Hesse: Funeral of Landgraf Moritz of Hesse

Kronberg in Taunus served as witness today for Europe's royalty to gather and bid farewell to one of its most prominent members, Landgraf Moritz of Hesse. Among those present to bid adieu to a wonderful man were: Queen Sofía of Spain, King Constantine II of the Hellenes, King Simeon of Bulgaria, the Prince of Naples, Prince Georg Friedrich and Princess Sophie of Prussia, Duke Franz of Bavaria, the Margrave of Meißen, Duke Carl of Württemberg, the Margrave and Margravine of Baden, Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, the Fürst of Schaumburg-Lippe, the Fürst of Waldeck-Pyrmont, the Fürst and Fürstin of Hohenzollern, Duke Christoph and Duchess Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein, Dowager Duchess Marie Alix of Schleswig-Holstein, the Fürst and Fürstin of Lippe, Fürst Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Princess Alexandra of Leiningen, Duchess Donata of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess Edina of Mecklenburg-Schwerin with husband Konrad von Posern, the Fürst and Fürstin of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, the Fürst and Fürstin of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, the Fürst of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, the Fürst of Oettingen-Spielberg, the Fürstin and Fürstin of Bismarck, Hereditary Prince Ernst August of Hannover, Duke Friedrich of Württemberg, Hereditary Prince Hubertus and Hereditary Princess Kelli of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, Princess Sarvath of Jordan, Hereditary Prince Bernhard and Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden, Duke Philipp of Württemberg, Count Hans-Veit of Toerring-Jettenbach, Prince Ludwig and Princess Marianne of Baden, Prince Karl of Hesse, Count Alexander and Countess Irina of Schönburg-Glauchau, Hereditary Prince Kraft and Hereditary Princess Carolyn of Hohenlohe-Oehringen, Hereditary Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Hereditary Prince Heinrich and Hereditary Princess Priscilla of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, Prince Berthold of Baden, Princess Sophie of Baden, the Count of Solms-Laubach, and many others.

Landgraf Moritz passed away in Frankfurt on May 23, after a debilitating illness. He was born at Racconigi Palace, some 25 miles south of Turin. At the time of Moritz's birth, his grandfather, King Vittorio Emanuele III, ruled over Italy.

He was the firstborn child of Prince Philipp of Hesse and of his wife, the former Princess Mafalda of Savoy. The couple had married at Racconigi in September 1925, their son making his arrival at the same palace nearly eleven months later. Between 1926 and 1940, Princess Mafalda gave birth to four children: Moritz (1926-2013), Heinrich (1927-1999), Otto (1937-1998) and Elisabeth (b. 1940). Sadly,  Mafalda died at Buchenwald concentration camp in 1944. Her end was sad and harrowing and news of her death was only confirmed after the end of the Second World War. Philipp succeeded his father, Landgraf Friedrich Karl, in 1940. His mother was Princess Margarethe of Prussia, herself the youngest daughter of Kaiser Friedrich III and his English wife, Victoria, The Princess Royal.

The Hesse suffered grave losses during the Second World War and thus it fell on Moritz and his father to rebuild the family's tattered fortune. In this endeavor, Moritz, who succeeded as Landgarf of Hesse in 1980, proved to be extremely successful. Behind he leaves a solid historical legacy in the Hesse Family Foundation, designed to protect the family's unique art collections and architectural possessions.

Moritz married at Kronberg Princess Tatiana zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (b. 1940). The couple, who divorced in 1974, had four children: Mafalda (b. 1965), Heinrich Donatus [Don] (b. 1966), Elena (b. 1967) and Philipp (b. 1970). All the children have offspring of their own. Although divorced for nearly four decades, Moritz and Tatiana remained very close until the end.

Landgraf Moritz was very approachable, particularly to us historians and genealogists. I first met him in Coburg more than a dozen years ago. Our last meeting took place in April 2012, when he asked me to join him for lunch at Schloß Friedrichshof. During our few hours together, he expressed to me how satisfied he was with Ilana Miller's The Four Graces, which he considered one of the best royal biographies published in decades. I agreed with him.

