Last updated: October 17th, 2005.
August 1st
The Saudi Arabian court announced "With all sorrow and sadness, the royal court in the name of his highness Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz and all members of the family announces the death of the servant of the two shrines, King Fahd bin Abdel Aziz". The King died early today at the age of about 82 at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh. He had been admitted to hospital on 27 May for medical test after having been in frail health for some time following a stroke in 1995. King Fahd became ruler of Saudi Arabia in 1982. He was a son of King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, the founder of the modern Saudi Arabia, and Hassa. The King's half-brother 80-year-old Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz, who has been de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia for some years, has been named as his successor. Another half-brother, Prince Sultan bin Abdel Aziz is the new Crown Prince. Members of the royal family have already pledged allegiance to King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz. An official ceremony confirming him as the new king is due to be held on Wednesday
August 2nd
Prince Constantin and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein had their second child, a daughter, in Vienna, Austria, on 23 July. The baby was named Georgina (Gina) Maximiliana Tatiana Maria
Before the funeral of King Fahd bin Abdel Aziz of Saudi Arabia a mourning prayer was being held at a packed Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque. The King's body was brought into the mosque on a wooden plank carried by his sons and placed in the middle of the mosque. Afterwards the body of the king was taken to the cemetery by ambulance, He was buried in an unmarked and simple grave at the Al-Oud Cemetery in keeping with the Saudi Arabian austere Islamic tradition, The King's body was wrapped in his own brown abaya cloak as it was lowered into the grave by family members. Western leaders and dignitaries, including the Prince of Wales, were due to arrive to offer condolences. Funeral prayers will be led by the kingdom's top cleric at a Riyadh mosque and attended by Saudi royals and influential tribal leaders.
Princess Alexia of Greece and her newborn son Carlos left the Teknon Clinic in Barcelona today. She was accompanied by Carlos Morales Quintana and their two daughters Arietta and Ana Maria, as well as her parents King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. Little Carlos spent most of the time snoozing in his mother's arms.
Princess Maria Chiara of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, second daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Calabria, was christened today at the Stella Maris Church in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Prince Henrik of Denmark, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were among the guests.
August 3rd
In an interview 17-year-old Princess Beatrice of York says her parents are "the best people in the world, always there for me and my sister" and that her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is "I honestly can say she is the most amazing woman anyone could ever meet. She is so fantastic. So wise, so kind and I just love her to bits. I love going to Windsor and doing things like getting lost in the library." As fifth in the line to the throne, Princess Beatrice will be seen a lot more in public since turning 17 this summer. "I don't see myself as a stereotypical princess, so people often expect one thing when they first meet me and I give them another." She and her sister Eugenie share six bodyguards on a rota 24 hours a day. "My friends call them the BGs," she says: "It's just like having a constant buddy with you. My friends love them as well. They are very good at just melting into the background to try and make my life as normal as possible." About her life she says: "I wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's. I know I'm very lucky. I love being who I am and feel very happy with that. A lot of it is quite normal, scooting around the supermarket with a shopping trolley and things like that. With one parent being a prince and the other being an amazing sort of business woman." Beatrice says: "I am very, very lucky with my life. I know that I have been given circumstances that anyone would wish for and I do believe that I must do something good with it. That was one of the reasons that I came out publicly to let people know that I am dyslexic. It was my decision to do that because it was a problem that I know is helped by more people knowing about it." About men she says: "What do I look for in a guy? Well, I have a huge thing about trust and as long as I can trust the person, it doesn't much matter. I have to trust them and have them make me laugh, and everything else is fine." She likes listening to James Blunt. Her favourite television programmes are Desperate Housewives and The OC. And she loves old films, her favourite being 'High Society' with Grace Kelly.
Prince Albert II of Monaco will embark upon a dog sleigh expedition to the North Pole from the Russian Borneo base situated at around 100 kilometres from 10 to 19 April 2006, the princely palace has announced in a communiqué on Wednesday. The decision follows up a study tour to Spitzberg the prince has just undertaken from 25 to 31 July "trailing the footprints of his great-great-grandfather Albert I of Monaco."
