The Romanovs at Contrexeville – Exhibition

The city hall of Contrexeville, France, is hosting an exhibition to commemorate the many visits of the Vladimirovich branch of the Russian Imperial Family.

Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna (née Mecklenburg-Schwerin) was particularly fond of the resort town and spent long periods at Contrexeville, where she also died soon after reaching Western Europe in 1920, after a harrowing escape from Bolshevik Russia.

Descendants of the Grand Duchess have been invited  by the Mayor of Contrexeville to attend the exhibition's inauguration.

A Future Queen Gives Her First Speech – Elisabeth of Belgium

Given how little we've heard Kate Middleton open her mouth since she became the Duchess of Cambridge, we know it's a big deal when a royal stands up and makes a formal speech.
So Belgium was stunned last week when its royals, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, trotted out their nine-year-old daughter to make her first formal public appearance: a speech to open a new hospital.
Princess Elisabeth, the prince and the princess's eldest child, arrived to the hospital with her parents. After meeting with various hospital administrators, she gave the following address:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very happy that I can give my name to this new children’s hospital today. Together with you, I hope that many children will find help here. I know they can count on your daily commitment. The Princess Elisabeth Children’s Hospital now gets a special place in my heart."

The Wall Street Journal writes that a formal speech in public is extremely unconventional for underage royals, who are supposed to be seen and not heard while still under their parents' wings.
The royal children have already appeared in public, of course, when Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Brabant, took their four children -- Gabriel, Emmanuel, Elisabeth and Eleonore -- to their first day of school two weeks ago.
But a speech is another story. WSJ writes that having a nine-year-old make a speech in Dutch at a children's hospital is certainly a good PR move for the royal family, which is less popular in Dutch-speaking Flanders than in French-speaking Wallonia.
Because how could anyone hate a little girl in a pink dress speaking at a children's hospital? Check out the pictures below and read more at WSJ.com.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/12/princess-elisabeth-belgium-speech_n_958074.html

Cashing in on a "royal" Connection

The University of St Andrews followed the precedent set by Edinburgh by ruling that youngsters from the rest of the UK will face annual fees of £9,000 for a four-year degree.

Professor Louise Richardson, the university’s principal, said it is not a “wealthy institution”, despite its alumni including Prince William and Kate Middleton, and the fee represented a “very good deal” for students.

But the decision to impose the highest charges in Britain will infuriate Mike Russell, the SNP Education Minister, and increased speculation he will retaliate by stripping principals of some of their power.

Mr Russell said they could charge up to £9,000 per year for students from the rest of the UK, but predicted they would show restraint. He has argued that higher education should be based on “the ability to learn, not the ability to pay”.

He is due to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament next week about post-16 education and the National Union of Students (NUS) urged him to wreak vengeance by “reining in” principals

More...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8753788/St-Andrews-University-sets-36000-degree-fee-for-English-students.html

 HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

+ Prince Rasso of Bavaria (1926-2011)

A family member notified us that Prince Rasso of Bavaria passed away earlier today.

He was the second son of the late Prince Franz of Bavaria and his wife Isabella, née Princess of Croÿ.

Prince Rasso was born at Schloß Leutstetten in 1926. In 1955 he married Archduchess Theresa of Austria, by whom he fathered seven children.

RIP

More on the French Inheritance – The Count of Paris and His Mess

Drawing one of his daughters near, he is said to have whispered in her ear: "I will leave you nothing but hatred."

To others, he murmured: "You will have nothing but your tears to cry with."

The Count, it seems, remained true to his word, as all his six sons and five daughters recovered from his once vast family estate were six embroidered handkerchiefs and a pair of slippers.

The rest of his huge array of chateaux, jewellery, furniture and art works he had either frittered away in a frenzied selling spree or left to France in a special foundation.

But now, his nine surviving offspring may finally be about to get their hands on the fortune he did everything in his power to keep out of their clutches while alive.

Continue reading...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8753224/Prince-Henri-of-Orleanss-children-close-in-on-reclaiming-family-fortune.html

The present Count of Paris with his wife.

Swedish Royal Dinners – How It Works

One week before the official dinner on 8 September, feverish activity begins in a room at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Grand Master of Ceremonies Lars Grundberg and Master of Ceremonies Jan-Eric Warren lay out a puzzle of all the 160 guests attending the official dinner.
 
On a large table there is a map of the dinner table in Karl XI's Gallery, together with 160 colour-coded cards featuring the name and title of each guest.
 