Although already considerably ill, Moritz was alert and inquisitive during our last meeting. He possessed a sharp mind and never shied away from expressing what he truly felt about the various topics under discussion. With him, one knew where one stood...and I have always found that quite refreshing!

I am saddened by the loss experienced by his children and grandchildren, as well as by his former wife. Moritz was untiring when attending royal events across Europe. His absence will be felt by all who were honored with his friendship and acquaintance.

We wish to express our sincerest condolences to his family...May He Rest in Peace!

The coffin containing the earthly remains of Landgraf Moritz of Hesse. 

Princess Sarvath of Jordan and Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands.

 Queen doña Sofía of Spain and Prince Karl of Hesse.

The Fürst and Fürstin of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. 

 Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her

husband Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein Elgut.

The Fürst and Fürstin of Hohenzollern.

Prince Georg Friedrich and Princess Sophie of Prussia. 

Hereditary Prince Ernst August of Hannover. 

Hereditary Prince Bernhard and Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden. 

 

Hereditary Prince Kraft and Hereditary Princess Carolyn of Hohenlohe-Oehringen.

 The Fürst and Fürstin of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.

 The Fürst of Schaumburg-Lippe.

 Hereditary Prince Hubertus and Hereditary Princess Kelli of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha.

 The Prince of Naples.

 Duke Franz of Bavaria.

King Simeon of Bulgaria, Queen doña Sofía of Spain

and King Constantine II of the Hellenes. 

The Margrave and Margravine of Baden surrounding

Princess Sarvath of Jordan. Behind her is Duke Philipp
of Württemberg.

Queen doña Sofía of Spain. Behind her is

Count Hans-Veit of Toerring-Jettenbach. 

King Constantine II of the Hellenes.

©Albert Nieboer

UK: A New Era Begins, Quietly...

Often what British royals do is far more consequential than what they say. At today’s State Opening of Parliament, Queen Elizabeth II will read out her government’s agenda for the coming session, this time expected to include immigration reforms, a cap on the cost of social care, a measure to control dangerous dogs and another to ban wild animals in circuses. Some of these legislative plans might appear a little weightier than others, but the really big news will be sitting mutely alongside Her Majesty. For the first time, the Queen will be accompanied on the dais at this annual ceremonial fixture not only by her doughty husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, but by their son — and her heir — the Prince of Wales and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. Their presence will signal a shift in public life that is likely to impact far more Britons than any law about muzzling pitbulls. After more than 60 years, the Elizabethan era is drawing to a close, and the Charlesian age is dawning.

On May 7, on the eve of the State Opening, Buckingham Palace also announced that for the first time since 1973 the Queen, the head of the Commonwealth, will not attend November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Prince Charles will deputize for her, traveling to Sri Lanka in her place. The Queen, at 87, looks frail, but is in good health, according to a palace insider, who does concede that officials “are pacing her commitments.” Charles will “increasingly share constitutional duties...

Continue reading...

Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/05/07/prince-charles-takes-on-queen-elizabeths-duties/#ixzz2VAgbBW1D

Serbia: State Funeral for King Peter II and Others

PRESS RELEASE

Royal Family, President of Serbia, Prime Minister, Serbian Church and Serbian People attend State Funeral at Royal Mausoleum in Oplenac.

Belgrade, 26 May 2013 - Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine, Hereditary Prince Peter, Prince Philip and Prince Alexander, Princess Linda, Prince Nicholas, Princess Katerina, Prince Vladimir and Princess Brigitta, Princess Lavinia, Mr. Austin Prichard-Levy and Luca Prichard-Levy, Prince Dimitri, Princess Elizabeth, Prince Michel, Prince Serge and Prince Dushan with H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, President of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister, H.E. Foreign Minister Mr. Ivan Mrkic, H.E. Prof. Dr. Slavica Djukic – Dejanovic, Minister of health, H.E. Mr. Velimir Ilic, Minister of Construction and Urbanism, H.E. Mr. Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, representatives of Parliament of Serbia, Serbian Army, members of other Royal Families, and a great number of citizens from all over Serbia, Republika Srpska and abroad, representatives of diplomatic corps, paid final respects to Their Majesties King Peter II, Queen Alexandra and Queen Maria and His Royal Highness Prince Andrej at St. George church Royal Mausoleum in Oplenac on May 26.

