The Longest Living QVD descendant: Anne Mary Grainger

 

Anne Mary Sibylla Abel Smith Grainger has become the longest-living descendant of Queen Victoria. She assumed this position after the death of Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner.

Anne was born in Kensington Palace on July 28, 1932, the first of three children of Lady May Cambridge (nee Princess May Helen Emma of Cambridge) and Sir Henry Abel Smith.   She was the first grandchild of HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and Alexander, 1st Earl of Athlone.

Robert Golden collection

She was baptized on August 27, 1932, at St. Mary's Abbots, Kensington.  Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) was the primary godmother but could not attend.  Princess Alice stood as proxy.  The other godparents were Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,  Alexander Abel-Smith (Henry's brother), and Algernon Haber-Percy.

Princess Sibylla was Lady May's first cousin, the daughter of Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany, and, until 1918, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.  She was one of Lady May's bridesmaids, and at the November 1931 wedding, another bridesmaid, Princess Ingrid of Sweden, introduced Sibylla to her brother, Hereditary Prince Gustaf Adolf.  They announced their engagement on June 16, 1932, and married at St. Moritz Kirche in Coburg on October 20.

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 In 1940, Lady May brought her three children to Canada for the duration of the Second World War, where they lived with their grandparents, Princess Alice and Lord Athlone, the Governor General of Canada.  It was an "idyllic time, ice skating, tobogganing, and swimming in lakes.   During her time in Canada, Anne became friends with her cousin, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, and her two daughters, Beatrix and Irene, who had also sought refuge in Canada.

  Georg Victor, Prince of Waldeck-Pyrmont - Helen  - Alice - May - Anne  

                                                                      -  Emma - Wilhelmina - Juliana       

Lady May with her three children: Anne, Elizabeth and Richard

The family returned to their home, Barton Lodge, in Winkfield, Berkshire, in 1946.  The ties between the Abel Smiths and the Royal Family were close.  Lady May's father, Lord Athlone, and Queen Mary were siblings, and her mother, Princess Alice, and King George V were first cousins, both grandchildren of Queen Victoria.   Anne and her family were in the processions at Westminster Abbey for Elizabeth II's wedding (1947) and Coronation (1953) because their grandmother was a British princess. 

In an interview with Woman Alive,  Anne noted: "Back in England, I went to boarding school, then finishing school for three years. We studied art, cooking, sewing.  In those days women were not prepared for a career, but for marriage."

She also said: "Church was very much a part of our lives.  It was the done thing.  No one talked about Jesus - about knowing God - or loving him. The place of the Bible was on the church lectern, in a pulpit, so few people read it themselves."

 Anne was introduced into society in 1950, as she would turn 18 years old in July.

On June 21, 1950, Princess Margaret, only two years older, gave a dinner party at Buckingham Palace for Anne.

In November 1950,  Lady Mary Cambridge, daughter of the 2nd Marquess of Cambridge, asked Anne to be one of her four bridesmaids.  Anne and Lady Mary were second cousins.   

Princess Mary Adelaide - Adolphus - George - Mary

Princess Mary Adelaide - Alexander - May -   Anne

The following Anne served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Hon. Christine Weld-Forester and the Hon. Richard Orde-Powlett.  In 1953, Anne was one of the godparents of Christine and Richard's first child, Rosemary Victoria.   

Only five months before her own wedding,  Anne served once more as a bridesmaid at the wedding of Lady Alison Bruce and Cleveland Stewart-Patterson.

              

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 The couple officially announced their engagement in The Times on August 2, 1957.  The couple first met as children, and reconnected in their 20s.  "There was a spark," Anne told Women Alive magazine.

Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands were present on December 14, 1957, when Anne married David Ian Liddell Grainger, son of Captain Henry Herbert Liddell Grainger (1886-1935) and Lady Muriel Bertie (1890-1980), daughter of the 12th Earl of Lindsey.  

Other royal guests included the Princess Royal, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Kent, Prince William and Prince Richard of Gloucester, Prince Michael and Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (Anne's grandmother), Princess Andrew of Greece, Princess Sibylla of Sweden and Lady Patricia Ramsay.

The choral wedding service took place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.  Her father gave Anne away.  The Times described her wedding dress as a "gown of champagne-colored satin, with a fitted bodice, high neckline and long sleeves, and a full skirt falling into a long train."  The long Brussels lace veil, once owned by Queen Mary, was held in place by a "gold and diamond tiara," which the Duchess of Cambridge wore at Queen Victoria's Coronation.   The Duchess was born Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel. In 1818, she married King George III's son, Prince Adolphus of Cambridge, Anne's great-great-grandfather.

