The marriages of the daughters of Grand Duke Wilhelm

Grand Duchess Charlotte was the first marry.  She married Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma on November 6, 1919.

Even before the end of the first world war, there were reports that Princess Antonia, the fourth daughter, would marry the widowed Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria.  As Luxembourg was occupied by Germany during the first world war, it seemed improbable that the princess would ever marry the heir to the Bavarian throne.

The marriage finally took place on April 7, 1921 at Schloss Hohenberg.

The youngest of the six sisters, Princess Sophie, married five days after Antonia.  She wed Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony, second son of King Friedrich August III.

Princess Elisabeth married Prince Ludwig Philipp of Thurn und Taxis at Schloss Hohenberg on November 14, 1922.  Prince Ludwig Philipp was the 3rd son of the Albrecht, the 8th Prince of Thurn und Taxis and Archduchess Margarete of Austria.

engagement photo with Duke Philipp of Württemberg

After a broken engagement with Duke Philipp of Württemberg,  Princess Hilda did not marry until 1930.  Her husband was Prince Adolf, 10th Prince of Schwarzenberg.  They were married at Colmer Berg on October 29, 1930.


All the photos come from my private collection.

Wilhelmina to wed cousin

October 18, 1898

Queen Wilhelmina is to wed her cousin, Prince Wilhelm of Wied, according to the Chicago Daily Tribune, which learned about the announcement from Dutch Court Circles.

An official announcement is expected to be made in two weeks.

The young Prince's father was "conspicuous during all the recent coronation ceremonies."   The affair is said to be a love match.  Prince Wilhelm was born on March 26, 1876.  His mother was Princess Marie of the Netherlands.

The young queen and her mother, Queen Emma, will leave for Stuttgart next week to attend the wedding of Princess Pauline of Württemberg and Prince Friedrich of Wied, who is Prince Wilhelm's brother. 

The couple will be married on October 26.  It is expected that Queen Wilhelmina's engagement will be announced shortly after the wedding.

Royal Wedding: Sweden-Saxe Coburg and Gotha

October 18, 1932


The tiny former duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is looking forward to celebrating its "first international royal alliance" since Germany became a republic, reports the New York Times.

But there is one major difference between this wedding and pre-republican royal weddings.  Journalists have swarmed into Coburg, something that would have been unthinkable before the World War.

The newspaper reporters and photographers -- 20 alone from Scandinavia -- attended a press reception today at the Veste castle in Coburg hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

The press were provided with all the details about the wedding.  They also got a first glimpse at the wedding presents.

The town of Coburg's gift is a cradle of "ancient peasant design."  The cradle has a double bottom, "between the boards there is Coburg earth," so that Sweden's future king  will be able to "spend its infancy on its mother;s native soil.
German President von Hindenburg has given the couple two candelabra and a fruit dish.  He has also ordered a company of the Reichswehr to mount a guard" at the castle on the day of wedding.

Tomorrow local residents of Coburg will be able to meet with Princess Sybilla and Hereditary Prince Gustaf Adolf.  A selection of residents will also be able to attend the gala performance at the opera.

King George V will be represented by his brother-in-law, the Earl of Athlone, whose wife, Princess Alice, is the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha's older sister.  The King of Sweden, the bridegroom's grandfather, will be represented by the Swedish Ambassador to Berlin.

The Duke of Connaught is also attending the wedding.  He is the only surviving son of Queen Victoria, and, thus, is the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha's uncle.  The Duke was born Prince Charles Edward, posthumous son of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, Queen Victoria's youngest son. 

Other guests have also arrived in Coburg:Prince Harald of Denmark,  Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia, a first cousin of the bride's father,  King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, a Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by birth, and other German princes.  Crown Prince Rupprecht and Crown Princess Antonia of Bavaria are also attending the wedding.

Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia, son of the former Kaiser, is said to be representing the "Hitlerites."

The Nazi swastika is still seen flying in some parts of Coburg, although the local authorities have been requested to "to see their seemly disappearance."  A number of the Brown Shirts are "stalking about with scowling faces," in spite of the fact that the first telegram to the couple after their engagement was announced came from Herr Hitler.

Luxembourg wedding: the witnesses and attendants

The Palace has released the names of Prince Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie's witnesses and attendants.

The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume's two witnesses will be his brother, Prince Felix, and Lawrence Doimi de Frankopan, a close friend of many years.  Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy has chosen two close friends, Baroness Philipp von und zu Bodman and Princess Louise de Stolberg-Stolberg, as her witnesses. 

Baroness von und  Bodmann was born Princess Blanche de Merode  She married Baron Philipp von  und zu Bodmann two years ago in a ceremony attended by Prince Guillaume, Prince Felix, Prince Louis and Princess Tessy.  One assumes Stéphanie was also at that wedding.

