We just might have another American princess!

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 They have gone public ... they are ... of course,  HRH Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Miss Rachel Meghan Markle ... better known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ..

At last night's opening ceremony for the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada,  Prince Harry sat with fellow dignitaries, while Miss Markle sat with one of her besties, Markus Anderson, a consultant for the Soho House Group, a private members’ club.

Anderson, a Canadian, is said to be the person who introduced the couple in 2016.

It was an AP reporter who spotted Miss Markle in the crowd.  One of Harry's protection officers was not too far away from her.

Today,  the couple went public.  Seriously.  Earlier today,  Miss Markle, a co-star on Suits, a series on USA, accompanied Prince Harry to the wheel chair tennis competition.  The couple held hands!

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Yes, Prince Harry has an American girlfriend ... will she become his princess?  My crystal ball broke years ago, and I have no plans to have it repaired.

Harry's wife will have the status of a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland because she will be married to a British prince.

There will be an official engagement announcement in the not-too-distant future.  Not tomorrow.  Miss Markle is at work on what will probably be the last season for Suits.  The series' filming should wrap up sometime toward the end of the year.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary of November 20.   I don't expect a grand gala event, but there will be a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's.   The entire British royal family is expected to attend.  Miss Markle's appearance as a fiancee would detract from the event. 

Miss Markle is probably already making plans (visa, for starters) to move to London.  I doubt an engagement will take place before she has moved to London to begin preparations for her new life as a member of the British Royal family.

She will be the second American woman to marry a British royal, but unlike Wallis Simpson,  Miss Markle will have the style of Royal Highness.

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/05/primer-catherine-is-princess.html

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2015/05/why-catherine-is-princess-redux-with.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/25/prince-harry-meghan-markle-make-first-public-appearance-together/

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A Thank you from Prince Harry

Prince Andrew of Russia weds Nadine McDougall

September 21, 1942

Prince Andrew of Russia, the eldest son of the late Grand Duke Alexander and Grand Ducehss Xenia, was married today to Miss Nadine McDougall, daughter of Lt. Col Herbert McDougall of Provender, Faversham in Kent.

The wedding was a "blend of modern wartime England and the ancient regime of Czaristic Russia," according to the New York Times.

The couple were married in two religious ceremonies, the first was Anglican, which took place in the bride's home church at Norton, in Kent.  This ceremony was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  This was followed by a Russian Orthodox ceremony at Sheldwich, where a Russian choir "sang hymns in their native tongue. "

The bride was attended by three young pages. Viscount Throwley, the 2 year old of the Earl and Countess of Sondes; Robert Mercer, the nephew of General Ritchie and Jeremy Pemberton, son of Colonel and Mrs. Douglas Pemberton.

The Countess of Sondes is the bride's sister.

The bride wore a gown of "white satin, with a court train.  She also wore a "Russian headdress in pearls, with a long white tulle veil."

The bride's father was unable to give his daughter away, as he is serving in Africa.  His brother, Major Arthur McDougall, DSO, gave her away at the Anglican ceremony, while at the Russian service,  Robert Hodgson, who was the British agent in Nationalist Spain during the civil war, "served in the same capacity as Major McDougall.

Prince Andrew's brother, Prince Dimitri, served as best man,.

The reception was held at Lee's Court, Sheldwich, the home of the Earl and Countess of Sondes.  Prince Andrew's first wife, Elisabetta Ruffo-Sasso, was killed in an "air raid when a bomb hit Hampton Court."

Prince Andrew is a first cousin of the late Emperor Nicholas II.  His mother, Grand Duchess Xenia, is a first cousin of the late King George V, as their mothers were sisters.

[Princess Olga is the only daughter of Prince Andrew and his second wife. ]

Grand Duke of Baden not expected to live

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 September 21 1907

Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden's condition is said to be "hopeless," reports the Washington Post.

A bulletin was issued at 4 p.m., and states:  "No improvement has been noted in the grand duke's condition.  The patient is weary and dozes much.  Inadequate activity of the heart is showing its effects on the physical condition."

The Grand Duke is 81 years old.   He is the third son of late Grand Duke Leopold  and his wife, Sophie, daughter of King Gustav IV of Sweden.   Friedrich became heir presumptive to the throne following the death of his father in 1852.  His elder brother,  Ludwig II, suffered from mental illness, and, Friedrich was named as regent.  He held this position until 1856, when he was named as Grand Duke.  Ludwig died two years later.

