The wedding of Countess Hemma von Khevenhüller-Metsch and Count Vincent von Matuschka

Countess Hemma von Khevenhüller-Metsch and Count Vincent von Matuschka were married on October 19 at the Karlskirche in Vienna, Austria.

Count Franz Clemens von Waldburg Zeil Hohenems with his wife Stephanie and an unknown gentleman

Princess Johanna (Countess of Castell-Castell) and Prince Johannes Lobkowicz

Countess Katja and Count Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg

Antonia Princess of Hohenzollern 

Hereditary Prince Carl-Anton of Waldeck-Pyrmont and his brothers, Princes Josias and Johannes

Count Hubertus von Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee who is married to the bride's aunt, Countess Melanie of Khevenhüller-Metsch

Prince Michael and Princess Philippa (nee Countess of Castell-Castell) of Salm-Salm

The Prince and Princess Reuss

Two of Countess Hemma's sisters. 

Count Karl von Khevenhüller-Metsch

The reception was held at the Albertina museum in Vienna.

The guests included Prince Johannes and Princess Johanna Lobkowicz, Prince Michael and Princess Philippa of Salm-Salm, Count Hubertus and Countess Melanie of Waldburg-Wolfegg, Count Karl von Khevenhüller-Metsch, Count Franz Clemens and Countess Stephanie von Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems with their daughter Countess Leonie and her husband, Count Caspar von Matuschka, who is the groom's brother, Prince Heinrich and Princess Joana of Croy, the newly married Count Franz and Countess Katja Schenk von Stauffenberg, Count Paul von Schönborn,  Prince Pierre of Arrenberg,  Hereditary Prince Carl Anton of Waldeck Pyrmont with his two brothers, Princes Josias and Johannes,  Count Dominik and Countess Marie-Anna von Neipperg.  Maria Anna is the bride's first cousin.

The bride's maternal grandparents were Albrecht, Prince of Castell-Castell, and Princess Marie Luise of Waldeck-Pyrmont

Countess  Hemma Marie Louise Franziska von Khevenhüller-Metsch is the oldest of four daughters of Count  Georg Christoph Heinrich Hubertus von Khevenhüller-Metsch and Countess Stephanie of Castell-Castell.  Stephanie's older sister, Philippa is married to Prince Michael of Salm-Salm.

Hemma was born in Vienna on July 17, 1994. She has three younger sisters, Countesses Teresa, Marie, and Paula.   

Count Vincent Wilhelm Alexander Victor von Matuschka was born on January 17, 1993, in Düsseldorf. He is the eldest child of Count Wilhelm Nikolaus Pius von Matuschka and the late Maria-Luisa von Voss.   His brother, Count Caspar is married to Countess Leonie of Waldburg-Zeil.

The photos were taken by a friend, who is the copyright holder.  Thank you for allowing me to use them.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/06/countess-leonie-von-waldburg-zeil.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2023/08/countess-hemma-von-khevenhuller-metsch.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2023/09/wilhelmine-furstin-von-khevenhuller.html

An interview with the new Prince of Fürstenberg

@Haus Fürstenberg

Heinrich, Prince of Fürstenberg died on July 11, 2024, in Capalbio, Italy.  He was succeeded by his elder son, Christian, who was recently interviewed by Schwäbische, a German newspaper.

 With the death of your father, a lot has certainly changed for you. How have the last few months been for you?

"It was, of course, devastating. My father was a very influential person in our family and someone we all loved very much. He had been ill for the last ten years and seriously ill for the last five. The last two years were agony. And so death was not sudden and we were able to prepare for it. And even though you know it's coming, when it happens, you are surprised by your feelings.

I have worked with my father for the last 20 years. The experiences come flooding back. They are primarily good experiences. I miss not being able to ask my father how he did things. I have always valued him as a friend and mentor.

But since I have been running the company on my own for the past two years, the challenges are not that different from before."

https://archive.ph/eCme9

Lady Saltoun's Memorial Service

 Court Circular:

Sandringham, Norfolk

25th November, 2024

The King was represented by the Earl of Dalhousie at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of the Lady Saltoun which was held at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Charlotte Street, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, this afternoon.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were represented by the Duke and Duchess of Fife.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were represented by the Viscountess Petersham.

