Wednesday, February 28, 2018

It is time to stop the (yes) racist attacks on Meghan Markle

Embed from Getty Images 

 This 63-year-old white woman is about to tell ya'all to shut up.

Who are ya'all?  You know who you are?  Bigoted, racist, intolerant people who find it a challenge to get out of bed every day and put their pants on, one leg at a time.  They are hampered by their own limitations, in spite of their determination to claim supremacy on account of their race.

Rachel Meghan Markle is a former American actress who will walk down the aisle at St. George's Chapel as a mere Miss and come out, on the arm of her new husband, as a royal highness and a member of the British royal family.

Embed from Getty Images 

It is one thing to call the Duchess of Cambridge as Waity Katy.  It is far worse to hurl racist comments, nasty tweets and Facebook posts and goodness knows where else (I do not want to know, actually, if you really want to know) at Miss Markle ... and this abuse is being hurled by ignorant, racist, bigoted, intolerant - and let me add, poorly educated, human beings, as well as being tired and boring people who are unable to hold their own with intelligent conversations.

Miss Markle is bi-racial.  Her mom is an African-American and her father is white.    According to a 2017 Pew Research study, the number of mixed-race Americans is growing faster than the actual US population.    In the 1970s, a mere one percent of the American population was mixed race.  Now it is more than 10 percent.

I say hurrah.  The US Census Bureau predicts that by 2060, the number of mixed-race Americans will be three times larger than it is now.   I say hurrah.

According to 2014 National Office of Statistics report,  the number of mixed-race households in the United Kingdom has reached 12% and is also growing.  I say hurrah.

As a Germanic, I am about as white as anyone can be.  Do I see myself -- or any other white person -- as special or better than someone of another race or creed or even religion?   No!

 As a devout Lutheran, I believe that my faith is the right path to heaven, but I understand and accept that people of other faiths believe the same thing.  Are they wrong?  Of course not.

I am so white that my foundation (makeup) colors are Cool Vanilla or Cool Ivory (No 7 is the brand, in case you are interested.)   At least, I am a cool white person ... after I slap on the makeup.

Jesus was Jewish.  He died Jewish.  We don't know what Jesus looked like, but we can assume that he did not have blond hair and blue eyes.  More likely, he had dark eyes, dark hair, and olive skin.   It his color does not matter - it is what he preached that matters.

Embed from Getty Images 

Getting off the religious soapbox here and back to my rant.   White supremacists are far from being supreme.  They are toady creatures, uncomfortable in their own skin, living in their parents' basements.  They are insecure.  They are not well-educated or well-read.  I doubt they have a newspaper delivered to their front door every morning.   [I do.  The newspaper is called the Washington Post.]

The attacks on Miss Markle are not confined to Twitter or Facebook, but also in the British media. Yes, I am looking at you Daily Mail.

This morning, one writer began her article by writing that Miss Markle had "ditched" her trousers and wore a dress today at the Royal Foundation event, joining Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  Why was it necessary to write this.  The fact that Miss Markle wore pants to several engagements is not relevant to the story.  I am nearly certain that Mail writers, especially those who write for the online edition of the newspaper, are encouraged to write with a hint of salacious combined with a suggestion of innuendo.

I took several J-classes as an undergrad.  One of the first things a J-student learns is how to write a news story: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, HOW & WHY?    If it works for a New York Times writer,  it will also work for someone at the Daily Mail.

How many times do the tabloids have to say that Meghan is straight out of Compton (a not-so-nice neighborhood in Los Angeles) without checking facts?   Miss Markle grew up in the rather nice neighborhood called Baldwin Hills in  Los Angeles.

Miss Markle was educated at private schools starting with the Little Red Schoolhouse in Hollywood.  She attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.  This is Roman Catholic high school, but Miss Markle has never been a Roman Catholic.   More non-Catholics - and even non-Christians - attend Roman Catholic schools in the United States, than Roman Catholics.

In 2003, she graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in theater and international studies.  How many of her abusers could handle a double major,  or get admitted into Northwestern University?

Miss Markle is a confident, well-educated, well-read woman, who is in love and is loved by a very popular prince.  She has been welcomed into the royal family with open arms.  She has been a tireless worker for several charities so she will have few problems in taking on new challenges as she becomes a working royal.

She represents what is good about being an American.  She is not Wallis Warfield Simpson.

