Cuteness Overload

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge is adorable. Oooooh

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A daughter for the Kents

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December 25, 1936

The Duchess of Kent gave birth to a daughter today, reports the Associated Press.

he unnamed Princess is sixth in line to the British throne.  She is the second child of Prince George, Duke of Kent, the youngest brother of King George VI and his wife, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.

They were married at Westminster Abbey on November 29, 1934, and their first child. Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, was born on October 9, 1935.


The Duchess gave birth at the couple's home in Belgrave Square.   She and the infant princess are reported to be "making satisfactory progress."

Holiday and Post-holiday shopping

Yes, time to briefly toot the horn for shopping through my Amazon links.

Not sure if  you can get a kitty from Amazon, but the boxes make great toys.

On the right  side of this  blog, there are three Amazon search boxes: US, UK and Germany.  If you enter your first Amazon search through one of these boxes, I earn a teeny percentage for each item you purchase ... and you can order books, DVDs, clothes, food,  computer parts, toys, cameras,  ... basically anything from Amazon or Amazon.uk or Amazon.de.

The latter two Amazons pay in gift cards (once you reach a certain amount .. and it can take several years to reach the 25 pounds or euros.)

Harper likes his boxes with windows

So scroll down a bit to find the links ... and every time to you have an Amazon craving, please head first to Royal Musings  or Royal Book News and use the search boxes.  You can also click on a link for a book  It doesn't cost you anything extra.

Thank you so much.

Princess Torlonia dead at 53

December 21, 1941

Elsie Moore Torlonia, the former wife of Don Marino Torlonia, Prince of Civitella-Cesi, died today in her apartment at 375 Fifth Avenue in New York City, reports the New York Times. 

She had suffered from a long illness and was 53.   

The princess survived by her three children, Prince Alessandro Torlonia; Mrs. Cristiana Lord, and Mrs. Francis X. Shields, the wife of the tennis player.

Both daughters live in New York City.  Prince Alessandro, who is married to Infanta Beatriz of Spain, left for Italy last week.   He had arrived in New York by clipper ship on November 20, as the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, and Italy cooperated to "enable him to visit his mother."  When about to leave for Italy on December 14, he was detained at Ellis Island by FBI agents but was released after twenty-four hours.

The former Elsie Moore was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her family has been in the United States since colonial days.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Moore of New York and Greenwich.

She was born in Brooklyn in 1888.   While on a trip to Venice with her parents in 1905, she met Don Marino Torlonia, a member of the Italian aristocracy.  They married two years later at the Moores' summer home in Greenwich.

The couple separated in 1925.  Princess Torlonia returned to the United States with her three children.  She filed for divorce in Connecticut, charging her husband with adultery, and named an Italian noblewoman as the other woman.  She also renounced her Italian citizenship and was able to regain her American nationality. 

A reconciliation between the former couple took place several years later, and the princess brought her children back to Italy.

Don Marino died in March 1933.  Don Alessandro "inherited his father's estates and title claims. Most of his education took place in the United States, but after his father's death, Don Alessandro returned to live in Rome. 

Princess Torlonia remained in Italy last April when she returned to the United States.

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/02/elsie-moore-gets-her-divorce.html

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/06/american-engaged-to-dandy-of-rome.html

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2010/04/princess-torlonias-father-blackballed.html

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/07/don-marco-torlonia-is-approved-by.html

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/07/father-confirms-miss-moores-engagement.html

Juliana names her bridesmaids

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December 21, 1936

Princess Juliana of the Netherlands announced today her bridesmaids for her forthcoming wedding to Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, reports the Associated Press.

The couple will marry on January 7.

Other wedding details were also announced.  Queen Wilhelmina will give two dinners for the wedding guests.  The dinners will be held at the Royal Palace on January 5 and January 6.

Princess Juliana's bridesmaids will be Duchess Woizlawa of Mecklenburg; Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg; the Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia; Princess Sieglinde zur Lippe; Princess Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach;  Baroness van Heemstra,  Miss C.E.B Roell, Miss M. Roseboom, Miss M. Michelin Moreau, Miss M. Del Court can Krimpen.

