Last updated: July 24th, 2005.
April 1st
Doctors at the Rikshospitalet in Oslo said they performed a successful heart surgery on King Harald V of Norway. He will recover at the intensive care unit. Surgeons started operating at 8:30am and said they finished at around 11:45am. Palace officials and doctors said this afternoon that the king is in stable condition. The operation proceeded without complications. The King's heart was stopped for nearly one hour, while surgeons replaced his defective valve with a what was described as a "biologic" one. The team also performed a bypass procedure on him. The King is expected to remain in hospital for the next two weeks.
During a five-minute photo session yesterday with his son during their skiing holidays in Klosters, Switzerland, the Prince of Wales was caught muttering "I hate doing this". Microphones picked his comments up as the Prince and his sons William and Harry posed for pictures. He looked uncomfortable when being asked about the forthcoming wedding of him and Camilla Parker Bowles. At the question of BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell how he was feeling before the big day, he said: "I'm very glad you have heard of it." However he then muttered: "Bloody people. I can't bear that man anyway. He's so awful, he really is." The comments were only noticed afterwards when the recordings were played back. Harry, 20, was also caught on tape declaring sarcastically: "This is so much fun". William urged his brother: "Keep smiling." Clarence House said the Prince of Wales had not been looking forward to the photocall. "He prefers it when he skis and he just wanted to get up into the mountains," a spokeswoman added. "He was upset at the paparazzi photographs." Aides said Charles had been angered by paparazzi photos in the press of William and girlfriend Kate Middleton the day before.
Further details on the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles were given two days ago. The Service of Prayer and Dedication will take place at St George's Chapel, Windsor. A combination of choral and orchestral music will be played during the Service. The music, which has been chosen by the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles, includes some of their favourite pieces such as Bach’s Cantata “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” and excerpts from Handel’s Water Music. Among the musicians performing at the Service are members of the Philharmonia Orchestra, of which the Prince of Wales is Patron, and the St George’s Chapel Choir. A Russian version of The Creed, set to music by Gretchaninov, will be sung by Ekaterina Semenchuk, a young Russian contralto who has been specially flown over as a wedding gift from the Mariinsky Theatre Trust of St Petersburg, of which HRH The Prince of Wales is Patron and a benefactor. At the beginning of the Service of Prayer and Dedication, a number of organ and orchestral pieces will be played. These include Farewell to Stromness by The Master of the Queen’s Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and which has been specially arranged by Rosemary Furniss for strings. Other pieces include works by Walton, Bach, Handel, Finzi, Grieg and Elgar. As The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles join the congregation, the orchestra will play the Adagio movement of Albinoni’s Oboe Concerto in D minor. During the Service, three hymns will be sung, all of which are The Prince’s and Camilla Parker Bowles’s favourites. They are: Immortal Invisible (tune: St Denio), Love Divine All Loves Excelling (tune: Blaenwern), and Praise My Soul The King of Heaven (tune: Goss). After the concluding blessing, a verse of the National Anthem will be sung, followed immediately by a specially commissioned “Celebration Fanfare” by the Welsh composer Alun Hoddinott. The Service will conclude with the orchestra playing excerpts of Handel’s Water Music and excerpts from works by Bach for organ. The organist for the Service will be Roger Judd and the choir will be conducted by the Director of Music of St George’s Chapel Timothy Byram-Wigfield. The Philharmonia Orchestra will be conducted by Christopher Warren-Green.
Weissenhaus Castle at Ostholstein, since 1739 the possession of the Platen Hallermund family, is on sale for 6 million euros. Auction House Schopmann in Hamburg has been asked to find a good buyer. The Auction House has confirmed that there are several people interested among them a film company, various hotel companies as well as private investors. Sebastian Count von Platen Hallermund said: "Because of a complete restructurisation we have made the difficult decision to sell the head building with about 300 square metres. Another 16 houses that form the village belong to the land. Such an estate needs lots of maintenance and is an enormous financial load." The family lives in a nearby house, that isn't included in the sale. The family hopes for an investor who leads the house further for the public.
April 3rd
King Harald V of Norway has already begun excercises to rebuild strength following his successful heart operation Friday. He was visited by family members on Saturday, and was said to be in good spirits. The operation, which included a bypass, was successful, and the King will return to full health, his doctors say. However, the doctor's also say the King and Queen have agreed to reduce their heavy work load in future.
