Royal Musings: September 2023

Thursday, September 28, 2023

A QVD Death: HH Prince Christoph of Schleswig-Holstein (1949-2023)

@Schloss Louisenlund

The news of Prince Christoph's death was announced by the Louisenlund Foundation, which runs Louisenlund, a private boarding school in Güby, Schleswig-Holstein. In 1949, on the advice of Karl Hahn, Duke Friedrich of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg established a boarding school at Schloss Louisenlund.

"The lives of Prince Christoph of Schleswig-Holstein and Louisenlund are closely linked: he was born there on August 22, 1949, the year the foundation was founded, as the eldest son of Duke Peter of Schleswig-Holstein and Duchess Marie Alix, where he also lived was a student until he graduated from high school in 1969.

After military service, he completed his studies in agricultural sciences in Munich and Kiel.

As a result of the early death of his father, Duke Peter, in 1980 he took over his responsibilities for the agricultural and forestry property as well as the chairmanship of the Louisenlund Foundation. Until then he had worked in what was then the Mannesmann Group.

For the following 24 years, he chaired the board of the Louisenlund Foundation. In 2004, his sister Princess Ingeborg of Schleswig-Holstein joined the foundation's board of directors and took over its chairmanship shortly afterwards. He then continued to be regularly active on the board of trustees, serving as an honorary member for the last two years.

On September 27th, Prince Christoph died as a result of a long-term illness, which he had borne with great strength and confidence.

Prince Christoph saw it as his family's responsibility to stand up for Louisenlund. With the same opinion, he chaired the Glücksburg Castle Foundation until his death. He was a co-founder of GLC Glücksburg Consulting GmbH and was until recently chairman of the supervisory board.

Prince Christoph of Schleswig-Holstein played an active role in Louisenlund's development for decades. He played a key role in ensuring that the school and boarding school enjoy a high reputation at home and abroad. He was convinced of the innovative and modern orientation of pedagogy and welcomed the spirit of optimism, especially in recent years.

For Prince Christoph, a future-oriented economic and energy policy was essential; The plus-MINT talent development center in Louisenlund received particular attention. He enjoyed following the students' many successes in scientific competitions. He dedicatedly supported Louisenlund's mission to give young people the opportunity to receive a solid education so that they can develop into outstanding professionals and leaders for the challenges of the future!

The Louisenlund Foundation will remember Prince Christoph with gratitude for his many years of responsibility and his lifelong commitment."

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HH Prince Christoph was the head of the Ducal House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glückburg. He was born at Schloss Louisenlund on August 22, 1949, the second of four children of Friedrich Ernst Peter, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1922-1980) and Princess Marie Alix of Schaumburg-Lippe (1923-2021).

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In 1981, in Glücksburg, he married Princess Elisabeth zur Lippe-Weissenfeld.

Marlene A Eilers Koenig collection

He is survived by his wife. Princess Elisabeth, and their four children, Princess Sophie, Prince Friedrich Ferdinand, Prince Constantin, and Prince Leopold, as well as several grandchildren. He is also survived by his two sisters, Princess Marita (Baroness von Plotho) and Princess Ingeborg, Frau Broschek, and his brother, Prince Alexander, and their children.

Queen Victoria - Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh - Princess Alexandra - Princess Marie Melita of Hohenlohe-Langenburg - Duke Peter - Prince Christoph.

7 Tage 6/14/1989 (Marlene A Eilers Koenig collection)

https://www.schloss-gluecksburg.de/en/the-castle/home-and-greetings#:~:text=It%20is%20one%20of%20the,present%20it%20to%20the%20public.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-death-of-marie-alix-duchess-of.html

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

The Princess of Wales in Lancashire

@Lauren Parkinson

Earlier today, royal enthusiast Lauren Parkinson and her husband, Ian, drove to Lancashire, hoping for a glimpse of the Princess of Wales, who was visiting Standfast & Barracks, a print works firm that opened in 1924. Now part of the Sanderson Design group, Standfast & Barracks is "renowned for its heritage in textile design and creativity."

The firm is about 30 miles from her home.

Lauren and her husband, Ian, were at the entrance of the firm when the Princess arrived in what Lauren calls "discreet" as the motorcade arrived without a police escort.

Although she was told that the Princess would not be leaving by a side entrance, Lauren trusted her instincts and headed for the side exit. She made the right call, as you can see from her superb photos.

I asked Lauren how she got these AMAZING photos!

"So, it's very close to where I live. There were about nine of us waiting to see her. Most of those were relatives of people who worked in the factory.

"I could just tell where she was going to leave by the way the cars were positioned and the comings and goings of the staff. I could see through into the reception area from where I was standing and could see the gifts waiting for her on her departure etc.

"The local photographer with me was a volunteer photographer for a local radio station and was just hoping to get a shot just like me.

