Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Bravo, King Philippe
Thank you, Your Majesty, for your speech today. You have the support of millions of Americans who believe Donald Trump and his minions are destroying the fabric and democracy of this nation. Thank you. I applaud you.
http://www.wort.lu/en/international/king-philippe-us-and-uk-threaten-course-of-history-says-belgian-king-5890ad39a5e74263e13a9dce
Monday, January 30, 2017
Friday, January 27, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
A boy for Xenia
January 25, 1897
Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia, sister of Nicholas II, and the wife of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovitch, has given birth to a son, reports the Washington Post.
The birth took place yesterday at the Winter Palace. This is their second child. Their daughter, Princess Irina Alexandrovna was born on July 15, 1895.
The couple were married on August 6, 1894.
Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia, sister of Nicholas II, and the wife of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovitch, has given birth to a son, reports the Washington Post.
The birth took place yesterday at the Winter Palace. This is their second child. Their daughter, Princess Irina Alexandrovna was born on July 15, 1895.
The couple were married on August 6, 1894.
Princess Caroline officially registered
January 25, 1957
Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite was "officially registered as heiress presumptive" to Monaco today "over her noisy protests," reports United Press.
The infant princess was born two days ago and is the first child of Prince Rainier III and the former Grace Kelly.
Princess Grace has received "congratulatory messages from two other royal mothers, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Queen Elizabeth II.
The new mother did not take part in today's official ceremonies. While she rested in a nearby bedroom, her husband, Prince Rainier "officially certified the infant before a Judge and three witnesses. The baby's name was "inscribed in the archives of the Grimaldis who have ruled Monaco since 1297.
The infant princess will become the ruler of Monaco one day unless her mother gives birth to a son, who would become the heir apparent.
Princess Caroline "could not have cared less. Judge Portainer "reported that she howled and chewed her fists all through the ceremony."
George and Marina pose for photo on doorstep
January 25, 1937
The Duke and Duchess of Kent "appeared together in public today for the first time since the birth of their daughter," and posed for photographs, reports the New York Times.
The appearance of the royal couple was interpreted in some quarters as a gesture" to "scotch rumors" that the duke and duchess are "planning a divorce."
All of London's evening newspapers carried the photo. The caption was largely the same for all the papers. The Duchess of Kent had taken her "first outing" since giving birth to the couple's daughter on Christmas morning. She and her husband, the youngest brother of King George VI, posed on the steps of their home in Belgrave Square.
Without the "absence of any other comment," the newspapers are trying to "find the best way" to handle the gossip about the duke and duchess' "marital relations" that have been "floating around London for so long."
The rumors of strife in the royal marriage continued even after "spontaneous denials of a rift between them." The press has decided that "silence is the best policy."
The photos give "mute evidence" that all is well between the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
The Duke of Kent married Princess Marina of Greece on November 29, 1934, at Westminster Abbey. Their first child, Prince Edward of Kent, was born on October 9, 1935.
The Duke and Duchess of Kent "appeared together in public today for the first time since the birth of their daughter," and posed for photographs, reports the New York Times.
The appearance of the royal couple was interpreted in some quarters as a gesture" to "scotch rumors" that the duke and duchess are "planning a divorce."
All of London's evening newspapers carried the photo. The caption was largely the same for all the papers. The Duchess of Kent had taken her "first outing" since giving birth to the couple's daughter on Christmas morning. She and her husband, the youngest brother of King George VI, posed on the steps of their home in Belgrave Square.
Without the "absence of any other comment," the newspapers are trying to "find the best way" to handle the gossip about the duke and duchess' "marital relations" that have been "floating around London for so long."
The rumors of strife in the royal marriage continued even after "spontaneous denials of a rift between them." The press has decided that "silence is the best policy."
The photos give "mute evidence" that all is well between the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
The Duke of Kent married Princess Marina of Greece on November 29, 1934, at Westminster Abbey. Their first child, Prince Edward of Kent, was born on October 9, 1935.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Princesses of Great Britain?
January 24, 1907
It was just over two years ago when King Edward VII "invested his two young granddaughters," the children of his daughter, Princess Louise and the Duke of Fife, with the rank of princess.'" The Marquise de Fontenoy, in her latest column writes that the two girls, formerly Lady Alexandra and Lady Maud Duff, are in line on the crown, following their mother, the Princess Royal, and "coming immediately after the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales."
A question has arose about the young girls' official title. Their father's family name is Duff, so are Alexandra and Maud Princesses of Duff or as others have "declared," Princesses of Fife.