Prince Bernhard will also have 12 attendants.

It is understood that Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain will not be attending the wedding.  The Duke of Kent,  brother of King George VI, will attend the ceremony,  along with the Earl of Athlone, brother of Queen Mary, and his wife, Princess Alice, who is a first cousin of Queen Wilhelmina.

None will officially represent the British royal family, as Queen Wilhelmina regards her daughter's wedding as a "family affair" and has not sent invitations to foreign royal houses.

Queen Marie: visit to US was like a dream

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December 21,  1926

Queen Marie of Romania issued a greeting today from the royal palace in Bucharest to William Nelson Cromwell, the president of Friends of Roumania Society.  Mr. Nelson delivered the message to President Coolidge.

"My visit to America has passed like a dream, leaving a great flow of love and gratitude.  For myself and my children, I send Christmas greetings and best wishes to the people of wonderful America, to one and all, to the humble as well as the great, to those we met and those we regretfully could not meet.  

Marie."

The British-born Queen spent most of the fall traveling throughout the USA.  She was accompanied by her two youngest children, Prince Nicholas and Princess Ileana. The trip was cut short, and the Queen and her family returned to Romania, after receiving news of King Ferdinand's declining health.

Queen turns over 25 patronages to other members of Royal family

Buckingham Palace today announced today that Queen Elizabeth II will hand over 25 of her more than 600 patronages to other members of the Royal family, namely her children and grandchildren.

This is not unexpected.  The Queen is 90 years old, and is divesting of her patronages in order to allow others in her family to make their mark.  In other words, it would be awful to have to fill all 600 at once.   (The Prince of Wales will probably succeed to a large percentage of his mother's patronage portfolio.)

Here is a list of the 25 charities that will have new Patrons in 2017.  Some have already confirmed their new patrons.

Holocaust Day Memorial Trust    (HRH The Prince of Wales)

Royal Institution of Great Britain   - (HRH The Prince of Wales)

Wildfowl and WetlandsTrust   (HRH The Prince of Wales)

 Battersea Dogs and Cats Home   (HRH The Duchess of Cornwall)

 Barnardo's  (HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. ) 

Royal School of Needlework.  (HRH The Duchess of Cornwall)

Royal African Society   (HRH The Duke of Cambridge)

Welsh Rugby Union   (HRH The Duke of Cambridge)

Amateur Swimming Association  (HRH The Duke of Cambridge)

Action for Children   (HRH The Duchess of Cambridge)

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC)   (HRH the Duchess of Cambridge)

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)  (HRH The Duchess of Cambridge)

Blind Veterans UK  (HRH The Countess of Wessex)

 Rugby Football Union   (HRH Prince Henry of Wales)

Rugby Football League  (HRH Prince Henry of Wales)

 Edinburgh International Festival (HRH The Earl of Wessex)

Sport and Recreation Alliance  (HRH The Earl of Wessex)

British Cycling Federation  (HRH The Countess of Wessex)

NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)  (HRH The Countess of Wessex)

Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children's Fund  (HRH The Duke of York)

British Science Association (HRH The Duke of York)

Institution of Civil Engineers  (HRH The Duke of York)

 Animal Health Trust    (no patron named - Princess Royal has been president since 1991)

Royal Geographical Society  (HRH The Princess Royal)

Save the Children UK   -  (HRH The Princess Royal)  At the age of 20, HRH the Princess Royal became the president of this organization, her first major charity. 

A surprise thank you

Princess Elisabeth, heiress apparent to the Belgian throne, celebrated her 15th birthday on October 25.

Royal Diplomatic Reception returns to Royal Palace.

This year, the Royal Diplomatic Reception returned to the Throne Hall, in the Royal Palace of Bucharest, for the first time after 1947.

The Diplomatic Corps accredited to Romania was invited, in the presence of the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Apostolic Nuntio, representatives of the Government and of the Royal Household.

The ceremony in the Throne Hall was followed by a dinner offered by the Custodian of the Crown in the State Dining Room.

