CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER ON HIS BIRTHDAY MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RETURN TO HOMELAND

 

Belgrade, 16 July 2026 – Tomorrow, on 17 July 2026, HRH Crown Prince Alexander will celebrate his 81st birthday, but also another significant anniversary – 25 years since the decades-long injustice was corrected and the Royal family of Serbia finally returned to its Homeland, where Karadjordjevics only belong.

His Royal Highness extends his gratitude to everyone who will share the joy of this day with him and sends his birthday message, while also remembering another sad anniversary: the tragedy that occurred on his first birthday. “For me, birthdays were never that important; some other holidays such as Patron Saint Day were always much more significant. It really became important in 2001, the year when we got back home. These days were always more of a reminder of the duty entrusted to me by the tradition of the Karadjordjevic family and the legacy of my ancestors - to serve the people, preserve our heritage, try to strengthen national unity, and work as much as possible for the benefit of the Homeland. 

Whether a country is a monarchy or a republic, the role of the Crown as an institution is measured not by power but by service. Guided by a sense of duty and inspired by our history, I was always trying to fulfill my lifelong mission with dignity and commitment. So, birthdays were always a good chance to look back and assess what I have accomplished, and what could be improved. What will never change is the idea that has led me: to serve Serbia and our people, and to work for a future built on unity. This is the duty of the Royal Family and the path that I will continue to follow in the service of the people and the Homeland.”

A review of the activities of Crown Prince Alexander and the Royal Family of Serbia in the previous year is traditionally documented by a short film, titled “25 Years in Homeland – A Life Dedicated to Serbia”. His Royal Highness invites everyone to watch the premiere on the Royal Family's YouTube channel and on social media on Thursday, 17 July at 11 AM (Serbian time).

“In the year behind me, one of the most joyous events was the wedding of my youngest son, Prince Alexander, with Princes Vesna. With a civil marriage in Belgrade, and a church wedding in Seville, Spain, surrounded by family and friends, this celebration was not only a personal family milestone but also a symbol of continuity, hope, and the future of the Royal House of Serbia. Events like this give me strength to continue, to look for the future”, said the Crown Prince.

Although this year we mark a quarter of a century since the return of the Royal Family to Serbia, the Royal Palace decided that a film with activities from past year is created, since a short biographical film, titled “On the Trail of Kings’ Heritage” was already prepared last year, for the Crown Prince’s 80th birthday, and is of course available on the Royal family’s YouTube channel.

“There is one more very important reason why on 17 July I cannot think only about my birthday. Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, on the day when I turned one year old, in Yugoslavia run by a non-democratic, totalitarian communistic regime, followers of this ideology blinded by their hate, after a false, Stalinist court process, murdered one of the most faithful soldiers loyal to the oath given to King and Homeland, the first guerrilla fighter of an occupied Europe, Serbian and Yugoslav officer, army General and Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland, Minister of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in World War II - Dragoljub Draža Mihailović.

Without wishing to reopen old wounds and divisions from World War Two, we are obliged to honour the truth and respect all the victims of all extreme ideologies. And Draža Mihailović and his soldiers were victims of one of those ideologies that brought great pain and destruction to our people and the country. I said I do not wish to reopen healed injuries, but this is one of those still open wounds of the past that we must heal. The people of Serbia can only move forward by respecting each other and praying for all those who lost their lives.

Although severely slandered by the totalitarian communist regime after World War II in Yugoslavia, General Mihailović received many decorations for his contribution to the Allied victory in the war, including the United States Legion of Merit, which was awarded to him posthumously by President Truman in 1948, and the French Croix de Guerre from General Charles de Gaulle in 1943. His grave site is even today unknown, but the memory lives and will live as long as our people exist. May there be eternal remembrance and thanks to our „Čiča“! (Serbian for “Uncle” – General Mihailović’s nickname given to him by the people) With his fight against the occupiers, he ranked himself among the greatest knights and fighters for the freedom of our people“, concluded HRH Crown Prince Alexander.

His Royal Highness’ birthday wish is for our people to have a better understanding of one another and more peace and unity. That we all together have wisdom and strength to overcome all difficulties. He wishes prosperity and well-being for our country, with a reminder that we, as a people, have suffered so much and that we all deserve peace and stability. 

