Don Alonso de Borbon to marry Belgian countess

Don Alonso Juan de Orléans-Borbón y Ferrara-Pignatelli dei Principi di Strongoli born July 15, 1994 in Neuilly, Paris. the only child of Don Alfonso Francesco de Orléans-Borbón y Ferrara-Pignatlli, 7th Duke of Galliera (1968), and Véronique Jeanne Simone Georges Bernadette Goeders (1970).  His parents married in March 1994 in Paris. They were divorced six years later.   

Don Alfonso is the elder of two sons of Don Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón y Parodi-Delfino, 6th Duke of Galliera (1941-1975) and  Donna Emilia Ferrara-Pignatelli dei Principi di Strongoli (1940-1999).  He is a 1991 graduate of Bentley University in Boston.  In 1998, he founded Racing Engineering, a successful car racing firm.

Don Alonso's higher education is European-based. His Bachelor's degree in Psychology is from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. This was followed by a Master of Science (Work and Organizational Psychology) from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He recently completed his Ph.D. with HEC Lausanne—The Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), specializing in Organizational Behavior Studies.

Countess Charlotte de Liedekerke was born in 1997.  She is the daughter of Count Benoit de Liedekerke de Pailhe and Caroline Vinel.  For sixteen months,  she was an Executive Assistant  with The Independents, a Paris-based "global marketing and communications group for industry leaders across luxury and lifestyle."  She left the position in May 2023 as she was in the final year of a master's program at Esade's Business & Law School in Barcelona.  She received her Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in July.  She also has a BA in International Hospitality Management.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

https://www.bentley.edu/magazine/life-in-fast-lane

http://www.racing-engineering.com/

The wedding of Donna Carla Parodi-Delfino and HRH Infante Don Alvaro of Orléans-Borbon (Marlene Koenig Collection)

August 1994: the baptism of Don Alonso de Orléans-Borbon:  Don Alvaro, Don Alonso, Veronique Goeders (holding Don Alonso), and Alonso's maternal grandparents, Don Enzo and Donna Francesca Ferrara-Pignatelli 

Donna Emilia,  Veronique & great-grandmother, Donna Carla

Veronique Goeders and her infant son Alonso

Don Alfonso holding his son, Alonso, and Alfonso's grandfather, HRH Infante Don Alvaro

Alonso in his christening robe

Donna Emilia with her grandson  (All baptism photos courtesy of the late Donna Emilia which were sent to me shortly after Alonso's baptism)

Alonso is a descendant of Queen Victoria:

Victoria - Alfred - Beatrice - Alvaro - Alfonso - Alonso

 https://www.pointdevue.fr/society/soirees/la-41e-edition-du-bal-du-service-hospitalier-de-lordre-de-malte-en-suisse

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/07/ramification-for-beatrices-marriage.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/06/alfonso-i-will-marry-beatrice.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/04/pope-causing-issues-for-royal-couple.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/05/dream-job-for-spanish-prince.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/04/edward-opposes-beatrices-marriage.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/06/alfonso-determined-to-marry-his.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2010/10/alfonsos-cousin-to-tour-america.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/07/princess-beatrice-of-coburg-marries.html

Matthew Kumar's Law License Suspended

 

@Nikolas Kominis/Studio Kominis

Matthew Kumar, the American-born lawyer who married Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark in September, can no longer practice law in California. He did not pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam within the prescribed time.  A suspension is not the same as a disbarment.  Kumar cannot "practice law, appear in court on behalf of clients, or provide legal advice" during a suspension.

Disbarment is more serious than suspension as a disbarred lawyer is permanently removed from the Bar in the state or states where he or she practiced.  A suspension can be lifted if the lawyer " demonstrates rehabilitation and fitness to practice."

 

The FarMar Law's website has not been updated in some time.

https://www.farmarlaw.com/

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-black-cloud-hovers-over-matthew-kumar.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/09/princess-theodora-and-matthew-kumar.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/09/princess-theodora-weds-american-matthew.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-royal-engagement-princess-theodora-of.html

Day 12 - June 19: Duke's Lane Deux and a Kingly Portrait

 It is Wednesday, June 19, 2024.  Just two full days left before I return home. The original plan for today included a visit to Syon House,  a bit of shopping, grabbing a sandwich, and eating in St. James's Park,  Jonathan Yeo's portrait of King Charles III at the Philip Mould Gallery, culminating with a performance of Kiss Me Kate at the Barbican.

