Last updated: March 7th, 2010.
February 1st
The Prince of Orange will attend the 122. session of the International Olympic Committee in Vancouver, Canada from 9 to 12 February. He will afterwards attend the Olympic Winter Games there. He will be accompanied by his wife Princess Máxima. Also their daughters Amalia, Alexia and Ariane will sometimes attend with their parents.
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark posed with their children Christian and Isabella during their skiing holidays at Verbier, Switzerland, today. Princess Isabella wasn't very happy about the photocall, as she was a little bit ill.
Prince Nikolaos of Greece and his fiancée Tatiana Blatnik met members of the Greek and international press in a press conference at the Yacht Club of Greece in Athens, Greece, this early afternoon. Also former King Constantine II and Queen Anne Marie of Greece, Nikolaos' parents, were present. The couple said they hope to get married on 24 August 2010, but that the date is not sure yet. Their engagement was made known on 28 December 2009. Tatiana Elinka Blatnik was born in 1980 in Venezuela as daughter of Ladislav Vladimir Blatnik and Marie-Blanche Bierlein. Her maternal grandmother was COuntess Elinka von Einsiedel. Tatiana grew up in Switzerland. She has three (half-)siblings: Boris, Igor and Anouchka Blatnik, and a step-brother, Attilio Brillembourg, son of her stepfather Attilio Brillembourg. Tatiana graduated from Georgetown University (sociology) in 2003 and currently works for the PR of fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg.
February 2nd
King Albert II of the Belgians had to cancel several engagements this week. The royal court announced today the king is ill. It is expected he will be back at work next week.
The fire-brigade was called to the Grand-Ducal Palace in Luxemburg today. In the basement of the palace a dryer had caught fire. The fire-brigade quickly put out the flames quickly and only the dryer and a washing machine were slightly damaged. Nobody was hurt.
Emperor Akihito has also cancelled his appointments for this week, including a trip to Hayame. He wasn't feeling well this morning, the Imperial Household Agency reported today. He has a cold and has problems sleeping.
Prince Tomihito of Mikasa has been admitted to the Kyoundo Hospital in Tokyo today. The Imperial Household Agency reported he is treated for an irregular heartbeat.
February 3rd
Archduchess Regina of Austria née Princess von Sachsen-Meiningen died at 8.40 this morning at her home Villa Austria in Pöcking am Starnberger See, Germany, aged 85. She died surrounded by her family. She already had heart problems for a longer time. The Archduchess married in 1951 Archduke Otto of Austria, last Crown Prince of Austria. The couple had five daughters and two sons. She is survived by her children and by her grandchildren and great-grandchild(ren).
Crown Prince Kardam of Bulgaria has left the provincial hospital Conxo (Santiago de Compostela) last week. He was admitted to the hospital with a kidney infection, high fever and respiratory problems. He continues to recover, his wife Miriam said.
Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe will be the only athlete competing for Mexico at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. The veteran skier competed also in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1994.
February 4th
The Swedish royal court today denied reports in the Swedish media that Daniel Westling, the fiance of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, suffered a serious infection a few days ago. The infection was said to be caused by his weakened immunity system after his kidney transplant operation in May 2009. The royal court added that Daniel Westling is feeling absolutely fine at the moment.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has been put on sick leave for the next three weeks. Therefore she won't accompany her husband Crown Prince Haakon to the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. The Crown Princess suffers from abrasion damage to the neck vertebrae.
Count Christian af Rosenborg, a cousin of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, said that he is doing well after 33 times radiation treatment for throat cancer. He has been cured now and has personally called the Queen to tell her the good news. He was diagnosed with throat cancer some months ago.
February 5th
The doctors of the Imperial Household said today that the recovery of Crown Princess Masako of Japan has progressed greatly. Her condition however comes in waves. She is suffering from a stress-related adjustment disorder, and since beginning treatment five and a half years ago, she has improved incomparably. The doctors added that much more time is still needed before she can increase the level of her activities. They hope she can slowly return to a more public life style.
