Last updated: July 4th, 2008.
June 2nd
Prince William of Wales has begun a two month attachment with the British Royal Navy today. His training will be split into two phases. In the first phase he will undertake short training in a variety of Royal Navy and Royal Marine establishments. He will initially be stationed at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. During the second phase he will be deployed on operations in the Type 23 Frigate HMS Iron Duke.
A list of Celebrity Hat Wearers made by Luton's millinery and hat-making industry is topped by Zara Phillips this year. Mr Philip Wright said: "Zara has opted for the more masculine but highly-fashionable trilby and fedora hat styles, together with some of the neat, chic, 1920s-inspired designs. But she's also gone for some fairly extravagant styles which are both fashionable and fun."
Former King Gyanendra of Nepal has accepted the lawmakers' decision to strip him of his title. He also accepts that he is to leave his palace. He told the envoy sent by Prime Minister of Nepal Girija Prasad Koirala on Monday: "I welcome the formal proclamation of republic by the constituent assembly and am ready to leave the palace. But I am saddened by the reports in the media about my departure."
June 3rd
Queen Fabiola celebrated her 80th birthday already with a family party at Laken Castle. Two books were published on the occasion of her birthday: 'Konigin Fabiola. Vrome vorstin in een vluchtige wereld' by Ralf De Jonge (publisher: Uitgeverij Manteau/Standaard Uitgeverij), as well as 'Koningin Fabiola. Een meisje van 80' by Brigitte Balfoort and Joris De Voogt (publisher: Van Halewyck).
Sheikh Nasser bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi died in a helicopter crash above the Arabian Gulf last night. He was the brother of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nayhan, President of Abu Dhabi. Funeral prayers were be performed at the Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Mosque in Al Bateen.
June 4th
The government of Nepal has decided to allow former King Gyanendra to move to the Nagarjun Palace outside Kathmandu. The move will be temporary. It was said that the security of Gyanendra will be provided by the paramilitary armed police force.
June 5th
Former King Michael of Romania returned to Peles Castle today. The castle was returned to him by the government in 2007. The former King was welcomed by a few hundred people. He said that his return rights an historical wrong and says that his family will maintain the main palace as a museum while they will live in a smaller palace on the estate.
A 4000-year-old 'missing pyramid' was unveiled at Saqqara today by Egyptian archaeologists. According to Zahi Hawass, chief of the antiquities of Egypt, said that it appears that the pyramid was built by Pharaoh Menkauhor in the 5th Dynasty (2465 BC-2325 BC). He is quite convinced based on the estimated date of the pyramid, although no cartouche with the name of a pharaoh was discovered. It is believed the pyramid was discovered already in 1842, but was never seen again. Also the discovery of part of a ceremonial procession road from the Ptolemaic period was announced.
June 6th
On the national day of Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia started the celebrations by opening the gate of the palace in the morning. Afterwards they celebrated the day in Södertälje, Crown Princess Victoria took part in the celebrations in Kungälv. In the evening the King, Queen, Crown Princess and Princess Madeleine drove in a carriage to the open air museum Skansen in Stockholm.
June 7th
Prince Karl Emich zu Leiningen married religiously Isabelle Gräfin von und zu Egglofstein at the Klosterkirche am Burgberg in Pappenheim today. The service was led by Wolfgang Popp. Their civil wedding took place in Amorbach last September. After the wedding a party was held in the garden of the old castle of Pappenheim. Among the guests were Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, the Duke and Duchess of Angoulême, Duke Eugen and Duke Alexander von Württemberg, Prince Albrecht von Hohenzollern, Hereditary Prince Carl Ferdinand and Hereditary Princess Elna-Margret zu Bentheim und Steinfurt, Hereditary Prince Maximilian and Hereditary Princess Marisa zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg, Fürst and Fürstin Fugger von Babenhausen, and other nobles.
Amelia Morales y de Grecia, daughter of Carlos Morales Quintana and Princess Alexia of Greece was christened at the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, in Yaiza (Lanzarote), Spain. Her godparents were Prince Philippos of Greece, Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Miguel Angel Morales Quintana, Luz Hernãndez Hernández, Dolla Nomikos, Mr and Mrs Dirk Duden. Among the guests were King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Tatiana Blatnik, Princess Theodora of Greece, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina of Spain, Pablo Nicolás and Irene Urdangarín.
June 9th
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini is to marry his 20-year-old fiancee Zola Mafu within a few days, a spokesman of the royal house said today. Zola Mafu will be his sixth wife and it is planned that she will have her own palace. The couple already has a child born in 2005.