Anne carried a "crescent bouquet of champagne-coloured butterfly orchids."  Her bridal party included three pages, three child bridesmaids, and eight older bridesmaids, including Princesses Beatrix and Irene of the Netherlands, Princess Christina of Sweden, Elizabeth Abel Smith (Anne's younger sister), and Countess Victoria Adelheid of Castell-Rüdenhausen.

Christina and Victoria Adelheid were the bride's second cousins.   Victoria Adelheid lived with Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, in Kensington Palace.  In 1960, she married John Miles Huntington-Whiteley.  

Victoria - Leopold - Alice - May - Anne.  

Victoria - Leopold - Charles Edward - Sibylla - Christina

Victoria - Leopold - Charles Edward - Caroline Mathilde - Victoria Adelheid

The wedding breakfast was held in Windsor Castle's Waterloo Chamber.

The newlyweds moved into David's home, Ayton Castle, a 19th-century baronial mansion in the Scottish Borders, 5,6 miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed, where they raised five children: Ian (1959), Charles (1960), Simon (1962), Alice (1965) and Malcolm (1967).  

In the 1970s, David Liddell Grainger began an affair with Lady de la Rue, the much younger wife of his neighbor, Sir Eric de la Rue, 4th Bt.   This liaison led Anne to divorce her husband in 1981.  After she left Ayton Castle,  David's mistress moved in, also bringing her very ill husband.  In the 1980s, Christine de la Rue gave birth to two sons.  She married David in 1996, and they remained married until his death in 2007.  David left the Ayton Castle estate to his elder son, Henry, by his second wife, disinheriting the children from his first marriage.

It was "our differences that drove us apart in the end, " Anne said.   She moved in with her parents at Barton Lodge in Winkfield, Berkshire.   She realized: "I needed to reassess my life."

She met and prayed with the local vicar at St. Peter's, Cranbourne, Berkshire.  Anne confessed that she thought her "life had come to an end."  The vicar responded emphatically: "Not at all! Absolutely not! God gives new beginnings."

Anne was grateful for this connection, which further developed her faith.  She attended a Christian conference in London, where she met many people "who seemed to be alive with faith and energy and connection to Jesus."

Prayer helped.  

"I felt something like golden rain falling down all around on me," Anne said. "Then it was as if all the anger, pain and hatred in me fell away....from that moment everything changed."

At the time, the Church of England did not allow women ministers, so when Anne went to Canada with a friend, she "saw many women in Christian ministry - speaking, preaching, praying for people.  I had the sense Jesus wanted me to do the same."

Anne got involved with a two-year training program, Christian Life, at St. Mark's, Kennington, in London.  She was hungry to grow in the knowledge of God and his ways."   She learned how "not just to read the Bible, but to study it," acknowledging that she "knew very little about Jesus."

She moved to Kennington and became more involved with the "vibrant, multi-racial and ethnic" community, helping the St. Mark's vicar find housing for the homeless.  

This led her to join a European teaching tour that lasted for three years, which helped her to grow in her relationship with Jesus.

In 1990, Anne committed to spending the rest of her life "doing work for Jesus and helping others."  She joined a hospital ship ministry, sailing on the Anastasie to Africa, and spent the next years preaching the Word in Togo, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast.

Six years later, Anne attended a disciple training school with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) in Cape Town, South Africa.  At 64, Anne was the oldest student.  Of her time in Cape Town, she said: "My energy and hunger for more of God matched any of the young ones."   She often prayed while walking.  "I had a strong awareness of God's presence and sensed he was telling me I was to leave behind my former life and cleave to him."

She was called to serve in Africa.  She returned to the ship, and God showed her where to get off to serve.  Anne found her home in Pita, Guinea, located in the northwest part of the country.  She was "deeply moved by the immense need."

Anne returned briefly to London, calling her children, saying: "Come and get what you want from the house.  I'm leaving England, and going to live in Guinea.

Before she moved to Guinea in 2006, Anne divided her time between the hospital ship ministry and helping the poor in Brixton and other London neighborhoods.  Usually dressed in shabby clothes, Anne would go door to door with her "battered charity tin," asking for donations to help the sick, according to an October 1998 profile in The Mirror.

According to her former daughter-in-law, Romana Rogoshewska, Anne still kept one foot in the royal world. "Even today, they still ring each other, and the Queen always makes a point of still inviting Anne to five-star functions such as Royal Ascot.

Anne, who called the Queen Lilibet, and the Queen would meet twice a year.  "They chat away like the old friends they are. The Queen knows all of Anne's children and takes an interest in what they are doing," said Romana, the first wife of Anne's son, Simon.

