Royal

Crown Princess Masako of Japan attended her first banquet at the Imperial Palace for 11 years on Wednesday (29.10.14).
The 50-year-old royal has barely participated in royal duties since she was diagnosed with a stress related illness in 2004 and the last function she attended at the residence was in October 2003 to welcome Mexican President Vicente Fox and his wife.
But on Wednesday Masako and her husband Crown Prince Naruhito both attended the dinner held in honour of their friends King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima of the Netherlands - whom she stayed with last year.
Naruhito's parents Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted the banquet, which was also attended by other members of the Japanese royal family.
Masako - who has 12-year-old daughter Princess Aiko with Naruhito - also participated in a welcoming ceremony for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima as they arrived at the Imperial Palace. This was the first welcome ceremony she had been involved with in five years.
In December 2013, on her 50th birthday, Masako released a statement thanking people for their support as she battled her illness and promised the Japanese public she would be "making efforts to accomplish my duties, whether business or personal, as much as possible".

The Duchess of Cornwall was presented with a snake skin handbag during her first day in Columbia.
British royal Camilla and her husband Prince Charles began their four-day trip to the South American country in the capital Bogota on Wednesday (29.10.14) and the 67-year-old royal looked very grateful as she was given the unique accessory by Columbian designer Mario Hernandez, who created the bag.
Olga Lucia de Hernandez - the wife and business partner of Mario, who has his own self-titled label - revealed the inspiration behind the bag for Camilla.
She said: "We created the evening bag because we know she has a lot of evening events. The fact they've come to our country means they really admire our country."
Mario and Olga also made a "casual" handbag for the Duchess of Cambridge, and they gave the item to Camilla to pass on to pregnant Catherine - who is married to Prince William - when she gets back to the UK.
Camilla and Charles, 65, are in the country to "highlight and promote the partnership" between it and Britain and according to the British Ambassador in Columbia, Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, their visit has generated much excitement.
Ambassador Croisdale-Appleby said: "I have a lot of contact obviously with the President Juan Manuel Santos government and contact more broadly with Colombians and there's a very palpable degree of excitement about the visit. There's a great enthusiasm to get to know Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall."

Sarah Ferguson "believes in fairies".
The Duchess of York has revealed she thinks the flying, miniature mythical creatures really exist and she thinks the world is also full of "magic".
Ferguson - the mother of Queen Elizabeth's granddaughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, her children with ex-husband Prince Andrew - makes the surprising admission in new book 'What Makes Me Happy?'
Speaking in the tome, she says: "I do believe in fairies. I do believe in magic and when you blow on a dandelion, you will see the light of the enchanted spreading their wings and disappearing off on their own journeys, just like you have today when you opened your eyes. Don't let the day go by without looking for fairies and magic. That makes me happy, as every day is, therefore, a day of exploration and adventure."
'What Makes Me Happy?' features over 100 famous people revealing what gives them fulfilment in their lives and has been released to raise money for BBC Children In Need. It was compiled by 13-year-old schoolgirl Hanni Blaskey who got the idea while watching a Children in Need documentary about a young girl who had to care for her bed-ridden mother
It is available to buy for £3 from Sainsbury's and for every copy sold £2 will go to the charity.
Other contributors to the tome include Sir Paul McCartney, who reveals that eating with his grandson makes him happy, Rod Stewart, who says a cup of tea makes him "uncontrollably happy" and 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge Len Goodman who insists "eating a bacon sandwich" is his favourite thing.
McCartney said: "I love to hear the noises in the kitchen as the meal is prepared and then my little grandson climbs on my knee and requests a bite for every bite that I take."

Britain's Prince Andrew has undertaken a number of official engagements in China.
The 54-year-old prince - who gave up his role as UK trade envoy three years ago - flew out to Beijing last Friday (24.10.14) for a variety of appointments, including opening a school campus, hosting a technology discussion and meeting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
His spokesperson told the Daily Mail newspaper: "The engagements correspond to core areas of His Royal Highness's work in the UK.
"The call upon Premier Li reflects a shared interest in economic relations between Britain and China, in line with the Duke's broader commitment to economic growth and the creation of skilled jobs in the UK."
However, though he has completed his engagements, Andrew has yet to return to the UK, though his representative declined to explain his whereabouts as he is on a "private" break.
They said: "The Duke remains overseas, travelling privately.
"As is standard for all members of the Royal Family, we would not give details of private engagements or travel."
Andrew stepped down as UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment in 2011 following criticism of his friendship with a convicted paedophile, American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

Phil Collins has a tree planted on Prince Charles' birthday every year.
The former Genesis star is close friends with the British prince and because of the 65-year-old royal's passion for the environment, the 'In the Air Tonight' ensures he marks his pal's special day in a thoughtful way.
He said: "I get on very well with Prince Charles.
"I get on very well with him, because I like him. We all know he's very green and has this orchard at Highgrove [Charles' country home], so every time it's his birthday or something, I always get The Prince's Trust to plant a tree. So maybe I did that kind of thing. I was flattered to be invited."
Phil was among the guests at Charles' wedding to Duchess Camilla in 2005 but he can't remember what he bought the couple as a gift.
He told Q magazine: "I can't remember now what I did for a present."
Environment-loving Charles recently ordered a mass cull of grey squirrels on his estates to protect trees, endangered birds and other wildlife.
His spokesperson said: "The red squirrel is a most cherished and iconic national species, and, as Patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, The Prince of Wales keenly supports all efforts to conserve and promote their diminishing numbers.
"Where appropriate, this includes the humane and lawful control of grey squirrels as well as other measures to enhance the natural habitat of reds across the Duchy of Cornwall estate, in accordance with established estate management practices."

