Catching up on news

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May 13, 1896


The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Duke of Cambridge will attend a performance tonight of La Favorita at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

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The Grand Duchess was born Princess Augusta of Cambridge and is the Duke of Cambridge's sister.  Duchess Marie is her elder granddaughter.

The condition of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria, a brother of Emperor Franz Josef, beginning to "cause concern," according to a telegram from the Times' Vienna correspondent.    The "internal malady" from which he suffers is now "complicated by a great weakness."  Empress Elisabeth visited the archduke earlier today, and "remained with him for some time."

Prince George hailed for saving life of Tsarevitch

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May 13, 1891

St. Petersburg newspapers are full of warm praise for the "gallantry of Prince George of Greece," the companion of Tsarevitch Nicholas, heir to the Russia throne.  The two young men, who are first cousins, were traveling together in Otsu, Japan, when Nicholas was attacked.    Prince George felled Nicholas' assailant, and, thus, saved his life, reports the New York Times.

The newspapers noted that the Russian people will never forget Prince George's bravery and actions.

There was much concern in the city about the Tsarevitch's condition, and "great rejoicing" when it was announced that he had not been "dangerously wounded."

The first reports from Japan were "exaggerated," and there was a "decided feeling of relief" when it became known that the heir had not been killed.

When Nicholas' mother, Empress Marie received word of the would-be "murderous attack" on her son, she exclaimed: "He is dead. You are hiding the truth from me," and then she "fell into a faint."

New Princess has a name

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May 13, 1926


It was "officially announced" earlier today that the newborn daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York will be named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, reports the New York Times.

Elizabeth is the Christian name of the Duchess of York.  Mary is in honor of Queen Mary, the mother of the Duke of York, and Alexandra is in honor of the late Queen Mother, who was born Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

The new princess will be known as Princess Elizabeth of York.

Princess Radziwill is dead at 84

May 12, 1941


Mrs. Charles Louis Kolb-Danvin died tonight in New York City, reports the New York Times.  She was 84.  She was formerly Princess Catherine Radziwill, the daughter of a czarist Russian army officer.   Well known "as a writer and lecturer under her title of Princess,"  Mrs. Kolb-Danvin was a naturalized American citizen.   She also converted to the Roman Catholic faith.

She died at St. Clare's Hospital, having entered the hospital on April 15, after suffering a hip fracture.

 She "continued her writing efforts" until a few hours before her death, as she insisted that her "knowledge of Europe would be of great value in the present world crisis."

The former princess was the daughter of Count Adam Rzewuski, a Russian army officer.    She wrote often of "many episodes of a youth spent close to the throne of the czars."

She married Prince Adam Karl Wilhelm Radziwill in 1873, and they settled in Berlin.  He died in 1910.   The couple had three children.  A son, Prince Vladislav, was killed in action in East Prussia during the World War.

During her time in Berlin, the princess worked as secretary to Empress Friedrich, widow of Friedrich III.

Her second husband was Charles Louis Kolb-Danvin, an Alsatian by birth, who was living in Stockholm when they married.  He was an "exporter engaged in trade with English and Dutch concerns."

Her most recent residence was at the Hotel Orleans at 100 West 80th Street.  She is survived by two daughters, both of whom are said to be living in Germany.

[Catherine and her first husband actually had seven children: Anna (1874-1875), Victoria (1876-1966), Ada (1877-1966), Anna Maria (1878-1968), Raphael (1880-1914), Alfred (1882-1883) and Dimitrius (1888-1903)

Grand Dukes in disguise

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May 12, 1906


Grand Dukes Alexis and Boris were "smuggled out of Paris" several days ago in disguise, as police are not able to "answer for their safety," reports the Washington Post.

Grand Duke Alexis was living in an apartment on the Avenue de Iena with his mistress,  Caroline Baletta.

Grand Duke Vladimir remains in Paris and is staying at the Continental Hotel with his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.  He "never ventures out" without her, as he knows anarchists will not "attempt to kill him if his wife is with him.

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Grand Duke Serge's assassin waited until he left his palace without his wife, Grand Duchess Elisabeth, before tossing the bomb that killed the grand duke.

Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia (1924-2016)

Eurohistory Collection

Eurohistory collection

Princess Barbara and Prince Alexander   Eurohistory Collection

Princess Olga with her son   Eurohistory Collection 

Count Hans-Veit zu Toerring-Jettenbach with his first cousin, Alexander, and his Aunt Olga  Eurohistory Collection

Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia died today in Paris.  He was 91 years old.   Prince Alexander was the eldest of three children of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, a first cousin of King Alexander I, and Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark.

