ROYAL NEWS: MAY 2006

Last updated: June 5th, 2006.

May 1st
Princess Haya of Jordan has been elected president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) with a promise to haul it "into the 21st century". She beat Princess Benedikte of Denmark and FEI vice-president Freddy Serpieri in a vote. Princess Benedikte came a distant third in the first round of voting, producing a two-way contest between Princess Haya and Serpieri. Princess Haya takes over from Spain's Infanta Dona Pilar de Borbon, who served 12 years in the post. Princess Haya acknowledged that the hard-fought leadership campaign had created "fractures" which she urged members to overcome. "I hope they all come together and realise we have to face the future as one," she said at a press conference. "The future of the organisation - firstly it is to bring it into the 21st century. We have a wonderful sport encompassed in the FEI by many different disciplines," she said. "Horses are such a part of history and they're full of grace and beauty and that's something we have to keep, but in order to protect it we need to modernise the FEI itself." The princess said she would focus on improving the organisation's communications, financing, governance standards, the development of fledgling national federations, and protecting its role in the Olympic body. The 31-year-old president admitted the intense campaigning had been a gruelling experience. "It was like a five-month job interview... People have said I was perhaps too young for the job but I think I've aged at least five years in the last five days," she joked.

The newspaper The Sun published an apology for their article on Princess Eugenie’s birthday celebrations. They say they have been asked to point out the party was closely monitored by adults throughout and while a small amount of mess was cleared away at the end of the evening, there was no damage to furniture, no revellers dived into bedrooms in search of drunken romps and to describe the house as being trashed was incorrect. The newspaper is happy to make this clear and regret any distress their report caused.

Prince Tomohito of Mikasa was hospitalized for a slight difficulty in breathing, the Imperial Household Agency said. He had been feeling tired after having fully resumed his official duties in April, according to the agency. The prince will stay at the National Cancer Center Hospital East in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, for about a week for checkups. He will cancel his visit to Aichi Prefecture scheduled for Friday to Sunday. The prince has undergone operations to remove cancer seven times, the last time earlier this year.

Dr. Héctor Escobedo, a Guatamalan archaeologist at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala and co-director of the project, and his student Juan Carlos Meléndez have uncovered the remains of what could be an ancient Mayan king's tomb deep in the rain forest of Guatemala's largest national park. Dr. Escobedo has unearthed a royal tomb beneath the principal pyramid in the western center of Waká. Two years ago, co-director Dr. Freidel and his students from Southern Methodist University in Dallas discovered a queen's tomb that was more than 1,200 years old and dated to the late classic period of Mayan civilization. The new tomb was discovered in a different pyramid and dates to the early classic period between the second and fourth centuries A.D. "We are trying to identify the remains, which appear to be in good condition despite the collapse of the tomb's roof," said Dr. Freidel in an e-mail exchange with the university. "This may be the resting place of either the dynasty founder, a man we do not have a history for, or K'inich B'alam the First, the Maya king who allied with Siyaj K'ak', conqueror of Tikal in A.D. 378."

May 2nd
Items belonging to the late princess Margaret of Great Britain will go under the hammer. More than 90 pieces of jewellery from her collection have gone on display in Edinburgh for the first time. The pieces will be auctioned in London next month. More than 800 items from jewellery and Faberge to furniture, silver and works of art will be auctioned at Christie's. The collection is on display on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Balmoral Hotel. Items range from under £100 to more than £500,000.

May 5th
The engagement between Hereditary Prince Vladimir Lobkowicz and Alix Paul-Cavallier was announced in today's Le Figaro.

May 6th
Laura Parker Bowles, daughter of the Duchess of Cornwall, has married Harry Lopes at St Cyriac's Church in Lacock, Wiltshire. Some 500 well-wishers thronged the streets to watch the arrival of the about 380 guests, including the Prince of Wales and his sons William and Harry, as well as Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton. The ceremony was conducted by local vicar the Reverend Sally Wheeler. A private reception was held at the Duchess of Cornwall's home near Reybridge.