The Duke of Fife has recently responded to "an inquiry addressed to him," and has written a letter to state that his daughters are "Princesses of Great Britain and Ireland."
He would not have presumed to have made this statement without the sanction of his father-in-law, the King. The official announcement in the Gazette "proclaiming the elevation in rank of the Ladies Alexandra and Maud Duff" made no reference to indicate that they had become Princesses of Great Britain and Ireland.
They are included as Princesses of the Blood" but their official position has been in "ignorance" until now.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
The March on Washington
I took part in the March on Washington on Saturday- and want to share my reflections
http://thewomensmarchonwashington.blogspot.com/
http://thewomensmarchonwashington.blogspot.com/
Friday, January 20, 2017
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Breaking news: Prince Louis & Princess Tessy of Luxembourg will get a divorce
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| © 2014 Cour grand-ducale / Hana Noguchi / tous droits réservés |
“Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess regret to announce that Prince Louis and Princess Tessy have decided to divorce. In these painful circumstances, they rely on the understanding of all and ask to respect the privacy of the couple and their children.”
Princess Tessy has also released a statement confirming the divorce. 'I am very sad to confirm that Louis and I are getting divorced after 12 years together. Despite our separation, we will always remain unified by parenthood to our two precious boys. 'It is extremely sad for both of us to realise that we will walk separate life paths from now on.
'In these challenging times, I ask for privacy for both of us and especially the privacy of our children to be respected. No further comment will be given at this stage."
Prince Louis is the third child of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. He married Luxembourg commoner, Tessy Antony on September 29, 2006, six months after Tessy gave birth to their first child, Gabriel Michael Louis Ronny (March 12, 2006. A second son, Prince Noah Etienne Guillaume Gabriele Matthias Xavier, was born on September 21, 2007.
Louis renounced his rights to the throne, and his sons do not have dynastic rights.
Tessy was elevated to the rank and style of HRH Princess of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau and Princess of Bourbon-Parma by her father-in-law on June 23, 2009.
Princess Tessy has been very much involved in charity work in Luxembourg and in the UK.
The news of their official separation is not a surprise as the Princess recently spent Christmas with her sons and friends in Florida, without her husband. It was apparent from her Instagram posts that she and Louis were having marital difficulties, although she made it clear that he is a great father to their young sons. The princess recently deleted her Instagram account.
http://www.luxarazzi.com/2017/01/the-future-title-of-princess-tessy-of.html
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| © 2015 Cour grand-ducale / David Nivière / tous droits réservé |
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Prince Harry of Wales - Merry Christmas
In the mailbox today - from Prince Harry of Wales
Same photo for his birthday response in September.
http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/09/prince-harry-says-thank-you.html
http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/09/prince-harry-says-thank-you.html
More additions to my collection
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| Prince Georg Wilhelm of Hanover (and Cumberland) was the eldest son of of Prince Ernst August, Duke of Cumberland and his wife, Princess Thyra of Denmark. He was a first cousin of King George V. Georg Wilhelm was driving to the funeral of his uncle, King Frederik VIII of Denmark, when he was killed in an auto accident on May 20, 1912 at Nackel in Brandenburg, Prussia. He was 31 years and unmarried. |
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| Prince Louis Ferdinand and Princess Kira of Prussia with their daughter, Princess Kira |
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| King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania with their 2 eldest daughters, Princess Margarita and Princess Helen. |
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| Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia |
Just added these to my collection
A Wied Christening
The date is wrong. Wilhelm, third son of Prince and Princess Dietrich of Wied, was born on August 24, 1936, and died on April 13, 1937. I was asked to ID the photo, and I think I got most of them .. but Wieds are not my strongest point.
The christening took place sometime in September 1936, not 1934.
The three boys in front are Princes Maximilian, Ulrich and Friedrich Wilhelm of Wied. The first two are the eldest sons of Prince and Princess Dietrich, and the the third boy, Friedrich Wilhelm, was the eldest child of Hereditary Prince Hermann and his wife, Countess Maria Antonia of Stolberg-Wernigerode. Hermann was killed during the second World War.
First row sitting: Maria Antonia holding her second son, Metfried. Unknown woman (perhaps Princess Elisabeth or Princess Luise of Wied, sisters of Hermann), Unknown woman, The Princess of Wied (Pauline of Württemberg) holding her grandson, Prince Wilhelm) and Princess Dietrich of Wied (Countess Antoinette Grote). Back row: Unidentified woman, The Prince of Wied, Hereditary Prince Hermann and Prince Dietrich.