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Alexander was born at White Lodge in Richmond Park, in England on August 13, 1924.   His mother's younger sister, Princess Marina, was married in 1934 to Prince George, Duke of Kent.

A month before the wedding,  King Alexander was assassinated in Marseilles, while on a state visit to France.  Although Prince Paul (and his male line descendants) did not have dynastic rights to the throne, he was named as one of three Regents for the minor King Peter II, the eldest of three sons of King Alexander.

Prince Alexander spent most of his life in exile,   He met his first wife, Princess Maria Pia of Italy, eldest child of King Umberto II and Princess Marie José of Belgium,  in August 1954, when both were among the royal guests on the Agamemnon, hosted by King Paul and Queen Frederika of the Hellenes.

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The marriage took place on February 12, 1955 at Cascais, Portugal, where Maria Pia's father lived.  Maria Pia gave birth to two sets of twins during their marriage: Prince Dimitri Umberto Anton Peter Maria and Prince Michael Nicolas Paul George Maria (1958) and Prince Serge Wladimir Emanuel Marie and Princess Helene Olga Lydia Tamara Maria (1963). The younger set of twins are not close to their legal father.

The children were baptized and raised in the Roman Catholic faith.

Prince Alexander and Princess Maria Pia were divorced in 1967.   He married for a second time, in a civil ceremony in Paris, in 1973 to Princess Barbara of Liechtenstein.  They had one son, Prince Dushan Paul, who was born in 1977.

[Princess Maria Pia married again in 2003 to her long time companion, Prince Michel of Bourbon-Parma.]

Prince Alexander will be interred in the Royal Mausoleum at Oplenac.   He is survived by his wife and children and his younger sister, Princess Elizabeth.

Crown Prince Alexander expresses sorrow for death of Prince Alexander.

 "It was with sadness that I received the news of passing away of His Royal Highness Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic, the eldest son of Their Royal Highnesses the late Prince Paul and Princess Olga. He left his widowed wife, Her Royal Highnesses Princess Barbara and five children.
My wife, the entire Royal House and I join in extending our condolences and deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased Prince. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family at this sad time."


http://inserbia.info/today/2016/05/prince-alexander-karadjordjevic-dies-at-91/

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The death notice for HSH The Prince of Castell-Castell

The second one is from the town of Castell.  The announcement includes the SD (HSH).

Celebrating 150 years of the Romanian Crown

The 150th Anniversary of the Romanian Crown

On Tuesday, 10 May 2016, the House of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania held a series of events in Bucharest and Sinaia to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Romanian Crown.

In 2016, the Royal Family celebrates the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Carol I in Romania, the founding of the Royal Dynasty, and the promulgation of the 1866 Constitution.

At half past ten, there was a military ceremony, at which floral wreaths were laid at the Statue of King Carol I in Bucharest’s Royal Palace Square. The soldiers of the Michael the Brave Thirtieth Regimental Guard presented arms and the regimental band played. In attendance were Crown Princess Margareta the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Prince Radu, Princess Elena, Mr Alexander Philips Nixon (the husband of Princess Elena), Princess Sofia, and Archduchess Maria-Magdalena of Austria, the daughter of Princess Ileana of Romania.

At twenty past one on the terrace of the Peleș Royal Castle in Sinaia, a ceremony was held, at which the Royal Standard was raised on the flagpole of the castle tower. On 10 May 2016, the Royal Standard was flown from the castle for the first time since 1947. The ceremony was attended by the staff of the House of His Majesty the King from the Elisabeta Palace and Săvîrșin Castle, the Band of the National Ministry of Defence, the staff of the Peleș National Museum, and guests of the Royal Family who had arrived from abroad to celebrate the 150-year Jubilee. The Royal Standard was raised on the arrival of Crown Princess Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown. In attendance were Prince Radu, Princess Elena, Mr Alexander Philips Nixon, Princess Sofia, Princess Maria, and Archduchess Maria-Magdalena of Austria.

During the course of the afternoon, the traditional Garden Party and Gala Concert were held in the royal park of Peleș Castle.

Entrance was free of charge to all those who wished to be together with the Royal Family to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Romania’s Royal House.