February 6th
Since this morning people are able to say goodbye to Archduchess Regina of Austria. Until Monday evening she is lying in repose at the old Parish Church St. Ulrich in Pöcking am Starnberger See, Germany. Members of the family, Tiroler marksmen and Ladies of the Sternkreuzorden will keep vigil. About 200 members of the imperial family of Austria, as well as other royals and nobles, are expected to attend the funeral service at the Parish Church St. Pius in Pöcking on Tuesday morning. The service will be led by the diocese Bishop of Augsburg, Walter Mixa. The funeral itself will take place in private on Wednesday at the Veste Heldburg near Bad Colberg, Südthüringen, Germany, in the new family vault of the family. The holy mass there will be celebrated by Gregor Henckel-Donnersmarck, abbot of the cisterzienser abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz, Austria.
February 8th
With a private service the imperial family of Austria and its employees have said goodbye to Archduchess Regina of Austria. Her seven children and descendants almost completely attended. A spokesperson of the family said it wasn't certain yet whether Regina's husband Archduke Otto would attend the funeral tomorrow. He is very weakened after the death of his wife. He said goodbye to his wife during the private service today.
All Austrian political parties could imagine to abolish the law that forbid the former imperial family of Austria to become a candidate for the elections of the president of Austria. Most parties think that the exclusion of the Habsburgs doesn't fit in these modern times anymore.
February 9th
The website of the Spanish royal family announced that the Court Decree dissolving the marriage, by common consent, of Infanta Elena of Spain and Jaime de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada, was recorded at the Civil Register of the Royal Family on 21 January 2010. The biography of Jaime de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada has been removed from the royal website.
The funeral service of Archduchess Regina of Austria took place this morning at the Parish Church St. Pius in Pöcking am Starnberger See, Austria. Her husband Archduke Otto didn't attend because of health problems. More than 400 people attended the service. Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsburg said in his speech: "She was the heart of her family. She had a noble character, was modest and motherly." During the service all seven children said a prayer. Also a letter of condolence from Pope Benedict XVI was read. A grandson of the deceased, Count Philipp von Neipperg, was master of ceremony and received all guests. Among the guests were among others, apart from many members of the family, the Duke of Bragança, Duke of Bavaria, Fürst Alexander zu Schaumburg-Lippe, Duke Friedrich von Württemberg, Margravinne Valerie von Baden, Lady Nicholas Windsor, Prince Alexander of Saxony, and Prince Heinrich XIV Reuss. According to the funeral reports Archduchess Regina will only temporary be buried at Veste Heldburg. When her husband dies they will be buried together at the Kaisergruft in Vienna, Austria.
18-Year-old Prince Alexis zu Windisch-Graetz died this evening at hospital in Caserta, Italy, as the result of injuries he suffered in a car accident early on Friday morning. "Alex" had been driving home to Sant'Angelo d'Alife after spending the evening with friends. The family has decided to donate his organs. He will be buried in the family vault at the Vatican next to his grandparents. The accident happened at the same road where his grandfather died in an accident in 1976. Alexis is survived by his parents Prince Hugo zu Windisch-Graetz and his wife Sophie née Archduchess of Austria and by his siblings Maximiliano and Larissa.
February 10th
The website of the Swedish royal family has been redesigned.
February 11th
Frederik VIII's Palace will be open for the public from 27 February to 30 May 2010. The palace in Copenhagen is one of the four palaces that form Amalienborg, has been undergoing renovation during the past five years. In the future it will serve as the private residence of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and will be used for administrative and official functions. The public will be able to view the results of the renovation, the elegant interior and the works of art commissioned especially for the palace. The public will be able to visit the ground floor and the first floor, which are the two main floors of the palace, and which will be used for official functions in the future. The palace will be unfurnished during the opening.
