Romania: Queen Anne Hospitalized

HM Queen Anne of Romania, wife of King Michael, has been hospitalized in Switzerland.

Born a Princess of Bourbon-Parma, twenty-three year-old Anne married King Michael of Romania in Athens on 10 June 1948. Between 1949 and 1964, Queen Anne gave birth to five daughters, her eldest being Crown Princess Margarita.

We pray for her Romanian Majesty's speedy recovery...

Queen Anne of Romania (b. 1923)

©Eurohistory

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+ Fürstin Benita zu Schaumburg-Lippe (1927-2013)

Fürstin Benita zu Schaumburg-Lippe, who was born Baroness Eva-Benita von Tiele-Winkler at Schloß Vollrathsruhe (Mecklenburg) on 18 November 1927, has passed away.

Her only surviving son, Fürst Alexander (b. 1958), made the announcement. The late Fürstin Benita is survived by her son, his wife and three grandchildren from Fürst Alexander's two marriages.

Benita married then Hereditary Prince Philipp-Ernst zu Schaumburg-Lippe in 1955, their wedding taking place in Bückeburg, the ancestral seat of the groom's family. The couple had two sons, Georg-Wilhelm and Alexander, born in 1956 and 1958 respectively.

Philipp-Ernst succeeded his father Fürst Wolrad (1887-1962) and was for several decades the administrator of the vast Schaumburg-Lippe estates. He died in 2003 after a little over four decades of holding the title of Head of House Schaumburg-Lippe.

Benita and Philipp-Ernst's eldest son, Hereditary Prince Georg-Wilhelm, a young man of much promise, met an early death in a tragic accident near Sternbergen on 31 July 1983. His untimely death left the family reeling.

Hereditary Prince Alexander married firstly princess Marie Louise zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (b. 1972) in 1993. The couple had one son, Heinrich-Donatus, the following year. The marriage, however, ended in divorce in 2002 – Alexander and his first wife remain good friends and she was present at his second marriage, to Nadja Anna Zsoeks, in 2007. Alexander and Anna gave Fürstin Benita a further two grandchildren, Felipa and Philomena, born in 2008 and 2011 respectively.

In August 2003, Fürst Philipp-Ernst died after a long illness. He had recently celebrated his 75th birthday. Fürstin Benita remained at Schloß Bückeburg and was frequently seen attending royal events around Germany. Unfortunately, several years ago she was hit by a car and the injuries required painful therapy. In fact, she was never the same after the accident as her mobility was drastically reduced and she, a very active woman, was wheelchair bound.

The Schaumburg-Lippe family has not yet released a date for Fürstin Benita's funeral.

May She rest in Peace...

Schloß Vollrathsruhe.

 Fürstin Benita in Rome, 2004. ©Eurohistory

  Fürstin Benita and her grandson Hereditary Prince Heinrich-Donatus in Bückeburg, 2007. ©Eurohistory

  Fürstin Benita in Rome, 2004. ©Eurohistory

 Fürstin Benita attending her husband's funeral, Bückeburg, 2003. ©Eurohistory

Fürst Philipp-Ernst zu Schaumburg-Lippe
(1975-2003)
©Eurohistory

Fürst Alexander and his first wife, Marie Louise (Lily), 1994. 

Fürst Philipp-Ernst and Fürstin Benita zu Schaumburg-Lippe.
©Eurohistory

Schloß Bückeburg.

©Eurohistory 

 Fürst Alexzander zu Schaumburg-Lippe on his second wedding, Bückeburg 2007.

 Fürstin Benita zu Schaumburg-Lippe, Tegernsee 2004.

©Eurohistory

Fürstin Benita zu Schaumburg-Lippe, Birstein 2004.
©Eurohistory

Fürst Philipp-Ernst and Fürstin Benita zu Schaumburg-Lippe.

©Eurohistory

WARNING! – These images are owned by the Eurohistory Photo Archive. Any use without obtaining prior permission is a violation of copyright and ownership laws. ASK us before using them, to avoid any problems and legal action.