The celebrations of the 200th birthday of fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen started on Friday at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. Hans Christian Andersen ambassadors from all over the world attended, like Roger Moore and Isabel Allende. Apart from about the whole Danish royal family the celebrities were attended by Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Princess Laurentien and Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands. On Saturday Princess Benedikte of Denmark opened the celebrations in Germany by opening an exhibition about Hans Christian Andersen with collages, paper cuts and drawings at the Nordish Embassy at Berlin. The other royals paid a visit to Odense, where author Günter Grass received the honorary Hans Christian Andersen Price. On Saturday evening the official opening of the year took place with a big show at Parken in Copenhagen called "Once Upon a Time". Among the performing artists were Tina Turner, Olivia Newton-John and opera star Renee Fleming. Today there was a reception at the town hall in Copenhagen. More than 3000 events will take place this year all over the world to celebrate the birth of Hans Christian Andersen.
April 4th
Doctors at the Rikshospitalet in Oslo said today that they are "extremely satisfied" with the recovery of King Harald V of Norway so far. Palace officials said King Harald is up from his sickbed several times a day. His rehabilitation started right away, on Saturday, and is in accordance with the hospital's ordinary routines. He will remain hospitalized for at least another week. His condition remains stable and his team of doctors promised to issue regular reports on the status of his recovery.
Prince Rainier III of Monaco is in a stable condition and receiving intensive care, but his hopes for a full recovery remain dim, doctors say. There has no been no change in his health, they say. His condition on Friday was described as "precarious".
The wedding of the Prince of Wales and camilla Parker Bowles has been postponed until Saturday due to the funeral of Pope John Paul II. The couple has changed their plans when the Vatican announced arrangements for the service earlier today. Clarence House said the prince, but not Mrs Parker Bowles, would represent Queen Elizabeth II at the funeral in Rome. Clarence House said the postponement of the ceremony was "a mark of respect" for the pontiff. It is hoped the majority of the guests that were going on Friday will be there on Saturday too. The Prince's spokesman added: "It is expected that the arrangements will be largely the same as previously planned and more details will be announced as soon as possible." Paddy Harverson, Prince Charles' communications secretary, said Mrs Parker Bowles had agreed with the prince that postponement was "absolutely the right thing to do. The wedding is still going to be a good day, but it has just been pushed back 24 hours." Lloyd White, of Windsor and Maidenhead council, said: "We are happy to accommodate this alteration in the plans." Three other weddings booked for the Guildhall on Saturday will not be disrupted, he added. The Prince of Wales cut short his Swiss skiing holiday to attend the Vespers for the Dead service for the Pope at Westminster Cathedral this evening. He was accompanied by Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Government Information Service announced today that the civil wedding of Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven and Anita van Eijk will take place in Apeldoorn on Thursday August 25. The religious wedding will take place on Saturday August 27 at The Hague. The civil wedding of Prince Floris van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven and Aimée Söhngen will take place on Thursday October 20 at Naarden. The religious wedding will take place on Saturday October 22 also at Naarden.
April 5th
Presentation packs sold with stamps to commemorate the wedding of the U.K.'s Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will still be issued, even though they bear the wrong date after the couple postponed the wedding for a day, the Royal Mail said today. The Royal Mail has prepared two stamps bearing images of the couple, which were due for release on April 8. The stamps themselves don't carry the date of the wedding, but the special presentation sheets incorporating them do bear the date April 8. The stamps will now go on sale on April 9. Presentation packs with the wrong date will also be sold, and collectors who have ordered so-called first day covers, or letters with a special design and the stamps, will be able to have them franked with either date. A spokesman wouldn't say how many presentation packs, first day covers and presentation sheets have been made. Millions of stamps have been printed, he said.
April 6th
Prince Rainier III of Monaco died at 6.35am this morning at the Centre Cardio-thorachique de Monaco the royal palace announced. A palace statement said the Prince died from the "broncho-pulmonary, heart and kidney conditions that caused his hospitalisation". Prince Albert was at his father's side when he died. The Prince is survived by his children Caroline, Albert and Stéphanie, seven grandchildren and his elder sister Antoinette. His son Prince Albert will succeed. Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi was born at Monaco on May 31, 1923 as son of Prince Pierre of Monaco (born Count de Polignac) and the Duchess of Valentinois, only daughter and heiress of Prince Louis II of Monaco. His parents divorced and the little prince went to an English prep school, Summer Fields, at St Leonards some time afterwards. He later went to Stowe, but in 1936 to his happiness he was sent to Le Rosey, in Switzerland. Second World War broke out shortly after he had started studying at Montpellier University. While his grandfather Louis II supported the Vichy regime, Rainier developed sympathy with the Free French. In 1943 he graduated from Montpellier and went on to the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris. Rainier joined the army in June 1944 and became second-lieutenant in the First Algerian Regiment of the First French Army and went through the winter campaign in Alsace. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery under fire. Subsequently he became a liaison officer with the Americans at Strasbourg, and at the end of the war went to Berlin, where he served in the Economic Section of the French military mission. He left the army in 1947 and took a villa at Beaulieu-sur-Mer. He succeeded his grandfather upon his death on May 9, 1949. Rainier strengthened the sovereignty of Monaco as enshrined by a 1917 treaty with France, its territorial waters and air space were recognized and it won a United Nations seat. When Prince Rainier succeeded his grandfather in 1949 Monaco was best known for its casino but by the 1990s, gambling accounted for less than five percent of Monaco's annual income, the bulk of revenue coming from value added tax, tourism, commerce and industry. In 1956 Prince Rainier married Hollywood actress Grace Kelly. She died in a car crash in 1982. Rainier III was the longest reigning monarch of Europe.
