The list of foreign royal guests at Queen Anne's funeral

Here is the list of the members of foreign royal (reigning and non-reigning), who will be attending the funeral of Queen Anne of Romania on Saturday.

HRH Prince Lorenz of Belgium (He is a member of the Crown Council
HI & RH Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria & HI & RH Archduke Carl Christian of Austria

HRH The Margrave of Baden

HI &RH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia

HIH Grand Duchess Maria of Russia

HRH The Duke of Parma, representing the King of the Netherlands

HI & RH Archduke Martin of Austria

HI & RH Archduke Dominic of Austria, Prince of Tuscany

HI & RH Archduchess Maria Magdalena of Austria and Baron Hans von Holzhausen

HRH Duke Eberhard of Württemberg

HH Princess Anne de Ligne

HSH Duchess Anita of Hohenberg and Count Andreas de Bardeau

HSH Princess Eleonore of Schaumburg-Lippe


HSH Princess Tatiana Radziwill, Mrs. Fruchaud, and Dr. John Fruchaud

From the British Embassy in Bucharest:

"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain will be represented at the funerals of Queen Anne by Adam Sambrook, charge d'affaires of the British Embassy in Bucharest. The Prince of Wales will be represented by Count Tibor Kalnoky."

Count Tibor will also represent the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Princess Anne de Ligne and Duchess Anita of Hohenberg are daughters of two of the late Queen Anne's first cousins: HRH Princess Alix of Luxembourg (Dowager Princess of Ligne) and the late HRH Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg (Duchess of Hohenberg).

Archduke Dominic and Archduchess Maria Magadalena are children of the late Princess Ileana of Romania.

Princess Eleonore of Schaumburg--Lippe is a kinswoman to both Queen and King Michael. She is a paternal granddaughter of Princess Feodora of Denmark and Prince Christian of Schaumburg-Lippe, a first cousin marriage, as Christian's mother was Princess Louise of Denmark, daughter of King Frederik VIII.

Queen Anne's mother, Princess Margarethe of Denmark, was the daughter of Prince Valdemar, youngest child of King Christian IX, and Princess Marie of Orléans. Margarethe was a first cousin of Princess Louise and Prince Harald of Denmark, the parents of Prince Christian of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Feodora of Denmark. She was also a first cousin of Queen Helen, King Michael's, mother, who was the eldest daughter of King George I of Hellenes (Prince Wilhelm of Denmark, second son of King Christian IX).


http://www.romania-insider.com/author/eleonore-schaumburg-lippe/

 Eleonora returned to Denmark two years ago after working in Bucharest for several years.

Archduchess Marie Astrid's father, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, is Queen Anne's first cousin. The night before Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom's wedding to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in November 1947, Jean invited Anne to a pre-wedding party at the Luxembourg Embassy in London, where she was (finally) introduced to King Michael.

Why the young Lord Grosvenor is not yet called the Duke of Westminster

Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor,  Earl Grosvenor, has succeeded his father, as the 7th Duke of Westminster.  However,  the 25-year-old duke will not be styled as His Grace the Duke of Westminster until after his father's funeral. He remains styled as Lord Grosvenor.


From  Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners: The Indispensable Handbook (2007) By John Morgan

Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster (1951-2016)

@Peter Kain   (Marlene A. Eilers Koenig Collection)

His Grace The 6th Duke of Westminster died on August 9, 2016 after falling ill at his Abbeystead Estate.  He was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire, where he died.  He was 64 years old.

The Duke's spokesman released a statement:  "It is with the greatest sadness that we can confirm that the Duke of Westminster died this afternoon.  His family are all aware and they ask for privacy and understanding at this very difficult time."

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are "deeply shocked and greatly saddened" by the death of the Duke who was a close friend.

The Duke suffered from depression for a number of years.  "I hit the buffers -- ot came totally out of the blue.  At that moment, all my wealth counted for nothing.  I was fragile and, although never suicidal, I recognised that something was desperately wrong and I needed to do something fast."

