King Charles' Christmas message filmed in Fitzrovia Chapel

 

This year, The King’s Christmas Broadcast was filmed in the Fitzrovia Chapel, London.

Formerly the chapel of Middlesex Hospital, it is now a space for quiet reflection, discovery and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none.

In 1928, His Majesty’s grandfather, King George VI, laid the foundation stone of the building.

The featured Christmas tree was donated to Croydon BME Forum and Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘Can You C Me?’ project and will be placed in the Royal Trinity Hospice, Clapham, the oldest hospice in the United Kingdom.

An announcement from the Greek Royal Family about their citizenship

 

@Greek Royal Family

"We are moved that after thirty years we have Greek citizenship again. The deprivation of our citizenship, by the 1994 law, made us stateless with all that this entails in terms of individual rights but also emotional suffering." 

Our father and our family fully respected the result of the 1974 referendum. However, the provision of the 1994 law on the issue of citizenship, a product of the political situation at the time, did not suit a former head of the Greek state and an institution that faithfully served the country. Our father's death closed a circle.

A prerequisite for returning our citizenship was to declare a surname, and we chose the one that our deceased uncle, Michael De Grece, had chosen. It is the one most familiar to us since our family never had a surname.

"In the years when we were deprived of our citizenship, we lived with the duty and honor of serving our homeland with faith and devotion from wherever we were, with all our strength. The same principles will continue to determine the course of our family."

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/12/greek-citizenship-recognized.html

Greek citizenship recognized

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 The Greek Times got a few things wrong when reporting the application for Greek citizenship.   The applications were made by the late King Constantine's five children and Crown Prince Pavlos' five children.  No applications were made by Princess Alexia's children.

On December 20, 2024, the Government Gazette of the Hellenic Republic recognized the Greek citizenship of Princess Alexia, Crown Prince Pavlos, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Theodora and Prince Philippos and Princess Maria-Olympia, Prince Konstantine-Alexios, Prince Achilleas Andreas, Prince Odysseus Kimon and Princes Aristide Stavros.

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 The Minister of the Interior's decision to recognize the citizenship was based on the 1994 law that expropriated the property and removed the citizenship of the former King and his family.  

Their royal titles are not recognized or used in Greece.  They will have a Greek surname that translates to de Grece.   

The applications were filed one day before the Gazette published the Government's recognition of the citizenship.  This will be followed by inclusion in the civil register, allowing the ten former royal family members to obtain identity cards and passports.

This decision means that the 1994 law removing Greek citizenship from the former King Constantine II and his family is no longer applicable.

25 million readers since July 2008

 It is only 9:07 am.   The millionth visitor arrived shortly before the cats and I woke up.    Yes, there are blogs with many more readers than mine.  This does not mean I disappointed with only 25 million visitors since July 2008 when I started Royal Musings.

I am thrilled to bits, chuffed, delighted, and thankful to my readers.   

Thank you so much,

Harper, Fleur and Marlene

The Prince of Waldeck und Pyrmont's death notice

 

Greek Royals seek Greek citizenship

@ Nikolas Kominis / Studio Kominis

 Ten descendants of the late King Constantine II of the Hellenes applied for Greek citizenship on December 18.

The Greek Herald reports that the ten former royal family members are King Constantine's five children and five grandchildren, including three of Crown Pavlos' children.  Two of Princess Alexia's children have also applied for Greek nationality.

The Greek royal family lost their citizenship after the monarchy was abolished on June 1, 1973.

The names of five grandchildren were not identified.  The five children of King Constantine are Princess Alexia, Crown Prince Pavlos, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Theodora, and Prince Philippos.   Prince Nikolaos lives in Greece.

 Constantine's widow, Queen Anne Marie, has chosen not to file a citizenship application as she has "no interest in doing so," according to the Greek Herald.

The process includes submitting a declaration recognizing Greece's democracy and renouncing all claims to the former monarchy. They will also choose a surname for "their registration in the municipal records."

They chose de Grece as their surname, the same surname listed in their Danish diplomatic passports.

