Last updated: January 4th, 2004.
December 1st
King Harald V of Norway again stayed in hospital for some new examinations on Sunday and was released from hospital early this morning. At a press conference this afternoon physicians at Rikshospitalet and the Norwegian Radium Hospital announced that King Harald has cancer of the bladder. Samples taken from the King last week have been analysed. He will have surgery soon to remove the bladder. "The cancer was detected at an early stage, so there is no reason to believe that it has spread. We expect the King to recover after the operation," said the doctors. The King will undergo further tests before having surgery, and is still on sick leave. He will be admitted to Rikshospitalet on Saturday December 6 and will undergo surgery on Monday December 8. The operation will be carried out by Dr Håkon Wæhre of the Radium Hospital, together with Dr Trygve Talseth of Rikshospitalet. The King will stay in hospital for two to three weeks after the operation, and will then be on sick leave for two to three months. Crown Prince Haakon will be acting regent during King Harald's illness and convalescence.
The Imperial family of Japan today celebrated the second birthday of Princess Aiko, daughter of the crown princely couple. The Crown Prince and Princess took their daughter to see Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in the morning to report on her second birthday. The Imperial Household Agency said Princess Aiko is now able to run and jump, has learned the names of people and animals, and often plays with her mother by saying the alphabet. Princess Aiko is now 85.4 cm tall and weighs 12.5 kg, Imperial Household officials said.
Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and her husband Pedro Lopez Quesada became the parents of a son, Pedro, who was born in Madrid today. He weighs 4750 grammes. They already have a daughter.
December 3rd
The new Hola published photos of Don Luis Alfonso de Borbón y Martínez-Bordiú (Duke of Anjou) and his fiancée María Margarita de Vargas y Santaella, a 20-year-old girl who was born in Candalaria, Venezuela and studies pedagogics at the Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas. She is the daughter of Victor José de Vargas y Uruaquin and Carmen Leonor Santaella Tellerías. Maria Margarita had a brother, Victor José, who died at the age of 18, and a sister, María Victoria. Luís Alfonso and Maria Margarita met at the wedding of her sister to Francisco Javier d'Agostino Casado, where he was a witness for the groom and she for the bride. The couple will get married in Palm Beach, Florida, USA, where Maria Margarita's father owns a ranch with a chapel, around September 2004. They will live in Madrid after the wedding.
Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy was hurt in a motor accident when he lost control of his motorbike this morning in Geneva, Switzerland, when he was on his way to work from the home of his parents. He was transferred to the Hôpital Cantonal in Geneva where he had surgery this afternoon. He has broken his right collar bone and left upper arm bone and also suffered other injuries among others on his knees. According to a spokesman his life is not in danger. His mother returned from Milan when she heard the news. Also his wife Clotilde, whom he married in September and who expects the couple's first child at the end of this month, returned to Geneva.
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband Ari Behn have postponed their plans to move to New York City. Due to the illness of her father the princess is expected to play a greater role in performing royal duties for the time being.
December 4th
In Manhattan, New York, State Supreme Court Justice Louis B. York dismissed a $1 million claim by Diana Princess of Wales's former lover James Hewitt against Fox News for breach of contract but let stand the network's counterclaim that he violated their secrecy agreement. The judge said Hewitt's punitive damages claim against Fox for firing him was unwarranted because he could not show the firing was "malicious or vindictive behavior, which is morally culpable or reprehensible." The judge let stand Hewitt's claim for $80,000 in compensatory damages. Fox hired Hewitt, a former British army major and tank commander, on Jan. 13 to an $80,000 one-year contract to cover the anticipated Iraq war for the network. Less than a week later, Fox fired him, alleging he had violated a secrecy agreement by leaking information about his hiring. Hewitt sued Fox in February. In court papers, he denied he broke the secrecy agreement and said Fox officials dumped him because they "were embarrassed by the negative press the leak generated on account of Mr. Hewitt's previous relationship with the late Diana, Princess of Wales."
December 5th
Crown Princess Masako of Japan was hospitalized yesterday evening with shingles, but the Imperial Household Agency said the case is not serious. On Wednesday she was diagnosed with the viral inflammation after she developed painful rashes on the back of her head and under her chin Tuesday evening. She will require up to three weeks' treatment, including taking medication via an intravenous drip three times a day, and may be hospitalized for several days if necessary, the agency said.
