ROYAL NEWS: SEPTEMBER 2001

Last updated: October 6th, 2001.

September 1st
Princess Désirée zu Schaumburg-Lippe married Danish noble Michael Iuel today at Glesborg Church in Denmark today. He is the youngest son of Niels Iuel (1924-2001) and Jonkvrouwe Sylvia van Lennep (1932-). Among the 180 guests were Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark, Count Ingolf and Countess Sussie of Rosenborg.

September 2nd
Yesterday the Belgian newspaper De Standaard wrote Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium is expecting twins. They base the story on the inquiry of the Cabinet of Justice about the subject. They say that in case of twins the first born will be the heir to the throne. The Royal Palace denies having given the order to research this. Today the newspaper La Derniere Heure quotes Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz, father of Mathilde, saying the news is double nonsense.

September 4th
The Prince of Orange and his fiancée Máxima Zorreguieta started their Happy Entrances tour through The Netherlands in the province of North Brabant. In the morning their helicopter landed in Breda, where the tour started at the Castle of Breda with a lecture about municipal co-operation. Thereafter they were driven to the church where several of the Prince's ancestors were buried and made a walk through the town. After Breda they travelled to Tilburg where the subject was young, flashing and quick. In 's-Hertogenbosch they took the boat through the town. Finally they went by train to Eindhoven, where they watched art at the design academy. All together about 60.000 people stood along the route and the couple got hundreds of nice presents, including a Máxima barbie doll.

September 5th
Today King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were paying a visit to the wildlife bird reserve in Varberg, where they were greeted by about 500 people. At the start of the visit a 16-year-old boy threw a strawberry cake into the face of the King. The boy immediately was arrested by the bodyguards. The king made light of the incident, laughing and even patting the boy on the back asking if he was OK after the rough treatment he got from bodyguards. After the King cleaned his face and changed clothes the programm continued.

September 8th
A competition is to be held to decide the design of the memorial fountain for Diana Princess of Wales, which is to be built in Hyde Park in London. It will be unveiled in 2003. The Royal Parks Agency says it is looking for a work of art which is fresh and imaginative.

September 9th
Today the office of King Konstantinos II of Greece announced that Princess Alexia of Greece and her husband Carlos Morales Quintana expect their first child in late February. The King and Queen Anne Marie say they are eagerly looking forward to the birth of their fourth grandchild.

The Queen Mother has attended a service at Crathie Church near Balmoral, joined by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Recently her health has been the subject of much speculation, since she was diagnosed as suffering from anaemia shortly before her 101st birthday. Concern mounted when the Prince of Wales cancelled a trip to Jordan with Camilla Parker Bowles last week. Last week there even were some rumours that she had died.

Yesterday Alexandra-Nadejda Chrobok, daughter of Princess Maria-Luisa of Bulgaria and Bronislaw Chrobok, married Jorge Champalimaud Raposo de Magalhães at the Church of St António in Estoril, Portugal. Among the guests were the Duke and Duchess of Bragança. Her father led Alexandra to the altar.

September 10th
In Sakkara, Egypt, Japanese archeologists have discovered a sepulchral chamber with fragments of at least 15 statues. One of them, a sphinx figure sitting between two lion's paws, bears the name of Pharaoh Cheops. It is the first proof of a Cheops-culture during the 26th dynasty (2620-2580 BC).

The Prince of Orange and his fiancée Máxima Zorreguieta paid their second visit of acquaintance today. They visited Amsterdam and were received by burgomaster Job Cohen at the town hall while some thousands of people cheered them. Geert Mak, a writer, gave a lecture called "Bird's-eye view above Amsterdam" about Amsterdam's history. Afterwards the couple visited the Hollandsche Schouwburg, the theatre from where in World War II ten thousands of Jews were taken to the Dutch transit camp Westerbork. Máxima Zorreguieta was very moved. From there an historical tram took the couple through town to the building of the Nederlandsche Bank. On their way they visited an old people's home, a children's creche and a market. The day ended with a circular trip by boat through the canals of Amsterdam.

September 11th
Eight small marble statues are stolen from the tomb of Eurydice, grandmother of Alexander the Great, who died in 365 BC. The statues are women's figures, flowers and sphinxes.

The fountain pen used by King Edward VIII of Great Britain to sign away his life as King has fetched £5,750 at auction. An anonymous bidder put in the final offer by telephone to Bonhams & Brooks in Knightsbridge, London. The pen, a Waterman's "Ideal-Desk Model", was still in its original box. Edward's signature on the Instrument of Abdication on December 10, 1936, sealed the end of his 325-day reign, freeing him to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. Also sold at the auction was a collection of seven issues of the Daily Mirror from the last few days of the abdication crisis of 1936. Bundled with an Edward VIII souvenir book, they went for £51.75 to an anonymous buyer.

