A summer royal wedding

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The marriage of  Prince Ernst August of Hanover, elder son of Prince Ernst August of Hanover (Prince of Hanover) and his first wife, Chantal Hochuli, and Ekaterina Malysheva will take place on July 8th at the Marktkirche in Hannover.  This will be the religious celebration of their marriage.  The legal ceremony -- the civil ceremony, as required by German law -- will take place in Hannover on July 7th.

Following the church wedding, there will be a reception at the Herrenhausen in Hannover, which will be followed by a more private celebration at Schloss Marienburg.

I expect the bride to wear Queen Charlotte's nuptial crown.

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Schloss Marienburg will be closed between July 3 and July 12th.

This will be one of the more important royal/society weddings of the year.  The groom is well connected to most of Europe's royal houses.  The groom is a descendant of Queen Victoria, but the family's use of the title Prince or Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland refers to their direct male line descent from George III.

When William IV died in June 1837, the next in line to the British throne was his niece, Princess Victoria of Kent.  William IV was also King of Hanover, but this small German country did not allow for female succession, so the next male heir to the throne was William IV's brother, Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale.

A week after William's death, the new King Ernst August of Hanover, began his journey to his new kingdom.  He and his family retained their succession rights and British titles.  I am sure many of my readers have watched the series Victoria, where the Duke of Cumberland is hovering around the palace, hoping Victoria drops dead, so he can become king.  This is false.   The new king returned only once to the United Kingdom.  He arrived several days late in June 1843 to attend the baptism of Victoria and Albert's third child, Princess Alice (he was one of the godfathers), but just in time to attend the wedding of his niece, Princess Augusta of Cambridge, who was marrying her first cousin, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, whose paternal aunt, Frederika, was the King of Hanover's wife.

King Ernst August's only son, Georg, was the last king of Hannover.   Hannover sided with Austria in the Austro-Prussian war.  Bismarck retaliated against the king and the small country.  Georg V lost his throne, and the royal family went into exile in Austria.   Hannover was annexed by Prussia.

King Georg V died at Paris in June 1878.  He was succeeded as the de jure king of Hanover and as Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale by his only son, Ernst August, who was styled (in the United Kingdom) by his British peerages.  He was married to Princess Thyra of Denmark, youngest sister of the Princess of Wales (Queen Alexandra).

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The Duke and Duchess of Cumberland's eldest surviving son, Ernst August, married Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia, the youngest child and only daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II, thus healing the breach between the two families.

The Duke of Cumberland had become the heir to the duchy of Brunswick und Lüneburg, following the death of his kinsman, Duke Wilhelm VIII of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, in 1884, but because neither he nor his son would renounce their claim to Hanover,  Prince Albrecht of Prussia was named as Regent.

Following his marriage to Viktoria Luise,  Ernst August was named as Duke of Brunswick und Lüneburg.

The Hannover royal family retained their British titles until 1917.  The Duke of Cumberland and his son, Ernst August, sought permission to marry their wives from the British sovereign due to the Royal Marriages.

The Duke and Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneberg's eldest son, Prince Ernst August, born in 1914, was styled in the United Kingdom as HH Prince Ernst August.  A representative from the Home Office was present for his birth.

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The first world war changed everything for the Hannover Royal Family.  In 1917.  the British Parliament stripped the Duke of Cumberland and the Duke of Albany (Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) of their British peerages, as they were Germans and the enemy.    George V's Letters Patent regarding the title of Prince/ess and the HRH in July 1917, also affected both families.  The title Prince and Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland  and style of Royal Highness were limited to the children of the sovereign, the grandchildren of the sovereign in the male line and the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.   The HH (His/Her Highness) which had applied to male lines apart from the children of the sovereign, the grandchildren of the sovereign in the male line and the grandchildren of the then Prince of Wales (1898).  The Duke of Cumberland was the great-grandson of George III.

In November 1918, the Duke of Brunswick abdicated as duke as the German monarchies fell in the final days of World War II.  His father-in-law, Kaiser Wilhelm II, was forced into exile in The Netherlands.

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After the issuance of the Letters Patent,  members of the Hannover royal family ceased to be British Princes and Princesses.   The Duke of Cumberland died in 1923, and was succeeded as head of the house by the Duke of Brunswick.  In 1931, the duke issued a non-binding decree stating that he and his family would continue to use the British titles of Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland due to their male line descent from George III.

One assumes this did not go down well at Buckingham Palace, but it must be noted that George V nor George VI nor Elizabeth II never denied the Hannovers the use of their British titles, even though the 1917 Letters Patent made it clear that they were no longer British royals.