June 10th
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden has won a prestigious design competition for his graphical proposal for Martha's Vineyard Museum in the USA. During Spring 2007 the prince studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and during that time submitted his proposal under a pseudonym. After finishing his studies the prince was commissioned to develop a design program for the museum, which is intended to be used in its marketing and communication activities. The Prince said: "It is a great honor to win the prize for best design proposal for Martha´s Vineyard Museum. I am very happy and proud of the prize."
Archaeologists announced today that they have discovered the remains of an Aztec palace once inhabited by Emperor Montezuma in the heart of Mexico City. Pieces of a wall and a basalt floor were found during a routine renovation project. Excavations are bing planned beneath several parts of the Museum of Culture.
June 11th
Zara Phillips has withdrawn from the British Olympic equestrian team for Beijing because of an injury of her horse Toytown. He was hurt during training. In a statement Zara Phillips said: "I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go."
John Ambler, husband of Princess Margaretha of Sweden, died at Banbury, Oxfordshire, Great Britain, on 31 May 2008. He was born on 6 June 1924. His cremation in Banbury was only attended by immediate family. John Ambler and Princess Margaretha had already been separated for some years. They had three children.
The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, together with their three daughters, travelled to Argentina today to visit Princess Máxima's father Jorge Zorreguieta. Mr Zorreguieta underwent a knee surgery and the family wanted to support him. They will stay in Argentina for a few days.
King Gyanendra and Queen Komal of Nepal have left the Narayanhiti palace in Kathmandu this evening. The couple left in a Mercedes for the Nagarjun palace in the outskirts of Kathmandu. Crown Prince Paras and his family reside at Nirmal Niwas, the private home of King Gyanendra. The government has allowed the mother and grandmother of King Gyanendra to stay in Narayanhiti palace, which will become a national museum. In a press conference, a few hours before leaving the palace, the king said: "I would like to live in my Motherland and contribute in whatever way possible to the greater good of the country and peace in this land."
Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei failed to turn up for a court hearing. Mr Justice Peter Smith issued an arrest warning hinting that the prince would be denied bail if he is found. He is thought to have fled to France or Monaco. Today should have been the start of a five-day court hearing into whether the prince breached the court order by the Privy Council. In November the Privy Council ordered the prince to hand over the New York Palace Hotel, the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, three homes in London and Paris and the trust fund in a case against the Brunei government. The government accuses the prince of having transfered £8 billion from the government into his own Amedeo Development Corporation during the 13 years the prince was minister of finance.
June 12th
A huge party was held at Bucharest and Sinaia from 10 to 12 June on the occasion of the 60th wedding anniversary of King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania. Also Princess Margarita and Prince Radu, Princess Elena and her husband Alexander Phillips Nixon and her two children were present. Most events during the three days of festivities were private, including events at the Elisabeta Palace and Peles Castle. Two events were public. About 1000 people were invited for a concert of the National Philharmonic Orchestra George Enescu at the Ateneul Român in Bucarest on 10 June. Among the guests were Queen Sofia of Spain, Archduke Karl of Austria, Archduke Lorenz of Austria Prince of Belgium, Archduke Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, King Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Landgrave Moritz von Hessen, Margrave Maximilian and Margravinne Valerie von Baden, and the Duke of Bragança. During the concert compositions by George Enescu, Franz Liszt, Edvard Grieg and Giuseppe Verdi were played. Afterwards a cocktail was being held. Today a book about their 60th wedding anniversary written by Princess Margarita and Prince Radu was presented to the couple at the National Historical Museum in Bucarest.
June 14th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain's official birthday was celebrated today with the annual Trooping the Colour parade. Thousands of people joined the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the military spectacle at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, London. Behind the carriage of the Queen and the Duke were the Prince of Wales, Princess Royal and the Duke of Kent on horseback. The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry of Wales, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester watched the parade from a room in Horse Guards building. After the parade the family went back to Buckingham Palace to watch the flypast from the balcony.
Princess Eléonore of Belgium was christened late this morning at Ciergnon Castle. Her godparents were Princess Claire of Belgium, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Graf Sebastien von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg. The private christening was attended by almost the whole Belgian royal family, a few familymembers of Princess Mathilde, as well as by Prince Guillaume of Luxemburg, Archduke Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria. Not present was Princess Mathilde's sister Elisabeth who gave birth to her first child a couple of days ago.
Two Irish pubs in New York (McSorley's) and Ireland (Sean's Bar in Athlone) are offering DNA tests tomorrow to find descendants of the 5th-century Irish King Niall of the Nine Hostages. Researchers at Trinity College in Dublin have found that as many as one in 12 Irish men could be a descendant of Niall.
