ROYAL NEWS: AUGUST 2008

Last updated: August 31st, 2008.

August 1st
King Siaosi Tupou V was crowned as 23rd monarch of Tonga at the Centenary Free Wesleyan Church in Nuku'alofa today. He was anoined with oil and later on crowned by the Anglican Archbishop of Polynesia Jabez Bryce. Rituals that involved touching the king were also performed by him. When the king was crowned 21 salutes were fired and the church bells were tolling. The Archbishop wished the king "a long and glorious course of ruling a temporal kingdom wisely, justly and religiously". Hymnes were sung by a big choir and and performed by an orchestra. When the King left church he was followed by his mother Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho, who wore the royal cloak she also wore at her husband's coronation in 1967. Among the about 1000 guests in church were Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Maori King Tuheitia with Makau Ariki Atawhai and Prince Whatumoana Te Aa, Princess Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck of Bhutan, King Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Masiofo Filifilia Tamasase of Samoa, and Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand. After the ceremony a luncheon was held at the royal palace, followed by traditional dancing, fireworks and an open-air charity concert. There were also three separate coronation balls; one for the VIPs, one for lesser VIPs and one for regular guests. The King was installed as a King in an ancient Tongan ceremony, Taumafa Kava, two days ago. The coronation costed more than $2.5 million, including $418.000 for the royal robes, $37.000 for the newly minted scepter and 1000 new chairs with the monogram GVT in gold letters. In the coming week King Siaosi (George) Tupou V will visit the five outer island groups of Tonga.

In Monte Carlo the yearly Red Cross Ball was held at the Sporting d'Été Club. Prince Albert II was accompanied by his sisters Princess Caroline and Princess Stéphanie, as well as by his brother-in-law Prince Ernst August of Hannover. Also Prince Albert's girlfriend Charlene Wittstock attended.

King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia accompanied his parents former King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath Sihanouk to Beijing where the last two will have a routine medical checkup. They are also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on August 8. King Norodom Sihamoni will stay in China for two weeks.

On July 25th, at 9.45am, 68-year-old Kapeliele Faupala was installed as the new king of Wallis at the place Malae Sagato Soane. He succeeded Tomasi Kulimoetoke, who died on 7 May 2007. The ceremony was attended by about 2000 people. The new king was chosen by members of the traditional council of ministers.

August 5th
Yesterday a 75-year-old man informed the police that Fürst Heinrich zu Fürstenberg called him names and ill-treated him. Earlier on Monday morning the man had parked his car in Donaueschingen. Shortly afterwards the Fürst parked his car so close to the one of the man, that he couldn't drive away anymore. The couple waited until the fürst came back. According to the man the fürst was angry that he still hadn't driven away and called him names. When the man said something about it, he was hit with a brief-case. The police has started a search for witnesses.

August 6th
The London Evening Standard wrote today, quoting unnamed medical sources, that the Duke of Edinburgh was diagnosed with prostate cancer while being treated in hospital for a chest infection last April. In a statement, Buckingham Palace announced that they were authorised by Prince Philip to "confirm that the claim made by the Evening Standard that he has received a 'diagnosis of prostate cancer' is untrue". The statement further says: "We believe that the Evening Standard's front page story today titled 'Prince Philip Defies Cancer Scare' is a serious breach of Prince Philip's privacy." Therefore the palace will ask the Press Complaints Commission to intervene.

The head of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass said in a statement that Egyptian scientists are carrying out DNA tests on the two mummified fetuses that were found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922. They hope to find out if the two female fetuses between five to seven months in gestational age, are indeed offspring of the Pharaoh. Mr Hawass said they hope to determine Tutankhamun's family lineage, which has long been a source of mystery. The tests are part of a wider programme to check the DNA of hundreds of royal mummies to determine their identities and family relations and could take several months.

Prince Emmanuel de Merode was named the new director of Virunga National Park by the Congolese wildlife authority ICCN. He will start his new job on August 13 after being sworn in by the Military Tribunal in Goma. One year ago the worst mountain gorilla massacre ever was recorded in the park.