The birthday film will be premiered on the following links:

Serbian version – https://youtu.be/k3uoGF5qZO4

English version – https://youtu.be/JKfn2a17as4

Vanderbilt descendant Countess Marie von und zu Eltz marries Dhruv Raj Singh

 

On July 11, Countess Marie von Eltz genannt Faust von Stromberg married Dhruv Raj Singh, a member of one of India's wealthy princely families, in a Roman Catholic service at the Stadtpfarrkirche St. Paul in Bad Aussee, Austria.  This celebration took place three days after the couple's civil wedding, which was followed by a boat trip in traditional wooden boats across Lake Altausee. Later in the day, their marriage was blessed in a Hindu ceremony, complete with Vedic mantras and chants.

 Marie, 35, wore a red Sari,  and her 40-year-old groom was dressed in a traditional white sherwani and a red turban.  

Countess Marie with her father Count Peter von Eltz genannt Faust von Stromberg

The bride is the daughter of Count Peter von Eltz genannt Faust von Stromberg and Countess Gina von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny, whose mother was HRH Princess Marie Charlotte of Bavaria.

The bride's mother, Countess Gina

Thakur Aridaman Singh of Kerote.

Count Alexander von Stauffenberg and family. The count is married to Countess Maria-Anna von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny, who is Countess Gina's older sister.

Countess Anna Theresa of Arco-Zinneberg with her husband, Colin McKenzie, and her mother, Archduchess Marie-Beatrice

Prince Johannes zu Fürstenberg

The Princess of Waldburg zu Zeil and her daughter Charlotte

Count Jakob on Eltz genannt Faust von Stromberg

Hereditary Count Ludwig von Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee

Count Christoph von Stauffenberg and family

 

The groom is the son of  Colonel Bhawani Singh and his wife Shivina Kumari, who is a cousin of Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh Bahadur of Jaipur.

The witnesses for the couple were Countess Marie Gabrielle von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, Hereditary Count Ludwig von Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee, Moritz Jansen, Marie Anne Oudejans, Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh Bahadur of Jaipur, The Duke of Noto, and Samir Andrea Kaswili.

The guests included Prince Dom Rafael de Orleans e Braganca with his fiancee, Margherita Delle Piane, Countess Marie Beatrice von Arco Zinneberg with her daughter Anna Theresa and her husband, Colin McKenzie, The Princess of Waldburg zu Zeil and her daughters, Countess Charlotte, the Prince and Princness von Quadt, The Prince of Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee with his son, the Hereditary Count and his fiancee, Countess Marie von Seilern und Aspang, Prince and Princess Erich von Lobkowicz and their daughter, Princess Anna, Prince Johannes von Fuerstenberg,  Prince Alfred von Windisch Graetz, Prince Maximilian von Windisch Graetz, Count and Countess Alexander von Stauffenberg with their family, Count and Countess Christoph von Stauffenberg with their children, Count and Countess Max Emanuel von Rechberg, Count Moritz von Drechsel, Countess Tatjana von Waldburg Zeil Hohenems with husband, Philip Eisl, and Count Jacob von Eltz genannt Faust von Stromberg.

More than 400 guests were shuttled by bus to the reception, which was held under a transparent marquee near the Ramsau ski lift.

Gladys Moore Vanderbilt (1886-1965),  youngest daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, president and chairman of the New York Central Railroad, and Alice Gwynne Claypoole.  In 1908, Gladys married Hungarian Count László Széchenyi.    This portrait is by John Singer Sargent.

Countess Marie is the great-granddaughter of Gladys Moore Vanderbilt, whose fifth daughter, Countess Fernandine (1923-2016) married in Washington, D.C., in 1946 to Count Alexander von Eltz genannt Faust von Stromberg, the parents of Count Peter.

Countess Fernandine Széchényi by de Laszlo

Countess Fernandine - painted by de Laszlo

One of Gladys's brothers was Reginald Vanderbilt, whose younger daughter was Gloria Vanderbilt, mother of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.    Anderson and Count Peter are second cousins.  They share another second cousin, Daniel Finch-Hatton, 17th Earl of Winchilsea, 12th Earl of Nottingham, whose grandmother, Countess Gladys Széchenyi, was Fernandine's sister.  