The Netherlands: Official Photo of the Royals Attending the Solemnization

We received this lovely photo last week and completely forgot to share it.

In the image, besides King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and their daughters, are the wife of the Emir of Qatar, Prince Albert II of Monaco, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan, the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway, the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, the Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, the hereditary Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein, the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and his wife Stéphanie, the Crown prince of Thailand and his sister, Prince Hassan of Jordan and his wife, as well as several Arab potentates.

+ Princess Editha of Bavaria (1924-2013)

HRH Princess Editha of Bavaria, the oldest surviving daughter of Crown Prince Rupprecht and Crown Princess Antonia, passed away on May 4. She was 88 years old.

Editha Marie Gabrielle Anna was born at Schloß Hohenburg on 16 September 1924. She was the third of six children Crown Prince Rupprecht fathered with his second wife, the former Princess Antonia of Luxembourg. Her siblings included: Heinrich (1922-1958), Irmingard (1923-2010), Hilda (1926-2002), Gabriele (b. 1927) and Sophie (b. 1935). Rupprecht had had three children from his first marriage to Duchess Marie Gabriele in Bavaria, but only one of them survived into adulthood, Albrecht.

The royal children were raised in Bavaria, where their father continued owning vast real estate holdings and several homes. Meanwhile, a cancer was spreading throughout the country, National Socialism. Rupprecht was decidedly anti-Nazi and stood as a moral force against the tentacles spreading from Berlin.

In 1936, not wanting his children to be forced to enter the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls, Crown Prince Rupprecht made the decision to send the children to school in England. Irmingard and Editha enrolled at school in the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton. Later the sisters were moved to Italy, where they attended the school operated by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, located in Villa Lante on the Janiculum Hill overlooking the Italian capital.

Crown Prince Rupprecht left Germany in late 1939, followed buy his wife and their three youngest daughters a few months later. Antonia and her children settled in Florence, where they lived for the following four years. In 1944, after the failed attempt on Hitler's life, Antonia and her children were arrested and detained by Nazi agents operating in Italy. Rupprecht escaped detection and remained underground for the duration of the conflict. Editha, who was also arrested and interrogated, remained in Florence at the Villa Bellosguardo with the Franchetti family. She, nearly twenty years old by then,  had fallen in love with Tito Brunetti (1905-1954), an Italian engineer nearly twenty years her senior. Unfortunately, Editha was discovered by the Gestapo and taken to live with her mother and sisters, all of them ended spending time in three concentration camps. One of her nephew told me, "the Family has been in 3 concentration camps: Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg, Flossenbürg (with Admiral Canaris and Schuschnigg and others) and Dachau. Then they were transported to Plan See and librated there by Americans. One of them was Colonel Albert Caswell Metts who took them, as a young officer, in the armoured car of Goering to Hohenschwangau, then Leutstetten and then to Augsburg, where they were flown out to Luxembourg. He was invited by Cousin Franz to the big feast at Nymphenburg when we had his 70 th birthday, aunt Irmingards 80th and uncle Ludwigs 90th... my grandmother Antonia was separated from her children and guarded by a Nazi woman in the east of Germany and found by a Luxembourg Liaisons officer weighing 36 kilos! Our grandfather and Uncle Henry were hiding in Florence and then managed to escape to the Vatican."

At the end of the war, Editha eventually returned to Italy, where she married Tito Brunetti in Milan on 12 November 1946 and by him had three daughters: Serena (b. 1947), Carlotta (b. 1949) and Antonia (b. 1952). All three married. Serena married twice, both to Italian men. Carlotte married in 1972 Michael de Longueval, Count of Buquoy; while Antonia married firstly in 1982 Count Eric von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg.

Preparations were in full swing for the wedding of Princess Sophie of Bavaria, Editha's youngest sister, to Prince Jean Engelbert of Arenberg. Then, on July 13, 1954, tragedy struck. The Brunetti's were involved in an automobile accident. Princess Editha suffered  serious injuries, but Signor Brunetti died as a result of the collision. Editha became a widow before the age of thirty.

