ROYAL NEWS: JUNE 1999

Last updated: June 30th, 1999

June 1st
A painting of the British King George V, painted in 1931 by John AA Berrie, and stolen from the Army in 1995, was safely found back in Orford Park, Warrington, Cheshire, Great Britain, wrapped in a quilt cover. The police approached a man in the park acting suspiciously. He ran off and when the police searched for him they found the painting back.

June 2nd
Dom Duarte de Bragança (Portugal) and his wife Doña Isabel are expecting their third child in December. A German magazine says the baby of Karl and Francesca von Habsburg will arrive in the beginning of July. The full date of the marriage of actress Catherine Oxenberg (who's mother is Princess Elisabeth of Yougoslavia) with actor Casper van Dien is May 8th.

June 4th
The Prince and Princess of Japan (don't know which) plan to visit Thailand next month for the Thai King's 72nd birthday.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuk of Bhutan celebrated his 25th reigning anniversary. On this occasion he gave his people television and Internet, which was forbidden in Bhutan till now. Can they finally watch my page there too!

An interesting inquiry in the Euro Business Magazine: the richest individual royal is the Dutch Queen Beatrix with a fortune of about $2 milliard, second is Jean Grand Duke of Luxemburg with only about $1,5 milliard and in third place is Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein with about $1 milliard. King Albert II of Belgium owns about $0,8 milliard. Watching the whole royal families: 1 is Liechtenstein (about $5,5 milliard), 2 is Luxemburg (about $5 milliard), 3 is Great Britain (about $4,5 milliard). Others on the list (from rich to poor): Belgium (fifth with about $4,2 milliard), Spain (about $1,7 milliard), Monaco (about $1,1 milliard), Sweden (about $0,8 milliard), Denmark (about $0,15 milliard) and Norway (a little bit poorer than Denmark). Still would like to have just a little bit of that money. Buckingham Palace gave its reaction by telling this inquiry is completely exaggerated and speculative.

June 5th
In the cathedral of Vaduz, Liechtenstein, the wedding of Princess Tatjana von und zu Liechtenstein with Philipp von Lattorff (Graz, Austria, March 25, 1968) took place. Archbishop Wolfgang Haas led the wedding. It was an intime wedding. During the service Tatjana's brother Maximilian spoke, as well as Stephan von Lattorff, a brother of the groom. Witness for Tatjana was her brother Constantin, who is going to get married in a few weeks time.

The Crown Prince of Saudi-Arabia finished a five-nation Arab tour in Cairo with a 2-day talk on the Middle East peace with the Egyptian president.

The second big journey of Czar Peter the Great of Russia to Western Europe (1716-17) is the subject of an exhibition in Bad Pyrmont Castle, in co-operation with the State Historical Museum in Moscow. The exhibition will be held from June 6 to September 12, 1999.

June 6th
On May 29th Alexander Count of Schönburg-Glauchau and Irina Princess of Hesse married in the Pfarrkirche St. Cäcilia in Heusenstamm, Hesse, Germany. The groom was brought into the church by his sister Gloria, Princess of Thurn und Taxis.

King Albert II of the Belgians celebrated his 65th birthday together with some hundreds of neighbours from Laken. He invited them at the Royal Palace of Laken. They got a tour through the beautiful garden and there was a party in the orangery.

June 8th
The wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones on June 19th will break with tradition by banning hats (lots of royal family members will not like this!). On the other hand an old tradition, almost never used anymore, survived: Sophie will pledge to obey Edward! 600 Guests are invited to the 45-minute service at St.George's Chapel at Windsor (and we have to watch BBC) and some thousands of people can enter the grounds around Windsor to cheer the bride and groom and the guests. The Rt Rev Peter Nott Bishop of Norwich will lead the service, and the Rt Rev David Conner, Dean of Windsor, will lead the prayers.

June 9th
King Abdallah II of Jordan is enthroned formally taking over for his late father King Hussein. Abdallah and his wife Rania waived to the many subjects on the side of the road as they drove in a car through the streets of Amman. June 9th will officially be a national feastday from now on.

