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Friday, December 31, 2010

Queen Margrethe II's New Year Speech to be Broacast Today

At 600pm Copenhagen time GMT+1 Queen Margrethe II broadcast her traditional New Year's Message to all Danes in country and abroad.


http://jp.dk/uknews/article2291504.ece

Biographer of The Countess of Barcelona Speaks Out

The author of Yo, María de Borbón a lauded biography of the late Countess of Barcelona expressed his intention to publish his book, which appeared in 1995, again. On this new edition Mr. Javier González de la Vega intends to clarify many aspects of the countess' life, particularly in lieu of the polemic caused by a new book on her authored by Spanish biographer Pilar Eyre, well-known for explosive comments and statements in her books.

González de la Vega has nearly 100 hours of taped conversations with the late Countes of Barcelona, which he stated would place in context the historical role of the mother of King Juan Carlos of Spain. Furthermore, the author tells us that his relationship with doña María de las Mercedes did not end with the publication of his book, for in fact they continued meeting regularly. González de la Vega says that his last visit to the countess was just two weeks prior to her death.

I have read several times the original version of
González de la Vega's book, which ends in the mid-1980's, nearly a decade and a half before the death of the countess. I always find the book an excellent source of material on one of my favorite royal subjects, as well as a woman of indomitable character.


Best of luck on this new endeavor!


The Counts of Barcelona, don Juan and doña María.

A Happy Godchild – India Hicks comments on The Prince of Wales

From the Telegraph

"As Sir Elton John and David Furnish set about the all-important task of picking suitable A-listers to be the godparents of their son, Zachary, India Hicks is thanking her lucky stars that she has the “considerate” Prince of Wales as hers.
“His presents were always well thought out,” the daughter of Lady Pamela Mountbatten and David Hicks tells Tatler. “For many years, I would receive a china teacup or a gravy dish – confusing, at times, for a young child, but now, as an adult, I have complete sets of beautiful china.”


 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/Mobile/8229885/Prince-Charles-is-India-Hickss-perfect-godfather.html

Thursday, December 30, 2010

ERHJ Blogspot – Eurohistory's online community reaches 6,000 visitors

In our first month since starting this blog we reached 6,000 visitors.

Sincerely, I am terribly encouraged by the interest we have managed to gather and look forward to thousands more visitors and postings.

Thanks everyone...I am deeply thankful for your interest, encouragement and support!

Dave, Derrick holding Lulu, Zac holding Sammy, Jan and Arturo

Happy New Year!

A Review of "The King's Speech"

We went to watch this movie last night and simply loved it!

here is a review:

"Wonderful performances, a bit of history and an absorbing character study make "The King's Speech" one of the best movies of the year.

Colin Firth gives an incredible performance as Albert, the Duke of York, whom we meet in the 1920s. The second son of King George V (Michael Gambon), Albert leads a royal, somewhat secluded life with his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) and their two daughters.

Albert knows his older brother, Prince Edward (Guy Pearce), will ascend to the throne - or at least that's what he assumes. That is fine with Albert, who has a pronounced stammer he can't remember being without. Public appearances make him nearly sick with worry as a result, not to mention the advent of radio, which, of course, could carry his speeches all over the world."

For more, continue reading by clicking on the link...





http://qctimes.com/entertainment/columnists/linda-cook/article_e2294e48-12c3-11e0-acdf-001cc4c002e0.html

Royal Twins Expected Soon in Copenhagen!

Who would have thought that all these royal births would happen so close to one another. Now we have a report of the impending birth of Queen Margrethe II's twin grandchildren.

"PRINCESS Mary is preparing for the early arrival of her twins, cancelling all royal engagements as her father jetted into Copenhagen. 
 
The Tasmanian-born Crown Princess of Denmark is due to give birth next month but preparations are being made for imminent delivery.

The Danish royal family has already confirmed she will not participate in the traditional New Year's reception held at Christiansborg Palace.

