I adore the Duchess of Cornwall! Here she is carrying out an official engagement as a Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/2301165/Duchess-of-Cornwall%27s-ride-in-armoured-vehicle.html
"The Duchess later met soldiers and their families and handed out bravery, long service and leadership awards.
Leanne Walker, a corporal's wife, said: "The Duchess is lovely and down to earth, taking time to speak with all of us which made us feel appreciated.
"We are all aware of what she has done for our battalion and this visit has given us a chance to say thank you""
Monday, July 14, 2008
I'm Rania
Nice interview with Queen Rania of Jordan, who is married to King Abdullah II
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/14/o.women.changing.world/
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/07/14/o.women.changing.world/
And they call the Horse "Sneezy"
Zara Phillips stars in a new Land Rover advert, celebrating the British eventing ... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2300890/Zara-Phillips-chatted-up-by-footballer-in-Land-Rover-viral-ad-campaign.html
So glad to see the Soccer player get his due comeuppance.
So glad to see the Soccer player get his due comeuppance.
Happy Birthday, Victoria!
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden celebrates her 31st birthday today. Accompanied by her parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Victoria made a public appearance at the family's summer home, Solliden, on the island of Öland. The princess's main squeeze, gym owner, Daniel Westling, did not accompany the princess -- although it is possible that Daniel is sharing private family celebrations with his princess.
When will they marry is a popular game of speculation. Westling did accompany Victoria to the wedding of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Marie Cavallier in May. He is also renting an apartment on the Drottingholm estate in Stockholm.
Wesling owns a company, Balance Training, which runs three gyms in Stockholm.
Although Westling has his own apartment near the princess, it has been suggested that they actually live together in her apartment at Drottningholm Palace. I certainly did not expect an engagement announcement on Victoria's birthday, but is Westling's new residence a sign that the king and queen have finally come around to accepting Victoria's choice.
Marriage is not an easy decision for anyone, but Crown Princess Victoria, who is immensely popular in Sweden, is her country's future head of state. Her future husband will need to provide the emotional support, but also understand that publicly, his role will be a secondary one. He will not be a king consort, but will probably be created a prince of Sweden.
Now if I could arrange royal marriages, I would choose HSH Prince Carl-Albrecht of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg as Victoria's consort. Born in Munich in 1976, Carl-Albrecht is the son of HSH Prince Ludwig-Ferdinand of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and his Swedish wife, Countess Yvonne Wachmeister af Johannishus. (Carl-Albrecht's sister, Anna, is married to Prince Manuel of Bavaria.)
Of course, I do not advocate arranged marriages, but -- think how lovely this would, especially as the prince is half-Swedish - and his mom is a member of an important Swedish noble family.
http://www.sollidensslott.se/english/index.htm
When will they marry is a popular game of speculation. Westling did accompany Victoria to the wedding of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Marie Cavallier in May. He is also renting an apartment on the Drottingholm estate in Stockholm.
Wesling owns a company, Balance Training, which runs three gyms in Stockholm.
Although Westling has his own apartment near the princess, it has been suggested that they actually live together in her apartment at Drottningholm Palace. I certainly did not expect an engagement announcement on Victoria's birthday, but is Westling's new residence a sign that the king and queen have finally come around to accepting Victoria's choice.
Marriage is not an easy decision for anyone, but Crown Princess Victoria, who is immensely popular in Sweden, is her country's future head of state. Her future husband will need to provide the emotional support, but also understand that publicly, his role will be a secondary one. He will not be a king consort, but will probably be created a prince of Sweden.
Now if I could arrange royal marriages, I would choose HSH Prince Carl-Albrecht of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg as Victoria's consort. Born in Munich in 1976, Carl-Albrecht is the son of HSH Prince Ludwig-Ferdinand of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and his Swedish wife, Countess Yvonne Wachmeister af Johannishus. (Carl-Albrecht's sister, Anna, is married to Prince Manuel of Bavaria.)
Of course, I do not advocate arranged marriages, but -- think how lovely this would, especially as the prince is half-Swedish - and his mom is a member of an important Swedish noble family.
http://www.sollidensslott.se/english/index.htm
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Princess Haya of Jordan talks about horses...
... but not about being the junior wife of Sheikh Mohammed, the head of state of Dubai. The princess, whose horse won the Derby, is profiled in Sunday's London Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/london_2012/article4322689.ece?Submitted=true
She talks about horses and Sheikh Mo and their daughter, Jalila, but nothing about being the Sheik's junior wife. He is not divorced from his first wife, Sheikha Hind, who is never seen in public. Hind married Mo -- a first cousin marriage -- in 1980. They have fourteen children. She is involved in several charities but is not seen publicly.
