The newest QVD: Theodore Charles Baker Leiningen

Princess Nadia, Theodore and Ian Baker

 Welcome to the world, Theodore Charles Baker Leiningen!   Theodore was born on September 17, 2024, at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in Oakville, Ontario.   He is the second child of HSH Princess Nadia of Leiningen and Ian Alexnder Baker.   

Thomas Baker Leiningen

Theodore is the couple's second son, joining big brother, Thomas James Baker Leiningen.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-new-qvd-thomas-baker-leiningen.html

Princess Deborah and Prince Hermann with their fourth grandchild

Princess Nadia is the second of three daughters of HSH Prince Hermann of Leiningen and his wife, the former Deborah Cully.  She and Ian were married on July 18, 2020, at the Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville, Ontario.

https://wedluxe.com/2021/03/30/a-princesss-wedding/#:~:text=Princess%20Nadia%20of%20Leiningen%20is,Baker's%20meet%2Dcute%20is%20adorable!

This is the fourth grandchild of Prince Hermann and Princess Deborah.  Their eldest daughter, Princess Tatiana, and her husband, Clayton Reynolds, have two children,  August and Celeste.  

Victoria - Alfred - Victoria Melita - Marie - Karl - Hermann - Nadia - Theodore

And another great-grandchild for Prince Hermann's mom, HRH Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria.

Theodore and his brother are also descendants of the last duke of Parma,  Roberto I, Duke of Parma (1848-1907)

Roberto - Maria Luisa - Boris III - Marie Louise - Hermann - Nadia - Theodore

Vittorio Emanuele III - Giovanna - Marie Louise - Hermann - Nadia -Theodore 

Maria Theresia - Leopold II - Archduke Karl, Duke of Teschen - Maria Theresa -  Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies - Maria Luisa - Boris III - Marie Louise - Hermann - Nadia - Theodore

I thank Ian Baker and Princess Deborah zu Leiningen for using family photos.

Royal recyles.

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While looking at photos of Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark's wedding, I noticed her daughter, Ana Maria's gown at Theodora's wedding was the same that her mother wore to her pre-wedding ball at Bridgewater House in London on July 7, 1999.

Next thought?  Did Amelia Morales y de Grecia raid her mother's closet for Aunt Theodora's wedding, as well?   I searched Getty for photos of Alexia and the gown worn by her daughter.  Ah Ha!

In August 2002, Princess Alexia wore the same gown to the pre-wedding dinner at Akershus, the night before Crown Prince Haakon of Norway married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby. 

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Princess Theodora's baptism 1983

Queen Anne Marie with Princess Theodora and Queen Elizabeth (on the couch) Princess Alexia, King Constantine II,  Queen Sofia of Spain & & Prince Nikolaos of Greece (Sitting on the back of the couch) King Michael of Romania, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Crown Prince Pavlos
 Gift from King Constantine II to me

Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark was baptized on October 20, 1983. The Greek Orthodox ceremony took place at St. Sophia's Cathedral in London.

Her godparents were Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe II, King Michael of Romania, and Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia.

The only godparent who attended Princess Theodora's wedding was Crown Prince Alexander, 79.   King Michael and Queen Elizabeth II are deceased and Queen Margrethe was recently hospitalized after a fall.

From Crown Prince Alexander:

 During the weekend, TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia were guests at the wedding of HRH Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark and Mr. Matthew Kumar, a lawyer from the United States, which was held in Athens Greece.

Their Royal Highnesses were thrilled to attend this joyous three-day event, and to, together with the Royal Family of Greece and many other esteemed guests, celebrate the matrimony of the Crown Prince of Serbia’s goddaughter, the fourth of the five children of late HM King Constantine II and HM Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes and her fiancée. The bride’s godparents at her baptism, besides HRH Crown Prince Alexander, were the late HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (her maternal aunt), and HM the late King Michael I of Romania.

On Friday, 27 September, a welcoming reception was hosted by the couple at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens for close friends and family members. The wedding took place on Saturday the 28th, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, followed by a solemn reception. The wedding ceremony was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Dorotheos II of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea and Milos. On Sunday, a farewell brunch was held at the One & Only Aesthesis Hotel.

