Kalistan

[Doc]

Empress Announces that she is with child
Royal couple discuss Museums and Travel
Kaliburg Free City, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 14, 5579


Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, and His Highness, the Prince Consort sit down for brief interview

La Moda was granted an interview with Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto, and His Highness, Prince Consort William Ananto-Sandoval, who sat down with interviewers at the Ananto Estate in Eveari.

(La Moda Interviewer) A(llison) J(ohnson):  Before we begin, I am happy to report that Her Imperial Majesty has waived the rules of protocol with regard to directly addressing her during this conversation.  For which I thank her.

(Her Imperial Majesty, Empress) C(arolina I) A(nanto):  Thank you for coming all the way to have tea with us at my mother's home.  The Princess regrets that she did not feel up to seeing visitors today, or she would have welcomed you herself.

AJ:  It is quite alright.  How is Her Highness, the Princess of the Empire doing in general?

CA:  It depends upon the day really.  Her doctors try to put a positive spin on things, but of course, her condition is worse now that it has been.  Some days she feels better, and she still recognizes us, however she has trouble with remembering the Prince Consort sometimes.  She still looks for our father:  we feel that is the saddest thing about it.  She has asked us about availing her of the end of life options, but then she will change her mind and tell us that she is not yet ready.  So, it is just hard to watch her decline as she has.  Her life was one of so many accomplishments, it is our hope that she ends in as much dignity and bearing as she lived.

AJ:  Can I ask, Your Highness, how are you liking being the Prince Consort?

(His Highness, the Prince Consort) W(illiam) A(nanto-Sandoval):  It is certainly a lot of what I thought it would be.  Maybe some more, but, Carrie, excuse me, The Empress, has prepared me well for what to expect.  There are a lot of formalities in public.  I understand why the protocol is there.  Luckily I am exempted from a lot of that in the home.  There would never be any children if I had to stay 15 feet away from the Empress at all times.

AJ:  Children, Your Highness?

CA:  We suppose this is probably as good a time to make the announcement to your readers.  We are expecting a child.  It has been confirmed by our physician that the child is doing well.  And if your readers are curious, we are already feeling a but under the weather.

AJ:  Well, that is exciting news!  Has Her Imperial Majesty begun thinking of names?

CA:  It is far too soon for this.  We are not superstitious, but just in case, we would like to not jinx things.  Let us just continue to see how things will go and when the time comes for an announcement, we will contact your paper first.  How is that?

AJ:  It would be an honor.  To change the subject, we understand that Her Imperial Majesty will be opening an art museum in Kaliburg.  Would she be willing to talk to us about this?

CA:  Most certainly.  This is something we have been working on for a while.  Our late father's mother was a great patron of the arts, and Kaliburg is beautified for it.  Our interest is in industrial arts.  We believe that a lot of attention is paid to fine arts, and justifiably so.  However, our husband and ourself come from a background in engineering and science.  And there is a some beauty in a finely tuned race care motor, or a well designed joint that can be held together permanently with wood glue and a single dowel.  These are also forms of art, the art of technique.  And if you have turned enough theodolites, and drained as many oil pans as we have with our Father when he was still alive, you would certainly see the beauty in such things.  We would like the people of our Empire to be able to admire these types of accomplishments as well as the paintings, sculptures and other forms of fine art.

AJ:  This is marvelous idea.  We would certainly love to see it.  Where has Her Imperial Majesty planned to open it?

CA:  We are beginning to plan it now in Gallo, near the Polytechnic.  We would like it to be a museum dedicated to the Industrial arts, but we would also like to have a portion of the museum be dedicated to Kalistani Industry as well.  We believe this museum will celebrate a wildly underappreciated aspect of Kalistani society.  The site we have selected is a 15 acre site where we would like to build a secular temple to science, engineering, and Industry.  To our knowledge, it will be the first of its kind in the world.

AJ:  And Your Highness, will this museum also have a wing dedicated to agriculture?

WA:  I think this was also something we talked about.  Agriculture is part of Kalistani industry, and I am sure the growers of Ananto will love the acknowledgement.  One of the major industries of the Empire is agriculture, and any museum dedicated to industrial arts must include an exhibit dedicated to the hard working farmers and growers of this great nation.

AJ:  I agree wholeheartedly, Your Highness.  This sounds very exciting.  Does Her Imperial Majesty have an idea when the new museum will be opened?

CA:  We believe that it will be a long process.  It is our intention, and we are beginning to talk with architects in Kaliburg to begin envisioning the project.  We believe the Metro will be completed before the Museum is.

AJ:  I use the Metro regularly to get from home to La Moda's Kaliburg offices.  It is a wonderful system.  I can set my watch by the train schedule.  

CA:  We are very proud of the Metro.  The Kundratis have done a fantastic job, not only in helping us develop an efficient system that stops at convenient places, but also does not arrive late.  The timetables we have worked out allow us to arrive within a half a minute one way or another, of the scheduled time.  The show up on time, they leave on time, its a fantastic and nearly completely automated system that benefits our people.  We have utilized the Metro on several occasions.

AJ:  Seeing Her Imperial Majesty board the Metro must provide the people of Kaliburg a lot of confidence in the system.

CA:  That and its fun to use.  Our security doesn't create a tremendous burden while we travel, but it also provides us an opportunity to circulate among the people as we are accustomed to.  And we are able to remain within the law while making appearances.   There will come a day when the Institutionalists will succeed in cloistering us like they have our predecessors, but we look to make the most of our time in the sun before they do.

AJ:  Your Highness, do you and Her Imperial Majesty have any plans to travel abroad?

WA:  We would like to travel to visit the Ananto House in Etxea perhaps early next year.  And I would also like to purchase a vacation home in Gaduridos.  There is a whole flavor there which I miss and would like to recapture.  I know the Empress is very familiar with Gaduridos as well, and her uncle the Grand Duke still own property there.  And we would also like to spend some time visiting Lourenne, as tourists, and to get to know the Royal family there.  I believe the Emperor there has a new wife, and the Empress met him when she was younger.  It would be nice to get to know him and his wife on a social basis, given that we are all pretty much of the same generation and likely have many of the same interests.

AJ:  Well, I thank Her Imperial Majesty and Your Highness for your time.  This interview has been highly informative.

CA:  Thank you for coming to speak with us.  You have been an excellent guest.