ROYAL NEWS: JANUARY 2007

Last updated: February 8th, 2007.

January 1st
Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg and her husband Philipp Haug had a daughter, Linnea, in Konstanz at 2.30am on December 31. The couple is very happy with their second child and mother and daughter are doing fine. Linnea is 52 cm tall and weighs 3620 gramms. From today Countess Bettina will be the only one leading Mainau GmbH. Her mother Countess Sonja has now retired.

The Duchess of Cornwall was the least hard-working senior royal of 2006. She undertook 216 engagements. The Countess of Wessex performed 237 duties. The Princess Royal was again the hardest working British royal with 595 official engagements, the Prince of Wales had 500 and Queen Elizabeth II 525.

In a New Year's poem issued today Emperor Akihito of Japan celebrates the birth of his grandson Prince Hisahito. The poem says: "Rejoicing with us / on the birth of our grandson... The voices of the people — I am happy hearing them." The waka of Empress Michiko tells about a conversation she had with her pregnant daughter-in-law Kiko before the birth: "Looking / as if carrying a baby / for the first time / she tells me of the fetal movement / while the moon shines in the window."

In his New Year's speech King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand said that all Thai people should join hands to solving the various problems confronting the country, such as political, economic and security. He thanked the people for organising a "beautiful and grand" celebration to honour the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne. He also all well-wishers for their expressions of "genuine concern" while he was hospitalised. The King wished that everyone should give compassion, goodwill and encouragement to one another for the good of themselves and the Kingdom.

14-year-old Felix von Quistorp, son of Karl-Alexander von Quistorp and his wife Maria née Freiin von Fürstenberg is missing since 28 December while visiting his grandparents in Weihenstephan. Police is searching for him since, but so far without success.

January 2nd
The Japanese imperial family greeted people making a New Year's visit to the Imperial Palace this morning. Emperor Akihito appeared on the veranda three times accompanied by Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko. The Emperor said: "I am happy to celebrate the New Year together. At the start of this year, I pray for happiness of the nation and world peace." The imperial family also turned up on the veranda in the afternoon, apart from Crown Princess Masako and Princess Kiko. In total 68.000 people visited the palace.

January 3rd
The Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun reported today that Japan will drop plans to allow women to inherit the imperial throne. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to ditch recommendations by a government panel in 2005 that an emperor's first child should accede the throne. Mr Abe now plans to encourage debate on other ways to make the imperial succession more stable, the paper said.

Felix von Quistorp was found death in a 15-meter-deep well at the grounds of the castle of his grandparents in Weihenstephan. Divers found his body this morning after a new search on the grounds. Results of the autopsy carried out this afternoon indicates an accidental death.

Historians have suspected for a long time that Francesco de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and his second wife Bianca Cappello were poisoned, possibly by the Grand Duke's brother Ferdinand. In a new study published in the British Medical Journal forensic and toxicology experts at the University of Florence report evidence of arsenic poisoning. Scientists Donatella Lippi, Francesco Mari, Aldo Polettini and Elisabetta Bertol tested a fragment of femur and beard hairs with skin tissue still attached taken from Francesco's tomb in the Medici Chapels in Florence. Bianca's grave was never found. They also tested organ remains found in broken terra-cotta jars buried under the crypt in the Church of Santa Maria a Bonistallo. Mrs Lippi says that DNA tests showed it was "highly probable" that one set belonged to Francesco. The other, which also showed evidence of arsenic poisoning, was female. Tests showed the beard hair had a low concentration of arsenic inconsistent with chronic exposure. However, tests on liver samples taken from the jars showed acute arsenic poisoning.

January 4th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is to be represented at the preliminary hearings of the inquest into the death of Diana Princess of Wales at the High Court on Monday and Tuesday. Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, has appointed Sir John Nutting to attend the hearings. The Attorney General's Office said the Queen would not be represented at the full inquest, which could take place later this year.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan today said about the succession issue: "Stable imperial succession is a basic issue for our country. We want to discuss the stable succession issue calmly and deeply, taking into account the fact that Prince Hisahito was born last year."

January 5th
Queen's Day in the Netherlands will this year be celebrated in the Province of Noord-Brabant. The royal family will visit Woudrichem and 's-Hertogenbosch on 30 April.

Prince Laurent of Belgium has been summoned to appear in court as a witness in the case involving fraud with money from the Belgian navy. Today King Albert signed a special decree making it possible for the prince to appear in court. Several suspects have claimed that the prince was aware of the fraud and knew where the money for the renovation of Villa Clémentine came from.

