In today’s Riviera Times, there is a slightly interesting article about the upcoming Princely wedding in Monaco.
Like the British royal wedding, there is much speculation as to whom will receive an invitation to the princely wedding come July 1 and 2, 2011 in Monaco. But, the big question (that the writer decided to ignore) is which ruling monarchs will turn down their invite, and which heir or spare will attend the princely wedding in their place.
Now, I know a lot of people are expecting every major royal house to attend HSH Prince Albert II’s wedding, but to be quite honest, I don’t believe all the monarchs will accept his invitation. Rather, I believe several heirs and many “spares” will attend.
For example, HM Queen Elizabeth II will not attend. The Queen will send The Earl and Countess of Wessex to represent her. HM King Harald and HM Queen Sonja of Norway may not attend. Instead, he will send his heir, HRH Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. It is highly unlikely that HM Queen Margrethe and HRH Prince Henrik of Denmark will attend; moreover, it is likely that the heir to the Danish throne, Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary, will trek to Monaco this summer. Or, HM Queen Margrethe II will send her second son, HRH Prince Joachim and HRH Princess Marie.
The three monarchs that may say YES to Prince Albert’s invitation HM King Carl Gustav and HM Queen Silvia of Sweden, HM King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium as well as HM Queen Sofia of Spain minus HM King Juan Carlos of Spain. HRH Crown Princess Victoria and HRH Prince Daniel of Sweden will attend as well as HRH Crown Prince Philipe and HRH Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium.
HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands may trek to Monaco along with her son, HRH Prince Willem-Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. The Grand Ducal family without a doubt will attend.
The princely house of Liechtenstein will attend, again, without a doubt as well as all the non-reigning royal and princely houses throughout Europe.
Anyway, to read the article from the Riviera Times please click the link: Riviera Times Article
Meanwhile, on one of my favorite blogs, Monte-Carlo Daily Photo, the writer and photographer took some photos the other day of the Palais Princier de Monaco being prepped for the upcoming princely wedding. Click the link to view: Monte Carlo Daily Photo
The Royal Correspondent 
Interesting. Which royals do you believe will attend the British wedding?
Hi Kari! 🙂
I imagine a majority of ruling monarchs such as: TM King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, HM Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark, TM King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden, HM Queen Sofia of Spain (I’m not so sure if HM King Juan Carlos of Spain will attend. He generally does not attend weddings.) TM King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium. If Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg is feeling well enough he and his lovely wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa will attend.
Also, a majority of heirs to thrones will attend if invited (which I am sure they will be): TRHs Crown Prince Naruhito and, if the Imperial court in Japan allows her, Crown Princess Masako of Japan. TRHs Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. HRH Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias (Spain.) TRHs Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden. TRHs Crown Prince Philipe and Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium. TRHs Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
HSH Prince Alois and Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein may attend as well. Of course, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock will go, if invited.
I’m not so sure how many minor royals from non-reigning houses will be there if at all. They might not receive an invitation, but if some houses do I suspect that TSHs Prince Hubertus and Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha will attend. Perhaps even HIRH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia… but that may be a stretch.
Wow! Big difference. Will the monarchs attend out of respect for QEII or because it is such a high profile event? Thanks!
The British monarchy is higher in rank and dare I say (and this will irritate my friends at Visit Monaco) far superior. People need to remember that the Principality of Monaco is small beans when it comes to monarchies.
This simplest way that I can state the situation… it’s like high school football:
The British Monarchy (royals, kingdom, higher in rank and reputation) = Varsity.
Principality of Monaco (princely, principality, lower in rank and reputation) = Jr. Varsity
Another way to describe the difference… did you ever see the movie, Vacation with Chevy Chase? Remember the character Cousin Eddie played by Randy Quaid?
Yes, well, the Princely House of Monaco is the Cousin Eddie, with a Colt 45 beer in his hand, when it comes to monarchies and principalities.
🙂
Well, surely this can’t be argued. Though you are forgetting one thing: Great Britain along with all big European nations are “representative” Constitutional Monarchies.
So yes, as far as the people and the ranking, you are 100% correct, and this is what will impact the guest list.
However, if you view all this from a political point of view, Monaco (and even more Liechtenstein) are the only remaining “real” monarchies in the sense that the Princes have actual (and very powerful) political power…as opposed to the bigger nations where the role is only representative.
This is in no way a judgment on large, modern and democratic monarchies…but don’t forget Monarchy was about governing a country, a tradition that has disappeared…except in the micro-Principalities 🙂
Do not forget that Prince Albert WAS invited to (and showed up at) most royal weddings for the last decade. It would be a faux-pas not to come to his wedding. The relations between the Monegaskian family and other royal families seem to be fairly good, he or Caroline is always there at every party. Because of his age (younger than most other rulers) and status as a prince, it is likely that the younger generation will attend, and not the kings and queens. Since Charlene was invited to the Swedish wedding, I do think Victoria and Daniel will attend. The Dutch royal family love a party, so William-Alexander and Maxima will definitely go. If those 2 couples attend, I am sure the other will come to join a good party….
I am sure the German houses will be invited to the British wedding. After all, they are all related through the late Queen Victoria; Prince Hubertus and Prince Georg are (very far fetched) in line for the British throne too. Instead of Albert&Charlene, maybe Caroline& Ernst will make an appearance, since he as a Prince of Hannover is a direct relation of the Queen.
Oh I didn’t forget. 🙂
However, I do not believe the royal guest list will be as strong like it will be for the British royal wedding. So… 🙂
As for Ernst… I really doubt he’ll attend the British royal wedding with Princess Caroline. Things with that couple are not exactly all that rosy… unfortunately.
It would have been nice if Queen Elizabeth sent Prince William & Catherine Middleton instead of the Earl and Contess of Wessex …….
Is the Iranian royal family (Shahbanoo Farah) invited?
Of course the beautiful Farah Pahlavi is invited. 🙂 She confirmed her invitation recently and will be at the wedding on July 2, 2011. 🙂