August 5th
Princess Lilly zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her husband Lambros Milona had their first child together, a daughter called Lana, at 19.20 on August 2 at München, Germany. Lana is 50 centimeters tall and weighs 3410 gramms. Princess Lilly already has a son from her first marriage to Prince Alexander zu Schaumburg-Lippe, Heinrich Donatus.
August 6th
Prince Manuel of Bavaria married Princess Anna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg in Stigtomta, Sweden.
August 7th
Balmoral Castle is to become a mecca for businessmen and newlyweds as part of a money-spinning venture to promote the estate as a venue for dinner dances, corporate team-building exercises and wedding receptions. In an apparent bid to help to cover the costs of maintaining the estate, the British royal family is promoting Balmoral as an upmarket venue for corporate entertaining. It is understood the Duke of Edinburgh is behind the attempt to make the royal castle more profitable. Last week it emerged that the royal couple had been forced to move into a hunting lodge to make way for the growing number of tourists flocking to the castle.
August 10th
The newspaper Daily Mirror says that the Earl and Countess of Wessex are expecting their second child. The royal couple are said to be "unbelievably happy" that the countess is 12 weeks pregnant. A source at the couple's Surrey home told: "They have wanted this baby for a very long time. Obviously they will be worried after everything that happened before but it's fantastic news for them." However a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said about the report: "It is purely speculative and we are not putting out a statement. It's a private matter between the couple."
Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah of Kuwait has returned home yesterday from Switzerland after undergoing surgery on his leg in May in the United States. It was said that the Sheikh had been on private holiday in Zurich.
August 11th
Princess Alexandra of Denmark is reported to have a new boyfriend, the 15 years younger photographer Martin Jørgensen. They have met each other during recordings for a tv-portrait on the occasion of the Princess's 40th birthday.
Princess María de la Esperanza de Orléans e Bragança née Princess of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, aunt of King Juan Carlos of Spain, died at her home in Villamanrique de la Condesa, Sevilla, at the age of 91 years on August 7 or 8. She was born at Madrid, 14 June 1914 as daughter of Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Infant of Spain and his second wife Princess Louise of France. In 1944 she married Prince Pedro Gastão de Orléans e Bragança, who survives her. The couple had four sons and two daughters. The funeral took place today at Sevilla and was among others attended by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia as well as Princes Peter, Alexander and Philip of Yugoslavia (grandsons of the deceased).
Simeon II National Movement has decided to reject the second mandate to form a government in Bulgaria due to the 'complicated political situation in the country'. The decision comes nearly two weeks after the failure of the mandate of election winning Socialists.
August 12th
Prince Masopha Edwin Modjadji, son of Rain Queen Modjadji V, died in the Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo on Wednesday at the age of about 40. The prince will be buried at the royal cemetery Maolwe on Sunday after a funeral service that starts at 7.00am at the Modjadji capital, Khetlhakone. His sister Queen Modjadji VI died in June 2005.
August 13th
The Royal House of Württemberg announced yesterday that 40-year-old Duke Michael of Württemberg has become engaged to 40-year-old lawyer Julia Storz. The groom-to-be leads the family-vineyard at Stuttgart, his fiancée is a lawyer in München, but is originally from Stuttgart. It is not known yet when the couple will get married.
Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg married Max Soltmann in a civil ceremony at Obertaukirchen in Bavaria. A religious ceremony is to take place somewhere in 2006. The couple is expecting their first child.
August 16th
PRINCE and Princess Michael of Kent had to be rescued from a £30million yacht after it crashed into rocks at Porto Cervo off Sardinia, Italy, shortly after setting sail from the port. They were badly shaken but unhurt after the crash and had to be taken to safety by motorboat. Three people on the yacht - owned by Lebanese billionaire Mouna Ayoub - were left seriously injured in hospital. The Duke and Duchess of Calabria had invited the couple to join them on holiday. It is thought the nanny of the children of the Duke and Duchess of Calabria was among the injured. It is not known how or why the crash happened.
