In contrast to some other monarchies the christenings of the British royals are rather private occasions. They often taken place in royal chapels or even in the palaces and are small, intimate ceremonies with few guests. When possible photographers like to take pictures of the arrival and departure of the parents with their child and […]
Posing for the cameras with a baby is not a royal tradition
Via Buckingham Palace the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Thursday announced (just for the record: no announcement about where and how): The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby. Their […]
No more staring at the door of the Lindo Wing
The word is out! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex want the birth of their baby to be private. No big media circus, no appearance on the steps of the hospital. And that means nobody has to watch the door of the hospital for hours to wait for the news of the birth, nor until […]
300 Years Principality of Liechtenstein
On 23 January 1719 a tiny country was born. The state survived and 300 years later is still one of the few monarchies left in the world. Throughout the year (see their anniversary website) there will be a range of events. People are warmly invited to discover Liechtensteins history and natural scenery in person. Early […]
Poor Otto! A Tragic Accident in 1894
In the second half of the 19th century a “Grand Tour” was no longer fashionable. Young upper-class European men who had come of age and had enough money, in the 17th and 18th century and even in the early 19th century loved to undertake a “Grand Tour” in search for art and culture and some […]
30 December 1947 – The End of the Romanian Monarchy
On 5 December 2017, almost 70 years after Romania became a republic, the last King of Romania, Michael (Mihai) died in Switzerland aged 96. He was the last monarch alive, who had actually been reigning his country during World War II, not counting King Simeon II of the Bulgarians, who was just a child at […]
13 December 1967 – King Constantine II of Greece goes into Exile
On 6 March 1964 King Pavlos I of Greece died aged 63. His only son, Constantine II, became the new King of Greece. The 23-year-old king was good looking, rather popular, sportive and in 1960 had won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. On the other hand Constantine was too young […]
Finlands Centenary – The Country that could have been a Monarchy
Finland started its centenary celebrations on 1 June 2017 with a meating of Nordic heads of state in Helsinki. An historical day, as the Presidents of Finland and Iceland and the Monarchs of Norway, Sweden and Denmark have only gathered in Finland once before since Finland became an independent country. Finland became an independent state […]
The other Royal Prisoners of Saint Helena
Some weeks ago I was in the library here in town and saw a nice looking travel book: Ron Moerenhout – Laatste boot naar Sint-Helena (Last boat to Saint Helena), about his trip to the island of Saint Helena (St Helena on most official websites of the island) late 2015. Knowing it from Emperor Napoléon, […]