The funeral is due to be held at noon on 15 April at the cathedral of Monaco and will be attended by many local and international dignitaries. From today until the day following the funeral the flags on all public buildings will be half-mast. The Chapelle Palatine will be changed into a chapelle ardente for the mortal remains of Prince Rainier III. Members of the Corps Constitués will be able to say goodbye on Monday 11 April 2005 from 9.30am to 12.30pm, the Corps Diplomatique and Consulaire from 14.00 to 18.00pm. The people from Monaco and justified residents will be able to say goodbye to the Prince on Tuesday 12 April and Wednesday 13 April from 9.00am to 10.00pm. External visitors will not be allowed to go inside. A Condolences register will be available at the Prince's Palace for a month after the day of the funeral. Big screens will be standing in front of the Churches Saint-Charles, les Carmes, Sainte-Dévote, le Sacré Cœur, Saint-Martin and Saint-Nicolas. Administrations and public services as well as schools will be closed on the day of the funeral. Private establishments have to close also. Showbiz establishments are being asked not to be active from the day of the death of the Prince until the day of the funeral. The casino will be closed in the 24 hours following the announcement of the death of the prince, as well as on the day of the funeral. There will be no sports events on the day of the funeral. The princely family will have a mourning period of three months until July 6. The State and Communal Departments will take mourning until May 6.
Two tourists have managed to climbe over a fence and cross a golf course to reach the walls of Windsor Castle. They were found quickly, Scotland Yard has said. They were not arrested, but an investigation's been launched into how this could have happened so close to the royal wedding. Reports say they entered the private area of the castle, but a spokeswoman for Windsor Castle said "the secure area of the castle was not breached at any stage" during the incident.
April 7th
Prince Rainier III of Monaco will be interred in the crypte of the Cathedral of Monaco on April 15 next to his wife who died in 1982. "It will be a simple funeral in accordance with the prince's wishes, similar to the one for Princess Grace," said Monaco Archbishop Bernard Barsi. As news of his death spread yesterday church bells tolled across the principality. Television and radio stations interrupted normal programmes to air classical music and tributes to the late prince.
Prince Ernst August of Hannover, husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, was hospitalised at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco on the night of April 4 for a pancreatic infection, it has emerged. The palace hasn't commented yet. According to unconfirmed reports the prince's illness is not thought to be serious, although it is unclear as to whether he remains in hospital continuing treatment.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is to host a lunch for foreign royal guests when the Prince of Wales and camilla Parker Bowles return to Windsor Castle after their civil wedding. The Prince of Wales is spending the night before the wedding at Highgrove, his Gloucestershire home, after returning from Rome and the Pope’s funeral. Camilla Parker Bowles is staying at Clarence House, the Prince’s London residence. They are due to arrive at the Guildhall at 12.30pm and leave around 1pm as the Queen and her guests begin their lunch. Some 2,000 people, mostly supporters of the Prince and Camilla’s charities, have been given tickets to Windsor Castle precincts to see the arrival and departure of the royals and almost 800 guests attending the couple’s wedding blessing which is due to begin at 2.30pm. After the church ceremony at St George’s Chapel the Queen is hosting a private reception in the Castle’s state apartments, St George’s Hall, the Waterloo Chamber and the Grand Reception Room. A harpist will play for guests as they arrive but there will be no other music or entertainment at the reception.Hot and cold food will be available as well as champagne to toast the couple who are due to depart for their honeymoon in Scotland at 5.45pm.Police pipers will greet them at Aberdeen Airport and airport staff will make a brief presentation before Charles and Camilla drive to the privacy of Birkhall on the Queen’s Balmoral estate. They are due to attend church at Balmoral on Sunday. About 20 guests who had been invited to the original celebrations on April 8 have cancelled because of the change of date, but four who were unable to make it on April 8 can now come after all, officials said.
Police are to investigate another security breach at Windsor Castle after a journalist drove a white van containing a box labelled 'bomb' close to the Queen's apartments, it has emerged. Reporter Alex Peake and photographer Gary Stone also drove past the chapel where The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles are due to be blessed on Saturday. The Sun newspaper said they posed as delivery drivers. Their van carried a brown box which had been clearly marked with the word "bomb". A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "This apparent breach of security at Windsor Castle in the run-up to the royal wedding properly raises serious concern. It is only right that the facts are established before any action is taken against any person who may be culpable."