The Duke of Kent was represented by Sir Andrew Cubie.

Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy was represented by Mr Alexander Manson.

Queen Camilla's dog, Beth has died

Beth, a Jack Russell Terrier, was adopted by Queen Camilla in August 2011 from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.  The Queen is the patron of Battersea.   The puppy was three months old at the time of her adoption.  A year later, Camilla adopted Bluebell, another Jack Russell Terrier.

The much-beloved dog was diagnosed with an untreatable tumor.  She was put to sleep this past weekend.    She is survived by her parents, the King and Queen, and her 12-year-old sister, Bluebell.

She was 13 years old.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

Beth and Bluebell were featured in the Queen's Coronation gown

@Hugo Burnand / Royal Household

Queen Camilla described her beloved pups in Top Dogs: A British Love Affair: "They are both colourful characters — and now I cannot imagine my life, my home or my sofas without them,’ she wrote in her foreword to the book Top Dogs: A British Love Affair."

In 2023, Beth and Bluebell Christmas ornaments were available at several sites.  I bought mine in September 2023 at the Westminster Abbey Shop, and it is now sold out.

https://www.highgrovegardens.com/products/christmas-tree-decoration-beth-the-jack-russell-terrier-dog

Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar has died

November 16, 1902

The New York Times is reporting the death of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar.  The prince died early this morning at his home on Portland Place, in London.  He was 79 years old.

He suffered from an attack of appendicitis several days ago and "succumbed to congestion of the kidneys," which further compromised the Prince's frail health.

Prince Edward was born at Bushy Park on October 11, 1823. He lived "nearly all of his life in England, "and served with distinction in the British Army.  During his life, he served as a Privy Counsellor, a Field Marshall, and a Colonel of the First Life Guards, and he also received numerous British decorations.

He was the eldest son of Duke Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Princess Ida of Saxe-Meiningen, daughter of Georg, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.  Princess Ida was the sister of Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV.

Prince Edward and his family maintained a close relationship with members of the British royal family.  

In 1851,  Prince Edward married Lady Augusta Catherine Gordon-Lennox, the daughter of the 5th Duke of Richmond and Gordon.  Although the marriage was considered morganatic under Saxe-Weimar house laws, Queen Victoria granted Lady Augusta the title of Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar in England in 1886.   

In Germany, Augusta was known as the Countess of Dornburg, which was created for her by the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar on the day before her wedding.

The Prince is survived by his widow.  The couple did not have any children.

The Duke of Edinburgh in Hampshire with Countess Mountbatten of Burma

Embed from Getty Images 

 The Duke of Edinburgh was in Hampshire on November 13 to present the King's Award in Sustainable Development to Ahmad Tea "for its work helping to improve lives of people around the world."

https://www.ahmadtea.com/our-story/

The tea company is in Chandler's Ford and is one of 29 United Kingdom organizations given the Award in 2024.

The Duke of Edinburgh was joined by the Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Lady Mountbatten is the wife of the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, one of King Charles' second cousins.  

Edward was "presented with a box of tea called Royal Ceylon, which had been blended especially for the King."

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images 

 Lady Mountbatten was accompanied by her daughter, Lady Alexandra Hooper.

New revelations about the death of the Duke of Kent

 

Embed from Getty Images 

Excellent article by Christopher Wilson

https://archive.ph/l2sIq

To order a copy from the US or the UK

Royal Book News

https://royalbooknews.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-death-of-death-of-prince-george.html

Don Alonso de Borbon to marry Belgian countess

Don Alonso Juan de Orléans-Borbón y Ferrara-Pignatelli dei Principi di Strongoli born July 15, 1994 in Neuilly, Paris. the only child of Don Alfonso Francesco de Orléans-Borbón y Ferrara-Pignatlli, 7th Duke of Galliera (1968), and Véronique Jeanne Simone Georges Bernadette Goeders (1970).  His parents married in March 1994 in Paris. They were divorced six years later.   