February 12th
On 5 February the Duke of York alledgedly struck a uniformed police officer. The Duke drove his 4x4 car into Buckingham Palace as the policeman was trying to move two Japanese tourists out of the way of the car. The officer sustained minor injuries to his arm and complained to his superiors about the accident. Scotland Yard confirms the accident is being investigated.
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Wintergames in Vancouver, Canada, was attended by several royals. Among the guests were Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Prince Albert II of Monaco with his girlfriend Charlene Wittstock, Infanta Pilar of Spain, the Princess Royal, former King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
On the final day of the session of the International Olympic Committee in Vancouver, Canada, six new members of the Committee were elected. Among them was Prince Faisal of Jordan, whose half-sister Princess Haya is already an IOC member. 80 votes were in favour of his membership, 13 against.
February 13th
The Prince of Orange, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands and their three daughters Amalia, Alexia and Ariane attended the 5000 meter speed skating race for men at the Olympic Wintergames in Vancouver. They saw Dutchman Sven Kramer winning the gold.
February 14th
In a television interview on Sky News on the occasion of his 50th birthday on 19 February the Duke of York said that he had learned lessons from his failed marriage. He said: "However uncomfortable and disappointing divorce is, we never, ever lost sight of the fact that we had two wonderful children (...) But actually that co-parenting we undertook has given us the foundation on which to build a sound friendship that has lasted as long as it has. So we have always looked after the children together." His daughter, Princess Beatrice, called him the "best single dad". She also said that "it would be nice for him not to be single". However she added that her parents, who divorced in 1996, are still the "best of friends". Princess Eugenie called her parents "the best divorced couple in the world". On the occasion of the Duke's 50th birthday there will be a reception at Buckingham Palce on 25 February, for which 200 people are invited.
Princess Esmeralda of Belgium received the Belgian press at home. The occasion was the knighthood her husband Sir Salvador Moncada received from Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
February 16th
Late December 2009 the remains of 16 bodies were found in a mass grave at the SS Peter and Paul Fortress in St Petersburg, Russia. It hasn't been determined whether the remains are male or female. Also personal objects, bullet shells, gold items, clothing and buttons were found. Extensive forensic examinations will be conducted to find out to whom the remains belong. Experts believe the remains of the Russian Grand Dukes Paul Alexandrovich, Dmitry Konstantinovich, Georgy and Nikolai Mikhailovich, who were executed at the fortress in January 1919, might be among the newly found remains. Their remains were never found. However it is impossible to know at this stage, archaeologists say.
A court in Potsdam, Germany, has rejected the demand of Prince Friedrich zu Solms-Baruth for the return of thousands of acres of land to the family.
February 17th
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling visited the Swedish Post Office Stamp Printing Works in Kista, Sweden. They saw the process of creating their first own stamp from photograph to stamp. The Post will present the special edition of the couple's wedding stamp on 13 May.
February 18th
In January Daniel Westling, the fiance of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, has started to learn more about the organisation of the Swedish royal court under supervision of the vice-master of ceremonies Brigadier General Jan-Eric Warren. He will among others learn about the ceremonies and cultural heritage in connection with the history of the monarchy. He will visit various departments within the organisation. He will also study political science, and the work of the parliament and the government, both national and local, Swedish history and activities related to the cultural life of Sweden. The programm will last one and a half year.
February 19th
Prince William of Wales has posed for pictures to raise funsd for the homeless charity Crisis. Prince William and the formerly homeless Jeff Hubbard, supervised by professional photographer Rankin, had to photograph each other. The pictures will become a part of the A Positive View exhibition at Somerset House in London from 10 March to 5 April. Prince William is the patron of the charity. A spokesman at St James's Palace said: "The final portraits are pieces of artwork overseen by Rankin. Studio lighting and work on colour contrasts in the prints have all contributed to the particular look of the portraits. The Prince is very pleased with the final results, particularly since they have been commissioned in order to help homeless men and women, which is an issue incredibly close to his heart."
