Last modified: 28 November 2022
1 November
It was announced on Monday that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia is the second largest shareholder of Twitter, after the owner Elon Musk. He and his company Kingdom Holding own approximately 4% of Twitter.
The General Industries Workers’s Union in South Africa has called for the abolition of all South African royalty. While a lot of South Africans suffer the certification ceremony for Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini on Saturday “cost millions of taxpayer rands”, they say.
After Mike Tindall Princess Olga Romanoff have become the second royal to sign up for a reality show. She will appear in the E4 show The Big Celebrity Detox. The new show is centered around alternative therapies such as urine drinking.
2 November
From 31 October to 2 November King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands paid a state visit to Greece. They visited Athens and Thessaloniki. The visit was originally planned to take place in 2021, and was rescheduled for March 2022, but postponed again. During the press conference today Queen Máxima said that the situation for the Princess of Orange has remained the same, although it is frustrating and not easy. Amalia is happy that people know about her situation now and understand why she is not able to do things. For pictures and the program see here.
3 November
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark paid a two day official visit to Vietnam from 1 to 2 November and led a Danish economic mission to the country. Crown Prince Frederik then travelled to Ho Chi Minh City for a business meeting. Already on 31 October they were in Vietnam, visiting the childhood house of the late Prince Henrik in Hanoi. Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3.
Tiina Jauhiainen, a Finnish friend of Sheikha Latifa bin Mohammed Al Maktoum of Dubai, has filed a complaint in Germany. In March 2018 Jauhiainen helped her friend to leave the United Arab Emirates. The yacht was soon surrounded by boats of the Indian Navy working together with the UAE security forces, and Latifa was captured and taken back home. Jauhiainen says she was detained and tortured by the security forces, who accused her of kidnapping Latifa. She tweeted: “Today, I am starting my fight for Justice for what I suffered for trying to help my friend Latifa.” She wants the people involved to be investigated, including Latifa’s father, The Emir of Dubai.
4 November
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and their three daughters, The Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane posed for pictures at the New Church in Amsterdam.
Once again Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia has gone to the Administrative Court in Potsdam. Since 2014 the family had been talking with the German Federal Government about restitution and compensation for their properties expropriated after 1945. The Ministry of Culture however in April 2022 stopped the negotiations, after which the family on 9 August 2022 filed a lawsuit against the State of Brandenburg. Another lawsuit regarding real estate expropriated by the Soviets after 1945 is already pending in Potsdam. The family asks for the return of thousands of art objects from Brandenburg Villas and Castles and a former Hohenzollern Museum, including Rheinsberg and Cecilienhof. They also want the return of securities and bank deposits. The case will be heard in Spring 2023.
6 November
The Prince of Wales has said that he will start tweeting in Welsh to improve his communications in the language. He is not yet taking lessons, but is keen to learn and speak more Welsh.
At the University of Tokyo Hospital Emperor Naruhito of Japan underwent a prostate examination, after tests in October showed a rise in a tumor marker. The results of the scan will become known in several days.
7 November
The engagement was announced of Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and Nicolas Bagory.
In a video released ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar the Prince of Wales said in a conversation with football players that football has taught him: “You learn by playing a number of times and many other things in life that disappointment is part of life and how you handle it is crucial.”
Archeologists have discovered a 1,300 metres long tunnel beneath the Taposiris Magna Temple near Alexandria, Egypt. They believe the tunnel might lead to the long-lost tomb of Pharaoh Cleopatra and her lover Mark Antony.
8 November
The new cypher of Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom was revealed.
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has decided to relinquish her royal duties. An explanation by her and her fiancé Durek Verrett appeared on Instagram.
Virginia Roberts, who settled over her sex assault lawsuit with the Duke of York, has admitted today that it “may have been a mistake” to claim that she was forced to have sex with attorney Alan Dershowitz when she was underage.
King Juan Carlos of Spain appealed at the Court of Appeal in London to grant him immunity in the court case of his former mistress Corinna Larsen (Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn) against him. Legal arguments of both parties were heard today and a ruling will be delivered at a later date. Yesterday the first episode of Corinna’s podcast “Corinna and The King” came online.
The first pictures of Prince Alexander Georgievich Romanov, who was born on 21 October 2022, were released. See here, here and here.
