ROYAL NEWS: SEPTEMBER 2000

Last updated: October 1st, 2000

September 1st
Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands officially opened the new golf-links Lage Vuursche in Den Dolder. He was accompanied by his father Prince Claus.

The school of Amedeo and Maria-Laura, the eldest children of Princess Astrid of Belgium and Prince Lorenz of Belgium Archduke of Austria-Este started again today. Their parents brought them to the Sint Jan Berchmans College.

Friedrich Wilhelm Prince zu Wied, head of the house of Wied, died in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada, on August 28th.

September 2nd
Frances Shand Kydd, mother of the late Diana Princess of Wales, has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of her daughter. She told the Daily Express she was told about the death an hour before it was made public. She was not asked to go to Paris to collect the body and was not consulted on the funeral arrangements. She was also never telephoned by a member of the Royal Family offering support and sympathy.

St James's Palace said Prince William of Great Britain is on an educational trip on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. He is working on a project involving the National Geographic Society. He will stay at Mauritius for a few weeks.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry were present at the 183-year-old Highland Games in Scotland, which featured Highland dancing, music and sports.

On September 18th, the Earl of Wessex will receive a special award at Boston University for his work as a TV producer.

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway bought an apartment on the Ullevalsveien 67 (upper floor) near the centre of Oslo for about 5 million Norwegian crowns. He is going to live there together with his girlfriend Mette-Marit Tjessem-Hoiby and her three-year-old son Marius. Mette-Marit was born on August 19th, 1973, as daughter and youngest child of Sven Hoiby and Marit Tjessem, who divorced later. Mette-Marit's son Marius was born in January 1997.

September 3rd
Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden paid a 3-day visit to the Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany. On Friday they visited the Swedish pavilion and enjoyed a concert in the evening in the Feasthall of the Herrenhäuser Gardens. Yesterday they saw a performance of the play Faust. Today they paid a private visit to the Expo 2000.

Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia began a monthlong trip that will combine vacation with appearances at the United Nations and OPEC summit in Venezuela.

In an interview in the Sunday Express Frances Shand Kydd, mother of the late Diana Princess of Wales has attacked Mohamed al-Fayed for his conspiracy theories about her daughter's death. She slammed "fantasy theorists" who continued to claim Diana and Dodi al-Fayed were murdered. She had found no shred of evidence of a conspiracy against the couple.

September 4th
Yesterday Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden confirmed to the Swedish newspaper "Expressen" that Daniel Collert is her boyfriend.

September 5th
The Times reports that Trevor Rees-Jones, the bodyguard who survived the car crash in which Diana Princess of Wales died, has taken up the post of deputy head of security for the United Nations in Suai, East Timor. He started his new job already on August 4th.

Rumours are going on that soon an engagement of Felipe Prince of Asturias and Princess Carolina of Bourbon of Parme will be announced. Today a serious Dutch newspaper took over the gossip press story of the past summer. The secretary of Princess Irene van Lippe-Biesterfeld, sister of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and mother of Carolina, came up with an official announcement hours after the appearance of the newspaper, telling the story was absolutely not true.

September 6th
Prince Claus of the Netherlands celebrated his 74th birthday today. He stayed home with his family. It was announced the prince will be there on Prinsjesdag on September 19th and that he and Queen Beatrix will visit the Dutch Antilles again in the beginning of 2001.

The Duke and Duchess of York brought their daughter Beatrice to St George's School in Ascot, Berkshire, Great Britain, this morning. Princess Beatrice started secondary school on the 9000 British pound-a-year girl's school near her home in Sunningdale today.

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited the Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany, on the Nations Day of Norway. After a short speech he visited the Norwegian pavilion.

September 7th
The Prince of Wales has announced a new architecture scholarship commemorating murdered black youth Stephen Lawrence, who was an A-level student working at an architects' firm when he was killed by racists in 1993. The Prince was speaking at an inaugurat London lecture dedicated to Stephen. He said he hoped his foundation would help increase the proportion of black and ethnic minority practitioners in the field of architecture.

September 8th
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark finished his basic pilot's education at Flyvestation Karup faster than expected. His father Prince Henrik pinned on the wings on Frederik's uniform under the eye of Queen Margrethe and Prince Joachim. On September 13th Frederik and Joachim leave for Australia. Until September 18th they will visit the Olympic Games in Sydney, and again from September 24th to 29th, when they will meet their aunt Princess Benedikte and her daugther Nathalie, who is reserve of the Danish equestrian team. From September 19th to September 23rd Frederik and Joachim will travel through Australia.

Princess Haya of Jordan will compete for Jordan at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She is a member of the equestrian team. She was chosen in the team just a few weeks ago. At first she didn't manage, but now she is a member of the team after all. Another competitor is of course Iñaki Urdangarín, the husband of Infante Cristina of Spain who is a player in the successful Spanish handball team. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway can still only dream about competing, but is in Sydney as supporter of the Norwegian team both weeks.

September 9th
Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium arrived in New York for a four-day visit that is meant to improve the image of Belgium and to promote Belgian products. Some days ago the couple gave their first interview. To the big disappointment of the Belgian journalists it was given (written) to the New York Times. In the interview the couple mostly talked about the good things of Belgium. Prince Philippe also said that Mathilde is a wonderful wife.

This afternoon Infante Elena of Spain and her husband Jaime de Marichalar became the proud parents of Victoria Federica. She was born in the Clínica Rúber Internacional in Madrid by caesarian section at 13:00 local time. She weighs 3.530 grammes and is 53 centimetres tall. The baby was named after the late Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain and Queen Frederika of Greece. Queen Sofia was the first visitor just minutes after the birth. She was soon followed by Infanta Cristina, Princess Alexia of Greece and Princess Irene of Greece.

Archaeologists have discovered two hidden tombs thought to be those of the secret granddaughter of King George III of Great Britain and her niece. The find was made in St Peter's parish church in Carmarthen, Wales, during re-tilling of the floor. One of the tombstones carries the name of Charlotte Dalton - a descendant from George III's supposed secret first marriage with Hannah Lightfoot. The find may explain why the monarch donated an organ to the church.

September 10th
About 0:55 local time Prince Guillaume and Prince Sibilla of Luxembourg had a car accident at the motorway A10 close to Briis-sous-Forges near Paris, France. Two other cars were involved in the accident. Prince Guillaume was taken to the Hospital Henri-Mondor in Créteil. His condition is said to be critical. He has a fracture of the skull and is in a coma. Princess Sibilla was brought to the hospital in Evry with a broken leg. Grand Duke Jean and his wife Joséphine-Charlotte immediately travelled to France after hearing about the accident.

September 11th
Princess Christina of the Netherlands presented her cd "My Christmas Album" in the Hotels of Oranje in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The cd contains 18 international Christmas carrols sung by the princess in the seven original languages. The princess herself helped with all aspects of the production, including the lay out. She told the press she has enjoyed the recording very much. She started singing on an early age and says now the moment has come to come out as she and her voice are ready for it now. The cd goes on sale on October 2nd, one month earlier than originally was planned. The people's interest in the cd is enormous: more than 200.000 cd's are already ordered. Part of the proceeds will go to the Princess Christina Contest - some of the former winners can be heard on the cd. On September 14th, in the same hotel as the cd-presentation, the princess will record the television concert that will be broadcasted on the Dutch television in December.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden stops hunting for elks in Västergötland, Sweden. The population of elks in the area is too small.

The condition of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg is still serious but stable.

September 12th
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg decided to return from Sydney, Australia, after hearing about the terrible car accident of his youngest brother Guillaume and his wife Sibilla. Henri was present at the Olympic Games as a member of the International Olympic Committee.

September 13th
People Magazine mentioned Prince William among the best dressed men in the world.

Infanta Elena of Spain and her husband Jaime de Marichalar presented their daughter Victoria Federica to the press.

September 14th
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark arrived in Fredericia, Denmark, with their yacht Dannebrog for the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the town. They among others visited the Brande Höjskole and the queen unveiled a sculpture of Björn Nörgard.

September 15th
Prince Harry of Great Britain celebrated his 16th birthday at Eton College. His father, the Prince of Wales, refused to receive an exceptional position in the benzine crisis and cancelled some official and private appointments to save some benzine.

Famous Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti said to be very surprised about the singing qualities of Princess Christina of the Netherlands. He listened to the cd during an interview with a Dutch journalist.

September 16th
The Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, started. Princess Haya proudly carried the Jordan flag into the Olympic stadium.

September 18th
Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg left the hospital in Evry late in the afternoon.

September 19th
The Grand Ducal court in Luxembourg announced the throne ceremony will be postponed to October 7th. On that day Grand Duke Jean will abdicate and Grand Duke Henri will be sworn in in a ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady in Luxembourg City. The events planned for September 23rd and 24th are postponed to spring. The critical state of Prince Guillaume requires the presence of his parents, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, in Paris, France, in the next 5 to 10 days. Prince Guillaume is very seriously injured at his head and suffers also from other very serious injuries.

Prince Ernst August of Hannover has become reconciled with the Austrian policeman he is said to have abused in November 1999 at the Austrian border.

September 23rd
Researchers of the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, have found a royal letter with the handwriting of Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt in the coffin of a mummy in Berlin, Germany. In the letter a Roman citizen is granted examption of taxes. According to the researchers Cleopatra herself wrote down one sentence on the letter: "This has to happen like this." The handwriting, dating from 33 B, is considered to be the first handwriting of Cleopatra ever found.

Prince Hubertus von Hohenzollern, youngest son of Prince Johann Georg and Princess Birgitta of Sweden, and his girlfriend Ute König married in the Sant Marc Chapel of the Bellver Castle on the Spanish Island of Mallorca. The civil wedding seems to have taken place several weeks ago in Germany. The bride is five months pregnant.

September 24th
Her former private secretary, Patrick Jephson has written a book about Princess Diana of Wales: "Shadows of a Princess". Extracts of the book appeared in The Sunday Times today. In the book he claims the British royal family forced the princess to become a scheming rebel who lied, plotted, indulged herself in alternative health therapies, sweets and rude humour, and sacked off staff compulsively. She is also said to have had the need to draw attention to herself. Jephson also writes the princess scorned the royal family as "the Germans". Buckingham Palace had hoped to stop the book, but strong representations of Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales failed. Patrick Jephson himself has denied his book will hurt Prince William and Prince Harry, saying they would learn nothing new which was harmful.

The Earl of Snowdon, the former husband of Princess Margaret of Great Britain, divorced for the second time. He married his second wife Lucy in 1978, after divorcing Princess Margaret. His wife Lucy asked for divorce after it was revealed that the Earl had a child with another woman.

September 25th
A press communiqué from the Luxembourg grand-duchal court concerning prince Guillaume of Luxembourg's state seems to say that his condition has improved a bit.

The Duchess of York's former dresser (1988-1997), Jane Andrews, was arrested on Wednesday after her boyfriend was found stabbed to death in their appartment near London on Monday. She appeared before Court today and was remanded in custody for one week.

September 26th
Yesterday Princess Haya of Jordan participated in the equestrian individual show jumping event at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She competed against 75 top competitors around the world. To her own big disappointment she only came in a 68th place and didn't qualify for the final.

This morning at 2:22 local time Queen Rania of Jordan gave birth to her second daughter, who was named Salma, at the Al Hussein Medical Centre in Amman. Salma weighs 3,3 kilogrammes and was instantly given the title of princess by her father. Both mother and child are doing well according to the royal palace.

After visiting the Olympic Games in Sydney Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium arrived in Japan on Sunday for a four-day visit after being invited by Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Masako. Yesterday they visited the national museum in Tokyo and had dinner at the royal palace in the evening together with Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Princess Sayako.

The Duchess of York and some other ex-employers of Jane Andrews have been quizzed by the police who are investigating the death of Miss Andrews' boyfriend. Detectives visited the Duchess at her home in Sunninghill, Berkshire.

Archaeologists in Honduras have found what they believe could be the remains of one of the rulers of the Mayan indian dynasty. The skull, femur and other bones are encrusted with jade and were found on top of a tomb not far from the ancient Mayan city of Copan. Experts believe the tomb was set in a courtyard used for ritual ceremonies. The tomb is one of several found by workmen repairing a local road.

September 27th
At the Van Praetlaan a part of the wall around the Royal Property in Laeken, Belgium, fell down. Fragments of the wall lie on the busy road to Brussels.

September 29th
Queen Rania of Jordan left hospital with her newborn daughter Salma.

In Dillenburg, Germany, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands unveiled a statue of her forefather Prince Willem of Oranje (1533-1584), who was born at the Castle of Dillenburg that was destroyed at the end of the 18th century. The bronze statue, made by Eva Broschek, got its place next to the Wilhelmsturm (William's Tower) that was built on the spot of the former castle in 1875.

In his first TV interview Prince William of Great Britain has said he and his brother Harry felt their mother's trust was betrayed by her private secretary Patrick Jephson, who has written a book about her. He said the book, which gives details about the late Princess Diana's private life, was exploiting her.

September 30th
Iñaki Urdangarín, the husband of Infante Cristina of Spain, won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Sydney with the Spanish handball team of which he is the captain. They beat the team of Yougoslavia with 26-22. Among the public were his wife Cristina, son Juan, Queen Sofia of Spain and Felipe Prince of Asturias. Iñaki had already said he wanted to stop playing handball after the Olympic Games.

During a short meeting of the International Olympic Committee it was decided by lot that Willem-Alexander Prince of Oranje has to resign as a member of the IOC in 2007.

On September 14th Baroness Christina Silfverschiöld, daughter of Princess Désirée of Sweden, and her husband Hans de Geer af Finspang became the proud parents of a daughter, who has not gotten a name yet.


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