No members of the Dutch royal family are attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican tomorrow. The Government Information Service didn't give an explanation for this other than to say the Netherlands will be adequately represented by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. Almost all other royal houses in Europe will be represented. However on Saturday morning the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima will attend an eucharistic mass in memory of the Pope at the St Bavo Cathedral in Haarlem.
April 8th
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has given birth to her second daughter. Leah Isadora was born this morning at 8.20am at home at Bloksbjerg in Hankø in the municipality of Fredrikstad in Østfold County. There were no complications and both mother and child were doing well. The newborn weighed 3,760 grams and is 52 centimeters tall. The king and queen expressed their joy at the birth of their third grandchild. The baby is fifth in line of succession to the Norwegian throne. Queen Sonja immediately visited her granddaughter after returning from Rome this evening.
The funeral of Pope John Paul II took place today at the Vatican. The funeral was attended by several royals. Attending were King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, Prince Hans Adam II and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg, Queen Sonja of Norway, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, the Prince of Wales, Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber al Sabah of Kuwait, King Letsie III of Lesotho, the Prince and Princess of Naples, the Prince and Princess of Venice, King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania, King Constantine of Greece and Prince Nikolaos of Greece, Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco, Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani of Qatar, the Duke and Duchess of Bragança.
The Danish royal court announced that the Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs today has granted a divorce to Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra. Now they are divorced Princess Alexandra will be addressed as Her Highness Princess Alexandra instead of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra. She will remain a member of the royal house.
The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles will pay penitence during their blessing ceremony tomorrow for previous 'sins and wickedness'. During the service at the private St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the Prince of Wales will be asked directly by the Archbishop, Dr Rowan Williams, whether he has "resolved to be faithful to your wife, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?" The Prince will reply: "That is my resolve, with the help of God." Eschewing more recent updates, the couple will join the congregation in reciting the act of penitence from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. The confessional prayer, written by King Henry VIII's Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, is considered to be the strongest act of penitence in the Church of England. The Prince and the new Duchess of Cornwall will join in, saying: "We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings."
Prince Ernst August of Hannover has been taken into intensive care with an acute illness of the pancreas. A statement from the royal palace said the prince's condition was serious and he needed constant medical attention. Doctors are carrying out tests to determine the extent of his illness. The Prince was taken to the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace with acute pancreatitis early on Tuesday morning the royal palace said in a statement. Rumours go that he slipped into a coma on Tuesday evening, but the palace statement doesn't mention anything about that.
According to a poll by Maurice de Hond 47% of the Dutch thinks it is not right that the Dutch royal house is not present at today's funeral of the Pope. More than 30% thinks that the decision not to go is right. From the catholic Dutch 80% finds it not right, and 58% even finds it an insult for the catholic Dutch. 57% understands the opinion of former Prime Minister Dries van Agt, who critisized the decision of the royal house yesterday. Vice Prime Minister Gerrit Zalm however said that it has never happened before that the Netherlands sends such a high representation to the funeral of a Pope. The Netherlands was represented by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
April 9th
The Prince of Wales married Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor.
April 10th
Prince Albert II of Monaco said today in a nationally televised address that the recent death of his father left residents of this tiny Riviera principality feeling orphaned and united in a profound sense of loss. "The sad time we never thought would come, is alas upon us," Prince Albert said. "Today, we are all orphans of this great man, and the profound sadness and mourning we feel bring our hearts closer together and binds our community like never before."
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, who married yesterday, attended a church service at Crathie Parish Church. The Prince of Wales wore a tartan kilt. His new wife wore a matching fuchsia hat and coat. Robbie Middleton, a lay preacher, delivered Sunday's sermon, which focused on tuning into one's spirituality and did not refer to the wedding. "I wish them every happiness and a fulfilled life together," Middleton said after the service. The newlywed couple shook hands and chatted with villagers after the sermon, then returned to their honeymoon estate Birkhall.
April 11th
King Harald V of Norway had surgery again yesterday after complications arose from his recent heart operation. The king's personal physician said that it was a common procedure and that the king is doing well. The operation took 2 hours and a collection of fluid around the heart was removed. Queen Sonja visited him yesterday evening.
The Norwegian royal house today released two pictures of Leah Isadora Behn, who was born on Friday. The photos were taken by her father Ari Behn on Sunday.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have released the official photographs of their wedding ceremony. In one of the pictures they are joined by Princes William and Harry, while another features the Duchess' children Tom and Laura Parker Bowles. One shows the couple flanked by family, including Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh as well as Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand. The photos were taken in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle by official photographer Hugo Burnand.
