Last updated: January 15, 2006.
November 1st
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a memorial service for the victims of the London bombings on July 7 at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. More than 2000 people attended the service, mostly relatives and friends of the victims, people who were injured and emergency workers. Candles marked with the names of the targeted Underground train stations and the location where a bus exploded were carried to the cathedral's altar by emergency and transport workers who were flanked by victims' relatives and people who were injured in the blasts. After the service the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met relatives of victims on the steps of the cathedral.
Yesterday Karl Albrecht Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was interred at the princely mausoleum at Schillingsfürst. The Fürst died on 23 October in a hospital in Mergentheim at the age of 79 as a result of an heart attack he had some months earlier. He is survived by his wife Ladislaja née Countess von Meran, and his daughter Marie Aglaë Countess von Schaesberg. His son Philipp Ernst predeceased him. With Karl Albrecht the main branche of the family has become extinct in male line. The requiem was held at the catholic church of Schillingsfürst and was led by deacon Roland Tschunitsch. Some 150 people attended, among others Kraft and Katharina Fürst and Fürstin zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen, Constantin and Karl Albrecht Princes zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst, Nikolaus Prince von Ratibor und Corvey, Moritz and Lioba Fürst and Fürstin zu Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Wallerstein, Franz Count von Meran as well as Alfred and Myrtha Count and Countess Schenk von Stauffenberg. After the requiem the guests came together at the inner court of the princely castle with representatives of the local societies. Around 16.00 the funeral procession left from the inner court to the princely mausoleum. Mayor Friedrich Wieth held a speech next to the mausoleum.
November 2nd
Infanta Cristina of Spain and her husband Iñaki Urdangarín camee to Madrid today to meet their new niece, Infanta Leonor. They had lunch at the hospital with the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Queen Sofia, Infanta Elena of Spain and Jaime de Marichalar. Queen Sofia, who celebrated her 67th birthday today spent lots of time at hospital yesterday and today. She said her new granddaughter Leonor was the 'best birthday present'.
Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan are among the three candidates for the presidency of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. The present president Doña Infanta Pilar of Spain doesn't run anymore for the job. A general assembly will take place on 1 and 2 May 2006 at Kuala Lumpur, where the election will take place.
November 4th
Princess Margriet opened the exhibition 'The Brides of Het Loo' at Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn this afternoon. The exhibition shows the bridal gowns as well as the dresses for the civil weddings of Princess Margriet and her four daughters-in-law Marilène, Annette, Anita and Aimée. Also the suits of the grooms are being shown, as well as dresses of flower girls. At all four weddings Palace Het Loo was used for the civil wedding and/or the wedding party.
Prince Tomihito Mikasa, a cousin of Emperor Akihito of Japan, said that old traditions, such as allowing concubines, should be revived first before allowing a woman to ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne. "We should try various other ways first," the prince wrote in an essay published in a newsletter from September 30 circulated among staff of the Imperial Household Agency. In his article he argued that he should be allowed to speak freely because the newsletter is not for sale and is distributed only to a limited number of people. "The question is whether it is a right thing to change the unique tradition and history so easily." In the essay, titled "Sea Lion's Chat," the prince suggested bringing back male royals who were forced from the old aristocracy after World War II, allowing the adoption of sons of former royals, or reviving a system in which the sons of concubines were allowed to ascend to the throne. "Using concubines, like we used to, is also an option. I'm all for it, but this might be a little difficult considering the social climate in and outside the country," he wrote, noting that both the father and grandfather of his uncle, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, were sons of concubines. Responding to the prince's column, one of the 10 members on the government panel said, "While it is private writing, I believe members of the Imperial family should be cautious in making political statements. We will just continue to proceed in our discussions toward the final report. The direction we plan to move toward will not change," said the anonymous member.
November 5th
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have met survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. They visited the lower Ninth Ward, one of the areas worst hit, and climbed a levee to view the storm's destruction. When asked by a reporter what struck him most, the prince said: "Incredible resilience, despite awful loss. Where there's life, there's hope." The royal couple, on the fifth day of their US tour, also went to a Catholic school in the French Quarter. The royal couple met emergency workers and the Jones family, who lost their home in the hurricane. The family are among people temporarily living in one of two cruise ships brought in to provide emergency accommodation. On Thursday, the Prince of Wales donated $25,000 (£14,000) from an architecture prize he received in Washington to help in the reconstruction of hurricane-hit towns. The couple's US visit has included a stop at Ground Zero in Manhattan where they honoured victims of the 11 September attacks. They will later fly to San Francisco where their tour will end.
Princess Xenia zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg and her husband Max Soltmann had their first child, a son called Ferdinand, at Bad Mergentheim early today. At Langenburg Castle the baby was welcomed with several salutes and also the flag was hoisted.