He was born at Omagh, County, Tyrone, on December 22, 1951, the second child and only son of Robert George Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster and the Hon. Viola Maud Lyttelton.   He succeeded his father on February 19, 1979.  The night before the then Lord Grosvenor's wedding,  the Duke of Westminster suffered an asthma attack, and was taken to the hospital.

The Duke is one of the richest men in the United Kingdom.  As Earl Grosvenor, he became engaged to Miss Natalia Ayesha Phillips, the youngest child of Harold and Georgina Phillips.  Mrs. Phillips was born Georgina Wernher, the second of three children of Sir Harold and Lady Zia Wernher, who was the elder daughter of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia and Countess Sophie de Merenberg.   Georgina was a childhood playmate and life long friend of Queen Elizabeth II.

Georgina's mother, Lady Zia, was a close friend of Queen Elizabeth II.   Lady Zia's younger, Nada, married Prince George of Battenberg (2nd Marquess of Milford Haven), who was Prince Philip's uncle (and Guardian).   Georgina and her sister, Myra and Lady Patricia and Lady Pamela Mountbatten, grew up in the same social circle as Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.   Georgina's older brother, Alexander, who was killed in the second world war, was one of Prince Philip's closest friends.  Philip thought of Alex as an older brother.

The Duke of Westminster was a mentor to the Duke of Cambridge.

The closeness between the Westminsters and the Royal Family are probably more due to the Duchess's family.  The Duchess is one of the Duke of Cambridge's godparents, while the young Lord Grosvenor, is one of Prince George of Cambridge's godfathers.  The late Diana, Princess of Wales was godmother to the Duke and Duchess' second daughter, Lady Edwina.

The Prince of Wales is godfather to Lord Grosvenor.

courtesy of the Duchess of Westminster

courtesy of the duchess of Westminster

The engagement was announced on May 12, 1978.  The then Lord Grosvenor was described as the second most eligible man in Britain, after the Prince of Wales.   The marriage took place on October 7, 1978 at the 12th century St. Mary's Church, in Luton, which was attended by more than 1000 guests.  The reception was held at Luton Hoo, then the family home of Natalia's brother, Nicholas Phillips.

courtesy of the Duchess of Westminster

The Duke was one of Britain's wealthiest men with a fortune of approximately £9.35 billion dollars (which took a hit after the Brexit vote.)  He owned 300 acres in central London, including Oxford Street and Mayfair.   The Duke also owned 190 acres in Belgravia. one of London's more expensive areas.   The family's main home was Eaton Hall in Cheshire, and the duke also had estates in Lancashire and Scotland.

When the second duke died in 1953,  he left his estate to two year old Gerald Grosvenor, who was then fourth in line to the dukedom, thus allowing the estate to remain in tact.  The family did have to pay "much of the  middle class Pimlico section to cover inheritance taxes of $32 million."   In 1978, Lord Grosvenor, then 26, told the New York Times: "The rules of primogeniture is one of the reasons for the survival of the Grosvenors."  He described himself as the "heir to the whole lot. It's a tough rule. There's no such thing as equal opportunity in primogeniture."

In 2007, the Duke made the news for all the wrong reasons.  He was discovered to have paid for four prostitutes in six weeks at his London mews house.  At the time, he was head of the Territorial Army, and according to one tabloid newspaper, he discussed "military matters and Osama Bin Laden."  He claimed to know where Bin Laden was then living,   Eight years earlier, the duke revealed that he had "fought back from a mental breakdown brought on by stress and exhaustion." A month after revealing his mental health problems,  the duke reported that his wife was fighting breast cancer.  Tally, only 40, underwent an operation at Royal Marsden Hospital.  The cancer was diagnosed in an early state, and the duchess's chemo treatments took place at a local hospital near the family home in Chester.

In 2003, the Duke spent a few days in a hospital due to an infection in his left leg.

The Duke is survived by his widow, Natalia, and their four children, Lady Tamara Cutsem, Lady Edwina, Snow, Hugh, Earl Grosvenor, and Lady Viola Grosvenor, and four grandchildren, Jake and Ludo van Custem and Zia and Wolf Snow.   Lord Grosvenor, 25, will succeed his father as the 7th Duke.  He is sole male heir to the Westminster dukedom.

