Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume

Today is the 30th birthday of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg.   He has given several interviews and is the subject of numerous profiles.  The heir to the Luxembourg throne has admitted he has a girlfriend.   He acknowledges that they have been a couple for six months, but have known each other for five years.  She is not from Luxembourg, but has visited the country, and, according to Guillaume, she is fond of the country.  

RTL, a Luxembourg TV channel, has a fantasy: the foreigner is Princess Eugenie of York.  The writer of the article acknowledges there is a nine year age difference between Guillaume and Eugenie, the younger daughter of the Duke of York and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson.  There is also the issue of religion.  Guillaume is Roman Catholic, and Eugenie is a member of the Anglican church.

The writer thinks that Eugenie would make a very beautiful grand duchess.   This is pure fantasy on the part of the journalist.   It is unlikely that Princess Eugenie is fluent in a second language, and Luxembourg has three official languages: German, French and Letzburgesch, and Guillaume's bride will be expected to converse in all three languages, at some point.

http://www.rtl.be/people/royaute/couples/321733/guillaume-de-luxembourg-et-eugenie-d-york

Mike's career is over ...

ouch!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/8883289/Mike-Tindalls-England-career-is-over-after-25k-fine-for-serious-misconduct-at-Rugby-World-Cup.html

A French nurse for baby Grand Duchess

November 11, 1899

Czar Nicholas II has employed a French nurse for his baby daughter, reports the Marquise de Fontenoy.  This has caused a lot of excitement and attention because it is the "first instance on record of a foreinger being employed for this purpose by any reigning royal house."  

The nurse was hired for Nicholas'  second daughter, Grand Duchess Tatiana, as his eldest daughter, Grand Duchess Olga, was nursed by the young Empress herself.   It was also the first time in history in Russia that "an Empress had nursed her own child."  This was seen as the "inauguration of a new era in Russia," where even the "grave and ponderous London Times" devoted an entire column to the manner of the Empress' breastfeeding.   She had received the "cordial support" from her grandmother, Queen Victoria, who had nursed all of her children, while her eldest daugher, Empress Friedrich, "followed her example."

George II accepts throne

Embed from Getty Images

November 11, 1935

King George II of Greece, after living for twelve years in exile, agreed today to return to his throne "that he held for only fifteen uneasy months in 1922-23."

The New York Times reports that the king "announced his acceptance in the drawing room" of the Greek Legation in London.

George, wearing somber morning dress, "listened with mounting emotion as he was told that 90 percent of the Greek people had voted for his return to the throne."   His face was "deathly white and eyes clouded with tears," when he spoke:

"Gentlemen, it is with the deepest emotion that I receive you -- representatives of the National Assembly, the government, and the armed forces of the country -- bringing to me the joyful message that by the unanimous will of the Hellenic people I am invited to assume once more the exercise of my royal duties.
"In obedience to the imperative call of my country, I will come home among you.  In so far as it concerns me I will in the full consciousness of my obligations loyally carry out my duty in drawing the curtain over the recent past and looking forward only to the future.  But through you, I appeal to all conscious of their own responsibilities to extend to me their unqualified support so we may together go forward in cooperation and concord.

"A soldier myself and the son of a soldier, I gladly accept the greetings of the armed forces of the nation as well as the assurance of their devotion to duty as the first auspicious beginning of this support which I particularly ask of all, so that with the help of God, we may see our Greece prosper."

Afterward, the king, accompanied by his brother, Paul, his sister, Katherine, and his cousins, Princess Paul of Yugoslavia and Prince Peter, went to the Greek Orthodox church to give thanks.

In the afternoon, King George II went to Buckingham Palace for lunch, where he expressed "his gratitude" to King George V and Queen Mary, "who befriended him in his darkest days."  It is believed that the British sovereigns "have done more than one else to make his restoration possible."

Without the personal support that the King received from Buckingham Palace, "it would hardly have been possible for his restoration to have been financed by a London banker -- as is commonly believed -- for the British government pulled wires in the Near East to return him to the throne."

From now on, there "will be a close tie between the royal houses of Greece and Britain," which may be "especially convenient for Britain someday in the event of naval trouble in the eastern Mediterranean."

King George II has said that he is a "quiet person who would like nothing better than to be a constitutional monarch," like his British cousin.   But no one knows how this will turn out due to Greece's "turbulent politics."  Will the king's dream come true or will this "new adventure in monarchy end in bloodshed and tragedy? "

   

https://amzn.to/46cpE9I

Nicholas spurns Carol's request

November 10, 1931

Prince Nicholas of Romania and his new wife, Joana, are staying at a villa near Bucharest, according to court circles, reports the Associated Press.