November 6th
Prince William of Wales scored seven out of 10 in the "raw intelligence" test, when he took part in a gruelling assessment at the Regular Commissions Board in Westbury, Wiltshire. His younger brother Prince Harry is understood to have scored four in the same test in September last year. Senior officers who witnessed Prince William tackle the various physical and mental trials described him as "athletic, well co-ordinated and quite bright". Prince William's high score at the commissions board should ensure that he will have little difficulty with the most intellectually demanding parts of the Sandhurst course. Prince William is to enrol at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in January, when Prince Harry will be entering his final term.
Queen Silvia of Sweden has asked the Swedish people to think of the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan. "It [All Saints Day] is a weekend when we think of those close to us who have passed away, but it is important also to think of those who are still alive," the Queen said. "I want therefore to ask Swedes to contribute to the collections being made in all the Swedish churches." The Church of Sweden said all collections made on All Saints Day would go to catastrophe relief in Pakistan. "The situation in the affected areas is desperate, and people need all the help they can get, so I want to support the church and others who collect money and encourage everyone to contribute," the Queen said.
November 7th
The Princes of Asturias and their newborn daughter Leonor left the Clínica Rúber Internacional in Madrid at 12.10 today. 300 journalists and hundreds of curious people were awaiting outside the hospital. The presentation lasted 10 minutes. The baby has blue eyes according to her father. The Princess of Asturias said that they were very moved by the birth of their first daughter and that one cannot describe what it is to be a mother. The Princess also said that both her and her daughter are well, even though "a C-section causes discomfort". She said her daughter is "beautiful, lovely and very quiet", whereas according to the father she "eats a lot and sleeps all the time". Princess Letizia also stressed that she didn't know whom the baby looked like and asked the journalists whether they found that the little infanta looked like anybody. She explained that she'll go back to work after the breast feeding period. She also said that Leonor was in their list of girls' names because Prince Felipe liked the name a lot; he was thrilled by it and she was herself delighted with the choice. When asked whether they intended to have more children, the couple gave the same answer they had given when Letizia was presented to the press as the Prince's official fiancée: "more than two and less than five". The couple thanked the press for their patience and for waiting under a rainy and cold weather the night Leonor was born.
The Danish royal family, including Crown Princess Mary who made her first public appearance three weeks after giving birth, attended a concert in honour of the late Queen Ingrid of Denmark at Tivoli Garden's concert hall yesterday evening. The concert was organised by Queen Margrethe, Princess Benedikte and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece as a tribute to their mother. The concert was conducted by Leonard Slatkin, who was asked to perform after Mstislav Rostropovich was forced to cancel last week. An audience of over 1500 attended the concert, the proceeds of which were donated to scholarships for young musicians.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway want to build a holiday home on the island of Flekkerøy near Mette-Marit's Kristiansand. The couple faces opposition from some local politicians. The local mayor supports the royal couple's plans, but the Socialist Left is firmly opposed. The fact that the building would take place on state-owned property, would mean giving the couple privileges that ordinary citizens would never get. The present owner of the island, the broadcasting company NRK is busy selling the island to Kristiansand township, which in turn would open it up to public use. A portion of it, however, would be set aside for the crown princely couple. Gro Hareide of the Socialist Left in Vest-Agder told newspaper VG on Sunday: "Many people want the entire area opened up for recreational use. It's nice that the crown couple wants a holiday home in Kristiansand, but this would be unfair for others." Local mayor Jan Oddvar Skisland disagrees: "Kristiansand is the crown princess' hometown. It would be nice if we could make it possible for them to have a summer home in the area." The Royal Palace says that no agreements have been signed regarding the royals' purchase of a holiday home.
During a speech at the United Nations in New York, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands said that the Year of the Microcredit 2005 has become a tremendous success, although still many things must happen in the fight against poverty with microcredits, small loans to people in the Third World. She made several trips this year and says "It is striking how women are empowered by microfinance and not only economically." The Princess said: "During the year I have become more convinced than ever of the benefits of microfinance, not only in reducing poverty but also in building trust and dignity.
