Earl and Countess of Snowdon announce they are divorcing

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"The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced.

They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family.

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Their divorce is expected to be finalised later this year, making 2020 an already equally difficult year for the Royal Family after its woes in 2019.

David and Serena have agreed that their marriage has broken down, they have in effect been living separate lives for some time.

But they are determined to handle their separation in a civilised manner. There is no blame or acrimony on either side.

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They have simply reached a point at which they both feel they have to move on."

The Earl of Snowdon is one of two children of the late Princess Margaret and the late 1st Earl of Snowdon (ne Antony Armstrong-Jones).   He was born at Clarence House on November 3, 1961.  He has a younger sister, Lady Sarah who is married to Daniel Chatto.

@Marlene A Eilers Koenig   I did not own a zoom lens in 1993

As Viscount Linley (the courtesy title for the heir apparent to the earldom),  David married the Hon. Serena Stanhope on October 8, 1993 at St. Margaret's Westminster.   She is the daughter of Charles Stanhope, the 12th Earl of Harrington (who was Viscount Petersham at the time of his daughter's wedding) and his first wife, Virginia Freeman-Jackson.

@Marlene A Eilers Koenig

Lord and Lady Snowdon have two children:  Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley (July 1, 1999) and  Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong-Jones (May 14, 2002) /

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Lord Snowdon's interview with Vanity Fair in 2017 gave a big clue (at least to me) that the couple were living apart.

 https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/03/earl-of-snowdon-lifestyle-provence

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-new-earl-of-snowdon.html

https://www.davidlinley.com/

Prince Alexander von Preussen weds Jenny von Rumohr

Prince Alexander von Preussen, the eldest son of Prince Adalbert of Prussia and his wife, Eva Maria Kudicke, was married in a civil ceremony in Munich on Valentine's Day.

Alexander Friedrich Wilhelm-Viktor Marcus Prinz von Preussen was born on October 3, 1984 at Munich.  He has two younger brothers, twins, Prince Christian and Prince Philipp.

He attended the Hockerill Anglo-European College, a boarding school in Bishop Stortford, England.  He has degrees in international economics and international business, from Universita Commerciale 'Luigi Bocconi,' and Maastricht University.

Since August 2019, Prince Alexander has been employed as a Senior Director Digital and Investments at Holtzbrinck Digital in Munich.

Jenny von Rumhor is the elder daughter of Joachim von Rumhor and  Baroness Amélie von Holzing-Berstett.  She was born on December 15, 1985 at Nuremberg.   Jenny has a younger sister, Elena.


She has a Bachelor's degree in European Studies from Maastricht University and a Master's of Art in International Peace and Security from King's College in London.

The new princess is the Head of the Migration Office for Bavaria and Thuringia at MW Malteser Werke.

A date and place for the religious wedding has not been announced.

Prince Alexander is a descendant of Queen Victoria. 

Victoria - Victoria - Wilhelm II - Adalbert - Wilhelm Viktor - Adalbert - Alexander.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-von-preussen-793442110/?originalSubdomain=de

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-von-rumohr-58644047/?originalSubdomain=de

White Lodge for the Prince and Princess of Wales

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February 14, 1900


Queen Victoria is planning to give White Lodge in Richmond Park to the Prince and Princess of Wales as a "suburban residence," reports the Washington Post.  The Prince and Princess have "frequently expressed" the desire for a "quite retreat" not too far from London for use during the summer season when the "temperature at Marlborough House, as elsewhere in the metropolis, is sufficiently tropical."

For a number of years, the Prince and Princess have rented Chiswick House, near the Thames and Richmond but have had to give it up as the owners are selling.

Only a few years ago, many had believed that the Duke of York would take over the house following the death of his mother-in-law, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck who died in 1897.   White Lodge had been the home of the Duchess of York until her marriage, but the Duke "pointed out" that he could not afford to maintain the house.  It is now vacant due to the recent death of the "poor demented Duke of Teck.

The Duchess of York's father died on January 21.

So now, White Lodge, a "stately pile, consisting of a center block, with two side wings connected by corridors of so defined a curve that the ground plan of the building constitutes the segment of a circle." 