The Duke and Duchess of Westminster arrive at St Paul's for the Queen's 90th birthday service  @Marlene A. Eilers Koenig

Duke of Westminster (right)  Order of the Garter (2014)  @Marlene A. Eilers Koenig

Key to the wedding group photo:  Back row: Miss Marita Phillips, The Duke of Roxburghe, Mr. Nicholas Phillips, the Earl and Countess Grosvenor, Mr. Andrew-Christie-Miller, Lt. Col. Harold Phillips, the Earl of Lichfield, Mr. James Burnett of Leys, Mrs. James Burnett of Leys.

Middle row: Miss India Hicks, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the Duchess of Roxeburghe, the Countess of Lichfield, Mrs. Harold Phillips, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, the Marchioness of Hamilton, Mrs. Nicholas Phillips, Viscount Strabane.

Front row: the Hon. Rory Guinness, Fiona Shakerley, Alexander Burnett, Lady Louise Fitroy, Viscount Chrichton, Lady Sophie Hamilton, the Hon. Lorna Ramsay.

Funeral schedule for Queen Anne

On Tuesday, August 9, 2016, at 15:15, the coffin with the body of Queen Anne will arrive at Otopeni Airport, where it will be transported by car to Peles Castle. Tarom aircraft on arrival, there will be a brief military and religious ceremony in the presence of His Royal Highness Crown Princess Margareta and the Royal Family. They will be attended by representatives of state institutions, members of His Majesty the King and bishops of the Catholic Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church. The public can not attend the event.The media will have access to the ceremony.

For Tuesday, August 9, 2016, 17:30 until Wednesday, August 10, 2016, 18:30, His Majesty the deceased's coffin will be placed in the Hall of Honor of the Peles Castle. Meanwhile, Crown Princess Margareta, Custodian Romanian Crown and royal family will be present at Sinaia. On arrival in the Hall of Honor will be a prayer uttered in the presence of the hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.

On Wednesday, August 10, 2016, program officials to visit condolences to Peles Castle is as follows:

- Time 10-12: For representatives of the diplomatic corps, the European Union, NATO and International Organizations.
- Time 12-14: For representatives of state institutions.
- Time 14-16: For the presidency, the Moldovan Presidency, members of the Romanian Government and of the Government, members of the Romanian Parliament and the Parliament of Moldova.
- Time 16-18: For representatives of the Romanian Academy and Academy State Moldovan Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church and the other institutions of the Faith.

Access to Peles Castle is based on Royal Protocol lists communicated in advance by the above mentioned institutions.

The public will not have access to the Hall of Honor of the Peles Castle, the coffin during his stay at the Royal Domain Sinaia. The press will be present on the terrace in front of Peles Castle and, during certain hours, in the Hall of Honor.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016 in the evening, the body of Queen will be transported from the Peles Castle in the Royal Palace Throne Room (Calea Victoriei, no. 49-53). On arrival, there will be a brief military and religious ceremony in the presence of Crown Princess Margareta and the Royal Family. They will take part with the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church. The event will be private. The public will not have access to the Throne Room. The press will be present in the main entrance of the Royal Palace.

Thursday, August 11, 2016 and Friday, August 12, 2016, at 8 at 22, everyone will want to lay flowers and bow to Queen Anne bier would come into the Throne Room of the Royal Palace. Admission is free. Media access is allowed.

Those present at the Royal Palace to pay tribute to Queen Anne, are asked to observe the following rules:
- Be dressed in appropriate attire, dark colors.
- Do not carry bags, large bags or bags of any kind.
- Do not come with children under 7 years or with prams.
- Do not use cameras or mobile phones, or other electronic devices. Photography and filming are forbidden in deference to the solemnity of the occasion.
- Have them an identity document.
- No one will be able to submit personal flowers, the bier. The flowers will be placed in the garden in front of the Royal Palace or Palace on the sidewalk in front of the grille. His Majesty staff will be on site to guide public participant.
- People who come to the bier are asked not to bring books, letters, postcards, stamps, documents or photos with them. All these can be sent later by mail at Elisabeta Palace.
- The Royal Palace, smoking and talking on a cell phone is strictly prohibited.

