Prince Alexander of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Photograph (c) Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Today, Prince Alexander of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha celebrates his forty-second birthday.
Prince Andreas and Princess Carin with their children Stephanie, Hubertus, and Alexander
HH Prince Alexander Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born at Coburg on 4 May 1977 as the second son and third child of Prince Andreas (b.1943), Head of House Saxe-Coburg and Gotha since 1998, and his wife Princess Carin (b.1946; née Dabelstein), who wed in 1971. Alexander joined two older siblings, Princess Stephanie (b.1972) and Hereditary Prince Hubertus (b.1975).
A 2004 portrait of Prince Alexander by artist Hans Christian Ribbe Photograph (c) Hans Christian Ribbe
Alexander studied forestry and was involved in the work of the family's property at Callenberg. His father, Prince Andreas, then suggested that Alexander should look after Greinburg Castle, at Grein, Austria, and its surroundings. For some years now, the prince has been committed to overseeing the administration of this property and its resources.
Eurohistory wishes Prince Alexander a very Happy Birthday. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
The full film of the funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg may be viewed at the link below.
Aged ninety-eight, the grand duke died on 23 April surrounded by his family. The celebration of his live was in the same vein: the children, grandchildren, and at least one great-grandchild of Grand Duke Jean were present at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg today to bid adieu to their "Papa" and "Apapa."
A full guest list was released by the Grand Ducal Court. Members of royal houses around the world gathered with his family and members of the Luxembourgish public to mourn and commemorate the life of the well-loved grand duke. For the comprehensive guest list, please visit this link at Luxarazzi: Who Will Attend: The Official Guest List for the Funeral of Grand Duke Jean
Princess Margarita and her husband Radu attend the Silver Wedding celebrations of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg in 2006
Princess Margarita with her husband Radu when he announced his 2009 bid for the Romanian presidency
Margarita and Radu attend the wedding celebrations for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010
For some years, the Romanian press has published reports that Princess Margarita, the eldest daughter of King Michael and Queen Anne, is dealing with ill health.
Princess Margarita with her husband at Otopeni Airport as they awaited the coffin of His Majesty
The first articles appeared during the period when the Romanian royal family was reeling from the loss of King Michael of Romania, who died on 5 December 2017 in Switzerland. His Majesty's funeral was held in his country later that month. The royal family observed an extended period of mourning.
One news outlet carried the following article in December 2017 regarding the health of the princess:
After her mother's death, last year [in 2016], many reported that Princess Margarita was transformed by suffering. However, no one suspected that the situation was a serious one.
Her appearances in public a few days later also did not allow the suffering of the princess to be seen.
But on Wednesday morning at Otopeni Airport, when the entire Royal Family was waiting for the arrival of the aircraft that brought the coffin to King Michael's body, the princess gave evidence that she did not feel well.
Then, at some point, she even sat down in her assigned chair, and then had to ask for help from Prince Radu when she needed to either stand up again or sit down. During the ceremony at the airport, the princess grasped her husband's hand repeatedly.
This is not the first time that Princess Margarita, [then] 68, shows signs of malady. Last year, shortly after her mother's death, the weakened princess, drawn in the face and pale, shocked many people at her appearance in the church in Săvârșin, where a service was held in memory of Queen Anne.
Princess Margarita is assisted by her husband and an aide after leaving the Caraiman event in 2018
In September 2018, reports about the royal's condition again surfaced when Margarita fell ill while attending the 90th anniversary of the construction of the Heroes' Cross at Caraiman:
Princess Margarita, Crown Custodian, who walked on Saturday at the Cross of Caraiaman, felt badly during the ceremonies organised on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the inauguration of the royal monument with the support of the Royal House. She did not require medical care afterwards.
Princess Margarita was one of the participants at Saturday's Caraiman ceremony, located at almost 2,300 meters altitude. Local sources told News.ro that Margarita felt poorly during the ceremony after she had walked along a path to climb to the Caraiman Cross.
"It's a long, tiring road that many people cannot walk through without difficulty. It is worth appreciating the effort of the princess and the fact that she went up there," Gheorghe Haiduc told News.ro.
Princess Margarita with her youngest sister and goddaughter Princess Marie in 2016
Closer to home, more immediate worries about the wellbeing of Princess Margarita were expressed by her sister Princess Marie when she took to social media in February 2017.
At that time, Marie of Romania stated that a family member had undergone the Whipple procedure (also known as a pancreaticoduodenectomy). According to the Mayo Clinic:
The Whipple procedure is a complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder and the bile duct.
The Whipple procedure is used to treat tumors and other disorders of the pancreas, intestine and bile duct. It is the most often used surgery to treat pancreatic cancer that's confined to the head of the pancreas. After performing the Whipple procedure, your surgeon reconnects the remaining organs to allow you to digest food normally after surgery.
The Whipple procedure is a difficult and demanding operation and can have serious risks. However, this surgery is often lifesaving, particularly for people with cancer.
