Friday, December 6, 2024

The Princess of Wales - Carol Service at Westminster Abbey





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The Princess of Wales' annual Christmas Carol service - Together at Christmas - was held tonight at Westminster Abbey.  The BBC will broadcast the program on Christmas Eve.  

Catherine was joined by The Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Beatrice with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and his  Christopher Woolf Mapelli Mozzi, Mrs. Zara Tindall, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, George Gilman, Lyla Gilman, the Duke of Kent, Lady Helen Taylor, the Earl of St. Andrews, Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent,  Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor with their daughters, Maud and Isabella,  Lady Gabriella Kingston, Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto and their son, Samuel Chatto.

George Gilman is the husband of Lady Rose Windsor, and Lyla is their daughter.  


Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Princess Birgitta of Sweden: (1937-2024): one of the four Haga Princesses.

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 "HRH Princess Birgitta, sister of HM The King, passed away on the island of Mallorca on Wednesday 4th December 2024. The Princess was 87 years old.

On the occasion of the death of HRH Princess Birgitta, the following statement is made by HM The King:

“With great sadness, I have today received the news that my sister, Princess Birgitta, has passed away. My sister was a colorful and forthright person who will be deeply missed by me and my family. Together with all my family, I send my condolences to Princess Birgitta's children and grandchildren.”

Princess Birgitta was the widow of Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern (1932–2016) and lived on the Spanish island of Mallorca for many years. Princess Birgitta leaves behind her three children and their families.

HM The King has ordered the flags at Drottningholm Palace and Haga Palace to be flown at half mast on the 5th December.

Her Royal Highness will be laid to rest at the Royal Cemetery in Haga Park in Stockholm, in keeping with the wishes of The Princess. The burial will take place in the presence of The Princess’ family.

Additional information regarding Princess Birgitta’s funeral will be provided at a later date."

The Princess died in a local hospital in Mallorca, Spain,  She suffered a broken arm and was taken to the hospital when she died shortly afterwards.  She lived for many years in Santa Ponsa.


https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/03/prince-johann-georg-of-hohenzollern.html



"Adverse reaction" to drug led to Thomas Kingston's suicide


 

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A British coroner has concluded that Thomas Kingston "took his own life" as he was likely provoked by an "adverse reaction" to prescribed medication for depression.

Kingston was found dead of a head injury at his parents' home in Kemble, Gloucestershire on February 25, 2024.   He married Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

Lady Ella was in the Coroner's Court when Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, read her statement aloud.

"(Work) was certainly a challenge for him over the years but I highly doubt it would have led him to take his own life, and it seemed much improved.

The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents where no one else would find him suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse and anxious thoughts sparked by the sight of the gun in the car boot.

The lack of any evidence of inclination, it seems highly likely to me that he had an adverse reaction to the pills that led him to take his life.

I believe anyone taking pills such as these needs to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone.” "

Lady Ella described her marriage as "deeply loving and trusting, adding her husband never "expressed suicidal thoughts."

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 Kingston, a 45-year-old financier, had originally been prescribed sertraline for depression, and zopiclone, a sleeping pill, by Dr. Nicky Naunton Morgan at the Royal Mews Surgery at Buckingham Palace.  He sought treatment after "complaining of trouble sleeping following stress at work." Kingston returned to the doctor's office at the Palace seeking a change in medication as the sertraline was "not making him feel better."  The doctor prescribed citalopram, another antidepressant, and diazepam.  Kingston also "doubled his sleep medication."

Dr. Morgan serves as the apothecary to King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The inquest was told that Kingston had stopped taking the medication several days earlier.  Toxicology tests after his death showed "caffeine and small amounts of zopiclone in his system."

Lady Ella was seen sobbing during the hearing.  

The coroner accepted that Thomas Kingston died as the result of a "self-inflicted gunshot to the head."  Thomas's father, Martin Kingston, "broke down as he described the moment he found his son's body."  Martin, a retired lawyer, had to force his way into a locked bathroom in a building on the family property.

Martin and Thomas were licensed gun owners.  Thomas had used one of his father's guns that he had borrowed for a shoot.  He had brought the gun back to his father that weekend.    Martin Kingston could not fathom why his son had taken his own life,  He acknowledged having a "blunt" conversation with "Lady Gabriella and others with his son's business partner and friends," reported the Telegraph.

