Prince Charles recovering

December 10, 1949

Prince Charles of Edinburgh, the year-old-son of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, has "acute tonsillitis," according to Buckingham Palace. He is recovering well, and his temperature is normal again and the infection has subsided."
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are in Malta, where the Duke is assigned for naval duty. The princess is expected to return to London in ten days.
According to the New York Times, there was never a question of the Princess returning sooner. The baby's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth has been visited Clarence House several times during the prince's illness. This weekend, however, the queen will be spending the weekend with her her husband, King George VI at Windsor.

Belgian's dowager queen ill

December 10, 1939

The Associated Press is reporting that Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians has a cold, which she "contracted while visiting the troops." The Queen is the mother of King Leopold III and the widow of King Albert, who died in 1934.

King Leopold returns home

December 10, 1937

King Leopold III of the Belgians "entrained for home today," according to an AP dispatch. This was the king's second visit to England in "recent weeks."
The King, who in incognito, "stirred rumors," that he was romantically involved with Lady Anne Cavendish, the daughter of the Duke of Portland. King Leopold, whose wife was killed in a car crash in 1935, officially denied all the reports. The Duke of Portland was the king's host during his stay.

Princess Theresia sues for home

December 10, 1925

The New York Times reports that Princess Theresia of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is "forced to live in a single attic" because her four-room apartment was seized by Vienna city officials during her "temporary absence." 

The Princess, 22, filed suit today against the city for the "restoration of her home."

Austrian law allows for cities to "requisition empty apartments," even if the owners "leave them only for a few days." The apartments are then "allotted to someone else."

The law also limits the number of rooms a single person can have, and housing authorities "have the right to rent the extra rooms to others if the owner does not fill them with lodgers."

The Princess's apartment was seized when she was abroad. When she returned home, she discovered her furniture had been moved to the attic.

Princess Theresia is the sixth of eight children of Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his wife, Archduchess Karoline of Austria. Her siblings are Prince August, Princess Maria Karoline, Prince Rainer, Prince Philipp Josias, Princess Leopoldine, and Prince Ernst.

Prince Philipp Josias settles legacy dispute

December 9, 1929

After a "long-drawn dispute" over the property of the late Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the case has finally come to a settlement. This is due, according to the New York Times, to the "best efforts" of King Ferdinand and his son, King Boris, of Bulgaria. The two kings wanted to settle "without scandal," but the case has cost the litigants "thousands of dollars."

The case has been settled due to King Ferdinand's insistence. Prince Philipp Josias, who inherited Prince Philipp's entailed estate, has now agreed to pay Princess Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein and Prince Cyril of Bulgaria, $280,000 and $140,000 respectively.

This agreement does not completely settle the case, which also includes the jewels of the late Empress Carlotta of Mexico, the former Princess Charlotte of Belgium who married Archduke Maximilian of Austria. Also still in dispute is "Austrian allied property," most valuable paintings in the Coburg palace in Vienna, "the strictly private property of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family."

For more information, see this Royal Musings entry:

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/01/coburg-prince-must-find-wife-or-lose.html

King Boris plans trip abroad

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 December 9, 1929

King Boris III of Bulgaria is said to be preparing for another "wife hunting expedition," according to the Chicago Tribune News service. Although the bachelor king's destination is a secret, it is believed he may be heading to Roumania, where he will "again seek the hand" of 20-year-old Princess Ileana of Roumania. The princess is said to Boris' "first love" despite reports of engagements to Princess Giovanna of Italy and Grand Duchess Kira of Russia.

The king has declined the invitation to the wedding of Crown Prince Umberto of Italy and Princess Marie-José of Belgium. His "refusal ends whispers that he is again seeking to win Princess Giovanna,"the second daughter of King Victor Emmanuel.

Boris will instead send his brother, Cyril, to the wedding, which will take place in January.

no elopement says Ileana

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 December 9, 1927

Princess Ileana of Roumania is "clad in black sealskin and dress, her happiness sobered by the attire of mourning," reports a reporter for the Chicago Tribune News Service. The eighteen-year-old Princess visited the YMCA bazaar in Bucharest today, and purchased a toy for her nephew, the young King Michael.
Although interviews are officially barred during the mourning period for Ileana's father, the late King Ferdinand, Ileana was happy to chat about world gossip.

