+ Countess Marie-Christine Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht (1932-2010)

Schloß Dyck, and the foundation she created, were the passions of the late Countess Marie-Christine Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht. This dynamic lady died on 10 December at Göttingen and after a valiant battle against illness.

She was the eldest of seven daughter of the last Fürst of Salm-Reifferscheid-Krautheim u.Dyck (1899-1958), who was married to Princess Cäcilie zu Salm-Salm (1911-1991), youngest daughter of the Hereditary Prince Emanuel and his wife, the former Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria, herself one of the daughters of the Archduke Friedrich and his wife, the former Princess Isabella of Croÿ.

Marie-Christine married Count Peter Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht in 1955. He survives her. The couple had several children and just recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary!

The countess was renowned for her passion for collecting modern art, as well as for the absolute delight she found in working in the garden. These passions she was able to put on display at Schloß Dyck, a marvelous residence she inherited from her ancestors.

"Schloß Dyck certainly was an affair of the heart for the countess," declared Jens Spanjer. commercial director of the foundation Marie-Christine setup for the protection of the castle and its gardens. She always visited the castle in June and September and seems to have truly enjoyed with the many visitors who came to see her home. Throughout, she remained involved in the running of the estate and the foundation, even though she ceded presidency to her son Simeon in 2002. "She considered the foundation as the legacy of her life," Mr. Spanjer explained.

Her goal was to maintain the facilities and make them attractive to visitors. Countess Marie-Christine Wolff Metternich had inherited Schloß Dyck in 1991 after the death of her mother. The family then placed it under the protection of a foundation of great benefit to the Land of North Rhine Westphalia, and the town of Jüchen, with the goal of maintaining the castle and its park and turn it in the future into "a center of art and culture of garden landscaping in the Rhineland. "

Although she lived at Schloß Adelebsen at Göttingen, she never cut ties with her former way of life Schloß Dyck.

Her funeral was attended by family and friends just a few days ago. May She Rest In Peace!

The Cost of Running a Monarchy...

First ever report outlining public expenses of running the palace

Last year, Queen Margrethe and the other members of the royal family cost the state 342.2 million kroner, according to a report released today looking at how much it costs the state to have a monarchy.

The report is the first of its kind in Denmark. In Europe, only the UK and the Netherlands have published similar figures.

According to the report, the state contributed 97.6 million to support the royal family, while the various ministries chipped in 244.6 million kroner.

And that’s not one krone too much, according to PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

“The royal family unites the Danish people as a nation. They form a straight line through our history, and that makes Denmark what it is.”

Asked whether a republic would be less expensive, Rasmussen was doubtful.

“Republics are very expensive to run too, and a president would probably have more expensive habits than a royal family.

The complete report, in Danish only, is available for download on the prime minister’s website, www.stm.dk.

The Queen's Eldest Granddaughter Announces Her Engagement

Zara Phillips - Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter - has announced her engagement to boyfriend of seven years, rugby star Mike Tindall.

Zara Phillips has announced her engagement to rugby player Mike Tindall.
The 29-year-old equestrian - who is the daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips - has announced she is to tie the knot with the England rugby star after seven years of dating.

A statement on the British Monarchy's official twitter page said: "The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Zara Phillips to Mr. Mike Tindall."

The couple have made no secret of their plans to get married in the past, with Mike admitting the only thing standing in the way of their dream "white wedding" is Zara's eventing career.
He recently said: "I don't think it is about whether we will get married but when. There is no doubt that I love Zara but it has to be the right time.

"She is so busy competing and I am touring - we often don't even manage to get away on holiday together. And yes it probably would be a white wedding - although sometimes I can see the attraction of sneaking away without telling anyone."

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/lifestyle/people/zara-phillips-to-marry-rugby-star-mike-tindall-20101221-194kz.html

Charities Patronaged by HRH The Prince William of Wales

Charities and Patronages

Although Prince William is currently focusing on his military career he wants to show his support for organisations that reflect issues he cares about both in the UK and abroad.

To further their charitable work, in 2009 Prince William and Prince Harry created their own Foundation to focus on supporting issues that they both care about.

The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry has three main aims: helping young people in society; raising awareness and support for servicemen and women; and developing sustainable models of living in the light of climate change and dwindling natural resources.

In September 2005, Prince William became Patron of Centrepoint, the UK’s leading homelessness charity. This was the Prince’s first Patronage and reflects his long-standing interest in homelessness and the people affected by it. His mother Diana, Princess of Wales was Patron of the charity. The Prince has worked with Centrepoint on a number of occasions in the last few years and slept rough in London with a group of young homeless people and Centrepoint staff to highlight the issue in the run-up to Christmas.

