Royal Baptism in House Savoy

A Press Release from the Italian Monarchist Union – Translated by Arturo Beéche.

On Friday, June 8, 2012 was baptized in the Basilica of San Marco in Milan, SAR Prince Amedeo of Savoy, the second son of TRH Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Aosta and Apulia, and Princess Olga of Greece.

The Little Prince has received from his father, who claims Headship of House Savoy, the title of Duke of the Abruzzi, a title that was last born in 1933 by the famous explorer Prince Luigi Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta.

Prince Amedeo was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Paris) on May 24, 2011.

The Basilica of San Marco houses the celebrated organ Antegnati, also played by Mozart, and in 1874 was the site of the first performance of Verdi's Messa da Requiem in memory of Alessandro Manzoni.

Present at this happy event were: HRH Prince Amedeo, Duke of Savoy, with his wife HRH Princess Silvia of Savoy, HRH Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Aosta and Duke of Apulia, with his wife HRH Princess Olga of Greece, HRH Princess Claudia d'Orléans (the baby's paternal grandmother), HRH Prince Umberto of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont, SAR Princess Mafalda of Savoy with her children, HIRH Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este, daughter of the Third Duke of Aosta, and the maternal grandparents of the little prince, HRH Prince Michael of Greece and his wife Princess Marina of Greece. Joining in the baptism festivities were also some other members and descendants of noble families, and some of the European Royal Houses closely intertwined with the baptized.

The baptism was celebrated by the pastor of the Basilica of San Marco, Don Luigi Testore. The godparents are: Princess Mafalda of Savoy and Princess Marina of Greece, as well as George Antaki, a family friend.

HRH the Duke of Abruzzi was baptized with the names Amadeus, in honor of his grandfather, and Michel, in honor of his maternal grandfather.

At this important moment in the life of the Italian royal family were also present several personalities including the Italian Monarchist Union (UMI) national secretary Sergio Boschiero, the UMI Coordinator for Monza Fabio Fazzari, Professor Marco Grandi and Professor Salvatore Bordolani di Pirato.

The editor of the Yearbook of Italian Nobility, the heraldist Andrea Borella, has given to Prince Aimone the coat of arms for the little Duke of Abruzzi. The newly christened Prince of Savoy is the fourth in line of succession to the throne of Italy after his grandfather, Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Head of the Italian Royal Family and Duke of Savoy, the father Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Aosta and Duke of Apulia, and the elder brother Prince Umberto, Prince of Piedmont.

The Italian monarchists rejoice together with the Royal Family, now that the three generations of the glorious House of Savoy are more than ever an option for the future of our country.

http://www.monarchia.it/attivitasvolte_battesimo.html

Princess Marina of Greece and Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta 

The Duke of Aosta and Apulia and his son Prince Umberto with Mr. Sergio Boschero. 

The Duke of Aosta and Apulkia and his son Prince Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi. 

Princess Claude d'Orléans. 

The Duke of the Abruzzi. 

The Prince of Piedmont. 

 Princess Claude d'Orléans, The Duke of Savoy, The Duchess of Savoy, Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este.

 Princess Marina of Greece with her grandson Umberto, Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta, The Duke and Duchess of Aosta and Apulia holding their son.

 Princess Claude d'Orléans, The Duke of Savoy, The Duchess of Savoy, Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este. Ithe gentleman next to Princess Claude is her longtime companion)

Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta, The Duke and Duchess of Aosta and Apulia holding their son. 

 Princess Marina of Greece with her grandson Umberto, Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta, The Duke and Duchess of Aosta and Apulia while the priest baptizes Prince Amedeo. 

Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta, The Duke of Aosta and Apulia. 

The Queen – A Photographic Retrospective

For all our readers on this happy day, enjoy looking through these images of Her Majesty's long prosperous life!

Regards, Arturo Beéche

The Jubilee's Grand Finale!

LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people cheered, sang patriotic songs and waved Union Jack flags outside Buckingham Palace in a spectacular finale to four days of celebrations honoring Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the British throne.

The 86-year-old beamed at the throng and waved from the balcony of the palace, accompanied by the senior members of her family with one notable absentee - Prince Philip, her husband of 64 years who was taken ill with a bladder infection on Monday.

It was one of the few grand state occasions in her life when he has not been present, taking some of the gloss off what has widely been seen as a triumphant diamond jubilee that has reinforced the popularity of the queen and the monarchy.