King Carol II has requested that his younger brother come to the palace in Bucharest, but Nicholas "sent his regrets.   Prince Nicholas does not want to "risk his brother's displeasure at being defied.  

The next move is up to King Carol, who could order his brother's arrest, "or even take more drastic measures."  But many expect that the king will not act harshly, as he said to be fond of his younger brother, and has often said "I owe the throne to him."

The press is censored in Romania, so very few details about Prince Nicholas' marriage and the King's "exact sentiments" have been leaked out.  The king is expected to "persist in attempting to annul the marriage" by the destruction of the records.

The AP also reports that King Carol is suffering from "ulcerated tonsils and bronchitis" but his condition not dangerous. 

Interview with Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume



Photo © Cour grand-ducale / Christian Aschman

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume celebrates his 30th birthday tomorrow.  He is involved in relationship with a young woman. 

He spoke recently with a pool of eight reporters.  The interview was published in Luxembourg Wort

http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/letzebuerg/artikel/2011/11/166978/geben-ist-wichtiger-als-nehmen.php

http://www.tageblatt.lu/nachrichten/luxemburg/story/Erbgroe-herzog-Guillaume-wird-30-15162864

http://www.lequotidien.lu/politique-et-societe/28949.html

Infanta Cristina's husband under investigation

Perhaps this is why the family has been living in Bethesda, Maryland.

http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/spanish-judge-probes-firm-once-run-by-king-s-son-in-law_187603.html

Russian Empress near death

Embed from Getty Images

November 9, 1895

"Trustworthy information" has been received in London, according to a dispatch to the New York Times that Empress Alexandra of Russia has undergone a Cesarean operation and the "consequences have been most deplorable."  The empress' physicians have been in consultation all day, and tonight, the "men of science can no longer conceal" from Emperor Nicholas "that he must be prepared for the most serious developments in the case."

It has been announced in official circles that there "is no hope whatsoever" for the Empress' recovery.  A letter from St. Petersburg, which was dated October 15, announced that Alexandra "was in seclusion at Tsarskoe Selo."   The Empress is expected to remain the birth of her child.

Empress Alexandra was born on June 6, 1872, at Darmstadt, and was given the names Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice Alix.  She was the second youngest child of Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse and By Rhine, and his wife, Princess Alice, the third child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Princess Alix met her future husband at the wedding of her sister, Ella, to Nicholas' uncle, Grand Duke Serge, in 1884.  At the time, Alix was 12 years old.   They were married on November 26, 1894, only weeks after the death of Nicholas' father, Alexander III.

Now a year after the marriage, the Empress is expected to die, as the Cesarean operation was deemed necessary, but only as a last resort measure.

Nicholas defies his brother, weds Romanian beauty

November 9, 1931

The Associated Press is reporting the marriage of Prince Nicholas of Romania and Joanna Dumitrescu-Doletti, a divorced Romanian woman who is not of noble blood.  The marriage took place "after a wild dash by automobile" in an attempt to escape the disapproval of Nicholas' older brother, King Carol II.

The mayor of Tohani, a small village near Bezeu, said he was "compelled" by the Prince to perform the ceremony, which took place yesterday.

When Carol heard about the marriage, he ordered "all records of the ceremony destroyed."  The Bucharest government is denying that "any marriage had taken place."

Prince Nicholas is the second son of the late King Ferdinand and Queen Marie.  He is known to be one of the fastest drivers in Romania, and he "burned the highways and country lanes at breakneck speed for 125 miles before he could be frustrated by the king," according to press reports, which came from "border sources.

Tohani's mayor knew he could not marry the prince without the king's permission.  But as he was "confronted by the determined" groom and his "slim, dark-haired companion,"  he felt he could not "decline the honor, so he nervously tied the knot."

But as soon as the newlyweds got into their car and sped off, the mayor regained his senses and made a frantic telephone call to Bucharest. "I married Prince Nicholas, who made me do it."

Prince Nicholas met his wife on a highway, where he stopped to help her fix a flat tire.  He fell in love, and he decided he had to marry her.    He went to visit his brother, who flatly denied his request.

Nicholas reminded Carol of his role in the king's "dramatic and triumphant" return to Romania in June 1930.  But Carol would not change his mind, so Nicholas angrily departed the room.