August 17th
Countess Lukardis zu Erbach-Fürstenau died on August 9 in a tragic accident at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. She got stuck in the lift between the 2nd and 3rd floor of the AFE-tower. Although she was requested to stay in the lift, she tried to reach the 2nd floor. She fell into the lift-shaft and suffered fatal injuries. The Countess was born in Darmstadt on 2 April 1953 as daughter of Count Eugen zu Erbach-Fürstenau and Countess Elisabeth zu Erbach-Fürstenau. The deceased was unmarried. She was buried at the Bornheimer Friedhof today.
August 18th
After having competed in the Red Bull Ultimate Dirver Race outside the royal palace in Stockholm at the weekend, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden is criticized for advertising the energy drink Red Bull. His pictures were all over the newspapers the next day, a really good PR for the drink. “This kind of thing is great marketing for us, and we are honoured that Prince Carl Philip wanted to take part,” admitted Red Bull’s press officer David Ask. “I think that the prince should stop turning up for commercialized jollies such as this – especially when it’s for such a controversial drink,” said Louise Ungerth of consumers organisation KSF. Royal press secretary Ann-Christine Jernberg said: “This was a well for Carl Philip to test his wings and not to promote Red Bull in any way.”
August 20th
According to Norwegian magazine Se og Hør Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband Ari Behn are expecting their third child. The story is based on signs of morning sickness at an appearance in early August. The magazine claims to have spoken with friends of the Behns who confirm that the princess is again expecting a child. Today King Harald V of Norway denied the story saying: "I don't like this. I think this was well over the line." The editor-in-chief of Se og Hør apologized on Friday evening for the erroneous story. Also Ari Behn rejected the story in an interview with local newspaper Moss Avis saying that it was not true as far as he was aware.
In an interview with De Telegraaf Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven and his fiancée Anita van Eijk said that it was love at first sight when they met in the autumn of 1999 in London where they both worked, and that the humor brought them together. Anita said she had no idea who he was, but thought he was very nice and had a sweet and good radiation and lots of charm. And to her great surprise he turned out to be a good dancer. Anita says she wants to be self-employed in the area of fashion and is busy setting up her own company. The couple has bought a new house in Amsterdam.
76-year-old Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah of Kuwait will travel to Britain on Monday afternoon for a private vacation during which he will undergo some usual medical check ups, a statement said.
August 22nd
The Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported that Princess Claire of Belgium nearly had a miscarriage on Independence Day. Prince Laurent was to represent the royal family with Princess Claire on July 21, but the prince arrived alone and quickly left after the ceremony ended. He didn't show up at the military parade in the afternoon, but was home with his wife. The newspaper quotes a friend saying: "On the national holiday, Claire had severe stomach pain. The gynaecologist was able to avert a miscarriage, but the princess has had to take a lot of rest since then." The royal palace has officially denied the rumours saying that Princess Claire was feeling well before 21 July, on 21 July itself and after 21 July. However they didn't want to say why both Prince Laurent and Princess Claire didn't attend the National Day.
Antoine 13th Prince de Ligne died at chateau de Beloeil yesterday at the age of 80. He was born at 8 March 1925 as son of Eugène Prince de Ligne and Philippine de Noailles. He married Princess Alix of Luxemburg who survives him. He is also survived by seven children and 18 grandchildren. He will be buried at Beloeil on 27 August.
August 23rd
A helicopter carrying Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands made a precautionary landing while on the way to a royal engagement on Tuesday. The incident took place in Rosmalen, Province of Brabant. The Government Information Service stressed the incident could not be described as an emergency landing. The Queen was travelling to De Peel air force base near Eindhoven when the pilot decided the weather conditions had reduced visibility below an acceptable level. The helicopter landed on grass next to the Mercure Hotel in Rosmalen and the Queen continued her journey by car.