It is important to appreciate and acknowledge that Miss Markle is bi-racial.  She is not an English rose or a Greek princess.  She is a mixed-race American  - and that is something we all should celebrate.  Yes, celebrate diversity - because a diversity makes us great.  Ditto the United Kingdom. 

The fact that I am white does not make me a better American.  It makes me appreciate that the United States is an amalgam of people from all over the world -- and the same can be said for the United Kingdom, but not with the same numbers.   Only 3% of Britain's population is black compared to 14% in the United States.

Embed from Getty Images 

I realize that the racial epithets and intolerant and ignorant comments will continue because the hurlers get great pleasure out of celebrating their own ignorance.   It is time, however, to call them out.  Report the posts.  Retort with facts  .. and kindness.  The same should be applied for "journalists" who spew out innuendo-filled articles.   (I am certainly not talking about the journos who cover the royal family 24-7).

Let's celebrate that an awesome American is going to become a member of the British royal family.

Meghan said it best: "My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African American. I'm half black and half white. ... I have come to embrace [this and] say who I am, to share where I'm from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident, mixed-race woman."

I say hurrah!





Prince Carlos von Hohenzollern (1978-2018)

Prince Carlos with his sister, Princess Anna, on her wedding day, June 1, 2013.  @Ulrike Bartsch.

HSH Prince Carlos Patrick Godehard of Hohenzollern died by suicide on February 23.  He jumped from the roof terrace on the 21st floor at Frankurt-am-Main's Intercontinental Hotel.

The 39-year-old prince had been released from jail a few days before where he had served a four-year sentence for swindling. 

He had been serving his time at the Euskirchen  prison and was due for release in July.  As a part of his preparation for a full release in July, Prince Carlos had been allowed a brief break away from prison.  He left the prison and drove more than 200 miles to Frankfurt.   

It is not known if Carlos had checked into the hotel. He went to the roof terrace and jumped.  His body was found at 2:40 p.m.  His death was instantaneous. 

Frankfurt police have ruled out the death as an accident.   

Prince Carlos Patrick Godehard of Hohenzollern was the elder of two children of the late HSH Prince Godehard-Friedrich Karl Anton Heinrich  Albrecht Joseph Ernst Egon Hermann Johann Georg Rudolf Tassilo Benedikt of Hohenzollern (1939-2001) and Heide Hansen.

Carlos was born in Munich on December 4, 1978.   He grew up at the family's home, Burg Namedy, in Andernach.  Prince Godehard had inherited the 14th century following his father, Prince Albrecht's death in 1977.    

Burg Namedy was purchased in 1908 by Carlo's great-grandfather, Prince Karl-Anton of Hohenzollern, who was married to Princess Josephine of Belgium.   Karl-Anton was the youngest of three sons of Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern and Infanta Antonia of Portugal.  His eldest brother, Wilhelm, succeeded as Prince of Hohenzollern and his second brother, Ferdinand, succeeded, their uncle Carol I  (ne Karl), of Hohenzollern.

Prince Carlos frittered away his inheritance with numerous bad business deals, which to several convictions.  In 2011, he was sentenced to four month's probation for non-payment of a bill to one of his creditors.  Three years later he was sentenced to four years for "dealing in multi-million pound investment funds which did not exist," according to the Daily Mail.

He is survived by his mother, Princess Heide, and his younger sister,  Princess Anna, who is married to Roman Goldschmidt.  Anna helps her mother run the Namedy estate.

Prince Carlos was a member of the most junior of branches of the princely house of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.   The present head of the princely house, HSH Karl Friedrich of Hohenzollern, a great-grandson of Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern, elder brother of King Ferdinand of Romania, and Prince Karl Anton,  Carlo's great-grandfather.

The late Prince Carlos was a member of the Princely family of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, the Roman Catholic branch of the Hohenzollerns.   It was the Brandenburg -- and Lutheran - branch of the family that had were Kings of Prussia and Emperors of Germany until 1918.  

The Princes of Hohenzollern had ruled their tiny principality in southwestern Germany until 1850 when Hohenzollern was annexed by Prussia.  Following the death of the Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen in 1869,  Karl Anton dropped Sigmaringen from his title and became Prince of Hohenzollern.

