ROYAL NEWS: FEBRUARY 2000

Last updated: March 1st, 2000

February 1st
Until June 25th there is an interesting exhibition in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, called 'Een Koninklijk Museum' (A Royal Museum). It gives an image of the collection of the Rijksmuseum in which the royal collection and the first Dutch King Louis Napoléon (who was king between 1806 and 1810) are in the centre of interest. The museum opened its doors on September 15th, 1809.

In spite of all threats of the European Union to break all business/government-relations with Austria, when the extreme party of Jörg Haider becomes a part of the government, the Dutch Prime Minister said it is no problem that Queen Beatrix goes to Lech, Austria, for her yearly skiing-holiday.

February 2nd
The Government Information Service of the Netherlands officially stated that Máxima Zorreguieta is the girlfriend of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. Before she was only called a good friend. Máxima has lessons in Dutch language in New York.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco underwent surgery. A part of one of his lungs was removed. It is said the operation went very well.

King Albert II of the Belgians left the hospital of Aalst, Belgium, this afternoon. He still needs some weeks rest it is said.

Animal rights campaigners have accused Sophie the Countess of Wessex of being cruel and out of touch. The Countess bought a fox-fur hat while in the Swiss ski resort of St Moritz, because of freezing temperatures. A spokesman of Buckingham Palace said that she had no intention of upsetting anyone.

In August and September Buckingham Palace will open its doors for the public. Several rooms can be visited. This year’s highlight will be the ballroom, the biggest room of the palace, which was finished by Sir James Pennethorne in 1856 for Queen Victoria.

February 3rd
The Duke and Duchess of York are to send their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie to Aiglon College, a mixed boarding school in a small village in Switzerland. Princess Beatrice will start in September 2000, her sister Princess Eugenie follows one year later. The Duchess is expected to move to Switzerland so the princesses can then become day pupils, not boarders.

King Albert II of the Belgians and Queen Paola have planned a state visit to the Netherlands this spring.

February 4th
The Society of Editors-in-Chief in the Netherlands want to make agreements with the Government Information Service about giving information on the Dutch royal family. When the directives are not given the media runs the risk that the government interferes.

February 5th
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands left for her yearly 2-week skiing-holidays in Lech, Austria, despite of the political situation in Austria and many people refuse to go there for their holidays now. Even the Austrian television-news mentioned the arrival of the Queen, who is of course a head of state, although it is only a private visit.

In the Globe-Theatre in London the biggest permanent exhibition on William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was opened. It exists of a museum and a theme park. Shakespeare wrote several plays about Kings and Princes (Hamlet, Macbeth).

Prince Rainier of Monaco's recovery from lung surgery is very satisfactory, the palace says.

February 6th
Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and his wife Sibilla are expecting their second child in May.

New Zealand will eventually dump the monarchy because a head of state on the other side of the world (12.000 miles away) is 'absurd' the Prime Minister Helen Clark has said. However a New Zealand republic would not be on her agenda because there are more important things to address.

February 7th
Queen Rania of Jordan has written a children's book about her late father-in-law King Hussein. The fable, which is written in English and Arabic language, is called 'A Gift of the King'.

February 8th
Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein had declared in his New Year's interview on Radio Liechtenstein that the year 2000 was meant to be the year of the decision in connection with the issue of the Constitution, which has been topical since 1992. But now the Prince and Prince Alois, heir to the throne, wish to take more time for a direct dialogue with the population without any pressure of time, and extend the decision phase until autumn 2001. The programme for the future, the foundation for the Principality in the third millennium, doesn't only deal with the issue of the Constitution, but also with other issues that are important to the country.

One in every three Dutchmen thinks Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands shouldn't have gone to Austria for her skiing-holidays, because of the political situation there.

February 9th
Prince Pavlos of Greece and his wife Maria are expecting their third child in August 2000.

The Prince of Wales has postponed a visit to Vienna following the inclusion of the far-right Freedom Party into Austria's government. A Foreign Office spokesman said the prince's decision follows the postponement of a British trade fair in the Austrian capital in May.

Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium visited the province of Hainault during their Happy Entrance-tour. In the morning thousands of people waited for them in Tournai. Afterwards the princely couple visited Mons and Marchienne-au-Pont. At the end of the day they were received at Acoz Castle, which belonged to Princess Mathilde's family until one century ago.

On Friday the exhibition 'Unknown Russian Treasures' is opened in the Nikolaus Church in Berlin, Germany. About 1600 pieces of art from the former brilliant hall of the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, Russia, will be shown until June 17th. Usually they are kept in the treasure rooms of the Cremlin in Moscow.

February 11th
The expedition Sirius 2000 has started today from Qaanaaq, Greenland. At 13:00 members Soren Bredvig Nielsen and Krester Mathiasen left, 15 minutes later followed by Torsten Forsberg and Steen Broen Jensen. At 13:30 Michael Bank and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark left. The 650 people who live in Qaanaaq all said goodbye and wished them all good for their long trip. The expedition is expected to arrive in Daneborg at June 10th. The members hope to travel about 20 km a day. They travel together with their 39 sleigh-dogs.

February 12th
Last night Prince Rainier III of Monaco underwent a new lung surgery, after it was found out he suffered of pneumothorax. Two drains were placed in his chest. The palace said everything went well.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain needs to make a choice if she will break a 600-year old tradition by signing the first important law of the 21st century with the help of the computer. It is a law that says that electronic signatures get the same status as written signatures.

Archduchess Catharina of Austria and her husband Count Massimiliano Secco d'Aragona are expecting their first child in July.

February 13th
The Sunday Times comes with an interesting story, if it is true or not. They tell that the Prince of Wales wants to change his first name, Charles, when he will become a King. He doesn't want to be associated with his two 17th century namesakes, King Charles I who was beheaded, and King Charles II who had several illegitimate children. He wants to become King George VII - after his fourth name (his full name is Charles Philip Arthur George).

The Duke of Kent attended a ceremony in Dresden, Germany, to mark the 55th anniversary of the Allied bombing of the city during World War II. The Duke will present a 7,6 metre high gilded orb and cross, made in London, for the top of the dome of the former Frauenkirche - the Lutheran cathedral. The original was destroyed in the devastating raid of 1945. The Duke read a lesson during the ceremony in the cathedral. Also present was the chancellor of the German federation Gerhard Schröder.

On February 24th Felipe Prince of Asturias will visit the Spanish pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany. The Prince is honorary chairman of the Spanish Committee Hannover 2000.

February 14th
Prince Bernhard Sr. of the Netherlands will be in the University Medical Centre Utrecht for a few days. As planned some adaptations are done to the tube that was placed in his trachea in 1999.

French newspapers tell that Princess Caroline of Monaco is pregnant again, six months after the birth of her first child with Prince Ernst August of Hannover, and will get the baby in August. The royal court of Monaco says the reports are absolutely not true.

February 16th
On Sunday a man obsessed with the Princess Royal was held after trying to drive through the gates of her home at Gatcombe Park estate, Gloucestershire, Great Britain. He has been charged with harassment of police officers between November 1997 and last Sunday. He has already tried to enter the estate several times since 1997, and was sent to a secure hospital in June 1997, but obviously that didn't help.

After more than 250 years the princely family of Thurn und Taxis is going to leave its residence St.Emmeram Castle, in Regensburg, Germany. The castle is under protection of the Historic Buildings Bureau and has about 500 rooms. The castle is even bigger than Buckingham Palace. The family and the municipality want to change the castle into a congress hotel, and they plan to build a municipality hall in the garden. One of the wings already is an old people's home since 1999. The family probably is going to move to Prüfening Castle on the outskirts of Regensburg.

February 17th
Last weekend Prince Umberto and Princess Sofia of Bulgaria were baptized in the San José de la Montaña Church in Madrid, Spain. The godparents of Prince Umberto were Ramón Ros Bigeriego and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria. Princess Sofia's godparents were Felipe Prince of Asturias and Maria Gortazar Ybarra.