She added: "Anne can come across as a crazy Born Again Christian fundamentalist....She cuts quite a bizarre figure with her posh accent. People often do a double take because she looks so much like the Queen."

In 1997, after 15 years of marriage, Simon, an airplane pilot, walked out on Romana, leaving her penniless.  

"I thought charity started at home.  When Simon left me a year ago, I phoned Anne and asked her to help me."   According to Romana, Anne told her to "stop complaining" and read the Bible.  She said that Anne plowed a lot of money into Christian missions, "but when I asked her for any financial help to pay my bills, she told me the Lord will provide."

Anne Grainger—she dropped Liddell some years ago —is now 94.  She lives in Kennington, London, but remains very much a Christian missionary.   In 1998, she told the Mirror: "I do missionary work taking the gospel to the less fortunate"

Nicholas' sisters speak out.

 

Nicholas Brandram told his two sisters, Sophie Voelcker and Alexia Hicks, that the continued police investigation was "murdering him."   Earlier today, the Guardian spoke to Nicholas' sisters, who told the reporter that Nicholas' lawyers "warned the Met that his mental health had deteriorated," and that he entered a psychiatric hospital, where he remained for six days.  

Alexia Hicks told the reporter: "He said a couple of days ago that this investigation was murdering him. Day by day, he was slowly being murdered."

Her older sister, Sophie Voelcker, added: “He saw no end to this investigation. My sister and I were keeping a close eye on him because he was telling us he couldn’t go on. He said it more than once in the week before, that he couldn’t keep going. All we could do was just reassure him. We had faith in the system, we had faith in the police, and they neglected him. They failed in their duty of care to him, to the wider family, and we do not want to see another family going through this.”

Here is the link to the article. I recommend reading it.  My heart breaks for the family.  No one should have to endure such pain.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/17/nicholas-brandram-suspect-putney-pusher-case-family-sisters

Nicholas Brandram family statement: police blamed for his death

 

@Nicholas Brandram's family

Nicholas Brandram's family has issued a statement regarding his death.  They insist that Nicholas took his own life after the Metropolitan Police failed to clear his name.   

The Brandram family claims that Nicholas committed suicide "after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan Police investigation."  They accused the police of causing "shame, anxiety, humiliation, and extraordinary pressure" with a "wholly unnecessary investigation," noting every indication the investigation would end with no further action."

"The Met Police knew he was not [the Putney Pusher.  And yet, when Nick died, they had still"shame, anxiety, humiliation, and extraordinary pressure" failed to formally clear his name. That is a source of profound grief and anger for our family.

"There was no forensic evidence linking Nick to it, no evidence placing him on Putney Bridge at the time, and no credible evidence that he was the man shown in the footage.  In fact, evidence proved the opposite.

"Despite that, the police chose to arrest Nick rather than invite him to attend for an interview."

Nicholas's family noted that his lawyers "did the basic investigative work that should have been done by the Met Police."

"They pointed out that the published images of a man involved in the assault bore no resemblance t Nick: the victim had described the attacker as having brown eyes.  Nick had distinctive blue eyes. Nick had a visibly wasted and disfigured calf dating back to his time serving in the Army, while the man in the footage did not. And Nick had a prominent forearm tattoo, which was not visible on the man in the images.

"Nick made it clear that he was keen to take part in an identification parade, but the police never organized one.  He also provided email evidence sent from his office in the West End, demonstrating that he was not even on the Putney Bridge when the assault happened.  A previous suspect, also wrongly arrested, was cleared within days of providing an alibi; Nick was left on bail and remained under suspicion.

"This was not evidence that emerged months later; it was provided to the police within days of Nick’s arrest.

"The Met Police had that evidence before them and gave every indication that the investigation would end with no further action. 

 "But it did not end. A DNA sample was recovered at the time of the assault; Nick provided his DNA for comparison three months ago but, to this day, the police have still not finalised the DNA analysis or provided any explanation for the delay, even though they know Nick is innocent from all the other evidence.

"The double standard is impossible to ignore.  When the Met Police wanted to arrest Nick, there was urgency; when they wanted to search his home, there was urgency; when information about him reached the press, there was urgency. But when the evidence showed they had the wrong man, that urgency disappeared.

"We cannot claim to know everything that was in Nick’s mind when he died, but we know what this investigation did to him.

"We saw the strain, the humiliation, and the pressure he was living under; and the Met Police cannot say that they did not know - they had been warned, repeatedly and explicitly, about the damage being done to Nick.

"It is clear that the Met Police’s handling of this case materially contributed to the unbearable situation in which Nick found himself, and to his death.

