Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan.
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Saturday, March 19, 2011
No Japanese Presence at the English Royal Wedding
Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan informed Buckingham Palace that he will not be attending the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton. The decision was take as a sign of solidarity with the victims of the deadly tsunami.
America's Obsession with the Royal Wedding
Thirty years ago this July, Lady Diana Spencer, dressed in a pale-ivory taffeta gown of pearls and crinoline with a 25-foot train, traveled from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul's Cathedral to marry Charles, Prince of Wales. At the time, it was the biggest live television event in history, watched by 750 million viewers world-wide.
Compared with the crowd their son is expecting April 29, that's nothing.
Very little will have changed about the ceremony itself—the pomp and circumstance hasn't evolved much in centuries—but there will be profound changes in how the proceedings will be recorded and consumed.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703899704576204443433487336.html?KEYWORDS=prince+william
Compared with the crowd their son is expecting April 29, that's nothing.
Very little will have changed about the ceremony itself—the pomp and circumstance hasn't evolved much in centuries—but there will be profound changes in how the proceedings will be recorded and consumed.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703899704576204443433487336.html?KEYWORDS=prince+william
Prince William gives a speech during a memorial service in Christchurch, New Zealand
Prince William gives a speech during a memorial service in Christchurch, New Zealand
18th March 2011
Prince William today urged the earthquake-stricken city of Christchurch to "be strong".
In a speech to tens of thousands of people at a memorial service in the city, The Prince told the crowd they were an "inspiration to all people".
Prince William is on a tour of disaster-stricken areas of New Zealand and Australia on behalf of The Queen.
He has seen firsthand the damage to the centre of Christchurch, which was hit by an earthquake in February and also met rescue workers and volunteers.
After a visit to the town of Sumner, which was badly hit by the quake, The Prince attended the National Christchurch Memorial Service in the city.
While some feared people would stay away, the city's Hagley Park was packed with tens of thousands of well-wishers.
At the start of the service the crowd watched a 14-minute video showing the damage caused by the earthquake.
Stages set up in the park were decorated with flowers meant for the Ellerslie International Flower Show, due to happen in Christchurch in March, which was cancelled after the quake.
Prince William, who donned a Korowai - a traditional Maori feathered cloak - was welcomed by Henare Rakiihia Tau, from the Ngai Tuahuriri sub-tribe, who in a speech to the gathered crowd, told William to "nibble at the apple and be fruitful".
In his own address, Prince William said he was conveying his own message, as
well as one from his grandmother.
Referring to a message sent from The Queen to the people of New York after the events of September 11th, he said: "My grandmother once said that grief is the price we pay for love.
"Here, today, we love, and we grieve.
"We honour the lives and memories of all those who did not survive the earthquake - New Zealanders, and those from many countries around the world who came to this city as visitors, or to make it their home.
"Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families, wherever they may
be."
In a speech to tens of thousands of people at a memorial service in the city, The Prince told the crowd they were an "inspiration to all people".
Prince William is on a tour of disaster-stricken areas of New Zealand and Australia on behalf of The Queen.
He has seen firsthand the damage to the centre of Christchurch, which was hit by an earthquake in February and also met rescue workers and volunteers.
After a visit to the town of Sumner, which was badly hit by the quake, The Prince attended the National Christchurch Memorial Service in the city.
While some feared people would stay away, the city's Hagley Park was packed with tens of thousands of well-wishers.
At the start of the service the crowd watched a 14-minute video showing the damage caused by the earthquake.
Stages set up in the park were decorated with flowers meant for the Ellerslie International Flower Show, due to happen in Christchurch in March, which was cancelled after the quake.
Prince William, who donned a Korowai - a traditional Maori feathered cloak - was welcomed by Henare Rakiihia Tau, from the Ngai Tuahuriri sub-tribe, who in a speech to the gathered crowd, told William to "nibble at the apple and be fruitful".
In his own address, Prince William said he was conveying his own message, as
well as one from his grandmother.
Referring to a message sent from The Queen to the people of New York after the events of September 11th, he said: "My grandmother once said that grief is the price we pay for love.
"Here, today, we love, and we grieve.
"We honour the lives and memories of all those who did not survive the earthquake - New Zealanders, and those from many countries around the world who came to this city as visitors, or to make it their home.
"Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families, wherever they may
be."