In 2004, King Constantine's cousin,  Prince Michael regained his Greek citizenship and the request for the de Grece as his surname was approved.

Several of the applications are "of conscription age" and will be "required to serve in the Armed Forces and complete military duty like all Greek citizens."

The Greek government and press have used Glücksberg as a surname for the former royal family.

Family luncheon at Buckingham Palace

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted the annual family Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace.   The two previous luncheons were held at Windsor Castle.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children did not attend the luncheon.  They are at Anmer Hall, as the children are on Christmas break.  The Duke of York was also absent.

Several members of the family were not photographed.  George Gilman arrived on foot.  Alexander Ogilvy was in the back seat of his parents' car. The last to arrive was Zenouska Mowatt who came to the party by taxi.

The luncheon is a private event and no photos are released to the media.   

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HSH Princess Marie Louise, Dowager Princess zu Castell-Castell (1930-2024)

 HSH Princess Marie-Louise Bathildis Elfriede Olga was the eldest of four children of HSH Prince Max Wilhelm Gustav Hermann (1898-1981) and Countess Gustava von Platen Hallermund (1899-1986).  Prince Max was the second of HSH Friedrich Adolf Hermann, Prince of Waldeck und Pyrmont, and HSH Princess Bathildis Marie Leopoldine Anna Auguste of Schaumburg-Lippe. 

Friedrich abdicated on November 13, 1918, as the last sovereign prince of Waldeck und Pyrmont.

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 Princess Marie-Louise was born in Kiel on November 3, 1930. She married HSH Albrecht Friedrich Carl, Prince zu Castell-Castell (1925-2016), at Schloss Arolsen on May 23, 1951.   Albrecht was only nineteen when he succeeded as head of the house.  His father, Carl Friedrich, Prince zu Castell-Castell was killed in action on May 10, 1945.  Albrecht became the heir following the death of his older brother, Hereditary Count Philipp who was killed in action in October 1944.  

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 The Princess's first cousin, Wittekind, Prince of Waldeck und Pyrmont died on December 16.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/12/wittekind-prince-of-waldeck-und-pyrmont.html

On the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary in 2011

The Prince and Princess of Castell-Castell - 90th birthday of the Prince in 2015 with their family

The Dowager Princess died in Castell on December 12.  She was 94 years old.   She is survived by seven children, 32 grandchildren and 68 great-grandchildren.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/05/hsh-albrecht-prince-of-castell-castell.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/05/remembering-last-prince-of-castell.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-death-notice-for-hsh-prince-of.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-latest-in-mail.html

The wedding of Countess Helene of Waldburg-Zeil and Count Ludwig von Neipperg

On November 30, 2024.  H Ill H Countess Helene of Waldburg zu Zeil and H Ill H Count Ludovic von Neipperg were married in St. Maria Church at Schloss Zeil in Leutkirch im Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg.

Count Maria Ludovic Bernhard Niklas Karl Joseph is the youngest son of H Ill H Count Maria Stephan-Christoph Heinrich Alfred Emmeran of Neipperg and Baroness Sigwies von Stotzingen. he was born in Talence, France on April 19, 1994.   Stephan's older brother, Karl Eugen is the Count of Neipperg.

Countess Marie Hélène Walburga Yolande Christiana Michaela of Waldburg zu Zeil is the fourth of five daughters of HSH Maria Erich Wunibald Aloysius Georg, Prince of Waldburg zu Zeil and HRH Duchess Mathilde Marie-Antoinette Rosa Isabelle of Württemberg.  Helene was born on November 29, 1993, in Ravensberg.  She is the first of the five sisters to marry.  

Diane, Dowager Duchess of Württemberg with her son, Duke Eberhard and his wife, Gaby

Duke Max and Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria

The bride's paternal grandmother, HRH Princess Marie Gabriele, Dowager Countess of Waldburg zu Zeil arrives by golf cart

Duchess Marie of  Württemberg and Hereditary Count Philipp zu Königsegg-Aulendorf

The Margrave and Margravine of Baden and Valerie, Dowager Margravine of Baden

The newlyweds will live in Saint-Emilion, France where Count Ludovic is the technical director of Vignobles Comtes von Neipperg vineyards.  This family wine business has been run since 1983 by Count Stephan-Christoph von Neipperg.  