Crown Princess Antonia, who had just returned to Switzerland suffered a great shock when given the news of the accident. Her health, having suffered greatly during the time when she was a prisoner in the concentration camp, took a decidedly ominous turn for the worst. Sophie's wedding was postponed as the family gathered around Antonia's deathbed. Crown princess Antonia spent her last days surrounded by her children and husband, her stepson Albrecht and her two remaining sisters, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Fürstin Hilda of Schwarzenberg. Antonia's death took place on July 31, just over two weeks after her daughter and son-in-law's tragic automobile accident.

Five years later she married secondly. On 29 December 1959, Editha and Gustav Schimert (1910-1990) became husband and wife in a small and private ceremony at Tegernsee. With Herr Schimer, Editha became the mother of three sons: Andreas (b. 1961), Christian (b. 1963) and Constantin (b. 1968). All three Schimert sons have married and fathered children. At her death, Princess Editha was survived by her six children and by nine of ten grandchildren.

Princess Editha lived in Munich. Her daughter Antonia owns a canine health clinic in the area of Lindau.

Princess Editha had been in a Munich clinic for some time. She died while there.

May She Rest in Peace...

 Princess Editha of Bavaria.

Crown Prince Rupprecht surrounded by his children by Princess Antonia of Luxembourg.

Princess Editha with Tito Brunetti and their three daughters. 

Crown Prince Rupprecht and Crown Princess Antonia of Bavaria. 

Princess Editha of Bavaria.

For more reading, see also:

http://erhj.blogspot.com/2012/05/three-bavarian-princesses.html

Netherlands: Solemnization of King Willem-Alexander

And today a new reign begins in The Netherlands!

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, on the throne since 1980, abdicated earlier today. She becomes Princess Beatrix in retirement. Her eldest son, the Prince of Orange, became today HM King Willem Alexander of The Netherlands. His eldest daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, becomes the new Princess of Orange.

Here are some images from the solemnization (inhuldiging) of the new Dutch monarch.

May He have a successful and long, peaceful reign!

Serbia: Queen Marie's remains repatriated to Serbia

HM Queen Maria remains repatriated to Serbia

Beloved Queen returns to Serbia

Belgrade, 29 April 2013 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander on behalf of the Royal Family of Serbia has the honor to inform the public that a historic day has come when his beloved grandmother Her Majesty Queen Maria Remains were brought back today to her homeland of Serbia with the gracious permission of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Dean of Windsor, Anglican Church, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

A memorial service for late HM Queen Mother Maria, who died on 22 June 1961 while in exile and was buried at The Royal Burial grounds in Frogmore near Windsor Castle, was officiated yesterday in London at The Serbian Orthodox Church St. Sava in London in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Peter, Prince Philip, Princess Katarina (daughter of Prince Tomislav); Prince Dimitri and Princess Lavinia (children of Prince Andrej), Mr. Nicholas Balfour (representing and son of HRH Princess Elisabeth), H. E. Dr. Dejan Popovic Ambassador or Serbia in United Kingdom and many devoted citizens members of Serbian and Yugoslav diaspora who paid their final respects to the late Queen Mother.

HM Queen Maria’s casket was met today at the Nikola Tesla airport (Belgrade) by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Princess Elizabeth, Prince George and Prince Michael, H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister of Serbia, Professor Oliver Antic Special Advisor and Mr. Radoslav Pavlovic Cultural Advisor to President of Serbia H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, government officials and Serbian Orthodox Church representative His Grace Vicar Bishop of Hvosno Atanasije with blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia.

People gathered in great number to welcome the blessed late Queen Mother as she entered the gates of her home in Dedinje where she once lived as a Queen, wife, mother and a widow. The solemn atmosphere of respect and gratitude to a lady who was epitomized the prayers of the Serbian people as an ideal person, dedicated mother, dignified Queen and great benefactor of hospitals, schools, art and all those in need.