"Nick was a proud veteran, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, and a colleague. Since his arrest, and since his death, we have received message after message from people whose lives he touched.

"They speak of his kindness, his loyalty, his humour and the enormous affection people had for him, and that he had for others.

"We understand that policing is difficult, and we understand that investigations sometimes produce mistakes. But the power to arrest somebody, search their home, associate their name with a notorious crime, and expose them to public suspicion is an enormous one. It must be exercised with care, evidence, and basic humanity.

"And when the police discover that they have accused the wrong person, clearing that person’s name should be an urgent responsibility."

"The Met Police were quick to expose Nick to suspicion and painfully slow to remove it. They failed him. And Nick’s family will now live with the consequences of that failure for the rest of our lives.

"Those who knew Nick will remember him for everything that made him the wonderful man he was. We will love him, and miss him, every day.

"But grief does not remove the need for accountability. We will continue to demand answers about how an innocent man was put through this, why he was not cleared when the evidence showed he should have been, and what the Met Police will do to ensure that no other family has to endure what ours now must."

The family also spoke about how Nicholas' mental health was affected by the investigation.  The police were asked to end the investigation 

"Even then, the investigation was not brought to an end. As a result, Nick is dead."

The Brandram family has sent the following questions to the Met for answers:

"Why was Nick arrested when the police had no credible evidence placing him at the scene?

"What investigative work was carried out before the decision was taken to arrest him?

"Why were reporters present when police arrived at his home, and who told them that the arrest was taking place?

"What information about Nick was provided to the media, by whom, and on what authority?

"Once the Met Police accepted the evidence proving that Nick was not the man shown in the footage and was not at Putney Bridge, why was his name not cleared immediately?

"Why, three months after taking Nick’s DNA, has the Met Police still not provided the result of the comparison?

"What is the Met Police now going to do about the fact that the real Putney Pusher remains at large and a continuing threat to society?

"And, most importantly, does the Met Police accept that leaving an innocent man under the shadow of this allegation for months led to his death?"

Due to the questions raised by the Brandram family, the Met Police has referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IPO), which has responded:  "We have received a mandatory referral from the Met Police relating to prior contact officers had with Nicholas Brandram, who was sadly found unresponsive and declared deceased on 15 September.

"We are currently assessing the referral before deciding whether further action is required from us.”

Chief Superintendent Daniel Knowles told the Guardian: “Our thoughts are with Mr Brandram’s family and friends at this deeply distressing time. We recognise the significant impact his death will have on those who knew and loved him. We also understand the strain that being subject to a police investigation can place on individuals and their families.

“The investigation remains ongoing. Following Mr Brandram’s release under investigation, it was made clear that enquiries would continue while officers progressed outstanding lines of enquiry and forensic examinations. This remains the position, and further investigative work is ongoing.

“Investigations of this nature, particularly those involving complex evidential and forensic work, can take a number of months to complete as officers gather and assess all available evidence.

“As is required whenever a person dies following previous contact with police, a mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct on 16 September.”

Nicholas Brandram (1982-2026)

 

HSBC 

Nicholas George Brandram, a London banker, was found dead in his Chiswick home on September 15.  He was 44 years old.  According to the Metropolitan Police,  Brandram's death was "unexpected, but it is not believed to be suspicious.   Police and paramedics worked together after a man was found unresponsive."

"Sadly, a 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.  His next of kin have been notified."

Brandram was born on April 23, 1982, at St. Teresa's Hospital in London, the second of three children of Richard Paul George Andrew Brandram (1948-2020) and his first wife, Jennifer Diane Steele. He was the grandson of Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark (styled in the UK as Lady Katherine Brandram (1913-2007) and Richard Campbell Andrew Brandram (1911-1994).  Lady Katherine was the youngest child of King Constantine I of the Hellenes and Princess Sophie of Prussia, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Nicholas's late father, Paul, was a first cousin of King Constantine II of the Hellenes, Queen Sofia of Spain, Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, King Michael of Romania, Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia, and Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta.

Nicholas was described as a "multi-millionaire banker" who served in the Scots Guards for seven years and retired as a Captain.  He served in Europe, Africa, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.   

In 2003, he earned a BA in Psychology and  Philosophy from Newcastle University.  The following year, he received a Postgraduate degree from the BPP Law School, and then headed straight to Sandhurst's Regular Army Commissioning Course.  After leaving the military, Nicholas decided on a career in finance.  He began a five-year program with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, specializing in private investment.   For four years, he was an investment manager with Killik and Co., before joining Bank Leumi UK as a Vice President in 2015, and then moving to HSBC in January 2018 as a director.