"As always, Kate just comes alive and is so animated when talking to kids and she zeroed in on the boy waiting by the gates as she left so we were just grateful and so happy she stopped to say hello on her way back to the cars!"

Lauren told me that the Princess was scheduled to spend an hour at Standfast & Barracks, but "ended up staying at least 20 minutes longer!!!"

It is no surprise that Lauren's favorite royal is the Princess of Wales. Her main social media presence is on Instagram where she uses the handle parkysprincess.

https://www.instagram.com/parkysprincess/

You will enjoy her videos and discussions about Catherine and William and the Royal Family in general. Always positive, factual, and eager to share her enthusiasm and respect for the British Royal Family. I must also mention Lauren's adorable dog, a cockapoo named Woody as he often accompanies his pawrents on their journeys. Today, Woody remained at home, eager to learn the news when Lauren and Ian returned after their superb day.

She is also on Twitter (X) as @LadyParky79

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/gallery/lancaster-kate-middleton-princess-wales-27792076

Thank you, Lauren, for allowing me to use your photos. A reminder to my readers, Lauren is THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OF THE PHOTOS!

Saturday, September 23, 2023

A son for the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Mecklenburg

@Grand Ducal House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

The infant duke was born on Saturday, September 23, 2023. This is the first child of Hereditary Prince and his wife, the former Hande Macit, who were married on September 17, 2022 in Neustrelitz

King Carl XVI Gustaf's Golden Jubilee -- 50 years September 15-16

September 15 - The king arrives with his son, Prince Carl Philip/

King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrated his Golden Jubilee on September 15th and 16th in Stockholm. Briton Ken Stone traveled to Stockholm to take in the events. He is the copyright holder. Thank you. Ken for allowing me to use the photos.

Prince Oskar, Prince Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Estelle

The balcony includes members of the Swedish Royal Family, Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Queen Anne Marie of the Hellenes and the Presidents of Iceland and Finland

Queen Silvia, Prince Oskar, Prince Daniel, Crown Prince Frederik, Queen Anne Marie of the Hellenes and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Count Michael Bernadotte af Wisborg with Princess Christina and Tord Magnuson. Michael, a first cousin of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Princess Christina, is the son of Count Sigvard Bernadotte af Wisborg (ne Prince Sigvard of Sweden)

Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Queen Sonja of Norway, Queen Silvia, Prince Oskar

Queen Anne Marie of the Hellenes, King Harold of Norway, and Queen Margrethe II

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Estelle

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

September 16 Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf

The King and Queen on the boat for the ride back to the palace

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Archduchess Yolande of Austria (1923-2023)

H& RH Archduchess Yolande of Austria died on September 13, 2023, at Brussels. She was 100 years old. She was the widow of Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria, the 5th child of Emperor Karl I of Austria and Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma.

Marlene A Eilers Koenig collection

She was born Princess Yolande Marie Jeanne Charlotte de Ligne, second daughter of Eugene, 11th Prince of Ligne and Philippine de Noailles on May 6, 1923, in Madrid, Spain.

The marriage between Archduke Carl Ludwig and Princess Yolande took place at Schloss Beloeil, the residence of the Prince of Ligne, on January 17, 1950. The couple were described as childhood sweethearts. The civil wedding took place at Beloeil's town hall shortly before the Roman Catholic wedding in the castle's chapel. Following the civil service, "the procession, with its brilliantly liveried footmen before and behind, retraced its steps along the carpet to the chapel especially built in a wing of the chateau," reported the New York Times.

The guests at the wedding included Carl Ludwig's brothers, Archduke Otto, the pretender to the Austrian throne, and Archdukes Rudolf and Robert. About a half a dozen members of other European royal families, all of whom were relatives of the bride. No one from the Belgian royal family attended the wedding

After the wedding, the couple lived in New York City, where the archduke was employed by an "American metals firm." Archduke Carl told the Associated Press: "After a short stay in Paris, I will get my wife acquainted with her new home, my Fifth Avenue apartment in New York. A few days later we will leave for a three-week honeymoon in Palm Beach."

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After several years in the United States, Archduke Carl Ludwig and Archduchess Yolande moved to Brussels, where the archduke worked in finance. He died in 2007.

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Archduchess Yolande is survived by her four children: Archduke Rudolf (1950), Archduchess Alexandra (Alexandra Riesle) (1952) Archduke Carl Christian (1954) and Archduchess Maria Constanza , (1957) the wife of Franz Josef, Prince of Auersperg-Trautson.

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The birth of a princess who would become a queen

Prince Rene and Princess Margrethe of Bourbon-Parma with their children, Jacques, Anne, Michel & Andre

In the sixteenth arrondissement in Paris, Princess Margrethe of Bourbon-Parma gave birth to a daughter, on September 18, 1923. This was the second child for Margrethe, born Princess Margrethe of Denmark, and her husband, Prince Rene of Bourbon-Parma, who married in Copenhagen on June 9, 1921. A son, Prince Jacques, was born on his parents' first anniversary.