Also present Mr. and Mrs. David Andrews, son and daughter in law of HRH Crown Princess Katherine, Ms. Alison Andrews, daughter of HRH Crown Princess Katherine and her sons Mr. Nicholas Garfinkel and Mr. Michael Garfinkel, and Ms. Betty Roumeliotis, sister of HRH Crown Princess Katherine.

Among representatives of foreign Royal Families there were Their Majesties King Simeon and Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians, Their Majesties King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania, Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses Archduke Sandor and Archduchess Herta of Austria, His Highness Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Their Royal Highnesses The Margraf and Margrafin of Baden, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Philipp Erasmus and Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, His Royal Highness Prince Mabandla Dlamini of Swaziland, Princess Ira Von Fürstenberg and His Serene Highness Prince Pierre D' Arenberg.

H. E. Mr. Michael Davenport, Ambassador of the United Kingdom and H.E. Ms. Mette Kjuel Nielsen, Ambassador of Kingdom of Denmark were also present in the church.

Before the ceremony started, His Royal Highness Hereditary Prince Peter placed the Crown of HM King Peter I, His Royal Highness Prince Philip placed the sceptre and orb, and His Royal Highness Prince Alexander placed a diamond sabre of HM King Alexander I on the coffin of HM King Peter II.

His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, His Eminence Metropolitan of Dabar and Bosnia Nikolaj, Their Graces Bishop Lukijan of Budim, Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, Bishop Vasilije of Srem, Bishop Ignatije of Branicevo, Bishop Lukijan of Osijek pole and Baranja, Bishop Dositej of Britain and Scandinavia, Bishop Maxim of Western America, Bishop Joanikije of Budimlje and Niksic, Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand, Bishop Atanasije of Hvosno, Archimandrite Metodije of Hilandar, officiated and attended the Holy Liturgy. 

The following Religious Leader were also present His Excellency Monsignor Stanislav Hocevar, Roman Catholic Metropolitan and Archbishop of Belgrade, Muhamed ef.Jusufspahic, Mufti of Serbia, Father Vitalij Tarasjev, representative of Moscow Patriarchate in Belgrade.

After the Liturgy and the Requiem, His Holiness, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, said: “The honourable Serbian Royal House, and its Head Your Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II, in the light of divine force and truth, we are rectifying a great injustice today, human injustice that cried to the heavens. Descendents of Karadjordje, Father of Serbia, witnessed ocupation of their country, were forced to leave their beloved country, and to live in exile for decades. Today, when final wish of His Majesty King Peter I has been fulfilled, that his descendents live in their country with their people, and to be buried at St. George Church in Oplenac, we truly believe that souls of Karadjordje, Prince Alexander, King Peter I and King Alexander I rejoyce today. This is important day for Royal House of Kradjordjevic and their Head Crown Prince Alexander. Serbian children and Serbian people will gather around their graves to learn lessons of patriotism, love for their country, its history and culture.” 

Prime Minister of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, said: “A final piece of our history’s mosaic has been put in place today. We cannot change the past, but we rectify mistakes today. There are many ideologies, but there is just one Serbia. Therefore, it is very important that our people become united in the future. Long live Serbia!“

H.E. President of Serbia Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, said: “Our nation's history, beside glorious deeds, patriotism, fight for justice and truth, records conflicts, as well. That is one of the reasons that our country has had bad destiny. More Serbs died of acts of their brothers, than from foreign occupiers, and we must not forget that fact. Destiny of Karadjordje, his descendents and his family, represent sublimation of all ours divisions and disasters. We cannot have luxury of divisions and injustice any more.  Serbs have respected justice as highest virtue from the ancient times. Therefor we are rectifying immense injustic at the grave of Supreme Leader Karadjordje today.  And we are making another step toward unity“.  