The mansion has an imposing look, and is "surrounded by exquisite grounds, and a commanding magnificent view of the royal park of Richmond."

The grounds will be "especially convenient" for the Prince and Princess of Wales' annual garden party.

The Duke and Duchess of York's first child, Prince Edward of York was born at White Lodge in June 1894.  His baptism took place there on July 16, 1894.

Doña Cristina de Borbon y Hardenberg (1975-2020)

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Doña  Cristina Elena de Borbon von Hardenberg died today at the Puerta de Hierro hospital in Madrid following an accident.  She was 44 years old.

Doña Cristina was the second of three children of Don Francisco de Paula Enrique de Borbon y Escasany, 5th Duke of Seville, and his first wife, Countess Beatrix von Hardenberg.  The couple divorced in 1989 after 16 years of marriage.

She died at 3 p.m., surrounded by her family.  At 9 p.m, tonight, her body was taken to the San Isidro funeral home.

Cristina was a descendant of King Carlos IV of Spain (1748-1819) and his wife, Princess Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma (1751-1819) through their 14th and youngest child, Don Francisco de Paula Antonio Maria, Infant of Spain, Duke of Cadiz (1794-1865), and Princess Luisa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, who was his niece.  Their fourth son, Don Enrique Maria Fernando Carlos Francisco Luis, Infant of Spain, Duke of Seville (1823-1870), was Cristina's great-great-grandfather.

Cristina attended the College for International Studies in Madrid, first studying communications and thenshe  switched her major to tourism.  She did not finish the program, having decided instead to study at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, where she specialized in haute cuisine.

She worked in several restaurants before establishing her own catering company, Cristina de Borbon.

Doña Cristina was not married.  She is survived by her parents and her sister, Doña Olivia and her husband, Julian Porras, and her brother, Don Francisco, as well as Olivia's two children, Flavia and Fernando Enrique.

The funeral will take place later this month.


https://www.abc.es/estilo/gente/abci-muere-44-anos-cristina-borbon-hija-duque-sevilla-202002131949_noticia.html

Statement from Peter and Autumn

Peter and Autumn separated last year.

Peter and Autumn Phillips split?

Expect this front page story for Tuesday's Sun.  Peter and Autumn Phillips have separated.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10935833/peter-phillips-splits-wife-autumn/

Peter Phillips, who is the Princess Royal's elder child, married Canadian-born Autumn Kelly at St.George's Chapel, Windsor, on May 17, 2008.

They have two children, Savannah Anne Kathleen, 9, and 7-year-old Isla Elizabeth.  They were living in a house on the Princess Royal's Gatcombe estate.

Peter Phillips was recently in the news for capitalizing on his royal connections by filming a milk commercial in China.  It must be stressed that Peter is not royal.  His rank comes from his father. He does not carry out official engagements nor receives any funding from the Sovereign Grant.

The Phillips were not present for the Queen's annual Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace, nor were they present on Christmas Day at Sandringham, according to Ken Stone, who also noted that Peter visited the Queen at Sandringham in January without his wife.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2020/01/21/peter-phillips-queens-grandson-uses-royal-connection-milk-advert/

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the newest QVD

Many congratulations to Mathieu de Waele and his partner Eline Van Vlasselaer who are the parents of a daughter, Lizzie, who was born earlier today, February, 10, 2020, in Belgium


Proud papa announced the birth on his Instagram account.


https://www.instagram.com/matti_dewaele/


Victoria - Alice -  Victoria -Alice - Sophie -Dorothea - Clarissa - Mathieu - Lizzie. 

Matti's grandmother, Princess Dorothea of Hesse who married Prince Friedrich of Windisch-Graetz in 1959, is a first cousin of the Prince of Wales.




http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2019/04/princess-dorothea-of-hesse-weds.html

Wedding for Beatrice

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This will be the first royal wedding at St. James's Palace since October 15, 1913, when  Prince Arthur of Connaught married his first cousin once removed, HH Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife. 

