A ROYAL LUNCHEON was held on Monday in New York's Royal Pavilion - Le Cirque. Home to the rich, famous and Royal over it's 40 year existence in New York. Jean Shafiroff, one of New York's new social lions, hosted a luncheon for HRH Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, and everyone came. Friends included Fe Fendi, Sharon Handler, Victoria Wyman, Yaz Hernandez, Amelia Ormenglisi, Margo Catsimatidis, Lyn Paulson, Catherine Saxton, Larry Kaiser, Cornelia Bregman, on and on and on into the chic 40 for luncheon. Her Royal Highness is here on an annual flying visit, leaving tomorrow for a prayer breakfast in the White House with the President and Mrs. Obama. This year, they've added the first annual PRINCES BALL, A MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE GALA to their events calendar on Friday, February 5th at Cipriani's 42nd Street.
Blessed with three single and clearly eligible young Princes, Crown Prince Apparent Prince Peter, and twins Prince Philip and Prince Alexander, the three Princes agreed to step in and raise money and awareness for the Princess's favorite charity, LIFELINE NY. Speaking passionately at the luncheon, Princess Katherine created the charity some 20 years ago to help the women and children of Serbia. A country which has been at war literally since 1939, and only in the last few years has it "enjoyed" peace, and is finding a time to re-building its future, Serbia is the country with the largest number of breast cancer deaths, infant mortality rates, and the largest refugee problem in Eastern Europe. But, for the Princess and all those she inspires, the problems aren't insurmountable. It's almost like Everest - you conquer it, because it's there.
It was another chic and glamourous luncheon at Le Cirque - but with a powerful and human message, served to many of the women (and men), who help shape our world for the better.