The Prince told the crowd it was hard for them to "grasp the degree of admiration - indeed, awe", with which they were regarded by the rest of the world.
He also told the people they could appreciate more than anyone else the "full horror" of what was unfolding in Japan.
He said: "Courage and understated determination have always been the hallmark of New Zealanders, of Cantabrians. "These things the world has long known.
"But to see them so starkly demonstrated over these terrible, painful months has been humbling.
"Put simply, you are an inspiration to all people. I count myself enormously privileged to be here to tell you that.
"In the last two days, I have heard tales of great tragedy - but also of extraordinary bravery and selfless courage.He also told the people they could appreciate more than anyone else the "full horror" of what was unfolding in Japan.
He said: "Courage and understated determination have always been the hallmark of New Zealanders, of Cantabrians. "These things the world has long known.
"But to see them so starkly demonstrated over these terrible, painful months has been humbling.
"Put simply, you are an inspiration to all people. I count myself enormously privileged to be here to tell you that.
"Throughout, one phrase unites them all. With The Queen's heartfelt good wishes, and those of The Prince of Wales and other members of my family, I say it to you now: 'Kia kaha.' Be strong."
The Prince's address was greeted with applause from the crowd, some of whom were sporting T-shirts reading: "Kia kaha".
Earlier in the day, William was greeted by thousands of well wishers as he visited Sumner, taking time to hear their own personal stories from the February quake.
The seaside town was badly hit by the quake - the most obvious sign of the damage is a huge boulder that fell from the cliff, narrowly missing the Returned Services Association (RSA) building.
Three people are believed to have died in the picturesque town, with many houses left uninhabitable.
But the Royal visit sparked excitement in the town today, lifting the mood of many who struggled with the after-effects of the quake.
The Prince met firefighters who helped in the aftermath of the quake, including Chief Fire Officer Alan Kerr, who said: "It's a great lift, there were people walking around with long faces and all of a sudden there's this big boost."
Marnie Kent, 43, a team leader of the Conservation Volunteers, presented The Prince with a painting of two birds.
She said: "It was a token to say thank you for coming all this way and picking up our spirits.
"I am very passionate about my paintings, I don't give them away, I don't even sell them.
"I could not think of anyone better to have the painting."
Friday, March 18, 2011
The Royals Attending the Royal Wedding in London
So 1,900 of those gilded, gold-stamped royal wedding invitations were sent out last week. While heads of state such as President Obama and President Sarkozy reportedly did not receive one, plenty of others heads -- crowned heads that is -- did. The Prince of Wales' office announced that over 40 members of foreign royal families are on the guest list, although as I've said before, the palace does not customarily release the names of individual invitees.
Of course, as with protocol, foreign royals were first given a heads-up in the form of a save-the-date-fax from the Queen back in January (with the embossed invitations arriving afterwards), and several have already confirmed that they will be attending. So we know that King Constantine, the former king of Greece and William's godfather, will be at the wedding along with Queen Anne-Marie and their eldest son Crown Prince Pavlos. Invitations are extended to the spouses as well (even though it's not mentioned) so expect to see Crown Princess Marie-Chantal, Pavlos' American heiress wife to make an elegant appearance at the Abbey. The former King Michael of Romania and members of his family have also confirmed their attendance back in January.
rown Prince Alexander II of Serbia, who's the Queen's godson, and his wife Crown Princess Katharine sent their RSVP via their official website. The prince is no stranger to London, having been born in Claridge's hotel when his family left German-occupied Yugoslavia in 1941, and went into exile in London. Some Yugoslavian dirt was placed underneath the bed when Alexander was born in 1945 so he would technically be born on Yugoslavian soil, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared suite 212 (the room where he was born) at Claridge's to be Yugoslavian territory.
The bulk of the foreign royals invited are from reigning families such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and so on. Queen Elizabeth is close to the other two reigning queens of Europe -- Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and they are certain to be invited. I've heard that Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark have indicated that they would like to attend. The Australian-born Mary, who made Vanity Fair's best-dressed list in 2010, has just given birth to twins last month and no doubt will be getting in shape for the April 29 nuptials.