The army is unveiling plans for a massive musical extravaganza in tribute to the Queen Mother. The performance will take place on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle on July 27th. The Queen Mother is hoping to celebrate her 100th birthday on August 4th. Bands from across the world will join the celebrations with up to 600 pipers and drummers scheduled to take part. At least one member of the royal family is expected to attend the tribute.

February 18th
King Letsie III of Lesotho (David Mohato Bereng Seeiso) (38) married Miss Karabo Anna Mots'oeneng (23) from South Africa in a lavish ceremony in the national soccer stadium at the capital Maseru, Lesotho. The bride wore an eight-kilo heavy white dress with a seven metres long train. Among the 40.000 guests attending, were former president Nelson Mandela of South-Africa, and members of the royal families of Luxembourg, Swaziland and Nepal. Outside the stadium hundred thousands of spectators stood along the roads when the couple passed by in an open car. The festivities held on for the whole weekend.

Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands returned home after his operation. It is said he is doing very well.

Queen Silvia of Sweden paid a private visit to a project for street-children in a children's day centre in Essen, Germany. The infant welfare centre of Essen was very pleased with her visit.

February 19th
The Duke and Duchess of York and their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie celebrated the Duke's 40th birthday with a ride on the London Millennium Wheel. They were the first members of the royal family who tried the Wheel. They came out smiling and told that they had enjoyed the 30-minute ride in the 137 metres high Wheel.

Dom Dinis de Santa Maria Miguel Gabriel Rafael Francisco João de Bragança was baptised today at noon in the Sé Cathedral in Porto, Portugal, by Armindo Lopes Coelho, Bishop of Porto. About 700 people were invited. Among the guests were Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, the Countess of Paris, Jean Duke of Vendôme, Eudes Duke of Angoulême, Diane Duchess of Württemberg, Fleur Duchess of Württemberg, Joseph Arch Duke of Austria, Prince Charles of Bourbon-Sicilies, Prince Casimiro of Bourbon-Sicilies, Prince Kyrill of Bulgaria, Dom Luis de Orléans e Bragança and Dona Teresa de Orléans e Bragança. Afterwards there was a reception at the Palácio da Bolsa.

The Duke of York said in a 40th birthday interview that the aims to see the best for his children's future. 'One must learn from the failures and build on the successes in life', Prince Andrew said.

Prince William will celebrate his 18th birthday in June with a big disco-party at the Highgrove estate of his father. It is said he had a big fight with his father, because William wasn't allowed to celebrate the party in a London nightclub.

February 20th
Commotion in Norway: the art student Jill Moursund used amongst others Crown Prince Haakon's head for her art work. One of the pieces of art showed him naked lying next to a naked woman. The furious royal family has ordered to remove the unrespectful art from the exhibition, which will be opened this week at the Kunstindustrimuseum in Oslo. Jill Moursund says she didn't intend to harm and doesn't understand the commotion, she was just making art as exam-project for the Statens Handverks- og kunstindustriskole. She also used Leonardo di Caprio.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that a member of staff has been sacked a month ago after allegedly making remarks about poisoning the Queen's food. The woman was employed as a probationary kitchen porter. According to the newspaper reports the woman boasted she could easily slip cyanide into one of the Queen's meals. The incident is said to have take place at Sandringham.

The Princely family of Liechtenstein is going to summon Germany for the court of the United Nations at The Hague, Netherlands. They claim compensation for the Liechtenstein estates and castles, which came into German hands after World War II.

The Emir of Dubai has instructed Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum to arrest the beggars in Dubai. The reason for that is the yearly shopping festival in March, which always attracts hundred thousands of people.

February 21st
Last weekend Queen Beatrix ended her disputed skiing-holidays in Austria and returned to the Netherlands.