Princess Mary and husband Crown Prince Frederik also broke with royal tradition by staying at home in their newly renovated Amalienborg Palace over Christmas so they could be close to the University Hospital, where Princess Mary has been booked in.

Princess Mary's father John Donaldson flew into Copenhagen to be close to his daughter and on hand for the twins' arrival."

©The Daily Telegraph

 http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/princess-mary-ready-for-twins/story-fn6e0s1g-1225978290610

Rare Royal Photo Exhibition

By By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter – The Telegraph

Unseen childhood portraits of the Queen and Princess Margaret to go on display
Cherished family portraits of the Queen and the late Princess Margaret from the late Queen Elizabeth’s private collection are to be shown in public for the first time in an exhibition celebrating the work of the photographer Marcus Adams.



Among the photographs on exhibition are a three-year-old Princess Elizabeth cuddling her father (C); with her sister Margaret; and the two girls with their mother, Queen Elizabeth, in 1940  Photo: THE ROYAL COLLECTION

They include some of the most informal studio portraits ever taken of the princesses with their parents, which will be among more than 100 prints on display dating from 1926 to 1956.
One of the earliest photographs is of the three-year-old Princess Elizabeth cuddling her father, the then Duke of York, in 1929. Three years later, the future Queen posed with her younger sister shortly before Princess Margaret’s second birthday, and in 1940 the princesses, aged 14 and nine, were pictured with their mother, when Princess Elizabeth also posed in a kilt and tweed jacket.

Mr Adams, who died in 1959, set up a Children’s Studio in London in 1920 and quickly became one of the country’s most renowned photographers of children.

He filled his studio with toys and even disguised his camera as a toy cabinet to put his subjects at ease. His studio, which contained no visible cameras, lights or other equipment, was described by him as “a bright and very happy play room” and used a long cable to press the shutter so he did not have to disappear behind the camera.

He once described photography as “ninety-five per cent psychology and only five per cent mechanical”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/8208967/Unseen-childhood-portraits-of-the-Queen-and-Princess-Margaret-to-go-on-display.html

Two New Descendants of King George I of the Hellenes

It is interesting when thinking about it this way...Both the Duke of Edinburgh and the late Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach, first cousins and grandchildren of King George I of the Hellenes, welcomed a great-grandchild on consecutive days.

Countess Elena Toerring-Jettenbach on December 28, Baby Girl Phillips on the 29th.

More news on the Phillips birth

Queen becomes great-grandmother

The Queen was "delighted" Thursday at becoming a great-grandmother with the birth of a baby girl to her grandson Peter Phillips and his Canadian wife. 

Buckingham Palace announced that Phillips' wife Autumn gave birth to the baby, weighing 3.9 kilogrammes (8 pounds 8 ounces), on Wednesday at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester.

The Queen's first great-grandchild, who is yet to be named, is 12th in line to the throne.
Phillips is the son of Princess Anne, known as the Princess Royal, the queen's only daughter.
A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Autumn's family have been informed and are delighted with the news."

The royal family is looking forward to the marriage in April of second-in-line to the throne Prince William and his university sweetheart Kate Middleton.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20101230/tuk-queen-becomes-great-grandmother-a7ad41d.html 

Queen Delighted with Becoming a Great-Grandmother!

he Queen is "delighted" with the birth of her first great-grandchild - a baby girl.

Buckingham Palace announced that the wife of the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips has given birth to a daughter.

Autumn and Peter Phillips' first child, whose name is yet to be confirmed, weighed 8lbs 8oz when she was born at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Autumn's family have been informed and are delighted with the news."

The baby is the first child for Mr and Mrs Phillips, the first grandchild for the Princess Royal and the first great-grandchild for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. She is 12th in line to the throne.

Mr Phillips was present at the birth.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20101230/tuk-queen-delighted-with-great-grandchil-dba1618.html

Queen hails first great-grandchild

From the Press Association:


The Queen is "delighted" with the birth of her first great-grandchild - a baby girl. 

