Monday, September 9, 2024

The Princess of Wales is cancer free!

@Kensington Palace




Kensington Palace has released this statement from HRH The Princess of Wales:

"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.

The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.

The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.

With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.

This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.

Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.

@Kensington Palace



Despite all that has gone before I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.

William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time. Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling.

To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright."

Here is the link to the video released by the Prince and Princess of Wales. I wonder if she rang the bell after completing her final treatment!

Juan Gomez-Acebo's funeral


  Embed from Getty Images 


 Juan Gomez-Acebo's funeral was held at the Castrense Cathedral in Madrid on September 8, 2024. King Felipe and Queen Letizia were among the mourners for the king's first cousin, who died from cancer on August 12. Juan's surviving siblings, Doña Simoneta, Don Bruno, and Don Beltran Gomez-Acebo y Borbon, greeted them at the church.   They were joined by Teresa Veret, Don Juan's partner.  

Don Juan,  3rd Viscount la Torre, was 54 years old when he died in Majorca on August 12th.  

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/08/qvd-juan-gomez-acebo-y-de-borbon.html


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Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies with her husband, Pedro Lopez-Quesada and her mother, the Dowager Duchess of Calabria, Prince Konstantin and Princess Maria of Bulgaria, Victoria and Froilian de Marichalar y Borbon, Princess Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and her husband, Iñigo Moreno de Artega, Nada Halamandari, widow of Don Fernando Gomez-Acebo y Borbon and her son, Nicolas, Infanta Cristina and three of her children, Pablo, Miguel Urdangarin y Borbon, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark,  Infanta Margarita with her husband, Don Carlos Zurita and their two children, Alfonso and Maria, the Duke of Calabria, Don Beltran's former wife, Laura Ponte and Doña Simoneta's former husband, Don José Miguel Fernández Sastrón attended the funeral.


Don José Miguel told Europa Press: "If all the people who truly love Juan came, they wouldn't fit in this church."

 King Juan Carlos II flew from Abu Dhabi, to attend the ceremony.  His elder daughter, Infanta Elena was in Paris attending the Paralympics closing ceremony.

  Don Juan's ashes were buried in the San Isidro cemetery in a ceremony several hours before the funeral mass.

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Don Juan's former wife, Winston Carney, and their 11-year-old son, Nicolas, did not attend either service.


Wednesday, September 4, 2024

The 21st Lady Saltoun (1930-2024)

Robert Golden Collection


Flora Marjory Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun died on September 3, 2024, at her home, Inverey House in Ballater, Aberdeenshire.  She was 93 years old and the most junior member of the British Royal Family.

Her position in the Precedence list was due to her marriage to Alexander Arthur Alfonso David Maule Ramsay of Mar (1919-2000), the only son of Lady Patricia Ramsay (nee HRH Princess Patricia of Connaught) and Captain. the Hon. Alexander Ramsay, third son of the 13th Earl of Dalhousie.   Lady Patricia was the youngest of three children of HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria. 

 She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on October 18, 1930, the younger child of Alexander Arthur Fraser, 20th Lord Saltoun, and Dorothy Geraldine Welby, daughter of Sir Charles Glynne Earle Welby, 5th Baronet.   Her father succeeded to the Lordship in 1933, and Flora was now styled as the Hon. Flora Fraser.

Her older brother, Alexander Simon Fraser, Master of Saltoun, was the heir apparent until he was killed in action in 1944.  Flora became her father's heiress presumptive and succeeded as the 21st Lady Saltoun in 1979.  The Lord Lyon recognized Flora as  Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Fraser.  This was done by decree of the Court of the Lord Lyon in May 1984.

She was the only person with a Lordship of Parliament who was an elected hereditary Peer in the House of Lords until her retirement on December 12, 2014.  

A Lordship of Parliament is the 5th grade in the Scottish peerage, the equivalent of a baron in the Peerages of England, Great Britain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.  

