The Royal Digest

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands wears many hats in her professional life. One of these, which is hugely important to her, is her work as United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). The Queen is considered a "leading global voice on advancing universal access to and responsible usage of affordable, effective and safe financial services". I've followed Máxima's work with the UN quite closely over the years and it's been incredible to see her utilize her pre-marriage career (Máxima was vice president of the emerging markets division of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in New York and worked for Deutsche Bank in Brussels before marrying Willem-Alexander), combining that experience with her platform. One of the most visible aspects of this role is travelling all over the world on behalf of the UN, including to its New York headquarters. Earlier this week, Máxima shared her new Annual R

The King and Queen are marking their first summer in Balmoral. It's a significant time, with a host of family members coming and going. Though we're only a year into the new reign, we're very much seeing Their Majesties' tried and true method of supporting causes close to their hearts, in tandem with the more ceremonial aspects of their new roles. Camilla returned to London for engagements beginning with a 'Poetry Together' recital and tea party at Fielding Primary School. Embed from Getty Images The Poetry Initiative was launched four years ago by broadcaster and writer Gyles Brandreth in partnership with National Poetry Day and Dukes Education. Camilla supported the initiative since its inception, and championing literacy, both at home and abroad, is a cornerstone of her work. Embed from Getty Images Buckingham Palace said: "As a grandmother, Her Majesty understands the joy of reading, but also the importance o

Queen Rania of Jordan spent a wonderful day with Firyal Kofahi’s home-based kitchen business in Irbid governorate’s Hawar village. It came on the eve of Rania's 53rd birthday. A key focus of the Jordanian Queen's life's work is highlighting and supporting economic opportunities for women. I recently stumbled upon an interview with Rania from almost twenty years ago in which she discusses her passion to uplift women and girls: "By empowering women and giving them skills, money and confidence, their self-respect increases as does the respect they receive from their family and community. It is also a well-documented fact that when women’s participation in the labor market increases, the entire society enjoys an increase in productivity", the Queen said. "The inclusion of women at all levels of economies is a powerful engine for national development. Slowly but steadily, some of the world’s poorest regions are realizing this and reaping the rewards of an empowere

One of my favourite royals and a lady I know is very popular among readers is Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. So, I know you'll all be pleased to hear she made her first post-summer break appearance today for a special service marking Christiansfeld's 250th anniversary in Southern Jutland. Embed from Getty Images Mary, Frederik and the children enjoyed a lovely family vacation this summer aboard a yacht, taking in Ibiza and sailing off the coast of the Balearic island. The family have also been following the World Cup, and when Denmark played Mary's home country of Australia the couple shared the following message: "We cheer from 'Top Over' and all the way 'Down Under,' when the match against Australia starts at the World Cup. Come on Denmark." Embed from Getty Images The break comes ahead of a busy autumn which will see their eldest son Prince Christian turn 18 in October. As heir to the throne, there's

This post is part of a series I'll be writing called  The Royal Decade . A staple of pieces chronicling key events, faces and fashions from the 1950s to the 1990s. Each decade will have a dedicated section on the page. In time, I hope to create an archive which I hope will serve as a useful tool for both lifelong royal watchers and those completely new. Each post is written using my own collection of books, articles and trusted sources to ensure accuracy. Whilst covering the latest news is the primary goal here at The Royal Digest, the quieter August period feels like the perfect time to get this page up and running. Cast your minds back to 1958. In Monaco, Palace officials are searching for the right person to paint the most famous woman in the world -- Princess Grace of Monaco. Grace and Rainier had just welcomed their second child, a son named Prince Albert, and a brother for Princess Caroline. They were the toast of the town not just i

The King and Queen of Spain, accompanied by Queen Sofia, hosted an elegant evening reception for representatives from a plethora of sectors, charities, and organisations from the Balearic Islands. Sofia was regal as always in a flowing outfit. The gathering was held at Marivent Palace (meaning Palace of Sea and Wind), the summer residence of the Spanish royal family.  The palatial residence was designed by the architect Guillem Forteza Pinya in the early 1920s, commissioned by the painter Juan de Saridakis, who lived there until his death. Guillem's widow, Anunciación, gave the building and its land to the Balearic Provincial Council in 1966, and shortly after, it became a favourite location for the royals. It's also used by the Prime Minister and other officials for meetings and receptions. The royal court noted the royals met with those from "social groups, Media, Health, University Excellence Awards and PBAU 2023, Religious Denominations, Foundations, Emergency Services