Buckingham Palace announced that the wife of the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips gave birth to a daughter on Wednesday.

Autumn and Peter Phillips' first child, whose name is yet to be confirmed, weighed 8lbs 8oz when she was born at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Autumn's family have been informed and are delighted with the news."

The baby is the first child for Mr and Mrs Phillips, the first grandchild for the Princess Royal and the first great-grandchild for The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. She is 12th in line to the throne.

Mr Phillips was present at the birth.

Mr Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandson, married his Canadian-born wife at a glittering ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2008.

The son of the Princess Royal met his wife in 2003 at the Montreal Grand Prix, where they were both working. Initially, he did not tell her that he was the Queen's grandson and she only found out when she spotted him in a programme about Prince William.

Mrs Phillips is a former Roman Catholic but was accepted into the Church of England shortly before the wedding. Had she not changed churches, Mr Phillips would have had to give up his right to become king.

The couple faced controversy two years ago after being paid a reported £500,000 by a glossy magazine for photographs of their wedding.



http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20101230/tuk-queen-hails-first-great-grandchild-6323e80.html

It's a Girl – HM The Queen Becomes a Great-grandmother!

Official announcement:

Mrs Peter Phillips was yesterday safely delivered of a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The weight of the baby was 8lbs 8oz. Mr Peter Phillips was present at the birth.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Autumn’s family have been informed and are delighted with the news. The baby’s name will be confirmed in due course.

This baby is the first child for Peter and Autumn, the first grandchild for The Princess Royal and the first great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, and is twelfth in line to the Throne.





http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2010/MrsPeterPhilipshasgivenbirthtoababygirl30December2.aspx

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

King Michael Receives Honorary Doctorate

In his blog Prince Radu of Romania tells us that HM king Michael of Romania recently received an Honoris Causa Doctorate from the Polytechnic University of Timisoara.

The article in the prince's blog is in Romanian...

©Prince Radu of Romania

http://www.princeradublog.ro/

Americans Rate The Queen as Our 6th Most Admired Female

Americans have ranked Queen Elizabeth as their sixth most admired woman - behind Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey.

The poll, carried out by USA Today-Gallup, asked respondents what man and woman, living anywhere in the world, they most admired. Rankings from one to 10 were based on total mentions and reported in percentages.

The survey, released on Monday, placed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as the most-admired woman for the ninth year in a row, edging out former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and TV host Oprah Winfrey, as she did last year.


A Different Heir in Hannover...

Our friend Marlene Koenig shares her thoughts on the paternity of Baron Christian von Humboldt-Dachroeden, illegitimate son of the former Princess Maria Anna of Prussia (née Humboldt-Dachroeden), first wife of Prince Hubertus of Prussia, a younger son of Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm and his wife Cecilie, née Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

At her excellent blog Royal Musings, Marlene shares her thoughts with us: "Christian Ernst August Hubertus Freiherr von Humboldt-Dachroeden, a respected Hamburg banker, would be head of the house of Hannover, and not his younger half-brother, Prince Ernst August.

On October 2, 1941,  the engagement of Prince Hubertus of Prussia, third son of former Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, and Baroness Maria-Anna von Humboldt-Dachroesen was announced in Potsdam.  At the time, the Prince was a a First Lieutenant in the German Air Force.  The wedding toook place on December 29, 1941 at Schloss Oels in Silesia.  It was a war time wedding, not a lot of pomp and circumstances.   There were also questions about the marriage's status.  Maria-Anna was a mere baroness, and, not the usual choice for a bride in the house of Hohenzollern.  Hubertus' eldest brother, Prince Wilhelm, lost his succession rights when he married Dorothea von Salviati.   The second brother, Prince Louis Ferdinand, did rather well in the marriage stakes when he married Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, whose father, Kirill, was the de jure Russian Emperor.


