Radio New Zealand reports Thailand's king is the world's richest royal, according to Forbes magazine. The list is dominated by Middle Eastern monarchs riding high on surging oil prices. Among European monarchs, Prince Hans Adam II of the tiny principality of Liechtenstein is the wealthiest, followed by Prince Albert of Monaco and Queen Elizabeth of Britain.

Oh dear: A Rolls-Royce Phantom VI used in the Queen's 1970 tour has been transformed into a hearse and will take a distinguished place in the fleet of Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors in Lower Hutt later this year.

Prince Charles has caused a stir in the United Kingdom by reiterating his opposition to genetically-modified crops. James Gray at Republic UK succinctly notes the problem with this:

Whatever your views on GM food (and I know there are a range of these within our membership), we must be clear about one thing: it is entirely inappropriate for a monarch-in-waiting to be publicly expressing any kind of political opinion. This is especially significant when Charles is being critical of current Government policy.

Earlier this year, Prince Charles gained much publicity for his alleged boycott of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Prince Charles, who has in the past criticised the Chinese leadership, is apparently doing so because of his views on China's occupation of Tibet. Fair enough - HRH is entitled to his own views.

Yet, yesterday's Otago Daily Times reported that the Queen's representative in New Zealand, Governor-General Anand Satyanand, will be travelling to Beijing to support the New Zealand team. You've got to laugh at the absurdity of it: the heir to the throne isn't attending, yet our virtual head of State (who is actually New Zealand's head of State but sure acts like it) is on his way. 

The New Zealand Herald reports more details of next week's coronation of the King of Tonga, George V. The ceremony has been "toned down" to cost a mere NZ$3 million, or a third of New Zealand's aid budget to Tonga, after pro-democracy riots last year.

Coronations are a useful distraction - something politicians and anyone who'se read The English Constitution know all to well. Sir Winston Churchill allegedly wanted Queen Elizabeth's coronation to be closer to the 1955 general election, for example.

Supporters of the monarchy claim the Royal family is an "international family" which does not show favour to any one of the Commonwealth realms. This is nonsense - as we've seen time and time again, the Royal family is more interested in the United Kingdom than any of its former colonies.

So it's not surprising that Stuff is reporting "Princess" Zara Phillips is in New Zealand to cheer for the English rugby team. The press have been hounding poor Zara, who just wants to be like a normal person and watch her boyfriend on the English team play rugby. But as Dr Robert Mann of the Monarchist League previously stated:

Thanks for a reader for pointing this out - the only known celebration of the Queen's Birthday in New Zealand was held by the Monarchist League, according to their May newsletter.

Chris Laidlaw hosted a discussion on the future of the monarchy on Radio New Zealand's Sunday program. Former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves, Monarchist League Chairman Noel Cox, and Women's Day editor Sarah Henry took part. The discussion focused on the Royal family, and hence not really related to republicanism as such. Sir Paul Reeves and Noel Cox made some round-about criticism of Sarah Henry for the media's portrayal of the Royals.

The Herald on Sunday goes all Victorian with its description of New Zealander Gary Lewis at Peter Phillips wedding to Autumn Kelly:

A former Kiwi sheep-shearer has been snapped rubbing shoulders with the upper echelons of royalty after marrying into the British monarchy.

Gazza, as his mates know him, formerly of Gisborne, married a member of the Royal family, Davina "Denny" Windsor. Ms Windsor is 20th in line for the throne.

Janice Kennedy, writing in The Ottawa Citizen, takes aim at the supports of the monarchy in Canada on Victoria Day:

"The gushing comes from Canada's dwindling band of monarchists, who see in May 24 (even when it falls on May 19) a glorious extrapolation. Not only do they celebrate the birthday of a long-dead queen and make spirited toasts to the current monarch, they extol everything that is bracing and noble about maintaining a crowned foreigner at the top of Canada's pyramid."

Ouch.