New issue of Eurohistory Coming soon!!!
ERHJ Issue CXII (Winter 2016) Off to print!
Happy to report to our many readers that the last issue of Eurohistory, ERHJ CXII, Volume 19.4, is going off to the printer tomorrow!
We expect to have the finished magazines in about 5 weeks. This completes our 19th year in publication.
Our 20th year begins with Issue CXIII 20.1 (Spring 2017) as we prepare to celebrate Eurohistory's 20th anniversary this coming August!
Inside Issue CXII subscribers and readers will find the following very interesting articles:
1. "Why Cecco Beppe Does Not Die" – The death and continuing afterlife of Franz Joseph, by Janet Ashton.
2. ALEX WERNHER – A Close Friend of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, by Marlene Eilers-Koenig.
3. Ludwig II and Maria Alexandrovna of Russia – The Mad King's Other Empress, by Greg King.
4. The Last Costume Ball – The Imperial Ball at the Winter Palace, 1903, by Coryne Hall.
5. Who Is In the Photograph – A Wartime Wedding: Prince George of Battenberg and Countess Nadejda de Torby, Ilana D. Miller.
6. A Life for the Tsar: A Book Review, by Marlene Eilers-Koenig.
7. Book Reviews, by Coryne Hall.
8. Royal News
This is the last issue of our current subscription year. Renewal forms will go inside the magazine. We hope that you will remain for another wonderful year of great royal articles!
As always, enjoy the reading and many thanks for supporting us for so many years!
Arturo Beéche
PS: Check out information about our upcoming Royal Gatherings Conference in London, April 1-2, 2017!
http://theeuropeanroyalhistoryjournal.blogspot.com/2017/01/this-years-royal-gatherings-in-london.html
Happy to report to our many readers that the last issue of Eurohistory, ERHJ CXII, Volume 19.4, is going off to the printer tomorrow!
We expect to have the finished magazines in about 5 weeks. This completes our 19th year in publication.
Our 20th year begins with Issue CXIII 20.1 (Spring 2017) as we prepare to celebrate Eurohistory's 20th anniversary this coming August!
Inside Issue CXII subscribers and readers will find the following very interesting articles:
1. "Why Cecco Beppe Does Not Die" – The death and continuing afterlife of Franz Joseph, by Janet Ashton.
2. ALEX WERNHER – A Close Friend of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, by Marlene Eilers-Koenig.
3. Ludwig II and Maria Alexandrovna of Russia – The Mad King's Other Empress, by Greg King.
4. The Last Costume Ball – The Imperial Ball at the Winter Palace, 1903, by Coryne Hall.
5. Who Is In the Photograph – A Wartime Wedding: Prince George of Battenberg and Countess Nadejda de Torby, Ilana D. Miller.
6. A Life for the Tsar: A Book Review, by Marlene Eilers-Koenig.
7. Book Reviews, by Coryne Hall.
8. Royal News
This is the last issue of our current subscription year. Renewal forms will go inside the magazine. We hope that you will remain for another wonderful year of great royal articles!
As always, enjoy the reading and many thanks for supporting us for so many years!
Arturo Beéche
PS: Check out information about our upcoming Royal Gatherings Conference in London, April 1-2, 2017!
http://theeuropeanroyalhistoryjournal.blogspot.com/2017/01/this-years-royal-gatherings-in-london.html
Monday, January 16, 2017
Royal engagement: HRH Princess Marie Gabrielle of Nassau & Antonius Willms
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| Copyright Valentin Dupont. This photo shows Princess Marie-Gabrielle and Antonius Willms arriving for the wedding of her cousin, Princess Alix de Ligne, |
Princess Marie-Gabrielle is the eldest child of HRH Prince Jean of Luxembourg and his first wife, Helene Vestur, a French lawyer, who is a member of the Conseil d'État. The 31-year-old princess was born at Paris on September 8, 1986 without a title. She was born three weeks before her father renounced his right of succession. The announcement was made on September 26, 1986. Jean's reason for his renouncement: he intended "to live abroad and follow an international business career."
Marie-Gabrielle's birth was not announced by the court, and, in fact, the first public reports of her birth came in 1988, after the birth of her little brother, Constantin, who was born on July 22, 1988. The revelation came in Prince Jean's interview with Point de Vue (September 16, 1988). The magazine's cover photo showed the Prince Jean, Helen and baby Constantin. Readers were introduced to the couple's first child, Marie-Gabrielle.