King Gyanendra of Nepal and his family haven't collected the $ 330.000 earmarked as their annual salary and allowances. A government official says that in previous instances the royal palace collected the money within two days after the announcement of the budget.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh of Cambodia didn't show up at a scheduled court appearance today after his lawyer applied for a delay to ensure other sacked members of the royalist Funcinpec Party could appear with him. The prince has filed a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court claiming the election of a new president of the Funcinpec party last October was unconstitutional and as such the party is illegal and therefore ineligible to compete in the April 2007 commune elections under its current leadership. The prince yesterday said that he will not flee the country despite of his former political party Funcipec urging the authorities to arrest him.

January 6th
Ten police officers were asked to protect Kate Middleton, the girlfriend of Prince William of Wales, from photographers when the couple was leaving a nightclub early yesterday. Kate Middleton will celebrate her 25th birthday on Tuesday.

January 7th
Mohamed al Fayed is to demand that the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh are called as witnesses at the inquest into the death of Diana Princess of Wales. He wants them to give evidence in person so that his lawyers get an opportunity to quiz them about Mr Al Fayed's conviction that the princess and his son Dodi were murdered. He also wants to make public the statement the Prince of Wales gave to Lord Stevens during his investigation, although Lord Stevens apparently has promised the royal family that his evidence would remain confidential. However, it will be passed to acting coroner Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss together with correspondence between Lord Stevens and Prince William of Wales. Michael Cole, Mr al Fayed's spokesman, said: "We would want Prince Charles and Prince Philip to be called as witnesses but this is at the discretion of the coroner. The only person who is above the law is the Queen but there's nothing to prevent Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh being called." A preliminary inquest hearing will be held at the High Court today and tomorrow.

Princess Haya of Jordan was appointed a member of the honorary board of the International Paralympics Committee during a meeting with its President Sir Philip Craven in Dubai. Princess Haya said, "It is a great honor to be asked to join the IPC Honorary Board. I believe that the principles embodied by the Paralympics Movement - strength, spirit, absolute commitment and determination to achieve excellence - are key messages from which all of us can learn and take inspiration. I look forward to working with Sir Philip and my fellow IPC Honorary Board members in the service of Paralympics sport."

January 8th
Prince William of Wales today started his first day with the Household Cavalry at Combermere Barracks in Windsor. He will spend several weeks at the barracks before starting a five months of training at Bovington Camp in Dorset in March. He will train to be a troop leader with an armoured reconnaissance unit.

The coroner Lady Butler-Sloss said in a preliminary High Court hearing that she wanted the inquest into the death of Diana Princess of Wales in May 2007. She doesn't want the jury at the inquest drawn from the Royal Household but from the public. Lady Butler-Sloss said she would hold a joint inquest if shown to have jurisdiction on the matter. She suggested it would be "unbelievably expensive" to hold separate inquests into the deaths and said that separate inquests would also be upsetting for the families. At least 40 witnesses are likely to be called. "I'd hope to give you my considered written answers by very early next week at the latest. Because I am anxious to get going with this I would like to hold the next part of this at the beginning of March," Lady Butler-Sloss said. Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry of Wales, said they hoped the inquest would "move swiftly to a conclusion".

January 9th
Prince Laurent of Belgium arrived in court in Hasselt this morning together with his lawyer Fred Erdman. It remained unclear until the early afternoon if he would be allowed to testify in court. At 1.52pm a 16 minute hearing took place in which he was only questioned by the judge. In answer to most questions he referred to the statement he had made to the judicial police on Monday evening. Prince Laurent made it clear that he had always trusted his former chief advisor, lieutenant-colonel Noël Vaessen. He had had full confidence in Vaessen who had told him that the navy would take care of the cost of his home renovations and thought everything was legal. After the hearing he left the building.

Lawyers of the Prince of Wales are preparing a test case to protect the privacy of Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Prince William of Wales. Kate Middleton is constantly harassed by the paparazzi lately.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi was named Crown Prince of Fujairah in a decree issued by Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah.

Fürst Karl zu Schwarzenberg was inaugurated as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic by Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek.