Archaeologists said today they have located the exact site of the Battle of Bosworth and the spot where King Richard III of England died on 22 August 1485. They found badges of supporters of both King Richard III and King Henry VII, sword mounts, coins and 28 cannonballs in fields straddling Fen Lane in Upton, Leicestershire. It took five years to locate the site using metal detectors.
King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden arrived in Vancouver, Canada, to attend the Olympic Winter Games and support the Swedish teams until 28 February. King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway will arrive in Vancouver tomorrow and will also stay until the end of the Games. Crown Prince Haakon attended the Olympic Games from 12 to 17 February.
33-year-old Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Nasir bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has been charged with murdering his aide Bandar Abdullah Abdulaziz in a suite at the Landmark Hotel at Marylebone, London, and with one count of grievous bodily harm. The aide was found at the hotel on Monday evening and died of strangulation and head injuries. He allegedly suffered an earlier attack two weeks before the murder, but the attack wasn't reported to the police. The prince appeared before the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court today. He is to appear at the Old Bailey on 28 May. The Prince was in London for a four-week sightseeing trip.
February 20th
Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy ended in second place at the 60th Music Festival of San Remo, according to the Italian press thanks to controversial voting by the public by telephone. The prince sang the song "Italia amore mio" together with Pupo.
The Supreme Council of Antiquities presented the results of DNA-tests on the remains of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun at the Egypt Museum in Cairo. The team lead by Zahi Hawass studied 11 mummies. They conclude that Tutankhamun was probably the child of pharaoh Akhenaten and his sister, and therefore suffered from genetic disorders. He had a club foot and probably suffered from Köhler disease II. Hawass revealed that the tests showed that Tutankhamun had very severe malaria. He broke his leg before his death, and that in combination to the malaria might have caused his death.
February 22nd
King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia has left today for Beijing China. He will visit his parents former King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and his wife who are resting in Beijing. He will also have a medical checkup. He is expected to pay official visits to France and Czechia afterwards.
February 23rd
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands accepted the resignation of the Dutch cabinet today, after two days of consultations with politicians. She had to return from her skiing holidays in Lech, Austria. The cabinet collapsed on Friday night over a row to extend their troop deployments to Afghanistan.
Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan celebrated his 50th birthday today. In a statement he said: "On the one hand, I am astonished that I am already 50, on the other, I have so much more to devote to my self-improvement that it feels like it's only just the beginning." He said also that the Imperial court has changed with the times: "I would like to look to the past lessons learned in order to mold the future of the Imperial family." He said he has been discussing various issues with his younger brother Prince Akishino. He told that his daughter Princess Aiko is enjoying school and is learning poetry, Chinese characters and the multiplication tables.
February 24th
Grand Duke Georgi Mikhailovich, son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, said today that his family wants a re-examination of the remains that were found near Yekaterinburg in the 1990s and are thought to be of Tsar Nikolai II and his family. He said: "Unfortunately, there is too much confusion in this case and some serious errors were made when the Yekaterinburg remains were being identified. Many of the facts uncovered suggest that the Commission was staging a political show for a date, rather than working to establish the truth."
February 25th
The Romanian ministry of culture and national patrimony has extended the leasing contract for Peles Castle with three years following negotiations with representatives of the Romanian royal house. The royal family last week declared that they don't plan to sell the castle, and that in case of a sale the Romanian state will have priority.
February 27th
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand left the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok this evening for about four hours to manage some official royal affairs at the Chitralada Palace. He left the hospital in a wheelchair. The King has been in hospital since 19 September 2009.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, King of Malaysia, returned to Malaysia after a month absence. He underwent advanced physiotherapy at the medical Park St Hubertus in Bad Wiessee, Germany, since 26 January. He had knee surgery in München, Germany, on 30 November 2009. The king is said to be in fine condition and in a statement expressed his appreciation to all who had prayed for his well-being.
February 28th
The Moroccan royal court released a new picture on the occasion of the 3rd birthday of Princess Lalla Khadija, daughter of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and his wife Princess Lalla Salma.
Royal News: January 2010. Last updated: January 31st, 2010.