This Brandenburg branch of the family came to the Brandenburg throne in 1415, and converted to Lutheranism during the Reformation.  During the next few centuries, their power base eventually evolved into the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire.

http://www.dw.com/en/a-practical-princess-in-a-modern-world/a-17391177

Thanks to Ulrike Bartsch for allowing me the use of her photograph of Prince Carlos and Princess Anna.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

A thank you from Eugenie and Jack





The statement is printed, but a lovely gesture from HRH Princess Eugenie and Mr. Jack Brooksbank.

Sunday, February 25, 2018

New Romanian Prime Minister meets with Margareta

@Daniel Angelescu



On Friday, February 23,  the new Romanian Prime Minister Mrs. Viorica Dancila joined HM Margareta and HRH Prince Radu for lunch at the Elisabeta Palace.

This was the first meeting between the new Prime Minister and HM Margareta.


@Daniel Angelescu

According to the Romanian Royal Family's website "Her Majesty and the Prime Minister discussed topics relating to the public activities of the Royal Family to promote and support the Romanian presidency of the Council of the European Union, from January to June 2019; the continuation of numerous projects and events dedicated to the centennial years of 1918 and 1919; relations with the Republic of Moldova,as well as economic and diplomatic relations with countries outside the European continent."

A girl for the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Hannover


credit  Henriettenstifts


The Hereditary Princess Ekaterina of Hannover gave birth to a daughter on February 22 at the Henriettenstifts hospital in Hannover.

The little princess will be named Elisabeth.  Her full name will be announced at her baptism.

Hereditary Prince Ernst August told the Hannoversche Allgemeine newspaper:  "With my whole family I am very happy and grateful for the birth.  My wife and I would like to thank the Henriettenstifts team for the friendly and competent care."

Credit: Henriettenstift


The Hereditary Prince and Princess moved from London to Hannover in January.  They are living in the Fürstenhaus at Herrenhausen in Hannover.

The hospital was built with the support of Queen Marie of Hannover, the wife of King Georg V, the great-great-great-great-grandparents of Princess Elisabeth.  The hospital was named for Queen Marie's grandmother, Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg.  The hospital was funded by the late Princess Henriette's estate.

This is the first grandchild for HRH The Prince of Hanover and his first wife, Chantal Hochuli.

http://www.haz.de/Hannover/Aus-der-Stadt/Uebersicht/Baby-von-Ekaterina-und-Erbprinz-Ernst-August-von-Hannover-ist-da#Galerie


http://www.haz.de/Hannover/Aus-der-Stadt/Uebersicht/Hannover-Ernst-August-Erbprinz-von-Hannover-legt-jetzt-in-Herrenhausen-und-praesentiert-Plaene-fuer-die-Marienburg



A boy for Prince Philip and Princess Danica



THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES PRINCE PHILIP AND PRINCESS DANICA WELCOME THEIR FIRST CHILD, A SON

Belgrade, 25 February 2018 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine announce with joy that the Royal Family just gained a new member. HRH Princess Danica, the wife of HRH Prince Philip, gave birth to a male child, in Belgrade on Sunday, 25 February 2018 at 10:30 am.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, the bells of Belgrade’s St. Sava temple rang as a signal of the birth of the newborn of the Karadjordjevic Royal family, and this was the first time in history that 49 bells of the biggest orthodox temple in Balkans will announce such a birth.

The mother and the baby are doing well. The new parents Prince Philip and Princess Danica warmly thank everyone for their congratulations together with TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine.

This male birth is the first one in the Royal Family in Serbia for 90 years when HRH Prince Tomislav was born in Belgrade, who was the brother of HM King Peter II, the grandfather of HRH Prince Philip.

His Royal Highness Prince Philip is the fraternal twin of Prince Alexander and second in line to the Throne after Hereditary Prince Peter. He is the son of HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans Bragança. Prince Philip is the grandson of HM King Peter II and HM Queen Alexandra. His Godparents are HM King Constantine of the Hellenes,  HM the Queen of Spain and HRH the Duchess of Calabria.

Her Royal Highness Princess Danica was born on 17 August 1986 and lived in Paris since 1992 where she completed the largest part of her studies. She graduated in graphic design and visual communications at the Academy of Applied Arts in Paris, as well as in the Comparative Literature and Slavic Studies at the Sorbonne-Paris University. In London, the Princess finished her Master of Graphic Design and Communication at the Chelsea College of Art and Design – University of Art in London. She spent a large part of her childhood and growing up both in Belgrade and Paris.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philip and Princess Danica were married at Saborna Church in Belgrade on 7 October 2017. The wedding was officiated by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. The Godmother was HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Godfather was His Royal Highness Hereditary Prince Peter.