Count Augustinus Heinrich Henckel von Donnersmarck has died at Hamborn Abbey - of which he was one of the founders in 1959 - on August 19 after a long illness. He was born at Naklo on 29 June 1935. In 1953 he entered the Premonstratenser Order and became a priest in 1961. He was leader of the catholic office in Düsseldorf from 1985 to 2000. He was honorary canon of Köln and Essen. He will be buried at cemetery of Hamborn Abbey on 2 September.
The Supreme Court in Brno has ruled that Prince Hamid bin Abdul Sani al-Thani of Qatar, who is convicted in Czechia for sexually abusing young girls, may be extradited to his homeland. The decision marks the end of a quarrel between Justice Minister Pavel Nemec and the Supreme State Prosecutor Marie Benesova. The prince himself left Prague's Pankrac prison immediately after the decision was taken although it's not clear where he is now. The Justice Ministry told the media that the Qatari authorities had promised he would be transported to Qatar on Tuesday, where he faces trial and possibly a life prison sentence. However his lawyer said that as soon as leaves Pankrac he is essentially a free man.
August 24th
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is suffering from low blood pressure, and her doctors have adviced that she should get more rest. This will mean that her official program will be reduced. She is pregnant and the baby is expected early December.
August 25th
Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven married Anita van Eijk at the audience hall of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn today at 14.00 in a civil ceremony. The couple arrived at Het Loo in a Rolls Royce Phantom V State Limousine, a former court car of King Olav of Norway. The bride wore a two-piece ensemble: a three-quarter jacket with skirt, made of silk and with a coral print, in turquoise, yellow and green colours. The sleeves and neck-line are decorated with precious stones (jade). It was designed by the originally from Singapore, now in Paris working couturier Andrew Gn. The wedding bouquet was in Biedermeier style and adapted to the colours of the two-piece ensemble of the bride. The ceremony was solemnized by mayor G. de Graaf of Apeldoorn who in his speech referred to their meeting and to the fact that both of them actually hadn't wanted to go to the party where they met but were persuaded by friends to go after all. He quoted Anita as having said: "Pieter-Christiaan is the love of my life, my soulmate." And he quoted Pieter-Christiaan as having said: "I have the feeling to be able to manage the whole world with Anita and she is absolutely my pal." Witnesses for the groom were Floris Leeuwens and Eelco de Graaf, for the bride Sandra Chollet and Saskia Lahaye-Meulemans. With saying yes the prince lost the membership of the Royal House, because he hasn't asked for permission of the First and Second Chamber. Among the guests were Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, Prince Floris van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven with fiancée Aimée Söhngen, Prince Carlos and Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and both chairmen of the chambers.
Princess Beatrice of York is said to be "delighted" after getting two A*s, two As and five Bs in her GCSEs at St George's School in Ascot. The princess, who suffers from dyslexia, achieved top grades in history and drama, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said. She was also awarded As in French and art and Bs in English literature, English language, maths and dual sciences. The Palace spokesman said: "She's delighted. The Duke and Duchess are so proud of both their daughters but especially Beatrice on the day of these fantastic results. "The family celebrated together this morning."
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has crashed his brand new BMW M3 CSL. No one was hurt in the Thursday morning wreck just north of Norrköping. "The king was driving and had an assistant in the car," confirmed royal spokesman Ann-Christine Jernberg. "It was at a roundabout just outside of Norrköping. The driver in front apparently had to brake quickly for a cyclist and then the king's BMW hit the other car's back bumper." Both cars sustained damage but police say that neither driver was seriously injured. The king continued to Stockholm with security staff while police handled the cleanup after the crash. Police spokesman Tomas Norin says the accident will be investigated like any other: "We'll find out what was happening and if any driver was careless. If everything seems to be in order, we'll turn this over to the insurance companies to handle."
