Perhaps another royal wedding!

I am currently working on a new book on the descendants of Grand Duke Adolphe of Luxembourg. This project has been on the back burner for some years for a variety of reasons, but I decided that it was time to restart my engines. A publication date has not been set, but the publisher will most likely be Rosvall Royal Books. Don't ask Ted or me about when the book will be ready. I expect to be working on it for the rest of this year.

I have heard from several sources about a possible announcement from the Grand Ducal Palace, perhaps as early as this week. I was not told what the announcement will be, but I can certainly make a guess ... and here are several of my guesses:

the announcement of the engagement of the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume. In 2001, he was apparently dating Pia Haraldsen, a great niece of Queen Sonja of Norway. (Pia was adopted by Sonja's nephew and his wife.) That relationship apparently lasted for about a year or so. He's not been linked with anyone since that time, but that does not mean he's not been seeing someone. The Luxembourg royals can keep their romances under wrap.
Guillaume, who is apparently a fan of American football (and the New York Giants), celebrated his 27th birthday last November.

Grand Duke Henri is to abdicate in favor of his eldest son. This is not a realistic guess, but a guess, nonetheless.

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are to divorce - and he wants to marry someone else. These are guesses, nothing more. Don't read anything into my second and third guesses, nor the first because the only information that I have been told is that there might be an announcement.

I think the announcement will be that Luxembourg has decided to leave the European Union!

In conclusion, let me stress that there may not be an announcement at all, only the possibility of an announcement.

Princess Salm-Salm to visit the USA

March 31, 1899

The Princess Agnes of Salm-Salm will arrive tomorrow in New York aboard the Wilhelm der Grosse, reports the Chicago Daily Tribune. The princess will spend three months in the country, first visiting her sister in Vineland, New Jersey. She will then travel to Chicago, where she will stay with Mrs. Louise Woodbridge Percy, who lives at 451 South Oakley Avenue.

The princess is the former Agnes LeClerq, who married Prince Felix of Salm-Salm in 1862. The German prince served as a general in the U.S. Army and also served in the Mexican Army. He was killed in action at Gravelotte in 1870.

A spoon for Margriet

March 31, 1943

A silver birthday spoon, which was made in the Netherlands, has been smuggled out of the country, and has reached London. The spoon is now en route to Ottawa, as a gift for Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, the youngest daughter of Crown Princess Juliana.
The spoon's bowl has been made from a 1941 Dutch Guilder, a year after the Netherlands was occupied by Germany. The handle of the spoon is "topped" by a 1941 Kmartje coin and a crown.

No Cardinal for French royal nuptials

March 31, 1931

Cardinal Lavitrano will not be able to officiate at the upcoming marriage of Prince Henri, Count of Paris, heir to the pretender to the French throne, and Princess Isabelle of Orleans-Braganca. This is due to the inclusion of two names, Leon Daudet and Charles Maurras, on the guest list. The two men are the leaders of the Action Francaise, the French Royalist society. This group is "under the ban of the Roman Catholic Church," and the presence of the two leaders "is construed as giving an undesirable touch to the ceremony." The guest list officially names the men as journalists.
It is expected that a "lesser churchman" will be asked to officiate at the wedding, which will take place in Palermo on April 8.

Carol asks to be crowned without Helen

March 31, 1931

The Associated Press reports today that King Carol II of Rumania has "expressed the wish to be crowned ruler of Rumania shortly without Princess Helen, who has persistently refused a reconciliation."
Carol return to Rumania on June 6, after five years in exile. He was proclaimed king a month later. He has "proclaimed Helen to be his queen," she continues to refuse his consent for an annulment of their divorce."

Two royal houses may be united in marriage

March 31, 1925

The Chicago Daily Tribune reports today that Princess Mafalda of Italy may be about to announce her engagement. It is said that she once took a vow "that she would die an old maid if some reigning prince did not propose marriage to her." It seems her wish is about to come true. "Reports of Bordighera today indicate that Princess Mafalda probably will sit on Belgium's throne and it looks like a real love affair."
The reporter, George Seldes, writes that the Duke of Brabant, who is the heir to the Belgian throne, has been visiting Princess Mafalda and her mother, Queen Elena, at Bordighera, and "has been anxious to marry the girl for a year, but youthfulness and family considerations interferred."
The Duke of Brabant has again been visiting the Princess, and "an engagement announcement is expected soon."
Princess Mafalda is "truly regal." Everyone in Italy knows that "she opposed the marriage of her sister, Princess Yolanda, to a commoner." She would only marry a prince "as a husband," but "she would not take just anybody the family chose, but she wanted somebody she could love just as the girls do in all the American movies she has seen."
It seems her wish is about to come true. The Duke of Brabant will be accompanied by his sister, Princess Marie-José, "giving rise to the belief that a blonde beauty may some day sit on Italy's throne" as the wife of Crown Prince Umberto.

Dispossed royalty

The Telegraph could have done better with this article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/5067622/Europes-dispossessed-royalty-how-once-great-families-are-coping-without-their-thrones.html

Will Emanuele Filiberto dance his way into politics

Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, who has become a media star on Italy's version of Dancing with Stars, apparently now wants to cha-cha his way into politics: as a member of the European parliament.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/5067531/Prince-Emmanuel-Filiberto-quick-steps-from-Strictly-Come-Dancing-victory-to-politics.html

Juggling those royal schedules

You are British and you want to go to the Trooping the Colour in 2010. But you think it might clash with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's wedding on June 19, and you might want to go to the wedding as well. You need not fear as the Trooping is normally held on the second Saturday in June. The Trooping the Colour is one part of the Queen's official birthday celebration. Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but the weather is better in June.
But the Swedish wedding might clash with Royal Ascot ... and that would be a catastrophe!

Wilhelmina and family to visit Coburg

March 30, 1929

It was announced today that Queen Wilhelmina, who will be accompanied by her husband, the Prince Consort, and their 19-year-old daughter, Princess Juliana, will be visiting Coburg as the guests of the former reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The Dutch royal family will be staying at the Veste Coburg. Juliana is expected to meet the Duke's eldest son, Prince Johann Leopold, 23, who is "mentioned as a possible Prince Consort for Holland's future queen."
The Dutch royal family will also be visiting the United Kingdom and Norway, but Prince Johann Leopold "is said to have the best chance" of marrying Juliana. The Prince is studying at the forestry academy in Münden, near Hanover.
Crown Princess Juliana and Prince Johann Leopold are second cousins, as Wilhelmina and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha are first cousins. Their mothers, Queen Emma, and the Duchess of Albany were sisters.

Queen Elena plans Yolanda's wedding

March 30, 1923

Queen Elena "is personally supervising" Princess Yolanda's wedding plans, the New York Times reports today. The king and queen will host a reception for members of the diplomatic corps on April 7, two days before the wedding, where the diplomats will present greetings "in the names of their respective governments."
Although Princess Yolanda and her fiance, Count Calvi di Bergolo, have asked for no presents, it is understood that the diplomatic corp "are making plans for a present."
Another large reception is planned for the evening of April 8, where members of the Italian aristocracy will be invited, along with guests from the government and military. The civil wedding will take place the next morning at 10 a.m., at the Palace, and the religious wedding will follow a half hour later in the Pauline chapel in the Quirinal.

Archduke arrested after disguise fails

March 30, 1919

Archduke Joseph Francis and Julius Ommeich, a millionaire, were arrested today when they tried to cross the Hungarian border into Germany. The two men were dressed as peasants but their disguise was thrown into question because of their hands. The Chicago Daily Tribune reports today that the two men were "betrayed by their hands, which were out of keeping with the costumes they wore. Their fingernails were manicured and the hands generally clean and showing no signs of hard work."
The two men were sent back to Budapest, where the Hungarian foreign minister, Bela Kun, ordered them to be imprisoned.

Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna arrested

March 30, 1917

A Reuters dispatch from Kislovodsk, Russia, and reported in the New York Times state that Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia, a first cousin to the deposed Nicholas II, has been arrested and is confined to her home. She was arrested after the "seizure of a compromising letter to another cousin of Nicholas, Grand Duke Boris."
The Russian Provisional Government has also declared that all the Imperial appanages are now national property "and that the revenues from them shall be turned into the national treasury." The income from the Grand Ducal appanages is estimated to be about 25 million rubles yearly.

Dutch regency named

March 30, 1909

Both houses of the States General have approved a bill that would institute a regency if Queen Wilhelmina dies in childbirth - and the child survives. The queen is expected to give birth to her first child in the next two weeks.
Wilhelmina's mother, Queen Emma, the consort of the late King Willem III, will be named as Regent for the child, "and in default of the Queen Mother to the Prince Consort," the New York Times reported today.

Royal Romanian blog

I think readers of Royal Musings will enjoy this blog on the Roumanian royal family

http://royalromania.wordpress.com/

Princess fears "red grip"

March 27, 1919

Princess Catherine Radziwill, who is the author of books on European and Russian royalty, "regards the establishment of a soviet government in Hungary as only one step in a formidable well planned movement to create a combination of nations and peoples, compared to which the thwarted Teutonic Mitteleuropa ambitions would be child's play," reports the Los Angeles Times.
The princess, who is traveling incognito with just one maid, consented to an interview during her visit to Philadelphia. She said she is "haunted and filled with dread by a vision between Bolshevist Russia, Bolshevist Germany, Bolshevist Austria, Bolshevist Hungary and China." In her opinion, the princess does not think that the Allies "would never be able to withstand or overcome."
Her solution: "Intervention, intervention, intervention." she declared "in a voice trembling with passion, and her little foot tapped the floor." She added that if the "Allies had intervened in Russia from the start. if they had set Trotzky and Lenin up against the wall, and shot them like the dogs they are, Europe would not now be suffering from the leprosy of Bolshevism."
Princess Catherine feels that "civilization will be blasted" if there is no Allied intervention.
"You notice how the Bolsheviki are killing off systematically all persons of intelligence and education in Russia. There are hardly any left today unless in the jails and mines of Siberia."
The Princess said she feels that is is wrong to demobilize because "the war is not over by any means." She added that she believes that the "European situation is now far more serious than in 1914 or at any other time during the hostilities. The Peace Conference does not rush its work. Germany and its secret allies will recuperate. Then what will happen. Imagine how difficult it will be to remobilize. Think of America having to send its men overseas again."
Princess Catherine has had first hand experience of the situation. "What I possessed in Russia has been destroyed, wiped out by the Bolsheviki, but let me tell you that it was the Germans who invented Bolshevism. They saw that they were losing the war in the west, and they were determined to win it in the east. They did not. But they will yet, unless the Allies wake up and intervene."
She would not give an opinion of the League of Nations. But she did say that "the American government is so vitally interested in this problem that it would hardly be in good taste for me, who enjoy the hospitality of this country, to comment on the matter. I am glad to say, though, that I am a great admirer of President Wilson."

Alfonso XIII has found his bride

March 27, 1905

The only obstacle in an announcement of the engagement between King Alfonso XIII and Princess Patricia of Connaught is religion, reports the Chicago Daily Tribune. The announcement is dependent on the "princess becoming a Catholic." It is understood that Princess Patricia's uncle King Edward VII will agree to her conversion.

Crown Prince will not wed a Catholic

March 27, 1901

The New York Times reports a Cologne Gazette story that refutes rumors about a marriage between Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany and an Austrian archduchess. The "well-informed" paper says the Crown Prince will"under no circumstances marry a Roman Catholic, but either a German or an English princess."

It's a boy!

Nils and Jedida Prinz und Prinzessin von Sachsen are the parents of a son, Moritz Viktor Ferdinand Anton. The newest little Sachsen was born in Dresden on March 21. He is the first grandchild for Rüdiger Prinz von Sachsen, only son of the late Prince Timo of Saxony.

http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/artikel.asp?id=2110266

Happy Birthday, Crown Princess Margarita

Today is the 60th birthday of Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, who lives in Bucharest with her husband, Prince Radu. The princess is the eldest of five daughters of King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania. She will be the guest of honor at a party tonight in Bucharest.

Happy Birthday!
http://www.familiaregala.ro/?id2=02020200A2&lng=

Princess Luise's confirmation

Princess Luise of Prussia and her younger brother, Prince Friedrich Karl, were confirmed together.

Princess Luise of Prussia has died

Princess Luise of Prussia died on March 23, 2009 at Schloss Bückeburg. She was 91-years-old. The Princess was born at Haus Glienicke in Berlin as the only daughter of Prince Friedrich Sigismund of Prussia and his wife, Princess Marie Louise of Schaumburg-Lippe. She was named for her grandmother, Princess Louise of Denmark, who was the daughter of Frederik VIII.
In 1942, she married Hans Reinhold. A year later, she gave birth to a son, Manfred. The marriage ended in divorce in 1949, and the princess never remarried.
As the Soviet Army approached Potsdam, where the princess and her son lived, they were forced to flee their home. For a time, they were the guests of the Duke and Duchess of Arenberg at their home, Schloss Nordkirchen. In the early 1950s, the Princess was given an apartment in the west wing of Schloss Bückeburg, where she lived for the rest of her life. She remained close to members of Schaumburg-Lippe and Danish royal families.
Princess Luise was the last member of the Hohenzollern family who was born before the end of the monarchy. She will be interred in the family crypt in Berlin's Schlosspark Glienicke.
Princess Luise is survived by her son, Manfred, and daughter-in-law, the former Susan Macovsky. (The couple were married on August 25, 1991 in a Jewish ceremony at the United Nations Plaza Hotel in New York City.)
The top photo is a postcard of the Princess from my collection. The second is also a postcard from my collection, and shows the Princess with her younger brother, Prince Friedrich Karl. The third photo shows Manfred Reinhold reading a book about the Prussians. The photo was taken by Princess Luise. The fourth photo is of Prince Friedrich Sigismund and Princess Marie Louise's wedding in 1916. The final photo is also of Princess Louise. The last three photos were given to me by Princess Luise.

http://www.preussen.de/de/heute/aktuell/trauer_um_prinzessin_luise_von_pressen_(1917-2009).html

Mrs. Tooth dead at 81 -- in 2000!