In December 2005, Prince William became Patron of the Tusk Trust, a conservation charity based in the UK which aims to secure a peaceful co-existence for Africa’s wildlife and its people. Prince William was impressed by the work of the charity after seeing it first-hand during a private visit to Africa. In June 2010 Prince William visited Botswana with his brother Prince Harry on their first joint overseas tour. Their Royal Highnesses visited an Education Centre on the Mokolodi Nature Reserve to engage with some of the 12,000 Botswana Children who are learning about environmental conservationism through ‘outdoor classroom’ projects.

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/prince_william_and_catherine_middleton_attend_a_christmas_ch_1303801528.html

Award for Prince Harry of Wales – Berlin

Prince Harry receives Golden Heart award during a visit to Berlin

Prince Harry was presented with a prestigious German award in recognition of his charity work during a visit to Berlin.

Receiving the “Golden Heart” award during a fundraising gala called Ein Herz fur Kinder (A Heart for Children) The Prince said he felt “hugely humble”.

After receiving the award from Bettina Wulff, the wife of German President Christian Wulff, Prince Harry told the gathered guests and the televised audience of millions "from the bottom of my heart Vielen Dank (thank you very much)."

He added: "But compared to so many people who devote their whole lives to restoring hope to children around the world, I have done very little.

"So, as far as I'm concerned, I am receiving your award on their behalf, not mine."

The Prince is Patron of a number of charities, including Sentebale, a charity he co-founded with his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho.

During his acceptance speech The Prince highlighted the plight of one girl Aset Makhamaeva, a 14-year-old he met privately, who had "her life shattered" by the death of a parent but had been helped by Ein Herz fur Kinder.

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/prince_harry_receives_golden_heart_award_during_a_visit_to_b_1050429010.html

The Future King Christian XI...What a Cherubic Face

This is a photo released by the Danish Royal Family on the occasion of the fifth birthday of Prince Christian of Denmark, eldest son of Crown Prince Frederik and his wife, the lovely Mary.

A Reminder of the Power of the Printed Word – The Romanian Case

Some years ago Royalty Magazine printed a scurrilous article about then Mr. Radu Duda, who received the right to adopt the name of Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen by the Fürst of Hohenzollern. Deeply insulted by the said article Prince Radu and his wife, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, began legal action against the magazine's publisher and his publishing company.

I always suspected that there was undue influence coming from the quarters of Paul Lambrino and his attention-seeking wife...and much manipulation to get that magazine to become their mouthpiece. I suppose we will never know the truth behind that poisonous liaison between faux-prince and publisher.

A lesson learned...one may not like someone personally...but as a publisher one must be rather careful about printing scurrilous claims and such. Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania have done great work on behalf of the interests of their fellow Romanians and the image of the Royal Family. That cannot be denied, and in fact it must be commended.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/lawreports/7892233/Romanian-prince-wins-libel-battle.html

A Year Ago a Quiet Prince Passed Away...Alexander of Belgium

After reading a report on the exhibition commemorating Prince Alexander of Belgium's life, I thought that some of you may not have read a rather nice obituary The Telegraph published last year.

I met Prince Alexander several times. Once we ran into him and Princess Lea at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Geneva. We sat and had some drinks and spent a good time talking about various topics. In the background Latin American music played and Princess Lea asked if I danced to this sort of music. I said yes. She told me she wanted to learn how to dance it, "not me," said Prince Alexander, to which his wife replied, "Oh, don't I know!"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/royalty-obituaries/6835065/HRH-Prince-Alexandre-of-the-Belgians.html

Oh Sweet Jesus...When Brain and Tongue Don't Connect...You get this...

I have always feared converts, their zealotry is frightening. Somehow, converts to Catholicism, my faith, tend to go the the farthest of extremes and over-compensate foe not having been born in our faith.

As a liberal Catholic, raised by Franciscan Friars, I find these comments made by Lord Nicholas Windsor, who already occupies a fairly low peg on my opinion-meter, execrable.

"The Duchess of Kent has withdrawn from public life to such an extent that she is often described as a recluse, but her son Lord Nicholas Windsor is determined to speak out over causes that he believes in.

Lord Nicholas, 40, who lost his place in the line of succession when he became a Roman Catholic, has written a controversial article in which he claims that abortion is a bigger threat to Europe than al-Qaeda and Islamic terrorism"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/8212980/Abortion-is-worse-than-al-Qaeda-says-Duke-of-Kents-son-Lord-Nicholas-Windsor.html

An Exhibition Commemorating the Life of Prince Alexander of Belgium

The Wellington Museum in Waterloo, Brussels, recently opened an exhibition celebrating the life of the late Prince Alexander of Belgium, eldest son of King Leopold III and his second wife, the Princess de Rethy.

On hand to inaugurate the exhibition were the prince's widow, Princess Lea, as well as his sister Princess Esmeralda and his nephew Prince Laurent with wife Princess Claire of Belgium.

The late Prince Alexander, a delight, yet quiet man, passed away suddenly last year. He was the half-brother of King Albert II.

Princess Esmeralda and Princess Lea surrounding a bust of Prince Alexander.

http://www.waterloo.be/index.php?q=nl/albums-photos&g2_itemId=7830