The third son of hereditary prince Bernhard of Baden and his wife Stephanie was christened at Salem Castle today. He received the names Karl-Wilhelm Bernhard Max Alexander Ernst-August Heinrich-Donatus Mathias. The little prince was carried to the font by Queen Sofia of Spain. The service was led by Susanne Erlecke. Among his godparents were Princess Marie-Louise of Baden, Princess Aglae of Baden Prince Ernst August of Hannover junior, Archduke Alexander of Austria, Caroline Heidenreich and Mathias Schilling. Among the guests were Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxemburg with their four children, Count Björn Bernadotte af Wisborg with girlfriend Sandra Anger, Princess Irene of Greece, Prince Ernst August and Princess Caroline of Hannover with daughter Alexandra, Princess Monica of Hannover, Princess Sarvath of Jordan, Duke Friedrich and Duchess Marie of Württemberg with their three children. Yesterday many guests had already gathered at Salem for a commemoration service for the late Prince Georg Wilhelm von Hannover who died earlier this year.

May 8th
Prince Harry of Wales has joined the Blues and Royals at Combermere Barracks in Windsor today on his first day with the Household Cavalry. He will spend two weeks at the barracks settling in and getting to know his regiment - a process known as familiarisation. After that, he will spend four months training at Bovington Camp in Dorset.

May 10th
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands became unwell this morning as she arrived to open a new wing at the VU hospital in Amsterdam. She was brought directly to the first aid department for a thorough examination. Doctors found no significant problem and she was allowed to go home. Someone else opened the new wing. The government information service declined to give any further details about her health.

May 12th
On May 22 Prince Harry of Wales will begin the training that will prepare him for immediate deployment in Iraq, senior officers said yesterday. For the next five months the newly-commissioned officer will take the troop commander's course in Dorset. In October he will join the Household Cavalry Regiment in Windsor. Discussions are under way at a senior level to consider the security implications on sending the prince into Iraq. The decision how to use the prince, who has expressed a strong desire to fight alongside his men on operations, will be made by his commanding officer at Windsor, Lt Col Ed Smyth-Osbourne. "He is third in line to the throne and that brings with it certain implications. But Prince Harry is a troop commander and he has a job to do," said Col Jamie Martin, the chief of staff at the Armour Centre. "Here he will be treated like any other officer and he will be addressed by me by his christian name and by others as Cornet Wales."

May 13th
Count Charles "Charlie" Ullens de Schooten Whettnall died in Louvain on May 10. He was born in Cairo on 16 November 1927. In 1962 he married Countess Madeleine Bernadotte whom he divorced in 1980. He is survived by one son, three daughters, one grandson and five granddaughters. A commemoration service took place today at the Notre-Dame au Sablon Church in Brussels. The service was among others attended by Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands and Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme.

The new government of Nepal is preparing to curtail the powers and privileges of King Gyanendra of Nepal, finance minister Ram Saran Mahat said today, further eroding the monarch's authority after mass demonstrations ended his authoritarian rule. A parliamentary declaration having the effect of law is being prepared. "The document will certainly curtail the king's power and privileges ... but what the specifics will be, we are discussing," Mr Mahat said. Separately, Ram Prasad Shreshtha, one of the five members of a powerful new government commission said it may investigate Gyanendra for attempting to suppress last month's pro-democracy movement that forced the king to give up direct rule. He said it was unclear whether the panel has the powers from the government to recommend punishment. "If we get the powers, we will do it," he said, adding: "The king is not above the constitution."

May 15th
Last week 14-year-old Prince Joachim of Belgium crashed with his motorbike while driving in the park at the Stuyvenberg estate of his parents. He drove against a tree and broke his kneecap. He had surgery and is recovering at home. His grandfather King Albert II of the Belgians told about it during a visit to Kortrijk.

Oxford scholars are preparing to post the notes, diaries, drawings and photographs from the 1922 excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamun on the internet in an attempt to study it completely. Research at the tomb continued for eight years up to 1930. But most of the thousands of objects have never been properly studied, and most of the documentation has remained locked in archives in Oxford. Between 1922 and 1930, at least 5,398 objects were removed. The Oxford archive, as it stands, will be entirely online within two years.

