Daily Archives: July 10, 2011

Monaco Princely Family

H.R.H. Princess Caroline of Hanover Previews the New Exhibit ‘Fastes et Grandeur des Cours en Europe’ in Monaco

On July 10, 2011, H.R.H. Princess Caroline of Hanover previewed the latest exhibit at the Grimaldi Forum entitled, Fastes et Grandeur des Cours en Europe (Magnificence and Grandeur of the Royal Houses in Europe.)

Per the official website of the Grimaldi Forum:

Embarking on a veritable journey through the ages, visitors will for the first time enter 20 European courts and meet great imperial, royal and princely figures. In the course of this sumptuous journey – a European Tour of a very special kind – they will meet:

  • Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and elected King of Poland
  • Frederick I, first King of Prussia, and Queen Sophia Charlotte
  • Ludwig I, King of Bavaria, and his grandson, Ludwig II
  • Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elizabeth of Austria
  • the Danish kings Christian IV, a legendary monarch, and Christian IX, “the father-in-law of Europe” in the 19th century
  • Philip V, King of Spain and grandson of Louis XIV, and Elizabeth, heir to the fabulous Farnese collections
  • Napoleon and Josephine and the first French Empire
  • Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, a great collector and Joseph Haydn’s patron
  • Luís I, King of Portugal, and Queen Maria Pia
  • Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, “the grandmother of Europe”, and her consort Prince Albert
  • Gustavus III, King of Sweden
  • Tsar Alexander II, The Liberator, who launched the vogue for imperial Russian holidays on the French Riviera
  • Leopold I, first King of the Belgians
  • Haakon VII, elected first King of Norway following the dissolution of the union with Sweden
  • John III Sobieski, elected King of Poland, victor over the Turks at Vienna
  • Charles, King of Naples, who launched the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompey
  • Victor Amadeus II, King of Sicily then of Sardinia
  • Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
  • Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, whose role in the first part of the 20th century was so important
  • the Grimaldis, Princes of Monaco, from Honoré II in the 17th century through Charles III, founder of Monte-Carlo, to Rainier III and Princess Grace.

To illustrate this ambitious undertaking, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco is collecting together some 700 sumptuous or moving exhibits that plunge visitors into the very heart of the lives, roles and passions of these individuals and couples who marked the histories of their dynasties and countries. The exhibition will thus focus on their eras but no less on their accomplishments in the fields of the arts, history and science.

Portraits, sculptures, objets d’art, furniture, porcelain, silver and gold, costumes and jewellery will breathe new life into four centuries of history for a rich and unique experience. Historical films, both documentaries and fiction, complete this masterful exhibition bringing back to life these great figures who have often fired our dreams.

The Fastes et Grandeur des Cours en Europe exhibit runs through September 11, 2011, so if you happen to be in Monaco or nearby in the south of France why not stop by to see it.   🙂

To learn more about the Grimaldi Forum please visit their official website here.  To read an article about the exhibit via the French newspaper, Nice-Matin, please click here.

To view photos from today’s event please click here. 

Photo courtesy of: VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

British Royals

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: Their Last Day in L.A.

On July 10, 2011, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are scheduled to leave Los Angeles at 3:15pm, but before they do the couple will have two important events to attend to.

First, the royal duo attended a reception for Tusk Trust; then it was off to visit the youth at Inter-City Arts, “… a non-profit arts academy near Skid Row in downtown L.A.” where they will interact with the staff and youth for sometime.  Click here to watch the video.

Then the couple will leave and head on over to Sony Studios in Culver City to attend:

…a job fair for returning U.S. service men and women… The Royal Couple will also join a service project to create 1,000 care packages for military children, as well as attend a special reception for supporters and champions of the cause.

If you are interested in watching the Duke and Duchess’s events live you may do so by clicking these links here and/or here  beginning at 11:30am Los Angeles time.

To view photos from today’s events please click the links here here, here and here.

Source: NBCLA

Photo courtesy of: Reuters/Alex Gallardo

Monaco Princely Family

A British Newspaper Has Finally Figured Out Why H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco agreed to Marry H.S.H. Prince Albert II

So, a genius reporter from the British newspaper, Express, has finally figured out  the reason why H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco married H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. His conclusion: A baby.

Per this award-winning newspaper:

Princess Charlene of Monaco has made a pact with her new husband Prince Albert to produce an heir – and then the couple can go their separate ways… according to French sources. ‘Once the succession of the dynasty is assured, each of them can be free again.  Divorce is a tradition in the Grimaldi family…’ says a source to VSD magazine. 

Huh.. m’kay.

To read this fantastic article by a soon-to-be Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Peter Allen, please click  here.  

Photo courtesy of: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

British Royals

The Duke and Duchess Attend the BAFTA ‘Brits to Watch’ Gala Here in L.A.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the BAFTA ‘Brits to Watch’ gala on July 9, 2011 at the Belasco Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.  Of course, in typical L.A. fashion every major Hollywood producer, director, studio head, publicist, second assistant A.D., craft services supervisor, actor, and actress where there to support (actually, let’s be honest here… they just want to be seen) this BAFTA event as well as to pose on the red carpet as if the were  attending the Oscars.

Anyway… to view photos please click here.   Click here to watch a video. Click here to read an article about the event.

Earlier this afternoon the royal couple attended a polo match in beautiful Santa Barbara.  Click here to watch the video from my local L.A. news station.

To read all about the Duchess’s fashions whilst in L.A. please visit this site.

Photo courtesy of:  Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Monaco Princely Family

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco Finally Speaks Out Regarding The ‘Runaway Bride’ Rumors

A week after his religious wedding to his lovely bride, H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Albert II finally addresses the allegations that his then fiancée tried to flee — or to be more dramatic about it “escape” — three times to head back home to South Africa:

[These rumors] are completely fabricated… It’s just to try to destabilise our marriage, it’s very unfair.  The rumours are completely unfounded, that’s why it’s easy for me to talk about them.’

And, there you have it… until the paternity tests.

Source:  iAfrica.com