The Army Orchestra gave a wonderful concert, which was listened to with pleasure by the thousands of people gathered on the castle terrace and the lawn of the royal park.

In the Italian Room, the Moorish Room and the Florentine Room, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Margareta, Prince Radu, Princess Elena, Princess Sofia and Princess Maria, together with Mr Alexander Philips Nixon and Archduchess Maria Magdalena of Austria, met leading figures from cultural, scientific and educational life, important representatives of civil society, the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, the Mosaic Religion, and the Islamic Religion, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps.

At six o’clock, the Royal Family went out onto the castle balcony to greet those gathered for the anniversary. The Royal Anthem was sung. Three aeroplanes of the Aerobatic Yakers flew over the royal park.

Half an hour later, the Gala Concert began. The musicians performed on an open-air stage on the castle terrace. Images of the concert were shown on two large screens for the benefit of those on the lawn.

The concert was given by an expanded Royal Chamber Orchestra, whose guests were conductor Tiberiu Soare, violinist Remus Azoiței, and tenor Teodor Ilincăi.

The repertoire included First Rhapsody by Georges Enesco, Ballad by Ciprian Porumbescu, Torna a Surriento by Ernesto de Curtis, The Waves of the Danube by Josif Ivanovich, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns, O, sole mio, by Eduardo di Capua, Hora Staccato by Grigoras Dinicu, Nessun Dorma from the opera Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, and The Royal Anthem by Eduard Hübsch.

The Royal Family listened to the concert from the terrace of Peleș Castle.

Romanians from all over the country and from the Republic of Moldova were in attendance. Leading figures from Spain, Great Britain, Switzerland, Serbia, Russia, the United States of America, Germany, and Austria were also present.

All photos: @office of King Michael of Romania

Will the Duchess of Cambridge become the new Wimbledon patron?

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There have been reports that the Duchess of Cambridge will succeed Queen Elizabeth II as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Racket Club,  better known as Wimbledon.  This has led to comments that the Duchess, who is a keen fan of tennis, will be presenting the trophies to the winners.  However, the presentation job has been largely carried out by the Club's president, and not the patron.

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Members of the British Royal family have supported the All-England championships since 1907, when the Prince of Wales and his wife, Mary visited the club, then located on Worple Road in London.  The Prince of Wales was asked he would be accept the presidency of the club, and he said yes.  He remained the president until 1910, when he succeeded to the throne as King George V.  He remained the Club's Patron.

Queen Mary loved tennis, and she and her husband opened the Church road ground in 1922.  They were accompanied by their sons, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York.   In 1926,  the Duke of York competed in Men's Doubles with Louis Greig, but they were defeated in the first round.

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It is the Kent branch of the Royal Family that has the strongest ties to the All-England club.  In 1929 Prince George (later the Duke of Kent) became the President of the All-England club.  He remained in that position until his death in 1942.  His wife, Marina, the Duchess of Kent, took over the position, and attended Wimbledon for the next 23 years.  She died in August 1968, and her elder son, Edward, the Duke of Kent, succeeded her as President.  He and his wife, Katharine, have presented the trophies since then, although the Duchess retired from this duty several years ago.

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No official announcement has been made regarding new patronages for the Duchess of Cambridge.  A Wimbledon spokesman said: "They will let us know when the change happens. We will just be told.  Until we hear otherwise I can only assume that the Duke will hand out prizes as usual."

The Duke of Kent turned 80 years old last October.  Has anyone considered the possibility that he is planning to step down as President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Racket Club, and the Duchess of Cambridge will be named as his successor.   Isn't it more plausible that the Queen, who is the Sovereign, will remain Patron until she dies, and her son, King Charles III, will be the new patron.

I would think that being the President of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Racket Club includes more duties than handing out the trophies to the winners.  The President also attends meetings and other events, which have been reported in the Court Circular.  The President is the working role.

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a Noble-Princely engagement

The Hon C. Astor and Princess Eliane de Merode


The engagement is announced between Charles, only son of Lord and Lady Astor of Hever, of Westerham, Kent, and Eliane, only daughter of Prince and Princess Léonel de Merode, of Westerlo, Belgium.

