Programming Note: Hiatus Open Post

As I mentioned in my last post (did you vote for your ultimate pearl tiara yet? Voting's open until Wednesday), the blog is on vacation this week! You can still find me posting over at the Jewel Vault, and you can use this post to chat in the comments if you like.

Happy Canada Day or Happy Fourth of July or just Happy First Week in July to you all!

UPDATES:

Well, well, well. Here I thought the only thing I might miss on my little hiatus was the birth of a certain British kid, but no!

Belgium’s King Albert II announced in a broadcast that he will abdicate in favor of his son, Philippe, on July 21 (Belgium’s National Day). The 79-year-old king cited ill health as the cause of his abdication, and said it was time to pass the torch.

We’ll have more on that when the blog returns.

A couple other royal news bulletins:

• Egypt’s Princess Fawzia, first wife of the Shah of Iran, passed away on July 2 at the age of 92.
• Prince Floris and Princess Aimée of Orange-Nassau welcomed a son, Willem Jan, on July 1. This is their third child – they have two daughters, Magali and Eliane. Floris is the son of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, and a cousin to King Willem-Alexander.