The Duchess, who had succeeded her father in 1912 as the 2nd Duchess of Fife, was a granddaughter of King Edward VII.  Her mother, Princess Louise, and Prince Arthur were first cousins.  Prince Arthur was the the second of three children, and only son of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

The Chapel Royal is an intimate place to wed as there are seats for about 100 people. 

The wedding will not be broadcast on any medium, television or streaming.  Nor will the newlyweds have a carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace after the wedding.

I expect official photos will be released after the wedding, with, perhaps, limited press to photograph the bride's arrival, the newlyweds' departure.  There is no public access to the chapel.


https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2013/10/connaught-fife-wedding-tomorrow.html


https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2013/10/100-years-ago-today-wedding-of-prince.html


https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2019/02/hrh-princess-arthur-of-connaught-1897.html

60 years today a QVD noble/princely engagement

On this day, 60 years,  H Ill H Countess Victoria Adelheid of zu Castell-Rüdenhausen announced her engagement to John Miles Huntington-Whiteley, the younger son of Captain Sir Maurice Huntington-Whiteley.   Countess Victoria Adelheid was living at Kensington Palace with her great aunt, HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.

Victoria Adelheid is a descendant of Queen Victoria.

Victoria - Leopold - Carl Eduard - Caroline Mathilde - Victoria Adeheid.


http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2019/03/sir-miles-huntington-whiteley-1929-2019.html

A boy for Princess Andrej

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February 4, 1960

Princess Andrej of Yugoslavia gave birth to a son today in London, reports Reuters.   The Princess is a niece of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.  She is the former Princess Christina of Hesse, the eldest daughter of Philip's youngest sister, Princess Sophie, and her first husband, Prince Christoph of Hesse, who was killed in a plane crash during the second world war.

Princess Christina married Prince Andrej, the youngest brother of King Peter II, in August 1956.

This is the couple's second child.   A daughter, Princess Maria Tatiana, was born in London July 18, 1957.



















https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/12/princess-christina-of-hesse-1933-2011.html

The Princess Royal in Guildford

all photos @Katrina Warne

HRH The Princess Royal visited the Royal School of Veterinary Medicine in Guilford earlier today.

The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, opened the school in 2015.

These photos were taken by a good friend, Katrina Warne.   The photos are her copyright.  Thank you for letting me use them

Romanian government contemplates gift for Princess

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 January 31, 1930


The New York Times is reporting that Princess Ileana of Romania and Count Alexander of Hochberg will probably marry on April 27.   Queen Marie will "entertain the diplomatic corps at Cotroceni" during the next few days and it is expected that she will officially announced the wedding date during one of the receptions.

The Queen and Princess Ileana are expected to visit Cairo on February 20 to meet with Count Alexander, who is known as Lexel.   In the meantime,  the count will spend time in England with his family.

Princess Ileana has already received several wedding gifts, including the  "beautiful diamond ring" from her fiance and the "deed to a country house in Cotroceni," a present from her older brother, Prince Nicholas.

Prime Minister Maniu is expected to confer with Queen Marie on the government's wedding gift.  It is expected that the this gift will be financial: $240,000 to "make the Princess' fortune total $500,000."

Mrs. Leeds marries Prince Christopher

January 31, 1920


Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and Mrs. William B. Leeds were married today in a civil ceremony at 11:00 am in the Geneva Town Hall, reports the New York Times.

The Greek Orthodox service will take place tomorrow at Vevey, near Montreux.

The bride's witness was A.W.S. Piccard, a New Orleans lawyer and Captain Stocker, Prince Christopher's aide-de-camp, "acted in the same capacity" for the prince. 

The only two "onlookers" were the American Consul and an Associated Press reporter.

Mrs. Leeds was dressed in a "dark, tailor-made suit, black furs, and a toque."

After the brief ceremony, the newlyweds had lunch in Geneva, and then left for Montreux.  The religious wedding will take place in the Russian Church.

The wedding service took less than 15 minutes.  Prince Christopher and Mrs. Leeds arrived at the Town Hall by motor car at exactly 11:00 a.m., and left the building at 11:15.