Don Alfonso is the elder of two sons of Don Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón y Parodi-Delfino, 6th Duke of Galliera (1941-1975) and  Donna Emilia Ferrara-Pignatelli dei Principi di Strongoli (1940-1999).  He is a 1991 graduate of Bentley University in Boston.  In 1998, he founded Racing Engineering, a successful car racing firm.

Don Alonso's higher education is European-based. His Bachelor's degree in Psychology is from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. This was followed by a Master of Science (Work and Organizational Psychology) from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He recently completed his Ph.D. with HEC Lausanne—The Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), specializing in Organizational Behavior Studies.

Countess Charlotte de Liedekerke was born in 1997.  She is the daughter of Count Benoit de Liedekerke de Pailhe and Caroline Vinel.  For sixteen months,  she was an Executive Assistant  with The Independents, a Paris-based "global marketing and communications group for industry leaders across luxury and lifestyle."  She left the position in May 2023 as she was in the final year of a master's program at Esade's Business & Law School in Barcelona.  She received her Master's in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in July.  She also has a BA in International Hospitality Management.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

https://www.bentley.edu/magazine/life-in-fast-lane

http://www.racing-engineering.com/

The wedding of Donna Carla Parodi-Delfino and HRH Infante Don Alvaro of Orléans-Borbon (Marlene Koenig Collection)

August 1994: the baptism of Don Alonso de Orléans-Borbon:  Don Alvaro, Don Alonso, Veronique Goeders (holding Don Alonso), and Alonso's maternal grandparents, Don Enzo and Donna Francesca Ferrara-Pignatelli 

Donna Emilia,  Veronique & great-grandmother, Donna Carla

Veronique Goeders and her infant son Alonso

Don Alfonso holding his son, Alonso, and Alfonso's grandfather, HRH Infante Don Alvaro

Alonso in his christening robe

Donna Emilia with her grandson  (All baptism photos courtesy of the late Donna Emilia which were sent to me shortly after Alonso's baptism)

Alonso is a descendant of Queen Victoria:

Victoria - Alfred - Beatrice - Alvaro - Alfonso - Alonso

 https://www.pointdevue.fr/society/soirees/la-41e-edition-du-bal-du-service-hospitalier-de-lordre-de-malte-en-suisse

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/07/ramification-for-beatrices-marriage.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/06/alfonso-i-will-marry-beatrice.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/04/pope-causing-issues-for-royal-couple.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/05/dream-job-for-spanish-prince.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/04/edward-opposes-beatrices-marriage.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/06/alfonso-determined-to-marry-his.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2010/10/alfonsos-cousin-to-tour-america.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2009/07/princess-beatrice-of-coburg-marries.html

Matthew Kumar's Law License Suspended

 

@Nikolas Kominis/Studio Kominis

Matthew Kumar, the American-born lawyer who married Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark in September, can no longer practice law in California. He did not pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam within the prescribed time.  A suspension is not the same as a disbarment.  Kumar cannot "practice law, appear in court on behalf of clients, or provide legal advice" during a suspension.

Disbarment is more serious than suspension as a disbarred lawyer is permanently removed from the Bar in the state or states where he or she practiced.  A suspension can be lifted if the lawyer " demonstrates rehabilitation and fitness to practice."

 

The FarMar Law's website is no longer accessible.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-black-cloud-hovers-over-matthew-kumar.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/09/princess-theodora-and-matthew-kumar.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/09/princess-theodora-weds-american-matthew.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-royal-engagement-princess-theodora-of.html

Day 12 - June 19: Duke's Lane Deux and a Kingly Portrait

 It is Wednesday, June 19, 2024.  Just two full days left before I return home. The original plan for today included a visit to Syon House,  a bit of shopping, grabbing a sandwich, and eating in St. James's Park,  Jonathan Yeo's portrait of King Charles III at the Philip Mould Gallery, culminating with a performance of Kiss Me Kate at the Barbican.