In the Paleis voor Schone Kunsten in Brussels, Belgium, they started the sale of the household effects of a Flemish-Brabant castle. Name and place are not told. They sell as the family failed to arrange the heritage. Weapons, furniture, silverware, Chinese and Japanese porcelain and tapestries are sold. Already sold are two paintings of Pieter Breughel the Younger, for some millions of dollars.

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway graduated from Berkeley University lately. Hopefully he returns to Europe.

Another wedding (possibly May 22): Isabella Countess von und zu Arco-Zinneberg (26) married the Belgian count Alexander Stefanovich (30) at St. Martin Castle in Austria.

June 11th
Also Carl Philipp Prince of Sweden finished his school, only it was high school.

Japan's Cabinet voted to recognize the rising sun flag and anthem to Emperor Akihito as state symbols, despite use in its militaristic past.

June 12th
Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of Bahrain reportedly left for his first visit to Amman, Jordan, since he took over power on March 6th.

Thousands of people lined the Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace for this years Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's birthday (who actually has her birthday on April 21). It was an historical ceremony as a number of Grenadier Guardswomen were due to march beside their male comrades. Also the Princess Royal (Anne) broke with the rule of riding sidesaddle at state-occasions. She rode astride her horse. The Queen, with a yellow silk dress, yellow coat and hat and white gloves, came at the ceremony in a carriage followed by Princess Anne and Prince Philip. The Queen Mother, Edward & Sophie followed in another carriage.

On the occasion of her birthday, Queen Elizabeth II gave lots of birthday-honours (knighthoods). Historian Antonia Fraser who wrote some books on the British royal family got an OBE.

There is an inquiry going on on possible tax-fraud at Ritzen Koeriers (courier company), of which Prince Bernhard Jr of the Netherlands is one of the founders and joint directors. It should be about a few 10.000 of dollars.

June 13th
BBC broadcasted the Royal Wedding Interview with Edward&Sophie. They were interviewed by Sue Barker at Bagshot Park. It was especially on their lives before the wedding and the plans they have made for the future. It is obvious they do not want to have children immediately after the wedding. They plan to go on with their jobs and furnish their home further and create a nice garden. They were also asked about Princess Diana. Sophie said she was very flattered to be compared with such a beautiful woman, but is a totally different personality.

June 14th
A Spanish weekly magazine announced that Crown Prince Felipe will get engaged to a certain Gabriela Sebastian de Erice (26), witness for Tatjana of Liechtenstein at her wedding, on June 24th. Of course another rumour about a girl, but still interesting. Gabriela's father is Jose Pedro Sebastian de Erice, the Spanish ambassador in Germany. She works for an American bank in London, England. Both the royal family as her family denied the rumour officially.

June 15th
At the dinner, which will be held after the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, the guests have to get their food out of the dishes their selves. Probably only the Queen, Prince Philipp and the Queen Mum will get their food from a servant.

June 16th
Ready for the royal wedding Saturday (19th)? Some more to come: the civil wedding ceremony of Eudes Duke of Angoulême and Marie-Liesse de Rohan-Chabot will take place on June 19th in Dreux, the religious wedding will take place on July 10th in Antrain-sur-Couesnon. Prince Tassilo of Ratibor and Corvey will marry countess Clarissa of Toerring-Jettenbach on July 4th.

Some more royal babies: Sophie Princess of Roumania is expecting her first child. Carl-Alban Count of Schönburg-Glauchau and his wife Juliet expect their second child.

June 17th
At a service held in Stary Sacz, Poland, on the 12th day of his visit to the country, Pope John Paul II canonized the 13th century Hungarian Princess Kinga, who was known for charity. About 650.000 people attended the service.

June 18th
Yesterday Willem-Alexander Prince of Orange took the oath as a member of the IOC at the beginning of their general member's meeting. He promised not to get involved in political and commercial influences and carry out the Olympic ideals. The meeting will last 4 days. Today he visited the United Nations Memorial Service in Pusan where 117 Dutchmen are buried who lost their lives during the Korean War (1951-53). Later this week he will meet the Korean president Kim Dae-Jung.

