Kalistan

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Prince William Formally Begins Royal Duties
As Crown Prince reaches Majority, Empress begins preparation to step down
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 4, 5722


Crown Prince William Ananto-Rosenfeld hits Majority

His Highness, Crown Prince William Ananto-Rosenfeld achieved his majority in March of this year, House Ananto announced this month. "What this means is that His Highness is now eligible to serve without a regent if required," said Lady Christina Ananto-McKinley, speaking for the Royal House. "A formal ceremony acknowledging the event occurred at the Imperial Seat this week. The Ceremony conferred upon the Crown Prince a number of titles, including Crown Prince (eliminating the Minor aspect of the title), which was presumptive previous to March, as well as entitlement to the County of Dah, currently held by Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto. The Crown Prince will be fully inducted into the Eternal Order of the Gray Smoke at the rank of Royal Knight Companion next month during annual Order Day Celebrations in Eveari."

His Highness the Crown Prince, normally quite taciturn, apparently had no intention of letting the momentous step forward in his career daunt him. When he was asked if he felt different now that he was fully entitled, he answered, "I still have so much to do before my mother is ready to retire. I've got to finish school, and then finish the NSP, then maybe go to college, then maybe get married, then who knows, She's gonna be around for a while. I'm not measuring any drapes yet. Thanks that's all."

Others were far more excited for the Crown Prince's majority. "In a quick move, he becomes Terra's most eligible bachelor," said gossip columnist and crown watcher Tara Overton. "He's a handsome, rich and well connected young man who is constantly, if somewhat reluctantly seen in the company of the many single women around Kaliburg. When he's not out skating, he's at accompanying a young debutante to some social event. He has been a focus of the young High Social scene for years, and no young woman has been able to land his attention for long. It is inevitable that many more will now set their sights on him, hoping to someday move to the center of Kalistani society and privilege." The Crown Prince, for his part, claims to care far more about skating than dating-- he has frequently claimed to interviewers that girls distract him from what is really important, and that is honing his skills at the skatepark. Presumably, his imperial education doesn't distract him nearly as much.

House Ananto said that the Crown Prince's intends to enlist into the Kalistani Regular Force this July. "His Highness has already been in contact with a military recruiter here in Kaliburg, and he has sought clearness over the question from the Brethrenists in both Kaliburg and Eveari," said Lady Christina Ananto-McKinley. "Her Imperial Majesty has reluctantly agreed with the recommendations of the Committees and both meetings that the Crown Prince ought to be given the opportunity to follow his leadings as millions of others do yearly. The Eveari Meeting even passed a minute in support of the Crown Prince's enlistment:

"The minute said "Friend Willy Ananto has undergone clearness on the decision to enlist with the active Military of Kalistan. Brethrenists uphold the inherent value of all voluntary service to this nation, and appreciate our young Friend's decision to fulfill his duties to his society. If our Empress is concerned that her child will die in a war as a result of his enlistment, the Eveari meeting humbly reminds Friend Carolina Ananto that she is in a unique position to prevent war, and may do so with our joyous support."

The recruitment officer who is working with the Crown Prince has contracted with him to join an artillery unit in the Regular Force, where he will be trained as a surveyor. The Crown Prince will be eligible to do off duty education while enlisted, and said he may be interested in that to shorten the amount of time he will spend in college when he completes his enlistment. Lady Christina Ananto-McKinley said of the enlistment, "It may be a good thing for the Crown Prince to gain military experience. He believes that if a monarch must ask people to fight and die in a war, that person should have some conception of what it would be like to be asked to do that. As regional relations continue to stagnate end entropy, the Crown Prince feels it is better to be safe than sorry."

For now, the Crown Prince will enjoy his last few months of civilian life. "I feel physically fit, healthy and am generally happy," he said in a March interview. "I've seen some of the world, met a lot of great people, and missed the ones who aren't so great. I feel that when my time finally does come, my mother and my nation will have prepared me well to pick up the Flag of Empire and carry it forward to pass it off to the next generation." While there is nothing in anything he has said that hints at his attitudes on major political issues of the day, he has had the luxury of remaining outside of politics up until now. But going forward, the people will expect him to move himself to the center, where he belongs. He will be given that opportunity when Her Imperial Majesty decides to loosen her own iron grip on the state, something she currently shows absolutely no inclination to do.

"Her Imperial Majesty will outlive you and I," said Lady Christina Ananto-McKinley. "She is prepared to reign into her sixties if she wants to. And the other nations of the world will simply need to get their heads around that fact."

@TheRepublic