The Hannovers were also adamant in continuing the use of the Royal Marriages Act.  All but two of the members of the Royal House applied to the British sovereign for permission to marry.  The two exceptions are the late Prince Georg Wilhelm (second son of the Duke of Brunswick) who was engaged to marry Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark in 1946) and Prince Christian (third son of the Duke of Brunswick) who married 17-year-old Mireille Dutry in 1963.
The present head of the family, Prince Ernst August (1954) applied for permission for both his marriages, the first two Chantal Hochuli in 1981, and again in 1999, when he married Princess Caroline of Monaco. The latter was issued in an Orders in Council.

The last member of the family to receive permission to marry was Ernst August's younger brother, Prince Heinrich, who married Thyra von Westernhagen, on June 19, 1999, the same day as Prince Edward's marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones.

So that brings us to 33-year-old Prince Ernst August, a financier, who lives and works in London.  His fiancee runs her own design business, Ekat.
http://ekatsuits.com/

The younger Prince Ernst August has also run the family businesses for some years now.

Prince Ernst August will not need to seek permission from Queen Elizabeth II to marry.    She probably won't mind having to sign the paperwork, as there are few ties these days between the two royal houses.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be visiting Germany in July, but they will not be receiving an invitation to the wedding. Let me repeat this: William and Catherine will not be at the wedding.  I do expect members of the Greek and Spanish royal families to attend.   King Constantine II of the Hellenes and King Felipe V of Spain are two of Ernst August's godfathers.   Constantine and Felipe's mother, Queen Sofia,  are two of the three children of Princess Frederika of Hannover and King Paul of the Hellenes.

Frederika was the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Brunswick und Lüneburg.  Her children are the first cousins of the groom's father.

I won't be surprised if Princess Beatrice and/or Princess Eugenie are invited to the wedding as they attended the Great Britain Mini Tour in Hanover in 2013.

Princess Beatrice has also met the groom's father.


If you liked this article

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http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2012/04/titles-deprivation-act-of-1917.html


http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2015/12/hanover-brides-and-bridal-crown.html

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/10/princess-carolines-hrh.html


http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2008/07/princess-mary-of-hanover.html


http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2008/08/princess-alexandra-of-cumberland-weds.html

So will Meghan become a royal duchess

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No engagement announcement -- and I do not expect one for some time -- but journalists are speculating on what Harry's ducal title will be ...  perhaps Duke of Sussex.  His wife will be HRH The Duchess of Sussex.

Camilla Tominey has written an excellent article on the subject.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/775077/Royal-wedding-rumours-mount-Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-Jamaica

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a noble engagement Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz -Croy

Altgrave Conrad Maria Stephan Norbert Benedikt zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz, 32, is engaged to marry  26-year-old Princess Rosalie Franziska Carolyn Marie-Eugenie of Croy.

The couple will marry on September 16, 2017.

Conrad, who works for Price Waterhouse Cooper in Munich, is the sixth and youngest child of the late Altgrave Niklas Hugo August Leopold Bonifatius Franz Eustachius Maria zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Raitz and Countess Nathalie von Neipperg.   Rosalie is the youngest of three children of Prince Philippe of Croy and Duchess Margarete of Oldenburg.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/conrad-salm-reifferscheidt-28649013/


The bride and groom have good family connections.  Princess Rosalie's mother, Duchess Margarete, is the daughter of Duke Peter of Oldenburg and Princess Gertrud of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg.    Margarete's first cousins include Christian, Duke of Oldenburg and Andreas, Prince of Leiningen.   The Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg is also a first cousin.

Rosalie was named for her great-grandmother, Rosalie von Heyden-Linden (1894-1942) who married Prince Anton Croy in 1922.

Conrad's mother is a first cousin of Hereditary Count Karl Eugen of Neipperg, heir apparent to his father, the Count of Neipperg, and who is married to Archduchess Andrea of Austria, eldest daughter of the late Archduke Otto.

The late Altgrave Niklas' mother was Princess Irene of Thurn und Taxis.

Lord Max Percy to marry Princess Nora of Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Spielberg

Published in today's The Telegraph:

"The engagement is announced between Max, younger son of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, and Nora, youngest daughter of Prince and Princess zu Oettingen-Spielberg."