Princess Margareta zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg née d'Otrante died peacefully this morning at Berleburg Castle at the age of 96 surrounded by her family. She was born at Elghammar Castle, Sweden, on 28 March 1909 as daughter of Charles Count Fouché Duke d'Otrante and Countess Madeleine Douglas. In 1934 she married Prince Gustav Albrecht zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, who went missing in World War II in the Summer of 1944, and was pronounced death in 1969. The couple had two sons and three daughters, who survive her, as well as 19 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren. The eldest son, Richard, married Princess Benedikte of Denmark. The funeral service will take place on 31 August at the evangelical church in Bad Berleburg. Afterwards she will be buried at the family vault at the Waldfriedhof in Bad Berleburg.
Bunte magazine reports that Prince Philipp von Hessen (grandson of Princess Margareta zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg) and Laetitia Bechtolf are engaged and that they will get married in June 2006, possibly on the isle of Sylt.
The office of the Sultan of Brunei on Wednesday night confirmed that Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah married former TV3 personality Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday. In a statement issued by the Brunei Information Department on Wednesday night a local newspaper report saying that a wedding ceremony would be held in Brunei next month was denied.
August 27th
Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven married Anita van Eijk at the Great or St Jeroens Church in Noordwijk in a religious ceremony at 15.00 today led by baptist clergyman ds Henk Leegte. In the morning already the official photos were made at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. The groom arrived at church wearing the ceremonial uniform of a major of the Koninklijke Marechaussee. Shortly afterwards the bride and her father arrived at church. Anita van Eijk wore a dress of cream-coloured french Satin duchesse double and lace in the same colour. The lace top with boat decolleté had a higher waist from where the dress fell in flowing line. From the back, closed with little buttons, the three metres long train fell down. She wore a tulle veil with french lace. The dress was designed by Frans Hoogendoorn. Her bridal bouquet existed of ivory-coloured roses (the bride's favourite flowers) combined with Alchemilla Mollis, Asperagus Plumosa, Amaranthus and Sedum. Bridesmaids were Wendela van den Broek and Christiane Rohleder, and the flower children were Anna van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, Isabella van Vollenhoven and Eric van der Toorn. Witnesses for the groom were Prince Bernhard van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven and Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, and for the bride Caroline van der Toorn-van Eijk and Countess Alexandra de Witt-Cavard. During the service bride and groom often held each others hands and looked at each other. Lectures were read by Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme (John 21, 1-14) and Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema (Corinthians 13, 1-13). Henriette Feith beautifully sang a Sung Prayer and the Ave Maria. After the couple exchanged rings, singer Katie Melua sang 'Nine million bicycles'. When leaving church the family stood next to the entrance, and while bride and groom passed colleagues of the groom lining the path, the flower children strew rose leafs. The bridal couple left Noordwijk in a Mercedes Benz 380 SEL, Cabriolet, which had belonged to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Reception and dinner took place at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, with a party at the coach-house near Noordeinde Palace. Among the guests were Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, Prince Friso and Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau (Princess Mabel attracted attention by wearing her mother-in-law's engagement dress), Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, Prince Floris van Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven and his fiancée Aimée Söhngen, the Duke of Parma, Prince Carlos, Prince Jaime, Princess Margarita and Princess Carolina de Bourbon de Parme, Princess Christina of the Netherlands, Juliana Guillermo, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke Michael and Archduchess Christiana of Austria and Hereditary Prince Alexander von Isenburg.
Antoine 13th Prince de Ligne was soberly buried at Beloeil today. He was the husband of Princess Alix of Luxemburg. The funeral was attended by the couple's children and grandchildren who arrived by foot in a procession led by candle carriers followed by priests and valets carrying a wooden late engraved with the coat of arms of the deceased and his date of death, followed by his medals. Before entering the church, the coffin, covered with the Belgian flag and the prince's flying casque, was carried outside the car. At the end of the funeral mass, a moving gesture as different impressive (oldtimer) aircrafts paid tribute to the prince. Near the church door were several wreaths, among others from the Belgian royal family. Someone Among the guests were Grand Duke Jean of Luxemburg, Countess Marie-Gabrielle Holstein-Ledreborg née Princess of Luxemburg, Grand Duke Henri of Luxemburg, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxemburg, Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein, Archdukes Christoph and Alexander of Austria, Archduke Carl Ludwig and Archduchess Yolande of Austria, Countess Hélène de Limburg-Stirum née Princess of France. At the end of the afternoon a rememberance mass was held at Laeken.
