Last updated: November 1st, 2009.
October 1st
In an interview last week in the Norwegian magazine Massiv Ari Behn, husband of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, sounds rather depressing, and says that generally he is chronically depressed. He says his daughters help him to stay positive, and that his family is the finest in the world. He fears most that he won't manage to raise his daughters to be independent, wise individuals with critical empathy and a sense of reality. He says also he is difficult as a husband.
The civil wedding of Igor Bogdanoff and Amélie de Bourbon-Parme, illegitimate daughter of Prince Michel de Bourbon-Parme and Laure Le Bourgeois, took place today at the townhall of the 16th arrondissement in Paris, France. The party is to take place at Chambord Castle on Saturday.
October 3rd
Karl-Philip Prinzhorn married Countess Anna von und zu Eltz at the parish church at Altaussee, Austria, today. The bride's parents are Count Alexander and Countess Maria von und zu Eltz. The groom is the son of Thomas Prinzhorn and Countess Therese zu Hardegg, and a stepson of Fürst Karl von Schwarzenberg.
Princess Thobile Dlamini of Swaziland, daughter of Prince Sobandla, married Linuyisa Magagula at the Summerfields Botanical Gardens in Swaziland today. Bridesmaid was the bride's sister Princess Bhekiwe. The couple already has a daughter, Lamlela, who acted as flower girl.
Queen Fatima Al-Shifa Al-Sinousi of Libya, one of the wifes of the late King Idris Al-Sinousi of Libya, died today at hospital in Cairo, Egypt. She will be buried at Medina, Saudi Arabia. She was born in 1911. She and her husband had to leave Libya in 1969, and both never returned.
October 5th
Prince William Nadhiope Gabula IV has been elected as the new Kyabazinga of the Busoga Kingdom, Uganda, a year after the death of the previous Kyabazinga, Henry Wako Muloki. He was elected by nine of the eleven royal chiefs in Jinja town, the other two royal chiefs didn't attend the election. Edward Columbus Wambuzi, the late Kyabazinga's son, took over the office after his father's death, but now has to hand it over. The election was however held in defiance to a court decision that the election shouldn't be take place until all cases regarding the legality of the election of Edward Columbus Wambuzi were concluded. The enthronement of Prince William Nadhiope Gabula IV is set to take place at Bugembe on 26 October.
October 6th
The Luxemburg Grand-Ducal court issued new official pictures of the Grand-Ducal family on the occasion of the 9th throne jubilee of Grand Duke Henri.
October 7th
The engagement was announcement between Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme, eldest son and heir of the Duke of Parma and Princess Irene of the Netherlands, and Annemarie Gualthérie van Weezel. The marriage is to take place in 2010. Annemarie Cecilia Gualthérie van Weezel was born in The Hague, Netherlands, on 18 December 1977 as daughter of Hans Gualthérie van Weezel and Ank de Visser. At the moment she is parliamentary editor for the NOS television in The Hague. Her father was a Dutch politician and is a former Dutch ambassador in Luxemburg.
October 8th
After a lengthy debate in the Second Chamber about the costs of the monarchy, following weeks of criticism, the Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende came with a few proposals. He said that in the future only members of the royal family who receive an apanage of the government - presently Queen Beatrix, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima - should be allowed to use the government plane and other transportation for private use for a certain amount of hours. Now also other members of the Royal House can make use of it. He also wants to see if it is possible that the right of the royals to donate without paying taxes, can only be limited to the monarch, the heir to the throne and eventually their partners. It became also clear that the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima are not going to quit the building project in Mozambique, where they are building a new vacation house. Balkenende says he has always been informed well by them about the situation.
Scientists who have researched the "cursed blood" disorder that afflicted the descendants of Queen Victoria of Great Britain in the 19th and early 20th century say in the journal "Science" that they have found the identity. They say it was probably a severe form of the blood clotting disorder haemophilia B. They examned DNA samples from the skeletal remains of the Russian Imperial family. The research was led by Dr Evgeny Rogaev of the University of Massachusetts.
October 9th
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands was admitted to the Gelre hospital in Apeldoorn on Thursday evening with an infection of the bronchial tubes. She was released from hospital this morning. Her mother Princess Máxima stayed with Ariane the whole night and cancelled an appointment today.
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was choosen a member of the International Olympic Committee this morning on the last day of the 121st IOC-session in Copenhagen, Denmark. 77 members voted in favour of him, nine members said no, and six members didn't vote. He received the congratulations from other members and was even hugged by his now double colleague the Prince of Orange.
October 10th
The Thai Royal Household Bureau said today that the general condition of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is stable. He is also starting to eat and sleep better.
Albania announced yesterday that it wants to have the remains King Zog of the Albanians and Mother Theresa returned to Albania. King Zog is buried at the Thiais Cemetery near Paris, after he died in exile in France. If his remains would be returned, he would be reburied at the private cemetery of the royal family near Tirana.
October 11th
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands celebrated his 40th birthday today. A big private party with noble and royal friends took place at Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague on Saturday. The Dutch royal court released new pictures of the Prince and his family.
King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians attended the canonisation of five new saints at the Vatican today, including the Belgian priest Damiaan. They were received by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday and also had a brief meeting with him after the canonisation on Sunday.
Prince Moulay Rachid, brother of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, fell ill on a flight from Casablanca to Paris. Afterwards he was admitted to a hospital in Paris for the necessary medical examinations. His condition is said to be "stable and not giving rise to any concern". The nature of his illness wasn't announced.
October 12th
Rumours that Prince Kiril and Princess Rosario of Bulgaria have marital problems has been confirmed by the Prince's father former King Simeon II of Bulgaria. The couple has already been living separated for some time, but are not considering an official divorce. The couple married in 1989 and have three children.
October 13th
A book written by Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein was published by Frank P. van Eck Verlagsanstalt in Triesen, Liechtenstein. The book is called "The State in the Third Millennium" and is written in English.
October 14th
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg appeared in public again for the first time after her gynaecological operation a few weeks ago. She briefly appeared on the side of her husband Grand Duke Henri for an official picture at the first day of the state visit of Mary McAleese, president of Ireland. Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume accompanied his father and the Irish guests.
October 15th
An official of the Royal Household Bureau today said that the health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is improving. The official said: "His Majesty's condition is improving and he does not need further medical treatment other than physical therapy which may take a long time. Now what he simply needs is exercise to help ease fatigue."
October 16th
It was revealed today that Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and her family will celebrated Queen's Day 2010 in the province of Zeeland. They will visit the village Wemeldinge and the town Middelburg. The day before the Queen and other member of the family will reveal a monument to remember the victims of the attack on Queen's Day 2009 in Apeldoorn.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco arrived in Paris, France, on Wednesday for a private visit. He visited his brother Prince Moulay Rachid who was taken to hospital in Paris a week ago, but was released from hospital after three days. Already on Sunday it was announced that medical check-ups revealed his health is normal. President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and his wife Carla Bruni hosted a reception in honour of the King at the Elysée. The reception was also attended by the King's siblings Prince Moulay Rachid, Princess Lalla Meryem, Princess Lalla Asmaa and Princess Lalla Hasna.
October 18th
The Royal Household Bureau last night said that the lungs of King Bhumibol Adulyadej are still inflamed, and that the doctors administered a new dosage of antibiotics. His fever has lessened and he has been able to eat and sleep well.
October 19th
In Uganda 56-year-old Charles Wesley Mumbere officially became the new Iremangoma (King) of Rwenzururu during rituals at the palace in Kasese last night and this morning. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda was present and addressed the parliament of Rwenzururu today. The kingdom was recently restored by the president, who says traditional institutions are restored in areas where the people ask for it. Charles Wesley Mumbere inherited the title from his father on 19 October 1966, but was banned in 1967. The coronation could take place now because the kingdom was recognised by the Ugandan government. He lived in the USA for nearly 25 years.
October 20th
According to a new book called "Royale Rejser-bag kulisserne med de kongelige" (Royal Travels-Behind the Scenes with the Monarchy), by John Lindskog, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark will hand over her position to Crown Prince Frederik on her 70th birthday (16 April 2010), and retire to France with her husband. She would be the first Danish monarch to abdicate. In a reaction the Danish royal coursts says that the Queen has no plans to abdicate. The Queen herself has said several times in interviews in the past that she would never abdicate.
On the occasion of her 75th birthday today Empress Michiko of Japan has written down her thoughts looking back over the past year.
October 21st
Queen Fabiola of the Belgians will not appear in public anymore in the near future. According to the royal palace she isn't ill, but still tired. They say she needs rest and is still recovering from the pneumonia she suffered in January. She last appeared in public on 31 July.
October 23th
The Duchess of York has sold the TV and merchandising rights to her children's books. The buyer is HandMade Films. It is thought the Duchess sold the rights to pay off her debts.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej made his first public appearance since he was hospitalised on 19 September. Doctors pushed his wheelchair at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. Today was a public holiday to commemorate the death of King Chulalongkorn of Thailand. The King also paid homage to his late parents and visited an exhibition about his mother in the hospital. Before returning to his hospital room he also visited a bookstore. The Royal Household Bureau says that his health is "stable".
Karl-Theodor Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg will become Minister of Defence in the new German government of Angela Merkel. Since February 2009 he was Minister of Economic Affairs.
October 26th
Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, was installed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia) today in the Balairong Seri (throne room) of the Istana Besar Seri Menanti. He was proclaimed the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar on 29 December 2008, two days after the death of his uncle. The royal regalia were put up in the compound of the Istana Besar Seri Menanti by 99 ceremonial guards on 22 October, and in that night a tahlil session and reading of the Yasin were held at the Tuanku Munawir Royal Mosque there. The "Raja Kita" exhibition was held on 24 October, followed on 25 October by the royal bathing ceremony. A concert was held today. A royal dinner will be held tomorrow at the Dewan Banquet in the Istana Besar Seri Menanti. And on the 28th there will be a people's feast and a dinner with the people. Other festivities like fireworks and a cultural carnival take place on October 29, while a float procession will take place on 30 October. The installation was attended by the Crown Prince and Crownprincess of Brunei Darussalam and the Crown Prince of Kelantan. The Dewan banquet was among others attended by the Sultans of Brunei, Perak, Kedah, Pahang, Terengganu and Selangor, as well as by the crown princes of Kelantan and Perlis.
The District Administrative Court in Sofia decided that wood can be cut in the Forest Estate in Borovets, that was restored to former King Simeon II of Bulgaria and his sister. The royals had appealed when the court banned the wood-cutting early October.
Archduchess Gabriela of Austria has been appointed by President Saakashvili as the new ambassador of Georgia to Germany. The appointment has still to be approved by the Georgian parliament. The archduchess holds the Georgian nationality, and has been teaching in the Academy of Arts in Tbilisi since 2001.
October 27th
Prince Hermann Otto zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich "Hermann Otto Solms" has been chosen as one of the new vice-presidents of the newly chosen German Bundestag (Parliament).
October 28th
Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands today presented her first children's book "Mr Finney en de wereld op zijn kop" (Mr Finney and the world upside down) in Rotterdam. The book was illustrated by Sieb Posthuma. The book is to be the first in a series of books about Mr Finney. The main theme of this book is the environment.
October 30th
King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway have been vaccinated against the swine flu, the royal court in Norway confirmed. Sven Gjeruldsen of the royal court said: "This has been done as they meet many people via their work."
Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand told the audience outside the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok today that her father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is doing well. She said: "I wanted to tell everyone that the king's condition has significantly improved. I think soon he will regain his strength and return to the palace. He has no fever and is continuing to get physical therapy. He can stand up and walk with a walker. He practises walking every day."
92-year-old Prince Mikasa of Japan, an uncle of Emperor Akihito, was hospitalised in Tokyo today after he was diagnosed as having suffered a minor cardiac arrest. He is expected to stay in hospital for about one week. He was also hospitalised in June for acute heart failure.
Royal News: September 2009. Last updated: October 6th, 2009.