9 November
A man who was trespassing at the grounds of Buckingham Palace in London several times in November and December 2021 appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London today. He had already pleaded guilty and according to the prosecutor “appears to have been fixated on the Palace grounds”. He was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He is not allowed to go within 100 metres of a royal residence.
The Duke of Sussex has been crowned the world’s sexiest male ginger alive. The study was commissioned by GingerComms.
In an interview with the magazine Billed-Bladet Prince Joachim of Denmark surprisingly said that his job as military attaché for the Royal Danish Embassy in France will come to an end in the summer of 2023. Also his wife Princess Marie will leave her job at the embassy. They will not only leave Paris, but also France. It is however not certain if they will return to Denmark with their children.
10 November
On the invitation of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter Laura Mattarella, paid a state visit to the Netherlands. The program and photos can be seen here.
Photos by Royal Press Day 1
Photos by Royal Portraits Day 1
Photos by Royal Press Day 2
Royal Portraits: Luncheon on Day 2
Royal Portraits: Concert on Day 2
The activist Patrick Thelwell who threw at least four eggs at King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom during their visit to York yesterday, has been banned from carrying eggs in public or go within 500 metres of the King for now. On 1 December he will have to appear in court. By the way he missed the couple and was quickly arrested.
Relief in Japan where Emperor Naruhito was found to have an enlarged prostate. There is no cause for concern. However he will undergo a tissue examination later this month for confirmation that he doesn’t have prostate cancer.
Pope Francis has been rather busy receiving royals today. He received King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan. With the king he spoke about the need to continue to develop interreligious and ecumenical dialogue. And they both assured that they appreciate the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Jordan. He also received the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Margarita, and her husband Prince Radu of Romania at the Apostolic Palace.
The Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps is nominated as best European actress for the 35th European Film Awards, that will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 10 December. The film “Corsage” is further nominated in the categories best film and best director.”Corsage” is an historical drama about Empress Elisabeth of Austria “Sisi” in the year 1877. Vicky Krieps plays the role of the Empress.
11 November
Good news for Dutch royalty watchers: the tv-program Blauw Bloed returns with full broadcasts of 25 minutes at NPO2 on Saturday evenings as off early 2023. The interest for the royal house and other royal news is still quite big in The Netherlands. The moderator of the program will be Anne-Mar Zwart. Among the experts will be the former moderator Jeroen Snel and journalist Lia van Bekhoven.
12 November
Finally Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has been able to finish the celebrations of her 50th anniversary to the throne. An official luncheon was held at the city hall of Copenhagen, also attended by Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte. The Queen arrived by carriage and also appeared on the balcony of the city hall.
The Queen’s speech
British royals have attended the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This year’s event marked 40 years since the Falklands war, but also commemorated Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September. King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, Mrs Ogilvy attended.
Mahkameh, Fürstin zu Schaumburg-Lippe lost her mother Shahrzad Akhavan, aged 71, after a long illness. She died in Vancouver, Canada, where she lived. Princess Miriam Ghazi of Jordan, formerly Princess of Bulgaria, lost her father Bernardo Ungría Goiburu, who died in Madrid on 27 October 2022.
13 November
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has led a ceremony at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday this morning. He also laid a wreath, being followed by other royals, politicians and veterans of the Royal British Legion.
According to the newspaper The Sun the staff of King Charles III of the United Kingdom will receive a bonus payment of up to £600 to help them with the cost of living crisis, depending on their income. It is reported the money will partly be paid from the King’s private income.
14 November
On his 74th birthday it was announced that King Charles III of the United Kingdom has officially become The Ranger of Windsor Park. His father, the Duke of Edinburgh, was apointed to the post 70 years ago. On the occasion this photo was released.
15 November
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has formally requested to add the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex to the list of counsellors of state, as extra substitutes. The present counsellors of state are Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York and Princess Beatrice Mrs Mapelli Mozzi. However the Duke of York and the Duke of Sussex are both no longer working royals. The statement was delivered in the House of Lords and the House of Commons on Monday. The Counsellors of State Bill was introduced before peers on Tuesday. If the monarch is temporarily ill or abroad the counsellors of state can carry out official duties.
Right in time for the FIFA World Cup 2022 the Belgian King Philippe surprised with a funny video in which he wishes the Belgian football team all the best. It’s Deviltime.