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, son of Their Majesties King Peter II and Queen Alexandra, and grandson of HM Queen Maria, delivered a moving speech: “We are gathered today here in Oplenac to pay our last respects and bid farewell to King Peter II, Queen Alexandra, Queen Maria and Prince Andrej. The Karadjordjevic's, whose destiny throughout history has been closely tied to the destiny of the entire nation, as well as to the establishment of the modern Serbian State. Their lives are the reflection of what happened to their people and their homeland. Their wanderings and their exile lasted for too long. They lived and died in different parts of the world.

Today they are here in Oplenac, among their family and among their Serbs. For me, as the Head of the Royal Family and for my whole family this a great day. Sad, but solemn. Full of emotions and reverence. Full of personal memories. This is not only a historic moment for Royal Family, but also for the whole Serbian nation and the State of Serbia.”

TRH Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Hereditary Prince Peter, Prince Philip and Prince Alexander will host a reception on this solemn occasion for the Royal Family, state officials, church dignitaries, members of foreign Royal families and ambassadors at the White Palace 8 pm this evening.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and the Royal Family would like to express their gratitude to H.E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolic President of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of the Interior, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia and Serbian Orthodox Church, the State Commission for the transfer of remains of members of Royal Family and Prof. Dr. Oliver Antic, special advisor to President of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Ivan Mrkic, Minister of foreign affairs of Serbia, His Grace Bishop Longin of the Diocese of New Gracanica and Midwestern America in Illionois United States of America, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Petrovic, ambassador of Serbia to the United States of America, H.E. Mr. Dragan Zupanjevac, ambassador of Serbia to Greece, H.E. Dr. Dejan Popovic, ambassador of Serbia to the United Kingdom, Mr. Desko Nikitovic, Consul General of Serbia in Chicago United States of America, The Government of Greece, H.E. Ambassador Dionyssios Kodellas from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Tom Karacic, lawyer from Chicago, Mr Dusan Djordjevic of Sveta Gora in Chicago, and so many others from Serbia and abroad who contributed that this event of tremendous importance for Serbia and its citizens was made possible.

If you look closely, I am immediately behind the priests in the lower left corner.
(Had a fantastic view!) 

Prince Alexander places the crown on his great-grandmother Marie's coffin. 

Crown Prince Alexander giving a speech after the State Funeral. 

Oplenac, Topola, Serbia. 

 A panoramic view of the state funeral mass.

 Crown Prince Alexander bids farewell to his parents, grandmother and uncle.

 Crown Prince Alexander and the President of Serbia arrive.

(If you look closely, I am to the left center of the images)

 The President and Prime Minister of Serbia, Crown Prince Alexander,

Crown Princess Katherine, Hereditary Prince Peter, Prince Philip, PrinceAlexander, Prince Vladimir.

Behind one can see Prince Radu of Romania, next to his wife Crown Princess Margarita.

Hereditary Prince Peter.

Prince Philip.

Prince Michael of Serbia and Arturo Beéche at the White Palace,
Belgrade, Serbia.

(Courtesy of HRH Prince Michel)

©Most of the images used in this report were provided by the office of HRH Crown Prince Alexander and hence are protected by copyright law.

_____

Arturo Beéche, Publisher

The EuroHistory Journal

Kensington House Books

6300 Kensington Avenue

East Richmond Heights CA 94805-1618

Phone: 510-236-1730

Email: Books@eurohistory.com

http://royalreadingcorner.blogspot.com/

http://erhj.blogspot.com/

http://www.eurohistory.com

EUROHISTORY: Issue XCII (April 2013) Mailing!

Dear Readers and Subscribers,

Our latest, Issue XCII (April 2013), covering the period from March 1-April 30, began shipping last week!