Lawrence Doimi di Frankopan is the brother of Paola Doimi di Frankopan, who is married to Lord Nicholas Windsor, younger son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Princess Louise of Stolberg-Stolberg is the second of four children of Jost-Christian, Prince of Stolberg-Stolberg, and his Belgian wife, Sylvianne Janssens van der Maelen.  Princess Blanche is the fourth child of Prince Charles-Louis de Merode and Countess Clotilde d'Oultremont.


http://www.wort.lu/de/view/die-trauzeugen-sind-bekannt-50802fefe4b02d5bf2f4cd51

Countess Stéphanie will have two bridesmaids:  Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, sister of the Hereditary Grand Duke, and Miss Antonia Hamilton, who is the bride's niece.

The train bearers and flower girls are all members of the groom and bride's families:  Prince Gabriel of Nassau, 6, elder son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy, Countess Caroline de Lannoy, 11, and Countess Louise de Lannoy, 9. daughters of Count Jehan de Lannoy and his American wife, Beatrice, and Isaure, 9, and Lancelot, 5, de la Court, and 11-year-old Madeleine Hamilton. 

Isaure and Lancelot  de la Court are the son and daughter of Countess Stéphanie's sister,  Isabelle, and her husband, Jean-Charles de la Court, who now live in Luxembourg.  Stéphanie is also Isaure's godmother.

Count Jehan is a lawyer who lives with his wife and four children in Brussels. 

Madeleine Hamilton is also the countess's niece, the daughter of her sister, Nathalie, a lawyer, who is married to an American, John Hamilton.

http://www.wort.lu/de/view/die-brautjungfern-und-blumenkinder-50804327e4b02d5bf2f4cd95


http://www.wort.lu/de/view/die-familie-de-lannoy-tradition-und-familienwerte-507ec43ce4b00027dfc048cb

AP coverage of the wedding

http://www.salon.com/2012/10/18/royal_wedding_gives_luxembourg_turn_in_spotlight_2/singleton/

Coburg the scene of "throng of royalty

October 17, 1932

The wedding this coming Thursday between Princess Sybilla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Hereditary Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden is the first major royal occasion in Coburg since before the world war, reports the New York Times.

The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is "related to most of the royal families of Europe," so the large gathering is "natural enough."  Princess Sbyilla, the elder daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is marrying the second in line to the Swedish throne.

King George V, the grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, is sending his brother-in-law, the Earl of Athlone, as his representative to the wedding. 

Lord Athlone is married to Princess Alice, who is the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha's elder sister. 

A real Princess coming to America

October 17, 1908

The New York Times and other American papers waxed lyrical about having "the honor of welcoming next week, a real live European princess, no less a personage than her Highness Marie of Isenburg-Büdingen."

The Princess was on board the Kronprinzessin Cecilie, which had left Berlin a few days earlier.  She is  according to the Almanach de Gotha, "a bachelor maid, credited with 33 summers."

The Princess' tour schedule has not been made public, but she is believed to be "taking a pleasure trip merely."

The princely family of Isenburg-Büdingdon "boasts a lineage several centuries long."  It is not a ruling house, but the family is "extremely wealthy."

Princess Marie is the daughter of the late Bruno, Prince of Isenburg-Büdingen and his second wife, Countess Bertha of Castell-Rüdenhausen.

More guests

The Luxembourg court has identified more guests who will be present Saturday at the wedding of the Hereditary Grand Duke and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy

HSH Princess Dainé of Arenberg, who is the wife of Prince Henri of Arenberg, third son of the late Duke of Arenberg and Princess Sophie of Bavaria (daughter of Princess Antonia of Luxembourg

HRH the Markgrave of Baden and HIRH the Markgravin of Baden
TRH the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden

TRH the Duke and Duchess in Bavaria
TSH the Duke and Duchess of Croÿ

HRH the Dowager Duchess of  Croÿ (nee Princess Gabriele of Bavaria, daughter of Princess Antonia of Luxembourg)

TRH the Duke and Duchess of Vendôme

HIH Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon Bonaparte

TSH Fürst und Fürstin of Hohenzollern

TRH the Prince and Princess of Venice

HRH Princess Françoise of Lobkowicz

HSH Prince Charles Henri of Lobkowicz

HSH the Prince and HRH the Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg

TH Fürst und Fürstin von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny

TSH Fürst und Fürstin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn

TSH Fürst und Fürstin zu Stolberg-Stolberg

HRH the Hereditary Countess of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg

HSH Fürst Hugo and HIRH Fürstin Sophie zu Windisch-Graetz

Others who also have been acknowledged by the Court include the Prince of Prussia, the Duke and Duchess of Parma, the Duke and Duchess of Braganza and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Serbia. 

Other guests included the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Greece, Prince Kyril of Bulgaria and his sister-in-law, Princess Miriam.

Princess Henri of Arenberg must be representing her mother-in-law, the dowager Duchess of Arenberg, and the Duke and Duchess of Arenberg. 

It is unlikely that any of the descendants of Princess Sophie of Luxembourg, who married Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony, received invitations to the wedding.  One also wonders about the Urach descendants of Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, including the Duke and Duchess of Urach.

