Princess Marie and Prince Joachim are expecting first child together

Denmark's Amalienborg Palace has revealed Prince Joachim and his beautiful 32-year-old second wife Marie are expecting their first baby together. The princess is due to give birth at the capital's university hospital in May.
Paris-born Marie and her husband, who is the Danish monarch's younger son, tied the knot on May 24. The new arrival is Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik's fifth grandchild.
The little girl or boy will be a sibling to Prince Joachim's two sons from his marriage to Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg - nine-year-old Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, six.

Rania and Abdullah of Jordan take elder daughter to Bond screening

Fans who braved the chilly temperatures to catch a glimpse of Daniel Craig and his Quantum Of Solace co-stars at the film's Paris premiere on Thursday night were in for a royal treat. Queen Rania and her husband King Abdullah joined the film stars on the red carpet with their daughter Princess Iman.
Rarely seen in public, petite, blonde Iman is couple's second child and elder daughter. Now 12, she's blossoming into a pretty youngster and, if her chic champagne gown and white coat are anything to go by, she's inherited her mum's renowned sense of style as well as the 38-year-old's stunning looks.
At the French premiere the royal trio mingled with Daniel, his striking fiancée Satsuki Mitchell, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko and new Bond nemesis Mathieu Amalric.

Sofia and Juan Carlos of Spain visit magnificent ruins in Peru

Living life to the full seems to be a personal motto for Spain's Queen Sofia. Amid preparations back home for her 70th birthday on November 2, the royal accompanied her husband King Juan Carlos on an official visit to Peru this week, and has been taking a keen interest in the ancient sites they have been exploring.
The most impressive stop-off on their tour was undoubtedly South America's largest pre-Colombian community, Chan Chan, which dates from the first-century, and Huaca de la Luna, the final resting place of warriors from the Moche civilisation.
As archaeologists guided the royal couple around the adobe ruins the cultured multi-lingual queen - she speaks five languages, including English - listened intently.
She could have been forgiven, however, if her mind occasionally turned to her upcoming birthday celebrations, which coincide with those of Leonor, one of her eight grandchildren. The daughter of her son Felipe and his wife Letizia, Leonor turns three on October 31.
Commenting on her approaching milestone the royal matriarch said: "It's one more stage. Every era has its joys and is special. The most important thing is to have your health and enjoy your family. What has always made me happy is family."

Princess Anne adds modern touches to royal outing

Like her royal mum Princess Anne has maintained the same trusty hairstyle over the decades, and is a stickler for respecting tradition. Yet the Princess Royal also has her pulse on the finger of modern living, as she proved on an engagement this week.
Anne made quite an impression as she touched down at the Berkshire headquarters of the St John Ambulance service in a transport more usually associated with Bond heroines. Arriving for a tree-planting ceremony in a gleaming helicopter.
And while she remained as true as ever to her classic style approach, onlookers noted that the 58-year-old royal had added an uber-trendy pair of sunglasses to her customary skirt, jacket and-gloves ensemble. Shades that wouldn't have looked amiss on one of her young nephews, William and Harry or daughter Zara.

Eugenie gets introduction to royal duties abroad from dad Andrew

Princess Eugenie is having a unique gap-year experience as she accompanies her dad Andrew on a two-week tour of former Soviet states. Starting in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, father and daughter will also visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as Mongolia and China.
Though Andrew, the UK's Special Representative For International Trade And Investment, must be eager to introduce the 18-year-old to his work, Eugenie's participation will be limited to evening receptions.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for the Princess to meet the Chinese vice-premier Wang Qishan, so she will be doing touristy things (during the day)," a source told the Daily Mail.
Also on the agenda for the pair is an official visit to the earthquake-hit Chinese town of Dujiangyan, where they will be shown re-settlement centres and meet with British aid workers.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Prince is covering the cost of his daughter's flights, food and accommodation. Eugenie's eye-opening tour comes nine months after big sister Beatrice accompanied their dad on a similar trip to Egypt.

Harry shows he has a knack with children as he honours brave kids

Following in the footsteps of his late mother Princess Diana with his involvement in children's charities, Prince Harry was guest of honour this week at an awards ceremony recognising Britain's bravest youngsters.

The 24-year-old royal soldier, who's freshly returned from a fundraising bike trip across South Africa with brother William, delighted the seriously ill children when he went along to Lord's Cricket Ground to present the awards for the Wellchild children's charity, of which he is patron.

Laughing and chatting before the ceremony to the children who scrambled to sit on his knee, Harry certainly proved a big hit with both them and their families.

He proved a natural as he joked with five-year-old Harvey Fleming, teasingly trying to get him to part with his glowing toy, and persuaded little Lily Slater, four, to come and sit on his lap.

Lily's mum Shirley, who'd taken her daughter to see Harry's waxwork at Madam Tussauds before the meeting, was impressed by the young royal. "He was just how I imagined him to be," she said. "He was lovely."

Eight-year-old Lizzie Lansley, who has not only overcome the odds to walk again but has also succeeded in becoming a judo yellow belt, had an equally memorable encounter with the caring young royal after he quipped: "I think I'll have to keep away from you, you're dangerous!"

Enthusiastic scenes as British royals touch down in the Far East

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall could not have wished for a warmer welcome as they kicked off a ten-day Asian tour in Japan. Students at Tokyo's Keio University were beside themselves with excitement, holding out their hands in the hope of a royal handshake and snapping photos of the couple on mobile phones and cameras.
Earlier in the day, at the city's Haneda airport, the red carpet was rolled out as Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan received the British royals.
The heir to the Chrysanthemum throne was not accompanied by his wife Masako, who has largely stayed out of the public spotlight since her diagnosis with a nervous illness.
An imperial reception is planned, however, as Naruhito's parents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, have invited Charles and his wife to dinner.

The five-day visit – the Prince's third – also includes an expedition to Nara, an ancient city in the west of the country where some of Japan's most famous Buddhist temples are located, as well as to the central mountain town of Nagano.
Charles will then travel to Brunei and Indonesia, while the Duchess returns to the UK after the Brunei leg of the trip, thus avoiding the stifling heat in Jakarta.

Harry sets his sights on pilot training as a way to return to front line

Prince Harry is aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father Prince Charles, his uncle Andrew, and his elder brother William by applying to become a military helicopter pilot.
After completing initial aptitude tests earlier this month, the 24-year-old royal - who spent ten weeks serving in Afghanistan last December - will undergo a four week course in November to assess his suitability for a 16-month full flight training programme in January.

While it remains to be seen whether the Prince will make the grade - standards at the Army Air Corps are notoriously high - Harry is keen to get back to serving in Afghanistan, and he believes he's more likely to be sent back in the air than on the ground.
"He is desperate to get back to the front line," a senior royal source revealed. "That is what he joined the Army for."
Among the transport Harry - who referred to his time in Afghanistan as the closest he has come to ordinary life - may end up flying are Apache attack helicopters.