Willem-Alexander and Maxima in the US

After a successful state visit to Canada, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima off the Netherlands arrived today in Washington, D,C., for a four day official visit to the United States.

I am a part of the Dutch press contingent, reporting for the Dutch royal magazine, Royalty.

This evening the Dutch king and queen at the residence (2347 S Street, NW) of the Dutch Ambassador, Rudolf Bekink and his American wife, Gabrielle de Kuyper.


The guests at the dinner represented a variety of American think tanks and policy makers.


The Dutch press attended a briefing at the residence before the royal couple arrived.

Dutch Foreign Minister Koenders spoke to the guests before the dinner,  In his speech he discussed different aspects of foreign policy in the Netherlands.  But before delving into his speech, the Foreign Minister offered his condolences to Vice President Biden and his family on the death of Biden's son, and he also wished U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry good wishes, after Kerry broke his leg while cycling in Switzerland.

He touched on topics such as migrants from North Africa and the Middle East heading toward Europe and climate change. global inequality and poverty around the world.  He stressed the continued importance of the trans-Atlantic alliance, the European Union and the United Nations, and referenced the possible Grexit and Brexit concerns (Greece and UK leaving the European Union.).

He added that there needed to be an "existential debate" within Europe.  There must be "confidence building" and the use of military in Iraq and Syria must be backed with politics.

He stressed that the trans-Atlantic alliance is still a necessity to tackle problems.  The US and Europe have different strengths that work well together.

The themes of the evening where Economics and Trade, Energy and Climate Changes, Values/Internet Freedom/Cyber Security.

Oh how the mind wanders ..

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and her family will be moving to London later this year,  probably in the fall.  Her husband, Chris O'Neill, is already domiciled in London (and in February, Princess Madeleine was looking at properties in Belgravia.)  

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

View image | gettyimages.com

The couple's second child is due in June, so I expect Madeleine and family to remain in Sweden through the summer (and the new baby's baptism.)

Belgravia is not too far from Hyde Park and Kensington Palace.  Princess Madeleine is the same age as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  She was born on June 10, 1982, just sixteen days before the Princess of Wales gave birth to Prince William.

The two young couples probably move in similar circles, and may even have mutual friends.Chris' half sister, Tatjana, is married to Henry D'Abo, whose mother, Lady Ursula Manners, is the daughter of the 9th Duke of Rutland.  The Prince of Wales knows (not intimately) Chris's mother, the Austrian-born Eva Maria Walter. (Let me repeat: they have met, but they DID NOT have an affair.)

Christopher O'Neill spent his childhood with his parents, Paul and Eva Maria O'Neill at 75 Eaton Square.  (His mother now lives in another flat on Eaton Square.)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child, Prince George, was born in July 2013.  Princess Madeleine's first child, Princess Leonore, was born in February 2014.

Princess Charlotte and Madeleine's second child will be less than two months apart.  Perhaps this second child will be a prince ... mind wandering again.

Imagine the possibilities.  Play dates at Kensington Palace or Mummies and Us outings.   Leonore can join George for swim lessons at Buckingham Palace.   Two nannies pushing prams at Kensington Palace Gardens.  British & Swedish paps falling over themselves, trying to get the best shot.

A real princess for George.  I think the United Kingdom and Sweden should have a marital treaty, ready to go, by next year, at the earliest.   On a personal note, for me, such a marriage would be heavenly as George and Leonore are both descendants of Queen Victoria.

It won't be long until the Daily Mail reports that Catherine and Madeleine are BEST BUDS!

The newest QVD

Congratulations to Louise (nee Nicholson) and Charles Morshead on the birth of their first child, Rory Thomas Malise, who was born May 27th at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Louise is the eldest child of  Captain Mark and Hon. Katharine Nicholson.

The Hon Katharine Nicholson, heir presumptive to her mother, Lady Saltoun, and is a descendant of Queen Victoria through her late father, Alexander Ramsay of Mar, only child of Princess Patricia of Connaught and the Hon. Alexander Ramsay.

Mr. Morshead is the director of Dance Floor Ltd., in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Complete set of Var Kungafamilj up for sale on Ebay

I am weeding my book collection - and putting up for sale on Ebay  35 volumes of Var Kungafamilj, the Swedish annual yearbook (1976-2009) from the wedding of King Carl XVI Gustaf to Crown Princess Victoria's engagement.  USA only.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381275207788?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Frederik returns to Denmark with his bride

May 26, 1935


More than one hundred thousand Danes and Swedes welcomed the newly married Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid of Denmark, when they arrived on board the Danish royal yacht, Dannebrog, this afternoon, reported the New York Times.