In Belgium King Albert II, Queen Paola, Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz, Prince Laurent and Princess Claire attended the Te Deum in Brussels Cathedral and a meeting at the Palace of the Nation on the occasion of the King’s Feast.
The Imperial Household Agency has announced that Princess Nobuko, the widow of Prince Tomihito of Mikasa, has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in the right breast, after undergoing a MRI and biopsy early November. She will undergo surgery at the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo on Saturday.
The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam and his son Prince ‘Abdul Mateen paid a state visit to Cambodia yesterday. He was received by King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk.
16 November
Sovereign Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène of Monaco have distributed parcels to recipients of the Monaco Red Cross at the Red Cross headquarters. They were joined by the Prince’s niece Camille Gottlieb.
Princess Hisako, the widow of Prince Takamado, tested positive for Covid-19 today. She is the fifth case within the imperial family of Japan. She had been suffering from mild cold symptoms since Saturday, and developed a fever on Tuesday.
17 November
Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom in a speech at a reception for the winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition at the Buckingham Palace paid tribute to her late mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II. It was her first speech as Queen Consort. She said: “I cannot begin without paying tribute to my dear mother-in-law, Her late Majesty, who is much in our thoughts today and who is so greatly missed by us all..” She also said that she and her husband have been comforted immensely by all the condolences from all over the world.
The Netflix docuseries of the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex is to premiere already in December.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden paid a three-day state visit to Jordan from 15 to 17 November at the invitation of King Abdullah II.
Two pieces of furniture, once owned by Queen Marie-Antoinette of France will be sold at auction at Christie’s in Paris on 22 November. The items are a chest of drawers with Chinese-inspired designs made in 1770 and a chair, estimated to be worth 800,000-1,2 Million euros and 100,000 to 200,000 euros respectively.
18 November
Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom on 24 November will attend a special teddy bears picnic of the charity Barnardo’s. She will deliver the Paddington Bears and other toys that were left as tributes to Queen Elizabeth II in September at Royal Residences and the Royal Parks. A lovely video was already released today.
A letter from Buckingham Palace to the Peta animal rights campaign group reveals that foie gras is not bought or served in royal residences. King Charles III is said to be a longstanding opponent of the food.
The Biden administration has ruled yesterday that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia enjoys immunity from a lawsuit over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018 by Saudi agents.
19 November
The Princely Family of Monaco celebrated the country’s national day. Photos by Royal Portraits.
The new Hello Monaco magazine carries an interview with Camille Gottlieb, the youngest daughter of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.
The widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, Princess Nobuko, underwent a successful breast cancer surgery at the Keio University Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. The tumor has been removed and the Princess will have to undergo radiotherapy. She had stage zero cancer and no metastasis was found. She will be discharged from hospital later this month.
20 November
The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar has started with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Al Bayt Stadium. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar in his speech welcomed everyone to the event. Several royals attended the event, including King Abdullah and Crown Prince Al Hussein of Jordan, Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.
21 November
The Prince of Wales has issued social media statements in both English and Welsh at the start of the FIFA World Cup Football 2022 to wish both teams lots of success. Last week, after being criticized for only visiting the English football team – the Prince is the president of the English Football Association -, William said during a visit to Wales that he support both teams. He said: “I support England more in the football but Wales in the rugby.”
After more than 40 years the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, son of the late Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom, has resigned as director of his firm David Linley Furniture, David Linley Holdings and David Linley & Co. Documents filed at the Companies House last week disclosed the move.
22 November
Football fan Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark is ready for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
23 November
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has received his first state visit. The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa was welcomed yesterday at the Corinthia Hotel in London by the Prince and the Princess of Wales. They accompanied him to Horse Guards Parade, where the president was welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Afterwards they rode in carriages to Buckingham Palace for lunch. A state banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in the evening (see the King’s speech). Today the Earl of Wessex accompanied the president, while at the dinner of the Lord Mayor of London the Duke and the Duchess of Gloucester were present.
It was announced that Queen Margrethe II of Denmark as usual will stay at the Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus over Christmas. She will be there between 21 and 30 December. She will celebrate Christmas Eve together with her sister Princess Benedikte and private friends in Djursland. The Crown Princely Family however will travel to Australia for the first time in five years to visit the family of Crown Princess Mary and celebrate Christmas with them. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie will go on a long-planned trip abroad over Christmas.