@ILN 


It was love at first for Alexander Ramsay of Mar when he met Flora at a Perth Hunt Ball. On August 19, 1956, Queen Elizabeth II held a quick Privy Council meeting on board the HMS Britannia to give"her assent in council" to Flora and Alexander's forthcoming marriage.

@ILN


The marriage was celebrated on October 6, 1956, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Queen Ingrid of Denmark, the groom's first cousin, were present at the ceremony.   Flora was given away by her father, Lord Saltoun.  She wore a "gown of white peau-de-soie with a tight-fitting bodice, a high neckline finished with a little Peter Pan collar, and large leg-of-mutton sleeves."

Her "tulle veil was held in place by a circlet of pink and white pearls."  There were no bridesmaids nor did the bride carry a bouquet.  The Princess Royal was expected to attend but was indisposed.

The reception was held at Lord Saltoun's home, Cairnbulg Castle.

The couple had three daughters, Hon Katharine Ingrid Mary Isabel (1957), whose godparents included Queen Ingrid of Denmark and the Princess Royal,  Hon, Alice Elizabeth Margaret (1961), a goddaughter of the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (1961) and Hon. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Ramsay (1963).   

The wedding of Hon. Katharine Fraser and Capt. Mark Nicolson (1980)
Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection


In 1973,  the Lord Lyon King of Arms recognized Katharine's use of the Fraser surname.  

One of the first royal events, the new Hon. Mrs. Alexander Ramsay attended was the funeral of the Earl of Athlone on January 19, 1957.    Lord Athlone was the late Queen Mary's brother.  His wife, Princess Alice, was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

At the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer,  Lady Saltoun and her husband, and the Duke of Fife, were in the third of four cars in the "car procession of junior members" of the Royal Family leaving St. James's for St Paul's Cathedral.

Lady Saltoun and her husband were often invited to Royal events in Scotland and were always present for the Braemar Highland Games and Garden parties at Holyrood Palace.

In 1997, Lady Saltoun and Lord Lovat, Chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat, co-hosted a gathering of Clan Fraser members, the first gathering in 46 years. The four-day event was held at Castle Fraser near Invurerie on the River Don. For the gathering, Lady Saltoun commissioned three new tartans to add to the 21 Fraser tartans already available.  More than 12,000 members of the Clan from around the world attended the gathering.

In July 2000, Lady Saltoun attended the Queen Mother's 100th birthday Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's, sitting between Mrs. James Ogilvy and the Earl of Snowdon.    

  Embed from Getty Images 

 She also was a guest at the Prince and Princess of Wales's wedding in 2011.   

Alexander Ramsay's close relationships with his Danish and Swedish cousins meant the family spent time in Scandinavia.  In 1967, Flora and Alexander traveled to Copenhagen for the wedding of Princess Margrethe of Denmark, the eldest of three daughters of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid.   The following year, they were back in Copenhagen for the wedding of Queen Ingrid's middle daughter, Princess Benedikte.



The Braemar Highland, Games, held annually at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, was perhaps Lady Saltoun's favorite event.  Her husband served as a Vice Patron for many years.

In a 1997 interview with Hello magazine, Lady Saltoun, posing for photos at her home, Cairnbulg Castle, near Fraserburgh.  She grew up in "this fabulous setting," which she inherited from her father after his death.  "Our family sold the castle in 1613, but he bought it back in 1934."

Lady Saltoun talked about her role as Chief of Clan Fraser.  "Being a woman clan leader is out of the ordinary.  But I don't think it displeases the members of my clan.  It's very important to me that this castle remains in the family.  It's a focal point, a place where all Frasers know they can find me.  They come... not in great numbers, but I welcome them warmly, except in the kitchen with my hands full of flour."

The late Lady Saltoun enjoyed cooking.  A Cordon Bleu certificate hung on the wall in the kitchen. 

"My mother grew up surrounded by servants and couldn't do a thing.  She insisted I learn to cook and sew, so I might have some independence." 

When she served in the House of Lords,  Lady Saltoun would fly from Aberdeen on Monday and return home on Friday morning.  "I could never live in London!," she said.  She believed it was important for Scottish peers "to keep an eye on anything concerning Scotland. It's of paramount importance for me to continue in that and participate as much as I can."

