The Royal Correspondent

While his father, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, is at home resting after having surgery, his son and heir to the Grand Ducal throne is hard at work.

On February 6, 2011, the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume was in Doha, Qatar on official business to discuss, “bilateral relations and ways of enhancing and developing them in various fields.” Whilst in the lovely country of Qatar he met with HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

To view several images of Guillaume and HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani please click the link: Photo and news summary

Source: QNA (Qatar News Agency)

The subject of monarchies and/or a particular royal has always fascinated those in Hollywood.  Many writers, including Oscar winners and nominees, have written about monarchies and a specific royal for many years nows, and since the Academy Awards are less than a month and a half away, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to list some of the most well-known films about royalty, royals, and/or monarchies.

So, here is my list of the best films regarding monarchies and/or a certain royal in history:

1.) The Madness of King George

I love, love this film.  Why?  Well, besides, Edward VIII, I’ve always had a soft spot for HM King George III.   Any way, Nigel Hawthorne is absolutely brilliant as the King with Porphyria and his performance is simply breathtaking (yeah, I may be being over dramatic, but whatever.)

This film doesn’t get any better in regards to films about monarchies and/or a particular royal.  So, yeah,  see this film!!  Or, better yet, buy it!! It is a must have to add to your royal collection.  True and classic quotes from the film, “George! SMILE!! You lazy hound!  It’s what you are paid for!  Smile and wave.  Come on… Smile and wave!  Everyone!!  Smile and wave!!!  ” and  ”We must be a model family for the nation to look to…smile at the people… wave to them, let them see we are happy!  That is why we are here.” How true it is to this day.  The Madness of King George (Part One) and The Madness of King George (Ending Scene)

2.) The Last Emperor

A truly epic film… visually stunning.  Its the about tragic life of Pu-Yi, the last Emperor of China.  Directed by the Italian filmmaker, Bernardo Bertolucci. The Last Emperor (trailer)

3.) Nicolas and Alexandra

This 1971 film won the Oscar for Best Costume design and Best Art Direction.  And, yes, my Mother named me after the last Tsarina of Russia, Alexandra.  She, Tsarina Alexandra, was a bit of a idiotic twit.  But, thankfully, I’m not.  :)  LOL  Nevertheless, this film is a classic.  Every once and a while this film is shown on AMC; see it if you can. Nicholas and Alexandra: Part One

4.) Mrs. Brown

Absolutely brilliant performance, once again, by Dame Judi Dench.  The chemistry between her and Billy Connolly is nothing less short of amazing. Mrs. Brown (John Brown Waits and annoys Queen Victoria) and Fun Times with the Happy Royal Family

5.) Ivan the Terrible

A fantastic film by the legendary filmmaker, Sergei Eisenstein.  Ivan the Terrible, released in 1944, is epic on all levels; this film is a must see for all film and royal buffs.   This movie is extremely hard to find, but if you happen to run across this film whether on American Movie Classics (AMC) or on Amazon.com… watch it or buy it.  Ivan the Terrible is a true masterpiece. Ivan the Terrible (Part One)

6. ) Queen Christina

Garbo.  Greta Garbo.  Enough said. Queen Christina is not exactly historically accurate, but it will do.  Queen Christina (Scene)

7.) Elizabeth

Cate Blanchett’s portrayal of HM Queen Elizabeth I was truly magical, and in my opinion, was robbed of the Oscar in 1999 for Best Actress (it went to Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love.)   Like the movie, Queen Christina, Elizabeth is not exactly historically accurate, but it is a good film if you don’t mind the several faux-pas. Elizabeth (trailer)

8.) Queen Margot

I must admit that I haven’t seen this film, Queen Margot, in years.  However, what I do remember is that it is a pretty good flick based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas. Queen Margot (trailer)

9.) Lady Jane

A film about Lady Jane Grey the poor woman who was Queen of England for nine days before she was executed.  Lady Jane stars Helen Bonham Carter and Cary Elwes.  It’s a nice movie.  Lady Jane (Part One)

10.) The Lion in the Winter

This 1968 film is another classic which won several Oscars including Best Actress for Katherine Hepburn and Best Adapted Screenplay.  The film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Peter O’Toole), and Best Costume Design.  The Lion in the Winter is a lovely film… see it if you can.  The Lion in the Winter (Katherine Hepburn scene)

11.) Marie Antoinette

Starring Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power, this 1938 film about Marie Antoinette is epic on all levels.  Why?  I’m a sucker for old classic Hollywood films.  Marie Antoinette (1938)

12.) The Fall of Eagles

A BBC television miniseries from 1974 that is available on DVD.  I must have for all royal watchers.  The series is about the “… events from 1848-1918, dealing with the ruling monarchies in Europe…” the Habsburgs, Hohenzollerns, and the Romanovs.  Fall of Eagles

13.) Anne of the Thousand Days

Overall this movie is okay; worth seeing if it’s ever on AMC.  The movie was released in 1969 starring Geneviève Bujold as Anne Boleyn and Richard Burton as King Henry VIII.  Anne and King Henry VIII

14.) Mary, Queen of Scots

Starring Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson.  It’s a good movie that is now available on DVD.

15.) Henry V

Starring Kenneth Branagh as Henry V.  Ah-mazing. Henry V (Pissed off about Tennis Balls)

16.) Marie Antoinette

(Sofia Coppola movie)  Visually this movie is lovely.  Crappy acting, but did I mention that the scenery is amazing?  Oh and the costumes plus the epic music?  Yeah, I recommend it. Marie Antoinette (trailer)

17.) The King’s Speech

Brilliant.  Enough said.  And, Colin Firth... swoon.  The King\’s Speech (trailer), The Real King George VI Giving a Speech, The Real Story of George VI, The King\’s Speech

18.) The Queen

This Oscar winning film (Best Actress) is great movie and with excellent actors.  A bit soap operaish, but nonetheless a fantastic film starring Helen Mirren. The Queen (trailer)

19.) The Duchess

Yeah, not exactly royalty per se, but nonetheless a fantastic film thanks to the costume designer.

20.) The Princess Bride

Yeah, I know this movie is not about a real life royal, past or present, but still… this film is a classic… I mean, come on, there are some classic lines in this movie.  For example, “Mawhwrigge” “Have Fun Storming the Castle!!” “Inconceivable!” and “My name is Inigo Montoya, prepare to die!” is simply classic! The Princess Bride (trailer) The Wedding, Inigo Montoya, and Where\’s the Poison?

21.) Ever After

A super crappy yet sweet flick for we sappy mellow dramatic royal heads.    A great film to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Ever After (trailer)

So, there you have it!  A long list of films that tackles the subject of monarchies and/or a particular royal!

On their third day visiting the lovely country of Bahrain, HM Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark had a chance to visit some amazing historical sites including the Ali Burial Mounds.

According to Billed Bladet, Queen Margrethe wandered through the local bazaar whereupon she purchased several items including, “… beautiful fabrics and spices…”

Now, that the official visit to Bahrain is over, the Queen and Prince Henrik held a press conference.  They noted that they had a fantastic time and their hosts and the people of Bahrain were fantastic.

To view photos from the press conference as well as other images please click the link: BT.dk

Source and photo courtesy of: Billed Bladet by Hanne Juul/Billed Bladet

Today is HRH Princess Marie of Denmark’s 35th birthday.  So, like every royal here is a mini-bio plus video clips about the lovely French born Princess Marie.

On February 6, 1976, Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier was born in Paris, France to Alain Cavallier and Françoise Grassiot.

Marie attended boarding school in Switzerland and college in the United States whereupon she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in something important from Marymount Manhattan College.  In 2002, Marie:

… moved back to Paris and worked in the press department of the French advertising agency Media Marketing.

In 2004, she became an assistant to the managing director of Reuter’s financial news agency Radianz in Genève.

Marie then quit her job at Reuter’s to work at her stepfather’s company, REInvest.  She was a secretary.

It is unclear when exactly Marie met Prince Joachim; however, it is known that the couple met at a dinner party in Denmark.  In August 2005, the couple were photographed together on holiday in southern France.  Marie and Prince Joachim were constantly together after the photo was published in the Danish magazine, Billed Bladet.  In early 2006, it was revealed to the media that the couple broke up.  However, that wasn’t true, according to Prince Joachim in an interview days before their marriage.  The couple decided lie to the press about their supposed break-up in the hopes the Danish media would give the couple some “breathing space.”  It didn’t work.  Marie, a naturally chatty woman, spoke to the press every moment she had (and she’s done so since their relationship was revealed back in 2005.)

Any way, the couple got back together “publicly” and were seen out and about constantly. Marie would fly into Denmark to visit her beau whether it was at his lavish home, Shackenborg, in southern Denmark.  Or, whether it was in Copenhagen.  The couple spent as much time together as they could.

On October 3, 2007, it was announced that HRH Prince Joachim and Marie Cavallier were engaged.  Eight months later the couple were married in a small church near Prince Joachim’s home, Shackenborg Slot.

Today, the couple have a son, Prince Henrik, and are extremely happy.  Princess Marie is a patron of several organizations; however, it is her role as a wife and mother that is most important to her (as she revealed in an interview days before the wedding.)

So Happy Birthday to Princess Marie of Denmark!

Here are some video clips of the couple: Engagement Interview, Pre-Wedding Interview, Pre-Wedding Interview: Part Two, Wedding, Wedding: Part Two, Wedding : Part Three

Source and Photos courtesy of:  Kongehuset.dk and Billed Bladet