May 16th
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall today granted a special 15-minute audience to 8-year-old Anna Earls, who suffers from Wilms' Tumour, a rare form of cancer. Anna wrote to the Make A Wish Foundation and said that she would love to meet the couple. The audience took place at Hillsborough Castle during the official visit of the couple to Northern Ireland. Anna was accompanied by her mother and grandmother. Afterwards Anna told the press: "I was really excited to meet them but a wee bit nervous to. I only found out about it at 8.30 this morning." Her mother said Anna had been through a very difficult year but "things are looking up now". "Today was absolutely wonderful. Charles and Camilla were very warm and welcoming," she added.

The 260-year-old imperial Garden of the Palace of Established Happiness, once the favorite of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and ruined by a raging fire some 80 years ago, has been restored through a five-year restoration effort. This is the first restoration project within the Forbidden City since the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1911.

May 17th
On Norway's national day Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, together with their children Marius, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus saw the traditional children's procession passing by at their home in Asker in the morning. Later the Crown Princely couple with daughter Ingrid Alexandra, King Harald V and Queen Sonja appeared at the balcony of the royal palace in Oslo to look at even more children passing by.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark opened the exhibition 'Il Sogno di una Regina' at the Stibbert Museum in Florence, which shows a selection of her oil paintings and water-colours.

A documentary titled 'The Prince of Wales: Up Close' which marks 30 years of The Prince's Trust was being aired on ITV1 yesterday evening. The documentary showed the Prince of Wales talking to Sir Trevor McDonald at Clarence House about what motivated him to start The Prince's Trust. The Prince said he was influenced by the UK's problems in the 1970s such as high levels of unemployment and that he would have been a "blinding idiot" not to have paid attention to what was happening. His Royal Highness said the decision to help young people start up their own businesses was a reaction to the 1981 Toxteth Riots. The Prince said he was influenced by the UK's problems in the 1970s such as high levels of unemployment and that he would have been a "blinding idiot" not to have paid attention to what was happening. His Royal Highness said the decision to help young people start up their own businesses was a reaction to the 1981 Toxteth Riots.

Mohamed al-Fayed yesterday used a BBC radio interview to launch an extraordinary attack on the Duke of Edinburgh, branding him a racist who "grew up with Nazis" and who organised the murder of his son Dodi and Diana Princess of Wales because he could not tolerate the thought of their marriage. He also claimed a forthcoming official report into the 1997 Paris accident would confirm that the Princess at the time of her death, was carrying his son's child.

Today 5000 people attended the start of the week long celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Coronation of Maori Queen Te Arikinui, Dame Te Atairangikaahu at Ngaruawahia. The ceremony this morning was a time of remembrance of those who had passed away.

Prince Gideon Zulu died on Tuesday night after a long, cancer-related illness. He was 71.

May 18th
The powers of King Gyanendra of Nepal have dramatically been reduced, calling for him to be stripped of his legal immunity, authority over the army and exemption from paying taxes. The resolution also calls for King Gyanendra to lose his symbolic position as the head of the Himalayan nation, changing traditional references to "His Majesty's government" to simply the "Nepal government." "This proclamation represents the feelings of all the people," Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said in Parliament while presenting the resolution, which passed unanimously. Even politicians who traditionally support the king voted against him. The proclamation among others says that the House of Representatives will exercise all legislative powers of the country, the entire executive authority of the state of Nepal shall reside in the council of ministers, the name of the Royal Nepalese Army has been changed as “Nepali Army and the king is no longer in control of the army. With regard to the royal family the House of Representatives will have the right to formulate, amend or annul the law related to the succession to the throne. They will also decide about the expenses and privileges of the king, tax will be imposed on the private property and income of the king in accordance with law, questions may be raised in the court and the House of Representatives regarding the activities of the king, the existing Royal Household Service will be made part of the civil service and the security of the royal palace will be managed as stipulated by the council of ministers. To be enacted, the resolution must be voted on as a series of laws, officials said. That is expected to happen in the next few days.

Janan Harb, widow of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is to take her claim for $986million of his estate to the European human rights court. Mrs Harb said the Saudi royal family had opposed the marriage from the start, and had failed to fulfil King Fahd's promises to her. "I was his wife in every sense of the word, but have now been cut out of the royal family because I was never accepted," she said yesterday. "I have tried in vain to come to an agreement with the royal family for the king's promises to me to be fulfilled. I have been ignored. This is a matter of principle and responsibility, and a fight for a widow's rights. I just want what is rightfully mine." Her legal team will ask the court in Strasbourg to decide whether her claim for maintenance can be heard before the European Court. If it decides in her favour, she will proceed with her claim.