The Daily Telegraph today reports the death of Mrs. Geoffrey Tooth. She was 81-years-old. One major problem ... the Princess died on October 22, 2000 - and the Daily Telegraph published the same obituary on November 13, 2000! Enjoy it.

Mrs. Tooth was born Princess Xenia Romanoff, the daughter of Prince Andrei of Russia, who was the son of Grand Duke Alexander and Grand Duchess Xenia, who was Nicholas II's sister. Prince Andrei had married morganatically in 1918 to Donna Elisabetta Ruffo, a member of an Italian noble family. But she was not a member of a reigning or royal family, which was required for dynastic marriages.
Prince Andrei (known in England as Prince Andrew) and his family moved to Provender, near Faversham in Kent. (The house is now the home of Xenia's half-sister, Princess Olga.)

Here is a link to the Daily Telegraph obit:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1374182/Princess-Xenia-of-Russia.html

The princess was married twice. Her first husband was an American, Calhoun Ancrum, Jr., who was born in the Philippines, where his father, a U.S. Marine officer was based. The couple's engagement was announced on May 30, 1945 in London.
[Ancrum was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, which was his cover as he was an officer in the Office of Strategic Services. From 1943 to 1945, Ancrum flew once a week from England "over Germany to convey instructions by radio to anti-Nazi Germans", according to his obitary in the Boston Globe. Ancrum was fluent in German, French, Italian, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Russian. After the second world war, he worked for the U.S. Allied Secretariat in Berlin and for the U.S. High Commissioner in Germany. In 1970, Ancrum entered the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachussetts. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest, and served as the assistant rector at the Old North Church in Boston. He died on February 21, 1990 at the Massachusetts General Hospital.}
The Princess and her brother, Michael, became British subjects in 1938, according to the New York Times article about the engagement.
Princess Xenia and Ancrum were married in a Russian Orthodox service in London on June 17, 1945. The couple were divorced nine years later, and in 1958, Xenia married a Briton, Geoffrey Tooth, whose first wife was Princess Olga Galitzine. Tooth died in 1998
Xenia Tooth did not have children by either marriage. She is survived by her brother, Andrew, who lives in San Francisco, and her half-sister, Olga.

Baby George cries at christening

March 25, 1923

Princess Mary's son was baptised today, Palm Sunday, at St Mary's,the small village church at Goldsborough, which adjoins the Harewood estate. The Princess is married to Viscount Lascelles, who is the heir apparent to the Earldom of Harewood.
The little boy was given the names George Henry Hubert. According to the New York Times report, which was featured on page one, the baby "cried lustily during the great part" of the ceremony. Local villagers consider crying at a baptism to be lucky.
Invitations to the baptism were limited to the family and to the local Goldsborough residents and Harewood estate tenants. "Elaborate precautions were taken to keep visiting strangers away," as the police presence had been increased to forty.
Inside the chapel, the baptism took place at the "close of morning service, when King George V and Queen Mary, Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles, the sponsors and their proxies took their places around the baptismal font. As the ceremony processed, Master Lascelles "promptly started to cry, and his voice gradually gathered strength until the congregation could not hear the words of the baptismal ceremony."
Princess Mary and her husband "at first looked somewhat uncomfortable, but soon resigned themselves to what could not be helped."
George's cries "were stilled for a moment" when Queen Mary took her grandson into his arms and announced his names, George Henry Hubert. Her "voice could be distinctly heard in every part of the church. But George "made another vociferous protest" when he "felt the touch of the cold water" as the the Archbishop of York baptised him.
The Archbishop then said: "In order that with a full heart we may singly and collectively command this child to love of God let there be silence for one minute."
The congregation then knelt, and indeed, there was silence, even from the Hon. George Lascelles, who is the first grandchild for King George V and Queen Mary.
The godparents are Queen Alexandra (the Countess of Harewood stood proxy), Lady Patricia Ramsay (Lady Mary Trefusis), the Earl of Harewood, who is ill (his son, Major the Hon. Edward Lascelles), and Prince George represented General Sir George Higginson, who is the oldest living officer in the Grenadier Guards. Lord Lascelles formely served in the Grenadier Guards.
The baby wore the family baptismal gown that was first worn in 1840 by Queen Victoria's first child, Princess Victoria.
In the afternoon, the four grandparents "planted a lime tree in the grounds" to commemorate George's baptism.
As the King entered the church, the choir led the singing of two verses of the National Anthem. Lord Lascelles read both the lessons, and the hymns included a Palm Sunday anthem, "Ride on in Majesty," and "Loving Shepherd of Thy Son," a childrens' hymn "specially chosen" by Queen Mary.
After the singing of "All glory, laud and honor," the chapel doors were "thrown open," and the nurse carried in the baby as the royal family and their guests proceeded to the baptistry, for the actual ceremony.
Queen Alexandra, who is one of the godparents, attended divine service at the chapel at Marlborough House. She was accompanied by the Princess Royal and Princess Maud.

Queen Olga of Greece, the Princess Royal with Princess Maud and Grand Duchess Xenia visited Queen Alexandra today, and stayed for lunch at Marlborough House, according to the Court Circular.

Renunciation in Serbia

March 25, 1909

Crown Prince George of Serbia has sent his renunciation to the throne to the premier, according to a report in today's Chicago Tribune. The renunciation has come after a "campaign of comment which has been carried on in the press against the excesses which the young prince has carried out." The climax came after the prince was "practically accused of having slain one of the palace servants."
The Serbian premier has sent the letter to King Peter, upon "the advice of Parliament," as he does not have the legal right in accepting any message of such grave import from the hands of the prince."
There are further complications because Peter's second son, Prince Alexander, has declined the succession and has declared "that neither his father or the parliament has the right or power to force him into the place."
Public opinion, however, favors Prince Alexander over his older brother, as he is "intelligent, and would be a much more acceptable heir to the throne."
Prince George's wild career and contempt of law have scandalized the country."
Prince George sent his letter to the Premier, without consulting his father, King Peter.
The Prince's letter states: "Drive by unjustified insinuations, based on an unfortunate occurrence, I beg in defense of my honor, as well as my conscience, to declare that I renounce all claims to the throne as well as any other privileges to which I am entitled. I beg you to take the necessary steps that this action may receive sanction. I place at my services as a soldier and a citizen at the disposal of the king and fatherland. I am ready to give my life for them."
The "unfortunate occurrence" is the death of a man named Kolakovits, who was one of George's servants.

Auguste Viktoria in Germany

March 25, 1905

German Empress Auguste Viktoria arrived in Civia Vecchia, Italy, today, where she was met by King Victor Emanuel and Queen Elena, who brought along her six-month-old son, Crown Prince Umberto, as she is still nursing, reports the New York Times.
Despite a heavy rain storm, more than 10,000 people gathered at the harbor to see the Empress' arrival. The meeting between the sovereigns was "most cordial." The Queen and the Empress embraced, and then Elena presented Auguste Viktoria with a "handsome bouquet."
The Empress told the king that "she was very happy to be in Italy."

Count throws money away

March 25, 1905

The New York Times reports today that the Count von Nidda, said to be a relative of the Grand Duke of Hesse, started throwing money away in Berlin.
The Count, who lives in Cassel, and is a "millionaire and as well-known sportsman," caused some excitement when he began "throwing money at people" in front of the Hotel König von Preussen. Very shortly streets were blocked, and police were called in to assist with the growing crowd. It is not known how much the Count gave away, but "it must have been a very large sum."

Hello Reykjavik!

Just noticed that someone from Reykjavik, Iceland, is reading Royal Musings ... just to let you know, Iceland is one of my favorite places in the world. Wish I could be having dinner at the Pearl tonight ... or having a luxurious massage at the Blue Lagoon.
Iceland is a place to visit .. a truly wonderful country, great people, and just about everyone speaks English!

Lots of names for a little princess

On December 1, 2008, HSH The Princess of Schaumburg-Lippe gave birth to a daughter in Munich. The little princess is the second child for the Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe, but the first child for the Princess, who is the Prince's second wife. The Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe has a son, Hereditary Prince Heinrich, by his first wife, HSH Princess Marie-Louise of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

The new little princess is known as Felipa, but she has been given a mouthful of royal names: Friederike Marie-Christine Elisabeth Thaddaea Benita Eleonore Felipa.

Interview with Crown Princess Mary

From an Australian magazine:

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/princess-mary-reveals-ordinary-side-20090324-98wm.html

Windsor or Mountbatten-Windsor

There appears to be some confusion over who is a Windsor or who is a Mountbatten-Windsor. That's understandable. In 1917, when George V changed the name of the house from Saxe-Coburg and Goth to Windsor, and limited the HRH and the title Prince or Princess to the children of the sovereign and the grandchildren of the sovereign in the male line, the family name Windsor would be used for those male line descendants who are not titled. Thus, HH Prince Alistair of Connaught lost his princely title. As his mother was a peeress in her own right (Duchess of Fife), little Alistair was styled by the dukedom's secondary title, Earl of Macduff. He was also the heir to the Connaught dukedom, which he inherited in 1942, following the death of his grandfather, HRH The Duke of Connaught.
Alistair became the first non-royal duke of Connaught. He died in 1943, unmarried, in Ottawa, Canada. The Windsor surname would have been used by his children, particularly daughters and younger sons.
When Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip, the wedding registration shows her name: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. When she became queen, she announced that the House and the Family name would remain Windsor. But in 1960, she issued a new Letters Patent that stated the House name would remain Windsor, but the family name -- for those who would need a surname --would be Mountbatten-Windsor. This applied to her descendants only. Thus, the male line descendants of George V would continue to have the surname Windsor. When the Duchess of Kent gave birth to a son, George, in 1962, the little boy was styled with the courtesy title Earl of St. Andrews, so the first instance to see Windsor as a surname was in 1964 when the Duchess of Kent gave birth to a daughter, Lady Helen Windsor. The Windsor name will continue through the male line descendants of the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent.
The Mountbatten-Windsor surname made its first official appearance in November 1973 when Princess Anne married Mark Phillips. The wedding registration shows her name as Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. The surname also appears on Andrew's and Edward's wedding registrations. The name was not used on the Prince of Wales' wedding registration.
When Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, Buckingham Palace announced that their children would not be styled by the HRH or the title of Prince or Princess (in spite of the 1917 Letters Patent.) Edward was created Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn. In November 2003, the Countess of Wessex gave birth to a daughter. Buckingham Palace announced that the baby would be named Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor, but would be styled as The Lady Louise Windsor. The couple's son, James, who was born in December 2007, bears the courtesy title Viscount Severn. Buckingham Palace announced that his surname is Mountbatten-Windsor. His male line descendants will also use this surname.

Bavarian-Auersperg wedding

Princess Alice of Bavaria and Prince Lukas of Auersperg will marry on August 29, 2009 at Kloster Andechs. The civil marriage has not taken place. The bride-to-be chose to use her future surname for her submitted scientific paper for 2008.

Royal wedding - June 19, 2010

The Royal Palace today provided the first details about the forthcoming marriage between Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling.
Their wedding will take place on June 19, 2010 at the Storkyran in Stockholm. If the date sounds familiar, it is because June 19 (1976) is the day when King Carl XVI Gustaf married Silvia Sommerlath.
June 19 appears to be a popular day for Swedish royal weddings:
Oscar I and Josephine Leuchtenberg (1823)
Carl XV and Louise of the Netherlands (1850)

http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/03/23/europe/OUKWD-UK-SWEDEN-PRINCESS.php

Mary and Frederik to visit Nebraska on Tuesday

Here is a link to a local article about the upcoming visit to Nebraska by the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10592866

Archduke Friedrich to sue Poland for lost estates

March 23, 1927

The Associated Press reports today that the former Archduke Friedrich of Austria, who once served as as Commander in Chief of the Austria Army, has filed suit against Poland for restitution of his estates in the the area of Silesia, which was once under Austrian control. The estates, which are valued at more than $25,000,000, were confiscated according to the terms of the Treaty of St. Germain. Archduke Friedrich states that the terms of the treaty does not apply to he and his family, which he describes as "merely a collateral branch of the Habsburgs." He is also willing to accept a partial settlement, where he would receive one-third of the estates."

New rumors for Wales marriage

March 23, 1927

This is an exclusive to the Los Angeles Times. Britain's heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales, will be visiting Spain next month, and the "possibility of an Infanta becoming the next Queen of England is again being discussed in Madrid." The Prince of Wales will visit the Spanish royal family on April 10, and stay through Easter week.
Although the prince will travel incognito, "elaborate plans are being made by the King, the aristocracy and the government to entertain the British heir." He will spend most of his time at Seville, as the guest of the Marqués Yanduri, whose home is described as a "magnificent princely abode in Southern Spain." Spanish grandees are expected to host hunts for the prince on their estates. There will also be a series of balls, where the prince will the guest of honor, and the younger members of the Spanish royal family, including the Prince of the Asturias, Don Jaime and the Infantas Beatriz and Cristina, will attend.
However, due to King Alfonso's "puzzling malady", there will be little entertaining in Madrid.

The New York Times reports, however, that the Prince of Wales will "witness the religious ceremonies of Holy Week."

Queen Alexandra in Copenhagen

March 23, 1901

Queen Alexandra arrived in Copenhagen today from Roskilde. She was accompanied by her father, King Christian IX of Denmark, and her younger sister, the Dowager Empress of Russia. The queen, who is the consort of Britain's Edward VII, is currently visiting family in her native Denmark.

Bayern-Auersperg nuptials

HRH Princess Alice of Bavaria will marry HSH Prince Lukas of Auersperg on August 29, 2009. There been no public announcement of the engagement, but Dutch royal enthusiast Netty Leistra found the forthcoming marriage while searching through bridal registry lists. She found a listing for Alice Bayern and Lukas Auersperg, who are getting married on August 29, 2009.
It is possible that the couple are already married. Alice's older sister, Dr. Auguste von Bayern, who is a member of the Behavioral Ecology Research group at Oxford University. She refers to a collaboration with Alice Auersperg at the University of Vienna.
In most European countries, the religious wedding is not the legal marriage. Civil marriages are the legal marriages with the exception of the United Kingdom and Ireland and Scandinavia, where religious and civil weddings are recognized as equal.
The princess, who has a degree in zoology from Edinburgh university, and who is now working on her doctorate at the University of Vienna, is the second of five children of Prince Luitpold of Bavaria and his wife, the former Beatrix Wiegand. Prince Luitpold, who manages the family brewery at Kaltenberg, is second in line to the Bavarian succession, and will one day be the head of the Royal House of Bavaria.
Prince Lukas is the eldest child and only son of Prince and Princess Andreas of Auersperg, who will celebrate their 30th anniversary on April 21.
Alice and Lukas, both of whom were born in 1981, met at Edinburgh University in Scotland. Lukas studied engineering.