Prince Rainier III of Monaco is lying in state at the Chapel Palatine at the Princely Palace in Monaco.
April 13th
The health of Prince Ernst August of Hannovers is improving. Aides said that he is recovering from acute inflammation of the pancreas and could soon leave hospital. On Monday, the palace said his health was "improving" but that the possibility of complications justified keeping him in the intensive care unit.
April 14th
The Belgian royal court announced today that Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde are expecting their third child in October 2005. The couple already has a daughter and a son. The royal family and Princess Mathilde's family join in the happiness.
The circumcision of Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan of Morocco was held today at 2.20pm at the Private Clinic of the Royal Palace in Fès. It took place under the best conditions and in family circle. King Mohammed VI had pardoned 7,179 prisoners, including 26 foreigners, on this occasion.
Also the second attempt of the Habsburg family to get back their fortune that was expropriated in 1919 failed. The Verfassungsgerichtshof has turned down on formal grounds the objection against the rejection of the request by the court of arbitration. It was decided that the court of arbitration doesn't issue documents that can be disputed at the Verfassungsgerichtshof. The decisions of the court of arbitration are more 'recommandations' to the government and they can't be fighted at the Verfassungsgerichtshof. However it was said that the Habsburg family can make a claim for return of the fortune in other courts.
In Romania the Juridical Commission of the Senate yesterday adopted a favorable report of the legislation resolving the legal situation of property that used to belong to Michael I, former king of Romania. The report was adopted with five votes for and three against. The delegate minister for relations with the Parliament, Bogdan Olteanu explained that if the case were to be judged in court, the costs would have been greater, adding that this project has "important political meaning." Olteanu also said all obligations between the state and the king will be "extinguished" regarding the buildings that have to be returned to Michael I. Several buildings and land were taken from the king by the communists in 1947, when he was forced to abdicate. Up to now, legislation regarding the former king's possessions has been postponed three times by senators in the commission. The former government released last year an emergency ordinance that says the state owes 38 million euros to King Michael I.
April 15th
Prince Rainier III of Monaco was buried today at the Cathedral of Monaco. His coffin was draped in a white and red flag bearing the coat of arms of the Grimaldi family. Members of the staff carried the coffin from the Palatine Chapel at the palace. Soldiers from the Prince's Company of Carbineers then carried the coffin out of the palace via the Gate of Honor. After the coffin passed the gate, the gate was closed symbolically. The family followed the coffin - with the exception of the children of Princess Stéphanie - including the two sons of Prince Ernst August of Hannover. Also following the coffin was Odin, the 6 1/2 year old dog of the Prince. While the coffin was carried up the aisle several guests bowed. Archbishop Bernard Barsi, opening the service, said Rainier had “entered into the sleep of death” and had been a father “both loving and loved.” In his eulogy the Archbishop said that Prince Rainier was affectionately known as the “builder prince” who oversaw a 20 percent expansion in Monaco’s territory by land reclamation from the sea. It still remains, however, no bigger than New York City’s Central Park. “For all of us, the prince was, of course, the sovereign, but he was also a friend, a member of the family,” Barsi said. “His family cries for him.” The archbishop said that Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were “an exceptional couple, united by the heart and spirit” and that Rainier bore “with dignity the terrible ordeal of the brutal death of his wife. We are convinced that those who were united here below by the fidelity of their conjugal love are forever united in the fullness of God’s love,” he said. The funeral was attended by many royals including King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Albert II of the Belgians, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Queen Sonja of Norway, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg, the Prince of Orange, Prince Joachim of Denmark, the Duke of York, Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco, Prince Hitachi and Princess Hanako of Japan, Prince Faisal of Jordan and his wife, King Constantine II of Greece, Prince Michel of Greece and his wife Marina, Prince Kardam of Bulgaria, Archduke Karl of Austria, Duke and Duchess of Bragança, Duke and Duchess of Savoy, Prince Emanuele Filiberto and Princess Clotilde de Savoy, Princess Marie Gabrielle de Savoy, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Catherina of Yugoslavia, Prince Serge and Princess Eleonore of Yugoslavia, Princess Ferial of Egypt, Empress Farah of Iran, Duke Franz von Bayern, Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula von Bayern, Hereditary Prince Bernhard and Hereditary Princess Stephanie von Baden, the Count and Countess of Paris, the Duke and Duchess of Calabria, Prince Heinrich zu Fürstenberg, Hereditary Prince Christian zu Fürstenberg, Princess Ira zu Fürstenberg, Prince Andreas and Princess Alexandra zu Leiningen, Grand Duke Georgi of Russia, Prince Alexander zu Schaumburg-Lippe, Princess Maria Theresia von Thurn und Taxis, Duke Eberhard von Württemberg. After the funeral the cathedral was closed to the public for the Prince's burial in the family crypt alongside his wife Princess Grace who died in a car crash in 1982.