During access to the Royal Palace will operate a first aid post.

On Saturday, August 13, 2016, at 10.30 in the Throne Room will be a short religious ceremony in the presence of the  Romanian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. The event will be devoted to the Romanian Royal Family and foreign royal families attending the funeral.

At 10.55, His Majesty the deceased coffin will be placed on a bier in the Royal Palace Square, right in front of the palace. There will be a religious ceremony in the presence of the hierarchy  of the Catholic Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church. Public access is free in Palace Square in specially designated areas for participants. Media access is free.

Our capital city and Arges will be the first Royal Funerals in the last 78 years. On 24 July 1938 Peles Castle in Bucharest and Curtea de Arges took place the funeral of Queen Mary of Romania.

At 11:30, the coffin will be placed in the mortuary van.
From 11:35 to 12 o'clock funeral procession will go slowly on the route of the Royal Palace Square - Magheru - Romana Square - Victoria Square - Aviatorilor - Charles de Gaulle Square - Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe will be no stop and will not be religious service.

From the Arc de Triomphe, the funeral cortege tour continues with normal speed to Curtea de Arges, between the hours 12 - 14.45, en route Arc de Triomphe, Mogosoaia, Buftea, Titu, Gaesti, Topoloveni, Pitesti, Arges. Funeral cortege will not stop, along the journey, but will slow down in places.

At 15:00, on Saturday, August 13, 2016, will be held the funeral service of Queen Anne in the narthex New Cathedral of Curtea de Arges. Burial will be a private ceremony in the presence of the Romanian Royal Family and Members of Foreign Royal Families, present at the event. The public will have access only to the Archdiocese Park gateway in Curtea de Arges. The media will have access to the New Cathedral of Curtea de Arges.

The ceremony will take place in two parts: 15.00-15.50 hours in front of New Cathedral; 15.50-16.10 hour, religious burial ceremony in New Cathedral. Service will be officiated by His Beatitude Archbishop Calinic of the river, in the presence of His Beatitude Archbishop Ioan Robu of Bucharest Metropolitan Roman Catholic.

The presence of the press will not be allowed inside the New Cathedral, neither before nor during the burial ceremony. New Cathedral can not be accessed within 7 days after the funeral.

Books of condolences are open at Peles Castle, the Royal Palace (Calea Victoriei) and Elisabeta Palace. They are publicly available for 40 days from the date of death.


NOTE:  THIS IS A STRAIGHT GOOGLE TRANSLATION SO IT WILL BE A BIT OFF.

Prince Ernst August of Hannover is engaged!

Embed from Getty Images

It is now official:  HRH Prince Ernst August Andreas Philipp Constantin Maximilian Rolf Stephan Ludwig Rudolph of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland, is engaged to be married.   He popped the question to his long time girlfriend, Russian-born Ekaterina Malysheva, on the Greek island of Spetses.

The couple have been together for five years, and live together in London.   Prince Ernst August, 33. confirmed the engagement to the German newspaper, Bild.   "It is with great pleasure that we announce our engagement."    He also said that the wedding will take place in Lower Saxony in the summer of 2017.

Miss Malysheva is 30 years old and a fashion designer.


http://www.bild.de/regional/hannover/ernst-august-prinz-von-hannover/maerchen-hochzeit-auf-schloss-marienburg-47202226.bild.html


Prince Ernst August is the elder of two sons of Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Swiss-born Chantal Hochuli.  He has one younger brother,  Prince Christian, and a half-sister, Princess Alexandra, by his father's second wife, Princess Caroline of Monaco.   His godparents include Andreas, the Prince of Leiningen (who is married to his father's sister, Princess Alexandra),  the late Philipp-Ernst of Schaumburg-Lippe, King Felipe of Spain, King Constantine II of the Hellenes (his father's first cousin),  Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, whose paternal grandmother, Princess Marie Louise of Hanover (Cumberland), was one of three sisters of the late Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, whho married Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia.  

One can expect a grandish wedding, perhaps at Schloss Marienburg attended by many European royals and a few celebs as well, as Sienna Miller and Poppy Delevigne has worn Ekaterina's line, EKAT

Prince Ernst August is the great-grandson of the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.  He attended Malvern College.   He studied at New York University and current works in the banking business in London.