Nice piece on the Prince of Wales

Andrew Alderson is a good and competent royal writer. Here is his latest article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/5028498/Prince-of-Wales-If-people-now-realise-I-wasnt-talking-complete-nonsense-then-Im-delighted.html

Kate Middleton: heiress

Claudia Joseph wrote this article on Kate Middleton's family for the Mail on Sunday. She is the author of an eponymous book, Kate Middleton: Princess in Waiting, which will be published in the UK in April by Mainstream Publishing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1163716/Revealed-Secrets-Middletons-money-Kates-ancestors-fortune.html

Plane delay for Danish royals due to a bomb threat

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary are en route to the US for official visits to Chicago, Nebraska, Colorado and New York City.

Their SAS flight to Chicago was delayed due to a bomb threat that lead to the plane being evacuated.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gVuU5tUxKFOSelpxNT1bI-GGnGRQ

More on Prince Jean

Here is a link to an article (in German) from the Luxembourger Wort.

http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/letzebuerg/artikel/11627/prinz-jean-heiratet-niederlaendische-adlige.php

It is assumed that Jean's wife will be styled as HRH and a Princess of Luxembourg, or HRH and a Princess of Nassau. This will be decided by Jean's brother, Grand Duke Henri. Prince Jean retains his title, but renounced his rights to the throne in 1986.

Greedy Countess

You would think that Countess Marie Douglas would consider how insensitive her demand is for $100 million from her husband as they enter the final phase of their divorce. Marie, who is a member of the Swedish countly family, has been married to George David, former head of United Technologies. He is worth in the range of $329 million, and has offered $43 million as a settlement for their six year marriage.
Marie has filed all of her expenses with the court, and she has at least three homes, two in Sweden, and one in New York City.
Marie is the niece of Rosita, Duchess of Marlborough (who was divorced last year from the Duke of Marlborough) and The Duchess in Bavaria.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5945856.ece

An interesting letter in the Daily Telegraph

The letter refers to the Titles Deprivation act, where two British princes (the Duke of Albany and the Duke of Cumberland), were stripped of their British peerages in 1917.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/5018396/How-we-stripped-British-princes-of-their-peerages.html

Prince Jean of Luxembourg remarries

Prince Jean of Luxembourg, who is the younger brother of Grand Duke Henri, was married yesterday in Roermund, the Netherlands, to Diane de Guerre. The couple were married in a civil ceremony. Prince Jean renounced his right of succession to the Luxembourg throne in September 1986 shortly after the birth of his first child, Marie-Gabrielle. The following May, he married Marie-Gabrielle's mother, French lawyer, Helene Vestsur. The couple went on to have three more children, Constantin, Wencelas and Carl-Johan before getting divorced. In 2004, Prince Jean's children were raised from the the rank of Count or Countess of Nassau to HRH and the title Prince or Princess of Nassau, but without dynastic rights.

Diane de Guerre, who was born in 1962, is the daughter of Claude Gaston de Guerre(1910-1997)and second wife, Countess Eugenie Wolff-Metternich (1923). Diane has one brother, Thibaud, and a sister, Valerie.

Here is a link to Roermond's official site with information (in Dutch) about the wedding - and two photographs from the civil ceremony.

http://www.roermond.nl/index55181.htm

Margrethe designs costumes

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has designed costumes for a new film.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5haE5q3OY87xeTC9L6I37WzMG-K6Q

Alexander to Mom: don't come home

March 20, 1889

King Alexander has written to his mother, former Queen Nathalie, "to remain absent" from Serbia, as her "presence in the country would render his position as a difficult one," according to the New York Times.

Beatriz to wed cousin

March 20, 1931

"Well-informed circles" told the Associated Press today that the engagement between Infanta Beatriz of Spain and Prince Alvaro of Orleans-Borbon will soon be announced. Beatriz, 21, and Alvaro, 20, are double second cousins. Beatriz's mother, Queen Ena, and Alvaro's mother, Princess Beatrice, are first cousins, as are King Alfonso XIII and Prince Alfonso, who is also an Infant of Spain.
Prince Alvaro is an aviation enthusiast, and "flies his own plane." The AP also reports that King Alfonso will bestow the title Infante on Prince Alvaro after the engagement is announced.

Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece leave for France

March 20, 1923

Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece left New York today for France. The New York Times reports that the prince and princess had been staying with Andrew's brother, Prince Christopher and his wife, Princess Anastasia. They are traveling on board the Aquitania, and have no plans to return to Greece, as Prince Andrew did not want to risk the chance of being executed." He was recently tried in Greece by a court-martial and exiled from his country "following the Greek military disaster in Asia Minor."
Prince and Princess Andrew said they hoped to return to New York later in the year.
Prince Christopher accompanied them to the pier. He and his wife were also scheduled to travel on the Aquitania, but due to Princess Anastasia's health, their plans have changed, and they will leave New York when she is better.
Prince Andrew said he and his family will stay in Paris "indefinitely."

Constantine in Athens

March 20, 1913

King Constantine of the Hellenes is now in Athens, according to the New York Times, and will be proclaimed king tomorrow and take the oath in the Chamber of Deputies. The body of the late king George will be placed on warship in Salonika on March 26, and will be brought to Athens on the following day. The funeral will probably take place on March 30. It was announced today that a special mausoleum will be constructed for the late king.

Pope to be Spanish baby's godfather

March 20, 1907

The Pope announced today that he will be the godparent to the expected child of the King and Queen of Spain. It was also announced that the Pope will send a Golden Rose to Queen Victoria Eugenie "on the occasion of the birth of her expected child," according to the New York Times.

A very sweet interview with Prince William

All I can say is AHHH!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/5011509/Prince-William-has-Harry-Potter-scar-from-golf-accident.html

the duke of Vendome marries

HRH Prince Jean of Orleans, Duke of Vendome, was married today to Philomena Tornos y Steinhart. Their civil marriage took place in Paris, and was attended by family and friends. The guests included the groom's parents, and stepmother, his sister, Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, and several of her children, his brother, the Duke of Angouleme and his wife, Marie-Liesse. The groom's aunt, Princess Chantal also attended with her husband, and her daughter, Kildine, and Kildine's two young children.

King of Greece murdered at Salonika

March 18. 1913

King George I of the Hellenes was assassinated today at Salonika through Salonika. He was shot by a Greek, who was "said to be a socialist, while talking a walk down the main street. The attack took place at 5:15 p.m. The king died 30 minutes later. "Since his triumphal entry into Salonika, the King had been accustomed to take an afternoon walk, either to the famous White Tower or to the cavalry barracks," reports the New York Times. Despite repeated warnings for his safety, "the King's confidence in the people was so great that he went about freely attended by a single equerry."
He was in an upbeat, happy mood as he walked toward the White Tower. He talked about the war, the Greek armies and the capture of Yanina and Salonika, which was seen as a "fitting climax to his fifty years' reign."
He said to his aide: "Tomorrow when I pay my formal visit to the dreadnought Goeben, it is the fact that a German battleship is to honor a Greek King here in Salonika that will fill me with happiness and contentment."
These were the king's last words. At only two paces away, Aleko Schinas, "a Greek of feeble intellect" fired a gun into the king's back. The bullet entered "below the shoulder blade and made its exit from the stomach." The king slumped to the ground. The jeweled cross that he always wore was "smothered with blood."
The King, as Prince Vilhelm of Denmark, was only 17-years-old when he was elected king of the Hellenes. His older sister, Queen Alexandra, was said to be stricken, when she was told of her brother's death. The news had been broken to her by her daughter, Princess Victoria.

King George is survived by his wife, Queen Olga, and six of their eight children, Constantine, who has succeeded as king, George, Nicholas, Marie, Andrew and Christopher. One daughter, Alexandra, died in childbirth, and another daughter, Olga, died as an infant.
He is also survived by three sisters, Queen Alexandra of Great Britain, the Dowager Empress Marie of Russia and the Duchess of Cumberland.
The new King Constantine is married to Princess Sophie of Prussia. Their eldest son, George, becomes the Diadoch, or Crown Prince of Greece.

Cecilie's mom to not attend wedding

March 18, 1905

It was reported today by the New York Times that the Grand Duchess of Meckleburg-Schwerin will not attend the wedding of her daughter, Duchess Cecilie to the Crown Prince of Prussia. The former Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia "alleges that ill-health will compel her to spend the Summer in the south of France."

Felipe & Letizia are in NYC

The Prince and Princess of Asturias are in New York City on an official visit. But don't expect to find much coverage by the New York City media. The three New York city dailies (Times, News and Post) have not had any coverage. But here is a link from one source about the visit.

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=329738&CategoryId=12395.

It is not a snub. Dignataries visit NYC every day, and the local papers cannot chase every one. In New York, the prince and princess are just one of many.

Zoubkoff asks France for a passport

March 17, 1929

Alexander Zoubkoff, the 29-year-old brother-in-law of the Kaiser Wilhelm II, arrived in Paris today from Luxembourg, according to a United Press report published in the Chicago Daily Tribune. He promptly went into hiding as friends sought out a visa for his passport.
He would like for his wife, 63-year-old Princess Victoria of Schaumburg-Lippe to join him in Paris. Zoubkoff told reporters that he has signed a contract to work as a circus performer "in order to leave Luxemburg." As soon as he gets a French visa, he will return to Luxemburg, and "then make formal reentry into France."
Zoubkoff has denied that Princess Victoria is bankrupt, despite the official proceedings that have been brought against her by members of her family. The Schaumburg-Lippes want to "get control of her jewels and other properties, most of which are family inheritances."
The Princess is the widow of Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe.
He told reporters: "They'll never get her jewels. Only Victoria and I know where they are. Her family tries to paint me as living on her money, but for the last eight months I have sent money to her.
"German royalists were greatly angered by my marriage. On the wedding day I received eight thousand letters and telegrams, many of them threatening me with death. But the Hohenzollerns, except the Kaiser, really weren't angry.
"I met Prince Adalbert, brother of Victoria and the Kaiser, who asked me: 'I am only curious to know why you want to marry my sister.'
[Victoria does not have a brother, Adalbert. She has two brothers, Wilhelm II, the former Kaiser, and Henry, who lived at Hemmelmark, with his wife, Irene. Prince Adalbert is the Kaiser's son. It is unlikely that Zoubkoff talked with Prince Henry, who is gravely ill, at his home. The AP reported on February 13 that Prince Henry, is suffering from cancer of the larynx, the same cancer that killed his father, Friedrich III. Prince Henry was not well enough to attend the Kaiser's 70th birthday celebrations at Doorn in January.]
"He laughed when I told him. I still get letters from Victoria, constantly while I was in Luxemburg. She still loves me. Victoria has an income of only ten thousand dollars a year, so I must help make a living. I can sing, dance, ride and look pretty, so I don't expect much trouble finding a job in a theater or a circus."

Nicholas II abdicates for himself and for his son

This is the text of Nicholas II's abdication manifesto:

We, Nicholas II, by the Grace of God Emperor of all the Russias, Czar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, and etc., make known to all our faithful subjects:

In the days of the great struggle against the foreign enemies, who for nearly three years have tried to enslave our fatherland, the Lord God has been pleased to send down on Russia a new heavy trial. Internal popular disturbances threaten to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent war. The destiny of Russia, the honor of our heroic army, the welfare of the people and the whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war should be brought to a victorious conclusion whatever the cost. The cruel enemy is making his last efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army together with our gallant allies will crush him. In these decisive days in the life of Russia, We thought it Our duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people the closest union possible and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of victory. In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power. As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire. We direct Our brother to conduct the affairs of state in full and inviolable union with the representatives of the people in the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established by them, and on which He will take an inviolable oath.

In the name of Our dearly beloved homeland, We call on Our faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfill their sacred duty to the fatherland, to obey the tsar in the heavy moment of national trials, and to help Him, together with the representatives of the people, to guide the Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare, and glory. May the Lord God help Russia!

The document was "largely prepared in advance" by a Duma committee, according to the New York Times. The abdication took place on March 15.

Grand Duke Michael, as Nicholas' heir, has also issued a manifesto, which was released by the Russian semi-official news agency.
A heavy burden has been laid on me by my brother's will in transferring to me the imperial throne of All Russia at a time of unprecedented war and unrest among the people.

Inspired by the thought common to the whole nation, that the well-being of our homeland comes above all, I have taken the hard decision to accept supreme power only in the event that it shall be the will of our great people, who in nationwide voting must elect their representatives to a Constituent Assembly, establish a new form of government and new fundamental laws for the Russian State.

Therefore, calling on God's blessing, I ask all citizens of the Russian State to obey the provisional government which has been formed and been invested with complete power on the initiative of the State Duma, until a Constituent Assembly, to be convened in the shortest possible time on the basis of general, direct, equal, secret ballot, expresses the will of the people in its decision on a form of government.

Both manifestos were republished in the New York Times.

Prince of Wales off to Germany

March 17, 1913

The Prince of Wales today left for Germany, where he will remain for several weeks, according to the New York Times. The Prince will first visit Stuttgart, where he will be the guest of the King and Queen of Württemberg. The reason for his "sojourn to Germany is to study the language."

King of Saxony tries to get the public on his side

March 17, 1903

The Associated Press today published a letter from the King of Saxony to his subjects regarding the situation with Crown Princess Louise. The King's letter is an effort to thank his subjects for their support for the "recent sad misfortune" that has affected the Saxon royal family.
The King hopes that the "perturbation and excitement which seized on the people in consequence of the distressing events of last winter will now give place to quietude, and the old feeling of confidence."
He also begs his people to not believe Louise. "...that behind all the miserable business lies a tissue of falsehood and deception, but to believe the word of your king that this infinitely painful affair arose solely from the ungovernable passion of a young woman."