The new prince has been named Stefan.  He was born at the Medigroup Hospital in Belgrade.  Plans for the baptism are being made.   Photos should be released in a day or two.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

New to my collection

The Duke and Duchess of Aosta.  

The Prince and Princess of Piedmont and Princess Maria Pia 

The Duke of Aosta

These three cards are new additions to my collection.     I wish the first card included more information including when it was published or where it was taken. 

Friday, February 23, 2018

Pope grants dispensation to Anne and Michael

Embed from Getty Images 


 February 23, 1948


Pope Pius has granted a papal dispensation for the marriage of exiled King Michael of Romania and Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma,  reports United Press.

He granted the dispensation during a private audience with former Queen Helen of Romania and Princess Margrethe of Bourbon-Parma, the mothers of the groom and the bride.

Vatican sources state that the "dispensation was necessary" because Michael is a member of the Orthodox Church and Anne is a Roman Catholic.   The Pope agreed to the marriage "with the customary condition" that the couple's children will be raised as a Roman Catholics.




Zoubkoff arrested for brawl


Embed from Getty Images
February 23, 1928

Alexander Zoubkoff, the husband of Princess Victoria of Schaumburg-Lippe has apparently forgotten a promise he made a few days ago to his wife "to observe an early curfew while he was in Berlin alone with his money in his pockets."

According to the New York Times,  Zoubkoff has not followed his wife's advice and is now facing "a charge of assault on a page early this morning in a West End bar."

This action could lead to Zoubkoff, who is thirty years junior than his wife, being deported from Germany as an "undesirable foreigner."

Princess Victoria left Berlin earlier this week.  Her husband remained behind "for further negotiations for his proposed transatlantic flight with his wife as a passenger."

But while his wife is away,  Zoubkoff has been spending a lot of time at the Casanova Club, with friends of both sexes, leading a "gay life, drinking, singing and dancing."

He arrived at the Casanova Club shortly after midnight already intoxicated, and had more to drink before he prepared to leave at about 3 a.m.  A page tried to assist Zoubkoff with his cloak, but the inebriated Russian thought he was trying to listen to a conversation he was having with a lady companion.    He ordered the page to leave the room, but the page explained that he was under orders from the manager to stay in the room.   Zoubkoff then "struck" the young man in face, knocking him down to the floor and "immediately began kicking him.

He was arrested by the police and taken to the local police station where he was determined to be very drunk.  The police discovered that Zoubkoff's passport had expired in December and he had not renewed it.  He was charged with "violating the regulations for foreigners and fined 300 marks."

Zoubkoff has been stateless since the Russian revolution and holds a Nansen passport granted by the League of Nations.  As Zoubkoff's wife, Princess Victoria has the same status and can be deported as well due to her husband's "violation of the law." 

It is not known if officials will "exercise their prerogative" in this matter.

Princess Patricia now a Colonel



Embed from Getty Images
February 24, 1918

Princess Patricia of Connaught has been appointed as "honorary Colonel in Chief" of the 'Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, according to a London dispatch to the Reuter's Agency in Ottawa, Canada.


It was in August 1910 when the Canadian Defense Minister, Sam Hughes stated:  "With the approval of the Imperial Government authority is given for the raising of one Infantry Regiment to be named 'Princess Patricia's Light Infantry."

The new regiment was named for the younger daughter of Canada's Governor General, HRH The Duke of Connaught.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Princess Patricia is ignoring Cupid


Embed from Getty Images 


February 21, 1908


The latest rumor about Princess Patricia of Connaught that has Britain reveling in the "love affairs of that elusive young beauty," concerns a possible engagement with the Count of Turin, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Those "best acquainted with the young woman's peculiarities" are convinced that the Count will have "no better luck with his wooing" than others who have "sought in vain to attach the matrimonial halter to the young princess."

She has "upset all traditions" by refusing to allow her uncle, King Edward VII, or her parents to arrange a marriage.

This golden haired princess, "with large soulful eyes" and a marvelous complexion," has driven several suitors to despair.   King Alfonso XIII pursued her to no avail.  After one look at him, the young princess turned to her father, the Duke of Connaught and allegedly said: "I simple won't marry that horrid little man; so there."