In September 2013, Brandram was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on the Hyde Park roundabout when he collided with a cyclist.  He left the scene without exchanging details with the victim.  

During the trial, Brandram represented himself, saying he hadn't realized he had hit the cyclist.  He told the magistrates about his glittering military career, adding a comment that he was an "upstanding member of society."

He admitted to "driving without due care" and was given five points on his license, a £200 fine, and ordered to pay £105 in compensation to the victim.

In March 2026, Citywealth magazine interviewed Nicholas, who described his role as a senior relationship manager with HSBC, with a "particular focus on entrepreneurs."

He was asked about the "most important attributes for a leader."  

Brandram responded: "Compassion, adaptability, resilience, and humility – the best leaders serve. The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst’s motto is, “Serve To Lead”.

At the time of this interview, Brandram, the father of a three-year-old son, was co-parenting with his estranged wife, Sophie.

Nicholas was married twice.  His first marriage to Katrina Davies ended in divorce in 2014.  In December 2021, in the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, he married Sophie Ferguson.  The couple separated more than a year ago.

Nicholas with his sisters, Sophie Voelcker and Alexia Hicks (Nicholas Brandram)

He is survived by his son, Felix Robert, two sisters, Sophie Voelcker and Alexia Hicks, and his mother, Jennifer Enslow.

In June 2026, Brandram was arrested as the main suspect in the Putney Pusher attack, where, in May 2017,  a female jogger was pushed by a male jogger in front of a bus on the Putney Bridge.  The tip-off that led to the arrest had come from a former partner.

While in police custody, he was also arrested "on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B drugs."  At the time, he had been bailed "pending further investigation" into all the charges.

On September 7, Scotland Yard announced that the Putney Pusher suspect was "released under investigation without any conditions, suggesting the case was not progressing with any urgency," according to The Telegraph.

Nicholas Brandram was not found guilty of the 2017 incident.  His death has allowed the media to name him as a suspect.

  

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/putney-pusher-arrest-jogger-woman-drugs-police-b1286315.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-qvd-death-paul-brandram-1947-2020.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2013/09/court-date-for-nicholas-brandram.html

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Ella Mountbatten marries Fergus Wright

 

Penny Mountbatten's Instagram account

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were among the guests at the wedding of Ella Mountbatten and Fergus Wright on September 12 at  St Luke’s Church, Milland, West Sussex.   The Duke is one of Ella's godparents.

Ella, 30, is the eldest of three daughters of Lord Ivar Mountbatten and his former wife, Penny Thompson.   Until April 2026, she worked at Peninsula Hotels, where she was Senior Brand Partnership Manager.   She is now the EU Partnerships and Brands Manager with Flexjet, the world's largest private jet fleet. 

Her 30-year-old husband earned a master's in business and currently works as an insurer relationships executive with Miller Insurance Services, LLP.

The tiara Ella wore was the "something borrowed."

Ella is a descendant of Queen Victoria. Her grandfather, David, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, were first cousins.

Victoria - Alice - Victoria - George - David - Ivar - Ella.  

Her paternal uncle, George, is the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven.  His daughter, Lady Tatiana Mountbatten's daughter, Elodie Dru, was one of the bridal attendants.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2025/07/ella-mountbatten-to-marry-fergus-wright.html

The Marriage Plot: HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover to marry

@HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover

 HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, announced her engagement to Ben-Sylvester Strautmann on Instagram.

She is the only daughter of HRH Prince Ernst August of Hanover and his second wife, HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco, the eldest child of HSH Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly.

The princess was born on July 20, 1999, in Vöcklabruck, Austria. Her baptism, according to Lutheran rites, took place on September 19, 1999, in Auerbach, near Grünau im Almtal.  The ceremony took place in Ernst August's hunting lodge.  She was named for her godmothers: Alexandra, Princess of Leiningen (paternal aunt), Charlotte Casiraghi (maternal half-sister), Ulrike Ulmschneider, Maryam Sachs,  and Virginia Gallico. She also has two godfathers,  George Condo and Eric Maier. 

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 After her parents' separation, Alexandra was raised in Monaco.   She and Ben-Sylvester have been dating for more than ten years.  He was born in Luxembourg on December 31, 1998, and is the son of Joachim Strautmann and Sabine Holz.  His family made their wealth in agricultural machinery.   Joachim moved the family to Monaco, where he worked in finance.  

Ben-Sylvester is a former Monaco basketball player and now works in finance.

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 The couple first met in late 2016 and were first photographed in May 2017 at the  French Ligue 1 Championship title celebration.  The following year, on March 24, 2018, they made an official appearance together at Monaco's Roseball.