Oh this will be a grand wedding.  I expect the nuptials to place at the bride's home,  Schloss Oettingen.   To be fair,  Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is also rather grand.   So is the Duke's London home, Syon Park.

http://www.oettingen-spielberg.de/
https://www.alnwickcastle.com/
http://www.syonpark.co.uk/

And what a coincidence.  A new exhibit, Fürstenhochzeiten, opens on March 19 and will run through November 1.  The exhibit will be about princely weddings in the Oettingen-Oettingen family,

http://www.oettingen-spielberg.de/images/stories/schlossfuehrungen/sonderausstellung%202017-zum%20drucken%20din%20a%204.pdf


HSH Princess Nora Amelie Claudia Christiana Maria Notgera of Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Spielberg is the fourth and youngest child of HSH Albrecht Ernst Otto Joseph Maria Notger, Prince of Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Spielberg, and his wife, Angela Jank.    Nora was born at West Palm Beach, Florida on June 10, 1990.  She has one older brother,  Franz Albrecht, the Hereditary Prince, and two older sisters,  Theresa and Antonia.

Franz Albrecht's marriage in July 2016 to Baroness Cleopatra von Adelsheim took place at Oettingen.  There were reports that Prince Harry was present for the pre-wedding celebrations.

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-wedding-of-hereditary-prince-of.html

Princess Theresa is married to Carl-Christian Oetker, a scion of the German baking dynasty.

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-wedding-of-princess-theresia-of.html

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have been guests of the Prince and Princess's hunting parties at Oettingen.  The Prince and Princess attended the wedding of the Duke of Cambridge.

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/05/prince-and-princess-of-oettingen.html

Lord Max Percy was born on May 26, 1990, as the youngest of four children of Ralph, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, and his wife, Jane.  He has two olders, Lady Catherine Valentine and Lady Melissa Percy and one older brother, George, Earl Percy, heir to the dukedom.

Lady Catherine is estranged from her husband, Patrick Valentine, and  Lady Melissa's marriage to Thomas van Straubenzee ended in divorce in 2016, after only three years.

Lord Percy, 32, is unmarried.  [He's my choice for Princess Beatrice.)

This will probably be an ecumenical wedding as the groom is Anglican and the bride Roman Catholic.

Princess Nora has a degree in History of Art and Design from the University of Edinburgh, and owns Tusche London ( Bespoke Design and Sassy Stationary. ) The princess also has a Greeting Card Collection with Pemberly Fox.

http://www.tusche.co.uk/portfolio/

https://www.pemberlyfox.com/nora-oettingen

The newly engaged couple are tenth cousins once removed, through the marriage of Princess Elizabeth of England (1596-1662), daughter of Charles I, and Friedrich V of the Palatine (1596-1632), who was briefly King of Bohemia (the Winter King.)

Lord Max descends the second but eldest surviving son, Karl Ludwig, Elector Palatine, and Princess Nora is a descendant through Princess Sophia, the second to youngest child.     Sophia (later known as Electress Sophia of Hanover) was married to Ernst August, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, the parents of George I.

Thus, Princess Nora is a descendant of George II, but not from his marriage to Caroline of Ansbach.  She is descends from his mistress Amalie von Wendt, who was created Countess of Yarmouth in her own right. [Amalie was the last mistress of a British sovereign to be given a title in her own right.]

Amalie's aunt, Melusine von der Schulenberg, Duchess of Kendal, was one of George I's mistress, thus maintaining the pleasure of the king was a family business.  Amalie was married to Gottlieb Adam von Wallmoden.  They had two sons, and the second Johann Ludwig, was said to fathered by George II. He never acknowledged the child, but it has been generally assumed that George II fathered Johann Ludwig.

This line of descent is maternal through Nora's mother, Angela Jank, and not through the Prince of Oettingen-Oettingen.   Karl Ludwig's granddaughter, Friederike von Schomberg married the Earl of Holderness.  Their daughter, Louisa, married the Marquess of Lothian.    The descent continues through the Dukes of Richmond and Gordon.    Lady Helen Gordon Lennox married the future 8th Duke of Northumberland in 1911.


The engaged couple recently moved from London to Cape Town, South Africa.

A budding singer: Princess Mafalda of Bulgaria

 photography by Bec Lorrimer

HRH Princess Mafalda Cecilia of Bulgaria has led a very privileged life, growing up in London, as the eldest of three children of HRH Prince Kyril of Bulgaria and his wife, Rosario Nadal.   She has a younger sister, Olympia and a younger brother, Tassilo.    Family vacations were spent on Mallorca, Spain, as Mafalda has extensive Spanish roots through both her parents.  Her paternal grandparents are King Simeon II and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria.  The Spanish-born Queen Margarita is the daughter of a Spanish nobleman, Don Manuel Gómez-Acebo y Modet.

