A new Princess of Hanover

 

The Times  January 17, 1848

HRH Princess Friederike Sophie Marie Henriette Amelie Therese of Hannover was the second of three children of then Crown Prince Georg of Hanover and his wife, Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg,    She was born in Hanover on January 9, 1848.  

Crown Prince Georg was the only child of King Ernst August of Hanover, the fifth son of George III.  When his brother, King William IV died on June 30, 1837,  Ernst August, then known as Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale.   He was second in line to the British throne behind his niece, Victoria, who succeeded William as Queen of the United Kingdom.  Because Hanover's succession was based on Salic law (males only), the Duke of Cumberland became King of Hanover.

Frederica is one of my favorite princesses.  She has been the subject of several posts.  Lily certainly had a mind of her own and was a favorite of Queen Victoria, her first cousin once removed.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/06/frederica-of-hanover-passionate.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/06/frederica-of-hanover-passionate_30.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2016/01/princess-frederica-of-hannover-1848.html

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2011/10/alfons-and-frederica-forgotten-romance.html

King Constantine hospitalized again -With Covid

Embed from Getty Images

King Constantine II of the Hellenes is suffering a mild case of Covid-19 and is being treated in University Hospital in Athens, according to CNN's Greek news.  After getting a positive test, he was admitted to the hospital on January 8.

The former sovereign is fully vaccinated and "his health condition remains good."

https://www.cnn.gr/ellada/story/296789/teos-vasilias-konstantinos-nosileyetai-sto-attikon-me-koronoio/amp

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge celebrates her 40th birthday

Embed from Getty Images

  Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

The three photos were taken in Kew Gardens in London in November by Italian photographer Paolo Roversi  These portraits will enter the permanent Collection of the National Portrait Gallery, of which The Duchess is Patron.

Lady Tatiana Mountbatten engaged to Alick Dru

Embed from Getty Images

 Lady Tatiana Mountbatten and Alick Dru are engaged to marry.  The announcement was made on Lady Tatiana's Instagram account. The couple got engaged in Verbier, Switzerland. 

all three photos courtesy of Lady Tatiana Mountbatten

Lady Tatiana Helen Georgia is the daughter of George Ivar Louis Mountbatten, the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven, and his first wife, Sarah Georgina Walker.   Alexander Bernard Molyneux Dru is the son of Auberon Alexander Bernard Dru and Catherine Margaret Norden, who were married in West Somerset in 1989.

Embed from Getty Images 

 The bride-to-be is a descendant of Queen Victoria.  She was born at the Portland Hospital in London on April 16, 1990, and has a younger brother, Henry, Earl of Medina, who is the heir apparent to the Milford Haven Marquessate.  Her paternal grandfather, David, 3rd Marquess, was a first cousin of the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and served as Philip's best man when he married the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947.

The Duke of Cambridge and Lady Tatiana are 3rd and 5th  cousins.  Both relationships are through Victoria.  The third cousin relationship is through Victoria's third child, Princess Alice:

Alice - Victoria - Alice - Philip - Charles - William 

Alice- Victoria  George - David -George - Tatiana

Embed from Getty Images

Queen Victoria - Alice - Victoria - George - David - George - Tatiana

She made her debut in 2007.   Since 2019, she has been the brand ambassador for Crofton & Hall, described as  "quintessentially British fashion". That same year, she was banned from driving as she had three speeding convictions within ten days in her 4x4 Porsche Macan.  She appeared in court to state that a driving ban would have a "significant hardship" as she runs an equestrian business and would have no other way to drive to her business, which is an hour from her London home.  Her lawyer told the court that she would have to "beg, borrow and steal" to be able to get to her business.  "The defendant is self-employed as a professional horse trainer.  Of course, she is the author of her own misfortune and she must bear the circumstances.  But there is a knock-on effect."

Lady Tatiana was fined 450 pounds and banned from driving for 6 months. She also had to pay £85 in court costs.

Embed from Getty Images 

Lady Tatiana lived in Denmark for five years and speaks Danish, Swedish, and German.  "But I can only talk about horses," she told Tatler in August 2017.  Two years earlier, she said that she was not aiming for the Olympics, "but I do want to start competing at World Cup level." 

Her first love is horses.  The Millfield-educated Lady Tatiana, who is known as Tatty,  runs her own "smart horse yard."  "I spend every day doing what I love more than anything in the world: riding horses."  She is also a professional dressage rider." 

  Embed from Getty Images 

 Alexander"Alick" Dru was born on August 25, 1991.