The marriage lasted for only a year.  It was announced in December 1942 that Prince Hubertus had divorced his wife, a "society beauty, but by Hohenzollern standards was not eligible to marry into the family."  But was the reason for divorce due to Maria-Anna's lower rank, or was there someone else?
Prince Hubertus wasted no time in heading to the altar for a second time.  On June 8, 1943, he married Princess Magdalene Reuss, a marriage considered equal.  


Is it also possible that Maria Anna was in love with another prince?  Was she an adulterous who cheated on Prince Hubertus with his first cousin, Prince Ernst August of Hannover, eldest son of the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia, the Kaiser's only daughter.   There was certainly something going on between Maria-Anna and Ernst August by early 1943, as she was pregnant.  On December 27, 1943,  Baroness Maria Anna gave birth to a son, who was given the names Christian Ernst August Hubertus.  The child was given her surname, using the male version, Freiherr von Humboldt-Dachroeden.   


One can only assume what the reaction was when Ernst August learned that Maria-Anna was pregnant.  Marriage was out of the question.  Maria Anna, a divorced woman, would certainly not have been accepted by the Duke and Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg.  


Very, very little is known about this romance and the aftermath.  Was Ernst August prevented from marrying Maria Anna because she was divorced and of a lower rank.   One assumes that Ernst August's parents expected a far better marriage for their eldest son.   In 1951, Ernst August obliged by marrying Princess Ortrud of Schleswig-Holstein."


Continue reading the very interesting tale by visiting Marlene's blog at:

 http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2010/12/if-circumstances-had-been-different.html

A Philandering Hannoverian...?

Increasing rumors that the once celebrated union between Prince Ernst August of Hannover and Princess Caroline of Monaco is at an end, Bunte Magazine (Germany) has published photos of the husband in the company of a strip model...lovely!


The UK's Daily Mail reports further: "The husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco has taken to travelling around with a former nightclub dancer from Romania who now models for brothels in Austria.

Prince Ernst August of Hanover - a cousin of Queen Elizabeth - has been photographed in some of Europe’s hotspots with the woman known only as Simona who comes from a slum apartment in a Romanian town.

But while speculation has been growing that Princess Caroline would split from him all year, Euro royal-watchers believe the couple have reached an 'accommodation' - in essence, a free pass for separate lives while still legally married."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1342135/Princess-Carolines-husband-Prince-Ernst-steps-22-year-old-ex-dancer-models-brothels.html#ixzz19WDkD2IM

Belgian Civil List – No Reductions After All!

Although I had initially reported that the civil list in Belgium, the funding granted by the government to run the monarchy, was going to be reduced...it was not the case after all. In fact, in 2011 the five members of the royal family who receive government funding will experience an increase. The total amount now rests at €13.7 million (+/- $18 million).

The funds will be shared thus (in approximate values):

King Albert II       €10.7 million
Queen Fabiola      €  1.5 million
Crown Prince Philippe   €936.000
Princess Astrid     €324.000
Prince Laurent      €312.000


These funds are used to pay for myriad royal events and the day-to-day running of the institution, which remains fairly popular and respected throughout Belgium.

Traditonal Christmas Speech from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

I looked all over for King Carl XVI Gustaf's Christmas speech, but could not find it. Finally our friends at Noblesse et Royautes found it and now I am sharing it with you all.

Now to know Swedish...


http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=4255722

Seventh Marriage for Count Jan Bernadotte...habitual marrier!

While millions of committed couples cannot enter into marriage because of gender inequality, habitual marriers like Count Jan Bernadotte af Wisborg (eldest son of the former Prince Lennart of Sweden (1909-2004), himself the only son of Prince William of Sweden and of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (Jr) of Russia) can do so at will.

Count Jan is to marry a seventh time on January 8, 2011, a day before he turns seventy. He has four children, all from different wives.


http://svenskdam.se/2010/11/kungens-syssling-jan-bernadotte-gifter-om-sig/

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

New Book: Greek Princesses

A new book, which was sent to us by a subscriber in Greece, deals with the lives of several Greek princesses, daughters-in-law and granddaughters of King George I of the Hellenes.