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Mafalda's father, Kyril, Prince of Preslav, studied physics at Princeton, and worked in finance for many years.  Princess Rosario has been described as the Italian designer Valentino's muse, and, she moves in a social circle that includes Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece and Lady Helen Taylor.

Lady Helen's son, Columbus, and Mafalda were childhood playmates.

Mafalda has been interested in music for nearly her entire life.  She is now 22-years-old.   Speaking to Paper Magazine's Mickey Boardman in December,  Mafalda -- who uses only her first name -- said she when she was a child she  "inherited her mother's IPod,"  and would "spend hours scrolling through and listening to the electic mix of music."   She began writing music when she was 14,  but her desire to follow a career in music jelled three years later during her first live concert -- held in a British pub -- that Mafalda realized "Music would become a very important part of my life."

 photography by Bec Lorrimer

Her audition in Valencia, Spain, for the Birklee College of Music, was successful, and she moved to Boston to study at the prestigious school, where she has "developed her rich, soulful voice and songwriting skills."   She has released several singles including "Don't Let Go," "Run" and "Awake."  Her website has links to her music, which also available on Spotify.

http://www.papermag.com/mafalda-music-2151147037.html

Another writer noted that one should "sit back" and admire Mafalda's vocals, and touted her ability to "be a big name in the months to come."

In the summer of 2016, Mafalda was invited to perform as after dinner surprise for Valentino, at Island, a private club on the Athens Riviera.   Princess Rosario is one of Valentino's muses.

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http://pigeonsandplanes.com/music/2016/02/listen-to-mafaldas-stunning-new-song-run

http://www.mafaldamusic.com/

You also can follow Mafalda's career on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MafaldaOfficial/ and Instagram


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWDpOh9xB8E

None of her interviews refer to her title or family connections.  Her parents were
were married in July 1989 in Palma de Mallorca in the presence of King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, and other members of the Spanish royal family.    Mafalda is one of eleven grandchildren of King Simeon II and Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians - and their eldest granddaughter.  She was born in London on July 27, 1994.

Although Prince Kyril, an investment banker, and Rosario have been separated for some years, they have never divorced.

Princess Mafalda is now based in New York City, where she continues to pursue her career.  She uses only her first name as a musician, but her legal name is Mafalda Sajonia-Coburgo.

 For more than two years now, she has been dating London-born Marc Abousleiman, who is now at Harvard studying medicine.  

My thanks to Mickey Boardman for allowing me to use two photos from his interview with Mafalda.

A royal thank you

From Queen Mathilde - for her birthday

A girl for Prince Hubertus and Princess Kelly

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Hereditary Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha gave birth to her second daughter and third child on February 22nd.   The baby was born in Munich.

The proud father, Hereditary Prince Hubertus released a statement to the media:

"With great joy and gratitude, we announce the birth of our daughter Madeleine Aurelia Viktoria Carin of Saxony-Coburg and Gotha Mother and child are of the best health,  and we are very happy and grateful for the birth of our daughter. "

The Hereditary Princess is 42 years old.  She was born Kelly Jeanne Rondestvedt in Pensacola, Florida, on September on January 10, 1975.   Princess Kelly was working as an investment banker in New York City when she met Hereditary Prince Hubertus of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the eldest of three children of Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his wife, the former Carin Dabelstein.  Prince Andreas is the head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

The couple were married in Coburg in May 2009.

Hereditary Prince Hubertus, 41, now runs the family estate in Coburg.  He and his family divide their time between Munich and Coburg.

Madeleine joins two older siblings,  Princess Katharina Victoria Elizabeth Cheryl, who was born in April 2014, and Prince Philipp Hubertus Andreas Christian, who was born in July 2015.

I expect Princess Madeleine to be one of the infant princesses godparents.  Prince Andreas is one of Princess Madeleine's godfathers.

Prince Andreas and King Carl XVI Gustaf are first cousins.    The King's late mother, Princess Sibylla,  and Prince Andreas' father, Prince Friedrich Josias, were sibling.

Delphine Boel vs King Albert II

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Delphine Boel has returned to a Belgian court to begin the process to be recognized as trhe natural daughter of King Albert II.

This will be a two step process, at the least.  The first part of her application will focus on the status of her legal father, Jacques Boel.  A DNA test has proven that he is not Delphine's biological father, and Boel has not disputed the test.  As it is impossible to have two biological fathers,  the judge is expected to grant Delphine's request to remove  Jacques Boel's legal status.   If the court accepts Jacques Boel's DNA and his official acceptance that he is not Delphine's natural father,

Should the judge grant this request,  Delphine is expected to pursue the second step, which will be to request that King Albert II, father of the present King Philippe, take a DNA test, to prove or disprove his paternity.   Another scenario would be for the court to set aside Boel's paternity and ask the former to take a DNA test to dispel any doubts.