Times  August 28, 1991

  He was educated at Eton and attended Oxford University, where he received a degree in history in 2014. His father, Bernard, is the youngest of four children (and only son) of Major Alexander Dru and Gabriel Mary Hermione Herbert, the eldest child of the Hon. Aubrey Nigel Henry Molyneux Herbert and Hon. Mary Gertrude Vesey, the only child of the 4th Viscount de Vesci.  

Aubrey was the son of Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, and his second wife, Elizabeth Catherine Howard.

Alick and two friends from Oxford founded Tripr, a social travel app, for "travellers [who] would want to meet other travellers, as well as their friends."    He is now the founder of a Stealth Startup.

Bernard and Catherine run Bernard Dru Oak Ltd, which produces and installs high-quality oak flooring, "sustainably sourced" from woodlands in the Haddeo Valley.    They live in Bickham Manor in Timberscome, Somerset.

Red Aunts may be kicked out, too

January 6, 1948

Embed from Getty Images

The Romanian government has ordered the "remnants of the country's royalty to follow King Michael in exile," reports the New York Times, even though the two principal remaining representatives -- Princesses Elisabetha and Ileana -- collaborated so closely with the Russians that they became known as the King's 'Red Aunts.'"

Princess Elisabetha, 52, is the former Queen of Greece.  She divorced the late King George II, in 1935.  Princess Ileana is married to Archduke Anton of Austria, and the mother of six children, who are with her in Romania.

Only several days ago, Premier Petru Groza told reporters that the two princesses were free to remain in Romania, but it now appears that the Communists "decided that the Princesses must go and told them to liquidate their assets."

Embed from Getty Images

The two princesses are now in negotiations for the sale of their properties and "industrial investments."  It is also not sure how many of the Princesses' staffs will be allowed to leave them with them.  It is "understood that passports for a list approved by the Government will be issued on Thursday," and a special train "bearing the last of Rumania's royal family" will depart, "perhaps on Saturday.

The two princesses are sisters of former King Carol.  Princess Ileana's husband has been accused of "having collaborated with the Germans, although he has never been tried."

Embed from Getty Images

The New York Times reporter, who is in Bucharest, also notes that the Rumanian people have not yet been told by "the press and radio" that Michael has abdicated and is now out of the country.  But the Bucharest newspapers are continuing to "report scenes of wild rejoicing throughout the country over the proclamation of what is officially described as the 'Popular Republic.'"  

The reporter also notes in his dispatch that "any evidence of great rejoicing, or even fervent enthusiasm, seems to have escaped" his notice.  He added that it is becoming "more clear that any centers of resistance if such exist in this Communist-dominated nation, are afraid to manifest their opposition."

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2014/01/michaels-aunts-may-be-sent-into-exile.html

Michael denies he abdicated for love

Embed from Getty Images

January 6, 1948

Former King Michael of Romania is resting in a Lausanne hotel suite, while his aides "unpacked a relatively small amount of royal baggage which included nine cases of gin."

United Press reports that Michael issued a statement, "denying he had abdicated for love, that he brought with him refugees from Romania, or that he had a personal fortune of $1,000,000."

King Michael and his mother, Queen Helen, left Romania with four big trunks, and about 40 pieces of luggage, "hardly more than an American actress carries for a summer vacation."   He was also able to bring with him three American cards, a jeep, and a motorcycle.

He has apparently told "his sweetheart," Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, to stay in Copenhagen until he is "able to settle" in Lausanne. 

He released a written statement to the press to clear up several misconceptions:

"Firstly, it is not true the ex-king of Romania left his country to be free to marry and enjoy life.

"Secondly, it is not true, as propaganda claims, the ex-King left Romania with a special train overloaded with baggage and valuable goods.  Aside from 15 trunks, solely a small amount of hand baggage has been brought along.

"Thirdly, it is not true that he left Romania with more than 70 refugees.  In the ex-king's party are only eight persons who are official functionaries of his household.  There are, furthermore, four servants and two Greek families who were allowed by authorities to go along in order to be repatriated. The rest of the party consists of trained personnel.

"Fourthly, it is not true the ex-King took $1,000,000 with him."

Mary will wear Victoria's veil

Embed from Getty Images

 January 5, 1922

Princess Mary will wear Queen Victoria's bridal veil when she marries Viscount Lascelles, eldest son of the Earl of Harewood, in February, reports the Associated Press.  She is the first princess to wed an Englishman since the reign of Henry VIII.  

In 1919, Princess Patricia of Connaught wed the Hon. Alexander Ramsay of Mar, a Scotsman.

