Royal Musings
News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The Duke of Calabria issues statement on titles used by Prince Carlos & family
Monday, June 1, 2026
Princess Ingrid Alexandra to return home
The 22-year-old Princess is in the middle of a three-year bachelor's degree program, where she is studying international relations and political economics." The Crown Prince added that he did not know how long his daughter would remain at home.
Several days ago, the Crown Prince announced that he would cut short his visit to Japan due to Crown Princess Mette Marit's declining health. She suffers from an incurable and progressive lung disease, chronic pulmonary fibrosis.
Haakon's mother, Queen Sonja, 88, was recently admitted to Oslo's Rikshospitalet for "atrial fibrillation and heart failure." In January 2025, she had a pacemaker installed. She is now back home at the Royal Palace and will be on sick leave due to an adjustment to her medication.
Princess Nicholas Romanoff (1930-2026)
Princess Nicholas Romanoff died on May 31st at her villa in Bolgheri, Livorno. She was 96 years old. The death was announced on Instagram by her granddaughter, Nicoletta Consolo Romanoff.
"Grandma Sveva, you have returned to the Father's house. The heavens opened for you tonight. God only knows how much love you have given and how much you have received in return. Spread all this love on your large family because today a different life begins for all of us.
I love you, Grandma, now you are with your beloved ones... your twin brother Manfredi, your mother Nicoletta, our Enzo-Manfredi, and grandfather Nicola."
The princess was the widow of Prince Nicholas Romanoff (1922-2014), the elder of two sons of Prince Roman Petrovich of Russia and his morganatic wife, Countess Praskovia Dmitrievna Sheremeteva.
She was born in Florence on July 15, 1930, as Countess Svera della Gherardesca, daughter of Count Walfredo della Gherardesca and Nicoletta, Marquise de Piccolelis.
The couple's civil wedding took place on December 31, 1951, in Florence, which was followed by a Russian Orthodox service at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Cannes, France, on January 21, 1952.
The couple lived in Tuscany. After Svera's brother's death, Nicholas took over running her family's estate. They had three children: Natalia Consolo (1952), Elisabetta Bonacini (1956), and Tatiana Tirotti (1961).
Sveva is survived by her three daughters, three grandchildren, Nicoletta Consolo, Niccolò Bonacini, Sofia Bonacini Satolli, and Allegra Tirotti Bizzarri, and 10 great-grandchildren. One grandson, Enzo-Manfredi Consolo, died in 1997.
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| @Allegra Tirotti Romanoff (Instagram) |
In 2022, when Allegra married Stefano Bizzarri, she asked her grandmother to be her best man. Svera "wore an elegant embroidered green and gold caftan and classic beige trousers," according to Vogue Italia.
The late Prince Nicholas was a non-dynastic descendant of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.
The Hola magazine obituary claims Sveva was a descendant of Martin van Buren, the 8th President of the United States of America. This is incorrect. She was the descendant of Beekman van Beuren (1732-1812). He was a prominent colonial doctor who served in the American Revolution. Different families.
This is the line of descent from Beekman van Beuren - Rachel van Beuren - Sara Ann Limberger - Sara Ann Randall - Alice Fabbri - Nicoletta Piccolelis - Sveva della Gheradesca
Friday, May 29, 2026
The Duchess of Brabant receives her degree
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Theodora Greece returns to The Bold & the Beautiful
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| @CBS/Bold and the Beautiful |
After eight years, Theodora Greece has returned to the role of Alison Montgomery for a two-day stint on the CBS soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful. She joined the cast in 2011 as Bill Spencer's "faithful assistant at Spencer Publications, and remained in the recurring role until 2018.
The actress's appearances were on May 27 and May 28, 2026.
Theodora Greece is the stage name of HRH Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark, who will celebrate her 43rd birthday on June 9. She is the fourth of five children of the late King Constantine II of the Hellenes and his wife, Queen Anne Marie, born a princess of Denmark.
In September 2024, Theodora married Matthew Kumar, an American lawyer, who is currently unable to practice law in California.
https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/11/matthew-kumars-law-license-suspended.html
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Queen Sonja is hospital
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| @Royal House of Norway |
Update May 28: King Harald has confirmed that his wife is back home.
The Norwegian royal palace's press office released updated information on Queen Sonja.
"Her Majesty the Queen was admitted to the National Hospital today due to heart problems. The Queen has heart fibrillation and heart failure, and will be hospitalized for a few days for examinations and observation."
The Palace has not issued a new statement on Princess Astrid, who was first hospitalized on March 29th.
https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2026/05/update-on-princess-astrid.html
Yesterday, Crown Prince Haakon discussed his wife's health with Norwegian Broadcaster, NRK: “The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately. So I am worried about her health.
"These six months have gone pretty well, I think. But there are different phases. So we just have to try to solve it as best we can."
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been photographed wearing an oxygen breathing tube. In 2018, she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and now requires daily oxygen support.
Crown Prince Haakson was also asked about Mette-Marit getting on the lung transplant list. He acknowledged that it was "up to the doctors."
"It's a medical question. So they’re the ones who decide when it should happen, when it’s right," he said. "But I think she’s gotten a lot worse lately, unfortunately.”