In an interview at TV 7 Show at Rai Uno, the Duke of Aosta reveals that he is going to have a child with 38-year-old film-producer Kyara van Ellinkhuizen. Although he never intended to disclose the name of the mother of his child, she herself went on television last Sunday to speak about it. He said: "Perhaps she could have been more discrete. Although she's free to keep on talking, our story is over." The duke met Kyara van Ellinkhuizen last May on a train between Venice and Torino. They then found out that they had many common friends. They exchanged phone numbers and called each other many times. Only a bit later their relationship began. In August Kyara told him that she was expecting a child. "But ours was not a love that could have lasted," the Duke explains. "I feel I have much resposibility towards people who are close to me, my children, my grandchildren." The Duchess of Aosta said there had been much stress between her and her husband lately and that they weren't together anymore last August. But the Duke of Aostra came back home mid-September and told her everything. In an interview Kyara van Ellinkhuizen, who is five months pregnant says she has loved the Duke since she was 15 years old. "I love Amedeo, I'm not the other woman," she says. She asks the Duke to take a decision: "The child I'm expecting, your child, needs a father." She has already contacted her lawyers, for she intends to safeguard her future baby.
November 8th
The Oukwanyama Royal Family at Namibia has appointed 75-year-old Martha Christian Nelumbu as the successor of the late King Kornelius Mwetupunga Shelungu. The long-awaited installation of the King of Oukwanyama will go ahead as planned next Saturday. She was nominated by the late Shelungu as his successor. She will be the first woman leader to preside over a traditional authority. The late Shelungu has been suffering from ill health for a long time. He died at Oshakati Hospital last Thursday, November 2, at the age of 89. He was survived by his wife and 13 children. A memorial service for the late King Kornelius Mwetupunga Shelungu was being held at Onandjaba Elcin Church on Monday evening, whereafter the King's wife Analisa Kakiya suddenly became sick and was taken to Oshikuku Roman Catholic hospital. A funeral service was held at the offices of the Oukwa-nyama Traditional Authority at Ohangwena this morning. He was buried this afternoon at the Ovakwanyama royal family cemetery at Omhedi from En-gela Elcin Church. He received a military funeral, attended by President Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President Sam Nujoma, Ministers, Government officials, Governors, Regional and Local Councillors, Traditional leaders led by King of Uukwaluudhi Josia Shikongo Taapopi, the new Oukwanyama Queen Mwadinomho Martha Kristian Nelumbu, members of the Royal family, the late King Shelungu's children, grand- and great-grand children, business people as well as other community members, and many school children. Other burial activities will take place at his private house.
November 9th
In a new biography by Herman Lindqvist to mark King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden’s 60th birthday next year, the king tells of his feelings over becoming Sweden’s head of state in 1973 at the age of 27. “The King ascended at a politically turbulent time. He paints a graphic picture of how difficult it was to always be the youngest – younger than the members of the cabinet, younger than other heads of state, Lindqvist told Aftonbladet. The author also interviewed Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria for the book, revealing details of how the king conducted a four-year secret relationship with the then Silvia Sommerlath before the pair could go public. Lindqvist told Aftonbladet that Silvia would sometimes wear wigs to conceal her identity. The book also contains chapters written by Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg, former royal press secretary and now head of Crown Princess Victoria’s household, in which she talks about the King’s constitutional role and gives personal reflections on her life in the royal household.
Prince Tomihito of Mikasa was hospitalized on Monday for suspected pericarditis, a heart ailment, at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo, the Imperial Household Agency said. He had complained of slight chest pain on Monday. Today he was already discharged from hospital.
Janan Harb has lost her case at the Court of Appeal. She claims to have been married to the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and having a daughter with him. She claimed among others part of the fortune of the late King and wanted a DNA test to determine whether her eldest daughter was his daughter. The Matrimonial Causes Act section used by Janan Harb to claim maintenance applied only while husband and wife were alive, three appeal judges ruled. She cannot claim under the Inheritance Act either, as the king was not a UK resident. The appeal judges refused permission to take the case to the House of Lords. Giving the lead judgment, Lord Justice Thorpe said the king's solicitors had written to the court in September saying the proceedings had abated because of his death. The judge said the case could indicate a gap in the law that only Parliament could address.
A Romanian Constitutional Court today dismissed a legislation to grant former King Michael I 30 million euros in compensation for his property confiscated in 1947. "The constitutional court examined the law and decided with a majority of votes that its provisions are not in line with the constitution," the court said in a statement. In October last year, the former Romanian regime decided to make compensation to the king for his financial losses in the property confiscation in which the Peles royal castle in Sinaia, 120 km north of Bucharest, was involved. The former King was also granted the right to use the Peles castle for free throughout his life. He was allowed to use the Elisabeta Palace in the capital of Bucharest as his permanent residence. The bill was passed in June by the Chamber of Deputies, but senators of the Great Romania Party opposed the decision vehemently, saying it went against the constitution. They filed a lawsuit to the constitutional court later.
November 10th
Tatjana von Lattorf née Princess von und zu Liechtenstein and her husband Philipp von Lattorff had their fourth child, a daughter, at Monza, Italy, on 4 November. The girl will be baptised Camilla Maria Katharina.