Cornelius Vanderbilt -- William Henry - Cornelius II -Gladys - Fernandine - Peter - Marie .

The bride is also a descendant of King Ludwig III of Bavaria.

Ludwig - Rupprecht - Albrecht - Marie-Charlotte - Gina - Marie 

 Thank you to a photographer friend who shared these photos with me. The photographer is the copyright holder.  No one can use these photos without the photographer's permission.

Eleanor said yes!

 

@Arthur Vickery

Samuel David Benedict Chatto and Eleanor Armine M. Ekserdjian are getting married.  The couple announced their engagement on their Instagram pages. 

The couple began dating in 2021.   Sam is the elder son of Lady Sarah Chatto, daughter of the late Princess Margaret, and Daniel Chatto.  Eleanor, known as Ellie, is the daughter of art historian David Patrick Martin Ekserdjian and Susan Pauline Moore.

Sam and Eleanor met at the University of Edinburgh.   They are both artists.  Sam specializes in ceramics, which explains the ring. According to the Times, "Ceramic rings have risen in popularity in recent years as a more unusual and affordable alternative to traditional gold and diamond engagement rings." 

 The rings are "usually crafted from titanium carbide or tungsten carbide ceramic; they are lightweight, comfortable and hard-wearing."

Chatto maintains a studio in West Sussex.  In a post on his Instagram page, he talked about his work. “There are so many stages in the creation of each piece I make. Most of the stages are spent alone, just me and the clay working each other into the desired form. It can be very insular, reflective and meditative (as well as frustrating, challenging and emotional).”

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 King Charles, who is Sam's first cousin once removed, was informed of the engagement and is said to be "very happy" for the couple.

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 Sam was born on July 28, 1998, at the Portland Hospital in London.  Just three weeks later, on August 22nd, Eleanor was born, also at the Portland Hospital.

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  The couple has attended numerous royal events, including Christmas Day at Sandringham in December 2024, the Mey Highland Games in Caithness with Lady Sarah Chatto and King Charles III in 2025, and Peter and Harriet Phillips' wedding in June.

 Eleanor told the Daily Mail's gossip columnist, Richard Eden, that she considered Sam her "artistic muse."  Her sketch of SAM appeared in an exhibition of her works at London's Gallery at Green and Stone.  Her works have been exhibited at several galleries, including the Redfern Gallery.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images 

 Her father, David, is a respected art historian, and her mother, Susan, has served as the Financial Times' art critic for 40 years.

The wedding is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2027.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/12/another-view-of-christmas-at-sandringham.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2025/05/sam-chatto-ceramic-exhibition-in-norway.html

https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Eleanor-Ekserdjian/33618733ADBD479C

https://eleanorekserdjian.pb.studio/about2

https://royaldrawingschool.org/artists/sam-chatto

https://peeragenews.blogspot.com/2026/07/samuel-chatto-engaged-to-eleanor.html

 

Dom Bertrand's says no approval to Dom Rafael's mariage.

 

HRH Prince Dom Bertrand Maria José Pio Januário Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Orleans e Bragança is the 85-year-old head of the Vassouras branch of the Brazilian Imperial Family.  He is a devout and traditional Roman Catholic who has never married. In 2022, he succeeded his older brother, Prince Dom Luiz, also a traditional and celibate Roman Catholic, who died at the age of 84.

In 1889, Emperor Pedro II was deposed in a military coup.  A republic was established, and the royal family went into exile.  Pedro's heir, Isabel, the Princess Imperial, settled in France, as she was married to Prince Gaston, Count of Eu, a member of the French royal house.  The couple had three sons: Pedro de Alcântara of Orléans-Braganza, Prince of Grão Pará (1875-1940),  Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza (1878–1920), and Prince Antônio Gastão of Orléans-Braganza (1881-1918).

Dom Pedro headed the Petropolis branch of the former Imperial Family. It was his marriage to Countess Elisabeth Maria Adelheid Dobrženský von Dobrženitz, a Bohemian aristocrat, that led to the renunciation of his succession rights (and those of his descendants). His parents, Princess Isabel and the Count of Eu, would not give permission for his marriage until after his younger brother, Luiz, married Princess Maria di Grazia (Maria Pia) of Bourbon-Two Sicilies in 1908.   