August 7th
Princess Haya bint al-Hussein of Jordan today carried the torch of the Olympic flame on one leg of the run through the streets of Beijing.

This week's Billed-Bladet carries an interview with Hereditary Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and his girlfriend Carina Axelsson at Graasten castle on the occasion of the 40th birthday of Carina on 5 August. She said that it had been fun that the magazines so far thought that she was 6 years younger than Gustav, while in fact she is five months older. Her full name is Carina Lynn Axelsson, she grew up in Santa Cruz, California, USA, and is the eldest of three children of a Swedish father and a Mexican mother. The couple has been together for 6 years, and lives together at Berleburg castle since three years. They met at a dinner with friends in Germany. Carina said she has been warmly welcomed by Gustav's family.

Gorakh Shumsher Rana, son-in-law of the assassinated king Birendra of Nepal, is to remarry later this year to Dipti, niece of former royalist prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand. The three-day wedding celebrations will start on 8 December. The groom survived the massacre in the royal palace in Nepal, in which his wife Princess Shruti of Nepal died. The couple had two daughters.

August 8th
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, was attended by several royals. Among them were King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg with their youngest children Princess Alexandra and Prince Sébastien, the Princess Royal, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Prince Philippe of Belgium, Infanta Pilar of Spain, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein of Jordan, King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and his parents former King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia, Princess Nora of Liechtenstein, and Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand. Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum of Dubai carried the flag of the United Arab Emirates into the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony. Later on also Princess Benedikte of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Queen Sofia of Spain and Infanta Cristina of Spain as well as Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will attend a part of the Olympic Games.

The London Evening Standard newspaper has issued an unreservedly apology to the royal family. On Wednesday the newspaper reported that the Duke of Edinburgh had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the apology it said that the duke was "not suffering from any such dondition". It furthermore said: "We unreservedly apologise both to him and to his family for making this distressing allegation and for breaching his privacy." Buckingham Palace has accepted the apology. The Press Complaints Commission says the matter is now settled.

Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia said today to the Mekong Times newspaper he will not sign any request for King Norodom Sihamoni to pardon his half brother Prince Norodom Ranariddh. He said he could only consider such a request if the prince had served 2/3 of his 18 months jail-term.

August 9th
Several members of royal families are taking part in the Olympic Games in Beijing in the coming weeks. Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is a member of the Danish dressage team and also takes part in dressage individually. Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum of Dubai takes part in the shooting competition (skeet), sheikh Ahmed Al-Maktoum of Dubai also takes part in the shooting competition (men's trap and double trap). And Sheikha Maitha Al-Maktoum of Dubai will take part in the -67kg category of taekwondo. Sheikha Latifa al-Maktoum of Dubai is taking part in the individual jumping (equestrian) competition. Prince Abdullah Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia takes part in both the individual as the team jumping competition. Also several nobles are on the list as far as I could see. Anna von Harnier is a German judoka in the category -63 Kilograms. Maria von EssenRoline Repelaer van Driel, who is a rower in the women's eight for the Netherlands, to my knowledge is a Dutch jonkvrouwe. The list also contains Swedish equestrian Maria von Essen, and Namibian athlete Hans Christian von Lieres und Wilkau, both without specific competition mentioned, so they are probably reserves.

Crown Princess Francine of Montenegro née Navarro died at Paris on 6 August 2008 after a long battle with critical illness. She was 58 years old. She is survived by her husband Crown Prince Nikola II of Montenegro, her children Boris and Altinai, as well as her daughter-in-law Véronique and her granddaughter Milena. The funeral is to take place in private at Paris. A memorial service will take place early September.

Condolences

Today's Svenska Dagbladet announced the engagement of Sophie Ullens de Schooten Whetnall and Michel van Dyck at Patmos on 26 July 2008. The fiancee is a daughter of the late Charles Albert Ullens de Schooten Whetnall and Countess Madeleine Bernadotte.