Talking with the American reporter, the Princess discussed recent reports in American papers. Earlier this year, the Princess and her brother, Nicolas, accompanied their mother, Queen Marie, on a tour of the United States. The reporter noted that "owing to her conquest of America, she was a constant object of interest in the United States."

"Yes, American newspapers are so eager that they sometimes exceed the bounds of truth and propriety."

Princess Ileana was referring to recent stories, which were originally published in Bucharest and other European newspapers, that the princess had run off with a married man and then tried to commit suicide.

"It is really funny. They even had me running off with a married man. But it did not make me angry. It was so preposterous it made me laugh."

She showed the reporter the small toy tin steamboat that she had bought for Michael. "I am giving this to the king. He is now an admiral, and this makes an attractive souvenir."

The Princess thoroughly enjoyed her visit to the United States. "Whenever I speak to Americans, I am reminded of the wonderful time we had in the United States a year ago. I am eagerly anticipating another visit soon. Behind the unbounded hospitality and generosity in America, I discovered and learned to admire its philosophy of service."

The Princess was "in a hurry to visit the junior class at play," and joined in with the Girl Scout salute. Princess Ileana is the head of the Roumanian Girl Scouts.
The reporter describes Ileana as "as far from flighty or frivolous," and can be as serious as any girl of eighteen can be."

Lord Snowdon a grandfather again

The Earl of Snowdon - the former Antony-Armstrong-Jones -- will have another stocking to fill on Christmas morning. The Earl's younger daughter, Lady Frances von Hoffmanstahl, gave birth to a daughter, Maud Dolores Diamond, on December 1. Maud joins her brother, Rex, who was born in 2008. Lady Frances is Lord Snowdon's only child by his second wife, Lucy Mary Davies, from whom he has lived apart for many years. She filed for divorce, but the divorce was never finalized.

Lord Snowdon is the acknowledged father of five children, three of whom are legitimate. He has two children, Viscount Linley, and Lady Sarah Chatto by his first wife, Princess Margaret, and Lady Frances.

He also has two children by women to whom he was not married. He has a son, Jasper by Country Life editor, Melanie Cable-Alexander. Jasper was registered with his mother's surname, and Lord Snowdon has limited contact with his younger son. Jasper was born in April 1998.

The fifth child -- or rather the first child - is Polly Fry, now Polly Higson, who was born May 28, 1960, while the newly married Antony Armstrong-Jones was on his honeymoon with Princess Margaret.
Jeremy Fry and his wife, Cosima, were very close friends of the future earl. In fact, Fry was Snowdon's first choice to be his best man, but he had to step down -- citing illness -- because he had been convicted of a "minor" homosexual offence, which was not made public at the time of the wedding.

The information about Polly was revealed in Anne de Courcy's "semi-authorized" biography, Snowdon: The Biography. She had known for some years that Snowdon could have been her father. In 2004, they had lunch and she asked for a DNA test. Snowdon reluctantly agreed, and the result was positive. Lord Snowdon is the father of Polly Fry Higson, who is married with five children.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/2059552/Lord-Snowdon-his-women-and-his-love-child.html

Thus, the Earl of Snowdon has five children and eleven grandchildren, although he does not have a relationship with Polly or her children.

(Alderson does get it wrong about the divorce. Lord and Lady Snowdon, although living apart, are not divorced. )

Queen Elisabeth has the flu

December 8, 1929

Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians "has been confined to her apartments for the last two weeks," as she recovers from influenza. Her physician has advised that she take "great care of herself" and rest "in view of the coming wedding ceremonies in Rome." Her condition is said "not to be alarming," according to the Associated Press.
On January 8, Elisabeth's daughter, Princess Marie-José, will marry Crown Prince Umberto of Italy.

In the meantime, Crown Prince Leopold and Crown Princess Astrid have returned to Ostend to rejoin their infant daughter, Josephine Charlotte.