The Hereditary Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein

this group includes Countess Marie Gabriele von Waldburg zu Zeil,  Countess Charlotte von Waldburg zu Zeil Count Philipp von Brockdorff and his wife  Countess Philippa von Neipperg), behind Countess Diane of Neipperg and Countess Elisabeth of Waldburg zu Zeil, siblings of the bride and groom

front row: in Countess Diane von Neipperg, Countess Elisabeth von Waldburg zu Zeil.  Back row:  Countess Caroline (Niepperg) and Count Philippe of Limburg-Stirum and Countess Marie Thérèse of Waldburg zu Zeil 

The Princess of Waldburg zu Zeil and Count Stephan von Neipperg

Mother of the bride and father of the groom

Countess Sigweis von Neipperg and Count Ludovic von Neipperg

The groom and his mom

the bride and her father and attendants 

The Margrave and Margravine of Baden,  the Duke of Württemberg and the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein

The Count and Countess of Neipperg (Archduchess Andrea of Austria) and the Dowager Countess of Neipperg

Duchess Marie of Württemberg (mother of the present Duke)

the Count and Countess zu Königsegg--Aulendorf

Duke Eberhard and Duchess Gaby of Württemberg

The guests included  the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein, Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria and her husband, Daniel Terberger, Prince Ludwig and Princess Sophie-Alexandra of Bavaria, the Count and Countess of Neipperg,  with their sons, Hereditary Count Philipp, Count Dominik and Count Benedikt, with their wives and children, the Dowager Countess of Neipperg,  the Margrave and Margravine of Baden, the Dowager Margravine of Baden, the Count and Countess of Königsegg-Aulendorf, Count and Countess Franz Clemens of Waldzburg zu Zeil-Hohenems, with their daughter Leonie and her husband, Count Caspar von Matuschka, the Prince and Princess of Quadt, Count and Countess Caspar zu Toerring-Jettenbach, Count and Countess Engelbert of Croy, Count and Countess Maximilian of Rechberg with their son Count Maximilian, Prince Philipp of Croy, Count Keglevitch,  Count and Countess Bernard de Monseignat, Tilo Berlin and his wife, Countess Filippa von Goess, Count and Countess Maximilian von Dreschsel, Count and Countess Wilderich von Bodman, Count Clemens von Waldburg zu Zeil and his wife, Princess Georgina of Liechtenstein and their daughter, Countess Assunta, Prince and Princess Erich Lobkowicz, Prince and Princess Johannes Lobkowicz and their daughter Princess Ina, Count Maximilan of Waldburg zu Zeil, Count and Countess Josef von Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems, Philipp Lovrek and his wife, Countess Alice von Königsegg-Aulendorf, Hereditary Count Ludwig of Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee,  the Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg,  Prince Philipp von Oettingen-Wallerstein, Count and Countess Christoph Schenk von Stauffenberg,  Countess Maria Beatrice of Arco-Zinneberg, Prince Anton of Windisch-Graetz, Count and Countess Benedikt von Waldburg zu Zeil Hohenems and the Countess' brother, Count Gaudenz von Rechberg, Duke and Duchess Max in Bavaria, the Prince and Princess of  Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee, the Duke and Duchess of Chartres, the Duke and Duchess of Cosse-Brissac,Count and Countess Johannes Henckel von Donnersmarck,  Count and Countess Moritz von Goess and their children, Countess Livia and Count Zeno.  The countess is the bride's maternal aunt, HRH Duchess Fleur of Württemberg.

  All of the members of the Württemberg family, including the Duke of Württemberg and  the bride's maternal grandmother, HRH Diane, Dowager Duchess of Württemberg, 

The reception was held at Schloss Zeil following the wedding.

The photos are courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/royaltravelevents/?hl=de.     Thank you for letting me use the photographs.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/01/a-countly-engagement-waldburg.html