A memorial service for HM Queen Maria at the Royal Chapel was officiated by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Princess Elizabeth, Prince George and Prince Michael (sons of HRH Prince Tomislav), H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister of Serbia, Professor Oliver Antic Special Advisor and Mr. Radoslav Pavlovic Cultural Advisor to President of Serbia H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, government officials and Serbian Orthodox Church representative His Grace Vicar Bishop of Hvosno Atanasije, His Grace Vicar Bishop of Remesiana Andrej, H.E. Mr. Daniel Banu, Ambassador of Romania to Serbia, Mr. David Andrew McFarlane, deputy of the UK Ambassador to Serbia.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince said after the service:”My grandmother, Queen Maria, is finally at home and soon she will join her family members in Oplenac. I wish to express my special gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej for being here today and for all his prayers. My grandmother died fifty two years ago and was buried in Great Britain. Although surrounded with her ancestors and relatives, she was far away from Serbia, our country and her people whom she had loved with all her heart, and whose great benefactor she was. The return to Serbia was a great wish of my grandmother and today she has finally returned, to be buried with her husband and her sons. By paying respect to Queen Maria, Serbia today pays respect to all who took part in creating her history.” Crown Prince also thanked H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, President of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister of Serbia, members of the State Committee for transfer of remains of the members of Karadjordjevic Royal Family and all members of the Government for their support. He especially thanked Professor Oliver Antic, for his personal initiative and engagement.

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia: “Queen Maria was embodiment of nobility, and fulfilment of best wishes of the Serbian people, people that she respected, helped and loved so much. Today the great injustice has been rectified, she has returned to her country, to rest in peace, and all our prayers have been fulfilled. She didn't practice politics, she cared like a mother for people both in Serbia and Yugoslavia, following her superior sense of duty.“   .

Professor Oliver Antic: “Queen Maria was most loved among all Queens of Europe, and has had many virtues, like honesty, care for others and nobility. Therefore it is my great pleasure to announce that Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, President of Serbia, has authorized that decoration of Queen Maria, that was sealed at compartment 555 of National Bank of Serbia, will be put on her coffin during the state funeral in Oplenac on May 26.“

H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister also addressed the gathering: “I am very proud that we have rectified great injustice today, and our lesson learned could be that state and the people were doing so not because of the past, but for the future. This is great day for our country, and on May 26 we will host dignitaries from all over the world, and we will host them in the best tradition of our nation”.

Following the church service a reception took place in the Royal Palace for State officials, members of the Crown Council and Religious leaders.

Her Majesty Queen Maria was placed next to her son His Majesty King Peter II in The Royal Chapel of St. Andrew the First Called in Belgrade until 26 May when the official State Funeral ceremony for Their Majesties King Peter II, Queen Alexandra and Queen Mother Maria will be officiated in The Family Mausoleum in Oplenac.

Their Royal Highnesses extend their special gratitude for support to realization of this initiative to Sir Christopher Geidt, Private Secretary to the Sovereign, as well as the Serbian national air carrier JAT Airways for transport without remuneration as well as extraordinary efforts of the Embassy of Serbia in United Kingdom’s Consul Councilor Mrs. Ljiljana Zarubica who managed to coordinate all parties involved and contributed to the success of this initiative.

The Royal Chapel in the Royal Compound in Dedinje is open for citizens who wish to pay their respects to Their Majesties King Peter II and Queen Mother Maria every weekend Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 2 pm.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander, HRH Crown Princess Katherine,HRH Prince Peter, HRH Prince Philip,Mr.Luca Prichard-Levy, Mr. Nicholas Balfour(representing and son of HRH Princess Elisabeth), Sir Desmond de Silva,HRH Prince Dimitri and HRH Princess Lavinia with husband Mr. Austin Prichard- Levy. ©HRH Crown prince Alexander.