Last updated: September 21st, 2003.
August 1st
The Prince of Orange and Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands attended the funeral of Freiherr Johann-Christian von Jenisch, who died on July 23rd at the age of 88, in Bad Oldesloe today. Among the funeral guests also were Prince Ferdinand and Princess Elisabeth von Bismarck.
August 2nd
Princess Maria-Annunziata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies married Count Fredrik Creutz in Helsinki, Finland, today.
August 4th
Today diplomats said that the Emir of Qatar is set to change his crown prince. No official explanation is given for the sudden change, but the diplomats said the crown prince, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, was dissatisfied about not getting the responsibilities he had aimed for. Diplomats said Sheikh Jassim was likely to be replaced by his brother Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
The Prince of Wales has moved from Saint James's Palace into the late Queen Mother's London residence at Clarence House after a huge renovation. The Prince's standard was raised above the building for the first time. The Queen Mother lived at Clarence house from 1953 until her death in 2002. It hadn't been painted for 50 years. The whole place "was frankly pretty dirty. The curtains were falling apart, and the red felt carpet was in shreds," said Sir Hugh Roberts who is charged with the maintenance of royal property. Asbestos has been removed, plumbing updated and rewiring carried out at a cost of 4.5 million pounds paid for by the British taxpayer. The renovation project was carried out by the Prince of Wales's interior designer Robert Kime. The arrangement of the rooms and the art and furniture is mostly as it was in the Queen Mother's time, but Charles has also introduced some new works. "The Prince of Wales is very pleased with it. It has kept the Queen Mother's ambience, which he very much wanted to achieve," said a Saint James's Palace spokesman: "It's a wonderful place where he will entertain senior statespeople from abroad and people from his charities." Princes William and Harry, who will also use the house as their London home, have picked more modern designs for their own rooms. Also Camilla Parker Bowles will use two rooms. Official court circulars detailing the Prince of Wales's engagements will now be headed Clarence House, but his offices in Saint James's Palace will not switch to the new dwelling until September. From Wednesday, members of the public can take a guided tour of the five rooms on the ground floor where official engagements will be held and VIP guests received.
August 5th
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband Ari Behn have postponed their planned move to New York until after the birth of the first child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Head of Information at the Royal Palace in Oslo, Wenche Rasch, said: "They want to stay at home until The Crown Princess's baby is born, as they would like to be near the family."
25-year-old Crown Prince Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani gave up his office today in favour of his younger brother Sheikh Tamim. The new crown prince is 24 years old. No reason was given for the surprise move. In a letter of abdication to his father, Sheikh Jassim renounced his claim to succession: "Although I have never and will never slack in serving my country under your leadership, I did not want, as I have told you from the start, to be appointed as crown prince." He further wrote: "It is time for me to resign. The person who succeeds me as crown prince has been prepared and has gained the requisite experience," he said of his brother. "It is high time His Highness the Emir replies to my wishes and entrusts the mission to Sheikh Tamim, now well experienced in civilian and military fields." In his responding letter, Sheik Hamad said he had repeatedly tried to change his son's mind. "With all my appreciation to you, dear son, I have nothing to do ... but to accept with great regret your decision in spite of the sorrow and pain I feel," he said. The ceremony was attended by royal family members, including Sheikh Tamim, and senior Qatari officials. The Emir explained he had agreed to nominate Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani as a crown prince following consultations with the ruling family and people concerned in the country. Sheikh Jassim, the third son of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, was appointed crown prince in October 1996, a year after Sheikh Hamad ousted his father in a bloodless coup. Sheikh Jassim was head of the Environment and Protectorates Authority but held no ministerial positions. Both Jassim and Tamim are children by the Emir's favourite wife, Sheika Mozza bint Nasser al-Misnid. Sheikh Tamim, the fourth son of the Emir, serves as head of the Qatari Olympic committee. He has graduated from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. The Emir's eldest son, Prince Mesha'al is a businessman and his second, Prince Fahd, is involved in Islamic charities. Neither has shown any interest in becoming crown prince.