I have a copy of the cover, the book is yet to arrive. I know it is only available in Greek, but am hoping that it at least has lovely photos inside.

The women of the Greek royal family have always been a fantastic group of people. As friend of many of the descendants of King George's Greek granddaughters, I have always wanted to write a group biography of these ladies: Queen Mother Helen of Romania, the Duchess of Aosta, Lady Katerine Brandram, Princess Eugenie of Greece, Princess Paul of Yugoslavia, Countess Elisabeth zu Toerring-Jettenbach, The Duchess of Kent, Fürstin Margarita zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Margravine Theodora of Baden, Hereditary Grand Duchess Cecilie of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Sophie of Hannover.

Perhaps this new book can encourage me to get mine done!

No Servants for Prince William and Catherine

The future king and queen have done everything they can to live life like any “normal” couple during their weekends together at the Prince’s rented cottage on Anglesey, doing their own shopping, cooking and cleaning.
And although they have bodyguards on 24-hour duty protecting their isolated cottage, they have told aides they intend to carry on fending for themselves when they return home as newlyweds.
The couple believe that sharing their home with servants would ruin the intimacy of their relationship, and will carry on looking after themselves until the Prince finishes his tour of duty as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot in three years’ time.
A senior royal source said: “It’s very much their instinct to manage on their own.

Continue reading the story by clicking the link below!

©Reuters

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/8207022/Well-manage-without-butlers-or-servants-say-Prince-William-and-Kate-Middleton.html

Danish Royal Christmas

Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik, accompanied by Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, along with his sons Nikolai and Felix, attended a traditional Christmas mass at a church near Schackenborg Palace, Joachim's country residence.

Absent were Crown Prince Frederik and his family since his wife Mary is close to her delivery date. Twins are expected to be born in mid-January!

©HOLA

http://www.hola.com/realeza/casa_danesa/2010122850494/familia-real-danesa/misa-navidad/princesa-mary/1/?utm_source=boletin_101228&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=boletin&utm_term=Destacada+2&utm_content=diaria

Countess Elena zu Toerring-Jettenbach Born Today

Hereditary Count Ignaz and Hereditary Countess Robinia zu Toerring-Jettenbach welcomed today in Munich their fourth daughter, Countess Elena. Both mother and daughter are expected to be doing rather well.

The baby was born at 10.29am and will be given the names Elena Inocencia Maria Maximiliana Isabel Rita.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Toerring-Jettenbach Birth Expected Any Moment Now

Hereditary Countess Robinia of Toerring-Jettenbach is expected to deliver her fourth daughter any day now.

The newborn-to-be's name will be revealed once confirmation of a safe delivery is announced to us.

A great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh...

Any day now HM The Queen will become a great-grandmother. Mister Peter Phillips' wife Autumn is expected to give birth shortly, thus making Elizabeth II a great-grandmother. All along the birth has been expected to take place in late December, so it is just a matter of time before the first great-grandchild of The Queen and Prince Philip makes its arrival!

I do wonder if this time around he will be misguided enough, again, to sell the story to a tabloid as he did when he married Ms Kelly...

Here are Eurohistory.com we are on "nearly royal" baby watch!

A New Book on Emperor Pedro II by his Great-Great-Grandson

Don Carlos de Tasso y Saxe-Coburg-Bragança, a great-great-grandson of Emperor Pedro II, recently presented his latest book, which focuses on the Emperor's two visits to the capital of Austria in 1871 and 1877.

The author is the son of Princess Theresia of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1902-1990), one of the many children of Prince August Leopold (Kohary Branch) and his wife, the former Archduchess Karoline of Austria-Tuscany. August Leopold was the second son of Princess Leopoldine of Brazil (1847-1871) and her husband Prince Ludwig August (1845-1907. Leopoldine was the youngest child of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil, while Ludwig August was the second son of Prince August and his Orléans wife, Princess Clementine. King Ferdinand of Bulgaria was Ludwig August's youngest sibling.