The first Royal Diplomatic Reception took place 150 years ago, in the same Palace in December 1866, hosted by Carol I, then Prince Sovereign of the Romanian United Principalities

All the photos are copyrighted by Daniel Angelescu.

http://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/the-royal-diplomatic-reception-returned-to-the-throne-hall/

Will they ever step up?

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For the record, I do not dislike the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.   What I do not like is the fact that the Duke, second in line to the throne, and his wife, still do not see their royal role as full time jobs.

In the last few years, several of Britain's royal correspondents, namely Emily Andrews (The Sun) and Richard Palmer (Daily Express) have reported that the Duke and Duchess will not be releasing to the media their Christmas card and they will be snubbing the Royal Family (the Queen) on Christmas Day.

It is not mandatory for a member of the Royal Family to release their Christmas card to the press.  It is something that many royals, British and European, do each year.   Lovely new photographs.  The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's 2016 Christmas card features a photo taken in Croatia.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will not be joining the Queen and other members of the Royal Family on Christmas Day.   They have chosen to spend the day with Catherine's family at the Middletons' family home in Berkshire.

No one is saying that Catherine should be denied the pleasure of spending the holidays with her family.  But ... and this is a big but ... they could change their plans and have a second Christmas on Boxing Day.  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first duty should be with the Queen at Sandringham.  This should be a no brainer.   It is about responsibility to one's family, one's heritage, and respect for the monarchy.  If William cannot show respect for this institution, then perhaps, then why should the general public -- the taxpayers who fund a large percentage of the institution.

[Update:  The Sunday Express' royal correspondent, Camilla Tominey, broke the story that the Cambridges have also opted out of the Duke of Edinburgh's Boxing Day shooting party.  Instead, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with the duchess' parents and siblings, Michael and Carole Middleton, Pippa and James Middleton, and Pippa's fiance, James Matthews, will be attending a schoot at the Yattendon Estate at Thatcham, in Berkshire, close to the Middletons' home.  This means Prince George and Princess Charlotte will not have the opportunity to spend time with their paternal grandfather or their paternal great-grandparents, who are in their 90s.  George and Charlotte spend more time with their maternal grandparents, who are frequent visitors to Anmer Hall, then with their maternal grandfather, the Prince of Wales.  It has been reported - but not verified - that the Prince of Wales has lamented about not being able to see his grandchildren.  The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh enjoy having multi-generations attend the Christmas celebration.  The holiday is also a good time for the queen's children and grandchildren to enjoy quality with the Queen and her husband.  In the not-too-distant future,  the Queen and Prince Philip will no longer be alive.  Yes, this is a morbid, but realistic statement.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/744697/Prince-William-Kate-Christmas-shoot-Middleton-Royal-family-Prince-Philip-George-Charlotte 

I can only assume that the Queen would prefer the Cambridges to join family at Sandringham.  She is not a dictator.  Rather, she is selfless, and more likely to say yes, even though she would prefer otherwise.  It is sad that the Duke does not want to  his children spend some time, and make memories, with 'Gan Gan.'   It is possible that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend time with the Queen at Sandringham. She will be in residence until early February. ]

In all fairness, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have built up large portfolios of patronages and charities that they support in a myriad of ways. Charles and Camilla were married in 2005.   Eleven and a half years later, the Duchess is involved with 136 charities and patronages.   The Duchess of Cambridge, a royal since April 2011,  has 12 patronages.  Twelve!  William's load: 33.    I don't want to tell you how many his father has .. and his father has never eschewed his royal role.

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Here is the link to the British monarchy's charity and patronage database:

https://www.royal.uk/charities-and-patronages

I have been wanting to give the Cambridges the benefit of doubt since their wedding, when William decided not to release a photo of the signed register.  I thought this was wrong.  Every British royal bride or groom has allowed the signed register (most of the signings take place at the reception) since the 1920s.  The register is the record of the marriage, and a historical commentary of who signed the register -- and how the bride or groom was styled.  When the then Princess Elizabeth was married in 1947, she was listed on the register as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor.  The surname Mountbatten-Windsor was first used in 1973 when Princess Anne married Mark Phillips.  She was listed as Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Mountbatten-Windsor.  The double-barreled surname was also used by Princes Andrew and Edward on the official registers.   Charles did not use a surname (although his birth registration includes Windsor), but we do not know if William used Windsor (the surname for his birth registration) or Mountbatten-Windsor or no surname.  