August 6th
The Court in The Hague today decided that the photography ban around the estate of the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima was 'too radical'. The judge advised the couple that they could improve the garden screening along the fence or adjust the fence itself to protect themselves from unwanted attention. The lifting of the ban takes immediate effect. The ban was imposed by the Council of the Municipality of Wassenaar on June 30. Afterwards the Dutch journalists union and the Society of Editor-in-Chiefs launched a legal protest claiming that the ban breached treaties guaranteeing freedom of the press. They recognise the importance of the couple's privacy. The Wassenaar Council is expected to appeal the ruling.
August 7th
During the yearly press conference at the castle of Caïx in France during her vacation, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has made some remarks that make the press come to the conclusion that Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark will become engaged to his Australian girlfriend Mary Donaldson very soon. On the question what her impression was of Frederik's girlfriend, she said: We have met her, and we are very fond of her. She also said: "I am pleased for the crown prince, I really am." Asked when an engagement could be expected, the Queen answered that she couldn't tell as "We have the right to keep some secrets to ourselves." Later she she also told that: "She would be a sweet daughter-in-law." A member of the press remembered Prince Henrik on it that last summer he claimed he had never met Mary Donaldson. Prince Henrik answered: "She's a year older now, but still lovely." After the first reports in the press the Danish royal court quickly announced the situation hadn't been changed in connection with an engagement or a marriage. Hofmarskall Søren Haslund-Christensen also said that the opening of parliament on Tuesday 7 October isn't put on the programme with a view on an engagement.
August 8th
Princess Iman bint Hussein of Jordan finished her education at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst today after an intensive 11-month training. The final march-past was attended by King Abdullah, Queen Rania and Queen Noor. Princess Iman is the seventh of the children of the late King Hussein who attended the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst after King Abdullah, Prince Faisal, Prince Ali, Prince Hamzah, Prince Hashem and Princess Aisha.
August 9th
Duchess Fleur von Württemberg married Count Moritz von Goëss at the castle church of Altshausen. The civil wedding took place at Schloss Altshausen yesterday morning. Among the guests was King Juan Carlos of Spain, godfather of the bride.
August 10th
Prince William of Wales reportedly used a 7ft spear made from acacia wood to kill a small antelope (dik-dik) during a hunting trip in Kenya last week, after having had lessons from a Masai warrior. The prince spends a month in East Africa with seven friends. St James's Palace didn't comment.
August 11th
The Duke and Duchess of Angoulême became the proud parents of a son, Pierre, on August 6 in Grasse. They already have a 2-year-old daughter, Thérèse. The Duke of Angoulême is the youngest son of the Count of Paris and his first wife, Duchess Marie Therese von Württemberg. He married Marie-Liesse de Rohan-Chabot in 1999.
August 13th
According to a survey by market research company NOP commissioned by Blink Contacts eye drops Prince William of Wales has the sexiest eyes in Great Britain. He won 38% of the female votes and was followed by actor Richard E Grant and Declan Donnelly. Jack Nicholson topped the poll of male voters with 16%, followed by Michael Parkinson and Bill Clinton. 1000 men and women nationwide were polled.
August 14th
Prince Harry of Wales has passed two A-levels. He achieved a grade B for art and D for geography, but dropped history of art at A level after his AS exams last year. The Prince of Wales said: "I am very proud of Harry. He has worked hard for these examinations and I am very pleased with today's results." St James's Palace added: "By achieving two A-Level passes, Prince Harry is able to continue pursuing his wish for a future career in the Army." Prince Harry is to embark on a gap year before pursuing a military career starting at Sandhurst Military Academy. He was already trained in the cadet corps of Eton College and learned about rifle handling, foot drill, first aid, navigation and fieldcraft, as well as writing and delivering orders, advanced infantry tactics and close-target reconnaissance.