We are packing the remaining copies of the magazine today and getting them mailed between today and tomorrow.

All European subscribers will have their magazines mailed on Wednesday from London!

EUROHISTORY ISSUE XCII will be available at Hoogstraten English Bookstore on May 23 and at Librairie Galignani, Paris, on May 28!

Inside this issue, readers will find articles on:

1. Viktoria Luise of Prussia and Ernst August of Hannover

2. Prince Vsevelod Ioannovich of Russia (Part 1)

3. Four Generations of Royals

4. A Habsburg Visit to the Court of Madrid

5. Princess Lilian of Sweden

Of course our regular Book Review and Royal News sections are also included in the magazine's 92th issue!

It is amazing to think that next year's August 2014 Issue will be Number 100!

Something worth looking forward to!

Issue XCIII (June 2013) will be out by July 15 and it will include reports on the Inhildigung of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, The Reburial of King Peter II, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mother Maria and Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia, Prince Vsevelod Ioannovich of Russia (Part 2), and other interesting pieces on some of your favorite royals.

Enjoy the reading...

Spain: The Royal Family Continues on its own "annus horribilis."

As a consequence of the financial crisis consuming one flourishing Spain, HM the King has given up the royal yacht FORTUNA, which the Royal FAmily has used for many years while on vacation in Palma.

Read along...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10063446/Spains-King-Juan-Carlos-gives-up-luxury-yacht-Fortuna.html

UK: Interfaith Coronation

Church of England leaders have accepted the need to be “hospitable” to other faiths within any future service at Westminster Abbey, in order to reflect the spiritual diversity of modern Britain.

The Church has resisted calls for a multi-faith service in recent years, preferring to stress that the Christian nature of the coronation is preserved by law.

Senior church figures told this newspaper t that it was now accepted that other faiths should be recognised within the coronation service for the first time.

It will not, however, be a “multi-faith” service in the sense of a ceremony that treats all faiths as equal.

Representatives of other religions are likely to be asked to participate in a neutral symbolic act such as the lighting of candles, or to read from a text expressing shared values, rather than praying out loud or reading their own sacred texts.

Continue reading...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/10066234/Next-coronation-to-involve-other-faiths-besides-Christianity.html

Serbia: Return of Prince Andrej

His Royal Highness Prince Andrej’s casket was met today at the Nikola Tesla airport (Belgrade) by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Vladimir and Prince Dimitri, sons of HRH Prince Andrej, Princess Lavinia - Maria, daughter of HRH Prince Andrej with young Luka Austin Prichard (son of HRH Princess Lavinia-Maria) Princess Elizabeth, Prince George and Prince Michael, Ms. India Oxenberg, granddaughter of Princess Elizabeth, Professor Oliver Antic Special 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.

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej conducted a Memorial Service at the Royal Chapel, where the caskets of HRH Prince Andrew’s brother HM King Peter II, his sister-in-law HM Queen Alexandra and his mother HM Queen Maria, are already in place.

After the service, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia has said: “This is a holy moment, sad and joyful, when the members of the Royal House are gathering in their homeland, this holy land. By historic injustice, they have left their homeland to live in exile in this world.   Praised the Lord, the human and historic injustice has been rectified now.  They came back to their home, built by their father, something they couldn't have done during their lives. On May 26 they would be buried in Oplenac, and their return has made our nation happy“. 

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II has said: “Today we are fulfilling the legacy of King Peter I, who passed to us obligation to protect our country, our faith, our people and our descendants. 

Earthly remains of HM King Peter II, HM Queen Maria, HM Queen Alexandra and HRH Prince Andrej have been returned to Serbia, and the historic wound and injustice have been healed. Today, we have witnessed justice and family reunion, of the family that suffered a lot, as same as our society has suffered from injustice. 

