On 15 March Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands probably paid her last official visit as a Queen to my hometown Groningen, so there was no doubt about it that I would go and see her. She attended a jubilee concert of the Noord Nederlands Orkest in De Oosterpoort. During the season 2012/2013 the 150-year-old orchestra […]
Princess Lilian of Sweden has died
The Swedish court on Sunday evening announced the death of Princess Lilian of Sweden, Duchess of Halland, at her home, Villa Solbacken at Stockholm. The Princess died just after 6pm surrounded by King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and their children. In recent years she had suffered from Alzheimer’s. The funeral service will take place […]
Royal Amsterdam
Because of the investiture of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands on 30 April you won’t be able to visit the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, nor the New Church for some time. The royal palace closes after 7 April and will only reopen on 7 May. You however have to check their website anyway when you […]
Crown Princely gathering in the Netherlands
The Prince of Orange and his wife Princess Máxima of the Netherlands invited their crown princely colleagues for a meeting in the Netherlands. The photo was taken on 2 March at the Castle Het Oude Loo in Apeldoorn. Present were Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg, Crown Princess Victoria and […]
A Song for King Willem-Alexander
The national committee inauguration last week said there will be a “Konigslied” (king’s song) written on the occasion, and as many people as possible should sing it on a special choosen moment on 30 April, the day Queen Beatrix will abdicate. But you wonder if it is necessary at all to spend any money on […]
My royal book collection
Spent the past days trying to do something about my messy royal bookshelves. Not sure though how long it will take before new books want to take their place.
Queen Beatrix 75th birthday party
All pictures and copyright: Josée Z. On 31 January Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands celebrated her 75th birthday, in private. On Friday 1 February she held a private party for family members, staff and former members of staff at the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The guests saw a ballet performance by Introdans and […]
Celebrating 33 years as a royalty watcher
Usually I wouldn’t even have thought about it. But with the Queen having announced her abdication on Monday, it just occured to me on Thursday that I was actually celebrating my 33th anniversary as a royalty watcher. I am not quite sure whether that was the real starting date, but I think so. On 31 […]
Queen Beatrix to Abdicate
Although I knew one day it would happen, it still came as quite a surprise. On Monday 28 January Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands announced that she is to abdicate on 30 April 2013. Just after 5pm I received the message that the Queen would hold a speech on television and that more information about […]
Another Royal Weekend in Ticehurst
Another royalty weekend in Ticehurst, England. This time on 6 and 7 April, 2013, two days full of lectures. I can assure you it is much fun and you’re able to meet other royalty watchers and writers. People mainly come from Great Britain, but also from the USA, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, etc […]