WesWorld

AWNR India: 29 June 1921

1. Royal Travel Plans Change
2. Prince, Princess Assume Additional Responsibilities

1. Royal Travel Plans Change

With the date for the Nordmark state funeral set, the travel plans for the Raj and Rana are closer to being set as well. As the solemn event is still three weeks away, initial discussions of a lengthy and not entirely safe aeroplane trip to Stockholm have fallen by the wayside. Instead, the naval facilities at Mumbai are once again hastily readying warships for a rapid departure.

Captain Arjun Gayoom, commanding officer of SR Bangalore , told AWNR this afternoon: "My crew are currently on-loading supplies and reconfiguring our flag facilities to accommodate the Raj, Rana, and a small group of aides. We expect to depart Mumbai tomorrow morning in the company of SR Jaipur ."

At this point the plan is for the Bangalore to transport the Royal couple as far as southern Europe, where they will tranfer to a leased train and travel to northern Germany for a short flight to Stockholm.

"Unfortunately, we haven't yet contacted Italy or Greece to check on the availability of a train we can rent for the Raj and Rana", remarked Vijay Jaidee, an officer with the Ministry of Protocol and International Affairs. "So we are actually dispatching the cruisers without knowing their ultimate destination - but this should be well in hand before they exit the Suez Canal."

Apparently, Greece would be the preferred location, as it is closer to Suez. "We would have approximately eleven days of cruising at fifteen knots", said Captain Gayoom. "We'll be making calls at Aden and Suez for fuel, adding another two days to the trip. That would leave seven days for the entourage to travel from Greece to Hamburg to Stockholm - probably more than enough time."

2. Prince, Princess Assume Additional Responsibilities

The length of the Raj and Rana's trip to Nordmark has resulted in temporary powers being issued to Crown Prince Shrinivas.

"It's unusual for the Raj and Rana to travel together outside India, and indications are they may be gone for six weeks", a source in the royal court told AWNR. "A lot can happen in six weeks - so it was considered prudent to grant the Crown Prince temporary regent status."

This is the first time Crown Prince Shrinivas has had such responsibilities, and our source says many are curious to see how it goes. "The Crown Prince will one day be the ruler of India; I'd say we'll get a taste of how he will execute those duties over the next month and a half."

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Shrinivas' younger sister, Prahminder, will be in attendance at the state funeral in Stockholm - regardless of whether her parents attend or not. "It's Prahminder's first state function, even if her parents are there as well. There is considerable speculation as to what role she will play in Indian politics in the future", our source commented. "The Raj's own sisters have had no involvement worth noting; the Raj and Rana seem more inclined to have her in the picture."