Queen Sofia of Spain (the sister of King Constantine of Greece) will likely be there as well. Even though they were invited, she and King Juan Carlos did not attend Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981 due to the political furor over the couple starting their honeymoon on the royal yacht from Gibraltar -- a British dependency territory that is disputed by Spain. This time around, William and Catherine will most likely be spending part of their honeymoon on Richard Branson's private Necker Island, so there won't be such diplomatic concerns.
Royal and style watchers are keen to see if Letizia, the Princess of Asturias, who is always one of the best-dressed at royal weddings, and her handsome husband Prince Felipe will be going to London as part of the Spanish contingency. Likewise, it isn't confirmed yet if another heir to the throne, Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his popular wife Princess Maxima will be attending, although I suspect that they will be there. I've had the pleasure of meeting the lovely and down-to-earth Maxima at Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's wedding last year, and I can tell you she can light up any room with her infectious warmth and friendly manner.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yvonne-yorke/royal-wedding-guest-list_b_825739.html
Of course, as with protocol, foreign royals were first given a heads-up in the form of a save-the-date-fax from the Queen back in January (with the embossed invitations arriving afterwards), and several have already confirmed that they will be attending. So we know that King Constantine, the former king of Greece and William's godfather, will be at the wedding along with Queen Anne-Marie and their eldest son Crown Prince Pavlos. Invitations are extended to the spouses as well (even though it's not mentioned) so expect to see Crown Princess Marie-Chantal, Pavlos' American heiress wife to make an elegant appearance at the Abbey. The former King Michael of Romania and members of his family have also confirmed their attendance back in January.
rown Prince Alexander II of Serbia, who's the Queen's godson, and his wife Crown Princess Katharine sent their RSVP via their official website. The prince is no stranger to London, having been born in Claridge's hotel when his family left German-occupied Yugoslavia in 1941, and went into exile in London. Some Yugoslavian dirt was placed underneath the bed when Alexander was born in 1945 so he would technically be born on Yugoslavian soil, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared suite 212 (the room where he was born) at Claridge's to be Yugoslavian territory.
The bulk of the foreign royals invited are from reigning families such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and so on. Queen Elizabeth is close to the other two reigning queens of Europe -- Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and they are certain to be invited. I've heard that Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark have indicated that they would like to attend. The Australian-born Mary, who made Vanity Fair's best-dressed list in 2010, has just given birth to twins last month and no doubt will be getting in shape for the April 29 nuptials.
Queen Sofia of Spain (the sister of King Constantine of Greece) will likely be there as well. Even though they were invited, she and King Juan Carlos did not attend Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981 due to the political furor over the couple starting their honeymoon on the royal yacht from Gibraltar -- a British dependency territory that is disputed by Spain. This time around, William and Catherine will most likely be spending part of their honeymoon on Richard Branson's private Necker Island, so there won't be such diplomatic concerns.
Royal and style watchers are keen to see if Letizia, the Princess of Asturias, who is always one of the best-dressed at royal weddings, and her handsome husband Prince Felipe will be going to London as part of the Spanish contingency. Likewise, it isn't confirmed yet if another heir to the throne, Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his popular wife Princess Maxima will be attending, although I suspect that they will be there. I've had the pleasure of meeting the lovely and down-to-earth Maxima at Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's wedding last year, and I can tell you she can light up any room with her infectious warmth and friendly manner.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yvonne-yorke/royal-wedding-guest-list_b_825739.html
Book by Mountbatten Bomb Survivor Wins Award
MULLAGHMORE IN Co Sligo would always be a special place for him, his wife and their five children despite the murder of his grandfather Lord Louis Mountbatten, Timothy Knatchbull said last night.
The survivor of the bombing was in Belfast to receive the Christopher Ewart-Biggs literary award for 2011. Mr Knatchbull won the £5,000 (€5,800) prize for his book Out of a Clear Blue Sky: Surviving the Mountbatten Bomb.
Writer Guy Hibbert and director Oliver Hirschbiegel won an award for their film F ive Minutes of Heaven , a drama starring Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt about an encounter between a former loyalist killer and the brother of a victim he murdered 33 years earlier.
The prizes recognise works that promote peace and reconciliation in Ireland and are in memory of Sir Christopher Ewart-Biggs, the British ambassador to Ireland who, with civil servant Judith Cooke, was murdered by the IRA in Dublin in 1976.
