Kalistan

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Crown Princess Mary Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis to join National Service
Named Countess of Dah upon her Majority
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 3, 5628


Her Highness, the Crown Princess and Countess of Dah, Mary-Elizabeth Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis sits for her first official portrait

Her Highness, the Crown Princess Mary-Elizabeth Natalia Ananto-DeLaurentis achieved her Majority on June 20 of this year.  As a result, she came into her formal titles of Crown Princess of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, and heir to the Throne.  Additionally, she was named Countess of Dah, a title previously held by His Imperial Majesty's father, the Prince Consort William Sandoval and then which was transferred to His Imperial Majesty upon the Prince's death.  It is customary to provide the royal family with titles upon reaching their majority.

Now that Her Highness has reached her Majority, she is expected to muster into National Service.  She has expressed interest in forestry and the outdoors.  Crown Watcher Megan Hughes said "The Crown Princess has long been associated with her Aunt, Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, the Countess of Dulnerstaad and head of House Ananto.  Under Princess Michelle's mentorship, the young Heir began learning orienteering and forest flora and fauna at an early age.  Her fascination with the natural world was encouraged by her parents, who would allow her to hike in the forests east of the Capital in the summer, usually with friends or classmates.  It is believed that the Princess wakes up daily two hours early to hike near Cliff House on the many trails in Wilson Hill.  And she has even been honored with the right to name a new species of fern that she discovered in the Green Mountains last summer, which was verified by plant biologists in Kaliburg.  You might say she has a natural inclination to be outside."

There is no telling where the Crown Princess will end up.  Sources close to the Royal Family have observed that she has expressed her interest to take residence in Neveras before joining the National Service Program so she can be stationed somewhere on the Neveras Plateau, but there is no guarantee that this will accomplish her goal, as the National Service places people where they are needed, based on their aptitudes.  One thing is for sure though, Princess Mary is also expected to serve the next four years in National Service.

"Her Highness has also expressed ambivalence about attending university," said Hughes.  "She spent as little time in school as she could, preferring to spend her days outside.  She did just enough in Secondary School to earn good, but not great, grades, and has said to multiple interviewers that she thinks she is not cut out for school."  Whether she pursues a degree at a University in Kalistan, she will need to receive some formal education upon leaving the National Service:  There are several topics which she has to acquire fundamental understanding to effectively fulfill her role as the future Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.  "Some of those subjects she did well in, like History," said Hughes.  "But some, like finance and math, she struggled with.  Her interests were in the natural sciences, and these theoretical topics really bored her more than anything else."

The Crown Princess will be mustered into National Service on August 31 of this year.  Meanwhile, she said she intends to hike the Ananto Trail, from Luxon to Dulnerstaad with her sister, the Minor Princess Margaret Ananto-DeLaurentis and her aunt Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, and then visit her grandmother, Princess of the Empire Carolina in Eveari.

@LaModa