June 19th
Some hours before the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones the Queen announced the titles the bride and groom will wear from now on. Surprisingly Prince Edward will be His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex (a title used for the last time in the 11th century by King Harold who was killed in the Battle of Hastings in 1066), and Viscount Severn (an 18th century title). He will inherit the title Duke of Edinburgh after the death of both his parents. Sophie will be styled Her Royal Highness the Countess Wessex. When the couple gets children they will not be dubbed Royal Highnesses was announced, the Queen in consultation with the bride and groom decided this.
  • The Wedding of Edward and Sophie

    Prince Heinrich of Hannover and Thyra von Westernhagen married in the St.Andreaskirche in Teistungen, Germany. The bride came at the church in a beautiful decorated carriage, accompanied by horsemen. She wore a simple, long, cream dress, with long veil, and a little black cross on a necklace. One of the guests was Heinrich's brother Ernst August who didn't bring his wife Caroline with him.

    Henri d'Orléans Comte de Paris died at his domicile in Dreux, France, during the civil wedding ceremony of his grandson Eudes with Marie-Liesse de Rohan-Chabot. He had been ill since Friday evening and therefore wasn't able to attend the service. It was noticed by the people who watched the wedding that the Countess of Paris was there, but not the Count himself. The civil wedding took place at the domain of the royal chapel Saint-Louis. The new count of Paris is the oldest son Henri, Comte de Clermont.

    June 20th
    Edward and Sophie left for their secret honeymoon place in the middle of the night after their wedding reception. They smiled and waved as their car pulled away with red-heart-shaped helium balloons tied to it. Guests at the reception told that also members of the royal family had taken turns to serve themselves at the buffet. Meanwhile Madame Tussauds in London is due to put a wax figure of Sophie on show with a copy of the wedding dress.

    June 21st
    The new-created Earl and Countess of Wessex (formerly known as Edward & Sophie) are just taking a four-day honeymoon at Balmoral, because of their busy working schedules. Yesterday afternoon they flew to Scotland by helicopter. Before they had an informal champagne brunch at Bagshot Park hosted by Sophie's parents, Christopher and Mary Rhys-Jones, and attended by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.

    Prince William of Wales received a 'sensible' car (heard it is a Volkswagen) for his 17th birthday today. He already could drive the motorbike. Now he is 17 he is also allowed to drive the car on public roads. But first he needs to pass his driving test.

    June 23rd
    Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands reopened the renovated Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. There's a new oval wing, designed by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. The first exposition is based on the collection of painter Vincent van Gogh's brother Theo.

    Queen Elizabeth II is to appear live in an Internet broadcasting when she attends the opening of the Scottish Parliament on July 1st. The project has been organized by the Parliament and software giant Microsoft. Viewers will be able to select their own shots of the ceremony and see background material.

    A German magazine tells that Catherine Oxenburg married Caspar van Dien, forgetting to get an annullement of her marriage with Robert Evans whom she married in 1998 (she left him after only 10 days marriage).

    June 24th
    King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia left his country for medical checks in China. He will be abroad for about two months.

    The lavish palace of the Roman Emperor Nero is being reopened to the public after 20 years of restoration (costs about 4.000.000 dollars). The 150-room palace was called the Golden House because of the amount of gold leaf adorning many parts of it. The site in Rome was abandoned in the Middle Ages, and robbers hurrowed into the ruins to remove statues. But traces of many of the original paintings and mosaics can still be seen now.

    June 28th
    Henri d'Orléans, Count of Paris was laid to rest in Dreux. The ceremony was attended by members of the high European nobility (amongst others Felipe of Spain). The religious wedding of his grandson Eudes on July 10th will go on, but will be an intime family wedding.

    June 30th
    Prince Konstantin of Bulgaria and his wife Maria expect twins; it will be their first children. They married in 1994.


    Royal News: May 1999. Last updated: June 2nd, 1999.