The grand Mall avenue leading to the queen's London residence was turned into a sea of red, white and blue as well-wishers flooded the road to hail the queen before a flypast led by the Spitfires which won the Battle of Britain and concluded with an aerobatic display by the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows.

Celebrations outside Buckingham Palace closed when soldiers fired a rifle salute, then thrust their bearskin hats in the air to lead the crowds beyond the palace gates in a rousing three cheers to the queen, the only British monarch other than Queen Victoria to have reigned for 60 years.

As the ecstatic crowd roared its approval, Elizabeth flanked by son and heir Charles, his wife Camilla, Prince William and his new wife Kate as well as brother Harry, gave one final wave before heading inside.

"I don't think we'll see anything like this again in my generation. It was wonderful," said Joseph Afrane, 49, a photographer who was wearing a red, white and blue Union Jack flag waistcoat and hat.

Millions have attended street parties, watched a spectacular 1,000-vessel pageant on the River Thames in London on Sunday and a concert in front of Buckingham Palace on Monday, all held in honor of Elizabeth II.

http://news.yahoo.com/parade-palace-wave-finale-uk-queens-jubilee-095811137.html 

The Prince of Wales Pays Tribute to HIs Majesty

Queen lights national jubilee beacon at end of star-studded concert and firework display where Prince Charles pays tribute to "Mummy". 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9311470/Queen-lights-giant-beacon-at-end-of-jubilee-concert.html 

 

 

The President Sends The Queen His Greetings

Addressing "Her Majesty" in a special video message, the US President salutes the Queen as he wishes that she "reign supreme for many years to come".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9312118/US-President-Barack-Obama-records-Diamond-Jubilee-message-for-the-Queen.html

Jubilee Service Highlights

Service of Thanksgiving held for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Watch highlights from the National Service of Thanksgiving celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at St Paul’s cathedral in London. 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9306562/Service-of-Thanksgiving-held-for-the-Queens-Diamond-Jubilee.html 

 

 

Royal Jubilee Concert

It was Madness at Buckingham Palace, as the much loved nutty boys of ska took to the roof of Her Majesty's residence. For the Golden Jubilee, they only had Brian May up there, playing the national anthem. This time the roof had to take the weight of a seven strong band doing silly dancing. They were one of the highlights of the Diamond Jubilee Concert delivering a rambunctious performance of Our House, a song more usually associated with humble terraces rather than grandiose palaces.
 

Everything about this year's show had been planned to upstage its predecessor, from the massive purpose built stage surrounding the Victoria Monument to the dazzling laser mapped projections that turned the palace itself into an ever-changing backdrop. The staging was actually more ambitious and cutting edge than the line-up.

Perhaps inevitably, the show tread lightly around the edges of pop culture. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over psychedelia, heavy rock, punk, indie, hip hop, electro, rave and Britpop, but there was nobody on the bill at the Palace who was likely to upset the corgis. “We forgot to invite The Sex Pistols,” joked Gary Barlow backstage. The Take That frontman was heavily involved in setting the concert up, and it reflected his middle-of-the-road, light entertainment tastes. “You don’t want to be on the edge of your seat at an event like this. There’s plenty of great artists who want to be there, and deserve to be there.”

They included several knights and dames of the realm, superstars who can usually be relied upon to perk up royal entertainment. Sir Tom Jones proved popular with the crowd, the kind of cheerful performer who can be relied on to lead a big lusty singalong. Delilah may be a song about infidelity and murder but it sounded oddly uplifting sung by massed voices on the doorstep of the Palace. Perhaps circumspectly, Her Majesty delayed her entrance until after the Welshman had finished his murder ballad. "You missed Tom Jones," joked Lenny Henry. "You just live over there!"

Continue reading... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9311374/The-Queens-Diamond-Jubilee-Concert-review.html

Views from Royal London

The crowds along The Mall went wild as the Queen's carriage went past on the final section of its short journey back to Buckingham Palace. 
 
This was the moment they had been waiting all day for.

As she raised her hand and waved, the spectators cheered even louder and fluttered their flags even more vigorously.

Celebrity spotting: just before the Queen arrived, John Barrowman, the star of the BBC's Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, rushed through the crowd heading in the direction of the Palace.

He was obviously in a hurry, but one middle-aged lady managed to grab him and kiss him as he passed.