A report into the incident at Windsor Castle at the 21st birthday party of Prince William of Wales reveals that comedian Aaron Barschak set off several alarms when he gate-crashed the party. However police failed to respond to alarms which went off in their control room. Mr Barschak easily was able to walk into the Waterloo Chamber, climbing the stage and make a speech. Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "The Commissioner has assured me that significant lessons have been learnt from this incident and that the important service that the police play in protecting the Royal Family will be further improved. Disciplinary investigations are under way in the case of eight officers and the management of the policing arrangements at Windsor has changed at Chief Inspector level. I accept the Commissioner's judgment that, for the time being, no further disciplinary action should be taken against any other officers."
August 15th
On Staatsfeiertag (National Day) Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein announced that on August 15, 2004, he will hand over political powers to his eldest son Hereditary Prince Alois. However Prince Hans Adam II will stay the head of state. My report with photos.
Princess Tatjana von und zu Liechtenstein and her husband Philipp von Lattorff expect their third child.
August 16th
Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg gave birth to a daughter at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen this morning at 2:22. The Princess's husband Count Jefferson-Friedrich von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth was present at birth. Baby and mother are doing fine. The little countess weighs 3690 grammes and is 53 cm tall. Princess Alexandra will leave hospital in a few days and will afterwards stay at Amalienborg for a few days. The couple already had a son, Richard, who was born at the same hospital on September 14, 1999.
August 17th
Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Katharina (German tv-moderator Tita von Hardenberg) expect their second child in January. The couple is very delighted. They already have a son: Jakob-Maximilian, who was born in January 2002.
Comtesse Diana Bernadotte af Wisborg, youngest daughter of Count Lennart and Countess Sonja, will marry 37-year-old Bernd Grawe in a civil ceremony at the Island of Mainau on September 27. The ceremony will be performed by mayor Horst Frank. A religious wedding is not planned yet. The groom is a chimney-sweeper and recently asked Count Lennart for Diana's hand in Sweden, after the couple had become engaged. The couple met during the carnival in Konstanz last February. The couple already lives together in Konstanz-Litzelstetten. There will be a party at Mainau on September 26th, while a ball will be held at Mainau on September 28th. Only family and friends are invited. A week before Comtesse Diana, also Count Alexander eldest son of Diana's halfbrother Jan, will get married at Mainau, to whom is unknown to me.
August 18th
Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her newborn daughter have left the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark, in company of her husband Count Jefferson-Friedrich von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth and their son Richard. They said the baby would be named Ingrid, after the late Queen Ingrid of Denmark, Princess Alexandra's grandmother. They don't know where the little Countess will be christened yet, but it most likely will be in October.
At the Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl the 150 anniversary of the engagement of Emperor Franz Joseph II of Austria with Princess Elisabeth in Bavaria was celebrated. A mass was held at the church in town in the morning. See my report.
August 19th
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway celebrated her 30th birthday. The evening was spent on board of the royal ship Norge with her husband and family. Crown Prince Haakon offered his wife a homemade CD.
August 20th
Princess Mathilde of Belgium gave birth to a son at 1:14 this morning at the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht. The baby will be named Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie (Gabriël Boudewijn Karel Maria in Flemish) and is third in line of succession to the Belgian throne behind his father Prince Philippe and his sister Princess Elisabeth. Gabriel weighs 4 kilogrammes and is 52 cm tall, has blue eyes and blond hair. He arrived about ten days earlier than was expected so King Albert II and Queen Paola had to return earlier from their vacation in the south of France. The name Gabriel has never been used in the Royal family. The baby’s second name, Boudewijn, refers to the late King Boudewijn. At a press conference at Hospital in the afternoon Prince Philippe told that the delivery had been a natural one, that Gabriel looks very strong, and that he and Princess Mathilde are very happy with their son but also very tired. He said: "With a second child you more realise what happens. With a first you are more surprised." Gabriel, according to his father, looks very much like his sister and has enormous big hands and big feet. The couple knew beforehand that it would become a boy and Prince Philippe said it was 'a king's wish' coming true. The name Gabriel was chosen in the first place because they liked the name, 'but also because the name is rooted in three religious traditions. The Judaism, Christianity and the Islam'. Gabriel's godparents will be Baroness Maria Christina von Freyberg née Rossi di Montelera, a second cousin of Prince Philippe, and Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz, brother of Princess Mathilde. The website of Prince Gabriel.
