This afternoon, the Royal Court of Albania announced the marriage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Leka of the Albanians to Miss Blerta Celibashi.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Court, the couple were married in a private civil ceremony held at Château Apponyi in Slovakia. The ceremony was conducted in an intimate setting in keeping with the wishes of the couple and their families.
An official photograph released on the occasion was taken at the château, a residence historically associated with the late Queen Geraldine of the Albanians, who was born Countess Géraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi into a Hungarian noble family before her marriage to King Zog I in 1938.
Following the marriage, Princess Blerta will bear the family name Zogu, the title Princess of the Albanians, and the style of Her Royal Highness.
The Albanian royal dynasty was established in 1928 when King Zog I proclaimed the Kingdom of the Albanians. His reign ended in 1939 when Italy invaded Albania, forcing the royal family into exile.
Crown Prince Leka, commonly known as Crown Prince Leka of Albania, is the head of the House of Zogu.
In Brussels, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians visited the Palais des Beaux-Arts this afternoon to view the exhibition Bellezza e Bruttezza: Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance.
The exhibition examines how artists in Italy and Northern Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries explored contrasting ideals of beauty and ugliness in their work. Through paintings, drawings, and other artworks, the exhibition traces how artistic representations evolved from the late 15th century through the end of the 16th century, a period of significant cultural and artistic transformation in Europe.
During the Renaissance, standards of beauty increasingly became a subject of social interest, reflected in the growing number of 16th century publications offering advice on cosmetics, appearance, and personal care. At the same time, artists also experimented with depictions of ugliness and the grotesque, presenting exaggerated or unconventional features in ways that reflected both humor and social commentary.
The exhibition brings together works by several major Renaissance artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Titian, Tintoretto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Lucas Cranach the Elder, and Quentin Massys, among others.
Bellezza e Bruttezza: Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance is on display at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels until June 14th, 2026.
On Thursday in Madrid, Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg began a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Spain at the invitation of Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.
The official visit takes place in the context of Grand Duke Guillaume’s accession to the throne on October 3, 2025, following the abdication of his father, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, and forms part of the established diplomatic exchanges between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The visit began with an official welcoming ceremony at the Palacio Real de Madrid, where the grand ducal couple was received by Their Majesties the King and Queen.
Following the playing of the national anthems, the inspection of the guard of honour, and the presentation of the respective delegations, Their Majesties held an initial meeting with the grand ducal couple.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke later held bilateral talks with His Majesty the King, accompanied by members of the Luxembourg delegation. Those present included the Deputy Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr. Xavier Bettel, the Minister of the Economy, Mr. Lex Delles, and the Minister of Finance, Mr. Gilles Roth.
The Spanish delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Mr. José Manuel Albares.
In the afternoon, Their Majesties the King and Queen hosted a luncheon at the Palacio Real de Madrid in honour of the grand ducal couple.
During the luncheon, His Majesty the King delivered a speech.
In his remarks, His Majesty welcomed the grand ducal couple to Spain and recalled the visit he and Her Majesty the Queen made to Luxembourg in 2014, shortly after his proclamation, when they were received by Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
The King emphasized the longstanding ties between the Royal House of Spain and the Grand Ducal House of Luxembourg, describing the visit as a reflection of the friendship and close relationship shared by the two countries.
Referring to the historical links between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, His Majesty noted that the two countries share centuries of intertwined history, recalling in particular the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who also held the title of Duke of Luxembourg, and the reign of his son, Felipe II of Spain, figures who illustrate the historical connections between the two nations.
Turning to European affairs, the King highlighted Spain’s four decades of membership in the European Union and expressed appreciation for Luxembourg’s role as a founding member of the bloc and a longstanding partner in the development of European integration.
He also underlined the close economic and social links between the two countries, noting the presence of thousands of Spanish nationals living and working in Luxembourg, as well as the contribution of Luxembourg nationals residing in Spain, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of the two societies.
The King further addressed the broader international context, expressing concern over ongoing global conflicts, including the situation in the Middle East and the continuing war in Ukraine, and reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to diplomacy, international cooperation, and the principles of international law.
At the end of his speech, His Majesty the King raised a toast to the friendship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, expressing his wishes for the prosperity of Luxembourg during the reign of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and for continued cooperation between the two countries.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke then delivered a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to Their Majesties for the welcome extended to him and to Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess during their first official visit to Spain.
The Grand Duke noted that the visit was among the first official engagements he had undertaken abroad since his accession to the throne in October 2025 and described it as reflecting the longstanding relations between the Grand Ducal House of Luxembourg and the Royal House of Spain, as well as the friendship between the two countries.
Referring to the historical links between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Grand Duke recalled more than five centuries of shared history, particularly the period during which Luxembourg formed part of the territories of the Spanish Crown.
He noted that this legacy remains visible in Luxembourg City, including the Spanish defensive turrets known as échauguettes espagnoles and the origins of the Palais Grand Ducal, whose reconstruction during the sixteenth century took place under Spanish administration.
The Grand Duke also referred to the close ties between the peoples of the two countries, noting the presence of nearly 10,000 Spanish nationals residing in Luxembourg, many of whom work in the European institutions, the financial sector, and emerging areas of innovation. He also highlighted the growing number of Luxembourg students who pursue their studies in Spain.
Turning to European affairs, the Grand Duke recalled Luxembourg’s support for Spain’s accession to the European Union in the 1980s, referring to remarks made by his grandfather, the late His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, during the State Visit of Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1980. He observed that Spain’s membership of the Union has since strengthened political, economic, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The Grand Duke further addressed the broader international context, noting the challenges facing the international order, including geopolitical tensions, the war in Ukraine, and economic uncertainty. In this context, he emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg within the framework of the European Union and other international institutions.
He also referred to the strength of the economic partnership between the two countries, noting that several members of the Luxembourg Government responsible for portfolios including the economy, finance, and energy were accompanying him on the visit.
At the end of his speech, the Grand Duke raised a toast to Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, to the prosperity of the people of Spain, and to the continued friendship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Later in the afternoon, the Grand Duke and members of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg delegation met with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, Mr. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, at the Palacio de la Moncloa.
The meeting was followed by the signing of three memoranda of understanding between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The agreements concern cooperation in the fields of energy and space, as well as the establishment of regular bilateral political consultations.
In the evening, the grand ducal couple attended a reception with representatives of the economic and financial community hosted by the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Madrid.
Photo courtesy of Des Hauses Hohenzollern/Britt Carlsen
The House of Hohenzollern announced this morning that Princess Donata of Prussia (Prinzessin Donata von Preußen) died on February 25, 2026, following a long illness. She was 73.
Princess Donata was born in 1952. She was a great-granddaughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. Her father, Prince Wilhelm Karl of Prussia, was a grandson of Wilhelm II and served as Herrenmeister, or Grand Master, of the German Order of Saint John. Her paternal grandfather was Prince Oskar of Prussia, the fifth son of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
According to the official statement, she pursued a career in journalism. For decades, she contributed to reporting in equestrian sport, with particular emphasis on eventing, international breeding, especially Holsteiner horses, and major championships. She served as editor in chief of “Pferd & Sport” and reported from the Olympic Games, as well as World and European Championships.
The Royal Correspondent 