A legal suit over Prince Paul of Romania's claim to membership of the Hohenzollern royal family will be retried after the High Court yesterday accepted an appeal submitted by former King Michael of Romania to a previous court ruling. In January last year, the Bucharest Court of Appeals acknowledged Prince Paul's relationship with the Hohenzollerns, through the line of his father. Former King Michael appealed this decision, saying his right to defense had not been respected. The High Court accepted his appeal and sent the case back to the Court of Appeals.
April 16th
The balcony at Amalienborg was a bit empty this year at Queen Margrethe II's birthday. The Queen was only accompanied by her husband Prince Henrik, her son Prince Joachim and his sons Nikolai and Felix. The crown princely couple were abroad. Huge crowds cheered her and her family when they appeared on the balcony.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxemburg celebrated his 50th birthday today. With his wife and son Felix he arrived at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxemburg on a motor cycle. There were several celebrations during the day.
April 18th
Princess Sayako of Japan offered thanks to her parents on her 36th birthday today, her last birthday as an imperial family member before leaving the palace to marry a commoner.
Prince Ernst August junior and Prince Christian of Hannover, sons of Prince Ernst August of Hannover, are selling EUR 12 million worth of Royal House of Hannover heirlooms, the German branch of Sotheby's announced today. The art auctioneers quoted the young princes as saying they would use the proceeds to maintain two stately homes that are both open to the public. Prince Ernst August transferred some of his property to Prince Ernst August junior last year. The 29 September to 8 October sales at Marienburg Palace near Hildesheim in Germany will clear attics and basements of some 5,000 unused items of furniture, glassware, silver, china and paintings from the collections of the Royal House of Hannover. Sotheby's said none of the items, gathered in from German and Austrian homes, was subject to export restrictions. The princes would devote some of the proceeds to creating a family trust to maintain Marienburg and the Herrenhausen royal palace and museum in Hannover.
King Mswati III of Swaziland has enraged his people once again by splashing out on a fleet of luxurious German cars at a cost of £500,000. He bought eight S-350 Mercedes Benz vehicles with gold-plated number plates. In 2004 the King bought BMWs for his 11 wives. "He was so taken with the car when he saw it in a brochure that he ordered eight on the turn as a birthday present for himself," said a South African dealer. "He could not wait for them to be shipped in the normal way so they were air-freighted directly from the factory in Germany."
April 19th
Prince Ernst August of Hannover has been discharged from hospital after two weeks of treatment for an acute pancreas problem, the palace said today. A brief statement from his office at the palace said the prince's doctors allowed him to leave Monaco's Princess Grace hospital yesterday afternoon. The statement gave no other details.
April 20th
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has on the occasion of her birthday on April 16, 2005, granted Princess Alexandra the title and name of Countess af Frederiksborg. She will be known as Her Highness Alexandra Princess of Denmark, Countess af Frederiksborg. The title as Countess af Frederiksborg is given the rank Class 1 No. 1 which entitles her to the qualification of Excellency. In case she remarries she will loose the qualification Highness and the title of Princess of Denmark, but she will keep the personal title of Countess af Frederiksborg.
The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands ahe won a case against the magazine Privé and broadcaster SBS. A Court in Amsterdam has ordered Privé and SBS to pay damages for illegally using images and footage on a digital camera stolen from Princess Máxima. The court ruled today that using the images was illegal and ordered Prive to pay EUR 15.000 in compensation. SBS was told to pay EUR 10.000. They both also have to publish or broadcast an apology and are not allowed to use the material again. The camera was stolen from Princess Máxima last year. Photos of the couple's daughter Princess Amalia and other private images were later offered for sale. Despite warnings from the Government Information Service both Prive and SBS used the images. The royal couple said their privacy was violated. "It is unacceptable. The footage was purposefully taken from Máxima's handbag during a barbeque. We have author's rights," the Prince of Orange said almost a year ago.
April 21st
The christening of Leah Isadora Behn will take place in the chapel of the royal palace on Thursday June 16 at noon. The service will be led by the new bishop of Oslo, Ole Christian Kvarme. After the christening King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway will host a private luncheon at the palace.
King Harald V of Norway has left hospital this morning after his heart operation. The king will be staying at the royal residence at Kongsseteren during the day but will return to spend the nights in hospital for the next few days. King Harald told the assembled press that he was looking forward to going home. "I have been in decent shape for a long time and have been conscious throughout. Today I feel very good," he said. He told that is in recuperative training after the two operations and that he would be commuting to and from the Rikshospitalet University Hospital daily as part of the rehabilitation therapy.