The infant princess was the granddaughter of Prince Valdemar of Denmark and Princess Marie of Orléans and Roberto I, Duke of Parma and Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal. She was named Anne Antoinette Francoise Charlotte Zita Marguerite although it was not until 1999 that Anne learned she had six, rather than five names. She obtained a copy of her birth certificate for her eldest daughter, Princess Margarita of Romania. Much to surprise, Anne learned that she also had the name Marguerite, the French version of her mother's name. Margarita was named for her maternal grandmother.

One of Anne's childhood playmates was her cousin, Prince Philip of Greece, and Denmark.

Prince Philip second from left

Within the family, Anne was always called Nane, a nickname coined by her older brother, Prince Jacques. The family lived in Paris until the Second World War. They were staying in the then-unoccupied south of France as there were fears that Prince Rene would be arrested and sent to a concentration camp. Rene's brother Prince Xavier was arrested and sent to a concentration camp. Prince and Princess Rene with their three sons, Jacques, Michel (1926), and Andre (1928) were the first to leave for Britanny. Anne stayed with her cousin, Princess Isabelle, daughter of Prince Sixte of Bourbon-Parma, with Isabelle's grandfather, the Duke of Doudeauville, near Les Mans. Princess Anne did not stay long, as her uncle Prince Gaetan of Bourbon-Parma, arrived to take her to Spain.

Anne's parents and brothers were also traveling by a separate route. Although Anne had no news of her parents for some weeks, she was comforted by her father's words: "We will all meet down there."

Anne and her uncle arrived in San Sebastian, where the young princess soon spotted her aunt Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and her children. Luxembourg was under German occupation and Charlotte, who was married to Prince Rene's brother, Prince Felix, and her family, were also refugees. They were en route to Portugal.

Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection

After more than a month, Anne received a telephone call from her father, who said that he and her younger brothers, Michel, and Andre, were unable to cross the border to San Sebastian. Anne crossed the border to see her family, then returned briefly to San Sebastian to pack her belongings and rejoin her father and younger brothers in France. Margrethe and Jacques were already in Portugal.

While in Cannes, Prince Rene was able to obtain the necessary papers to travel through Spain to Portugal and join Margrethe and Jacques. By the autumn of 1940, Anne and her family arrived in the United States. Michel and Andre were sent to a Catholic school in Montreal. Princess Margrethe "found work with a Danish hatter called Erik" and Prince Rene was employed by a gas company.

Anne attended the Parson School of Art, completing the three-year program in two years. She also found work as a shopgirl in Bloomingdale's. She returned to Europe in September 1943 to train as a nurse and a mechanic. The princess acknowledged that while in New York City, she learned to "take a car apart and how to put it back together."

After the war was over, Anne and her family spent time in Denmark, as her parents were settling into a new home, having sold their Paris house. Anne and her brothers were all now adults, finding their own way in the world. Anne returned to Paris where she spent time with her Luxembourg cousins. She was studying sculpture at the Ecole du Louvre. In November 1947, Prince Rene and Princess Margrethe were invited to the wedding of Margrethe's first cousin, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark to Princess Elizabeth, heiress presumptive to the British throne.

Although Anne was not invited to the wedding, her parents asked her to join them in London. At the time, Anne had no idea why her parents wanted her to come to London. She wrote in her memoir. Anne of Romania A War, An Exile. A Life: "One of the main reasons why my parents were so keen for me to go with them to London was precisely so that I might meet the young King of Romania. But I suspected nothing at that point, absolutely nothing!"

She had tried to oppose her parents' invitation, "on the pretext that I was too busy with my art classes."

The first meeting between Princess Anne and King Michael of Romania occurred at Claridge's. Anne went up to her mother's room only to find a "room full of people," including Queen Helen of Romania, and her only child, "a tall handsome young man in Romanian Air Force uniform. It was him!"

They would meet again at the Luxembourg embassy dinner, a soirée, which took place "a day or two" before Elizabeth's wedding. Anne had not expected Michael to have attended "a relatively informal event, organized for people of our age."

Princess Anne and King Michael spent the week together, taking long walks in the "streets and parks," or going to the theatre or movies.

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There were also family dinners at Claridge's, where both families could have a "private, intimate atmosphere."

Anne finally realized that her meeting with Michael had been "meticulously arranged in advance" by both families. An engagement soon followed, but there would be further hurdles to overcome, which were complicated by Michael's forced abdication on December 30, 1947, and the Pope's refusal to recognize the marriage because Michael would not agree to raise their children Roman Catholic. In March 1948, the Pope denied a dispensation for the marriage.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2010/03/pope-says-no-to-michael-anne-nuptials.html

Anne and Michael married in Athens on June 10, 1948.