January 10th
In a television interview on the occasion of the 40th wedding anniversary of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven today the Prince of Orange has said that he sees the couple as his 'second parents'. When he was at secondary school he spent almost all weekends with them in Apeldoorn. He discusses important decisions in his life most of the time first with Pieter van Vollenhoven. Princess Maxima says he played an important role for her in the time she came to the Netherlands. He is also the one always correcting the mistakes in her Dutch. The children of the couple say they are very happy with the way they were raised. Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven say that each year they come together with their bridal staff. On the occasion they still wear their wedding clothes. The couple today was named freemen of Apeldoorn by the municipality.

Late 2006 the Habsburg family has put Bran Castle up for sale for $78 million. The castle, also known as Dracula's Castle, is one of the most popular tourist sites in Romania. It was only returned to the family in 2006. Yesterday councillors in Brasov said they had secured a loan to buy the castle, but Adrian Iorgulescu, minister of culture, said his ministry had first refusal on the castle under terms agreed when it was returned. However they don't want to buy back the castle for the price asked.

January 11th
The Royal Palace has confirmed that Prince Laurent of Belgium is to pay back the money used to furnish and decorate his home Villa Clementine that his former advisor Noël Vaessen is alleged to have fraudulently obtained from the Belgian Navy. He will also pay back money given to the Prince Laurent Foundation.

The Earl and Countess of Ulster expect their first child in Spring. The couple, who lives in Chelsea, married in 2002. The Earl is the only son of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The baby will be their first grandchild.

January 11th
Countess Andrea zu Solms-Laubach died unexpectedly on 6 January 2007 in Laubach. She was buried today at the family cemetery in Laubach. She was born on 31 July 1941 as the youngest child of Count Georg Friedrich and Countess Johanna zu Solms-Laubach.

January 13th
A photo session with Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven with children and grandchildren was held this morning at Bad Gastein, Austria. The family, excluding the youngest grandchildren Felicia and Emma, posed for pictures at the Hotel Grüner Baum and afterwards they went sleighing at a nearby playground.

The 'ohashizome' ceremony - the first feeding by chopsticks - for Prince Hisahito of Japan was held today at his parent's residence in Tokyo, 130 days after his birth. Princess Kiko held her son while a maid of the royal court dipped chop-sticks in a bowl of red bean porridge and held them to the lips of the little prince. Apart from the bowl two blue rocks and a salted redwing sea robin were placed on the wooden table. They were used to wish for a healthy body and strong teeth. The ceremony is a plea to the gods for the child to grow up healthy and never have to worry about hunger. The Imperial Household Agency reported the little prince weighs 6658 grams and is 64,5 cm tall. He is in good health.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities has launced a new plan to preserve the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. They plan to limit touring times and duration and tour revenues will be funneled into restoration projects of the tombs. The council has recently opened a visitors' center at the Valley.

January 14th
This week Prince Harry of Wales and his Blues and Royals regiment will follow a two-day course with the Operational Training and Advisory Group. The course includes Arabic lessons and is exclusively for troops who are to serve in Iraq. The regiment is set to serve in Iraq from April.

A Kuwaiti court sentenced Sheikh Tala, member of the ruling Al Sabah family, to death for drugs trafficking. They also fined him for about $35,000. The rulings of the court can be challenged. The Kuwaiti police arrested him and a group in April last year. The others of the group were sentenced to life and to seven years in jail.

January 16th
Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Princess Kiko of Japan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa al Khalifa, Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum al Maktoum and Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa al Khalifa were appointed Young Global Leaders of 2007. The list of 250 young leaders was released today by the World Economic Forum.

January 17th
The next preliminary hearing for the inquest into the death of Diana Princess of Wale will take place on March 5 at the High Court in London. As part of the proceedings, a 3D computer model of the crash site, created for the Metropolitan Police investigation, will be shown. Coroner Lady Butler-Sloss will decide on the scope of the inquests and choose which of the witnesses will be called.

January 19th
Fire broke out at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh this morning. Palace staff and visitors had to be evacuated. Firefighters found that a transformer unit in the fire alarm system had caught alight.

Archduke Simeon and Archduchess Maria of Austria had a fifth child, Philipp on 15 January.

January 20th
The Prince of Wales has cancelled a skiing trip to Klosters, Switzerland. It is an effort to reduce his "carbon footprint". The trip is said to be cancelled before the prince was criticised last week over plans to fly to New York to collect the Global Environmental Citizen Prize later this month.

