To Kaharagians everywhere, and to friends, I offer my good wishes for the new year.

The past year was a difficult one for me personally. In 2025, I lost my grandfather, H.R.H. Prince Raymond, Count Ericksen, and my grandmother, H.R.H. Princess Sheilla, Countess Ericksen. Their deaths were deeply felt within our family. I remain grateful for their guidance and for the example they set, which continues to shape my work and responsibilities.

2025 also marked fifteen years since the founding of Kaharagia. This anniversary was an occasion for reflection rather than ceremony. It served as a reminder that our nation rests on shared responsibility and continuity, not on territory.

Over the year, work continued to improve our public services and institutions. Today, a new official website comes into use, built around the Kaharagia Design System. This system sets clear standards for accessibility and follows WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements. Its purpose is simple: public information should be clear, consistent, and usable.

We are also introducing Kaharagia Connect, a single sign-on system for accessing Kaharagian digital services. Alongside this, the ePortal platform allows Kaharagian Nationals to keep their records up to date. It also enables both Nationals and non-Nationals to submit honours nominations and to take part in the Lifeblood Kaharagia blood donation programme. These tools are intended to support participation in public life without unnecessary barriers.

In addition, the national coat of arms of the Principality has been updated. It has been brought into line with the new shield of the Royal Family, issued last year, to establish a clearer and more distinct visual identity for Kaharagia as a state.

A new website for the Royal Kaharagian Gazette has also been launched, and this message is published there. The Gazette remains the official record of the Principality. Earlier documents are being digitised, and new decrees, official correspondence, and statements will be published there as they are issued.

The wider world remains unsettled. Many continue to live with conflict, displacement, and economic strain. Others face quieter uncertainty about daily life and the future. Even so, there have been signs of restraint and cooperation where they matter most.

For the year ahead, my hope is a simple one: greater stability, fewer losses, and steadier public life. For Kaharagia, the task remains to build carefully, maintain our institutions, and serve the community with seriousness.

I begin the year with confidence in the capacity of people for judgement, restraint, and care for others.

May the year ahead bring peace, health, and prosperity to you and to those close to you.

Happy New Year!

MAXIMILIAN P.

Detroit, 1 January 2026