June 16th
Prince William of Wales was officially installed as 1000th Royal Knight of the Garter today in a ceremony at St George's Chapel, Windsor. He walked next to his father, the Prince of Wales, in the traditional procession of the knights down the castle hill to the chapel for the annual church service. During the service Prince William was officially installed as Royal Knight by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. At an investiture in the Throne Room at Windsor Castle earlier today the Queen officially presented Prince William with the regalia including a blue garter, sash, robe or mantle and star. He was accompanied by two supporters who assisted during the investiture: the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.
The press service at Mainau announced that Count Björn Bernadotte af Wisborg, eldest son of the late Count Lennart Bernadotte af Wisborg and Countess Sonja Bernadotte af Wisborg, has become engaged to his longtime girlfriend Sandra Angerer on 13 June. Count Björn and the 31-year-old fiancée met each other more than four years ago during the social-pedagogical studies in Rorschach and Switzerland. Both work now on the island of Mainau.
Four days after King Gyanendra moved out of the Narayanhiti Palace the Nepalese government has held its first public function at the palace and has declared the building a museum. According to officials it will take months before the museum is ready to be opened.
June 17th
A photosession with almost the whole Belgian royal family took place in the garden at Laken Castle.
A referendum was being held at Tuvalu at the end of April asking voters whether they wished to have a president as head of state or maintaining a constitutional monarchy. Results show that 1260 people voted in favour of a monarchy, while 679 were against the monarchy.
June 20th
Daniel Westling, the boyfriend of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, is moving to a rental apartment in the area of Drottningholm palace outside Stockholm. On 1 July he is to move to a one-bedroom apartment in the Pagebyggnaden building. Crown Princess Victoria lives in the Sjöflygeln wing of the palace, a few hundred meters from the new apartment of her boyfriend. The move has been confirmed by the royal court.
June 21st
Yesterday evening Alejandra de Borbón, daughter of Alfonso de Borbón and Marisa Yordi, married Bosco Ussía at the Concathedral of Santa María in Guadalajara, Spain. The wedding banquet was held afterwards at the Monasterio de San Bartolomé de Lupiana.
Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Duc d'Anjou, married Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo, Duchess de Cadaval, in the cathedral of Evora, Portugal, today. The bride, in a dress by Carolina Herrera, was given away by her godfather the Duke of Bragança. Among the bridal children were Doña Maria Francisca de Bragança, Diego and Almudena Dailly. Among the guests were several members of the French royal family, as well as Doña Infanta Pilar of Spain, Beltrán Gomez-Acebo and his wife Laura Ponte, Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco, the Duchess of Bragança, Dom Henrique of Bragança, the Duke and Duchess of Castro, Crown Prince Kardam and Crown Princess Myriam of Bulgaria, Prince Serge and Princess Eleonore of Yugoslavia, Princess Teresa de Orléans e Bragança, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and her daughters Maria Theresia and Elisabeth, Prince Fayçal Bey and Princess Janina of Tunisia, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Two Sicilies with her daughter.
June 22nd
Mikael Rosanes and his wife countess Camilla af Rosenborg had their fourth child together. Their third son Theodor was born on 19 June at 1.29pm.
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria celebrated his 95th birthday wit a reception at the Schlossgaststätte Leutstetten this morning. Food and drinks were served. Among the visitors were his son Prince Luitpold, the mayor of Starnberg Ferdinand Pfaffinger and others. Music was played by the Musikverein Penzing.
Hereditary Count Ignaz and Hereditary Countess Robinia zu Toerring-Jettenbach had their third daughter on 18 June. They have named her Elisabeth.
June 23rd
National Day in Luxemburg was celebrated yesterday and today. On Sunday Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa visited the town of Vianden. Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume celebrated in Esch-sur-Alzette. Afterwards the Grand Duke, Grand Duchess, Hereditary Grand Duke, Prince Louis of Luxemburg and Tessy de Nassau, and Princess Alexandra of Luxemburg attended the traditional fireworks in Luxemburg town late in the evening. Today the family attended the Te Deum in the cathedral of Luxemburg, as well as the traditional military parade. In the evening a gala took place at the grandducal palace in Luxemburg.
Enriqueta Rodríguez Figarredo, the maternal grandmother of Princess Letizia of Asturias, died at the Hospital Gregorio Marañón in Madrid yesterday afternoon. She was 89 years old. She was admitted to hospital on Saturday. Princess Letizia cancelled her engagements for today. The cremation today was among others attended by the Princess and by the Prince of Asturias.