Alfonso XIII found another princess in England: Patricia's first cousin, Ena of Battenberg.   They married in May 1906.

There were reports that King Edward VII wanted her to marry the young Crown Prince Luis Filipe of Portugal, who was assassinated with his father, King Carlos I, on February 1.  The young Crown Prince was only 20 when he was killed.

Grand Duke Michael of Russia, the younger brother of Nicholas II, and Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia, the second son of Kaiser Wilhelm II, had also expressed interest in marrying the Duke of Connaught's youngest child, but, again, the independent-mined princess said no. 

Two years ago,  Eitel Friedrich married Duchess Sophie Charlotte of Oldenburg.

Grand Duke Michael remains unmarried.

The Count of Turin - HRH Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy-Aosta -- is a cousin of King Vittorio Emanuele III.  His father, Prince Amadeo, Duke of Aosta, was King of Spain from November 1870 until February 1873.

The Count is 37 years old and a Roman Catholic.  He is unlikely to win Patricia's heart.


Tuesday, February 20, 2018

A thank you from Queen Mathilde




A thank you from Queen Mathilde of the Belgians

Prince Henrik's funeral



Embed from Getty Images
Prince Henrik of Denmark's funeral was held earlier today. It was a private family funeral with no foreign royal guests.   His wife's nieces and nephews (the children of Princess Benedikte and  Queen Anne Marie) did not attend.


Embed from Getty Images  


Here is the guest list.

The Royal Family and the French family of HRH Prince Henrik
Hendes Majestæt Dronningen
Hans Kongelige Højhed Kronprinsen
Hendes Kongelige Højhed Kronprinsessen
Hans Kongelige Højhed Prins Christian
Hendes Kongelige Højhed Prinsesse Isabella
Hans Kongelige Højhed Prins Vincent
Hendes Kongelige Højhed Prinsesse Josephine
Hans Kongelige Højhed Prins Joachim
Hendes Kongelige Højhed Prinsesse Marie
Hans Højhed Prins Nikolai
Hans Højhed Prins Felix
Hans Højhed Prins Henrik
Hendes Højhed Prinsesse Athena
Hendes Højhed Prinsesse Elisabeth
Hendes Kongelige Højhed Prinsesse Benedikte
Hendes Majestæt Dronning Anne-Marie
Hans Majestæt Kong Konstantin af Grækenland
Mme Françoise Bardin
M. Guillaume Bardin
Mme Laurence Bardin
Fuldmægtig Charles-Henri Keller
Soeur Catherine de Monpezat
Le Comte Etienne de Laborde de Monpezat
La Comtesse Isabelle de Laborde de Monpezat
Le Comte Jean-Baptiste de Laborde de Monpezat
La Comtesse Gill de Laborde de Monpezat

Guests (alphabetical)
H.E. Alexandra Grevinde af Frederiksborg
Fhv. livrist, kammertjener Anker Andersen
Kommunikationschef Lene Balleby
Privatsekretær for H.K.H. Prins Joachim, oberst Søren Bo Bojesen
Kgl. jægermester, skovrider i Gribskov, hofjægermester Jens Bjerregaard Christensen
Fhv. hofchef for H.K.H. Prinsgemalens Hofstat, kammerherre, oberst Mogens Christensen
Erhvervssproglig fuldmægtig Marianne Gøttsche G. Dupont
Hofmarskal, kammerherre Michael Ehrenreich
Kabinetssekretær, ordenssekretær, kammerherre Henning Fode
Hofdame for Hendes Majestæt Dronningen Ane Vibeke Foss
Privatsekretær for H.K.H. Kronprinsen Morten Roland Hansen
Adjudantstabschef, oberst, kammerherre Lasse Harkjær
Kammertjener Jesper G. Jensen
Slotsforvalter på Fredensborg Slot, kammerherre, oberst John Kidde-Hansen
Formand for Folketinget, medlem af Folketinget for Dansk Folkeparti Pia Kjærsgaard
Ceremonimester, kammerherre, oberst Kim Kristensen
Økonomichef ved Den Kongelige Civilliste, kammerherre Søren Weiskopf Kruse
Kammertjener Olivier Laurent
Sekretariatsfuldmægtig i H.K.H. Prins Henriks Sekretariat, tilsynsførende Olivier Lesenecal
Sekretariatschef for H.K.H. Prins Henrik, major Nils Nykjær
Jagtkaptajn, chef for Kongeskibet Dannebrog, kommandør Christian A. Nørgaard
Privatsekretær for H.K.H. Prinsesse Benedikte, kammerherre, oberst Tommy M. Paulsen
Privatsekretær, hofdame for H.K.H. Kronprinsesse Mary Christine Pii
Statsminister Lars Løkke Rasmussen
H.E. Greve Ingolf af Rosenborg
Grevinde Sussie af Rosenborg
H.E. Højesteretspræsident Thomas Rørdam
Hofdame for Hendes Majestæt Dronningen, oberstinde Annette de Scheel
Præsident for Corps Consulaire, bestyrelsesformand, kammerherre, generalkonsul Fritz H. Schur
Hofchef for D.K.H. Kronprinsen og Kronprinsessens Hofstat, kammerherre Christian Schønau
Hofdame, privatsekretær for H.K.H. Prinsesse Marie Britt Siesbye
Slots- og Palæforvalter, major Michael de Voss
Hofdame for Hendes Majestæt Dronningen Annelise Wern
HE Ambassador of France Francois Zimeray



  Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Friday, February 16, 2018

Charles and Camilla in Yorkshire



Embed from Getty Images

I normally do not write about fashion, but I really, really like the Duchess of Cornwall's pink coat .. I really, really like it.  It's pink.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were in Yorkshire today carrying out several engagements.   The Duchess paid a visit to Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth, West Yorkshire.

This was home of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte  -- and 2018 in the 200th anniversary of Emily Bronte's birth.    Emily wrote my favorite book of all time, Wuthering Heights and Charlotte is the author of my nearly favorite book of all time,  Jane Eyre.

https://www.bronte.org.uk


The Royal couple also visited the Piece Hall, in Halifax, a former cloth hall into a cultural and heritage center.  They stopped into several shops, including the Yorkshire Soap Co., where the Prince of Wales expressed interest in a Gingerbread man soap.

http://www.thepiecehall.co.uk/shop

Take a look at the Yorkshire Soap company's website.  So many lovely handmade (in Yorkshire) soaps.  There are only 5 shops and all are in Yorkshire.
The company does accept mail orders within the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Europe.

https://yorkshiresoap.co.uk 

For more details of Camilla's visit to Haworth,  here is a link to Victoria Howard's coverage as she was one of the accredited press.

https://www.thecrownchronicles.co.uk/royal-news/duchess-camilla-finishes-wuthering-heights-manuscript-bronte-museum-rides-steam-train/

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
  Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
  Embed from Getty Images

A Chinese education for Princess Amalia? Dad says no.




The Dutch newspaper, De Telgraaf, is reporting that the Princess of Orange, the eldest of the three daughters of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, will be attending the United World College in  Changshu school in Changshu, China.

Princess Amalia, the heiress apparent to the Dutch throne, has been studying Chinese for several years.

King Willem-Alexander attended the Atlantic College in Wales, which was the first United World College, founded in 1962.   The then Prince of of Orange attended the school for two years.

Several days ago, the school's website had a Dutch-language announcement that read "the registration for the 2018-2020 school semesters is closed."

This announcement was made to stop the "influx of 'fortune seekers' " who wanted to be in the same class as the future  Queen of the Netherlands.

The King and Queen had wanted to find a school in the Hague, but they have agreed to send Amalia to China for the final years of high school.

However, it is now too late for other students to join her.

The RVD has not confirmed the information.  But King Willem-Alexander has called the report a "total nonsense story."  The King made the comment at the Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch, where he opened an exhibit.

The King said he read about the news when he made a stopover in Paris after flying en route home  from South Korea, where he and Queen Maxima had been cheering on the Dutch athletes.

He said he was "surprised" by the report in De Telegraaf.  He telephoned his eldest daughter to find out what she thought about the report.  Amalia apparently laughed "very loudly" in response to his question.

Princess Amalia, 14, is a student at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet.  The king said his very happy at the school.

One royal correspondent said that "it is very remarkable that the king responds to a rumor."   

The usual reaction is a no comment reaction from the palace.


https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1673893/studeren-met-amalia-pech

https://nos.nl/artikel/2217662-koning-prinses-amalia-naar-china-is-een-totaal-onzinverhaal.html