Mr Knatchbull in his memoir recalls the 1979 IRA bombing of Lord Mountbatten’s Shadow V boat in Mullaghmore. The 79-year-old earl died in the attack as did Mr Knatchbull’s 14-year-old identical twin brother Nicholas and 15-year-old Paul Maxwell from Enniskillen. Mr Knatchbull’s grandmother Lady Brabourne died the following day in hospital.
Mr Knatchbull said winning the award was “a wonderful surprise” and he was delighted to be able to attend last night’s ceremony. “The fact that it aims to promote peace and understanding and reconciliation is just a wonderful set of objectives. I will treasure this prize because it means more than any other prize I could imagine,” he said.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0311/1224291885302.html
The survivor of the bombing was in Belfast to receive the Christopher Ewart-Biggs literary award for 2011. Mr Knatchbull won the £5,000 (€5,800) prize for his book Out of a Clear Blue Sky: Surviving the Mountbatten Bomb.
Writer Guy Hibbert and director Oliver Hirschbiegel won an award for their film F ive Minutes of Heaven , a drama starring Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt about an encounter between a former loyalist killer and the brother of a victim he murdered 33 years earlier.
The prizes recognise works that promote peace and reconciliation in Ireland and are in memory of Sir Christopher Ewart-Biggs, the British ambassador to Ireland who, with civil servant Judith Cooke, was murdered by the IRA in Dublin in 1976.
Mr Knatchbull in his memoir recalls the 1979 IRA bombing of Lord Mountbatten’s Shadow V boat in Mullaghmore. The 79-year-old earl died in the attack as did Mr Knatchbull’s 14-year-old identical twin brother Nicholas and 15-year-old Paul Maxwell from Enniskillen. Mr Knatchbull’s grandmother Lady Brabourne died the following day in hospital.
Mr Knatchbull said winning the award was “a wonderful surprise” and he was delighted to be able to attend last night’s ceremony. “The fact that it aims to promote peace and understanding and reconciliation is just a wonderful set of objectives. I will treasure this prize because it means more than any other prize I could imagine,” he said.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0311/1224291885302.html
+ Fürst Paul von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny (1930-2011)
PAUL Franz von Assisi Georg Ghislain Edmund Maria Alexander, Fürst von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny passed away on 16 March.
At Berg am Starnberger See, he married (civil) on 1 September 1955 Princess Charlotte of Bavaria, a daughter of Duke Albrecht (1905-1996). The couple's religious wedding took place two days later at Schloß Nymphenburg.
Fürst Paul and his wife had four children and several grandchildren. All survive him.
At Berg am Starnberger See, he married (civil) on 1 September 1955 Princess Charlotte of Bavaria, a daughter of Duke Albrecht (1905-1996). The couple's religious wedding took place two days later at Schloß Nymphenburg.
Fürst Paul and his wife had four children and several grandchildren. All survive him.
Alexander Palace to become Tsar Nicholas II Museum
The residence of the last Emperor of Russia Nicholas II in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin), which is one of the St. Petersburg suburbs, is gradually turning into a museum. The St. Petersburg authorities have approved a concept for the restoration of the Alexander Palace, which earlier was used as the residence of the Russian Emperor.
700 to 800 people can simultaneously visit the museum complex, which is being re-created in the Alexander Palace, from where the Bolsheviks took him away into exile. In 1918 they killed him and all of his family members in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Region, as the director of the museum-estate Tsarskoye Selo Olga Taratynova said in an interview with the Voice of Russia.
“This is a tragic and in a way a beautiful story, which serves as a point of interest for visitors. They want to learn more about the life of the royal Romanov family. There’s a feeling of suffering and doom in the Alexander Palace where the family of the last emperor of Russia lived. The private rooms of the members of the family of Tsar Nicholas II, which were furnished by Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna according to her tastes, are situated in the eastern wing. It seems to me that they were very comfortable,” the director says.
Many members of the royal family loved the Alexander Palace. Built at the end of the 18th century by the order of Cathrine II for her grandson whom she loved very much, the Alexander Palace is a 2-story building with wings on both sides. There’s a Corinthian colonnade of two rows, and on the park side the façade of the building is shaped as a semi-rotunda with a spherical cupola. The great Italian architect Jacomo Quarengi, who designed that palace, also created the interiors of the Majestic Suite of Rooms. Although during the Second World War the territory on which the Alexander Palace was located was occupied by the German fascists, all the rooms are well preserved. And if the luxurious Cathrine Palace, which was part of the Tsarskoye Selo architectural ensemble - Rastrelli’s baroque masterpiece – was destroyed in compliance with the fascists’ plans, the Alexander Palace survived because the fascists’ headquarters was housed in its premises. After the war the palace was given to the disposal of the Soviet Naval Department.