FInancial reasons for Boris' trip

March 16, 1929

The real reason for King Boris of Bulgaria's European sojourn was not to seek medical attention, according to a Prague newspaper, but to seek a solution to "the financial difficulties that stand in his way of his marriage to Princess Giovanna of Italy, and that of his brother, Prince Cyril, to a 'member of the New York gold aristocracy.'" Thus, was the statement in the Prager Tagblatt, and reported by the New York Times.
Prince Cyril is involved in "long drawn out legal battle" against Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Dorothea, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein over the estate of the late Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The estate is worth $30,000,000. The "protracted legal quarrel" also now includes the Czechoslovakian government, creditors and the "prospective inheritors." All of this wrangling has taken its toll, and the legal costs "may absorb the greater part of the estate if the case persists much longer."
Prince Cyril is currently in the United States and "it is believed that he cherishes matrimonial intentions." It has been assumed that King Boris has visited his cousin, Dorothea, at her home in Primkenau, and has urged her "to make a compromise with the other two claimants."

Queen Marie carries offer of crown to Carol

The Chicago Daily Tribune's European correspondent William Shirer reports today that Queen Marie of Roumania is en route to Paris to see her son, Prince Carol. According to "reliable information," the Queen's plan is to bring Carol back "to the throne he renounced for the love of a red-headed girl."
The Queen, who is accompanied by her daughter, Princess Ileana, boarded a train to Belgrade, where they were met by another daughter, Queen Marie of Yugoslavia, and her young son, Crown Prince Peter. The Yugoslavian queen and her son will accompany the party until they reach the Italian border.
Queen Marie of Roumania's palatial, private cars are attached to the Orient Express. Prince Carol is said to be meeting the train tomorrow in Paris.
The Queen's announcement that she would go to Paris has meet with "quick repercussions" from Roumanian politicians. Former prime minister Bratiano, who is considered the person "largely responsible for forcing Carol to renounce his rights, bitterly denounced the regency in a parliamentary debate."
Marie has told her friends that she wants to spend time with her sister, Grand Duchess Victoria, who lives in Dinard, France, which is not far from Prince Carol's home, where he has lived with Elena Lupescu.
Many assume that Carol will join his mother in Dinard, "where final plans will be worked out for a peaceful return to Bucharest and probably the throne."

Hermine has surgery

March 16, 1925

The Empress Hermine, the second wife of Kaiser Wilhelm II, underwent surgery today in Berlin, according to international reports. The operation, considered minor, was performed by a well-known German gynecologist. Hermine is expected to remain in the hospital for two weeks.

Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia seeks divorce

March 16, 1919

The Kleine Journal, a Berlin newspaper, reports on the forthcoming divorce between Prince and Princess Eitel Friedrich of Prussia. The Prince is the second son of the former Kaiser.
The Prince has begun proceedings against his wife, the former Duchess Sophie Charlotte of Oldenburg, and has charged that she committed adultery before the war. The prince wanted to file the action before the war began, but his father "vetoed the plan," according to the New York Times, which picked up the story from the Berlin paper.
The Prince and Princess were married in 1906, and have no children. In November 1913, the Kleine Journal reported that the couple had separated and were planning a divorce. At this time, this story was denied by the prince and princess.

Queen Wilhelmina to visit England

March 16, 1907

The Chicago Daily Tribune reports today that unless the plans are abandoned, Queen Wilhelmina will pay a state visit to the United Kingdom. The visit has been long-postponed due to the Boer War, but Queen Wilhelmina and her consort can expect a "genuine welcome" if they do make the visit this coming summer.

The newspaper also notes that "everyone in London is delighted with the manner in which Queen Alexandra is going about town with her sister, the dowager empress of Russia." The two sisters are seen together at the theatre, nearly every night. "They come so quietly that often the audiences are not aware of the presence of royalty till the performance is well over."
The two women also enjoy "daily rounds of shopping," which is "without any of that restraint which must be observed at home." They drive along Piccadilly or Regent street with little fanfare "without any escort" and are usually unnoticed unless one "is vigilant to note the royal arms on the carriage doors."
Queen Alexandra is said to looking "younger and brighter than ever."

The cost of Victoria's funeral

March 16, 1901

The Civil Service Supplementary Estimates issued today the cost of Queen Victoria's funeral, according to a report in the New York Times. The cost of the funeral was £35,000, of which £11,400 was used to feed and house the foreign guests.

Christiane Bernadotte-Grandmontagne

Christiane Grandmontagne nearly became a princess. She was the girlfriend of Prince Christian-Sigismund of Prussia, the fourth son of Prince Louis Ferdinand, the head of the former ruling house. The couple talked of marriage, but Christiane was not of equal rank, Prince Louis Ferdinand did not approve. The situation was complicated by the fact that Christiane was pregnant with Christian's child. Despite, Christiane's pregnancy, Prince Louis Ferdinand would not agree to the marriage. If Christian-Sigismund married Christiane, he would lose his succession rights. He was second in line, after his brother, Louis Ferdinand. (The two eldest brothers, Friedrich Wilhelm and Michael, had already lost their rights due to their unequal marriages.) In September 1969, Christiane gave birth to a daughter, Isabelle-Alexandra.
The following is from my newsletter, Royal Book News (November-December 2008)
"Christiane Grandmontagne is the wife of Count Jan Bernadotte af Wisborg, the eldest son of the late Count Lennart Bernadotte af Wisborg. Jan and Christiane met in the 1960s, but did not marry until a few years ago.
She met Prince Christian Sigismund of Prussia, apparently, at a ball hosted by Count Lennart.
Thus began a romance between Miss Cinema 1965 and the Prussian prince. Prince Christian Sigismund wanted to marry Christiane, but his father would not approve of the marriage. Christian Sigismund’s two oldest brothers, Friedrich Wilhelm and Michael, had married commoners, and renounced their rights of succession. Louis Ferdinand was not going to allow another son to marry outside the royal caste.
Matters were further complicated by Christiane’s pregnancy. Christian Sigismund ended the relationship. In 1969, Christiane gave birth to Christian Sigismund’s daughter, who was named Isabelle-Alexandra, but in this book, Isabelle is called Marie Christine. (Lovely photos of the new mother and her infant daughter.)
You might think that Christiane might throw a few daggers at Christian-Sigismund’s family, but she really doesn’t. She gets on with her life, even though her little girl does not know her father. She gets married to a nice guy named Michael. Unfortunately, the abuse of booze would lead to his death. Not long afterward, Christiane called her friend Cia Berndotte in Sweden, to offer birthday congratulations. Jan has been asking about her.
In 2004, Christiane and Jan become engaged. She makes a comment about getting engaged to Christian Sigismund’s cousin, noting that Lennart’s grandmother, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna is the older sister of Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, who is Isabelle’s grandmother. Jan responds by saying that he is now Isabelle’s Onkel.
Both certainly need a lesson in family history. Count Jan’s grandmother, Marie Pavlovna, was not Kira’s older sister. Marie Pavlovna was the daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich. Kira was the daughter of Grand Duke Kirill Wladimirovich, who was the son of Grand Duke Wladimir Alexandrovich, Paul’s brother.
Marie Pavlona and Kirill were first cousins. Lennart and Kira were second cousins. Jan and Christian Sigismund were fourth cousins, which made Jan and Isabelle fourth cousins once removed. Christiane also refers to her husband as Count Jan Bernadotte as Wisborg, Prince of Sweden. Oops. Jan’s father lost his princely titles when he married Jan’s mother.
The book includes photos from the couple’s religious wedding. The bride wore white and a tiara.
The title of Christiane’s memoirs is Von Kaiserin, Prinzen und Grafen, Leid und Kamp einer Prinzessin. The book is published to order by Digitalverlag Grossrosseln, but is available through Amazon.de (19.90 Euros.). The publisher’s website is http://www.grossrosseln.net/.
Christiane’s book was a mild surprise. Interesting photographs, good information about how she met Christian Sigismund and their relationship. I wish she had included more information about Isabelle (and more recent photos), but one cannot have everything.
Yes, the book is in Germany, but it is a book to add to one’s library, especially for information about modern royals, ie the Prussians and Jan Bernadotte. I think Christiane is the count’s 7th wife."

Several photos from my collection

Don't know what I am going to do when I run out of photo space on this blog!

Here are four photos from my collection: Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (Princess Helena); Princess Patricia of Connaught; Princess Victoria Mary of Teck; and a lovely group of Queen Victoria surrounded by family (late 1890s).

William remembers his mum

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjaJbROSiOLBMDeLRGgGGnTVkLGwD96SMRSO1

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/4981166/Prince-William-talks-of-emptiness-on-Mothers-Day.html

The mudslinging begins

Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy has come out swinging in response to his cousin, Prince Amedeo's announcement that Amedeo's grandson, Umberto, will be bear the title of Prince of Piedmont. This title is usually borne by the heir to the Italian throne. Amedeo has taken the position that he is the heir to the throne, and not King Umberto's son, because of Vittorio Emanuele's marriage and correspondence between Umberto and his son concerning his marriage to Marina Doria, an Italian commoner. Today, Vittorio Emanuele issued a statement, claiming that Amedeo and his family are not entitled to the style of Royal Highness, but are merely Serene Highnesses.
On January 1, 1890, King Umberto I issued a decree that established the HRH and the title of Prince and Princess of Savoy for the children of the king, and the children of the Hereditary Prince. Other members of the family would have the title of Prince or Princess of Savoy with the style of Serene Highness. On May 12, 1946, King Umberto II issued a royal decree that gave the HRH to all the members of the Italian royal family.

Interesting postcards!

Collecting royal postcards can be such a delight! This card arrived today from a dealer in Germany. The card is of Prince and Princess Heinrich of Prussia and their two sons, Waldemar and Sigismund. Notice how Irene signed the card: Irene Prinzessin Heinrich von Preussen, 14 November 1908. The reverse of the card is also interesting. The card was addressed to HSH Princess Karl von Isenburg, who lived at Schloss Birstein in Hesse. The card is written in English, which is not a surprise because Princess Karl's native language was English. The former Bertha Lewis was born in New Orleans in 1872. She married Prince Karl in in 1895. She was educated in Paris, and spoke French fluently, according to Richard Hutto's book, Crowning Glory: American Wives of Princes and Dukes.
After their marriage, which took place in London, Prince and Princess Karl lived at the Chateau de Seeberg in Bavaria, and at Birstein. Their wing at the palace "held no fewer than 170 rooms."
Princess Karl was a great patron of music. She held a reception for the Abbe Perosi, who succeeded Palestrina as the Sistine Chapel's music director.
Prince and Princess Karl's marriage was childless.
I've just realized who wrote the postcard! It is the same person who sent the postcard of her son, Prinz Wilhelm Karl von Isenburg, to her friend Princess Eleonore de Ligne.
Both cards were sent by Princess Leopold of Isenburg, the former Princess Olga of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Prince Leopold was the Hereditary Prince of Isenburg, but in 1898, he renounced his rights in favor of his brother, Franz Joseph.
Leopold and Olga had one child, Wilhelm Karl, who was born in 1903. This little adorable Prince grew up to the famous genealogist, who produced the superb Europäische Stammtafeln. Princess Olga sent this postcard a year before Princess Eleonore married Prince Friedrich of Thurn und Taxis.

Kaiser's sister bankrupt

March 12, 1929

Bankruptcy proceedings opened today in a Bonn courtroom against Frau Victoria Zoubkov, reports the New York Times. Mrs. Zoubkov is also known as Princess Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe, as she is the widow of the late Prince Adolf.
Victoria, who is also the sister of the former Kaiser, is unable to "pay her debts." The court action was initiated by the Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe, the head of the house, "because some time ago, the Princess, in exchange for a life pension, ceded all her property, not only real estate, but even certain jewelry, to the House of Schaumburg-Lippe."
This may be a pretext, however, as the more pressing issue is that the Schaumburg-Lippe family objects "to her conduct and the manner in which she spent the sums she had been paid."
The princess's husband, Alexander Zoubkov, described as a "Russian adventurer," has been expelled from Germany, the Princess allegedly gave her power of attorney to a Russian friend of her much-younger husband, and "intrusted her interests to him." On the friend's advice, she bought a racing stable. She also bet heavily at a Berlin race track, hoping "to regain her fortune." But she lost a lot of money. But what offended her family the most was "the fact that she would visit night clubs and dancing halls in Berlin with her Russian entourage."
The AP reports that the bankruptcy proceedings are a "ruse to rid the Princess of her young Russian emigré husband."
When Princess Victoria, who was born a Princess of Prussia, married Alexander Zoubkov in Bonn on November 1929, she "renounced her rights to the title of Princess and to German citizenship." No member of the House of Hohenzollern attended her civil wedding. More criticism arose when at the religious wedding, the princess wore her mother's famous lace bridal veil. Victoria is more than 40 years her husband's senior.
Zoubkov was expelled from Germany after he had assaulted a page boy in a Berlin bar. He was arrested and deported. Zoubkov first went to Belgium , but was soon asked "to take up residence outside that country's frontiers." Victoria went to see him in Brussels, and the two were seen arguing over Zoubkov's interest in a cabaret dancer. He returned to Germany, only to be deported once again, and then went to Luxembourg, where he was expelled. He has been reported to be in "various places from Quebec to the Belgian Congo."
The princess' income from her late husband's estate was $150,000 per year. Her jewels are worth in the range of 3,000,000.

Grand Duke Alexander rebuffed in Paris

March 12, 1919


Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovitch, who recently arrived in Paris from the Crimea, told the Associated Press today that unless the Allies soon intervene in Russia, "the situation there would become so hopelessly desperate that it would take years, perhaps decades, to restore a semblance of order and bring about peace in Eastern Europe."
Alexander, who is married to Nicholas II's sister, Xenia, said: "I do not ask the Allies to fight for us. I merely ask them to keep order in the territories wrested from Bolshevism by the Governments already fighting the Soviet.
"I came here in January in an attempt to help my country as a private citizen acquainted with conditions in Russia. I thought I would find justice and sympathy at the Peace Conference, but I have been disappointed as I found only personal intrigues, party politics and national egotism visible."
He said that he asked if President Wilson would receive him, but the American president "replied through his secretary that he was too busy with Peace Conference matters. What matter can be more momentous than the Russian problem? I asked to be allowed to go to England, but was refused a passport, yet they received Kerensky. I dare out request to visit American, not wishing to invite a rebuff."

