Princess Marie receives Grand Cross of the Order of Crown of Romania

@Daniel Angelescu

@Daniel Angelescu

Princess Marie of Romania, who will celebrate her 50th birthday on July 13, received an early birthday present earlier this week when she was invested with Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Romania.

The honor was bestowed on her by her father, King Michael, but as he was unable to be present for the ceremony,  Crown Princess Margarita had the honor of investing her sister with the honor.

The order was established by King Carol I on May 10, 1881.  

A dinner at the Elisabeta Palace was held in honor of the Order.  Crown Princess Margarita was accompanied by her husband, Prince Radu, and her nephew, Prince Nicholas, and Princess Marie.
Political officials, including the Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, were also present for the dinner and musical entertainment that followed.

http://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/imagini-de-la-seara-palatului-elisabeta-7-mai-2014/

Archduke Felix charged with fleeing Austria with Silver

Embed from Getty Images 

 May 8, 1938

German authorities have "issued a warrant for arrest" of Archduke Felix of Austria,  reports the Associated Press.

The 20-year-old archduke is a younger brother of Archduke Otto, head of the "non-existent Austrian throne."


Archduke Felix has been charged with theft of $900 "worth of silverware and linen," which prosecutors claim he stole when he was a cadet at the military academy at Weiner Neustadt.  He allegedly fled Austria on March 11 with the items.

He is said to be staying with his mother, former Empress Zita, and Archduke Otto in Belgium   Another warrant was recently issued for the arrest of Archduke Otto on a "charge of high treason."

The silverware is described as State property, which had been lent to the academy by the Imperial Palace depository for Archduke Felix's "temporary use."

After the fall of the empire,  Habsburg treasurers were "taken over by the State,"  but members of the family were allowed to use the items, as their "legal status" remains undetermined.

One member of the former ruling family appears "satisfied" with the new regime.  Archduke Anton, who is married to Princess Ileana of Romania, sister of King Carol II,  was "busy gardening" at his home, Schloss Sonnberg, near Salzburg.

Princess Ileana spoke for her husband when she said: "We are entirely happy here.  Anton and I have been to Berlin lately, where we had a splendid time."

Germans forcing monarch on Finns

May 8, 1918

It appears that there is little doubt that a monarchy "will be proclaimed in Finland," reports the Associated Press in a dispatch from Stockholm.  The German candidate is Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, an uncle of the Crown Princess of Germany.

There are a number of reactionary forces in Finland, which has had the "most democratic" constitution in Europe, which will be remodeled on "more autocratic lines."

Socialists and Democrats have been banned for favoring the rebellion.  Russian Bolsheviks are said to be fomenting further problems with a "reign of terror and anarchy."   The Bolsheviks are against the idea of "democratic freedom," and many Finns would vote for a republic.

Canadian legislator opposed to duke of Teck

May 8, 1914

The New York Times reports today that there was "much excitement" in Canada's House of Commons when the Hon. H. R. Emmerson, Minister of the Railways and Canals in the "late Liberal Administration," who referred to the announcement that Prince Alexander of Teck, brother of Queen Mary, has been appointed as the new Governor General of Canada.

Emmerson, the former premier of New Brunswick, said he "hoped the report was not true."  

In the lobby of the House of Commons, he told the New York Times: "My objection to royalty, and foreign royalty, being brought to Canada.  We have gone the limit with the Duke of Connaught. If necessary,  I would be prepared  to move a condemnatory resolution."

Emmerson's statement has become the "chief topic" in Ottawa.  The New York Times has tried to ascertain the views of the "rank and file of the Members of Parliament.  A number of MPs have been interviews, and some share "sympathy" with Mr. Emmerson's views. Others have hesitated to be "quoted" as being opposed to Prince Alexander's appointment.

The Duchess of Cornwall opens new medical training facility

all photos @Chloe Howard

 

The Duchess of Cornwall today opened a new armed forces medical training base at DMS Whittington.

Thank you to Chloe Howard, who was present for today's opening, for allowing me to use her superb photos.   She owns the copyright.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-27314228


http://www.royalcentral.co.uk/charlesandcamilla/duchess-of-cornwall-shows-support-for-raf-leemy-and-defence-medical-services-29748

Prince Jean Napoleon, Countess Olympia Arco together in NYC

Prince Jean, Edouard de Bernis & Countess Olympia
@ Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com.

On May 1, 2014  Prince Jean Napoleon and Countess Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg were among the guests at the Victoire! gala celebrating the Louvre and Winged Victori at New York City's Bleecker Street Arts Club.

The event was the annual gala hosted by the Young Patrons Circle of American Friends of the Louvre.

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/young-patrons-circle-of-american-friends-of-the-louvre-hosts-victoire-7667723?src=rss/fashion/20140505

The 27-year-old Prince Jean, head of the Bonaparte family, has been London-based since last August when he began working for Advent International as a Private Equity Associate.  

Countess Olympia, a Yale grad, is the third of six daughters of Count Riprand von Arco-Zinneberg and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria.  Olympia's uncle, Lorenz, is married to Princess Astrid of Belgium. 