December 7th
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands has given birth to a healthy baby girl at the Bronovo Hospital in The Hague at 17:01. The baby is 52 cm tall and weighs 3310 grammes. The Prince of Orange was present at birth. Shortly after the birth Queen Beatrix, Prince Johan Friso and his fiancée Mabel Wisse Smit already arrived at hospital. "It is a dream of a baby" according to the father in a press announcement. He also said to "feel thankful and happy". Mrs M.J.G.H. Smeets, gyneacologist and Mrs. J.K. Kreijen-Meinesz, neo-natologist, assisted the Princess during the delivery. Almost one hour after the birth 101 salutes were fired from the Indian Monument in The Hague, the navy base in Den Helder and from Willemstad (Curaçao) and Oranjestad (Aruba). Around 18:20 the Prince of Orange shortly appeared at a window of the hospital and waved to the people and press outside. After it was made known in the early afternoon that Princess Máxima was admitted to hospital at 9:10 this morning, tens of people travelled to the hospital to wait for the birth. The baby will be second in line to the Dutch throne. The Prince of Orange will register his daughter at the town hall of The Hague tomorrow. Most likely also the name will become known then. On the occasion of the birth congratulatory books can be signed at Noordeinde Palace, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam and Palace Het Loo from tomorrow (13:00 to 17:00). Books at Palace Noordeinde and Palace Het Loo can be signed until December 12 between 9:00 and 17:00.
In the evening a photo of the baby, taken by the Prince of Orange himself, was released. At 21:30 a press conference was held at the Bronovo Hospital. First gynaecologist Mrs Smeets spoke, telling that Princess Máxima did wonderfully. The water broke this early morning and then she was taken to hospital by the Prince of Orange. The delivery took eight hours and was natural, despite of all rumours in the media about a caesarian section they never have considered one. During the pregnancy there were quite common complications and the princess was adviced bed rest for nine weeks. She was daily visited by a specialised nurse. Children doctor Mrs J.H.Kreijen-Meinesz added baby and mother do very well. The Prince of Orange himself cut the umbilical cord. Then the Prince of Orange entered with the baby who slept during the press conference. The Prince of Orange told that he and Máxima of course find their daughter the most beautiful baby in the whole world and they are very happy that everything went well. The birth was a very special moment. He had expected a quiet Sunday and then the birth started already very early in the morning and they had to go to hospital. He said the day had been very beautiful. They are not completely sure about the name of the baby yet. They didn't know beforehand if it would be a girl or a boy and they were very happy with the surprise. Queen Beatrix was very happy and grateful that the baby was completely healthy. She was surprised to hear this morning that the birth had started. Around 17:00 she started to wonder when the actual birth would be and then a few minutes later she was called that she had become a grandmother again. Máxima's mother was present at birth. Also her father was in the Netherlands until a short while ago, but had to go back to Argentina for business. They have already spoken with the family in Argentina. The Prince of Orange said to be very happy to be able to show their daughter, but he hopes that his daughter can have a youth as normal as possible, like he and his brothers had. During the pregnancy there were scans from time to time. Máxima needed bed rest for 9 weeks. They hope mother and daughter will be able to go home soon. Asked if he could describe his daughter for radio listeners he said that his daughter is the most beautiful daughter of the world, she has lots of hair, laughs a bit sometimes, opens her eyes from time to time. She looks very satisfied. He and Princess Máxima want to learn her more languages than Dutch. The Prince will register the baby at the town hall in The Hague later on, but not tomorrow morning.
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands and her daughter left hospital already at 22:30. Together with the Prince of Orange they returned home. The Prince of Orange already left hospital a bit earlier after the presentation of his daughter and smiled and talked with the press and people standing in front of the hospital. It was not noticed he picked up the princess and their daughter at another exit of the hospital immediately afterwards.