Jean and Helene were married on May 28, 1987 in Paris. Neither Grand Duke Jean nor Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg. Helene did not meet her husband's parents until some time after the wedding.
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| Marie Gabrielle and her brother, Carl Johann in Washington, D,C., for the wedding of her first cousin, Archduke Imre of Austria. copyright Marlene A. Eilers Koenig |
Marie-Gabrielle and her younger brothers, Constantin, Wenceslas and Carl-Johann, were registered with the surname Nassau. It was not until September 21, 1995 that Grand Duke Jean decreed that Prince Jean's children would have the title Countess and Count of Nassau. Prince Jean's older brother, Grand Duke Henri, issued a decree on November 24, 2004 that gave the title Prince and Princess of Nassau to Jean's children with the rank of Royal Highness. Princess Marie-Gabrielle and her younger brothers do not have dynastic rights, however.
Prince Jean and Miss Vestur were interviewed by Point to Vue shortly before their wedding. Both were asked what were their favorite names. Helene answered: Jean, Constantin, Francois, Xavier, Henri, Marie-Gabrielle and Anastasia.
Prince Jean and Helene Vestur were divorced in 2004. He married a second time to Diane de Guerre.
Marie-Gabrielle received a BA in Visual Cultures from Goldsmiths College in London, and a MAAB (Master's in Art Business) from Sotheby's Institute. The princess is now based in the Munich area, where she works in architecture planning and interior design.
Antonius Benedikt Willms was born on December 22, 1988 in Atlanta, Georgia, one of four children of Hayo Willms and his wife, Countess Maria Theresia von Goëss. He studied in Luxembourg and at the University of St. Andrews, where he received a MA in Economics and Modern History.
The Spanish estate ,where the wedding will take place, has its own royal connection. Marie Caroline's husband, Alejandro (Sandro) is a descendant of Prince Maximilian Egon of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1897-1968) In 1921, he married Maria Piedad de Iturbe, the Marquesa de Belvis de las Navas (1892-). They had five children: Maria Francisca, Alfonso, Cristian, Elisabeth, Max Emanuel and Beatriz.
Maria Francisca (1922-2007) married Claudio Gamazo y Arnus, Marqués de Soto de Aller. Her eldest child, Alejandra Maria de la Piedad , 4th Marquesa de Belvis Las Navas, is not married, but has a son, Alejandro (Sandro) Gamazo Hohenlohe by a German national, Christian Bremme. Sandro is married to Marie-Caroline Willms. They have two young daughters.
http://belvisdelasnavas.com/
Princess Marie-Gabrielle and Antonius Willms are fifth cousins, and share a common ancestor in Princess Maria Carolina Ferdinanda Luisa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1798-1870), eldest child of King Francesco I of the Two Sicilies and his first wife, Archduchess Clementine of Austria (1777-1801). Maria Carolina was married twice. Her first marriage to Prince Charles d'Artois, Duke of Berry (1779-1820). The Duke of Berry and his wife were leaving the opera house in Paris when he was stabbed by a saddle maker, Louis Pierre Rouvel. Princess Marie Gabrielle descends from their daughter, Louise Marie Therese (1819-1864), who married Duke Carlos III of Parma.
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| The Duchess of Berry painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence |
The date of the wedding has not been announced.
The new Earl of Snowdon
Viscount Linley, eldest (and only legitimate) son of the late Earl of Snowdon will remain styled as Viscount Linley until after his father's funeral. Once his father is buried (or cremated), Linley will assume the title Earl of Snowdon. He will be the 2nd Earl of Snowdon. His two children, Charles and Margarita, will move from the style and rank of children of a viscount to children of an earl. The Hon. Charles Armstrong-Jones will bear the courtesy title, Viscount Linley of Nymans, and the Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones will be styled as The Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones.
As a peer of the realm, the new Lord Snowdon will cease to be a commoner. He will sign his name as Snowdon. His wife, Lady Serena Stanhope,) becomes the Countess of Snowdon and will sign her name as Serena Snowdon.
I use Lady Serena because she is the daughter of the Earl of Harrington. At the time of her wedding in 1993, Serena was styled as the Hon. Serena Stanhope, as father, Viscount Petersham, did not succeed to the earldom until 2009. If Serena had married a mere Mr. Armstrong-Jones, she would have been styled. The. Hon. Mrs. Armstrong-Jones. This would have changed after her grandfather's death when she would have adopted the style The Lady Serena Armstrong-Jones. Mr. David and The Lady Serena Armstrong-Jones. No Mrs for daughters of dukes, marquesses or earls.