Prince Jean and Countess Olympia have been rumored to be in a serious relationship for several years now.  Perhaps they will both be guests at the upcoming wedding of Olympia's first cousin, Prince Amedeo of Belgium and Elisabetta Rosboch von Wolkenstein.

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/12/engagement-for-jean-christophe-prince.html

Thank to  Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com. for allowing me to use the photo (and the Young Patrons Facebook page).

Franco bars Carlos and Irene from Spain

May 5, 1964

The newly married Prince Carlos Hugo and Princess Irene of Bourbon-Parma will not be settling in Madrid, "as they planned, according to Reuters.

Generalissimo Francisco Franco has "forbidden" the couple to live in Spain.  He also said that neither the prince nor his wife, the former Princess Irene of the Netherlands, were eligible for Spanish nationality.  He added that Prince Carlos Hugo, a citizen of France, "should refrain from making political propaganda in Spain."

Prince Carlos Hugo applied for Spanish citizenship two months ago.  His father is the Carlist pretender to the Spanish throne.

Godparents for Beatrix announced

May 5, 1938

King Leopold III of the Belgians has "accepted" Princess Juliana's invitation to be one of the godparents for her daughter, Princess Beatrix.

The baptism will take place next week.  The other godparents are Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, a first cousin of Queen Wilhelmina,  Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg,  Princess Elisabeth of Erbach-Schönburg and Countess Allene Kotzbue.

Nicholas, Alexandra, daughter transferred to Ekaterinburg

A Soviet artist captures the arrival

May 5, 1918

The Associated Press is reporting from Moscow that former Emperor Nicholas II, his wife, Alexandra, and one of their daughters, "have been transferred from Tobolsk to Ekaterinburg, according to a Soviet announcement.

Ekaterinburg is about 170 southeast of Perm "on the Asiatic side of the Ural mountains."

The "transfer was ordered" due to "alleged efforts of peasants and monarchists" in the Tobolsk area who were promoting the escape of the prisoners.

The announcement did not mention the former heir apparent, "young Alexis Romanoff."

Last month, Scandinavia sources reported that there had been "serious rioting in Petrograd," and that Alexis had been proclaimed as Emperor with Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich as Regent.  Michael is Nicholas II's younger brother.

However, no reports are coming from Russia to "confirm" the Scandinavian dispatches.  The British House of Commons has stated that the Foreign Office has not received an "official confirmation of the report of a counter-revolution in Petrograd."

Some have ascribed these reports as "German inspiration." 

Former Grand Duke Alexis' whereabouts have not been indicated in the press reports.

The former emperor and his family have been prisoners at Tobolsk in Western Siberia, since August 1917.

Queen Eleonore has postponed US trip

May 5, 1914

Queen Eleonore of Bulgaria has postponed her trip to the United States, reports the New York Times.

According to William Casper, the special representative for the Queen's visit, said: "Her Majesty doubtless felt that in the uncertainty of the Mexican situation it would be wise to postpone her trip until the Fall.  I have instructions to make arrangements for her trip at that time. 

 The Queen has been gratified to learn of the numerous invitations that have been extended to her and for the interest shown in the trip she contemplated, and I hope to be able to make out an itinerary that will be very similar to that which I had tentatively prepared."

Queen's fourth child christened

Embed from Getty Images 

 May 2, 1964

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's youngest child, Prince Edward, was baptized today in the private chapel at Windsor Castle, reports Reuters.

The little prince, now 8 weeks old, has five godparents: Prince Richard of Gloucester, the Duchess of Kent, the Earl of Snowdon, Princess Georg Wilhelm of Hannover, (Prince Philip's sister, Sophie); and Prince Philip's cousin, Prince Ludwig of Hesse and By Rhine.

The new prince's full name is Edward, Antony (for Lord Snowdon), Richard (for the Duke of Gloucester), and Louis for Prince Ludwig.


He wore the "royal christening robe of Honiton lace," first worn at the baptism of Queen Victoria's first child, Princess Victoria, in 1841. 

Prince Edward's elder siblings, Prince of Wales, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew, were at the ceremony and heard their "baby brother give a small cry" when sprinkled with water, from the Jordan River.

Neither the Duchess of Kent nor Princess Margaret attended the ceremony.  The Duchess of Kent was represented at the baptism by her mother-in-law, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. 

The Duchess gave birth to a daughter on April 28.  Princess Margaret gave birth to her second child, a daughter, yesterday.

The doctors and midwives who attended the birth were also invited to the baptism.

Prussia-Russia marriage: Louiss Ferdinand and Kira marry twice

Embed from Getty Images

May 2, 1938

Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia and Grand Duchess Kira of Russia were married today in a civil ceremony at Schloss Cecilienhof this morning, reports the Associated Press.

Potsdam's marriage clerk came to the castle to perform the wedding in the castle's library.  Normally, civil weddings take place at Potsdam's city hall.

Former Crown Prince Wilhelm, the groom's father, and Grand Duke Kirill, the bride's father, were the only witnesses for the civil wedding.

As the civil wedding occurred,  guests assembled in the castle's great hall for the Russian Orthodox service.  The guests included 61 men and women "of royal blood beside the bridal pair and their parents," 26 counts and countesses and other nobles, and eleven commoners.