The Princess is a graduate of Vesalius College in Brussels (2012).

http://www.vesalius.edu/testimonials/eliane-de-merode-international-affairs-major-class-of-2012-2/

Princess Eliane Marie Ghislaine of Merode was born at Charleville-Mézieres on march 20, 1990. The youngest of four children of Prince Léonel Amaury Marie Chislaine of Merode and Countess Régine Philippine Marie Josephe Ghislaine of Liedekerke.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliane-de-merode-3a334737?authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=FTfd&locale=fr_FR&srchid=178153761462854529063&srchindex=1&srchtotal=1&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A178153761462854529063%2CVSRPtargetId%3A129239403%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary%2CVSRPnm%3Atrue%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH

The Hon. Charles Gavin John Astor is the only son of John Astor, 4th Baron Astor of Hever, and his second wife, the Hon, Elizabeth Mackintosh, younger daughter of the 2nd Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax.  Charles was born on November 10, 19990.  He is the heir apparent to his father's barony.   He has three older half sisters from his father's first marriage and a younger sister.

Lord Astor serves as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence.

Charles is the great-grandson of John Jacob Astor (1886-1871), the fourth child of William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor, and Mary Dahlgren Paul.  Astor was five years old when his family left the United States to live in England.  He grew up at Cliveden.  William Waldorf Astor also purchased and restored Hever Castle in Kent, once the home of Anne Boleyn.  The Astor family sold Hever Castle and its collection in 1983 to Broadlands Properties Ltd.

The Hon. John Jacob Astor was created 1st Baron Astor of Hever in 1956,  This branch of the Astor family are also in line for the Astor Viscountcy.

Cliveden is now a luxury hotel. http://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/

Remembering the last Prince of Castell-Castell

Vittorio Emanuele abdicates

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May 9, 1946

King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy has "bowed to the inevitable" and abdicated his throne today.  He was king for forty-five years and nine months.  He signed the act of abdication in favor of his only son Crown Prince Umberto, the Prince of Piedmont.

The new king will be styled Umberto II.  He will take the oath as king tomorrow, and will also make a publication proclamation, reports the New York Times.  Umberto is already king, and his father is already at sea "into exile, probably in Egypt."

Vittorio Emanuele and Queen Elena left Posillipo at 7:30 p.m., and boarded the cruiser Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi.  The cruiser is said to be en route to Egypt, and is escorted by two destroyers.

The news of the king's abdication "spread through Rome this evening," with little fanfare, and "roused little reaction."

Only 300 people turned up for a monarchist demonstration outside the palace this evening.   Another group of about 100 monarchists, mostly sailors, moved through the city, cheering and waving the flags of the House of Savoy.  There was some discussion on whether they should process to the Quirinal, but their "leaders persuaded them to disband on the ground that they were too few," and should return tomorrow for a possible larger demonstration.

The king's abdication had been rumored for the past three months, and in the last month, it had "become a virtual certainty."   Vittorio Emanuele has always been "notoriously stubborn,"  and has been "freely criticized in monarchist circles as selfish" for his refusal to abdicate, although it was seen as the only way of "preserving the monarchy."

Umberto may be as unpopular as his father, but at least he does not "bear the ultimate burden of responsibility for the past twenty-five years' events in Italy."

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This morning, Umberto flew to Naples to have a final meeting with his father before meeting with government officials including Premier de Gasperi at the Quirinal.

As King, Vittorio Emanuele had "moments of popularity," during his reign.  In 1929, cheering crowds were outside the Quirinal when he arrived "at an agreement with the Vatican" ending nearly 50 years of hostility between the Italian government and the Holy See.

Umbro is a "more popular figure" but the Left will not let anyone forget that he "never showed marked disapproval of the Fascist regime while it was still prospering."

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King Umberto has been married to Princess Marie José of Belgium since 1930, who now becomes Queen.  Marie José is the sister of King Leopold III of the Belgians.

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The King and Queen have four children:  Princess Maria Pia, 11, Prince Vittorio Emanuele, 9,  Princess Maria Gabriella, 6, and three-year-old Princess Maria Beatrice.

The young Vittorio Emanuele, has the title Prince of Naples, and is now the heir apparent to the Italian throne.

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Message from the Custodian of the Crown to mark the 10th of May

Today we celebrate together the 150th anniversary of Prince Carol I’s swearing of the oath of faith to our country. The same year, the Sovereign promulgated the constitution that defined our country as “a single indivisible state, named Romania.”

They were the hardest and most blessed years in our history. Never have we known such sacrifice and suffering, but never have we enjoyed so much development and freedom.