November 11th
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands ended her tour through all twelve provinces of the Netherlands and the Dutch Antilles with a visit to the Province of Zuid-Holland. At the press conference afterwards she said she will have to get used to it that the tour is over and called the tour an unbelievable present. She thought it was a nice and interesting tour, and she has met lots of heartiness. She also said to have learnt a great deal during the tour and met new things everywhere despite of knowing the country quite well. She feels that everything she went through during the tour has strengthened her. A poll by the tv-programme Twee Vandaag among 32.000 people says that most Dutch people think that Queen Beatrix has done very well in the past 25 years. 48,2 % of the questioned people have much to very much trust in the Prince of Orange. 32 % thinks Beatrix should abdicate within the next five years, but 30 % says she should only when she wants to. 67 % is in favour of a monarchy, 24,1 % wants a republic. Also 67 % thinks that in 25 years the Netherlands will still be a monarchy.
Lord Lichfield, royal photographer and first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, died at the age of 66 after suffering a major stroke. He was being treated in the stroke unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after falling ill. He had been staying in the area with friends when he suffered a stroke. He died at 4.00am this morning. Lord Lichfield's long-term partner was Lady Annunziata Asquith, and he had had three children with ex-wife Lady Leonora Grosvenor - a son, Tom, and two daughters, Rose and Eloise. Queen Elizabeth II was among the first to pay tribute to Lord Lichfield, saying she was "deeply saddened" at the news. Lord Lichfield was the official photographer at the wedding of the Prince of Wales to Diana. He also photographed Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh for her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
November 12th
Princess Sayako of Japan has said her formal farewells to the imperial family ahead of her wedding to a commoner. Wearing a 12-layered ceremonial kimono, she also paid her respects at the shrines of her ancestors during a traditional ritual in the imperial palace grounds in Tokyo that are dedicated to Japanese gods and emperors of the past. Television footage showed her slowly walking along a wooden balcony with a fan in her hand. Later, having changed into a white dress, the princess met her parents to exchange parting cups filled with Japanese sake. "I hope that even in your new life you will continue to be a good member of society while looking after your household," Empress Michiko of Japan said to her daughter.
Thousands of people from accross Namibia gathered at the new palace (Ouhamba) of the Ovakwanyama today for the crowning of the new Queen of Ovakwanyama, Mwadinomho Martha Kristian Nelumbu. The ceremony started with the traditional anointing of the new queen, a ceremony that was conducted by the royal family behind closed doors inside the palace. From there, the Queen and other members from the royal family went to the Olupale, the main reception area in the Ouhamba, where she was greeted by all her senior traditional councillors. The Queen was then taken to the inauguration ceremony area, where President Pohamba and former President Sam Nujoma of Namibia, the kings and chiefs of other traditional authorities in Namibia and thousands of her people were waiting for her. The ceremony was opened with the national anthem, the EU anthem and a prayer by Anglican Bishop Shihala Hamupembe. The history of the Ovakwanyama tribe was narrated by the historian of the Ovakwanyama, Abednego Nghifikwa, while the Queen's acceptance speech was delivered on her behalf by her personal secretary, Nahas Ndevahoma. In the address she said she would abide by the Namibian Constitution as well as to the Traditional Authority Act, to the rule of law, national reconciliation and democracy. She said that she would accept good advice from all her people and that the doors of her Ouhamba would be open to all people, especially to the Ovakwanyama. She thanked the committee responsible for the restoration of the Ouhamba of the Ovakwanyama. She said she would see to it that traditional laws and the laws of the country are respected and adhered to, and that all traditional leaders in Oukwanyama adhere to the traditional laws. The queen called on all Ovakwanyama people to work hard in their mahangu fields and not to be lazy and become beggars. She also appealed to people to put an end to domestic violence. The King of Ondonga, Kauluma Elifas, welcomed the Queen to the Traditional Authority leadership and said they would all support her. In his address, President Pohamba welcomed Queen Mwadinomho Nelumbu to the Namibian leadership, but emphasised that she ruled only over the Ovakwanyama in Namibia and not in Angola.