In 1930 Princess Theresia married Baron Lamoral Taxis di Bordogna e Valnigra (1900-1966), one year later her son Carlos was born. From an early age Carlos developed a deep interest in history, his success in various business ventures, which included the administration of inherited farmlands, allowing him the time necessary for such endeavors.

Carlos, who officially changed his last name to "Tasso de Saxe-Coburgo e Bragança", worked in Brazil for several decades, mainly involved in coffee production. In 1969 don Carlos married his distant cousin Archduchess Walburga of Austria-Tuscany, by whom he has eight children.

He now lives retired in Portugal's beautiful Algarve region.


In the image above we see don Carlos Tasso presenting his book at the Institute of History and Geography of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Three Generations of Romanian Royals

King Michael, Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Nicholas of Romania received lo=cal inhabitants at Savarsin Castle.

Throughout the holiday season various members of the royal family have received several delegations of local inhabitants at Savarsin. These have included farmers, performers and local guilds, all delighted that their King is staying nearby.

Prince Radu of Romania is doing a great job at keeping a window, using his blog, for us to peek through the various events the King and his family have attended.


©Prince Radu of Romania

http://www.princeradublog.ro/

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Year in Pictures @ The Danish Court

Danish Berlingske Newspaper has regaled us with a nice pictorial retrospective of 2010 at the Court of Queen Margrethe II.

The photos were a bit slow to upload, but perhaps that was because I watched them late at night PST, which was mid-morning Copenhagen time. yet, it is well worth the time it took to watch!


http://www.berlingske.dk/billeder/aarets-kongelige-hoejdepunkter

A Poll in Sweden Wants the King to Retire

Whether this is a reaction to the scandals that broke out later in the year concerning the King's liaisons, or whether it is as a result f the Crown Princess' recent wedding, along with rumors of a possible pregnancy, a majority of Swedes polled by the newspaper Aftonbladet wanst King Carl XVIGustaf to abdicate the throne, thus allowing Crown Princess Victoria to succeed earlier than expected.

When asked who would be a more suitable head of state, those polled said:

60% Crown Princess Victoria
25% King Carl XVI Gustaf
2% Prince Carl Philip
1% Queen Silvia
1% Princess Madeleine
1% Prince Daniel
9% Does not know 

 The pool obviously shows great confidence in the future of the monarchy as Victoria is in her early thirties...but it also serves as a slap to the King, who has acted in a stellar manner since succeeding his grandfather Gustaf VI in 1973. Perhaps the Swedish monarch may want to consider following the Dutch example, of which I am personally not fond whatsoever, but if it helps the institution, so much the better.



Don Luis Alfonso de Borbón Opens a New Monarchist Organization

As the eldest male descendant of King Henri IV of France, don Luis Alfonso de Borbón y Martinez-Bordiu, only surviving son of the late Duke of Cadiz, himself the eldest morganatic descendant of King Alfonso XIII, decided to open a new "institute" to further his claim to Headship of House France.

I personally oppose in the strongest possible way these false claim...but t is interesting nonetheless to see what this young Spaniard is up to in his very active political actions, surely helped by the immense wealth he married into.

©Duc d'Anjou

http://institutducdanjou.fr/

A Princess and an Artist – Sophie of Romania

Princess Sophie of Romania, fourth daughter of King Michael and Queen Anne, has turned her talents into a business venture.

Many of the offerings are darling and I encourage you all to visit her website!

http://sophie-de-roumanie.artistwebsites.com/index.html

Ten Trivia to Know About the Swedish King

It is whispered that the King of Sweden is coming to Buffalo for the World Juniors Hockey Tournament and that he will be staying at the Mansion on Delaware.

The King of Sweden is King Carl XVI Gustaf. His mother was a member of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the same family as the British royal family. The King of Sweden's father's name was Gustaf Adolf. He died in a crash over Denmark in 1947, Carl XVI Gustaf ascended the throne in 1973 after the death of his grandfather.