September 12th
After the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington yesterday many heads of state sent their condolences to the USA. Among them were Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, King Harald V of Norway and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. The King and Queen of Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Lilian today attended a special tribute for the victims at the Swedish Parliament. In the evening Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik attended a memorial service at Copenhagen Cathedral.

Yesterday the Duchess of York was on her way to the World Trade Center to attend a breakfast meeting of her charity organisation "Chances for Children" on the 101st floor of the WTC when the first airplane hit one of the towers. Her cab was stuck in a traffic jam in Manhattan. The Duke of York was on his way to Atlanta when his airplane returned to London. King Abdullah II of Jordan was on his way to the USA, where he was going to speak President Bush about the situation in the Middle East, but returned to Jordan after hearing from the tragedy. Yesterday afternoon the Norwegian royal court confirmed that Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit had travelled to New York for their honeymoon, but that they were elsewhere in the USA now on a quiet place far from the attacked places.

Because of the attacks in the USA yesterday the Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta cancelled their visits to the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen today and tomorrow. Also Princess Alexandra of Denmark cancelled a visit to Bosnia for the Danish Red Cross.

September 13th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain ordered a special Changing of the Guards ceremony at 11:30am at Buckingham Palace today in honour of the victims of the US tragedy. A military band played the US national anthem followed by a two-minute silence and sombre music. The Queen was represented by the Duke of York. Also the US ambassador attended, while more people than usual stood in front of the gates of the palace to pay tribute to the victims. King Harald V, Queen Sonja and Princess Märtha Louise of Norway attended a memorial service in Oslo Cathedral. The Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet today said that Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are safe at Montauk, Long Island, together with Mette-Marit's son Marius, who must have travelled to them later on as he didn't join them in the first days of the honeymoon.

September 14th
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain broke off from her holiday in Scotland to attend a special service at St Paul's Cathedral in London at noon for relatives and friends of the victims of the US attacks. The very emotional service was also attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, who read a lesson, and the Prince of Wales. Thousands came to the cathedral to express their solidarity and pain.

September 15th
The Prince of Orange and his fiancée Máxima Zorreguieta attended a memorial service for the victims of the US attack at the Dom Church in Utrecht this evening.

September 16th
The Duke and Duchess of York and their daughters have visited the American embassy in London to pay their respects to the victims of the terror attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. They were accompanied by the American Ambassador William Farish and his wife Sarah. The Duke and Duchess signed the book of condolence and then laid bouquets at the Roosevelt Memorial, pausing to talk with the Ambassador while other mourners looked on. Last week the Duchess has started a charity, the 911 Fund, to help counsel the children affected by the disaster.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway arrived back in Norway by airplane with the first plane from the USA to Oslo. Yesterday already Prince Laurent of Belgium arrived back in Belgium. He was in Boston at the time of the tragedy.

September 17th
On Thursday two castles in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will be put up for auction in Berlin, Germany. One castle is in Vollratsruhe, the other one is Ranzow Castle for which the bid will start at 595.000 DM.

September 18th
Prinsjesdag (Prince's Day) in the Netherlands was very sober this year because of the US-tragedy. This year no gala uniforms were worn and there was no music. Although Queen Beatrix, the Prince of Orange and prince Johan Friso used the Golden Carriage for their ride to the Ridderzaal in The Hague, they stopped at the US embassy for 15 seconds to pay their respect. Many people were gathered there and lots of flowers had been laid in front of the embassy. Due to his health prince Claus wasn't there. Máxima Zorreguieta and princess Christina followed the procession through the window of the Cabinet of the Queen near the Ridderzaal and waved to their family members. Prince Constantijn, princess Laurentien, princess Margriet and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven were present in the Ridderzaal, where also all members of the First and the Second Chamber were present. Usually several members of some left-wing parties stay away because they are against the monarchy, but because of the US-tragedy it was decided all members would be present. After the ceremony the usual balcony scene at the Noordeinde Palace was shorter than usual.

King Harald V, Queen Sonja, crown prince Haakon, crown princess Mette-Marit and princess Märtha Louise of Norway today appeared on the balcony of the royal palace. The Royal Guard who were in Edinburgh at the time of the wedding to take part in a show, greeted the crown prince and crown princess and showed the royal family the show they performed in Edinburgh.

September 19th
The Prince of Orange and Máxima Zorreguieta continued their tour through the Dutch provinces in Gelderland. Due to the US-tragedy the couple had asked to keep the visit sober. It is said some acquaintances of Máxima Zorreguieta, who worked in New York for several years, are still missing. The couple arrived in De Klomp and from there they went to the Eusebius Church in Arnhem. Several works of art were admired before they climbed the tower where the mayors of Arnhem and Nijmegen talked with them about their cities. On their way to Zevenaar the royal bus was pelted with two eggs. The man who did it was arrested. In Zevanaar a very disputed railway was discussed. Finally they couple arrived at the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek where the story of the Battle at Arnhem in September 1944 was told and where WWII-veterans and young people were present.

The website of the Dutch Royal Family states that there will be no drives anymore at the estate of Het Loo. Hunting stays necessary to keep the balance between the various functions of Het Loo and to avoid overpopulation. The necessary shooting of wildlife will be done by individual hunters and no longer in groups or during drives.

The opening of the Parliament in Sweden took place in presence of King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, crown princess Victoria, prince Carl Philip, princess Madeleine and princess Lilian.

September 21st
Prince William accompanied the Prince of Wales on a day of visits in Paisley, Glasgow and Edinburgh. He didn't attend Fresher's Week at Fife university this week, which is designed to give new students a chance to get to know their way around before term officially starts. On Monday prince William will begin at St Andrews University.

One year after the serious accident near Paris Prince Guillaume of Luxemburg is home again with his family. The prince will continue his revalidation at home in Contern.

Emir Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah of Kuwait has suffered a brain haemorrhage and was flown to London for treatment at the Cromwell Hospital after King Fahd of Saudi Arabia had sent an escort hospital plane. Before leaving a source at the Kuwait hospital where the Emir was being treated said he is in stable condition. Kuwaiti television reported that the Emir was admitted to hospital today for "routine tests." In London his condition was described as serious but stable after a period in semi-comatose state. Sheikh Jaber, 75, was not known to have any serious illnesses. He has ruled Kuwait since 1977.

September 22nd
After the civil marriage that took place in Amsterdam on June 19th, Princess Margarita de Bourbon de Parme, eldest daughter of the Duke of Parma and Princess Irene of the Netherlands, married Edwin de Roy van Zuydewijn at the Sainte-Marie Cathedral in Auch, France. The procession left from Bartas Castle, the new residence of the couple, to the cathedral, where the ceremony took place at 10:30 conducted by the archbishop of Auch, Monseigneur Fréchard, assisted by Monseigneur Baehr, former bishop of Rotterdam. Margarita arrived at the cathedral in a blue Rolls Royce. When leaving the cathedral bride and groom were waited for by tens of guests who formed a lane of honour and threw rice and rose-leafs to the couple. In the beginning of the afternoon the couple invited their 200 guests for a reception at the cultural centre Cuzin in Auch. Later in the afternoon and in the evening some 170 guests attended a party at Bartas Castle in Saint-Georges. Among the guests were the mother, brothers and sister of the bride. The Duke of Parma was absent officially because of traffic flight problems, as he had to come from the USA. Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien and Prince Pieter Christiaan came from the Netherlands.

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway celebrated her 30th birthday. The celebrations were started yesterday with a private banquet in Galleri Nygarten for the royal family and guests. Early in the afternoon today there was a boat tour and concert at the fabled home of the late Norwegian violinist Ole Bull and a walk along Bergen's historic waterfront. There also was a royal pomp and ceremony in Haakonshallen in Bergen, where King Harald and Queen Sonja hosted a birthday party for their daughter. In the evening, Märtha Louise's friends were invited to "afters" at Gamlehaugen, the King's official residence outside Bergen. The palace said the birthday celebrations in Bergen were private affairs. Because of the US-tragedu the princess decided to drop the dancing after the banquets yesterday and today. Among the guests were Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, prince Laurent of Belgium, prince Nikolaos of Greece, princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and count Jefferson-Friedrich von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, Astrid and Sophie Ullens de Schooten, Count Flemming and Countess Ruth af Rosenborg, Princess Astrid Mrs Ferner and Johan Martin Ferner with some of their children. Also prince Ali of Jordan was invited, but had to cancel his trip. Of course Märtha Louise's boyfriend Ari Behn was among the guests too.

September 23rd
Around 4000 people were gathered on the approach to St Andrews University to watch the arrival of Prince William of Great Britain who will start a 4-year History of Art MA (Honours) course. The Prince of Wales dropped his son off at the medieval clock tower entrance. Inside the prince was greeted by the University Principal, the President of the Students' Association, the registrar and the warden. Today he was settling into his halls of residence and tomorrow he will start the course. "I just want to go to university and have fun" he told before his arrival at the university, "I want to go there and be an ordinary student."

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is making a donation to the fund for victims of the US-attack. Buckingham Palace said that the Queen was deeply affected by last week's atrocities. It is believed the unclosed donation will go to the World Trade Center Disaster Fund.

Anastasia Margriet Josephine van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, daughter of Prince Maurits van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven and his wife Marilène was baptised today at the Obrecht Church in Amsterdam in an oecumenical service. She is registered in both the protestant and the catholic church. Her godparents were Prince Bernhard van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven and Caroline van Weede-van den Broek.

September 24th
A delegation from Afghanistan's anti-Taliban Northern Alliance has left for Italy to consult with the exiled Afghan King Mohammad Zahir Shah and are expected to ask him to lead their force. The 86-year-old king has lived in Rome since he was overthrown in a 1973 coup by his nephew.

In the latest line of 'Who Wants To Be..' specials, the American tv-channel FOX showed 'Who Wants To Be A Princess?' this evening. During the two-hour pageant, 30 women from across the United States vied for the favour of a "dashing young European prince" whose identity remained a secret until he selected the winner at the end of the show. The lucky lady was presented with a one-of-a-kind three-karat diamond and platinum necklace worth $40,000. While the prince looked on from a silhouetted royal box on the stage, the hopefuls participated in a swimsuit fashion show, a display of semi-formal attire and a revealing round of questions that disclosed their personalities and inner dreams, that included questions like "What is the most erotic moment you ever had", "Would you go to a nude beach" and "Would you have sex with a friend, if you're boyfriend wouldn't know about it?". After each segment, the prince dismissed some of the ladies as he narrowed down the field. When only five remained, he stepped into the spotlight to select his winner and adorned her neck with the necklace. The prince turned out to be Italian Don Guglielmo Giovanelli Marconi, born in Rome on June 7, 1967, as son of Don Carlo Giovanelli and Maria Elettra Marconi, daughter of Marquess Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of the wireless telegraphy. He picked out a girl called Tavania Gulla. Initially the program was going to focus on finding a suitable girl, bringing her to the country from which the chosen prince came, teaching her both the history of the country and the history of his family. The team involved at the beginning of the program actually travelled to Europe and interviewed several princes among them Prince Jean of France Duke of Vendôme, Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, Prince Hubertus zu Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha and Prince Bernhard of Baden. Afterwards they would visit the castles owned by these families. The second part of the program involved the history lesson. But after it was said that Germans all had Nazis ties, FOX decided to change the plans and came up with a more spectacular show which didn't have to do anything with royalty or nobility anymore, except for the prince.

September 26th
The Prince of Orange and his fiancée Máxima Zorreguieta continued their tour through the Netherlands with a visit to the Province of Utrecht. Afer visiting Kattenbroek in Amersfoort where they made a tour in a small train, they went to Huis ter Heide where they visited a location of the Week of the Landscape. At the Revius Lyceum in Doorn they were welcomed by hundreds of students and attended a short lesson in Spanish, during which the couple answered some personal questions. Then the couple cycled from Langenbroekerdijk to Wijk bij Duurstede with a stop at a fruitcultivation company.

With a tour along castles the Region of Hanover wants to give a look into the history of the Welfen family to commemorate the 371st anniversary of the birth of Electress Sophie of Hanover(1630-1714). On October 14th the Marienburg near Schulenburg, the University and the Leine Castle in Hanover, as well as Landestrost Castle in Neustadt am Rübenberge and the Welfen Castle in Hann. Münden invite people for a tour in history. Visitors of the Castles will be rewarded with a commemoration stamp.

September 27th
Just days after arriving at St Andrews University Prince William of Great Britain complained about a television crew that tried to film him at university. It has emerged the TV cameramen were working for Ardent Productions, the television firm the Earl of Wessex established in 1993. The crew says they didn't attempt to film William and that it had been given permission to film by the press office. Prince Edward said he was unaware of the film crew's activities, but apoligised for what happened.

September 29th
Ardent Television has agreed to hand over to Buckingham Palace all the footage shot by its crew at St Andrews University. Prince Edward has seen the material and says there are no shots of Prince William on it.

September 30th
Yesterday Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit started their tour through Norway. They start with a five-day visit to the three provinces Oppland, Sør-Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal. They left from Oslo by royal train. Yesterday they visited Lillehammer, Ringebu, Hundorp, Kvam and Dombås in Oppland. Mette-Marit held her first speech and in Kvam 7-year-old Jonas Bø Cassel crowned crown princess Mette-Marit after he had sang a song for the couple with a group of children. On Sunday morning the couple continued their visit in Sør-Trøndelag. Mette-Marit wore a traditional dress when the couple arrived in Berkåk where they enjoyed breakfast at a youth centre. After breakfast they visited the municipality of Renneby where they visited a local market and attended the church service at Innset church. They also visited Meldal.


Royal News: August 2001. Last updated: September 2nd, 2001.