Miss Malysheva grew up in Prague.  She was 19 years old when she moved to London to study at the London College of Fashion.


http://www.bild.de/regional/hannover/ernst-august-prinz-von-hannover/maerchen-hochzeit-auf-schloss-marienburg-47202226.bild.html


https://backofhouse.morganshotelgroup.com/creators/ekaterina-malysheva

http://ekatsuits.com/about/

King Michael will not be attending Queen Anne's funeral

King Michael of Romania will not be able to attend Queen Anne's funeral on Saturday. according to an official statement from the Royal House.  The King will remain at his home in Switzerland, with friends and family, staff and two Orthodox nuns.  The decision, which was based on the recommendation of five specialists, was taken with great regret.

Crown Princess Margarita, Prince Radu, Princess Helen and her husband, Alexander Philips Nixon, Princess Sophie, Princess Maria, Nicholas Medforth-Mills and Elisabeta Maria Biarneix will all take part in the funeral.  Nicholas and Elisabeta are grandchildren of Queen Anne.

he funeral will take place at Curtea des Arges on Saturday  August 13.  A list of the foreign royals who will be attending the funeral will be released on Thursday, August 11.


http://www.romania-insider.com/queen-anne-romania-woman-stood-besides-king-michael-68-years/

Queen Anne's funeral: Irina's statement

Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills will be taking part in the funeral of his grandmother, Queen Anne.

Irina Walker, Queen Anne's third daughter, has released a statement regarding her non-attendance the funeral on August 13.  Her son and daughter will also not be attending the funeral.

"During these sad days, I am thinking dearly about my mother, and the fact that I cannot depart for Romania, despite the Royal Family's -- my family's wishes, is very sad not to be able to participate in the final farewell to my mother, but I will always carry her loving memory in my heart. The decision was mine to make, due to personal reasons. I'll be watching from afar, and will be with the Royal Family in spirit."

http://www.romaniajournal.ro/former-princess-irina-will-not-attend-her-mother-queen-annes-funerals/

Outside the royal palace in Bucharest

Thanks to one of my readers, Juan PabloArtaza, an official at Peru's embassy in Bucharest, who took these photos for me.  He is the copyright holder.   The photos were taken a few days ago outside the Royal Palace (Calei Victoriei).   Thank you, Juan Pablo!!  

Martha Louise of Norway: separation

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, Ari Behn, have announced they have separated and will get divorced.

http://www.kongehuset.no/nyhet.html?tid=137276&sek=26939

Martha Louise's statement:

“Life does not always go smoothly. Both Ari and I have experienced this. Most clearly, life has made some antics that we had never envisaged. These days we were mainly apart. We are ending the marriage but we are remaining together in parenthood.

It is unspeakably sad for both of us to discover that the road ahead does not go together in the way that it used to. We have, as so many grown apart – to places we no longer meet as we did before. It is terrible to experience that there is nothing more we can do. We have tried everything for a long time and we still can not be where we were before, making it impossible for us to continue.
We feel guilty because we are no longer able to create the safe harbor that our children deserve. But we hope and believe that we will manage to hold on to friendship through what lies ahead.

We pray and hope that we get peace in this sensitive process. Children need time to digest, grieve and find new footing – each one separately.We are just people, too. ”

They married in 2002, and have three daughters, Maud Angelica,  Leah Isidora and EmmaTallulah.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

A national day of mourning in Romania for the late Queen Anne

This is outside the Royal Palace on Calei Victoriei in Buchares.  The palace is a museum @AgerPress

In the memory of Her Late Majesty Queen Anne, the Romanian Government declared August 13, 2016 as Day of National Mourning. On this day, all institutions, central and local public authorities, will fly the flag at half mast. 


Flags will also be flown at half mast at the headquarters of political parties, trade unions, employers organizations, schools of all degrees, cultural institutions and all Diplomatic Missions of Romania abroad, border crossing units, airports, ports, railway stations, as well as ships under Romanian Pavilion.