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/18/47620311.html
700 to 800 people can simultaneously visit the museum complex, which is being re-created in the Alexander Palace, from where the Bolsheviks took him away into exile. In 1918 they killed him and all of his family members in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Region, as the director of the museum-estate Tsarskoye Selo Olga Taratynova said in an interview with the Voice of Russia.
“This is a tragic and in a way a beautiful story, which serves as a point of interest for visitors. They want to learn more about the life of the royal Romanov family. There’s a feeling of suffering and doom in the Alexander Palace where the family of the last emperor of Russia lived. The private rooms of the members of the family of Tsar Nicholas II, which were furnished by Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna according to her tastes, are situated in the eastern wing. It seems to me that they were very comfortable,” the director says.
Many members of the royal family loved the Alexander Palace. Built at the end of the 18th century by the order of Cathrine II for her grandson whom she loved very much, the Alexander Palace is a 2-story building with wings on both sides. There’s a Corinthian colonnade of two rows, and on the park side the façade of the building is shaped as a semi-rotunda with a spherical cupola. The great Italian architect Jacomo Quarengi, who designed that palace, also created the interiors of the Majestic Suite of Rooms. Although during the Second World War the territory on which the Alexander Palace was located was occupied by the German fascists, all the rooms are well preserved. And if the luxurious Cathrine Palace, which was part of the Tsarskoye Selo architectural ensemble - Rastrelli’s baroque masterpiece – was destroyed in compliance with the fascists’ plans, the Alexander Palace survived because the fascists’ headquarters was housed in its premises. After the war the palace was given to the disposal of the Soviet Naval Department.
+ HSH Princess Antoinette of Monaco (1920-2011)
Princess Antoinette of Monaco, the late Prince Rainier III’s older sister and a prominent advocate for animal rights, has died at age 90.
The Prince’s Palace said Friday that she died overnight at Monaco’s Princess Grace Hospital. The palace did not provide a cause of death.
Princess Antoinette was the daughter of Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre. She was involved in the cause of animal rights and was the president of Monaco’s Society for the Protection of Animals.
Prince Albert II, the son of Rainier and U.S. actress Grace Kelly, ordered all the flags in the principality to be at half-staff.
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/monacos-princess-antoinette-dies-877044.html
The Prince’s Palace said Friday that she died overnight at Monaco’s Princess Grace Hospital. The palace did not provide a cause of death.
Princess Antoinette was the daughter of Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre. She was involved in the cause of animal rights and was the president of Monaco’s Society for the Protection of Animals.
Prince Albert II, the son of Rainier and U.S. actress Grace Kelly, ordered all the flags in the principality to be at half-staff.
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/monacos-princess-antoinette-dies-877044.html
Prince William meets rescue workers in New Zealand
Prince William meets rescue workers in New Zealand
17th March 2011
The Prince met rescue workers and saw the quake-battered centre of the city on his first stop on a tour of disaster-stricken areas of New Zealand and Australia.
Clearly shocked and taken aback by the scenes in the country's second-largest city, The Prince still managed to boost morale with rescue workers, laughing and joking with them whilst thanking them for their efforts.
The Prince, who works as a helicopter Search and Rescue pilot himself, told them: "There was a lot of us who work in the military who were gnashing our teeth to come out here."
His Royal Highness is travelling on behalf of The Queen on his second official trip to the Commonwealth country.
The Prince is due to attend a memorial service in the city, then will travel to Australia to visit Queensland and Victoria, which were both hit by severe flooding.
Earlier this week, St. James's Palace launched a charitable gift fund set up by Prince William and Catherine Middleton for well-wishers who want to send them a wedding present, which includes New Zealand's Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
The Prince last visited New Zealand in January 2010, on his first official overseas visit on behalf of The Queen.
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/prince_william_meets_rescue_workers_in_new_zealand_742444089.html
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Footage of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia
This is footage of a visit journalists paid to the Russian Imperial Court in Exile at St Briac. One can hear the voice of Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna as well as that of her husband Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9gVJKDyhnI&feature=related
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