We’ve only seen photos of Charlotte, so it’s great to hear her voice! She’s very charming and poised, though this is apparently her first interview.

Translation provided by YouTube’s MissBarton1986:

About Charlotte’s interest in riding:

I started to ride when I was very young, and it is a sport I have practised for a very long time, and it was a great pleasure for me to participate in the jumping of Monaco. event was held in the Fondelle tent; they now wished to have it in the harbour and it was a challenge.

About her participation:

It was very difficult for me because I haven’t been able to train in the last 3 weeks, so I had to leave my horse in the hands of my trainer, so it is fairly difficult to resume competition without any prior recent training. Fortunately, my horse has extraordinary concentrating powers, (or attitude, or smarts) and he was able to carry me (or support) in that slightly difficult moment, given my injury.

About her ambitions as a professional:

For the time being, I am trying to achieve good results in the amateur competitions. Well see how the season develops, but why not?

About her being an ambassador for the sport:

It is with great pleasure that I support the equestrian sport. I really hope that in the years to come, thanks to the Global Champions Tour which is a championship event organized around the world, my participation will help and that this sport will become more popular. I will be participating in Portugal in 10 days, and in Brazil at the end of the month. I hope that my hand will hold up !

About other sports:

Yes, I practise other sports a little, I like swimming, I like jogging, but it is mostly riding I love.

About participation in Monaco events:

Yes, yes, Le Grand Prix, yes, every year.

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Prince Charles and Camilla visited the Isles of Scilly today, July 2, 2009. The group of more than 50 islands and islets are located southwest of Cornwall. The biggest islands are St. Mary’s and Tresco, both of which were on the royal couple’s tour.

Among the stops of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall’s visit were the Gig Boat Club,Trenoweth Horticultural Centre, and the Harbour Quay. The royal couple boarded a boat to get from St. Mary’s to Tresco. At one point, the Duchess had to take off her shoes, probably to avoid getting them stuck in the sand.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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Prince Felipe met with Panama’s outgoing president, Martin Torrijos (photo above), today at the Presidential Palace in Panama City. He will attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new president, Ricardo Martinelli, tomorrow, July 1, 2009

Image: Zuma Press

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The new library not only houses books and digital resources. It also includes a new youth department and a room for viewing films and movies.

Princess Maxima’s involvement in the new library comes at a perfect time to encourage children to read more, just as her second daughter Princess Alexia has started going to school. Princess Maxima has a degree in Economics and no doubt is all for endeavors that support education.

Image: Zuma Press

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The second daughter of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima turned 4 years old just last week. This week, she’s starting class 1A at the Bloemcampschool in Wassenaar. Her mom and dad, and older sister Princess Amalia accompanied her to her first day of school.

Princess Alexia looked both excited and apprehensive about going to school as she looked up to big sister Amalia.

Image: Newscom

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June

30 - Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg (1964)

30 - Shaikh Abdullah of Bahrain (1975)

July

July 3 - Prince Maximilian, Margrave of Baden (1933)

July 3 - Princess Marie Louise of Baden (1969)

July 4 - Prince Michael of Kent (1942)

July 4 - Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand (1957)

July 4 - Queen Sonja of Norway (1937)

via Royal Forums

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Airdate: June 28, 2009

Nimueh returns to seek revenge on Merlin. She poses as one of the servants (Cara) of the visiting King Bayard.

Merlin is Poisoned

King Bayard and the Knights of the Western Isles are in Camelot to celebrate the union between the two kingdoms. King Bayard gives chalices to King Uther to mark the event. Nimueh convinces Merlin that King Bayard has poisoned Arthur’s chalice. Uther challenges Merlin to prove that he is telling the truth. Merlin drinks from the chalice and falls into a coma.

Gaius identifies the potion and finds its antidote. Morgana encourages Arthur to try and help Merlin. Arthur disobeys his father and goes alone on the quest for the plant that will save Merlin’s life. He only has two days to do it and return, because the enchantment has speeded up the potion’s action.

Gaius asks Gwen to find the servant girl, Cara. Cara is gone and Gaius realizes that Nimueh might have set a trap for Arthur. Arthur finds Nimueh wounded in the forest, and saves her from a beast. Nimueh tells Arthur that she knows where to find the flower and volunteers to show him. She causes the ledge he’s standing on to fall into the cliff. Arthur fights off a huge spider before Nimueh leaves him to his fate.