Ari Behn, the husband of Princess Martha Louise, is no longer on the guest list.   Hmm.  He also did not accompany the Princess to Aunt Ragnhild's funeral.

        

Anglo-American coverage of wedding

Don't expect too much coverage in the US or the UK of the upcoming wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. 

Here are a few stories in English about the wedding:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2012/10/15/will-and-kate-theyre-not-but-this-wedding-matters-big-time-to-the-grand-duchy/

http://delano.lu/ten_things_to_do/16-23-oct-2012?thing=1


http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2012/09/24/how-much-does-it-cost-to-marry-a-prince/


I will be getting up early on Saturday morning to watch the wedding .. and will blog (and tweet) in real time ...

For television coverage, the Luxarazzi blog has provided a list of what will be available. 

http://lux-arazzi.blogspot.com/2012/10/where-to-watch-wedding-live.html

Carol celebrates his 39th birthday

October 16, 1932


King Carol II celebrated his 39th birthday today with a family party at Sinaia, according to the Associated Press.  He was joined by his sister, Queen Elizabeth of Greece and his 11-year-old son, Crown Prince Michael.

Carol's mother and sister, Dowager Queen Marie and Princess Ileana and her husband, Archduke Anton of Austria, were not at the party.

The King's birthday was celebrated throughout the country, and special services where "held in all the churches."

The young Crown Prince, recently returned from a trip to London where he visited his mother, Princess Helen, was permitted to drive "his own American-made automobile" to the train station to meet his aunt Elizabeth.

The car is a two-seater, with room for Michael and the former Queen.  When Elizabeth alighted from the train, Michael "proudly escorted her" to the car.  He also drove back to the palace, and sat next to Queen Elizabeth during the midday dinner.

This evening Peles was "gayly illuminated and a torchlight parade was held in honor of the king."

Duke of the Abruzzi buys jewels, gets ready to sail

October 16, 1908

The New York Times is reporting that the Duke of the Abruzzi "will shortly leave for the United States," confirming what others have reported, but the duke's household are "exercising reserve in connection with the trip."

The Duke recently went shopping for jewelery, and purchased a number of pieces, and apparently "has left additional orders with the jewelers to be fulfilled."

The assumption is that these jewels will be wedding presents for Miss Katherine Elkins.

Catching up on Imre & Katie's honeymoon news!

"Both of us have heard a lot about this country.  And this land of Maharajas and royalty is a paradise for tourists.  Udaipur is a very romantic place and since it's our honeymoon we wanted to see it,"  Archduke Imre told a reporter from the Times of India.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-25/delhi/34062841_1_royal-couple-pink-city-city-palace

They also took a boat ride "to explore the beauty of Jal Mahal."

Archduchess Katie commented: "We are so amazed to see the beauty of this palace, which even after centuries, looks stunningly beautiful. It is magical. Undoubtedly, it weaves a magical mesh. I must appreciate the enormous efforts made to conserve its beauty."
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-28/people/34129042_1_beauty-palace-weaves

so who will be Stéphanie's bridal attendants

We do not know  ... because the palace has not released the list. 

There was some speculation that Princess Ariane of the Netherlands and Prince Emmanuel of Belgium would be in the bridal party only because the share Prince Guillaume as a godfather.   Crown Princess Victoria included some of her godchildren in her bridal party, but not every bride does this.

Dutch royal reporter Marc van der Linden reported earlier today that Princess Ariane will not be in the bridal party.  One assumes he got the word from the Prince of Orange's office.

Countess Stéphanie has a few nieces and nephews who may be included, as well as the Crown Prince's two nephews. Prince Gabriel and Prince Noah of Nassau.   Guillaume's first cousin, Prince Jean of Nassau also could be in the wedding party.

No word if Prince Emmanuel will be in the wedding.  More details will be released toward the end of the week.

The marriage of Hereditary Grand Duke Wilhelm & Maria Ana of Portugal

Hereditary Grand Duke Wilhelm of Luxembourg and Princess Maria Anna of Braganza were married today at Fischhorn, near Zell-am-See.  The couple received a Papal dispensation for the marriage as the groom is Lutheran and the bride is a Roman Catholic.  The Hereditary Grand Duke, only surviving son of Grand Duke Adolphe, has agreed to raise his children as Roman Catholics as Luxembourg is a largely Roman Catholic country.


The engagement was announced on March 3 of this year.  The news that the Hereditary Grand Duke, a Protestant, "aroused some surprise" that he would marry a Roman Catholic princess, reports The Times.  Most Luxembourgers are Roman Catholic, so the "marriage will doubtless be a popular one."

Princess Maria Anna was born on July 13, 1861 at Schloss Bronnbach at Wertheim-am-Main, the fifth child of former King Miguel I of Portugal and his wife, Princess Adelheid of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg

Royal Musings gets onto Luxembourg wedding map

http://www.wort.lu/en/view/luxembourg-royal-wedding-fever-spreads-around-the-globe-507c3750e4b0848516326cdb

But do not look for me in the usual places  :) 

Update:  Royal Musings is back on this side of the Pond!