Leopold in critical condition

December 8, 1909

The Chicago Daily Tribune reports today that King Leopold II of the Belgians is in "a grave critical condition." He suffered a stroke last Friday, and a second stroke on Monday. The report was received in London from Brussels on "private advices" was contradicted by an official statement from the palace in Brussels.
"The King is afflicted with muscular rheumatism which is extremely painful, but today he was able to walk about his apartments."
Despite this contradiction, it "is known positively that his condition is causing the utmost anxiety."
The heir to the throne is the king's nephew, Prince Albert, as his only son, Leopold, died at the age of nine from pneumonia.

Death of King Oscar II

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December 8, 1907

"We declare upon oath that his Majesty King Oscar II expired peacefully at 9:10 o'clock this morning in the castle at Stockholm, at the age of 78 years, 9 months and 17 days, as the result of calcification of the cerebral and cardiac blood vessels. Berg. Edgren, Flensberg."

King Oscar's eldest son, Crown Prince Gustav, has succeeded to the throne. He will be styled as King Gustav V.

The king's death "took place in the royal apartments of the palace, according to the New York Times, as members of the Swedish royal family assembled, including the Crown Prince, the elderly Queen Sophie, and "high ministers of state."

The "great crowds waiting outside the palace" learned that the king had died by the lowering of the palace flag to half-mast. Many began to cry at the loss of their "well-beloved" sovereign. All of Sweden is "stricken with grief," as King Oscar was more than a sovereign, "having endeared himself to them as an intimate and personal friend."

The king was unconscious for his final hours. His widow, Queen Sophie, "was grief-stricken, because he could not bid her farewell."

Government officials left the bedroom before the king died, leaving "Queen Sophie, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, knelt and prayed."
The new King Gustav V took the oath of office at 1 p.m. All of the "Princes of the blood" swore allegiance to the new king, who embraced and kissed them all, "giving his favorite brother, the giant Carl, a hearty slap on the back."

After the ceremony, the Cabinet resigned, but King Gustav V "begged the Ministers to remain at their posts and assist him as they so ably assisted his father."

Most of the Royal Family attended a memorial service later in the afternoon, except for Queen Sophie and the new queen consort, Victoria, who will arrive in Stockholm tomorrow. The service was conducted by Lutheran clergymen, "consisted of Scripture reading, singing of Psalms, and the delivery of a sympathetic sermon."

King Oscar "had been in failing health for some years," and many of his duties were performed by his son, who was appointed as Regent on several occasions, most recently earlier this week.

He reigned for nearly thirty-five years and had never forgotten that he "had sprung from the people," as the grandson of Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, a common soldier, who had been elected King of Sweden. In 1872, Oscar succeeded his brother, Carl XV, as King of Sweden and Norway.

King Oscar was the third son of King Oscar I and Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg. He was born on January 21, 1829, and bore the title, Duke of Ostergötland. His father wanted him to have a naval career, and Oscar entered the Navy at age 11. He also studied at Uppsala, where he showed an aptitude for mathematics. As his older brother, Carl, had no male heirs, and his second brother, Gustaf, had died in 1852 from typhoid fever, Oscar was the heir presumptive to the throne.

On June 6, 1857, Oscar married Princess Sophie of Nassau, the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Nassau. They had four sons, Gustav, Oscar, Carl, and Eugen. The new King Gustav V is married to Princess Victoria of Baden, and they have three sons, the new Crown Prince Gustav Adolf, Prince Vihelm, and Prince Erik.

In 1888, Prince Oscar lost his rights and titles upon marrying a Swedish commoner, Ebba Munck. Prince Carl is married to Princess Ingeborg of Sweden, and they have three daughters, Margaretha, Märtha, and Astrid. The youngest son, Prince Eugen, a noted artist, is not married.

Two years ago, Prince Gustaf Adolf married Princess Margaret of Connaught. They have two sons, Gustaf Adolf and Sigvard.

The new Queen Victoria is a granddaughter of Princess Sofia of Sweden, daughter of King Gustaf IV Adolf, who was deposed in 1809. Thus, King Gustav's children have the blood of the last king of the house of Holstein-Gottorp.

Princess Luise of Prussia - family snaps

I recently acquired these two photos of Princess Luise of Prussia, who died earlier this year, and her son, Manfred.