August 12th
On Sunday vandals have damaged the tomb cover of King James III of Scotland in the bell tower of Cambuskenneth Abbey near Stirling. The stone was cracked in a similar accident earlier this year, and has now been split completely in two. Historic Scotland appeals for information. Head of collections of Historic Scotland, Richard Welander, said: "We regret that vandalism has caused further damage to the already fragmentary remains of the blue marble stone which was once the cover for the tomb of King James III. The stone, which used to be in the nave of the ruined abbey church has been kept on the ground floor of the bell tower for many years in order to keep it as safe as possible while still allowing visitors to see an interesting and significant piece of Scottish history. We have reported the latest incident to the police and would encourage anyone with information to contact them so appropriate action can be taken."

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Maktoum of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) ended in 7th place in the men's double trap competition (shooting) during the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Two days ago he was 30th in the men's trap competition. He was 19th after one day, but lost ground on the second day. At the Olympic Games in 2004 he won the gold medal in double trap and was fourth in trap.

August 13th
Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg won an Olympic bronze medal with the Danish team in dressage today. She was the best horserider of the Danes on her horse Digby, with an 8th individual result. Nathalie was loudly cheered by her mother Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and Prince Philippos of Greece. She received the medal from her uncle, honorary IOC-member King Constantine II of Greece.

Princess Lilian of Sweden was taken to hospital in Stockholm yesterday evening at 6.15pm after a fall in her apartment at Djurgården, Stockholm. She broke her hip. The princess underwent a successfull surgery today and is now resting. Considering the circumstances she is doing well.

Sheikh Talal Nasser al-Sabah of Kuwait, who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking, said that he has appealed to the Emir of Kuwait to grant a pardon. He also says that senior members of the royal family of Kuwait are lobbying for him with the Emir. The sheikh, who is the nephew of Emir Jaber al-Sabah of Kuwait who died in 2006, was also found guilty of laundering the proceeds and of illegal possession of two pistols and a shotgun. The sheikh denies to be a drug dealer, but admits being a drug-addict.

August 14th
Princess Eugenie of York passed three A-levels. She achieved an A in art and English literature, and a B in history of art. She attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire. In a joint statement her parents the Duke and Duchess of York say: "We are delighted by Eugenie's achievements. She has worked extremely hard towards these justifiably fantastic results." Eugenie is planning a gap year before starting university. Her sister Beatrice will start studying history at Goldsmiths, University of London, in September.

Hanson's Auctioneers will sell a pair of stockings of Queen Victoria of Great Britain on 3 September. They are expected to fetch £200.

A Belgian archaeologistic team has unearthed a colossal marble head of a Roman Empress in Sagalassos, Turkey. The head is thought to be of Emprss Faustina the Elder, wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. It was found 6 metres from the spot where last year an Hadrian statue was discovered.

August 15th
Crown Prince Kardam of Bulgaria was seriously injured in a car crash at 2.50pm today. The car crashed into a tree on the N-1 highway at El Molar near Madrid. He and his wife Miriam were trapped in the car and were taken out by the firebrigade. Crown Prince Kardam was taken to the Doce de Octubre hospital in Madrid by helicopter. A spokesman says he was seriously injured. Reportedly he has serious head and hand injuries. The hands probably have to be amputated. Crown Princess Miriam was taken to La Paz hospital in Madrid reportedly with a broken elbow and several bruises. Family arrived at the clinic in the evening.

China's largest Qing Dynasty mansion, the Prince Gong Mansion, will open on 20 August for the first time after a two-year renovation. The mansion was build in 1776 and is one of 20 royal mansions from the Qing Dynasty to left standing. It is a fine example of ancient Chinese architecture.

August 16th
Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) ended in 22nd place in the men's skeet competition (shooting) during the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He was 8th after one day, but lost ground on the second day.

Yesterday evening a native Hawaiian sovereignty group took over the grounds of Iolai Palace, the residence of the last monarch of Hawaii, for the second time this year. The gates were locked by about dozen men. They wore t-shirts saying 'security' and posted signs that read 'property of the Kingdom of Hawaiian Trust'.