August 28th
German actor Hans Clarin died today in Aschau am Chiemsee surrounded by his family. He was born on 14 September 1929 at Wilhelmshaven. He married three times, the last time with Countess Christa-Maria von Hardenberg. From his first two marriages he had five children.
August 29th
Mary Rhys-Jones née O'Sullivan, mother of the Countess of Wessex, died yesterday at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells at the age of 71 after a short illness, Buckingham Palace announced. The Countess was with her mother at her hospital bedside and is said to be "deeply saddened". She is survived by her husband Christopher Rhys-Jones and her children David and Sophie, as well as her grandchildren Oliver, Harry and Louise. There will be a private cremation. A thanksgiving service will take place on 16 September at St George's Church, Benenden. Mrs Rhys-Jones, a charity worker, received hospital treatment in May.
A diary of Frances Shand Kydd, mother of the late Diana Princess of Wales, was revealed yesterday. The diary had been kept by a friend. In the diary Mrs Shand Kydd calls the Prince of Wales a "spoiled brat", describes Mohammed Fayed as "evil" and says the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was not as sweet as her public image suggested. The diary suggests that Princess Diana's family came close to boycotting the princess's funeral service at Westminster Abbey after the Dean insisted that they arrive at 10.24am, 36 minutes before the Royal Family. She described the conspiracy theories surrounding her daughter's death as "crap", thought Prince Harry was a "rascal", and denied that Princess Diana and the Queen did not get on, claiming they had a "lot of mutual respect and admiration". The diaries were written by Mike Merritt, a freelance journalist who met Mrs Shand Kydd, who lived on the island of Seil, near Oban, in 1996. He told a Sunday newspaper that he was her "main conduit" when she wanted something in the newspapers. He added that he kept diaries of their conversations for nine years.
Princess Helga Lee zu Schaumburg-Lippe née Roderbourg died on July 9 in New York at the age of 94. She was born in Köln on 24 February 1911 as daughter of Carl Hermann Roderbourg and Claude Lennox Miller. She married Prince Max zu Schaumburg-Lippe (1898-1974).
August 30th
Twenty culturally and historically significant bronze objects were stolen during a break-in at Rosendal Palace in Stockholm's Djurgården last week. All of the missing items are gold-plated and were produced in Paris around 1820. They originally belonged to King Karl XIV Johan of Sweden. All the bronzes which were on the table in the dining room, including confectionery and fruit bowls, were stolen. Three pairs of candelabras and a table clock were pinched from further into the palace. The objects were owned by the Bernadotte family foundation and the king personally.
Danish Politicians back up a government proposal to change the law of accession so that Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark's firstborn child inherits the throne regardless of gender. The government wants to change the law of accession to give men and women equal rights to inherit the Danish throne. The change would ensure that Crown Princess Mary's unborn child is heir to the throne regardless of whether it is a girl or a boy. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced that the proposal had full political backing in parliament, after meeting with party leaders on Monday. The bill is to be introduced in the first week of October. 'I'm very pleased for the broad support in parliament for the proposal to change the laws of accession,' Rasmussen said.
August 31st
Princess Margareta zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg was buried at the cemetery of Bad Berleburg today. The funeral was attended by about 200 guests. During the funeral service wreaths of the family were inside the church in front of the coffin. Outside the were wreaths from among others Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark, King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Prince Stephan and Princess Maria zur Lippe with children.
Royal News: July 2005. Last updated: October 3rd, 2005.