Charles and Camilla: A History of their Romance

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I did not want to say anything until the article was published but BBC's History Extra magazine commissioned me to write an article on the early years of Charles and Camilla's romance.


The article was posted earlier today. The article was fact checked by their staff -- a good thing.

I am so chuffed and honored to have been asked.  I hope it leads to more commissions.

https://www.historyextra.com/period/20th-century/prince-charles-camilla-history-relationship-young-why-marry-diana-crown-netflix/

American woman now Marchioness of Ormonde

October 29, 1919


James Edward William Theobold Butler. the 3rd Marquess of Ormonde, died on October 26 at the age of 75.  He was survived by his wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Grosvenor, daughter of the 1st Duke of Westminster, and their two daughters, Lady Beatrice Poole-Carew and Lady Constance Butler and three grandchildren.

As he has no male heir, the peerages were inherited by his brother, James Arthur Wellington Foley Butler, who was styled as Lord Arthur Butler.  He succeeded as the 4th Marquess of Ormonde and 2nd Earl of Ormonde, Earl of Ossory and Viscount Thurles.    On March 8, 1887, he married Ellen Stager, an American heiress, the daughter of Gen Anson Stager.

After their marriage, Ellen, whose personal fortune at the time was $1,000,000,  was styled as Lady Arthur Butler.  Her father was the co-founder of Western Union.

The new Lord and Lady Ormonde are the parents of four children: Lady Evelyn (1887) who is married to Edmund Drummond, younger brother of the Earl of Perth; George(1890), whose wife is the Hon. Sybil Fellowes, daughter of the 2nd Baron de Ramsey, James (1893) and Lady Eleanor (1894)

The eldest son, George, is now styled as the Earl of Ossory and his son, James Anthony Butler, has the courtesy title, Viscount Thurles.

Due to the double-tax situation as the late Marquess had only daughters,  it was decided that the new Marquess' elder son, Lord Ossory, will inherit Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, Ireland, and other family properties.

The castle has been in the Ormonde family since 1391 when James Butler, 3rrd Earl of Ormonde bought the property.  The Butler family was one of the most powerful families in Ireland for several centuries.  The 19th Earl of Ormonde was created the 1st Marquess of Ormonde in 1825 (in the peerage of the United Kingdom.)

Norwegian publisher pulls Shaman's book

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 Derek Verrett, a self-proclaimed Shaman,  is the author of a book, Spirit Hacking, that has caused a bit of controversy.   He is the boyfriend of Princess Martha Louise of Norway.

Norwegian publisher  Cappelen Damm has decided to not publish a Norwegian translation of the book because Durek claims that children get cancer because they are unhappy.

Publisher Knut Ola Ulvestad told VG, an Oslo-based newspaper:  "The fact that we stop the book is more about the ethical and the thinking with the heart, rather than the legal side of this. It's all about making the right choice. Last week, when I read through the Norwegian translation and found the parties dealing with the causes of cancer and treatment, it became impossible to publish this book. If this is read literally, it can simply be harmful."

He added: "This led to a good and critical discussion at the publisher. We all have friends and colleagues affected by cancer, who have children affected by cancer. And what Durek writes about, for example, is that when children have cancer, it is because they are unhappy and thinking about it, so yes, I simply do not have an adequate comment on this....We have made a mistake and are now choosing to take the consequences."


The book has the support of Princess Martha, who wrote on her Instagram account : "This book is something else. Read it and find out for you self how to hack your spirit, stop being a bobble head or a sheeple and get on the lit train for GIANTS. So proud of your work, my love."

Swedish publish Nona has announced that it will also stop publishing Verrett's book.

One Norwegian newspaper, Dagbladet, reviewed the English-language edition, calling it "Crazy man's speech."  The reviewer added that Verrett claims that cancer is "self-inflicted."


Crown Prince Haakon, who is Martha Louise's brother, has weighed into the fray, according to Norwegian historian, Oskar Aanmoen: "It is up to the publisher whether they want to publish a book or not. We have a different approach to these issues. I base my opinions on research and the Norwegian health system."

According to press reports, Verrett says he plans to sue Norwegian media for "bullying."


https://www.vg.no/rampelys/bok/i/K3kw9M/cappelen-damm-stopper-durek-bok-boken-kan-vaere-skadelig

Princess Elisabeth turns 18

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Princess Elisabeth of Belgium celebrated her 18th birthday today with an official celebration, including a speech and receiving the Order of Leopold from her proud father, King Philippe.

When presenting Elisabeth,  the heiress apparent to the Belgian throne,  the KIng said: “The Leopold Order that I will hand over to you shortly is a national order created by our ancestor Leopold I. That distinction is, therefore, also part of our family history. It symbolises the dignity of our country and our family. I hope you will see this as an encouragement and a sign of confidence.”

The Princess, who attends boarding school in Wales, gave a confidence speech that left both her parents beaming with pride.  Her final words: “I realize that I still have a lot to learn. I will also focus on that in the coming years: trying to understand the world better and contribute to improving it by giving the best of myself. The country can count on me.”

The Princess' grandparents, King Albert and Queen Paola, joined her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and her uncle, Prince Laurent, and Princess Astrid's eldest child, Prince Amedeo of Belgium, who is one of Elisabeth's godparents.

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Princess Elisabeth of Belgium approaching her majority

To celebrate Princess Elisabeth's 18th birthday, which takes place on October 25, the Belgian palace released five new photographs today of the future Queen Regnant.

Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant,  is the eldest of four children of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.

The photos were taken this summer at the family's home, Laeken Palace.

The princess is currently a student at the UWC Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.  She plans on completing the  International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. 

Royal Palace, Brussels  Photographer: Michel Gronemberger

Official photographs of Queen Helen's return to Romania

Queen Mother Helen of Romania (Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark), was laid to rest in Romania on October 19 at New Episcopal and Royal Cathedral in Curtea des Arges.  The mother of the late King Michael, Helen died in exile in Lausanne, Switzerland, on November 28, 1982.  She was 86 years old.   She was buried at the  Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery in Lausanne.

Finally, nearly 30 years after the member of the Romanian royal family returned to Romania for the first time since King Michael's forced abdication on December 30, 1947,  the remains of Queen Helen were brought to Romania for reburial.

Thank you to HM Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, for allowing me to use the official photos from October 18-19.   The Duke of Aosta, whose mother, the late Princess Irene, was Queen Helen's sister, attended the funeral and reburial, with his younger daughter, Princess Mafalda.  The Prince of Wales was represented by the Earl of Rosslyn, Master of the Household for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The copyright for the photos is @Romanian Royal Household.

Princess Sophie

Princess Marie 

Duke of Aosta

Princess Mafalda of Savoy-Aosta

the Earl of Rosslyn, representing the Prince of Wales. He is Master of the Household for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.