“My wife and I are so happy to share the joy of this beautiful day with my goddaughter and her groom. They are a remarkable couple who we wish much joy, good health, prosperity, understanding, and love. They have started a long journey, but whatever life brings to them, it is important they will go through it together. Each joy is enlarged, and hard moments are easier when they are shared.

Great moments do not happen that often in life, but the wedding day is surely one of them. What we wish to the newlyweds is not to wait for the next great moment to occur, but to make each day of their matrimony a special one. Every second spent with the love of your life is something remarkable”, said HRH Crown Prince Alexander.

The newlywed couple had to several times move the date of their wedding, first because of the Coronavirus pandemic, and later because of the death of the bride’s beloved father, King Constantine II. The current date is very symbolic because it is very close to Princess Theodora's parents' wedding anniversary, who were married on 18 September 1964, in Athens.

Relations between the royal families of Greece and Serbia have always been marked by sincere and cordial friendships and deep family bonds. In addition to HRH Princess Theodora of Greece being HRH Crown Prince Alexander’s Godchild, her late father, HM King Constantine II was the best man at TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine’s wedding in 1985. His Majesty was also the Godfather of the Crown Prince’s sons, HRH Hereditary Prince Philip and HRH Prince Alexander. Crown Prince Alexander’s maternal grandfather HM King Alexander of Greece, who married Aspasia Manos, was the brother of HM King Paul of Greece, HM King Constantine II’s father. 

Together with the Royal Couple of Serbia, the Royal families of Europe were present including HRH Crown Prince Pavlos and HM Queen Anne-Marie leading the Royal Family of Greece, HM Queen Sofia of Spain, HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark, and many other prominent guests.

Princess Theodora and Matthew Kumar Official photos and an antique veil

 

all official photos Nikolas Kominis / Studio Kominis

Nikolas Kominis / Studio Kominis

Nikolas Kominis / Studio Kominis

If you want to read more about the jewels the royal guests wore, please click here for The Crown Jeweller.

https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2024/09/princess-theodora-sparkles-in-the-khedive-tiara-on-her-wedding-day-in-athens.html#more-57288

The bride's gown was designed by Celia Kritharioti.

@celiakritharioti

Theodora's veil is a family heirloom first worn by her great-grandmother, Princess Margaret of Connaught, who married Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden in 1906. The veil is an antique Irish lace, which was also worn by Princess Ingrid of Sweden when she married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (1935),  Queen Margrethe II (1967), Princess Benedikte of Denmark (1968), Queen Anne Marie (1964), Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1998), Princess Alexia (1999), Mary Donaldson (2004) and Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

given to me by King Constantine II

@Rygmor Mydtskov & Steen Ronne

@Rygmor Mydtskov & Steen Ronne

@Rygmor Mydtskov & Steen Ronne

both photos of Princess Alexia were given to me by King Constantine II

All of the images - Margaret of Connaught, Ingrid of Denmark, Anne-Marie, Margrethe, Benedikte, and Alexia are from the Marlene A Eilers Koenig collection

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Princess Theodora weds American Matthew Kumar

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 Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark married American Matthew Kumar in a Greek Orthodox ceremony at Athens Metropolitan Cathedral.  Her bridesmaids included Princess Maria Olympia of Greece and Denmark and Arrietta Morales y de Grecia.  Crown Prince Pavlos' sons also had roles in the service.

The guests included Crown Prince Alexander, one of Theodora's godfathers, and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, the Duke and Duchess of Aosta with Marina Karella, widow of Prince Michael of Greece, Princess Ekaterina of Hanover, Prince and Princess Christian of Hanover with his mother, Chantal Hochuli, Princess Victoria of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and her husband, Markos Nomikos.

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 Theodora's family at the wedding including Queen Anne-Marie, Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie Chantal and their five children,  Princess Alexia and Carlos Morales Quintana and their four children,  Prince Nikolaos, Prince Philippos and Princess Nina,  Queen Sofia of Spain with Infantas Elena and Cristina and Juan, Miguel and Irene Urdangarin, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the Prince and Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her husband, Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille, and her son Count Richard von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth and Princess Tatiana Radziwill and her husband, John Fruchaud.

