Luxembourg Hereditary Grand Ducal Pair Expecting Second Child!

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie. Photo (c) Maison Grand Ducal / Sophie Margue.

This morning the Grand Ducal Court is pleased to announce that Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg is expecting her second child. She and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, who wed in 2012, welcomed their first child and son, Prince Charles, in 2020. The hereditary grand ducal couple anticipate their new arrival to be born in April 2023. 

Our congratulations to the Grand Ducal House on this happy news!

Albanian Crown Prince Slams Xenophobic Rhetoric by Tory MP

 

On Monday, 31 October, James Daly, Conservative MP for Bury North, addressed the following question on the floor of the House of Commons to Home Secretary Suella Braverman:

"Mr Deputy Speaker, so far this year, 12,000 Albanians have entered the United Kingdom through small boat crossings of the Channel. 10,000 of those are adult single males. As Cmdr Dan O’Mahoney told the Home Affairs Select Committee, the main driver of that activity is the strength of organized Albanian criminal gangs in the North of France, and the transfer of that behavior to the United Kingdom, to get there with the determination for people to work on the black market. There is no reason for these people to be here. We should follow the route of other European countries and insure they are returned immediately to Albania." 

Yesterday, Tuesday, Crown Prince Leka of Albania responded to the MP's comments on Twitter:

"Disproportionate slander is purely xenophobic. The UK has a population of 67 million, with 6 million emigrants. 12 thousand Albanians is not an invasion. The failings of British law enforcement is not our responsibility. A vast number of Albanians coming to the UK are from the EU and not Albania. Stop demonizing us for your own internal political benefits!"

Source: Twitter

The British Home Secretary (who resigned recently under Prime Minister Truss and was reappointed by Prime Minister Sunak) has apparently made targeting Albanian refugees to the United Kingdom one of her issues of focus.

As part of his education, Crown Prince Leka attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and graduated from that institution in 2005. The crown prince has served as an advisor the the Albanian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior, as well as an advisor to the President. Among the guests at his wedding in 2016 were Prince and Princess Michael of Kent; Princess Michael of Kent is a cousin of the prince through his late grandmother, Queen Geraldine. Crown Prince Leka lives in Tirana with his wife, Crown Princess Elia, and their daughter Princess Geraldine. 

Source:

Why Suella Braverman Is Targeting Albanian Migrants Coming To The UK

Luxembourg Hereditary Grand Ducal Pair Expecting Second Child!

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie. Photo (c) Maison Grand Ducal / Sophie Margue.

This morning the Grand Ducal Court is pleased to announce that Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg is expecting her second child. She and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, who wed in 2012, welcomed their first child and son, Prince Charles, in 2020. The hereditary grand ducal couple anticipate their new arrival to be born in April 2023. 

Our congratulations to the Grand Ducal House on this happy news!

The Familial Ties of King Charles III to the Crowned Heads of Europe

A portrait of King Charles III as Prince of Wales by artist Susan Crawford. Copyright of the Royal Collection Trust.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom is a cousin to all of the other nine European hereditary monarchs.

Philippe and Charles. Photo (c) Getty Images / John Thys.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and King Philippe of Belgium (b.1960) are third cousins once removed. Both are descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark (1818-1906) and Queen Louise (1817-1898; née Hesse-Kassel). 

King Christian IX of Denmark -> King George I of Greece -> Prince Andrew of Greece -> Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

King Christian IX of Denmark -> King Frederik VIII of Denmark -> Princess Ingeborg of Denmark -> Princess Astrid of Sweden -> King Albert II of Belgium -> King Philippe of Belgium

Charles and Margrethe.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (b.1940) are third cousins. Both are descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark (1818-1906) and Queen Louise (1817-1898; née Hesse-Kassel). 

King Christian IX of Denmark -> King George I of Greece -> Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark -> Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

King Christian IX of Denmark -> King Frederik VIII of Denmark -> King Christian X of Denmark -> King Frederik IX of Denmark -> Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Hans Adam, Marie Aglae, Diana, and Charles.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein (b.1945) are fifth cousins. Both are descendants of Hereditary Prince Karl Ludwig of Baden (1755-1801) and Hereditary Princess Amalie Friederike (1754-1832; née Hessen-Darmstadt). 

Hereditary Prince Karl Ludwig of Baden -> Princess Wilhemine of Baden -> Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine -> Prince Louis of Battenberg -> Princess Alice of Battenberg -> Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

Hereditary Prince Karl Ludwig of Baden -> Princess Karoline of Baden -> Princess Sophie of Bavaria -> Archduke Karl Ludwig of Bavaria -> Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria -> Prince Franz Josef II of Liechtenstein -> Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein 

Camilla, Charles, and Henri. Photo (c) AGE Fotostock.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (b.1960) are third cousins once removed. Both are descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark (1818-1906) and Queen Louise (1817-1898; née Hesse-Kassel). 

King Christian IX of Denmark -> King George I of Greece -> Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark -> Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

King Christian IX of Denmark -> King Frederik VIII of Denmark -> Princess Ingeborg of Denmark -> Princess Astrid of Sweden -> Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium -> Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

Charles and Albert.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and Prince Albert II of Monaco (b.1958) are fifth cousins once removed. Both are descendants of Hereditary Prince Karl Ludwig of Baden (1755-1801) and Hereditary Princess Amalie Friederike (1754-1832; née Hessen-Darmstadt). 

