Royal birthday celebrations for Victoria and Hassanal

Yesterday Monday and today Tuesday, two royals celebrated their birthdays in two very different ways on two different continents.

In Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria turned 31 celebrating her birthday on the island of Solliden together with family and friends and also being honoured by the people in what is called the Victoria Day. First she stepped out at the Royal Family’s summer residence, Solliden Palace, and the beautiful gardens where thousands of people had traditionally gathered to catch a glimpse of her and sing the Swedish birthday song. In the later afternoon the televised celebrations were aired from the sports field of Borgholm where several big artists performed in front of the Royal Family and a large crowd. More summer vacation and a chance to spend time with family, friends and boyfriend Daniel Weslting is what awaits Victoria in the coming weeks. You can read more about the birthday celebrations here and see pictures here, here, here, here and here.

In Brunei, the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, celebrated his 62nd birthday on Tuesday in the usual Bruneian grand style. Surrounded by family members including his first wife Queen Saleha, third wife Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim and son Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Sultan reviewed an honorary guard and listened to the performance of the national anthem “God Bless the Sultan” before holding one of the year’s most important speeches in the country in the Nurul Iman Palace. In his speech, His Majesty upheld the promise that the country will continue with its fuel subsidies but also noted the importance of a national food security and raising the level of agricultural production in the country. During the next few weeks, the Sultan will hold the meeting sessions with his people in the districts of which he is so famous for, meeting and shaking hands with thousands of subjects. You can read more see pictures here.