Lady Saltoun lived for many years in Inverery House in Braemar.  The house was built in 1984 after Alexander sold the rights to the Dalvorar Beat on the River Dee.  He died at Inverey on December 19, 2000.

Lady Saltoun is survived by her three daughters, Katharine, who becomes the 22nd Lady Saltoun of Abernethy, Hon, Alice Ramsey, and the Hon Elizabeth Ramsay, seven grandchildren,  Louise Morshead, Juliet Rood, Alexander Fraser, Master of Saltoun,  Alexander, Victoria, George, and Oliver Ramsey, and five great-grandchildren, Rory and Frederick Morshead,  Albert (Albie), Edmund (Edo) and Xanthe Rood.





Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Royal Family removed from Norwegian Monarchy site

 

Jørgen Gomnæs / The Royal Court

In Norway, the monarchy was divided into two categories:  the Royal House and the Royal Family.

The Royal House included King Harald V and Queen Sonja,  Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra, while the Royal Family consisted of Prince Sverre Magnus, Princess Märtha Louise and her three daughters, Maud, Leah and Emma Behn,  Princess Astrid and the Crown Princess' son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby.

No more.

 Ida Bjørvik, The Royal Court

Kimm Saatvedt, Det kongelige hoff


Today, there has been a major change which reflected on the Monarchy's website.  The Royal Family category has been removed.  The Royal House remains with the same people.  The Royal Family has been replaced with Other royals, who are Prince Sverre Magnus,  Princess Märtha Louise and Princess Astrid.   Sverre Magnus is the younger child of the Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.  Märtha Louise is King Harald V and Queen Sonja's elder child.  Princess Astrid is the second of three children of the late King Olav V.  She is Harald's sister.

@Liv Anette Luane, Det kongelige hoff.



Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen / the Royal Court.

@the Royal Court

Märtha Louise's daughters and her new husband and Mette-Marit's son are not members of the Royal House nor do they qualify as Other royals.     

In an email to Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten, the palace communications director Guri Varpe confirmed the change, when asked about Maud, Leah, Emma, Durek Verret and Marius.

"Yes, they are part of the King's family and are mentioned in the biographies of the royals."

The deletions were first noted by Norwegian broadcaster, NRK.

https://www.royalcourt.no/seksjon.html?tid=28435&sek=27259


Monday, September 2, 2024

Princess Marie Christine of Liechtenstein celebrates a centenary birthday

 


On September 2, 1924, HI & RH Duchess Helene of Württemberg gave birth to a daughter, HRH Duchess Marie Christine Helene Philippine Albertine Margarethe Amélie Elisabeth Therese Rosa Josepha Antonia Hedwig Aloysia, in Tübingen.  The baby was born eleven months after Helene, an archduchess of Austria, married HRH Hereditary Duke Philipp Albrecht Carl Maria Joseph Ludwig Hubertus Stanislaus Leopold of Württemberg.

Their marriage took place at Altshausen on October 24, 1923.  Philipp was the eldest of seven children of Albrecht Maria Alexander Philipp Joseph, Duke of Württemberg (1865-1939) and Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria (1870-1902).

Archduchess Helene of Austria and Duke Philipp of Württemberg


Duchess Helene Marie Alice Christine Josefa Anna Margareta Madeleine Walburga Blandina Cäcilie Philomena Carmela Ignatia Rita de Cascia died six days after giving birth to Marie Christine.  She was one month short of her 21st birthday.  

Four years later, Duke Philipp married Helene's sister Archduchess Rosa.  They had six children.  Duke Wilhelm,  the current head of the House of Württemberg, is the grandson of Philipp and Rosa's son Carl (1936-2022).



Duchess Marie Christine was married on September 23, 1948, at Schloss Altshausen to HSH Prince Georg Hartmann Maria Josef Franz de Paula Aloys Ignatius Benediktus Martin of Liechtenstein (1911-1998), son of HSH Prince Aloys Gonzaga Maria Adolf of Liechtenstein and HI & RH Archduchess Elisabeth Amalia of Austria.  