November 15th
Princess Sayako of Japan married Yoshiki Kuroda today at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The day started after Princess Sayako bid farewell to her parents at the Imperial Palace. Wearing a long white silk dress and a pearl necklace, the attire she wore for the ceremony, she was greeted by Naoyuki Kuroda, the bridegroom's cousin acting as the Kuroda family's envoy. Just after 10 a.m., a black limousine carrying the bride drove slowly through the main gates of the palace as hundreds of palace staff members stood by. The princess waved through an open window to the hundreds of well-wishers who lined the 1.5-kilometer stretch to the hotel and shouted, "Congratulations," as the car drove by. The 20-minute Shinto ceremony was attended by 23 relatives from the bride's side, including Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, Crown Princess Masako, Prince and Princess Akishino. Also eight relatives from the groom's side, including the groom's mother, Sumiko, attended. The couple took part in a ritual of sharing sips of sake signifying an exchange of vows. Kuroda then read out his vows. After the ceremony, Imperial Household Agency officials submitted a marriage registration document to the ward office where the couple will live. With the submission of the document, Princess Sayako formally left the imperial family genealogy and was registered as commoner Sayako Kuroda. "While holding dear to my heart my memories of the time I spent with the emperor and the empress and other members of the family, I want to start my new life as a member of the Kuroda family," Sayako said at a brief news conference at 2 p.m. following the wedding ceremony. Mr Kuroda said, "There may be things that are unexpected, but we would like to proceed one step at a time." The wedding reception was held in the afternoon with about 120 people attending, including the imperial couple and the newlywed's friends. The bride wore a kimono borrowed from Empress Michiko. Sayako was the first daughter of an emperor to marry in 45 years. It was also the first time an emperor's daughter married a commoner with no blood ties to the nobility or the imperial family. It was also the first time for an emperor and empress to attend the wedding reception of a princess, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
A poll, conducted by research firm Opinion for the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, asked Norwegians whether they'd vote for the monarchy or opt for turning Norway into a republic. Only 52 % of those questioned in the Oslo area favoured the monarchy, while 30 % want Norway to become a republic. The remainder had no opinion. On a national basis, 63 % of all Norwegians questioned favoured a monarchy, while 20 % favoured a republic. The other 17 % had no opinion. The poll showed that the monarchy has the most support in Norway's outlying areas, while people in the city were most negative.
King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan cancelled a state visit to the Netherlands late this month because of the recent terroristic attacks in Amman. It is not known when they will come now.
November 16th
In the past three days the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands paid a visit to Morocco. On Sunday they were welcomed at the airport of Marrakech by Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco. On Monday the Prince of Orange held the opening speech of the Watercongress between Windmill and Watermill at the University of Marrakech, while Princess Máxima took part in the Women's World Banking Conference at the Palmeraie Golf Palace Hotel. In the afternoon the couple visite the Bassin Hydraulic du Tensift. The Prince of Orange was received by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, while Princess Máxima talked with Princess Lalla Salma. In the evening they visited an Art en Tour Marrakech, an intercultural music-programme. On Tuesday the couple visited the medina of Marrakech and the Al Amana-office where microcredits are handed out. In the afternoon they visited the Koran school Medersa ben Youssef and attended the opening of the exhibition 'Respect. Forms of living together' at the Museum Dar Si Said. On Wednesday the couple visited Amizmiz outside Marrakech and a girl's Internate, as well as the weir Barrage Lalla Takerkoust.
The former royal villa in Oostende will be bought by the town of Oostende for 3,8 million euros, it was decided on Wednesday afternoon. The villa will be given to the Belgian Sea Institute for Orthopedie of doctor Georges Casteur who will house a rehabilitation centre at the villa.
November 17th
Exactly 100 years after the birth of Queen Astrid of Belgium née Princess of Sweden, an exhibition about her life was opened at the BelVue Museum at Brussels. The opening and lunch were attended by a huge group of royals, among them King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg, Grand Duke Jean of Luxemburg, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, the Duke and Duchess of Brabant, Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Lorenz of Belgium Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince Laurent of Belgium, Archduke Carl Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria, Prince Jean of Luxemburg, Prince Nikolaus, Princess Margaretha, Princess Maria Anunciata and Princess Marie Astrid of Liechtenstein, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxemburg, Princess Ragnhild Mrs Lorentzen and Mr Erling Lorentzen, Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn, Princess Kristine Bernadotte, Countess Ruth af Rosenborg, Mrs Madeleine Kogevinas and Sophie Ullens de Schooten.
The Prince of Wales is to stop playing polo after a series of injuries, Clarence House has announced. A spokesman said Prince Charles felt that the time was right "to bow out gracefully, but regretfully. The Prince of Wales will not be playing polo next season," he said. "He made the decision recently to retire from the game after playing for over 40 years." The Prince has played only in charity matches since 1992, but prior to that he played competitively in teams across the world.