An American company announced it is going to sell a silk with pearls evening-dress of the late Princess Diana of Wales, which they had bought for $ 36.000, for charitable aims - but in about 4 million pieces of each 2 square millimetre. Each piece will be sold for $ 25. The proceeds, they hope for $ 100 million, will go to children in the Third World countries.

February 23rd
Tomorrow Prince Rainier III of Monaco will leave the hospital after two lung-operations, and will return to his palace, it has been announced.

On the fourth of what the Palace has called 'theme days' Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Princess Royal have met some of Great Britain's voluntary workers in London. The Queen told Victim Support the organisation would simply not exist without its volunteers.

The Prince of Wales has given one of his strongest public speeches in support of the Commonwealth at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. He said: "For me the Commonwealth is something rather special and worth cherishing. It is as old as I am, but somewhat less battered and so has been present throughout my life". The Prince praised the voluntary nature of the Commonwealth and its diversity.

February 24th
In company of Princess Stéphanie and Prince Albert Prince Rainier III of Monaco left the hospital. Before leaving for the palace he showed himself to the press and talked a while with the medical staff.

Dr. Otto von Habsburg was guest of honour at the festive celebration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Charles V in Gent, Belgium.

Felipe Prince of Asturias watched the work on the Spanish pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany, and promised to come back with his father in the summer. He also went to Bonn to open an exhibition at the Bundeskunsthalle on the occasion of the 500th birth anniversary of Emperor Charles V (1500-1558). The exhibition, which is called 'Macht und Ohnmacht in Europa' (Power and impotence in Europe), shows pieces of art from international collections.

A funny blunder of the Duke of Edinburgh. Yesterday he was invited to a soccer match of Arsenal, one of England’s best soccer teams. The Duke came and thought the name of the club was Dreamcast - as that was the name, which stood on the shirts of the players - but unfortunately for him, this only is the name of the shirt-sponsor of Arsenal.

Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium attended the first performance of the Charles V Oratory, composed by Dirk Brosse - to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Emperor Charles V.

February 25th
At the Town hall of Brussels the cultural year 2000 was officially opened in presence of Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium. Together with eight other European cities, Brussels is European cultural capital. After that the Prince and Princess attended a session at the European Parliament.

The border between crazy and normal depends of factors of power. Someone who has the power can unpunished do what he wants. That is what is the theme of the exhibition 'Gestoorde Vorsten' (Crazy monarchs) at the Museum Dr Guislain in Gent, Belgium.

On his official Caribbean tour the Prince of Wales met victims of domestic violence in the Help and Shelter Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, and spoke to the battered women privately about their problems. He also saw a self-help initiative in one of the poorest areas of the city and visited a rum distillery.

February 26th
Queen Joanna of Bulgaria, the mother of King Simeon II, has died in Estoril, Portugal, aged 92. She was born as Princess Giovanna of Italy and married King Boris III of Bulgaria (who died in 1943) in 1930. Except for King Simeon, she has a daughter Maria Luisa.

The Prince of Wales travelled to a remote area of Guyana to visit schools being founded by the British government.

February 28th
Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands will take care of the introduction and the closing word of a 13-partite documentary series about the water problematic in the world. The Dutch television will broadcast the series 'Water - Elke druppel telt' (Water - each drop counts) from March 20th. The goal of the series is to show how various, but at the same time how vulnerable our first vital need is.

February 29th
The Prince of Wales visited Trench Town, Jamaica, the rough shanty native town of reggae legend Bob Marley. He also established a youth business trust and checked out a marine laboratory and schools.

The Ducal House of Saxe-Meiningen and the Art Collections of Weimar - the city of Weimar tells they don't know anything about this - agreed about the after World War II expropriated works of art of the Ducal House. Pieces of art, which are important for Weimar, will now be permanently accessible for a broad public. In 1951 the Art Collections had taken over the expropriated personal property of the Ducal House from the Feste Heldburg. Among the properties were works of art, which were already registered, in the Register of National valuable works of art in 1927.


Royal News: January 2000. Last updated: February 2nd, 2000.