In 2018,  Princess Alexandra was received into the Roman Catholic Church.  She is styled as "of the United Kingdom and Ireland, rather than Northern Ireland, as the Hanover Royal Family lost their British titles in 1917. In the early 1930s, Alexandra's great-grandfather announced that the family would continue to use the British titles because of their male-line descent from King George III.

George III - Edward, Duke of Kent - Victoria - Victoria - Wilhelm II - Viktoria Luise -Ernst August -Ernst August - Alexandra

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/09/alexandra-of-hanover-loses-place-in.st thhtml

https://www.pointdevue.fr/grand-angle/biographies/ben-sylvester-strautmann

Working for Norway throughout life

 

@det kongelige Hoff

Princess Astrid died today at age 94. From 1954 to 1968, Princess Astrid served as Norway's First Lady for 14 years and carried out official duties until the end.

det Kongelige Hoff

His Majesty the King received the news of the Princess's passing with great sadness:

"Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner. At age 22, she stepped into the role of First Lady when my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha, passed away. In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society. She was very loyal and always carried out her duties with commitment, presence, and an infectious spirit.

Princess Astrid's 85th birthday @Morten Brun, The Royal Court

Aunt Astrid was an important support for King Harald and the rest of us in the family. We learned a lot from her, and she was not afraid to speak up. Her passing is a great loss for us. We will miss her. My family and I send warm thoughts to Aunt Astrid's closest friends."

Princess Astrid had a great sense of humor and was often a natural center of family gatherings, with her great storytelling ability and funny comments. She also had a rare good memory and was happy to share her rich and detailed memories from her childhood and upbringing – not least from the war years. This enriched family and friends, as well as historians, writers, and the media. 

Princess Astrid was the country's first lady and her father, King Olav, right-hand woman for 14 years. She took on the role at just 22, when her mother, Crown Princess Märtha, died in 1954.

She served the country through countless journeys and representative duties. Princess Astrid represented the King and the Crown Prince alone or accompanied them at major celebrations around the country. During state visits and other official events, she hosted dinners at the Palace and at Skaugum. She also stood by King Olav during his signing trip in 1958 and on the Royal Tour in Northern Norway the following year.

engagement @Jan Stage / NTB archive

In November 1960, the engagement between Princess Astrid and Johan Martin Ferner was announced. The wedding took place in Asker Church on 12 January 1961. King Olav decided that the daughter would thereafter be titled Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner.​‍​‌​‍‌​‍​‌ ​‌​​‍​‍​‌​​​‍‌​‍​‍​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌

In July 1962, Cathrine, their first child, was born. They would eventually have five children.

Johan Martin Ferner died on 24 January 2015.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

When Crown Prince Harald married in 1968, Crown Princess Sonja became First Lady of Norway, but Princess Astrid continued to represent Norway and the Royal House at small and large occasions throughout her life. She had several official assignments each year, and followed up on her patronages. In her work, Princess Astrid always had special care for the weak in society – for people with a few extra challenges.

Princess Astrid was also chairwoman of the Crown Princess Märtha's Memorial Fund, which supports social and humanitarian initiatives in organizations and associations.

Princess Margrethe of Denmark, Princess Astrid of Norway & Princess Margaretha of Sweden with Elvis Presley @NTB

Princess Astrid met many of the great personalities of her time during her long life in public service – both heads of state and cultural figures. A much-talked-about moment came in the summer of 1960, when she visited Paramount Studios in Hollywood with Princess Margrethe of Denmark and Princess Margaretha of Sweden. There, the three of them met a young Elvis Presley during the filming of the film GI Blues.

The princess was also passionate about sports and athletics, and referred to herself as a "sports idiot". With great knowledge and keen participation on the sidelines, she was a faithful guest at Holmenkollen and often present at sporting events throughout the country - often together with her brother, King Harald. On the occasion of her 80th birthday in 2012, she received the Ski Association's Birkebeiner plaque for her support of skiing.

Princess Astrid worked and collaborated with three kings and was rewarded for her great efforts and warm loyalty in 2002, when, on her 70th birthday, the government granted her an honorary pension. 

@Det Kongelige Hoff

@Jan Stage/NTB

SA Sturlason, Royal Court Archive

"The Norwegian state has decided to show its recognition for the efforts Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, has made for Norway. As the country's first lady for a number of years, and later in connection with extensive representational duties. She will therefore be granted an honorary pension by the state treasury."

NRK reports the Norwegian government will pay for her funeral.