November 18th
A diamond necklace that once belonged to the Russian Empress Catherine the Great has been sold at auction for $1.5m in Geneva. Auction house Sotheby's says the necklace is a rare survivor from an era when jewellery was broken up for reuse. It was passed down through the imperial family until the collection was confiscated after the 1917 revolution. Sotheby's executive director David Bennett said: "It's the most important historical necklace that we have sold at Sotheby's" in 30 years, he said. Around 200 dealers attended the day-long auction at Geneva's Le Beau Rivage hotel. Sotheby's would not reveal the name of the buyer of the necklace. Of the former owner, the auction house said only that she was a woman from a "noble family". The necklace was bought by a London jeweller in 1927. It was then sold on to an unnamed collector and has remained in private hands ever since. Before the sale, Sotheby's described the necklace as "a beautiful row of 27 large cushion-shaped diamonds within a border of stylized foliate motifs, close set with smaller similarly cut stones, embellished with a ribbon bow clasp, which can be worn separately".
Princess Maria Antonia von der Leyen und zu Hohengeroldseck died on November 11 at Starnberg after a long and difficult illness. She would have celebrated her 78th birthday on 22 December. The funeral took place today at 14.00 at the Parish Church St. Anna in Waal. More than 100 people, among them the sister of the deceased Maria Adelheid Freifrau von Freyberg-Eisenberg, her husband and lots of nobles, said goodbye to the princess whose coffin was covered with a flag in the colours of the family. The requiem was officiated by The Rev. Johann Zahner and Father Aretin, The Rev. Anton Frick and Father Karl Stribny. The princess was buried at the family vault under a side altar.
November 19th
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands was christened at the village church of Wassenaar at 11.30 am by the Rev. Deodaat van der Boon. Upon arrival she was accompanied by her parents, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands and her big sister Princess Catharina-Amalia. When the little princess was carried inside by Nicole Friling-von Oswald a children's choir sang a christening song. Furthermore Het Residentie Kamerkoor sang, as well as singer Christianne Stotijn. Mienke van der Velden played the gamba, Erica Waardenburg the harp, and Paul Pleijsier the guitar. Alexia's godparents were Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Prince Friso van Oranje-Nassau, Juan Zorreguieta, Alexandra Jankovich de Jeszenice and Jonkheer Frans de Beaufort. She was christened with water from the River Jordan. She wore the christening gown which was designed for the christening of Princess Wilhelmina in 1880. Among the around 500 guests were furthermore Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Jorge Zorreguieta and Maria del Carmen Cerruti de Zorreguieta, Dolores Zorreguieta, Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands with daughter Eloise, Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène, Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Princess Anita van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven, Prince Carlos, Princess Margarita and Princess Carolina de Bourbon de Parme and Prince Philippe of Belgium. After the christening there was a lunch at the Orange Hall at Palace Huis ten Bosch.
Prince Albert II of Monaco was enthroned today. He was blessed by the archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Bernard Barsi, at a Mass said in Monte Carlo's cathedral. "By rising to the Grimaldi throne, Prince Albert finds his place in the continuity of this dynasty," the archbishop said between strains of organ music and Handel's Messiah. He was also told his destiny was to carry on the Grimaldi dynasty after 700 years. The mass was attended by Monegasque royals, foreign dignitaries and royalty, although no kings and queens, were at the Mass. As the Prince emerged from the cathedral after the mass, he was greeted with cheers by about 1,000 loyal Monegasque subjects. "It's very moving," Princess Stephanie said after the mass. "I was thinking above all of my brother and what this represents for him, for our country. It's a new beginning for all of us in the family." The formal transfer of power was held at the palace where the prince was presented with a royal banner bearing his emblem. The prince today also attended a football match between Monaco and St Etienne and a performance of Rossini's opera Voyage to Reims at the grand Monte-Carlo Opera. The enthronement followed three days of festivities. Among the royals who attended the ceremony were Hereditary Prince Alois and Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxemburg, Prince Joachim of Denmark, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Faisal bin Hussein of Jordan, Prince Moulay Rashid of Morocco, the Duke and Duchess of Calabria, the Duke of Vendôme, the Prince and Princess of Venice, Prince Serge and Princess Eleonore of Yugoslavia
November 20th
Japanese imperial princesses should be able to maintain their status as part of the Imperial family even after marrying commoners, according to a proposal being considered by a panel advising Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the matter, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Saturday. Currently, the Imperial House Law stipulates that both "naishinno" and "nyoo" princesses must secede from the Imperial family once they marry commoners. The sisters, daughters and granddaughters of an emperor are called naishinno, or blood princesses, while princesses who are not naishinno--such as nieces of an emperor--are referred to as nyoo princesses. The male counterparts of nyoo are called o princes. The panel on the succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne wants to allow them to set up their respective royal families even after marrying commoners, sources close to the panel said. The panel is likely to maintain part of the current stipulation that nyoo princesses as well as o princes are free to renounce their royal status from the age of 15 at their own behest, even if they have not married. The private advisory group is scheduled to file a final report with Koizumi later this month. Their 16th meeting is set for Monday.
