Crown Prince Leka - a second marriage

@Crown Prince Leka

 

Chateau Apponyi is now a four-star hotel in Oponice, Slovakia.  For six centuries, the chateau was the home of the Hungarian noble family, the Counts Apponyi.  Leka's grandmother was the half-American Countess Geraldine Apponyi, who spent part of her childhood at the chateau.

Oponice is the Slovakian translation of Apponyi.

The Crown Prince's daughter, Princess Geraldine, was named for her great-grandmother.

https://www.chateauappony.sk/en/

At the invitation of Slovak diplomat Ľubomír Rehák, Crown Prince Leka and his fiancée, Blerta Celibashi, arrived at Chateau Apponyi on March 6, 2026.   The official announcement did not include the date and place of the actual wedding.

Although the wedding photos were taken at the Chateau, the actual wedding took place in Albania, according to several sources.

They stayed in the Chateau's Géraldine suite, which featured many family photos.  During their stay, the couple toured the chateau's Biblioteca Apponiana, where the librarian displayed a selection of Geraldine's personal books that she had read while staying at Oponice.

Crown Prince Leka and Miss Celibashi were honored with the Tree of Peace Memorial Medal "for respect for historical heritage.  The award was given by the Slovak non-governmental organization Servare et Manere.   The prince planted a Tree of Peace in Oponice Park, commemorating his first visit to Slovakia and the "historical bond between Slovakia and Albania.    The tree was planted with Albanian soil, which Leka had brought with him.   

@Berta C. Photography

The couple was also given a tour of the Oponice church and the Apponyi crypt, where Leka laid a wreath and lit candles in remembrance of his Apponyi ancestors.

 https://www.tofp.eu/crown-prince-leka-ii/

This link includes a Slovakian TV report that mentions the wedding would take place privately in Albania.   This will be Crown Prince Leka's second marriage.  His first marriage to Elia Zaharia was dissolved by divorce in April 2024.  Their daughter, Geraldine Sibilla Francesca Susan Marie, was born on October 22, 2020.

The Prince of Thurn und Taxis seriously injured in racing accident

  Embed from Getty Images   

 Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn und Taxis, was seriously injured in a racing accident during the Rebenland Rally in Pössnitz in southern Styria, Austria.  He and his co-driver, Jara Hain, were in a "promising third place after three of the seven stages of the two-day race.

The accident occurred during the fourth stage, when the Prince, 42, lost control of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.  The car plunged about 164 feet down an incline.

A crane was needed to "recover the car and crew."    After the crash, Albert complained of severe lower back pain.  He told one of the rescuers that he had "seven guardian angels."  He was airlifted to a hospital in Graz.  Hain, who also suffered from back pain, was taken to a hospital in Wagna.

The car was equipped with a roll carriage to help prevent major injuries.

Embed from Getty Images 

 Several hours after the accident, Prince Albert's mother, Gloria, Princess of Thurn und Taxis, spoke to the Bavarian media:  "Thank God, he does not need surgery."

Earlier today, the Rally organizers announced that the two drivers had been released from the hospital.  One Bavarian newspaper, Merkur, reported that Albert had survived the accident "relatively unscathed."

HSH Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Fürst von Thurn und Taxis is the third and youngest child of the late HSH Johannes Baptista de Jesus Maria Louis Miguel Friedrich Bonifazius Lamoral Fürst von Thurn und Taxis (1926-1990) and H Ill H Countess Mariae Gloria Ferdinanda Joachima Josephine Wilhelmine  Huberta of Schönburg-Glauchau (1960). He was born on June 23, 1983.  

Albert was only seven years old when his father died.  He inherited more than $3 billion, but also faced $500 million in debts.  It was his mother, once dubbed the "punk princess", who took business courses and restored financial stability after numerous cuts and a major auction of family possessions.

The prince has not yet found his princess.   There is also no heir after Albert, as all of the other living males are descendants of unequal marriages and are not eligible to inherit.

Queen Elizabeth II"s private rooms at Holyrood open to the public""

 

@Royal Collection Trust  

This will be a superb and fascinating tour of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.   I booked my trip before I got the email.  I will be in Harrogate with friends.   Not sure if they would want to drive four hours to Edinburgh and drive back the same evening.  I return to London the next day.   