My phone rings shortly after 8 a.m.  It is my friend Katrina.  She says another friend had to cancel joining her at Duke's Lane.  Would I like to join her?    Absolutely.  We decide on when I need to arrive at Brookwood.  Due to a family emergency, Katrina says she will drop me off in Ascot to catch a train to London as she will be driving to Kent.  No worries.

Scratch Syon House off the to-do list.  Have breakfast, get dressed, grab everything I need, and head to the bus stop for the quick bus ride to Clapham Junction.  

I buy a vanilla latte at Costa and then get on the train, texting Katrina that I am on my way.  It is a short walk from the train station to Katrina's home.  Time for a cup of tea, and then we are off to buy lunch at a local bakery that also serves as the post office.

It is a short drive to Duke's Lane.  Before Katrina could turn into the parking lot, we had to stop for a car coming down Duke's Lane.  I got out to watch.  It was the Princess Royal heading to Ascot.  

Katrina and I got our chairs out of the car's trunk and decided on a different spot.  I wandered over to the Royal School's bake sale to choose another sweet treat.  I bought a Brownie and a bottle of water.

 

The Princess Royal

It is a tradition for the cars that follow the carriage procession to have small stuffed animals on display

waving at me!!!

And then it was over.  Katrina and I walked toward the car, put the chairs in the trunk, and then we were off down Duke's Lane to the Ascot train station.  I thanked Katrina for inviting me. I asked her to text me when she arrived at the hospital in Kent before I got out of the car near the train station.

I took this train to Waterloo, which has undergone a major facelift in the last year.  Wow. Nice. I spot the National Windrush Memorial, unveiled by the then Duke of Cambridge in June 2022.   I went downstairs to try one of the new coffee shops before heading to Pall Mall.  

On the Jubilee Line,  Green Park is two stops from Waterloo.  I make my way through the station and into Green Park, and exit the park, again using the Queen's Passage to St. James's Place, a turn onto St. James's Street, and a left on Pall Mall where the Philip Mould Gallery is located.  

I nearly did not get to see the portrait of King Charles III.  The exhibition at the Philip Mould Gallery was scheduled to close on June 14, my birthday.   The exhibition was extended for one more week, closing on June 21.  Yea.  And Free.

https://philipmould.com/news/368-jonathan-yeo-s-portrait-of-charles-iii-on-view-at-the-gallery-until-14th-june/

Jonathan Yeo

After using the loo, I walked through another exhibit that had several royal portraits.

King James I & VI

Philip Mould, the owner of the gallery, and Jonathan Yeo

The portrait looks a lot better in person.  I am delighted the exhibition was extended for one week, which allowed me and many others the opportunity to see it.

I walked to Piccadilly Circus and took the tube to Barbican.  Let me say this:  The theatre at the Barbican is not an easy place to find.  Too many stairs and turns.  I planned on dinner at one of the Barbican restaurants near the theatre.  I selected what I wanted to eat, but was told no cash. I explained had cash because my credit card had been stolen.  I nearly had a meltdown.  A woman sitting with a friend at a nearby table heard me, and she walked over and said I could give her the cash, and she would pay for the meal.  I thanked her several times. 

Broadway star Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar played Lili Vanessi/Katherine and Fred Graham/Petruchio.  [Block is married to actor Sebastian Arcelus, whose grandmother, Princess Catherine of Russia (1915-2007) was the last member of the Romanov family to be born in Russia.]

The show, directed by Bartlett Sher, was excellent, and, I expect there will be a Broadway production.

the Barbican Water Gardens

A female mallard

the Barbican Water Gardens

It was confusing when I left the theatre, as I could not remember the way back to the Barbican Underground Station.   I joined several other people who were heading to the subway.  The walk seemed a bit farther.  It was as we arrived at the Moorgate Station.  I looked at the map: Moorgate to Kings Cross to Victoria where I caught the bus to Battersea.  

It had been a long, fun, and varied today:  royals, art and theatre - and the kindness of a stranger.

Back at the apartment, I made a cup of tea, turned on the TV, and flopped on the couch before heading to bed ... with just one day more.

https://kissmekatemusical.com/