Crown Princess Elisabeth is a Harvard grad
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Queen Margrethe back in the Hospital
"Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet and has been treated after a CT scan showed a large blood clot in the hip region as a result of a previous fall.
It is expected that Queen Margrethe will now be hospitalized for several days.
Her Majesty is doing well under the circumstances."
Margrethe was admitted into the hospital on May 25th.
https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2026/05/hm-queen-margrethe-admitted-to.html
Queen Margrethe returned to the hospital
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style extended until April 2027
From the Royal Collection:
We are delighted to announce that the landmark exhibition, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at The King's Gallery in London, will be extended by six months due to unprecedented demand. This is a new opportunity to enjoy the largest exhibition of the late Queen's fashion ever staged.
The exhibition is now open until 18 April 2027 and we encourage visitors to book tickets well in advance. Visit the Royal Collection Trust website for more information and to book your ticket.
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Princesss Theresa of Bavaria celebrates a monumental birthday
On January 9th, Princess Theresa of Bavaria turned 95th. The family waited until spring to have a proper celebration, which took place in Munich on May 20. The Princess and members of her family attended a mass at the Theatinerkirche, followed by a dinner at Schloss Nymphenburg.
| Princess Theresa with her son Prince Wolfgang |
| Valerie, Dowager Markgräfin of Baden |
| The Princess of Isenburg-Birstein |
| Prince and Princess Leopold of Bavaria |
| The birthday girl - Princess Theresa of Austria |
| Franz, Duke of Bavaria, and his partner, Thomas Greinwald |
| Prince Manual of Bavaria |
| Franz, Duke of Bavaria, and Thomas Greinwald |
| Duke Max in Bavaria |
| Princess Auguste of Bavaria and her husband, Prince Prince Ferdinand zur Lippe-Weissenfeld ( |
| Archduke Markus Salvator and his son, Archduke Maximilian |
| Prince and Princess Wolfgang with their daughter, Princess Flavia |
| Erich, Prince of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchberg |
| Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria and her husband, Count Andrea von Kuefstein. |
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| @Haus Bayern |
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
A new Bavarian princess
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| @Jule von Wrede |
Haus Bayern announced the birth of Princess Sophia of Bavaria. She is the first child of Prince Corbinian and Princess Magdalena of Bavaria.
The little Princess was born at the end of March and was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church this past weekend.
Prince Corbinian and Magdalena von Kessel were married on August 12, 2023.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
The Duchess of Edinburgh at Hyde Park
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| @Ken Stone |
The Duchess of Edinburgh, as Royal Colonel of the Queen's Own Yeomanry, was present at the 102nd Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Parade and Memorial Service. The event took place at Hyde Park on May 10th.
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| @Ken Stone |
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| @Ken Stone |
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As always, my thanks to Ken for allowing me to use his photos.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Update on Princess Astrid
The Norwegian Royal Palace has issued a statement on Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner:
Princess Astrid was admitted to Rikshospitalet due to heart failure. She had a temporary pacemaker inserted today. The Princess wishes to convey that she is in the best of hands.
She will remain at Rikshospitalet for some time to come.
Thursday, May 14, 2026
HM Queen Margrethe admitted to Rigshospitalet
Update: May 15, 2026
Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, who was admitted to Rigshospitalet on Thursday, has undergone a balloon angioplasty of a coronary artery.
As previously announced, Queen Margrethe will remain at Rigshospitalet for a few more days.
Her Majesty is making a good recovery.
The Press Office for the Danish Royal Family released a statement about Queen Margrethe (May 14, 2026)
" Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet this afternoon due to an angina pectoris attack.
Queen Margrethe will be hospitalized over the weekend for observation and further examinations.
Her Majesty is tired, but in good spirits.
The Royal House will announce when there is news."
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Will the Count of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems be forced to sell family properties
The Austrian business news agency WPA reports that a large share of Count Franz Clemens of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems's, assets may be "subject to forced auction." This is due to debts exceeding 4.7 million Euros ($5,506,755.00).
The Dornbirg District Court in Austria has issued a "legally binding executive order," dated December 12, 2025, with an amendment added on December 17, 2025, in favor of a regional bank in Vorarlberg.
The order calls for the property to be divided into several parts to be "auctioned off to achieve higher proceeds," according to ORF, an Austrian news agency. The properties affected by the proposed auction include Schloss Glopper, the forestry estate, woodlands, and the carpentry workshop. The total land in question is 270 hectares (667 acres), most of which is forestry.
Count Franz Clemens' lawyer, Wilhelm Klagian, spoke with the WPA: "We are currently in close contact with the bank's legal representatives who are initiating the proceedings, and we are working extensively to sell valuable properties. This is intended to pay off the debts and avert the forced auction."
As titles are not permitted in Austria, the Prince's legal name is Franz Clemens Waldburg-Zeil.
Hohenems Palace, located in the center of Hohenems, is exempt from the sale.
https://www.palast-hohenems.at/
There are two interested parties seeking to purchase Schloss Glopper. The castle, owned by the Waldburg-Zeil family since 1843, has been on the market since July 2025. In 2016, the castle underwent major renovation and was available for rent.
https://www.schloss-glopper.at/en/home


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