Princess Astrid leaves only four great-grandchildren of King Edward VII: The Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, and Prince Michael of Kent.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-longest-living-descendant-of-queen.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2026/09/princess-astrid-honors-her-brother.html

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (1932-2026)

His Majesty the King has received with great sadness the news of the passing of Princess Astrid. The Princess fell asleep today, Friday 11 September, at the age of 94.

His Majesty the King has decided that flags will be flown at half-mast from the Palace Balcony today and on the day of the funeral.

Princess Astrid's immediate family states:

Dear mother, dear Princess Astrid

Thank you for being the best mother we could have. Throughout your life you were there for us – with love and wisdom, warmth and good humor. You were there for grandfather King Olav and uncle King Harald – present, loyal and dutiful. And in addition – for those who needed a little extra care – you always showed genuine care. In our

grief, we stand together in gratitude.

Thank you for all the good memories. You will always have a big place in our hearts.

Your children – Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth and Carl-Christian Ferner with families.

King Haakon VIII states:

Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner. At age 22, she stepped into the role of First Lady when my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha, passed away. In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society. She was very loyal and always carried out her duties with commitment, presence, and an infectious spirit.

Aunt Astrid was an important support for King Harald and the rest of us in the family. We learned a lot from her, and she never hesitated to speak up. Her passing is a great loss for us. We will miss her. My family and I send warm thoughts to Aunt Astrid's closest friends.

Davina Mary Sheffield Morley (1951-2026)

  

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It was a dinner at Lady Jane Wellesley's home in the summer of 1975, when the Prince of Wales was introduced  "to the next young woman to capture his heart, the beautiful but star-crossed Davina Sheffield."

According to one of Charles' biographers, the heir to the throne "could not disguise his yearning, even in public."  

A soldier's daughter, Davina Mary Sheffield was an "ex-debutante, blonde and dramatically attractive." 

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 She was one of the "few girlfriends with whom Charles contentedly allowed himself to be photographed."

She "charmed his family" during a visit to Balmoral.  Charles was smitten, but Davina planned to spend that fall in Vietnam, volunteering at an "orphans' hospital."  The Vietnam War was in its final stages, with the Viet Cong advancing.  Davina and others were forced to flee, and she returned home to the news that her mother had been murdered by robbers in their Oxfordshire house.

She found comfort and solace with the Prince of Wales, and they were seen "publicly arm in arm" in the fall of 1976.

Unfortunately for Davina, an ex-boyfriend, James Beard, told the press that they had "enjoyed a 'full sexual relationship.'"   In an attempt to make amends, Beard said: "I am sure they will be very happy.  I think she will make a magnificent wife and an extremely good Queen."

Her relationship with Charles ended because she was not a virgin. 

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In December 1981, she married Jonathan Morley. The couple had three sons: Thomas, William, and Henry.

https://peeragenews.blogspot.com/2026/09/mary-morley-who-died-2-september-2026.html

 

Times December 9, 1981

Countess Marie Therese weds Prince Philipp-Carl of Oettingen Wallerstein

 

H Ill H Countess Marie-Therese of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchberg and HSH Prince Philipp-Carl zu Oettingen-Wallerstein were married in the Stadtpfarrkirche St. Verena in Bad Wurzach on August 29th.  The civil wedding took place on August 28 at Schloss Zeil.

They announced their engagement in September 2025.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-new-princely-engagement-oettingen.html

Hereditary Count Alexander Fugger von Babenhausen

Princess Franziska Fugger von Babenhausen and Mauro Bergonzoli

Valerie, Dowager Margravine of Baden

Duchess Fleur of Württemberg and her husband, Count Moritz von Goess,  The woman on the right is unidentified,

The newly married Dhruv Raj Singh and Countess Marie von und zu Eltz

Princess Annuciata of Liechtenstein and her husband, Emanuele Musini

Woman on right:  (Possibly) Countess Elizabeth of Waldburg-Zeil

Left: The Princess of Waldburg-Zeil (in pink) and her daughter, Countess Helene von Neipperg On the right, the groom and his mother, Helen

The groom's mother, Helen (whose marriage to Prince Krafft Ernst ended in divorce in 2009), with the Prince of Waldburg-Zeil, the bride's father.

Duke Wilhelm of Württemberg

Prince Anton of Windisch-Graetz

Prince Ludwig-Rudolph and Princess Sophie-Alexandra of Bavaria with their son, Prince Rupprecht

Princess Xenia of Croy and Guy delle Piane.  

The Prince and Princess of Hohenlohe Öhringen

Count and Countess Hans Kaspar of Toerring-Jettenbach and Prince Michael of Liechtenstein

Duke Philipp of Württemberg with his son, Duke Carl-Theodor

The Prince of Thurn und Taxis

The Count and Countess of Neipperg

Prince Charles-Louis, Duke of Chartress

Princess Amelie, Frau  Schmid von Schmidsfelden and Princess Sophie, Countess Constantin Fugger von Babenhausen.