My phone rings shortly after 8 a.m.  It is my friend Katrina.  She says another friend had to cancel joining her at Duke's Lane.  Would I like to join her?    Absolutely.  We decide on when I need to arrive at Brookwood.  Due to a family emergency, Katrina says she will drop me off in Ascot to catch a train to London as she will be driving to Kent.  No worries.

Scratch Syon House off the to-do list.  Have breakfast, get dressed, grab everything I need, and head to the bus stop for the quick bus ride to Clapham Junction.  

I buy a vanilla latte at Costa and then get on the train, texting Katrina that I am on my way.  It is a short walk from the train station to Katrina's home.  Time for a cup of tea, and then we are off to buy lunch at a local bakery that also serves as the post office.

It is a short drive to Duke's Lane.  Before Katrina could turn into the parking lot, we had to stop for a car coming down Duke's Lane.  I got out to watch.  It was the Princess Royal heading to Ascot.  

Katrina and I got our chairs out of the car's trunk and decided on a different spot.  I wandered over to the Royal School's bake sale to choose another sweet treat.  I bought a Brownie and a bottle of water.

 

The Princess Royal

It is a tradition for the cars that follow the carriage procession to have small stuffed animals on display

waving at me!!!

And then it was over.  Katrina and I walked toward the car, put the chairs in the trunk, and then we were off down Duke's Lane to the Ascot train station.  I thanked Katrina for inviting me. I asked her to text me when she arrived at the hospital in Kent before I got out of the car near the train station.

I took this train to Waterloo, which has undergone a major facelift in the last year.  Wow. Nice. I spot the National Windrush Memorial, unveiled by the then Duke of Cambridge in June 2022.   I went downstairs to try one of the new coffee shops before heading to Pall Mall.  

On the Jubilee Line,  Green Park is two stops from Waterloo.  I make my way through the station and into Green Park, and exit the park, again using the Queen's Passage to St. James's Place, a turn onto St. James's Street, and a left on Pall Mall where the Philip Mould Gallery is located.  

I nearly did not get to see the portrait of King Charles III.  The exhibition at the Philip Mould Gallery was scheduled to close on June 14, my birthday.   The exhibition was extended for one more week, closing on June 21.  Yea.  And Free.

https://philipmould.com/news/368-jonathan-yeo-s-portrait-of-charles-iii-on-view-at-the-gallery-until-14th-june/

Jonathan Yeo

After using the loo, I walked through another exhibit that had several royal portraits.

King James I & VI

Philip Mould, the owner of the gallery, and Jonathan Yeo

The portrait looks a lot better in person.  I am delighted the exhibition was extended for one week, which allowed me and many others the opportunity to see it.

I walked to Piccadilly Circus and took the tube to Barbican.  Let me say this:  The theatre at the Barbican is not an easy place to find.  Too many stairs and turns.  I planned on dinner at one of the Barbican restaurants near the theatre.  I selected what I wanted to eat, but was told no cash. I explained had cash because my credit card had been stolen.  I nearly had a meltdown.  A woman sitting with a friend at a nearby table heard me, and she walked over and said I could give her the cash, and she would pay for the meal.  I thanked her several times. 

Broadway star Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar played Lili Vanessi/Katherine and Fred Graham/Petruchio.  [Block is married to actor Sebastian Arcelus, whose grandmother, Princess Catherine of Russia (1915-2007) was the last member of the Romanov family to be born in Russia.]

The show, directed by Bartlett Sher, was excellent, and, I expect there will be a Broadway production.

the Barbican Water Gardens

A female mallard

the Barbican Water Gardens

It was confusing when I left the theatre, as I could not remember the way back to the Barbican Underground Station.   I joined several other people who were heading to the subway.  The walk seemed a bit farther.  It was as we arrived at the Moorgate Station.  I looked at the map: Moorgate to Kings Cross to Victoria where I caught the bus to Battersea.  

It had been a long, fun, and varied today:  royals, art and theatre - and the kindness of a stranger.

Back at the apartment, I made a cup of tea, turned on the TV, and flopped on the couch before heading to bed ... with just one day more.

https://kissmekatemusical.com/