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

February 14, 2011 Alexandra

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

February 14, 2011 Alexandra 5 Comments

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

Royals in General

Ugly Tiaras: A Hot Mess on Various Royal and Princely Heads

February 14, 2011 Alexandra 9 Comments

You know, I’ve been thinking… there are many tiaras out there that so many royal watchers go gaga over, yet no one ever dares to say that some tiaras are downright fugly.

So, with that being said, I thought I would post the world’s ugliest tiaras. Of course, it’s all subjective, but whatever, again, it’s a slow news day. 🙂

Carina Axelsson

Now, this is a new tiara on the royal and princely scene and I have to be blunt here: It’s fugly. No, really it is. It looks cheap like a prom tiara from Charlotte Russe or Forever 21. I’m going to take a wild guess here, but clearly Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Carina’s permanent boyfriend) was on a budget when he purchased this hot mess of a tiara. Clearly, the diamonds cannot be real. Up close they look like Cubic Zirconiums.

By the way, in case you didn’t know, Miss Axelsson is not exactly a princess. However, she does live in a beautiful and massive castle in Germany with her goofy boyfriend, and his father isn’t — allegedly — all that fond of her. But, hey, she allegedly redecorated her boyfriend’s castle and allegedly added a capitalistic coffeehouse on site which brings in money so…

FAIL.

HRH Princess Mabel of the Netherlands

Ah, Mabel. Mabel, Mabel, Mabel. Your sense of style is a legendary hot mess and your bridal tiara is one too. The tiara is too boring and cheap looking (though it probably cost a pretty Dutch penny.) The tiara looks like knives sticking out of her head.

Hate it.

HM Queen Margrethe of Denmark

Gurl… oh no. Just no. That infamous Poppy tiara is just one big FAIL.

Hate it!

Princess Astrid of Norway

Le sigh. It looks like a Burger King tiara made out of gold paper with chewed green, red and white Gummi Bear goo.

No. Just no.

Fugly.

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

I can honestly say that it pains me to put Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg on this list. Why? Because I believe she is an awesome woman; however, this tiara is just a one big… No. It’s too large. Too ghastly. Sorry.

Princess Anna of Bavaria

Honestly, I am on the fence about this tiara. It’s okay, but not brilliant.

HRH I Forget Her Name of Savoy

This tiara is simply too BIG. Too ostentatious. Blech!

A kind note to HRH I Forget Your Name of Savoy… if your tiara is ten times bigger than your head… trash it, honey. You look like a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race in a cheaply made Aluminum tiara.

Hate it.

The Hesse Star Tiara

You know, I don’t hate this tiara… I just think it’s too… large. Kind of tacky like a Miss Universe faux-tiara.

Princess Astrid of Norway: Part Deux

Poor Princess Astrid of Norway. She is in the unfortunate position whereupon she is given all the crappy tiaras and this weird winged thing sticking out of her head isn’t exactly flattering on her. It looks like evil hell horns.

Yeah, it’s fugly.

HRH Crown Princess Mary Grey Weird Thingy Tiara

I know I am going to receive a lot of hate mail from readers for adding HRH Crown Princess Mary’s Winter Feather thingy tiara to the list, but in my opinion this tiara is just… blah. Hate it.

Sorry folks.

Fugly.

HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the Amethyst Tiara

Sorry, but this Amethyst tiara looks cheap to me. It looks like a David’s Bridal tiara or a cheap-o plastic tiara purchased from the 99 Cent store in Reseda, CA.

Fugly.

HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden and the Aquamarine Tiara

You know I’m on the fence about this tiara. It’s simple yet boring. And, cheap looking at the same time. It’s not horrid, just… blah.

Hate it.

So there you have it. The Royal Correspondent’s First Annual Fuglist Tiaras 2011.

Happy Valentines Day.

Monaco Princely Family

Charlene Wittstock Swims the Midmar Mile Race Today

February 12, 2011 Alexandra 2 Comments

On February 12, 2011, the soon-to-be Princess of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock, swam the 38th aQuelle Midmar Mile Race this morning in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

This there were over 15,000 entries in the race including Miss Wittstock and her friends, Olympic swimming medalists Riaan Schoeman and Franzisca van Almsick. The purpose of the entering the Midmar race, for Miss Wittstock, is to raise money for the Special Olympics as well as to have fun with her friends. This is also the first time Miss Wittstock has participated in the Midmar open water race, and hopefully after she is married it won’t be her last. She did it for a great cause, and that’s pretty cool in my book.

Any way, Miss Wittstock look happy and fit (though a random few scream otherwise. In my opinion, she look fine. Basically she doesn’t look like a fat chick trying to stuff herself into a too small bathing suit.)

Video of the race and Charlene talking, swimming and other stuff: Video

To view many photos from the Midmar Race please click the link: Zimbio.com

Imperial Family of Japan

HIM Emperor Akihito of Japan: Diagnosed with Arteriosclerosis

February 12, 2011 Alexandra 3 Comments

It was announced today February 11, 2011, via the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, that HIM Emperor Akihito of Japan has been diagnosed with Arteriosclerosis. Currently, the 77 year old Emperor will be “… under medication…” and will continue to carry out his duties as well as activities as usual.

According to the Mainichi Daily News:

The stiffening of the arteries was discovered during a medical check using contrast agent on his artery leading to the heart at the University of Tokyo Hospital, the agency said.

The Emperor will stay the night at the hospital and return to the Imperial Palace on Saturday, according to the agency.

‘The Emperor can continue his official duties and exercise such as tennis and walking’, said Ichiro Kanazawa, imperial household medical supervisor. ‘I asked the emperor to let his personal doctor know immediately if he feels any kinds of symptoms such as pain in the chest,’ Kanazawa said.

It’s good to hear that he will continue his duties as Emperor of Japan, but at the same time I hope he takes it easy for a while.

If any new information shall come through the news wire I will definitely post it for all of you.

Source: Mainichi Daily News

Monaco Princely Family

Charlene Wittstock Attends the ‘Nelson Mandela Intimate Moments Exhibition’ in South Africa

February 11, 2011 Alexandra 1 Comment

Well, it certainly has been quite a busy day for the future Princess of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock. Earlier in the day, she hosted a charity event at the St. John’s Diocesan School whereupon she opened the school’s new swimming pool as well as raised money for the Special Olympics South African chapter.

This evening, February 11, 2011, Miss Wittstock attended an exhibit by Kerry Muldoun entitled, Nelson Mandela Intimate Moments Exhibition, at the Liberty Midlands Mall in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

With her hair slicked back in a tight bun, Miss Wittstock wore a black jumpsuit with a gold-embroidered belt, and black flats.

To view more photos of the event please click the link: Zimbio.com