Elisabeth was not of royal blood, which was the reason for Isabel's disapproval.   She and Dom Pedro were married soon after Luiz's marriage to Princess Maria Pia.  With Dom Pedro's renouncement, Dom Luiz became his mother's heir.

There is a bit of irony with Dom Pedro's renunciation.  Three of his five children married into European royal Houses.  Their eldest daughter, Princess Isabelle, married Prince Henri, Count of Paris.  Their grandson, Prince Jean, is the current head of the French royal house.  

Dom Pedro's son, Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza (1913-2007), never accepted his father's renouncement and made Pedro Henrique, Prince of Brazil, his own claim to the defunct throne.  In 1944, he married Princess Maria de la Esperanza of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, whose sister, Maria de las Mercedes, was the mother of King Juan Carlos of Spain.  One of Dom Pedro's six children, Princess Maria of Orléans-Braganza, was the first wife of Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia.

Their second daughter, Princess Maria Francisca, married  Dom Duarte Nino, Duke of Braganza, then head of the Portuguese Royal Family.  Their eldest son, Dom Duarte Pio, is the current Duke of Braganza, the de jure king of Portugal. He is married to a Portuguese noblewoman, Isabel Inês de Castro Curvello de Herédia.

Dom Luiz and Princess Maria Pia

The Vassouras branch is technically the junior branch, but the one with the succession rights.   Unfortunately, the majority of Dom Luiz's descendants have married commoners or aristocrats.  

Pedro Henrique and Maria Elisabeth

 His son, Dom Pedro Henrique (1909-1981), chose a royal bride, Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria.  They were the parents of twelve children. Only two of the 12 children married equally: the sixth son,  Antonio (1950-2024), and Leonor (1953), who married siblings: Michel, Prince of Ligne, and Princess Christine of Ligne.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/11/hrh-prince-antonio-de-orleans-braganza.html 

Prince Antonio and Princess Christine were the parents of four children: Pedro-Luiz, Amelia, Rafael, and Maria Gabriella. On May 31, 2009, Pedro-Luiz was a passenger on Air France Flight 447, bound from Rio to Paris, that crashed into the Atlantic.  

Princess Amelia renounced her rights when she married Alexander Spearman in 2014. 

The burden of equal marriage fell upon Dom Rafael.  In May, he became engaged to Italian aristocrat Margherita delle Piane, whose brother Guy is married to Princess Xenia of Croy.

Members of Rafael's family believed that Uncle Bertrand would approve this marriage, as it is a love match, but on July 11th, while attending the 36th National Monarchist Meeting in São Paulo, he read aloud the letter he sent to his nephew, Rafael, concerning the latter's forthcoming marriage.  Bertrand stated emphatically that the marriage, even if Rafael does not renounce before the ceremony, "will ipso facto and for all intents and purposes constitute an effective and valid, albeit tacit renunciation of his dynastic rights, which will immediately pass to his sister Dona Maria Gabriela and, after her, to the next in line of succession."

Bertrand also urged his nephew to “proclaim Dona Maria Gabriela as Imperial Princess of Brazil."

Dom Bertrand's statement reeks of hypocrisy.  Several days ago, he met with his kinsman, Prince Jean, Count of Paris, who is married to Philomena de Tornos y Steinhart, whose mother was an Austrian aristocrat.  Has he not noticed that the Queen consorts of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Spain are commoners, and their counterparts in Belgium and Luxembourg are nobles, who would not have been good enough for the Brazilians.  This is 2026.  

November 2024.  Dom Bertrand kisses Queen Silvia of Sweden's hand.  The German-born wife of King Carl XVI Gustaf is half-Brazilian ... and born a commoner. The King and Queen were visiting Brazil, and Dom Bertrand was a guest at a luncheon in their honor @Casa do Imperial Brasil

Bertrand's overzealous and traditional Catholic views have clouded his judgment.  Why didn't he (or his older brother, Luiz) look for an acceptable bride?  He often traveled to Europe, where one of his many cousins could have introduced him to a nice Catholic princess. Where was his due diligence? Where was his duty to the family?   