Haya, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and his third wife, Queen Alia.
Sheikh Mohammed also has two children by another women, believed to a former wife
She talks about horses and Sheikh Mo and their daughter, Jalila, but nothing about being the Sheik's junior wife. He is not divorced from his first wife, Sheikha Hind, who is never seen in public. Hind married Mo -- a first cousin marriage -- in 1980. They have fourteen children. She is involved in several charities but is not seen publicly.
Haya, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and his third wife, Queen Alia.
Sheikh Mohammed also has two children by another women, believed to a former wife
Friday, July 11, 2008
Bourbon Parma postcard
Here is another interesting card from my collection - Rene and Margrethe of Bourbon-Parma (she was born a Princess of Denmark) with two of their children, Prince Jacques, and Princess Anne, who in 1948 married King Michael of Roumania. The postcard was published in Denmark. The two ladies are wearing coats for an inside photograph.
Rather interesting article
in The Guardian, of all places:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/12/royalsandthemedia.monarchy
Apparently, British journalist Robert Jobson has recently written a book on Prince Harry's stint in Afghanistan.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/12/royalsandthemedia.monarchy
Apparently, British journalist Robert Jobson has recently written a book on Prince Harry's stint in Afghanistan.
Baby Bee
Just wanted to share with you one of my new postcards - a lovely image of Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, who married Prince Don Alfonso of Orleans-Borbon, Infant of Spain, who was the first cousin of King Alfonso XIII, who happened to be married to Bee's first cousin, Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg. This postcard - published by Gimm, a local Gotha firm - was probably released at about the time of the princess' engagement.
Baby Bee is one of my favorite descendants of Queen Victoria.
Free kibble
I saw this on NBC Nightly News tonight. A young Oregon girl, concerned about the increase of pets in shelters (due to foreclosure) has started a website, FreeKibble. If you click on it and play the trivia question (you do not have to get it right), 20 pieces of Kibble are donated ... so I have a link here and I will send it to all my friends.
http://www.freekibble.com/default.asp?a=436
This is legitimate, and it will help feed homeless dogs and cats.
http://www.freekibble.com/default.asp?a=436
This is legitimate, and it will help feed homeless dogs and cats.
Poor Masako
In an interview today, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan called for "gentle patience" for his wife, Crown Princess Masako. The Crown Princess suffers from an "adjustment order."
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hzaXOMskZjoCG_ZEsDCF4W0zWorg
That may be an understatement. The former Masako Owada, a Harvard-educated diplomat, married Crown Prince Naruhito in 1993. The Crown Prince had pursued her for several years before Masako said yes. Since 1993, Masako has rarely been seen in public, due to a "stress disorder." More likely, the misogynists that run the Imperial Household Agency have run the former ebullient woman into the ground. They have destroyed her personality, and do all they can to ruin her reputation as well. Although Masako (and many Japanese as well) believed that she would be able to parlay her diplomatic skills into her role as the future Empress, the the little nasties at the IHA made it clear that her role was to produce a son, an heir. Note to IHA: the male decides the sex of the child, not the female.
In December 2001, the Crown Princess gave birth to a daughter, Princess Aiko. She has also suffered at least one miscarriage.
Women do not have succession rights to the Japanese throne. Although Parliament debated the situation, and there were calls for a change, a new succession law was put on hold when it was announced in February 2006 that Masako's sister-in-law, Kiko, was expecting a third child. It had been rumored that the IHA ordered both princesses to lie down and think of Japan, but Masako decided not to play this game. Kiko, who is married to Emperor Akihito's second son, Akishino, and the mother to two teenage princesses, Mako and Kako, gave birth to Prince Hishito in September 2006. Kiko was revered because she produced a male heir, the first in the Imperial Family since 1965. One can only imagine how Masako has reacted to Hishito's birth. Although the little prince is not in the direct line (he is the son of the second son of the emperor), he will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a future emperor. On the other hand, the Crown Prince and Princess's only child, Aiko, will be raised to be a commoner. When she marries, Aiko will cease to be a princess and a member of the Imperial Family.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hzaXOMskZjoCG_ZEsDCF4W0zWorg
That may be an understatement. The former Masako Owada, a Harvard-educated diplomat, married Crown Prince Naruhito in 1993. The Crown Prince had pursued her for several years before Masako said yes. Since 1993, Masako has rarely been seen in public, due to a "stress disorder." More likely, the misogynists that run the Imperial Household Agency have run the former ebullient woman into the ground. They have destroyed her personality, and do all they can to ruin her reputation as well. Although Masako (and many Japanese as well) believed that she would be able to parlay her diplomatic skills into her role as the future Empress, the the little nasties at the IHA made it clear that her role was to produce a son, an heir. Note to IHA: the male decides the sex of the child, not the female.