Princess Margarita became a Swiss citizen during a naturalisation ceremony at Lausanne in June 2017. The princess was born at Lausanne on 26 March 1949 - she celebrated her seventieth birthday this year. Margarita is the only one of her siblings to become a Swiss citizen; she would thus be able to benefit from the country's universal healthcare system. In addition, the princess likely has resources that would allow her to receive the very best medical treatment.
Today, 3 May, Buckingham Palace issued the following statement:
The wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Mr Thomas Kingston will take place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday 18th May 2019. The wedding will be attended by Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family. The marriage ceremony will commence at 12pm, conducted by the Dean of Windsor, The Right Revd David Conner.
Her Majesty's presence at Lady Gabriella's wedding will make the marriage's guest list grander than those of her parents Prince and Princess Michael of Kent as well as of her brother and sister-in-law Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor.
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent at their civil wedding in 1978
On 30 June 1978, Prince Michael of Kent married Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz in a civil ceremony at Vienna. The couple were joined in the celebration of their union by the siblings of the prince: the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy, with her husband Sir Angus Ogilvy. Also present was Lady Helen Windsor, the Duke of Kent's daughter, in addition to Princess Anne (eventual Princess Royal) and Lord Mountbatten of Burma.
Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor with the groom's family after their marriage
Fast forward forty-one years to the wedding of Lord Frederick Windsor. The eldest child of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent married Miss Sophie Winkleman on 12 September 2009 at Hampton Court. Lord and Lady Frederick's wedding was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Kent, their daughter Lady Helen Windsor, and Princess Eugenie of York.
With the knowledge that the Queen is coming, it is clear that Lady Gabriella Windsor and Mr Thomas Kingston will have the highest royal representation at their upcoming wedding. The couple's engagement was announced in September 2018.
The Head of the Royal House of France and the French President exchange greetings
Today, 2 May, the Count and Countess of Paris received President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron of France as well as President Sergio Mattarella of Italy at the Château d'Amboise. Prince Gaston and Princess Antoinette d'Orléans accompanied their parents. The occasion for the gathering at Amboise was to commemorate 500 years since the death of Leonardo da Vinci.
Da Vinci by Francesco Melzi
Da Vinci was born on 15 April 1452 at Vinci in the Republic of Florence. The Renaissance man died on 2 May 1519 at Amboise in the Kingdom of France. Da Vinci's place of death occurred at the Château du Clos Lucé in Amboise, which was built in 1471 and still stands today.
As the Count and Countess of Paris look on, Prince Gaston shakes hands with Emmanuel Macron
The French President bows to the Countess of Paris
Princess Antoinette d'Orléans receives the greetings of Emmanuel Macron
A portion of the communiqué released by the Royal House of France regarding this event reads as follows:
This meeting at Amboise, then at Clos Lucé and Chambord, is an opportunity to recall the importance of our tangible and intangible heritage, a sign of a united Europe at its roots, as well as of the diplomatic role of the Head of the Royal House of France, which the Orléans family has always taken to heart, including when it was in exile. The Count of Paris is the honorary president of the Saint-Louis Foundation, owner of the royal Château d'Amboise, where the brilliant artist Leonardo da Vinci is buried.
The Duke of Vendôme approaches Senlis with his aunt Princess Christine of Liechtenstein (née Württemberg)
The Duchess of Vendôme arrives at the Cathedral on the arm of her father don Alfonso
Today was a meaningful occasion for the Count and Countess of Paris in two ways. First of all, they were present at the Château d'Amboise to welcome the French President and First Lady as well as the Italian President to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. Second of all, and more importantly, the couple today celebrates ten years since their religious wedding at Senlis on 2 May 2009.
On that day, Prince Jean d'Orléans, then Duke of Vendôme, married doña Philomena de Tornos y Steinhart. The Duke and Duchess of Vendôme had already celebrated their civil wedding at Paris on 19 March in a ceremony presided over by Rachida Dati, then Mayor of Paris. However, the gathering at Senlis Cathedral on 2 May 2009 brought together a great gathering of the royal houses of Europe to join in witnessing the union of the eventual Head of House France and his wife.
The Duke of Vendôme, current Count of Paris, is the second child of Princess Marie-Thérèse d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier (b.1934), and the late Prince Henri d'Orléans, Count of Paris (1933-2019). The Duchess of Vendôme, current Countess of Paris, is the daughter of doña Maria Antonia de Tornos (b.1944; née Edle von Steinhart) and the late don Alfonso de Tornos y Zubiría (1937-2013). Philomena's paternal grandfather don Juan de Tornos y Espelíus was formerly the head of the personal secretariat of the Count of Barcelona, father of King Juan Carlos of Spain.
Before her fourth birthday tomorrow, three images of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge have been released by the Royal Family. The pictures were taken by her mother the Duchess of Cambridge at the family home in Norfolk last month. Princess Charlotte was born on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital, London.