The Grand Duke is married to Princess Luise of Prussia, daughter of King Wilhelm I of Germany and Princess Auguste of Saxe-Weimar.  They have two surviving children,  Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich, 50, and Victoria, the wife of Crown Prince Gustav of Sweden.

The Hereditary Grand Duke married in 1885 to Princess Hilda of Luxembourg.  Their marriage is childless.  The second in line is the Grand Duke's nephew, Prince Maximilian, who is married to Princess Marie Louise of Hanover.  Prince Max is said to be on his way to Mainau, where the Grand Duke lays dying.

and even more photos from Ferdinand and Viktoria Luise's wedding ..

The Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe and Mahkameh Navabi

Princess Vanessa of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her husband Pieter Haitsma Mulier.

The Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe talks with the new Princess of Hanover. Behind them is Princess Eva Maria of Prussia, wife of Prince Adalbert.

Grand Duchess Maria and Grand Duke George (behind her)

All Photos @Ulrike Bartsch

Here is another selection of photos from the wedding of the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Leiningen.   Thank you, Ulrike.

FUTURE PRINCESS DANICA PROMOTING SERBIA

Trier, Germany, 19 September 2017

Danica Marinković, the fiancée of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, has for many years been involved in promoting Serbia through her art as well as through the exhibiting activities of her father, Cile Marinkovic. This time, Danica participated in coordinating the participation of her father, artist Cile Marinkovic, at an art exhibition and an auction marking the 25th anniversary of the Academy of European Law (ERA).

The prominent French art critic and curator of this exhibition, Christian Norbergen, made a selection of 31 contemporary artists and their works from 31 European countries. With Cile Marinkovic, who represents Serbia at the exhibition, it is important to mention that the Republic of Croatia is represented by the painter Dimitrije Popovic, while Montenegro is represented by the sculptor Zlatko Glamocak and the Republic of Slovenia by the painter Iztok Kostarec, and many others.

In order to mark this event, a series of activities will be organized, including a major congress on the state of European integration. All works of art will be sold or auctioned during the 25th anniversary of the ERA premises as well as online. All art lovers and potential buyers will have the opportunity to compete for artists' works, get to know artists from all over Europe and know about their art.

The Academy of European Law (ERA) is a non-profit public foundation established in 1992 and based in Trier, Germany. Its patrons include most European Union  Member States. ERA contributes to strengthening the European integration process and provides a European forum for legal policy debate. The Academy offers opportunities for a sustainable professional development through networking, face-to-face training and distance learning in European law to judges, prosecutors, lawyers in private practice, business and public administration.

During her art career, Miss Danica Marinkovic has been making a lot of efforts in order to promote her country abroad as well as to make new contacts and opportunities for domestic artists, especially young ones. Miss Marinkovic will marry HRH Prince Philip on October 7 at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade, Serbia.

Ferdinand and Viktoria Luise's wedding - more photos

The religious wedding of the Hereditary Prince and Hereditary Princess of Leiningen at Amorbach, September 16, 2017.

Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, head of the Imperial house of Russia, and her son, Grand Duke George  @Ulrike Bartsch

Grand Duchess Maria has the unique position as the first cousin to the bride's father, the late Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, and the groom's grandfather, the late Emich, 7th Prince of Leiningen

Princess Viktoria Luise and her older brother, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm

The newlyweds  The Hereditary Prince and Hereditary Princess of Leiningen

Princess Ehrengard of Prussia & her younger son, Prince Joachim Albrecht, the bride and groom and the Prince and Princess of Leiningen

the bride and groom's families

The Prince and Prince of Leiningen.  Princess Olga of Leiningen, Princess Isabelle & Prince Hermann of Leiningen, Princess Anna Catharina of Prussia, wife of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm

Thank you to Ulrike Bartsch for sending the photos -- The copyright belongs to Ulrike - and may not be reproduced without her permission.

Two sisters - Grand Duchesses Maria and Kira of Russia

In Amorbach on Saturday (September 16),  Grand Duchess Maria's great-grandson, Hereditary Prince Ferdinand of Leiningen, married Grand Duchess Kira's granddaughter,  Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia.

Two sisters.  Great-granddaughters of Queen Victoria.   Daughters of a British princess.   Maria was the wife of Karl, the 6th Prince of Leiningen.  Kira married Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, who became the de jure German emperor, after the death of his father, Crown Prince Wilhelm.   Louis Ferdinand was very much concerned with bloodlines, and would certainly have approved of this marriage.

Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna and Karl, 6th Prince of Leiningen

All photos are from the Marlene A. Eilers Koenig collection