In 1923, Prince Aloys renounced his rights to his eldest son, Franz Josef, who succeeded his cousin, Franz, Prince of Liechtenstein, in 1947.

Prince Georg was Franz Josef II's youngest brother.




Marie Christine and Georg were the parents of seven children: 

* Margarita Maria Helene Rosa Aloisia Philippine Elisabeth Georgine Josefa Konrada Pia Ignatia (1950-25 Jul 2013), married Johannes Peter Klien (1946-2014)

*  Maria Assunta Elisabeth Philippine Rosa Helene Aloisia Georgine Josefa Benedikta Pia Ignatia (1952), married Harald Link (1955)

*  Isabelle Maria Helene Carolina Alfreda Josefa Monika Pia Georgine Hemma Henriette Ignatia (1954), married Raimund, Countzu Erbach-Fürstenau (1951-2017)

*  Christoph Alois Maria Ferdinand Josef Philipp Pius Konrad Thaddäus Ruppert Paulus Ignatius (1958)

* Marie Helene Diane Rosa Elisabeth Aloysia Philippine Josefa Gabriella Pia Antonia Ignatia (1960)

*  Georgina Maria Agnes Philippine Elisabeth Ignatia (1962); married  Count Clemens von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (1960)

*  Michaela Maria Henriette Ulrike Aloysia (1969), married  Alexander Heuken (1977)

Princess Marie Christine's grandson, Louis Christian Albrecht Kraft Nils is the current Count of Erbach-Fürstenau.   Princess Georgina's eldest son, Count Maximilian von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchberg (1992) is the future head of the Waldburg-Zeil family as his father's first cousin, Erich, Prince of Waldburg zu Zeil, has no sons, and next in the line of succession, is Georgina's husband, Count Clemens.

On September 1, a mass was held in Princess Marie Christine's honor in Ratzenried, Württemberg.


Embed from Getty Images 





 The photos were taken by a friend, who is the copyright holder.

Princess Sofia of Sweden expects fourth baby





Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia are delighted to announce that The Princess is expecting their fourth child.

@The Royal Court of Sweden

Princess Sofia is feeling well, and the birth is expected to take place in February 2025. During the autumn, no changes in the public schedule of Princess Sofia are planned.


Princess Sofia will be 40 years old when she gives birth. She and Prince Carl Philip have three sons, Prince Alexander, eight, Prince Gabriel, seven, and three- year-old Prince Julian.




King Felipe's goddaughter. Victoria López-Quesada marries Spanish nobleman

@CasaReal/BibianaFierro


Doña Victoria López-Quesada y Borbón-Dos Sicilias and Don Enrique Moreno de la Cova Ybarra were married on August 31, 2024, at the Soto Mozanaque estate,  in Algete, Spain.  The estate is owned by Ioannes Osorio y Bertrán de Lis, 19th Duke of Albuquerque.  The reception was also held at the estate.  

[The Duke's given name is Juan Miguel, but he prefers, Ioannes, the Latin version of Juan.]

Victoria is the daughter of HRH Princess Cristina Isabella Maria Luisa of Borbón-Dos Sicilias and Pedro López-Quesada y Fernandez-Urrutia.   She is the granddaughter of the late HRH Prince Carlos, Duke of Calabria, and HRH Princess Anne of Orléans.

The bride changed the wedding date several times due to her godfather, King Felipe VI's schedule.   She wore a gown designed by Spanish designer, Lorenzo Caprile, who was responsible for Princess Cristina's wedding gown when she married Pedro López-Quesada y Fernandez-Urrutia. in July 1994.  A diamond tiara held in place an antique veil that her grandmother, Princess Anne, wore when she married the Duke of Calabria.  The veil was also worn by Princess Cristina's sisters, Victoria and Maria, at their weddings to Markos Nomikos and Archduke Simeon of Austria.