Embed from Getty Images 

 The bridal veil was worn by Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in February 1840.  The Queen lent the veil to her future daughter-in-law, Princess Alexandra of Denmark,  in 1863 when she married Victoria's eldest son, Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales.

The veil "is of a very handsome design though many modern brides would look upon it as being somewhat old-fashioned." 

  Embed from Getty Images

Following her wedding, Princess Mary will be styled as HRH The Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles.  She and her husband will reside at Goldsborough Hall in Yorkshire, a wedding present from the Earl and Countess of Harewood.

There will be no "court life" at the princess' new home nor will she have ladies in waiting in attendance at Goldsborough.

Rumors are Rife: King Alexander will wed Princess Marie

Embed from Getty Images

 January 5, 1922

King Alexander of Yugoslavia today left Belgrade as he has accepted an invitation from King Ferdinand and Queen Marie to join them at Sinaia for the Orthodox Christmas celebrations, reports the Associated Press.  

Embed from Getty Images 

 The Yugoslav press is "emphasizing the political importance" of the King's visit, stating that it "is destined to strengthen the friendship between Yugoslavia and Romania."

However, it is not lost on the Belgrade newspapers that the King might possibly announce his engagement to Princess Marie, the second daughter of King Ferdinand.

Queen Mary's nephew seen as Dutch consort

January 5, 1922

The Earl of Athlone and his wife, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, were given a "prominent appearance" at Queen Wilhelmina's official New Year's reception, giving rise to the "apparently well-founded rumor" that Lord Athlone's son, Viscount Trematon, is "regarded as a "probable candidate for Princess Juliana's hand."

The New York Times reports that Lord Athlone and Princess Alice and their children are staying with Queen Wilhelmina, "where the young people are brought together frequently."

Although Crown Princess Juliana is 11 years old, there is already "considerable speculation" about her future husband," but no names have been mentioned until now.   Lord Trematon is 15. 

The Athlones stood next to the Queen at the reception, where Princess Juliana made her first official appearance.   Queen Mother Emma hosted a luncheon for the Athlones, which was also attended by Queen Wilhelmina, Prince Hendrik.   The Athlones' two children, Lady May Cambridge, and Lord Trematon, were also invited along with Princess Juliana.

There is "no doubt" that the Dutch would welcome a "rapprochement with England and the English royal family."

Lord Athlone is a younger brother of Queen Mary, consort of George V.  His wife, Princess Alice, is the daughter of the late Duke of Albany, and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

[The New York Times' correspondent appears to have missed the true connection between the Athlones and the Dutch royal house.  Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Alice were first cousins, as their mothers were sisters. Alice was close to her Dutch cousins.)

Psst I am not four ..not even close

 

My secret is out.  The rescue group said I was about 4 years old.  Mommy was told, perhaps a little younger.  Not a little younger, actually.  I am a baby, moving toward a toddler.  Mommy looked at my medical records when I had my special surgery in early December before I was made available for adoption.  The vet who did the surgery stated I was 1 year six months old.  Perhaps.  So mommy decided my birthday would be May 24, 2020, as my full name is Fleur Victoria.

Mommy took me to the family vet for an examination.  I needed a few tests.  I do not have Feline Leukemia or Feline AIDS and no parasites in the poop.

The vet says I am a cutie patootie but I am not 18 months old.  More like a year old.  The vet says I don't have my upper molars and I still have a kitten face.  A friend of Mommy says I am "stinkin' cute."

Mommy asked the vet to give me a new birthday.  The vet said how about December 25.  I am now an official Christmas kitty.   I was born on December 25, 2020.  It is in my official record now.  

Mommy thinks I am Purrfect. Harper likes me too.  I like him as well.

And, oh, I like baseball, especially the Washington Nationals.

Harper and I are Nats Kitties

Much Love,

Fleur Victoria Koenig, also known as Flurry and Flurrball

Yes, I am a cutie patootie and STINKIN' CUTE!

Grand Duke Henri and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia tests positive for Covid

Embed from Getty Images

 

This is a Google translation of a press release I received today.

"Following a self-test carried out today which turned out to be positive, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke placed himself this morning in self-isolation in accordance with the provisions provided for by the Directorate of Health.

A PCR test carried out subsequently confirmed this result and the Head of State is in isolation, in accordance with the provisions of the amended law of July 17, 2020, on measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Grand Duke is currently showing mild symptoms and will continue to perform his duties."

"Suite à un auto-test effectué ce jour qui s'est avéré positif, Son Altesse Royale le Grand-Duc s'est placé ce matin en auto-isolement conformément aux dispositions prévues par la Direction de la Santé.