The weddings of King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie's children

 

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Princess Alexia and Carlos Morales Quintana were married on July 9, 1999, at St. Sophia's Cathedral in London.   

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Crown Prince Pavlos and Marie Chantal Miller were married on July 1, 1995, at St. Sophia's Cathedral in London

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Prince Nikolaos and Tatiana Blatnik were married on August 25, 2010, at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Spetses, Greece.   The couple separated in April 2024.

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Prince Philippos and Nina Flohr were married on October 23, 2021, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens.

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Princess Theodora and Matthew Kumar's pre-wedding dinner

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 Queen Anne Marie of the Hellenes with Princess Theodora and her fiance, Matthew Kumar were the hosts of a pre-wedding dinner tonight at the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens.

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The guests included Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie Chantal with their children, Princess Maria-Olympia, Prince Constantine Alexios,  Prince Achileas-Andreas, Prince Odysseas-Kimon, and Prince Aristides-Stavros, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, with her husband, Carlos Morales Quintana and their four children, Arietta, Ana Maria, Carlos and Amelia Morales y de Grecia, Prince Nikolaos, Prince Philippos and Princess Nina,  Queen Sofia of Spain, Infanta Elena, Infanta Cristina, and two of her children, Miguel and  Irene Uradangarin y de Borbon, Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, Princess Tatiana Radziwill, Prince and Princess Christian of Hanover with Christian's mother, Chantal Hochuli, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the Princes and Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her husband, Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille,  Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Bolette Bramsen, one of Queen Anne-Marie's lifelong friends,  Thomas Flohr (father of Princess Nina), Matthew's father, Sam and other members and friends of the Kumar family.

The couple's wedding will take at 5:30 p.m., at Athens Metropolitan Cathedral.  

Wessel and Sophie Freiherr and Freifrau von Loe

 Baron Wessel von Loe died on Juky 25, 2024.  His widow, Sophie, died on September 17, 2024.

Wessel Freiherr von Loe was a descendant of Empress Maria Theresia of Austria through his parents: Princess Isabelle zu Salm-Salm (1903-2009) and Felix. Count von Loë 1896-1944.  The late baron's name was Clemens Wessel Albrecht Cyriacus Joseph Hubertus Maria.

Nearly two months later, Baron Wessel's widow,  nee Countess Marie Sophie Josepha Elisabeth Walburga of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenhems at Adendorf.

The couple married in 1957. 

 Wessel and Sophie were fourth cousins.  Both were descendants of  Archduke Karl of Austria, Duke of Teschen, grandson of Empress Maria Theresia, and son of Emperor Leopold II.

Wessel descended from Karl's son, Karl Ferdinand, Duke of Teschen and Sophie descended from Karl's daughter, Maria Theresia who married King Ferdinando of Two-Sicilies.

Karl - Karl Ferdinand (Elisabeth of Austria) - Friedrich, Duke of Teschen (Isabelle of Croy) - Maria Christina of Austria (Emanuel of Salm-Salm) - Isabelle of Salm-Salm (Felix of Loe) - Wessel

Karl - Maria Theresia of Austria (Ferdinando II of Two Scilies) - Maria Immaculata (Archduke Karl Salvator, Prince of Tuscany) - Franz Salvator (Archduchess Maria Valerie of Austria) - Archduchess Gertrud (Count Georg of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems)  - Countess Sophie.

Sophie was also a descendant of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria and Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria.  Her maternal grandmother, Valerie, was Franz Josef's youngest child.

@Blick Aktuell   Freiherr Wessel's 90th birthday in 2018

https://www.blick-aktuell.de/Berichte/Wessel-Freiherr-von-Loe-erhaeltFuerst-Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck-Plakette-342776.html

https://ga.de/region/voreifel-und-vorgebirge/wachtberg/schuetzen-ehren-baron-von-loe-mit-hoechster-auszeichnung_aid-43859515#0

Wessel and Sophie are survived by their six children: Georg (1958), Felix (1960), Philipp (1961)Maria Annuntiata (1963), Agnes (1966), and Sophie (1969), 23 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.