Louise says she won't give up her child

February 10, 1905.

Former Crown Princess Louise of Saxony is consulting lawyers to respond officially to her ex-husband, King Friedrich August of Saxony, who has demanded that she relinquish custody of her youngest child, Princess Anna Monica Pia. Louise says she will not give up her child.

A banquet for Carlo as riots continue in Spain

February 10, 1901

Queen Maria Cristina, the Regent of Spain, hosted a dinner tonight for her future son-in-law, Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies, and his parents, the Count and Countess of Caserta. The gala was "an extremely brilliant affair." The guests were entertained by a band of halberdiers.

At the dinner, the Count of Caserta and the Queen's younger daughter, Infanta Maria Teresa, sat to the Queen's right, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Infanta Eulalia, and the Minster of Marine. On the queen's left sat, Prince Carlo and his fiancee, the Princess of (the) Asturias, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and Princess Immaculada.

 
Archduchess Elisabeth, the Regent's mother, sat opposite her "with distinguished guests on each side.
The Queen's brother, Archduke Eugen,  arrived in the afternoon and is expected to attend the Court ball in honor of the wedding.

Some forty former Cabinet ministers are expected to attend the wedding, which will take place in the Palace chapel. Complete details of the wedding have not been made public, but it is understood that the newly married couple "will not appear in the streets" after the wedding, and all of the celebrations will take place in the palace.

More than six hundred students have sent a petition to the Minister of Public Instruction declaring "that the marriage of the Princess of the Asturias with the son of him who caused the nation so many sorrows to be a national misfortune and a reason for mourning instead of rejoicing." The students "deemed it their duty" to decline the offer of a holiday to honor the wedding.

The Chicago Daily Tribune reports on the growing mob scenes throughout Spain. Demonstrations against the marriage have grown and spread outside the capital, Madrid. There have been demonstrations in Valladolid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Granada.

It is believed that the authorities cannot fully cope with the growing disturbances as "many persons were wounded by bullets in the street fights."

University students have stoned clerical establishments, including monasteries and convents, shouting "Long live Liberty!" and "Down with the Jesuits!."

Princess Lilian in the hospital

Princess Lilian of Sweden suffered a fall at her home and is now resting in a Stockholm hospital. The British-born princess is the widow of Prince Bertil of Sweden, uncle of King Carl XVI Gustaf.

http://www.thelocal.se/17464/20090209/

A son for the Louis Ferdinands

February 9, 1939

Princess Louis Ferdinand of Prussia gave birth to a son this evening in Berlin. The former Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia married Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, second son of Crown Prince Wilhelm.
The as of yet unnamed Prince is Kaiser Wilhelm's first great-grandson.
Prince Louis Ferdinand is the eventual heir to the Prussian throne as his elder brother, Prince Wilhelm, renounced his rights in 1933 when he married Dorothea von Salviati. Wilhelm and Dorothea have two daughters, Felicitas and Christa.
Mother and son are reported to be doing well at their Berlin home.

Luxembourg Grand Duchess a"voluntary prisoner"

February 9, 1915

Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide of Luxembourg, who "is young and pretty and has a will of her own," is refusing to leave her palace so she won't have to meet "German officers and men in the streets of the capital," according to a dispatch to the London Daily Chronicle and reported in the New York Times.
Luxembourg is now under German occupation. Kaiser Wilhelm II has visited the Grand Duchess on several occasions. Marie Adelaide has received him "courteously but coldly."
A Swiss lady connected with the Luxembourg court writes that a large automobile drove up to the palace on the morning of the Kaiser's birthday, and a high official explained to the Grand Duchess that the Kaiser requested that she visit him on his birthday."
"The Duchess refused the royal command, and when the surprised officer, asked for a verbatim message, the Duchess said she preferred to remain in her palace prison in Luxemburg. At the same time, she sent kind wishes to the Kaiser for his birthday."

More news on the upcoming Spanish royal wedding

February 9, 1901

 Preparations continue for the Valentine's Day wedding of the Princess of (the) Asturias and Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. (The New York Times and the Chicago Daily Tribune refer to the bride as the Princess of the Asturias). A ball was held tonight at the Palace for ninety guests, where the groom-to-be and his parents, the Count and Countess of Caserta, were the guests of honor.

The New York Times reports that the head table was "adorned with flowers and garlands of ivy." A ball in the grand salon followed the formal dinner. Work continues in "constructing galleries in the palace chapel for the accommodation of the guests at the wedding."