August 17th
According to the spokesperson of former King Simeon II of Bulgaria, Galiya Dicheva, the medical condition of Crown Prince Kardam remains critical. However his breathing and vital signs have improved. Crown Princess Miriam is in stable condition. A doctor from the Doce de Octubre hospital where Kardam was transferred to, said on Saturday: "The condition of the patient could not be defined until he is in a coma. I can only say he has suffered a heavy brain trauma."

Sheikha Latifa al-Maktoum of Dubai (UAE) ended on the 54th place in the qualifications of the individual jumping competition at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Her horse was named Kalaska de Semilly. Prince Abdullah al-Saud of Saudi Arabia and his horse Obelix ended on the 60th place in the same competition.

August 18th
Crown Prince Kardam of Bulgaria is being kept in a artificial coma, so that he can be pain free. He suffered a severe brain-scull trauma and both his hands are severely damaged. According to doctors of the Doce de Octubre Hospital in Madrid both his hands are motionless, and reports mention that he has lost two fingers.

Afghan authorities said today that two mass graves that were found recently indeed contain the remains of nine relatives of former president Mohammad Daud Khan of Afghanistan. In April Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan, appointed a commission to locate the body of Mohammad Daud Khan, member of the Afghan royal family. They still work to identify the 29 bodies that were found. The body of Mohammad Daud Khan hasn't been identified yet. Among the identified bodies are the bodies of his wife, son, two daughters, his sister, an 18-month-old grandchild. They were identified through their clothing, teeth, height and other characteristics. Mohammad Daud Khan and 18 members of his family were shot dead on the night of 27-28 April 1978.

August 19th
Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg ended in 15th place in the final of the individual dressage competition at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

August 20th
At the end of July the Oslo District Court received a letter from Jorn Lepsøy, claiming the inheritance of King Haakon V Magnusson of Norway who died in 1319. He demanded that a DNA sample should be taken from the body of the king who is buried at the Akershus in Oslo, so he could proof that he descended from the king, who according to history died without male heirs. The Oslo District Court ruled however that he was too late to claim the inheritance. They said "In accordance with the inheritance law the right to claim inheritance expires if the heir does not demand his right within 10 years after the testator dies."

Carla Royo-Villanova, wife of Prince Kubrat of Bulgaria, told the press yesterday that she and her husband are very worried about the condition of Crown Prince Kardam of Bulgaria. There is no news and it is not known how the situation will evolve. Kardam's wife Miriam underwent surgery. The family is very concerned. Due to a special request made by the family there hasn't been any new information published. Newspapers say that the accident took place because Kardam didn't slow down his Jaguar on the stretch, which is known as the dark hole.

Yesterday the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco upheld the conviction and two-year-sentence of Edith Delgado. On 5 July 2006 Ms Delgado speeded in her car and caused an accident in which two members of the royal family of Tonga were killed. Ms Delgado has been free on bail since August 2007 and is scheduled to return to court on 27 August.

Forbes published its yearly list of richest royals in the world. On top of the list is King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand with a fortune of $35 billion. He is followed by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nayhan of Abu Dhabi with $23 billion and King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia with $21 billion. The richest European monarch, Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein, is 6th on the list with $5 billion, followed by Prince Albert II of Monaco in 9th place with $1,4 billion, and in 12th place Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain with $650 million.

Forbes List

August 21st
Countess Feodora af Rosenborg will marry Morten Rønnow at the townhall in Copenhagen on 8 September. They expect their first child early February 2009. It will be Feodora's second marriage. She first married Eric Patte in 2004, but the couple split already in 2005.

Nine of the thirteen wives of King Mswati III of Swaziland chartered a plane to go on a shopping trip to Europe and the Middle East last week. Today hundreds of Swazi women marched through the streets of the capital, because they think the money could have been spent better. The women said that a quarter of the nation lives on food aid. The march was organised by the non-governmental organisation Positive Living.

August 22nd
The Spanish royal palace said today that the Princess of Asturias had surgery on her nose last week to fix a breathing problem. It was said the septorhinoplasty was carried out by palace medical staff to fix a deviated septum (wall between the left and right sides of the nose).