Hereditary Prince Karl Ludwig of Baden -> Princess Wilhemine of Baden -> Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine -> Prince Louis of Battenberg -> Princess Alice of Battenberg -> Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

Hereditary Prince Karl Ludwig of Baden -> Grand Duke Karl Ludwig of Baden -> Princess Marie Elisabeth of Baden -> Lady Mary Douglas-Hamilton -> Prince Louis II of Monaco -> Princess Charlotte of Monaco -> Prince Rainier III of Monaco -> Prince Albert II of Monaco

Charles and Willem-Alexander with Máxima.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (b.1968) are fifth cousins. Both are descendants of Emperor Paul of Russia (1751-1804) and Empress Maria (1759-1828; née Württemberg). 

Emperor Paul of Russia -> Emperor Nicholas I of Russia -> Grand Duke Konstantin of Russia -> Grand Duchess Olga of Russia -> Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark -> Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

Emperor Paul of Russia -> Grand Duchess Anna of Russia -> King Willem III of the Netherlands -> Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands -> Queen Juliana of the Netherlands -> Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands -> King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

Charles and Harald.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and King Harald V of Norway (b.1937) are second cousins once removed. Both are descendants of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (1841-1910) and Queen Alexandra (1844-1925; née Denmark). 

King Edward VII of the United Kingdom -> King George V -> King George VI -> Queen Elizabeth II -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

King Edward VII of the United Kingdom -> Princess Maud -> King Olav V of Norway -> King Harald V of Norway

Charles and Felipe.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and King Felipe VI of Spain (b.1968) are second cousins once removed. Both are descendants of King George I of Greece (1845-1913) and Queen Olga (1851-1926; née Russia). 

King George I of Greece -> Prince Andrew of Greece -> Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

King George I of Greece -> King Constantine I of Greece -> King Paul of Greece -> Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark -> King Felipe VI of Spain

Carl Gustaf and Charles.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b.1948) and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (b.1946) are third cousins once removed, three times over. Both are descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (1819-1901) and Prince Consort Albert (1819-1861; née Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). One of their lines of descent is as follows:

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom -> King Edward VII -> King George V -> King George VI -> Queen Elizabeth II -> King Charles III of the United Kingdom

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom -> Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught -> Princess Margaret of Connaught -> Hereditary Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden -> King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Dynastic Legal Issues Regarding Recent Serbian Renunciation

On Saturday, 30 April, the press office of the Royal Palace in Belgrade released a statement from Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia regarding the renunciation of his eldest son, Prince Peter:

Concerning the withdrawal of my oldest son Prince Peter from the line of succession, I wish him all the best for the future, good health, and happiness. I appreciate his honesty regarding the tough decision he made.

This issue was brought to me quickly, while I am abroad, due to previous obligations. Unfortunately, such a crucial and important procedure was not followed properly, in accordance with the tradition and rules of the Royal Family, and the Family Rulebook, which was written in the time of the Kingdom, and which all members of the Royal Family need to follow. This occurrence and procedure did not take place at the Royal Palace, in Serbia, with my presence and authority as the Head of the Royal Family, with the blessing of our Holy Church and with Crown Council participation in the process, but in a foreign country, without a good reason for performing such important matter away from our homeland.

The Royal Family of Serbia will continue to serve the people with dedication, honesty, and loyalty, which is the obligation and duty for us.

As previously reported on Thursday, 28 April, Hereditary Prince Peter of Serbia renounced his rights of succession in a ceremony in Seville on 27 April. If enacted, this would make his brother Prince Philip the new heir to Crown Prince Alexander. On Saturday, Prince Philip and his wife Princess Danica visited Oplenac, the mausoleum of the Serbian royal family, where they paid tribute to the prince's ancestors. 

According to the Family Book of Rules of 5 April 1930, which govern the Royal House of Karađorđević and its members, there are several technical problems with Prince Peter's renunciation. Article 3 states: "The Ruling King is the head and protector of all the members of The Royal House. The King determines the rank of all the members of The Royal House." Furthermore, Article 5 reads: "Without the special approval and consent of the King no member of The Royal House is allowed to commit any act or deed of the public importance, nor to make any permanent commitments to anyone. The King takes care, by all means, that with no exception The Royal House is always governed by the rules and considerations of honour, order and exemplary behaviour, worthy of the Royal House." When reading this dynastic text, it is worth noting that when there is a reference to the King, then the current holder of that position is the Head of the Royal House, i.e. Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, as he would be monarch if Serbia was currently a monarchy.

The statement of the Crown Prince does not directly address whether or not the renunciation of Prince Peter has been accepted in its current form. The first portion of the communiqué seems to hint that the renunciation has possibly been accepted by the Head of House, while the second portion goes on to point out the issues with the renunciation which could render it invalid, as noted above. With time, more clarity will likely be given on the situation. 

A Romanian Royal Birth!

The happy family.
Photo (c) Felicia Simion.

Prince Nicholas of Romania and his wife Alina-Maria have welcomed the arrival of their first son and second child, Michael (Mihai). Michael was born at Polizu Hospital in Bucharest at 2:05am on Friday, 15 April. On 5 December 2021, Nicholas of Romania announced that his wife Alina-Maria was expecting their second child in Spring 2022. Their first child and daughter, Maria Alexandra, was born on 7 November 2020.

 

 

Nicholas of Romania (b.1985) and Alina-Maria Binder (b.1988) were civilly married on 6 October 2017 in the United Kingdom and religiously married on 30 September 2018 at Sinaia. Nicholas is the son of Princess Helen of Romania and the late Dr. Robin Medforth-Mills. Alina is the daughter of Heinz Binder and Rodica Iancu. Nicholas and Alina live in Bucharest with their family. 

 

King Michael of Romania and his grandson Nicholas.

 

Michael of Romania (b.2022) is a great-grandson of King Michael of Romania (1921-2017) and Queen Anne (1923-2016; born Princess of Bourbon-Parma). Michael is a double descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. 

Our Congratulations to Nicolae and Alina-Maria on this extremely happy news! Long life to Mihai!