December 8th
King Harald V of Norway underwent five and a half hour surgery today at Rikshospitalet in Oslo. Doctors who performed surgery say the operation was successfull and say there were no signs the bladder cancer had spread. The surgical team of 15 medical professionals was led by doctors Haakon Waehre and Trygve Talseth. "The operation went completely according to plan," said surgeon Trygve Talseth this evening. Talseth said the king received "a new bladder" after doctors removed his cancerous one. "We haven't found anything that would indicate the king won't recover completely," said surgeon Haakon Waehre. Three pathologists who were part of the surgical team analyzed the monarch's lymph glands and found no cancerous cells. The king woke up shortly after the surgery ended and is now recovering in the intensive care unit. The king will undergo a comprehensive exam in about two weeks. He is expected to be released from hospital before Christmas. The doctors said that unless there will be complications, King Harald likely will be back on the job by March.
Although the name of the new Dutch princess officially is not known yet, the possible name of the princess leaked already today. Research on the websites registered at the IP-address of the official website of the Dutch Royal House, 193.78.30.30, learned that also the websites http://www.catharina-amalia.nl and http://www.prinsescatharina-amalia.nl were registered, and well on December 7. The owner is the Foundation Sigillis Regiis Praesidio, that protects the Royal Family against commercial exploitation. Thus it is well possible the new princess will be named Catharina-Amalia.
More than 200 years after his death the French Ministry of Culture has given permission to bury the heart of Louis XVII, son of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie-Antoinette, in the royal crypt at the Saint Denis Basilica, Paris. They approve the burial after geneticists in 2000 after comparing DNA of different members of the royal family concluded that it was indeed Louis XVII who had died of tuberculosis in prison in 1795. The son of King Louis XVI, was a seven year old crown prince (dauphin) when he was jailed in 1792. His parents died on the guillotine in 1793. Louis XVII's death was long a subject of dispute. The "lost dauphin" legend says he was taken from prison and replaced by another boy, and that it was the substitute who died there. The heart of the boy who died in prison was later placed in a chapel near the royal crypt. It will now be transferred to the royal crypt itself. It is said the society of the royal house of France requested the reburial and wants it to be held on June 8, the anniversary of Louis XVII's death. The Ministry of Culture could not confirm the date but said the French state would not pay for the burial.
December 9th
The Prince of Orange registered his daughter this morning at 10:00 at the old town hall in The Hague with the names Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria. Officially she is Her Royal Highness Catharina-Amalia Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Oranje-Nassau. However in daily life, the Prince of Orange said, she will be called Amalia. The Prince of Orange was accompanied by witnesses Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and the deputy chairman of the Council of State, Tjeenk Willink. The Prince of Orange was welcomed at the town hall by mayor Wim Deetman who, before the official registration, gave a 10-minute speech in which he wished the new parents well and noted that the baby's birth would ensure the continuity of the monarchy in the Netherlands. As a gift for his daughter the Prince received a book describing a baby's "main activities" eating, sleeping and crying, and a mobile in the shape of a stork (also the symbol for The Hague).
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain will undergo surgery at the King Edward VII Hospital in London on Friday to remove a torn cartilage in her left knee. The operation follows a similar one on the Queen's right knee on January 13 this year. A spokeswoman said: "The Queen is expected to leave hospital some time during the weekend and she should be fully active again within a few weeks." The Queen will spend Christmas with her family at Sandringham as usual, the spokeswoman added.
The Norwegian Royal Court said King Harald V of Norway had a calm night and day and has been out of bed twice today. His condition is satisfactory according to his doctors.
The German tabloid Bild was ordered by a federal court to print a clarification of a story they wrote in September 2000 that suggested that Princess Caroline of Monaco had slept with the Austrian singer Udo Jürgens. The newspaper had quoted an interview by Mr Jürgens to Playboy in which he was asked about any sexual relationship with the princess. He denied it, and hinted he would deny it even if it were true, but Bild said the answer had been "unambiguously ambiguous." The federal court agreed with Princess Caroline that Bild's wording implied there was a relationship after all.
December 10th
On December 8th and 9th Princess Dilasha Rajyalaxmi Devi Shah of Nepal, daughter of the late Prince Dhirendra, married Adarsha Bikram Rana, from the princely family of Rana. The wedding took place at Jevankunj, Maharajgunj. The King and Queen of Nepal welcomed the marriage procession and performed the Kanyadan rites in connection with the wedding. The couple became formally engaged on Friday November 28.