I have not checked the top ten trivia listed by this person...although I did find some initial errors in the information posted. Still, worth looking at it!



http://blogs.buffalonews.com/popstand/2010/12/10-things-about-our-rumored-visitor-the-king-of-sweden.html

Norway – Is the Christmas Stew Turning Thicker?

“There won’t be any traditional Christmas photograph session this year, because the Crown Prince and his family are out traveling,” Marianne Hagen, communications chief for the Royal Palace in Oslo, told newspaper Aftenposten.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit pulled their children out of school in late November and headed off on what they claimed was a private expedition of sorts. They’ve already been in Turkey, Jordan and India but the palace wouldn’t say where they would be spending Christmas. They won’t return to Norway until mid- to late January.


http://www.newsinenglish.no/2010/12/23/king-dropped-annual-family-photo/

Christmas Message from the Norwegian Crown Princely Couple

Gone traveling for a few months, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway spent Christmas in the state of Sikkim, India.

The link to the royal family's website has ample information on the Crown princely couple's travels far away from Oslo.


http://www.kongehuset.no/c28424/nyhet/vis.html?tid=89065

Christmas Decorations at Schloß Berleburg

Our friends at Billed Bladet Magazine paid a visit to the Princes of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg at Schloß Berleburg, Germany. During the visit, Hereditary Prince Gustav's girlfriend Corina Axelson showed the visiting journalists the many Christmas decorations dotting various halls and rooms within the beautiful palace.


http://www.towleroad.com/2010/12/watch-sarah-palin-misinformer-of-the-year.html

Official Website of the Monaco Princely Wedding

This is the official princely wedding website set up by the office of Prince Albert II of Monaco. Hopefully as time goes by and we get closer to the happy day, more information will be available.

In the meantime the photo gallery section contains lovely pictures of the princely couple.


http://www.palais.mc/monaco/x-net/internet-palais-princier/english/royal-wedding/royal-wedding.1819.html

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Press Told to Back Off William and Catherine

Buckingham Palace, fearful of excessive intrusion into the lives of Prince William of Wales and his fiancée Catherine Middleton, has asked the press in the UK to thread carefully and show restraint when covering news about the couple.



http://www.comcast.net/video/protecting-william-and-kate-s-privacy/1709117575/Comcast/1707309838/

Traditional Christmas Message from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

A friend just translated this to me while we watched...such a nice monarch she is!


http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/Actueel/Video/Kersttoespraak_2010.html

Christmas Card of Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania

Attached is the card used by TRH Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania. One can only wish the best health to Their Majesties and the Royal Family as a new year begins.

In October 2011 HM King Michael will celebrate his 90th birthday...we look forward to this happy celebration!

King Michael of Romania's Christmas Message

Spending the Christmas holidays at his country estate, Savarsin Castle, located in Western Romania, HM King Michael of Romania published a heartfelt message to his fellow Romanians.

Sadly, the English-version is not available, but surely a translator such as Google's translation engine, which is rather good, does a very good job.

In the image below: Prince Nicholas, King Michael, Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania.

 
©Prince Radu of Romania

http://www.actmedia.eu/2010/12/24/top+story/royal+family+spends+christmas+at+savarsin+castle+/31355

Danish Crown Princely Couple's Christmas Card

Attached is the image used in their Christmas card by Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. It shows the couple with their two children, Christian and Isabella.

Quite adorable I must say...


©The Danish Royal Court

The Queen Attends Christmas Service at Sandringham

Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by many members of her family, attended the traditional Christmas service in Sandringham. HM arrived in a car in the company of the Countess of Wessex. Among those present were: the Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry of Wales, The Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex. Princess Anne was absent and is aupposed to be accompanying her daughter Zara and her fiancé Mr. Mike Tindall.

Prince William of Wales, a regular at this family gathering, was absent. His military obligations kept him from being with his family. His fiancée Catherine Middleton spent Christmas with her own family.