There were "four salutes of twenty-one guns" as the couple "rowed ashore to drive through cheering crowds to the Amalienborg Castle in an open carriage."

After arriving at the castle, the  Crown Prince and Crown Princess appeared on the balcony, and waved to the "immense crowd in the square within the castle walls."

This reception far exceeds anything I expected," Frederik told the crowd.  "I am ever so grateful to everyone. Let my first act, after having carried my bride home,  to toast our country.

The crowd sang the Danish and Swedish national anthems.  King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine joined the young couple on the balcony.

Fireworks appeared in the sky throughout the city.  This evening, the foreign diplomatic corps attended a dinner given by the king and queen in honor of the newlyweds.

Crown Prince Frederik married Princess Ingrid of Sweden on May 24th in Stockholm. 

Archduchess Blanca wants son buried in Vienna

May 26, 1930

Archduchess Blanca of Austria has requested the Austrian government to permit her son, Archduke Rainer, who died yesterday, to be "buried in the traditional resting place of the Habsburgs, the crypt of the Capuchin monks of Vienna," reports the New York Times,.

This is the "first request for a Habsburg burial" since the fall of the monarchy in November 1918.  It raises "several interesting points" as there is "practically no room" left in the section of the vault "reserved for the late Emperor Franz Josef and his family.

If the Austrian government denies the Archduchess's request, she will have her son buried in Spain.

Archduke Rainer was the eldest son of Archduke Leopold Salvator of Austria, Prince of Tuscany, and Infanta Blanca of Spain, daughter of the Carlist pretender, Carlos, the Duke of Madrid.

Rainer, who was unmarried, remained in Vienna after the fall of monarchy.  He eschewed the use of his title, and found work as a taxi driver.  He eventually opened a garage, and began a motorcycle messenger service, transporting film reels from one cinema to another.

He died yesterday at the Wiedner Hospital in Vienna as the result of blood poisoning.  Archduke Rainer was 34 years old.

Madeleine and Chris to move to London

@Ewa-Marie Rundquist / Kungahuset.se

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and her family will be moving to London later this year, according to the Swedish Court.   Her husband, Anglo-American Chris O'Neill, is already listed as a resident of the United Kingdom. 

Madeleine is expected to give birth to the couple's second child in June.  Their first child, Princess Leonor, celebrated her first birthday in February.



http://www.thelocal.se/20150527/royal-princess-couple-to-quit-stockholm-for-london

Wedding of Countess Caroline von Neipperg and Count Philippe de Limburg-Stirum

The couple were married on Saturday.  

Philippe's brother is married to Archduchess Marie Christine of Austria.  Royal Musings was cited in the blog article.



http://www.parismatch.com/Royal-Blog/Monde/Noces-comtales-a-Saint-Emilion-la-comtesse-Caroline-fille-de-Stephen-von-Neipperg-a-epouse-le-comte-Philippe-de-Limburg-Stirum-769268#769282

Embassy tour: Part Deux

Switched to the red shuttle. Planned to go first to the Belgian Embassy.  One of the EU volunteers said there was an hour wait to get into the Belgian embassy:  yup, that would happen when you are offering Waffles, Beer and Chocolate. 

I got off at Whitehaven and Massachusetts and walked up the street.  Winston Churchill still hailing the cab. Extra security at British Embassy. Lots of things to do and see.  Sorry, German Ambassador, but your residence, which is very nice, has nothing on the Sir Edwin Lutyens' designed stately home for the British Ambassador.

The British also had the Shakespeare Theatre (the one in DC) perform.  WETA UK (the only 24 hour 7 day a week all British programming PBS station) had a booth,  British food for sale and so on.  A tour of the ambassador's residence.  My camera (not me) got a close up view of a few interesting photos in one of the reception

It was getting near to 4 p.m., when everything closed.  Hurried to the Danish embassy at the end of Whitehaven, next to Rock Creek Park. Saw a Viking and had few Danish butter cookies ... the ones in the blue cans.  Across the street from the Danish embassy is a lovely house with Secret Service Protection.

Bill and Hilary Clinton's home across from the Danish embassy.  

Next year: the first stop will be the Belgian embassy!