A 27-year-old man arrested in the grounds of Buckingham Palace in the early hours of this morning after climbing a perimeter wall has been released on bail, but is to return on a date in February. He was questioned at Belgravia Police Station. The man didn't get close to the palace.
December 11th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London. She will have a keyhole surgery to remove a torn cartilage in her left knee tomorrow morning. She is expected to leave hospital over the weekend and according to Buckingham Palace she should be fully active within a few weeks.
December 12th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has had surgery on her left knee and also had benign skin lesions removed from her face. The operation lasted about an hour and a quarter and was successful, said Buckingham Palace. Using keyhole surgery and under general anaesthetic, damaged cartilage was removed from the Queen's knee. Buckingham Palace said: "Under the same anaesthetic, some minor benign skin lesions were removed."
The Government Information Service today officially announced that the wedding of Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands and his fiancée Mabel Wisse Smit will go ahead and will take place on April 24 in Delft. The civil wedding will be solemnized by mayor Hein van Oorschot of Delft. The religious ceremony will be led by The Rev Carel ter Linden at the Old Church in Delft. The couple chose to wed in Delft 'because of the historical links between the House of Oranje-Nassau and the city'. The couple marries without the approval of the Parliament and Prince Johan Friso will loose his succession rights to the Dutch throne.
Crown Princess Masako of Japan will not take part in any public duties until next spring due to fatigue, the Imperial Household Agency said today. "She has recovered from shingles but appears to have become quite tired, which may have contributed to her illness," an agency spokesman said. "So they are planning on having her not take part in any public duties until next spring."
December 13th
Countess Ingrid von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, daughter of Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson-Friedrich von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, was christened at the chapel of Berleburg Castle today at noon. She got the names Ingrid Alexandra Irma Astrid Benedikte. Her christening robe was design by the Princess Alexandra and made by Anthea Moore Ede from London, and was also worn by Countess Ingrid's elder brother Count Richard. It was made out of French Organza with lace from Princess Benedikte, who got it from her grandmother Queen Alexandrine of Denmark. The ceremony in Danish and German was led by The Rev Martin Wemmelung who said "May your daughter live in loyalty, love and joy. Music came from the 'Aarhus Kammerkor' (chamber choir) led by Erik Björn Lund. Among the 30 guests were the little countess's great-grandmother Princess Margaretha zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Mary Donaldson. The godparents of Countess Ingrid, who were all present, are Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Princess Alexia of Greece, Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Prince Georg zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, Countess Bettina von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth and Martin Beyer. After the ceremony there was a lunch at Berleburg Castle. Dinner was held in the baby's grandparents's, Princess Benedikte and Prince Richard, private home.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has left hospital following a successful operation. She walked with the aid of a crutch under her right arm from the hospital to her car at 10am. She also had two stitches above her left eye and a black mark below her eye. After thanking a nurse on the hospital steps, the Queen was driven to Buckingham Palace.
December 15th
Mohamed Al Fayed has arrived at a Scottish court for the latest stage of his fight for a public inquiry into the deaths of Diana Princess of Wales and his son Dodi. Speaking to reporters outside the Court of Session in Edinburgh, the millionaire said he hoped to successfully challenge the refusal of the country's senior law officer to hold an inquiry in Scotland. He has claimed that Diana and his son were murdered and the full facts of the fatal car crash in Paris have never been revealed.
December 16th
Prince Rainier III of Monaco was hospitalized at the Centre cardio-thoracique in Monaco this afternoon for tests prompted by a bout of influenza. The tests are said to be part of annual examinations.
December 17th
Last week Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg appeared in public again for the first time after a long period of illness. She was the guest of honour at a gala concert of the aid organisation 'SOS-Interfonds' with the well-known pianist Martha Argerich at the Grand Theatre.