HH Pope Benedict XVI's Christmas Message

Pope urges end to conflicts in Christmas message

Pope Benedict called for Israelis and Palestinians "to strive for a just and peaceful co-existence"


Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his hope for an end to conflicts around the world, in his traditional Christmas Day message from the Vatican.

In his address from St Peter's Basilica, he called on Israelis and Palestinians to co-exist in peace.

He urged China's Christians to remain hopeful in spite of limitations, and prayed for those hit by natural disasters in Latin America.

He also appealed for peace in Somalia, Darfur and Ivory Coast.

An estimated 100,000 people had gathered in the square outside St Peter's - wet from rain - to hear the Urbi et Orbi - meaning to the city (Rome) and to the world -sermon.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12078561

Christmas Message from Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

HGH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg's traditional Christmas message to his people!


http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/Presse/Discours/2010/12/discours_de_noel_video/index.html

HM The Queen's Christmas Message

This year HM Queen Elizabeth II chose to give her traditional Christmas Message from Hampton Court.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12079065

Christmas Message from HM King Albert II of the Belgians

HM King Albert II of the Belgians released his traditoinal Christmas message to his fellow Belgians.


http://www.monarchie.be/fr

Christmas Message from HM King don Juan Carlos I of Spain

As is tradition, HM King don Juan Carlos released a televised Christmas message to his Nation.

http://www.casareal.es/noticias/news/20101224_mensaje_navidad_rey-ides-idweb.html

Japanese Imperial Birthday – Akihito turns 77!

On the occasion of the seventy-seventh birthday of Emperor Akihito, the Japanese Imperial Agency released some lovely photos of the Imperial Couple, Akihito and Michiko, who also made an appearance on the balcony of the Imperial Lalace surrounded by Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Masako, and Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko.

The Other Dukes of Calabria – Carlo & Camila of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

Carlo & Camila of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Dukes of Calabria, welcomed HOLA Magazine to their new sumptuous residence with sprawling views of Paris' Eiffel Tower.

Carlo is the son of the late Ferdinando, Duke of Castro, and of his late wife Chantal de Chevron-Villette. Ferdinando led a competing claim for the abolished throne of the Two Sicilies, which was incorporated into Italy in 1860 as a result of the unification movement historically known as the Risorgimento, which was led by then King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy.

Eventually of the five reigning families that ruled what became modern-day Italy, four lost their thrones: the Bourbons of Parma and the Two Sicilies and the Habsburgs of Tuscany and Modena. Their Savoy cousins, for the Savoyard dynasty was closely related to these four dynasties, overthrew their relations between 1859-1860. By late 1870 even the Papal States were incorporated into a unified Italy under the rule of Vittorio Emanuele.

Carlo Calabria is married to Camilla Crociani, a fabulously rich heiress.

©HOLA

Friday, December 24, 2010

Wales Wedding Coin Fiasco

Many in the UK are voicing their criticism concerning the profiles of Prince William of Wales and Ms Catherine Middleton...the profiles used on the coins, frankly, are awful...and look nothing like the groom and his fiancée.

The Centennial of the late Countess of Barcelona's Birth – Madrid, December 23, 2010

TM King don Juan Carlos and Queen doña Sofía, accompanied by countless family members, attended a mass at the Palacio de Oriente to commemorate the centennial of the birth of the late Countess of Barcelona, doña María de las Mercedes de Borbón-Dos Sicilias y Orléans.

The late Countess of Barcelona died in January 2000.

Royal Romanian Christmas, Savarsin 2010

HM Queen Anne of Romania accompanied by Crown Princess Margarita, Prince Radu and her grandson Prince Nicholas welcomed local folk dancers for a performance outside the Romanian Royal Family's Savarsin Castle.

A few years ago this beautiful property was returned to HM King Michael by the Romanian government.

©HRH Prince Radu of Romania

July 1, 2011 – A Princely Marriage in Monaco

The Princely Court announced that the wedding ceremony of Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock will take place in Monaco on July 1, 2011.

There are 4,000 guests on the list and one hopes tat, given good weather, the public will get a good view of the festivities.