The New Albanian princess named for her great-grandmother

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HRH Princess Geraldine of Albania has been named for her paternal great-grandmother, Countess Géraldine Margit Virginia Olga Mária Apponyi de Nagy Appony, the daughter of  Count Gyula Apponyi de Nagy-Appony (1873–1924) and the American-born Gladys Virginia Steuart (1891–1947).  She was born on August 6, 1915, in Budapest.

  Geraldine married King Zog of Albania (1895-1961).   The Albanian king saw a picture of the Hungarian Countess and arranged to meet her.  They married at Tirana on April 27, 1938.

The couple's only son, Leka was born on April 5, 1939, in Tirana.  He was only 2 days old when the royal family was forced into exile after the country was invaded by Italy.   

Queen Geraldine, who was known as the White Rose of Albania, died in Tirana on October 22. 2002.  The cause of death was a heart attack.  She was 87 years old.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/01/zog-to-marry-hungarian-countess.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2010/04/albania-delights-in-new-queen.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2010/01/zog-confirms-his-betrothal-to-half.html

Gwen Robyns' biography of Queen Geraldine is excellent.

https://royalbooknews.blogspot.com/2010/11/royal-exile-king-zog-and-queen.html

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A new Princess in Albania

 

An interview I did earlier this year with the Crown Prince 

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2020/04/an-interview-with-crown-prince-leka.html

Earl of Athlone in talks with FDR

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October 20, 1940

President Franklin D. Roosevelt hosted a lunch for members of two royal families at his home in Hyde Park, New York, reports the New York Times.

The President "entertained informally at this luncheon in honor of his weekend guest, the Earl of Athlone, Governor General of Canada," who is in the United States to "exemplify the new ties between the United States and Canada." 

Lord Athlone's two-day visit to Hyde Park will end tonight when the President returns to Washington.   The Earl, the brother-in-law of King George V, and the President held several conversations, all "clothed in privacy," but it appears they are both concerned about "recent reports of the progress of the war in Europe."

Lord Athlone's family and his "small official party" accompanied the President and his mother, Sara, to St. James's Episcopal Church, which is a short drive from the President's home.  The Governor-General remained at Hyde Park as he is suffering from a cold.

Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and her husband, Prince Felix joined the other guests for lunch, as well as State Department officials, all of whom were invited by the President.  The British guests included Lord Athlone, his wife, Princess Alice, and their daughter Lady May Abel Smith and their staff.

Photographers were permitted to take photos of the President and his guest outside the church but due to a prior order from the White House, no photos were taken of the President and Lord Athlone, due to the latter's illness.

However, the Governor-General and his party will remain tonight at Hyde Park and leave tomorrow for a brief visit to New York City.

A noble wedding

 

Antonius von Schierstädt married Kinga Edle von Poschinger on October 10, 2020 at  the Klosterkirche Maria Himmelfahrt in Dietramszell, near Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen in Bavaria.   One of the officiants was Kinga's first cousin, Father Laszlo von Erffa, a member of the Legionaries of Christ.

[Laszlo's older sister Zita von Erffa, a filmmaker, made a documentary about her brother's decision to join the Legion of Christ.  https://www.vice.com/en/article/gy88e4/i-lost-my-brother-to-an-ultra-conservative-religious-order ]

The flower girls and pages were  Leopold Pacher-Theinburg, Lorenz, Ladislaya, Ferdinand and Ludwig Burger-Scheidlin,  Mathilda Schierstädt and Josephine, Celeste and Valerie Brugger

The groom who was born in 1982, is the son of Eckehard von Schierstädt and Countess Gabrielle on Galen and the bride is the daughter of  Vollrad-Joachim Edler von Poschinger and Archduchess Maria Pilar of Austria, the eldest child of the late Archduke Felix of Austria and late Princess and Duchess Anna-Eugenie of Arenberg.   

Kinga is a great-granddaughter of Austria's last emperor, Karl I, and his wife, Zita of Bourbon-Parma.  She was born in Munich on July 11, 1981.

She is the head of the Africa IV section with ACN International (Aid to the Church in Need) and specializes in projects for several African countries including Sierra Leone and the Congo.

Antonius is a politician active with the CDU party in Germany.

The wedding reception was held at the bride's parents' home, Gut Waltersteig, in Eurasburg.  The guests included the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg with their infant son, Prince Charles,  The Prince and Princess of Auersperg-Trautson (Archduchess Constanza of Austria),  and Archduchess Alexandra of Austria 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H67D-wRSNf0

http://www.gut-waltersteig.de/home-engl.html

Archduchess Alexandra of Austria,  Antonia (nee Poschinger) and Carl Pacher von Theinburg & their two children. Antonia is the bride's sister

Archduchess Gabriela 

The Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and baby Charles

all photos: @Gabi Piesiur 

A special thank you to Gabi for allowing me to use her photos. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOyB1Lif_m4

The groom and the bride's first cousin, Laszlo von Erffa, one of the Catholic priests who officiated at the wedding

The Prince of Auersperg-Trautson 

Archduchess Kinga and her husband, Wolfgang von Erffa 

The bride's sisterm, Franziska 

Archduchess Constanza (Princess of Auersperg-Trautson)

Hubertus Ritter von Burger-Scheidlin, the husband of Benedikta von Poschinger, one of the bride's sister, and one of his children.

A statement from King Albert

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"I fully endorse the communique released by the King and Princess Delphine and I agree with the rationale behind this message.

"My wife and I are delighted with the King's initiative, the beginning of better times for all of us and especially for Delphine."