On behalf of the Royal Family that came from the people, I would like to express special gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia and Serbian Orthodox Church, H.E. President of Serbia Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, State Committee for transfer of remains of members of Karadjordjevic Family, and to all those who have supported us on this path of historic importance. Serbia has reinstalled its integrity and legitimacy of the state that bravely reaches for the future, with respects of its ancestors, of their freedom and their rights.   

Karadjordjevic Royal Family is a Serbian family that lives for Serbia, fights for Serbia and loves Serbia!“ 

Prof. Dr. Oliver Antic, special advisor to President of Serbia, has said: “They have had a difficult life. Their suffering is our shame, and their pain was felt here, as well. Their only sin was that they were descendents of the Father of Serbia. Prince Andrej had a difficult life, but he preserved his Family name and his heritage with dignity, as all of Karadjordjevic did. Under highest auspices the peopel as a whole has been relieved of the great sin, and this injustice has been rectified. We have more things to do after May 26, and this was just a begining“.  

Following the Church service a reception for state representatives, Members of the Crown Council and Religious dignitaries took place at The Royal Palace.

A State Funeral for their re-interment in the Royal Mausoleum of St George's Chapel in Oplenac will be officiated by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej on Sunday 26 May 2013.

Note: The removal of HRH Prince Andrej's remains from Nova Gracanica Cemetery in Illinois and subsequent transfer to Serbia was performed in full accordance with the legal procedures and administrative requirements of the State of Illinois United States by three of Prince Andrej's children, namely HRH Prince Dimitri, HRH Princess Lavinia-Marie and HRH Princess Tatiana-Marie, after consultations with Prince Andrej's other heirs.

©Royal Family of Serbia.

Yugoslavia: A Biography of Princess Olga of Greece

Our dear friends Tepi and Régine have written a lovely short sketch on the life of one of my favorite royals, Princess Olga of Greece, wife of Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia.

Visit the site and enjoy a lovely read!

http://www.noblesseetroyautes.com/nr01/2013/05/portrait-olga-de-grece-princesse-de-yougoslavie/

Great Britain: The Prince of Wales to Visit Langenburg

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES TO ATTEND THE LANGENBURG FORUM ON REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY,

BADEN WÜRTTEMBERG, GERMANY

MONDAY 27th MAY 2013

The Prince of Wales has been invited by His Serene Highness Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg to attend the 2013 Langenburg Forum on regional food security, which will take place at Schloss Langenburg in the German state of Baden-Württemberg on Monday 27th May.

The invitation to His Royal Highness was made in recognition of the work of The Prince, and his International Sustainability Unit, on this issue. The event is the second of its kind and has been organised by HSH Philipp Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Joschka Fischer & Co. and the Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Mr Alexander Müller, with the support of The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit.

His Royal Highness will join the third session of the Forum on the afternoon of 27th May in which The Prince will address the delegates and view a panel discussion on the opportunities to enhance local food systems. Following the Forum The Prince will attend a private reception with the delegates.

The Forum will bring together individuals and organisations from across the food industry – including farmers and the CEOs of international retailers – as well as environmental and consumer groups, government representatives and international agriculture and food security experts. The Forum will also debate the structure of food supply chains, exploring how they could be adapted to help return greater value back into food systems. Participants will discuss ways to ensure the sustainability and quality of food through the development of more local food supply, as well as the diverse local agricultures on which they depend.

The event will showcase best practice from around the world to demonstrate the ways in which new business models and new information communication technologies are beginning to facilitate a shift towards more local, sustainable food systems, and the revitalisation of food cultures. A key aim is to develop partnerships between food producers, policy makers and leading food businesses to maximise the benefits available from a healthier food system, for both consumers and the environment.

Sustainable agriculture and resilient supply chains are key focus areas of The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit (ISU), which is assisting in the organisation of the Forum. The ISU, which was established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010, works to facilitate consensus around some of the key environmental challenges facing the world, with a critical focus on food security and environmental resilience.

For more information on the Langenburg Forum 2013 please visit www.schlosslangenburg.de or, from 17th May, www.langenburg-forum.de.