Un test PCR effectué par la suite a confirmé ce résultat et le Chef d’État est en isolement, conformément aux dispositions prévues par la loi modifiée du 17 juillet 2020 sur les mesures de lutte contre la pandémie COVID-19.

Le Grand-Duc présente actuellement des légers symptômes et continuera à exercer ses functions."

Embed from Getty Images 

 and from the Swedish court

"King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who are fully vaccinated with three syringes, have mild symptoms and feel well under the circumstances.   

The Royal couple have isolated themselves in their home in accordance with current rules of conduct and infection tracking is ongoing."

A countly engagement

 

@Touton Specialities

Countess Philippa von Neipperg said yes on New Year's eve to Count Philipp von Brockdorff. 

Maria Philippa Franziska Nathalie Stephanie is the fourth of five children of Count Maria Stephan-Christoph Heinrich Alfred Emmeran von Neipperg and Baroness Sigwies von Stotzingen.  She was born Talence on February 23, 1991.  Her sister, Caroline is married to Count Philippe von Limburg-Stirum.  

Count Stephan-Christoph is the younger brother of Count Karl Eugen von Neipperg who is married to Archduchess Andrea of Austria.  He took over the family's wine-making Bordeaux estates from his father in the early 1970s.

Embed from Getty Images

The bride-to-be is fluent in French, German, and English.  She received a Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics and IT from Université Paris Dauphine in 2011.  She also has two master's degrees, the first in Economics, specializing in Financial Engineering, from the Technische Universität Berlin (2013)  and the second in 2015 in international affairs from Université Paris Dauphine.

Countess Philippa is employed with Touton Specialities, GmbH in Hamburg, a specialty coffee company, where she works in Sourcing and Sales.

Count Philipp is the eldest son and third of five children of Count Bertram Joachim von Brockdorff and Renata  Maria Constance Beate von Samson-Himmelstjerna. He is the managing director of PS Project Systems NAWARO Kletkamp GmbH.

https://www.gaesteschloss-kletkamp.de/

http://www.neipperg.com/en/homepage.html

An Imperial engagement

 HI & RH Archduke Joseph Albrecht Alexander Karl Franz Maria Joachim Anna of Austria and Countess Sophie Maria Isabelle Alberta Johanna Henriette von Schaesberg are engaged to be married.

Archduke Joseph, who was born in Hannover on July 26, 1994. is the second of four children, but the eldest son of HI & RH Archduke Joseph Karl Maria Arpád Stephan Pius Ignatius Aloysius Cyrillus of Austria and HSH  Princess Margarete Elisabeth Juliana Maria of Hohenberg.

The groom's mother is the eldest of four children of the late HSH Prince Albrecht Philipp Leopold Josef Andreas Hubertus Maria of Hohenberg and Countess Leontine von Cassis-Faraone.   Prince Albrecht was the third son of the late HH Duke Maximilian Karl Franz Michael Hubert Anton Ignatius Joseph Maria of Hohenberg, the eldest son of the late HI & RH Archduke Franz Ferdinand Karl Ludwig Joseph of Austria and Countess Sophie Chotek von Chotkowa, who was created Duchess of Hohenberg by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1905.  Franz Ferdinand was heir presumptive to the thrones of Austria and Hungary.  His marriage was morganatic and his wife and children did not share his imperial rank and did not have succession rights to the throne.  He and his wife were killed at Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, by a Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Prinzip.  

Princess Margarete married Archduke Joseph in Vienna in January 1991.  Archduke Joseph is the third of eight children and the eldest surviving son of HI & RH Archduke Joseph Arpád Benedikt Ferdinand Franz Maria Gabriel and HSH Princess Maria Princess zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 

Franz Ferdinand's assassination was one of the catalysts that led to the First World War.

The bride-to-be is the elder of two daughters of Johannes Friedrich Walter Alfred Josef Maria Count von Schaesberg and his first wife Baroness Antoinette von Hoenning O'Carroll.  She was born in Regensburg on December 12, 1997.

Antoinette's maternal first cousins include the late Alexandra Miloradovich, who married Rudolph, Duke of Croy, and Johanna Raitz von Frentz, the wife of Prince Heinrich XIV Reuss.   She grew up at Schloss Sunching, in Bavaria, the family home that belonged to Antoinette's grandmother, Countess Gabriele von Seinsheim, who married Baron Johann Ludwig von Hoenning O'Carroll.  Their son, Zdenko, married Princess Margarete Lobkowicz.   She died in 1948.  Two years later, Zdenko married Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria.