These are photos (no long lens for me at the time) I took of Lord Linley in New York City in the late 1980s, and Lord and Lady Linley at their wedding and in Washington, D.C., in 1993.
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| From Debrett's Correct Form |
As a peer of the realm, the new Lord Snowdon will cease to be a commoner. He will sign his name as Snowdon. His wife, Lady Serena Stanhope,) becomes the Countess of Snowdon and will sign her name as Serena Snowdon.
I use Lady Serena because she is the daughter of the Earl of Harrington. At the time of her wedding in 1993, Serena was styled as the Hon. Serena Stanhope, as father, Viscount Petersham, did not succeed to the earldom until 2009. If Serena had married a mere Mr. Armstrong-Jones, she would have been styled. The. Hon. Mrs. Armstrong-Jones. This would have changed after her grandfather's death when she would have adopted the style The Lady Serena Armstrong-Jones. Mr. David and The Lady Serena Armstrong-Jones. No Mrs for daughters of dukes, marquesses or earls.
These are photos (no long lens for me at the time) I took of Lord Linley in New York City in the late 1980s, and Lord and Lady Linley at their wedding and in Washington, D.C., in 1993.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
The Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg celebrates 75 years
HSH Aloys-Konstantin Karl Eduard Joseph Johann Konrad Antonius Gerhard Georg Benediktus Pius Eusebius Maria, Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg Prince of Löwenstein-Werthheim-Rosenberg celebrated his 75th birthday on December 16, 2016. He is the fifth child and only son of the late Karl, 8th Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg and Carolina dei Conte Rignon. In 1965, he married HRH Princess Anastasia of Prussia, elder daughter of Prince Hubertus of Prussia (third son of Crown Prince Wilhelm and Crown Princess Cecilie.)
The couple had four children: Hereditary Prince Carl Friedrich (1966-2010), Prince Hubertus (1968), Princess Christina (1969)and Prince Dominik (1983). They have nine grandchildren.
Carl Friedrich was killed during a car race. His car crashed, and he could not be removed from the car in time. He died from smoke inhalation. His second child and elder son, Nicodemus, is the Hereditary Prince and heir to his grandfather's titles and estates.
http://www.loewenstein.de/default_en.htm
A look at Belgian royals
I have selected about 30 images from one of my Belgium postcard albums ending with the engagement Prince Albert of the Belgians (1875-1934), heir presumptive to the Belgian throne and Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria (1876-1975.)
Albert was the 5th child (and second surviving son) of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen. At birth he was third in line to the throne, as his first cousin, Prince Leopold, the only son of King Leopold II, had died at the age of nine in 1869. (King Leopold II had three daughters as well: Louise, Stephanie and Clementine, but succession was governed by Salic law -- males only -- so after Prince Leopold's death, Leopold II's younger brother, Philippe, became the heir presumptive.)
Albert had an older brother, Prince Baudouin (1869-1891) was groom for eventual succession, but on January 23, 1891, the young prince was killed in a duel with the husband of his mistress.
The Count of Flanders died in 1905, and Prince Albert became Leopold II's heir presumptive. Albert succeeded to the throne on December 23, 1909.
Albert met his future wife, Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria, the daughter of Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria (the noted oculist) and Infanta Maria Josefa of Portugal, at a family funeral. This was a true love match. Albert and Elisabeth, named for her paternal aunt, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, married in Munich on October 2, 1900.
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Albert was the 5th child (and second surviving son) of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen. At birth he was third in line to the throne, as his first cousin, Prince Leopold, the only son of King Leopold II, had died at the age of nine in 1869. (King Leopold II had three daughters as well: Louise, Stephanie and Clementine, but succession was governed by Salic law -- males only -- so after Prince Leopold's death, Leopold II's younger brother, Philippe, became the heir presumptive.)
Albert had an older brother, Prince Baudouin (1869-1891) was groom for eventual succession, but on January 23, 1891, the young prince was killed in a duel with the husband of his mistress.
The Count of Flanders died in 1905, and Prince Albert became Leopold II's heir presumptive. Albert succeeded to the throne on December 23, 1909.
Albert met his future wife, Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria, the daughter of Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria (the noted oculist) and Infanta Maria Josefa of Portugal, at a family funeral. This was a true love match. Albert and Elisabeth, named for her paternal aunt, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, married in Munich on October 2, 1900.
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| Second wife of Leopold II |