Mrs. Leeds is the widow of William Bateman Leeds, the "Tinplate king" of America.  She brings into the royal family an "amassed fortune estimate at $14,000,000, a wonderful collection of jewels, one string of pearls alone being valued at $340,000 when it was bought in Paris by Mr. Leeds."  She owns considerable property in London, Paris and in the United States.

Her son, William Bateman Leeds, Jr., is a student at Eton,

The new Princess Christopher has had a "remarkable and successful social career.  This is her third marriage.  Her first marriage to George H. Worthington ended in divorce in 1898.  She married William Leeds in August 1900 home at the Cleveland, Ohio, home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Stewart.

Since the death of her husband in 1908,  the princess has spent most of her time in London and in Paris, which increased her "connections in English and Continental society."

a QVD engagement

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Congratulations to Vera Arrivabene-Valenti- Gonzaga and Briano dei Conti Martinoni Caleppio on the announcement of their engagement earlier today on Instagram.

Vera is the second of five children of HRH Princess Bianca of Savoy-Aosta and Giberto, Count Arrivabene-Valenti-Gonzaga.  She was born at Samedan in Switzerland on August 18, 1993 and is a granddaughter of the HRH Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta and his first wife, HRH Princess Claude of France.

Briano is the son of Paolo de Conti Martinoni Caleppio and his second wife, Barbara Parodi Delfino who also has noble ancestry as she is the daughter of Riccardo Parodi Delfino and  Donna Vivide dei Visconti Di Modrone.

Riccardo Parodi Delfino is the son of Paolo Parodi Delfino and  Bonaccorsa Aliotti and the grandson of Leopoldo Girolamo Parodi Delfino and Lucie Henny.

Paolo's sister Carla was married in 1937 to Don Alvaro Antonio Fernando Carlos Felipe de Orléans-Borbón y Sajonia-Coburgo-Gotha , 6th Duke of Galliera, the eldest of three sons of HRH Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and  HRH Infante Don Alfonso Maria Francisco Diego de Orléans y de Borbón, 5th Duke of Galleria.

With her older sister Viola, Vera is the co-founder of ViBiVenezia, specializing in Furlane shoes, worn by Venetian gondoliers.

Briano is the CEO of https://www.cestlav.it/it.   This is a woman's design firm founded by Vittoria Bottasini.

Vera and Briano are second cousins once removed.  They also share maternal great grandparents: Giberto Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga and  Vera Papadopoli Aldobrandini.

Briano is the grandson of Giberto's daughter, Nicoletta, who married Edoardo Visconti di Modrone, while Vera is the granddaughter of Nicoletta's brother, Leonardo Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga.

Queen Victoria - Victoria - Sophie - Irene - Amedeo -  Bianca - Vera

https://vibivenezia.it/en/story

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7_JkTwC5vz/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

a Boy for Count and Countess Folke

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January 30, 1930


Countess Folke Bernadotte af Wisborg has given birth to a son, reports the NewYork Times.  The baby was born earlier today in Stockholm.

The Countess is the former Miss Estelle Romaine Manville.  Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Edward Manville are now in Stockholm and they cabled the offices of the Johns Manville Company with the news of the birth.

The marriage between Miss Manville and Count Folke Bernadotte, a nephew of King Gustav V, took place on December 1, 1928 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Pleasantville, New York.

Count Folk is the son of Prince Oscar Bernadotte, who was formerly Prince Oscar of Sweden, Duke of of Gotland, the second son of King Oscar II and Queen Sophia.   He fell in love with Ebba Munck af Fukilia, a lady-in-waiting to then Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the wife of Oscar's older brother, Gustaf.   As he married without the king's consent, Oscar lost his right of succession and his royal titles.   They married in Bournemouth on March 15, 1888.   Four years later, Oscar's uncle, Grand Duke Adolphe of Luxembourg bestowed the titles Prince and Princess Bernadotte and Count and Countess of Wisborg.

The infant has been named Gustav Edward and will be styled as Count Gustav Edward of Wisborg.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-sort-of-royal-engagement-bernadotte.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2008/12/estelle-manville-marries-folke.html


https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2008/11/count-folke-has-arrived-for-his-wedding.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/02/estelle-manville-countess-folke.html