Britain's Prince Philip has been seen wearing hearing aids for the first time.
The 93-year-old royal joined his wife Queen Elizabeth at a reception for recipients of the Victoria and George Crosses yesterday (28.10.14) and the thin wires from the recently-prescribed devices could be seen next to each of his ears.
It is believed the Duke of Edinburgh was advised he needed the hearing aids to continue in his role of meeting with members of the public and this was the first engagement he has had since having them fitted.
The royal couple met 23 war heroes at the Buckingham Palace reception - one of several events bringing the recipients and their families together every two years - including Warrant Officer Keith Payne, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his courage helping comrades under attack in Vietnam while serving with a special unit of the Australian Army in 1969.
He said: "I think events like this have become more and more important with the strife that the world is in now.
"They help to strengthen the bond between allies and recognise the great acts of bravery that happen, not just in the armed forces but by civilians too. It gives a bit of a morale boost to know there are still Victoria and George Crosses being handed out."
The queen has been patron of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association since 1957.

A family were ordered out of their car by officers protecting Britain's Duchess Catherine after they broke down near her parents' home.
Adam De Marco, his partner Claire Lennon and their daughter Mia, seven, were on their way to Bucklebury Farm Park when their car sprung a puncture and they quickly drew the attention of royal protection officers after they stopped in Bucklebury, Berkshire, South England, where the pregnant duchess is currently staying with parents Mike and Carole Middleton, along with her husband Prince William and their 15-month-old son Prince George.
However, after explaining their predicament, the police put away their guns and offered to help the family.
Mr. De Marco told the Daily Mail newspaper: "We got the flat tyre as we drove Mia to the farm park, where children can play on the swings and look at the animals.
"I went to put on the spare, but then realised I was missing the special screw-nut you need with a BMW to remove the wheel - it's meant to stop thieves. I was in a quandary, wondering what to do...then all of a sudden we found ourselves surrounded by policemen who were carrying guns.
"I didn't twig at first that they were connected with the royal family, but one of them mentioned Prince William and the Middletons' house nearby and we put two and two together.
"Once they realised we were not terrorists, they relaxed and offered to help. They even drove off to visit a couple of garages in the area to see if anyone had a spare screw-nut so we could change the flat tyre."
Unfortunately, they were unable to get the essential screw-nut so had to wait for the RAC to change the wheel, meaning it got too late to visit the park.
However, the family returned the next day, and came face-to-face with Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton before her marriage - her mother and baby George.
Mr. De Marco added: "While we were there, we saw Kate, her mum and Prince George at the farm shop, where you can buy fresh meat and other food.
"When they got into their Range Rover to drive off, we took some photos."

Britain's Prince Harry told a former Royal Marine to "have a well-deserved beer" after he completed a charity run yesterday (28.10.14).
The 30-year-old royal hailed 27-year-old Ben McBean - who lost his left arm and right leg in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan in 2008 - a "hero" after he made a surprise appearance to greet his former colleague as he crossed the finish line of his 31-mile trek at Tower Bridge in London.
Ben - whose route created the shape of a giant poppy on the city's map - said: "I'm still in shock. I didn't expect to see Harry.
"He said 'well done' and that I'd raised lots of awareness for a good cause.
"He told me to go have a bath and a well-deserved beer.
"It was just like picking up where we left off."
Ben found running with his prosthetic limbs painful but says it was a "rewarding" experience.
He added: "I found it very difficult to get from A to B.
"The run was both physically and emotionally exhausting, but so rewarding."
The former commander undertook the gruelling run to raise money for Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.

A poem read by Britain's Prince Charles was heard at a Dylan Thomas celebration last night (27.10.14).
An audio recording of the prince reciting 'Fern Hill' was among the performances at Swansea Grand Theatre's 36-hour Dylathon, which was held as part of the Dylan Thomas 100 Festival - of which Charles is patron - in celebration of the acclaimed poet's centenary.
Charles originally made the recording last year to mark National Poetry Day and it was broadcast on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme.
He said he enjoys the verse for its "poignant and moving evocation of a rural west Wales childhood" and that one of the legacies of Thomas' poetry is that it inspires people to appreciate the landscape of Wales.
Charles' recital can also be heard at an exhibition dedicated to the poet at Swansea's Dylan Thomas Centre, and his granddaughter Hannah Ellis is thrilled by the tribute.
She said: "This is potentially one of the biggest legacy projects to have emerged in this centenary year of my grandfather's birth.
"It's extremely important to me that Swansea Council safeguards this legacy and makes the most of this generous investment from the HLF. I'm expecting this project to really engage the local community, as well as the wider Dylan Thomas community, through their new education and outreach programme and play a central role in ensuring that future generations are inspired by my grandfather's literary successes."