At 15:45 this afternoon King Albert II of the Belgians, Queen Paola and Count Patrick and Countess Anne d'Udekem d'Acoz arrived at the Erasmus Hospital to pay a visit to their newborn grandson Gabriel. They stayed until 17:00. A quarter of an hour later Prince Philippe of Belgium arrived at hospital with his little daughter Princess Elisabeth to show her her little baby brother for the first time.
Princess Alice Duchess of Gloucester, aunt of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and widow of Prince Henry The Duke of Gloucester since 1974, today passed the age to which the late Elizabeth The Queen Mother lived, 101 years and 238 years (=37128 days), thus becoming the oldest member of the British royal family in history. "The day will be celebrated in private with her family at Kensington Palace in London," said a spokeswoman at Buckingham Palace. The dowager Duchess lives at Kensington Palace with her son Richard and his family. Although the frail duchess has withdrawn from public life in the past few years, she still grants audiences in her apartment for members of the organisations with which she remains associated, and recently she surprisingly took over as Colonel in Chief of the Royal Anglians. One of eight children of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch, Lady Alice Christabel Montagu-Douglas-Scott, was born at Montagu House, London, on December 25, 1901. She only married after having travelled around in Kenya and India. She financed her travels by painting watercolours and selling them through a gallery. On November 6, 1935, she married the Duke of Gloucester at the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as her bridesmaids, and settled down to royal life, despite her self-confessed "horror" of society life. After two miscarriages two sons were born, William (who died in an air-accident in 1972) and Richard, the present Duke of Gloucester.
Mr Pieter van Vollenhoven, husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, again was diagnosed skin cancer, at the same place as in June 2001. In the meantime the malignant skin has been removed at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam. Due to the recent discovery the regular control of Mr van Vollenhoven at the hospital has been intensified.
Mabel Wisse Smit, fiancee of Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands, knew top Amsterdam criminal Klaas Bruinsma (who was killed in 1991) while she was studying in Amsterdam, the Government Information Service said today. They said Mabel Wisse Smit met him on several occasions at sailing regattas 15 years ago and confirmed they were friends for a short period. She broke all contact with him when she heard about his background. Mabel Wisse Smit herself informed the royal family about her contact with Klaas Bruinsma when her relationship to Prince Friso became permanent, and it was also discussed with then Prime Minister Wim Kok.
The foundation stone for the Diana Princess of Wales memorial fountain next to the Serpentine at Hyde Park, London, has been lowered into place, almost six years after the princess's death. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell was at the helm of the JCB that laid the first 1.5 tonne granite block. She said the £3 million project, due to open formally on July 1st 2004, would be worth the wait - despite a number of delays. The original site of the memorial fountain turned out to be the site of significant Roman remains, so the fountain needs to be built on another place. The granite for the fountain was cut in Ireland. The memorial fountain was designed by Kathryn Gustafson.
August 21st
Yesterday Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has criticized the Norwegian newspaper VG for going too far by printing a story about his wife's relationship to her father. On behalf of VG, research company Omnijet conducted a survey about the public opinion of the Crown Princess and her relationship with her father, Sven O. Høiby. 49 percent of the respondents said they thought the Crown Princess should re-establish contact with her father. 914 people responded. The research was the base of the story that appeared in VG yesterday. The story was criticized by both members of the press and VGs political chief editor Olav Versto, who apoligised for printing the story. Crown Prince Haakon said: " Some of the descriptions of private relations are unacceptable. The media should be careful about pulling in third parties and using us to create stories and we hope the media will show consideration when reporting about personal and private relations." Per Edgar Kokkvold, leader of the Norwegian press association says: "The story represents an invasion of the private sphere." He added that the royals will have to handle public interest and that their private sphere is smaller than that of other public people in Norway: " But they have the right to have a private sphere. It is distasteful to poke around in the relationship between a daughter and a father."
