Monthly Archives: February 2011

British Royals

Chelsy Davy and Pippa Middleton Attend a Charity Event in London

Fresh from her short visit to New York City, HRH Prince Harry of Wales’s on again, off again, on again, off again girlfriend, Chelsy Davy along with Catherine Middleton’s sister, Pippa, enjoyed a night on the town last night.

According to the Swedish magazine, Svensk Damtidning, the two woman were at the “Eyes Wide Shut Masquerade” charity event at Club Public in London with their friends.  The British newspaper, the Daily Mail, is speculating that the two were, “Plotting a hen party for Pippa’s sister, Catherine Middleton.”

Yeah, right.

Any way, other attendees at the charity event included Princess Beatrice looking a hot mess as usual, Princess Eugenie, Holly Branson, and a pathetic looking and otherwise desperate of a woman, Sarah Ferguson.

To read and see more photos from last night’s charity event please click the link: Daily Mail

Source and photos courtesy of: Daily Mail and  Svensk Damtidning by IBL


Monaco Princely Family, Royal documentaries

A Televised Interview With Miss Charlene Wittstock, The Future Princess of Monaco

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While in South Africa, these past few weeks, Charlene Wittstock sat down with journalist Derek Watts from the news program, Carte Blanche.

In a special two-part interview Miss Wittstock discusses her life in Monaco, how she met HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, her swimming career, and much more.

Overall, she did a great job.  Charlene looked completely relaxed and calm, and essentially came off as being a nice person.

To watch the two-part interview with Charlene please click the link: Carte Blanche

Monaco Princely Family

Lovely New Photos and An Interview With Charlene Wittstock in South Africa: UPDATES

As you know, Miss Charlene Wittstock, the future Princess of Monaco, has been in South Africa for the past week and a half to raise money for the Special Olympics by participating in the Midmar Dam race.

Whilst in her homeland, Miss Wittstock gave an interview to the South African magazine, YOU, whereupon she discussed her life in Monaco, her family, and her swimming career.

Anyway, there are some new photos of her (wearing a 1940s inspired dress with her hair in a lovely chignon) prior to her interview with YOU magazine.   Click the link to view: Charlene Wittstock

Here’s a snippet from the interview with Talk Radio 702 and a short summary from Channel 24, South Africa:

She also admitted that in the beginning, it was very difficult for her to adapt to Monaco’s culture, food and people, especially since she is a vegetarian (glad to her she doesn’t eat slaughter animals.)

On asking her what she busies herself with in Monaco, she said that she has always been involved with charity work, long before she met “the prince”, as she calls him.

According to Wittstock, she will still do humanitarian work after her wedding.

Charity organisations

A normal day for Wittstock consists of getting a cup of coffee first thing, checking e-mails, studying a thick file which deals with protocol and preparing herself for the upcoming ceremony.

She says she’s presently learning a lot about protocol, they regularly travel to other countries and she also learns what the prince keeps himself busy with.

In the evenings, Wittstock keeps herself busy by spending time at charity organisations.

Wittstock didn’t want to confirm whether she and Prince Albert will be attending the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but she did, however, say that they would send a representative to attend on their behalf if they were not able to make it to the ceremony.

 

British Royals, Royal documentaries

The Investiture of The Prince of Wales At Caernarfon Castle: A Video

For those of you who have never seen the historic televised investiture of Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in Caernarfon, Wales on July 1, 1969… well now you can.

Click the link to watch:  Video

To learn more about the investiture please click the link to the official site of The Prince of Wales: www.princeofwales.gov.uk

Also, here is the first interview with Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales in 1969:  Video

Princely Family of Liechtenstein

A Happy Birthday to HSH Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein: He’s 66 Years Old Today

On February 14, 1945, HSH Prince Johannes (Hans) Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko d’Aviano Pius von und zu Liechtenstein was born in Zurich, Switzerland to HSH Prince Francis Joseph II  and HSH Princess Georgine “Gina” Norberte Johanna Franziska Antonie Marie Raphaela von Wilczek.

Besides speaking four languages fluently, the dashing Prince is highly educated.  In 1969, he graduated from the University of St. Gellen in Switzerland with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics.

In 1967, HSH The Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam married Countess Marie Aglaë Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.  The couple eventually had  four children, and today they are proud grandparents of fourteen.

On November 13, 1989,  Hans-Adam II ascended to the throne and became the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein.    With a head for business, HSH Prince Hans-Adam is the wealthiest ruler in Europe having amassed a personal fortune over 12.1 billion US dollars (9 billion Euros.)

In 2009, HSH Prince Hans-Adam published a book entitled, The State in the Third Millennium, whereupon he discusses the issue of:

...the centrality of democracy in the modern nation-state and makes the case for limited government: ‘[The United States and Europe] have to free the state from all the unnecessary tasks and burdens with which it has been loaded during the last hundred years, which have distracted it from its two main tasks: maintenance of the rule of law and foreign policy.’ Using the examples of China and Russia to illustrate the difficulty of transitioning from dictatorships to democracy, he asserts the primacy of establishing economic freedom. Finally, he speaks to the importance of America maintaining its preeminent role in world affairs. (Hoover Institution, Stanford University)

I haven’t read the book, but after watching a lengthy interview with the Prince I must say that I am intrigued with his thesis.  To watch the interview with HSH Prince Hans-Adam please click the link:  An Interview with HSH Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein

Any way, Happy 66th Birthday to Prince Hans-Adam.  You’re awesome!

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

A Photo Archive of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg: PHOTO UPDATES

This morning, in Luxembourg, the Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg released some lovely photos of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg in honor of their 30th wedding anniversary.

Some of the photos I have never seen before so it is quite a treat.  Please click the link to view: Photos

Another set of rare photos from RTL.lu: Photos

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary to Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

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Thirty years ago today on February 14, 1981, a young and dashing fairytale Prince named HRH Hereditary Prince Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume of Luxembourg married the beautiful María Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla at the gothic Norte Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.  Several years prior, the young couple met at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.    Both Henri and Maria Teresa were studying Political Science and somehow they met (I suppose they had the same classes, but who knows.)  In any event, the young couple soon fell in love and decided to marry.  According to Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, “The more time we spent together it was more clear to us that we would spend our lives together.”

The soon to be Grand Duchess of Luxembourg wore a silk and fur-trimmed gown custom designed by Pierre Balmain.  Her simple yet lovely tiara was a handed down gift from the late Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg and is known as the Congo Diamond Tiara.

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri, recently spoke with, Télécran, whereupon he recalls his wedding day:

This day I will always remember as the day that was such great joy. I will not conceal that I was a little excited about the enormous appeal, which had found our wedding in the media. At that moment, but in which my fiancee walked into the cathedral, any nervousness was gone, and I knew that we would now be forever by two for the tasks that would put life and my function to us to overcome together . This moment is one of my best memories.

Practically all members of the major royal  and princely houses attended the wedding including HM Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark, King Olav of Norway, TSHs Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, Prince Hans-Adam and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein,  all of the Belgian royal family, and many more.

Today the couple have five children and two grand children.  Moreover, the couple are still head over heels in love with each other.

So, Happy 30th wedding anniversary to the awesome Grand Ducal couple of Luxembourg!

To watch the enthronement of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg please click the link: Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

To watch a video clip of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa prepping for Luxembourg’s National Day please click the link:  National Day, 2010

To read more about the couple’s anniversary please click the link:  Wort.lu

Source:  Wort.lu