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has been named the best dressed woman of the year by the Norwegian KK magazine. She took part in a photo shoot of the magazine at the Nobelsuiten of the Grand Hotel.
As only European royal thus far King Felipe VI of Spain has attended a match at the FIFA World Cup 2022 football in Qatar today. He was present when Spain played against Costa Rica.
Louis and Marie Ducruet announced on Instagram that they are attending their first child. It will be the first grandchild of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.
Japanese media were able to see the renovations at the official residence of Crown Prince Fumihito of Japan at the Akasaka Estate in Tokyo. The residence is being expanded with reception areas, dining rooms and office space for officials of the Imperial Household Agency. The Crown Prince and his family will move in by the end of March 2023.
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand was admitted to the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok on Monday after complaining of abnormally rapid heartbeat. The radiofrequency ablation she underwent on Tuesday was successfull the Royal Household Bureau has said. She will remain at hospital and will not carry out royal engagements for the time being.
Finnish researchers of the Oulu University have solved the mystery surrounding the death of King Karl XII of Sweden at the Fredriksten fortress in Norway in November 2018. It was clear he was shot, but unclear how and by whom. His body has now been researched and x-rays have been taken of his skull. The researchers say he was likely killed by an iron ball with a diameter over 20 millimeters, probably fired from a distance of about 200 metres. It seems therefore to be most likely that the bullet that took his life was fired by the enemy.
New on Netflix as off today: Blood, Sex & Royalty. It is a dramatization of the life of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of the English King Henry VIII. The story is broken up with known historians adding historical context.
24 November
Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III will spend his first Christmas as monarch at Sandringham. He is expected to be joined by Queen Camilla and other relatives.
Queen Camilla delivered hundreds of Paddington Bears and cuddly toys to Barnardo’s children’s services, at a special teddy bears picnic at one of the charity’s nursery’s in Bow, London.
A slice of the wedding cake of King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom from 2005 has failed to sell at auction. Another slice of cake, for the wedding of the Prince and the Princess of Wales in 2011 sold for £390 at Keys Auctions in Norfolk.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway have paid a joint three-day visit to Kenya. Victoria is one of the official UN-advocates of the Sustainable Development Goals. Haakon has been a UNDP goodwill ambassador since 2003. The focus was at matters relating to waste management, conservation of biological diversity, economic development and democratic issues.
The visit of the Crown Princess
The first day of the visit
The second day of the visit
The third day of the visit
Scientists have said that an ancient gold Roman coin depicting the third century Roman Emperor Sponsian, that was found in Transylvania 300 years ago, is real. Professor Paul Pearson of the University College London and his researchers found that the coin has scratch marks showing that the coin was used at the time. For centuries the unknown emperor was regarded as non-existing.
After nearly 500 years scientists from the Loria research lab in France have cracked a code used in a letter by the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, Charles V, to Jean de Saint-Mauris, his embassador in France, in 1547. The letter shows the tensions between France and the Emperor, and reveal a rumoured plot by the French to kill him.
25 November
The British King Charles III will be using the same red box as King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II to carry official documents by the monarch or government ministers. The boxes have been manufactured by Barrown Hepburn & Gale.
An Andy Warhol silkscreen print of Queen Elizabeth II was sold yesterday at Heffel auction house in Toronto for the record price of 853,000 US Dollars. The print is part of Warhols 1985 Reigning Queens series. The royal blue print sold is from the very rare Royal Edition, embellished with diamond dust. The four prints were exhibited at Windsor Castle in 2012.
President Ignazio Cassis of the Swiss Confederation and his wife Paola Rodoni Cassis paid a state visit to Belgium. Yesterday they were officially received in front of the Royal Palace in Brussels. In the afternoon the presidential couple and the royal couple visite the Museum of Instruments in Brussels. The state banquet in the evening took place at Laken Castle. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde also attended the cultural evening tonight.
King Harald V of Norway is on sick leave today. Crown Prince Haakon is carrying out the planned program for today.
Prince Mbongiseni Milton Muntukaphiwana Zulu was shot dead yesterday around 6pm near the town of Nongoma in northern KwaZulu-Natal. He died on the scene. His bodyguard, who was also shot, died upon arrival in a nearby hospital. He is the second confidant of King Misuzulu to be assassinated in recent months. Brigadier Jay Naicker, a spokesman for the police, has confirmed to the newspaper Daily Maverick that they are investigating the murder of two people aged 63 and 33. The motive for the muder is yet unknown and the killer(s) have not been arrested.
26 November
The grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo have been opened to the public today for the first time in three years. They can stroll Inui Street and see the autumn leaves changing color until 4 December.
Leah Isadora Behn, the middle daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and the late Ari Behn, made her debute at the Debutantes Ball at the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris tonight. She wore a pink one-shoulder dress by Giambattista Valli and her first tiara. The tiara was borrowed from V Muse Jewelry. Princess Märtha Louise was present for this important evening in the life of her daughter. Leahs partner for the evening was Lakshraj Raj Singh, titular maharaja of Sirmaur, from India.
27 November
The British Queen Camilla has appointed six ladies as Queen’s companions, replacing the traditional ladies-in-waiting: Sarah Throughton, Jane von Westenholz, The Marchioness of Lansdowne, Lady Katharine Brooke, Baroness Carlyn Chisholm and Lady Sarah Keswick. She also has a private secretary and a deputy private secretary. The three ladies-in-waiting of the late Queen Elizabeth II will remain at court as ladies of the household. Furthermore Queen Camilla has appointed Major Ollie Plunket as her equerry. He will accompany her at official engagements and look after her diary.
Mike Tindall’s adventure in the reality show “I’m a celebrity” ended yesterday. Today he was reunited with his wife.
28 November
In a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today at Windsor Castle King Charles III has discussed the restoration and development project of the former royal estate of Tatoi. The King’s Prince’s Foundation is advising on restoration plans, as they have experience in restoring the historical Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland. Charles and his wife Camilla visited Tatoi in March 2021 during a visit to Greece.
The ancient floors of Westminster Hall were damaged by the 250.000 mourners that came for the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II in September, despite of the carpet that was glued to the ground. A spokesperson for the House of Lords told the newspaper “The Telegraph”: “s a consequence of the high-level continuous footfall through Westminster Hall during the lying-in-state some delamination to the Yorkstone floor has occurred.”
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands are going to pay a state visit to Slovakia from 7 to 9 March 2023.
The Norwegian King is back at work after a restful weekend.
Emperor Naruhito of Japan underwent a tissue examination after having been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate earlier this month. The results will be announced at a later date.
29 November
Queen Camilla held a reception at Buckingham Palace to raise awareness for violence against women and girls. Among the guests were Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Queen Rania of Jordan, as well as the Countess of Wessex and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Also invited were the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio, charity ambassadors and survivors of abuse. In her speech the British Queen said: “Up to one in three women across the globe will endure domestic abuse in the course of their lifetimes”.
30 November
On social media Ngozi Fulani, the chief executive of Sistah Space, a specialist support charity for African and Caribbean heritage women affected by abuse, has said that she was asked very offensive questions about her heritage during the reception at Buckingham Palace yesterday by the late Queen’s lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey. Buckingham Palace has said that they take the incident extremely seriously and have investigated the situation immediately. They call the comments that have been made “unacceptable” and regrettable”. As a consequence Lady Susan Hussey has stepped back from her honorary role with immediate effect.
The Christmas calendar of the Danish royal family this year is themed “Christmas behind the palace’s windows” and will answer lots of questions about the Christmas celebrations of the Danish royal family. From 1 to 24 December posts will be made on the website of the Royal House and the digital platforms YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. It is the 7th time the royal house presents a digital Christmas calendar.
An interview with Charlotte Casiraghi, the eldest daughter of Princess Caroline of Hannover, was published in the British magazine Town & Country.
Crown Prince Fumihito of Japan has celebrated his 57th birthday. On the occasion a few pictures were released. At a press conference held on 25 November he said he believes that “it is necessary to convey accurate information in a timely manner”. He said however to realize that “it is difficult to establish criteria”. Weekly magazines in Japan regularly publish articles about the family that are not true. The Imperial Household Agency is considering starting to use social media in 2023.