A son of former King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, said Thursday that his father's health was worrying, as it was of the interest of all Cambodians. "The Chinese doctors did not find any new illnesses of His Majesty the King, but his health is getting weaker and weaker," he said. The former king is receiving medical treatment in Beijing for various ailments, including diabetes and colon cancer. Prince Ranariddh said his father's health was so precarious that his half-brother, King Norodom Sihamoni, will visit him in Beijing on Saturday to be at his side. Prince Ranariddh plans to follow after attending an assembly session on April 26.
April 23rd
Royal biographer Andrew Morton claims that the late Princess Diana of Wales would have loved the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles. He said: "Diana would have looked at the wedding and said, 'I told you so'. For years during her royal lifetime she was told she was mad and sad for thinking Charles was having a relationship with this woman. Now, in terms of them marrying, her views have been totally vindicated". He said it would have proved the late princess' allegations the couple had an affair during her marriage. Mr Morton said he would love to write a book about Camilla.
Prince Ernst August of Hannover is recovering at the Clinic of his friend Christian Schenk in Schruns, Austria. Dr. Schenk said that as a good friend of the couple he flew to Monte Carlo on Sunday: „He was not doing well. Very bad actually. His condition was life-threatening. Ernst August next to his acute pancreatitis also had gotten pneumonia." On Monday the Prince said that he wanted to get out of hospital. In dialogue with his doctors the Prince then was flews to Schruns. Now the prince does a rehabilitation programme, walks a lot and enjoys the nature. He will stay another week. According to Dr. Schenk the prince knows that he has to take care, but that he is very motivated to do everything to become healthy again.
April 24th
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Prince Friso and Princess Mabel posed this morning at Palace Huis ten Bosch with the couple's newborn daughter Countess Luana ( The pictures). It is Luana's first visit to the Netherlands. The Government Information Service announced that the name Luana origins from the old-German and means gracious warrior. The Prince and Princess named her so because they think it is a beautiful name. Her other three names, Emma, Ninette and Sophie, come from the circle of family and friends of the princely couple.
Several royals attended the investiture of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome today. Among the guests were King Juan carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg, Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Orange, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein and Duke Franz of Bavaria.
April 25th
The Chief of the Court of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Per Thornit, today announced that the couple is expecting their first child at the end of October 2005. The childbirth is expected to take place at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. The baby will be second in line of succession to the Danish throne.
The Norwegian royal court today announced that Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway expect their second child together in December 2005. On the advice of her doctor the crown princess will take it easy in the near future. The situation isn't dramatic, but the doctor's advice may lead to changes in Crown Princess Mette-Marit's program in the next few months, the palace said. In an interview on Norwegian television with the couple in Kristiansand the Crown Princess herself said that the baby was expected early December. The couple said to be very happy. The couple said that they wanted to have some control over information about themselves and their family, opted to announce early that Crown Princess Mette-Marit is pregnant. She visited the women's clinic at the Rigshospital last week and also cancelled a few engagements, claiming illness. "The pregnancy is very noticeable, therefore we're announcing it so early," Crown Princess Mette-Marit said. She plans to carry out most of her official appearances. The baby will be third in line of succession to the Norwegian throne.
Prince Hamid bin Abdal Sani of Qatar today faced a Czech court for allegedly sexually abusing underage girls in the Czech Republic. In his more than six months in custody, Sani has lost 21 kilogrammes and said he now has to take medication and see doctors daily. Before the process in court started Sani also said he does not trust the judge or the the prosecutor and wants the trial to take place in his absence. "I feel that I am seen as an enemy and I feel hatred towards my person," Sani said. He also said that he should have been released and the trial suspended after Justice Minister Pavel Nemec decided on his trial being moved to Qatar. Sani said he would not answer any of the court's questions. According to the police, he abused underage girls in his flat for a long time. Police have so far found sixteen such girls, four of whom were under fifteen years. According to the police, the three women charged along with Sani, addressed young girls in the street asking them whether they would like to earn 2,000 crowns. The girls who consented to the offer were brought to Sani's flat where he had sex with them. The procurers received 1,000 crowns each for one girl. Sani has stayed in the Czech Republic for more than ten years as a private businessman. He does not enjoy diplomatic immunity on the Czech Republic's territory.
April 26th
Accoding to a poll by the Algemeen Dagblad 51,5% of the Dutch think the royal house costs too much. However the monarchy itself is still very popular. Queen Beatrix is allowed to reign as long as she wants. The Queen is especially popular among women and people who are originally not from the Netherlands. They think she is doing very well and has a good radiation. Although about 75% of the Dutch thinks the Prince of Orange is ready to take over the throne, almost 80% of the people questioned think that he should get the time to built up a family life. About 75% thinks his reign will be more modern, more open and especially closer to the people. 30% of the people would like the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima to live at Soestdijk Palace, however 40% wants it to become a museum. 83% of the people is in favour of the monarchy, while only 10% thinks the monarchy should be abolished. However 43% thinks the royal house should get a more ceremonial role.