Over the course of one and a half centuries, the Crown has given Romanians confidence and pride; it has provided an example and enthusiasm, always showing the path forward. The Crown’s beneficial influence on society has increased from one generation to the next.

The country’s Kings and Queens have contributed to the creation of a modern Romania, to the construction of our civil society, politics, economy, educational system, and culture. They have served the interests of the nation with loyalty, love, and faith.

The Crown is a part of our national identity, and our King and country are today united in mutual trust and respect.

The best way of showing our love for His Majesty King Michael is to be patriotic, to demonstrate civic awareness, and to respect each other.

The Royal Family will always be united with the Romanian people and will continue to do what they have always done: to join with all their strength in building a dignified, stable and prosperous Romania.

So help us God!

Margareta

Custodian of the Romanian Crown

The Elisabeta Palace, 9 May 2016

HSH Albrecht Prince of Castell-Castell (1925-2016)

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HSH Albrecht Friedrich Carl,  Prince of Castell-Castell died yesterday (May 8).  He was 90 years old.

Albrecht was only 19-years-old when he succeeded his father, Carl, as head of the House of Castell-Castell, who was killed in action near Caslau, Bohemia, on May 10, 1945.  Seven months earlier,  Albrecht's elder brother, the Hereditary Count Philipp, had been killed in action on October 21, 1944, in Poland.

He married at Arolsen on May 23, 1951 Princess Marie Louise of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1930).

The couple had eight children, six of whom of survive:  Philippa, Princess Michael zu Salm-Salm (1952), who is married to Prince Michael of Salm-Salm, Johanna, Princess Johannes von Lobkowicz, (1952), Alexander (1954), Georg (1956), Hereditary Count Ferdinand (1965),  and Stephanie Countess Georg von Khevenhüller-Metsch (1966).    Two children, Hereditary Count Maximilian (1953-1974) and Countess Christina (1962- 1964) predeceased their father.

His family businesses include a winery, agriculture and forestry, and he co-ran the Fürstliche Castell Bank.


http://www.mainpost.de/regional/kitzingen/Fuerstinnen-und-Fuersten-Tod-und-Trauer;art773,9218506

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The Prince is succeeded by his fourth, but third surviving son, Ferdinand Friedrich Carl, who is married to Countess Marie-Gabrielle von Degenfeld-Schonburg.  They have five children: Carl, now the hereditary count, Benedicta, Leontina, Floriana and Johannes.

The two older sons,  Alexander and Georg married non-titled women, and lost their rights.

http://www.castell.de/

http://www.mainpost.de/regional/kitzingen/Fuerstinnen-und-Fuersten;art773,8868518

Searching for a royal bride for Charles

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May 5, 1956


Today in the Washington Post is an article. "All ready the search is on for a Royal Bride for Prince Charles."    The heir apparent is only seven years old and is not yet aware that his interest will one day focus on a future bride -- "one who must be royal, or at least of the purest blue blood," if she is to become his Queen.

Some Britons are "beginning to show concern" over the "restricted romantic prospects" of the future Prince of Wales.  There was an "overtone of pathos" in one London newspaper discussing the limitations Prince Charles will face when he reaches marital age.

Europe has only nine monarchies,  Three of them -- "diminutive Luxembourg, dwarf-sized Liechtenstein, and Monaco -  will have to be discounted. So will Catholic Belgium."

When Prince Charles is ready to marry, he will discover that neither Norway nor Sweden will have a princess of marriageable age.   The daughters of King Paul of Greece are nearing adulthood.  This leaves Denmark and the Netherlands with seven princesses between them but only two are close in age to Charles.

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Princess Christina of the Netherlands, known as Marijke, is the youngest of Queen Juliana's four daughters.  She is nine.  This "pretty and decidedly democratic little girl was born blind," but now, after many operations, she has partial vision in her right now.   She receives no pampering or special privileges for her handicap.

There seems to be a "basis of fact to current rumors" that Queen Juliana and the Duchess of Kent are trying to "make a match" between Princess Beatrix, 18, the heir to the Dutch throne, and the Duke of Kent.  Young Marijke may gain a "preferred position as a potential bride for Prince Charles."

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Marijke's "most important rival" is Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark, the third daughter of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid.  At her birth, he was reported to have said "Now I have a chance of being the father-in-law of Europe."

There is also a "baker's dozen: of "little patricians," daughters of Dukes, Marquesses, and earls, who "might be permitted "to share the throne should the grown-up Prince Charles find that she was his heart's desire."

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