May 19th
Princess Beatrice of York has been elected Head Girl at her boarding school St. George's School in Ascot, Berkshire. She was elected in a poll of 300 girls and staff. A statement from the school reads: 'This year the school has elected Princess Beatrice of York to be head girl and we are delighted that she has accepted the position'. Princess Beatrice is now in the first year of her A-levels.

This week's Die Aktuelle announces the birth the previous week of a son, Frederik, to Prince Alexander von Auersperg-Breunner and his wife Elisabeth née Flick.

May 20th
In an interview with the Prince of Wales and his sons William and Harry by Ant and Dec on ITV1, which will be broadcasted tonight by ITV1 as part of celebrations to mark the 30th birthday of the Prince's Trust, the Prince of Wales says his sons keep him "in touch with what's going on", their father has said. Princes William and Harry revealed they argued over possession of the television remote control and that they watch reality TV shows including Pop Idol and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! They also admit to having similar tastes in music. However the Prince of Wales is less impressed, saying his sons' loud music makes the house shake. Other topics covered include the cooking skills, or lack of them, of all three princes.

Prince Nikola Petrovic Njegosh, heir to the throne of Montenegro, is back in Montenegro to vote yes in the referendum tomorrow to the country's independence from Serbia. He however worries about 'trouble' after the referendum. "I'm afraid that the losers in the vote may not accept the decision in peace," he said. "This is a small country with a big potential for trouble. Independence, for both Montenegro and Serbia, would mean a catharsis for both the states, and their quicker integration into Europe." Prince Nikola says he isn't looking to restore the monarchy, he just wants its rehabilitation and the return of some of its property. "Some historical injustices toward the royal family will have to be corrected," he said.

May 22nd
Former King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia said today that he will return home on Friday after a long absence that he blames partially on political tensions in Cambodia. He told aides he wants a low-key homecoming, without the presence of government officials or media.

33-year-old Don Lorenzo Borghese, youngest son of Don Francesco Borghese 16th Prince di Sant' Angelo and his wife Amanda, will try to find his wife in the programme 'The Bachelor: Rome' at ABC television this fall. He will meet 25 special bachelorettes in the hope of finding the one right woman for him. He is tired of being a bachelor, and not a fan of serial dating he is excited to have the opportunity to and his own fairy tale ending. His parents, who met at a wedding in Madrid, will celebrate their 40th anniversary in July, and Lorenzo is hoping to find that type of long-lasting, happily-ever-after relationship. Don Lorenzo was born in Milan, lived in Rome and outside Paris, and moved to Connecticut when he was five years old. He graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and has an MBA from Fordham University in New York.

May 23rd
David Emanuel and his ex-wife Elizabeth are finally to reveal the secrets about designing the wedding dress of the late Diana Princess of Wales. It has taken 25 years for the pair to agree to lift the lid on the biggest day in their careers, and give a behind-the-scenes insight to the most famous wedding ever. Mr Emanuel who has previously criticised books about Diana's life, says he will not reveal any scandal. But any reference to diaries compiled during the run-up to Diana's 1981 wedding to the Prince of Wales are guaranteed to create interest. Mr Emanuel said yesterday the time was right to reveal the intimate details about working with the late Princess.

Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam has lost his attempt to retain billions of dollars in assets worldwide he allegedly took away from Brunei Investment Agency when he was the Finance Minister and BIA head. The assets included the New York Palace Hotel, the Bel-Air Hotel in Beverly Hills, and top homes in London, Paris and Singapore. Also valuable diamonds and a "significant" amount of money were included in the court action, a BIA statement said. HRH Prince Jefri will now have to transfer everything to BIA to comply with the latest Brunei Court Order.