November 21st
This week marks 100 years since the current royal family of Norway was officially established. On the occasion King Harald V and Crown Prince Haakon gave an interview to newspaper Aftenposten, joined by little Princess Ingrid Alexandra. Crown Prince Haakon insists that all his children will be treated as equals regardless their sex. There will be a difference, however, regarding her level of consciousness about her future role as monarch. "We will always be open that Ingrid is the heir to the throne, and tell her what that involves," Crown Prince Haakon told. "She'll gradually discover that she's the heir, maybe she's already discovered it. It's important to talk about these things in relation to the other children, so they know where they stand. But in the family, everyone of course is an equal." King Harald said he intends to stay in his role as reigning monarch as long as his health allows, and has no plans to retire. He is feeling good and has "good energy," especially after a summer with a lot of time off that featured swimming and sailing." He also stopped smoking, saying it "was disappointingly simple" to quit. King Harald said he has respect, however, for those who can't manage to quit. He said he never thought he'd be a doting grandfather, "but I have. Both the queen and I take great joy in being together with the whole family." King Harald said he and Queen Sonja often take on the role of babysitter for their grandchildren, "not for several days in a row, but at the Palace when their parents need it," or in the evening during summer holidays. King Harald says he never thinks about tactics in winning the people's favour. "We have been given an assignment as a monarchy, and we do as well as we can. We try to be as little populistic as possible. We don't do anything on the spur of the moment to win an opinion poll, or short-term popularity." Crown Prince Haakon said that if he hadn't been born as heir to the throne, he probably would have wanted to work within either music or film, or foreign aid. Several nice photos were released.
An opinion poll at the Spanish newspaper El Mundo on the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Spanish monarchy suggest that almost 25 % of the Spaniards consider themselves republicans. A 50% increase in declared republicans over five years was the result of the number of 18 to 29-year-olds who prefer to scrap the monarchy. Declining support among young people could mean future trouble. Nearly four out of 10 young voters defined themselves as republicans, slightly more than those who said they were monarchists. It was the first time in 30 years that polls had produced such a result. Both King Juan Carlos of Spain and the Prince of Asturias are still popular as individuals, with only 4 % of Spaniards holding a poor opinion of the former and 6 % disliking the latter.
Chelsy Davy, girlfriend of Prince Harry of Wales, has been invited to stay at Highgrove for the first time. She met up with her boyfriend and his family at their Gloucestershire home this weekend after having arrived in Great Britain on Friday evening. Chelsy and Harry hadn't seen each other since they took a holiday in Botswana last September, as Harry has joined the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst. Both the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Prince William, were present.
November 22nd
Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco has launched the Lalla Salma Association Against Cancer. It is a non-profit association whose general strategy is defined by the Board of Directors, chaired by the Princess. It musters 15 members maximum, elected by the General Assembly. The association will fight cancer in Morocco through four intervention fields, as the association will bring assistance to patients and relatives, and in particular improving the living condition of cancer-stricken citizens, and of their parents. Princess Lalla Salma also launched the construction of an assessment and anti-pain center at the national oncology Institute in Rabat.
November 24th
The Spanish royal family hosted a reception at the Royal Palace in Madrid last night to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of King Juan Carlos I. 200 people attended the official reception. The complete Royal Family was present at the reception in the Throne Room. The Princess of Asturias attended briefly, still recovering from recently giving birth. The Palace have made it clear that her attendance was exceptional and does not mark a return to public commitments as yet. The Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and nearly all his ministers were present, and the leaders of the opposition parties were also present with the exception of the IU left winger Gaspar Llamazares and the ERC Catalan Nationalist leader, Josep Lluís Carod-Rovira. The Church and Judiciary were also represented among the guests.