Can some explain why the Duke of Cambridge would want to hide the official registration?    I cannot think of one good reason for this decision.   Fast forward to 2016.    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been married for five and a half years.  Two adorable children (well, they were adorable when we last saw them in September in Canada.)  Two homes, again largely funded by others,  a few holidays here and there, but far too little day-to-day royal duties.

Yes, William has been working part time as an ambulance pilot, but why?  He donates his salary to charity, but there must be another father who could use the job.    William's priorities should be his family, which is far more than the wife and kids.  His family includes his country and the Commonwealth, and the duke and duchess must become more pro-active in the next year.

This means stepping up, and taking on more patronages and charities.

There was certainly a lot of fuss about Catherine not handing the shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day.  I defended her, by pointing out that a female royal has not presented the shamrocks to the Irish Guard since 1901.  I provided a year by year  list (meticulous research) of the presenters from 1902 to present day.

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The Duke of Cambridge is the first royal colonel of the Irish Guards, and it made sense for the royal colonel to present the shamrocks.

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/03/oh-what-utter-tosh-or-research-matters.html

The Cambridges prefer their country life at Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate to the newly renovated apartment at Kensington Palace. There are reports and sightings of the couple having dinner at a local restaurant or Catherine taking the kids to a Zoo or a children's Christmas production.   Fine.   Parents, royal or other commoners, should do things with their kids.  This does not preclude a full time career.

There are millions of working mothers who scramble to find day care to care for their kids.  The Duchess of Cambridge has a full time nanny for George and Charlotte.     Yes, she has private meetings with her few organizations and private visits to prisons with no real press coverage.  But ... and this is a BIG BUT ... the Duchess of Cambridge can be a hands on mom even if she adds several dozen patronages to her schedule, and does engagements for three days a week. Every week (except when the royals have their official breaks.)

The Duke of Cambridge has proved himself adept at knighting people on behalf of his grandmother.   Yea.  Stepping in for granny is good, but he needs his own royal responsibilities.

William and Catherine will celebrate their 35th birthdays in 2017.  Most people have been working in their careers for at least a decade already.    The Duke will have no constitutional role until his father is the sovereign, and he moves into the position as heir apparent.  His lack of a royal work ethic (there, I have said it) will make it more difficult for the older William to take on more, having been accustomed to his years of part time royal work.

I want to have faith in this couple.  They are the future of the monarchy, and they and Prince Harry (and his future wife) will remain the only members of their generation to represent the royal family.

Their advisers and press staff need to be changed.  They don't need American PR gurus to offer a few bones to the media and the vox populi.  They need a Lord Stamfordham or a Sir Alan Lascelles or a Sir William Heseltime to run the offices.   They do not need Yes, Royal Highness, every day.  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge need to hear No more often, with recommendations of "I think you should begin to do this," or  "Sir, it is time to stop rescuing others.  You need to concentrate on rescuing your reputation as a royal slouch, unwilling to take on the mantle of your royal role.

Yea, I know, William has little choice.   He wants to live a normal life with his wife and kids.   William was and will never be normal.  He attended the most posh of private schools.  He has personal protection officers.  He never needs to worry if he has enough in his bank account to cover the credit card bill.

When Catherine gave a positive response to William's proposal, she was saying yes, not only to a marriage with the man she loves, but also  giving her assent to joining the Royal Family.   This means a bit of sacrifice on the part of the newbie.  It means taking on a public life of duty and responsibility,  producing heirs (check that box) and accepting that there are times when the Sovereign comes first -- and that includes Christmas and other royal events.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge must come out of shadows.  They  -- and their children -- need to be seen doing more engagements.   Contact the Crown Princess of Sweden to see how she and Prince Daniel have introduced their two children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, to royal life.   Four-year-old Princess Estelle has been included in royal engagements for most of her young life.  The Swedish royal house has a liberal view of releasing photographs and videos of the royal grandchildren.