Princess Stephanie gravely ill

March 12, 1911

Princess Stephanie, the Countess Lonyay, is "seriously ill" in Zurich, according to a New York Times report. The princess's condition is "the cause of great anxiety."
The princess is the widow of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria. She is now the wife of the Hungarian count Lonyay.

Grand Duke Wladimir is ill

March 12, 1905

A party at Grand Duke Wladimir of Russia's palace has been canceled due to the Grand Duke's illness. In the few days, the Grand Duke has "taken a turn for the worse," according to the New York Herald.

Oh, please ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1161275/Prince-William-marry-Kate-Middleton-summer.html

Will someone please tell the Daily Mail that Point de Vue has not specialized in Royal stories in some years now? Also, please tell the Daily Mail that Point de Vue is not "Upmarket." The magazine is not the leading social magazine, although the editor adores Carla Bruni, France's first lady. Point de Vue has been heading down the drain for some years now.

I also do not think much of their "scoop," especially the comment about other royals told to leave their diaries clear! It is now the middle of March. If the engagement is announced within the next month, it is unlikely that a summer wedding will be possible.
Prince William's marriage will not be a state occasion. He is not the heir to the throne. I also think that if William and Kate do get engaged and marry, they will push for a much smaller event, perhaps at St. George's Cathedral. In view of the current economic situation, it will be foolhardy to want to have a truly grand occasion.
The Prince also has his RAF obligations to fulfil at this time.

Boris arrives in Vienna, incognito

March 11, 1929

King Boris of Bulgaria and his sister, Princess Eudoxia, have arrived this evening in Vienna. According to the New York Times, the king and his sister are "the first royal personages to visit this city since Austria was proclaimed a republic."
Their arrival was "as unostentatious as the most extreme member of the Socialist administration which now controls the Austrian capital could have desired."
The king is expected to see an ear specialist in Vienna before departing for France, and perhaps, Italy, where he is expected to ask for Princess Giovanna's hand in marriage.
The king is traveling as Count Stanislau Rilski. He was "pale and nervous and apparently in poor health," when he stepped off the train. Nor did he deny his identity when the New York Times reporter offered the king a light for his cigarette, "which he was holding in his nervous fingers," and addressed Boris as "your Majesty." The king accepted the offer with a "pale smile."
The king's entourage are refusing to provide information about Count Rilski's travel plans, but the king's "heavier baggage was marked Palermo, which confirms reports of his coming visit to Rome."
Balkan newspapers are already reporting that the king's engagement to Princess Giovanna will be announced shortly.
A marriage between Boris and Princess Giovanna "will be generally regarded as part of Premier Mussolini's plan to isolate Yugoslavia by forming a close relationship with her enemies."

Bulgarian prince in Los Angeles; praises Americans

March 11, 1929

Prince Cyril of Bulgaria, brother of King Boris, is in Southern California for a four day visit. He is accompanied by Gen. Baron Wilhelm von Einem, an Austrian military leader in the World War and his wife, "renowned as a big game hunter," and the portrait painter, Max Rabes. The party is staying at the Biltmore in Los Angeles.
The prince has been in the United States since early January. He has spent a lot of his time in Detroit and Toledo, visiting automobile factories. The Prince, who was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, was asked about his impression of the United States.
"A splendid country, where miracles are performed everywhere. A people. generous in their hospitality and friendliness, and, a climate to fit in everyone's requirements," he said.
Prince Cyril and his friends will spend four days visiting Pasadena, San Diego and other cities in the Southland, before heading east to visit Philadelphia and Boston.
The Prince has already visited New York, Toledo, Detroit,, Miami, Palm Beach, Havana, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite.

Queen Marie may soon visit America

March 11, 1919

Queen Marie of Roumania may soon visit the United States. The Associated Press reports that the trip may take place before or after the peace conference, although no decision has been made. It is not a secret that the Roumanian queen, a British princess by birth, admires America and Americans. The Queen sat down today with an AP reporter and said that visiting America was one of her fondest wishes.
"I feel that I shall be almost as much at home in America as in my own country, for I have come to know Americans as intimately as my own people. I desire first to have the privilege of thanking in person the people of the United States for the great help they have given Roumania through the American Red Cross and the food administration."
She added: "It's a splendid thing to see so many of your fine soldiers in France. Whenever, I pass one of them on the street, I feel instinctively that there is one of my friends and my impulse is to shake every one of them by the hand."
The Queen, who is in Paris, also spoke of the "wonderful part played by the women of America and England and declared that it was their dauntless spirit which had carried the troops on to victory."
"Woman's Day has come," Queen Marie concluded, "and I believe she will have an increasingly important part in the future life of the world."

Crown Princess Marie loves Americans

March 11, 1911

Crown Princess Marie of Roumania has taken up the "cudgels for Americans," reports the Los Angeles Times.
According to the newspaper, Bucharest society women are showing signs of hostility to what they perceive to be "the American invasion." They have chosen not to invite Americans to "their smartest functions." The British-born Crown Princess, who is a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, is "fond of everything American and is a personal friend of many Americans, including the Astor family."
Marie became "highly indignant" when she learned about the exclusion of Americans to society functions, but she waited for a "favorable opportunity to give her opinion."
The Crown Princess received an invitation to a charity ball in Bucharest, which was "given by some of the great ladies of this country." Before she gave her response, the Crown Princess asked to see the guest list. "Why are there no American ladies here," she asked the Countess Fulchiano. The countess explained that the event was to be a "very select and highly national function."
Marie's reply: "Nonsense! There are several American women in town, the wives of diplomats, engineers and prominent American businessmen, All these ladies are my friends. If they are not immediately put on the list of guests, I shall not go to the ball -- nor to any similar entertainment."
Marie's "declaration had a tremendous effect," as all of the American ladies living in Bucharest received an invitation to the ball. The "American boycott" by Bucharest society is, according to the report, "a thing of the past."

Ena again pregnant

March 11, 1909

"All Spain is rejoicing," reports the Los Angeles Times today. Queen Victoria Eugenia is expecting her third child. King Alfonso XIII and his British-born wife have "demonstrated twice before in their three years of connubial bliss that the stork is not an unwelcomed visitor in the Madrid palace."
The new infante or infanta is expected in May.

Prince Hendrik refuses gift

March 11, 1907

The New York Times reports today that Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands, the consort of Queen Wilhelmina, "has announced his decision to decline to accept the proposed national testimonial" for his assistance in saving the lives of the survivors of the British steamer, Berlin, which sunk during a storm in the Hook of Holland. The prince said he was merely doing his duty as a Dutchman, and did not need to seek special recognition.

Kaiser to visit Copenhagen; the Cumberlands depart Copenhagen

March 11, 1903

The Times' correspondent in Copenhagen reports, according to the New York Times, that the "news of the approaching departure of the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland coming so soon after the announcement of Emperor William's intended visit" to Copenhagen has caused "some sensation."
The Duke of Cumberland is the son of the late King Georg V of Hannover, whose throne was lost in 1866 when Prussia annexed Hannover. It said that the Duke and Duchess are returning to their home in Austria earlier than expected because of their son's illness.
The Times' correspondent also notes that William "has taken no effective steps to conciliate the Duke," and continues to reject the Duke's claim as head of the house of Hannover. The reporter also suggests that William "is assured of a good reception in Copenhagen," despite questions regarding North Schleswig.

What is Fergie Smoking now?

Goodness gracious! Sarah, Duchess of York, the former wife of the Duke of York, has again put her foot into her mouth. In an interview with the CBC, she claims that there were plans to send Andrew to Canada as Governor General after their marriage. If this had happened, Sarah told the reporter, her marriage would have survived.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/03/09/sarah-ferguson.html?ref=rss

What? Memo to Fergie: Canada has not had a royal governor general since 1952. The standard has been to name a Canadian, and the position alternates between English and French-speaking Canadians.
Queen Elizabeth II selects the Governor General on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. In 1952, Vincent Massey became the first Canadian resident to be named as Governor General. The last royal to serve as Governor general was the Earl of Athlone (ne Prince Alexander of Teck) who served from 1940-1946. Lord Athlone was married to Princess Alice of Albany.

Despite Sarah's protestations to the contrary, Queen Elizabeth II was not going to name her second son as Governor General of Canada. The real selection is made by Canada's Prime Minister.

Former Tahitian queen Joanna dead at 80

March 10, 1929

It was reported today that former Queen Joanna of Tahiti died on March 1 in Papeete, She was 80-years-old. The queen, "once famous for her life of stormy romance and political intrigue," was buried with royal honors, even though she no longer had a throne. Nearly the entire population of the island nation attended the funeral.
Queen Joanna, who was born Marau Toroa, was the wife of Pomare V, the last king of Tahiti. In her old age, Joanna had "settled down to intellectual pursuits on the coral-girded Pacific island of 10,000, where she once ruled and lived as she liked," according to the Associated Press' report.
Joanna was the daughter of an English sailor "who began like on the island as a shipwrecked sailor," who married a native princess. Joanna married King Pomare in 1875, and soon became "a vital factor in the political development of Tahiti."
The new queen was at first "favorable to the English," which bothered France, which sought more control of Tahiti. But soon, the queen was subject to criticism over her private conduct by Christian missionaries on the island.
The local marriage customs, "shocking to Western eyes, and the easy-going morality of the languorous tropical isle raised their strong protests." Queen Joanna provided no support to eliminate the island's "ancient traditions."
Eventually, even King Pomare "was annoyed." When Joanna gave birth to a daughter, the king was asked to draw up a "civil affidavit of parentage." He refused. He claimed: "The child is not mine. I forbid it to succeed me in my goods, my estates and my titles. I have spoken."
The French wanted very much to draw Joanna away from her "English allegiance." They achieved a modicum of success in 1880, when they persuaded Pomare to abdicate in favor of France. Queen Joanna, who could have raised an opposition to France's plan, said nothing, and allowed France to end the monarchy.
King Pomare divorced Joanna in 1887. He died from alcoholism in 1891. The island passed to French control following Pomare's death.
Her children were included on the French pension list, and received about $600 per year each. In 1924, "the gratitude of France was still warm enough" to award Joanna, then 73, an appointment as chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
Queen Joanna, "tranquil and unworried by politics" in her old age, was "engaged in a serious study of Tahitian legends." She lived quietly in a palace, which was actually "an elaborate hut," and grew coconuts and oranges on her property. She was attended "by a faithful retainer, a venerable graybeard, who once was chief eunuch at the court."
Joanna had two daughters, Princesses Teri and Takau Pomare, both of whom live on Tahiti, and one son, Ernest Salmon (which was the princess's father's surname), who is a deputy Judge at Balmako, French East Africa.

King Boris is on the love train!

March 10, 1929

Traveling incognito as Count Rilsky, Bulgaria's "lonely and unmarried king, the handsome Boris" left Sofia by train today for a trip to Western Europe. It is believed he will be stopping in Rome to discuss plans for a marriage with Princess Giovanna of Italy.
The king's unmarried sister, Eudoxia, is accompanying him.
The king is also attended by his "military and civilian household."
The official reason for the king's visit is to see an ear specialist.
However, Boris may have competition for the princess' hand as Albania's King Zogu and Archduke Albrecht of Austria are also apparently interesting in wooing Giovanna.

Princess flouts Kaiser!

March 10, 1925

The Berlin newspaper Tagblatt has published a letter that showed the "drastic methods" used by the former Kaiser Wilhelm II, when attempting to discipline members of his family. According to the letter, Wilhelm "gave a piece of his mind" to Princess Anna of Hesse, the widow of Landgraf Friedrich of Hesse, who informed the Kaiser that she was converting to the Roman Catholic church. This decision infuriated the Kaiser, who "refused to regard her any longer as a Hohenzollern and ordered her to case all intercourse with that family."
In the final paragraph of the letter, the Kaiser wrote: "The House of Hohenzollern expels you and has forgotten your existence."
The letter was written in 1901. The Princess was not intimidated by the Kaiser's threats, and joined the Roman Catholic church.
Princess Anna was born in 1836. In 1853, she married Friedrich, the Landgraf of Hesse as his second wife. (His first wife, Grand Duchess Alexandra died in childbirth in 1844.)
Anna and her husband had six children: Friedrich Wilhelm (died at sea in 1888); Elisabeth (married Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau); Alexander Ferdinand (renounced his rights as head of the House in 1925, when he married morganatically); Friedrich Karl (who succeeded Alexander as head of the house in 1925); Marie (who died at age 10 in 1882), and Sybille (who is divorced from Baron von Vincke.)
Princess Anna was the daughter of Prince Karl of Prussia and Princess Marie of Saxe-Weimar. She died in 1918 at the age of 82.
Prince Friedrich Karl is married to the Kaiser's sister, Margarete.

Princess Yourievsky sues agent

March 10, 1913

Representatives of Princess Catherine Yourievsky, the widow of Alexander II, have sued her American agent, Victor E. Gartz for $2,900. They claim that Gartz should have turned the money over to her after he was hired to obtain payment on a $5,000 note from Krucien Luiggi, "a European promoter, by attaching his property in America." Gartz did obtain $22,000 on another note of $25,000 from Luiggi for the Princess.
In the past decade, the Princess entrusted Luiggi with 600,000 French francs to invest in South America. Most of the funds were "covered by promissory notes." Gartz was retained by the princess in order to obtain payment on a $5,000 note "by attaching Luiggi's property in this country."
Gartz's lawyer responded to the action by claiming that his client had great difficulty in locating Luiggi, but was able to obtain for the princess $22, 500 on the option. He believed that his fee of $3,900 was fair, as he did not have a contract with the princess.
The princess's lawyer's disagree. They say that the princess is "perfectly willing" that Gartz should retain $1000 as his fee, and not $3,900.
Princess Yourievsky was born Princess Catherine Dolgorouki. Although she is a member of an important Russian princely family, her marriage to Alexander II, following the death of his wife, Empress Marie, was morganatic. The princess gave birth to three children before Alexander was killed by an assassin's bomb in 1888.