August 22nd
Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, together with their daughter Princess Elisabeth, presented the newborn Prince Gabriel to the press. In the afternoon Prince Philippe of Belgium Duke of Brabant registered the birth of his son at the town hall of Anderlecht. See for more photos of the presentation: here.
Prince Johannes (Hanno) von und zu Liechtenstein died after a long illness in Stockholm on August 20, 2003, the Liechtenstein Princely court announced today. The prince was the only son of Prince Ferdinand von und zu Liechtenstein and his second wife, Swedish Brita Nordenskiöld and was born in Helsingborg, Sweden, on November 3, 1941. In 1968 he married Kerstin Lundberg. They had two sons, Andreas and Max, who are both married.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway will work with the Directorate for Norwegian Development Aid (NORAD) this fall in order to become better acquainted with the work of NORAD. She will work at NORAD twice a week until Christmas. The Crown Princess wants to learn more about HIV/AIDS problems in which she has become interested during her study in London over the past year. Crown Prince Haakon says he plans to take a couple of months off after the birth, to spend more time with the family.
A poster was printed in the last edition of the Swedish men's magazine Slitz, containing several paparazzi pictures of Princess Madeleine of Sweden in bikini. Royal court's spokeswoman Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg told Aftonbladet: "Princess Madeleine does not want to be a pin-up model. One of my co-workers has spoken to the Princess about the poster and she does not like it." Magnus Norrman, head of the publisher, said he does not understand the reaction from the Swedish palace: "We printed the poster in connection with a survey showing that 43 percent of Swedish men wanted to see more of the Princess. We think she is cute and find it odd that the palace reacts. All these pictures have been printed elsewhere before." Normann said the magazine had not received any reactions directly from the palace.
August 23rd
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark ended in fourth place at the European Championship Dragon Class (sailing) in Kinsale, Ireland. The Crown Prince and his crew had been leading after four out of six races. 51 boats participated.
August 24th
Princess Mathilde of Belgium and her newborn son Gabriel, accompanied by Prince Philippe, left the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht this afternoon. The couple took the time to thank the staff of the hospital. Outside tens of people waited to get a glimpse of the new addition to the Belgian royal family.
King Mswati III of Swaziland has picked his 11thbride and already paid an 'admission of guilt' fine of one head of livestock for breaking the Umchwasho chastity rite which bars young maidens from sex for five years, a rule that is an attempt to combat a high HIV/AIDS rate in the country. 17-year-old Noliqwa Ntentesa was escorted to the palace by the same royal aides who landed in court last year for allegedly kidnapping the king's 10th bride, Zena Mahlangu, whose mother charged the two men. "Noliqwa is now an official bride to the king and she is very happy about the latest developments, and she has accepted that her future is with the royal family," a source close to her family said. Ntentesa's father, a maths lecturer at the University of Swaziland, said he would have challenged his daughter's "abduction" in court, but did not have the money to do so. She is expected to be paraded as the king's new bride during the annual reed dance in September, a traditional ceremony where young maidens dance bare-breasted in front of the king for him to choose his next wife.
The 30th birthday of Crown Princess Mette-Marit was celebrated for the second time in a week today. In the morning a church service was attended in the chapel of the Royal Palace in Oslo, later a reception was held at the Royal Palace, and finally a dinner took place at the royal lodge of Kongsseteren. The dinner was attended by the royal family, Mette-Marit's family (with exception of her father) and friends. The couple also announced that they'll donate money from their humanitarian fund this year to aid young, single asylum seekers and young immigrants who need academic help. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have said they plan to move into the new remodelled quarters at the Skaugum residence before Christmas.
August 25th
In an interview to 'Novosti' Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia said that the remains of Queen Maria and King Peter II of Yugoslavia will be transferred to their homeland to be buried in the crypt of Saint George's Church in Oplenac. The procedure is to be carried out in agreement with the Serbian government, who have welcomed the initiative of the family for the transfer. It is not known yet when the remains will be transferred, but it is hoped that it can happen during the celebration of the bicentennial of the first Serbian uprising led by Karadjordje next year. Crown Prince Alexander will be the host of this celebration. Queen maria at the moment is buried at Frogmore, Windsor, Great Britain, while King Peter II is buried in the Serbian monastery in Libertyville, Illinois, USA.