Birgitta Fouret née af Klercker died at Paris on 17 January. She was born on 1 April 1942 as daughter of Fredrik af Klercker and Birgitta Zätterström. The funeral will take place at Paris on 22 January. She is survived by her second husband Olivier Fouret, her children Sebastian, Natascha and Katarina, daughter-in-law Julie and grandchildren Ferdinand and Stella. She was previously married to Prince Robin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

January 21st
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway celebrated her 3rd birthday. On this occasion the Norwegian royal court published a few nice pictures and a video.

Alfonso de Borbón y Pérez del Pulgar died on 18 January 2007 at Sevilla. He was born at Valladolid on 4 June 1937 as third child of Alfonso de Borbón y Pinto, of the Dukes of Santa Elena, and Angustias Pérez del Pulgar Marchioness de Santa Fé de Guardiola. He is survived by his wife Inés Medina Atienza, sons Fernando and Jaime and four grandchildren. His eldest son Alfonso died in 2005.

January 22nd
Princess Beatrice of York is said to plan spending a year in the USA after completing her A-level exams at St. George's school in Ascot this summer. She plans to work for the charity Springboard For Children. Her mother is already a patron for the organisation which helps children with dyslexia. Princess Beatrice is suffering from dyslexia herself.

January 23rd
Hereditary Prince Kraft and Hereditary Princess Carolin zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen had their first child, a son called Christian Kraft. He was born in a hospital in Heilbronn on 16 January 2007. He was 49 centimeters tall and weighed 3000 grammes.

The engagement of Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg, daughter of Prince Peter and Princess Christine von Hohenberg, and Anthony Bailey, son of Colin and Veronica Bailey, was announced today in the Daily Telegraph. Anthony Bailey is chairman of Eligo International, a company which he founded in 1997. Princess Marie-Therese is an architect based in Vienna. Anthony Bailey is a friend of Lord Nicholas Windsor who married last November. "Nicholas’s wedding was so perfect that it inspired me to ask Marie-Therese," Anthony Bailey told the Daily Mail. "I proposed at tea-time on New Year’s Eve. We’ve known each other for 14 years but only started dating a year ago. At the moment she lives in Vienna, where she works as an architect, but she’s going to move to London." The wedding is to take place later this year. The date is not set yet, but might take place in Salzburg, Austria.

January 24th
The Greek Ministry of Culture called the auction house Christie's and threatened with immediate legal action yesterday if the house wouldn't stop the sale of more than 850 items that once were owned by King George I of Greece. They want proof that the objects were exported legally. They also want to know the exact origin of the items and how they came to Christie's for auction. The sale will be held in London today and tomorrow. Christie's has declined to reveal where the items come from and who the owner is. Former King Constantine II of Greece has denied that he is the seller. They said yesterday that the sale will go ahead. A spokeswoman for the auction house added: “The sale was announced nearly eight weeks ago and the Greek Government were well aware of it."

January 25th
During a New Year's reception at the royal palace in Brussels last night Prince Philippe of Belgium openly reprimanded Yves Desmet, editor-in-chief of the newspaper De Morgen, and Pol Van Den Driessche, political editor-in-chief of the tv-channel VTM. Prince Philippe holds them responsible for negative news about himself. He told the two men that if they go on like now they wouldn't be welcome at the palace anymore. Princess Mathilde reportedly tried to stop her husband, but she didn't manage. Michel Malherbe, spokesman of the palace today said that the conversation between the prince and the two men may have become unpleasant but said they will remain welcome at the palace. Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said that the attitude of the prince is not appropriate. He said to the palace that he is concerned about the way the prince deals with the press.

On the occasion of the 5th wedding anniversary of the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands Strengholt MultiMedia released a DVD in co-operation with the NOS and the Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid. The DVD is called 'Princes of Orange - Engagement and Wedding'. It shows summaries of royal engagements and weddings of Queens Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix, Princesses Irene, Margriet and Christina, as well as the Princes Willem-Alexander, Friso, Constantijn, Maurits, Bernhard, Pieter-Christiaan and Floris.

Strengholt MultiMedia

Rear admiral Timothy Laurence, husband of the Princess Royal, has been appointed a vice admiral in the Royal Navy. He has also been made chief executive of defence estates. He will start in his new position in April. He currently is assistant chief of defence staff.

The auction of Greek royal items at Christie's in London has raised $18.4 million in the past two days. The most expensive item was King Christian IX of Denmark's silver wedding gift, a pair of massive Victorian silver pilgrim flasks, which were sold for $1.1 million. A gold Faberge egg sold for $546,680. Christie's said much of the collection came from the former royal estate at Tatoi, but declined to identify the seller.