Mohamed Al Fayed believes Princess Diana's death deserves the same scrutiny as the Bloody Sunday shootings or the death of Dr David Kelly. He said only a public inquiry can "draw a line" under speculation surrounding the car crash which killed Diana, Princess of Wales, and his son Dodi Fayed. Richard Keen QC, counsel for Dodi's father, made his case to the Court of Session in Edinburgh. It is the second day of the hearing which marks the first time the events surrounding the fatal crash have been aired in a British court.
December 18th
Inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed are to be held next month, the Royal Family's coroner has announced. Michael Burgess, Coroner Of The Queen's Household, said: "I am pleased to confirm that I will be opening inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed on Tuesday 6 January, 2004. There will be two separate hearings. The first, opening the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales will be conducted by me as Coroner of The Queen’s Household, and will be at 10.30 am at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, SW1. The inquest into the death of Dodi Al Fayed I will open as H.M. Coroner for Surrey, at 3.00 pm that same day at Wray Park, Reigate, Surrey." He also said that "The opening of these inquests has been the subject of discussion and correspondence with the families for some time but because of the complexity of the situation the final arrangements have taken rather longer to complete than I would have wished. At neither hearing, will I be receiving any evidence from witnesses attending in person. I will, however, make a statement which will cover such matters as the purpose of the inquests, how they may be expected to be conducted and the nature and scope of evidence that I expect to receive. I will also address some procedural issues. These arrangements have been advised to both families."
December 19th
King Harald V of Norway was released from hospital this morning. Before leaving he thanked his doctors. Officials at the Royal Palace in Oslo said the king was driven directly to the timber lodge in the hills above Oslo called Kongsseteren, where the royal family traditionally spends the Christmas holidays. The King will remain on sick leave until March, with Crown Prince Haakon taking over all official duties as regent.
New pictures of Princess Amalia of the Netherlands, now with both her parents and her paternal grandmother Queen Beatrix, were released today. The photos were taken by Argentinean photographer Graciela Rossetto. See for all four photos in a bigger formate here.
On Thursday a public prosecutor in Paris has appealed last month's court acquittal of three photographers who snapped Diana Princess of Wales and Dodi al Fayed on the night of their fatal 1997 car crash, judiciary officials have said. "The Paris prosecutor first waited to see whether Mohamed al Fayed would appeal or not," it was said. "He lodged an appeal at the end of November. The prosecutor decided at the beginning of December to follow. The case will be brought before the court of appeal in the coming weeks, and will be completely re-examined."
December 20th
Today the Vatican attributed a miracle to Emperor Karl I of Austria, who died in 1922, paving the way for his eventual beatification in 2004 and sainthood. In April, the Vatican already approved the Emperor's "heroic virtue," a necessary step for beatification. Today's ceremony was presided by Pope John Paul II and attended by some of the Emperor's heirs, among them Archduke Otto of Austria, the Emperor's eldest son, his wife Archduchess Regina, and their daughter Archduchess Gabriela, Archduke Karl Ludwig with his wife Archduchess Yolande, Archduke Rudolf with his wife Archduchess Anna Gabriele, Archduke Felix, Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este Prince of Belgium, Archduke Simeon with his wife Archduchess Maria, as well as Archduchess Sophie with her husband Prince Mariano Hugo zu Windisch-Graetz. The Emperor's miracle reportedly came when a cloistered nun in Brazil prayed for his beatification in the 1970s and was cured of a deadly disease, the emperor's grandson Archduke Georg of Austria told the Hungarian Catholic monthly publication Uj Ember last year. The Vatican would not confirm that or discuss details of the miracle. The Emperor "served his people with justice and charity," Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, head of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, said today. "He looked for peace, helped the poor, cultivated his spiritual life with commitment."
Princess Maria Gabriela de Orleans e Bragança today married Mr Theodoro de Hungria-Machado (born 1952) at the chapel at the property of the groom in Petrópolis, Brazil. The bride is the youngest daughter of the late Don Pedro Henrique de Orleans e Bragança and Princess Maria of Bavaria. The groom is the son of Paulo de Hungria-Machado and the late Sylvia Emília de Melo-Franco Senna.