King Philippe meets Delphine

@monarchie.be

Joint communication of the King and Princess Delphine:

On Friday 9 October, we met each other for the first time at the Castle of Laken. It was a warm encounter. This long and rich discussion gave us the opportunity to learn to know each other. We talked about our respective lives and areas of shared interest. This bond will further develop within the family setting.

Philippe & Delphine

The family Jewels

 

Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna 

Princess Maria Pia 

The wedding of Princess Maria Pia of Italy and Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia (Prince and Princess Paul, the bride and groom and Queen Marie Jose and King Umberto II)

Queen Elena of Italy 

Queen Marie Jose and King Umberto 

Wedding of Princess Marie José of Belgium and Crown Prince Umberto of Italy 

Grand Duchess Helen of Russia (Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark) 

Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark (Princess Paul of Yugoslavia) 

All of the above images are from the Marlene A. Eilers Koenig Collection

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Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia is a New York-based appraiser, gemologist, and a jewelry designer.  His newest book, Once Upon a Diamond is reviewed here on my other blog, Royal Book News.

http://royalbooknews.blogspot.com/2020/10/once-upon-diamond-by-prince-dimitri.html

Prince Dimitri's family has provided sparkling inspiration for his book.

Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia) - Grand Duchess Helen of Russia (Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark  - Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark (Princess Paul of Yugoslavia - Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia

Princess Margherita of Savoy (Queen Margherita, consort of Umberto I) - King Vittorio Emanuele III (who married Princess  Elena of Montenegro) - King Umberto II (who married Princess Marie José of Belgium) - Princess Maria Pia of Italy.

Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia and Princess Maria Pia married at Cascais, Portugal, on February 12, 1955.   Prince Dimitri and his twin brother, Prince Michel, were born on June 18, 1958

The Witness Tree planted by King George VI

 A friend of mine who lives near Fort Hunt Park in Alexandra spotted the marker (with brochures) for the Witness Tree, planted by King George VI in 1939, and got me the brochure.  We went to see the tree on Saturday.  The day was overcast.  

Me leaning up against a tree planted by King George VI in 1939

This is the tree planted by King George VI 

The wedding of Princess Alexandra

 

This image was also included in the gift from someone who likes my blog

Princess Grace - an American Princess

 The American Oscar-winning actress, Grace Kelly (1929-1982), who married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in April 1956, is without a doubt, my favorite American princess.  

A fan of Royal Musings recently gave me these photographs.

January 10, 1956  Official engagement photo with Grace's parents, Jack and Margaret Kelly 

Princess Anne visits Monaco in 1972  All images Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection

Birth of a Prince

October 9, 1935

 "This morning, at 5 minutes after two o'clock, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent was safely delivered of a Prince at 3, Belgrave Square.  His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent and Her Royal and Imperial Highness Princess Nicholas of Greece were present.  Secretary Sir John Simon was also present.  

The condition of Her Royal Highness and of the Infant Prince is satisfactory.  

The happy event was made known by the firing of the Park and Tower guns."

King George V and Queen Mary were at Sandringham when they were informed of the birth of their fifth grandchild.    The official statement from Sandringham:  "The King and Queen have received with great pleasure the news that the Duchess of Kent gave birth to a son this morning."   

The Duke of Gloucester and his fiancee, Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott are also staying at Sandringham.

The infant prince weight 6.5lbs at birth.   The Duchess's sister, the Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach was at 3 Belgrave Square at the time of the birth.

The new royal baby is 7th in line to the throne.  The Prince of Wales is the heir apparent, followed by his brother, the Duke of York, his two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret of York, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and the new prince whose birth pushes the Princess Royal down a notch.

The Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George V, married Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark on November 29, 1934, at Westminster Abbey.

The Duchess of Kent returned to her London home nine days ago after spending time at Asdean, the home of Lord and Lady Louis Mountbatten.   Doctors were summoned to Belgrave Square last night after the Duchess went into labor.

The Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach, who had been staying with her sister, telephoned their parents, Prince and Princess Nicholas, who had arrived in London last week, were driven to Belgrave Square.

The Infant Prince was baptized on November 20 at the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace.  He was given the names Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick.  His sponsors were King George V and Queen Mary, the Prince of Wales, Field Marshal the Duke of Connaught (represented by his son, Prince Arthur of Connaught, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, and Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark.

Prince Edward was nearly seven years old when he succeeded his father Prince George, Duke of Kent, who was killed in an aviation accident while on active duty on August 24, 1942.   

The Duke of Kent has two younger siblings,  Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy and Prince Michael of Kent.  He married Katharine Worsley on June 8, 1961, at York Minster.  They have three surviving children, George, Earl of St. Andrews (1961), Lady Helen Taylor (1964) and Lord Nicholas Windsor (1970), and ten grandchildren, Edward, Baron Downpatrick, Lady Marina-Charlotte Windsor, Lady Amelia Windsor, Columbus Taylor, Cassius Taylor, Eloise Taylor, Estella Taylor, Albert Windsor, Leopold Windsor, and Louis Windsor.

 The Duke of Kent began carrying out official engagements in his late teens.  He continues to represent more than 100 charities, organizations, and military groups. 

The Duke and Duchess of Kent live at Wren House, on the Kensington Palace estate.

All photos come from my collection.  Some were taken by me.

NYC 1987

Westbury Hotel NYC 1985 Best of Britain promotion photo by Marlene A Eilers Koenig

This photo and the photos that follow: @Marlene A Eilers Koenig

Washington DC  1995  VE celebrations

After Trooping 2014

Garter Ceremony 2014

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