The first photo was taken in June 1943 at Haus Lehnitzsee, Neu Fahrland in Potsdam. The second photo was taken in 1949 at Schloss Nordkirchen, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Arenberg. Luise and her son found refuge with the Arenbergs after fleeing from their home in Potsdam in early 1945.

Death of Prince Dedo of Saxony

Prince Dedo of Saxony died on Sunday morning, December 6 in a nursing home in Radebeul, Germany. He was 87 years old. The prince had suffered two heart attacks since November 26.
Prince Dedo was the eldest of three sons of Princess Sophie of Luxembourg and Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony. The Prince was born at Schloss Moritzburg, where he and his family lived until the end of the second world war. In January 1945, Dedo and his brother, Gero, buried forty crates of gold and jewels, worth approximately 500 million euros, in a forest near Moritzburg The digging took three days, and the family possessions were buried. Prince Dedo believed that one day, the family would return to Dresden, and the crates would be found.
The family fled west. Dedo, Gero and their brother, Timo, went to Ireland with their father and stepmother, where they bought a farm. Dedo and Gero emigrated to Canada in 1969, settling in Picton, Ontario, where they also farmed. They became Irish citizens and took the surname Saxony.
In Picton, the two princes ran a vegetable and fruit farm, and raised bees and sold honey. Dedo and Gero, neither of whom married, would spend their winters in Florida.
Gero died in 2003.
Soviet soldiers did find a portion of the Saxony treasure, and treasure hunters dug up the rest in 1996. Nearly all of the possessions were returned. In 1999, Saxony signed an agreement with the eight surviving members of the family, and agreed to pay restitution, Prince Dedo received three million euros. In his final years, Prince Dedo longed to return home. Due his poor health, he was under the care of his nephew, Prince Rüdiger,'s girlfriend, a medical doctor. Rüdiger is the son of Dedo's late brother, of Prince Timo.
The Margrave of Meissen, who is the head of the house, told the Bild newspaper: "My cousin truly deserves to rest next to our ancestors in the family tomb." He has asked officials to allow Dedo to be buried in Dresden.
The Margrave is Prince Dedo's first cousin.

Danes do not want royal garters cut

December 7, 1907

German weddings, including royal weddings, include a rather "indelicate" tradition. It is customary for the bride's garters to be cut up and distributed to the wedding guests. This tradition, according to a New York Times article, is not sitting well with the Danish Court, which has raised "the question, maintaining that it is a "barbarously indelicate' thing to spread broadcast bits of the elastic that has kept a young woman's stockings from dropping down about her ankles."

The Danish court will propose to prevent this custom from taking place when Princess Dagmar marries the Kaiser's son, Prince Adalbert.

Princess Dagmar, 17, is the youngest child of King Frederik VIII and Queen Louise.

Officials at the Danish court are fully aware that royal brides do not remove their garters, as replacement garters are cut up and the bits are given out. They do not even want "the make-believe distribution."

It is understood that Kaiser Wilhelm II will acquiesce to the Danes' protest.

Both photos, Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection

 
Dagmar's oldest brother, Crown Prince Christian, is married to Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, whose sister, Cecilie, is married to Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany, Adalbert's older brother.

Final details, including the wedding date, have yet to be announced.

Queen Amelie hates Portugal

December 7, 1907

Queen Amelie of Portugal loves France. This is not a surprise, as the Queen is a member of the House of Orléans. She has been "enjoying herself" in the last few days as the guest of the Duchess of Uzes. The Queen and a friend were out riding, when the friend said to her: "This is better than being in Portugal, your Majesty." Queen Amelie responded: "O what a bore to return there!"
The Queen's remarks were reported in the Los Angeles Times. Amelie, however, can do "entirely pleased" during her visit to France. She had desired to "make an ascent" in a dirigible balloon, but her husband, King Carlos, sent her a telegram: "The Queen of Portugal shall not go up in a balloon."
Recently, she wrote to the queen of another country, asking that she "bring about the recall of that nation's representation to Lisbon."
Amelie wrote to the unnamed queen:"While his wife is at court, I am the second lady of the land."