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I am back posting! I had some computer problems so that explains my absence. It has been quite a royal year! It seems like it was one of the busiest royal years in my recent memory.

We had two jubilees. Her Majesty Queen Margarethe II of Denmark celebrated 40 years on the Danish throne and of course Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her diamond jubilee as she celebrated 60 years on the British throne and moves ever so closer to being Britain’s longest reigning monarch. There were many celebrations throughout the year culminating in the regatta sailing along the Themes. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, age 91, gave a scare a few times as he was in and out of the hospital with a bladder infection. The Olympics were also held in London and Her Majesty opened the ceremony and even participated in a fun little filmed skit with Daniel Craig as James Bond. Toward the end of the year Her Majesty missed the Christmas service due to a lingering cold. I hope Her Majesty gets some rest because she was looking a bit tired and worn out toward the end of the year.

As the Queen of the United Kingdom was basking in her popularity, His Majesty, King Juan Carlos of Spain, had a not so stellar year. He broke his hip in a hunting accident while he was with his mistress and at a time when Spain is suffering severe economic hardships. He is still trying to recover his image.

There were also losses this past year. Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs. Lorentzen, died in September at the age of 82. She was the sister to His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.

HRH Prince Maria Emanuel, Margrave of Meissen pretender to the throne of Saxony died in July. The claims to the vacant throne are contested between his brother, Prince Albert of Saxony and his nephew, Prince Alexander of Saxe-Gessaphe. However, Prince Albert died a few months after his brother died this October. The claims to the throne are still be contested by other branches of the Wettin Family.

There was a royal wedding in Luxumbourg when the HRH The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume married Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy on October 20, 2012 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg. Guillaume’s brother, Prince Félix of Luxembourg, announced his engagement to the German-born Claire Lademacher on December 13.

Another big story of 2012 was the announcement of the pregnancy of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. This announcement also required pushing through changes of the succession laws to a gender neutral succession and getting rid of the ban against marrying Catholics along with the requirement for seeking the monarch’s consent to marry. All of these are very historical changes in the succession to the British monarchy!

All in all a very busy year with many changes. I am really looking forward to the events of 2013 and wait with anticipation for the birth of the 3rd in line to the British throne.