigh International in 2000, and Kate attended only a few months later in 2001.
http://www.raleighinternational.org/

THE ROYAL WEDDING :
The marriage of HRH Prince William of Wales to Miss Catherine Middleton took place at Westminster Abbey on Friday April 29, 2011, with an estimated television audience of two billion viewers—nearly a third of the planet!

After much speculation, Kate wore an ivory satin gown with full-length sleeves and intricate lace appliqué, heavily inspired by Princess Grace of Monaco, designed by Alexander McQueen, and customized by Sarah Burton. Her something borrowed was the Cartier Halo tiara, on loan from the queen. The aisle of the abbey was lined with real trees, and the pews were filled with nineteen hundred eminent guests from all over the world. After the ceremony, Kate and William (the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) stood upon the iconic balcony of Buckingham Palace and kissed in front of London’s cheering crowds, before jumping into a vintage Aston Martin to wave to their wellwishers. Later that evening, Prince Charles hosted a black-tie wedding reception for three hundred of their closest friends and family, where the happy couple danced to “Your Song” by Elton John.

The newlyweds have requested that anyone wishing to send them a wedding gift consider donating to their charitable fund, which aids causes reflecting their personal passions and values.
http://www.royalweddingcharityfund.org/

HSH CHARLENE, PRINCESS OF MONACO

THE GROOM:
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, was born March 14, 1958. He is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly.