ROYAL NEWS: OCTOBER 2000

Last updated: November 5th, 2000.

October 1st
Yesterday Prince Maximilian zu Bentheim-Tecklenburg married Marissa Fortescue in the chapel of Rheda Castle in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany. The service was held in German and English. Afterwards there was a huge reception at the Castle.

The christening of Victoria Federica de Marichalar y Borbón is due for October 11th at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. Godparents will be Felipe Prince of Asturias and Ana de Marichalar.

October 2nd
Prince William of Great Britain arrived in Chile. He will start a 10-week-long character-building expedition with 110 other young people in Patagonia, in the south of Chile. In the first week the young people will learn survival techniques and how to operate radio equipment before joining teams of volunteers to carry out community projects, scientific research and adventure tourism. Social projects include building a fire station, local bridges and fixing the wooden houses of old people who live in the region. A part of the adventure tourism will include a kayak expedition in the wilds of the Chonos Islands.

Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg left the intensive care. It seems he is no longer in a coma. It is said his condition shows a constant improvement, but it is not known if he is going to recover fully from his very serious injuries.

October 4th
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Willem-Alexander Prince of Oranje received the Dutch Olympic medal winners at the Palace Noordeinde. Yesterday the team arrived home in the same airplane as the Prince of Oranje. The Dutch team won 25 medals (of which 12 gold), an absolute record for the country.

Arrangements are being made to reinter the remains of the last Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Sellassie, who died in 1975. His remains were exhumed eight years ago. Since they have been preserved at a mausoleum in Addis Abeba.

The search for the famous, since 1945 disappeared, Bernstein room of the Russian Czars continues. Polish experts are now looking for it with radar equipment. They hope to find the room in unknown underground rooms underneath the Bolkow Castle in Jelenia Gora, Poland.

Japanese officials say Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Masako will be tested for tuberculosis at the hospital of the royal palace after a palace employee catched the disease.

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden left military service after 402 days. He joined the army on August 30th, 1999. He served at the coastal artillery in the regiment KA1 at Vaxholm. He was the commander of the amphibious battalion on the troop transport boat Stridsbat 90.

October 5th
The Spanish royal couple invited Queen Beatrix, King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg Archduchess of Austria and several other representatives of the countries Emperor Charles V once ruled for the opening of an exhibition on Emperor Charles V in Toledo, Spain, today. After a service in the cathedral of Toledo and a banquet the exhibition was opened in presence of the guests mentioned. Also Felipe Prince of Asturias was present.

October 6th
Prince Claus of the Netherlands was again admitted in the Allgemeines Krankenhaus Barmbek in Hamburg, Germany. He had to cancel his trip to Toledo yesterday and the trip to Luxembourg tomorrow. He was reported to hospital on Wednesday and the check-up ran out. He is said to return home tomorrow. He underwent a small urologically operation.

Palace officials have officially said Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg is no longer in a coma and has recovered conciousness to such an extent that he recognises visiting members of his family. Medical staff also say the prince shows no sign of suffering any kind of permanent paralysis.

October 7th
Luxembourg has a new Grand Duke.

October 9th
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands escaped being taken as a hostage in the night from 3 to 4 March, 1975. More than 40 men from the Moluc Islands who lived in the Netherlands wanted to capture Soestdijk Palace and had made preparations for months. They were armed and had some 500 men more in the background who could eventually help. Their goal was to speak with the Queen and force the Dutch governement to take the side of the Moluc people in the conflict with Indonesia. The 40 men were halted about 30 minutes from the Palace in that night. Coincidently the police arrested the two men who had to get the transport. Further the Dutch Security Service had heard something, most likely because of betrayal by one of the people who knew about the plans.

The new president Kostunica of Yougoslavia opened the door to a return home for the Yougoslavian royal family, exiled in Great Britain since World War II. He has insisted that the Belgrade White Palace shall be handed back to the royal family. He let know that he wants a referendum on the return of the House of Karageorgevich (although not as Kings). But aides have given a warning that giving back the palace to the family would set a dangerous precendent, as many other families would demand the return of their property seized by the state during World War II. Crown Prince Aleksandar of Yougoslavia said at his London home that it had always been his dream to return to his homeland, but he would do so only in the proper way. He hasn't received an official invitation yet. The Prince first visited his homeland in 1991 and then half a million people lined the streets to greet him.

October 10th
Another success for Princess Caroline of Monaco against the press. The German magazine Gala has to pay her DM 200.000 for harming her personal rights.

October 11th
Victoria Federica de Todos los Santos de Marichalar y Bórbon was baptised in the chapel of the Palacio de la Zarzuela by the archbishop of Madrid, another archbishop and the chaplain of the Palacio de la Zarzuela. Present were King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, Infante Cristina and Iñaki Urdangarín with their son Juan, Margarita and Pilar (the two sisters of King Juan Carlos) with most of their children, Queen Anne Marie of Greece, Princess Irene of Greece, Don Carlos and Doña Ana de Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and several other members of both families. Godparents of Victoria Federica were Felipe Prince of Asturias and Ana de Marichalar.

Crown Prince Aleksandar of Yougoslavia and his wife Katherine will go to Belgrade, Yougoslavia, on Sunday to congratulate the new president Kostunica.

A proposal for Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain to jointly pray with Pope John Paul II during a Vatican visit next week is dropped.

October 12th
A new inquiry by the Dutch television tells us 70% of the Dutch people is in favor of the monarchy, 13% wants a republic. Willem-Alexander Prince of Oranje passed his father since the last inquiry several months ago, and got 36% of the votes now as the most popular member of the Royal Family. His father got 31%. About 67% of the people think Willem-Alexander is ready to ascend the Dutch throne.

Security has been intensified around Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and his girlfriend Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby after fears reportedly surfaced that he may be the target of kidnappers. A Norwegian weekly magazine claims key figures in Oslo crime circles planned to nab him last autumn. Security cameras were installed in the apartment complex in Oslo where he lives at the moment and also in the apartment he is about to move in. Police reportedly remain concerned that his girlfriend maintains links to people with criminal records.

The neurological state of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg is still improving. In the coming weeks the doctors are taking care of the bones the prince broke and are busy with his revalidation. Princess Sibilla and the parents of Prince Guillaume continue to stay with him every day.

The past few days Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg have paid visits to France and Germany. In Paris that they visited on October 9th and 10th, they have had lunch with President Jacques Chirac. They further watched the Manet exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay. They have been to Berlin yesterday and today. After a reception at the Luxembourg Embassy they met President Johannes Rau and had lunch with him at the Bellevue Castle. The Grand Duke went to the Reichstag (parliament) and together the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess visited the Brandenburger Tor.

October 14th
A spokesman of the Saudi-Arabian government has said that a member of the royal family of Saudi Arabia was on board of the airplane that was hijacked by two Saudi-Arabians today above Cairo, Egypt. The plane was on its way from Jeddah to London. After landing in Iraq the hijacking ended in the evening.

Prince Ernst August of Hanover has apologised to the chef of Bild magazine for insulting her on the telephone after the magazine had written that the Prince had piddled against the wall of the Turkish pavilion at the Expo2000.

October 15th
A British tabloid reports that Father Frank Gelli, curate at St Mary Abbots Church near Kensington Palace, has revealed Princess Diana of Wales asked if he could conduct her wedding ceremony with Dodi el-Fayed in the weeks before she was killed in August 1997.

It is said Princess Stephanie of Monaco started singing again and is recording a new cd at her own house. Halfway the 80's she had a short singing carreer. Her biggest hit (as far as I know) was a song called "Ouragan".

October 16th
The British magazine Star names Lord Frederick Windsor the most desirable bachelor of Great Britain.

Prince Albert of Monaco finally managed to be named in the French edition of Who's Who. The reason he wasn't named in it before was simple: he didn't fill in the application form earlier.

Since yesterday Crown Prince Alexander of Yougoslavia is visiting Yougoslavia together with his wife Katharina. They have met the new president Kostunica and his wife. Everywhere the royal couple shows up they are greeted by thousands of enthusiastic people who carry photos of the royal family and old Yougoslavian flags.

Lars Petter Forberg, chef of the royal court, under pressure following months of intense and unusually critical media coverage of the royal family, reportedly confirmed a royal engagement during a meeting today with the heads of major newspapers and television stations. But the crown prince stressed later in the afternoon that "we're not engaged yet." Haakon and his girlfriend, Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, made a rare appearance together in a local Oslo park, strolling hand in hand in a somewhat bizarre walk that attracted hordes of reporters. Haakon said the pair didn't want to hold any sort of press conference there and then, adding that "we really just want to tone all this down." He warned against anyone jumping to any conclusions regarding an eventual engagement. Palace officials later toned down their earlier statements and said they certainly didn't mean to make any engagement announcement. In fact, admitted the top palace spokesman, "we are not aware that Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby have decided to get engaged." On the meeting with the press it was said the couple hadn't set a date yet and it is not clear if the engagement will take place before or after the New Year (the Norwegian magazines have guessed about the date the past week). It is said Mette-Marit is going to meet the press before the end of the year.

Kronprins Haakon og Mette-Marit

October 17th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Italy yesterday for a four-day-visit. Yesterdayevening a dinner was held for them. Also filmstar Sophia Loren and writer Umberto Eco were invited. Today the Queen, dressed in black with a small veil, was received for a 20-minute meeting by Pope John Paul II in his study. It was the fourth time the Queen visited the Vatican. The last time she was there was 20 years ago.

October 19th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain spent the final day of the state visit to Italy sampling Milan's cultural and business life. Together with the Duke of Edinburgh she viewed Leonardo da Vinci's fresco The Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie complex. The Queen also visited a design centre while the Duke of Edinburgh attended a telecommunications trade fair. Last night a concert in the Queen's honour was held at La Scala opera house.

October 23rd
Prince Claus of the Netherlands underwent an urological operation at the Barmbek Hospital in Hamburg, Germany, last weekend. He complained about pain during a private visit in Hamburg and was taken to hospital. A temporary stoma was placed. According to the doctors the complaints are the result of a ray treatment after an earlier operation. The Government Information Service says the prince is recovering well.

For the first time in history the Christmas speech of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will also be shown on the television this year. On December 25th the Queen's speech can be seen on television and heard on the radio at the same time.

October 24th
Willem-Alexander Prince of Oranje has started a three-day-visit to Morocco. At the airport of Rabat he was greeted by Prince Rashid, the brother of King Mohammed VI, and children of Dutch people who live in Morocco dressed in traditional Moroccan costumes. He has paid a visit to the Royal Mausoleum in Rabat. He will also visit a mosque in Casablanca, talk with Dutch people and businessmen, and visit drinking-waterprovisions.

The opposition at Barbados says the proposed referendum on whether to keep Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain as their symbolic leader is too vague.

The Times reports that the Prince of Wales suggested five years ago that Catholics should be able to ascend to the British throne. He made the remarks in a private conversation with politicians Tony Blair and Paddy Ashdown after they had attended the funeral of Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin, according to a serialisation of Mr. Ashdown's diaries in the newspaper. Mr. Ashdown claims the Prince said: "I really can't think why we can't have Catholics on the throne."

October 25th
Clothes worn by Diana Princess of Wales go on display this week at Kensington Palace together with the original sketches, patterns and embroidery.

Willem-Alexander Prince of Oranje visited the town of Al Hoceima during his visit to Morocco, that is broadcasted extensively on the Moroccan television. In Al Hoceima the Prince met a remigrated Moroccan who had lived in the Netherlands and visited some industries set up by remigrants. In the evening he was received by King Mohammed VI at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, where he also met Prince Moulay Rachid again and also the three sisters of the King.

October 26th
Jorge Zorreguieta, the father of Máxima (girlfriend of the Prince of Oranje), said in an interview in the Argentinian weekly magazine Noticias that he refuses to renounce his role in the last Argentinian dictatorship. He says he is not impressed by the criticism he gets in the Netherlands.

October 27th
The Duke of York has told how he was once disciplined at prep school, but that his parents had never hit him. He said he received one "sanction" at school and was unsure smacking was the right action to take against a child. He says he has ruled out smacking his own two daughters.

October 28th
Prince Claus of the Netherlands was released from hospital and arrived back home at Palace Huis ten Bosch.

October 29th
The palace church of Wittenberg, Germany, after one year of restoration, got back its 18 metres high spire on top of the totally 88 metres high tower of the church.

October 30th
Prince Maurits van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven and his wife Marilène, who married in May 1998, expect their first child at the end of April 2001.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark paid a private visit to the Ballet Centre in Hamburg, Germany. She watched the ballet "Messias" of John Neumeier and later went behind the scenes to speak with the performers. She also visited the ballet boarding school and attended the exercises.

October 31st
A French court has rejected a request by Mohamed el-Fayed to revive charges against photographers over the death of Diana Princess of Wales and his son Dodi. A ruling that nine paparazzi and a photo agency motorcyclist bore no legal blame for the crash was upheld. Judges said the crash was the fault of driver Henri Paul who had been drinking. Mr el-Fayed said pursuing photographers forced Henri Paul to speed.


Royal News: September 2000.Last updated: October 1st, 2000.