The central bank of Nepal is planning to remove all images of the King from future notes and coins. They already have submitted samples of alternative images to the government for approval.

Lawyer Corin Trandafir, representing the Habsburg family in Romania, said no sale transaction was completed in the case of Bran castle. He confirmed that his client withdrew the € 60 million offer made to Brasov County Council. The castle is not sold yet because of issues with the Romanian state that have to be solved. Mr Trandafir said there have been several offers from abroad for the castle between € 60 million and € 100 million. When an agreement is reached regarding the sum with one of the potential buyers, the Romanian state will receive the same offer as they have the first right to buy. President of the Brasov County Council, Aristotel Cancescu said today he had receivd a fax from Archduke Dominic of Austria saying that the castle had been sold for a higher price to a company across the ocean. He thinks that is sad news as it means that Brasov and Romania have lost an important tourist attraction.

Countess Thierry de Limburg Stirum, born Princess Marie-Immaculée de Cro˙, died at Huldenberg, Belgium, on 23 January. She was born at Rumillies Castle, Belgium, on 16 OCtober 1905 as daughter of Prince Charles de Cro˙ and Countess Mathilde de Robiano. The funeral will take place at Huldenberg on 27 January.

January 26th
Clive Goodman, journalist of News of the World, and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, were sentenced to respectively four and six months in jail after admitting hacking into mobile phones messages belonging to aides of the British Royal Family. The judge also made a confiscation order for Ł12,300 on Mr Mulcaire, if not he will face a further year in prison. Judge Mr Justice Gross described their behaviour as "reprehensible in the extreme". He said: "This was serious criminal conduct. It's of very first importance to the fabric of our public life that such intrusive, sustained, criminal conduct should be marked by an immediate loss of liberty." Andy Coulson, editor of the News of the World, today resigned over the scandal. He said he took the "ultimate responsibility" for the affair.

Queen Rania of Jordan today was named as UNICEF’s first-ever Eminent Advocate for Children. This was announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "Her Majesty Queen Rania has been a tireless champion for children," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. "This title recognizes her steadfast commitment to creating a better world for children."

During the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum Princess Lolway al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia was asked what she would do if she would be Queen of Saudi Arabia for one day. She answered she would let women drive or else wanted a great transportation system.

January 27th
Mohamed Al Fayed is challenging the decision not to appoint a jury for the inquest into the death of Diana Princess of Wales and his son Dodi Al Fayed. He said: "I firmly believe justice must be done and be seen to be done. I am certain that they were murdered. How can a coroner for the royal household instil confidence she will investigate all facts and reach impartial decisions?"

January 28th
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are paying a three-day visit to the USA. Yesterday the couple visited Philadelphia where they visited the Liberty Bell, attended a reception by the governor of Pennsylvania and a concert at the Academy of Music. They then travelled to New York by private train. There the couple visited the Harlem Children's Zone and saw social service, health and educational projects. The Prince of Wales today also received the Global Environmental Citizen Prize by Harvard Medical School's Center for Health and the Global Environment. It was handed over to him by last year's winner Al Gore.

Fürst Philipp and Fürstin Saskia zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg had a second son early this morning at 4:52am. Gustav was born at hospital in Bad Mergentheim. He weighed 4000 grammes and is 54 cm tall. Mother and son are doing fine.

Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe broke a bone in his lower leg during the World Cup slalom race in Kitzbühel, Austria today. He was airlifted to hospital after his fall. It ends his plans to compete in a record 13th world championship in February. Although the almost 48-year-old, who is skiing for Mexico, usually took the last place in his world cup races, he nevertheless broke many records for longevity. He took part in 12 world championships and in four Olympic Games. Earlier this month Prince Hubertus told he was targeting a further Olympic appearance at the 2010 Games in Vancouver after missing the one of 2006.

January 30th
An intruder armed with a pitch-fork and carrying a sack managed to get near Highgrove, the house of the Prince of Wales, while the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall were asleep at 4am this morning. He was caught by the police near the house. He was released on police bail. A major security review is under way. A former Royal Protection officer said: "It is concerning that at a time of unprecedented security concerns, an intruder was able to get so close to Highgrove House."


Royal News: December 2006. Last updated: January 2nd, 2007.