Firstly, what is the Office of Ceremonies?
Jan-Eric Warren: We are part of the Office of the Marshal of the Court. We take care of the organisation of guests at major events hosted by The Royal Family. We are what you could call "mini hosts" and we make sure that the guests find their seats and particularly, that they enjoy their evening. The Royal Family may only have time to speak to ten or so guests at a dinner, and it is our job, together with the other members of the Royal Court taking part in the dinner, to see to it that all the guests have a pleasant evening. At an official dinner, we are responsible for making sure that the guests are welcomed at the entrance, taken to the assembly rooms and presented to The Royal Family. We are also involved ahead of and during state visits, for example it is the job of the Grand Master of Ceremonies to present the Swedish Government to the visiting Head of State. We also work with a number of other events that take place at the Royal Palace: formal audiences, medal presentations, celebrations to mark Sweden's National Day, etc. Furthermore, we assist The Royal Family ahead of royal birthdays, weddings, memorable years and similar such occasions. 

It will soon be time for this year's third official dinner. Tell us a little about the seating arrangements. How is it decided upon, by rank or by well-suited dining companions?
Lars Grundberg: If it were done by rank it would be a simple matter, then we would simply go by the Court Directory. But we take other factors into consideration, such as interests, language, whether guests have attended previous official dinners and who they were sitting next to then. But naturally rank does play a part, as does age. Ambassadors are seated according to the length of time they have been in their post in Sweden. The Royal Court's employees sit round the table to act as mini hosts; at one end there is the First Marshal of the Court, and at the other end the Master of Ceremonies. The King and Queen always sit opposite each other at the centre of the table. The centre of the table functions as our starting point when we are organising the seating plan. 

More:

http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/news/officialdinnershowitworkstheseatingplan.5.70e7de59130bc8da54e80004137.html 

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden Thank Well-wishers

The Crown Princess Couple have received many good wishes following the announcement that they are expecting a baby. In response, The Crown Princess Couple have expressed their thanks:
 

"Our deepest thanks for all the kind greetings and congratulations we have received. We appreciate your support and are touched that so many of you share our happiness."

http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/news/crownprincesscoupleexpressthankstowellwishers.5.70e7de59130bc8da54e80004053.html

+ Archduke Felix of Austria (1916-2011)

HIRH Archduke Felix of Austria, last surviving son of the late Emperor Karl and Empress Zita (née Bourbon-Parma) passed away in Mexico, where he had lived for decades.

Felix was born at Schönbrunn on 31 May 1916, the same year that his father was to succeed to the moribund Austro-Hungarian throne. He was named after his mother's brother, Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, who later married Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg.

He married at Beaulieu, France, Princess and Duchess Anna Eugenie of Arenberg (1925-1997), by whom he fathered seven children: Maria del Pilar (b. 1953);  Karl Philipp (1954);  Kinga (1955); Raimund (1958-2008); Marie Adelheid (Miriam) (b. 1959); István (b. 1961); and Viridis (b. 1961).

The Archduke settled in Mexico and led a very successful business career. All but one of his children were born in that country.

The late Archduke Felix of Austria.

A First Baby for the Duke and Duchess d'Anjou

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess d'Anjou announced on his website that they are expecting their first child. The birth is anticipated for February 2012.

Prince Charles Philippe d'Orléans is the eldest son of Prince Michel of France, Count d'Evreux, and of the former Beatrice Pasquier de Franclieu. Prince Michel is one of the eleven children of the late Count and Countess of Paris. He has a twin brother, Prince Jacques, Duke d'Orléans.

The father-to-be has two older sisters: Clotilde (b. 1968) married since 1993 to Edouard Crépy (b. 1969), and Adelaïde (b. 1971) married since 2002 to Pierre-Louis Dailly. The Duke d'Anjou also has a younger brother, Prince François, well-known in Madrid and Paris.

Charles-Philippe (b. 1973) married at Evora, Portugal on 21 Jun 2008 Diana Alvares Pereira de Melo, Duquesa de Cadaval (b. 1978). The couple is very active in myriad Catholic charities and maintains a busy social life to boot.

http://www.ducdanjou.com/

Royalty on the Cheap

Sure, Kate wears Zara. And buys Frosted Flakes. But are she and the rest of the royal gang really "just like us"?

More and more so everyday, says "The Today Show." Between grocery shopping at the local supermarket and repeating an outfit (or twenty), the Duchess of Cambridge has demonstrated her thrifty side since ascending to royalty.

It's all part of a royal-wide trend towards frugality and a down-to-earth lifestyle.
Will and Kate flew home from cousin Zara Phillips' wedding to Mike Tindall this past weekend on a budget airline, sitting among the common folk in coach and spending a mere $62 on each ticket, reported AOL Travel.

Prince Harry also roughed it on a cheap flight, flying on the most low-budget of the budget airlines, EasyJet (a harrowing experience if there ever was one -- we've done it). The cost of his ticket? $80.

Continue reading:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/03/royals-stay-frugal_n_917039.html?ref=royalty