Through his coma, Merlin sees Arthur and conjures up a ball of light. He tells Arthur to follow the light and save himself, as more spiders climb the cliff. Arthur succeeds in getting one of the flowers before climbing out of the cave.

Arthur races back to Camelot. He is met at the gates by soldiers. Uther puts his son in prison for disobeying him. Arthur tells him to put him in stocks as long as Gaius gets the flower. Uther crushes the plant in his fist and leaves Arthur in prison.

Gwen goes to visit  Arthur, telling the guards she came to give him food. Arthur pretends to reject it and gives it back, with the flower in the plate. Gaius secretly uses magic to make the antidote, since magic was used to create the poison. He gives the potion to Merlin. But Merlin stops breathing and his heart stops. Gaius and Gwen think he’s dead and mourn him. But Merlin wakes up and surprises them both. Gwen kisses him. (Is this the start of their relationship?)

Gaius talks to Uther and tells him that Nimueh is behind the poisoning. The King cancels plans to attack King Bayard. Arthur tells Morgana of the ball of light that helped him. Uther asks him about the woman Arthur met in the forest. He tells his son that he did the right thing, despite his disobedience of his father’s orders.

Arthur visits Merlin. The bond between the two becomes pretty obvious at this point. What other adventures will they have?

Next week  on Merlin, we’ll see a familiar knight: Episode 1.05: “Lancelot” on NBC at 8:00 p.m. on July 5, 2009

Images: NBC/Todd Antony

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Airdate: June 28, 2009

The third episode of Merlin begins with the witch Nimueh (Michelle Ryan) bringing a monster to life in Camelot’s water source. The beast poisons the water and brings sickness to everyone who drinks of it. One by one, citizens of Camelot fall ill. Gwen’s father catches the plague. Merlin secretly steps in, with magic and a poultice, to save the blacksmith’s life. As a result, King Uther suspects Gwen of being a sorceress and the cause of the plague. Morgana defends Gwen but the king does no listen.

Merlin is caught in a conflict; he goes to visit Gwen in the prison. Gwen asks him to remember her. Merlin leaves with a promise that he will not let her die. He storms the king’s meeting and confesses that he is the sorcerer. Arthur says that Merlin is only saying that because he is in love with Gwen. The king lets Merlin go.

Gaius and Merlin investigate the town’s water supply. As they leave, the beast shows itself. Gaius identifies as an Avank.

Merlin visits Gwen again, passing by the bonfire that is being prepared for burning her. Merlin goes to the dragon to ask for advice on defeating the beast. The dragon tells him that he needs Arthur.

Morgana convinces Arthur to look for the Avank with Merlin and her. Arthur uses his torch to set fire to the beast, with Merlin’s magical help. Nimueh sees what happened and takes note of what Merlin did.

Gaius shows King Uther what he found near the water’ supply: the beast’s “egg” with Nimueh’s mark on it.

Morgana tells Merlin that she knows his secret but that it’s safe with her. Morgana thinks that Merlin is in love with Gwen.

Images: NBC/Mike Hogan

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Princess Letizia’s simple white dress was perfect for a summer event. It’s not just a plain white dress, of course. The fabric was textured, and the princess further dressed it up with a green jeweled belt (which I love!), dangly earrings, a tiny white purse and a pair of green snakeskin shoes. She also had what appears to be a green scarf, probably as a just-in-case-it-got-chilly precaution.

The ceremony was held in Mostoles, outside Madrid. The “Spain Brand” titles are awarded to individuals or companies whose activities Spain’s international image.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Royal Fashion Friday!

Image: Zuma Press

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A few of Charlotte’s family members and their significant others were present to give their support: her mother Princess Caroline, her brother Andrea and his girlfriend Tatiana Santos Domingos, and Charlene Wittstock (Prince Albert’s girlfriend).

It was a beautiful sunny day in Monaco for the royals to enjoy. I love seeing Charlotte at these competitions. We usually spot her at fashion events. Yes, she does more than just look good; she’s a great horsewoman too!

More photos below:

Charlotte’s wrist is still bandaged up. I hope it gets better soon!

Image: Newscom

Post from: Merry Royals