The week long celebrations of the Maori Queen's 40th anniversary, which began last Wednesday, Came to an end today. Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu was elected in 1966, making her the sixth in her line and the first female monarch. The Queen shrugged off health problems to put on a brave face on the final day of celebrations. She arrived in the 1953 Chrysler that was gifted to her family from Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. On Tuesday morning, thousands turned up to a rainy Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia for an ecumenical church service. The governor general was joined by other dignitaries from Tonga, Hawaii and the Cook Islands. During her 40 year reign as head of that movement, the Queen has maintained a high profile while fighting for a better deal for her people. After nearly a week of waiting, more than 5000 people at Turangawaewae Marae were hushed as Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu delivered her coronation anniversary speech. She quietly told the gathering she now found it difficult to speak for long periods. "I can't find words to express my gratitude. If I could find all the most beautiful words, I would put them together and lay them among you, to help me with my thoughts of affection."

May 24th
Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia today asked for the restoration of monarchy in Serbia, three days after Montenegro voted independence from their federation. The prince said Serbs and Montenegrins will always be brothers, regardless of whether they live in one or two states. "Kingdom of Serbia will provide the fastest way to the European Union and will attract new foreign investments, help economic development, ensure employment and social welfare," the prince said on Belgrade's B92 radio. "We must not waste time any more, Serbia must go forward."

May 25th
During her state visit to Greece, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark said during a press conference that she will have surgery on her left knee at Århus Kommunehospital. She will have a new knee. That means she will have to reduce her activities in June drastically. Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Frederik will take over duties. The state visit to Greece ends tomorrow. The Queen and Prince Henrik were planning a few days on the royal yacht Dannebrog afterwards, but Prince Henrik now has to go alone. Queen Margrethe also said during the press conference that her youngest sister Anne-Marie and her husband former King constantine of Greece look ten years younger since they are able to travel freely into Greece again.

On May 20th Princess Caroline of Monaco was honoured with the Children's Champion Award by the New England Chapter of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF during a gala at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. The award recognized her longstanding dedication to helping the world's children, in particular in Her capacity as President of AMADE (World Association of Children's Friends) and she accepted the award on behalf of the volunteers and AMADE's Secretary-General, Mr. Francis Kasasa.

A nationwide survey among 3000 people taken before a wave of popular street protests against King Gyanendra of Nepal has revealed that a massive majority still wanted a monarchy in some form, a report said Wednesday. Just 6% of those surveyed in January said there was no place for the monarchy in Nepal but the report’s authors said 19 days of violent protests that ended Gyanendra’s tight grip on power could have shifted attitudes. But the survey suggested support remained for the monarchy, particularly in Nepal’s rural areas. The survey found 51% of Nepalis backed a fully constitutional monarchy and another 15% preferred the “active monarchy” of Gyanendra’s post February 2005 power grab.

The Tverskoy court of Moscow found no grounds for the rehabilitation of last Russian tsar Nicholas II and members of his family killed in 1918. Thus, the court turned down a suit that Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia filed to the denial of the Prosecutor General’s Office to rehabilitate the imperial family.

May 26th
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden has been injured in his first go-karting race of the season. He lost control on a slippery track in Värmland during the race. Coming into the final bend, Prince Carl Philip slid off the track and smashed into the protective barrier. After treatment the prince was able to participate in the final. He ended in 7th place in his season debut. The chairman of Värmlands Karting Club, Eva Zetterström, told that the bend would be renamed 'Prinsens Kurva' in honour of Carl Philip.

Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle, today has been returned to its former owners 60 years after being seized by communists. The castle was handed back to the Habsburg family in a special ceremony. The family had been forced to leave with his family in 1948. It was owned by the late Queen Marie of Romania who bequeathed it to her daughter, Princess Ileana, in 1938. Archduke Dominic of Austria, now based in New York, was 10 years old when his family was put under house arrest and then made to leave. He told he had never given up hope of getting the castle back and said he was finally going home. "I felt like I was a misplaced person. I felt like I was at home everywhere and at home nowhere," he says.

May 27th
Four letters written by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain as a child and photographs of her early life have been revealed in an album. The letters from the royal archive include details of what "Lilibet" wrote to her grandmother Queen Mary, including news she had lost a front tooth. The material will appear in Queen Elizabeth II: A Birthday Souvenir Album which marks the monarch's 80th birthday. The book is published by Royal Collection Publications on 6 June.