Pedro López-Quesada, King Felipe, Doña Victoria, Princess Cristina and Don Pedro López-Quesada @CasaReal/BibianaFierro



The tiara was a wedding gift to Victoria's great-grandmother, Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma in 1936 when she married Prince Alfonso of Borbon-Dos Sicilies, and has been worn by Alicia's descendants.

The ties between the bride's family and the Royal Family are close.   Princess Cristina and Infanta Cristina are lifelong friends.  Infanta Cristina arrived at the wedding in a car driven by her brother.  She returned to Madrid after spending the summer with her father, King Juan Carlos, in Abu Dhabi and Greece with her children, including Irene Urdangarin, whose godfather is Pedro López-Quesada.

Victoria, 27, was one of Queen Letizia's bridesmaids. 

  Embed from Getty Images 


 The Queen could not attend the wedding as she Paris supported Spanish athletes at the Paralympics.  

The groom, Don Enrique Moreno de la Cova y Ybarra, is the son of cattle breeder Don Enrique de las Cova Maestre, who is also a director of the Spanish electric company, Endesa, the daily newspaper, ABC and a member of the Spanish Olympic committee.    His mother, Doña Cristina Ybarra y Sáinz de la Maza, is the daughter of the late 5th Count of Ybarra.  

Don Enrique's sister, Doña Cristina is married to Alvaro de Salinas y Harden, son of Leopoldo de Salinas y Milá and Marina Harnden.  Marina was the daughter of Princess Marie (Missie) Wassiltchkov and Robert Graham.  Missie was the author of Berlin Diaries (1988).   

https://amzn.to/3AVX6aA

https://amzn.to/3AKDJ4m

Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena also attended the wedding, joining other guests including the Duke and Duchess of Calabria (the bride's uncle), the Duke and Duchess of Noto (the bride's first cousin),  HRH Teresa of Borbon-Dos Sicilies (the bride's great aunt) and her husband,  Don Iñigo Moreno y Arteaga, Prince Kubrat and Princess Carla of Bulgaria and their son, Prince Mirko and his girlfriend, Marta.  One of the bride's best friends, Victoria de Marichalar y de Borbon, arrived at the wedding with her mother, Infanta Elena.  Two of Infanta Cristina's children, Juan and Irene Urdangarin.  Irene's putative boyfriend, Juan Urquijo did not attend the wedding. 

@CasaReal/BibianaFierro



Saturday, August 31, 2024

Princess Martha Louise's wedding

 

@Maja Moan


Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett are now married.  Their ceremony was a traditional Lutheran service (Church of Norway) with -- I must admit -- excellent music selection, which included Amazing Grace and Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord.  The bride's gown was white and she wore a pearl and diamond tiara, a gift from her grandfather, King Olav V of Norway.

Hello! will feature the wedding in two issues and on their social media accounts.  The photo at the top of this article is the only one that includes members of the Norwegian royal family: King Harald & Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner.  


Embed from Getty Images 

 Märtha Louise and Durek's deal with Hello! did not exclude other press from photographing outside the wedding, parties, and receptions.


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 The first issue of the magazine will be on sale next week.

https://www.hellomagazine.com/




Princess Mafalda's baptism

@Danish Royal house/ Karl Anton Koenigs



 HSH Princess Mafalda of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berlenburg was baptized on August 31st in the chapel at Schloss Berleburg.  The princess is the second child of the TH Prince and Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.  She was born on April 26, 2024, in the United States to a surrogate mother.

@Danish Royal House/Karl Anton Koenigs


The princess was baptized according to the rights of the Lutheran church. Her godparents are HRH Princess Marie of Denmark, HRH Prince Philippos of Greece, HH Hereditary Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,  HH Prince Philipp of Hesse, HSH Hereditary Prince Christian Kraft zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen, and Baroness Helle Reedz-Tott.  Prince Christian Kraft was unable to attend the ceremony.

The Prince and Princess's first child, HSH Hereditary Prince Gustav Albrecht was born on May 26, 2023.  He was also born by a surrogate in the United States.