There are only three dynasts left: Rafael, Maria Gabriela, and their first cousin, Prince Henri de Ligne, whose older sister, Princess Alix, renounced her rights when she married Count Guillaume de Dampierre.

Earlier this month,  Princess Maria Gabriela received the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Queen Saint Isabel from the Duchess of Braganza, perhaps a signal that the succession change is forthcoming.  Maria Gabriela and Prince Henri are 37 years old, and neither is married.    

The princess has been described as a "pillar of strength" for her brother.  Is it possible for the princess and Prince Henri to renounce their rights in solidarity with Rafael?  This action could provide a wake-up call for Bertrand, as there would be no one left in the family with succession rights.  

Margherita delle Piane shares "the same Catholic principles and values" as her fiancé.   Bertrand should approve of that.  But no, she is not blue-blooded enough to marry the heir to a throne that has not existed since 1889.   Members of the de Orleans e Bragança family are active, socially and politically, in Brazil.

There is the elephant in the room -- or the ubiquitous can of worms that would be unleashed if Bertrand accepted the marriage.  The Petropolis branch would be able to claim that they now have dynastic rights.  

The de jure Duke of Braganza and Dom Bertrand are second cousins. If Dom Duarte Pio could marry a Portuguese noblewoman without surrendering his rights to his younger brother, then Dom Rafael should have the same courtesy and be allowed to marry the woman he loves without the drama of being forced to renounce his rights.  

Uncle Bertrand is a bitter old man who does not live in the real world.  He's never experienced the love between a man and a woman, and is unwilling to accept that royal families, reigning and non-reigning, have changed to love and equal partnership.  Other royal families, including Portugal, have accepted non-royal spouses and remained in line.  Why can't Bertrand understand or accept these changes?  

God will tell Dom Bertrand that it is okay to accept Dom Rafael's marriage to Margherita delle Piane.

 

A new QVD: Isabel Marina Vesterberg

 

@Flora Vesterberg/Instagram

Meet the newest descendant of Queen Victoria -  Isabel Marina Vesterberg, the first child of Flora and Timothy Vesterberg.

Isabel was born on July 8th.  "Our daughter Isabel Marina Vesterberg arrived safely on the morning of 8 July. Timothy and I are overjoyed and full of love for her. She’s named for the blessing that she is and my great-grandmother - as well as meaning ‘of the sea’ where we’re always at peace. Thank you for your thoughtful messages xx"

She is the first grandchild for Flora's parents, James and Julia Ogilvy, and the first great-grandchild for HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy.

Victoria - Edward VII - George - George - Alexandra - James - Flora - Isabel.

Grandpa King hosts the grandkids!

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  Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles III has had a playdate with two of his grandchildren, Prince Archie,7,  and five-year-old Princess Lilibet of Sussex.   The king and queen hosted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire this afternoon.

This was a private family event.  It is understood that no photographs will be released.  I bet a few family snaps were taken, however.  

The King last met his grandchildren in June 2022 during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A boy for Crown Leka and Crown Princess Blerta

 

 

Trooping the Colour June 13, 2026

Up early (5:00 a.m.) and out on the Mall by 6.  By pure coincidence, I stood next to the same three people as last year -- down by Horse Guards.

The weather was fabulous -- the sun was perhaps a bit too bright at times -- still better than rain!

In February, I toured the East Wing of Buckingham Palace.  The last room we toured led to the balcony, and we were able to peek out the windows ... and wave.  Standing below the balcony, waiting for the Royal Family to come out, gave me a new perspective.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2026/03/the-east-wing-tour-of-buckingham-palace.html

Prince George finding the bright sun difficult

When the Wales' carriage passed us, the police walked right in front of us, making it difficult to take pictures.  Plenty of groans.

The Duchess of Edinburgh and Sir Tim Laurence

I think the Princess of Wales is pointing to the Duke of York statue 

and the police repeated their walk in front of us...

On the right, The Duke of Kent, perhaps texting a grandchild

After making my way through the crowd to Green Park, I headed to Kensington Palace to see the The Last Princesses of Punjab exhibit.