Edward and Alexandra's 40th anniversary

March 10, 1903

Today is the 40th wedding anniversary of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The anniversary was celebrated with "the customary firing of salutes and the ringing of bells." Their Majesties received "many telegrams of congratulations."
A family dinner was held at Buckingham Palace, and was attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family. Four hundred more guests were invited to a private dance this evening.
The palace's state rooms "were beautifully decorated with flowers from Frogmore, and presented a charming scene," according to the New York Times. Supper was served at "small tables instead of the customary long buffets." This was the first occasion "for many years" that the king and queen have celebrated their anniversary "by an entertainment." The king remarked that he "derived great pleasure from having so many children and grandchildren under his roof."

Letters back on Ebay

The six letters are back on Ebay! $30,000!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Prince-Charles-6-love-letters_W0QQitemZ320348344130QQihZ011QQcategoryZ39632QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The postage is now $55.00. One would think that the postage and insurance would be free considering the starting bid!

Did the Charles letters sell? or did Alicia Carroll pull the Ebay auction

I was watching the Ebay auction of six letters that the Prince of Wales wrote to a former girlfriend, Welsh-born Janet Jenkins. As of this morning, the auction had three days left to go, but the seller, Alicia Carroll of Everything Royal, has apparently removed the items from Ebay. The auction was still going this morning, but by noon, the listing was gone. Did someone make her an offer she could not refuse? Has Jenkins obtained a court order to prevent the sale of the letters? (She claims she did not sell the letters to Carroll, but gave the letters to her because Carroll said she was going to display them in a museum.) Or did Carroll realize that there is an economic crisis here in the USA, and far less people have $30,000 to spare for the Prince of Wales' correspondence.


It should be noted that although the letters were written to Jenkins, and are now in the possession of an American dealer, the copyright for the letters belongs to the Prince of Wales. As these letters were written after 1977, the copyright remains in effect for the Prince of Wales' lifetime, plus 70 years. No one can publish the text of the letters without the expressed permission of HRH The Prince of Wales.

Here is a link to a Globe and Mail article, which quotes Jenkins.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090307.LETTERS07/TPStory/National

Carroll's website has not been updated to show if the letters have been sold. She has them listed individually on her website, Everything Royal. http://everythingroyal.com/

She still has a myriad of items with Diana's signature as Sarah Jane Gaselee, one of Diana's bridesmaids, sold personal items that Diana had given to her or written to her to Carroll. Lord Linley also appears to have sold Christmas cards from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, to Carroll. (The cards are still for sale.)

Even marked down, Carroll's prices are a bit too high, in my not-so-humble opinion.

Norway gets ready for royal wedding

March 9, 1929

Preparations are in full swing for the March 21 wedding of Crown Prince Olav and Princess Martha of Sweden. The main area of Oslo is to be framed with "rows of illuminated ice obelisks." The wedding will be broadcast on radio. One labor representative has had to decline his invitations "on orders of a higher authority." A watchmen, entering Oscar's Hall, which has been placed at the engaged couple's disposal, found a bottle that contained about a pound of dynamite. The fuse had not been lit.
Police believe that was placed in the castle by those who are opposed to Oscar's Hall being used as a royal residence.

Louis Ferdinand sails for the US to seek work

March 9, 1929

Prince Louis Ferdinand, who is the second son of the former German Crown Prince, is sailing alone to the US on the Bremen.
Although Germany is "frantically searching for a dictator, preferably one of princely origin," Prince Louis Ferdinand has other plans. He wants to work in USA or as a banker in Argentina. He plans to visit Hollywood, Chile and "points south to carve his own business career," according to Chicago Daily Tribune reporter Sigrid Schultz.
The prince is described as the favorite child of Crown Princess Cecilie. As he is the second son, he is expected to make his own fortune, as his older brother, Prince Wilhelm, will one day head the former ruling house.
It is not known what the "slim, artistic 23-year-old prince" will choose as a career, but banking is certainly at the top of the list. Prince Louis Ferdinand also wants to see the world before settling down and marrying.
Prince Louis Ferdinand was asked about his own chances to become Germany's dictator. "I will be glad to be away if they really mean the dictatorship. Yes, it is true that I had the impression the dictatorship was doing pretty well in Spain, when I visited Premier Prime de Rivera, but what is right for Spain is not necessarily right for Germany. For Germany a dictatorship would never do."
The Prince's trip was with the full permission of his grandfather, the Kaiser and his father, Crown Prince Wilhelm. He plans to work in Argentina, where he has already received offers for banking jobs. His interest in South America is not a surprise. He recently received his doctorate. His thesis: "Immigration to Argentina."

Prussian prince, a cousin of the Kaiser, is dead

March 9, 1925

Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia died today in a sanitarium at Weisserhirsch, near Dresden. The Prince, who was a second cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm II, was 45-years-old. In 1910, he married Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst, "one of the beauties of the Potsdam court." He is survived by his wife and four daughters, Princesses Marie Therese, Luise, Marianne and Elisabeth.

The late Prince was the son of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and his wife, Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg.

Bertie not at home when Dowager Empress arrives

March 9, 1907

It was the Dowager Empress of Russia's first visit to England in forty-four years, and her brother-in-law, King Edward VII, was out-of-town. Some tongues are wagging, but it should be noted that the Empress, who was last in London to attend her sister, Alexandra's wedding to the future King Edward VII in 1863, is not on an official visit. She's in London to spend time with her sister, Alexandra. There will no "state functions or great festivities" in honor of Marie's visit, which is considered private.
King Edward's plans "were arranged long before it was known that the empress would come" to London.
The King is in Biarritz, and remains in telegraphic contact with officials in London.

Princess Henry visits American sculptor

March 9,1903

Princess Henry of Prussia has visited the Berlin studio of Mrs. Cadwalder Guild, an American sculptor. She spent more than an hour "examining her work." The princess was most interested in a bust of the late President McKinley

Zara Phillips receives £90,000 in sports sponsorship

from the Royal Bank of Scotland, which has received a bailout from the British taxpayer.

It should be noted that Zara is not a member of the Royal Family. She does not carry out official engagements, and must earn her own living.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/4957864/Zara-Phillips-in-90000-RBS-sports-sponsorship-deal.html

Also an interview with Zara from the Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article5860786.ece

It's a boy!

HRH Princess Olga of Savoy, Duchess of Apulia, has given birth to a son, Umberto. The birth took place in Paris. Princess Olga is the wife of Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Apulia, only son of Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Savoia, and HRH Princess Claude of France.

Prince Aimone and Princess Olga were married on the Greek island, Patros, last September 27. The princess is the younger daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Greece and Denmark.
The pregnancy was announced a few weeks after the wedding.

This is the Duke of Savoia's ninth grandchild.

Prince Michael's marriage was not dynastic, and thus, his daughters, Alexandra and Olga, also do not have rights to the Greek throne. They are, however, princesses of Greece with the style of Royal Highness.

Belgian queen weakens

March 7, 1899

The health of Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium, who is suffering from pneumonia, continues to deteriorate. It was announced today that a "fatal termination is feared." A doctor is in constant attendance on the queen, who is the consort of Leopold II. She slept a little last night, but today, "there has been a change for the worse."

New York reception for Princess

March 6, 1927

Mrs. Dunlop Hopkins, who lives at 160 Lexington Avenue, gave a reception with music at her home tonight for Princess Alexandra of Schleswig-Holstein and her husband, Captain Arnold Ruemann. The artists who performed were Hazel Jones (soprano), Eleanor Fiske (pianist) and Dorothy Chamberlain (soprano.) The guests included Mr. and Mrs. Poultney Bigelow. Mr. Bigelow is the noted journalist who is a close friend of Kaiser Wilhelm II, and often visits him at Doorn.

More threats for Grand Duke Wladimir

March 6, 1905

Security has been tightened at the palace of Grand Duke Wladimir, who is the uncle of Nicholas II. He is said to be at the top of a list for assassination by terrorists. Sentries outside the palace have been doubled and "have been ordered to exercise special watchfulness."
Recently, a terrorist donned the uniform of a General and tried to gain access to the Grand Duke. He was caught, and searched, and founded to be in possession of a loaded revolver.

Obama to meet the Queen

I love the Daily Telegraph. It's one of my favorite papers to read. Perhaps, I am biased, as I used to work for the paper as the researcher in their D.C. bureau.

Sadly, Andrew Porter didn't do his homework:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4944627/Obama-to-meet-Queen-in-London.html

"It is unusual for a United States President to meet the Queen outside a state visit."

Utter nonsense. It should be noted that American presidents actually make very few state visits. The only state visit that former President Bush made was to the United Kingdom in 2003. Not all of the Queen's visits to the USA have been state visits, and even during the non-state visits, she has met with US presidents, here in the USA, and in the UK.
Queen Elizabeth II has met all of America's presidents since Harry Truman with one exception: Lyndon Baines Johnson. Elizabeth was still a princess when she met President Truman.

In June 1959, President Eisenhower joined Queen Elizabeth for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada. Two months later, President Eisenhower visited London, Balmoral and Chequers for an informal visit, and met with Prime Minister Macmillan and the Queen.
In June 1961, during a private visit to the UK, President Kennedy met with Queen Elizabeth.
In February 1969, Richard Nixon, during an informal visit to the UK, was "received" by the Queen.
In October 1970, President Nixon met informally with the Queen and also with Prime Minister Heath.
President Carter attended the economic summit in London in May 1977, and met with the Queen.
In June 1982, President Reagan met at the Queen at Windsor. He also addressed Parliament, but this was not deemed a state visit.
In June 1984, President Reagan was back in London - and met with the Prime Minister and with the Queen. Following the economic summit, President Reagan and others, including the Queen, went to Normandy for the 40th anniversary of D-Day.
In June 1988, President Reagan was in London and met with the Queen
In early June 1989, President Bush was in London and met with the Queen and the Prime Minister.
In June 1994, President Clinton was in London and met with the Queen. Both also took part in the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
In November 1995, President Clinton returned to London, met with the Queen and the Prime Minister and addressed Parliament. This was not a state visit.
In December 2000, President Clinton visited Belfast and London, where he met with Queen Elizabeth II.
In June 2001, President Bush was in London and met with the Queen and Prime Minister Blair.
In November 2003, President Bush became to the first US president to make a state visit to the United Kingdom .. and he met the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth had made four state visits to the US, as well as an official and several private visits to the US.
The first state visit was in 1957, during Dwight D. Eisenhower's first administration.. The second state visit was in July 1976 when Gerald Ford was president. In 1991, the queen made her third state visit to the USA, and this was during President George H.W. Bush's administration. The fourth state visit was in 2007, during the second administration of George W. Bush.
In March 1983, the Queen visited the Pacific coasts, and met with President Reagan. This was not, however, a state visit. The Queen did not come to Washington, D.C. It was an official visit because duties were carried out. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a dinner for the Reagans, which was reciprocated by a dinner at the Reagan's California home.
The Queen has also made several private visits to Versailles, Kentucky, and one private visit to Wyoming.

I would describe President Obama's forthcoming visit to London, and meeting the queen, as usual and normal for an American president who goes to London.
As I said above, U.S. Presidents make very few state visits to other nations.


In June 2008, President Bush was back in London and met with the Queen, as well as Prime Minister Blair.

Did Princess Maud write an opera?

March 5, 1897

Special correspondent to the Chicago Daily Tribune, Julian Ralph writes: "I have received this interesting letter in response to an inquiry where I could obtain the libretto of Princess Maud's new opera, much heralded in the society columns of the English press."

Mr. Ralph received the following response:
"Marlborough House, Pall Mall, S.W. - In reply to your enquiry dated March 3, I beg to give you the most full and unreserved assurance that Princess Charles of Denmark has never at any time written a play or composed a musical drama. Yours faithfully, Henry Knollys, Colonel Controller to H.R.H. Princess Charles of Denmark."

Queen Marie Henriette near death

March 5, 1899

Last rites have been administered to Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium, who is suffering from broncho-pneumonia. Early this evening a priest visited with the queen, and "at that hour there seemed no hope of recovery." But at ten p.m., a new bulletin was issued, announcing that the queen has shown "slight improvement and this afforded a basis for receiving hope." According to international reports, all members of the Royal family have been summoned, in case of the queen's death.

Stephanie loses immigration appeal

March 5, 1941

Princess Stephanie of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst-Waldenburg lost her appeal today to remain in the United States. The princess, who was described by the British Parliament as a noted Nazi sympathizer, will now have to leave the country. The Justice department can now "proceed immediately with whatever steps can be taken, in light of the present world conditions, to execute the deportation order."
The princess, who is at liberty on a $25,000 bond, entered the USA in December 1939 on a Hungarian passport.
The Justice department may have a problem in finding a country that will accept the Princess. Stephanie's attorney told the Los Angeles Times that the Justice department had sent requests to 50 countries, but none of them "has granted the Hungarian women to enter. It is up to the government to provide her with safe transportation to another country."
The US would like to deport the princess to Hungary, but it is up to Germany to grant permission for transit. The princess will likely be detained if no country can be found to admit her.
Stephanie's son, Franz, 26 who is registered at Stanford University, but is not currently attending classes, has also let his visa expire. His visitor's permit expired on January 12. Franz did not explain why he did not seek to extend his permit.

Marina as Greek queen

March 5, 1935

It is expected that the rebellion in Greece will soon collapse, as rumors of a possible restoration of the monarchy sweep through the Greek colony in Chicago, Illinois. One rumor centers on a new king and queen, Britain's duke of Kent and his wife, Marina, who is a Greek princess by birth. According to local Greek leaders, "preparations are being made in Athens for the royal return, with little enthusiasm for any member of the royal family, other than Marina."
The Greek-American leaders believe that the new king and queen would would cement Greece's alliance with England. In turn, Great Britain would have a valuable ally in the Mediterranean. They also believe that the Britain's Foreign office would approve of the new monarchs. When George I was named as king of the Hellenes, Britain gave to the country the Ionian islands. It is now believed that when the new King George and Queen Marina sit on the throne in Athens, Britain will give to the country the island of Cypress.