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden have set off today for a five-day study tour through the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on board of the Swedish research vessel Oden. After four days they will fly by helicopter to Ny-Alesund to visit the headquarters for Norwegian Arctic studies. Afterwards they will travel to Longyearbyen where Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway will join the group for some sightseeing and a visit to an international seed bank. All three are royal patrons of the International Polar Year.
June 24th
The engagement of Count Rodolphe de Limburg Stirum and Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria was officially celebrated at Releghem (Zemst), Belgium on 21 June 2008. The Parents and some of the siblings of the engaged couple were present as well as their grandparents Countess Madeleine d'Oultremont, Grand Duke Jean of Luxemburg and Archduchess Yolande of Austria. Today the pictures of the event were released.
Prince Sifiso Zulu was arrested yesterday and charged with two counts of culpable homicide. According to a police spokeswoman investigations revealed that the prince was the driver of the car that was involved in a car accident last March that claimed two lifes and injured 10 people. After the crash it was unclear who had been driven the car. The Prince, who had fled the scene, claimed not to have been the driver. Prince Sifiso Zulu was released on bail yesterday after having appeared in the Durban Regional Court. The case has been postponed to July 18 to await further investigations.
June 26th
Two 13cm long hand grenades have been found in the attic of Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, today during works on Christian IX's palace. The grenades were removed by an army bomb disposal team. Police thinks the grenades might have been there already since the German occupation in WW II.
Fürst Alexander zu Schaumburg-Lippe and his wife Nadja Anna expect their first child together at the end of the year, the Hofkammer at Bückeburg announced today.
June 27th
Official accounts show that the British royal family has cost the British people £40m during the last financial year from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. This is £2m more than the previous 12 months. This means that the monarchy costs 66p per person in Great Britain. The Queen's civil list has increased by £500,000 to £12.7m. Officials say that more money was spent on official overseas trips - the most expensive one being the trip to the USA last year - and palace maintenance. The costs of royal travels rose by £600,000 to £6.2m.
Forensic experts from Russia have confirmed today that the remains found in July 2007 near Yekaterinburg, Russia - which are believed to belong to Alexei and Maria, two of the children of Tsar Nikolai II of Russia - were burnt and afterwards soaked in sulfuric acid to disfigure the bodies and prevent identification. Expert Viktor Zvyagin says: "It has been established that the remains belong to a boy of about 12-14 years old and 150 cm tall and a young woman aged 17-19 and 159 cm tall." DNA analysis has been done in Russia and the USA. Mr Zvyagin said: "The results of the examination are being assessed by investigators and will be made public in the second half of July." The Sverdlovsk Region has allocated $55,000 to continue excavations at the burial site, it was announced yesterday. Archaeologists have already said they plan to resume the excavations this summer.
June 28th
A commission appointed by president Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan in April to find the bodies of former president Mohammad Daud Khan and his relatives killed in April 1978 in a communist coup has been successful. Today Mahmoud Ghazi Daud, grandson of the former president, announced that recently two mass graves with in total 28 bodies were found. He said: "We recognised by their shoes and clothes that the graves belonged to the deceased Daud Khan, his family and cabinet members." Mohammad Daud Khan was a cousin and brother-in-law of the last king of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah. He overthrew his cousin in a coup in 1973 and declared Afghanistan a republic with himself as president.
June 29th
Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece gave birth to her fifth child today at 6.45am at the Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, USA. The baby weighed 4000 gramms. Mother and son are doing fine. The name of the baby isn't known yet. He is the ninth grandchild of King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, and the eleventh grandchild of Mr and Mrs Robert Miller.
June 30th
The private income of the Prince of Wales rose to more than £16m in the last year according to accounts of Clarence House. That is an increase of 7%. Clarence House says that the amount of CO2 generated by the activities of the prince fell because of a switch to green electricity supplies and further reduction in travel-related emissions. The Prince also cut down the costs of his official travels by air and rail and his personal costs.
Althorp, the childhood home of Diana Princess of Wales will be opened again from 1 July to 31 August. The opening will mark its 500th anniversary as the house was built in 1508 and since 20 generations of Spencers have lived there.
Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium and their four children visited the Zoo in Antwerpen today. A spokesperson for the royal palace said: "The Zoo was open to the public on Monday and the princely couple visited the Zoo like any other family. Philippe, Mathilde and the children were especially interested in the show of the sea-lions."
Royal News: May 2008. Last updated: June 3rd, 2008.