It was "entirely and fundamentally out of character" for Kingston to have taken his own life.  The day before his death, Thomas Kingston, "in his usual ebullient spirits," had attended his niece's birthday party.  He was a partner in a successful business, and his marriage, to Lady Ella was "a joy for them both." 

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A medical expert, Dr. David Healey told the court that the sleeping drug, zopiclone "could cause anxiety," and sertraline and citalopram were essentially the same drug, with "different names."   Dr Healey noted that Kingston, who acknowledged sertraline "did not suit him," but had not been told that he was being prescribed "the same thing again."

Dr Healey was also adamant about the lack of "clear enough advice" about the drugs' hazards.  "We need a more explicit statement saying these drugs cause someone to commit suicide who wouldn't otherwise do so."

The inquest continues.


Monday, December 2, 2024

Remembering Princess Elisabeth of Ysenburg & Büdingen

 






https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/08/princess-elisabeth-zu-ysenburg-und.html


Queen Adelaide (1792-1849)

 


The Dowager Queen was 57 when she died at her residence, Bentley Priory in Stanmore.

https://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/about-bentley-priory/history-of-bentley-priory/


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 Princess Amalie Adelheid Luise Theresa Karoline of Saxe-Meiningen was the eldest child of Georg I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and Luise Eleonore, daughter of Christian Albrecht, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.   She was born at Meiningen on August 13, 1792.

In a letter to his natural son, George FitzClarence,  William, Duke of Clarence and St. Andrews wrote: "She is doomed, poor dear innocent young creature, to be my wife.   

This was an arranged marriage. William was 27 years older than his bride.  They met at Grillon's Hotel on Bond Street a week before their marriage at Kew Palace. 

The couple were married in a double ceremony on July 11, 1818, with William's brother, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the widow of Emich Karl, Prince of Leiningen.

William succeeded his brother, George IV on June 26, 1830.  As William IV, he reigned until June 20, 1837, when he was succeeded by his niece, Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent.   Although he was the father of ten illegitimate children by the actress Dorothea Jordan,  his marriage with Adelaide was childless.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2020/03/embed-from-getty-images-you-will-do.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/07/two-royal-weddings.html

The Dowager Queen moved to Bentley Priory in 1848.

Adelaide Cottage was named for Queen Adelaide.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-windsor-home-for-sussexes.html



Sunday, December 1, 2024

Day 13 June 20 Six Wives (National Portrait Gallery) & the Chelsea Physic Garden


    June 20th was my final day in London.  Two events on the schedule.   Six Wives (Stories of Henry VIII's Eight Wives) at the National Portrait Gallery and the Chelsea Physic Garden.  Another beautiful warm day.

The Six Wives exhibit closed on September 8.























































































On the way out, I spotted these two non-Tudor portraits.



The second stop was the Chelsea Physic Garden.  I had planned to visit several years earlier, but the visit was scratched when something else came up -- probably royal  This time, I made sure to go as it is wonderful and a super respite, especially on one's final day.   

It is London's oldest botanic garden.  "Established in 1673, by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, Chelsea Physic Garden is home to over 4,500 medicinal, edible, and useful plants."   The Garden is definitely for the "botanically curious."





























This elderly is a gifted artist.



























Last stop before dinner:  St. James's Park.

Getting ready for the Japanese State Visit











The Pelicans



















St. James's Park is my favorite park in the world.  Beautiful flowers and always interesting wildfowl.  I have never met a duck I did not like.  I headed back to Battersea, stopping at Melanzana, an Italian restaurant near my Air Bnb -- one bus stop.  The food was all right, but I have had better Italian food in London.    Then it was back to the apartment to finish packing and be ready to leave.    My friend Paul arranged for a taxi to pick me up -- remember I had my wallet stolen on June 15 - so did not have a credit card to pay for the taxi.  

I had breakfast one last time on the balcony before closing and locking the door.  I cleaned my dishes and put them away.   I gave the key to the concierge and headed outside to wait for the taxi, which arrived on time  It was time to say goodbye to my favorite city.  Despite the pickpocket, I had a great time, thanks to Katrina and Paul, two truly great friends.