August 26th
Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium with great joy announced that they attend their first child in February. King Albert II, Queen Paola and the whole royal family, as well as the family of Princess Claire, join in the happiness.
King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden arrived at the port of Helsinki today at the start of a three-day official visit to Finland. They were welcomed with a 63-gun salute. A reception was hosted by president Tarja Halonen and her husband Dr Pentti Arajarvi at the Presidential Palacein Helsinki. Crown Princess Victoria then visited an academic book store in the city of Helsinki and inaugurated a photography exhibition. In the evening a dinner was held for Swedish the royal family hosted by the Finnish president and her husband. The Swedish royals are scheduled to visit Hamina, Porvoo and Jyvaskyla in the coming days.
Today representatives of the Freistaat Thüringen - Jürgen Aretz, cultural state secretary, Hellmut Seemann, President of the Foundation Weimar Classic and Art Collections, and Günter Schuchardt, head of the Wartburg - and the House of Sachsen-Weimar und Eisenach (Prince Michael Benedict von Sachsen-Weimar und Eisenach) signed an agreement in the throne-room of the former residence in Weimar. The Grand Ducal House of Sachsen-Weimar und Eisenach has renounced their claim on expropriated cultural heritage for 15,5 million Euros. The family also gets back personal belongings worth up to 60.000 Euros. The family will have the right to use the castles for own engagements, they can use the family vault for interments of urns, and Prince Michael Benedict will get a place in the council of the Foundation (which can be overtaken by Princess Leonie at the age of 30). After signing the agreement Prince Michael Benedict said to think about residing in Weimar again. Next to the prince, also his wife Dagmar, daughter Leonie and sister Elisabeth attended the ceremony. After two years of negotiations the cultural heritage will now stay in Weimar. The money will be paid by the Foundation Weimar Classic and Art Collections, the Wartburg-Foundation and the Freistaat Thüringen. 4,5 million Euros should come from selling works of art that are not important for the history of Thüringen, the other 11 million Euros should come from the sale of wood in Thüringen. In 1990 the House of Sachsen-Weimar und Eisenach had asked for restitution of the properties that were expropriated between 1945 and 1949, among them the Goethe and Schiller Archive, important parts of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library, the art collections in the castle and the Thüringer State Archive, as well as the Princely Vault in Weimar, Tiefurt Castle, Hunting-lodge Zillbach, the Wittumspalais and the Liszt-House, and the complete inventary of the Wartburg near Eisenach. On November 6, 1994, Princess Leonie, Prince Michael Benedict's daughter, asked for restitution. The property was valued at 500.000.000 Euros. The signing of the agreement followed the consent of the guardianship-court of the minor Princess Leonie to the agreement with the Land of Thüringen earlier this week.
The Sultanah of Kedah, Tuanku Bahiyah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, passed away at the age of 73 (she had her birthday last Sunday) at Istana Kuala Cegar Palace in Alor Star, Malaysia, at 12.23 pm today. The Sultanah had been ill for one week. She was the eldest daughter of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman Tuanku Muhammad, who was the Yang Dipertuan of Besar Negeri Sembilan. She leaves behind two daughters Tunku Soraya, 43, and Tunku Intan Safinaz, 37, and five grandchildren. Another daughter, Tunku Sarina, a twin of Tunku Soraya, died on Aug 31, 1991. As a mark of respect the government of Kedah declared Wednesday a public holiday for the state. The state of Kedah will observe one week of mourning, until September 1, during which period all forms of entertainment and celebrations have been cancelled. All flags will be flown at half mast during the period. The Sultanah's remains will lie in state at Istana Anak Bukit from 9 am to 12:50 pm on Wednesday: the public can pay their last respect until 11 am, while the heads of departments and state government representatives can do so afterwards until noon. The rulers of Malaysia and their consorts can pay their respect between noon and 12:50 pm. Then prayers will be performed, whereafter the remains are scheduled to be buried at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum at 2:30 pm. A 73-gun salute will be fired during the funeral. A 17-gun salute was already fired when the death of the Sultanah was announced.