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Breaking news: Princess Elizabeth and Philip plan to marry

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December 15, 1946


Politics is delaying the official announcement of the engagement of Princess Elizabeth, heiress to the British throne, to Prince Philip of Greece, reports the New York Times.    The young couple --the Princess will celebrate her 21st birthday next April and Prince Philip is 25 - have every intention of getting married.  This has been confirmed by "sources with close contacts with both the Government and the palace, notwithstanding official denials that they are engaged," reports the New York Times.

Before the official announcement can be made, King George VI must give his assent under the Royal Marriages Act.  The Prime Minister and the Privy Councillors will also be consulted "on the desirability of a marriage that will make Prince Philip the Prince Consort," when Princess Elizabeth succeeds to the throne.

The engagement is being delayed "due to the troubled situation in Greece."   The present time is considered "inauspicious" for an official announcement, which could "provide a new reason for criticism" of the British Government's  "policy of keeping troops in Greece."

No "immediate announcement" of a betrothal is expected.  According to reliable sources, "there may be further denials."

Prince Philip will become a British subject at the end of February 1947.  He will also renounce his rights to the Greek throne.  He is sixth in line.

Princess Elizabeth will be joining her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and her younger sister,  Princess Margaret, on an official trip to South Africa.

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Prince Philip, who served in Royal Navy during the Second World War, is the only son and youngest child of Princess Alice of Battenberg and the late Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark,  He often visits his maternal grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven at her apartment in Kensington Palace.  The Marchioness is a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Nazis ban photos of former king

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December 15, 1936


German newspapers are banned from publishing photos of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Wallis Warfield Simpson, reports the Associated Press.

Newspaper editors were informed of the official regulations today.

Newspapers were already banned from the publication of photos of Mrs. Simpson even before Edward VIII abdicated.  The order has since been extended to the former king.   Editors were "instructed" to not publish stories about the Duke of Windsor's visit to Austria.

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No "official reason" has been given for the ban, but "authoritative circles" said it was meant as a "courtesy to Great Britain."

the newest royal salesman

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December 15, 1936

The newest royal "salesman" is 14-month-old Prince Edward of Kent, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.   According to the Associated Press, the toddler prince "took over his duties with a flourish.

The little prince's photograph was "plastered" all over the front pages of the London newspapers.  He apparently has been "designated to become the royal family's personality prince."

The photographs show Prince Edward "waving gaily, registering pleasing curiosity, smiling, and laughing."

This was the first time that photographers were invited to photograph members of the royal family, and "snap pictures at will."

The Duchess of Kent - the former Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark - expects a second child later this month.   The Duke of Kent is the youngest brother of King George VI.

Princess Eitel Friedrich to remarry

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December 15, 1926

The former Princess Eitel Friedrich of Prussia, who recently divorced her husband, Prince Eitel Friedrich, second son of the former Kaiser Wilhelm II, is planning to be married soon to Herr von Hedemann, a former officer in one of Germany's dragoon regiments, according to a wireless report from the New York Times.

The princess was born Duchess Sophie Charlotte of Oldenburg, eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, once one of Germany's richest families.

Herr von Hedemann, a member of a minor German noble family,  met his future wife a "score of years ago," when he was assigned for duty at her home.

The princess will drop her marital title when she remarries.  She also has discussed plans to become a movie star.

A new grandson for Kaiser

December  15, 1916

Princess Joachim of Prussia gave birth today to a son.  The infant prince is the tenth grandchild for Kaiser Wilhelm II, and the fourth to be born since the beginning of the war, reports the New York Times.


The former Princess Marie Auguste of Anhalt married Prince Joachim, the youngest son of Wilhelm, at Schloss Bellevue on March 11, 1916.