 The same obligation applies to private persons flying the Government of Romania flag at their private residence. On the recommendation of the Government, the National Radio and National Television, as well as cultural institutions, will adapt their program accordingly.

Schedule for Queen Anne's funeral.

The schedule for the funeral of Queen Anne of Romania


On Tuesday, 9 August 2016, at 3:15 p.m., Queen Anne’s coffin will arrive at Otopeni Airport, whence it will be conveyed by hearse to Castle Peleș. The event will take place in the presence of Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess Margareta and the Royal Family, representatives of the Romanian State, and members of the Household of His Majesty the King. The press will have access to the ceremony. Members of the public will not have access.

From 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 August 2016 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 August, the Queen’s coffin will rest in the Hall of Honour at Castle Peleș. During this interval, the Custodian of the Crown and the Royal Family will be in Sinaia. The timetable for officials visiting Castle Peleș on Thursday, 10 August 2016 to convey their condolences is as follows:

- 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, the European Union, N.A.T.O., and international organisations
- 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Representatives of institutions of the Romanian State
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: The Presidency, members of the Romanian Government and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, Members of the Romanian Parliament and the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
- 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Representatives of the Romanian Academy and the State Academy of the Republic of Moldova, the Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and other religious institutions

Access to Castle Peleș will be on the basis of the lists communicated in advance to the Royal Protocol by the aforementioned institutions.

The press and members of the public will not have access to the Hall of Honour while the coffin is resting at the Sinaia Royal Estate.

On the evening of 10 August 2016, the Queen’s coffin will be taken from Castle Peleș to the Throne Room of the Royal Palace (Calea Victoriei, nos. 49-53). The ceremony will be private. The press and members of the public will not have access.

Between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday, 11 August and Friday, 12 August 2016, all those who wish to lay flowers and to say a prayer at the catafalque of Queen Anne will have access to the Throne Room of the Royal Palace. Entry will be free of charge. The press will also have access.

Those coming to the Royal Palace to pay their last respects to Queen Anne are asked to abide by the following rules:

 They should be dressed appropriately, in dark colours
 They should not be carrying shopping bags, other kinds of bags, or bulky luggage of any kind
 They should not be accompanied by children below the age of seven or be wheeling pushchairs
 They should not use cameras or mobile telephones or any other electronic devices. Out of respect for the solemnity of the occasion, it will be forbidden to film or take photographs
 They should have their identity cards with them
 Members of the public will not be allowed to lay flowers at the catafalque personally. Flowers shall be laid in the garden in front of the Royal Palace or on the pavement in front of the Palace railings. The staff of the Household of His Majesty will be on hand to advise the public.
 Those coming to the catafalque are asked not to bring books, letters, postcards, stamps, documents or photographs with them. These may be sent by post to the Elisabeta Palace after the event.
 It is strictly forbidden to smoke or to use mobile telephones within the precincts of the Royal Palace.

A first-aid post will be in service during the period of access to the Royal Palace.

At 10:55 a.m. on Saturday, 13 August 2016, Queen Anne’s coffin will be laid on a catafalque in Royal Palace Square, in front of the Palace. A religious ceremony will be held. The public will have free access to Royal Palace Square, within specially marked out areas. The press will also have free access.

At 11:30 a.m., the coffin will be placed inside the hearse.

Between 11:35 a.m. and 12 p.m., the funeral cortege will travel at low speed along the following route: Royal Palace Square – Magheru Boulevard – Romană Square – Victoriei Square – Aviatorilor Boulevard – Charles de Gaulle Square – Triumphal Arch. The cortege will not stop at the Triumphal Arch, but rather it will continue its journey, at normal speed, to Curtea de Argeș, between 12 p.m. and 14.45 p.m., taking the following route: Triumphal Arch – Mogoșoaia – Buftea – Titu – Găești – Topoloveni – Pitești – Curtea de Argeș. The cortege will not make any stops during this journey, but will slow down when passing through towns and villages.

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, 13 August 2016 Queen Anne’s funeral service will be officiated in the narthex of the Curtea de Argeș Cathedral. The funeral will be private, attended by the Royal Family of Romania and members of foreign royal families. The public will not be allowed past the front gates of the Park of the Curtea de Argeș Archbishopric.