61-year-old American artist Lucy Weber, who lives in Berkshire, Great Britain, spoke out last night about her eight year affair with Prince Michael of Kent. She said: "I'm being painted as this whore, this scarlet woman who's had a prince creeping into my house and it's simply not like that. We have a relationship but it's a special one, pure ... not some cheap passion that will burn out." She added: "Michael has been a wonderful presence in my life and I'm so happy he has been a part of it for so long. And yes I think his wife should be afraid of a situation like that." She said Princess Michael "probably hates me but I don't feel guilty. "It's not as if we are talking about real infidelity ??" how can you be unfaithful to someone you don't have a relationship with in the first place? They may be married, but it is just in name." She also said: "I got the impression he was quite lonely. He and his wife live completely separate lives." Prince Michael has refused to comment. Prince Michael's wife recently spent several days in Venice with Mikhail Kravchenko, a Russian “friend”.

May 29th
The Duchess of Cornwall has applied for permission to construct a permanent "control facility" at her country home Ray Mill House in Reybridge, Wiltshire, to make the hideaway more secure. If permission is given, the office will replace a temporary one on the site. The proposed police base will be like those at the homes of other members of the royal household.

May 30th
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have started their first official engagement as a couple in Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway. They arrived in Dumfries early today before travelling to Castle Douglas where they visited Lily Jewellery. They then went to Broughton House in Kirkcudbright to celebrate the National Trust for Scotland's 75th anniversary. The Royal couple ended the day with their first visit to the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh. The evening reception was held to mark the 30th anniversary of The Prince's Trust.

A sarong-style pink evening dress once worn by the late Diana Princess of Wales is being auctioned on eBay. The dress was made by Catherine Walker and was first worn for an official visit to Pakistan in 1991. It was sold in a charity auction at Christie's in New York for £31,127 just two months before the Princess's death. The owner Pamela Henn of Orlando, Florida, kept it in airtight conditions and is selling it with a reserve price of £53,763 so she can pursue her dream of writing children's books. The bidding ends on Saturday.

The National Archives in Bucharest, Romania, yesterday hosted the opening of an exhibition of personal documents belonging to the Romanian royal family, including diaries of King Carol I, King Ferdinand I and their wives, family photos, greeting cards sent to the royal family by other European royalty, letters and prenuptial agreements. The opening was attended by former King Michael of Romania and his wife.

May 31st
The Danish parliament has unanimously voted in favour of a new royal succession law that would allow a first-born child to ascend the throne regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl. Before entering into force the bill must also be voted through the next parliament, which should be elected in general elections to be held in less than four years, before finally being submitted to a referendum. At least 40 per cent of registered voters must be in favour of the law change for it to be adopted.

The Earl of Snowdon, former husband of the late Princess Margaret of Great Britain is furious at the sale of the Princess's belongings. He is seething with rage over some of the items his son Viscount Linley has included in the Christie's sale, believing they should be retained by the family. The Earl didn't hear about the sale until the auction house began marketing the sale with public viewings in Hong Kong, Switzerland and New York. According to friends, Snowdon has expressed "disappointment" over the sale, to put it mildly. Unable to persuade his son to come round to his point of view, last week he had to resort to writing a letter to the chairman of Christie's UK, Dermot Chichester, pointing out his belief that several lots being marketed by the auction house are not in fact Viscount Linley's to sell.

Former Metropolitan police commissioner John Stevens, who leads the investigation into the death of Diana Princess of Wales said yesterday: "We have new witnesses, we have new forensic evidence. I can't tell you who the new witnesses are." He also confirmed that he sees the Harrods owner, Mohammed al Fayed every two months.

Four men will stand trial on drug charges on June 1 in the Criminal Court. One of the accused is a member of the ruling family of Kuwait. The charges involve the possession and selling of drugs such as hashish and cocaine in addition to possessing an unlicenced pistol.

Today lawyer German Lukyanov, representing the Russian Imperial family in exile, said that he had appealed a Moscow district court's refusal to recognize the nation's last tsar as a victim of political repression. Last Thursday, the Tverskoi court rejected the appeal against a refusal by the Prosecutor General's Office to classify the imperial family's killing as an act of state-sponsored repression rather than a murder. "Since we have not yet received the full text of the ruling from the Tverskoi court, we have lodged a brief complaint with the Moscow City Court, asking that it be invalidated," Mr Lukyanov said.


Royal News: April 2006. Last updated: May 2nd, 2006.