After 10 months of debate, a government panel yesterday submitted recommendations on imperial succession that will break a male-lineage tradition. The panel proposed that females and their descendants should be allowed to ascend the Chrysanthemum throne. The panel said changes are necessary to maintain stability in imperial succession. "I think it is a very meaningful report," Koizumi told reporters at his official residence. "I believe that the report was created with the understanding that an imperial system based on hereditary succession depends on a stable succession system. I believe the government should begin preparations to submit a bill (to revise the Imperial House Law) during the regular Diet session next year." "We have studied various circumstances, including the possible birth of a baby boy, and concluded that our proposals are the best from a medium- and long-term perspective," the report said. "We have discussed public sentiments desiring a baby boy in the imperial family, and there is a related mention in the report," a member of the panel told The Asahi Shimbun. "But the panel's position is that the priority is to revise the Imperial House Law as soon as possible. My understanding is that if a boy is born before the law is revised, it is the government that has to discuss the new situation, if necessary, separately from the panel's proposed revision of the law." The panel's report said even the imperial family has been affected by the rapidly declining birthrate in Japan. "Under the circumstances, we cannot help but believe that it will be extremely difficult for the imperial family to expect a situation where there will be enough male heirs of the male lineage in future generations," the report said. The report further says: "It is meaningful to expand the scope of members qualified for succession to the throne by adding women, including those from the female lineage, so that the imperial family will be able to stabilize its succession system, which is the most fundamental tradition to the emperor system, in the future." The report also said public opinion surveys indicate a majority supports the idea of having female emperors. "It should not be forgotten that the current system where the emperor is the symbol of the state is based on the people's values," the report said.
November 26th
Bruno Gómez-Acebo y de Borbón and his wife Bárbara Cano de la Plaza had their second son, Guillermo, on November 23rd at Madrid. The baby is the sixth grandchild of Infanta Pilar of Spain.
Carlos Morales de Grecia, son of Carlos Morales Quintana and Princess Alexia of Greece, was christened today in a greek-orthodox and catholic ceremony at the iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios de Yaiza on the Island of Lanzarote. The christening was attended by around 150 family members and friends, among them Queen Sofia, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina of Spain, Jaime de Marichalar, Princess Irene of Greece. The baby wore an antique christening gown flown in from Greece. His godparents were Prince Nikolaos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, Infanta Elena of Spain, Gonzalo Morales Quintana, Luis Morales and Noemí Surol. After the 45-minute ceremony the entire party headed to an upmarket restaurant in nearby Puerto Calero for a lunch.
November 27th
The festivities that marked the 100th anniversary of an independent Norwegian monarchy were closed today with a huge ball at the Royal Palace in Oslo. King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ragnhild Mrs Lorentzen, Mr Erling Lorentzen, Princess Astrid Mrs Ferner, Mr Johan Martin Ferner, Princess Märtha Louise, Ari Behn, Elisabeth Ferner, Alexander and Margrét Ferner, Benedikte Ferner and Aage Hvinden, Haakon and Martha Lorentzen with their sons Olav Alexander and Christian Fredrik attended the ball. Apart from political leaders also representatives from organisations and from all over Norway were invited. Series of photos from Aftenposten and VG.
Prince Andreas and Princess Lena of Liechtenstein had their second child, a daughter called Tyra Wiola Josefin Lucia Filippini, at Stockholm on November 15.
November 28th
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands started a visit to Brasil and Argentina in connection with the Year of the Microcredit 2005. She arrived in São Paulo today, and will also visit Florianopolis and Brasilia in the next three days. From 4 to 7 December she will be in Argentina, where she will visit Jujuy, Périco and Buenos Aires. In interviews to Argentinean newspapers she said to be happy to be able to do something for Argentina, as there is much to do there in the microcredit sector. She hopes to be able to talk with all people involved in the microfinance sector in the country.
Prince Albert II of Monaco attended a press conference at the Oceanographic Museum in Monte Carlo to present the Monaco North Pole Expedition in which he will take part from April 10 to 19, 2006. Following in the footsteps of his great-great-grandfather Prince Albert I, Prince Albert wants to study the effects of pollution on certain species of marine life in the food chain and monitor the eventual impact from pollution on the ecosystem and arctic populations. The seven-people expedition, including two guides, accompanied with 40 dogs and six sledges, will mark the 100th anniversary of the Museum created by Prince Albert I. The expedition will start from the polar drifting station of Barneo and cover 75 miles during the trek.
November 29th
The Hon Timothy and Isabella Knatchbull had their fourth child on November 23. The girl is names Isla Selina Edwina.
November 30th
Prince Akishino of Japan told at a press conference on the occasion of his 40th birthday that he seldom talks to his brother Crown Prince Naruhito. “Regarding communication with the crown prince, we are not visiting the crown prince’s household actively from our side ... since the crown princess is sometimes feeling good and sometimes not,” Prince Akishino said. “We will come over whenever they call us.” He said his family was “trying to have a chat, even briefly” with the crown prince and princess, who live on the same sprawling palace grounds in central Tokyo, when Naruhito and Masako play tennis or take part in other activities on the weekend. His remarks come amid speculation of a feud within the world’s oldest royal line. Last week a government panel recommended to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi letting females ascend to the Chrysanthemum throne. Prince Akishino, who has two daughters, said: "In principle I want them to let their personality and matters of interest grow although it is important for them to recognize their position.”
Royal News: October 2005. Last updated: January 2nd, 2006.