No stork visit for Kaiser

March 5, 1923


Former Kaiser Wilhelm II's spokesman has denied reports in the newspapers concerning a birth of a child to the Emperor and his new wife. Empress Hermine is not expecting a child. The only reason for her visit to Corfu is to expect her husband's property there. The Kaiser has not been able to obtain permission to leave the Netherlands.

Marie and daughters in Paris

March 5, 1919

Queen Marie of Roumania and her three daughters, Elisabeth, Marie and Ileana, arrived in Paris this morning. They received a "cordial welcome."

German empress annoyed in church

March 5, 1911

German Empress Augusta Victoria was "subjected to an embarrassing incident" in church today. She was visiting the Garrison church, when a clerk in the statistical bureau, Frank Lukat, "suddenly sprang to his feet," and, in a very loud voice, started reading the first sentence of the letter before tossing it in the royal pew. The Empress was not hurt. Lukat was immediately arrested and detained. He is, according to news accounts, "apparently deranged."

Wilhelmina and Hendrik cheered as the enter Amsterdam

March 5, 1901

The newly married Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Prince Hendrik entered Amsterdam today "in state." The couple were escorted to a pavilion, where they received and met local city officials, including the mayor and the governor of the province of North Holland. The procession of state carriages, which had an escort of troops, "traversed the streets of the capital, which in spite of the rain, were packed with throngs if enthusiastic subjects," according to the Associated Press. The Queen and the Prince Consort were very pleased by this reception, and "bowed unceasingly to the crowds along the line of march." At the palace, queen's mother, Queen Emma, awaited her daughter and new son-in-law.
Wilhelmina and Hendrik stepped out on to the palace balcony, "in response to the vociferous cheers of the throngs which had been permitted to gather in front of the royal palace."

Lord Mountbatten named Governor of Isle of Wight

March 4, 1965

Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma was named today as the Governor of the Isle of Wight. Lord Mountbatten, 64, will succeed the Duke of Wellington, 81, on July 16. The governorship is nearly 700 years old and "purely honorific." There is no pay nor specific duties.
Lord Mountbatten is retiring as Chief of the British Defense Staff. He has close ties to the British royal family, as his nephew is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His sister, Louise, is the Queen of Sweden.

Queen Louise has operation

March 4, 1965

Queen Louise of Sweden, 75, underwent emergency surgery today for thrombosis. The six-hour surgery was to alleviate a "circulation deficiency." The queen, who is in frail health and suffers from a heart condition, was reported to be in "serious but relatively satisfactory" condition. She was rushed to the hospital from Drottningholm Palace, 12 miles outside Stockholm.
Her husband, King Gustav VI Adolf, 82, and other members of the Swedish royal family, are at the hospital.

Baudouin, Fabiola resume honeymoon

March 4, 1961

King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium arrived in Seville, Spain, today to resume their honeymoon "interrupted by a wave of industrial violence at home which began in December." Queen Fabiola was born in Spain.

Party for Margaret

March 4, 1955

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh are hosting tonight a "welcome home" party for her younger sister, Princess Margaret, 24, who returned yesterday from a month's tour of the West Indies. The party included dinner and dancing.

Princess Elizabeth has a cold

March 4, 1951

Princess Elizabeth has joined her father, King George VI, on the sick list. Clarence House issued the following bulletin today: "The princess is suffering from a feverish cold and will be confined to her room for several days."

Prince Carl Philip and Emma Pernald - pffft!

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and his girlfriend, Emma Pernald, have called it quits after ten years of dating -- and may I add, shacking up together. Ten years together but no sign of a ring is a bit much in my view. Prince Carl Philip is second in line to the throne. If the prince had not popped the question after ten years together, he was never going to pop the question to Miss Pernald. Perhaps there was a little vacillation on the part of the Prince, and Emma finally realized that Carl Philip was just not that into her!

http://www.thelocal.se/17980/20090304/

Duke of Anhalt marries actress

March 4, 1927

The former Duke of Anhalt, Joachim Ernst, was married today to an actress, Ottilie Strichtrodt, at Schloss Ballenstedt.
According to the New York Times, the "pretentious royal court of the former little Duchy of Anhalt completely ignored the marriage ceremony."
Anhalt's local residents more than made up for the lack of royal guests at the wedding. They "paid homage to the youthful Duke and his spouse in a fashion which fully compensated for the absence of the bridegroom's relatives."
Duke Joachim Ernst reigned over Anhalt for a mere two months before the fall of the German monarchy. He remains head of the former ducal family.
While he waited for the new Republican government to "compensate the deposed families for their expropriated properties," the duke took a job a stage director at the local theatre, which once belonged to his family. Other family members tried to "persuade him to refrain from all forms of labor through fear of endangering the prestige of the noble families."
The duke took the job, and fell in love with the theater manager's daughter.
Some of his relatives tried to have the marriage prevented by asking for the former Kaiser's help.
Duke Joachim Ernst will return to his job after the couple return from their honeymoon on the French Riviera. He will continue to "shun the court as long as his wife is not received, closing the castle gates to all the opponents of his marriage."

Kaiserin Hermine in a family way

March 3, 1923

The London Daily Chronicle reports today that Kaiser Wilhelm II's new wife, Hermine, is expecting a baby. "A family event, I learn, is expected to take place in a few months' time at Doorn House," the correspondent writes. "The Ex-Kaiser is particularly anxious that the first born of the second marriage should not see the light of day 'in exile'". It appears that the Kaiser would like for Hermine to give birth in Corfu, where he would like to regain possesion of a villa there. He also knows that it will be impossible to accompany Hermine, but the Kaiser hopes that his wife "will be permitted to fo there some time before the birth of the child." Hermine is said to be in excellent health.

[Hermine was not pregnant. Fanciful reporting. Morevoer, if Hermine had been pregnant, there was nothing preventing her from going back to Germany to give birth. She was not in exile./]

Infante Jaime of Spain "deaf and dumb"

March 4, 1911

It was reported today that doctors have informed King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain that their second son, Infante Don Jaime is "deaf and dumb." This means that the young prince is unable to hear or speak.

Constitutions for Strelitz and Schwerin

March 3, 1905

Today, the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Mecklenburg-Schwerin announced that they will grant Constitutions "to their respective duchies."
Strelitz and Schwerin are the only two German states that do not have Constitutions, which has "given rise to frequent criticism in the Reichstag in recent years." The action taken by both Grand Dukes is seen as a "response to outside criticism."

All say AHHHH!

Cuddly prince! The photo of the Prince of Wales carrying the little girl should be on the front page of every major paper in the UK. It is obvious that he has experience in picking up small children and carrying them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/7919415.stm

A Bride for Boris

I wrote this article for Royalty Digest several years ago.


In August 1926, the New York Times published a profile of King Boris III of Bulgaria. “Europe is watching a royal bachelor”was the headline, and it was a telling headline. “Next to the Prince of Wales, Boris III, King of Bulgaria, is the most talked about royal bachelor. Each year, a crop of rumors concerning him springs up thick as the daisies in the field. Gossip has engaged him to marry almost every eligible princess in Europe, from Princess Ileana of Rumania, who is 17 years old, to Princess Giovanna of Savoy, who will be 19 in September.”
The first rumours of a marriage appeared in 1911, when the Washington Post reported that “the engagement of the Grand Duchess Olga of Russia and of Prince Boris of Bulgaria will be announced officially on November 15.” According to article’s author, the Marquis de Castellane, Olga, was the “prettiest” of Nicholas II’s four daughters. She was “devotedly attached to her little brother, the Grand Duke Alexis, who is only 7 years old.” Olga’s “chief regret” when leaving for Bulgaria “will be parting with her only brother.”