December 21st
In the Independent on Sunday of today it says that a very high placed police source who had access to all documents in the French investigation into the death of Diana Princess of Wales revealed that among 6000 documents there is evidence that the Princess was pregnant when she died. The source told that there was a cover-up in the days following the crash on August 31st, 1997. There was no attempt to conceal what happened before and during the crash, the source said. The deaths of Diana and Dodi were accidental, the source maintains. But medical reports, which have never been made public, suggest that Diana was pregnant at the time of her death, the source says.
Prince Alfonso zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg died of prostate cancer in his house in Marbella today at 12:30 at the age of 79, after having been in a coma since yesterday. The eldest son and second of six children of Prince Max Egon zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1897-1968) and Doña Maria de la Piedad Marchioness de Belvis de las Navas (1892-1990) was born in Madrid on May 28, 1924. In 1955 he married the then 15-year-old Princess Ira zu Fürstenberg, with whom he had two sons, Christoph and Hubertus. They divorced in 1960. In 1973 he married Jackie Lane, whom he divorced in 1985. Together they had one daughter, Arriana who married Dixon Boardman in 2000. The Prince's third wife Marilis Healing, whom he married in 1991, died in 2000. From a relationship with Heidi Balzer the prince had one illegitimate daughter, Désirée von Hohenlohe. The prince already lived in Marbella for years. Already in the 1950s he founded the Marbella-Club after which the fishing-village turned into a jetset-seaside place. Funeral service will be held at the Church of the Encarnación in Marbella on December 26. The Prince will be buried afterwards in the family vault at the San Bernabé Cemetery in Marbella. Already this evening at 21:00 family and friends came together in the house of the Prince. Among them were the Prince's daughter Arriana, his sisters Pimpinella and Beatriz, Luis Ortiz and Princess Marie Louise of Prussia (wife of Count Rudolf of Schönburg-Glauchau).
Prince Rainier III of Monaco has left hospital this afternoon.
December 22nd
Prince Alexander zu Schaumburg-Lippe has lost the fight for the Internet-address http://www.schaumburg-lippe.de at court. Four years ago a person from the area Schaumburg registered the domain to present the history of the region. The prince argued that the name Schaumburg-Lippe is an essential part of his name. However the judge said that his name officially is Prinz zu Schaumburg-Lippe, and that the address of the website is based on the region. The Prince has appealed.
The Prince of Wales again will open the doors of Clarence House for the public in the Summer of 2004 after the huge success of this year, when more than 46.000 visitors toured the building. A spokeswoman said it is hoped the public opening will become an annual event. Next year's public opening will provide visitors with an opportunity to see the main rooms on the ground floor of Clarence House, where the Prince receives official guests and hosts lunches, receptions and dinners. They will also be able to see on display works of art and furniture from the Royal Collection and the collection of the Queen Mother.
December 23rd
Today Queen Silvia of Sweden celebrated her 60th birthday. She appeared at the court of the Royal Palace in Stockholm and received the congratulations from the Royal Guards and afterwards received lots of well-wishers. The Queen has given up personal gifts in favour of the foundation Children in Need. Already on Monday the Queen, King Carl XVI Gustaf and their children as well as other members of the family attended a performance of the Nutcracker Suite at the Opera in Stockholm.
Emperor Akihito of Japan turned 70 today. In an interview with the palace press corps published some days ago he said that while Japan has risen from the ashes of war into a "peaceful democracy," there have been many "saddening events as well" in the past 70 years. "The most tragic of these was the Second World War in which more than three million Japanese people lost their lives as did huge numbers of people in other countries." He also thanked the nation for its support during his recent battle with prostate cancer. Today the Emperor greeted 14.000 well wishers from the balcony of the Imperial Palace, accompanied by Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and other members of the family. Crown Princess Masako was absent due to health problems.
Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, as well as members of the Sayn-Wittgenstein and Schaumburg-Lippe families, attended the funeral of Countess Ramona von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff née Countess von Wedel who died of cancer at the age of 75 on December 15 in Bad Driburg, Germany. 300 guests attended the funeral service at the Evangelic Church in Bad Driburg, while 100 people from the area followed the service in the countal Kurhaus. During the service the Rev Dietmar Wegner said that the countess had been the soul of Bad Driburg. The countess was buried in private later today in the Mausoleum at the Rosenberg. She left behind her husband, Count Caspar von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff, son Marcus, daughter Angelina and seven grandchildren.