"For the first time, visitors can join guided tours of the private apartments used by Queen Elizabeth II when in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.  

A limited number of tours are available this year only, as part of celebrations marking the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II's birth, and will run for 100 days. 

During visits to Edinburgh for official events such as Royal Week Garden Parties and State occasions, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip resided in a suite of private rooms offering stunning views of the gardens and Holyrood Park. Led by expert guides, small groups will be given a rare glimpse into these personal, 'lived-in' spaces used during private moments between their official duties. 

Tours are available to book from 21 May to 10 September."

https://www.rct.uk/event/queen-elizabeth-ii-private-apartments-tour-05-2026

 

Highgrove Open for Tours

 

In May 2018, I had the pleasure of spending a day on a garden tour at Highgrove.   It was pricey but worth it.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/05/day-3-highgrove.html

"Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla call Highgrove their private residence. While the house remains off-limits to the public, they open the gates to the enchanting gardens between April and October each year. This allows visitors to experience the beauty and inspiration that Their Majesties hold so dear.

Over the past 40 years, a series of interlinked gardens have blossomed at Highgrove, each reflecting The King's artistic touch and nurtured with imagination and passion. Managed organically and with sustainability in mind, these havens have become vital habitats for diverse wildlife.

In 2021, stewardship of Highgrove Gardens passed to The King's Foundation. The Foundation, established in 2018 through a merger of several of His Majesty's previous charitable endeavours, also oversees other properties like Dumfries House, The Castle and Gardens of Mey, and The Garrison Chapel."

According to the Highgrove website, "Garden Tours take place on selected dates between April and September, while Spring Walks take place on selected dates in March and April, and Autumn Walks on selected dates in September and October.

Join one of our experienced guides on a tour to discover the history, inspiration, and unique organic management behind this incredible series of gardens.

During your visit, you will be able to visit the Highgrove Shop at The Coronation Pavilion, where you’ll find a selection of bespoke Highgrove products, from beautiful home and garden ware to country attire and artwork by His Majesty The King. The Orchard Room Restaurant will also be open to visitors after their garden tour and will be offering refreshments, both savoury and sweet, including hot and cold drinks."

https://www.highgrovegardens.com

Marie Antoinette at the V&A

 Once I had the Buckingham Palace tour ticket order, I checked whether the Marie Antoinette exhibit was still on at the Victoria & Albert Museum (the V&A).   It was.   

The exhibition will close on March 22.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/marie-antoinette?srsltid=AfmBOor58Ipxg5BgVWOGGS_HCRaOK5KlBg22z1hqsyFDr4Ksg0Hhwq20

I mentioned this to a dear friend, who responded, "I have a V&A membership, and I can bring a guest."  She added: "And would you like to have lunch in the Members' restaurant after we see the exhibition?"

My response:  "Yes, that would be lovely."

https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/the-members-room?srsltid=AfmBOopZsUZgfy7ZitqVGivsySRBroYVaOT2DuaG3mpAvjtaYf_DPjxj

My final full day was on Saturday, February 22.  I had a nice breakfast at the hotel for £8.00, and then walked down Camden High Street to the Mornington Crescent tube station. Much to my delight, I spotted a Costa Coffee shop.   I ordered a cappuccino and then headed straight to the tube, changing at Leicester Square for the Piccadilly line, getting off at South Kensington, and walking underground through a tunnel to all the local museums.

We spent nearly two hours in the exhibit, which featured items belonging to Marie Antoinette.  The clothes, furniture, or other possessions are identified by her M monogram.

A selection of the gowns and other clothes represents Marie Antoinette's style.   

The exhibit did not focus exclusively on Marie Antoinette's fashions, but also on her life - and how she was treated in the press.  This included obscene caricatures in the press.

The final part of the exhibition focuses on Empress Eugénie's support for Marie-Antoinette and her style and fashions that celebratrate the late queen.

Empress Eugenie

This was a fabulous exhibit, well worth the visit .. thank you, Katrina, for inviting me to join you.

It was a delight to have lunch in the Members' Restaurant.  A time to chat and rest our feet before heading to the Jewelry rooms.   A selection of the V&A's jewels, including Queen Victoria's sapphire and diamond coronet, is currently on display in Paris.

The jewels will be a separate post.

https://www.hotel-de-la-marine.paris/en/agenda/dynastic-jewels