Miss Boel ,49, claims to be the daughter of King Albert by his long time mistress, Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps.

Responding to the summons to court, Albert's lawyer said "We will plead our case."    The King did not attend the proceedings.

A judgment is expected before Easter.

King Harald V celebrates his 80th Birthday

On February 21, 1937,  Crown Princess Martha of Norway gave birth to a son, who was given the name Harald.  He succeeded his father, Olav V, as King of Norway, on January 17, 1991.

These images are from my personal collection, apart from the last two photographs.

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Princess Astrid of Norway

I wanted to post a celebration in images of Princess Astrid of Norway, who celebrated her 85th birthday on February 12.  I was busy trying to finish an article on Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar (Lady Augusta Gordon Lennox), and never got around to do it ... so now, I have time.  All the images are from my private collection, apart from the last two photographs.

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A boy for Martha and Olav of Norway

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February 21, 1937

Crown Princess Martha of Norway gave birth to a son today, reports the New York Times.  Mother and child  said to be doing well.

The infant was born at Skaugum, the country residence of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha. The home is outside Oslo.

A "cheering crowd assembled" outside Skaugum, and in Oslo, there was "general rejoicing."

This is the third child, and first son for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.   The infant prince is second in line to the throne, after his father.

It is believed that the prince will be named Sverre after the the Norwegian king who reigned from 1184 to 1202.

It is King Haakon VII who alone will decide the name of his grandson.  He is expected to "formally announce the birth: tomorrow at a council meeting at the Royal Palace.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have two daughters, Princess Ragnhild Alexandra, 6, and Princess Astrid, who celebrated her fifth birthday on February 12.

Prince Carol sees his son at Italian hotel

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February 21, 1927


Former Crown Prince Carol of Romania arrived in Rapallo, Italy, today, and "went straight to the Hotel Excelsior," to see his son, Prince Michael, the heir apparent to the throne, reports the Associated Press.

Strict orders were issued to keep the press and others away from "approaching Carol," or even those who accompanied him.


Five-year-old Michael was brought to the hotel by his mother, Princess Helen, and he remained at the hotel to meet his father.  Princess Helen has returned to Bucharest to visit her mother-in-law, Queen Marie.

Tessy loses her royal title

The Nassau Family Pact and the Bylaws concerning the (Luxembourg) House Laws make it clear on the status of former wives Luxembourg royals.  On February 17, the day a London court issued a decree nisi to HRH Princess Tessy of Luxembourg on the grounds of Prince Louis' "unreasonable behavior."
The decree absolute will take place six weeks and one day after the decree was issued.

For more information, please click this link.

http://www.luxarazzi.com/2017/02/its-official-no-title-for-tessy.html

BULLETIN: Infanta Cristina Acquitted

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Infanta Cristina of Spain has been acquitted of "tax fraud complicity" in the high profile corruption trial known as the Noos case

Her husband, Iñaki  Urdangarin was the mastermind of a business scheme "that obtained no-bid contracts" from regional governments in Spain.  He was sentenced to six years in prison.

Urdangarin was found guilty of embezzlement, fraud and influence peddling and tax crimes.  He received a fine of €512,000.

Although the 51-year-old sister of King Felipe V has been cleared of  all criminal charges, she will have to pay €2658 Euros fine.

A spokesman for King Felipe  have expressed "absolute respect of the independence of the judiciary."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/world/europe/spain-princess-cristina-verdict.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

Infanta Cristina Verdict due on Friday

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A court in Palma de Mallorca will issue its verdict tomorrow for Infanta Cristina and her husband Inaki Urdangarin.

The verdict will be announced at noon in Spain (6 a.m., EST).  

Infanta Cristina, the second of three children of former King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, faced criminal charges over reports that she helped her husband evade taxes.

If Infanta Cristina is convicted, she could face up to eight years in prison.  Her husband was charged with more serious crimes: embezzlement, forgery, influence peddling and money laundering. He could be sentenced to more than 19 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Several Spanish-language newspapers are reporting that Inaki's sentence could be cut in half, and Cristina will receive a small fine.

Infanta Cristina and Inaki married in 1997, and they have four children.


http://www.expatica.com/es/news/Spain-royals-trial-corruption_959867.html