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands was spotted shopping in The Hague today together with her babydaughter Amalia.
December 24th
The Norwegian royal family had their yearly Christmas photos taken yesterday. See also here. The traditional Christmas card of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain shows the couple with their five grandchildren.
One of the Princess Royal's bull terriers, believed to be Dotty, savaged Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain's corgi Pharos last Monday when the corgis ran out to greet the Princess Royal when she arrived at Sandringham for Christmas. The corgi had to be put down yesterday because her injuries were too serious. The Queen is said to be devastated by the death of her corgi. Pharos was one of her oldest and dearest pets.
December 25th
Princess Alice Dowager Duchess of Gloucester celebrated her 102nd birthday today. She is the oldest British royal in history.
December 26th
Prince Alfonso zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg was buried today in Marbella. The funeral service took place at the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, after which the prince was buried at the family pantheon at the San Bernabé cemetery. Before there was a reception at the Marbella Club. Among the around 2000 guests, who came from all over the world, were Prince Alfonso's four children, his ex-wifes Princess Ira zu Fürstenberg and Jackie Lane, Countess Gunilla von Bismarck, Count Rudolf von Schönburg-Glauchau, the Duchess of Alba and her daughter Eugenia Martínez de Irujo and Princess Beatrice of Orléans.
December 29th
Yesterday evening at 19:32 Princess Clotilde of Savoy, wife of Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy who had just been released from the same hospital before Christmas after a motor accident, gave birth to a daughter at the Cantonal Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. Prince Emanuele Filiberto was present at birth. Mother and daughter are doing fine. The baby's names are Vittoria Cristina Adelaide Chiara Maria. She is named Vittoria after her paternal grandfather, Vittorio Emanuele. Cristina was chosen to honour the late Princess Maria Cristina of Savoy, but also is a name from the family of Princess Clotilde where girls traditionally receive a name starting with a C. Chiara was chosen in honour of the Saint of Assisi. Maria and Adelaide both are names from the Savoy family.
December 30th
The Princess Royal's bull terrier Dotty was wrongly identified as having savaged Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain's corgi Pharos Buckingham Palace says. Dotty was the dog that bit two children in Windsor Great Park last year. A palace spokesman has now said that another of the Princess Royal's dogs, Florence, was responsible for the latest violence. The palace say they launched an inquiry after an aide said Dotty was not present when the corgi was mauled, and discovered Florence must have done it. The palace spokesman said: "Dotty certainly is innocent. Florence was the one responsible. It only just came to light yesterday. Dotty was believed to be there but not responsible for the fracas. It's one of those things that happens to dogs. They have fights."
December 31st
Just days after the Princess Royal's bull terrier Florence killed one of Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, the dog attacked a royal maid biting her on her knee at Sandringham last Saturday, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said. The maid was treated on the estate for a minor bite and she didn't need hospital treatment. The dog will now undergo behavioural retraining.
This evening Crown Prince Regent Haakon of Norway delivered his first New Year's speech to the Norwegians. After an apparently nervous start he made a strong impression on his audience. Expert commentators afterwards gave the Crown Prince high marks for a more youthful viewpoint and for focusing on issues relevant to the average Norwegian like stress, family time and the importance of basic values. "Many of us experience daily life becoming ever more hectic. This may be a good reason to stop a bit - and think about if what one spends time on is in fact how one really wants to spend it," Crown Prince Haakon said. The crown prince said that Norwegians needed to be reminded occasionally of what a privileged life they lead, and that despite this, there would always be people nearby who needed care and attention. Crown Prince Haakon also said: "We must dare to take up the challenge of new opinions and attitudes, and we must risk novel ideas. The fear of the unknown often shuts out exciting thoughts and visions. As long as we are securely anchored, we can dare to go new ways." However the Crown Prince was also criticized for lacking the annual greeting and thanks to Norway's peacekeeping and humanitarian forces abroad. However a Norwegian Colonel in Iraq said the troops had received a telegram from the Crown Prince wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Royal News: November 2003. Last updated: December 7th, 2003.