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https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/08/remembering-queen-anne-of-romania.html

Anne of Romania A War, An Exile, A Life was published in 2002 by the Romanian Cultural Foundation Publishing House. A second edition was published by Editura Humanitas in 2006. Both editions were published in English and Romanian

Monday, September 18, 2023

Wilhelmine Fürstin von Khevenhüller-Metsch (1932-2023)

@Burg Hochosterwitz

HSH Wilhelmine Fürstin von Khevenhüller-Metsch died on September 18, 2023 at Schloss Niederosterwitz. She was 91 years old.

The Princess was the widow of HSH Max Alfred Bartholomäus Friedrich Anton Franz Eduard Joachim Anna Maria Schnee Oswald Hubertus, 9th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch(1919-2010). She was born on March 24, 1932, in Naklo, Kr. Tarnowitz, Silesia, as Countess Marie Wilhelmine Josefina Theresia Franziska Georgia von Henckel von Donnersmarck. She was the third child and second daughter of Count Lazarus Henckel von Donnersmarck (1902-1991) and Countess Franziska von Eltz gen. Faust von Stromberg (1905-1997).

[Naklo is now in the Czech Republic.]

Wilhelmine's older brother, Count Carl Josef (1928-2008) was married Princess Marie Adelheid of Luxembourg.

The marriage between Countess Wilhelmine and the then Hereditary Prince Max of Khevenhüller-Metsch took place in Munch on January 19, 1956. The couple lived in Lugano, Italy, and in Madrid, where their six children were born, before moving to Schloss Niederosterwitz in Launsdorf, Austria.

The Schloss has been in the Khevenhüller family since 1690. Prince Max succeeded his father, Franz, 8th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch, as the 9th Prince in 1977.

Princess Wilhelmine is survived by five of her six children: Bartholomäus, 11th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch (1958), Count Karl (1959), Count Georg (1960), Countess Melanie von Waldburg-zu Wolfegg-und Waldsee (1967) and Countess Isabel von Hartig (1972). Her eldest son, Johannes, 10th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch died in 2020.

Twenty-two grandchildren also survive her: Countesses Franziska, Helena, Sophie, Cäcilie von Khevenhüller-Metsch, Hereditary Prince Andreas of Khevenhüller-Metsch, Countesses Clara, Gabriela and Count Philipp of Khevenhüller-Metsch, Counts Maximilian, Franz, Sigmund von Khevenhüller-Metsch, Countesses Hemma, Teresa, Marie Elisabeth and Paula von Khevenhüller-Metsch, Countesses Isabel, Anna, and Count Georg von Waldburg zu Wolfegg-Waldsee, and Countesses Henriette, Laura and Wilhelmine von Hartig, as well as several great-grandchildren.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/01/hsh-johannes-prince-of-khevenhuller.html

Sunday, September 17, 2023

A Princely Marriage - Louis and Helene

TSH the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg

HSH Hereditary Prince Ludwig of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and Helene von Pezold were married on September 9 at the Wertheim Collegiate Church. The wedding was a Lutheran service

The bride was dressed in a "simple wedding dress with a train," according to Bunte. She was given away by her father, Kilian von Pezold.

The Princess of Bentheim-Tecklenburg and her daughter, Princess Louise

The Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg with his daughter-in-law, Stephanie (widow of the late Hereditary Prince Carl Friedrich)

Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria and Daniel Terberger

Princess Ameli of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg & her husband Constantin von Brandenstein Zeppelin

Princess Amelie of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg and her husband,

Benedikt Schmid von Schmidsfelden.

Several pages and flower girls attended the new Hereditary Princess: Caspar and Ottilie von Dewitz, Countesses Camilla and Eleonore Fugger von Babenhausen (nieces of the groom), and Count Xaver of Solms-Laubach.

The Landgrave and Landgravine of Hesse

Prince and Princess Heinrich of Croy

Sophie, Countess of Fugger von Babenhausen (sister of groom) with her daughters, Countesses Eleonore and Camilla.

The Prince and Princess of Schaumburg Lippe

the Hereditary Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe

The guests included the Prince and Princess of Schaumburg-Lippe and the Hereditary Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe. the Landgrave and Landgravine of Hesse, Prince Stephan and Princess Maria zur Lippe with their children, Duke Christian and Duchess Caroline of Oldenburg, The Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg and Stephanie, Hereditary Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg Fürst, The Prince and Princess of Leiningen and the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Leiningen, the Prince and Princess of Isenburg, Count of Erbach-Erbach, Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria and Daniel Terberger, the Prince of Castell-Rüdenhausen Count Anton of Castell-Rüdenhausen and his husband, William Ferro Melo and the Prince and Princess of Oettingen-Wallerstein.