The ceremony will unfold in two parts: 3 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in front of the New Cathedral; 3:50 p.m. to 4:10 p.m., the burial service inside the New Cathedral.

For further details, please contact the Royal Secretariat and the Press Office of His Majesty the King.

The press will have access at Otopeni Airport, to the Throne Room of the Royal Palace (on Thursday and Friday, at the hours mentioned above), to the Royal Palace on Calea Victoriei, and in front of the New Cathedral at Curtea de Argeș.

The press will not have access to Castle Peleș. The press will not be allowed inside the New Cathedral, either before or during the funeral ceremony. The New Cathedral will be closed to visitors during the seven days following the funeral.

Books of condolence are open from today at Castle Peleș, the Royal Palace (Calea Victoriei), and the Elisabeta Palace. The public will be able to sign the books of condolence for forty days after the date of the decease.

Messages of condolence may also be left online, at the following address: http://www.familiaregala.ro/mesaje

More photos of Queen Anne of Romania

I took these photos at the Elisabetha Palace in October 2011, at the reception in honor of King Michael's 90th birthday. It was the only event that Queen Anne attended.

with Archduchess Maria Magdalene

holding Queen Sofia's dog, Tipsy

Marlene A Eilers Koenig collection

Washington, D.C   @Marlene A Eilers Koenig

Marlene A, Eilers Koenig collection

If you liked this post, perhaps you can buy me a coffee

Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills talks about his beloved grandmother, Queen Anne

Bucharest, October 2011.  Nicholas talks with his aunt, Princes Marie @Marlene Eilers Koenig

October 2011  @Marlene Eilers Koenig

Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills, a grandson of King Michael and Queen Anne spoke today about the death of his grandmother.   He offered his thoughts in a Facebook post: "Today is a very sad day for all of us.   I often think about my grandparents, but today, I remember my grandmother.  I have a photo of her on my windowsill.  Every morning I am reminded  of our closeness when I was a child."

"My grandmother, a Great Lady, whom I will always admire for her immense heart, her views, her personality and her stubborness that gave power to voice her opinions and to be supportive of my grandfather, a support he needed very much.  My grandmother loved, my dear friend, you will never be forgotten.  Rest in peace."

http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/fostul-principe-nicolae-bunica-mi-a-fost-cea-mai-apropiata-persoana-in-copilarie-am-admirat-o-pentru-inima-ei-imensa.html

remembering Queen Anne of Romania

Royal cousins:  Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark (2nd from left) playing Robin Hood with cousins, including Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, who was two years Philip's junior.  Anne's mother was Princess Margarethe of Denmark.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

remembering Queen Anne of Romania who died today at Morgues, Switzerland. She was 92 years old.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Anne of Romania has died

 From the Palatul Elisabetha

The Press Office of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania is authorized to issue the following communiqué:

Her Majesty Queen Anne of Romania died today, the 1^st of August 2016, at the Hospital in Morges (Switzerland), at 1.45 p.m.

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu, Princess Helen, Princess Sophie and Princess Marie were at the Queen’s bedside. His Majesty King Michael was with the Queen at the hospital every day of the last week. Father Charlemagne, vicar of the Catholic Parish of Morges, administered the last rites to the Queen.

A detailed program of the funeral will be made public tomorrow.

According to the tradition of the Romanian Royal Funerals, the Queen will lie in state for a day in the Hall of Honour of Peles Castle, then for a day in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in Bucharest. The burial will take place in the New Cathedral of Curtea de Arges.

The last Royal Funeral in Romania was Queen Marie’s, which took place on the 24^th of July 1938. According to the wishes of His Majesty King Michael I, Queen Anne’s funeral will respect the tradition of her predecessors.

Tomorrow, books of condolence will be opened at Peles Castle, the Royal Palace (in Calea Victoriei) and Elisabeta Palace. They will be available to the public for the next 40 days. Online condolences may be sent to http://www.familiaregala.ro/mesaje/

All those who wish to bring flowers or lay wreaths are invited to do so at the Royal Palace in Calea Victoriei, in front of the main entrance.