It's (another) boy!

November 9, 1907

Crown Princess Cecilie of Prussia gave birth to a son at 9:30 this morning.  This is the second son for the Crown Princess and her husband, Crown Prince Wilhelm, who were married in June 1905.  Their first son, Wilhelm, was born July 4, 1906.

A Royal Marriage that will unite four families

November 9, 1907

On November 16 at Wood Norton, in Worcestershire, where the exiled Duke of Orléans resides, he will give away in marriage his youngest sister, Princess Louise, to Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, the widower of Infanta Mercedes of Spain, Princess of Asturias, eldest sister of King Alfonso.

This marriage will "constitute another matrimonial link between two of the several branches of the historic house of Bourbon"

, according to a report in the Chicago Daily Tribune.

Prince Carlos is about to "seek consolation for his bereavement in another matrimonial alliance."  He belongs to the Neapolitan branch of the Bourbon family.  He has a son, Alfonso, and a daughter, Isabel, from his first marriage, and his son was the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne until a few months ago when Queen Ena gave birth to a son.  But should anything happen to the infant Prince of Asturias, six-year-old Prince Alfonso would once again become the heir presumptive.

Members of the varied branches of Bourbon are expected to gather at Wood Norton to celebrate Princess Louise's marriage to Prince Carlos, who remains a member of the Spanish royal family.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the wedding will be attended by forty members of European royal houses, including the Queens of Spain and Portugal.  Wood Norton can house only fifty people, but "in six weeks temporary buildings have been erected, furnished and decorated from Paris and Rome."

The celebrations will take place over four days.   The "beautiful chapel" is one of the new buildings, as is a new "spacious banqueting hall," which cost more than $150,000.   The work has been done under the direction of the Duke of Orléans, "with the assistance of an eminent French architect and decorators from Paris and Rome."

The Duke of Orléans is making it "a point of honor" that his sister shall be married "with as much state as if she were really the sister of a reigning King."

More rumors about Alfonso's marriage

November 9, 1905

Newspapers in Madrid report today "without comment" on the proposed "project for the marriage" of King Alfonso to Duchess Marie Antoinette of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, daughter of Duke Paul, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Stay away from the girls, Harry

Says Gila Monster, I mean, the mayor of Gila Bend, Arizona, where Prince Harry is training in the desert.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-harry/8875772/Prince-Harry-warned-over-fornicating-in-Christian-US-town.html

Marathon runners

Three members of the Belgian royal family took part in Sunday's New York City Marathon.


Princess Astrid, who was listed as Astrid, Princesse de Belgique, ran the 26 miles  385 yards  in five hours and 52 minutes.   Her husband, Prince Lorenz, completed the course in 4 hours and 23 minutes, while their eldest son, Prince Amedeo, breezed past the finish line in 3 hours and 39 minutes. 

http://www.she.be/nl/celebrities/aid1089932/prinses-astrid-beeindigt-marathon-new-york.aspx?&utm_source=onsite_gva&utm_medium=leftExtraImages&utm_content=art1562

Lorenz was registered as Lorenz Prince de Belgique (45653)
Astrid's runner number was 59171

Amedeo Prince de Belgique's number was 22533.

Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje (12154) completed the marathon in 3:21:11

http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/7996/showbizz/photoalbum/detail/1344596/1046820/0/Prinses-Astrid-loopt-marathon-New-York-uit.dhtml

Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg to be Queen of Spain

November 7, 1905


Duchess Marie Antoinette of Mecklenburg-Schwerin arrived today in Berlin.   According to a dispatch from the New York Times, the Duchess's "engagement to King Alfonso will soon be announced."

Duchess Marie, a Roman Catholic, was born in Venice, in 1884, and is "nearly two years older than the Spanish king."  She is the only daughter of Duke Paul of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, uncle of the reigning duke, and Princess Marie of Windisch-Graetz.

Two of her cousins are married to heirs to the throne  Duchess Cecilie recently married Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, and her sister, Alexandrine, is the wife of Prince Christian of Denmark, the eldest son of the Crown Prince.

King Alfonso "desired to marry an English princess," and there were rumors that he was engaged to marry one of the daughters of the Duke of Connaught.  But apparently "some obstacle, State or personal, interfered" with Alfonso's plan.   If he succeeds in marrying Duchess Marie "the political results to the union will be almost as satisfactory to Spain" as if he married a member of the British royal family.   Duchess Marie is "closely related" to half of Europe's ruling families.