Next month, NBC is launching a brand-new drama revolving around a modern, yet fictional, royal family. Aptly named ‘Kings’, the series stars Chris Egan (“Eragon”) as David Shepherd, a soldier who saves the king’s son and is thrust into the middle of intrigue, secret alliances and the inner workings of a kingdom.

Ian McShane (“Deadwood”) is King Silas Benjamin, the monarch of Gilboa, who must deal with the sudden rise of a hero. The tale takes elements from the story of David, Goliath and King Saul, and places them in a modern setting.

‘Kings’ is produced by Michael Green (“Heroes”), Erwin Stoff (“I Am Legend”) and Francis Lawrence (“I Am Legend”). Lawrence directed the pilot episode which will air on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 8/7 CST on NBC.

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Image: NBC / Eric Liebowitz

Prince Harry and some of his mates board a ferry for Robben Island

Prince Harry’s tour of Africa is almost over. The British prince has been spending time with members of his Blues and Royals regiment. While in Africa, they have helped with various projects at a community school in Lesotho. This project is supported by Sentebale, Prince Harry’s charity dedicated to helping AIDS orphans in Lesotho.

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Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, with Iceland’s President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and his wife Dorrit Moussaieff, on a visit in May 2008

Another princess which I missed on my first list of Vanity Fair’s Best-Dressed Women was Princess Mary of Denmark. Princess Mary is one of my favorite royals. In the list, she is Number 16, though I think she should be higher.

Here are a couple more of her recent fashion statements:

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I feel like such a dork. I posted about Kate Middleton and a number of royals making it to Vanity Fair’s International Best-Dressed List this year. I didn’t realize, until Frank pointed it out, that I missed several other royals. I was looking at this list, instead of this one.

In the complete list, Princess Letizia of Spain is Number 2 among the best-dressed women of the world. She really does deserve to be in this list. Princes Letizia is always impeccably dressed, no matter what the occasion is.

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Kate Middleton is not (yet) a royal. But she is as well-dressed as any of them, according to Vanity Fair’s 2008 International Best-Dressed List. Kate joins the following blue-bloods who are being recognized for their fashion choices:

Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium (shown on the right), with her tailored dresses and suits.

Prince Heinrich von Und Zu Furstenberg of Germany, whose personal style is labeled timeless.

Count Manfredi Della Gherardesca, whose favorite clothing purchase of 2008 was a batik-inspired J. Crew jacket.

Rafael Medina, The Duke of Feria, along with his brother Don Luis Medina of Spain.

Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, who favors business attire.

UPDATE:  Also on the list of Best-Dressed Men and Women were Crown Princess Letizia of Spain, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Alexandra of Greece, Monaco’s Charlotte Casiraghi, Princess Olga of Greece, Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis, Britain’s Prince William and Prince Harry, and Viscount David Linley.

Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton is one of today’s fashion icons. She made the 2008 International Best-Dressed List compiled by Vanity Fair. Joining her in the fashion list are Ivanka Trump, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Daniel Craig, Matt Lauer, David Beckham (without Victoria!), Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and a number of aristocrats.

Kate Middleton (center) with two unidentified guests at the wedding of Lady Rose Windsor and George Gilman.

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The Spanish royals have been enjoying the sun and the water off Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Their visit coincides with the 27th Copa del Rey Mapfre Audi Sailing Cup, also known as the King’s Cup.

King Juan Carlos skippered the royal yacht Bribon for the event, one of the most popular among the elite international yachting community. His granddaughters, Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia, were in the thick of the action, as were their parents Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia.

The week was not all play and holiday from King Juan Carlos. He also met with several dignitaries in Mallorca. Among those he hosted were Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Spain’s own Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero.

* Kate Middleton to meet Prince William in the Caribbean (via PA)

* Britain’s Prince Charles to star in TV documentary (via M&C)

* Japan’s Prince Naruhito sees off Japanese Olympians (via Royal Blog)

* Monaco’s Princess Stephanie and Charlene Wittstock at AIDS charity (via Hello)

* The Duchess of Cornwall meets British equestrians before Olympics (via PoW)

* Royal family prepares kingly training plan for Prince William (via Hello)

* Prince Charles invites burlesque dancer to Prince Harry’s birthday (via M&C)

* Queen Elizabeth donates pigeons to Wetherby Young Offenders Institute (via Wetherby News)

Prince Charles seemed to channel his inner James Bond at the recent Cartier International Polo Day.

The Prince of Wales was an image of coolness despite the sizzling weather. He wore a cream sports jacket and trousers and the requisite sunglasses at the event at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park. The weather was so warm it prompted three men to strip to their birthday suits, royal audience not withstanding.

After the event, Prince Charles drove away in his car (no driver!).

image used with permission from Newscom

Prince William and his crew mates on the HMS Iron Duke continue to help clean up the drug route in the Caribbean.

On Saturday, they encountered a speedboat with suspected drug smugglers onboard. The speedboat was disabled by marksmen aboard a Lynx helicopter. The Iron Duke then caught up with it and took the men into custody. Prince William did not fire a shot, but was on the helicopter when the incident happened. His role was to be a lookout while his the shooters took out the speedboat.

Early this month, the Iron Duke was instrumental in orchestrating a drug bust worth millions of dollars.

via BBC