April 27th
Former King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia has posted an unusual announcement on his website, making clear that he is still very much alive. He said that although "many people want me dead as soon as possible", he wanted to present his "humble apologies" for not yet obliging. He was responding to reports that his health was deteriorating. "I present my humble apologies to everyone who wants my death," Sihanouk wrote. "But, for the moment, God and the Buddha have not decided to send me into the afterlife."
April 29th
Queen Beatrix, her sons, daughters-in-law, sisters, the children of Princess Margriet with partners and Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme attended the unveiling of the national present on the occasion of the 25th reigning jubilee of the Queen at the New Church in Amsterdam. Artist Marc Mulders had designed the glass-stained window. After unveiling the window the Queen had a closer look at the window and shook hands with the artist. The royal family was very content with the window. The window is nine metres high. The theme is 'garden' The window shows a garden that each day comes to life again by light. Afterwards the family attended a huge classical concert at the Dam Square. Romanian singer Angela Gheorghiu sang, once together with Jeroen Willems, and Janine Jansen played her violin. They were accompanied by the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Holland. Also the National Ballet performed a pas-de-deux at the Royal Palace.
April 30th
A special Queen's Day (my photos) was celebrated in the Netherlands, as Queen Beatrix celebrated 25 years on the throne. In the morning therefore there was a festive gathering of the first and second chamber at the Knight's Hall in The Hague. Among the guests were 125 people from the 125 bigger municipalities in the Netherlands and 25-year-olds from smaller municipalities. They were all accompanying a member of the first or second chamber. The Queen was accompanied by her sons, daughters-in-law, sisters, the children and children-in-law of Princess Margriet and Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme. Inside the Knight's Hall the Queen was greeted by a children's choir, and the royal family sang along. At the end a special choir of chamber members sang the national anthem. After several speeches and some music the Queen also received the first jubilee stamps from the Netherlands and the Antilles. Outside again the royal family listened to a choir of 400 schoolchildren from The Hague and some professional choirs who sang an aubade of old Dutch songs. After a lunch at home the family - apart from Princess Irene, Princess Christina and Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme - visited Scheveningen for a traditional Queen's Day celebration. About 100.000 people stood along the way to catch a glimpse of the royal family. In the two hours the visit took, there was lots of singing, traditional games and jobs, even a children's press office, animals and sports. Heavily pregnant Princess Marilène only joined the family at the last part of the walk through Scheveningen. At the end the family took an old tram back to nearby The Hague. Just before leaving Queen Beatrix held a short speech to thank her family for having helped her during her reign, and to thank the people who organised Queen's Day. In the evening the Queen, her sons, daughters-in-law, sisters, the children of Princess Margriet and even Princess Margarita de Bourbon de Parme, attended a huge concert at the Malieveld in The Hague that was broadcasted live on television. "Dit is een land om lief te hebben" (This is a country to love) showed a varied programme with cabaret, show, sports, musical and even a tango. The royal family enjoyed it as much as all normal people from all over the country, politicians and celebrities around them. And as the highlight of the past 25 years was chosen the wedding of the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima.
Mom Srirasmi Mahidol na Ayudhya, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, delivered a healthy baby boy through Caesarean section yesterday evening at 6.35pm at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. The baby weighs 2680 grams, is 47cm in height, is fit and healthy, has big eyes and a beautiful nose, a statement of the royal house said. The baby was due to be born half May but she developed labour pains and doctors agreed that in her case, a Caesarean section would be safer than a natural birth. The mother remained at hospital to recuperate. The Crown Prince was present at hospital. People waiting at the hospital to greet the couple said they were overjoyed about learning of the imminent birth of the Prince’s son. Queen Sirikit, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya arrived separately at the hospital later in the evening.
King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit of Thailand presided over the cremation ceremony of their grandson Khun Poom Jensen at the Debsirin Temple in Bangkok this evening. The ceremony was also attended by other members of the Royal Family, including Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as well as politicians, officials and the general public. The procession carrying Khun Poom's body to the temple began at 1.30 p.m. and took around 50 minutes to complete. Several roads leading to the temple in central Bangkok were closed from noon to 7:00 p.m. He died in the tsunami disaster on December 26.
Hereditary Prince Maximilian zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg and his wife Marissa proudly presented their daughter Louise Helene Agnes Delia. Delegations of societies had come to the inner court of Rheda Castle to congratulate the couple with the birth. The little Princess Louise let hear that she was there. She was born at 22 April at 1.13am at the Evangelischen Krankenhaus Rheda. She weighs 3500 grams. The couple already has a son, Moritz.
Royal News: March 2005. Last updated: April 10th, 2005.