Sheikha Maitha al Maktoum of Dubai made her debute at the Olympic Games today in Beijing. She lost both her fights, the first one against the world champion taekwondo. Sheikha Maitha, who was kicked in the head, said: "It’s a dream and a nightmare at the same time. I couldn’t wait until it was going to happen. And now I can’t believe it’s over. I think I performed well for what my background is and my experience."

Fürst Karl zu Schwarzenberg and his former wife Countess Therese zu Hardegg remarried civilly at Murau on 25 July, after a 20 year separation. The secret wedding was only attended by their daughter Anna Carolina and her children.

August 23rd
In today's Le Figaro the engagement is announced between count Dominik von Coudenhove-Kalergi and Princess Adelheid von und zu Liechtenstein. He is the son of the late count and late countess Hans-Heinrich von Coudenhove-Kalergi. She is the youngest daughter of the late Prince Vincenz von und zu Liechtenstein and Mrs Hélène de Cossé Brissac-Byloff.

In a statement the Foreign Ministry of Thailand has said that Forbes magazine is wrong in listing King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand as the world's richest royal. They say: "The Crown Property Bureau has clarified that the report is inaccurate and inconsistent." The Foreign Ministry says that the $35 billion mentioned by forbes includes vast property holdings as part of his netto worth, although the land and other assets belong to the Crown Property Bureau. The statement says that the Crown Property Bureau is an institution 'which essentially belongs to all Thais' that owns and manages the assets of the monarchy, and the assets are not the personal wealth of the king.

August 25th
A Belgian archaeologistic team has unearthed parts of a giant sculpture of Roman Emperor Marcus Arelius at an archaeological site in Sagalassos, Turkey.

August 26th
A sword has been sold at auction by auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh today for £19,000. The sword is said to have belonged to Bonnie Prince Charlie, and was part of a collection of armour at Crosby Lodge in Carlisle. Silver specialist Colin Fraser said: "The sword displays the Royal Cypher and other symbols in gilt to the blade and shows Charles's opinion of being the rightful heir to the Scottish throne."

August 27th
From 14 to 16 November Thailand will be in mourning because of the royal cremation of Princess Galyani Vadhana, who died on 2 January. The royal crematorium will be open to the public from September 7 and people can visit the crematorium each Sunday. There are three daily tours.

August 28th
A slice of the 1981 wedding cake of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer was sold for £ 1200 at auction at Dominic Winter Auction House in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, Great Britain. The slice, decorated with the royal coat of arms in icing, was preserved in clingfilm by Moyra Smith, member of the household of the Queen Mother. The buyer was a private collector from Great Britain, who wanted to remain anonymous.

The prison term of Edith Delgado, who was sentenced to two years in prison for causing an accident in which two Tongan royals were killed, was postponed yesterday until after the confirmation of the conviction of the state court of California becomes formal. She has approximately five months left to serve. Ms Delgado will return to court on 23 September.

August 29th
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary today with a cruise on the royal yacht Norge in the Adriatic and Mediterranean, together with children and grandchildren. The cruise was set to start off the coast of Croatia. In an interview King Harald V said about his wife: "She has meant everything to me. I was a completely different person when I married her 40 years ago. Apart from anything else I was extremely shy, but with her help, I got over it." Queen Sonja said her most important task is to support her husband and to help to put the spotlight on Norway. About his father, King Olav V, King Harald said: "Things have been simpler and much happier for us, since we have each other. King Olav was a lonely man."

Kongehuset: wedding video

August 30th
The Swedish royal court has confirmed that Prince Carl Philip of Sweden inherited the Ökenäs estate in Källvik, Södermanland, from the previous owner who died last summer. The 19th centuryestate consists of a manor house and some smaller buildings.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested 31-year-old Takeshi Yamamoto yesterday for allegedly posting an Internet threat to kill Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan. The man posted the message "I will kill the crown prince" through his home computer August 13. He now says it was just an hoax. The man is accused of obstructing public duty by causing the police to unnecessarily thighten up security around the palace where the crown princely family lives.


Royal News: July 2008. Last updated: August 8th, 2008.