An altar was set up in a "spacious bay window" in the great all.  A Russian chorus of "sixteen voices sang from an alcove to the left of the altar."

Grand Duchess Kira, the younger daughter of Grand Duke Kirill and his late wife, Victoria, wore a "gown of richly embroidered silver brocade, nealy 100 years old," a court dress," that belonged to her grandmother, Grand Duchess Marie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia.

The bride and groom entered the hall together.   She wore a diadem of "Russian crown jewels," and carried "a bouquet of white carnations and orchids."

Grand Duchess Kira and Prince Louis Ferdinand "held burning white candles adorned with white ribbons" during part of the wedding, and their vows were made with a "very audible 'yeas'"

This was a private family wedding. No members of reigning royal families were invited except for Queen Alexandrine of Denmark.   Queen Alexandrine is the sister of former Crown Princess Cecilie, the groom's mother.

Queen Alexandrine was accompanied by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark. No high members of the German government attended the wedding. 

Other guests included former King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, the brothers and sisters of the Crown Prince and their families, the groom's brothers and sisters, Archduke Anton and Archduchess Ileana of Austria, and the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha,

The newlyweds will now travel to Doorn where a Lutheran wedding will take place in the presence of Prince Louis Ferdinand's grandfather, former Kaiser Wilhelm II.

A need to know basis!

FYI:  Prince Harry partied in Miami last night ... just in case you wanted to know ...

He is en route to Memphis to attend the wedding of Guy Pelly and Elizabeth Wilson on Saturday.

http://blogs.herald.com/scene_in_the_tropics/2014/05/newly-single-prince-harry-parties-in-miami.html

Archduke Karl at Commonwealth Club

@Empress Rouge

@Empress Rouge

@Empress Rouge

@Empress Rouge

HI & RH Archduke Karl of Austria, head of the former ruling house of Austria,  spoke last night at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.  Thank you to Empress Rouge and Art Beeche for allowing me to use their photos.

@ Art Beeche

@ Art Beeche

Here is a link to the audio of the event:

http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/archive/podcast/archduke-karl-von-habsburg-modern-monuments-man-43014

 

A royal wedding at Darmstadt

April 30, 1884 

Princess Victoria of Hesse and By Rhine, eldest daughter of the Grand Duke, was married today to Prince Louis of Battenberg.

The town of Darmstadt was "profusely decorated with flags" in honor of the wedding, and people lined the streets for a glimpse of the couple, reports the New York Times.

After the civil wedding, the bride was led to the palace chapel, by her paternal grandmother, Princess Karl of Hesse and By Rhine.   They were followed by a procession led by Queen Victoria, the bride's maternal grandmother, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Germany, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Wilhelm of Germany, and  Prince Alexander of Bulgaria, the groom's brother.

In the "bridal procession,"  Princess Victoria and Prince Louis walked "between the Princesses of Battenberg.  When they exchanged their rings at the altar, "a salute of 36 guns was fired.

At the end of the ceremony,  Queen Victoria "embraced the couple."   Princess Victoria wore her mother, Princess Alice's, bridal veil.   Princess Alice died from diphtheria in 1878.

Apart from Queen Victoria, the wedding guests attended the evening banquet.  The only toast offered was to "the health" of the newlyweds. 

Afterward, Prince and Princess Louis left for Jugenheim "amid the plaudits of throngs of people.

The Times described the wedding as a "touching and imposing spectacle."

Queen Victoria wore a "black silk dress, with a wide coiffure of lace, diamond ornaments, and various orders. She entered the chapel "with a firm step", and was seated to the left of the altar.  The Grand Duke with his youngest daughter, Princess Alix, and Princesses Louise, Victoria, and Maud of Wales, all in white, was the next to arrive.

Crown Prince Friedrich of Germany, "knightly and stalwart, as ever," escorted the Princess of Wales, dressed in a "lovely robe of white, with a sparking diadem of gems and various orders."  The Prince of Wales, wearing the uniform of a British Field Marshal, led his sister, the German Crown Princess to a place on the left of the altar.

Prince Wilhelm of Prussia escorted Princess Beatrice, who "wore a rich white dress," made from Indian material, with "diamonds and orders."  Prince Albert Victor of Wales escorted the Landgravine of Hesse and Prince Henry of Prussia led his sister, the Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen.  The Prince of  Bulgaria, "tall, dark, and soldier-like," escorted Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and By Rhine.  

Princess Elisabeth, the second daughter of the Grand Duke of Hesse and By Rhine, is betrothed to Grand Duke Serge of Russia.

Princess Victoria was "arrayed" in a "lustrous and exquisite Duchesse satin robe with a long flowing train, bridal view, diamonds and wreath of myrtle" on her head. 

One of the younger guests,  Queen Victoria's great-granddaughter, Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen watched the wedding from the opposite side of the altar, "near the organ."  It was in this area where the wedding photograph was taken.

The bride's veil did not cover her face.  She had no bridesmaids.

In commemorating the wedding, the bride's father, Grand Duke Ludwig,  "pardoned several prisoners."