August 27th
During a visit to a solar energy project Prince Laurent of Belgium told the press he would love to have a daughter. About the quick pregnancy of his wife Princess Claire he said: "If parents are too old, generation conflicts occur quicker." He also joked: "I like traditional names. Although we could name the child Gardien. Then we have a Gabriel (archangel) and a Gardien (guardian angel) in the family." He also said that Father Guy Gilbert will baptise the child.
The Sultanah of Kedah, Tuanku Bahiyah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, was laid to rest at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum this afternoon. When the coffin was carried out of the palace the beating of the 'nobat' (kettledrum) and a 73-gun salute were heard. The hearse, escorted along the 13-kilometres long road to the mausoleum by bearers of the Kedah royal regalia led by the Chief of Protocol and the royal nobat ensemble, arrived at the mausoleum at 2.45 pm. The beatings of the `nobat' to the tune of `Raja Beradu' (Royal Slumber) were heard when the coffin was lowered into the grave at 3:25 pm. The last rites were performed by the Mufti of Kedah. The Sultan of Kedah led the sprinkling of scented water at the grave of the late Tuanku Bahiyah, followed by their daughters, Tunku Intan Safinaz and Tunku Soraya, and other guests. The funeral ceremony was attended among others by the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, members of the Kedah royal family, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, the Sultan of Selangor, the Sultan of Kelantan, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, the Regent of Perlis, the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang and the Tengku Mahkota of Brunei. Thousands of people lined up along the route to pay their last respect.
August 28th
Prince (Fürst) Philipp Ernst zu Schaumburg-Lippe died this morning at 2:30 at Bückeburg Castle after lung complications caused by Parkinson Dicease. Over the past few weeks he had been hospitalized several times. His son Prince Alexander said: "We loose a person, who will not only live on in the hearts of the family, but also in the hearts of all Schaumburg people." and added "He was so ill, that we consider it a redemption." The quality of life of the Prince, who has been confined to his bed for the past years, had been enormously restricted. His last public appearance occured in the Summer of 1998 at the opening of the Park-Café. Prince Philipp Ernst was born at Hagenburg Castle on July 26, 1928, as the second son of Prince Wolrad (1887-1962) and Princess Bathildis (1903-1983) zu Schaumburg-Lippe. He became the hereditary prince after his elder brother Georg-Wilhelm had been killed in action in 1945. In 1955 Prince Philipp married Baroness Eva-Benita von Tiele-Winckler. They got two sons: Georg-Wilhelm (1956-car accident 1983) and Alexander (1958). The last one will become the new Prince (Fürst) zu Schaumburg-Lippe. Prince Philipp Ernst will be buried at the Mausoleum in the corner of the park of Bückeburg Castle on September 8, for which a lot of royal guests are expected.
This afternoon the funeral of Countess Margarethe zu Erbach-Erbach née Princess zu Waldeck und Pyrmont took place at the Old Cemetery in Erbach after a funeral service at the evangelical Stadtkirche in Erbach. Next to the family there were many other guests, among others Landgrave Moritz von Hessen, Princess Eilika zu Leiningen and Princess Alexandra von Hannover. Countess Margarethe died on August 21st, at the age of 80.
The wedding of Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy Prince of Venice and French actress Clotilde Coureau will take place at the Basilica de Santa Maria degli Angeli in Rome on September 25, it was said today, after rumours the wedding would take place in the beginning of October or even in November. The couple is expecting their first child early next year. The church was also the place where the later King Vittorio Emanuele III married Princess Elena of Montenegro in 1896 and where the Count of Barcelona married Princess Maria de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies in 1935.
Prince Nikolai of Denmark has celebrated his 4th birthday today. He was at Kindergarten and the other children were given bread, a drink and some sweets.
