Upcoming Bejeweled Royal Events

With the royals still hibernating during their annual holidays, the weekly jewel news is on hiatus for another week. But while we wait, let’s look at some of the big events that are already on the calendar for this autumn. There are jewels in the wings, everyone! (This is a quick list of events — feel free to add additional ones in the comments!)

The event scheduled so far that will undoubtedly get the most press is the Duchess of Cambridge’s upcoming visit to Malta. Kate’s visit, on September 20th and 21st, will be part of the celebrations of the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence. But other British royals will also be making international trips. The Earl and Countess of Wessex will be in Canada for an extended tour from September 12-20, and Princess Anne will head to Africa at the end of September, with scheduled trips to Ethiopia and Tanzania. No word yet on whether any foreign heads of state will be visiting Britain this fall, though usually there is an incoming state visit held in October or November.

The annual state opening of the Dutch parliament will be held on September 16; the event has an unusual gowns-and-hats daytime dress code, so get excited for that. There are also two state visits on the books for the Dutch royals this fall. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will visit the Japanese imperial family from October 27-31, and then they will move on to Korea for a second state visit from November 2-4.

Edward and Sophie aren’t the only royals who will be in Canada in September: Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will make an official visit to Ottawa and Toronto on September 17-19. There are also two big events scheduled so far for October: the opening of Parliament, and a state visit to Croatia by Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik on October 21-24.

The Swedish royal family will be attending the Polar Music Prize ceremony in Stockholm on August 26; except for Carl Philip and Sofia, the entire family is scheduled to be there. The opening of the Swedish parliament takes place the following month, on September 30. Looking further ahead, you can also mark down December 10, the date of the annual Nobel Prize ceremony.

The Norwegian royals are kicking off state visit season early this year, welcoming the president of Estonia to Oslo from September 2-4. And like the Swedes, the Norwegians already have an annual Nobel event on the schedule: the Peace Prize will be awarded on December 10.

November 19 is Monaco’s National Day, and the event is generally celebrated with both day and evening events, including a gala. As Princess Charlene is apparently due to give birth at the end of the year, we’ll see whether she attends this year’s celebrations.