The Sünching estate was left to Sophie's father after the death of his mother.

Countess Sophie's paternal grandparents were Heinrich Wilhelm Viktor Walter Hubertus Maria Count von Schaesberg and Princess Margarethe von Croy, who was a first cousin to the late Duke Carl of Croy, the father of the present duke, who married Alexandra Miloradovich.

Duchess of Cornwall will receive Order of the Garter

Embed from Getty Images

 

The Duchess of Cornwall has received this very high honor for "services to the Sovereign."

It is unusual for the wife of the heir apparent to receive the Garter.   Queen Alexandra was the first (modern) Royal Lady. She received the Order in 1901 after her husband, King Edward VII, succeeded to the throne.  She was the only distaff member of the Royal Family to receive the Order of the Garter during the reign of Edward VII.

Queen Alexandra was the first female royal to receive the Order since 1488 when Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Derby received the Order from her son, Henry VII.

Shortly after his accession to the throne in May 1910, King George V bestowed the Order of the Garter on his wife, Queen Mary.     Twenty-six years later,  King George VI named his wife, Queen Elizabeth as a Royal Lady of the Garter.

In 1944, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was named the first female Stranger Lady.  Princess Elizabeth, as heiress presumptive to the throne, received the Order in 1947.  

The Queen has since named three more Stranger Ladies:  Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (1958) Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (1979) and  Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (1989).  The first Lady of the Garter since the 1500s was Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk in 1990.  Since 1990. five more women have been named as Lady Companion:  Baroness Thatcher (1995),  Mary, Baroness Soames (2005), Baroness Manningham-Buller (2014) Lady Mary Fagan, (2018), and  Lady Mary Peters (2019). 

Edward III founded the Most Noble Order of the Garter, an order of chivalry, in 1348.  The Order is limited to 24 members.  As supernumeraries, The Prince of Wales. Royal Knights and Ladies and Stranger Knights and Ladies (foreign sovereigns) are excluded from the 24 member limit.

There is a precedent for honoring the spouse of the heir to the throne with the Order.  On November 19, 1947, King George VI gave the order to his future son-in-law, Prince Philip.  Princess Elizabeth received the Garter a week earlier so she could have precedence before her husband.   The Duke of Edinburgh would not have to wait until his wife was Queen to receive the Order.  Perhaps the Queen thinks that the Duchess of Cornwall should not have to wait for the Garter until Charles becomes king.

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha received the Garter at Ehrenburg Palace in January 1839 before he left his homeland to marry Queen Victoria.

The late Duke of Edinburgh was 26 when he married the then Princess Elizabeth.  The Duchess of Cornwall is 74 years old.   

A new precedent may be set and perhaps, the Duchess of Cambridge will be the first Royal lady to receive the Garter from King Charles III.

  Embed from Getty Images   

It is apparent that the Queen holds her daughter-in-law in high regard with the bestowing of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.  

The motto of the Most Noble Order of the Garter is “Honi soit qui mal y pense” — “Evil be to him who evil thinks."

If you liked this article

A Belgian Royal engagement

 

An announcement today from the Belgian Royal Palace: "Their Royal Highnesses Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz are delighted to announce the engagement of Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Laura to Mr. William Isvy.

The  33-year-old princess is the second child and eldest daughter of HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium and HRH Prince Lorenz of Belgium, who was born HI & RH Archduke Lorenz of Austria.  Mr. Isvy is the son of Philippe Isvy and Lisa Louise Wilson.  His father has French and Moroccan ancestry and his mother is English.   

 Philippe is the Chief  Investment Officer at Mogador Capital and is based in London.

Mr. Isvy was in Paris on March 9, 1991, but he has spent most of his life in England, where he works as an investment banker.  He is an Analyst at Millennium Capital Partners LLP.   He received his baccalaureate from the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in Kensington. He graduated from McGill University in Montreal.

Princess Maria Laura Zita Beatrix Gerhard was born on August 26, 1988, at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels.  She is ninth in line to the Belgian throne but does not carry out official engagements.

She studied  Chinese and international relations at the Institute of Oriental Languages ​​in Paris.  The princess worked in China for two years before moving to England, where she earned a master's degree in international affairs and diplomacy at SOAS Universand doing an internship in New York. 

Princess Maria Laura worked for the years at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development before moving to her current job in 2020, where she is an analyst in the climate change sector.  She is the granddaughter of former King Albert II and Queen Paola.   

The couple met in London in 2015.   The wedding is said to take place in the second half of 2022.

both photos @ Andrew Ferraro