August 29th
Today the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan announced the marriage of Crown Prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein of Jordan with Princess Noor bint Asem bin Nayef of Jordan. The couple as well as King Abdullah II signed the marriage certificate watched by the Imam of the royal court, Sheikh Ahmad Hlaiyel. Also traditional prayers were said. The marriage ceremony, took place this evening at Al Baraka Palace in presence of among others King Abdullah II, Queen Rania, Queen Noor, Prince Asem, Princess Firouzeh, Prince El Hassan, Princess Sarvath, Princess Basma, Princess Muna as well as other members of the royal family. An official wedding celebration will be held in the future. Princess Noor was born in Amman on October 6, 1982, and is the daughter of Prince Asem bin Nayef (1948) and his first wife Princess Firouzeh née Vokhshouri - they got divorced in 1985. She got her British general education certificate from King College in Spain and she is now studying at a university in the USA. She has two elder sisters, Yasmeen and Sara, and three half-siblings from the second marriage of her father to Princess Sana Asem: Najla, Salha and Nayef. Princess Noor's father, Prince Asem, is the son of Prince Nayef bin Abdullah, who was a son of King Abdullah I of Jordan (1882-1951) and his second wife Princess Suzdil Hanum, and the Turkish princess Mihrimah Sultana. Crown Prince Hamzah is the greatgrandson of King Abdullah I and the first of his wifes, Sharifa Musbah bint Nasser. A huge photo of the couple and the Photo Album at Crown Prince Hamzah's own website.
An inquest into the death of Dodi Al Fayed, the lover of Diana Princess of Wales who died in the same accident as the princess, is finally to go ahead. The inquest is to be headed by Surrey Coroner Michael Burgess, who is also coroner to the Royal Household. It will be the first official public hearing into the accident on British soil. A spokesman said: "This does not mean there is an inquest into Diana or a joint inquest." The coroner declined to give a date for the investigation: "In time as the law requires there will be inquests into the deaths of both the late Dodi Al Fayed and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. But it is premature to outline any arrangements or suggest any dates or timescale."
Former King Konstantinos II of Greece presented the composition of the board of directors and the nature of the 'Anna Maria' Foundation in a press conference he gave in Athens, Greece. The foundation, based in Liechtenstein, will be dealing with public welfare and the priority will be to give financial support to people who are hit by natural disasters and to the efforts against unemployment. The foundation's initial capital will be the 12 million Euros the royal family received as a compensation for royal property. Members of the royal family will be member of the board of directors, as well as Prince El-Hassan of Jordan, former South African president Frederick de Clerk, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, actress Irene Pappa and Spyros Metaxas.
August 30th
Prince Ferdinand-Maximilian zu Ysenburg und Büdingen, son of Prince Wolfgang Ernst and his wife Leonille, married Sophie de Bois, daughter of Francis de Bois and Mrs Jacques Boel, today at the small church of Pessoux, near Château de Jannée (the castle of the maternal family of the bride, Belgium. The wedding was celebrated by Priest Christian van Zebrock and Priest Egon Brunhardt. Witnesses were Hereditary Prince Casimir zu Ysenburg und Büdingen, brother of the groom, and Prince Constantin von Croÿ. After the wedding, which was attended by about 333 guests, bride and groom drove to Jannée Castle in an open cabriolet. The reecption was held at the Castle.
Since yesterday the coffin of Prince Philipp Ernst zu Schaumburg-Lippe is lying-in-state in the chapel of Bückeburg Castle. The oak coffin is surrounded by six silver candlestick, while two uniformed servants of the castle hold a vigil. Two other uniformed servants wait outside the chapel. Chinese vases are filled with red roses. Hundreds of people from the neighbourhood have already said goodbye to their Prince. A commemoration service will be held in the town church of Bückeburg on September 9 at 20:00.
August 31st
According to a poll among 1002 Britons by NOP, published in the Sunday Express, 27% of the Britons believe the late Diana Princess of Wales was murdered, 51% said 'no' while the rest was unsure. 49% of the people questioned said to believe there had been a "cover up" into the circumstances of her death, while 34% disagreed.
Royal News: July 2003. Last updated: August 3rd, 2003.