The date of the proposed engagement was Olga’s 16th birthday. Crown Prince Boris was “slightly older than his fianceé, as he will be 17 next January.” De Castellane was mistaken about Boris’ age, as the Crown Prince was already seventeen.
The proposed marriage was “considered a master stroke” by Boris’ father, King Ferdinand. Olga’s birthday came and went without an announcement of her engagement. This would not be a surprise, as the proposed marriage was largely a figment of the media’s imagination.
Less than eight months later, the young Crown Prince, who turned 18-years-old in January 1912, and thus reached his majority, was again the subject of marital speculation, when in June 1912, the Washington Post reported on Boris’ forthcoming engagement to Princess Elizabeth of Roumania. A Viennese newspaper reported that their engagement “will be announced officially very soon.”
King Ferdinand apparently approved of the match, and “at the prayer of Boris,” Ferdinand went to Vienna to persuade Emperor Franz Joseph “to use his influence,” with the Roumanian King Carol I to withdraw his objections to the match. The Washington Post’s columnist, the Marquise de Castellane, noted that the elderly Austrian emperor was “perennially interested in the love affairs of young people; he has been a fairy godfather to several of the young Austrian archduchesses and given to them the men of their heart.”
De Castellane certainly thought that the Roumanian princess was the woman of young Boris’ heart, as the prince had fallen in love with Elizabeth, even before they had met. “The prince saw a photograph of the princess when Queen Elizabeth of Roumania, her aunt, visited the Bulgarian court last year. Deeply enamored, Boris seized the opportunity to be presented to the princess and found her even more charming than she had been pictured.”
It is known that Queen Elisabeth of Roumania did visit Bulgaria in 1911, as the guest of Boris’ stepmother, Queen Eleonore. The Bulgarian queen’s marriage to King Ferdinand was difficult and unhappy. In 1908, Ferdinand, a widower for nine years, decided that he needed to remarry. His second wife, Princess Eleonore of Reuss-Kostritz, was selected by Ferdinand’s good friend, Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia, the German-born wife of Grand Duke Wladimir. She was 48-years-old at the time of the marriage, and was “an earnest and well-educated lady with an impressive record of voluntary Red Cross work in Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese war,” when she married Ferdinand. It was a marriage of convenience, as Ferdinand treated Eleonore “as any other member of his household,” but he understood that his “self-effacing and considerate spouse had won the respect of the country and the affection of his children.”
Boris was fond of Eleonore, and “embarrassed by his father’s treatment of her.”
King Ferdinand was abroad when Eleonore had invited the Roumanian queen to join her at Euxinograd. The king sent a telegram to Boris, referring to Eleonore and Elisabeth “as two-half mad royal women, who concocted this affair together, taking advantage of my absence.” Ferdinand was not referring to a possible marriage between Boris and Princess Elisabeth of Roumania. He had accused his wife of plotting against him simply because Eleonore had invited Queen Elisabeth to come for a visit.
Yet, it was entirely possible that Queen Elisabeth brought photographs of the young Princess Elisabeth, who was the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Ferdinand and Crown Princess Marie of Roumania. But there is no evidence that the two women were encouraging a match between Boris and Princess Elisabeth.
However, the Princess was also being linked to Crown Prince George of Greece, whom she actually did marry in 1921.
Rumors of a Russian marriage continued to be written until 1916, when the Washington Post reported that the “Czar’s daughter grieved over shattered romance. The engagement of the eldest daughter of the Russian Czar to Crown Prince Boris of Bulgaria is at an end. The match was approved in circles of the Russian royalty, but Bulgaria’s defiance of Russia has shattered it. The Grand Duchess is said to be heartbroken.”
Boris and Olga were not entirely strangers. In 1898, the young Crown Prince accompanied his father, King Ferdinand, to Russia, where he met his godfather, Nicholas II, and he “vaguely remembered playing with” Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana. But there are no references in family correspondence or biographies about a proposed marriage, although Olga was seriously considered as a bride for the future King Carol II of Roumania.
But even a war did not stop the rumors. By special cable, the Washington Post reported in March 1916, that Pope Benedict XV had refused Franz Joseph’s request for a “necessary dispensation of the marriage of the Austrian Archduchess, who is to wed Crown Prince Boris of Bulgaria.” The Pope would only grant the dispensation if Boris returned to the Roman Catholic faith. This was unlikely to happen as the heir to the Bulgarian throne was required to be Orthodox.
The Bulgarian royal family’s relationship with the Roman Catholic church was fraught with division and distrust. In 1893, when Ferdinand, who had been elected Prince of Bulgaria in 1887, married Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, he had to agree to Pope Leo XIII’s demands that the couple’s children would be baptised as Roman Catholics. This was contrary to Article 38 in the Bulgarian constitution, which stated that the Prince of Bulgaria and his descendants were required to be members of the Orthodox church, although the “first Prince of Bulgaria may exceptionally profess his original religion.” Ferdinand remained Roman Catholic, and his future wife, was a devout Roman Catholic, and a goddaughter of Pope Pius IX.
The marriage was made possible only after the Bulgarian National Assembly agreed to override Article 38. Ferdinand agreed to the demands, and the marriage took place on April 20, 1893. Nine months after the wedding, Princess Marie Louise gave birth to her first child, Boris, who was baptised according to the rites of the Roman Catholic church.
The decision to baptise Boris in the Roman Catholic faith brought further friction as “the majority of Bulgarians were Orthodox Christians, the official religion of the country.” It was foolhardy for the sovereign to ignore the traditions of the country he ruled. Relations with Russia, an Orthodox nation, were also difficult due to conflicts between Alexander III, “who hated Bulgaria,” and Ferdinand I. Alexander’s death in 1894 “provided an opportune moment” toward reconciliation, and the crafty Ferdinand knew he had no choice but to choose Bulgaria over Rome. He was the sovereign of an Orthodox country, and, although, he had been permitted to retain his Catholic faith, he knew that his heir would have to be Orthodox. Thus, the three-year-old Prince Boris went through a ceremony of conversion to the Orthodox faith on February 15, 1896. The little prince did not go through a second baptism as the Orthodox church recognizes Roman Catholic baptism. Not only did Nicholas II restore diplomatic relations with Bulgaria, he also agreed to be Boris’ godfather.
Pope Leo XIII promptly excommunicated Ferdinand for permitting his son’s conversion to the Orthodox church. Ferdinand’s throne became a little bit less shaky when he spoke before a special session of the Bulgarian parliament: “I know that I have been expelled from the Western Church, which casts its anathema upon me. But from today, I shall turn my eyes towards the golden dawn of the Orient.”
On Easter Sunday 1915, King Ferdinand “was forgiven for his religious apostasy,” when he received the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time since his excommunication. The ban had been lifted, as Boris, now 21-years-old, was capable of making his own religious decisions, and his decision to remain Orthodox “could henceforth be considered by Rome as a free choice rather than an imposition by his father.”
Despite having lifted Ferdinand’s excommunication, Pope Benedict XV would probably not have granted a dispensation to allow a Catholic archduchess to marry an Orthodox prince, without securing a written statement that the children of this marriage would be raised Catholic. Crown Prince Boris was unlikely to have acceded to this request.
The article does not name the particular Archduchess, nor in a similar report three days later, when the paper cited an article in the Journal des Balkans, which said that Bulgarian heir to the throne was to marry a “princess of the house of Hapsburg.” In 1918, however, the Washington Post reported that Boris was to marry Archduchess Gabrielle of Austria, the fourth daughter of Archduke Friedrich. It was to be a double engagement as Boris’ sister, Princess Nadejda, was expected to marry Archduke Karl Albrecht, the son of Archduke Karl Stefan.
The Post based its account on reports in German newspapers, which noted the dynastic alliances were still possible, even during the final months of a devastating war. Considering the political situation in Austria and in Bulgaria, neither marriage seemed plausible. By October 1918, Bulgaria had capitulated, and Ferdinand went into exile, leaving his eldest son to accept the throne. It had been made clear to Ferdinand that his continued reign would not be acceptable to the Allies. He was a detriment to Bulgaria’s independence; thus, Boris succeeded to the throne upon his father’s abdication, as Boris III. Boris’ siblings joined their father in exile, leaving the young monarch, alone in a country plagued by political instability, and poverty.
The war ended in November 1918. Germany was defeated, and the German and Austrian emperors went into exile. Nicholas II and his family were murdered by the Bolsheviks in July 1918.
The changes in Boris’ situation made a question of marriage rather difficult, certainly during the first years of his reign. In post-war Bulgaria, Boris was less likely to look for a bride among the exiled German and Austrian royal families. One putative bride, Archduchess Gabrielle, was forced to seek employment after the fall of the Habsburgs. By 1923, she was working as a housemaid for a Viennese banker, where she turned “down beds and dusts dressing tables for the banker’s daughters.”
In 1921, King Boris III gave an interview to the American news agency, the Associated Press. He declared that “Peace and work,” was the motto of his small nation, and he spoke eloquently of his gratefulness toward America. He spoke English fluently, and had made “a deep study of America and American conditions.” He also wanted to speak of the Bulgarian Parliament’s decision to make a gift of a parcel of land in Sofia for the building of an American college. The King added: “Until now neither I nor my people have had an adequate opportunity for expressing their feelings of gratitude to the great American nation.”
By the next year, the possibility of Boris seeking an American bride became a topic of conversation on both sides of the Atlantic. There were plans for the king to visit the United States in the spring of 1922, but he dismissed talk of marriage to an American. “This is an extremely interesting and novel idea,” when the topic of an American bride was broached. “But I am afraid it isn’t true. Anyway, I’m too busy with reconstruction of the country and other vital problems to give it any time to matrimonial prospects.”
“It is true that I have been living a life of great loneliness, devoid of all social diversion, but now I have my two sisters with me and that makes a great change. You see, it is the duty of a brother to get his sisters married first before he himself marries.”
The king’s comments came only a week before Sofia newspapers reported that Boris’s engagement to Princess Yolanda of Savoy, the eldest daughter of King Vittorio Emmanuele of Italy. The reports were quickly denied by palace officials in Rome.
The idea that Boris could marry a wealthy American remained a subject for discussion, certainly in the U.S. papers. “Why Bulgarians Seek Queen Here,” was the title of Frederick Cunliffe-Owen’s article in the New York Times on January 28, 1923. Cunliffe-Owen noted that “with an American as Consort, Boris’s country would not fear political complications.” Cunliffe-Owen noted that “until now there has been but one woman of American birth who has ever been called upon to share a throne and who can boast of having received with sovereign honors at some of the principal monarchial courts of Europe --namely Miss Alice Heine of New Orleans.” Alice was the second wife of Prince Albert I of Monaco.
The political complications of a dynastic marriage would not be “such a drawback in the event of an American-born Queen, who would not be suspected by the Bulgar peasants of being prepared to sacrifice their interests to those of some foreign nation or dynasty,” according to Cunliffe-Owen. “They feel that they could rely on the impartiality of an American consort for their young King, if the right kind of American girl can be found, who would be willing not only to adapt herself, but even to devote herself, to the conditions and the welfare of the country of her adoption.”
Bulgarian prime minister Alexander Stamboulisky added to the speculation when he told a Swiss reporter that the King “wishes to marry a beautiful and wealthy American girl.”
The Prime Minister suggested that the Bulgarians “have lost faith in royal alliances and hope that an American queen will be a greater asset to their country than a European.”
Bulgaria, however, was not a constitutional monarchy. Many considered Stamboulisky to be a megalomaniac, who was bringing the country to further deprivation and rot. According to one of Boris’ biographers, Pashanko Dimitroff, Boris was largely “a prisoner in his own kingdom,” who believed that his prime minister “would calm under the influence of his contacts with Western politicians.” For eight years, the king did not leave his country.
In June 1923, Stamboulisky was killed in a coup d’etat, that brought about a new government for the country. With Bulgarian facing further political instability, Boris wrote to his father, saying that it might be a good idea to find husbands for his sisters, although “In principle I am not enthusiastic about marriages, as you know, and I will not change my convictions about it.” He advocated a quick marriage for Princess Nadejda “while the firm has still some appearance of luster left.”
(Princess Nadejda married Duke Albrecht of Württemberg in January 1924.)
Three years after Stamboulisky’s death, the king made light of the late prime minister’s comments. Stamboulisky, he said, “always used to say he would find me a rich American wife, but I am not really looking for riches. Character counts far more than money.”
One person who was keeping an eye on Bulgaria, at least from a matrimonial point of view, was Queen Marie of Roumania. She may have had her eye on Boris, as a possible husband for her youngest daughter, Ileana. Queen Marie was an inveterate matchmaker, having already arranged the marriages of her eldest son and daughter, Carol and Elisabeth, to Princess Helen and King George II of the Hellenes. A year after the Greco-Romanian alliances, Marie’s second daughter, Marie, was married to King Alexander of Yugoslavia. It would make perfect sense for the Romanian queen to want to secure another Balkan alliance, this time between Princess Ileana and King Boris. Marie also advocated the candidacy of her niece, Grand Duchess Kira of Russia; yet, neither got a second look by King Boris.
“I am too busy putting Bulgaria’s house in order to get married,” he said laughingly in an interview with the Associated Press in 1928. “Besides, Bulgaria is too poor at the moment to afford a queen. When we get on our feet I shall be prepared to embark on the sea of matrimony. We must first make sure that the throne is strong enough to ‘support’ two.”
The king was also asked “if there were any likelihood that he would plight his troth with Princess Giovanna, 22-year-old daughter of King Victor Emmanuel of Italy.” He “smiled evasively, and responded: “You see, in Bulgaria there is a custom that the sons in a family shall first get their sisters married off before they themselves take brides. As I still have my sister Eudoxia on my hands, the question of my wedlock must wait.”
Although Princess Giovanna of Savoy had been on a list of possible brides for nearly the entire decade, Orthodox princesses still figured prominently as the future Queen of Bulgaria. In September 1929, the Romanian newspaper, Adverul, reported that the plans for a Bulgarian-Roumanian marriage were revived. According to information from that ubiquitous “reliable court authority,” Boris’ engagement to Princess Ileana was imminent. “Now it is understood that Queen Marie has revived the old idea --once laughingly admitted in conversation with a newspaper man -- of becoming the mother-in-law of the Balkans.”
According to the report, Boris had “already sounded royal opinion in Bucharest,” and had “received a favorable answer.” This was only two months after newspapers reported that the King would marry “the beautiful Princess Francoise, 25 year old, daughter of the Duke of Guise, claimant to the French throne.” A prominent member of the French Chamber was in Sofia to “ostensibly inspect the earthquake regions,” but his “real aim was to sound the King on behalf of Premier Poincaré and M. Briand, on the question of marrying the second daughter of the ‘King of France.’”
Boris apparently listened “attentively” to the Deputy, but his response was that “he was too busy at the moment to get married, but would take the French offer under consideration.”
Stephane Groueff, who wrote the biography, Crown of Thorns, noted that Boris had “vaguely considered a few possible choices among the available European princesses,” although marriage to a Bulgarian “was out of the question.” Two possible candidates for marriage were Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, whose father, Kirill, had succeeded as the de jure Emperor of Russia, after the Bolsheviks had murdered Nicholas II and his family, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. An American diplomat based on Belgrade, noted that Prince Paul of Yugoslavia had told him that Kira “would not be averse to marrying the Bulgarian monarch, as the young lady had expressed herself favorably to this idea only recently.”
The American diplomat, John Dyneley Prince, would also note Prince Paul’s “wicked remarks” about the Bulgarian king. He asked the prince if he thought that either Kira or Sibylla were truly interested King Boris. “Certainly not,” was Prince Paul’s response. “How could any girl fall in love with Boris with his wizened little face?”
Throughout most of the 1920s, the media’s darling was Princess Giovanna of Savoy, who was usually at the top of the favourites’ list. In 1926, when Boris spent a few days in Milan, as the guest of the Duke of Aosta, the New York Times, and other newspapers in the USA and Europe, speculated that the king’s “betrothal [to Giovanna] was expected to be officially announced soon.” However, the king returned to Sofia with nary an announcement, although the “possibility of such a marriage has aroused Bulgaria’s neighbors, especially Rumania, to the point of a protest to Rome, and the idea of Boris’ marriage to Giovanna is most displeasing to Rumania.”
It was also noted by church officials in Bulgaria that it was “almost impossible” for Boris and Giovanna to marry, as the princess was Roman Catholic.
Was Giovanna the topic of conversation between the king and the Duke of Aosta, a member of the Italian royal family? The Duke of Aosta could certainly have made overtures to Giovanna’s parents about a possible marriage. Govanna herself was aware of the media speculation about her marriage, but she had not met the Bulgarian king.
Boris and Giovanna were finally introduced on September 15, 1927, when Boris joined her family, including her parents, King Vittorio Emmanuele and Queen Elena, for lunch at San Rossore.
The princess was shy, and nervous, and she had considered going to Turin to see her brother in order to avoid meeting Boris, as she was aware of the ridiculous engagement stories. They “exchanged a few words in French,” as both were fluent in the language. Boris spoke “exclusively” to her parents throughout the lunch, while Giovanna sat quietly, noting his “maturity and sophistication.” She was nearly 20, and he was 33.
Although their conversation had been brief, Boris realized that Giovanna was “new and refreshing.” She didn’t know much about politics, which was the main topic of conversation between Boris and his sisters. Giovanna was, according to Stephane Groueff, “more worldly than the Bulgarian princesses.”
Queen Elena and Giovanna were at the opera one evening, when the queen took her daughter aside, and told her that Princess Mafalda (Giovanna’s older sister, married to Prince Philipp of Hesse) had said that Prince Kyril had come to see her, and ask her if she knew if Giovanna was interested in marrying his brother. “What do you think?” the Montenegrin-born Elena asked her daughter.
“I don’t know him well enough,” she responded. “I need some time to think about it.”
She certainly had the time to reflect on a marriage, as Boris did not contact her for more than two years. It was not until Boris came to Rome in January 1930 to attend the wedding of Giovanna’s brother, Crown Prince Umberto to Princess Marie-José of Belgium, that he finally approached her, and said that he wanted to marry her. He also confided his pessimism over this marriage because of the religious obstacles, but he told Giovanna: “I have a friend in Sofia on whom I can count. He is an Italian, who I know cares for me.”
The friend was the Vatican’s delegate to Bulgaria, Angelo Roncalli -- the future Pope John XXIII – who discreetly provided the assistance that made it possible for the marriage to take place. Six months would pass before Boris’ sister, Eudoxia, traveled to Italy, to let the princess know that talks “were progressing.” Boris, she noted, was optimistic that the Bulgarian government and the Orthodox and Catholic churches would be able to come to an agreement. On September 3, 1930, at San Rossore, Giovanna and Boris became engaged although an official announcement would not be made until the religious issues were settled.
Roncalli worked tirelessly to overcome the ecclesiastical objections, and on October 15, 1930, the Vatican issued a dispensation to allow the wedding. Boris and Giovanna provided a “written declaration, promising to baptize and educate all their children, without exception in the Catholic religion.” Roncalli had not been “overly insistent on a solemn commitment” on raising the children as Catholics, Abut he had to issue some pro forma warnings.”
“In a driving rain and hail storms out of doors,” King Boris III of Bulgaria, 37, married the 23-year-old Princess Giovanna of Savoy, at the basilica of St. Francis at Assisi on October 25, 1930. The newlyweds arrived in Sofia on October 31, and attended a “nuptial benediction” at the Orthodox cathedral. Wedding rings were not exchanged, but “the fact that crowns of marriage were held over the heads of the king and queen, and they drank out of the same communion chalice and both kissed the gospel afterward,” provided Bulgarians with an acceptance of “the essentials of the orthodox rite.”
This second ceremony “infuriated” Pope Pius XI, who rebuked Roncalli for allowing the service to take place. Roncalli saw the second service as a blessing on the marriage, and not an actual wedding. He accepted blame for the ceremony, but was wistful when he noted that the king could have made a “simple declaration that would have explained the significance of the October 31 marriage, a declaration that would have averted the solemn words of the pope that cannot have been very pleasant for his Majesty. The “bachelor king” was no more.

Blue movie for Sophie Winkleman

Oops!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/4885455/Blue-movie-by-Lord-Frederick-Windsors-bride-Sophia-Winkleman-raises-eyebrows-at-Palace.html