Duke and Duchess Michael of Württemberg

Princess Teresa of Liechtenstein, who is married to Count Cajetan of Toerring-Jettenbach 

The guests included: Duke Franz von Bayern and his partner,Thomas Greinwald, Duke Max in Bavaria, accompanied by two of his daughters, Duchess Elisabeth and Duchess Anna, with her husband, Baron Andreas von Maltzahn,  Prinz Ludwig  and Princess Sophie Alexandra with their son, Rupprecht, Duchess Diane of Württemberg, Duke Wilhelm of Württemberg, Duke Philipp of Württemberg with his son, Duke Carl Theodor, Duke and Duchess Eberhard of Württemberg, Duke and Duchess Michael of Württemberg,  Prince and Princess Engelbert of Croy, with their son and daughter, Isabelle and her husband, Yannick Magotsch,  Count and Countess  Bernhard de Monseignat, Count and Countess Christoph Schenk von Stauffebnberg with of their children, Count and Countess Max Emanuel von Rechberg with their daughter and son in law, Fürst Albert von Thurn und Taxis, Duchess Fleur of Württemberg and her husband Count Moritz Goess, Duchess  Dorothee of Württemberg, Princess Xenia of Croy withher  husband, Guy Delle Piane, Prince Carl Philipp of Croy, Archduke Simeon and Archduchess of Austria, Count and Countess Karl Eugen of Neipperg, Count and Countess Stephan of Neipperg with their son Ludovic, (who is married to the bride's sister, Marie Helene) , the Prince and Princess of  Quadt, the Prince and Princess of  Hohenlohe Öhringen,  Prince and Princess Fugger von Babenhausen with their children, Hereditary Alexander and Countess Franziska, Count and Countess Keglevich, the Prince of Waldburg von Waldburg Wolfegg with the Hereditary Count and Countess Ludwig, Countess von und zu  Eltz with her daughters  Alexandra and Marie and son-in-law, Dhruv Raj Singh, Prince and Princess  Ulrich von Wied, the Prince and Princess zu Isenburg, Prince Anton Windisch Graetz, Count Philipp von Koenigsegg-Aulendorf, Princess Erich von Lobkowicz, Prince Johannes Lobkowicz , Count Moritz von Drechsel,  Margrave and Margravine of Baden with the Dowager Markgravine of Baden, Princesses Amelie and Sophie of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, Count and Countess Clemens of  Waldburg Zeil with, three of their children,  Assunta, Maximilian and Constantin, Count and Countess  Hans Kaspar von Toerring Jettenbach with with their sons,  Georg and Cajetan and daughter-in-law, Princess Teresa of Liechtenstein, Princess Annunciata von Liechtenstein and Emanuele Musini, CountessVeronika of Waldburg-Zeil, Baron Emmanuel von Elverfeldt, Princess Gisela of Liechtenstein, Count Philipp and Countess Philippa von Brockdorff, Annina Bruges von Pfuel, Count and Countess Philipp Schenk von Stauffenberg. 

 This was a Roman Catholic wedding with the following officiants: Father Hubertus Freiherr von Freyberg, Vitus Graf von Waldburg Zeil, Stefan Maier, Richard Grotz, Elmar Schneider 

Prince Philipp-Carl's best men were: Aisling Demmel, Count Friedrich von Rechberg-Rothenlöwen, Count Georg zu Toerring-Jettenbach, Alexander Bagusat, Prince Leopold Ludwig zu Oettingen-Wallerstein, Count Johannes von Seilern-Aspang, and Professor Dr. Dominik Pfoerringer.

Countess Marie-Therese was attended by flower girls and pages: 

Kranzlkinder: Mathilda and Olympia d'Andigne, Emil und Oscar Bagusat, Princess Alba of Oettingen-Wallerstein, Counts Anton and Arthur zu Rechberg-Rothenlöwen, Count Maximilian zu Toerring-Jettenbach and Prince Rupprecht von Bayern.

The couple left the church in a "historic white Porsche 365 Coupe with two distinctive red racing stripes" and traveled to Schloss Zeil, where they held the wedding reception that evening. 

Marie-Therese, 36, is the eldest daughter of Erich, Prince of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchberg, and Duchess Mathilde of Württemberg.  Her 42-year-old husband is the elder of two sons of Prince Krafft Ernst of Oettingen-Wallerstein and his first wife, Helen Lins.

A friend took the photos and holds the copyright.  As always, thank you for allowing me to use your photos.