In December 2001, the Crown Princess gave birth to a daughter, Princess Aiko. She has also suffered at least one miscarriage.
Women do not have succession rights to the Japanese throne. Although Parliament debated the situation, and there were calls for a change, a new succession law was put on hold when it was announced in February 2006 that Masako's sister-in-law, Kiko, was expecting a third child. It had been rumored that the IHA ordered both princesses to lie down and think of Japan, but Masako decided not to play this game. Kiko, who is married to Emperor Akihito's second son, Akishino, and the mother to two teenage princesses, Mako and Kako, gave birth to Prince Hishito in September 2006. Kiko was revered because she produced a male heir, the first in the Imperial Family since 1965. One can only imagine how Masako has reacted to Hishito's birth. Although the little prince is not in the direct line (he is the son of the second son of the emperor), he will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a future emperor. On the other hand, the Crown Prince and Princess's only child, Aiko, will be raised to be a commoner. When she marries, Aiko will cease to be a princess and a member of the Imperial Family.
Blown away
I admit to being sports mad, and I have two passions: baseball and figure skating. In my not so-always-humble-opinion, I believe that Janet Lynn and Michelle Kwan are the two greatest ladies skaters of all time. Period. Full stop. Neither won an Olympic gold medal, but the Gold Medal doesn't always go to the best skater. Janet Lynn, who competed in the 1960s and 1970s (between Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill) recently gave this speech. In a word: awesome.
http://forums.about.com/n/docs/docDownload.aspx?webtag=ab-figureskate&guid=6043e6d7-8fbe-4253-babb-99893757d0c8
http://forums.about.com/n/docs/docDownload.aspx?webtag=ab-figureskate&guid=6043e6d7-8fbe-4253-babb-99893757d0c8
Bloomin' Vic
It appears that the five foot or so sized Queen Victoria passed up the exercise but not the mashed potatoes. If you look at the Court Circular during her reign, you will notice that the Queen went out for a lot of carriage rides, but no walkies!
Queen Victoria's bloomers (50 inch waist) are up for auction.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2285942/Queen-Victoria%27s-bloomers-had-a-50-inch-waist.html
Queen Victoria's bloomers (50 inch waist) are up for auction.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2285942/Queen-Victoria%27s-bloomers-had-a-50-inch-waist.html
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Prince Aristidis Stavros has arrived
On June 29th at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, HRH Crown Princess Pavlos of the Hellenes gave birth to her fifth child and fourth son, HRH Prince Aristidis Stavros. The former Marie-Chantal Miller married Crown Prince Pavlos of the Hellenes in July 1995. The couple's four other children are Maria-Olympia, 11, nine-year-old Constantine-Alexios, Achilleas-Andreas, 7, and Odysseas-Kimon, who is three. The family have relocated to southern California for the time being as the princess is about open her seventh shop, Marie- Chantal. The new store will be Beverly Hills.
Marie-Chantal specializes in posh childrens' wear.
Marie-Chantal specializes in posh childrens' wear.
Lady Rose Windsor says Goodbye to Hello
Old news, ACTUALLY! This was reported in May, but just in case you missed it, Lady Rose Windsor and George Gilman declined an offer from Hello magazine to cover their wedding.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2022328/Queenandrsquos-cousin-will-refuse-to-say-Hello.html
However, this does not mean that there will be no photos in Hello. The magazine will be able to purchase photos of the couple if there are any photographers able to snap arrivals and departures. Most likely, the couple will release one official photograph through Camera Press.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2022328/Queenandrsquos-cousin-will-refuse-to-say-Hello.html
However, this does not mean that there will be no photos in Hello. The magazine will be able to purchase photos of the couple if there are any photographers able to snap arrivals and departures. Most likely, the couple will release one official photograph through Camera Press.
If you happen to be in Britain
My friend, Sue, just told me about Art Pursuits, which is having a study day on Royal Residences on September 27th. The lectures will include the Tower of London; Hampton, Frogmore House, Osborne, and Windsor Castle's restoration. The Cost is £75.00 and the lectures will be Bloomsbury. Sounds like a lot of fun!
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