The Countess of Caserta and her daughters have been driving through Madrid and taking in the sights. They visited the Art Gallery, and "were saluted respectfully." Princess Pia, Immaculada, and Josefina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies have given the "Princess of the Asturias a valuable watch encrusted with pearls and diamonds." The Count and Countess of Caserta and their family are staying in the Asturias apartments at the palace. "All the aristocracy of Madrid" have now signed the visiting book for the Count and Countess. Spain's Minister of Education "has authorized all the universities to advance the carnival holidays on the occasion of the wedding." 

Several demonstrations protesting the Casteras have been seen in Madrid, and police have made some arrests." There is still some ill-feeling toward the Casertas, especially toward the Count, reports the Chicago Daily Tribune. 

The Count of Caserta was one of Don Carlos' Generals in the Carlist uprising. The count "received a hostile reception" when he arrived in Madrid last Friday. The marriage is said to be a love match, and would have taken place several years ago if not for the "popular feeling against the Casertas." 

The Tribune also reports that Queen Maria Cristina tried to dissuade her elder daughter from marrying Prince Carlos, although she had "personal sympathy with her daughter." The Princess told her mother that "she would marry Prince Carlo remain single all her life." She remained steadfast until the Queen and Council were "forced to give their sanction and brave the actual possibility of serious uprisings in the country."

The Georgian royal wedding

Prince David and Princess Anna Bagration were united in marriage today in Tbilsi.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sarah_marcus/blog/2009/02/08/georgias_royal_wedding

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ja7Rg02G35Umqs7jCWfBoGd14qcg

http://www.ipn.ge/en/index.php?news=5642&hd_line=1

http://www.elconfidencial.com/cache/2009/02/08/93_primera_siglos_reagrupa_ramas_dinastia_bagration.html

http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/editorial/all/coverage/845071.html

Check Photo 7 -- One should turn off the cell phone when one is in church!

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1790_february_9_2009/1790_bagrata.html

Time to slow down?

New article from the Telegraph regarding the Queen and Prince Philip's hectic schedules.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/4538172/The-Queen-and-the-Duke-of-Edinburgh-time-to-slow-down.html

Michel and Michael of Yugoslavia

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=ac.ptuX1mheg&refer=europe

Bloomberg, the financial news service, is apparently confused about the Yugoslav prince who tried to get the Prince of Wales to invest in a Madoff scheme. The prince in question is 50-year-old Prince Michel of Yugoslavia, who lives in Miami, and is the twin brother of Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia. They are the sons of Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia and Princess Maria Pia of Italy.
Bloomberg thinks that the Prince is Prince Michael -- they describe him as 99th in the line of the succession -- who is the son of the late Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia. Prince Michael was born in 1985, and is currently 101st in the line of succession to the British throne.
Prince Michel is a Roman Catholic and does not have dynastic rights.

Georgian royal wedding

On Sunday, the two branches of the Georgian royal family will be united when Prince David Bagration and Princess Anna Bagration-Gruzinsky marry in Tbilisi.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hy2lMQfJAxzGZkM9kOvzKsktCy2w

http://news.trend.az/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1419400&lang=en

Maria Cristina of Spain is dead

Embed from Getty Images 

February 6, 1929

Queen Maria Cristina of Spain, the mother of King Alfonso XIII, died suddenly early this morning in Madrid. "Until an hour of her death," Maria Cristina "remained alert and keenly interested in national and court affairs." Last night, she attended a court "motion picture exhibition," with other members of the royal family, She retired about midnight, complaining of "slight pains in her head," but she chose to dismiss her servants, and went to bed.

By 4 a.m., however, the queen was in serious distress. She suffered several fainting spells before relapsing into total unconsciousness, and she died just before 5 o'clock. The queen's death was caused by a blood clot.

The New York Times reports that the Queen's death "has plunged Spain into sincere mourning, for her service as Regent and her devotion to charitable, social and welfare activities throughout her life strongly endeared her to the people."

King Alfonso is said to be "greatly affected" by the death of his mother.

The Dowager Queen was born in Moravia on July 21,1858, the daughter of Archduke Ferdinand Karl and Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria. Her father was a first cousin of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Maria Cristina's early life had not prepared her for the role of a queen consort, and later, as regent for her only son.

She spent her early life as a "recluse in a convent for noblewomen in Austria," according to her obituary in the New York Times. She was the convent's abbess, and it was her intention to take the full vows of a nun. She was certainly the youngest abbess of the Damenstift in Prague, and she stepped down before her marriage to King Alfonso XII of Spain.

"International and political events intervened" and the archduchess found herself leaving her convent. Maria Cristina first met the young Spanish king when both were children. A marriage was arranged when King Alfonso XII visited Austria after the death of his first wife, Mercedes.

Maria Cristina and Alfonso were married on November 29, 1879. During their six years of marriage, Queen Maria Cristina gave birth to two daughters, Marie de las Mercedes and Maria Teresa. She was pregnant with their third child when King Alfonso died on November 25, 1885.

Mercedes was the heiress to the throne and was styled as the Princess of Asturias. If Maria Cristina gave birth to a third daughter, Mercedes would have succeeded to the throne.

On March 16,1886, Maria Cristina gave birth to a son, who automatically succeeded to the throne as king.
Maria Cristina acted as regent for her son until Alfonso XIII reached his majority in 1902. Her sixteen years as regent were marked by "almost continual internal troubles in Spain and disturbances and revolutions in the colonial possessions."
Perhaps the most serious blow during this time to "the once-powerful Spanish Empire" was the war between Spain and the United States, which resulted in the loss of Spain's most "important colonial possessions and terminated Spain's rule in the New World."

For some years, Cuba had wanted to "shake off the Spanish yoke," and had made demands for independence in 1894. Revolution broke out against Spain, and "the situation came to be regarded by the United States as a menace because of the nearness of the island to the American shores."

Queen Maria Cristina's funeral is expected to be held on Friday, "when the body will be taken in state with all the ceremonials to Escorial."

The ceremonies that were planned for King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark who arrived in Madrid today have been postponed. The Danish sovereigns "at once sent expressions of condolences to the Spanish royal family."

American President Calvin Coolidge has sent his condolences to King Alfonso and the British court has ordered court mourning.

Louise's trunks have been seized

February 6, 1907

Bailiffs have seized the trunks of Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the divorced wife of Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The princess' property was seized in order to pay a $15,000 jeweler's bill.

The Princess is the daughter of King Leopold II of the Belgians.

Wedding preparations for Dutch queen

Embed from Getty Images 

 February 6,1901 

 The Hague has the aura of winter carnival as wedding celebrations continue. The Netherlands' young Queen Wilhelmina will marry Duke Heinrich of Mecklenburg-Strelitz tomorrow in civil and religious ceremonies. More than 100,000 Dutch citizens and foreigners have come to the Hague to join the celebrations, despite the "clear and cold" winter weather. Trains from all parts of the Netherlands "are bringing thousands more." 

The city is lit with "orange-colored paper lanterns, hanging from the fir trees which line the main streets." Just about everyone is seen wearing an orange rosette with a picture of the bride. Some of the rosettes also include a portrait of the groom. One of the striking features of these festivities is "their democratic atmosphere." There are no police or soldiers "to hold back the crowds." Nor is there talk of "Anarchists." Members of the Queen's court say "she delights in her popularity," according to the report in the New York Times. When asked what they think of their queen, the answer is: "We think her very handsome."

 The Queen and Duke Henry "have spent a large part of the week thus far driving about the city in order to give the people a chance to see them." Wilhelmina's wedding gown, woven of the finest silver tissue, was embroidered by the School of Art Needlework in Amsterdam. The gown was finished by Nicaud of Paris. The gown is "ornamented with silver threaded pearls." The gown's train and robe "are lined with rich white silk." The bodice, "which is plain and cut low, is trimmed with magnificent antique lace. Wilhelmina will also have a court train, which is two and a half yards long. 

 Queen Emma, the Queen Mother, "always wears on state occasions some shade of purple befitting her matronly figure." She will wear for her daughter's wedding a "gown of Paruna violet, with a long train of a deeper shade. The bodice is cut low, and trimmed with priceless Brussels lace, of which she has a large store, and with mousseline de soie." Queen Wilhelmina has conferred on her husband the title of Prince of the Netherlands. He will also adopt the Dutch version of his name -Hendrik.

Queen cancels visit to Dubai

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/4537627/Queen-cancels-State-visit-to-Dubai.html

Perhaps this is due to the Duke of Edinburgh's health.

Charles targeted by Madoff fund

The Daily Telegraph has an article today about how Prince Michel of Yugoslavia tried to get the Prince of Wales to invest one of Bernie Madoff's funds. The paper refers to Michel as Michael, but his name is Michel. He is the twin brother of Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, who is a noted jewelery designer.

The two princes are the sons of Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia and Princess Maria Pia of Italy. Prince Alexander's mother, Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark, and Prince Charles' father, the Duke of Edinburgh, are first cousins.
Prince Alexander, who was born in 1924, is a first cousin of the Duke of Kent, as their mothers were sisters.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/bernard-madoff/4536022/Prince-Charles-targeted-by-Madoff-fund.html